Divine Thunder Bamboo and a Calculated Alliance

Chapter 408: Stirring Up the Seas — The Left and Right Envoys

“Someone stole it?” Han Li’s eyes flickered. He looked unconvinced.

“It seems you do not believe me, Senior. But it is the absolute truth.” Madam Fan suddenly dropped her smile, letting out a bitter laugh.

“Two months ago, our sect’s shop received a major commission—a deal so large it would have allowed the Sublime Sound Sect to go ten years without needing to take another. We assembled a massive shipment and dispatched it under the personal escort of our sect leader, Wang, along with the majority of our sect’s elite. But halfway there, a group of masked cultivators ambushed us. Among the attackers were as many as five or six Core Formation cultivators, each with profound and sinister skills. The rest were highly adept at coordinated combat. Our sect leader was overwhelmed and killed on the spot. The storage pouches containing the goods were stolen. As for the ordinary disciples, more than half were killed or wounded. If not for our two elders sacrificing a portion of their cultivation to activate a forbidden technique, the entire rear guard would have been wiped out without a trace.” As the woman spoke, her voice grew low, her face filled with grief.

“Could it have been a setup by the buyer?” Han Li blurted out without thinking.

“Impossible. The buyer was one of the four great merchant alliances of the Starfall Sea. Their reputation has always been excellent. Why would they commit murder and robbery over such goods? Besides, given their resources, there would be no need to damage their reputation for a mere shipment like this.” Madam Fan shook her head gently, her face pale, projecting an air of fragile helplessness.

Han Li merely gave her a cold glance and said nothing further, showing not the slightest hint of sympathy or comfort.

Seeing Han Li’s cold demeanor, Madam Fan had no choice but to set aside her sadness and continue her explanation.

“That small length of Divine Thunder Bamboo was originally the guardian treasure of a minor sect. But that sect has fallen into extreme decline, with only a single descendant remaining. Not long ago, they sold it to us at the Sublime Sound Sect. Our sect leader had it on his person during the delivery, intending to take it directly to Heaven Star City for auction once the major deal was concluded. He never expected it to be stolen by those cultivators.

“However, our sect leader had placed a small tracking mark on the shipment before departing. Thanks to this, we were able to trace the cultivators to their hiding place. But the number of Core Formation cultivators among those thieves is considerable. Our sect simply lacks the strength to confront them directly. That is why I have come out this time—not only to restock goods, but also to seek the aid of skilled cultivators willing to help. You and the other senior have profound magical power. If you are willing to lend a hand, on behalf of my sect, I offer this Divine Thunder Bamboo as your reward. What do you say?”

After this careful speech, the woman finally revealed her true purpose. Han Li’s expression remained unchanged, but his eyes flickered as though he were weighing the pros and cons.

Seeing that Han Li was deliberating the potential benefits and risks, Madam Fan hurriedly added another inducement:

“If Senior still finds the reward insufficient, our sect is also willing to offer a chaste female disciple to serve you as a maidservant.”

“Not interested.” Han Li refused without a moment’s hesitation.

The woman’s face fell, disappointment clear.

“Has this length of Divine Thunder Bamboo already been refined? Can it still be cultivated?” Han Li let out a light breath and suddenly asked a question that caught the woman off guard.

“No, it has not been refined. This length of bamboo was carefully cultivated by that minor sect for over a thousand years. It was removed with its roots intact, so it can certainly be replanted and grown. Could it be that Senior does not intend to use it to forge a magic treasure, but rather to leave it for future generations? However, Divine Thunder Bamboo grows extremely slowly—barely a cun every thousand years. It is exceedingly difficult to nurture.” The woman was slightly startled, somewhat puzzled by the question.

Hearing this, Han Li did not answer her query. Instead, he lowered his head slightly and fell back into deep thought.

As the silence stretched on, even Elder Zhao was beginning to show impatience. Finally, Han Li looked up and spoke with resolve:

“In addition to the Divine Thunder Bamboo, I also want to pick one other item from among your shipment. After all, Brother Qu and I will be acting together.”

His tone was calm as he added a condition.

“No problem. Our sect can agree to that condition.” Madam Fan’s face immediately brightened when she heard Han Li agree to help. She accepted his terms without hesitation.

“Very well then. When it is time to depart, send someone to my cave to inform me. I assume your sect already knows where my cave is located.” Having said this, Han Li stood up, his expression blank.

Without waiting for Madam Fan to say anything more, he clasped his hands in a farewell gesture and drifted away with Qu Hun, not mentioning a word about her earlier use of charm magic on him.

Seeing Han Li leave so decisively, the two cultivators from the Sublime Sound Sect exchanged a surprised glance. There was a complex look in Madam Fan’s eyes, her expression flickering with uncertainty.

—

Back at his cave, Han Li did not simply wait for the Sublime Sound Sect to send for him. Instead, he visited several other Core Formation cultivators to inquire about the sect.

It turned out that some of them had indeed heard of it. One had even dealt with them before.

According to what he learned, the Sublime Sound Sect could be considered either a proper sect or a merchant alliance. Their history leaned toward the latter.

The sect had always been dominated by female disciples, and only women could serve as sect leader.

As for strength, the Sublime Sound Sect was not considered powerful in the Starfall Sea. Apart from the sect leader, the highest-ranking members were the Left and Right Envoys. Naturally, they also typically hired two or three Core Formation cultivators as guest elders to serve as backing.

Among the many mid-tier powers, they could be considered neither strong nor weak.

Even so, other powers generally did not provoke them lightly. The female cultivators of the Sublime Sound Sect were uniformly beautiful and talented. Many of their outstanding disciples would become sought-after cultivation partners for other factions, bringing the sect various forms of overt and covert support.

What concerned Han Li most was that the sect had a decent reputation. He had rarely heard of any incidents where they had schemed against or harmed other cultivators. However, their charm arts were quite famous throughout the Starfall Sea, causing many male cultivators to lose their heads over their female disciples.

After gathering this intelligence, Han Li formed a general impression of the Sublime Sound Sect. He weighed the risks carefully again. In the end, he simply could not give up on the Divine Thunder Bamboo.

It seemed he would have to make a move after all.

He immediately returned to his cave and spent day and night accelerating the refinement of his third-grade puppets.

Half a month later, a transmission talisman flew into Han Li’s hand from outside.

After reading it, he calmly packed his belongings and left his cave with Qu Hun and the two Blood Jade Spiders.

When he arrived at a certain city gate of Heaven Star City, the young woman named Lian’er was already there, waiting anxiously.

The moment she spotted Han Li and Qu Hun, her face lit up with joy. She hurried over and said,

“Seniors! Madam has instructed me to take you to the assembly island, where we will depart together.”

Han Li nodded without a word. He spat out his Green Emperor Sword, wrapped the young woman in its light, and shot into the sky.

Qu Hun followed close behind, transforming into a streak of yellow light.

This girl, Lian’er, seemed to be flying on a magic treasure for the first time. Inside Han Li’s sword light, she gazed around curiously and occasionally pointed out the direction.

Whenever her eyes accidentally met Han Li’s, she would lower her head, flustered and shy.

Inside the sword light, she stood very close to Han Li—almost pressed against him.

With just a slight tilt of his head, Han Li could see the nape of her white neck and catch the faint fragrance of a young woman. It was a modest blessing that he rather enjoyed.

The girl seemed to notice this as well, and the blush on her cheeks deepened. Han Li found it somewhat amusing and wore a faint, knowing smile.

He was already speculating in his heart. Madam Fan had sent her personal maidservant to guide him. Could it be that, knowing his immunity to charm magic, she had resorted to a genuine beauty trap?

The thought made him sneer inwardly. He took a deeper breath of the girl’s fragrance, causing her body to tremble slightly. Her small, delicate ears turned a rosy pink, and a hint of panic flickered in her eyes.

But Han Li’s boldness stopped there. He made no further move, which finally allowed the girl to relax a little. She concentrated on guiding him.

Several hours later, Han Li landed on a desolate hilltop on an unnamed island.

On the peak, which was only a few dozen zhang high, stood Madam Fan, Elder Zhao, and over a dozen other cultivators of varying heights. Some sat in meditation, cultivating. Others stood talking in low voices.

Among them were five Core Formation cultivators, with the rest being late Foundation Establishment cultivators. It seemed the Sublime Sound Sect had put considerable effort into gathering this force.

Seeing that her maidservant had truly brought Han Li and Qu Hun, Madam Fan’s face lit up with joy. She walked over gracefully.

“It is a great fortune for our sect that you seniors have agreed to come! Allow me to introduce a few people.” The woman said, her eyes shimmering.

Saying this, she led Han Li and Qu Hun over to introduce a Core Formation cultivator named Meng, as well as four Foundation Establishment cultivators.

But strangely enough, after making these introductions, Madam Fan did not introduce the remaining cultivators. Instead, she shot a somewhat provocative glance at a beautiful woman dressed in lotus-green robes.

Han Li followed her gaze. He realized that, aside from those Madam Fan had introduced, the others all seemed to center around this green-clad woman.

This woman had slanted brows that nearly touched her temples, phoenix-like eyes, a straight nose, and a hint of sharpness hidden in her gaze. She had clearly held a position of authority for a long time. To men, this only made her more alluring—the kind of woman one yearned to conquer.

Seeing Madam Fan’s look, the woman let out a cold laugh. She cast a somewhat surprised glance at Han Li and Qu Hun, then turned back to speak quietly with a middle-aged cultivator behind her, clearly uninterested in acknowledging Madam Fan.

“Who is that?” Han Li asked calmly.

“Zhuo Ruting. Our sect’s Right Envoy.” Fan Jingmei replied with a reluctant snort.

“Oh.” Han Li acknowledged with indifference but could not help stealing a few more glances at the woman.

This drew a faint look of displeasure from Fan Jingmei.

Han Li was not harboring any improper thoughts toward Zhuo Ruting. Rather, her bearing and demeanor felt strangely familiar to him, and he fell into a brief contemplation.

Seeing this, Madam Fan’s expression darkened. She turned to speak with Qu Hun instead.

But Qu Hun simply listened to her words with a blank expression, remaining utterly silent. This only made the woman feel even more frustrated.