When Fairy Ziling saw Han Li looking unconvinced, she didn't bother explaining further. Instead, she glanced at Qu Hun and said with a charming smile:
"This 'Senior Qu' is Senior's clone, isn't he?"
The moment these words left her mouth, Han Li's body stiffened, a cold glint flashing through his eyes. He stared at her for a long while before asking in a cold voice:
"How did Miss Ziling find out?"
"Hehe! Senior need not be surprised. Our sect also possesses a method for refining clones. However, the cost is enormous and the success rate is exceedingly low, so very few in the sect practice it. But Senior's clone is quite peculiar! An ordinary clone's cultivation is always far below that of the practitioner, yet Senior Han's clone has actually reached the early Core Formation stage alongside Senior himself. That really is quite extraordinary!" Fairy Ziling laughed softly, her bright eyes flickering with amusement.
"Since Fellow Daoist Ziling has already seen through it, there's no point in my concealing anything. But where are the other two fellow daoists?" Han Li's expression softened as he admitted it freely, then glanced left and right and asked in return.
For him, it was only a matter of time before Qu Hun's identity as a clone was discovered — there was nothing to be shocked about.
"Senior, please have a seat first! My two senior sisters have gone to the market to buy some things, and they're also planning to purchase a cave dwelling in Heavenly Star City to settle in permanently." The young woman gestured elegantly for Han Li to sit, explaining in a soft voice.
"Oh? The three of you aren't planning to return to the Sound of the Enchantment Sect?" Han Li sat down and furrowed his brow slightly, a trace of puzzlement in his voice.
"Return to the Sound of the Enchantment Sect? How would we dare! We've made mortal enemies of the people from Extreme Yin Island, and to make matters worse, two of our sect's elders have defected. If we went back, even if we didn't end up in those demons' clutches again, we'd be devoured by other mid-sized and small powers. We've decided to temporarily relocate the Sound of the Enchantment Sect to Heavenly Star City. After all, the sect has accumulated some savings over the years." Fairy Ziling sighed and said with a bitter smile.
"Hmm." Han Li nodded silently, saying nothing further.
He wasn't anyone to them, naturally he wouldn't show excessive concern.
Fairy Ziling didn't seem to mind Han Li's reaction. She rose, poured him a cup of fragrant tea, and then continued with measured composure:
"When my sisters and I escaped from those corpse refiners' blockade, we happened to see from afar that Senior had also subdued the corpse. That's how we knew Senior was safe as well. Later, Senior Sister Fan told me that Senior had intervened specifically because of the Heavenly Thunder Bamboo. So I had Senior Sister Fan send a voice transmission talisman, inviting Senior here for a chat."
Fairy Ziling briefly explained the circumstances.
"The voice transmission talisman mentioned that Fellow Daoist Ziling still has the Heavenly Thunder Bamboo. Is that true? Wasn't it seized by the people from Extreme Yin Island?" Han Li had no interest in beating around the bush and went straight to the matter he cared about most.
Hearing Han Li ask so directly, a hint of amusement flickered through Fairy Ziling's large eyes. She answered in her smooth, pleasant voice:
"Senior is refreshingly straightforward, so Ziling won't keep you in suspense either. When our Sound of the Enchantment Sect originally obtained the Heavenly Thunder Bamboo from that small sect's successor, we didn't receive one stalk — we received two. However, in order to sell them at a higher price, my mother split the bamboo in two. She took only the upper half, while the section containing the root was left with me. If Senior wants it, I can give it to Senior Han."
Han Li was overjoyed inwardly, but no sign of excitement appeared on his face. Instead, he gave the young woman a meaningful look before asking in a deep voice:
"Give? Miss Ziling, there's no need for such empty words. Since you used this item to lure me here, why not just state your conditions? I'll consider them accordingly."
Fairy Ziling paused briefly, her smile gradually fading. After a moment's deliberation, she said earnestly:
"To be honest, the Heavenly Thunder Bamboo is of no use to the current Sound of the Enchantment Sect. Given that Senior came to our aid last time, it would only be right to gift it to you. But our sect has been beset by upheaval after upheaval, and with our meager strength, we're completely unable to sustain an organization as large as the Sound of the Enchantment Sect. Therefore, I would like to offer this bamboo along with three hundred spirit stones per year to hire Senior as a guest elder of our sect. I truly hope Senior will not refuse!"
"A guest elder?" Han Li's expression shifted slightly.
He had never expected the other party to make such a request.
"In addition to what I've mentioned, if Senior requires a high-quality dual-cultivation partner for practice, our sect can also select an outstanding female disciple to serve as Senior's concubine." Fairy Ziling added casually, as though it were the most natural thing in the world.
This particular condition didn't elicit any unusual expression from Han Li.
With the aid of various spirit pills, he had no interest whatsoever in the meager spiritual power that could be gained through dual cultivation.