After hearing what Zhao Wugui and the other speaker had said in succession, most of the cultivators in the hall drew in a sharp breath, and their expressions soon diverged in all directions.
A fifty-fifty chance of dying — this mission was far too perilous. Staying in Tianyuan City, on the other hand, only carried a sixty percent chance of facing an alien race's invasion, and if it was just a single race attacking the city, quite a few people still felt confident they could weather the storm.
With this calculation in mind, accepting the mission actually seemed to carry even greater risk.
Of course, when it came to matters of one's own life, things couldn't be figured out so simply. Everyone naturally had their own considerations and reservations.
For a time, the great hall fell completely silent.
"There is no need for Fellow Daoists to make a decision immediately. These missions will be issued gradually over the course of about a year. Moreover, it will be specifically noted that once you accept such a mission, those holding a post may abandon and transfer their original assignment. So even those of you with a fixed position need not worry." Cultivator Wen added a few final words at the end.
"Senior Wen, even if we can complete the mission, what about the Dustcleansing Pills? Without Dustcleansing Pills, even if we succeed in the mission, we'll still perish under the subsequent Two-Colored Heavenly Tribulation." Han Li spoke up for the first time.
"So it's Nephew Han. There's no need to worry about that. Having you undertake such a dangerous mission is already an act of last resort. Naturally, before you set out, you will be fully supplied with all the Dustcleansing Pills you need. However, in exchange, these spirit pills will be placed under a restriction. Unless you truly manage to complete the mission, these Dustcleansing Pills will self-destruct on their own. All of you would do well to abandon any notion of abandoning the mission midway and slipping away on your own. Otherwise, the consequences should be quite clear to you." Zhao Wugui replied flatly.
"So that's how it is. Thank you for clearing that up, Senior." Han Li nodded and calmly sat back down without any change in expression.
Several people in the hall showed no outward reaction upon hearing Zhao Wugui's words, but inwardly they all bitter-smiled at the same time.
The last shred of hope these people had been clinging to was naturally and utterly extinguished.
"Everything that needed to be said, the two of us have already told you all. The first wave of missions will be issued in half a month. If any of you truly wish to accept these missions, you would do well to prepare early. Although these missions were specifically arranged by Elder Lei Luo for you, if other cultivators happen to take them up before you do, there is nothing we can do about that. Well then, the gathering ends here. Go home and give careful thought to the pros and cons." With a smile, the cultivator surnamed Wen offered one final piece of admonition before officially declaring the gathering concluded.
He and Zhao Wugui were the first to rise from their seats and walk out of the hall.
After a brief silence, the people remaining in the hall also began filing out one after another. Most of them wore furrowed brows, looking as though their minds were weighed down with heavy thoughts.
Han Li was in no hurry to leave. Instead, he remained quietly seated in his chair, lost in contemplation as he turned something over in his mind.
After a short while, only a handful of people were left in the hall.
"What's this? Brother Han, could it be you're interested in these missions?" Suddenly, someone walked over and addressed Han Li with a smile.
Han Li's expression shifted slightly. Once he had a clear look at the person approaching, he returned the smile and replied:
"So it's Fairy Xuan. I confess I am somewhat tempted. The strategy the seniors have devised is indeed a reasonable way to protect oneself. It's just that the danger is rather extreme."
This person turned out to be that female cultivator clad in blue palace robes, whose cultivation appeared to be at the mid-stage of Deity Transformation.
Han Li had seen this woman at several previous gatherings and exchanged a few words with her, so she could be considered an acquaintance.
"I heard that in a recent patrol mission, Brother Han single-handedly captured a Green Shadow. It seems your abilities may well surpass those of ordinary late-stage Deity Transformation cultivators. If you were willing to accept these missions, I imagine your success rate would certainly be much higher than that of most peers. Why don't you and I join forces and take on one of them together?" the woman surnamed Xuan said with a lovely smile.
Although her face was veiled by a blue gauze mask, judging from her exposed skin and her stunning visible eyes, she was naturally a breathtakingly beautiful woman of extraordinary grace.
Hearing this, Han Li was momentarily surprised, but after gazing at her face for a moment, he slowly shook his head.
"You flatter me, Fellow Daoist. I have only recently advanced to the mid-stage. How could I possibly compare with you and the others? As for whether I will accept these missions, I truly haven't decided yet. It would be a bit premature to make a decision now."
Han Li's tone was exceptionally polite, yet the intent of his refusal was subtly apparent.
Upon hearing his response, a trace of disappointment flickered through the woman surnamed Xuan's eyes, but she did not press the matter further. After exchanging a few more idle words, she bid him farewell and departed.
After watching the woman's figure disappear through the hall entrance, Han Li finally withdrew his gaze and thought to himself with a calm detachment:
Although this woman's cultivation was not weak and she practiced a technique known as "Three Thousand Emeralds" which was reportedly extremely formidable, he was accustomed to acting alone. Moreover, he possessed precious treasures he did not want others to easily discover. Even if he were to accept these missions, he would never consider partnering with anyone. Furthermore, he was currently entangled in an important matter, and even if an alien race's siege were to erupt tomorrow, he would not be able to leave immediately.
Those over ten thousand Gold Devouring Beetles that he had been continuously fed Nishang Grass had finally, a year ago, met every condition needed for their transformation into mature forms. He had already used the ripening secret technique obtained from the Tianlan Holy Woman to refine and accelerate their maturation.
Judging by the progress, it would take anywhere from several months to at most a year for these spirit insects to complete their transformation and truly become mature. How could he bear to interrupt their evolution during this period, abandon them easily, and let these insects fail their advancement?
Han Li felt somewhat troubled. He sighed lightly, then finally rose to his feet and left the place.
A streak of azure light soared up from the small valley and headed in the direction of the city district.