Han Li turned over the information he had just learned in his mind, wondering whether he should truly wade into this mess.
He didn't know what lay ahead, but this bizarre floating palace was clearly something akin to the "Blood Trial" of the Yue Kingdom — a place built entirely by the ancient cultivators of the primordial era.
Though there would be no shortage of treasures inside, there would certainly be no shortage of danger either.
And that inexplicable expression Patriarch Ji Yin had worn moments ago sent a chill crawling through his heart. What scheme was the old monster hatching?
Perhaps the wisest course would be to have nothing to do with this place and withdraw immediately.
But from what he had overheard those old monsters say, this place could only be entered once every three hundred years. If he turned tail now, he would likely never have another opportunity like this.
This gave Han Li pause.
Just as he was wavering, Xuan Gu Shangren's voice drifted into his ear.
"Boy. What is it that Patriarch Ji Yin is so desperate to get from you? Otherwise, why would he look at you like that? If my guess is correct, boy, you're about to be in serious trouble." Though Xuan Gu's voice was flat and even, it was laced with unmistakable mockery.
Hearing this, Han Li let out a cold snort in his heart and immediately sent back a reply: "If this Island Master Ji Yin knew that Your Excellency was right here, I imagine he would be even more delighted. He would most likely want to have a heartfelt reunion with his old master."
"You dare threaten me?" Xuan Gu Shangren's tone turned sinister the moment he heard Han Li's words.
"I wouldn't dare! With Your Excellency's status and abilities, how could I ever do such a thing? However, I would advise you not to gloat. Otherwise, if my life is in jeopardy, I might just let slip some careless words that could drag you into the whole affair." Han Li spoke with a completely expressionless face.
Xuan Gu fell silent for a long while.
Just as Han Li assumed the other had been angered into a rage and wouldn't bother him for the time being, a cold sentence suddenly reached his ear. The content made him freeze at first, but then filled him with elation.
"Do you want to form a Nascent Soul?"
"Senior, what do you mean by that?" Han Li suppressed his excitement and asked calmly.
"Heh heh. What do I mean? My words are simple. I know of something that can double your chances of condensing a Nascent Soul. This item is inside the Void Heaven Palace. There is no other way besides this. If you are willing to join forces with me and seize this opportunity to eliminate that traitor Ji Yin, I will point you to the item's location and tell you exactly how to obtain it. How does that sound? Bear in mind, if not for the fact that I cultivate the path of yin ghosts and demons, I would have no use for this thing at all. Under no circumstances would I have yielded it to you. And even if you refuse to ally with me, Ji Yin will apparently come after you of his own accord. And then, heh heh…" Xuan Gu spoke in a tone that mingled temptation with threat, making no effort whatsoever to conceal the murderous hatred he harbored toward Patriarch Ji Yin.
Han Li did not immediately agree or refuse upon hearing this. Instead, he sat there in silence, his brow slightly furrowed, face full of contemplation.
The youth that was Xuan Gu Shangren's manifestation was equally composed, unhurried and patient.
He was certain that no cultivator at the Core Formation stage could refuse such an enormous temptation. All he needed to do was wait calmly for Han Li's answer.
At that moment, Patriarch Ji Yin and Wu Chou had flown to an empty pillar beside the elderly Confucian scholar and were exchanging occasional words with him. They also threw in a remark or two toward the beautiful woman surnamed Wen from time to time.
But the woman, having finished wiping her sword, sheathed it and closed her eyes to meditate, not even lifting her eyelids once. She clearly had no intention of engaging with them.
Patriarch Ji Yin received this cold shoulder without the slightest anger or embarrassment, still talking with a smile plastered across his face — his composure ran deep indeed.
Han Li's gaze swept across the scene, taking it all in, and his wariness toward Patriarch Ji Yin grew even stronger.
Not only was this man's cultivation profound, but his cunning and scheming appeared to far exceed that of ordinary people.
Had it not been so, how could the old devil Xuan Gu have fallen into his hands all those years ago, been forced onto the path of ghostly demon cultivation, and had his road to reincarnation permanently sealed off?
Xuan Gu's hatred ran so deep that he wished he could grind the man's bones to dust!
But regardless of the grudge between Old Devil Xuan Gu and Patriarch Ji Yin, the fact remained that Han Li had now been targeted by this man.
This was very bad news indeed.
He couldn't exactly say that he stood no chance of escape against a Nascent Soul stage cultivator — but if it came to a head-on confrontation, the odds of him slipping away successfully were pitifully low.
After all, the gap between early Core Formation and the Nascent Soul stage was simply too vast.
Even with his magic treasures and his Gold Devouring Beetles, he would probably only manage to get himself killed.
After pondering this for a while, Han Li finally sent a transmission to Xuan Gu: