Chapter 546: Nine-Level Demon Cultivator

**Volume Four: Winds Rising Overseas**

A few Demon Companion Grass plants, which he had long set his eyes on, flew roots and all into the jade box. With a soft click, Han Li neatly closed the lid of the jade box, a hint of joy appearing on his face. Getting the Demon Companion Grass so easily was truly unexpected.

However, this was no place to linger! Han Li was about to turn around and flee when a faint voice sounded from behind him. "You've been lingering nearby for so long, all for a few plants. Human cultivators are truly peculiar!" It was the voice of an unfamiliar man.

Han Li's expression changed drastically, his face turning extremely grim. But then he forced himself to calm down. With a flicker of his body, he turned around, his face dark. Before him stood a demon cultivator in green robes, looking at him with a curious expression. The moment he clearly saw the demon's appearance, Han Li's mouth filled with bitterness. The demon cultivator wore a silver crown and hemp sandals. Aside from his small, jade-green eyes and a sharp, keratinous nose, the rest of him was identical to a human male. Han Li's eyelids twitched violently a few times. Such a demon beast, almost completely transformed into human form, could not possibly be an eighth-level demon beast. Could it be one of the legendary ninth or tenth-level demon beasts?

Han Li's body stiffened instantly. Although he held the Five-Element Ring and a spirit beast pouch in his hands, he dared not act rashly. "You discovered me early, esteemed sir," Han Li said, his voice feeling dry and unpleasant. The demon cultivator opposite him, however, reacted with a slight stir before chuckling. "Indeed. I noticed you the very day you arrived. At first, I thought you were just a passing human cultivator, so I paid no mind. Who would have thought that in the following days, you would stay put on the nearby reef? That piqued my interest." The green-robed demon cultivator narrowed his eyes as he spoke, revealing a set of pearly white teeth. Han Li felt a strange sensation, perhaps an illusion, that the demon's teeth were overly sharp, faintly glinting with a chilling light that sent a shiver down his spine. "Given the surname 'Feng'..." Han Li's heart sank further as he realized, "This must be the adult Wind Splitting Beast."

"If that's the case, why didn't you make a move earlier?" Han Li asked with a forced smile. "I did want to meet you sooner, fellow Daoist. However, I had just completed the second stage of my transformation and was in the process of stabilizing my form, making it unsuitable for me to venture out. Now that I've just finished solidifying my form, I was thinking of going out. But to my surprise, you actually came right into my lair. That truly caught me off guard," the Wind Splitting Beast said, a peculiar smile on its face. "The second stage of transformation? Could it be newly entered ninth-level?" Han Li's face paled. The hand gripping the Five-Element Ring unconsciously broke out in cold sweat. "Ninth-level? Is that how you humans categorize our demon race? Yes, the second stage of our transformation period is equivalent to what you call a ninth-level demon beast," the demon cultivator, whose true form was an adult Wind Splitting Beast, replied casually, blinking his eyes.

Hearing the other party's frank admission, Han Li fell silent. After a moment, a bitter smile twitched at the corner of his lips. If it were an eighth-level demon beast, he believed he might still have a slim chance of survival. But facing a ninth-level demon cultivator, he had almost completely given up the idea of escaping alive. His demise seemed unavoidable. Thinking this, Han Li stopped talking. He suddenly opened his mouth, and more than a dozen streaks of green light shot out, circling around him. Then, with a single raised hand, he was about to release his spirit beast pouch. But in that instant, the demon cultivator opposite him made a move. Han Li's vision blurred, and his hand felt light. The spirit beast pouch had been snatched away by the opponent. His dozen or so protective flying swords, though instinctively moving to block, were too slow. Before they could even strike, the opponent had already retreated to his original position. After his initial shock, Han Li's face turned ashen. How could he have forgotten? Wind Splitting Beasts were high-level demon beasts renowned for their speed. And at such close range, a ninth-level Wind Splitting Beast's speed was probably akin to teleportation. How could he possibly harm his opponent? In an instant, a torrent of chaotic thoughts flooded his mind. A strange flush appeared on Han Li's extremely pale face. He pressed one hand against his storage pouch, and a sparkling golden sphere appeared in his grasp. Han Li quickly raised his hand and swallowed the sphere whole. Then he stared chillingly at the green-robed demon cultivator opposite him, remaining silent. He had already decided that before he died, he would detonate the Qianlan Pearl in his abdomen with the Evil-Dispelling Divine Thunder. This way, even if he couldn't take the opponent down with him, he would certainly inflict a severe blow.

The Wind Splitting Beast showed a hint of surprise at Han Li's strange actions. But then it chuckled nonchalantly. "Heh heh! Why are you in such a hurry, fellow Daoist? I never said I would harm you!" It said, a strange expression on its face, as it casually tossed the spirit beast pouch it held. "What do you mean? Aren't you demon cultivators currently slaughtering human cultivators?" Han Li frowned, his voice cold. He didn't want to be toyed with before his death. "The war with your human race is currently a matter involving the nearby sea tribes. I, Feng, am not under their jurisdiction. I merely appreciate this Phosphor Fire Pool and have temporarily settled here," the Wind Splitting Beast said, twitching its mouth and shaking its head.

Han Li was momentarily stunned! He then remembered that Wind Splitting Beasts were demon beasts that existed between sea beasts and demon birds. They couldn't be entirely classified as sea demon beasts, and from the opponent's tone, it seemed he wasn't a local demon cultivator either. Could it be that the other party truly had no intention of killing him? Han Li's expression flickered between uncertainty and understanding. A moment later, Han Li waved his hand and recalled all his flying swords back into his body, his expression easing slightly. Since his flying swords were utterly ineffective against the opponent, he might as well be straightforward. If the opponent was deceiving him, he could always detonate the Qianlan Ice Pearl as a last resort.

Seeing Han Li put away his magical artifacts, the Wind Splitting Beast showed a look of satisfaction. "I prefer dealing with intelligent humans. Here, take this back." Without even glancing at the contents of the spirit beast pouch, it tossed it back to Han Li. Han Li raised his hand to catch it, feeling a little more at ease. "Fellow Daoist, would you be interested in visiting my true cave dwelling? This is the first time I, Feng, have ever invited a human cultivator," the demon cultivator said, staring at Han Li, uttering words that greatly surprised him.

Although the Wind Splitting Beast spoke so courteously, Han Li hardly dared to refuse and could only nod with a bitter smile. Seeing Han Li agree, the Wind Splitting Beast showed a hint of joy. Without another word, it raised a hand, and a green orb of light appeared in its palm. The orb instantly expanded, enveloping Han Li within it. "Plop," the orb carried them both directly into the pond and then plummeted downwards. A strange expression flickered across Han Li's face, but he did not resist, seeing the green light flash before he was pulled next to the Wind Splitting Beast. Because the orb itself emitted a faint green glow, Han Li was able to clearly see the underwater world around them. Perhaps due to the peculiar nature of the pond's water, Han Li saw no other fish besides a type of palm-sized white strange fish. There were also no small shrimp, seaweed, or other such things. The Wind Splitting Beast, seeing Han Li's apparent curiosity about the underwater scenery, smiled faintly and said nothing.

After about the time it takes to eat a meal, the light barrier stopped its descent. After a gentle tremor, it flew sideways. In an instant, a massive black stone gate appeared before them. White light pulsed on the stone gate, indicating it was protected by a restriction. "We've arrived. This is my humble abode; I hope fellow Daoist won't laugh," the Wind Splitting Beast said, pointing at the stone gate with extreme courtesy. Han Li forced a smile and said nothing. The light barrier directly approached the stone gate, which opened on its own. Instantly, the light barrier passed through a white shimmering curtain, carrying them both into a dry passage.

This passage was vibrant with colors. The stone walls were inlaid with various dragon-eye-sized pearls, shining brilliantly and illuminating the area as if it were daytime. "Please, fellow Daoist!" the Wind Splitting Beast said, unable to hide a hint of pride as it saw Han Li's surprised expression. These pearls were no ordinary idle pearls; they were precious gems obtained by delving deep into the seabed and specifically seeking out sentient shellfish that had lived for thousands of years. Each possessed miraculous effects, such as repelling water and fire. Han Li looked at the passage ahead, utterly reluctant to enter. However, under the gaze of the ninth-level demon beast beside him, he gritted his teeth and stepped forward. The green-robed Wind Splitting Beast leisurely followed behind. The passage was not too long. In a blink of an eye, Han Li arrived at a magnificent hall adorned with various colorful corals. In the center of the hall, there was a pristine, translucent jade table and several chairs also carved from beautiful jade. In each of the four corners, there was an antique small cauldron. A finger-thick black incense stick was placed in each cauldron, faintly emitting a delicate fragrance.