Fairy Ziling, seeing that Han Li looked unconvinced, did not explain anything. Instead, she glanced at Qu Hun and said with a charming smile:
"This Senior Qu is your external avatar, isn't he?"
As soon as these words left her mouth, Han Li's figure stiffened, a flash of cold light involuntarily passing through his eyes. He stared at the woman for a good while before asking in a cold voice:
"Miss Ziling, how did you know?"
"Hee hee! There's no need to be alarmed, Senior. Our sect also has a technique for refining such avatars. It's just that the cost is too great and the success rate too low, so few people in the sect practice it. But Senior's avatar is quite peculiar! Normally, an avatar's cultivation must be much lower than that of the person who refined it, yet Senior Han's avatar has actually entered the early Core Formation stage just like you. That is truly strange!" Fairy Ziling laughed softly, her bright eyes glimmering nonstop.
"Since Fellow Daoist Ziling has already seen through it, I have nothing to hide. But why aren't your two other sisters here?" Han Li admitted, his expression easing, then glanced left and right and asked in return.
To him, Qu Hun's identity as an avatar being seen through was only a matter of time, so there was nothing to be surprised about.
"Please have a seat first, Senior! My two senior sisters have gone to the market to buy some things, and while they're at it, they plan to purchase a cave abode in Heavenly Star City to settle down for a long stay." The young woman gracefully motioned for Han Li to sit and explained in a soft voice.
"What, you three don't plan to return to the Wonderful Sound Sect?" Han Li frowned slightly after sitting down and asked, somewhat puzzled.
"Return to the Wonderful Sound Sect? How would we sisters dare! We've formed a mortal enmity with the people of Extreme Yin Island. On top of that, both of the sect's great elders have betrayed us and gone over to the other side. If we went back, we would either fall into the hands of those devils again or be swallowed up by other small and medium powers seizing the opportunity. We've already decided to temporarily move the Wonderful Sound Sect into Heavenly Star City. In any case, our sect still has some savings after all these years." Fairy Ziling sighed and said with a wry smile.
"Oh!" Han Li nodded silently and said nothing.
He was hardly anyone to them, so naturally he would not act overly concerned.
Fairy Ziling did not mind Han Li's reaction. Instead, she rose and poured Han Li a cup of fragrant tea before continuing with restraint:
"When we sisters fled from those refined corpses blocking our way, we happened to see from afar that Senior had subdued a refined corpse as well, so we knew you were likewise unharmed. Later, I heard from Senior Sister Fan that Senior had stepped in to help because of the Heavenly Thunder Bamboo. So I had Senior Sister Fan send a sound transmission talisman, inviting you here for a talk."
Fairy Ziling briefly recounted the whole story.
"The talisman said that you still have Heavenly Thunder Bamboo in your hands, Fellow Daoist Ziling. Is that true? Wasn't this item seized by the people of Extreme Yin Island?" Han Li had no interest in beating around the bush and directly asked the question he cared about most.
Hearing Han Li ask so bluntly, a trace of amusement flashed through Fairy Ziling's large eyes, and she answered in a rounded, melodious voice:
"Senior is truly quick to speak plainly. Then I, Ziling, will not keep you in suspense either. Back then, our Wonderful Sound Sect obtained not one section of Heavenly Thunder Bamboo from the heir of that small sect, but two. However, in order to fetch a higher price, my mother split the bamboo in two, taking only the upper half and leaving the section containing the root with me. If Senior wants it, this junior can give it to you, Senior Han."
Han Li was overjoyed inside, but his face showed no excitement. Instead, he gave the woman a meaningful look before asking in a deep voice:
"Give it? Miss Ziling, why say such useless words? Since you used this item to summon me here, just state whatever conditions you have. I will weigh them myself!"
Fairy Ziling was slightly taken aback at this. Her smile gradually faded, and after a moment of thought, she said seriously:
"Actually, the Heavenly Thunder Bamboo is a useless thing to the Wonderful Sound Sect as it is now. Given Senior's kindness in stepping in for us last time, gifting it to you would be only proper. But our sect has been beset by great upheavals lately, and with the strength of us juniors, we simply cannot sustain a sect as large as the Wonderful Sound Sect. Therefore, I would like to use this bamboo, plus a fee of three hundred spirit stones per year, to hire Senior as a guest elder of our sect. I hope Senior will not refuse!"
"Guest elder?" Han Li's expression changed slightly.
He had never imagined that the other party would make such a request.
"In addition to the conditions mentioned above, if Senior needs an excellent dual cultivation cauldron for his training, our sect can also select an outstanding female disciple and give her to you as a concubine," Fairy Ziling added frankly.
This condition did not bring any unusual expression to Han Li's face.
With the aid of all kinds of spirit pills, he had no regard whatsoever for the meager spiritual power gained through dual cultivation.
But the Heavenly Thunder Bamboo was different. Very likely, once this village was passed, there would be no such shop again.
So after some thought, Han Li still said carefully:
"This condition won't do! I have long been used to coming and going alone and simply cannot bear the constraints of a sect. Fellow Daoist Ziling, please choose another condition. Otherwise, how about I pay spirit stones thirty percent above the market price to buy this item?"
"Senior jests. For a top-grade material like one of the Three Great Divine Woods, what market price is there to speak of? In the hands of a cultivator who has no use for it, it is worthless. But in the eyes of a cultivator practicing wood-attribute techniques, it is most likely a priceless treasure." Fairy Ziling was not surprised by Han Li's refusal and, smiling, rejected his proposal to buy it with spirit stones.
Han Li knitted his brows tightly. It seemed this woman knew how much he wanted the item and would not easily let it go.
This feeling of having his weak spot seized and being coerced made him very uncomfortable.
Still, he would absolutely never join the Wonderful Sound Sect and let the other party order him about just for a section of Heavenly Thunder Bamboo.
Just as Han Li was secretly wondering whether to give up on the Heavenly Thunder Bamboo and find other materials to refine his magic treasure, the young woman across from him put forward a compromise.
"If Senior is unwilling to be bound, then be our sect's elder in name only! You would enjoy the treatment of an elder without actually having to accept orders from our Sect Master. And our sect, at the very least, could rely on Senior's reputation as a Core Formation cultivator to protect itself. What does Senior think of this arrangement?"
"An elder in name only?" Hearing Fairy Ziling's matter-of-fact words, Han Li showed a dumbfounded expression.
"Even if the Wonderful Sound Sect runs into a great enemy, I won't need to act?" he asked back, somewhat doubtful, an incredulous look on his face.
"If our sect truly runs into some trouble or genuinely needs Senior to act, Senior may decide for himself whether to agree, and afterward we sisters will reward you separately and handsomely!" The woman seemed to have considered this matter long ago and said it without hesitation.
"Fellow Daoist Ziling! If I have not misunderstood, you few only want to use my banner as a Core Formation cultivator to bolster the Wonderful Sound Sect's prestige, so that powers with ill intent will not come looking for trouble while the sect is at its weakest. And when you spread the word, all I need to do is not openly deny it to the outside. That would be enough." Han Li lowered his head and pondered for a while, then raised his head and asked slowly.
"Senior Han is quite right! At that time, we will also claim that Senior's avatar here is a Core Formation cultivator. That way, we can make up for the terrible damage caused by the betrayal of Elders Zhao and Meng." The young woman smiled slightly and spoke with full confidence.
"If those are truly the conditions, then I can agree! But in front of other cultivators, I will not take the initiative to admit that I am an elder of your sect. Nor should you few expect me to put on any show for your sect. How you make others believe that I have become your sect's elder is entirely up to your own abilities."
After some deliberation, Han Li did not feel this held any harm for him, and out of his desire for the Heavenly Thunder Bamboo, he finally agreed.
"Good. As long as Senior does not deny the matter when the time comes, we sisters naturally have ways to handle everything!" The young woman showed delight, her face radiant and glowing.
Now that the two had reached a deal, Fairy Ziling showed no intention of dragging things out. She took out a strange box from her person and placed it on the table.
The box was strange because it was neither wood nor metal, nor did it seem to be made of jade or any such material. Its entire body was translucent in color and covered with a faint layer of azure haze.
Seeing Han Li show a strange expression, Fairy Ziling softly explained to him:
"This box is made of a material called paste jade. Although its name contains the word 'jade,' it is actually not a jade and is not classified among the Five Elements. Only this material can preserve that Heavenly Thunder Bamboo for a long time without fear of its spiritual energy leaking away."
Han Li nodded. Since he had never even heard of the name "paste jade" before, this showed the item was extremely rare and should be exceptionally precious.
Next, Fairy Ziling had already extended a finger as tender and delicate as jade. Light flickered at its fingertip, and a bead of green light the size of a soybean appeared on it.
Then, without hesitation, she lightly tapped the lid of the box. When the green light touched the azure haze on the box, there came a slight cracking pop, and in an instant the haze faded away completely, while the lid of the box slowly opened by itself.
Han Li's spirit was roused, and he hurriedly fixed his gaze into the box.