"It seems this Spirit King is truly quite mysterious! Brother Mo, do you know what sort of deal Grand Patriarch Stone Heart struck with them, that they would willingly trade away a treasure like the Three Purities Thunder Firmament Talisman?" After a moment of contemplation, Han Li finally asked the question he was most concerned about.
"I'm ashamed to say — I know about everything else, but the details of that transaction are something I truly have no knowledge of. All I know is that it seems the Spirit King wanted Grand Patriarch Stone Heart to do something, something quite dangerous. Otherwise, they wouldn't have offered the Three Purities Thunder Firmament Talisman as compensation." Mo Jianli hesitated briefly before answering.
"Do something?" Both Han Li and Ao Xiao showed expressions of surprise.
"That should be correct, but the specifics are something I really know nothing about. Actually, if it weren't for the fact that I suffered some damage to my vitality in the Demon Realm this time, and that going to see the Spirit King alone would be too reckless, I would have proactively made a trip to the Spirit Race the moment I returned from the Demon Realm." Mo Jianli said with a bitter smile.
"Brother Mo, why didn't you mention this to me? If the two of us joined forces, perhaps we could have found a way to obtain the Three Purities Thunder Firmament Talisman from the Spirit King as well." Grand Patriarch Ao Xiao furrowed his brows.
"What use would it have been to tell Fellow Daoist Ao earlier? You also lost considerable vitality in the Demon Realm, and you still need to prepare for your Heavenly Tribulation soon. If any further damage were suffered because of this matter, even if we obtained the talisman, it wouldn't be worth the cost. However, if it were Fellow Daoist Han, that would be different. If I'm not mistaken, Fellow Daoist Han's aura has become even more unfathomable than before entering the Demon Realm. If he were willing to accompany me on this trip, there might actually be a decent chance of obtaining a few Three Purities Thunder Firmament Talismans." After a series of expressions flickered across his face, Mo Jianli finally revealed his intentions.
"What? Brother Mo plans to go to the Spirit Race with Fellow Daoist Han?" Grand Patriarch Ao Xiao's expression changed slightly.
"Indeed, I do have such intentions. First, with Fellow Daoist Han and me joining forces, even if the Spirit King is as unwelcoming toward our two races as ever, they wouldn't dare easily harbor ill intentions, and would most likely conduct the transaction honestly with us. Second, even if I don't go to the Spirit Race now, I'll probably have to make the trip eventually. After all, our Heavenly Tribulations are not that far off, and I have no confidence whatsoever in surviving the next one either. I very much want to obtain the Three Purities Thunder Firmament Talisman. And this talisman would also be of great use to Fellow Daoist Han — it might just save a life during one of the Heavenly Tribulations to come." Mo Jianli spoke candidly, not concealing the fact that he wanted to obtain one for himself as well.
Grand Patriarch Ao Xiao's expression shifted uncertainly, and for a moment he said nothing in response.
Han Li also fell into contemplation.
"Senior Mo! If the Three Purities Thunder Firmament Talisman is so precious, then whatever the Spirit King wants done must be incredibly dangerous — there might even be a risk of perishing." Unable to hold back after hearing all this, Yin Yue spoke up.
"Dealing with the Spirit King naturally carries its dangers. But which step we cultivators take on our path isn't fraught with a thousand difficulties? Of course, if the risk truly is extreme, Fellow Daoist Han doesn't face the threat of Heavenly Tribulation and wouldn't need to agree to anything the Spirit King demands. All I ask is that Fellow Daoist Han accompany me on the trip." Mo Jianli seemed to have considered this matter long ago and answered without hesitation.
Upon hearing this, Yin Yue glanced at Han Li, then at Grand Patriarch Ao Xiao, her expression becoming somewhat complicated, unsure of what else to say.
"If one obtained a single Three Purities Thunder Firmament Talisman, by how much would Fellow Daoist Ao Xiao's chances of surviving the Heavenly Tribulation increase?" Han Li asked slowly.
"I can't say for certain how much, but a fifteen percent increase is probably reasonable." Mo Jianli replied solemnly.
Grand Patriarch Ao Xiao remained silent in contemplation, clearly tacitly acknowledging this assessment.
"Fifteen percent — that is indeed a significant margin. Fellow Daoist Ao, if you deliberately delayed the onset of your Heavenly Tribulation a bit longer, how much more time do you think you could buy?" Han Li asked another question toward Grand Patriarch Ao Xiao.
"Ten years at most. Any longer, and I won't be able to suppress it anymore." A muscle on Grand Patriarch Ao Xiao's face twitched as he replied.
"Ten years. That means there's still some buffer time." Han Li's gaze flickered slightly, as though he had already made a decision in his heart.
"Fellow Daoist Han, you mean to say..." Mo Jianli couldn't help but press further.
"Since there's a way to help Fellow Daoist Ao Xiao, and this matter stands to benefit both Fellow Daoist Mo and myself greatly, I naturally won't let the opportunity slip. Brother Mo, catch!" Han Li smiled faintly as he spoke, then suddenly flicked his sleeve. A ball of white light shot straight toward Mo Jianli. Mo Jianli instinctively raised his hand and caught the white light in his palm, then spread his fingers open — it was a small milky-white bottle, from which a faint medicinal fragrance wafted.
"This is..." Mo Jianli narrowed his eyes, a look of surprise appearing on his face.
"This is a bottle of Fennel Incineration Pills, highly beneficial for recovering depleted vitality. Brother Mo, all you need to do is take one of these pills and then enter seclusion for a year of intensive cultivation, and you should be able to recover most of your original losses. When that time comes, we can go together to meet the Spirit King, and I imagine our chances will be considerably better." Han Li said casually.
"These pills actually have such miraculous effects? Then this old man won't stand on ceremony." Upon hearing this, Mo Jianli was naturally overjoyed. He immediately opened the medicine bottle, checked it briefly with his spiritual sense, then stowed it away with a face full of smiles. With his original injuries, if he were to take ordinary pills, his recovery time would have been at least several times longer.
Grand Patriarch Ao Xiao's expression shifted somewhat upon witnessing this scene.
Han Li then turned his head and said to this elder of the monster race: "Fellow Daoist Ao, if I'm not mistaken, in addition to your vitality being depleted far more severely than Fellow Daoist Mo's, there seems to be something wrong with your spiritual soul as well."