The cultivators present, Wang Tiangu and the others, had no objections to the conditions set by Marquis Nanlong and his companion.
After all, given both their cultivation levels and their status as the initiators, it was only natural for them to take a larger share of the treasures. Everyone silently agreed.
Fearing that delay would only bring trouble, the group agreed not to wait for the end of the exchange meeting. After two days of preparation, they would set out immediately.
Only after every last person had sworn a Heart Demon Oath not to reveal any of this did they gradually leave the area one by one.
However, Han Li noticed that Marquis Nanlong and the other Nascent Soul cultivator bore extremely confident expressions, as though they weren't the least bit worried about anyone pulling tricks.
Come to think of it, the location and the method for breaking the restrictions were both in these two men's hands. With their cunning and their abilities, it would indeed be very difficult for anyone else to harbor any schemes.
As for why Han Li had agreed to join this expedition, he had his own reasons.
Ever since reaching the Nascent Soul stage, his progress on the Green Origin Sword Art had been agonizingly slow — one could describe it as crawling at a snail's pace — because there were no suitable pills he could take.
Han Li estimated that if he simply secluded himself in his cave abode and relied solely on bitter cultivation, it would take at least two to three hundred years before he reached the peak of the early Nascent Soul stage. As for whether he could later advance into the mid Nascent Soul stage, that would depend on fate and fortune. His aptitude was no longer the most important factor.
After all, every Nascent Soul cultivator who had made it this far was a genius of extraordinary talent.
According to Han Li's original plan, once this exchange meeting concluded, he would seclude himself for over a century to hone his secret techniques and methods. Once all of them had reached a preliminary level of mastery, he would leave his cave abode and travel the world in search of ancient cultivator ruins and rare natural treasures.
Only in this way might he find some glimmer of opportunity to break through to the next realm ahead of schedule.
Now there was a chance to obtain treasures from the legendary Fallen Devil Valley. How could Han Li possibly let it slip away?
Perhaps this was his opportunity!
And the thoughts of the others were probably not much different from his own.
These old Nascent Soul monsters had been trapped at the early stage for untold years. None of them would pass up any chance of a breakthrough.
Moreover, the demonic cultivators who had perished in a mutual destruction inside the Fallen Devil Valley were no ordinary ancient cultivators. Rumor had it that even among the ancients of that era, they had been among the very pinnacle. The techniques or pills they left behind would naturally be extraordinary.
This alone was enough to make Han Li and the rest covet the trip.
However, since that young master of the Ghost Spirit Sect would also be joining them, if an opportunity arose on the road to eliminate him, Han Li certainly wouldn't hesitate to strike.
As long as he wasn't caught red-handed by Wang Tiangu of the Ghost Spirit Sect, what could the other side really do to him? After all, the demonic path and his current Heavenly Dao Alliance were already enemies by nature.
With killing intent brewing in his heart, Han Li walked along a green flagstone street toward his lodgings.
What he didn't know was that several streets away, in a narrow alley, Wang Tiangu was strolling along at an unhurried pace. Wang Chan and Yan Ruyan followed closely behind, silent as ever.
"After we return, you will tell me everything about your grudge with that man in full detail. Judging by his look, his hatred for you hasn't faded in the slightest. From now on, you two mustn't stray too far from my side. In case he launches a sneak attack," Wang Tiangu instructed in a leisurely drawl.
"Yes, Second Uncle. I never imagined that a single moment of poor judgment back then would create such a formidable enemy for myself. In such a short span of time, he broke through both the Core Formation and Nascent Soul bottlenecks in succession — it truly caught me completely off guard!" Wang Chan replied respectfully. But the moment he thought about the fact that Han Li was now a Nascent Soul cultivator, he felt a weight settle in his chest and couldn't help but look rather dejected.
"Hmph! There's no need for you to be so disheartened. With the supreme power of the Blood Spirit Art, even if the two of you team up against this brat, you needn't truly fear him. And once the Blood Spirit Art breaks through to the seventh layer, you and Ruyan will both be able to condense your own Nascent Souls. When that time comes, it'll be anyone's guess who goes looking for trouble with whom! However, on this trip to the Mulan Grasslands, you two must be extra careful. Even if I am forced to leave you for some reason, you must never split up. Together, you should be able to protect yourselves." Wang Tiangu said with a cold laugh.
"Thank you for your guidance, Second Uncle!" Hearing Wang Tiangu's words, Wang Chan felt considerably reassured and hurriedly expressed his gratitude.
"Heh heh! Of all your brothers, you're the one I have the most expectations for. Otherwise, I wouldn't have brought you along to this exchange meeting on your own. But that brat was originally a Yellow Maple Valley disciple, and it seems old man Linghu has personally come to attend this very exchange meeting. Could this brat still have some connection to that old fox?" Wang Tiangu lowered his voice and muttered to himself, seemingly harboring considerable wariness toward the Yellow Maple Valley's Patriarch Linghu.
Upon hearing these words, Wang Chan and Yan Ruyan exchanged a startled glance.
…
Han Li returned to his lodgings and slept through the night. The next morning, he spent the entire day rushing to purchase all the remaining materials he still needed. He then gave Mu Peiling some instructions, intending to ask Lu Luo to bring the girl back with him.
When Lu Luo learned that Han Li planned to leave in a hurry without even waiting for the exchange meeting to conclude, he was naturally quite taken aback. But seeing that Han Li had no intention of explaining in detail, he didn't press the matter and readily agreed.