"The things Master Han has mentioned, how could I not know? Yet I am different from you. I have resided in Huangfeng Valley for over a thousand years, and my feelings for it far surpass those of ordinary people. Naturally, I do not wish that, should I one day dissolve into stillness here, the lineage of Huangfeng Valley should be severed. It seems, then, that you indeed have little attachment to fame and fortune. However, if you are willing to accept the position of Senior Monastic of Huangfeng Valley, I shall willingly bestow upon you some of my personal treasures upon my dissolution. Among them are many precious items I have collected over the years—most of which will prove immensely beneficial to your future cultivation." Master Lingfu suddenly spoke unexpectedly to Han. "You are offering me your treasures? If I'm not mistaken, you do have disciples, don't you?" Han was momentarily startled upon hearing this, but instinctively narrowed his eyes before calmly asking. "My most accomplished disciple has only reached the mid-Jiedan stage. To leave them with what I have would only bring misfortune and trouble." "Even without your presence, I would have already arranged to deal with most of the treasures separately and would not have left them in Huangfeng Valley," the Lingfu Elder coldly remarked. Han Li stroked his chin, pondering. He could not help but be touched by the Elder's words, yet he was equally aware that accepting the position of Senior Elder at Huangfeng Valley would immediately bring him a series of pressing challenges—issues involving the six sects and the Nine Kingdoms Alliance, which would not be resolved in the near future. While as the sole Senior Elder, he would undoubtedly hold significant authority, he would no longer enjoy the same ease and freedom he had in Luoyun Sect. Moreover, there were also complications involving Nan Gong Wan and Yan Yue Sect that would be difficult to navigate. "Thank you for your kind offer," Han Li said after a long pause. "Still, I believe it would be better if we did not proceed with my joining Huangfeng Valley." After careful consideration, he finally shook his head and declined. Upon hearing this, the Lingfu Elder remained calm and composed, only expressing a look of deep resignation. "If under these terms you still refuse to agree, then it seems Master Han has truly decided not to get involved in the affairs of our six sects. In that case, I shall modify the conditions accordingly." Ling Fu, the elder, sighed and said. "How exactly?" Han Li's expression brightened with curiosity. "Here's my proposal: You need not serve as a senior elder of Huang Feng Valley, but in return, I shall bestow upon you three precious treasures, and in your lifetime, you shall provide three acts of assistance to Huang Feng Valley—each one within the limits of your capacity." Ling Fu smiled slightly, with a touch of regret. "Three acts of assistance, within your ability—this condition is quite reasonable. I can certainly accept it." After a brief thought, Han Li promptly nodded his agreement. Ling Fu's face brightened with a smile, then reached into his waist and withdrew three items, placing them neatly on the table—as if they had been prepared in advance. Han Li said nothing, merely gazing at the three items with a brief appraisal. A small, translucent shield of a soft blue hue, a red jade vial, and a dark jade-like plaque. Without hesitation, Han Li picked up the blue-tinged shield first. The shield felt warm and light in his hands, almost as if it were weightless—this surprised him. Upon closer inspection, with his current understanding, he could not determine what material it was crafted from. "This is an ancient treasure I acquired early in my career. It has accompanied me for a long time, and I have named it the 'Blue Light Shield.' Its powers are quite remarkable, especially when facing fire-based techniques—its effectiveness is truly extraordinary. You will soon see that my words are no exaggeration," said Lìng Hú, the elder sage, gazing at the shield in Han Li's hands, with a subtle sense of reluctance. Han Li ran his fingers over the shield briefly before placing it back on the table, yet he knew deep down that this treasure was indeed extraordinary, and that the elder sage had not been speaking in vain. Then he picked up the crimson jade bottle. "Inside is the inner essence of a seven-tier iron-winged dragon beast that I once encountered alone deep within the Mulan Grasslands, slaying it single-handedly. This is truly a rare and precious material—valuable whether used for alchemical preparation or for other purposes," the old Ling Fu elder added. "A seven-tier dragon essence!" Upon hearing this, Han Li showed no outward reaction, though a quiet sigh passed through his mind. Though seven-tier dragon essences were uncommon in the southern heavens, they were merely a mere afterthought for him. With a slight smile, he opened the bottle a bit, glanced inside, then closed and repositioned the lid, finally fixing his gaze on the last item. Yet this time, the old Ling Fu elder merely smiled mysteriously, saying nothing. Han Li, in turn, stared intently at the object resembling a jade pendant, silent and attentive. "Is this perhaps an ancient cultivator's jade seal?" Han Li gazed for a moment, then finally spoke with some hesitation. Lingfu the Elder, upon hearing Han Li's words, flashed a brief expression of surprise. "Have you, Master Han, previously encountered such a jade tablet? As far as I know, this type of ancient script—unique to the early ages—has long since disappeared from the southern heavens. Few local cultivators even know of it." The elder inquired curiously. "Only occasionally meet a friend who knows about it, and hear them speak of it," Han Li smiled lightly, delivering the response with ease. "This jade tablet was obtained by me during a perilous journey that cost me nearly my life. It is absolutely no ordinary item. Though I have yet to master the precise method of using it, and can only summon a fraction of its power, the tablet's capabilities are still quite formidable. On several occasions, I have used it to defeat powerful adversaries. It must have been carefully crafted by an ancient cultivator of exceptional skill in the art of script-based magic." Lingfu the Elder said while extending his hand toward the black jade tablet on the table. The jade tablet whooshed into the elder's hands. Then, he uttered a few ancient, low incantations. Raising his hand, the tablet transformed into a sphere of dark light. A cold, piercing阴 wind swept through, and suddenly, an unusual black-and-red hand materialized atop Lingfu's elder. This spectral hand was deep乌 red and luminous, with fingers spread wide—reaching several feet in span—and occasionally flickering with black,阴 flames. As the strange hand appeared, an eerie, profound sense of gloom filled the entire inn. Han Li was startled, his heart stirred with alarm. "This is the sole divine ability I've cultivated over more than three centuries since acquiring this jade tablet. The resulting Xuanhua Ghost Hand, capable of grasping nearly anything—except the most profoundly yang and resilient treasures. Almost nothing escapes its grasp. Once caught, even moderately valuable artifacts or ancient relics instantly lose their powers and are subdued. Even the highest-tier treasures suffer a significant loss of their inherent vitality and effectiveness." Lingfu the Elder spoke as he moved his divine awareness, and suddenly, the black hand on the jade talisman swelled to nearly twice its original size, gently lifting a nearby wooden table. The dark, ethereal flame swept silently past, and before the table even made contact, it vanished completely—as if it had never existed. Seeing this, Han Li drew in a sharp breath. This seemed remarkably similar to a magical technique where a master separates their consciousness and manifests a form to attack. However, since the black hand emanated from the jade talisman itself, there was no risk of the master being distracted or weakened. Moreover, the strange nature of the dark flame suggested an even more subtle and profound mechanism at work. "This jade talisman must possess many other hidden wonders. Regrettably, I don't have much time left—I won't be able to fully comprehend these secrets. You, however, are still young and full of promise. Still, the power contained within the talisman has already been significantly expended. Han, you will need to use it with greater care from now on." "Lingfu the Elder gestured with his black-handed finger, and the large hand transformed once more into a beam of black light, returning to the table where it revealed the original form of the jade scroll. Han Li smiled gently, yet showed particular interest in the final scroll. Even if this scroll wasn't as powerful as Lingfu had described, he could still glean profound insights into ancient cultivators' techniques and principles from it—something that would surely prove immensely beneficial to him in the future. Once Lingfu had finished his introduction, Han Li swiftly swept his sleeve across the table, and the three items vanished in a flowing, seamless motion. In their place, three pristine white jade array discs appeared. "These three array discs are all artifacts personally crafted by me—no one else can replicate them. Should Huangfeng Valley truly face any difficulties after my departure, and if I am able to assist, I will certainly not hesitate to do so." Han Li looked up steadily at Lingfu, speaking with calm determination. "That's all I need. I've done my best for the future." Lingfu the Elder smiled and spoke calmly. However, since the main matters had been settled, Han Li had no intention of staying any longer. He rose immediately to bid farewell. Lingfu the Elder did not linger, merely offered a few polite words before watching Han Li descend the stairs and leave without haste. Then, his smile faded, and he stared silently at the teapot on the table, as though lost in thought. After Han Li had left the tea house, he did not immediately return to his lodging. Instead, he glanced up at the sky, wandered to a quiet corner, and took out the jade scroll given to him by the white-robed senior monk of Tianji Gate. With his divine awareness, he carefully reviewed it, his expression briefly clouded with hesitation.