Upon seeing this, Yuan Yao's eyes flashed with amusement. She gave a light laugh and said: "What's this? Does Brother Han no longer want this item? Or are you afraid the Soul-Taming Bead I'm giving you is fake?"
Her words carried a hint of sarcasm.
Han Li didn't reply immediately. Instead, he stared intently at the bead for a moment before speaking: "Whether it's fake or not, I can tell from the Yin soul energy on it alone. However, I know very little about the Wailing Soul Beast. I wonder... are there any harms to oneself after refining this bead?"
As he said this, Han Li kept his gaze fixed unwaveringly on Yuan Yao's beautiful eyes.
"Harms? How could there be! If there were truly any problems, would this little woman have refined it herself? It's just that the process of refinement is slightly uncomfortable. As long as you endure through it, you'll be fine!" Yuan Yao replied, her expression unchanged, in a dismissive tone.
"Uncomfortable?"
Han Li frowned, studied the woman for a moment, then looked at the bead again. He knew she wasn't being entirely truthful, but he couldn't see anything unusual about it right now.
After a moment of contemplation, he decided to accept the bead for now and study it more closely later. If it truly was harmful, he simply wouldn't refine it. After all, with the bead in hand, he could still command the Wailing Soul Beast.
With that thought, he carefully stored the Soul-Taming Bead in his storage pouch.
"Let's go! While we travel the Lava Path, I will do my best to protect Miss Yuan's life. But let me say this upfront: if we encounter a danger that even I cannot handle, Fellow Daoist Yuan should save herself!" Han Li said calmly to Yuan Yao after securing the bead.
He then pointed a finger at the Cold Ice Bead floating above his head. Immediately, an intense wave of Yin cold energy surged forth, enveloping Yuan Yao within its aura as well.
"That is only natural. If such a thing happens, Yuan Yao will accept her fate. However, this little woman believes that with Brother Han's gold and silver beetles, the chances of that are quite slim." The enchanting woman wrinkled her nose slightly, then smiled sweetly.
Her smile at this moment was utterly charming.
Facing such a beautiful sight, Han Li took a moment to appreciate it openly before turning and walking away without another word.
Yuan Yao smiled, took light, graceful steps, and after a few paces walked shoulder-to-shoulder with Han Li, appearing quite intimate. The closer she was to Han Li, the stronger the refreshing Yin chill from the Cold Ice Bead became, so naturally she wanted to position herself for maximum comfort.
"Speaking of which, this Ice and Fire Path is truly bizarre! How did a black desert appear? And such powerful flying ants—they're not even afraid of magical treasures, they can spit black fire, and they combine and transform! If I hadn't happened to have some Green Fire Thunderbolts, I probably wouldn't have lasted until I met you, Brother Han. Even so, they still destroyed one of my defensive ancient treasures." Yuan Yao complained with a relaxed expression as they walked, her rosy lips moving.
Evidently, she hadn't recognized the true origin of the Iron Fire Ants.
"This black desert hasn't appeared before?" Han Li's mind went slightly alert upon hearing her words. He couldn't help but ask in a low voice.
He also felt that the appearance of such powerful spirit insects as the Iron Fire Ants here was somewhat abnormal. Apart from cultivators with special abilities or powerful treasures, even a late-stage Core Formation cultivator entering the black desert might not make it out unscathed.
"Never. This is the first time the black desert has appeared on the Lava Path. Previously, cultivators who passed this trial only faced extreme heat, various dangerous terrains, and at most encountered some flame beasts. These strange flying ants never appeared. If people had known such a powerful ant swarm existed, I believe very few cultivators would have been willing to brave the Lava Path. Or most people, after passing the Ghost Mist, would have simply turned back. No cultivator would joke with their own life." Yuan Yao seemed to know quite a lot and answered without hesitation. However, a look of puzzlement also appeared on her jade-like face.
"If that's the case, something's not right with the Ice and Fire Path!" A thoughtful glint passed through Han Li's eyes, and he murmured to himself.
...