Upon hearing this, Hai Da Shao and the other man felt slightly disappointed but dared not disobey Han Li’s orders. They immediately responded with respectful affirmations.
Han Li then led the two out of the grand hall and headed straight for the teleportation array on the platform.
Hai Da Shao and Qi Lingzi stood together in the array as Han Li produced the silver token and waved it twice.
A flash of silver light enveloped them, transporting the pair to the first floor of the hall.
Only then did Han Li leisurely step into the array himself.
Another burst of spiritual light, and his figure vanished as well.
After the time it took to drink a cup of tea, Han Li found himself inside a magnificent palace seemingly constructed of red coral, engaged in a pleasant conversation with an elderly Daoist who held a bewitching woman in his arms.
The old Daoist had a hooked nose, an exceptionally gloomy gaze, and white hair tied into a triangular topknot. He wore a gray Daoist robe adorned with eighteen lifelike white skulls.
The seductive concubine nestled in his arms was voluptuous, her skin as smooth as jade. Clad in an exceedingly sheer white gauze robe, she concealed most of her body against the old Daoist, revealing only an enchanting face as she listened with a smile to their conversation.
Farther back in the hall, seven or eight other beautiful women, similarly draped in colorful gauze robes, stood respectfully with their hands clasped.
The old Daoist was none other than the master of this place—Wan Gu Zhenren, the founding ancestor of the White Bone Sect.
The woman in his arms and the others on either side were all his nominal concubines. However, the one he held clearly surpassed the others in both beauty and charm, evidently his favored companion.
As Han Li casually discussed past experiences in the wilderness with him, he privately recalled certain rumors about Wan Gu Zhenren.
It was said that not only did Wan Gu Zhenren cultivate demonic techniques, but he was also notoriously lustful, indulging in dual cultivation almost every night. From the looks of it, these rumors were likely true.
“Haha, I never expected Fellow Daoist Han to be so young yet so widely traveled. When I first reached the Body Integration stage, I merely wandered the lands near our human territories before returning. At my age now, I have no desire to venture far from our kind,” the old Daoist remarked with admiration, sighing.
“You flatter me, Brother Wan Gu. My prolonged stay in the wilderness was merely due to unforeseen circumstances. Had it been up to me, I would never have dared to stray so far from our people. It was sheer luck that allowed me to traverse nearly half the continent and return unscathed,” Han Li replied with a smile.
“Hahaha, in that case, Fellow Daoist Han must be a man of great fortune.
Moreover, you encountered continuous opportunities during your journey, breaking through multiple cultivation stages. Upon returning, you even achieved Body Integration with ease. Within tens of thousands of years, no one has advanced as swiftly as you. When I overcame the bottleneck to Body Integration, it took me thousands of years to succeed—I can’t compare to you. With your talent and youth, you might even have a chance at the Mahayana stage,” the old Daoist said with a smile, his tone carrying a hint of flattery.
“I dare not dream of Mahayana. If I can merely survive a few more major heavenly tribulations, I’ll be content,” Han Li replied modestly.
“True words! The Mahayana stage is like fishing for the moon in water for beings like us. Over the many years our human race has stood in the Spirit Realm, we’ve only produced a dozen or so Mahayana cultivators. There was even a period without a single Mahayana practitioner, nearly bringing our entire race to the brink of extinction,” Wan Gu Zhenren mused, his expression turning somber as if recalling something.
This time, Han Li did not respond, merely smiling faintly. He had indeed heard fragments of that calamity.
Back then, the human race had been besieged by a coalition of several foreign tribes. Had it not been for the demon race—then at the peak of its power with two Mahayana cultivators—extending aid, knowing that the demons alone could not long endure in the Spirit Realm, humanity might have faced annihilation.
“Since Fellow Daoist Han has recently advanced to Body Integration and is attending this Myriad Treasures Convention, you must be planning to acquire many items,” Wan Gu Zhenren said, swiftly shifting the topic.
“I do require some materials for alchemy and hope to find them here. After all, only during such events do rare materials that are otherwise impossible to obtain surface,” Han Li admitted with a nod.
“In that case, I have a suggestion. Would Fellow Daoist Han care to hear it?” the old Daoist said with a smile.
“Oh? Please enlighten me,” Han Li replied, slightly intrigued.
“Leave us,” Wan Gu Zhenren commanded, first dismissing the concubine in his arms before gesturing for the other women to depart.
The women obeyed meekly, bowing to Han Li before filing out of the hall. In moments, only Han Li and the old Daoist remained.
Now, Wan Gu Zhenren’s expression turned solemn as he spoke again:
“Since this is Fellow Daoist Han’s first time attending the Myriad Treasures Convention as a Body Integration cultivator, have you heard of the ‘Black Realm Exchange’?”
“The Black Realm Exchange? This is my first time hearing of it. Is it akin to a secret auction or underground market?” Han Li’s eyes flickered, though he showed no great surprise.
For an event like the Myriad Treasures Convention, the absence of such clandestine gatherings would be stranger than their existence.
“Heh, it seems Fellow Daoist Han has already guessed its nature. For us Body Integration cultivators, ordinary items hold little appeal. Even the Myriad Treasures auction cannot satisfy all our needs. Many fellow Daoists possess rare treasures but refuse to trade them for spirit stones, preferring to barter for what they urgently require. Others hold valuable items of dubious origins, unsuitable for public auctions. Then there are treasures so rare that even Body Integration cultivators fear attracting deadly attention if word leaks. Thus, since time immemorial, several small, private trade meetings have been held alongside the Myriad Treasures Convention. Among them, the Black Realm Exchange is the most secretive—organized by mysterious figures exclusively for Body Integration cultivators. Nearly every Body Integration attendee of the convention participates.”
Pausing to gauge Han Li’s interest, the old Daoist continued with a smile:
“These organizers are enigmatic, wielding immense power. Once, they even executed a mid-Body Integration cultivator who caused trouble at an exchange. Since then, no one has dared cross them. Thus, the Black Realm Exchange is also exceedingly safe. It operates solely on barter, convenes only once, and concludes within a single day. Participants’ identities are never questioned. For Body Integration cultivators like us, it’s ideal. Aside from our kind, those in possession of extraordinary treasures may also attend—though common items won’t gain entry. Many from the demon race participate as well, so the exchange features materials strictly prohibited by their laws, along with spirit beast eggs otherwise impossible to obtain. Some even auction demon women who’ve attained human form—especially those of the Heavenly Fox Clan, prized as dual cultivation partners. Of course, buyers must keep them hidden in their caves, lest the Seven Demon Kings take offense. Similarly, human women of exceptional aptitude are sometimes offered, much to the demons’ delight.”
By now, Han Li understood: this so-called Black Realm Exchange closely resembled the underground trade he’d attended in the Great Jin of the human realm—except here, the participants were all Body Integration cultivators, and the treasures exchanged were incomparably more valuable.
Yet as he absorbed the old Daoist’s words, a flicker of unease stirred within him.
The forcible enslavement of each other’s kind as concubines or cultivation vessels was strictly forbidden by both human and demon races—a long-standing mutual decree.
Though seldom enforced nowadays, being caught in the act would still invite severe consequences.
That the organizers dared facilitate such trades spoke volumes of their audacity.
But precisely because of this, treasures otherwise unseen in daylight were likely to surface at such shadowy gatherings.
What intrigued Han Li most, however, were the demon beast materials.
His heart quickened with anticipation.
“After hearing your account, I’m quite interested. Where and when is this exchange held?”
“The Black Realm Exchange convenes in a place called the Black Realm—though it’s not a fixed location but a mobile pocket dimension. This alone speaks to the organizers’ prowess. As for the timing, they’ll notify interested participants through various means, along with entry methods. From what I know, each attendee’s method differs. Having attended multiple times, I’ve ways to learn details in advance. If you wish to go, I can escort you,” Wan Gu Zhenren offered with a smile.
“Then I thank you in advance, Venerable,” Han Li replied after brief consideration, accepting with a smile of his own.
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