This cave dwelling belonging to Elder Lu of the Heavenly Ultimate Gate was equally simple.
After Han Li walked through a corridor over twenty zhang long, he arrived at the main hall of the dwelling — a stone chamber roughly seven or eight zhang across. Inside stood a kindly-looking gray-haired old man and a middle-aged man wearing a tall crown, both appearing ready to greet him.
"Fellow Daoist Han, you've finally arrived!" the gray-haired old man greeted him with a smile.
"Brother Han, you've kept us waiting a long time indeed. We each dispatched our people and have been searching for you in this area for over a month. Unfortunately, you've been impossible to track — we couldn't find a single trace. We were starting to think you'd changed your mind!" Marquis Nanlong said with a bitter smile, though a glimmer of delight flashed through his eyes.
"Your dwelling is so well hidden that it wasn't easy for me to find either. Besides, I happened to go into closed-door cultivation not long ago. It's only natural that you two couldn't locate me." Han Li sighed and offered a somewhat helpless explanation.
Without standing on ceremony, he sat down alongside the two and continued their conversation.
"Brother Han's reputation is blazing like the midday sun now. Not only did you distinguish yourself brilliantly in the border war, but I hear that even a mid-stage Nascent Soul elder from the Jin Kingdom's Demonic Sect met his end at your hands. With such abilities, you've been keeping this Marquis in the dark for quite some time!" Han Li had barely taken his seat before Marquis Nanlong spoke with an odd expression.
"My abilities? Brother Nanlong has seen them for himself. If I truly possessed such power, I wouldn't have fled in panic across the Mulan Grassland back then. My current reputation is nothing but a fluke. If not for a bit of fortune, I wouldn't be sitting before you two today." Han Li naturally had no intention of revealing everything. He shook his head and gave a vague response.
Elder Lu and Marquis Nanlong exchanged a glance, both half-believing and half-doubting.
With their spiritual sense, they could clearly see that Han Li's cultivation was still at the early Nascent Soul stage. They knew he was far from ordinary — not a typical early-stage Nascent Soul cultivator — but that he could slay a mid-stage Nascent Soul demonic cultivator, possibly even one at the peak of that realm, still strained their belief.
Yet the rumors about Han Li were flying everywhere, his reputation terrifyingly vast, and they couldn't help but wonder. That was why they wore such expressions.
"Heh heh! Fellow Daoist Han is far too modest. The stronger your abilities, the more helpful they'll be for our expedition to Demonfall Valley. We only wish your cultivation could rival the three great cultivators!" Marquis Nanlong let out a dry laugh, speaking with a measure of insincerity.
Han Li chuckled at this but did not pursue the matter.
Elder Lu, however, spoke in a deep voice: "Since Brother Han has come to seek us out, it seems you've thought carefully about our earlier proposal. Are you willing to enter the valley and join us in slaying that ancient Fire Toad?"
At the old man's question, Marquis Nanlong also fixed his gaze on Han Li, his expression turning solemn.
"An opportunity like this isn't one I'd let slip easily. But before I make my final decision, I have one question. If we succeed, how will we divide the treasures from that ancient cultivator's remains? If the arrangement satisfies me, I won't mind taking the risk." Han Li's face betrayed nothing unusual as he replied in an unhurried manner.
Though he had already resolved to go to Demonfall Valley, he let no hint of this show, hoping to negotiate better terms.
"If we truly obtain the treasures, how about the three of us splitting them equally?" This question had clearly been pondered countless times by Marquis Nanlong and the old man. The moment Han Li raised it, the elder answered without hesitation.
Han Li did not immediately agree or show dissatisfaction. He deliberated for a moment before speaking slowly: "An equal three-way split would be fair. After all, without the two of you as guides, I couldn't penetrate deep into the valley, let alone find that Fire Toad and claim its treasure. However, I have one additional condition I hope you two will agree to."
"Fellow Daoist Han has a condition? Please, speak freely!" Elder Lu's expression remained calm, showing no surprise.
Marquis Nanlong's gaze flickered slightly, but he stared at Han Li without a word.
"The Fire Toad's inner core must go to me. I have a small use for it." Han Li mentioned the inner core in a casual tone, as though he were merely trying to squeeze out a minor perk.
"Of course! The Fire Toad can only be brought down with Fellow Daoist's help. It's only natural that the inner core goes to you." Elder Lu felt a wave of relief and agreed readily.
"Indeed. Even if you hadn't mentioned it, so long as you lend your aid, the inner core should have been yours." Marquis Nanlong's expression similarly eased, as though the matter were easily settled.
Seeing this, Han Li smiled faintly: "Since you two have agreed so generously, I won't be insatiably greedy. I'll make this trip with you."
"With Fellow Daoist Han joining us in the valley, we're sure to retrieve the treasure without a hitch."