"Trickery? Over a mere sixth-grade demon core?" Han Li raised an eyebrow, a half-smile playing across his face.
"Hmph, if it were an ordinary sixth-grade demon core, none of us would spare it a second glance. But a demon core from a Thunder Whale Beast is another matter entirely. Besides, the moment you arrived, you immediately tried to stir up doubts about Brother Fan's demon core — that alone is worth some thought." The cultivator surnamed Sun, who had remained silent until now, was a rather sinister-looking elderly man. He finally spoke in a cold voice.
"The Thunder Whale Beast you killed — you must have been delaying for quite some time before finishing it off. That's precisely why the beast had drained most of the demonic power from its core over that long period. Once killed, the core could no longer replenish its energy, so how could its quality possibly be any good? It seems the two of you haven't killed many high-grade beasts. Otherwise, you wouldn't be ignorant of this kind of taboo." Han Li chuckled with a hint of amusement, offering neither confirmation nor denial.
Hearing these words, the two cultivators — the one surnamed Fan and the sinister old man — exchanged a glance, and a look of hesitation crept onto their faces.
"Even if the matter of the demon core is true, how did you get in here? Fellow Daoist Fan clearly concealed this place with an illusion array. Did you come here specifically for the three of us?" The white-bearded elder suddenly asked, his tone sharp with wariness.
"A trivial illusion formation — hardly worth my attention. As for the three of you, this is my first time visiting this sea region. Why would I come specifically for you? Han is in a good mood today, so I've said what needed to be said. I have no interest in answering any further questions. The terms I offered remain unchanged. Is anyone willing to make this trade? I don't intend to linger here." Han Li's expression turned stern by the time he finished speaking.
Hearing Han Li speak with such boldness, the several Nascent Soul cultivators in the stone pavilion actually grew more apprehensive rather than less.
The man appeared so mysterious that none of them believed he was bluffing. Intimidated, no one dared to speak rashly for a moment. Finally, after staring at Han Li for a while with her bright, clear eyes, the delicate woman in the green robe suddenly asked:
"From the way you speak, it seems you are not a cultivator of our Five Dragon Sea. Might you have come from the Great Jin? And might you know Senior Xiang Zhili?"
"You know Fellow Daoist Xiang?"
Han Li was taken aback. He stared at the woman, his eyes narrowing slightly. He was genuinely surprised.
"Senior Xiang once stayed on my island for a period of time. He offered me guidance in my cultivation, which benefited me immensely. If you are on equal standing with Senior Xiang, could you also be a Deity Transformation cultivator?" The green-robed woman's eyes flashed with a strange light upon hearing Han Li's words. She rose abruptly, clasped her hands before her and bowed with deep respect. Her demeanor became exceedingly deferential.
"A Deity Transformation cultivator?"
The others, who had been sitting quite comfortably a moment ago, jumped in fright and scrambled to their feet as well.
The cultivator surnamed Fan and the sinister old man, who had just been speaking harshly, now wore expressions of unmistakable panic.
"Since you've seen through me, there's no need for concealment. When did you meet Fellow Daoist Xiang?" Han Li paid no attention to the others' reactions. Instead, he furrowed his brow slightly and addressed the woman directly.
"I met Senior Xiang over two hundred years ago. At that time, I had not yet successfully condensed my Nascent Soul. If not for Senior Xiang's guidance, I would likely still be lingering in the Core Formation stage." The delicate woman replied with a look of joy on her face.
Two hundred years ago — that coincided precisely with when Xiang Zhili and the others had discovered the spatial node in the Five Dragon Sea. So this was true after all.
Han Li's thoughts raced, and in an instant he determined that the woman's account was genuine. His expression softened:
"Since you know Fellow Daoist Xiang, then all the better. Take this demon core and bring me the sea chart."
Han Li flicked his hand, and the rare demon core he had been holding shot toward the woman.
Delighted, she raised a delicate hand and caught the core in her palm. She then bowed in thanks before reaching into the storage pouch at her waist to retrieve a pale green jade slip. With graceful steps, she brought it over and presented it to Han Li.
Han Li took the jade slip and immediately swept it with his spiritual sense. Comparing the information against what Xiang Zhili had left him before, he quickly pinpointed the exact location of the spatial node. It was not particularly far — about a month's journey away, by his estimation.
He nodded with satisfaction:
"Good. Now I have a few questions for you. Listen carefully." Having revealed his identity as a Deity Transformation cultivator, an imposing aura now radiated from Han Li, and his tone brooked no argument.
In truth, he was now among the supreme powers of the mortal realm. If not for concerns about the passage of his remaining lifespan, there was nothing in this world that could threaten him.
The green-robed woman hastily agreed.
Han Li's lips moved ceaselessly, yet not a single sound escaped. The green-robed woman's beautiful eyes shimmered as she listened, and once Han Li paused his voice transmission, she responded in kind, answering each question in turn.
After listening, Han Li stroked his chin and lowered his head in contemplation.
The other cultivators did not dare breathe too loudly, remaining obediently in place, terrified of disturbing this Deity Transformation senior and bringing upon themselves catastrophic trouble.
"Heh heh. Han has obtained what he came for, so I won't stay any longer. Please carry on." As though he had arrived at some conclusion, Han Li suddenly raised his head with a chuckle. With a sweep of his sleeve, a flash of cyan light passed through the air, and he vanished without a trace.
None of the people present had any idea how Han Li had departed. Still, now that he was gone, the cultivators — particularly the one surnamed Fan, who had been trembling with apprehension ever since Han Li revealed his identity — finally breathed a sigh of relief. But when their gazes fell upon the Thunder Whale Beast demon core in the green-robed woman's hands, an unmistakable look of envy surfaced on their faces.