"That's more than fair — ask away." After a brief moment of thought, Han Li agreed without hesitation, though his tone carried a subtle shift.
The old man was clearly trapped within the Demon-Subduing Lock and unable to leave, so Han Li readily agreed to the arrangement.
"Good. I want to know first — from whose hands did you obtain the Demon-Subduing Lock?" Delighted by the response, the green-robed old man asked without hesitation about the matter he cared most about.
"From a couple of your noble race's Venerable Ones." Han Li had anticipated this and answered immediately.
"Two Venerable Ones — could they have been Blood Light's lackeys? But how would he entrust this item to anyone else?" The old man's gaze flickered, and he murmured to himself in contemplation.
"I've already answered one question. Might you tell me your name first?" Han Li ignored the old man's musings and posed his own query.
"This seat is Che Qi Gong. You are a human — how did you encounter our Holy Race's Venerable Ones? Are you currently within our Holy Realm?" The old man replied curtly, then swiftly fired off his second question.
"Che Qi Gong — I've genuinely never heard that name before. Your Ancient Demon Realm is in the midst of invading our Spirit Realm once more. Is it so strange that I crossed paths with your noble race's Venerable Ones?" Han Li answered with a faint smile.
"What? The Holy Sacrifice has begun?! I've truly been trapped here for all those years. How long has it been underway? If it's only the early period, then Blood Light's true body cannot descend to the Human Realm immediately — could that be why he let the Demon-Subduing Lock leave his side?" The old man started in alarm, then knitted his brow tightly.
"That sounds like the next question!" At the words "Holy Sacrifice," Han Li's expression shifted subtly, but he quickly composed himself.
"Very well, ask your next question." The green-robed old man's face flushed with anger, but he seemed to recall something and forcibly suppressed his fury.
"My next question is simple. I want to know whether you are one of the Sacred Ancestors of the Ancient Demon Realm?" Han Li asked gravely.
"Since you've already guessed it, why bother asking? Not only is this old man a Sacred Ancestor of the Holy Realm, but I am one of the longest-surviving Sacred Ancestors in the entire realm! There are only three or four beings whose lifespans can rival mine." The green-robed old man spoke in a frigid tone.
"Is that so? Then please forgive my discourtesy." Han Li was momentarily taken aback, but quickly chuckled softly.
Judging from the other party's manner of speech and the astonishing powers he had displayed, this answer came as no surprise.
"What are you laughing at? Could it be that you find it amusing — a Sacred Ancestor like this old man, trapped here despite having lived for so many eons?" Che Qi Gong's face darkened, a flash of viciousness glinting in his eyes.
"How could I harbor such thoughts? Regardless of your powers, they are far beyond what this junior could ever approach. I have no intention whatsoever of mocking you." Han Li's smile vanished, and he delivered a seemingly composed reply.
But inwardly, he couldn't help but mutter that this old demon's temperament was exceedingly mercurial, and he needed to be doubly careful.
"You know this old man is a Sacred Ancestor, and yet you remain this calm. Don't tell me you actually believe this old man wouldn't devour your mere wisp of a spiritual projection?" Che Qi Gong said with a savage grin.
"If you were willing to act, you would have done so long ago. Why would you have waited until now?" Han Li maintained his nonchalant demeanor.
"You're quite sharp. If I weren't trapped here, this old man would have crushed you to death the moment I encountered a mere human cultivator like yourself. Enough — answer my previous question. Has the Holy Sacrifice only just begun? Have those Sacred Ancestors not yet descended with their true bodies?" Che Qi Gong finally regained his composure and gave a cold snort.
"The Demon Tribulation has indeed only recently begun. For those Sacred Ancestors to descend with their true bodies — that is utterly impossible at this point." Han Li concealed nothing on this matter and answered honestly.
"So it's true!" A flicker of excitement crossed Che Qi Gong's face before vanishing, and he sank into deep contemplation, seemingly weighing something with great effort.
"Can you tell me about the uses of this Demon-Subduing Lock?" Han Li paid no heed to the old man's state and posed his next question.
"The Demon-Subduing Lock? Your human race couldn't possibly wield this thing. It's a wasted question." The old man was momentarily stunned, swept a glance over Han Li, and a mocking smile appeared on his face.
"Whether it's truly useless to me or not is something I'll judge for myself." Han Li pressed on in his usual calm manner.