The Gale Beast’s Invitation

Several stalks of the accompanying-heart grass that he had already set his sights on flew, roots and earth intact, straight into a jade box.

With a crisp snap, Han Li neatly closed the lid, a flicker of delight crossing his face.

Having obtained the accompanying-heart grass so easily was far beyond his expectations.

But this place was no longer safe to linger. Han Li was just about to turn and flee from this spot when a faint voice sounded from behind him.

"You loitered around here for so long, all for a few stalks of grass. Human cultivators truly are a strange lot." It was the voice of an unfamiliar man.

Han Li’s expression shifted drastically, his face turning extremely unsightly.

But then he forcibly calmed himself. After a flicker of movement, he turned around, his face dark.

What met his eyes was a green-robed demon cultivator, looking at him with an expression of curiosity.

The moment he saw the other’s appearance, a bitter taste flooded Han Li’s mouth.

This demon cultivator wore a silver crown on his head and hemp sandals on his feet. Aside from his narrow, greenish eyes and a pointed, horn-like nose, the rest of him was completely identical to a human man.

Han Li’s eyelids twitched uncontrollably.

A demon beast that could nearly perfectly transform into a human form… how could this be merely an eighth-grade demon beast? Could it be the legendary ninth or tenth grade?

Han Li’s body went stiff. Although he already had the Five Elements Ring and a spirit beast pouch clutched in his hands, he absolutely did not dare to make a rash move.

"You noticed me long ago, I take it." Han Li felt his own voice was dry and raspy, truly unpleasant to hear.

But the demon cultivator across from him, upon hearing this, expression shifting, let out a light laugh.

"Correct. I noticed you the very day you arrived. At first, I thought you were just a passing human cultivator, so I paid it no mind. Who would have thought that in the following days, you would stop on that reef nearby and refuse to leave. That piqued my interest." The green-robed demon cultivator said, narrowing his eyes, revealing a set of snow-white teeth.

Perhaps it was an illusion, but Han Li felt that the other’s teeth were a bit too sharp, glinting with a chilling light.

Surname Feng… Then this really is that adult Gale Beast. Han Li’s heart sank even further.

"In that case, why didn't you act sooner?" Han Li forced a faint smile and asked.

"I did want to meet you earlier. But I had just finished the second stage of my transformation and was stabilizing my form. It really wasn’t suitable for me to force my way out. Now that my form is solidified, I was just about to go out. I never expected you would run right into my lair. This is a bit of a surprise for me." The Gale Beast said, a strange grin spreading across his face.

"The second stage of transformation? You just entered the ninth grade, then?" Han Li’s face had paled, and his hand holding the Five Elements Ring was unconsciously beading with cold sweat.

"Ninth grade? That’s your human division for us monster clans, isn’t it? Correct. The second stage of our transformation phase corresponds to what you call a ninth-grade demon beast." This demon cultivator, whose true form was an adult Gale Beast, blinked and replied casually.

Hearing the other’s frank admission, Han Li fell silent. But a moment later, the corners of his mouth twitched, and he let out a bitter laugh.

If it were an eighth-grade demon beast, he might still have a sliver of hope for survival. But in the face of a ninth-grade demon cultivator, he had almost completely given up on the thought of escaping alive.

It seemed his death was truly unavoidable.

Thinking this, Han Li stopped wasting words. Suddenly opening his mouth, he spat out over a dozen streaks of azure light that swirled around him. Then, with a flick of his hand, he was about to sacrifice his spirit beast pouch.

But in that instant, the demon cultivator across from him moved.

Before Han Li’s eyes, a lightness came over his hand, and the spirit beast pouch had been snatched away by the other party.

Although the over a dozen flying swords protecting his body, being spirit-natured, instinctively blocked in front of him, the other party’s speed was simply too fast. Before the swords could even slash down, the opponent had already retreated to their original position.

After a momentary shock, Han Li’s face turned pale.

How could he have forgotten? The Gale Beast was originally a high-grade demon beast famed for its speed.

And the speed of a ninth-grade Gale Beast at such a close distance was probably nearly equivalent to teleportation. How could he possibly harm the other?

In an instant, various chaotic thoughts flooded his mind.

On Han Li’s extremely ashen face, an unnatural flush rose.

Pressing his hand on his storage pouch, a brightly shining golden silk ball appeared in his palm.

With a motion as fast as lightning, Han Li lifted his hand and actually swallowed the ball whole. Then, his eyes as cold as ice, he stared at the green-robed demon cultivator across from him, saying nothing.

He had already considered it. Before he died, he would definitely use the Evil-Cleansing Divine Lightning to detonate the Qianlan Pearl in his stomach.

This way, even if he couldn’t drag his opponent down with him, he would certainly deal them a heavy blow.

Seeing Han Li’s strange action, a flicker of surprise appeared on the Gale Beast’s face. But then, as if nothing was wrong, he smiled.

"Heh heh. Why are you in such a hurry, fellow Daoist? I never said I intended to harm you." He tossed the spirit beast pouch casually in his hand and said with a strange expression.

"What do you mean? Aren’t you demon cultivators in the midst of slaughtering human cultivators?" Han Li frowned and said coldly.

He didn’t want to be toyed with by the other party before he died.

"The ones currently at war with you humans are merely the nearby sea clans. Feng here is not under their jurisdiction. I simply like the phosphorus fire pond here and have settled here temporarily." This Gale Beast shook his head and drawled.

Han Li was stunned.

Only then did he remember that Gale Beasts existed between a sea beast and a demon bird. It couldn’t truly be counted as a sea demon beast at all. And from the sound of his words, he wasn’t even a local demon cultivator.

Could it be that he really had no intention of killing him? Han Li’s face shifted between dark and light.

A moment later, Han Li waved his hand and withdrew his flying swords back into his body, his expression relaxing slightly.

Since his flying swords were completely unable to deal with the other party, he might as well be straightforward about it. If the other party was deceiving him, he could always just self-detonate the Qianlan Ice Pearl.

Seeing Han Li put away his magic treasure, the Gale Beast looked satisfied.

"I like dealing with intelligent humans. I’ll return this to you first." Without even looking at what was inside the spirit beast pouch, he tossed it back to Han Li.

Han Li raised his hand and caught it, feeling a bit more at ease.

"Would you be interested in visiting my true residence as a guest? This is the first time Feng has invited a human cultivator." The demon cultivator stared at Han Li and said something that took him completely by surprise.

Although the Gale Beast said this so politely, Han Li dared not refuse. He could only smile bitterly and nod.

Seeing Han Li agree, a hint of delight appeared on the Gale Beast’s face.

Without another word, he raised his hand, and a cyan light sphere appeared in his palm. Then the light sphere instantly expanded, enveloping Han Li within it.

A strange expression flickered across Han Li’s face, but he did not resist. He watched as the cyan light flashed, pulling him over to the Gale Beast’s side.

With a splash, the light sphere carried them both directly into the water pool, and then plunged straight down.

Because the light sphere itself emitted a faint cyan light, Han Li could still make out the underwater world around him.

Perhaps due to the strange nature of the water in the pool, aside from a type of palm-sized, white strange fish, Han Li saw no other aquatic life.

There were no small shrimp, seaweed, or anything of the sort.

Seeing Han Li’s curious expression as he observed the scenery below the water, the Gale Beast just gave a faint smile and said nothing.

After about the time it takes for a meal, the light shield stopped its descent. Giving a slight tremble, it flew off to one side.

In a flash, a massive black stone gate appeared before them. White light flickered on the stone gate, clearly indicating that it was protected by restrictions.

"Here we are. This is Feng’s humble abode. I hope you won’t laugh at it." The Gale Beast pointed at the stone gate and said with extreme courtesy.

Han Li forced a laugh, saying nothing.

The light shield appeared to be about to collide with the stone gate, but it opened by itself.

The light shield then passed through a layer of white mist, sending the two of them into a dry passage.

This passage was brilliantly colored. The stone walls were inlaid with all sorts of pearls as large as dragon’s eyes, their radiance intertwining to make it as bright as day.

"Please, fellow Daoist!" Seeing the look of surprise on Han Li’s face, the Gale Beast couldn’t help but show a hint of pride.

These round pearls were no ordinary pearls. He had gone deep to the bottom of the sea specifically to find spirit shellfish that had lived for over a thousand years to obtain these treasure pearls. Each one had a special effect for repelling water or fire.

Han Li looked at the passage ahead, unwilling from the bottom of his heart to go in, but under the watchful gaze of this ninth-grade demon beast beside him, he steeled himself and took the first step.

The green-robed Gale Beast followed unhurriedly behind him.

The passage was not very long. In a flash, Han Li arrived at a gorgeously decorated hall, adorned with all sorts of colorful coral.

In the center of the hall was a pure white, crystalline jade table, along with several chairs carved from the same beautiful jade. In each of the four corners was an antique, miniature tripod, each containing a black incense stick as thick as a finger, from which a faint, refreshing fragrance emanated.

(It’s Monday, everyone, please help throw in some recommendation votes!)

(End of chapter)