Published: August 16, 2025
Chapter 175: Qingxu Sect
After clearly seeing the faces of the two men, Han Li sighed quietly to himself. It turned out they were the two disciples who, like him, only had eleven layers of cultivation methods. One had an aged face but eyes that gleamed with slyness; the other was simple-minded, clearly an inexperienced youngster.
Such a strange pair seeking him out surprised Han Li somewhat. However, after a moment’s thought, he vaguely guessed their intentions.
“Senior brothers, is there something you need?” Han Li asked politely but coldly, his tone clearly showing reluctance to get close. He hoped to make them back off.
Apparently, this Senior Brother Xiang had thicker skin than Han Li expected. Not only did he not mind Han Li’s distant tone from afar, but he also warmed up readily and said enthusiastically:
“Hehe, Brother Han, do you have any good strategies for tomorrow’s Forbidden Zone trip? You know, the three of us are the weakest in magical power—it’s very likely that if we clash with him, we’ll be the first to fall! Why don’t we discuss a plan together?”
Han Li blinked several times at this but didn’t respond, silently confirming their true intent. He guessed almost perfectly what the old fox wanted to say.
It seemed this old sly one planned to recruit some weak disciples to act and fight together. That way, it would be much safer, and the chances of survival would be greatly increased.
But Han Li knew very well that such an alliance had both advantages and disadvantages.
Because everyone gathered together, the area they could search would be much smaller, resulting in very few spirit medicines being found. Even if some were found, it would be hard to say who would ultimately claim them—most likely, possession would be decided by strength.
Naturally, Han Li had no interest in such an alliance. Not only would he gain nothing, but there was also a high chance he’d be used as cannon fodder.
As for this old fox, Han Li suspected he had no good intentions; he was definitely trying to take advantage of the chaos and gain something through trickery.
Seeing Han Li remain silent after his words, the old man grew anxious and couldn’t hold back any longer, saying:
“I do have an idea. Brother Han, would you like to hear it? It will definitely ensure everyone’s safety on this journey!”
The old man put on a profound, mysterious expression; his forehead wrinkles all squished together, making Han Li feel both annoyed and amused.
Beside him, the blonde youth seemed to admire the old fox greatly. Though silent, he showed a look of complete trust in the older man.
Since he definitely wouldn’t join their alliance, Han Li refused bluntly:
“Sorry! I never work together with others, and I have no such plan this time. If you want to form a team, please find other senior brothers.”
Han Li spoke frankly and clearly.
He knew that only by making it clear he was not a greenhorn would he truly discourage them from pestering him further. Otherwise, with so few fellow disciples around, if Senior Brother Xiang sensed even a sliver of possibility, he would keep pestering him endlessly. Han Li did not want that.
Realizing he had targeted the wrong person, the old man saw that Han Li looked young but spoke with the skill of a veteran who had weathered many storms. So, he stopped wasting words, showed a trace of embarrassment, and took his leave.
Judging by the direction they left, they headed toward another disciple who was meditating on a rock.
Han Li smiled slightly, turned back, and resumed observing the notable disciples. This time, he saw Junior Sister Chen standing with another ordinary-looking woman, around whom gathered a few young men who fancied themselves promising talents.
Han Li’s mouth twitched—no matter how he looked at those few people, he found them unpleasant. Finally, he decided it was best to see no evil, so he moved to a quiet spot and closed his eyes to rest.
Thus, the next morning, all disciples gathered again atop the mountain, standing in order and waiting for the arrival of other immortal sects.