Chapter 1871: Half a Volume of the Law诀

Han Li and his group, led by Jin Yue, arrived at a grand hall in the center of the Holy City and took their seats as hosts and guests respectively.

At Jin Yue's command, several young maidens immediately entered from outside the hall, carrying spiritual tea, spiritual fruits, and other delicacies, which they placed on the tables before everyone.

Up to this point, Grand Elder Jin Yue continued to treat Han Li as an honored guest, with no unusual expression visible on her face.

Han Li politely picked up a cup of spiritual tea, took a small sip, and nodded slightly.

"Fellow Daoist Han, what do you think of this tea?" Jin Yue asked with a sudden smile after taking a small sip of her own spiritual tea. "This is our Holy City's unique Fragrant Maiden Tea, and only a few dozen catties are produced each year. This spiritual tea must be picked at dawn, and the pickers must be beautiful maidens who are still virgins. Otherwise, its fragrance would be greatly diminished."

"Indeed, this tea has a subtle and pleasant fragrance," Han Li said admiringly. "It is truly a rare and precious item."

"If Fellow Daoist Han truly likes it, I could gift you some," Jin Yue said with a slight shift in her gaze and a smile. Then, she clapped her hands and lightly instructed a maiden standing nearby:

"Go to the tea garden and bring five catties of the finest Fragrant Maiden Tea."

"Yes, Grand Elder!"

The maiden was startled but quickly agreed and respectfully withdrew from the hall.

"Thank you for your generous gift, Grand Elder!" Han Li said, expressing a hint of surprise but quickly regaining his composure, as he cupped one hand in the other and bowed slightly to Jin Yue.

The other elders present also felt a hint of surprise at Jin Yue's gesture, but no one inquired about it.

"Aside from Elder Xu and the other elder, the rest of you probably don't know Fellow Daoist Han," Jin Yue said calmly as she addressed the still-puzzled elders. "In that case, I'll make a brief introduction. Without saying anything else, just consider the human Daoist friend who helped our Heavenly Peng race survive back then. I imagine then you'll all know who Fellow Daoist Han is."

"What? It's him! How can he be here!""Shouldn't he have perished in the Abyssal Pit?"

The other Heavenly Peng elders immediately stirred, showing open expressions of shock as the realization dawned on them.

Only Elder Xu and the beautiful woman, upon hearing this, couldn't help but exchange a bitter smile.

"Back then, I had some fortuitous encounters in the Abyssal Pit and fortunately escaped from those demon kings," Han Li said calmly, his expression unchanged. "I didn't return to your race but went back to the human race instead. Fellow Daoist Jin, you wouldn't blame me for that, would you?"

Hearing Han Li speak so casually, Jin Yue's eyes flickered slightly, and she let out a soft laugh:

"How could I think that way? If Fellow Daoist Han hadn't exerted himself back then, Bai Bi and Lan'er wouldn't have passed the trials and become the Holy Masters of our race, thus preserving the Heavenly Peng race. You fulfilled your agreement, so you regained your freedom. However, in just a few centuries, you've advanced from a Nascent Soul cultivator to a Saint-level existence. This is truly unbelievable. It seems the disappearance of the four great demon kings of the Abyssal Pit is mostly related to you. If you don't mind, Fellow Daoist Han, would you tell us about it?"

The Heavenly Peng Grand Elder, however, did not intend to let Han Li gloss over the events in the Abyssal Pit with just a few words.

The other elders' hearts stirred, and they all leaned forward, listening intently.

"I only learned about the disappearance of the four great demon kings after entering your race's territory this time," Han Li replied with a slight smile, though his eyelid twitched imperceptibly. "This matter is somewhat related to my return to your race, but it's inconvenient to explain the full details of what happened back then to Fellow Daoist Jin. However, I can assure Grand Elder that the four great demon kings did not return then, and it's even more impossible for them to return to the Abyssal Pit now. As for my cultivation advancement, it's just that I had some other fortuitous encounters in the Savage World. Didn't Fellow Daoist Jin also make great strides in cultivation?"

Hearing Han Li's frank refusal, Jin Yue's expression involuntarily darkened. After a few flashes of cold light in her eyes, she asked in a lowered voice:

"Since Fellow Daoist Han finds it inconvenient to speak, I naturally won't force you. However, you suddenly transformed into a giant Peng and appeared outside the Holy City with such an immense display of power. There must be a reason, right? Or do you feel your divine abilities have reached perfection and intend to demonstrate your power to our race?"

By the last few sentences, her voice had turned somewhat icy.

The other elders' gazes toward Han Li also grew somewhat unfriendly.

"Fellow Daoist Jin, what do you think of the Heavenly Peng I just transformed into?" Han Li asked, unperturbed by the situation and even smiling.

"Hmph, your transformation is indeed good," Jin Yue said with a cold snort, though a flicker of surprise crossed her face. "For an outsider to be able to refine the true blood of the Kun Peng to such an extent, your divine abilities are indeed considerable."

"Is that so? Do you truly think it's that simple?" Han Li chuckled, his expression somewhat peculiar.

"Fellow Daoist Han, what do you mean by that? If you have something to say, just say it directly. Why play games?" Jin Yue's expression shifted slightly, but her eyes immediately narrowed as she said coldly.

Elder Xu and the others, hearing this, couldn't help but feel somewhat confused, their faces showing a hint of surprise and doubt.

Han Li's lips curved slightly, revealing a half-smile. Without replying to the woman opposite him, he simply flipped his hand, causing a white jade slip to appear. With a flick of his wrist, he tossed it over.

"What is the meaning of this, Fellow Daoist?" the white-clad woman asked, instinctively catching the jade slip but raising an eyebrow.

"Grand Elder, don't worry too much," Han Li replied, his expression unchanged. "It's not too late to speak after you've seen what's in the slip."

Jin Yue's expression was still somewhat displeased, but after glancing at the object in her hand, she pondered briefly. She then placed the jade slip on her forehead and directly injected a wisp of her divine sense into it.

"Oh, this is..." Almost instantly, the woman gasped in surprise.

This caused everyone else in the hall, except Han Li, to naturally begin whispering amongst themselves again.

After her gasp, Jin Yue was overjoyed and completely oblivious to anything else, appearing to have her entire focus on the jade slip.

Han Li witnessed this scene, smiled slightly, and leisurely picked up his spiritual tea from the table to taste it again.

As everyone in the hall wore various expressions, the time it takes to eat a meal passed in the blink of an eye.

At this point, Jin Yue finally exhaled a long breath and removed the jade slip from her forehead. She then re-examined Han Li with an extremely complex gaze before slowly speaking after a moment of silence:

"Where did you obtain this cultivation method, Fellow Daoist?" she asked. "Don't tell me you created it yourself. Although this technique is incredibly profound, it was clearly created specifically for our Heavenly Peng people."

"As expected, Fellow Daoist Jin has keen insight, seeing through its profoundness at a glance," Han Li said with a smile, appearing to have anticipated Jin Yue's question. "However, who created this cultivation method is not important. What's most important is that you understand its usefulness to your race."

"Fellow Daoist, you didn't bring out this partial technique just for me to look at, did you?" Jin Yue asked chillingly, strange light flickering in her eyes as a terrifying spiritual pressure suddenly erupted from her body. "Just state your true purpose for coming to our Heavenly Peng race this time."

"Haha, since Fellow Daoist Jin has put it that way, I naturally obey," Han Li chuckled. However, his gaze swept over the other Heavenly Peng elders, and he then said with a serious expression, "This matter is quite important to me, and I only wish to discuss it in detail with you privately."

"Very well, I will follow your suggestion!" Jin Yue agreed without hesitation, then instructed the others, "Elder Xu, Elder Qing, please excuse yourselves for now. You may re-enter after Fellow Daoist Han and I have finished our discussion."

This woman clearly attached immense importance to the technique contained within the jade slip!

"Yes, then I, Xu, will take my leave!""Grand Elder, we will wait outside the hall for now."

Although the other Heavenly Peng elders felt greatly displeased, they dared not defy Jin Yue's command and could only rise, bow, and leave the great hall.

In a short while, only Han Li and the white-clad woman remained in the hall.

"Fellow Daoist Han, you may now speak of your confidential matter," Jin Yue said, her expression softening.

Han Li did not immediately reply. Instead, he suddenly flicked his sleeve, instantly sending out more than a dozen five-colored small flags in all directions.

They flashed once, transformed into colorful light, and disappeared into the nearby air.

Immediately, a five-colored light barrier emerged, completely enveloping both Han Li and the woman.

"What, with me here, Fellow Daoist, are you still afraid of someone eavesdropping?" Jin Yue asked. She was startled at first, but then saw that the light barrier was merely a simple sound-sealing restriction, so she relaxed, though a flicker of displeasure still appeared on her face.

"Fellow Daoist Jin, please don't be offended. This matter is of no small importance, and I must be extra careful," Han Li replied very cautiously.

"As you wish, then," Jin Yue said, a slight frown on her brow. "However, before we discuss in detail, I must first confirm one thing: Is the other half of this cultivation method also in your possession?" she asked, suddenly raising the jade slip in her hand.

"Hehe, Grand Elder can rest assured about this," Han Li replied without hesitation. "If I didn't have the complete cultivation method, how would I dare to discuss this transaction with your noble race?"

"Good, that settles it!" Jin Yue asked, letting out a light breath, her expression considerably more relaxed. "You speak of a transaction. What kind of transaction do you wish to make with our Heavenly Peng race?"

"I plan to enter the Abyssal Pit once," Han Li stated, looking at the white-clad woman with utmost seriousness, without any further delay. "I want your noble race to arrange a trip for me! This special method for refining Heavenly Peng blood is the remuneration for my journey."