Chapter 468: Soul Resonance Bead

**Volume Four: Winds Rising Overseas**

"It was merely a small effort! Since you are no longer in danger, I will take my leave." Han Li glanced at the woman and said calmly. Then he turned and walked away without the slightest intention of lingering.

This action made Yuan Yao, who had just recovered from her shock, turn pale. She quickly forgot her composure and blurted out, "Brother Han, what do you mean by this? Yuan Yao hasn't even properly thanked you for saving her life." As the beautiful woman spoke, her face held a delicate, vulnerable expression that evoked great pity.

But Han Li didn't turn back; only a cold voice drifted to her.

"There's no need for elaborate thanks. I can only save someone for a moment, not for a lifetime. Miss Yuan, take care of yourself!" As soon as he finished speaking, Han Li walked away by himself, covering more than ten zhang very quickly.

Upon hearing his reply, Yuan Yao's pale face became even more flustered.

In her current state, let alone encountering any more Ironfire Ants later, she was already struggling to even withstand the scorching heat; she was almost at her limit. Naturally, she couldn't give up on Han Li, her only lifeline!

So, she called out a few more times in a delicate voice, but Han Li ignored her and continued to walk away.

Seeing that pleas seemed useless against Han Li's stony heart, her face filled with anxiety, she had no choice but to utter the words Han Li had expected.

"Wait! If you are willing to offer your protection along the way, I am willing to offer you a valuable treasure in return. I will not let you expend your spiritual power in vain." She said, biting her lip. "Valuable treasure?" Hearing this, Han Li's steps halted, as if he were slightly hesitant.

"I also have a few Azurefire Grenades. I am willing to give them all to you." Seeing that Han Li seemed to show some interest, the woman quickly added, not daring to delay.

"The green pellets from earlier? They are indeed quite extraordinary." Han Li slowly turned back, a hint of playfulness on his face.

Since he had already saved her, he naturally had no real intention of abandoning her. Moreover, he had other ulterior motives for saving her; his previous actions were merely a tactic of feigning retreat to advance.

Now that she had taken the initiative to ask for help, his objective was achieved. Next, he could name an exorbitant price, and she would likely have no choice but to reluctantly agree.

Yuan Yao, this great beauty, clearly understood this point!

However, whether it was because of Han Li's previous life-saving grace or to secure his continued protection in the future, she had no other choice. With a helpless expression, she continued to explain to Han Li.

"Azurefire Grenades are secret fire-type artifacts crafted by the Demonic Dao's Qingyang Sect. Each one requires not only a large amount of rare materials but also takes an extremely long time to refine. Their power is comparable to the Primordial Yang Flames of Nascent Soul cultivators. I still have three left, and I'll give them all to you." The woman said with a slightly more settled expression, extending a slender, snow-white hand. Three glistening, smooth green pellets lay quietly in her jade-like palm.

By this time, Han Li had unhurriedly walked back. After looking at the three pellets, he calmly stated, "These Azurefire Grenades are indeed a rare treasure. However, I will not risk my life for just these. Having to carry a burden in this place will at least double my spiritual power consumption. Would Fellow Daoist Yuan take such a risk?" Han Li's words contained a hint of mockery.

Upon hearing this, Yuan Yao's beautiful face subtly changed. After a moment of shifting expressions, she suddenly smiled alluringly.

"Brother Han, what are your conditions? Just state them clearly. This humble one doesn't wish to beat around the bush anymore. Could it be that you want me to offer myself to you?" As she finished speaking, Yuan Yao twisted her waist, her prominent bosom subtly rising, appearing exceptionally full. Her bright eyes were filled with a strange, hazy allure, making her seem incredibly charming.

Han Li showed a hint of surprise at her enticing appearance.

But then he narrowed his eyes. He brazenly scrutinized her curvaceous figure, his unbridled gaze causing the beautiful woman's face to flush. Yet, her lovely eyes grew even brighter and more captivating, seemingly intoxicating one to the deepest depths of their heart.

"Using Miss Yuan's stunning beauty to perform charm arts certainly has an effect! But it's useless against me. You'd be better off saving your last bit of spiritual power for self-preservation." Han Li rubbed his chin, a glint flashing in his eyes, and said calmly.

"Hmph! What an unrefined brute, completely devoid of appreciation for beauty!" The great beauty, whose disguise was now broken, lost all traces of her foxy allure. She said with a hint of exasperation.

"Miss Yuan, you shouldn't say that. If we weren't in a dangerous place like the Great Void Temple, and you were to try and seduce me, I would certainly not refuse. But as for now, hehe..." Han Li said, a humorless smile on his face.

"You wish! If it weren't for this place and time, do you think someone like you could make me throw myself into your arms?" Yuan Yao glared at Han Li, her almond-shaped eyes wide with indignation.

"It seems I truly saved the wrong person. Since that's the case, I neither want Fellow Daoist Yuan to offer herself to me nor do I want any thanks for saving your life. I'll be taking my leave now." Han Li acted as if deliberately trying to provoke her. He cupped his fist, indicating he was about to depart again.

"Brother Han, don't be angry, it's my fault. What exactly will it take for you to help me get out of this lava path? Just say it. Yuan Yao will absolutely comply without fail! Can't you help this humble one, considering we met over a hundred years ago and ventured through the Ghost Mist together? As for treasures, besides these few Azurefire Grenades, I truly have nothing else on me that I can offer." Seeing this, Yuan Yao's tone immediately softened, and she appeared pitiful and helpless once more.

Although Han Li still maintained a half-smile, he felt a little surprised inwardly.

This Yuan Yao truly knows how to adapt; her persona is so changeable!

Her current helpless, fragile appearance, pleading softly, and the alluring, foxy charm she displayed moments ago, as well as the cold, arrogant impression she initially gave him, offered him several different feelings. It was truly a bit strange!

It seems there's indeed something unusual about this female cultivator, being able to cultivate from the Qi Condensation stage to the Core Formation stage in just over a hundred years.

As he thought this, Han Li appeared to be deep in contemplation. Yuan Yao's bright eyes nervously fixated on him, revealing an expression of expectation.

After a long while, he finally raised his eyes and said, seemingly with reluctance:

"Since Miss Yuan has mentioned our brief encounter over a hundred years ago, if I still don't protect you, I might truly appear cold-blooded and heartless. However, it's my principle not to work for free. If Fellow Daoist Yuan truly wishes to leave this lava path alive with me, how about you give me that Soul-Devouring Beast? I am very curious about this beast's ability to absorb souls and transform into ghosts!"

After all that circumlocution, Han Li finally stated what he most wanted from the woman, which was also what he had planned from the very beginning.

With this exotic beast, he would have an extra bit of confidence when cooperating with that old ghoul, Xuan Gu.

And in the long run, the potential of this Soul-Devouring Beast is truly extraordinary.

"You want the Soul-Devouring Beast?" After Yuan Yao clearly heard Han Li's words, her beautiful eyes suddenly widened, as if she couldn't quite believe what she had heard.

"What, is that not acceptable?" Han Li's expression darkened, and his tone became slightly cold.

"If I give you the Soul-Devouring Beast, you'll take me out of this lava path?" Yuan Yao asked, staring intently at Han Li, word by word, her expression turning somewhat peculiar, as if evading his question.

"Precisely!" Han Li frowned slightly but affirmed. He vaguely felt that her reaction seemed a bit off.

"Alright, it's settled then. The Soul-Devouring Beast is yours." Almost as soon as Han Li affirmed, she immediately removed a spirit beast pouch from her waist and unhesitatingly handed it to Han Li. She showed not the slightest hint of hesitation.

This scene made Han Li blink, feeling a prickle of unease in his heart.

No matter how he looked at it, he felt that she seemed eager to give him the Soul-Devouring Beast. Could this Soul-Devouring Beast have some hidden trouble?

Despite his thoughts, Han Li, after a brief consideration, still took the item into his hand without changing his expression. A quick scan with his spiritual sense revealed that the Soul-Devouring Beast was sound asleep inside.

Han Li nodded, tucked the spirit beast pouch onto his waist, and was about to say something else when,

Yuan Yao, who was standing before him, opened her mouth and spat out a gray-black bead, which landed in her palm.

"This is the Soul-Calling Bead, the object used to control the Soul-Devouring Beast. As long as you refine it in the same way you would a regular magic treasure, this Soul-Devouring Beast will be yours forever. I haven't had this beast for long, and I haven't truly refined it yet. Now, you just need to forcibly erase my spiritual imprint from it." Yuan Yao explained with a smile, extending it to Han Li.

Han Li looked at the Soul-Calling Bead, his gaze shifting slightly, but he did not reach out to take it. He naturally knew about this bead.

When passing through the Ghost Mist, he had secretly inquired about the Soul-Devouring Beast with Zi Ling, and the Soul-Calling Bead was among the topics.

It was because he later realized she couldn't effectively control the Soul-Devouring Beast that he knew she hadn't successfully refined the Soul-Calling Bead, which is when he developed the idea of acquiring this exotic beast.

But now, she was tossing the bead to him as if it were a plague god, with a hint of suppressed glee in her eyes. This greatly increased Han Li's suspicion, and he was no longer eager to take the bead.