Chapter 998: Agreement
"If you're so curious, then why don't you go in there and take a look for yourself? I do have to warn you, however, that the Scalptia Spatial Domain is not as safe as the Devil Realm, and you could easily meet your demise in there, just like the first prince did," Han Li sneered.
"So Zhanfeng really did die. What a pity," Shi Pokong sighed, while the two men accompanying him were both clearly very much taken aback by this revelation.
Han Li remained standing on the spot as he observed Shi Pokong in silence.
"There's no real personal vendetta between us, Fellow Daoist Li, and truth be told, I've always had a great deal of admiration for you. The situation in our Holy Realm is still quite unclear at the moment, but surely you can tell who has the better chances of coming out on top between me and Chuankong, right?" Shi Pokong said in a meaningful voice.
"I don't care about all of that. As long as you don't interrupt the grand priest here, I can let slide the fact that you tried to have both Fellow Daoist Shi and me killed in the Scalptia Spatial Domain. Once Weeping Soul is cured, I'll leave the Devil Realm right away. What do you say?" Han Li asked.
"You don't have to tell me everything that happened during your time in the Scalptia Spatial Domain, but do give me a definitive response on Chuankong's current status. Is he still alive? Has he returned to the Holy Realm?" Shi Pokong asked.
"I've already made myself very clear just now, so I suggest you don't try to push me any further," Han Li said in a cold voice, and as soon as his voice trailed off, he abruptly vanished from the spot.
In the next instant, he reappeared in front of the palace gates before stomping a foot down onto the ground.
A resounding boom rang out as a burst of shockwaves erupted forth in all directions from beneath his feet, shattering a large section of the plaza in front of the palace.
A figure came flying out of the ground with blood and dirt all over their body before frantically scurrying away into the distance.
Han Li had held back significantly in that stomp for fear of damaging the palace behind him. Otherwise, there was no way that this figure would've been able to survive.
It was a thin and wiry devilish man with black scales all over his body, and his fingers were tipped with sharp claws. It was clear he excelled in burrowing through the earth, and after scurrying several thousand feet away, he attempted to dig his way into the ground again.
However, Han Li appeared before him in the blink of an eye, then grabbed him by the throat before lifting him off his feet.
"Very impressive, you almost managed to sneak in right under my nose," Han Li sneered as he returned to Shi Pokong's trio.
All the while, the man was trembling uncontrollably as he continued to be carried by Han Li by the throat.
A dark look appeared on Shi Pokong's face upon seeing this, and the brawny man beside him roared in a furious voice, "Let him go!"
The thin elderly man's smile had also faded, and a hint of fury had surfaced in his eyes.
"Here, you can have him," Han Li replied with a smile, then casually snapped the man's neck before tossing him at the brawny man's feet.
Meanwhile, Han Li was merely standing with his hands clasped behind his back, displaying no intention to escalate the conflict any further.
"Don't you think it's a little insolent of you to have wounded two of my subordinates here in the heart of the imperial city, Fellow Daoist Li?" Shi Pokong asked in a cold voice.
"You should be grateful to me for sparing their lives," Han Li replied with a smile.
"Looks like you've reaped some significant rewards in the Scalptia Spatial Domain, to the point that you now have the confidence to oppose our entire holy race!" Shi Pokong remarked with a cold expression.
"Don't try to intimidate me, Your Highness. I have no intention of opposing the devil race, but if you insist on forcing my hand, then I'll have no choice but to retaliate. I'm aware that there are many powerful seniors stationed in Night Sun City. For example, Elder Qu over here is certainly not to be taken lightly," Han Li said as he took a glance at the thin elderly man.
Elder Qu met his gaze, and his aura began to elevate, he was suddenly looking not so benevolent and harmless.
"But so what? I'm confident that I can at least demolish half of Night Sun City before I go down. If that were to happen, I'm sure you wouldn't be able to escape culpability. Back when the first prince was in charge, everything was so peaceful and orderly. If half of the city were to be destroyed as soon as you took his place, then I'm sure that wouldn't reflect so well on you, isn't that right?" Han Li said with a meaningful smile.
Shi Pokong's expression remained unchanged, but Han Li's words had given him pause.
If things were to play out as Han Li proclaimed, then he would undoubtedly be stripped of his duties of overseeing the city, and Shi Jingyan would undoubtedly seize the opportunity to take his place.
If that were to happen, then he would've gone to such great lengths to eliminate Shi Zhanfeng for someone else's benefit.
However, at the same time, he was rather skeptical about whether Han Li really did have the power to destroy half of the city as he proclaimed.
Right at this moment, Elder Qu's voice rang out in his mind.
"This man is a far more accomplished bodily refinement cultivator than I am. Perhap I'll be able to defeat him, but it'll be extremely difficult to kill him, and he's certainly capable of causing extensive damage to the city."
Shi Pokong was silent for a moment upon hearing this, then suddenly smiled as he said, "I was hoping to recruit you as a subordinate, but it seems like that's only a one-sided wish of mine. In that case, I won't try to force your hand any further, but please do follow through on your promise and leave the Holy Realm once Fellow Daoist Weeping Soul's condition has been treated."
"Of course. As long as I can have access to an interrealm array, I'll leave as soon as I can," Han Li replied with a smile.
Shi Pokong was naturally eager to send Han Li away, and he immediately said, "I'll return tomorrow morning to see you off in person."
"You have my thanks, Your Highness. You can go now," Han Li said with a smile, asking Shi Pokong to leave as if he were the owner of this place.
Shi Pokong's expression stiffened slightly upon hearing this, and he gritted his teeth as he departed with his subordinates.