“Is there something wrong with these Firemelt Crystals?” the old man asked with a chuckle, his demeanor friendly and businesslike.
“No, these are exactly the crystals I need,” Han Li replied with an unchanged expression, nodding slightly before tucking the crystals away. He then cupped his hands in farewell and turned to leave.
The old man watched Han Li’s retreating figure, then glanced at the now-empty jade box. His brows furrowed slightly, and a trace of doubt flickered in his eyes.
Meanwhile, Han Li had already returned to his seat in the auction hall. With a flash of spiritual light, a Firemelt Crystal appeared in his hand. He smiled faintly as he examined it, a glint of satisfaction in his gaze.
“Eight hundred spirit stones for three Firemelt Crystals—you truly are generous, Fellow Daoist,” the green-robed woman beside him remarked, unable to hold back her comment upon seeing his expression.
“Indeed, I’ve been wanting these crystals for a long time. Spending eight hundred spirit stones to acquire them makes this trip worthwhile,” Han Li replied calmly, glancing at her before flipping his hand and making the crystal vanish without a trace.
The green-robed woman felt a sudden chill as Han Li’s sharp gaze flickered. The words she had been about to say stuck in her throat, and she found herself unable to speak. The yellow-robed woman beside her noticed this and subtly tensed, as if sensing something amiss, but after a brief hesitation, she remained silent.
With this unexpected gain, Han Li began to look forward to the rest of the auction. However, the Great Divinity Sage finally spoke up:
“Han boy, what exactly is the connection between those Firemelt Crystals and demon cores? You owe me an explanation.”
“You’ve probably guessed part of it already. One of those Firemelt Crystals is actually a seventh-grade demon core that has crystallized over countless years. It’s indistinguishable from ordinary Firemelt Crystals, even to the most powerful spiritual senses,” Han Li transmitted calmly.
“A seventh-grade demon core? If even spiritual sense and appearance can’t distinguish it, how did you recognize it?” The Great Divinity Sage wasn’t overly surprised but still sounded skeptical.
“Heh, it’s related to the killing intent I carry. I’ve personally slain thousands of high-grade demon beasts, which is why my killing aura is so dense. I’m particularly sensitive to demon cores—the moment that seventh-grade core was brought out, my killing aura reacted instinctively. Besides, I’ve handled so many demon cores in the past that I’ve developed some unique methods of identification,” Han Li explained leisurely.
“I see. If you’ve truly slain that many demon beasts, the intensity of your killing aura makes sense. But the fact that you’ve killed so many also piques my interest. It seems you have many stories you’ve never shared with me,” the Great Divinity Sage chuckled, his tone unreadable.
“It’s nothing—just some past encounters. But I suspect you’re unaware of the unique properties of crystallized demon cores,” Han Li deflected, steering the conversation toward something the old monster would find intriguing.
“Oh? I’ve never heard of crystallized demon cores before. What use do they have?” The Great Divinity Sage’s curiosity was immediately piqued, and he dropped the previous line of questioning.
“A crystallized demon core is no longer a true demon core. If used in alchemy, it would contain a deadly toxin—not as potent as the Ten Great Poisons, but enough to kill an ordinary cultivator instantly. However, this material is actually the best for refining needle-type magic treasures. It’s said that needles crafted directly from this material are not only incredibly fast, capable of injuring enemies the moment they’re released, but also nearly invisible in flight, making them perfect for ambushes. The problem is that crystallized demon cores are extremely rare, and even fewer cultivators can identify them. If not for my killing aura, I wouldn’t have recognized it either,” Han Li explained, stroking his chin with a composed expression.
Inwardly, he recalled the jade slip that detailed the method of refining needles from crystallized demon cores. He couldn’t remember which unfortunate soul he’d taken it from in the Chaotic Star Seas, but he’d initially dismissed it as mere trivia. Now, he’d actually encountered the real thing—such a rare refining material was not something he could pass up.
“I’ve truly never heard of this before. The world is vast and full of wonders—no cultivator could possibly explore every corner of the human realm. Just within my knowledge, there are at least five or six major cultivation regions like our South Heaven. Some are easily accessible, while others require great risk to enter. In my time, aside from the Great Jin, I only visited two of them before my lifespan forced me to return to South Heaven and focus on the Soul Attachment Art,” the Great Divinity Sage’s voice darkened with regret.
“There’s no need for such pessimism, Senior. The cycle of life and death is inevitable for all. Even ascending to the Spirit Realm doesn’t guarantee freedom from it. True immortality likely belongs only to the immortals of the Celestial Realm. But for us mortals, ascending to the Spirit Realm is already a near-impossible feat, let alone the Celestial Realm—how many have achieved that since ancient times?” Han Li replied after a moment of silence, his tone contemplative.
“Heh! I just can’t accept it. I’ve always believed my talent and intellect were among the finest in the world, yet I ended up trapped in a puppet body, barely clinging to life. If given another chance, reaching the Deity Transformation stage wouldn’t have been difficult for me,” the Great Divinity Sage muttered, his voice filled with bitterness before fading into silence.
Hearing this, Han Li felt an inexplicable sorrow. This man had once been the founding patriarch of the Far West, unrivaled in South Heaven, far more illustrious than Han Li himself. Yet, unable to reach the Deity Transformation stage, he’d met such a desolate end. The thought weighed heavily on Han Li—this could very well be his own fate in the future.
The realization darkened Han Li’s expression, and he fell silent, no longer in the mood for conversation.
The auction continued as usual, with increasingly valuable items being offered, but none caught Han Li’s interest. When the final few magic treasures and spirit pills were presented, he decided to leave. Under the puzzled gazes of the two women beside him, he stood and exited the auction hall without a word.
Outside the grand hall, he paid no attention to the surrounding stalls. Instead, he wandered aimlessly through the streets, his mind elsewhere.
Occasionally, he passed other visiting cultivators and disciples of the three hosting families, but none paid him any mind.
Gradually, he drifted toward more secluded areas.
After meandering for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, he paused and glanced around. His gaze settled on a white-robed Foundation Establishment cultivator lurking in the shadows of a pavilion, looking around as if waiting for someone.
Han Li’s expression remained neutral as he swept the area with his spiritual sense. There were no other cultivators within dozens of yards, no hidden restrictions, and the nearest person was over a hundred yards away—far enough to go unnoticed. Without hesitation, he changed direction and approached the man.
“Can I help you, Fellow Daoist?” The burly, rough-faced man blinked in surprise as Han Li approached, his voice gruff.
“Are you a member of the Kong Family?” Han Li asked with a faint smile as he drew near.
“That’s right. I’m an outer hall steward of the Kong Family. And you are…?” The man scrutinized Han Li, noting his well-equipped attire, storage pouch, and spirit beast pouch—clearly not an ordinary rogue cultivator—and responded politely.
“I have some matters to discuss with your family head. Could you arrange an introduction?” Han Li asked amiably.
“Meet the family head? That might not be possible. He’s currently occupied with important matters and doesn’t receive outsiders casually. If you have urgent business, you can discuss it with me first,” the man replied with a frown.
“It’s like this—I just left the auction and noticed an issue with one of the items sold. I’d like to bring it to your family head’s attention,” Han Li said, feigning hesitation.
“The auction? Was there a problem with an item? If so, you should take it up with the auction overseers,” the man said, his expression turning serious.
“This isn’t something the auction overseers can resolve. Here, take a look at what I purchased,” Han Li sighed, reaching toward his waist.
Instinctively, the man tensed, his hand moving to his own waist in caution. But when Han Li produced a glowing red crystal and offered it to him, the man relaxed slightly, though still puzzled.
“Isn’t this a Firemelt Crystal? Why would this require the family head’s attention?”
As he reached for the crystal, a flash of blue light shot from it, striking him before he could react. A chilling numbness spread through his body as frost encased him, freezing him solid in an instant.
With a flick of his sleeve, Han Li summoned a swirl of azure mist that enveloped the man and carried him into the pavilion.
Han Li followed silently behind.
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