"Simply put, Daoyou Xuanji and I want to join forces with you once more. The three of us will venture into the Demonfall Valley to retrieve the treasure. Once we find it, our strength will significantly increase, and we won't need to fear anyone anymore," said Nanlong Hou, his gaze flickering, his expression extremely calm.
Han Li listened without immediately responding. Instead, he narrowed his eyes and silently stared at the two men across from him.
Upon realizing that the black ring was the legendary Liangyi Ring, he immediately recalled another ring he had obtained from his senior sister Nangong Wan. If he was not mistaken, that ring should be the other half of the pair, the Yang Ring.
It was quite unexpected that just as he had managed to gather both rings, he would quickly learn their purpose.
Han Li silently chuckled to himself, feeling that it was quite the coincidence.
"From what Nanlong Daoyou said, you already have the method to enter Demonfall Valley. But even with the help of the Liangyi Ring, how confident are you that you can find the treasure and leave unscathed? Demonfall Valley is reputed to be the most dangerous place in Tian Nan, and that's no exaggeration. I don't wish to end up as someone who dies for wealth, like a bird for food," Han Li sighed, his words full of hesitation.
Hearing this, Nanlong Hou and Xuanji Zi exchanged glances. After a moment, Nanlong Hou said solemnly:
"Since Daoyou Han has asked, I won't hide anything. According to Cang Kun Shangren's notes, Demonfall Valley is indeed fraught with dangers. One could easily be sucked into the ever-changing spatial rifts, and many ancient restrictions are unpredictable. To be honest, I have eight or nine chances out of ten to bring you into the valley safely. But when it comes to searching for the treasure, that's another matter. The more dangerous the area, the more likely it is to contain treasures. Neither I nor Cang Kun Shangren could say what we might encounter deeper in the valley. Cang Kun Shangren only explored the outskirts of the valley, due to his severe injuries at the time. This suggests that the true treasures of the valley have remained untouched since the ancient times."
As he spoke, Nanlong Hou's tone gradually took on a hint of temptation.
"Of course, if Daoyou truly does not wish to take such risks, you could sell the Liangyi Ring to us. We have no shortage of spirit stones. But I must tell you, ancient cultivators left behind many miraculous pills. Acquiring them could mean reaching the late Nascent Soul stage is just a matter of time. Perhaps we could even uncover the secret of why cultivators disappear after reaching the Divine Transformation stage. Do they truly ascend to the legendary spirit world, or is there some other reason? This is a mystery long forgotten in the Tian Nan cultivation world. Aren't you curious?" Xuanji Zi interjected with a smile.
Han Li's eyes sparkled with a keen light. After pondering for a while, he asked something that caught the two off guard:
"If I understand correctly, it seems you two are very eager for me to join this expedition. Could you explain why? After all, there are many Nascent Soul cultivators, so why insist on involving me?"
Hearing this, both Nanlong Hou and Xuanji Zi's expressions grew tense, and they appeared somewhat embarrassed.
Nanlong Hou smirked bitterly and said, "Actually, even if you hadn't asked, I would have mentioned it. Apart from the restrictions and spatial rifts, there are several ancient beasts still alive in the valley. One of them is an ancient fire toad, which should have been extinct long ago. This fire toad, although lacking in intelligence, has lived for countless years and possesses an incredibly powerful sky-fire. According to Cang Kun Shangren, this fire is far more potent than the Nascent Soul cultivators' infant flame. When I saw you use your blue cold flame that instantly froze the body of a Nascent Soul cultivator, I realized it was not an ordinary ice technique. It should be able to counter the fire toad."
"What do you mean? Is the fire toad blocking your path into the valley?" Han Li asked, looking puzzled.
"Not exactly. The fire toad is near the location of an ancient cultivator's remains. The area around these remains is quite safe, with no ancient restrictions or spatial rifts. However, the fire toad made its nest nearby. Cang Kun Shangren attempted to approach these remains but had to retreat after a brief confrontation with the fire toad. Even so, he was poisoned by its fire and nearly didn't make it out alive," Xuanji Zi explained.
"I see. So, you want me to deal with this fire toad while you retrieve the treasure," Han Li murmured, smiling wryly.
"Dealing with the fire toad is far safer than facing ancient restrictions and spatial rifts. With the right approach and your ice technique, it should be manageable. Moreover, we don't need to kill the toad, just distract it long enough to get the treasure. The ancient cultivator's storage bag should have enough treasures for all of us," Nanlong Hou added excitedly.
"So, if we stick to dealing with the fire toad and avoid other areas, it should be relatively safe," Han Li mused.
"With some luck, the treasures near the remains might be enough, and we won't need to take further risks," Nanlong Hou confirmed.
"Even so, why not use the resources of the Tianji Sect for this task? Surely it's better to rely on the power of an entire sect than to go alone. I doubt there aren't other cultivators skilled in ice techniques within your sect," Han Li said, smiling slyly.
"Ahem! It seems Daoyou doesn't know the power of the northern polar light. Even with the Liangyi Ring, it can only protect three people. Adding one more would be too much. As for the Tianji Sect, you should understand after what happened with the Ghost Spirit Sect. How could I easily trust others? If not for your actions in the Mu Lan Grasslands, helping me when you didn't have to, I wouldn't have asked you to join," Nanlong Hou said firmly, his eyes flashing with a cold light.
"So, Nanlong Brother trusts me more now. I feel truly honored," Han Li responded with a smile.
"Daoyou Han, we've told you everything. Shouldn't you make a decision now?" Xuanji Zi asked, staring intently at Han Li.
"When do you plan to venture into Demonfall Valley? Soon?" Han Li asked instead of answering directly.
"No, the spatial rifts in the valley become relatively stable every fifty years, lasting for about a year. I observed it before entering the Mu Lan Grasslands. The next stable period is at least three or four years away, giving us enough time to prepare," Nanlong Hou replied without hesitation.
"In that case, I need to think it over carefully. I'll give you a definite answer a year before the spatial stability period begins. Even if I decide not to go, I'll still lend you the Liangyi Ring," Han Li said after some thought.
Nanlong Hou and Xuanji Zi were naturally not satisfied with such an ambiguous response. But Han Li didn't want to make any rash promises. Unlike the other two, Han Li was still young and wasn't willing to take such a huge risk. They, on the other hand, were nearing the end of their lifespans and were willing to take any chance they had.
Since Han Li promised to lend them the Liangyi Ring if he didn't go, the two couldn't press further. After discussing some more details about Demonfall Valley, Han Li excused himself.
Before leaving, Xuanji Zi gave Han Li a token, saying that it would allow any Tianji Sect disciple to contact him.
Han Li accepted the token without hesitation and left the underground stone room, returning to the surface shop.
After the middle-aged shopkeeper courteously saw him off, Han Li stood on the street.
He believed that not long after he left, the other two wouldn't stay there for long either. Especially since Nanlong Hou was still severely injured and needed a safe place to recover his energy.
Given the severity of his injuries, it was likely that Nanlong Hou wouldn't fully recover within a few years. He might even drop a level in his cultivation.
Shaking his head, Han Li set aside the matter for now and leisurely headed back to his residence.
The Demonfall Valley expedition was still far off, but the imminent invasion of the Mu Lan warlocks was a pressing matter. This was something he couldn't avoid by simply leaving. As Han Li contemplated this issue, he gradually walked away.
