"Please, have a seat, fellow Daoist!" The Gale Beast settled grandly into a chair, then waved Han Li over with a casual gesture.
Han Li said nothing and sat down across from the demon cultivator as instructed.
"I should introduce myself — I haven't yet asked for your name, fellow Daoist. I am Feng Xi." The Gale Beast squinted half-lidded eyes, his tone gentle and refined.
"My surname is Li." Han Li hesitated for a moment before answering slowly.
"Oh-ho, so it's Fellow Daoist Li. You must have some questions swirling in your mind. The truth is, if any other human cultivator had appeared before me, I — though not of the sea races — would most likely have swatted them dead with a single claw. Humans and demon cultivators were never on friendly terms to begin with." Feng Xi touched the silver crown atop his head, a half-smile playing on his lips.
"In that case, this junior must have something special about him in Senior Feng's eyes?" A chill ran through Han Li's heart, though he forced a smile as he spoke.
"You're only at mid Core Formation, yet you dared to venture deep into these waters — you must be relying on that exquisite Breath Concealment Technique of yours!" A flash of green light flickered through Feng Xi's eyes as he spoke in measured tones.
"Breath Concealment Technique?" Han Li blinked, and the Nameless Secret Formula from the beast-hide book immediately came to mind.
"That's right. Your qi-refining method looks somewhat familiar to me. I once saw something very similar from an old acquaintance of mine. What's strange is that this technique was my acquaintance's closely guarded secret art. How would a human cultivator come to master it?" A peculiar look crossed Feng Xi's face.
Han Li naturally wasn't about to mention the beast-hide book, and for a moment he had no idea how to respond, so he fell silent.
Seeing Han Li's expression, Feng Xi leaned back slightly and chuckled softly.
"There's no need to worry, fellow Daoist. That old acquaintance of mine has been dead for many years. I don't insist on an explanation. I'm simply curious about how a human came to use one of our demon arts. The main reason I haven't laid a hand on you, Fellow Daoist Li, is because you cultivate an extremely pure wood-attribute technique. Otherwise, you wouldn't be alive in that chair." Feng Xi spoke as though it were of no consequence whatsoever.
The reason the other party hadn't attacked was because of his technique's elemental attribute. Hearing this, Han Li was genuinely taken aback, his face blank with astonishment.
Feng Xi watched Han Li's shocked expression without comment. Instead, he flipped both hands over. A flash of white light and an antique golden jug appeared in one palm, while an exquisite white jade cup materialized in the other.
He then lifted the jug and poured an intensely green liquid into the jade cup. A rich, mellow wine fragrance instantly permeated the entire hall.
The humanoid demon took a deep breath, a look of intoxicated bliss crossing his face. Then he flicked a finger, and the jade cup glided smoothly across to Han Li.
"Come now, Fellow Daoist Li — try a cup of my own Green Flame Wine. This is a true spirit wine that takes over a hundred years to brew a single jar. It offers a modest boost to one's cultivation. Perhaps you can use the opportunity to break through your current bottleneck!" Feng Xi fixed Han Li with a meaningful stare.
Han Li's heart lurched at these words. He lowered his gaze to the liquid in the cup, alarm surging through him.
The other party had seen at a glance that his cultivation was stuck at a bottleneck — this was truly formidable power.
But as for the claim that this wine could help him break through, Han Li was skeptical.
He had swallowed countless cultivation-enhancing pills. If medicinal power alone could push him past his bottlenecks, he would have long since mastered the ninth layer of the Green Origin Sword Art. Why would he still be waiting?
Moreover, until he understood the other party's intentions, how could he dare to drink this wine lightly?
As these thoughts churned through his mind, hesitation flickered across Han Li's face.
A cold gleam flashed in the Gale Beast's eyes. As though he had seen through Han Li's thoughts, his expression abruptly darkened.
"What! Are you afraid I've tampered with the wine? Don't forget — if I truly wanted your life, it would take but the snap of a finger!" Feng Xi's voice turned frigid.
"Senior speaks truly. But this junior would still like to understand the real reason you haven't killed me. Otherwise, I would rather be cautious." Han Li's face went pale for a moment, but he glanced at the cup before him and pressed on regardless, forcing the words out.
The other party's intention to make him drink the wine was growing ever more obvious, and Han Li's suspicions deepened.
Feng Xi seemed mildly taken aback. His expression then turned glacial, and a sinister aura began to emanate faintly from his body.
Han Li's heart gave a violent lurch. In an instant, true essence surged within him, enveloping the Azure Ice Bead in his dantian. He watched the other warily, not uttering a single word.
After a long moment, Feng Xi furrowed his brow slightly, and his expression softened once more.
"It seems that without a frank explanation, Fellow Daoist Li will continue to misunderstand my goodwill." After a brief pause, Feng Xi spoke in a low, steady voice.
"This Green Flame Wine is not only troublesome to brew — taking over a hundred years — but its essential ingredient must be a Transformation-stage demon core. Moreover, only our Gale Beast clan possesses the method to brew it. No other demon cultivator, even with the recipe, could produce it due to their differing innate abilities. For me, this wine merely satisfies a palate's craving. But for a Core Formation cultivator like yourself, the very first sip has a high probability of stimulating the true essence within your body, allowing you to break through your cultivation bottleneck on the spot."
"Naturally, the main reason I would offer something so precious to you, Fellow Daoist Li, is for my own sake. I need the assistance of your wood-attribute technique for an important matter. However, mid Core Formation is far too weak. In truth, even an ordinary cultivator at late Core Formation would still fall short of what I require. But your technique is rather exceptional — your magical power is far deeper than others at the same level. That makes you just barely useful. Of course, if Fellow Daoist Li insists on refusing this wine, you are well aware of the consequences, I trust!"
Feng Xi knew that without laying everything bare, the other party would never cooperate, so he went ahead and spelled it all out.
Han Li's expression shifted several times upon hearing this. After a while, he asked again in a dry voice.