Domination

Han Li’s expression did not change, and there was no anger detectable in his gaze as he looked at the young girl. But the old man could clearly feel the chilling aura emanating from him.

Before the old man could even pull the girl back behind him, a tremendous force erupted from Han Li. The sheer spiritual pressure contained within it forced the girl, who was standing right next to him, back seven or eight steps without any ability to resist.

Fortunately, the old man was quick-witted and swift. His form flickered as he appeared behind the girl and slapped his hands onto her shoulders, finally halting her backward momentum.

The young girl’s face was now as pale as paper. Having personally experienced Han Li’s terrifying cultivation, she looked back at her grandfather in panic and confusion.

The old man’s expression was equally grim.

If, before, the old man had even a sliver of confidence that he and his granddaughter could escape from Han Li if they worked together, seeing even that small glimpse of his true power had completely shattered any trace of that侥幸 hope.

The terror of a Foundation Establishment cultivator was far beyond anything he could have imagined. They were simply not people that small-time cultivators like them could provoke.

Thinking of the petty tricks the two of them had just tried to pull in front of this man, cold sweat poured down the old man’s back.

This senior was definitely not like the other cultivators he had met before, those dull fools who only knew how to cultivate in seclusion. His mind was sharp, and his reactions were far faster than ordinary people.

Could it be that this man was actually an old monster who had lived for over a century and only looked young because he had mastered a technique to preserve his youth?

The more the old man thought about it, the more likely it seemed, and the more terrified he became.

When he sensed that the spiritual pressure emanating from Han Li seemed to be growing even stronger, the old man involuntarily swallowed his saliva and, trembling with fear, quickly pleaded, “Senior, please show mercy! My granddaughter is just too young and doesn’t know her place. Please, calm your anger!”

Han Li gave the old man a cold, hard stare. Seeming to ascertain that his words were sincere, the terrifying pressure suddenly receded, and in an instant, he was once again an unassuming, deep pool of calm.

Only then did the old man, whose surname was Xiao, nervously withdraw his hands from the girl’s shoulders. By now, the young girl was completely cowed. She stole a glance at Han Li before immediately looking away, as if she no longer dared to meet his gaze.

The difference from her earlier fearless demeanor was like night and day.

Now, with her small, delicate body and her frightened, pale face, she looked exactly like a startled bird, utterly pitiable.

Han Li was also slightly taken aback by the sight. It was the first time he had recognized this particular tender beauty of the feminine form. It was truly captivating, a stunning revelation, and he found himself staring at her for a few extra moments.

After carefully scrutinizing her features, he realized that although she was young—only fourteen or fifteen years old—she was already an exceptionally rare beauty. There was a ninety percent chance she would grow into a peerless seductress who could captivate the masses.

Perhaps the look in Han Li’s eyes was a bit too strange. When the old man saw this, his heart sank.

‘Could it be that this man brought us here because he has lecherous intentions and has set his sights on my granddaughter’s beauty? What can I do? His magical power is unfathomable; I have no way to resist.’ The old man’s troubled mind began to race with wild, fearful thoughts.

“Since neither of you are willing to reveal your clan, or perhaps you have no clan and are just rogue cultivators, I won’t force you. I asked you here for one purpose: to make a trade. Once the deal is done, the two of you can leave.”

After a long, silent pause, Han Li finally spoke.

“A trade?”

The old man was stunned, vaguely realizing that his own assumptions had been off the mark.

“That’s right. I’ve taken a liking to something you have and would like to exchange for it,” Han Li said, his expression calm.

Hearing this, the old man involuntarily glanced at the girl, his thoughts wandering: ‘The thing he wants to trade for… it couldn’t be my granddaughter, could it?’

But as he considered it further, it didn’t seem likely.

Aside from that one extra glance earlier, Han Li hadn’t looked at her a second time.

With this thought, a weight was lifted from the old man’s heart. He said respectfully, “May I ask what treasure you have taken a fancy to, Senior? If this lowly one possesses it, I will naturally offer it to you with all sincerity! It’s just that I truly cannot imagine what I could have that would be worthy of your attention.”

The last sentence revealed the confusion in his heart.

Seeing that the other party was so understanding, Han Li’s expression softened, and a slight smile appeared on his face.

“What technique were you two using in the main hall? It concealed your spiritual energy so well that the other Qi Condensation Daoist priest didn’t find anything suspicious about you at all,” Han Li asked, his tone now much gentler.

After showing his formidable side, it was only natural to employ some placating tactics. Combining a firm hand with a gentle one was the most effective strategy.

Hearing Han Li’s question, the old man exchanged a puzzled glance with the girl beside him before hesitantly saying, “Senior, this lowly one doesn’t actually know what technique it was.”

Han Li did not get angry at this answer. Instead, he continued to stare at the old man with an unchanging expression. He knew that since the man had spoken this way, he would certainly give him a reasonable explanation.

As expected, the old man cautiously continued, “The technique I use, it actually comes from a damaged, nameless Daoist scripture. The manual doesn’t give a name for this spell to conceal spiritual energy. My granddaughter and I have just been muddling through, practicing it haphazardly.”

“A nameless Daoist scripture?”

“Where did you get it? Don’t tell me it was passed down through your clan.” Han Li’s face showed a flicker of interest as he spoke with meaning.

If this technique had been circulating among cultivation clans, the great immortal sects would have snatched it up by now through open force or covert theft. But Han Li had never heard of such a similar method before.

“You see clearly, Senior. This Daoist scripture was actually found by my granddaughter while playing on a deserted mountain; she discovered it in a cave. Aside from this qi-concealment technique, we simply couldn’t comprehend anything else in the book. If you want it, Senior, I can go back to my residence right now to retrieve it and present it to you,” the old man said with a fawning smile.

Hearing this, Han Li looked satisfied. “Don’t worry. I won’t take your things for nothing. The two of you go back first and wait for me at your residence. While you’re at it, think about what you want to request in exchange for it, so you don’t feel you’ve been taken advantage of.”

Han Li’s voice was perfectly calm. But after saying this, he suddenly raised his hand and extended two fingers. Two beams of green light, the size of soybeans, shot from his fingertips and, in a flash, flew into the bodies of the old man and the girl, disappearing without a trace.

“Senior, what is this…” The old man was both shocked and angered. He hadn’t expected Han Li to suddenly make a move against them when the conversation had been going so well. Though he didn’t know what it was, he was certain it couldn’t be anything good. The girl was equally panicked.

“Don’t worry. They are just two tracking marks. With them, I can locate you accurately. I will naturally remove them for the two of you when I come,” Han Li said, unmoved.

Hearing this, the old man let out a breath of relief but began to smile bitterly to himself.

This senior did everything with such caution, not leaving them a single loophole.

With these things on them, even if they decided to take the opportunity to leave without saying goodbye, they wouldn’t be able to escape very far.

Still, the old man whose surname was Xiao was perfectly clear about this.

If the other party hadn’t made this contingency, he probably would have taken his granddaughter and fled immediately.

After all, doing business with a senior who could annihilate them with ease was simply too nerve-wracking. Especially since the man seemed so unpredictable and moody. Even if there were huge benefits involved, he had to consider whether he would even have the life to enjoy them.

For now, it seemed that this deal would have to go through whether he wanted it to or not.

His only hope now was that the other party wouldn’t kill them to silence them after getting the Daoist scripture.

In their brief time interacting with Han Li, he still hadn’t been able to figure out what kind of person Han Li truly was.

All he knew was that this man’s magical power was not only unfathomable, but his methods were also extremely difficult to deal with. Any shortcuts or tricks would probably be useless.

“Alright. My granddaughter and I will wait for you at home, Senior,” the old man said, forcing a composed expression as he spoke with respect.

“Very good. I will come to retrieve the item tonight. The two of you should take care.”

As Han Li spoke, his form began to grow indistinct. By the time the last word left his mouth, he had vanished completely from before them, leaving the spot empty.

Seeing this unpredictable, ghost-like technique Han Li had displayed before leaving, the old man’s face turned white as he finally accepted his fate.

Wearily, he called for the girl and slowly made his way back the way they had come.

But what the old man failed to notice was that his clever granddaughter, after seeing the disappearing technique he used at the end, had a look of extreme envy in her eyes. It was only after she heard the old man call for her that she shook herself awake and followed.

As she walked behind the old man, the young girl kept turning her head back to look at the spot where Han Li had disappeared, a clear reluctance to part in her eyes.

“Such a precocious child.” Hiding in a tree nearby, Han Li watched the two of them fade into the distance, shaking his head slightly with amusement.