Han Li's expression remained unchanged, and the gaze he cast upon the young girl revealed no trace of anger. Yet the cold aura emanating from him was so powerful that, before the elder could even spring forward to pull the girl back behind him, a tremendous surge of气势 erupted from Han Li, carrying with it an overwhelming spiritual pressure that forced the girl—just a few steps away—to retreat seven or eight paces, utterly helpless. Fortunately, the elder reacted swiftly, shifting his body with a sudden movement and positioning himself behind the girl, then pressing his hands firmly against her shoulders, which finally halted her unyielding retreat. At this moment, the girl's face was pale as paper, finally grasping firsthand the sheer magnitude of Han Li's cultivation, and she looked with growing anxiety toward her grandfather behind her. The elder's own face, however, was equally strained. Earlier, he had held onto three parts of confidence—believing that, together, he and his granddaughter could escape Han Li's grasp. But now, after witnessing only a glimpse of Han Li's true strength, that fragile hope had completely vanished. The terrifying power of the cultivators who had laid the foundation far exceeded what he had imagined—absolutely not something the younger cultivators like himself could afford to provoke. Just thinking about the little tricks his grandson and granddaughter had played before, the elder felt cold sweat pouring down his back! This master was certainly no ordinary cultivator—he had never seen anyone so mentally sharp and so quick to react. Could it be that this man was actually an ancient being, living for over a hundred years, merely maintaining his youthful appearance through some secret art? The more the elder pondered, the more convinced he became, and the more fear gripped him. As he sensed the spiritual pressure emanating from Han Li seemed to be growing stronger and stronger, he involuntarily swallowed hard, his voice trembling as he urgently pleaded, "Master, please forgive me. My granddaughter is still so young and lacks experience—she doesn't fully understand the vastness of the world. I beg you to pardon her." After韩立coldly glanced at the elder, it seemed he had sensed the elder's sincerity, and suddenly his imposing aura softened, shifting instantly into a calm, unassuming depth, as if nothing had happened. Only then did the Xiao-family elder hesitantly withdraw his hand from the young girl's shoulder. By this time, the girl had become remarkably composed, glancing at Hàn Li at one point before quickly turning her gaze away, as though afraid to meet his eyes. Her demeanor now was utterly different from her bold and fearless state just moments before! Indeed, with her petite, delicate frame and her pale, startled face, she resembled a startled sparrow, so endearing that one could hardly help but feel compassion. Hàn Li, upon observing her, was struck by a sudden sense of admiration—he had never before perceived such delicate, gentle beauty in a young woman, which deeply moved him and left him spellbound, prompting him to gaze at her again and again. After carefully studying the young woman's face, he finally realized that though she appeared only about fifteen or sixteen years old, she was an exceptionally rare beauty—sure to become a breathtaking, captivating enchantress who would leave even the great walls of the empire in awe. Perhaps the way Han Li gazed at the young woman was unusually strange, causing the elder who witnessed it to feel a sudden weight settle deep within his heart. "Could it be that he has grown fond of her beauty, even developed romantic feelings, and thus has summoned his grandson and granddaughter to this place? What shall I do now? This man's magical prowess is truly profound—he would surely be unable to resist such a development." The elder fretted, his mind racing with concern. "Since neither of you is willing to reveal your family background, or perhaps you are merely independent practitioners without any formal lineage, I shall not press you. My purpose in bringing you here is simply to make a transaction—once the deal is settled, you may both depart." After a long silence, Han Li finally spoke. "A transaction? The elder stood still, faintly sensing that he might have mistaken the matter. "Indeed!" said Han Li calmly. "I have taken notice of one thing you possess, and would like to exchange with you." Upon hearing this, the elder involuntarily turned his gaze toward the young woman, silently thinking: "Could it possibly be his granddaughter?" Yet, upon recalling, he found it unlikely. For, aside from glancing at his granddaughter a few times earlier, Han Li had not looked at her again. With this realization, the elder felt a sense of relief and respectfully replied: "I wonder, esteemed master, what item has caught your eye? Should anything be within my possession, I shall be honored to offer it to you wholeheartedly. Yet, truly, I cannot think of what might be worthy of your appreciation." In this final sentence, the elder subtly conveyed his own uncertainty. Seeing the elder's thoughtful response, Han Li's expression softened, and a gentle smile appeared on his face. "What kind of cultivation technique do you two use in the hall?" "How could it be that the spiritual energy has been so subtly concealed, allowing even the other cultivator of the same stage to remain completely unaware of your identities?" Han Li did not answer the elder directly, but instead softened his tone and asked again. After displaying his strength, he naturally needed to adopt a more conciliatory approach—only by combining firmness with gentleness could he achieve the best results! Upon hearing Han Li's question, the elder glanced hesitantly at the young woman beside him before hesitatingly replied, "Senior, I myself do not know which cultivation technique I am using." Hearing this, Han Li remained calm and did not show any displeasure, simply continuing to gaze steadily at the elder. He knew that, given the elder's words, a reasonable explanation would surely follow. Indeed, the elder then added carefully, "The technique I am using actually comes from an ancient, unnamed Dao scripture—there is no mention of the specific method for concealing spiritual energy in the text. My grandfather and I have merely practiced it haphazardly, without any clear understanding!" "An unnamed Dao scripture?" "Where did you obtain it? I won't tell you—it's been passed down in your family!" Hearing this, Han Li's face brightened with interest, and he spoke with evident weight. If this technique had been circulating among the immortal families, the major sects would have already seized it through both open competition and covert efforts. Yet Han Li had never heard of anything similar! "Your honor, the scroll actually came from my granddaughter, who found it during a stroll in a remote, uninhabited mountain. The only part we understand—besides this breath-consolidating technique—is the content of the scroll itself. Our family and I cannot grasp the rest. Should your honor wish to have it, I will return to my residence and present it to you personally!" The elder smiled politely. Upon hearing this, Han Li nodded with satisfaction and said, "Rest assured—I won't take it without offering something in return. You two return to your home and wait for me there. In the meantime, think carefully about what you'd like to exchange with me, so that the value of your offering is truly worthwhile." Han Li's voice was remarkably calm. Yet, as soon as he finished speaking, he suddenly raised his hand and extended two fingers. Instantly, two beams of green light, each about the size of a soybean, shot forth from his fingers, flashed briefly, and then vanished into the bodies of the elder and the young woman. "Senior, what—?" The elder was both astonished and furious. He hadn't expected Han Li, who had been speaking so calmly, to suddenly act upon them. Though he didn't know what the light was, he was certain it wasn't good news. The young woman was equally startled. "Never mind! These are merely two tracking marks. With them, I'll be able to locate you precisely. When the time comes, I'll have no trouble removing them from you and your grandson." Han Li spoke with complete composure. Upon hearing this, the elder exhaled a deep breath of relief, yet his heart began to chuckle with quiet amusement. Indeed, this senior was so meticulous and unobtrusive—leaving not a single gap for either of them. With this item in hand, if they chose to suddenly vanish at the right moment, they would likely be unable to go very far. Yet, the old Xiao family member was also quite aware: if the other party lacked this contingency, he might truly carry his granddaughter with him and depart immediately. After all, dealing with a master capable of easily extinguishing them would be deeply anxiety-inducing—especially since that master was so unpredictable! Even with the greatest advantages, he would hesitate, wondering whether he himself would have the fortune to enjoy them. Nevertheless, this transaction now seemed inevitable—no matter what, it had to happen. His only hope was that, upon receiving the Dao scroll, the other party would not suddenly decide to eliminate him. During their brief interactions, however, he had yet to discern the true nature of the young man’s character. He only knew that the young man possessed an incalculable mastery of spellwork and was exceptionally difficult to manage. Any attempts at subtle maneuvering would likely prove futile. "Very well! The two junior disciples will remain at home, patiently awaiting the elders' arrival." The elder had no choice but to act as if nothing had happened, and finally said with a respectful tone, "Very well. I'll come to collect the items in the evening. You two take care of yourselves!" As he spoke, his figure gradually grew hazy. When the final word "well" was uttered, he simply vanished from before the two, leaving the space completely empty. Witnessing this mysterious and unforeseen technique as he departed, the elderly scholar, whose face had turned pale, gave up completely. With weak strength, he called out to the young woman and then slowly retraced his steps along the original path. Unaware of this, the young woman—his lively granddaughter—had been filled with admiration upon seeing the way the elder had disappeared. It wasn't until he called her name that she finally woke up and followed him. Yet, as she walked behind him, she frequently glanced back at the spot where Han Li had vanished, clearly showing deep reluctance. "Indeed, a young soul with a spirit far beyond her years!" Han Li, hiding among the nearby trees and watching the two figures recede, gently shook his head. (Haha! Now that you've signed up for the monthly pass—each pass counts as two! Please sign up with several more, everyone!)