With Han Li’s current cultivation level, even without using the cloak or the Wind and Thunder Wings, his flight speed was astonishingly fast. In just half a month, he arrived at the deserted island where the Miaoyin Sect’s market had once been. However, after scanning the area with his spiritual sense, he found the underground world completely empty. It seemed he would have to find someone to ask for information.
Han Li glanced around, adjusted his direction casually, and transformed into a green streak of light, vanishing without a trace.
Since the Miaoyin Sect’s market had once been set up on this island, it was unlikely to have moved far from the surrounding sea. Moreover, the islands in this area should be relatively concentrated with human cultivators. With his powerful spiritual sense, finding a few human cultivators shouldn’t be too difficult. As expected, after flying for half a day, Han Li detected traces of human cultivators on a medium-sized island—and not just one, but a group.
Hovering high above the island, he looked down and saw several male and female cultivators besieging two fourth-grade demonic beasts in the nearby sea.
When he spotted two somewhat familiar faces among them, Han Li was momentarily stunned before letting out a light chuckle.
He then used the “Transformation Art” to change his appearance, morphing into a dark-faced middle-aged man. Without haste, he casually flicked two green sword Qi streaks, which flashed and instantly pierced the heads of the two fourth-grade demonic beasts, killing them on the spot.
This sudden move startled the cultivators below, who immediately noticed Han Li’s figure high in the air. A commotion broke out as they realized a Core Formation or higher expert had arrived.
After a brief discussion, a richly dressed burly man flew toward Han Li.
“Greetings, Senior. Thank you for your assistance. Is there anything we juniors can do for you?”
Although the burly man spoke with a respectful tone, his hawk-nosed eyes flickered with unease. He wondered what purpose this Core Formation cultivator had for suddenly appearing on this island.
Looking at the burly man surnamed Yi, who had once teleported with him, Han Li narrowed his eyes slightly and remained silent for a moment. His gaze then shifted downward, landing on the scar-faced cultivator Xu Yun. None of the other cultivators who had teleported with them, such as Madam Liu, were present.
As for the burly man surnamed Yi and Xu Yun, they were still lingering at the late Foundation Establishment stage after all these years, likely having failed to form their Golden Cores.
Seeing Han Li’s gloomy silence, the burly man surnamed Yi grew nervous. He hesitated, about to say something more, when Han Li slowly spoke.
“I’m looking for the Miaoyin Sect’s secret market. Does anyone here know the time and location of the next opening?”
Han Li’s gaze returned to the burly man’s face as he asked calmly.
Hearing this question, the burly man’s expression relaxed, and he replied eagerly with respect, “Senior, the next opening of the Miaoyin Sect’s secret market is still over a month away. The location has been set—it will be on Twin Peaks Island, a few days’ journey west of here. If you wish to go, I can guide you, Senior.”
The man was quite perceptive.
“That won’t be necessary. Just give me the sea chart,” Han Li replied expressionlessly, shaking his head remotely. He had no intention of catching up with the other party.
This man was quite lucky to have survived the beast tide, but the others likely hadn’t been so fortunate. Han Li felt a faint sigh in his heart.
“Yes! I will mark the sea chart and the secret market’s location for you right away, Senior.”
A trace of disappointment flashed across the burly man’s face. He had hoped to use this opportunity to build some rapport with the expert before him. After all, the Outer Star Seas were becoming increasingly difficult to navigate, and knowing a Core Formation cultivator could be greatly beneficial in the future.
However, after stealing another glance at Han Li’s extremely cold expression, he gave up on the idea. He pulled out a jade slip from his robe, marked the location of the Miaoyin Sect’s market, and handed it to Han Li with both hands.
Han Li took it, scanned it briefly with his spiritual sense, nodded, and without delay transformed into a green streak of light, shooting into the sky and disappearing.
Left behind were the low-level cultivators, their faces filled with envy. In the Outer Star Seas nowadays, without at least Core Formation cultivation, low-level cultivators dared not venture far from their dwellings.
But Han Li wasn’t foolish enough to wait a full month. By then, the Wind-Splitting Beast might have already tracked him down before he could teleport away. Instead, he planned to find Madam Fan and Yun Tianxiao directly to see if he could arrange a low-key teleportation by paying a modest price. If they tried to extort him, he wouldn’t hesitate to force his way through.
A few days later, Han Li arrived at the so-called “Twin Peaks Island.” The island was quite large, featuring two massive peaks of similar height.
After circling one of the peaks a few times, he located the market’s entrance based on the map’s instructions. After a moment’s hesitation, Han Li reverted to the appearance he had used during his previous visit to the secret market. He then landed halfway up the mountain, took a few steps, and stopped before a giant tree several zhang in diameter.
He expressionlessly examined the towering tree, dozens of zhang tall, and a cold smile tugged at his lips. With a light flick of his finger, three white light spheres shot out unceremoniously, striking the tree bark with three dull thuds.
After a moment, green light flashed, and the bark split open, revealing an opening. Out stepped a white-robed old man at the late Foundation Establishment stage—the same gatekeeper Han Li had seen during his previous visit to the market.
The old man immediately recognized Han Li, who was disguised as a Core Formation expert.
After all, Core Formation cultivators who came here were few and far between. Moreover, after the last market, the old man had heard rumors that this particular expert had subdued over a dozen Core Formation cultivators single-handedly and was likely a Nascent Soul-stage powerhouse.
Thus, upon clearly seeing Han Li’s face, the old man immediately shrank back in fear, hurried forward, and bowed deeply. “So it’s Senior Li! This junior was unaware of your arrival and begs for your forgiveness! But may I ask what brings you here, Senior? The secret market is still over a month away from opening, and there are no goods for you to inspect yet.”
While speaking with extreme reverence, a trace of confusion flickered in the old man’s eyes.
“I’m not here for the market. I wish to see your Sect Leader Fan or Elder Yun,” Han Li replied, deliberately tilting his head slightly with an air of arrogance.
“See the Sect Leader and Elder Yun?” The old man was taken aback, then showed a hint of hesitation.
“What? Is there a problem?” Han Li’s voice turned icy, his expression darkening.
“Of course not!” The old man shuddered, immediately forcing a smile onto his face, cold sweat beading on his forehead. “For others, it would be impossible, but since you’ve come personally, Senior, it must be for important matters. This old man will inform them right away. Sect Leader Fan happens to be here overseeing market preparations. Please wait a moment, Senior!”
After a moment of thought, the old man decided to hand this troublesome matter over to his superiors. There was no need for him to resist and risk his life.
“Then be quick. I have little patience for waiting,” Han Li said, his expression softening slightly upon hearing that Madam Fan was here.
“Yes, this junior will use a message talisman to inform the Sect Leader immediately. It will only take a moment!” The old man replied hastily, greatly relieved. If Han Li had insisted on forcing his way in, he could only have stood by helplessly—he wouldn’t have dared to block him. The white-robed old man then sent a message talisman flying into the tree hole in Han Li’s presence.
“Where is your Elder Yun? Why isn’t he with your Sect Leader?” Han Li asked casually, his expression neutral as the message talisman disappeared.
“This… This junior truly doesn’t know Elder Yun’s whereabouts. Recently, the Sect Leader has been handling all market affairs alone,” the old man replied with difficulty, hesitating before mumbling his response.
Seeing the old man’s evasive expression, Han Li understood the underlying meaning perfectly. He let out a cold laugh but didn’t press further, much to the old man’s relief.
A moment later, the white-robed old man received a message talisman. After scanning it with his spiritual sense, he respectfully said to Han Li, “Senior Li, our Sect Leader invites you inside for a discussion. This junior will guide you.”
“Lead the way,” Han Li said indifferently.
The world inside the tree hole was largely similar to what he had seen during his previous market visit, divided into upper and lower levels—a sizable underground space. However, now only a dozen or so low-level male and female Miaoyin Sect disciples were preparing something, with no one else present.
The old man quickly led Han Li to a stone wall, outside of which stood two remarkably beautiful female cultivators.
“Greetings, Senior Li! The Sect Leader is inside, awaiting your esteemed presence!” the two young women said in unison, bowing to Han Li with charming, flushed faces.
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