"I truly have no other choice. If I cannot refine Extreme Essence Crystals of the gold and wood attributes within another year, I'm afraid there will never be another opportunity. At present, Brother Han is the one most likely to help me succeed." Yue Long's face was full of a bitter smile.
"No opportunity — what do you mean?" Han Li asked, somewhat surprised.
"Brother Han may not know this, but drawing upon the power of heaven and earth is no simple matter. Not only must one find a special spiritual ground, but one must also accurately predict the precise timing — calculating the periods of celestial star-power fluctuation before success is even possible. The reason I was able to refine the earlier Extreme Essence Crystals so smoothly was that I paid an enormous price, having a diviner of our clan exhaust a great deal of their lifespan in order to accurately forecast the stellar shifts and channel down the heaven-and-earth power of the required attributes. According to his predictions, the stellar shifts for the gold and wood attributes of heaven and earth are exceedingly rare occurrences. If I don't seize the refinement window during the predicted period, the next occurrence may not come for countless years to come. I simply cannot afford to wait idly — I must refine the Extreme Essence Crystals within the remaining year. Had I not happened upon you today, Fellow Daoist, I originally planned to take the risk of requesting the help of an old monster whose reputation is rather poor. Now that Brother Han is available, that is naturally the better choice. At the very least, Brother Han was willing to venture into the Demon World to slay the Moth Mother and rescue so many fellow cultivators of the Spirit World — in matters of trustworthiness, you should be far more dependable." Yue Long poured out a great deal of words in a single breath.
After hearing all of this, Han Li's expression remained unchanged, though his mind churned with rapidly turning thoughts, quietly making his own assessments. After a long moment, he let out a soft breath and said, "Though I don't know all that much about you, your answers just now are satisfactory enough, and I can see no reason for you to deceive me with empty words. Very well — if helping you won't take too long, I can agree in advance. However, in addition to these three materials as payment, I will also want one each of the newly refined Extreme Essence Crystals of the other two attributes. And these three materials must serve as an advance deposit, delivered now."
"No problem — rest assured, Fellow Daoist! The spiritual ground where the heaven-and-earth power can be drawn happens to be nearby, and we can begin the refinement at any time. As for these three Extreme Essence Crystals, they are already yours." Yue Long was overjoyed and showed no inclination whatsoever to haggle.
"Since you put it that way, I won't drag my feet. If you truly feel it necessary, Fellow Daoist Yue, we can set off for that spiritual ground right now." Han Li smiled with satisfaction, flicked his sleeve, and a swath of rosy light swept toward the other two silver platters. With a flash, all three Extreme Essence Crystals vanished into his possession.
"Excellent — I didn't expect you to be so forthright. However, to draw upon the gold and wood attributes of heaven and earth, I still need to make a few preparations first. How about this — Brother Han, stay the night here with me, and we'll head to the spiritual ground together tomorrow?" Yue Long was delighted to hear this, but after a moment's deliberation, he still spoke these words.
"Tomorrow, then. I'll impose on your hospitality for the night." Han Li thought for a moment and agreed readily.
Yue Long was extremely pleased upon hearing this, and immediately issued his orders. Wave after wave of Flying Spirit Tribe handmaidens filed into the great hall, bringing even more spirit fruits and spirit wines.
In the time that followed, this Flying Spirit Tribe Mahayana cultivator settled into exchanging toasts and idle conversation with Han Li.
"Oh, that reminds me — I'd like to ask you about someone, if you happen to know anything." Han Li suddenly recalled something and addressed Yue Long.
"If it's someone I know, I'll naturally tell you honestly." Yue Long was a bit curious but answered without hesitation.
"This person is also a fellow cultivator of the Flying Spirit Tribe, but he should have originated from the Five-Power Race. His Five-Color Divine Light abilities are truly formidable. As a fellow Mahayana of the Flying Spirit Tribe, you couldn't possibly be unaware of him." Han Li fixed his gaze on the other man and spoke slowly.
"The Five-Power Race! What is his surname, and where did you encounter him?" Yue Long started, his expression changing dramatically as he asked urgently.
"If I recall correctly, I was the one asking you just now, wasn't I?" Han Li sighed softly, a half-smile on his lips.
"Ah — my apologies for the outburst. It's just that what you asked just now was truly beyond my expectations. Though our Flying Spirit Tribe isn't considered a major power on the Wind Element Continent, we have never had fewer than three Mahayana cultivators at any time. However, as for the Five-Power Race, only one individual has appeared in nearly a million years. But that person departed the clan on a long journey the very moment he entered the Mahayana stage, and since then not a single word of news has been received. Naturally, we all assumed he had perished long ago. Now, to suddenly hear some news of him from your lips — I was understandably a bit rude. Do you know anything about this fellow cultivator of ours? I would be grateful for any information." Yue Long's expression quickly returned to normal, and he offered an apologetic remark.
"No wonder. Unfortunately, I only happened to encounter this fellow cultivator once many years ago in a dangerous region of the primeval wilderness. Besides learning that his surname was Yi and witnessing his Five-Color Peacock transformation, we never truly had a conversation. It was only upon seeing you today that I recalled the matter and thought to ask." Han Li replied without any change in his expression.
"Surname Yi — then that is certainly our Five-Power Race fellow cultivator. So he didn't perish after all — he simply hasn't returned from his travels for some unknown reason. That is wonderful news. I hope Fellow Daoist Yi can return to the clan soon." Yue Long let out a long breath, and a smile reappeared on his face.
However, Han Li caught a faint hint of stiffness behind that smile, as though the relationship between Yue Long and this Five-Power Race Mahayana was far more complicated than it appeared.
Understanding dawned on Han Li, and after a faint smile at the corner of his lips, he casually shifted the topic to cultivation matters.
As for the true fate of the old man surnamed Yi, he let slip not a single word.
And Yue Long, for reasons unknown, did not press further either. After composing himself slightly, he truly began exchanging cultivation insights with Han Li.