"It's you?"
The moment He Li saw Chang Qingshan, he recognized the mysterious man who had been half-reclining on the mountainside in the illusion when he obtained the Golden Bell and Golden Cauldron.
"It is I," Chang Qingshan said with a gentle smile. "When facing a strong enemy, you immediately think of fighting for your life. This will not do. Our lives are precious and should not be placed in danger so carelessly."
He Li felt as if he were basking in a spring breeze with every word Chang Qingshan spoke, making him feel at ease. Then, to his surprise, everything around him seemed to freeze. The three Time Envoys were all stunned in place, no longer attacking him.
He Li paused and asked, "Are you here to reclaim the Golden Bell and Golden Cauldron?"
Chang Qingshan shook his head with a smile.
"Are you here to help me kill them?"
Chang Qingshan still shook his head.
He Li furrowed his brow. If it wasn't this or that, then what did he want?
Seeing He Li's expression, Chang Qingshan smiled and said, "I'm here to give you a gift."
"Ah?" He Li was even more bewildered. He pointed at the Golden Bell and Golden Cauldron and said, "Didn't you already give them to me?"
"Not this pair of divine artifacts, but a more important gift. Or rather, I am delivering a gift to you on behalf of someone else," Chang Qingshan said.
He Li's tense nerves relaxed slightly. He asked, "Cheng Xilin?"
Chang Qingshan looked at He Li with a hint of surprise and said, "I didn't expect you to be as clever as him. That's right, it's him."
He Li pursed his lips, frowned, and after a moment of thought, said, "Cheng Xilin is no match for the Lord of Time, or perhaps he's in a bitter struggle. So, he's pinning his hopes of breaking the deadlock on me?"
Chang Qingshan was stunned. He awkwardly raised his hand and rubbed his nose, wondering if this He Li was Xiao Lin's illegitimate son. Not only was his mind unfathomably deep, but his wisdom was also astonishing. He hadn't even said anything yet, and He Li had already guessed it all.
His scheming was even deeper than Xiao You's, and his methods were more ruthless. Could it be that Xiao Lin had a child with Tata behind Yue Yao's back all these years?
That couldn't be right. Tata was a cat demon, and He Li was human, not a half-demon.
Suddenly,
Chang Qingshan asked out of the blue, "Who is your mother?"
Upon hearing this, He Li's expression immediately darkened. "I don't know. Ask my brother."
"Where is your brother?"
"He died fighting to save me."
Chang Qingshan was speechless. Not only did Xiao Lin have an illegitimate son, but twins? He gave an awkward smile and said, "I apologize. I haven't been out for a long time and lost my composure."
He Li nodded expressionlessly.
Chang Qingshan looked up at the three young female Time Envoys, then back at He Li, and said, "You guessed correctly. Xiao Lin has placed his last hope on you. This is a transaction.
In return, he will give you all the Star God Power he has cultivated for nineteen epochs. My pair of divine artifacts will also have my traces completely erased and will belong to you entirely."
He Li said calmly, "You've got it wrong. The prerequisite for him placing his hope on me is that he gives me his Star God Power, helps me achieve a higher level of cultivation, and then I help him eliminate the Lord of Time. This isn't a reward; it's his gamble on me."
Chang Qingshan felt a pang of bitterness, and at the same time, he became even more certain that this kid must be Cheng Xilin's illegitimate son. He was as clever and as cunning as him. When he was with Cheng Xilin before, he had watched enemies be tricked to their deaths by Cheng Xilin. Now, facing He Li, he felt the same way as those who had been tricked to their deaths by Cheng Xilin.
"Then what do you want?" Chang Qingshan asked reluctantly.
He Li breathed a sigh of relief. Damn it, he finally asked. Otherwise, it would have been difficult. He had to accept this transaction, whether it was to stop being coveted by the Lord of Time or to find Xia Kuduo. He had no choice, but if he could get some more benefits, why not?
Seeing He Li's triumphant expression, Chang Qingshan became wary, sensing that something was wrong. He knew very well what kind of person Cheng Xilin was, and He Li was no different. Seizing the opportunity was their specialty. People like them could squeeze water out of a frog; they wouldn't stop until they had extracted every last bit of benefit.
However,
The next moment.
He Li spoke, stating his request.
He Li carefully drew the long saber from his waist. The blade, covered in cracks, testified to its glorious battles.
Chang Qingshan looked strangely at the old saber full of cracks, wondering what He Li was going to do.
"This saber is very important to me. I wonder if you could help me repair it, just like your divine artifacts, so that it will never break or shatter again. As long as you help me repair the saber, I will agree to help Cheng Xilin eliminate the Lord of Time, even if it means sacrificing all my cultivation and divine power."
It was the first time Chang Qingshan had seen He Li so serious and solemn. He was stunned and looked at the saber, covered in cracks and devoid of its former luster. He could imagine that behind this saber lay a story that had influenced He Li's entire life, whether happy or sad, but it was unforgettable.
"Alright!"
Chang Qingshan also solemnly agreed.
He Li handed over the saber.
Chang Qingshan took it with both hands, his fingers tracing the blade. He exclaimed, "What a fine saber."
He Li grinned and said nothing.
Chang Qingshan beckoned, and two black-hilted, black-sheathed war sabers appeared before him. He said, "These two sabers have been with me the longest, and like the Bell and Cauldron, they have been forged into divine artifacts. Since I've promised you, I will use these two sabers to reforge your saber into a divine artifact, fulfilling your request."
He Li intended to stop him but gritted his teeth and endured. He had made a request, and the other party was complying. If he were to stop him now and say some platitudes, it would make him seem like he was taking advantage and being hypocritical.
Chang Qingshan saw He Li's hesitation and smiled slightly, not thinking much of it. He gently flicked the two war sabers, and they, along with their sheaths, shattered, turning into light and electricity that merged into He Li's long saber.
The long saber was enveloped in light.
The next moment.
The light dispersed.
The long saber was as bright as new, its blade flashing with a cold light, clear as water.
He Li looked at the saber with joy, took it from Chang Qingshan, and carefully brushed the blade, suppressing his elation. He nodded to Chang Qingshan.
"I won't say thank you. I will help Cheng Xilin with my last ounce of strength."
Chang Qingshan caught the last speck of light in the air, his expression unreadable. Perhaps it was reluctance to part with his war sabers. He sighed softly and said, "My task is complete. The rest is up to you."
Chang Qingshan turned towards the Golden Bell and Golden Cauldron, his figure slowly becoming transparent and finally disappearing.
Immediately afterward,
The Golden Bell and Golden Cauldron vibrated violently, shooting two beams of light into He Li's chest.
Cheng Xilin had endured endless loneliness. The Star God Power cultivated over nineteen epochs, billions of years, now surged into He Li's spiritual sea of consciousness.
...