Published: August 25, 2025
Chapter 296: Apprenticeship
“What old monster? Nobody said that!” The girl’s face changed drastically as she forced a smile and quickly lowered her head, not daring to look over.
Han Li chuckled lightly, not bothering to argue with the girl, but instead his gaze turned cold as he stared at the old man.
The old man’s expression was equally panicked.
He really had no idea how much Han Li had overheard just now, and he cursed silently in his heart. The excuse he had prepared originally was no longer something he dared to say.
“I didn’t expect you, senior, to arrive so quickly! I thought it would take at least two more hours! I will bring that book to you right away.”
The old man could only force himself to put on a brave face to deal with Han Li’s hostile look. Then, having a sudden idea, he immediately mentioned the talisman manuals, hoping to calm Han Li’s anger.
“Good, go get it!” Han Li’s eyes, sharp like knives and swords, stared at the old man for a moment before he finally said coldly.
This made the old man breathe a temporary sigh of relief. From his point of view, at least the other party wouldn’t vent his anger immediately.
The old man hurriedly agreed and walked to the next room. The girl, seeing this, also took a step wanting to follow him, but was stopped by the old man’s sharp glance.
What a joke!
If both of them went to the next room behind his back, wouldn’t that be deliberately provoking him? It would make him think the grandfather and granddaughter were up to some trick. But now the old man had completely discarded such unrealistic thoughts, fearing it might cause misunderstandings with Han Li.
The girl could only pout and stay in the room, standing silently by Han Li’s side, not daring to say a word.
The old man moved very quickly, and in no time, he returned carrying a worn wooden box. It seemed the talisman manuals must be inside.
“Senior, the breath concealment technique my grandson and I learned comes from this book. Please take a look and see if it might be of any use to you,” the old man said respectfully, stepping up to Han Li and gently opening the wooden box. Inside was a somewhat darkened yellowed leather-bound book, which he handed over.
Just by looking at it, one could tell it was an ancient artifact!
Han Li squinted, glanced at the book in the old man’s hand, then nodded and took it.
Although the book’s color had darkened due to age, Han Li’s fingers felt a smooth and delicate texture on the cover, as if it was incredibly durable.
It seemed this book wasn’t made from ordinary materials, but rather from some specially treated demonic beast skin. Otherwise, it wouldn’t have lasted so long.
Han Li caressed the book for a moment, then pondered before slowly flipping through the pages.
But after just a few glances, his brow furrowed.
As soon as the book was opened, unfamiliar ancient characters came into view. Han Li was certain he didn’t recognize these symbols, nor had he ever seen similar ones in any of the Yellow Maple Valley’s collections.
Since he didn’t understand them, Han Li didn’t waste time and quickly flipped toward the back.
In the last two pages, he finally found a set of nameless opening—seemingly added by someone later.
The script used in this set of formulas was a type of ancient characters more commonly seen in the immortal cultivation world, so he could easily read it.
Han Li realized this was the breath concealment technique, so he focused on studying it carefully.
After the time taken for a meal, Han Li slowly closed the book, showing a thoughtful expression on his face.
The old man standing nearby dared not even breathe loudly, his heart pounding fiercely, knowing this was the moment that would decide his and his granddaughter’s fate. What Han Li would do now was all in a single thought.
Han Li ignored the old man’s anxious mood and calmly withdrew a jade box from his storage bag, carefully storing the book inside.
Then, turning to the old man, he said plainly,