Chapter 2239: Volume 11 True Immortal Descends Chapter 2220 Departure

Original: "Fellow Daoist Han, why must you be so cold? No matter what, we've met several times—we could be considered acquaintances." Original first release: "But this time, stopping you is indeed for another matter. I wish to make another deal with you, Fellow Daoist Han—are you interested?" Bao Hua said with a smile at the corner of her mouth.

"A deal? Let me hear it first." Han Li chuckled, his expression noncommittal.

"How about we go over there to talk in private?" Bao Hua glanced at the Crab Daoist and Silver Moon, then suddenly swept her gaze toward an empty space to the side as she spoke.

"Fine, no problem!" Han Li agreed without changing expression, then turned and whispered two sentences to Silver Moon and the Crab Daoist before following Bao Hua as they flew off toward a nearby location.

Shortly after, Bao Hua and Han Li stood straight on a small sand dune, separated by only about five or six zhang.

Bao Hua lightly tapped her finger a few times in the surrounding void, and instantly several pink threads flashed out, shooting forward before vanishing into the void in a flash.

Immediately, the sand dune's surroundings rippled, and an invisible restriction spread, enveloping the entire space beneath it.

Seeing this, Han Li said calmly:

"Fellow Daoist, you may speak now."

"Fellow Daoist Han, why be so impatient? I recently obtained a rare sandalwood fruit—let us share a taste together. Please, have a seat." Bao Hua smiled brightly, shaking her sleeve toward the ground.

As the sand dune trembled, countless grains of sand surged downward, instantly condensing two yellow stone stools and a long stone table several zhang in length before them.

After a swirl of pink light passed over it, the stone table immediately revealed two pale purple spirit fruits, a bottle of spirit wine, and two crystal-clear jade cups.

Han Li swept his spiritual sense over the two purple spirit fruits, his expression slightly stirred. After a brief moment of thought, he sat down on the stone stool before him without another word.

Bao Hua stepped forward with her lotus gait and sat opposite him, likewise smiling.

The spirit wine was clear as water, the purple fruit sweet and crisp like a pear!

Only when Han Li set down his wine cup did Bao Hua's expression turn serious as she spoke directly:

"Actually, the deal I wish to make with you this time is quite simple: I only wish for you to act once at a certain specific time in the near future, to entangle a certain person, so I may have time to carry out a long-planned matter."

"Entangle a person? Fellow Daoist, shouldn't you be more specific? Someone who makes even you, Bao Hua, wary—surely cannot be an ordinary existence." Han Li smiled faintly, utterly unsurprised.

"Fellow Daoist, discern clearly: this person is indeed one even I would not wish to confront directly. But I only ask you to delay them for a time when the moment comes—not to engage in a life-or-death battle. I believe this should not be difficult for you, Fellow Daoist Han. If you can accomplish this, then I will owe you a great favor. Should you ever need my aid in the future, I will do whatever lies within my power and will not refuse in the slightest. What do you think of this deal, Brother Han?" Bao Hua gazed steadily at Han Li's face, speaking calmly and without haste.

"To owe Bao Hua a promise—this price is naturally not small. But whom do you intend for me to act against? You must at least tell me the name." Han Li's eyes flashed as he spoke.

"This person is not unfamiliar to you, Fellow Daoist Han—he is…" Bao Hua's face blossomed like a flower, but after her lips twitched a few times, she directly transmitted the words to him.

"Is it him? Fellow Daoist, are you joking? I am merely a newly ascended early-stage Mahayana cultivator—how could I possibly entangle him? Bao Hua, you should seek someone more capable." After listening for a moment, Han Li frowned slightly and flatly refused.

"Brother Han, don't refuse so hastily—I still have something else for you to see first." Bao Hua smiled slightly, raised her hand, and sent a cluster of white light flying forth, which flashed and arrived before Han Li in an instant.

It was a crystalline jade bottle no larger than a palm.

Han Li moved his arm and snatched the bottle into his hand, lowered his head to examine it twice, then his eyes narrowed slightly.

"What do you mean by this, Fellow Daoist Bao Hua?" Han Li did not immediately open the bottle, but instead asked coldly.

"I offer a promise, plus this item, in exchange for your assistance once." Bao Hua said without hesitation.

Han Li snorted, said nothing more, and directly opened the bottle with one hand, sweeping his spiritual sense through its contents.

"Spirit Glue Pill"

In the next instant, Han Li's face changed—he involuntarily cried out.

"I never expected Fellow Daoist Han to be so well-informed—you recognized this pill at a glance!" Bao Hua saw this, and a flicker of surprise crossed her face.

"This pill is one of the few in the world that can nourish the essence and power of a Mahayana cultivator, especially effective for those who have recently ascended to Mahayana. But its method of refinement has long been lost. Where did you, Fellow Daoist Bao Hua, obtain it?" Han Li held the bottle, his expression shifting between light and dark.

"I obtained this pill years ago by chance from the cave dwelling of an ancient cultivator—I originally got seven, but after so many years, only this one remains. How is it, Fellow Daoist Han? Do you now understand my sincerity?" Bao Hua said slowly.

"It seems Fellow Daoist Bao Hua has set her sights on Han Li. Do you truly believe I can help you entangle that person? Are you not afraid that, if I fail, I might ruin your great undertaking?" Han Li exhaled lightly before speaking.

"To be honest, before this gathering, I had originally intended to seek someone else—not you, Brother Han. But though that fellow Daoist has decent abilities, his chance of successfully entangling that person is still under fifty percent. Fellow Daoist Han, however, is entirely different! Even before your ascension to Mahayana, you nearly possessed the power to shake a typical Mahayana cultivator. Now, after ascending, your strength has increased by who knows how many times. In truth, I might not even be your match if you were serious. This plan of mine is of utmost importance—since I seek help, I must find someone reliable. Even if I must pay a greater price, I am willing." Bao Hua laughed lightly, and a hint of allure flickered between her brows.

"Since Fellow Daoist Bao Hua holds me in such high regard, if I were to refuse again, it would seem ungrateful. Very well—I can act once. But besides this pill and a promise, I have one more condition. If you can accept it, I guarantee I will entangle that person for a full day and night when the time comes, giving you ample time to accomplish what you wish." Han Li's eyes flickered a few times before he suddenly smiled and spoke.

"Oh, Fellow Daoist Han, please—do tell." Bao Hua's smile faded, her tone turning solemn.

"If you, Bao Hua, were to regain control of the Demon Realm, I want you to bind yourself for the rest of your life: forbid the demon race from invading the Spirit Realm during the times when the two realms converge!" Han Li stared at Bao Hua, enunciating each word clearly.

"That's absolutely impossible! Fellow Daoist Han, don't you think this condition is excessive? Just for one favor, you dare demand this?" Bao Hua's jade-like face darkened, and she spoke displeased.

"Although I do not know the exact nature of your scheme, since you intend for me to detain that person, there is no doubt this is a rare, once-in-a-thousand-years opportunity to execute your plan. Moreover, I do not believe anyone else in the current Demon Realm could assist you besides me. Or do you still wish to approach that Old Copper Crow Elder? Whether he would dare to act is uncertain, but his price would likely be several times higher than mine—after all, who would willingly incur such a cost just to openly create a great enemy for themselves?" Han Li replied with unshakable composure.

"Hmph, are you not afraid of offending that person?" Bao Hua's face darkened, her brows lifting as she retorted.

"Fellow Daoist Bao Hua, why ask the obvious? I already offended that person once in the past—offending them again is nothing." Han Li smiled faintly, utterly indifferent.

"That argument does have some merit. But asking me to cancel the Holy Sacrifice of the Realm Convergence? That is absolutely impossible. However, if I were to regain control of the Holy Realm, I could, for the rest of my life, bind my people to refrain from entering your human territory even a single step during the Holy Sacrifice." Bao Hua's expression shifted repeatedly over a long while before she slowly replied.

"Just the human race is not enough—add the demon race as well. Humans and demons in the Spirit Realm always advance and retreat together; if demons invade the demon realm's territory, we humans cannot simply stand by and ignore it." After a moment of reflection, Han Li spoke firmly.

"Very well—if it is limited to just the human and demon races, I can accept this condition." This time, Bao Hua only thought briefly before immediately agreeing.

"Good. I will accept this pill for now. Let us each swear an oath by our inner demons, then discuss the specific details of the operation." Upon hearing this, Han Li revealed a faint smile and spoke.

Bao Hua naturally agreed without hesitation.

One hour later, Han Li, accompanied by the Crab Daoist and Silver Moon, fled from the original location, and half a day later found a stretch of hills at the desert's edge, where he immediately descended his escape light.

……

Ten days later, black vapor rolled across the sky above Earth City, with tens of thousands of elite high-ranking demons gathered—none below the Void Refinement stage.

Among these demons, hundreds of massive demon ships floated high in the air, and Han Li, along with dozens of other Mahayana cultivators, were among them.

Soon after, an unknown voice issued a command, and tens of thousands of demons immediately swarmed these flying vessels, rolling off in a certain direction.

Three months later, above a barren valley in the Demon Realm, rosy light flashed and heavenly drums shook the heavens—dense ranks of demon armored warriors nearly filled the entire valley.

In fact, hundreds of thousands of demon armored warriors had gathered here—some riding magical artifacts to fly, others suspended in midair by demonic energy.

And at the center of the demon army, atop a colossal demon ship resembling a small island, Han Li and the other Mahayana cultivators gathered once again in a great hall, listening to Bao Hua's cold voice:

"I will have the outer warriors divide into several units, advance first to sweep the outskirts of the Beginning Mark Land, drawing out the insect swarms and high-level insect beings. Then we, escorted by tens of thousands of elite guards, will charge straight into the Beginning Mark Land from another direction.

As long as we can enter the Beginning Mark Land, I can activate some still-functional restrictions to temporarily block those insect beings outside. Then we will proceed according to our original plan, splitting up to carry out our respective tasks." To be continued.