The Flowing Cloud Shuttle pierced the gray mist outside Void Sky Hall and sped toward Hundred Herb Island. Han Li sat cross-legged inside the cabin, a beast-hide map spread before him, marked in cinnabar with potentially safe islands and resource sites along the route. Zi Ling held a storage chest, sorting their plunder into categories. Every so often, she glanced up at him, wanting to speak but hesitating.
"If you have something to say, say it." Without looking up, Han Li lightly tapped a spot on the map. "Thirty li northwest lies the Lost-Trace Forest. Concealment grass grows there in abundance. It can improve the concealment effects of the Star-Illusion Maze Formation."
Zi Ling pressed her lips together. "Han Li, aren't we being... too cold? Do you really not care at all about those Core Formation cultivators dying?"
Han Li finally raised his eyes, his gaze as calm as an icy pool. "Care? More cultivators die every day in the cultivation world than the spirit herbs you've ever seen. When they slaughtered each other over the Spirit-Gathering Pool, did they ever spare a thought for the word 'cold'?" He picked up a blood-colored jade slip and waved it. "I found this in Li Canghai's Storage Bag. It records his agreement with the Blood Saber Gate-if he secured the Spirit-Gathering Pool, he had to surrender thirty percent of its resources to the sect. Tell me, would the Blood Saber Gate care that he died?"
Zi Ling was at a loss for words. Remembering the venomous look in Li Canghai's eyes before his death, she finally abandoned any further attempt to persuade him.
``` [Ding! The host's mindset is stable and resonates with the Dao essence of "looking after oneself." Reward: Breath-Concealing Art, advanced section ×1. Can conceal ninety percent of the