"Close friend? Could this be the person Master was searching for spirit herbs to save?" Han Li asked in a seemingly casual tone, but inwardly he was quite delighted. He had been racking his brain trying to find a way to steer the conversation toward that formation master, and now that this golden opportunity had presented itself, he naturally wasn't about to let it slip by.
Qi Yunxiao was taken aback by Han Li's question and hesitated for a moment.
But then something seemed to occur to him, and with a resolute nod, he said: "What Senior says is correct. This spirit tea was indeed made by my close friend. To be honest, I have Senior to thank for that thousand-year spirit grass you provided as a medicinal catalyst — it's what saved my friend's life. However, although life is no longer in danger, the injuries still won't heal properly. That is why… why I had the audacity to ask whether Senior might have any aged spirit herbs? Even if not a thousand-year herb, one of seven or eight hundred years would give my friend considerable hope of recovery. I am also willing to trade various formation flags in exchange."
Having said this, Qi Yunxiao's face was full of hopeful expectation, his eyes fixed intently on Han Li.
Han Li was somewhat surprised to hear Qi Yunxiao's words, but inwardly he let out a deep sigh of relief. Since the other party still needed his help, then getting him to repair the teleportation formation should be a straightforward matter. Still, he naturally had to put on a show of reluctance, so that the other party would feel indebted to him!
With this thought in mind, Han Li adopted a pensive expression. After a long pause, he said with great reluctance: "Spirit herbs — I do still have a small amount on hand. But I had been planning to use them to refine a batch of pills, so it really is…"
Although Han Li didn't finish the sentence, the look of hesitation on his face told Qi Yunxiao everything he needed to know about how difficult the request was.
After all, what a fine batch of pills meant to a cultivator — the other party surely understood that well enough.
Upon hearing that Han Li did in fact still possess spirit herbs, Qi Yunxiao's face lit up with wild joy. But when he heard the rest, he grew extremely anxious, and before Han Li could even finish speaking, he immediately pleaded in a half-begging tone: "I know it is asking too much of Senior Han to part with his spirit herbs, but watching my close friend suffer day after day is truly agonizing! If Senior is willing to part with this herb, I will offer all of my formation-arranging artifacts for Senior to pick from as you please. Even if you take every last one, I will harbor no complaints whatsoever."
Hearing these words, Han Li's interest was greatly piqued.
Qi Yunxiao's other formation artifacts might not be as extraordinary as the Inverted Five Elements Array, but they were surely rare treasures in their own right. If he could get his hands on several more sets, his personal defenses would be significantly bolstered. Moreover, some formations possessed formidable offensive capabilities — trapping a powerful enemy within one would be a devastating method of killing.
However, the real purpose of this trip was to get the other party to repair that damaged teleportation formation. If he took the formation artifacts, it would be difficult to bring up the matter afterward, and he would certainly leave the impression of being insatiably greedy. Han Li had no desire to make enemies of these two at this point.
After weighing his options, Han Li was about to decline the trade and bring up the teleportation formation instead. But just then, an angry, panicked shout from a young woman suddenly rang out from outside.
"Young Master Qi, it's terrible! Something has happened to our young miss! Please, come quickly and save her!"
The moment this woman's voice reached the room, Qi Yunxiao's face changed dramatically.
He hurriedly rose and rushed toward the door, not even bothering to offer a word of apology to his guest Han Li. The shopkeeper who had been standing nearby similarly fled outward in a panic.
Han Li's eyebrows twitched slightly, though his expression remained unchanged. Feeling somewhat puzzled, he clasped his hands behind his back and slowly walked outside.
In the open ground before the building, Qi Yunxiao and the shopkeeper were listening with tense expressions to an eighteen- or nineteen-year-old girl who was speaking urgently.
The girl had fair skin and a pretty face. She was recounting some story, her face brimming with anxiety. But the moment she spotted Han Li, a stranger, emerge from inside the building, she immediately clamped her mouth shut in surprise, a guarded look flashing in her eyes.
Han Li noticed this and offered an unconcerned smile before standing in place, making no move to approach further.
However, when Qi Yunxiao turned and caught sight of Han Li, he rushed toward him as if grasping at a lifeline, arriving before Han Li in an instant. With an agitated and desperate expression, he pleaded: "Senior! My close friend has been trapped somewhere by a group of malicious cultivators! Right now, only Senior can save her! If Senior is willing to lend a hand, I will absolutely repay you with a generous gift!"
"Could you provide more details, Fellow Dao Qi? Is the young miss this girl speaks of the same close friend of yours who is skilled in formation arts?" Han Li furrowed his brow and asked slowly, somewhat surprised.
"Yes, exactly! The Inverted Five Elements Array formation artifacts that Senior used — they were created jointly by me and Miss Xing!" Qi Yunxiao said hurriedly, gazing at Han Li with desperate pleading in his eyes.
The pretty girl, meanwhile, had just realized that with her mere fifth-layer Qi Condensation cultivation, she couldn't discern Han Li's true depth of power at all. Her small mouth fell open in astonishment as she regarded him with a mixture of awe and wariness.
But Han Li turned toward the girl and spoke in a deep voice: