Chapter 2305: Blood Flame and Black Scale

"What do you mean by that, Fellow Daoist Han?" the white-robed old man asked, startled and somewhat surprised.

"If you don't mean to belittle us, why would you send merely a clone to deceive us?" Han Li replied, his expression unchanged.

"A clone?" This time, it was Mo Jianli's turn to be startled. He quickly swept his divine sense over the old man but still found his aura unfathomably deep, unable to detect any abnormality. His expression became uncertain.

The white-robed old man showed a hint of surprise. After staring at Han Li for a moment, he let out a soft laugh.

"Fellow Daoist Han, you truly have discerning eyes to see through this 'Concentric Clone' at a glance. I must express my admiration. However, to say I meant to belittle you would be a genuine misunderstanding. Before you and Fellow Daoist Mo arrived, you must have heard the news of my seclusion, right? To be frank, it's not a false rumor. My true body is indeed in seclusion somewhere and cannot easily emerge to receive guests, so I had no choice but to send this clone here. In fact, not just for the two of you, but even for Fellow Daoists Xuan Ran and Hei Lin, I intended to meet them with this clone."

The white-robed old man admitted it quite frankly.

Mo Jianli's expression shifted upon hearing this, and he was about to speak when a cold snort suddenly came from outside the main door, followed by an unfamiliar male voice booming loudly:

"Brother Ling intends to meet us with a mere clone? That shows too little sincerity. Is your true body undergoing a life-or-death seclusion, perhaps? Otherwise, wouldn't our presence warrant your true body emerging for once?!"

As soon as the voice fell, figures flickered outside the door, and two non-human beings with rough, dark skin, similar faces, and vaguely half their bodies covered in horny scales, suddenly walked in.

Of the two, one exuded a rolling killing aura, forming a crimson glow that enveloped his entire body.

The other, however, had a gloomy and icy aura, with countless faint black energy clusters vaguely swirling on his body surface, forming numerous tiny vortices that continuously drew in the surrounding elemental energy.

From a distance, they both looked incredibly strange!

"So, Fellow Daoists Xuan Ran and Hei Lin have arrived. I apologize for not coming out to greet you. Although I am not undergoing a life-or-death seclusion, this seclusion is exceptionally important, and emerging now would render all my efforts futile. I can only ask for your understanding, Fellow Daoists." The white-robed old man's eyes lit up as he faced the two newly arrived non-human Mahayana cultivators, but he still explained with a smile.

"Hmph, if it weren't for this transaction..." A dark-skinned man glared, but before he could utter anything unpleasant, the other man interrupted him preemptively.

"Never mind, Brother Hei. We're not here for a friendly chat. What difference does it make if it's a clone, as long as he can produce the item? Let's get straight to business. By the way, Brother Ling, who are these two fellow Daoists? You didn't mention beforehand that others would be joining this transaction."

As the latter dark-skinned man spoke the last two sentences, his gaze coldly swept over Han Li and Mo Jianli.

With Mo Jianli's Mahayana cultivation, his skin involuntarily chilled the moment he met that gaze, and his expression subtly changed.

The opponent clearly cultivated some secret divine sense technique that could even threaten Mahayana cultivators. Otherwise, a mere gaze would never have such terrifying effects.

As for Han Li, after meeting the other's gaze, his pupils merely contracted slightly, showing no other reaction whatsoever.

Seeing Han Li's composure, the two dark-skinned men were inwardly startled. After exchanging a look, the disdain on their faces unconsciously subsided somewhat.

"Fellow Daoist Xuan Ran, you've misunderstood me. To be honest, the first person I sought for this transaction wasn't the two of you, but Fellow Daoist Shi Xin. Although Fellow Daoist Shi Xin has fallen, Fellow Daoist Mo and Fellow Daoist Han brought his original token. How could I refuse? Fortunately, the item I possess isn't just one piece; there's enough for several of you to share. The real question is whether you can produce what I desire!" the white-robed old man said unhurriedly.

"Old Monster Ling, my brother and I are determined to acquire that Lightning Cloud Talisman. As soon as we heard you intended to trade this talisman, we rushed here immediately, practically emptying our entire island treasury. Just tell us what you want. As long as we have it, we won't be stingy in the slightest!" Xuan Ran said solemnly.

"Fellow Daoist Mo and I feel the same way. Just say the word, Brother Ling, and I'd be willing to give everything I have for this Three Purities Lightning Cloud Talisman," Mo Jianli said with a light cough, equally earnest.

"Hehe, there's no rush. Why don't you all first taste the spiritual tea I've brewed myself? We can discuss matters later," the old man said, waving a hand casually upon hearing their words.

The two non-human Mahayana cultivators frowned slightly upon hearing this, but after a few quiet whispered exchanges, Xuan Ran nodded and said:

"Very well. I have indeed heard that your clan's spiritual tea is exceptional. I shall not decline to try some."

As soon as he finished speaking, the two non-human Mahayana cultivators moved with a sway and sat down on two nearby chairs.

The several snowy white little monkeys, full of spiritual intelligence, hopped over without waiting for the white-robed old man's command, brewed a cup of spiritual tea for each of the newcomers, and then truly left the hall.

Han Li and Mo Jianli found it inconvenient to press further and could only wait silently in their chairs.

Only after Xuan Ran and the other non-human Mahayana cultivator had each tasted their spiritual tea twice and set down their cups, did the white-robed old man leisurely speak again:

"Although I already know that all four of you are here for the Lightning Cloud Talismans, before we discuss this transaction, I must formally ask once more: besides those few Three Purities Lightning Cloud Talismans, I also possess some other materials and treasures that are extremely rare across various realms. Fellow Daoists, would you like to review this catalog of items first before deciding on what you wish to trade for? Otherwise, once a final trade agreement is reached with me, its terms cannot be altered."

"No need. My brother and I have traveled this far precisely for the Lightning Cloud Talisman. Other treasures, no matter how precious, are useless if they cannot help us overcome our next heavenly tribulation," Xuan Ran replied without hesitation, his body trembling slightly with a crimson glow.

Hei Lin, who had a similar appearance, sneered from the side, seemingly disdaining to answer the question.

"My answer is the same! Fellow Daoist Han, what about you?" Mo Jianli took a deep breath and said similarly.

Unlike the others, Han Li smiled and said in an ambiguous tone, "I am rather interested in what Brother Ling can offer."

"Since Brother Han is interested, then please take a look at the catalog first." The old man, not intending to waste words, immediately flicked his sleeve upon hearing Han Li's reply, and a ball of green light flew out.

Han Li made a single-handed gesture, and the green light converged, transforming into a jade slip of emerald green that landed in his hand.

He held the jade slip with one hand and, without hesitation, pressed it against his forehead. Immediately, a wisp of his divine sense explored it.

The gazes of the others naturally fell upon him.

A moment later, Han Li's expression subtly shifted, but it quickly vanished in a flash.

After a little while longer, he let out a soft sigh, finally took the jade slip from his forehead, and with a flick of his wrist, tossed it back.

"What, do none of my items catch your eye, Fellow Daoist?" The white-robed old man asked nonchalantly as a flash of white light in front of him caused the emerald jade slip to ripple and disappear into thin air.

"Every item in your catalog, Fellow Daoist, is an extraordinarily rare treasure; indeed, some of the materials would be extremely difficult to find even in other realms. Unfortunately, they are not particularly useful to me and are far less appealing than the Three Purities Lightning Cloud Talisman," Han Li said frankly after a moment of contemplation.

"What a pity. I also value the Lightning Cloud Talismans greatly and had originally hoped to exchange them for something else. It seems that won't be possible now," the white-robed old man said, his expression unchanged and showing no surprise.

"Alright, since none of us four intend to change our minds, Brother Ling, please tell us the terms of the transaction quickly. From your demeanor, what you wish to acquire must also be quite unusual," Hei Lin said, growing impatient.

"Hehe, the value of these Three Purities Lightning Cloud Talismans is something you all clearly understand without me having to explain it. Since I intend to offer them, the items I wish to trade for will naturally not differ too much in value. However, you certainly won't have this item on you; otherwise, I would have stated it explicitly when I sent out the invitations," the white-robed old man said with a peculiar expression, glancing at Hei Lin.

"Hmph, your message didn't directly state what you wanted in return, but it vaguely hinted that you wished us to undertake some extremely dangerous task to obtain this Lightning Cloud Talisman. However, Fellow Daoist, do not underestimate the wealth of us Mahayana cultivators from the sea domains. The abundance of rare resources in the deep sea far exceeds what your secluded clans can imagine. My brother and I alone have discovered seven or eight ancient underwater grotto-mansions, and some of the treasures within are actually no less valuable than that Lightning Cloud Talisman. If I were to produce them, I believe it would be enough to change your mind, Brother Ling," Xuan Ran scoffed.

"I, too, had several immense opportunities during my cultivation years and am confident that I possess items sufficient to trade for this Lightning Cloud Talisman. Otherwise, I wouldn't have made this trip myself," Mo Jianli said, a flicker of unusual light in his eyes and a hint of confidence on his face.

Han Li, meanwhile, simply smiled faintly without speaking.

"I don't need to see the treasures you've prepared for exchange; I believe their value is indeed no less than my Lightning Cloud Talismans. However, just as you all face heavenly tribulations and must use the Lightning Cloud Talismans to save your lives, the task I require of you also concerns my future survival. Other than that, I will not exchange the Lightning Cloud Talismans for any other treasures," the white-robed old man stated directly and concisely.