Han Li's eyes flashed, and he suddenly flapped his Thunderstorm Wings before disappearing into space as an arc of azure and white lightning.
Almost at the exact same moment, a pair of green claws swiped past the spot where Han Li had just been standing, unleashing crimson arcs of lightning that flashed through the air.
The physical body of the Lightning Beast that had been bound by the black chains had sprung into action, and attempted to launch a sneak attack against Han Li from behind. The only difference was that the Lightning Beast now had a pair of gleaming black eyes that were filled with intelligence. A hint of surprise reappeared on the shopkeeper's face upon witnessing the failure of the Lightning Beast's sneak attack.
However, his body then swayed as he made a soundless retreat.
Right at this moment, a thunderclap rang out above his head as Han Li emerged from within a burst of azure and white lightning. As soon as he appeared, he swept a sleeve toward the nearby copper pillars.
Several streaks of piercing golden light shot forth, slicing a few pillars into several segments and destroying the entire restriction. The shopkeeper's retreating figure instantly faltered in mid-air as he looked on with a dark expression. Han Li crossed his arms and also hovered in mid-air in silence.
At this moment, the Lightning Beast appeared expressionless behind Han Li with four-colored lightning crackling around its body, sandwiching Han Li between itself the shopkeeper.
"I don't care what your intentions are. I don't care whether you actually wanted to tame this beast or whether you were only interested in its soul; as long as you give me what I want, I can pretend that I saw nothing here," Han Li said in a calm voice.
"You're just a mere Flying Spirit General; do you think you have the right to negotiate terms with me?" the shopkeeper asked in a sinister voice.
"If you were at full health, then perhaps I wouldn't be able to do anything. However, after expelling so many mouthfuls of blood essence in succession earlier, you'd be lucky to have retained even a small half of your cultivation base. Do you really think a spirit beast that's yet to reach full maturity can keep me here?" Han Li said in a nonchalant voice as he suddenly swept a hand over his wrist. A streak of black light immediately shot forth, spiraling through the air before transforming into a small monkey.
The monkey then pounded its chest, and its body swelled drastically to several hundred feet tall in the blink of an eye. At the same time, it had taken on the form of a sinister ghost and was glowering at the Lightning Beast with a ferocious light in its eyes.
Brilliant golden light simultaneously radiated from Han Li's body as 72 small golden swords hurtled through the air, revolving around his body. His golden Provenance True Devil Projection had also appeared behind him, thus conjuring up three heads and six arms. He then flipped both hands over at the same time, and one hand was inky black with a miniature black mountain hovering over its palm, while the other was as pristine white as jade with five miniature skulls revolving over its palm.
After that, Han Li gently flapped his wings, and azure light revolved around his body, manifesting the projections of a massive azure bird and a five-colored heavenly phoenix. In conjunction with the Provenance True Devil Projection, all three projections had appeared at once, emanating a collective burst of astonishing spiritual pressure.
Chapter 1431: Fear of Consequences
The cold smirk on the shopkeeper’s face vastly changed.
With his cultivation, he was able to sense the immense power of the projections behind him as well as the incisiveness of the glowing treasures. The Weeping Soul Beast’s sinister ghost form was a clear threat as well from its huge size and appearance.
After a moment of silence, the shopkeeper harshly shouted, “Who are you? I know a bit of the outstanding disciples of the Tian Peng Race, but none are as outstanding as you.”
Han Li stared at the shopkeeper and indifferently said, “Who I am isn’t important. What is important is how you feel about my proposal? Your cultivation has dropped from late Great Spirit General stage to early stage. Even if you are keeping any contingency plans, I am half certain I will defeat you. However, I am not interested in a life or death battle. So long as you give me what I want, I will immediately go away.”
When the shopkeeper heard this, he sized Han Li up. Then after a moment of hesitation, he wryly chuckled.
The shopkeeper pursed his lips and probingly said, “Good, very good. The strength you revealed does give you the qualifications to say that. But it is a pity. Even if I agree, I have no Azure Sifting Fruits to give you. The treasures you saw in the box was an illusion and was produced the secret technique that is unique to our Pentaluster Race. You should’ve had some doubts about it.”
“Hehe, an illusion technique! I cultivate a technique that can see through illusions. However, the thing I want is in that box. No matter how formidable your illusion techniques are, if you didn’t have that item, you wouldn’t be able to create such believable illusions.” Han Li said with a deep tone.
“You want that item?” The shopkeeper said with a surprised face.
“That’s right! It can’t be considered too steep a price.” Han Li smiled.
“If you want it, I’ll give it to you.” Without taking any time to consider, the shopkeeper promptly flipped his hand to produce a wooden box and tossed it over.
Blue light flashed from Han Li’s eyes and he reached out for it.
A wave of blue mist flew out and wrapped around the box, suspending it in the air.
Han Li swept his spiritual sense past it and he opened it with a trace of joy on his face.
A wave of medicinal scent assailed his nose and he saw the Azure Sifting Fruit.
Han Li silently opened his mouth and spat out a cloud of blood essence, instantly sweeping over the wooden box.
A rainbow light flashed from the box, and the emerald green fruit began to shrink like an illusion. In the blink of an eye, it turned into a crimson fruit the size of a thumb.
The box didn’t contain an Azure Sifting Fruit, but another.
When the shopkeeper saw the joy on Han Li’s face, he felt some relief and smiled, saying, “Many years ago in a dangerous depth, I unintentionally acquired an Azure Sifting Fruit. In order to rear the Lightning Beast, I used it for medicine. Otherwise, I definitely would’ve given it to you.
This is the fruit’s pit, but it isn’t worth much and it is very different from the fruit’s body. But I won’t let you take a loss. I’ll give you several top-grade spirit stones as compensation.”
Afterwards, he shook his sleeve and launched an azure leather pouch through the air.
Han Li raised his brow. Rather than rashly catching it, grey light swept out from his back and wrapped the pouch in Divine Essensefused Light.
The grey light suspended the pouch in the air as it harmlessly twirled in place.
Han Li instantly swept his spiritual sense into the pouch and faintly raised his lip, “In that case, I’ll accept your offer.”
In a gust of wind, the pouch vanished and Han Li put away the fruit core in the box.
The shopkeeper’s face faintly changed when he saw Han Li’s strange display, but it was soon replaced with a smile, “Brother Han’s abilities are truly unordinary. What does Brother Han plan on doing next?”
Han Li leisurely said, “Since I’ve acquired what I want, I won’t involve myself with you any further. But if it is possible, I hope you’ll hand over the other two to me. After all, we’ve come here together. If they disappear, it will be difficult for me to explain to the Tian Peng Race. As for what happens next, you’ll most likely be unable to stay in the holy city.”
Not finding Han Li’s words odd, the shopkeeper softly chuckled and said, “I can do that. However, their character is rather poor. Since they didn’t acquire what they wanted and suffered a loss, I fear they wouldn’t be appeased. Wouldn’t it be better for everyone if they were gone?”
“Although I’d like that as well, I have
matters tying me to the Tian Peng Race for some time. I’ll also think of a way to appease them.” Han Li answered with a casual tone.
“Since Brother Han had said this, I’ll leave them to you.”
At nearly the same time, four-colored lightning flashed around the Lightning Beast and disappeared from Han Li’s back. A short moment later, thunder sounded behind the shopkeeper.
As Han Li looked at the Lightning Beast, a flash of realization appeared from his eyes. “It seems Senior didn’t plan on taming the beast, but rather use it as an external incarnation.”
The shopkeeper chuckled and vaguely said, “Brother Han saw through it.”
Han Li smirked and thought to say something else when a humming sound filled the air. The black cloud the shopkeeper summoned had been scattered by a gale. The entire sky was shining faintly yellow and a soft cry sounded from the air.
The nearby space had begun to warp.
Han Li narrowed his eyes.
The skinny man glanced around and ground, “That’s the Xumi Paradise’s worldly essence Qi. Its already reached its limit and it will soon scatter. Let's quickly leave.”
“Yes, I’ll have to trouble Senior Yu to open the way.” Han Li promptly agreed.
“Hehe, you flatter!” The shopkeeper ironically said. He swept his eyes past the rainbow phoenix on Han Li’s back.
Soon after, he muttered to himself a moment and he grabbed at the air.
Rainbow light flickered and a scroll appeared with glowing light.
The scroll spread out and a pillar of light rushed out from it.
A three-meter-tall light gate appeared in front of them, revealing a mist of white light behind it, as if it led to paradise.
Han Li’s expression stirred and his shoulders shook, releasing two waves of grey light, sweeping up an unconscious large man and youth on the ground. The Weeping Soul Beast transformed into a human-tall black ape and stood behind him.
Seeing that Han Li collected the large man and the youth, a fierce look appeared from the shopkeeper’s eyes, but he eventually decided to take no action. He simply called out, “Brother Han, let’s go.”
The two blurred and flew through the light gate one after another.
Han Li’s surroundings lit up for a moment and he found himself in the shopkeeper’s residence. It was normal as if nothing had happened.
On the wall behind them was the Xumi Paradise painting.
Han Li felt his heart relax.
With his abilities, he had nothing to truly fear from the shopkeeper, but he was no ordinary Great Spirit General-grade being. With his bizarre secret techniques, Han Li was unwilling to have a true fight to the death with him.
A crackle then sounded and the ancient painting trembled. It silently turned to ash.
Han Li’s heart jumped and his face stirred.
When the shopkeeper saw this, he wore a sad expression. It was clear he was saddened by the treasure’s destruction.
Having smoothly returned to his residence, he bluntly said, “From your actions, I would think you aren’t a very meddlesome person. I’ll leave those two to you. As I am injured, I won’t be seeing you out.”
Han Li gave him a quick salute, showing no intention of staying there any longer, and he shook his sleeve, withdrawing the Weeping Soul Beast before walking out in a blur.
Behind Han Li were two clouds of grey light, pulling along the youth and the black-armored man.
From a distance, it looked as if the two were flying closely behind Han Li.
When the shopkeeper saw Han Li and company leave, his smile faded.
At that moment, two of his subordinates walked in from the outside and respectfully stood to the side.
One of them carefully asked, “Martial Ancestor, are you truly leaving those three alone? Will they not cause trouble?”
The shopkeeper snorted, “What trouble could they bring? Even if they come back, they won’t find anyone here. Let’s tidy up our things and use the underground teleportation formation. We’re leaving the holy city immediately. We can’t stay with the Tian Peng anymore, only the Pentaluster Race will do. With the identity I prepared in the Pentaluster Race, no one will come find me.”
“Yes, Ancestor!” With the shopkeeper’s order, the two Tian Peng beings raised no objections and immediately acknowledged him.
The two quickly entered the other rooms.
The shopkeeper stood in place and looked at the large door. A dark expression briefly appeared on his face.
“Unless it is for something significant, I don’t want to take any risks. With my previous temperament, I might’ve had you stay behind.” The shopkeeper muttered. He then took out a medicine bottle from his robes and he swallowed two dark green medicine pills. Soon after, he swiped his hand past his face and a blinding white light shined from it.
After the light faded, he now had the appearance of a skinny middle-aged scholar.
Both his face and his mannerisms were completely changed as if he were an entirely different person.
He walked to a corner of the main hall in a stride and placed his hand against the wall. An underground passage was revealed.
...
Meanwhile, Han Li brought the youth and the large man to a nearby building. With a quick look around, he found that no one appeared to be there.
He promptly released his Divine Essensefused Light and immediately dropped them on the ground.
After a brief look at the two, Han Li helplessly sighed, “You’re quite lucky. If I wasn’t scared of being implicated with your deaths, I wouldn’t have gone through the trouble."
As he said this, he flipped his hand and summoned tens of silver needles in his hand.
Air tore as the needles sank into their bodies.
Chapter 1432: Tian Peng Holy Disciple
After an unknown time had passed, the gentle young man woke up with a splitting headache.
After he opened his eyes, he immediately jumped up out of alarm and noticed Han Li and the black-armored man who earlier regained consciousness.
According to his last memories, the youth couldn't help but shout with fury, “What happened? I last remember that Old Traitor Yu didn’t give us any treasure and instead used the Lightning Drawing Bead on us.”
The large man shook his head, still feeling somewhat muddled. He sat up cross-legged and immediately examined himself with his spiritual sense.
A short moment later, he let out a long sigh, “How lucky. I’ve only lost a bit of vitality. Nothing too bad.”
Han Li lowered his head in silence and his eyes wandered as if he were pondering.
The gentle youth looked at Han Li and the large man and said, “Do you two know what happened afterwards?”
The large man wryly laughed, “Not much. When I was hit by that rainbow lightning, my soul was shaken and I lost consciousness.”
The youth turned to Han Li and said, “Brother Han, I recall that you’ve discovered that traitor’s scheme and didn’t fall into the Lightning Drawing Bead.”
Han Li sighed and said, “As a mere Flying Spirit General, how could I truly escape? Although I dodged the rainbow lightning, the Lightning Beast attacked me and was knocked out like you two.”
“You were attacked by the lightning beast? That’s right, the beast should’ve been possessed by the traitor with the crystal core. He definitely would’ve been able to control its body for a short amount of time.”
The black-armored man said with an odd expression, “The strange part is why would the traitor leave us here when he turned hostile.”
“That is strange! Most likely, the traitor saw that we succeeded and didn’t want to give anything. I found it strange that he would trade such rare items for subjugating a spirit beast. He originally planned on denying us from the start. Fancy that his Myriad Lightning Shop was so famous in the holy city.”
Han Li nodded, “If he only wished to deny us treasure, it isn’t necessary to kill us. However, while we were unconscious, h
e escaped.”
When the large man heard this, he grew pensive and accepted this idea.
A cold glint flashed from the youth’s eyes and he resentfully said, “We cannot allow that traitor to escape. Let’s go to his residence, even if he managed to get away. We might be able to get some clues.”
The black-armored man hesitated before agreeing, but Han Li shook his head, “My cultivation is too low. It is fortunate that we still have our lives. I don’t want to investigate the matter further so I’ll be bidding you two Seniors farewell.”
The large man and the youth couldn't help but glance at each other in surprise.
The young man gritted his teeth and said, “Brother Han, are you really going to use that done when that traitor played us? Your lightning techniques are quite unordinary, so you should be someone of significant background. Even if the traitor’s cultivation is far beyond ours, his vitality must’ve been greatly damaged when he extracted the soul of the Lightning Beast. If we joined hands, we have nothing to fear. And if that won’t do, we can make a report to the elders. Although he possesses some cultivation, would he dare to resist the clan elders?”
The large black-armored man said, “The clan elders? There is no need to alarm them? Let’s deal with the matter ourselves.”
Han Li calmly shook his head, “Forget about it. I have other important matters in the holy city. I may as well take care of both matters while I’m there. Since this matter can’t be changed, I won’t be paying much attention to it. Seniors, I will bid you farewell.” He then saluted the two and soared to the sky with the wings on his back, taking off in an azure streak.
The young man looked at Han Li flying away with a sullen expression and turned to the large man, “He can’t recognize the kindness of others. So long as we can find that traitor, the two of us will be able to deal with him.”
“Hehe, a mere Flying Spirit General is still something, not much or little.” Feeling somewhat worried, the large black-armored man said, “However, since that Old Traitor Yu dares to turn back on his word, he must have something prepared. Our chances aren’t very high.”
A Record of a Mortal’s Journey to Immortality c1-2248 Page 803