Instead of stowing the jade slip away, Han Li set it down beside Luo Meng's remains.

Even though he was already dead, he was able to leave some final words behind before his demise. As for whether he had intentionally refrained from informing his people of his imminent death in order to delay attacks from opposing forces, that was something that was impossible to find out.

However, at the conclusion of his final words, he mentioned that if any members of his clan managed to ascend to immortality, then they could use the materials that he had left behind to refine an Earthly Deity Avatar, thereby becoming the new Ancestral God of Dark Veil Island.

Those who pursued the Great Dao were often said to be heartless and uncaring, but given that pursuing the path of the Earthly Immortal depended on a foundation of bloodline and faith, Earthly Immortals shared more ties with others than the average immortal did, and as a result, they were less aloof and apathetic.

"Fellow Daoist Luo Meng, I am unable to become the new Ancestral God of Dark Veil Island, but I will do everything in my power to protect your clan and your people. In exchange, I'll take the materials that you left behind as compensation," Han Li said to the set of remains.

He then withdrew his gaze before picking up one of the remaining jade slips on the ground and pressing it against his own glabe...