Han Li clasped his hands behind his back and waited quietly in midair.
In the time it took a few breaths to pass, a flash of light appeared on the distant horizon — what seemed to be a streak of light from a flying treasure.
After Han Li narrowed his eyes, two ripples of spatial fluctuation materialized some thirty-odd zhang away. A cloud of rosy light and a mass of black qi emerged simultaneously without a sound.
Within the rosy radiance, the translucent afterimage of a massive tree flickered and vanished, and Bao and the Black Crocodile appeared in physical form.
The mass of black qi, meanwhile, condensed with a whirring spin and coalesced into a cold-faced, black-robed young man — none other than Saint Ancestor Yuan Yan.
The moment the three appeared before Han Li, they said nothing, simply sizing him up and down in silence.
After a long moment, a flicker of something unusual crossed Bao's face, and she spoke with a soft laugh: "Friend Han, you came out rather late. I was growing somewhat worried. But seeing you looking so well in the complexion, I trust the Spirit Cleansing Pool did you a great deal of good. That puts my mind at ease."
"What Senior Bao is worried about isn't this junior — it's the spirit herbs in my possession," Han Li replied with a faint smile, his tone perfectly composed.
"Does it make a difference?" Bao returned with a graceful smile, utterly unperturbed. "If you truly became trapped in the Spirit Cleansing Pool with no way out, the spirit herbs would be entirely beside the point."
"Senior speaks her mind plainly, I see!" Han Li could not help but let out a rueful laugh.
"Enough idle talk! Human brat — since you've come out of there, it's time to hand over the spirit herbs. If you've any thought of going back on your word, don't blame this seat for seizing them by force." The black-robed young man fixed his gaze on Han Li, a fierce light glinting in his eyes.
"Rest assured, both of you — this junior has no intention of breaking his promise." The corner of Han Li's mouth lifted ever so slightly. His palm turned over, and two jade boxes appeared in his hand. With a flick of his wrist, he tossed them without a shred of hesitation toward the two demon sovereigns on the opposite side.
Whether it was the smiling Bao or the stern-faced Saint Ancestor Yuan Yan, both of their hearts lurched the instant they saw this!
Almost instinctively, one swept a sleeve outward while the other seized with a great hand grasping at empty air.
The two jade boxes flashed once, then settled securely into each party's possession.
The black-robed young man could no longer conceal the excitement on his face. He did not even bother opening the lid before sending his spiritual sense sweeping into the box. A moment later, his expression erupted into wild elation: "Ha ha ha — it really is the Demon Tempering Grass! This seat spent tens of thousands of years hiding in the depths of the forbidden land, painstakingly cultivating this herb to no avail, never expecting to finally obtain a true finished product here… Hmm? Wait — what is this that you left on it?"
Yuan Yan's laughter, born of pure elation, cut off abruptly as his features twisted into a look of shock and fury.
At that same moment, Bao had finished inspecting the spirit herb inside the other jade box with her spiritual sense. The smile vanished from her face without a trace, and she spoke in a voice as cold as a blade: "Fellow Daoist Han, what is the meaning of this? Did you truly think you could conceal such a petty little trick from me?"
The gazes both demon sovereigns turned upon Han Li grew thoroughly hostile.
"No need for either of you to grow angry. Allow me to ask first — is there anything wrong with the herbs in the boxes?" Han Li showed not a flicker of fear. Instead, he posed his question in a perfectly unhurried manner.
"Hmph. The herbs are genuine. But don't pretend you haven't tampered with them." The black-robed young man stared straight at Han Li, his voice sharp as a blade.
"The herbs are real. This junior demands an explanation as well. Otherwise, I'm afraid you won't be leaving this island," Bao added, her tone just as grim.
"Since the items are genuine, and I have personally placed them in the hands of you two seniors, that constitutes fulfillment of my original promise." Han Li continued without the slightest change in his expression.
"Even if that's true — so what! Human brat, don't tell me you think you can wriggle your way out of this with nothing but clever wordplay!" Yuan Yan's fury reached its peak and broke into a sharp, mirthless laugh. He took a single, enormous stride forward, and black qi surged in a violent roll across his body. A monstrous wave of killing intent erupted toward the heavens.
The vast expanse of void nearby blurred and hummed under the pressure.
This primordial demon ancestor, consumed by rage, seemed ready to attack without another word.
"You've misunderstood me, Senior! What I left on the herbs are not some complex restrictions — merely two wisp-like threads of divided intent. They will dissipate on their own before long and cause no damage whatsoever to the herbs." Han Li waved his hand dismissively, perfectly calm.
"Threads of divided intent? You mean…" Bao probed the herb in her jade box several more times with her spiritual sense before finally confirming that Han Li's words were true. A shift crossed her expression as she spoke.
"I have no ulterior motive. This junior would never dare gamble his own life on whether the two of you would truly let me go unharmed once you had the herbs in hand. That is why I placed a single wisp of divided intent upon each herb. As long as I can leave the Thunder Sea in safety, the herbs will remain perfectly unharmed. But should either of you make any untoward move, the moment these two wisps of intent detect it, they will immediately detonate themselves. Whether the herbs survive or not will be left entirely to fate." Han Li's eyes gleamed with a sharp light as he enunciated each word with deliberate precision.
"You dare threaten this seat?!" Before Bao could respond, Yuan Yan exploded into a thunderous rage.