After hearing what the woman had told him, Han Li finally gained a rough understanding of the Wood Spirit Infant he had sealed.
This thing bore some resemblance to his Cry Soul Beast — both were spiritual creatures artificially refined. However, judging from their ability to devour a cultivator's Primordial Spirit and Nascent Soul, they were clearly far more ferocious. At the very least, his former Cry Soul Beast couldn't compare to them at all.
Han Li's thoughts raced, but he abruptly changed the subject and said something that caught Liu Yu off guard.
"Those Six-Winged Frost Centipedes you commanded are quite remarkable. Where did you obtain them? Under normal circumstances, someone at your level of cultivation wouldn't be able to possess such ancient spirit insects. Didn't your fellow disciples or those so-called martial uncles set their eyes on them?"
"So Senior also recognizes these spirit insects! Junior found many ancient eggs of this species in the abandoned cave dwelling of an ancient cultivator. They were originally thought to be dead eggs that could never hatch, but when I took them back and tried, through sheer luck a few of them actually hatched. However, the elders in our sect said that although these spirit insects are an ancient extraordinary race with limitless power once fully grown, they are incredibly difficult to cultivate. Even with all conditions met, they would need over a thousand years to reach maturity. So nobody really coveted them. Junior also felt that even as infants, their abilities were already considerable, which is why I never had the heart to switch to other species." Liu Yu said with a hint of unease, while wondering inwardly why the other party was asking about these insects. Could it be that even someone of his cultivation had taken a fancy to these centipedes?
But even a Nascent Soul cultivator who could live for a thousand years wouldn't truly invest the effort into raising these Six-Winged Frost Centipedes. They simply couldn't afford to spend that much time either.
While Liu Yu was racking her brain in confusion, Han Li glanced at her and uttered words that made her heart pound.
"I'm quite interested in your Six-Winged Frost Centipedes, and I have a method to advance them a rank or two in a very short time. I wonder, fellow Daoist, whether you'd be interested in making a deal with me." Han Li said calmly.
"Whatever Senior wants Junior to do, please just say it." Liu Yu's bright eyes rippled as she smiled charmingly, revealing a delightful coquettish allure.
But Han Li seemed not to notice any of it and merely continued in a flat tone:
"I can help you accelerate the growth of these Six-Winged Frost Centipedes. But the insect eggs they produce must be handed over to me — I have other uses for them. Furthermore, I've heard that the Spirit Beast Sect's insect-controlling techniques are quite unique. I wonder whether fellow Daoist would be willing to share a thing or two."
"Insect-controlling techniques?" The smile that had been on Liu Yu's face froze in an instant.
High-level secret arts related to commanding insects and beasts had always been among the Spirit Beast Sect's most guarded techniques. Leaking them casually to an outsider would constitute a crime of betraying the sect — punishable by soul extraction and refinement.
Though Liu Yu had long since made up her mind not to oppose Han Li in any way, hearing this still made her expression change dramatically, and inwardly she cursed her luck.
"Senior should know that secretly leaking sect techniques is punishable by soul extraction and refinement. If Junior were to reveal these secret arts to Senior, I wonder how Senior would deal with this humble woman?" Liu Yu looked at Han Li and said with visible unease.
"Once I've obtained the insect eggs and the techniques I want, you're free to leave on your own. I won't hinder you in the slightest. As for whether you return to the Spirit Beast Sect or seek refuge elsewhere — the world is vast. Surely you can find a place to stand?" Han Li said lightly, as though discussing something utterly trivial.
Upon hearing these words, the delicate jade-like face of Liu Yu flickered between light and shadow. After a long moment, she pressed her red lips together and said with a bitter smile:
"Senior makes it sound easy. Junior knows her own situation all too well. If I became an independent cultivator, I would never be able to condense a Nascent Soul in this lifetime. Moreover, Junior already knows Senior's identity and background. How could Senior truly let me go so easily? I'm afraid I still cannot escape death." This woman seemed to see through the matter with painful clarity, and she spoke slowly in despair.
"Then what do you propose? Are you going to make me swear a poisonous oath, or use this to threaten me?" Han Li showed no anger at her words, his expression unchanged.
"Threaten? Junior would never dare do such a thing. Junior only seeks a means of self-preservation." Liu Yu shook her head, having regained her composure.
"How do you intend to preserve yourself?"
"If Senior does not mind, this humble woman would like to enter Senior's service and become Senior's disciple. I wonder if Senior could agree?" Liu Yu lowered her head and said something that stunned Han Li.
"Become my disciple?" Han Li was genuinely taken aback.
"Indeed. With Senior's level of cultivation, serving as Junior's master is more than sufficient. And it is only under Senior's protection that Junior would dare reveal the Spirit Beast Sect's techniques without reservation. Otherwise, even if Senior didn't kill me, I would be hunted by the Spirit Beast Sect for the rest of my life." A trace of fear appeared on the white-robed woman's porcelain-smooth face.