Fame Shakes the World — Oaths and Choices

Han Li tilted his head, casting a cold sidelong glance at the two Core Formation cultivators. The words dying on the man’s lips were swallowed back down his throat before they could fully emerge.

They were two unfamiliar middle-aged cultivators Han Li did not recognize. He had no idea which sect they belonged to.

By now, the shopkeeper and his two assistants before Han Li had been pinned directly to the ground by the immense spiritual pressure bearing down on them from point-blank range. They could not move an inch.

Terror was written across their faces. Hearing that Han Li was a Nascent Soul cultivator only sent their souls fleeing from their bodies in sheer fright. They scrambled to beg for mercy, but the weight pressing down on them was as heavy as a mountain. They could not even catch their breath, let alone force out a single word.

The cultivators scattered throughout the surrounding area had also lost all color in their faces. A few timid souls, fearful of being caught in the crossfire, had already slipped away without a sound.

Sun Huo, standing behind Han Li, had been forced back several steps—but thanks to Han Li’s deliberate care, he felt no other ill effects.

Once he recognized Han Li, however, Sun Huo’s expression shifted. He immediately stepped forward and dropped into a formal bow, speaking with reverence:

“Disciple Sun Huo pays respects to Patriarch Han.”

Han Li ceased paying the three men before him any further attention. He turned, and his gaze swept over the half-talisman still pinched between Sun Huo’s fingers. He gave a slight nod.

“It seems I don’t need to explain further. You already know who I am now.”

“This disciple did not know your true identity back at the Holy Land, and spoke many reckless words in your presence. I beg the Patriarch to forgive my offense!” Sun Huo recalled the disrespectful way he had addressed Han Li during their encounter in the Holy Land, and unease swelled in his heart. He honestly offered a preemptive confession of fault.

“At that time, I had not yet become an Elder of this sect. Naturally, I would not hold that against you. However… that half-talisman in your hand does seem to have a slight connection to me.” Han Li fixed his eyes on Sun Huo as he said this, speaking slowly.

“A half-talisman… Could it be that the Patriarch is…” Sun Huo froze for a moment. Then joy surged through him, and he was on the verge of saying something more—but a streak of silver light shot through the low air from the distance.

“We’ll discuss this later.” Han Li raised a hand, cutting off whatever Sun Huo had been about to say. He narrowed his eyes and focused on the approaching flying light.

The only cultivators permitted unimpeded flight within Tiandian City were the Enforcement Envoys of the Nine Nations Alliance.

They were the ones responsible for maintaining order throughout the entire Tiandian City Trade Fair.

Naturally, Sun Huo did not dare to speak further. He obediently stood there with his hands at his sides.

But inwardly, he could barely contain his excitement. The hand clutching the talisman unconsciously tightened its grip with renewed care.

By then, the rainbow light had arrived in front of Han Li. It converged, revealing an old man with yellow hair and a cultivation level at roughly mid-Core Formation. A small golden sword pattern was embroidered on his chest—the emblem of an Enforcement Envoy.

The old man had sensed the shocking aura Han Li had released earlier. That was why he had shot over from afar.

But duty was duty. Even knowing there was a Nascent Soul cultivator on the warpath here, he had no choice but to steel himself and come.

The moment he spotted Han Li standing motionless in the middle of the street, the old man clasped his hands in salute and said:

“This junior is Wu Fei, Enforcement Envoy of Tiandian City. May I ask what has angered the Senior, and if there is anything this junior can do to be of service?” Facing a Nascent Soul cultivator, the Envoy was naturally exceptionally polite.

“Nothing much. I was simply passing by when I heard this shopkeeper of your fair city making some disparaging remarks about my Falling Cloud Sect. I merely wished to ask this Fellow Daoist to repeat those same words to my face.” Han Li clasped his hands behind his back and spoke coolly.

“Ah! This must have been a slip of the tongue on the shopkeeper’s part. How could these three men dare to offend a Senior such as yourself? You three—why haven’t you gone over and apologized already?” The old man found this situation deeply troubling. Matters involving sect reputation could be blown up or smoothed over depending on the circumstances. Since Han Li had raised it, the old man knew he had no easy way out. He offered a placating remark first, then immediately turned stern and scolded the shopkeeper and his assistants.

Han Li had already withdrawn his spiritual pressure, so the three men finally managed to stagger to their feet, trembling. The shopkeeper’s face was drained of blood as he quickly said:

“Senior, this junior merely misspoke just now. I had absolutely no intention of being disrespectful to your sect. The Blazing Fire Talisman that this Fellow Daoist damaged earlier—this junior is willing to waive the compensation. Please consider this my apology to the Senior.”

Han Li frowned upon hearing this. Instead of softening, his expression grew even darker.

“What, do you think I stood here just to take advantage of your petty discount? Let me first take a look at these Blazing Fire Talismans in your wooden box and see if they really are master-crafted talismans, as you claimed. If they are genuine, I will naturally compensate your spirit stones on behalf of my sect’s disciple. But if they are not… heh!” Han Li let out a cold laugh, his face openly hostile.

“There is no need for the Senior to look. These Blazing Fire Talismans of mine are nothing more than ordinary talismans. This junior is willing to accept any punishment!” The shopkeeper proved to be quite quick-witted. Before Han Li could even reach for the box, he immediately admitted his fault in one breath.

Han Li said nothing further. He merely glanced at the Enforcement Envoy.

Seeing how the situation was developing, the old man knew exactly what was expected of him. He gave a slight bow and said:

“Senior, please rest assured. This shopkeeper has been most improper in his conduct. This junior will make sure he receives a severe punishment. I will see to it that you receive a satisfactory explanation.”

“Since you’ve said as much, I’ll leave it to you to handle. I don’t have the leisure to waste time on such trivial matters. Sun Huo, come with me.” The moment Han Li finished speaking calmly, his form flickered. He appeared beside Sun Huo in an instant. A flash of dazzling yellow light blazed around them, and both figures vanished from the ground without a trace.

The cultivators nearby murmured in astonishment. Such a profound earth-escape technique was something few among them had ever witnessed.

Only then did the old man let out a true sigh of relief. But when he turned back to look at the shopkeeper and his two assistants—who were likewise exhaling in relief—his face hardened, and he began to berate them coldly:

“You three, come with me. You will give me a full account of what just happened. This matter will not be so easily settled.”

The shopkeeper’s heart lurched again at those words, and his face crumpled into a miserable expression.

…

Behind a secluded stone building where no one else was present, Han Li and Sun Huo appeared out of thin air, shrouded in yellow light.

“Let’s stop here. Show me that half-talisman.” Han Li gave Sun Huo a meaningful glance before speaking.

“Yes, Patriarch!” Without a moment’s hesitation, Sun Huo presented the talisman with both hands.

Han Li took the talisman and gave it a brief glance. Without a word, he flipped his other hand over—and produced another half-talisman. Before Sun Huo’s unwavering gaze, Han Li aligned the two halves. They fit together perfectly, leaving no gap at all.

The last shred of doubt in Sun Huo’s heart vanished without a trace. Without another thought, he dropped to his knees and prostrated himself before Han Li.

“Sun Huo pays respects to his Master.”

Han Li’s expression did not change. He gave a slight nod, and red light flickered in his hand. The two halves of the talisman turned to ash and scattered into nothingness.

Sun Huo was startled, but he quickly steadied himself.

Seeing this, Han Li felt a measure of satisfaction with his composure.

“It seems you truly are a descendant of Sun Ergou. But don’t be in such a hurry to call me Master. First, tell me—which generation are you?” Han Li asked calmly.

“This junior is the seventh-generation descendant of my ancestor,” Sun Huo answered without hesitation.

“Back then, Sun Ergou swore an oath that from his generation onward, the Sun family would serve me as their master in perpetuity. However, due to certain special circumstances at the time, I did not remain in Tiannan. Your Sun family never truly served as my retainers, and I never extended you any protection. Now that you, a descendant of the Sun family, have entered the world of cultivation, that oath from so long ago need not necessarily still be honored. Out of a small regard for the bond I once shared with your ancestor, I am willing to give you two choices.”

“The first: I will grant you some direct benefits—perhaps some pills or magical tools. But from this day forward, we will have nothing to do with each other. Do not expect any special treatment from me in the future.”

“The second: You may choose to uphold your ancestor’s oath and continue to serve me as your master. However, I will plant a binding prohibition on you to ensure you will not betray me. I will also assign you certain tasks. There may be some danger involved. But in return, I will do my utmost to raise your cultivation, offer you guidance in your training, and provide you with benefits you could not have imagined. I will not treat you unfairly. As long as your aptitude is not too poor, Core Formation should be within reach.” Han Li’s lips curled slightly as he spoke in a level tone.

Upon hearing these words, Sun Huo’s expression shifted between uncertainty and calculation. A flicker of bewilderment crossed his eyes. This was clearly far beyond what he had expected, leaving him momentarily at a loss.

After a long pause, a flash of resolve passed over Sun Huo’s face.

“Patriarch, I…”

“There is no need to answer me in a hurry. To prevent any chance of regret, it would be better to wait until the trade fair is over and we have returned to the sect before giving me your reply. Take that time to think over the pros and cons. Once you have truly considered it carefully, come find me at my cave dwelling.” Han Li cut Sun Huo off unexpectedly, calmly continuing.

“This disciple understands. Thank you for your consideration, Patriarch!” Sun Huo thought it over and decided this was the more prudent approach. He quickly agreed.

“Good. I still have other important matters to attend to. Take care of yourself.” Han Li’s expression softened slightly as he gave a nod. In a flash of yellow light, he vanished once more.

Sun Huo did not leave immediately. Instead, he stood there, lowering his head in deep thought for quite some time. Finally, he let out a long sigh and slowly walked away.

By then, Han Li had already appeared before the pavilion that served as his residence. He lifted his head to look at the night sky, now fully darkened, and a peculiar expression flickered across his face.