Published: August 25, 2025
Chapter 295: The Appointment
“Related to the demonic path?”
The old cultivator, upon hearing that Han Li was a cultivator from Yellow Maple Valley, did not show much surprise. This was something he had long suspected—foundation establishment stage cultivators outside the Seven Sects were extremely rare. However, when he heard that the disciple he was about to take in and Chief Steward Wang might be connected to the demonic path, his face immediately turned green.
It was well known in the immortal cultivation world of Yue Country that the demonic path was almost synonymous with bloodshed and cruelty. As a minor cultivator in the qi refining stage, the old cultivator naturally wanted to stay far away.
“Senior, are you sure? I did check the young prince thoroughly, and there is truly no magical power at all inside him,” the old cultivator said, alarmed but still somewhat skeptical after thinking it over carefully.
After all, he had spent some time with this young prince and could not detect any sign of him being involved in the demonic path rumored in the world.
Han Li heard this and said nothing superfluous, only calmly stating:
“Whether these two are demonic path practitioners or not, you will notice their abnormalities if you keep a close eye on them. There is no need for me to explain further. I’m not asking you to take any harmful action against them, just to keep some surveillance. Also, you absolutely must not probe or test them. If they discover you know their true identities, your life could be in jeopardy!”
Han Li’s final warning caused the suspicion in the old cultivator’s eyes to vanish, replaced immediately by fear.
After hesitating for a moment, he stammered with some trepidation:
“What if they find out I’m watching them? I am but a lowly cultivator with limited magical power, afraid I might ruin your important mission!”
Han Li frowned at this.
This old cultivator seemed ready to back out—it wouldn’t do. It looked like some incentive was necessary.
With this in mind, Han Li reached into his storage pouch, pulled out an item, and gently placed it on the table.
“Monitoring these two is indeed risky. I have a suitable high-grade magical artifact here to give you for self-defense. Once this matter is resolved, this artifact will officially be yours,” Han Li said calmly, pointing to a purple bead on the table that emitted a faint glow.
“A high-grade magical artifact!” The old cultivator’s spirits lifted immediately upon hearing that.
Poor as he was, he hardly had the resources to buy even a mid-grade magical artifact, much less a high-grade one!
“This is a Purple Light Pearl. After infusing magical power, it can immediately generate a light shield protecting your entire body. I believe ordinary cultivators in the qi refining stage would find it difficult to break through this defense. This should be enough to handle most dangers you might face,” Han Li explained without changing his expression.
“A defensive magical artifact?” After hearing the detailed explanation, the old cultivator’s eyes glimmered with excitement again.
Defensive magical artifacts were the rarest and most precious type among all categories of magical artifacts. If he had to save spirit stones to buy one, he might never get the chance in his lifetime.
“Alright, I will do my utmost,” the white-haired old cultivator finally agreed after a long moment of hesitation, biting the bullet.
Clearly, the saying that birds die for food and men die for money applied just as much in the immortal cultivation world!
Han Li smiled faintly at the old cultivator’s acceptance of this risky task, but inwardly he still felt some pity.
“This spirit mark will temporarily be placed inside your body. That way, if something happens, I can find you immediately—maybe even save your life! Also, after this matter is concluded, I will give you a bottle of Yellow Dragon Pill as a reward,” Han Li said, employing the same method to imprint a spiritual energy mark inside the old cultivator, combining firmness and kindness.