“In that case, the seeds I possess may indeed not all meet your esteemed standards. However, I won’t be staying in Tianyuan City for long either. I’ll exchange as many ten-thousand-year spiritual medicines as I can for now.” The demon woman’s excitement visibly dimmed as she sighed softly.
“There’s no need for disappointment, Fairy. I didn’t say I was only here for medicinal seeds. If you can help me gather some materials, Han is equally willing to trade ten-thousand-year spiritual medicines,” Han Li replied with a faint smile.
“Materials?”
“Indeed. Here’s a list. You can see how many of these items your demon kin can procure.” With a flick of his sleeve, Han Li sent a white jade slip flying toward her.
A pale hand emerged from the black mist and caught the slip effortlessly.
“Hmm, many of these materials are spirit bones and inner cores from our demon kin. You’re bold to list them. Are you planning to forge some magical artifacts?” The demon woman scanned the slip briefly and let out a surprised sound.
“I do intend to refine a few treasures. As for spirit bones and cores, what’s the issue? Don’t your own people often do the same?” Han Li replied nonchalantly.
“Humph! That may be true, but when we demons use spirit bones or cores, we only take them from other races. We would never use those from our own kin. For humans to do so has always been taboo among many of us,” she retorted coldly.
“You don’t seem particularly bothered by it, Fairy. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have mentioned it,” Han Li chuckled, clearly unfazed.
The woman in the black mist hesitated before responding slowly, “As long as none of the materials come from my own kin, I don’t particularly care. But many of the items on your list are exceedingly rare even among demons. I can only gather about half of them, and the price will be steep.”
“No matter! As long as the materials are suitable, I won’t shortchange you in ten-thousand-year spiritual medicines,” Han Li replied cheerfully, his face brightening.
“Good. With your word, that’s settled. However, I can’t bring these materials to Tianyuan City for trade. If you’re serious, let’s meet at the Myriad Treasures Convention in a few years. It’s a grand event jointly held by humans and demons every millennium. This time, it’s set to take place at Nine Immortals Mountain, at the border between the Black Tortoise Realm and the Sky Fox Territory,” the robed woman explained.
“The Myriad Treasures Convention! I’ve heard of it. Since you propose it, I’ll certainly attend,” Han Li mused before nodding in agreement.
“Excellent. Then it’s settled. I’ll first show you the medicinal seeds I have. Pick what you need, and we’ll exchange tokens to recognize each other at the convention,” the demon woman said with a charming smile, her voice laced with an unintentional hint of allure.
Han Li had no objections and readily agreed.
After a short while, Han Li emerged from the hall with a faint smile. This trip to the market had yielded unexpected gains.
The jade slip he’d given the demon woman didn’t just list materials for elixirs—many were for refining the Taiyi Green Mountain. Crafting this mountain was far more troublesome than the Magnetic Extreme Mountain, requiring rare auxiliary materials scarcely found in the Spirit Realm. Fortunately, he’d included numerous substitutes, with spirit bones and demon cores being the most common.
Such materials were scarce among humans, so he hadn’t entrusted the task to the Confucian scholars. Meeting this demon woman in the hall, he’d boldly listed everything he needed.
Though demons weren’t overwhelmingly powerful, their myriad species—beasts, birds, and other creatures—numbered in the millions. After centuries in the Spirit Realm, their spirit bones and cores were countless. If she could procure even half, it would be a great help. With luck, the Myriad Treasures Convention might yield further gains, leaving only a few items to hunt for later.
Lost in thought, Han Li leisurely returned to the material shop he’d visited earlier. The shopkeeper had prepared a storage bracelet and awaited him respectfully.
Taking the bracelet, Han Li inspected it briefly and frowned. As expected, it contained few of the materials he needed. It seemed he’d have to rely on the Confucian scholars’ long-term assistance after all.
After paying indifferently, Han Li left the shop. Without further delay, he transformed into a green streak and flew toward the “Gathering Immortals Pavilion,” Tianyuan City’s exclusive lodging for high-ranking cultivators.
Despite its name, the Gathering Immortals Pavilion consisted of over a dozen standalone towers, each thirteen stories tall, exquisitely designed, and spaced over a hundred zhang apart, with independent barrier formations.
Staying here cost a fortune daily, and only Void Refinement cultivators or above were permitted. While primarily catering to Void Refinement cultivators, Body Integration cultivators were rare guests—perhaps one or two every few centuries.
Thus, Han Li didn’t conceal his aura, revealing a trace of his Body Integration cultivation before the pavilion’s manager. The Nascent Soul-stage manager was startled, immediately addressing him as “Senior” and assigning him the finest tower, along with dispatching the most beautiful attendants.
Since he had no plans for a long stay, Han Li didn’t refuse. After having the attendants clean the tower, he retreated to the top floor to meditate.
The next morning, as Han Li sat cross-legged on a cushion, his eyelids flickered open. “They’ve arrived,” he murmured. “But this aura is unfamiliar—a mid-Body Integration cultivator. It’s not Elder Qi from last time. Unexpected.”
Moments later, light footsteps approached, and a nervous attendant’s voice echoed from below: “Senior, the Golden Moon Zen Master of the city requests an audience.”
“Golden Moon? Understood. I’ll be right down,” Han Li replied without hesitation, his heart tightening.
While other Tianyuan City elders might be obscure to him, the Golden Moon Zen Master was one of the city’s two Body Integration-stage ascended cultivators—a name he’d long known. As a rumored Buddhist patriarch who rarely left seclusion, few outside the Elder Council had ever seen him. Such a figure’s sudden appearance explained the attendants’ tension.
Still, after revealing his cultivation to the two Azure Guard members, it was inevitable that the Elder Council would send someone. If not the Zen Master, another elder would’ve come.
Suppressing his thoughts, Han Li formed a hand seal, his body shimmering briefly before vanishing.
In the tower’s main hall, a monk in golden kasaya stood before an ancient painting, admiring it. Several awestruck attendants stood nearby.
Suddenly, the monk turned toward an empty corner of the hall. A moment later, green light shimmered, and Han Li materialized silently.
“Venerable Golden Moon pays an unannounced visit. I hope Fellow Daoist Han does not take offense,” the monk intoned, bowing calmly.
“Not at all. The Zen Master’s reputation precedes you,” Han Li replied courteously, returning the bow before scrutinizing the monk.
The elder had a long white beard, deeply wrinkled face, and eyes so narrowed they seemed perpetually shut.
“Fellow Daoist Han’s name reached me recently through Elder Qi’s message. To advance from Nascent Soul to Body Integration in mere centuries, as an ascended cultivator no less, and even serving as an Azure Guard—is this true?” the Zen Master asked bluntly.
“Your forthrightness is refreshing, Venerable Golden Moon. Indeed, it’s all true. I’ve had my share of fortune, or I’d never have reached this stage,” Han Li admitted with a light laugh.
“Every cultivator at our level owes their success to great fortune. But to advance so swiftly—even if not unprecedented—is vanishingly rare among human powerhouses,” the monk remarked kindly, his wrinkles shifting.
Han Li humbly demurred.
“Elder Qi mentioned you declined to join Tianyuan City. A pity. The Elder Council’s ascended cultivators would no longer be limited to this old monk,” the Zen Master sighed regretfully.
“Just you? If I recall correctly, there’s also the Thunder Luo Sage. Unless…” Han Li trailed off, puzzled.
“Fellow Daoist Thunder Luo perished during the alien siege,” the monk replied with a bitter smile.
“What? I knew two elders had fallen, but I hadn’t realized he was among them,” Han Li exclaimed, genuinely surprised.
The monk solemnly chanted a few Buddhist phrases before continuing, “Though you’ve refused Elder Qi, as a fellow ascended cultivator, I must extend another invitation. You know our kind differs from native cultivators, and Tianyuan City gathers nearly all ascended ones in the human realm.”
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