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Chapter 28 - 28 Bottom Line_l
Chapter 28 - 28 Bottom Line_l
Chapter 28: Chapter 28 Bottom Line_l
Translator: 549690339
The first battlefield, Han Li casually took the Space Rings from seven Loose Cultivators, pondered for a moment, and decided not to destroy the corpses or traces.
If someone were to investigate, they would definitely trace it back here, and upon finding clues, they would think he was feeling guilty. Whether it was him or not, they would come knocking to inquire.
After determining the direction, Han Li quickly pursued, even employing a Secret Technique to accelerate his flying speed.
In his perception, there were a total of three groups of people who had followed him here. The first two groups of Loose Cultivators had died, but the third group had not yet.
That person was Li Deshun.
No matter what Li Deshun had in mind when he tracked him, if he witnessed him eliminating the green-robed Loose Cultivators, Han Li would have no choice but to silence him.
The news about the Body-Cultivating Furnace in his possession must not be leaked out at any cost.
Half a quarter of an hour later, Han Li caught up to Li Deshun a hundred miles away. At this time, Li Deshun was sweating profusely, looking quite nervous, far from the image of an immortal with a calm and righteous aura.
During the gathering of Loose Cultivators, he knew that many were planning to ambush Han Li. Unable to dissuade Han Li, he followed secretly, planning to help at a critical moment.
But he never expected to witness a sight that utterly shocked him.
The red-robed Loose Cultivator was killed with a single palm strike from Han Li.
The red-robed Loose Cultivator emitted the aura of a seventh layer of the Pihai Realm; to kill a late-stage Pihai Realm with just one palm, one had to be at least a Great Master of the Gangyuan Realm.
Han Li was actually of the Gangyuan Realm?
The lecherous, concubine-gathering old patriarch was actually a Great Master!
Even if reluctant to admit it, the reality was right before his eyes: Han Li possessed the strength of the Gangyuan Realm. All that information about Han Li was false, nothing but smoke and mirrors.
When he saw Han Li take out a bow and arrow, ready to shoot and kill six Pihai Realm Loose Cultivators, Li Deshun quietly retreated, not daring to delay any longer.
He feared that Han Li would see him as another treasure hunter there for an ambush, and get rid of him as well, especially since he had discovered the secret of Han Li’s strength in the Gangyuan Realm. He certainly needed to get away.
After rapidly flying for hundreds of miles, Li Deshun was exhausted, with only less than twenty percent of his True Qi remaining.
Thinking he might be killed to keep him quiet, he quickly took out some medicinal pills to swallow, hoping to recover his True Qi and continue his escape. But then, a voice like that of a devil arose by his ear.
“Fellow Daoist Li, we really are fated to meet, to encounter each other in this desolate wilderness,” Han Li said with a chuckle.
Li Deshun’s body stiffened; Han Li’s voice was for him the sound of doom. A Great Master of the Gangyuan Realm had just killed those Loose Cultivators and was now pursuing him; the implication was all too clear.
Li Deshun wanted to feign composure, saying he was just passing by, but he couldn’t speak; Han Li was putting too much pressure on him.
Cold sweat formed on his forehead, which Li Deshun wiped with his sleeve, but it kept beading up, and no matter how he wiped, it wouldn’t stop.
“Fellow Daoist Li, how long do you intend to keep wiping? Do you need this old man to help you?”
Han Li appeared in front of Li Deshun, still wearing a smile.
“No need, no need,” Li Deshun hurriedly declined, already trembling.
He still remembered the scene he just witnessed, where Han Li was talking to the red-robed Loose Cultivator but suddenly acted ruthlessly, killing him with one palm strike.
He feared that Han Li would do the same to him; as a fellow seventh layer of the Pihai Realm, he estimated he would not be able to withstand a single palm strike from Han Li.
“Didn’t Fellow Daoist Li say earlier that he wished to depart with me? Now that I have finished my business, we can travel together,” Han Li proposed.
Han Li continued speaking, but his gaze kept observing Li Deshun. Li Deshun’s reaction was too suspicious, and Han Li really wanted to silence him by killing him then and there.
However, recalling Li Deshun’s behavior at the gathering, he temporarily restrained himself, deciding to watch a bit longer and give him a chance, lest he kill the wrong person.
“Forget it.”
Upon hearing this, Li Deshun suddenly let out a breath, no longer afraid. Han Li had made up his mind to silence him, and any further argument from him would be futile.
It was just that, having just seen the hope of making a breakthrough to the Gangyuan Realm, it felt somewhat regrettable to face death now.
Li Deshun closed his eyes to await death, but after a good while, Han Li still hadn’t made his move, prompting Li Deshun to ask, “Fellow Daoist Han, why don’t you take action?”
“There’s no need to take action for now. I’ll ask you a few questions, and all you need to do is answer them honestly, Fellow Daoist Li.”
In his heart, Han Li already had his answer; Li Deshun probably hadn’t witnessed that scene, since with Li Deshun’s flying speed, he wouldn’t have made it this far.
But Han Li was naturally cautious and needed to confirm it repeatedly. Otherwise, if the news leaked, it would be his own life at stake. Should it be confirmed that Li Deshun truly hadn’t seen anything, sparing his life wouldn’t be an issue.
“Please ask, Fellow Daoist Han,” Li Deshun said with an extremely solemn expression, knowing that his very life depended on what he would say next.
Han Li nodded and asked him several key questions, then had Li Deshun recount in detail everything that had happened after the gathering ended.
Throughout this process, Han Li watched Li Deshun closely and noticed that the more Li Deshun spoke, the more tranquil he became. He even made eye contact without so much as a hint of evasion in his eyes, and his complexion no longer appeared flustered.
From the end of the gathering, Li Deshun had been following secretly, but he hadn’t caught sight of the Loose Cultivator in blue. Perhaps the two were not on the same path, or maybe due to the Loose Cultivator’s higher cultivation level, Li Deshun simply was unable to detect him.
After listening, Han Li pondered for a while, while Li Deshun silently waited. Han Li’s decision held the power over his life and death, and he didn’t have the slightest ability to resist.
“I have a favor to ask of you, Fellow Daoist, and I hope you won’t refuse,” Han Li said cheerily.
“Please tell me, Daoist Han. Li will do his utmost to comply,” Li Deshun swiftly promised, realizing that Han Li wouldn’t silence him after all.
“It’s nothing big. Once we return to Lingjun City, I will spread the news that I encountered an ambush, and that Fellow Daoist, acting righteously, came to my aid. Together, we repelled those bandits,” Han Li explained the pretext he had in mind.
“Of course, in this story, you were the main contributor, and I merely assisted.
We both sustained severe injuries.”
Han Li laid out the story he had concocted.
He had his own principles and bottom lines. Li Deshun was a good person, and his following him had indeed been meant for protection. Although it was driven by self-interest, the gratitude was genuine.
Since he hadn’t seen the Body-Cultivating Furnace, it seemed fair to spare him, settling the debt of gratitude and, at the same time, concealing his own cultivation level.
This time, Han Li intended to publicly announce that his cultivation level was at the fifth tier of the Pihai Realm, which, though a rapid progression, was starkly different than breaking through to the Gangyuan Realm.
Another reason for releasing Li Deshun was to have him serve as a witness. Before he had killed anyone, two other Loose Cultivators had already turned tail and run.
Some information might leak out, but those two Loose Cultivators had not seen the Loose Cultivator in blue catch up either. As long as Han Li and Li Deshun kept their stories straight, no trouble would arise.
Li Deshun readily agreed, having thought that even if Han Li spared him, he would have to work for Han Li like an ox or horse. He hadn’t expected it to be such a trivial matter.
Not only could he save his life, but he could also increase his influence. Why wouldn’t he agree?
So, the two left together, and only outside Spirit Balance City did they part ways. Han Li returned to Han Mansion, while Li Deshun headed back to Fengyang City.
A year later, a figure in a black leather outfit, with a voluptuous figure, appeared at the first battlefield and carefully surveyed the scene, her brow furrowing deeply..