The spiritual power within this white-surnamed youth was unfathomably deep — he was a Body Integration stage existence.
"Was it you who activated this Guanghan Token?" The white-surnamed youth retracted his gaze, waved dismissively at the armored guards, and then fixed his eyes on Han Li.
"I'd like to deny it, but that hardly seems possible," Han Li said with a sigh, forcing a bitter smile.
"Deny it? Why would you deny it? A tremendous stroke of fortune has come your way!" The white-surenamed youth narrowed his eyes, sized Han Li up a few times, and spoke with a half-smile.
"A tremendous stroke of fortune? Senior, what do you mean—" Han Li's expression shifted as he moved to ask for clarification, but the youth frowned and suddenly turned his head toward a certain section of the wall:
"Since Brother Cang Ying has already arrived, why remain hidden? Surely you don't intend to hand this Guanghan Token over to our Water Charm race?"
"Not many Guanghan Tokens have appeared this time. Every single one is extraordinarily rare — and yet your Water Charm race would dare devour one for yourselves? Without the Wangu race to set up the Opening Formation, what good would it do you even if you secured one on your own?" An unfamiliar voice came through, cold and sharp.
Immediately after, a dark shadow flickered across the wall the white-surnamed youth had been facing, and a figure wreathed in grey light materialized soundlessly, pressed against the wall and motionless, as though it were an incorporeal being.
The voice just now had emanated from within that grey light.
"Heh heh, I know that well enough. But if this fellow Daoist were willing to join our Water Charm race, there would be no problem at all in using the Guanghan Token to bring a few more of our clansmen into the Guanghan Realm." The white-surnamed youth showed no anger, merely replying in an even tone.
"That would indeed be no problem — but this fellow Daoist hasn't said he'll join your race, has he? Perhaps he'd prefer to serve as a Guest Elder of our Yin Demon race?" The figure called "Cang Ying" spoke without the faintest trace of emotion.
"Oh? That's hard to say. If I recall correctly, our Thirteen Races have an unwritten rule: when two races simultaneously take interest in an outsider, the second party may only extend an invitation after the first has been refused. Fellow Daoist — my name is Bai Yue, Elder of the Water Charm race. I formally invite you, on behalf of my race, to join us as a Guest Elder. What do you think? If you agree, I can guarantee that your cultivation will advance an entire stage within a mere hundred years. And there are other considerable benefits as well." The white-haired youth turned away from Cang Ying and addressed Han Li directly.
As he spoke, his eyes locked onto Han Li's, a strange, glass-like light swirling rapidly within them, as though an invisible force were drawing one's very consciousness in.
Han Li's eyelid twitched. The instant his gaze met that strange light, his mind went hazy and his mouth began to move, on the verge of instinctively voicing agreement.
But in the very next moment, the
In that same instant, Han Li's spiritual sense returned to normal — but his heart quickly filled with both alarm and anger.
This white-haired youth had put on an honest, decent face, yet within just a few sentences, he had not hesitated to employ a soul-ensnaring technique. Had it not been for the Bright Pure Spirit Eyes that Han Li possessed, he would have blurted out his agreement on the spot.
The white-surnamed youth stared, momentarily stunned, a look of genuine surprise crossing his face.
"Ha ha! I didn't expect Brother Bai's Glazed Phantom Eyes to fail even against someone below the Holy Race. Don't waste your effort, Fellow Daoist Bai — since you yourself know the rule about inviting guest elders from other races is nothing more than an unwritten custom, the other races certainly won't abide by any order of precedence when a Guanghan Token is at stake." Cang Ying was equally surprised, but that didn't stop him from laughing heartily and delivering his barbed remark.
Upon hearing this, the white-surnamed youth's expression quickly recovered to normal. He gave the silent Han Li a meaningful glance, then replied to Cang Ying in a detached tone:
"Since this fellow Daoist has no intention of joining our Water Charm race, I naturally won't force the matter. Brother Cang Ying — won't your Yin Demon race try inviting him yourselves?"
"Which race gets to have this man as a Guest Elder probably isn't up to you or me to decide — nor is it something he can decide for himself. I won't do something so thankless!" Cang Ying snorted.
At these words, Bai Yue offered a faint smile and said nothing more.
Cang Ying gave a few dry laughs and likewise fell silent.
As for Han Li, he withdrew the blue light from his eyes and continued to maintain his silence.
The chamber fell into absolute stillness.
The nearby Cloud City guards stood there wide-eyed, exchanging bewildered glances.
But this tranquility was broken after only a moment.
From outside Han Li's tightly shut door came several knocks, followed by an aged voice:
"I am Qianji Zi of the Wangu race. Might I have an audience with the owner of this place?"
At the sound of that aged voice, Bai Yue's face paled ever so slightly, and the grey light around Cang Ying rippled.
Han Li's eyes flickered, and he immediately spoke up: