Chapter 2259: Departure

"Han Daoyou, why are you so aloof? After all, we've met several times; we have some acquaintance. However, I stopped you this time for a different reason. I wish to make another transaction with you. I wonder if Han Daoyou is interested?" Bao Hua said with a smile on her lips.

"A transaction? Let me hear it first," Han Li said with a noncommittal expression, letting out a chuckle.

"How about we talk over there, just the two of us?" Bao Hua suggested, glancing at Crab Daoist and Silvermoon before sweeping her gaze towards a section of the void.

"Alright, no problem!" Han Li agreed without changing his expression. He then turned to Silvermoon and the other person, whispered a few words, and flew with Bao Hua towards a nearby spot.

A moment later, Bao Hua and Han Li stood upright on a small sand dune, separated by only about five or six zhang.

Bao Hua lightly tapped the surrounding void with a finger a few times, and immediately, several strands of light shot out, then vanished just as quickly into the void.

Immediately, the area around the sand dune rippled, and an invisible barrier enveloped the entire space.

Seeing this, Han Li said indifferently:

"Daoist friend, you can speak now."

"Han Daoyou, why are you so impatient? A few days ago, I obtained some extremely rare Sandalwood Fruit, and I'd like to share them with you. Please, have a seat first," Bao Hua said with a charming smile, shaking her sleeve towards the ground.

The sand dune trembled, and countless grains of sand surged forth, instantly forming two earth-yellow stone stools and a several-zhang-long stone table in front of them.

After a swirl of pink light passed, two pale purple spiritual fruits, a bottle of spiritual wine, and two crystal-clear jade cups immediately appeared on the stone table.

Han Li's spiritual sense swept over the two purple spiritual fruits, and his expression showed a slight flicker of interest. After a brief contemplation, he sat down on the stone stool in front of him without another word.

Bao Hua gracefully moved and sat opposite him, also smiling.

The spiritual wine was as clear as water, and the purple fruit was as sweet and crisp as a pear!

Only when Han Li set down his wine cup did Bao Hua straighten her expression and speak proactively:

"Actually, the transaction I wish to make with you this time is very simple. I merely wish for you to act at a specific time in the near future. I need you to help me entangle a certain individual, so I can have time to accomplish something I have long planned."

"Entangle someone? Don't you think you should be more specific, Daoist friend? Someone who makes Daoist Bao Hua so apprehensive cannot possibly be an ordinary being," Han Li said with a faint smile, showing no surprise.

"Daoist friend, you are perceptive. Indeed, even I am unwilling to directly confront this person head-on. However, I am only asking you to delay the other party for a period, not to engage in a life-or-death battle. I don't think this should be difficult for you. If you can truly accomplish this, I will owe you a great favor. In the future, should you ever need my assistance, as long as it is within my power, I will not hesitate in the slightest. What do you think of this transaction, Brother Han?" Bao Hua said unhurriedly, gazing at Han Li's face.

"For Daoist Bao Hua to owe a promise, the price is certainly not small. But who is it you intend for me to deal with? You should at least tell me their name," Han Li said, his eyes flashing.

"You're not unfamiliar with this person, Daoist Han. He is..." Bao Hua's face blossomed with a smile. However, after her lips moved slightly a few times, she transmitted the information directly through a voice message.

"Him? Are you joking, Daoist friend? I am merely a newly advanced Grand Ascension cultivator; how could I truly entangle him? Daoist Bao Hua, you should seek out someone more capable," Han Li said, his brow slightly furrowed after listening for a moment, and he promptly refused.

"Brother Han, don't refuse too soon. I have something here I'd like you to see first," Bao Hua said with a faint smile, raising a hand. A ball of white light shot out, instantly appearing before Han Li.

It was a crystal-clear jade bottle, no bigger than the palm of a hand.

Han Li moved his arm and quickly grasped the bottle. He lowered his head to examine it, his eyes narrowing slightly.

"What is the meaning of this, Daoist Bao Hua?" Han Li asked coldly, not immediately opening the bottle.

"I offer a promise, plus this item, in exchange for your assistance," Bao Hua replied without hesitation.

Han Li snorted, said nothing more, and with one hand, he directly opened the bottle. His spiritual sense swept through it.

"Divine Gel Pill,"

The next moment, Han Li's expression changed, and he involuntarily blurted out.

"I didn't expect Han Daoyou to be so knowledgeable, recognizing this pill at a glance," Bao Hua said, a hint of surprise flashing across her face.

"This pill is one of the few spiritual medicines in the world that can nourish the spiritual essence of Grand Ascension cultivators, and it's especially effective for those who have recently advanced to the Grand Ascension stage. However, the method for refining this pill has long been lost. Where did you obtain it, Daoist Bao Hua?" Han Li asked, holding the bottle, his expression fluctuating between cloudy and clear.

"I obtained this pill by chance many years ago from an ancient cultivator's cave dwelling. At the time, I got seven of them, but after all these years, only this one remains in my possession. Well, Han Daoyou, you should understand my sincerity now, shouldn't you?" Bao Hua said slowly.

"It seems Daoist Bao Hua has indeed settled on me," Han Li said, exhaling lightly. "Do you truly believe I can help you entangle that person? Aren't you afraid my abilities might be insufficient and end up ruining your important plan?"

"To be honest, before this gathering, the person I originally intended to seek out was not you, Brother Han, but someone else. Although that Daoist friend's divine abilities are impressive, their chances of truly entangling that person were less than fifty percent. Daoist Han, however, is very different! Even before you advanced to the Grand Ascension stage, you possessed divine abilities capable of directly confronting ordinary Grand Ascension cultivators. Now that you've advanced, your strength has increased by an unknown multiple. I fear that if you were serious, even I might not be your match. My current plan is of utmost importance, and since I need assistance, I naturally seek someone I can trust completely. Even if it means paying a higher price, I am willing," Bao Hua said with a light chuckle, a hint of charm subtly appearing between her brows.

"Since Daoist Bao Hua holds me in such high regard, it would be ungracious of me to refuse further. Very well, I can act once. However, besides this pill and a promise, there is one more condition. If Daoist friend can agree to it, I can guarantee to entangle that person for a full day and night, giving you ample time to accomplish what you intend," Han Li said, his eyes flashing a few times before he suddenly smiled.

"Oh, Daoist Han, please tell me what it is!" Bao Hua's smile faded, and she spoke with a touch of solemnity.

"If you, Bao Hua, regain control of the Demon Realm, I want you to restrain the Demon race throughout your lifetime, preventing them from invading the Spirit Realm during the convergence of the two realms!" Han Li said, staring at Bao Hua, uttering each word distinctly.

"That's impossible! Daoist Han, don't you think this condition is a bit excessive? You dare propose such a condition just for helping me once!" Bao Hua's beautiful face darkened, and she spoke with some displeasure.

"While I don't know the exact details of Daoist Bao Hua's plan, since you intend for me to entangle that person, there's no doubt this is a once-in-a-millennium opportunity for your plan. Furthermore, I don't believe anyone else in the current Demon Realm, besides me, can help you. Are you perhaps thinking of directly seeking out that Old Man Tongya? Whether he'd be willing to take such a risk aside, his asking price would likely be several times higher than mine. After all, not everyone is willing to gratuitously make a powerful enemy for such a price," Han Li replied with unusual composure.

"Hmph, aren't you afraid of offending that person?" Bao Hua retorted, her face gloomy and an eyebrow raised.

"Daoist Bao Hua, why ask the obvious? I already offended that person years ago, so offending them again is naturally no big deal," Han Li replied with a faint smile, completely unconcerned.

"There's some truth to what you say. However, it's absolutely impossible for me to cancel the Sacred Offering during the convergence of the two realms. But if I regain control of the Sacred Realm, I can indeed restrain my clansmen during my lifetime, preventing them from stepping even half a step into your human domain during the Sacred Offering," Bao Hua replied slowly, her expression changing several times.

"Just the human race isn't enough; add the demon race as well. Humans and demons in the Spirit Realm have always advanced and retreated together. If the Demon race invades the demon territory, we humans cannot stand by idly," Han Li stated decisively after a moment of contemplation.

"Alright, if it's limited to just the human and demon races, I can agree to this condition." This time, Bao Hua only thought for a moment before immediately agreeing.

"Good, I'll accept this pill for now. Let us both swear an oath by our inner demons. Then we can discuss the specific details of the operation," Han Li said, a hint of a smile appearing on his face upon hearing her agreement.

Bao Hua naturally agreed without hesitation.

An hour later, Han Li, accompanied by Crab Daoist and Silvermoon, flew away from their original location. Half a day later, they found a hilly area on the edge of the desert and immediately descended their escaping light.

Ten days later, black mist billowed above Earth City. Tens of thousands of elite high-ranking demons had gathered, with not a single one below the Void Refinement stage.

Among these demons, hundreds of giant demonic boats floated high in the sky, carrying Han Li and dozens of other Grand Ascension cultivators.

Shortly after, an unknown command was issued, and tens of thousands of demons immediately surrounded these flying boats, surging away in a certain direction.

Three months later, above a desolate valley in the Demon Realm, shimmering light flickered and drums thundered, filling the entire valley with densely packed demonic soldiers.

Millions of demonic soldiers had gathered here, either flying on artifacts or suspended in mid-air above the demonic energy.

At the center of the demonic army, on a gigantic demonic boat resembling a small island, Han Li and the other Grand Ascension cultivators were once again gathered in a large hall, listening to Bao Hua's somewhat cold voice:

"I will have the soldiers outside divide into several detachments. They will set out first to sweep the areas surrounding the Land of Primal Imprint, attracting as many insect hordes and high-tier monstrous insects as possible. Then, we, escorted by tens of thousands of elite guards, will directly charge into the Land of Primal Imprint from another direction. Once we enter the Land of Primal Imprint, I can activate some of the still-functional restrictions to temporarily block those insects outside. After that, we can proceed with our original plan, splitting up and carrying out our respective tasks."