Han Xing followed Tang San to a nearby cultivation room.
After looking around and making sure no one was there, Tang San immediately spoke up:
"Han Xing, how about making a deal?"
Tang San confidently took out an unusual-looking object and handed it to Han Xing.
"This is called a Silent Sleeve Arrow. It can be hidden in your sleeve, and it makes no sound when fired. It's suitable for surprise attacks and long-range support."
Tang San pointed to a button on it. "You can try it out."
At that, Han Xing picked up the Silent Sleeve Arrow and aimed it at the target ahead.
As he pressed the firing button, a silver needle shot out at once.
"What do you want to trade for?" Han Xing glanced at the Silent Sleeve Arrow's power, showing no expression.
"Do you remember when Dugu Bo kidnapped me some time ago?" Tang San asked slowly.
"There were a lot of Immortal Herbs in that place. You can't possibly use them all, right?"
"How about I trade you a Silent Sleeve Arrow, along with its method of manufacture, for one Immortal Herb?"
At that, Han Xing couldn't help laughing.
"For this thing? Its attack power barely reaches the Soul Elder level, and you want an Immortal Herb for it?"
"Are you crazy, or am I?" Han Xing shot back.
"If we're only talking about what it can do for an individual, then of course the Silent Sleeve Arrow can't compare to an Immortal Herb," Tang San said matter-of-factly.
"But don't forget, using a Silent Sleeve Arrow doesn't require Soul Power."
"Just imagine: if they were supplied to an army, every soldier could unleash an attack no weaker than a Soul Elder's."
"From that perspective, wouldn't the Silent Sleeve Arrow be worth more than an Immortal Herb?" Tang San said smugly.
"Then what? Why should I trade with you?" Han Xing retorted.
"Have you overlooked something? I don't have an army."
"But you can't make use of all those extra Immortal Herbs anyway, can you?" Tang San said.
"Since that's the case, why not trade with me? What have you got to lose?"
"You don't have an army or any influence now, but that doesn't mean you won't in the future."
"If I have influence, why wouldn't I use the Immortal Herbs to cultivate other people?" Han Xing gave him a look as if he thought Tang San was an idiot.
"No matter how many Silent Sleeve Arrows you have, can they really compare to the strategic value of a Titled Douluo?"
If a Titled Douluo insisted on fighting an army, he really could be worn down.
But don't forget, a Titled Douluo wasn't a machine. They could run away.
Spent Soul Power could be restored. Fallen soldiers wouldn't come back to life.
And if the Titled Douluo had wide-area attacks—someone like Dugu Bo, for example—then fighting an entire army alone wouldn't be as difficult as it seemed.
"An Immortal Herb can only benefit one person, but the Silent Sleeve Arrow is a replicable method," Tang San said, growing anxious.
"If you use an Immortal Herb to cultivate a powerful expert, at most you'll create one. Everyone's lifespan runs out eventually."
"When that day comes, your influence won't be able to protect itself. How will you pass it on?"
"If I'm already dead, what do I care whether it gets passed on?" Han Xing said matter-of-factly.
"No influence can last forever, and I have no intention of building one anyway."
At Han Xing's words, Tang San looked confused.
How could anyone have no intention of building an organization at all?
"So you really won't trade an Immortal Herb?" Tang San asked in a low voice.
"If you agree, we can be friends forever and help each other."
"And if you think the Silent Sleeve Arrow isn't enough, I can give you this too."
Tang San took out a crossbow. Without waiting for Han Xing to speak, he aimed it at the target and fired.
With a whoosh, the target shattered on impact.
"This is the Zhuge Crossbow. Its power can reach the Soul Ancestor level," Tang San explained gravely.
"If an enemy isn't prepared, it can even kill a Soul Ancestor with a single shot."
"On our way to Heaven Dou City, we used Zhuge Crossbows to kill seven Soul Masters at the Soul Ancestor level in an instant."
At the sight of the Zhuge Crossbow, Han Xing finally showed a little interest.
But he only looked it over briefly before losing interest again.
If this were an ordinary supernatural world, Han Xing might have made a deal with Tang San.
But gods existed in this world.
And an Immortal Herb was a ticket to the divine realm.
It wasn't that eating an Immortal Herb guaranteed that someone would become a god, but even someone with Innate Full Soul Power might lack the talent to ascend without one.
Throughout the first Douluo Continent book, everyone in the Protagonist Group except Tang San and Oscar had less than Innate Full Soul Power.
Yet thanks to the Immortal Herbs, they still managed to ascend to godhood.
Some of that was certainly because of Tang San.
But if their potential hadn't been enough, even Tang San couldn't have helped.
As for Bibi Dong, one of the other two who became gods, she was the first person to successfully cultivate Twin Martial Souls.
Putting aside her unusual way of thinking, her talent was certainly a once-in-a-century rarity.
Then there was Qian Renxue. She had the Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul, and her family were descendants of the Angel God.
With Innate Full Soul Power and divinely bestowed Soul Power, she reached the astonishing level of Innate Level 20 Soul Power.
But clearly, Tang San knew nothing about the existence of gods at this point.
Faced with Han Xing's refusal once more, Tang San was unwilling to accept it, but there was nothing he could do.
"The value of the Zhuge Crossbow and the Silent Sleeve Arrow is beyond imagination," Tang San said coldly.
"I hope you won't regret your decision today."
Seeing that the negotiations had failed, Tang San dropped his disguise entirely. Han Xing sneered.
"Surprise attacks are nothing but despicable tricks fit for the shadows. Why would I, Han Xing, need such external aids?"
"Now that I've made my decision, there's no way I'll regret it."
At that, Tang San's expression darkened.
Han Xing was insulting him indirectly, calling him a despicable villain.
"Hidden weapons are meant to be used that way. If someone gets ambushed, that's their problem."
Tang San spoke righteously. "Any method is the best method, as long as it wins."
"And whether something is despicable has never depended on how a weapon attacks, but on the person using it."
"So what?" Han Xing retorted.
"When you use these so-called Hidden Weapons, are you acting in the light?"
"Enough. We're clearly not going to see eye to eye, and there's no point in saying more."
"The sun's radiance will not tolerate the existence of shadows," Han Xing said solemnly.
"You like hiding in dark corners, while I prefer to walk beneath the sun."
"We're not on the same path. This conversation is over."
With that, Han Xing left of his own accord without waiting for Tang San to reply.
"The sun?" Tang San stared at Han Xing with a dark gaze.
"You have a Three-Legged Golden Crow Martial Soul, but isn't it a bit arrogant to compare yourself to the sun?"
"And you should know that even the sun can be blocked by clouds, keeping its light from reaching the earth."
Han Xing replied calmly, "If clouds can block the sun..."
"It only means the light it gives off isn't bright enough."
"But I won't be blocked!"
As the words fell, flames suddenly blazed in Han Xing's eyes. A Three-Legged Golden Crow circled behind him, radiating a divine brilliance.