Chapter 543: Intimidating the Cultivators

Han Li, expressionless, made a single-handed gesture. The twelve small swords instantly merged back into one. After a flash of white light, it returned to his sleeve and disappeared without a trace.

“Now, can we speak plainly?” Han Li lowered his hand and said with a calm expression.

Han Li's previous attack did not kill his opponent; it merely gravely injured the person, causing them to temporarily lose the ability to fight.

A moment later, Yun Tianxiao struggled to stand up again. Drenched in blood, his gaze towards Han Li was filled with terror.

“Alright, I, Yun, am not as skilled as you! Fellow Daoist Li, you may take Wen Siyue. However, I must warn you upfront. An elder has already taken a liking to this woman, intending to use her as a human cauldron. If you take her, don't be afraid of bringing trouble upon yourself.” Yun Tianxiao said, his face pale. He then took out a few talismans, slapped them onto himself, and after a flash of green light, his wounds disappeared at a visible rate.

“Human cauldron?” Hearing this, Han Li finally understood why Wen Siyue had desperately wanted to leave.

However, the implicit meaning in Yun Tianxiao's later words made Han Li's expression suddenly turn cold.

“Others have taken a liking to this woman, you say? No matter! I will definitely take her with me. As for threats, fellow Daoist, you'd best say less. Otherwise, if I, Li, am in a bad mood, it's possible I might just bathe this place in blood.” Han Li said, his expression unchanged, then casually glanced around.

His words were not entirely a bluff.

If there hadn't been too many Core Formation cultivators present, he wasn't entirely confident he could eliminate them all without leaving a single one. Otherwise, he truly would have acted to wipe out everyone here and put an end to it.

Even so, the ruthlessness in his words caused the expressions of all the cultivators present to change drastically.

If his earlier attack had filled others with shock and suspicion, then his current arrogant tone made most people suspect Han Li was an old Nascent Soul stage monster. They couldn't help but look uneasy, or lower their gazes. No one dared to look Han Li directly in the eye anymore.

Yun Tianxiao naturally also thought of this possibility. Considering that the opponent was only at the early Core Formation stage, yet a single strike almost claimed the life of a mid-Core Formation cultivator like himself, and was also looking for an Eighth-level demonic beast's lair, he immediately felt a bitter taste in his mouth, cursing inwardly.

Wen Siyue, still held in Han Li's arms, had her beautiful eyes wide open. She was also stunned by the scene before her.

She would rather die than be a human cauldron for someone else, which was why she had desperately fought earlier. But she never expected this cultivator named Li to possess such terrifying cultivation, single-handedly suppressing all the cultivators present.

Yun Tianxiao, whom she had previously greatly feared, was severely wounded, and Madam Fan's face was filled with panic, as she remained silent.

All of this filled her heart with both shock and and joy. It felt like a dream.

Seeing that everyone else was cautiously silent, Han Li scoffed and extended his hand.

The dark-skinned man's copper plate suddenly floated up on its own. With a whoosh, it shot into Han Li's palm.

Han Li unceremoniously lowered his head to examine it closely.

The dark-skinned cultivator's expression changed slightly. But after moving his lips a few times, he still didn't dare utter any words of dissatisfaction.

Since his opponent could gravely injure Yun Tianxiao, whose cultivation was similar to his own, with a single strike, he was naturally no match either. His expression certainly wasn't pleasant.

“I want this item. How many spirit stones do you need?” Han Li put down the copper plate and said calmly to its owner.

“Seven… no, five thousand spirit stones will suffice!” The dark-skinned cultivator was somewhat surprised and answered subconsciously.

Han Li tossed out a Grade 5 demonic core. It landed precisely in front of the man.

“Let's use this demonic core as an exchange. Also, don't say I forcibly took a female cultivator from your sect. Let the materials on the table be the price for this woman's freedom.” Han Li turned to Madam Fan and said. Then he patted the shoulder of the woman in his arms. After she released him, he calmly stood up and walked out.

Wen Siyue only realized what was happening a moment later. She hurriedly stood up, somewhat flustered, and followed him out.

“Elder Li, wait!” Madam Fan's expression shifted, and she actually called out.

This made Han Li pause. He stopped walking and turned around, a hint of surprise flashing across his face.

This woman still had the nerve to call out to him, which made Han Li somewhat interested. Wen Siyue, however, was slightly nervous and instinctively leaned closer to Han Li.

“What is it?” Han Li squinted his eyes slightly and asked calmly.

“Elder, do you not wish to return to the Inner Star Sea? Our sect, the Miao Yin Sect, has a way for all fellow Daoists to return to the Inner Sea soon.” Madam Fan said with a delicate smile. Her tone was clearly much more respectful. Facing someone who was very likely a Nascent Soul stage cultivator, she dared not show any disrespect.

“What do you mean by that?” Han Li said, frowning. He really wasn't in the mood to listen to such vague remarks.

Madam Fan noticed Han Li's impatience and quickly spoke, not daring to be enigmatic:

“Our Miao Yin Sect is preparing a teleportation array to return to the Inner Star Sea. However, we are still missing some crucial materials, preventing its completion. Therefore, at this exchange meeting, I actually wished to seek help from all fellow Daoists. As long as you help our sect complete this teleportation array, our Miao Yin Sect can send everyone back to the Inner Star Sea for free.”

As soon as Madam Fan finished speaking, the other Core Formation cultivators stirred in excitement. Most of them showed unexpected joy.

The Outer Star Sea was now the dominion of demonic beasts; even they felt it impossible to stay much longer. They naturally had long wanted to return.

However, without a teleportation array, relying solely on flying, it would likely take five or six years to fly back to the Inner Sea, not to mention the various risks they might encounter along the way. This was why they had remained here until now.

“A teleportation array alone is useless without teleportation talismans, isn't it? Don't tell me your Miao Yin Sect has also mastered the method of crafting teleportation talismans.” The white-haired old woman asked coldly, her expression shifting slightly.

“Elder Qing, there's no need to worry about that,” Madam Fan said with a serious expression. “Although our Miao Yin Sect doesn't know how to craft teleportation talismans, before the beast tide, our sect secretly acquired a number of teleportation talismans through other channels. The quantity is more than enough to send all fellow Daoists present back to the Inner Star Sea. It's just that the most crucial material for this array, the Illusory Dream Stone, is incredibly rare. After years of searching, we did find a source of this stone, but it happens to be near the habitat of a group of high-level demonic beasts. Most of these demonic beasts are around Grade 5 or 6, and there's quite a number of them. They are simply not something a few cultivators can completely eliminate! Moreover, if the operation goes wrong and a few escape, alerting even higher-level demonic beasts, then things would be disastrous. That's why our sect wishes to enlist your help!”

After hearing these words, everyone else showed thoughtful expressions. To clear out high-level demonic beasts was not something to agree to lightly; they naturally had to weigh the pros and cons carefully.

“Why are you seeking us Core Formation cultivators?” The dark-skinned cultivator asked slowly after pondering for a moment. “Why don't you invite a Nascent Soul stage elder to act, which would offer greater certainty?”

“Do you fellow Daoists think I haven't tried?” Madam Fan said with a bitter smile, then cast a helpless glance at Han Li. “But most of those elders have been missing since the beast tide. I've only managed to contact one, Elder Miaohe. It is with the help of this elder that I can deal with the Grade 7 demonic beasts in that group. And Siyue is the human cauldron this elder specifically requested.”

The others exchanged glances upon hearing this.

Hearing this, Han Li stroked his chin, a thoughtful expression flashing across his face. But then, he spoke briefly:

“I, Li, have no interest in participating in this matter. You fellow Daoists should busy yourselves!” After speaking, he ignored them and walked out the main door.

Wen Siyue dared not lag behind a single step and followed closely.

No one dared to stop Han Li. A group of cultivators, staring at each other in bewilderment, remained in the hall.

Madam Fan openly showed her disappointment. Meanwhile, the previously silent Yun Tianxiao spoke again.

“Since Fellow Daoist Li is unwilling to help, our sect will not force the matter. Next, I will first introduce some information about the demonic beasts near the Illusory Dream Stone, and then all fellow Daoists can decide for yourselves. There...” It was as if Han Li's severe injury to him had never happened; Yun Tianxiao began speaking fluently and calmly.

“Sea?” Wen Siyue muttered behind Han Li.

“What, do you want to go back?” Han Li asked indifferently, without turning his head.

“Not exactly, it's just that...” Wen Siyue's voice lowered, and her last words remained unspoken.

By then, Han Li had already led her out of the stone wall and headed straight for the exit without a word.

Since the purpose of his trip had been achieved, he naturally had no interest in staying there any longer.

Han Li, with Wen Siyue, exited the secret market through the colossal stone entrance, under the astonished gaze of the old gatekeeper. Then his escape light enveloped the woman, and they soared away into the sky.

Along the way, Wen Siyue remained silent. She didn't ask Han Li about their destination within the escape light, seeming to have entrusted everything to Han Li.

Han Li, for his part, had no intention of explaining, and likewise flew silently with her.

Two days later, Han Li finally found a desolate island with faint spiritual energy and landed.