Chapter 2078: Trouble

The person who entered was a tall, purple-haired woman in her early twenties. She had a short white horn, several inches long, on her forehead and carried herself with dignity and grace, looking at Han Li with a faint smile.

The true identity of this White Family Ancestor was indeed quite surprising!

"Oh, Daoist Han, did you not know beforehand that I am a woman?" the purple-haired woman asked Han Li with a light laugh.

"Daoist Bai Yunxin did not mention this to me. I apologize for my momentary lapse in composure, which may have amused the Immortal." Han Li was not an ordinary person; after cupping his hands in greeting, his expression quickly returned to normal, though a hint of surprise still flickered in his eyes.

"It's nothing; this isn't the first time I've encountered such a reaction. After all, the title 'Overlord Hermit' can certainly be misleading. However, this designation has been passed down through more than a dozen generations of our Bai family ancestors, so even though my demonic cultivation is profound, it's not something I can easily change." The purple-haired woman offered a sweet smile as she softly explained.

This brought Han Li to a sudden realization.

Indeed, some families preserve certain titles and positions through generations to strengthen their cohesion and heritage.

This practice might appear somewhat trivial, but Han Li had observed that it was surprisingly effective.

The purple-haired woman then sat down opposite Han Li. After she waved her hand, the maidservants who had been standing by immediately and obediently exited the hall, gently closing the main door behind them.

"My unaccomplished junior mentioned that you, Brother Han, are an ascetic who rarely travels. If that's the case, it's no wonder this is the first time I've heard of Daoist Han. However, your demonic cultivation appears exceptionally profound. You must have advanced to the Demonic Venerable realm quite some time ago, correct? Otherwise, how could I be unable to discern the true depth of your cultivation?" The woman's divine sense subtly swept over Han Li as she asked, her beautiful eyes shimmering.

"I cultivate the Path of Slaughter, and I've always preferred practicing my techniques in desolate lands teeming with demonic beasts, which explains my limited contact with outsiders. As for when I advanced to the Demonic Venerable realm, Daoist, you've guessed incorrectly. I reached the Demonic Venerable realm only a few centuries ago. The reason you can't discern my cultivation is simply that the techniques I practice are somewhat unique." Han Li chuckled, his reply a blend of truth and ambiguity.

Simultaneously, he also extended his divine sense to probe the Overlord Hermit. However, that wisp of spiritual power vanished without a trace, like a mud ox sinking into the sea, yielding no information. This caused a slight chill in his heart.

It appeared this woman either possessed a powerful protective artifact or cultivated an extraordinary technique capable of concealing her aura.

It was naturally unlikely that her magic power vastly surpassed his. After all, Han Li's current cultivation was exceptionally profound, nearly double that of most cultivators at his level. He absolutely refused to believe that the woman before him could possess more condensed magic power than his own.

"The Path of Slaughter! While I haven't had much exposure to such demonic arts, I'm aware that Daoists who cultivate the Path of Slaughter far exceed their peers in actual combat prowess. In that case, I truly apologize for my earlier misjudgment!" Upon hearing Han Li's words, the purple-haired woman was momentarily startled. Many of her lingering doubts dissolved, and a faint, almost imperceptible, smile of satisfaction touched her lips.

"While the demonic arts of the Path of Slaughter are considerably powerful, their cultivation is undeniably challenging. Had I not realized that I couldn't break through my current bottleneck simply by cultivating in seclusion and slaying demonic beasts, I wouldn't have emerged from my retreat." Han Li stated calmly.

"Though I don't cultivate the Path of Slaughter, I too have been stuck at a bottleneck for a millennium. Once one reaches the Demonic Venerable realm, further progress becomes exceedingly difficult, often requiring a specific opportunity to succeed."

Han Li's words seemed to touch a sensitive spot for the purple-haired woman, who sighed lightly and expressed her strong agreement.

"I've long heard that the Phantasmal Howl Desert is one of the Sacred Realm's renowned forbidden lands, which is why I made a detour here. I hope to rest in the city for a period before entering the desert to temper myself. It would be even better if I could find some fortuitous opportunities within." Han Li nodded, then abruptly changed the subject.

"Although our Bai family is not a major clan, we do possess some local influence and have extensive knowledge of the Phantasmal Howl Desert. Should you have any needs, Daoist, please don't hesitate to mention them. I will instruct my family members and disciples to provide you with every convenience." The purple-haired woman said, her eyes flashing.

"Since you've offered, Daoist, there is indeed one matter where I could use the Bai family's assistance," Han Li said with a faint smile, lightly patting his knee.

"Oh, please tell me, Daoist. As long as it is within the Bai family's capabilities, we will certainly not refuse," the purple-haired woman replied, her expression turning serious and resolute.

"I've heard that no matter one's divine abilities, upon entering the Phantasmal Howl Desert, no escape techniques can be activated. Furthermore, crossing the entire desert on foot would take fifty to sixty years. While I intend to temper myself within the Phantasmal Howl Desert, I'm unwilling to waste such an extensive amount of time on the journey. Therefore, I wish to inquire if the Bai family would be willing to sell me an Eight-legged Demonic Lizard for transportation." Han Li gazed at the purple-haired woman's face as he directly stated his request.

"An Eight-legged Demonic Lizard! Daoist, you've indeed made that request. To be frank, I had already heard about this from Yun'er." Upon hearing Han Li's words, the purple-haired woman let out a long sigh.

"What, does this request truly present a significant difficulty for Daoist Overlord Hermit?" Han Li asked, his expression unwavering but his eyes narrowing slightly.

"It's more than just a difficulty! If Brother Han were not a Demonic Venerable powerhouse, and someone else were to mention this in person, I would immediately issue an expulsion order," the purple-haired woman said, shaking her head.

"I had previously heard that these Eight-legged Demonic Lizards are of great importance to several major families in your city and are not sold externally. Could you first explain the reason for this, Daoist?" Han Li asked, stroking his chin with an unperturbed expression.

"This is not a secret, so of course I can explain," the purple-haired woman agreed readily after a brief moment of thought.

"I needn't elaborate on the inherent value of the Eight-legged Demonic Lizard itself. Not only its demonic core and bones, but even its flesh and blood can be refined into a rare Qi-refining elixir. However, this alone is not the sole reason our major families value them so highly. Daoist Han, you likely know that Phantasmal Night City was established here due to the unique minerals and spiritual herbs found nearby. The sale of these resources generates substantial annual profits for our city, sufficient to cover the daily expenses of our major families. What you may not realize, however, is that after tens of thousands of years since the city's establishment, the original nearby mines and spiritual herb fields have been completely depleted. The specialized resources our city now offers come from new mineral veins and medicinal fields we discovered deep within the Phantasmal Howl Desert. While these new resource points yield a significant amount, safely transporting goods back from these locations absolutely relies on the Eight-legged Demonic Lizards. Without them, traveling back and forth on foot would be virtually impossible, given the numerous dangers within the Phantasmal Howl Desert. After all, this desert is a notorious forbidden land throughout the Sacred Realm, and ordinary individuals find it extremely difficult to traverse. What our families truly value most about these demonic beasts is their ability to move freely within the Phantasmal Howl Desert. The loss of even one could cause significant fluctuations in a family's annual income. Under these circumstances, how could our families easily sell an Eight-legged Demonic Lizard?" The purple-haired woman recounted slowly, without any hint of concealment.

After hearing her explanation, Han Li's brows furrowed slightly, and he found the situation quite thorny.

If the issue stemmed from other reasons, it would be simpler to resolve. However, since it pertained to the prosperity and decline of an entire clan, acquiring an Eight-legged Demonic Lizard through conventional methods seemed genuinely difficult.

As Han Li pondered, his gaze unconsciously swept over the woman opposite him. He noticed that while her expression appeared calm, there was a subtle, unusual glint in her eyes. A thought immediately struck him, and a faint smile touched his lips.

"Daoist Overlord Hermit, you didn't outright refuse my request just now, which clearly indicates there's still room for negotiation. How, then, can I persuade you to part with an Eight-legged Demonic Lizard? Please, speak plainly. I presume it's not merely a matter of increasing the price?" Han Li asked calmly.

"Brother Han, you've seen through it. I knew I couldn't conceal this from you, Daoist!" The purple-haired woman was initially surprised, but then she smiled, pressing her lips together.

Han Li, however, remained silent, calmly observing the woman across from him.

Witnessing Han Li's expression, the smile on the purple-haired woman's lips faded slightly. After a moment's consideration, she spoke with a hint of seriousness and candor:

"Three years ago, under no circumstances would our Bai family have parted with an Eight-legged Demonic Lizard, regardless of the conditions. However, things are different now, and it's not entirely non-negotiable. Our Bai family is currently facing some difficulties that can only be resolved with the assistance of someone with immense power, like Brother Han."

"Trouble? Surely the Bai family has more Demonic Venerable-level ancestors than just yourself, Immortal. What kind of trouble could possibly be beyond your esteemed family's ability to resolve?" Han Li's expression subtly shifted upon hearing this, yet he posed the question with utmost calm.

"If it were ordinary trouble, I wouldn't have brought it up to you upon our first meeting, Daoist. I'll be frank: a critically important mineral vein belonging to our Bai family, located deep within the Phantasmal Howl Desert, has encountered a major issue. This resource point was occupied several years ago by a demonic beast possessing Demonic Venerable-level strength. This beast wields incredibly formidable divine abilities, and our Bai family alone is truly powerless to expel it. That's why I've had to brazenly request assistance from some friends. However, if Brother Han were also to lend a hand, I believe our chances of success would significantly increase. Once the matter is resolved, I can promise an Eight-legged Demonic Lizard as compensation for your aid." The purple-haired woman said with a wry smile.

"How many Demonic Venerable-level helpers have you already invited?" Han Li asked calmly after a moment of thoughtful silence.

"Two have already been invited. Including myself and another Supreme Elder from the Bai family, there will be a total of four Demonic Venerables acting together at that time," the purple-haired woman replied without hesitation.