Chapter 1165: Double Saint Conditions

Chapter Six: Heavenly Spirit Treasures

Han Li didn't immediately stand up. He lifted his head and gazed forward, his face expressionless. The two cultivators in the streaks of light had clearly seen Han Li on the small island from a distance. Their escape lights suddenly accelerated by a third, and after a "whoosh" sound of rushing through the air, the white light converged above the small island, revealing a male and a female cultivator.

The woman appeared to be around twenty-five or twenty-six, with snow-white skin and hair like dark clouds. Dressed in a jade-green palace gown, she exuded an aura of elegance and nobility. The man, on the other hand, was a white-robed scholar in his forties. His face was ordinary, but his thick, dark eyebrows were like swords, and a chilling aura permeated his body, giving his face an icy, sinister look.

The two hovered about thirty *zhang* (approximately one hundred feet) above the ground, observing Han Li.

Han Li slowly rose, his body effortlessly floating upward as if by itself.

A moment later, he hovered at the same altitude as them.

"The names of the Heavenly Star Dual Sages have long resonated in my ears," Han Li said. "To meet both fellow Daoists at once today, I, Han, am truly thrice fortunate." Han Li chuckled, showing neither excessive warmth nor indifference.

Seeing Han Li's neither humble nor subservient demeanor, the palace-gowned woman named Wen Qing, who had met him once before, smiled enchantingly. Her entire being seemed to bloom like a hundred flowers, radiating charm and beauty.

"There are only a handful of Late Nascent Soul cultivators in the Star Sea," the woman said, her red lips slightly parted. "Since Fellow Daoist Han agreed to meet my husband and me, how could we possibly break our promise? This is my husband, Ling Xiaofeng. Although we have some reputation, few truly know our real names."

Han Li smiled faintly, saying nothing, but he carefully scrutinized the man. His gaze happened to meet the man's cold eyes several times.

Both felt a sudden chill, sensing without explanation that the other was by no means an easy opponent.

"I heard from Elder Zhao that Brother Han already has a dual cultivation partner, also a female Nascent Soul cultivator; that's truly a pity," Ling Xiaofeng began, his words causing Han Li's expression to subtly shift. "However, among all the female cultivators who have advanced to the Nascent Soul stage in the Star Sea, even reclusive ascetics, it's impossible for our Star Palace to have never heard of them. Brother Han, you aren't originally from our Star Sea, are you? Could it be that you came from Great Jin?"

"Have both fellow Daoists also been to Great Jin?"

Han Li exhaled softly, his thoughts racing. He neither admitted nor denied it.

However, his tone naturally led the Heavenly Star Dual Sages to confirm their initial assessment.

The man nodded, an "as expected" expression on his face.

"Great Jin is renowned as the cultivation holy land of the human realm; how could my husband and I not visit it?" Wen Qing asked, her autumn-like eyes sweeping over him without concealment. "While there's an ancient teleportation array from the Scattered Star Seas to Great Jin, its location is extremely mysterious. Even with our current divine abilities, reaching it still poses a certain risk. Therefore, aside from successive Star Palace masters, few Nascent Soul cultivators ever go to Great Jin. Of course, only a handful of cultivators even know about this ancient teleportation array. However, our Star Palace always has an Elder stationed near it to guard it. If Fellow Daoist came to the Star Sea via that array, it would be impossible for us not to know. Alternatively, if someone were truly willing to spend over a decade continuously flying through several other sea regions, they might also reach Great Jin. But the journey would be incredibly perilous, and one might be devoured by some unknown demonic beast. Almost no one would undertake such a foolish endeavor. So, Brother Han, how did you come to our Star Sea?"

"I arrived here purely by chance, not by my own will," Han Li said, his expression shifting slightly as he spoke half-truths, clearly unwilling to elaborate. "As for the method of my arrival, it's difficult to replicate. Both fellow Daoists need not worry too much."

Ling Xiaofeng and Wen Qing exchanged glances. Although surprised and suspicious, they did not press further.

The man then spoke in an indifferent tone:

"Has Elder Zhao mentioned to you the purpose of our meeting, Fellow Daoist?"

"He mentioned a little," Han Li said with a soft chuckle after a moment of contemplation. "I heard that both fellow Daoists intend to discuss matters related to breaking through to the Deity Transformation stage with me. How could I not be tempted to come after hearing that?"

"Precisely," the palace-gowned woman said sweetly, her smile unchanged. "Although my husband and I have been confined to the Late Nascent Soul stage for several centuries, we believe we can help Fellow Daoist avoid some detours in breaking through to Deity Transformation. We can provide several effective methods and secret techniques for achieving this breakthrough. Of course, ultimate success depends on Fellow Daoist's own fortune."

"Oh, such good news," Han Li said, not showing much joy. Instead, a hint of caution flashed in his eyes. "Surely, both fellow Daoists wouldn't simply tell me these secret techniques for free?"

"If Fellow Daoist agrees to become husband and wife with Yu Ling, we would naturally have no conditions," Wen Qing said leisurely. "But if Fellow Daoist has no such intention, my husband and I can only make a deal with Fellow Daoist Han."

"What kind of deal?" Han Li asked, narrowing his eyes and staring at her delicate face, his own expression unperturbed. "Fellow Daoist Wen, please enlighten me!"

"It's very simple," Wen Qing said with a solemn expression. "I wish to exchange these secret techniques and insights for your assistance to my daughter in leading the Star Palace, until she can truly firmly establish herself as the Star Palace Master." "Assisting Fellow Daoist Yu Ling..." Han Li frowned, falling into contemplation.

The Heavenly Star Dual Sages were not in a hurry, silently allowing Han Li to ponder carefully for a while.

"Fellow Daoist Ling is currently only at the Early Nascent Soul stage, correct?" Han Li said.

"Precisely," the palace-gowned woman replied, raising an eyebrow with a smile, as if she had guessed what Han Li intended to ask.

"May I ask how confident both fellow Daoists are, and how long you expect it would take for Fellow Daoist Yu Ling to advance to the Late Nascent Soul stage?" Han Li asked slowly. "A hundred years, two hundred years, or even longer?"

"We do have a way for our daughter to advance to the Middle Nascent Soul stage within a century," Ling Xiaofeng replied coldly. "As for advancing to the Late stage, it's not so easy; that depends solely on our daughter's own fortune."

"Do you two believe that someone without Late Nascent Soul cultivation can firmly hold the position of Star Palace Master?" Han Li asked, stroking his chin and sneering. "You wouldn't expect me to spend several centuries on this matter, would you?"

Hearing Han Li's words, Wen Qing's smile froze slightly for a moment, but then immediately returned to normal.

"If Fellow Daoist finds this condition excessive, we can naturally offer an alternative," the woman said, smiling. "You must know that those clowns from the Defying Star Alliance have been very provocative towards our Palace. If Fellow Daoist agrees to join forces with my husband and me to eliminate both Six Paths and Wan Sangu, we can likewise present the methods and secret techniques to you. As far as I know, Fellow Daoist seems to have incurred the enmity of many Nascent Soul cultivators in the Defying Star Alliance because of the Empty Sky Cauldron incident. This should be killing two birds with one stone, wouldn't you agree?"

"A gentleman does not stand under a tottering wall!" Han Li said, shaking his head expressionlessly. "Six Paths and Wan Sangu are renowned grand cultivators who have been famous for a long time. Even if I were to join forces with you two, I wouldn't be sure of escaping unharmed. Besides, I, Han, have no intention of interfering in any conflicts within the Star Sea. Once this matter is concluded, I intend to immediately return to secluded cultivation. I'm afraid I cannot assist with this."

Seeing Han Li flatly refuse the second condition, the palace-gowned woman's smile receded. Though she said nothing more, her displeasure was evident. Ling Xiaofeng, standing next to her, then spoke:

"Brother Han might not know this," Ling Xiaofeng began. "Many of the secret techniques we are offering you for breaking through to the Deity Transformation stage were researched by successive Star Palace masters over countless years. Their value is so immense that they are simply priceless treasures to cultivators like us in the later stages. Surely, Fellow Daoist wouldn't expect to receive these things from us for free, would you?"

The man with the sinister aura spoke in an unfriendly tone.

"How could I harbor such a thought?" Han Li asked, his hands clasped behind his back, ignoring the Heavenly Star Dual Sages' displeasure. "As far as I know, although most successive Star Palace masters have been grand cultivators in the Late Nascent Soul stage, few have managed to advance to the Deity Transformation stage. While these methods and secret techniques for breaking through to Deity Transformation are indeed exceedingly rare, I, Han, am somewhat skeptical if they are truly effective for me. Of course, these things can certainly offer much to learn from and would be greatly beneficial. However, to spend the better half of my future years, or simply to take extreme risks, for them, I, Han, certainly will not agree. Both fellow Daoists, please suggest some simpler conditions. Spare me any terms that are too complex or exorbitant."

Hearing Han Li's words, the couple across from him looked somewhat displeased. However, they ultimately said nothing. Instead, after exchanging glances, they began to transmit their voices with subtle lip movements, right in front of Han Li.

Seeing this, Han Li's lips twitched slightly, then he looked up at the sky, indifferent.

A moment later, the Wen Qing couple seemed to have concluded their discussion. Ling Xiaofeng then spoke expressionlessly:

"My husband and I will exchange these things for Fellow Daoist's three future acts of assistance to our daughter," Ling Xiaofeng said. "As long as Fellow Daoist helps our daughter three times, this transaction will be considered settled."

"I can agree to that," Han Li readily agreed after a brief consideration. "However, it is limited to times when Fellow Daoist Yu Ling's life is in peril, and it must be within my capabilities."

"Good," Ling Xiaofeng said. "Fellow Daoist Han needn't swear any oaths; with your status as a grand cultivator, I presume you won't go back on your word. I have here three 'Ten-Thousand-Mile Talismans,' refined by ancient cultivators using special methods. Even if separated by tens of thousands of miles, if one party writes something on half of the jade talisman, the cultivator holding the other half can immediately see it. Please take them." Ling Xiaofeng shook his sleeve, and three shimmering white jade talismans appeared before him. Immediately, he drew a finger through the air towards these talismans.

A thin golden thread flashed, and the three jade talismans each split in half from the middle, becoming six pieces.

With a sweep of his sleeve towards these talismans, three of them instantly vanished. The other three, with a blow from the man's mouth, transformed into three streaks of white light and shot towards Han Li.

Han Li raised an eyebrow and grabbed, plucking the three half-talismans from the air. He glanced at them casually.

He observed that the incantations on the surface of these jade talismans were quite complex. Even though only half remained, spiritual light still flowed, indicating they were clearly not ordinary items.

Without another word, Han Li flipped his hand and placed them into his storage bag.