Huang Yuanming and the other cultivators, while carefully facing Han Li, couldn't help but steal glances toward the pool.
It turned out that when Han Li had fallen in and churned the water, the already small quantity of spirit spring water had been reduced by more than half. The remaining spring in the pool was now just a pitiful thin layer.
Seeing this, the three old men were naturally heartbroken, but facing Han Li, whose cultivation was unfathomably deep, they could only pretend not to notice and force smiles, lest they offend this senior expert and bring catastrophe upon their families.
The moment Han Li evaporated the water from his body, he also caught the strange fragrance of the spirit spring. After the contemplative look faded from his face, he subconsciously turned to glance at the pool behind him.
This seemingly casual glance from Han Li instantly made the three old men across from him feel uneasy for a good while.
Could it be that the spirit spring their three families had guarded for so many years had caught this man's eye? If so, they would have no choice but to offer it up with both hands, not daring to refuse in the slightest.
Han Li's gaze swept over the pool only briefly, showing no trace of greed. Instead, he turned back and said calmly to the three: "I haven't been out in the world for quite some time, and I'm rather unfamiliar with what's been happening in Tian Nan recently. Could you three fellow Daoists introduce me to some of the major events of recent years?"
"Of course, if the senior doesn't mind. Please follow us to the Huang family's main hall. Allow us to serve you tea, and whatever questions the senior has, we will answer without reservation." Seeing that Han Li showed absolutely no interest in their spirit spring, Huang Yuanming felt greatly relieved and hastily said respectfully.
The other two old men also breathed a silent sigh of relief.
"Very well. I do have quite a number of things I'd like to ask. Then I'll be imposing on you three." Han Li glanced at the young disciples from the three families in the distance, pondered briefly, then nodded in agreement.
"Not at all! Being able to host a senior of your caliber is the honor of our Huang family!" Huang Yuanming was overjoyed, his face breaking into a wide smile. He then gave several instructions to a few disciples, having them quickly fly back to make preparations, lest something be inadequate and they slight Han Li.
Only then did he personally lead the way for Han Li, departing the area and heading toward a cluster of pavilions and towers in the middle of the mountain peak.
The other two old men similarly gave instructions to several clansmen before hurriedly catching up, staying respectfully close without leaving Han Li's side for a moment.
"It's rather rare for three families to share a single dwelling place?" On the way, Han Li asked a few questions and learned the general details of their location and the backgrounds of the three old men, remarking with some surprise.
"The senior jests. We simply had no way to gain a foothold elsewhere, and so we ended up trapped here." Huang Yuanming replied with a bitter smile.
"I notice that among your younger disciples, some seem to have quite decent aptitude. Why haven't you sent them to those major cultivation sects? With their qualifications, even if they couldn't become personal disciples, becoming outer disciples shouldn't be impossible." Han Li showed a trace of curiosity.
"The senior may not know. Although the Dongyu Kingdom has many cultivation sects, most of them already have established cultivation families supplying their members. Or they're outright controlled by certain families together. A minor clan like ours has no qualifications to catch the eye of those sects. Even if a particularly outstanding disciple occasionally emerges among us, we wouldn't dare easily send them to join some sect. The clan still needs them to stay and maintain appearances." One of the other two old men — a somewhat plump-faced, round fellow — explained carefully to Han Li, a hint of helplessness on his face.
Had these family elders been willing to join major sects in their youth, their cultivation might well have advanced further by now. But for the continuation of their families, they had no choice but to remain behind in resignation. This was the helplessness of small families.
Han Li's gaze flickered several times, then he gave a faint nod and did not continue asking.
Not far ahead, a cluster of pavilions and towers rose into view.
The old man led Han Li straight toward the tallest tower among them.