Temptation

Han Li silently committed the name Luo Hong to memory, feeling a faint bitterness in his heart because of Luo Hong's words.

Cultivators with a master's guidance really were different. If I keep cultivating in such ignorance, then even with the little bottle's help, I'll probably still waste my whole life.

But the Ascension Competition is so terrifying. Participating now would be no different from courting death. Do I have to wait another ten years?

Han Li still did not know that he possessed an Ascension Token. Luo Hong's words also made him yearn even more for the Seven Great Sects, leaving him deeply melancholy for a time.

"Are you leaving already, Fellow Daoist?"

Seeing Han Li put away his things and prepare to leave, Luo Hong called out to stop him.

"Brother Luo, I truly have nothing else to trade."

Han Li gave a wry smile, wondering why Luo Hong insisted on doing business with him alone.

I still have quite a few Yellow Dragon Pills and Golden Marrow Pills, but I shouldn't take them out for trade again within a short period of time. Otherwise, I'll surely attract the attention of those with ulterior motives.

The greatest taboo when traveling the martial world was flaunting one's wealth.

"Brother Han, I can see that you are an honest man. I have an Initial Mid Grade talisman here. If you agree to do something for me, this talisman will be your reward."

Luo Hong peeled the talisman off his left shoulder and placed it before Han Li.

"Brother Luo, you're not joking, are you?!"

Even as Han Li was astonished, he immediately became wary. An Initial Mid Grade talisman was worth at least eight or nine Spirit Stones, and the one before him was clearly no ordinary Initial Mid Grade talisman. It was likely worth around twelve Spirit Stones.

Wu Pinggu had practically wailed to the heavens and pounded the earth after losing six Spirit Stones, wishing she could slaughter that unscrupulous merchant's entire family. This man had only met me once, so why was he willing to pay such a price for one promise from me?

Could he have tampered with this talisman somehow, allowing him to track my whereabouts?

"Brother Han, these pills you gave me are brimming with potency. One can tell at a glance that they were made using Spiritual Herbs with over a hundred years of cultivation. You must have spent no small amount of effort searching through deep mountains and ancient forests for them."

Most of the Spiritual Herbs used for Yellow Dragon Pills and Golden Marrow Pills only needed several decades of cultivation. They might be rare treasures seldom seen by mortals, but for Cultivators who could fly on artifacts and regarded wild beasts and poisonous mists as nothing, they could always find chances to gather them if they put in some effort.

Thus, Han Li did not avoid the matter and directly followed Luo Hong's lead in admitting it.

"The matter I wish to entrust to you is not difficult. I only hope that when you enter the mountains to gather herbs in the future, you will keep an eye out for lotus-type Spiritual Herbs with over Five Hundred Years of cultivation. If you are fortunate enough to find one, then even if it is not old enough, I hope Brother Han will give me priority when selling it."

Luo Hong had placed all his hopes of obtaining the Pure Lotus Pill on Han Li. If this plan failed, he could only reluctantly take a Foundation Establishment Pill.

"What if I never find one?"

Han Li had not expected Luo Hong's request to be so simple. Could he really obtain an Initial Mid Grade talisman just by agreeing?

"Then it would simply mean that I, Luo Hong, have poor fortune. I cannot blame anyone else."

"I have always had shallow fortune myself. I fear I may fail Brother Luo's trust, so Brother Luo should—"

After thinking for a moment, Han Li decided that he should not take such a risk for an Initial Mid Grade talisman and chose to refuse.

"Brother Han, don't be in such a hurry to refuse. First, see what this talisman can do. Miss, you've watched enough of the show, haven't you? Could you do me a favor?"

Luo Hong spoke to Han Yunzhi, who had been watching from the side for quite some time.

"I still need to run my stall. I don't have time. What favor? Hurry up and say it!"

Han Yunzhi caught the Spirit Stone Luo Hong tossed her and immediately agreed with eager enthusiasm.

"Use any low-grade Five Elements Spell to attack me."

Luo Hong spread his hands, signaling for Han Yunzhi to strike without restraint.

"Are you sure?" Han Yunzhi had never heard such an absurd request and could not help suspecting that either her ears or Luo Hong's mind had gone wrong.

"Yes, go ahead. Don't hold back."

"All right, then."

Although low-grade Five Elements Spells were not very lethal, Han Yunzhi still aimed her Wood Arrow Spell at Luo Hong's feet.

A streak of green light flashed. As the wooden arrow closed in on Luo Hong's physical body, he merely tilted his head back to drink wine, making no response whatsoever.

But then, the Rune Pattern on the talisman at Luo Hong's right shoulder lit up. Without the slightest delay, it unfolded a water barrier formed from Spiritual Qi, easily blocking the incoming wooden arrow.

"You both understand now, yes? This talisman is called the Spirit Water Body Protection Talisman. After I improved it somewhat, it can now automatically deploy a Spirit Water barrier whenever it is attacked. It is an excellent talisman for guarding against sneak attacks."

Luo Hong wore a smug expression as he pinched the talisman between two fingers and displayed it before them as if showing off.

Han Li was secretly shocked. The Spirit Water Body Protection Talisman was impressive indeed, but Brother Luo was even more remarkable. This single ability to guard against sneak attacks was enough to make the Spirit Water Body Protection Talisman comparable to an Initial High Grade talisman.

Seeing Han Li's face filled with conflict, Luo Hong knew the bait he had thrown out had worked.

As someone equally cautious to the extreme, Luo Hong naturally understood what would tempt Han Li the most.

"Senior Brother from Yellow Maple Valley, I'll return this Spirit Stone to you. Can you give me that talisman? I can help you look for Spiritual Herbs too!"

Han Yunzhi was not the only one coveting it. She planned to participate in the Ascension Competition, and although she had spirit beasts to assist her, she herself was fragile. She desperately needed a life-saving talisman like the Spirit Water Body Protection Talisman.

"He's a disciple of Yellow Maple Valley?!" Han Li's gaze shifted from the talisman to Luo Hong's face, studying him with exceptional care, as though getting to know him anew.

"Miss, like me, you are probably from a Cultivation Family. You were pampered from childhood, so I imagine you have never gone into the mountains to gather herbs."

Although Luo Hong did not speak directly, the refusal in his words could not have been clearer.

"I-I may not have gathered herbs before, but I wasn't pampered either. I have my own abilities!"

Han Yunzhi stomped her foot indignantly and said with a hint of grievance:

"You could trust that foolish Brother Zhao before, and you can trust Brother Han now. Why can't you trust me? I really need that talisman. As long as you're willing to trade it, you can pick anything you want from my stall!"

"Oh? Brother Luo entrusted someone else before?"

The information revealed in Han Yunzhi's words completely dispelled Han Li's doubts, making him desire the Spirit Water Body Protection Talisman even more.

However, Han Yunzhi's desperate pleas made Han Li recall how his younger sister had pestered him for red fruit when she was little, and pity rose in his heart.

No, I can't yield. This talisman concerns my life. I cannot indulge in Woman's Benevolence!

Han Li gritted his teeth and was about to harden his heart and seize the Spirit Water Body Protection Talisman.

But at that moment, Luo Hong took out another Spirit Water Body Protection Talisman from his Storage Bag, making Han Li swallow back the words that had risen to his throat.

"Miss, could you tell me your name?"

"My name is Han Yunzhi. I am no longer a Cultivator from a Cultivation Family. I'm a Rogue Cultivator now."

Han Yunzhi thought of her deceased parents, and a sorrowful expression appeared on her face.