Chapter 333: Ah Yin's Death, the True Value of the Gift
"Still too weak."
Han Li sighed as he stood up and walked toward the door.
Before leaving the Ice Fire Yin Yang Well, he had checked on the Blue Silver Emperor. She still hadn't fully reached the hundred thousand year mark, and the time he had spent away hadn't even exceeded a single day.
Yet, in just this short period, his power had skyrocketed once again, making everything feel somewhat surreal. Even though he had already expected rapid growth in the later stages, this near constant leapfrogging in power still left him a little dazed.
As he stepped into the main hall, he found everyone already there.
The moment he approached, Qian Daoliu suddenly snapped his head toward him, an obvious look of shock in his eyes.
Han Li smirked in satisfaction and quickly retracted the faint aura he had let leak, once again making himself appear completely unremarkable.
"Grandfather, what's wrong?"
Qian Renxue looked at him with concern.
"Xiao Li, when did you come back?"
Nearby, Dugu Yan looked at him in surprise. Wasn't he supposed to be gone for two or three days?
"Finished everything early, so I came back."
Han Li smiled as he replied.
Meanwhile, Qian Daoliu shook his head, indicating it was nothing but his gaze couldn't help but flicker toward Han Li again.
That moment of contact…
For an instant, when Qian Daoliu sensed Han Li, he had felt something similar to when he faced the Angelic God during his divine trials a feeling of gazing upon a higher existence.
But then, just as quickly, that feeling had vanished.
"Something about you… isn't right."
Qian Renxue also followed her grandfather's gaze and looked at Han Li.
Not just her everyone else in the room subtly nodded as well.
Physically, Han Li looked the same as before, but those who spent time around him daily could sense an indescribable shift.
Even though he wasn't deliberately releasing his aura, simply standing in front of them made them feel a subtle pressure.
"Maybe I just leveled up by a tiny little bit?"
Under their collective stares, Han Li casually pulled over a chair, sat down, and made a finger universe gesture.
"I feel it too."
Qian Daoliu suddenly spoke again, his eyes glowing golden. He had fully activated his spiritual power, but…
No matter what he did, he couldn't pierce through Han Li's clothing with his senses, let alone perceive his body directly.
Hearing this, the girls' eyes widened in shock as they all turned toward Han Li.
"How do I explain this… Technically, I'm still a Quasi Title Douluo, but I've already stepped past that threshold."
"All that's left is to condense my God Position which, of course, is also the hardest part."
Han Li casually picked up a cup of fruit tea that had been sitting on the table no idea whose it was, but definitely not Qian Daoliu's since he was the farthest away.
A moment of silence fell over the hall.
Then cheers erupted.
The girls' eyes sparkled with excitement, unable to contain their joy. This was way too fast!
Except for Qian Renxue.
Her expression was… complicated.
She was happy. But also conflicted.
Her lips opened and closed several times before she finally managed to say:
"Tell me… do I still have a chance?"
Han Li choked on his drink for a second.
But when he saw the mixture of frustration and hopeful expectation in her gaze, he still offered some encouragement:
"Mmm, yeah, there's still a chance. After all, I need to gather more faith energy to complete the final step."
This was a lie. A well intentioned lie.
Truthfully, he didn't need to do that at all.
The moment his divine body finished its final transformation, he would already be a god even without a God Position, he would be an unordained deity.
Forming a God Position was merely a means to further strengthen his foundation.
"Then that's fine! I'll definitely catch up before you reach the final step!"
Qian Renxue's eyes lit up once more.
She hadn't lost yet!
Han Li chuckled internally.
That was some serious "Sakura Haruno energy" she just gave.
Still, her motivation was strong, and her mindset was solid.
And at the moment, considering the pace of the God Trials, she actually was progressing the fastest among them all.
"Then… do I still need to accompany you?"
At the side, Qian Daoliu glanced at his excited granddaughter before asking.
Previously, Han Li had invited him to leave seclusion because his strength wasn't enough, and he needed support.
But now, Han Li's power had surpassed his own.
Would it still be necessary for him to follow along?
At this rate, Qian Daoliu could already foresee his end approaching.
Perhaps… his remaining time would be better spent staying by Qian Renxue's side.
Han Li looked at the old man, then sighed inwardly.
Why is there a tragic protagonist hidden in your eyes?
Don't look down on yourself, old man.
Originally, Han Li had planned to have him stay and assist Qian Renxue.
But now?
Better to bring him along.
A good talk along the way, some proper counseling, and also a chance to figure things out.
How the hell did a proper Angel God end up sacrificing himself in the original timeline?
"You should still come with me. I'm not in the best position to act openly right now."
Han Li gave a half hearted excuse, brushing the question aside.
Whether it was true or not…
He decided that himself.
"Alright."
Qian Daoliu nodded.
It seemed he had realized something, but he didn't ask further.
Han Li wasn't sure what exactly the old man had figured out, but he didn't care as long as he agreed.
"Tomorrow morning, I'll follow the original plan taking Ye Lingling to get her seventh soul ring before setting out."
"Oh, right Xue, I'm leaving the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's affairs to you. But don't overthink it focus on your divine trials first. You wouldn't want Xiu'er and the others to surpass you, would you?"
Han Li yawned and gave his instructions to the group, taking the opportunity to prod Qian Renxue a little. He couldn't interfere directly in her progress, so all he could do was apply some indirect pressure.
Hearing his words, Qian Renxue glared at him. What pressure? She was already putting in all her effort! She had just come out of the Angelic Sanctuary, for heaven's sake.
But then she thought about Han Li's completely un fantasy like speed of progress and clenched her teeth before saying, "You don't need to worry about that. Just wait I'll surpass you."
"Then keep working hard! (^ω^)"
Han Li gave her the most insincere encouragement ever, then casually said his goodbyes and headed back to his room.
He needed proper rest.
Even though his massive power surge was a great thing, his divine soul had been heavily depleted in the process. On top of that, his comprehension of the rules had taken a toll on his mind. Even though he had replenished his energy, mental fatigue wasn't something that could be instantly restored.
Letting himself recover naturally was still the best choice.
The Next Morning
Han Li revived in high spirits.
Feeling the surge of energy in his body, he felt like he could punch Qian Daoliu to death with a single hit.
After checking on the Ice Fire Yin Yang Well, he ate a simple breakfast.
Then, under Ye Lingling's awe filled gaze, he took her hand and stepped into a silver spatial portal.
Just one step and the scenery shifted.
He nodded at Di Tian, who looked at him in confusion, before moving toward Ah Yin.
By last night, the energy infusion had stopped.
She had fully returned to the rank of a hundred thousand year soul beast.
But she was also fully aware that, in essence, she was nothing more than a walking energy bomb.
Even after re cultivating, she had made no progress whatsoever in fact, she was even weaker than before.
This time, she didn't take on human form.
She didn't try to run.
She just sat there quietly, waiting for Han Li.
"Are you ready?"
Han Li had no desire to exchange pleasantries.
The grudge of killing both her husband and her son what was there to talk about?
Their relationship was nothing more than that of a jailer and a prisoner.
"I just hope you'll keep your word."
There was no more need for Ah Yin to hide her hatred.
She wanted him dead.
But there was nothing she could do.
"Heh. If anything, I've done more for the Blue Silver Grass clan than you ever did."
"Right now, Blue Silver Forest's energy density is nearly equal to this place, and the number of awakened spirits has increased by a fifth. So, really, you're the least qualified to worry about this."
"As for you? The best contribution you can make… is to hurry up and die."
The grass was already withering.
Han Li had no interest in Ah Yin's hostility.
But he also wasn't about to tolerate being questioned by her.
Most importantly what right did she even have to question him?
His deal was with the Blue Silver King.
Ah Yin? She was just his prisoner.
Letting her have a say was just Han Li giving face to the Blue Silver King.
But if she really thought she had a choice, then Han Li would happily take that "face" away.
"You !"
The massive Blue Silver Emperor's human projection trembled with anger.
She wanted to argue back, to say something, anything
But she couldn't.
Han Li's right hand had already fallen.
The rules activated.
The sacrifice rule and tribulation laws the ones that soul beasts feared the most in Douluo's current system descended upon her.
She could feel it wrapping around her existence, sealing her fate.
She was choking.
The primal fear of death took hold.
She couldn't speak anymore.
A blood red pillar of light enveloped both her and Ye Lingling.
The sacrifice had begun.
Outside the pillar of light…
Di Tian walked over, eyes still filled with shock.
"So this is your real power?"
In the instant Han Li activated the rules, Di Tian's back was drenched in cold sweat.
For just a moment, he had the absolute certainty that if he had been the one standing there, he would have died.
Han Li turned his head slightly and gave him a smile.
He could figure it out himself.
Di Tian felt a chill creep up his spine at that look.
But more than that his mind was filled with questions.
"This guy… was weak before. Or… was that fake?"
"Was he just baiting me?"
"If I hadn't agreed back then… would he have just killed me outright?"
He couldn't be sure anymore.
"Oh, right Di Tian, what about this? Do Snow Empress and the others recognize it, or is it only useful for you high ranking ones?"
Han Li asked casually as he flipped his left hand over.
A silver white scale pendant materialized in his palm.
The gift from Gu Yue.
"Lord…"
The moment Di Tian laid eyes on it, he instantly dropped to one knee and bowed.
"As long as you hold it, as long as you possess it…"
"Even Snow Empress will obey your command. Unless she chooses to betray the soul beast race."
Di Tian struggled to find the right words.
In other words
This thing can literally excommunicate soul beasts?
Han Li's eyes gleamed.
The pendant disappeared in a flash as he stored it away.
He totally didn't have any intention of using it to command soul beasts.
Not at all.
Really.
"Get up. I was just asking."
Han Li pulled Di Tian back up.
His eyes gleamed with thought.
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