The scholar was momentarily taken aback by Han Li’s words but soon broke into a smile. “Senior, it’s fortunate you mentioned this to me, otherwise you might have made a wasted trip! Although the Starfall Sect’s array formations are renowned, that doesn’t mean the Stardust Pavilion has top-quality array flags and array disks. While the pavilion currently has a large quantity and variety of array flags and disks, these are merely ordinary goods sold to minor cultivation families and rogue cultivators. The truly exquisite array tools are never released outside by the Starfall Sect. After all, array formations are the foundation of their sect. If they were to casually let high-quality array flags and disks fall into outsiders’ hands, it could reveal weaknesses in their formations! For them, that would be a loss far greater than the gain.”
As the scholar explained, he stole glances at Han Li. However, the hood over Han Li’s head concealed all expressions on his face, leaving the scholar feeling frustrated and powerless.
“From your tone, it seems you might be able to find what I need,” Han Li said, his voice remaining calm and composed, betraying no surprise or astonishment despite the unexpected turn.
Upon hearing this, the scholar first glanced around cautiously. After ensuring no one was nearby, he lowered his voice and spoke furtively, “If you trust me, Senior, I can introduce you to a secret shop known to very few. Although a small portion of their goods might be of questionable origin, their items are absolutely top-tier rarities seldom seen in the outside world. I believe you’ll find satisfactory array-setting tools there.”
“A secret shop?” Han Li’s voice remained steady, but inwardly, he was startled by the scholar’s words.
Over the past few years, Han Li had heard snippets of rumors about secret shops. If what the scholar said was true, this would be a rare opportunity to broaden his horizons.
“It seems you’re somewhat familiar with secret shops, Senior. Hehe! That makes things easier—I won’t need to explain further. In about two or three hours, it will be time for this secret shop’s monthly auction. If you wish to go, you should decide soon. I can take you there immediately!”
Seeing that Han Li showed no aversion to the idea of a secret shop, the scholar felt secretly pleased, sensing that he had likely found the right customer.
“It’s not too far, is it?” Han Li suddenly asked.
“Not far at all—it’s right here in the market. Does that mean you agree, Senior?” The scholar grew excited. Bringing a potential client to this secret shop could earn him a considerable commission in spirit stones.
“Let’s go,” Han Li said, exhaling softly, his tone turning cold.
“I’ll lead the way right away!” The scholar, beaming with joy, strode ahead.
After navigating a series of twists and turns, the scholar brought Han Li to a solitary, dilapidated small house. Its door was tightly shut, with no markings whatsoever, making it appear entirely inconspicuous.
Without hesitation, the scholar rhythmically tapped on the wooden door a few times. The door opened, revealing a woman in her thirties. She was plain in appearance and only at the sixth or seventh level of Qi Refinement, making her utterly unremarkable.
“Madam Zhang, I’ve brought a new guest. He wishes to participate in today’s auction,” the scholar, Wang Ziling, said eagerly before the woman could speak, stepping aside to reveal Han Li.
Instead of showing delight at the arrival of a new guest, Madam Zhang frowned slightly, as if somewhat displeased. However, upon noticing that Han Li was a Foundation Establishment cultivator, her expression shifted, and she smiled faintly.
“Now this guest is more like it! A Foundation Establishment senior. Unlike the ones you brought before—all sorts of dubious characters. Please come in, Senior.” Despite her low cultivation level, she showed no particular reverence toward Han Li, treating him as nothing more than an ordinary visitor.
“Senior, I can only accompany you this far. I’ll take my leave now!” Blushing slightly at the woman’s remarks, Wang Ziling hurriedly bid farewell to Han Li and departed.
After briefly watching the scholar disappear, Han Li stepped into the small house as Madam Zhang moved aside.
Inside, the room was cluttered with various low-quality materials for pill refining and artifact crafting, giving it the appearance of an ordinary raw materials shop.
As Han Li observed carefully, Madam Zhang, having closed the door behind them, spoke solemnly, “Sir, please follow me.”
With that, she walked to a corner of the room, pressed one hand against the floor, and with a flash of yellow light, a large hole opened in the ground. She motioned for Han Li to follow and descended the stairs first.
Han Li hesitated for a moment but eventually approached the passageway and cautiously followed, remaining vigilant as he always did.
The passage was short, extending only about ten zhang before ending at a small stone door. On either side stood two figures clad in black, each wearing a mask resembling a ferocious ghost.
After a quick glance at the two men in black, Han Li’s expression turned grave. Both were Foundation Establishment cultivators like himself, with one even at the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment. This realization made Han Li inwardly alarmed and wary of the secret shop’s capabilities.
However, Madam Zhang acted as if the black-clad men were invisible. She pushed open the stone door and led Han Li inside, while the two black-clad men made no move to stop them.
Upon entering, Han Li was taken aback. A magnificently luxurious hall unfolded before his eyes.
Vermilion carpets, snow-white jade walls, and elegantly hung palace lanterns—everything exuded the opulence of the mortal world. It seemed the owner of this place had quite the taste!
The hall was oval-shaped, spanning several dozen zhang in diameter. Seven or eight rows of wooden chairs were arranged inside, seating several dozen cultivators of varied appearances. Opposite them stood a lone empty table, with three sandalwood chairs placed not far to its side.
As Han Li and Madam Zhang entered, the seated cultivators instinctively glanced in Han Li’s direction.
Under their collective gaze, Han Li broke out in a cold sweat, his face paling. Most of these individuals were Foundation Establishment cultivators!
It was then that Han Li understood why Madam Zhang had shown him no particular reverence—here, he was merely one among many.
“You’ve arrived just in time, sir! The auction is about to begin. I must take my leave now and attend to matters upstairs,” Madam Zhang said before turning and departing, leaving Han Li alone.
With no other choice, Han Li scanned the hall briefly and quietly found a seat in a relatively secluded corner.
He noticed that all the cultivators present, like himself, had concealed their identities with masks, hoods, or other means. Clearly, no one here was foolish enough to reveal their true selves.
Despite the number of people in the hall, an eerie silence prevailed, thickening the air with tension.
Han Li remained quiet, his mind occupied with wild guesses about whether he might recognize anyone here while keeping his attention fixed on a wooden door behind the long table. The host was likely preparing inside.
After sitting idle for two or three hours, the wooden door behind the table finally opened, and three individuals emerged one after another.
All three were dressed identically to the two black-clad men guarding the stone door, making it impossible to distinguish the master from the servants.
They stood side by side behind the long table, and the one on the right spoke first in a low, hoarse voice: “We welcome all fellow cultivators to our shop’s auction. Among today’s guests are both returning patrons and first-time attendees. But that matters not—our shop treats all equally!”
As soon as the rightmost speaker finished, the one on the left continued, “The rules of this auction remain unchanged. Our shop will set a base price in spirit stones, and everyone may bid using spirit stones. Those without sufficient spirit stones may mortgage equivalent valuables, the worth of which will be assessed jointly by the three of us. In short, the highest bidder wins the auction item.” This person’s voice was the polar opposite of the first—shrill and thin, deeply unpleasant to the ear, likely disguised.
Finally, after our shop’s auction concludes, there will be a free trading period. Anyone wishing to exchange or sell items may come forward to present them and engage in transactions independently. We will not interfere and merely provide the venue. That is all. Let the auction begin!
The middle speaker’s voice was robust and resonant, echoing throughout the hall.
With these words, the three stepped aside, vacating the space behind the table, and took their seats on the three sandalwood chairs. Simultaneously, a tall, lean middle-aged man with a shrewd appearance emerged from the wooden door.
The man walked behind the table, cleared his throat, and announced, “I will be presiding over today’s auction. The first item up for bidding is a top-tier magical artifact—the Cloudfire Sword…”
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