"Master is so certain, then I must surely have surplus Jinlei Bamboo material!" Han Li glanced at him with a slight expression of surprise. "Master, I naturally cannot be certain. However, it is quite plausible that Friend Han has enough surplus Jinlei Bamboo to craft seventy-two Jinlei Bamboo flying swords, given that he has already accomplished this feat once. That is why I mentioned it." The elder with the姜 surname spoke calmly. "I'm afraid I must disappoint Master—actually, I have no surplus Jinlei Bamboo at all. The bamboo I obtained by chance back then was precisely enough to craft the seventy-two flying swords." Han Li exhaled deeply and replied thus. "None at all?" The elder furrowed his brows, appearing somewhat surprised. "Indeed, I have long desired Master's new sword technique and the refined flying swords, but I find myself wanting more than I can achieve." Han Li smiled gently, his words entirely true. Though he did possess a mysterious small vial and a Jinlei Bamboo root. Yet for so many years, the seventy-two flying swords had always provided sufficient divine-protecting thunderbolts for him, and there were countless other items that required mysterious vials! Over the years, he had never cultivated any additional golden-thunder bamboo. Now, with the Crane elder suddenly proposing a swap involving golden-thunder bamboo, although he was deeply enthusiastic, he could only reluctantly decline. Han Li was momentarily stunned, then replied honestly. "All of them! Good. Very good. Even if you don't have the Golden Thunder Bamboo, if you give me these leaves, I can teach you the methods of firmness and refinement. As for personally helping you refine your flying sword, however, I cannot do that for you. Will you agree to that?" The elder smiled with a touch of joy and asked. "Of course I will!" Han Li replied without hesitation. Though he knew these Golden Thunder Bamboo leaves must have some special purpose—otherwise the elder wouldn't have asked for them—offering something he didn't fully understand in exchange for such a significant benefit was naturally something he would readily accept. Han Li simply brushed his hand over his storage bracelet, and instantly a shimmer of green light flashed, revealing two pale green wooden boxes in his hands. He then shook his wrist, throwing the boxes toward the elder. The elder didn't move his hands or feet, but a subtle gleam of light flashed in his eyes. As soon as the boxes reached his front, they mysteriously halted in mid-air. The lid of the box emitted two soft "puff" sounds, opening of its own accord in the white light, revealing stacks of bamboo leaves gleaming golden, as if forged entirely of pure gold. "Indeed, these are genuine Golden Thunder Bamboo leaves," the elder remarked, instantly discerning their authenticity upon a quick glance, his face brightening with satisfaction. With a simple flick of his sleeve, the two wooden boxes closed once more, vanishing without a trace. Then, with a gentle flick of his finger, a beam of white light shot straight toward Han Li. Han Li extended his hand, catching the light, and in his palm now lay a translucent jade scroll. "I've already inscribed both the new sword technique and the refinement method onto this scroll. You may take a moment to review it. Don't think I've deceived you," the elder smiled. "How could I dare?" Han Li simply glanced at the scroll and tucked it into his chest without hesitation. The elder nodded in approval. "The leaves have been presented to you. Might I ask, then, what purpose these leaves serve? I would be most grateful for your insights." "Han Li couldn't help but ask. "Hehe, does Master Han still have some bamboo leaves left in his hands? Don't worry, these leaves are more than sufficient for me. I won't touch any of the portion you've reserved. It's a matter not widely known among the Human race, but well-known throughout the Changyuan clan—telling you about it is no issue. These golden thunder bamboo leaves have two uses. First, they can be used to forge a divine thunder known as the Golden Jiaoshi-Magical Thunder, which is even more powerful than the Divine Exorcising Thunder when it comes to combating demonic creatures. This makes them our key weapon when we reach the Great Stage and face the external realm demons. The second use is that certain spiritual insects can consume these leaves and, with a high probability, undergo mutation. Of course, this requires the ingestion of a substantial number of golden thunder bamboo leaves." The elder spoke without hesitation, delivering the details to Han Li in full. "External realm demons? What exactly are they?" Han Li was now somewhat puzzled. "As for external realm demons, they're somewhat similar to the lightning calamities we, the cultivators, endure." The lightning calamities experienced by spiritual cultivators in the immortal realm generally occur at regular intervals and remain consistent. Moreover, the external heavenly demons—formless and colorless, resembling inner demons yet far more potent—can strike any cultivator upon reaching the Great Perfection stage at any time. These demons typically manifest when our inner energy wanes or our mental stability falters. Should we fail to withstand them, our physical bodies collapse, and our spiritual essence becomes corrupted, eventually joining the ranks of these demons. That's precisely why I've gathered the leaves of the Golden Lightning Bamboo—intending to refine them into Golden Firmness Lightning Beams to protect ourselves against such demonic intrusions after successfully enduring our celestial trials. With this single day fulfilling two of my aspirations, the elder feels exceptionally joyful and pours forth a long stream of words. Han Li's face briefly brightened with thoughtful expression, especially when he learned that the leaves of the Golden Lightning Bamboo could induce mutations in spiritual insects—his mind stirred with renewed interest. By the way, Master Han, do you intend to settle here permanently? The elder suddenly stopped transmitting and asked in normal speech. "The atmosphere here is too heavy with negative energy, unsuitable for the young disciple to practice for the long term. Moreover, there are matters outside that need my attention, so I cannot stay much longer." After a moment's hesitation, Han Li replied honestly. Upon hearing Han Li's words, Yuan Yao turned pale, but immediately regained her composure. Aside from the beautiful young woman sitting beside her, no one else noticed this subtle change in her expression. The young woman's eyes flashed briefly, and a strange expression appeared on her lips, before she quickly masked it. "Ah, then if that's the case—have you found a way to leave this space?" The elder with the surname Jiang looked at Han Li, his expression half-smiling, half-quirky. "Not yet!" Han Li rubbed his nose, speaking with some embarrassment. "Haha. Then you needn't look any further. While entering this space, I may be unable to assist, but for leaving—there is a way. Otherwise, how could I feel at ease living in this sacred sanctuary of the Fleeting Clan?" In a few days, I shall personally cast the spell to see you off. The elder chuckled. "Thank you so much, Master!" Han Li was overjoyed and quickly expressed his gratitude. "But don't think of it as a gift just yet. This isn't free—I shall have to make another deal with you as well." Han Li's joyful expression hadn't faded when the elder's voice once again reached him. "Another deal?" Han Li was momentarily stunned. "Are you interested in that Yinhe Divine Milk?" the elder asked, his tone sharpening. "Master has the Divine Milk—would you like to trade for it?" Han Li was genuinely surprised, even startled. "For so long I've resided in the Yinhe region, and if I can't even secure a share of this Divine Milk, then truly, it would be a joke," the elder said with a cold laugh, clearly unconcerned. "Have the Fu-You clan members heard of this? Isn't the Divine Milk guarded by two types of Yinlei Beasts?" Han Li asked, still puzzled. "Can two mere Yinlei Beasts really leave me completely at a loss?" I have my own methods to evade their notice and obtain the Divine Milk. Moreover, each time I take only a small amount; even if they know, would they dare truly come to me with objections?" The elder of the Jiang family said with dignified composure. "The Divine Milk—I certainly desire it! But honestly, I don't have anything in my possession that would impress the senior!" Han Li paused, then said hesitantly. "When did I ever say I needed to ask you for something right now?" The elder transmitted his words in a strangely unusual tone. "Then what does the senior mean?" Han Li's expression brightened. "It's simple. To delay the next celestial calamity, I must remain within this space. Yet I urgently need certain very important items. As long as you collect them all outside and deliver them to me within a thousand years, I will exchange one bottle of the Yinhe Divine Milk with you. How does this arrangement sound, Friend Han?" the elder asked. "Could the junior first see what items need to be gathered before making a decision?" Han Li did not readily agree, but instead asked with caution. Seeing Han Li's careful demeanor, the elder of the Jiang family grew more satisfied. Without further words, he shook his sleeve, and another jade scroll shot forth. Han Li caught the scroll in his hands and immersed his mind into it. Within just a moment, his face grew increasingly restless. A little while later, after withdrawing his consciousness from the scroll, he lowered his head and pondered for a long time before finally lifting his gaze to offer the elder a weak, polite smile. "Master, though the contents of your scroll are not abundant, I know or have heard of only a fraction—perhaps only one-tenth—of what is contained. Even these known items are all exceptionally rare; without a rare opportunity, one would hardly have the fortune to even see them. Master, perhaps you are being overly generous with your expectations of me." "Master, is the Jade River Immortal Milk that Friend Han has provided merely a common spiritual elixir? That, in fact, is a treasure long sought after even by the Consolidated Stage cultivators, who would willingly risk their own demise to obtain it." Moreover, I haven't said you must collect every single item on the list. As long as you find two-thirds of them and return here, I will exchange them with you for my divine milk." The elder spoke calmly. "Two-thirds? If that's the case, then it's certainly achievable!" Han Li mused a moment, then murmured. "Then it seems Master Han has agreed to this arrangement. In that case, my promise to send you away from the Yinhe realm shall count as my deposit." "How could I possibly refuse?" Han Li rubbed his nose, offering a wry smile. "I shall send you away from the Yinhe realm two days from now!" The elder narrowed his eyes slightly, then smiled with ease.