Han Li's expression did not change, and there was no trace of anger in his gaze as he looked at the young girl. However, the elder could clearly feel the bone-chilling aura emanating from Han Li's body.
Alarmed, the elder had not yet managed to pull the girl behind him when a terrifying wave of imposing pressure exploded from Han Li's body. The horrifying spiritual pressure contained within was so powerful that the girl, who was standing right beside him, was forced stumbling backward seven or eight steps, utterly powerless to resist.
Fortunately, the elder was sharp-eyed and quick-handed. His figure blurred as he darted behind the girl, slapping both palms onto her shoulders to finally halt her retreating form.
At this moment, the young girl's face was pale as paper. Having personally experienced the terrifying level of Han Li's cultivation, she could not help but look at her grandfather behind her in a panic.
And the elder's expression was equally grim!
If he had previously held even three parts of confidence that he and his granddaughter could combine their strength and escape from Han Li, then after witnessing just a glimpse of the other party's true power, that last shred of hope was thoroughly cast aside.
The terror of a cultivator who had reached Foundation Establishment was far beyond anything he had imagined — absolutely not something small-time cultivators like them could afford to provoke.
The thought of the little tricks he and his granddaughter had just attempted to pull in front of this man sent cold sweat pouring down the elder's back.
This expert was absolutely nothing like the cultivators he had encountered before — those dull fools who knew nothing but bitter seclusion and cultivation. This man's intelligence was extraordinary, his reactions far quicker than any ordinary person's.
Could it be that this was actually a monster who had lived for over a hundred years, only looking so young because he possessed some extraordinary technique to preserve his appearance?
The more the elder thought about it, the more plausible it seemed, and the more terror filled his heart!
Sensing that the spiritual pressure from Han Li's body seemed to be growing even stronger, the elder swallowed hard and pleaded in a trembling voice:
"Senior, please show mercy! My granddaughter is simply too young and doesn't know how vast the world truly is. Please calm your anger, Senior!"
Han Li gave the elder a cold look, and seeming to sense that his words were genuine, the terrifying aura about his body suddenly subsided, instantly transforming back into a still, impenetrable depth — like water so calm that nothing showed on its surface.
Only then did Elder Xiao tremblingly withdraw his hands from the girl's shoulders. By now, the young girl was thoroughly meek. She stole one glance at Han Li, then immediately looked away again, not daring to meet his gaze directly.
She was a completely different person from the fearless girl of just moments ago!
But now, with her petite and delicate frame paired with her terrified, pallid complexion, she resembled nothing so much as a frightened little bird — utterly endearing.
Even Han Li, upon seeing her like this, felt his eyes brighten somewhat. For the first time, he discovered a particular kind of beauty in this feminine delicacy — truly captivating, giving him a sense of pleasant surprise. He could not help but look at her a few more times.
Only after carefully studying the girl's features did he realize that despite her young age — no more than fourteen or fifteen — she was undoubtedly a rare beauty in the making. In all likelihood, she would one day become a peerless enchantress capable of bringing the world to its knees.
Perhaps Han Li's gaze upon the girl was a little too strange, because when the elder caught sight of it, his heart plummeted.
"Could it be that this man summoned us here because he's taken a fancy to my granddaughter's beauty? What am I supposed to do? His magical power is unfathomably deep — there's no way I can resist him!" The elder's mind raced with worry, spiraling into wild speculation.
"Since the two of you are unwilling to reveal your family, or perhaps you have no family at all and are merely independent cultivators, I won't force the issue. The reason I brought you here was simply to propose a trade. Once the deal is done, you're both free to leave."
After a long silence, Han Li finally spoke again.
"A trade?"
The elder was stunned, suddenly realizing he may have misunderstood the situation entirely.
"That's right. I've taken an interest in something the two of you possess, and I'd like to make an exchange!" Han Li said calmly, his expression placid.
Hearing these words, the elder could not help but glance at his granddaughter, thinking to himself:
"He doesn't want to trade for my granddaughter, does he?"
But on second thought, it really didn't seem likely.
After all, apart from having looked at his granddaughter a few extra times earlier, Han Li had not glanced her way again.
With this thought, the elder felt somewhat relieved, and said respectfully:
"I wonder what item has caught Senior's eye. If it is something this junior possesses, I would naturally offer it to Senior in all sincerity! It's just that this old man truly cannot imagine what he could possibly have that would interest a Senior like yourself."
There was a note of genuine puzzlement in the elder's last remark.
Seeing that the other party was being so cooperative, Han Li's expression softened, and a faint smile appeared on his face.
"What technique were the two of you using in the main hall? To conceal your spiritual energy so thoroughly that even that Daoist priest, who is also at the Qi Condensation stage, didn't notice your identities at all?" Rather than answering the elder's question, Han Li asked in a gentler tone.