"So that's how it is!" Han Li murmured, forming a rough impression of the Land of the Styx in his mind.
"Good. I can answer one last question, so choose carefully," Mu Qing said coldly.
"I'd like to know — once we enter the Land of the Styx, what exactly would you have me do?" Han Li considered for a moment, then asked.
Though he was also curious about the intentions of those several demon kings in entering the Land of the Styx, what concerned him more were matters directly related to himself. If he didn't get this clarified, he would naturally feel uneasy.
"You really want to ask about that?" Mu Qing sounded somewhat surprised.
"Yes. I would appreciate a clear answer," Han Li confirmed without hesitation.
"Since you're willing to spend your last question on this, I see no reason to keep it from you. It's quite simple — I want you to accompany me to retrieve something of great use to me. However, the place where this item is kept is guarded by extremely powerful demonic creatures. Going alone would make it rather difficult, and only your Evil-Warding Divine Lightning can counter them," the woman said casually.
"Demonic creatures? Isn't the Land of the Styx a place where ghosts and spirits congregate?" Han Li furrowed his brow, somewhat taken aback.
"Most of the inhabitants are indeed ghosts and spirits, but there are also some demonic creatures living among them. Don't ask me the reason — I have no idea either," Mu Qing said in a tone that brooked no argument.
Han Li was left speechless.
"However, rest assured. With the aid of your Evil-Warding Divine Lightning, and with me personally taking action, dealing with those demonic creatures will be no trouble at all. Besides, if we truly manage to obtain what I'm after, I will gift you an additional treasure. As the Holy Son of the Flying Spirit Race, you will certainly be interested in it." A gleam of cunning flickered in Mu Qing's eyes.
"A treasure?" Han Li's expression turned slightly uncertain.
"Back when the Abyssal Demon Tide erupted, I once risked my life to slay an elder of the Flying Spirit Race. From him, I obtained a vial of True Spirit Blood belonging to the Flying Spirit Race. As far as I know, even though it isn't the True Spirit Blood of your own branch, for all the branches of the Flying Spirit Race it remains a priceless treasure," Mu Qing said with an air of pride.
"Which True Spirit's blood is it?" Han Li was genuinely startled.
"The True Spirit Blood of the Five-Colored Peacock. What do you think of that? Even if you cannot use it yourself, if you bring it back to your clan, the benefits would be immense — you can well imagine." Mu Qing's words were filled with temptation.
And small wonder at that!
Setting aside the Flying Spirit Race, who had always regarded True Spirit Blood as something divine, even other alien races would consider such a treasure invaluable should they obtain it.
After all, True Spirit Blood possessed miraculous effects regardless of whether one used it for alchemy or artifact refinement!
And the Five-Colored Peacock was among the most renowned of all True Spirits — a terrifying existence that ranked among the very top of the avian True Spirits.
Han Li's heart surged with joy.
Among the Twelve Transformations of the Awakening Insect that he cultivated, three transformations were ones he had already mastered, and among them was precisely the secret transformation art of the Five-Colored Peacock.
If he could absorb this spirit blood into his body, he would immediately be able to cultivate this secret technique and transform into a Five-Colored Peacock.
The power of the Twelve Transformations of the Awakening Insect grew ever more terrifying the more transformations one learned. According to the technique's description, each additional transformation mastered increased the power of all previously learned transformations by thirty percent.
In theory, if one mastered every single transformation and fused them together, the post-transformation strength would increase more than fourfold.
Of course, the base transformations would also grow far more powerful as one's cultivation advanced.
The multiplicative amplification of the Awakening Insect Technique was built upon that foundation.
Combine that with the various True Spirit great divine abilities one could wield after transforming, and the terrifying potential of the Awakening Insect Technique was easy to imagine.
And the divine ability possessed by the Five-Colored Peacock — the "Five-Colored Divine Light" — was renowned throughout the Spirit World.
It was said that wherever the Five-Colored Peacock's divine light passed, all things of the Five Elements were sealed and suppressed. It bore a striking resemblance to Han Li's Proton Magnetic Divine Light in principle.
Of course, the true power of the two was worlds apart.
Han Li's expression remained calm, but the flicker of delight in his eyes had clearly not escaped Mu Qing's notice.
She smiled faintly and continued:
"It seems Fellow Daoist Han has no objections to this Five-Colored Peacock True Spirit Blood. Then it's settled. I will hand over a portion of the True Spirit Blood to you now. After the task is complete, I will deliver the remaining half."
Once Mu Qing finished speaking, she patted the golden chair beneath her with one hand, and a small crimson vial shot out from it.
With a grasp of her fingers, the vial flew directly toward Han Li.
A strange light flashed through Han Li's eyes as he caught the vial in his hand and immediately pried open the stopper.
At once, a clear cry rang out from within the crimson vial, and five-colored light surged forth as something tried to fly out.
With a sharp snap, Han Li slammed the stopper back on without a moment's hesitation.