Chapter 1884: Changes

"If Brother Han truly came for this, achieving your goal this time might involve considerable twists and turns," Yuan Yao sighed softly and replied faintly.

"What do you mean by that, Miss Yuan? Has Senior Wei changed his mind about the Netherworld Divine Milk?" Han Li was startled upon hearing this.

"What kind of person is my foster father? He certainly wouldn't go back on his word regarding something he promised. It's just that some matters arose too suddenly, beyond even his control. For more details, my foster father will explain everything clearly to Brother Han once we return to his residence. I won't say more here. However, Brother Han, there's no need to worry too much; this matter is not entirely out of the question," Yuan Yao's tone shifted, and she spoke with significant meaning.

Hearing this, Han Li naturally remained perplexed. After nodding, he fell into contemplation within the escape light and said nothing more.

Yuan Yao knew Han Li was pondering her earlier words and wisely chose not to disturb him further, merely accompanying him with a constant smile.

Qing Yuanzi, meanwhile, continued flying forward, never looking back. Thus, three streaks of escape light—one leading and two following—vanished into the distant sky in an instant.

The spot where Han Li and the Fish Shop Owner had fought suddenly became empty.

After more than half a day, the three finally returned to Qing Yuanzi's residence.

Han Li followed them into the cave mansion and entered the main hall, which felt faintly familiar.

At this moment, the small green figure stretched, and suddenly, a green light flashed across its body, transforming it into the size of an ordinary person. It then grandly sat down in the main seat and spoke calmly to Han Li:

"You are now an Integration Stage cultivator, so there's no need to be so reserved in front of me. Please, sit."

"Thank you for your kindness, Senior!" Han Li saluted respectfully without delay before taking a seat in the lower position.

Yuan Yao, with a slight shift of her body, lightly positioned herself behind Qing Yuanzi.

Just then, another round-faced young woman in white robes approached, carrying several cups of spiritual tea. She placed one cup in front of Han Li and said with a smile:

"Greetings, Brother Han. I didn't expect you to return here so quickly!"

This woman was Yan Li!

"Ah, it's Fairy Yan. It's been many years, and you are as graceful as ever!" Han Li glanced at Yan Li and replied with a smile.

"As a half-ghost, my appearance naturally wouldn't change. Oh, but your cultivation, fellow Daoist, seems much deeper than before. I can't even discern your specific realm. Could it be that Brother Han has already advanced to the Integration Stage?" Yan Li answered with a smile, then examined Han Li closely for a moment before suddenly asking, her face paling slightly.

Yan Li herself was now at the early Void Refinement stage, but it was naturally impossible for her to discern Han Li's Integration Stage cultivation merely with her spiritual sense.

"Indeed, I was fortunate enough to advance to the mid-Integration Stage!" Han Li replied calmly.

"Integration Stage... and already at the mid-stage?"

The woman in front of Han Li was instantly stunned.

"Alright, Yan Li! If you truly wish to reminisce, you can talk for as long as you like after I've finished discussing matters with this Han fellow," Qing Yuanzi said, a hint of impatience in his voice.

"Yes, I apologize; I was a little out of line." Yan Li finally recovered her composure and hastily replied respectfully. She then presented another cup of spiritual tea to Qing Yuanzi before standing beside Yuan Yao.

"Han Li, I didn't expect you to appear at this time. My main Nascent Soul is currently in seclusion, comprehending a great divine ability, so I cannot meet you in my true form," Qing Yuanzi suddenly said to Han Li.

"Not at all. Senior is at a critical point in your cultivation. This junior is already greatly honored that you would meet me with a clone Nascent Soul," Han Li replied with a solemn expression.

Seeing Han Li's reverence, Qing Yuanzi nodded and then directly asked, getting straight to the point:

"Since you used the magic tool I gave you to return to the Netherworld River, it seems you must have collected quite a few materials I need. Approximately how much? As long as you can collect two-thirds of them, I will consider your task complete."

"Reporting to Senior Jiang, all the materials this junior collected are contained within this storage bracelet. I request that Senior personally inspect them," Han Li did not answer directly. Instead, he flipped his hand, suddenly producing an emerald green storage ring from his sleeve. He then stood up and presented it to the elder with both hands.

"Heh heh, Fellow Daoist Han is quite confident. It seems your harvest must be considerable. Let this old man take a look first, then," Qing Yuanzi said. Seeing Han Li's action, he wasn't angered; instead, a smile flashed across his face, and he unceremoniously grabbed the storage bracelet with one hand.

Thus, in front of Han Li, this Grand Ascension Stage being slightly closed his eyes and began carefully probing the storage bracelet with his spiritual sense.

Seeing Qing Yuanzi's actions, Yuan Yao and Yan Li couldn't help but look over as well.

Although they could not also use their spiritual sense to examine the materials within the storage bracelet, they could discern whether these materials truly satisfied this Grand Ascension Stage being by observing Qing Yuanzi's changing expression.

Han Li, however, remained exceptionally calm, appearing utterly composed.

Given Qing Yuanzi's powerful spiritual sense, experience, and knowledge, examining any number of materials within the storage bracelet would not take much time.

At first, his face showed no expression, but shortly after, his expression shifted, revealing emotion and shock.

Finally, as time slowly passed, the elder's expression transformed into one of combined surprise and delight.

Seeing this, Yuan Yao immediately felt a sense of relief, but at the same time, she turned her head and looked at Han Li with curiosity.

As Qing Yuanzi's adopted daughter, she naturally knew a thing or two about the list of materials he had originally given to Han Li.

The sheer quantity and rarity of the materials on that list had genuinely shocked her for a long time, and for a considerable period, she had worried that Han Li would be utterly unable to complete the task.

But now, judging by Qing Yuanzi's demeanor, Han Li must have truly collected most of the materials on the list; otherwise, he would never have lost his composure like this.

After all, when her foster father had given Han Li such a demanding list, he hadn't truly expected Han Li to complete it; he had only held a slim hope.

Yet, these very materials were, naturally, of paramount importance to Qing Yuanzi, who was unable to leave the Netherworld River region.

Yan Li, standing next to Yuan Yao, also looked at Han Li with some surprise, a hint of a complex emotion in her eyes.

"Good, very good. Han Li, you've actually collected all the other materials for me, except for a few types that even I wouldn't be confident finding myself. This truly surprises me. With these, my chances of safely passing the next lightning tribulation can increase by another twenty percent," Qing Yuanzi suddenly opened his eyes and said to Han Li, unable to conceal his excitement.

"These materials can only increase Senior's chances by twenty percent?" Han Li asked, startled by the statement.

One should know that almost every one of these materials was incredibly rare in the Spirit Realm, and some were even collected directly from forbidden medicinal gardens in the Guanghan Realm. Han Li even suspected that many of these materials should have already gone extinct in the Spirit Realm.

"Heh heh, Fellow Daoist Han, you don't know this, but at our level, ordinary methods of resisting lightning tribulations are completely ineffective, and the external forces we can utilize are extremely few. These materials increasing my chances of overcoming the tribulation by twenty percent is already the result of me calculating generously. Alright, let's put this aside for now. I once promised you that as long as you brought me these materials, I would naturally give you some Netherworld River Milk as compensation. Fellow Daoist, do you still intend to exchange these materials for the Netherworld River Milk? If you are willing, I can exchange these materials for other items of no less value," Qing Yuanzi carefully put away the storage bracelet and asked with a smile.

"Senior should know the importance of this spiritual milk for this junior's next advancement after reaching the Integration Stage. This junior is determined to obtain the Netherworld River Milk," Han Li replied immediately without hesitation, his heart tightening slightly upon hearing the elder's words, as Yuan Yao had already hinted at this earlier.

"Oh, if that's the case, it might require some effort," Qing Yuanzi frowned slightly. He didn't flatly refuse but revealed a pensive expression, seemingly contemplating something.

"Senior seems to be in a difficult position. Could you please tell this junior what exactly happened? I recall that Senior already had some Netherworld River Milk in your possession!" Han Li's eyes flickered, and he simply asked directly.

"Hmm, to be honest, if Fellow Daoist Han had come a hundred years earlier, or even two or three hundred years later, this old man wouldn't be in such a predicament. The spiritual milk I had on hand has already been borrowed for urgent use. If a few more hundred years pass, this old man might be able to acquire some again," Qing Yuanzi said with a light cough, a touch of helplessness in his voice.

"Borrowed by someone?" Han Li's expression changed upon hearing this.

"Indeed. The one who borrowed it is a Grand Elder of the Mayfly Clan, with whom I have a considerable friendship. I was able to hide here in the first place partly due to his intervention. Therefore, when he asked to borrow the Netherworld River Milk, I truly couldn't refuse," Qing Yuanzi slowly revealed the truth.

Hearing this, Han Li's expression naturally became somewhat grim.

"However, Fellow Daoist Han, rest assured. Since you truly desire the Netherworld River Milk so much, it's not entirely unobtainable," Qing Yuanzi suddenly said with a slight smile.

"What do you mean by that, Senior? Are there other ways to obtain the spiritual milk?" Han Li's spirits immediately lifted, and he asked, overjoyed.

"Naturally. Although the Netherworld River Milk is exceptionally rare, I can always manage to get a portion each time it's produced. However, there are several other powerful individuals residing in this realm, and they also receive a share. Basically, half of the spiritual milk is collected by the Mayfly Clan members, and the other half is divided among us. It's just that these individuals have rather peculiar temperaments, their divine abilities are no less than my own, and I don't interact with them much. I can only make a personal visit to see if I can truly obtain the spiritual milk. But rest assured, Fellow Daoist, even if I cannot obtain the spiritual milk, I will compensate you with another equally satisfactory price. I will absolutely not let you suffer any loss," Qing Yuanzi said confidently.