After finishing his thoughts, Han Li let out a faint, worried sigh. He flicked a finger toward Zhu Guo'er on the ground.
A tiny wisp of green light shot out, vanishing in a flash as it sank into the young woman's body.
The next moment, the sleeping girl's eyelids trembled, and she slowly came to.
But when Zhu Guo'er sat upright on the ground and recalled everything that had happened before she lost consciousness, her expression turned ghastly pale.
"You performed a Soul Search on me!" the girl fixed her gaze on Han Li, enunciating each word.
"If I hadn't searched your soul, how would I have learned what I needed to know? But rest easy — I wouldn't have wasted my spiritual energy searching through anything I had no interest in, and with my level of cultivation, I didn't cause any damage to your Primordial Spirit. Still, I never expected that you weren't a native of the Spirit Realm at all, but came here from the Small Spirit World. That was truly beyond my expectations," Han Li replied flatly.
Upon hearing Han Li even utter the name "Small Spirit World," Zhu Guo'er bit her lip hard and said nothing for a long while.
"I've planted a restriction inside your body. While we're in Huan Ye City, you'll serve as my handmaiden for a time. If you prove satisfactory, I may well restore your freedom when I leave the city. For now, go downstairs and pick any room to rest in. There's no need to come to me unless something out of the ordinary comes up. And from now on, you address me as Master." Han Li paid no attention to the girl's expression, delivering these instructions in a light, offhand manner.
"Yes, Master. This servant will take her leave!" The yellow-robed girl could only agree reluctantly. She gave Han Li a bow and obediently headed down the stairs.
It was clear that the girl understood full well that any form of resistance before a Void Integration demon lord would only bring suffering upon herself.
But judging by her dispirited air, she clearly did not place much genuine hope in Han Li's recent promise.
After watching Zhu Guo'er's retreating figure disappear at the top of the staircase, Han Li raised his head and gazed at the ceiling, lost in a daze once more.
For three consecutive days, Han Li remained hidden on the top floor of the pavilion, quietly meditating and resting, without stepping out even once.
But on the fourth day, someone came to visit of their own accord.
"The patriarch of the Zhao clan sent someone over?" Han Li sat cross-legged on his meditation cushion, his brow arching slightly as he looked toward the yellow-robed girl who had come to announce the visitor.
"Yes, Master. An Elder of the Zhao clan personally delivered an invitation card and insisted it be placed in your hands!" Zhu Guo'er held up a gleaming silver card, her voice calm.
"Let me see."
Han Li narrowed his eyes and made a casual grasping motion in midair. With a whoosh, the card flew into his hand of its own accord. He unfolded it gently.
With a soft pop!
A burst of golden light rose from the silver card, and after a brief blur, it coalesced into the spectral image of a refined, scholarly-looking middle-aged man.
Dark scales were faintly visible at the corners of his eyes, yet his pupils shimmered with golden light.
This had to be the patriarch of the Zhao clan!
The phantom cupped his fists toward Han Li in a slight salute and spoke a few words with a courteous smile.
His tone was exceedingly polite. He conveyed two matters in broad terms. First, he had learned of Han Li's arrival as a demon lord from Manager Huang of the Ten Thousand Slave Tower. As the host family of Huan Ye City, the Zhao clan hoped to cultivate a friendly relationship with Han Li, and he explicitly stated that the clan bore Han Li no ill will whatsoever over a mere female slave. The second matter was that one month hence, the Zhao clan would hold its ancestral rite, and he hoped Han Li would attend as an honored guest to observe the ceremony.
As soon as the phantom finished speaking, it cupped its fists toward Han Li once more, then dissipated with a muffled pop.
Only the gleaming silver invitation card remained.
Han Li's gaze swept over it.
Dense black demon runes covered the surface of the silver card, and at its center was a single gleaming golden character — "Zhao."
Han Li's expression remained blank, but he suddenly rubbed his palms together.
With a muffled boom, a ball of silver flame burst from his palms and instantly reduced the card to ashes.
"Next time the Zhao clan sends someone to ask for a reply, tell them I accept their invitation. I'll arrive on time in one month," Han Li instructed the girl.
"As you command!" Zhu Guo'er lowered her head in acknowledgment and took her leave.
Han Li closed his eyes and settled back into meditation.
However, somewhat unexpectedly, barely another day had passed when the yellow-robed girl came to announce a visitor once more — a woman surnamed Bai, who claimed to be an old acquaintance of Han Li's.
The moment Han Li heard this, he guessed without much thought that the visitor was most likely Bai Yunxin.
It seemed that word of his sudden rise to demon lord had finally reached the Bai clan. Otherwise, the woman would not have rushed over in person just days after returning home.
As these thoughts turned in his mind, Han Li had no intention of refusing to see her. He immediately instructed Zhu Guo'er to escort the guest to the first-floor hall to wait, and after a short while, he made his way down from the top floor at an unhurried pace.
When he reached the first-floor hall, Han Li spotted the beautiful young woman seated in a chair at a glance — it was indeed the one he had expected. The corner of his mouth curved upward in a faint smile, and he spoke:
"So it's Fairy Bai who has come to visit. I'm afraid I've been slow to come down. Please don't take offense, Fellow Daoist." Han Li spoke these words with ease, but the aura of his Void Integration stage cultivation was no longer concealed — he released it openly and without reservation.