Chapter 409: Elder

Seeing Han Li's disbelieving expression, Fairy Zi Ling did not offer any explanation. Instead, she glanced at Qu Hun and said with a charming smile:

"This 'Senior Qu' is your external incarnation, isn't he?"

As soon as these words left her lips, Han Li's body stiffened, and a cold glint flashed in his eyes. He stared fixedly at her for a long while before asking in a cold voice:

"How did Miss Zi Ling know?"

"Hee hee! Senior, there is no need to be surprised. Our sect also possesses a method for this incarnation refinement technique. It is just that the cost is too high and the success rate of the refinement is too low, so it is rare for anyone within the sect to cultivate it. However, Senior's incarnation is quite peculiar! Generally, an incarnation's cultivation base must be much lower than that of the cultivator, yet Senior Han's incarnation has actually entered the early Core Formation stage just like you. This is truly quite rare!" Fairy Zi Ling chuckled, her bright eyes dancing.

"Since Fellow Daoist Zi Ling has already seen through it, Han Mou has nothing to hide. But why are the other two fellow daoists not here?" Han Li's expression softened as he admitted it, then he looked left and right and asked in return.

To him, the fact that Qu Hun's identity as an incarnation had been discovered was only a matter of time; there was nothing to be surprised about.

"Senior, please sit first! The two senior sisters have gone to the market to buy some things, and they also intend to purchase a cave dwelling in Heavenly Star City to settle down for a long stay." The young lady elegantly invited Han Li to sit and explained softly.

"How is this? Do the three fellow daoists not intend to return to the Sound of Music Sect?" After sitting down, Han Li frowned and asked with some confusion.

"Return to the Sound of Music Sect? How would we sisters dare! Since we have formed a deep enmity with the people of Extreme Yin Island, and on top of that, the two great elders within the sect have defected to them, returning would mean falling into the hands of those devils, or being swallowed up by other small and medium-sized forces. We have already decided to temporarily relocate the Sound of Music Sect into Heavenly Star City. In any case, our sect still has some savings from these past years." Fairy Zi Ling sighed and said with a bitter smile.

"Oh!" Han Li nodded silently, saying nothing.

He was not anyone to them, so naturally, he would not appear overly enthusiastic.

Fairy Zi Ling did not mind Han Li's reaction; instead, she stood up to pour Han Li a cup of fragrant tea before speaking again with reserve:

"When we sisters escaped the interception of those corpse refiners, we happened to see from afar that Senior had also subdued the corpse refiners, so we knew Senior was also unharmed. Later, after hearing from Senior Sister Fan that Senior had helped out for the sake of the Heavenly Lightning Bamboo, I had Senior Sister Fan send a sound transmission talisman to invite Senior here for a chat."

Fairy Zi Ling briefly explained the ins and outs of the matter.

"The sound transmission talisman said that Fellow Daoist Zi Ling still has Heavenly Lightning Bamboo in your possession; is this true? Was this item not snatched away by the people of Extreme Yin Island?" Han Li had no interest in beating around the bush and directly asked the question he cared about most.

Hearing Han Li's straightforward inquiry, a hint of a smile flashed in Fairy Zi Ling's large eyes, and she replied with a mellow, pleasant voice:

"Senior is truly a straightforward person, so Zi Ling will not beat around the bush either. Back then, what our Sound of Music Sect obtained from the descendants of that small sect was not just one section of Heavenly Lightning Bamboo, but two. However, in order to sell it for a higher price, my mother divided the bamboo into two, taking only the upper half, while the section containing the roots was left with me. If Senior wants it, this junior can give this item to Senior Han."

Han Li was overjoyed, but his face did not reveal any excitement. Instead, he looked at the young lady with deep meaning before asking in a deep voice:

"Give? Miss Zi Ling, why speak such useless words? Since you used this item to invite me here, just state whatever conditions you have. I will naturally consider them!"

Fairy Zi Ling was slightly startled upon hearing this, her smile gradually fading. After pondering for a moment, she said earnestly:

"Actually, the Heavenly Lightning Bamboo is a useless item to the current Sound of Music Sect. Based on Senior's previous act of kindness, giving it to Senior is only right. However, our sect is currently undergoing frequent upheavals, and with the strength of us juniors, we simply cannot support such a large sect. Therefore, I would like to use this bamboo, plus the price of three hundred spirit stones annually, to hire Senior as an honorary elder of our sect. I hope Senior will not decline!"

"Honorary elder?" Han Li's expression changed slightly.

He had never expected that the other party would propose such a request.

"In addition to the conditions mentioned above, if Senior needs a high-quality dual cultivation cauldron for your cultivation, our sect can also select an outstanding female disciple to gift to Senior as a concubine." Fairy Zi Ling added generously.

This condition did not cause Han Li to reveal any unusual expression.

With the assistance of various spirit pills, he simply did not care for the meager spiritual power gained through dual cultivation.

However, the Heavenly Lightning Bamboo was different; it was very likely that if he missed this opportunity, he would never find it again.

Thus, after thinking for a while, Han Li still considered it and said:

"This condition will not do! Han Mou has long been accustomed to being a lone wolf and simply cannot bear the constraints of a sect. Fellow Daoist Zi Ling, please change to another condition. Or, how about I buy this item for thirty percent above the market price in spirit stones?"

"Senior is truly joking. For top-tier materials like the three divine woods, there is no market price to speak of. In the hands of a cultivator who has no use for it, it is worthless. But in the eyes of a cultivator who practices wood-attribute techniques, it is mostly a priceless treasure." Fairy Zi Ling was not surprised by Han Li's refusal; instead, she smiled and rejected Han Li's proposal to buy it with spirit stones.

Han Li furrowed his brows; it seemed this young lady knew he really wanted this item and would not let go easily.

This feeling of being held by the throat and coerced made him feel very uncomfortable.

However, he would definitely not join the Sound of Music Sect and let them order him around just for a section of Heavenly Lightning Bamboo.

Just as Han Li was secretly thinking about whether to give up on the Heavenly Lightning Bamboo and look for other materials to refine his magic treasure, the young lady opposite him proposed a compromise.

"Since Senior is unwilling to be constrained, then just be an honorary elder in name! You can enjoy the treatment of an elder without actually having to accept orders from the sect master. And our sect can at least use the reputation of Senior as a Core Formation cultivator to protect ourselves. I wonder what Senior thinks of this?"

"Honorary elder?" Hearing Fairy Zi Ling's calm words, Han Li revealed a look of astonishment.

"If the Sound of Music Sect encounters a great enemy, I don't have to take action either?" He asked in return with some confusion, his face revealing a look of disbelief.

"If our sect truly encounters any trouble or really needs Senior to take action, Senior can decide for yourself whether to agree or not, and afterwards, we sisters will offer additional generous rewards!" The young lady seemed to have considered this matter long ago and said without hesitation.

"Fellow Daoist Zi Ling! If I have not misunderstood, you few only want to use the banner of me, a Core Formation cultivator, to bolster the Sound of Music Sect's momentum, so that some ill-intentioned forces will not come to cause trouble while the sect is at its weakest. And as long as I do not openly deny it when you spread the word, that will suffice." After bowing his head and thinking for a while, Han Li raised his head and asked slowly.

"Senior Han is correct! At that time, we will also claim that this incarnation of Senior is also a Core Formation cultivator. In this way, we can compensate for the extremely bad influence brought about by the defection of the two elders, Zhao and Meng." The young lady smiled slightly, looking confident.

"If these are truly the conditions, then I can agree! However, in front of other cultivators, I will not take the initiative to admit that I am an elder of your sect. Don't expect me to do any superficial work for your sect either. How you make others believe that I have become an elder of your sect depends entirely on your own abilities."

After some deliberation, Han Li did not feel that this would do him any harm, and out of his desire for the Heavenly Lightning Bamboo, he finally agreed.

"Fine, as long as Senior does not deny this matter when the time comes, we sisters naturally have ways to handle everything!" The young lady revealed a look of joy, her face glowing with radiance.

Since the two had reached a deal, Fairy Zi Ling did not intend to drag things out and took out a strange box from her person and placed it on the table.

Saying this box was strange was because it was neither wood nor gold, nor was it made of anything like jade; it was entirely translucent and covered with a layer of faint green mist.

Seeing Han Li reveal a strange expression, Fairy Zi Ling explained softly to Han Li:

"This box is made of something called Paste Jade. Although it has the word 'jade' in its name, it is actually not jade and does not fall within the Five Elements. Only this item can preserve the Heavenly Lightning Bamboo for a long time without fear of spiritual energy leaking out."

Han Li nodded. Since he had never heard of "Paste Jade" before, this showed that this item was also extremely rare and should be exceptionally precious.

Next, Fairy Zi Ling extended a finger as tender as jade, and a green light the size of a soybean flashed on her fingertip.

Then, without hesitation, she lightly tapped the lid of the box. When the green light touched the green mist on the box, a slight "crackling" sound was heard. Immediately, the mist faded away completely, and the lid of the box slowly opened on its own.

Han Li's spirit lifted, and he hurriedly focused his gaze into the box.

【End of Chapter】 ===== CHAPTER 410 =====