These words not only left the Golden Flame Marquis and Qing Yuanzi exchanging a helpless glance and wry smile, but even Han Li felt his eyelids twitch rapidly, a wave of alarm washing through his heart.
"I've called you all here today because I have matters to discuss. Might as well go sit down first. Jin Yan, that Jade Spirit Wine of yours is brewed quite well — bring me seven or eight jars," the old man said with a casual flick of his eyes, speaking as though it were the most natural thing in the world.
"Seven or eight jars! Brother Xuling, you must be joking. That Jade Spirit Wine requires three hundred years to brew a single jar, and the ingredients are exceedingly difficult to find. I have only three or four jars in my entire possession at most. How could I possibly have seven or eight jars for you to drink your fill!" The Golden Flame Marquis's facial muscles twitched at the words, his expression caught somewhere between laughter and tears.
"Haha, three or four will do as well. That's enough for a few good cups," the old man said with a hearty laugh.
Without waiting for the Golden Flame Marquis or Qing Yuanzi to say anything further, he pinched a single-handed seal, and the giant beetle beneath him let out a muffled puff, dissolving into a wisp of black smoke and vanishing into thin air. The black smoke then coiled and writhed like a nimble serpent, slipping into the vast sleeve of his robe before disappearing entirely.
The old man's figure then blurred, transforming into a streak of dark light that shot downward toward the palace below.
The Golden Flame Marquis wore a face full of resignation as he reached one hand up toward the empty sky above and made a grasping motion.
The three golden-armored guards who had been suspended high in the air immediately ceased their spinning, and the white threads wound around their bodies snapped and unraveled strand by strand.
Though the three guards were still reeling from dizziness, they had barely steadied themselves before hastily rushing over to pay their respects to the Golden Flame Marquis. Shame and embarrassment colored their faces as they spoke:
"Thank you, Master, for saving us! We are incompetent and have brought disgrace upon you!"
"None of this was your fault. The newcomer's power is such that even I would need to give him a wide berth. Simply restore the restrictive formations and that will be sufficient," the Golden Flame Marquis said, shaking his head. Then, with a golden flame rolling across the surface of his body, he too transformed into a streak of light and shot downward.
"Young friend Han, come along as well. That old monster is truly difficult to handle — be on your guard around him," Qing Yuanzi sighed. With a flash of golden light beneath his feet, he vanished into the void.
Han Li stroked his chin, considered for a moment, then likewise transformed into a streak of light and flew downward.
In the span of a few minutes, Han Li and the others reappeared in the same great hall they had been in before, taking their seats once more.
The only difference was that in the seat opposite Qing Yuanzi, there now sat the old man called Xuling.
The Golden Flame Marquis wasted no more words. He raised both hands and clapped lightly, and immediately four beautiful maidservants draped in gossamer golden robes came forward, each carrying platters of rare spirit fruits and placing them on the tables before everyone.
"Where's the Jade Spirit Wine! Jin Yan, you're not planning to fob me off with just a few pieces of fruit, are you?" The old man swept a glance over the spirit fruits before him and rolled his eyes.
"Brother Xuling, please don't be impatient. The Jade Spirit Wine must be stored in ten-thousand-year-old mystic ice to develop its full richness. I've already sent someone to the ice cavern to retrieve it," the Golden Flame Marquis explained, forcibly suppressing the irritation in his heart.
"Now that's more like it!" The old man nodded, then snatched up a bright red spirit fruit resembling a peach from the table before him and devoured it in a few bites, apparently not even bothering to spit out the pit.
Watching this scene, Han Li was momentarily at a loss for words.
It was at that moment that the old man's gaze somehow landed on Han Li. After a few brief sweeps, he suddenly let out a soft "Oh?"
"Little fellow, looking at your bone age, you're barely past two thousand years old, yet at such a young age you've already attained your current cultivation level. Your aptitude really is quite impressive. Are you that clansman of Qing Yuanzi's?" the old man asked, a trace of interest in his voice.
"This junior greets the senior. This junior is indeed a clansman of Senior Jiang," Han Li replied, rising hastily and bowing respectfully. Hearing the old man's somewhat admiring tone, rather than feeling flattered, Han Li actually felt a faint chill crawling up his spine. This was a person who gave even a being as powerful as Qing Yuanzi a terrible headache — in his heart, Han Li wanted to maintain the utmost respectful distance.
What was more, the fact that the old man could discern his true age with nothing more than the naked eye was nothing short of terrifying. He could only hope that the old man's remarks had been nothing more than a passing remark.
But Han Li's hope was clearly in vain. Upon hearing Han Li's response, the old man's eyes lit up, and he clicked his tongue in amazement as he continued:
"Not bad, not bad. With aptitude like yours, even across the entire Spirit Realm you'd be exceedingly rare. Qing Yuanzi, I recall that your human race is rather unremarkable — just a minor race, isn't it? Yet not only do you have a Mahayona-level cultivator like yourself, but you also have a junior like young Han here with such extraordinary potential. That's no simple matter at all. Could it be that your human race has been deliberately concealing its true strength?"
"Brother Xuling, you jest! Our human race truly is only a minor race. I may have originated from the human race, but I came upon separate opportunities later on — otherwise I would never have been able to cultivate to my current level. But because of that, I can hardly be considered a pure-blooded human anymore. As for young friend Han's astonishing progress, it is nothing too unusual. Any race may produce one or two heaven-blessed prodigies from time to time. It just so happened that Brother Xuling encountered one, which is hardly something that can compare to your esteemed race," Qing Yuanzi's expression shifted, and he quickly offered a dry laugh.
"Is that so? Well, while my Mayfly Race is by no means small, even among us I have never seen anyone reach Late-Stage Deity Transformation at such a young age. So, young friend, would you be interested in joining our Mayfly Race? As long as you're willing to stay and serve as a Guest Elder, all the cultivation materials and spirit herbs you'll ever need will be fully covered by our race," the old man said with a hum, casting a sidelong glance at Qing Yuanzi before addressing Han Li with a half-smile.
Qing Yuanzi's face changed drastically upon hearing this. His lips moved as though he wanted to say something, but in the end, no words came forth.