Winds Stir Beyond the Seas · A Gathering Cowed

Han Li waved his hand, his expression blank. The twelve small swords instantly merged into one. With a flash of white light, they returned to his sleeve and vanished.

“Now, we can talk,” Han Li said, lowering his hand, his tone calm.

He had not killed the man with that blow. He had only severely wounded him, rendering him temporarily incapable of further combat. So, a moment later, Yun Tianxiao forced himself to his feet. Covered in blood, his gaze toward Han Li was filled with terror.

“Fine. I admit defeat, Yun. Fellow Daoist Wen Siyue is yours to take. But I’ll be blunt. A senior had already set his sights on this woman, intending to use her as a Human Furnace. After you take her, don’t complain if trouble comes knocking at your door.” Yun Tianxiao’s face was pale. He took out a few talismans and slapped them onto his body. A green light flashed, and his wounds vanished at a visible rate.

“Human Furnace?” Hearing this, Han Li finally understood why Wen Siyue had risked everything to escape.

But the veiled threat in the man’s later words made his expression turn cold.

“Someone else has an interest in her? That doesn’t matter. I am taking her, and that is final. You would do well to keep your threatening words to yourself. Otherwise, if my mood sours, I might just clean this place out, blood and all.” Han Li’s expression remained unchanged. He swept his gaze across the room casually.

His words were not entirely a bluff.

If there hadn’t been so many Core Formation cultivators present, with no guarantee he could wipe them all out to the last, he might have actually killed everyone present and been done with it. But even so, the ruthless intent in his words made the assembled cultivators’ faces change.

If his earlier attack had made them suspicious, his current arrogance led most of them to suspect Han Li was a Nascent Soul old monster. They grew uneasy, some lowering their heads and averting their gaze. No one dared to meet his eyes.

Yun Tianxiao naturally considered this possibility as well. Recalling how this Core Formation initial-stage cultivator had nearly killed him with a single blow—him, a Core Formation mid-stage cultivator—and how this man was also searching for an eighth-grade demon beast’s lair… A bitter taste filled his mouth, and he inwardly despaired.

Wen Siyue, inside Han Li’s embrace, stared wide-eyed. She was stunned by the scene.

She would rather die than become someone’s Human Furnace, which was why she had fought to the death earlier. But she had never expected this Fellow Daoist Li to possess such terrifying cultivation, capable of cowing everyone in the room with just his presence.

Yun Tianxiao, whom she had feared so desperately, was now severely wounded. Madam Fan was a picture of panic, completely silent.

This filled her heart with a mix of shock and joy, as if she were dreaming.

Seeing everyone too terrified to speak, Han Li sneered and waved his hand.

The dark-skinned cultivator’s copper plate suddenly floated up and, with a “whoosh,” flew into Han Li’s palm.

Han Li unceremoniously lowered his head to examine it.

The dark-skinned cultivator’s expression stiffened, but after moving his lips a few times, he dared not voice any dissatisfaction. Since this man could cripple Yun Tianxiao, who was at a similar cultivation level to himself, he was certainly no match for him either. Still, his expression didn’t improve.

“I’ll take this. How many spirit stones?” Han Li put the plate down and said flatly to its owner.

“Seven… No, five thousand spirit stones will do!” the dark-skinned cultivator said in surprise, his instinctive reply.

Han Li tossed out a grade-five demon core, which landed precisely in front of the man.

“Use this demon core for the exchange. And don’t say I’m forcefully taking a woman from your sect. Use the materials on the table as the price for her freedom.” Han Li turned to Madam Fan as he spoke. Then he patted the woman in his arms on the shoulder, signaling her to let go, and stood up, strolling unhurriedly toward the exit.

Wen Siyue came to her senses after a moment and hurriedly rose, flustered, following him out.

“Senior Li, please wait!” Madam Fan’s expression flickered, and she called out.

Han Li paused, stopped in his tracks, and turned around with a curious expression.

That this woman had the courage to call him back piqued his interest. Wen Siyue tensed up and involuntarily moved closer to Han Li’s side.

“What is it?” Han Li narrowed his eyes and asked calmly.

“Senior, do you not wish to return to the Inner Star Seas? Our Sublime Sound Sect has a way to get you all back to the Inner Seas soon.” Madam Fan said with a charming smile, her tone now considerably more respectful. Facing someone who was most likely a Nascent Soul cultivator, she dared not be negligent.

“What do you mean by that?” Han Li furrowed his brow. He had no interest in cryptic statements.

Seeing Han Li’s impatience, Madam Fan quickly explained without any further attempts at mystification:

“Our Sublime Sound Sect is preparing a teleportation formation to return to the Inner Star Seas. We are still missing some key materials to complete it. So, this gathering, I was actually seeking help from all of you. If you assist our sect in completing this formation, the Sublime Sound Sect can send everyone back to the Inner Star Seas for free.”

Madam Fan’s words caused a stir among the other Core Formation cultivators. Most of them showed unexpected joy.

The Outer Star Seas were now overrun with demon beasts. Even they felt they could not stay much longer. They had been wanting to go back for a while. But without a teleportation formation, flying alone would take at least five or six years to reach the Inner Seas, not to mention the various dangers along the way. That was why they were still stranded here.

“Setting up a formation is one thing, but what about the teleportation talismans? Don’t tell me your Sublime Sound Sect also knows how to refine them.” The white-haired old woman’s expression flickered as she asked coldly.

“Senior Qing need not worry about that. Although our Sublime Sound Sect cannot refine teleportation talismans, we secretly acquired some from other channels before the beast tide. We have enough to send everyone here back to the Inner Star Seas, with plenty to spare. However, the most critical material for this formation, ‘Dreamstone,’ is extremely rare. After years of searching, we did find a source. But it is unfortunately near a cluster of high-grade demon beasts. Most of these beasts are ranked fifth and sixth, and there are many of them. A small number of cultivators would not be enough to wipe them out. And if we make a mistake and a few escape, alerting even higher-grade beasts, things would become disastrous. That is why our sect is seeking your help!” Madam Fan said solemnly.

Hearing this, everyone else fell into thought. This was not a request to be taken lightly; they needed to weigh the risks carefully.

“Why come to us Core Formation cultivators? Wouldn’t it be more certain to invite a Nascent Soul senior to intervene?” the dark-skinned cultivator asked slowly after a moment of deliberation.

“Fellow Daoists, do you think I haven’t tried? But most of those esteemed seniors have gone missing since the beast tide. I only managed to contact one, Senior Miaohe. It is only with his help that I can handle the seventh-grade beasts among this group. And Siyue was the Human Furnace that this senior requested.” Madam Fan said with a bitter smile, casting a helpless glance at Han Li.

The others exchanged looks.

Han Li, hearing this, stroked his chin with a contemplative expression. But quickly, he cut in curtly:

“Fellow Daoist Li has no interest in this matter. You all handle it yourselves.” With that, he paid them no further attention and walked out the door.

Wen Siyue dared not lag behind and followed closely.

No one dared to stop Han Li. The hall was left with a group of cultivators staring blankly at each other.

Madam Fan made no attempt to hide her disappointment. But Yun Tianxiao, who had remained silent, spoke up again:

“Since Fellow Daoist Li is unwilling to help, our sect will not force the matter. Now, let me first describe the situation regarding the demon beasts near the Dreamstone site, and then you can all make your own judgments. The location is…”

As if the severe injury Han Li had dealt him never happened, Yun Tianxiao began to speak at length, his tone calm and unhurried.

…

“Senior, do you really not want to return to the Inner Star Seas?” Wen Siyue murmured behind Han Li.

“What, do you want to go back?” Han Li asked flatly without turning his head.

“Not exactly, it’s just…” Wen Siyue’s voice dropped, and her final words were left unsaid.

By then, Han Li had already led her out of the stone wall and headed straight for the exit without another word. Since his goal for this trip had been achieved, he had no interest in staying any longer.

Han Li led Wen Siyue out of the stone entrance, passing the gatekeeper old man’s surprised gaze. Then, his flying light wrapped around her, and they shot into the sky.

Wen Siyue remained silent throughout the journey, not asking where they were headed, as if she had placed everything in Han Li’s hands.

Han Li, for his part, did not bother to explain. He flew on in silence.

Two days later, Han Li finally found a desolate island with faint spiritual energy and landed.