Yu Zitong was full of confidence in his persuasive words. He believed no one could resist the temptation of immortality and eternal life. After all, Mo Dafu, who had once hated him deeply, had eventually agreed to cooperate after hearing the same promises. He thought that with a little more sweet talk, Han Li would inevitably fall into line.
However, Yu Zitong's confidence quickly crumbled. To his disappointment, after hearing his tempting words, Han Li didn't show any sign of excitement. Instead, his expression remained calm and indifferent, as though nothing Yu Zitong had said had stirred any emotion in him.
Han Li glanced at the glowing light ball and then calmly spoke, "I will consider the cooperation in the future, but right now I have one question that I need you to answer."
Yu Zitong, trying to maintain his cool, replied, "If you answer this question, will you be willing to cooperate?"
"It depends on whether your answer satisfies me," Han Li said, his voice soft but firm.
Yu Zitong, relieved that Han Li wasn't rejecting the idea outright, agreed readily. "Alright, ask away!"
Han Li didn't answer immediately. Instead, he raised his head and appeared to be deep in thought, as though he was choosing his words carefully.
Yu Zitong was puzzled by Han Li's sudden solemn demeanor. What could this question be that he would think so long about it? His mind raced, wondering what kind of troublesome inquiry Han Li might have.
Finally, Han Li spoke, his voice calm but purposeful. "I want to know what kind of consequences I'll face after I've devoured part of Mo Dafu's and your soul? My head feels swollen, and I seem to have gained a lot of new things, but I can't access them. Is there something wrong with me?"
Yu Zitong was momentarily taken aback, but once he understood the concern, his expression relaxed. He chuckled lightly, clearly relieved that Han Li was only worried about this. "Ah, so that's what's troubling you. Don't worry about it at all. The things that got stuffed into your head will naturally dissipate over the next year or two. You don't have to worry about it."
"So, you're saying that everything I swallowed is essentially useless? Nothing stays behind?" Han Li gave him a skeptical look, his mistrust evident in his eyes.
Yu Zitong hurried to explain, not wanting to be misunderstood. "Well, not nothing stays. But honestly, very little does. The memories, experiences, emotions—those things can't be touched. If you try to absorb them, it's as bad as losing your mind. You might end up with brain damage or even die from the strain. You see, a soul is an extremely fragile thing. You can't just mix it with other things. It's possible to temporarily store the souls in your mind, but to truly absorb them... that's a pipe dream. If that were possible, then no one would bother cultivating their own powers anymore. They would just snatch bodies and inherit their skills and memories. The only thing worth taking from devoured souls is the faint primordial essence they carry. But even that's fleeting—it'll be gone in a few days, so you won't be able to use it for long."
As Yu Zitong finished explaining, Han Li let out a small sigh of relief. It seemed Yu Zitong wasn't lying. Given the way he was explaining the situation, he was likely planning to cooperate with Han Li in the same way he had with Mo Dafu. There was no reason for him to deceive Han Li over something that would be easily proven wrong.
After finishing his explanation, Yu Zitong seemed pleased to see Han Li nod, as if he had earned his trust. His soul's light ball brightened slightly in response. "Han Li, it seems like you're satisfied with my explanation. Does that mean we can start discussing the details of our cooperation?"
Han Li's face suddenly broke into a broad smile, his teeth gleaming in the light. "Of course! To cooperate with a cultivator like you, that would be a great opportunity for me!"
Yu Zitong was caught off guard. He hadn't expected Han Li to agree so quickly. His excitement grew, and he immediately asked, "Really? You're serious about this?"
"Of course," Han Li replied firmly, his voice unwavering.
Then, with a pleasant smile, Han Li reached into his robe and pulled out a small object. His tone was gentle as he said, "Since we're now partners, how about a little experiment before we discuss further?"
"Experiment?" Yu Zitong frowned, his eyes narrowing as he recognized the object Han Li was holding. It looked familiar, and a sense of unease began to settle in his gut.
"Yes, a poison test," Han Li said, his voice calm yet full of intent.
Before Yu Zitong could react, Han Li flicked his thumb, and a thick, black liquid sprayed out of the tube, carrying with it a foul, rancid odor. The liquid streaked through the air and hit Yu Zitong's soul.
"Ah!" A scream of agony came from Yu Zitong's light ball as the black liquid splashed against it. The green glow dimmed significantly, and Yu Zitong's presence flickered, indicating that he had been severely injured.
"You... you poisoned me, you coward!" Yu Zitong's voice was filled with disbelief and rage. His light ball trembled violently, as if in shock, and he could hardly process the betrayal.
Han Li ignored his outburst. His expression darkened, and he smoothly drew a gleaming sword from his waist—a small, short sword, no longer than a foot and as flexible as a whip. It was a rare weapon, known as the Jade Belt Sword. Han Li had spent a considerable sum to have it crafted by a skilled blacksmith, though he hadn't used it much before now. It had been kept hidden, but now it was the perfect weapon for the situation.
Holding the sword with a grim expression, Han Li stepped forward, his gaze cold and resolute. Without saying another word, he swung the sword down with a fluid motion, aimed directly at the now-wavering light ball.
Yu Zitong could barely react in time. His soul quivered, clearly realizing that Han Li had no intention of cooperating. The sword's sharp edge gleamed in the light as it hurtled toward its target.