Fairy Zi Ling also caught the implication in Han Li's words, and her lovely face paled a shade further in an instant.
The old man stared at the white bones on the ground, falling silent. His eyes flickered uncertainly, and it was impossible to tell what he was thinking.
Han Li, seemingly oblivious, glanced around at his surroundings and continued his analysis in a calm, indifferent tone: "Since even a cultivator on the verge of mid Core Formation perished here, this malevolent ghost's cultivation must be absolutely terrifying. Even if it hasn't reached the Ghost King realm, it can't be far off. I wonder whether Miss Zi Ling and Fellow Daoist Ge have steeled yourselves to the possibility of being obliterated here. If the two of you wish to turn back now, you can avoid this extraordinary risk. As for me, I intend to try my luck regardless."
Han Li's voice was perfectly calm, but the two others exchanged uneasy glances upon hearing it.
After a long pause, Fairy Zi Ling, having thought it over, spoke with firm resolve: "Senior Han! If I cannot achieve Core Formation in this lifetime, then even if I fall into the ghost path forever, I accept it. I will not turn back."
Her voice was utterly resolute—it was clear she had truly made up her mind.
Hearing this, Han Li could only smile bitterly to himself and turned to look back at the old man.
Ge Li's expression shifted between uncertainty and resolve.
After a good while, he finally spoke in a dejected tone: "The truth is, I only came here to see if I could gather some Longevity Fruit. There's nothing I need badly enough to risk my life for. Since the danger ahead is this great, this old man will simply return the way he came. After all, a peaceful dissolution is far preferable to falling into the ghost path forever."
Having said this, a hint of shame appeared on the old man's face.
He cupped his fists toward the other two in farewell, and without further hesitation, flicked his sleeve and vanished along the original path into the mist.
Han Li stood where he was, his expression blank, staring in the direction the old man had disappeared. He said nothing for a long time.
Fairy Zi Ling showed a look of disappointment.
With one fewer Core Formation cultivator accompanying them, the danger within the ghost mist had grown considerably greater.
"Elder Han, should we be going now?" Fairy Zi Ling glanced around at the eerily dense mist and said to Han Li with a somewhat forced smile.
Though she had sounded utterly decisive just moments ago, the truth was that even she herself didn't know whether this choice was right or wrong. As a result, her heart was now churning with unease.
Han Li gave a flat "Mm" in response, but lowered his gaze to look at the skeleton on the ground.
Suddenly, he reached out with one hand and grabbed at the air. The Fire Warding Treasure Robe shot through the air into his palm with a whoosh, and he calmly stashed it away in his storage pouch without so much as a change in expression.
Fairy Zi Ling watched this with a measure of surprise. She opened her lips as if to say something, but after a moment's thought, held her tongue.
But what Han Li did next caught her completely off guard.
Han Li flicked his finger, and a streak of azure sword light shot forth, blasting a deep pit roughly a zhang wide into the nearby ground.
Then, with a light sweep of his sleeve, Han Li sent the skeleton along with the fragments of the magical treasure into the pit, burying them.
At this, Fairy Zi Ling's expression turned exceedingly peculiar.
"Find my actions a little strange?" Han Li suddenly turned to face her, speaking in an even, placid tone.
"A little?" Zi Ling hesitated briefly, then answered honestly.
Han Li chuckled softly upon hearing this.
"The reason I buried it is simply that, as a fellow cultivator, I know not which day I myself might end up as nothing but a pile of white bones. Since I came across it, I might as well lend a hand. It seemed a pity to leave a fellow Daoist exposed to the elements. I hope that if I meet an unfortunate end someday, some like-minded cultivator will do the same for me. As for taking the treasure robe — the dead have no use for it, and it seemed wasteful to leave it buried underground. Consider it payment for the burial!" Han Li drawled leisurely.
After hearing these words, the surprise gradually faded from Fairy Zi Ling's face, and she fell into contemplation.
At that moment, Han Li had already begun striding forward.
Fairy Zi Ling glanced at the freshly turned mound of earth, let out a soft sigh, and slowly followed after him.
"Fellow Daoist Zi Ling, how much do you know about the origins of the Arcane Projection Hall? Could you tell me a bit about it?" Since there were only the two of them now, Han Li simply slowed his pace to match hers and walked alongside her, looking perfectly at ease.