After hearing Han Li’s words, the old man gave an awkward smile and quickly agreed, then changed the direction of his flight and sped off ahead toward the east. Han Li followed unhurriedly behind, his expression extremely composed.
“Senior, your face seems unfamiliar. May I ask your esteemed name and where you usually secluded yourself for cultivation? Perhaps this junior has heard of your great name before!” Huang Mingli flew for a while, then glanced back at Han Li and cautiously inquired.
“My surname is Li. I was previously in closed-door cultivation in my cave abode and only recently emerged after successfully forming my core. It’s quite normal that Fellow Daoist Huang hasn’t seen me before,” Han Li naturally didn’t tell the truth and casually responded.
Huang Mingli couldn’t detect any flaws in Han Li’s words. Though he still had some doubts in his heart, he could only verbally offer congratulations.
Huang Mingli then tactfully didn’t press for more information about Han Li. Instead, he proactively shared some recent events about the repeated clashes between cultivators and demon beasts. However, judging by his sighs, it seemed he wasn’t very optimistic about humanity’s prospects in this area.
Listening to this person’s endless stream of words, although Han Li didn’t interject much, he gained a clearer understanding of the current situation in the Outer Seas.
Over the next half month, the journey proceeded without any incidents. Han Li and the old man smoothly arrived at a rather ordinary-looking small island. The island was only about a hundred li in size, with pitifully sparse spiritual energy. Aside from small patches of vegetation, it was just bare gray rock—truly the typical appearance of a desolate island commonly found in the Outer Seas.
It seemed that choosing this location was also the best way to conceal the existence of the secret market. Even so, when they were still half a day’s journey from the island, Han Li and the old man began employing concealment techniques, withdrawing their flight lights and proceeding stealthily.
This was naturally also a requirement of the secret market’s owner.
When Han Li heard Huang Mingli’s earnest request, he didn’t show any impatience and silently complied. This greatly relieved Huang Mingli. After all, some Core Formation cultivators could be quite difficult to deal with.
Now, after circling above the small island, Huang Mingli descended toward a pile of scattered rocks.
Han Li, following beside him, showed a flicker of surprise on his face. If he wasn’t mistaken, there were no restrictions in this area. Could it be…?
Just as Han Li felt a slight doubt, Huang Mingli had already stood next to a large boulder and skillfully tapped lightly on the stone wall three times. Moments later, the boulder suddenly split open, revealing a black hole about a zhang wide.
Huang Mingli immediately stepped forward, whispered something into the hole, then turned back and called out loudly to Han Li in the air, “Senior Li, this is the place. Let’s go in!”
Han Li gave a faint nod, descended from the air, and walked directly over.
Inside the hole was a slanted stone staircase. Beside the stairs stood a gray-robed old man with pure white beard and hair, approximately at late Foundation Establishment cultivation.
“Welcome, Senior, to our market. I hope you can find what you need inside,” the old man said with a smile upon seeing Han Li enter, behaving neither obsequiously nor arrogantly.
“I hope so,” Han Li said calmly and took the lead walking downward.
Han Li now understood. Apparently, to prevent demon beasts from detecting abnormal spiritual energy here, no array restrictions had been set up. They had merely opened a temporary underground venue.
After walking a short distance down the stairs, Han Li’s eyes brightened.
A vast underground world appeared ahead, about five to six zhang high. The earth had been solidified with petrification magic, supported by green stone pillars. In the center were numerous small square stone houses, each hanging various signs. Over a hundred cultivators were currently trading various items and materials inside these stone houses.
“Senior Li, this level is just for ordinary goods trading. If you wish to purchase rare materials, you need to go to the next level down,” Huang Mingli pointed to a stone staircase leading downward beside a pillar and reminded him.
“If I need information on high-level demon beast lairs, where can I obtain it?” Han Li scanned the stone staircase but didn’t approach it. Instead, he asked in a deep voice.
Huang Mingli was clearly startled upon hearing this. A trace of doubt flashed across his face, but then he blinked his small eyes and replied with great familiarity, “That depends on what level of demon beast you need, Senior. For fifth or sixth-level demon beasts, you can directly seek out the Listening Wind Pavilion below. They specialize in selling rare natural treasures and information on high-level demon beast locations, leaving it to fellow Daoists to acquire them based on their own abilities. But for higher-level demon beasts, even they won’t have information. You can only see if other Core Formation Seniors possess such intelligence. After all, information on such high-level demon beasts is generally not disclosed easily. Senior could participate in the exchange meeting specifically prepared for Core Formation cultivators; you might gain something there.”
“Exchange meeting?” Han Li’s expression shifted, showing a trace of interest.
“Yes! Usually, only Core Formation cultivators possess the materials and treasures other Core Formation cultivators need. So every time the market is held, the host gathers these Seniors together to hold a small, private exchange meeting, allowing these Seniors to obtain what they need. Meanwhile, the host also brings out many extremely rare items to participate,” Huang Mingli explained carefully.
“When does this exchange meeting begin?” Han Li’s lips curled slightly as he asked unhurriedly without showing emotion.
“Senior Li will probably have to wait a few more days. It’s usually held around the mid-point of the market. Naturally, someone will come to invite you to participate then,” the old man quickly added.
Hearing this, Han Li narrowed his eyes slightly, a thoughtful expression appearing on his face as if he was considering something.
But after a moment, he looked at Huang Mingli and said, “Fellow Daoist Huang, I plan to look around alone from here. Let’s part ways now. There’s no need for you to accompany me further.” Han Li didn’t want someone following him around while he searched for Thousand Leaf Dew, so he stated this directly without standing on ceremony.
The old man showed no surprise at these words. Instead, he agreed with a full smile, “Senior’s words exactly match this junior’s thoughts. This junior also wanted to go buy some materials. Let us bid farewell here then. If you need any further assistance, Senior, please feel free to find me.” Huang Mingli bowed respectfully to Han Li, then took his leave and hurried toward a nearby raw materials shop. It seemed he wanted to deal with those demon beast corpses first.
Han Li was quite satisfied with the other’s tact and cleverness.
After sweeping his gaze around, he clasped his hands behind his back and walked toward a shop in the opposite direction, one piled high with various medicinal herbs.
…
In a quiet room, Han Li was resting with his eyes closed, but he was actually feeling somewhat frustrated.
On the very first day he arrived at this market, he had run through all the shops from the first to the second level. While companion demon grass was easy to find, companion grass for eighth-level demon beasts was simply not available in any shop. As for the “Listening Wind Pavilion,” they also had no information on demon beasts above the seventh level. Thus, he could only wait for the exchange meeting to see if other Core Formation cultivators might have relevant intelligence.
For the remaining two days, he went nowhere, specifically renting this quiet room to practice Qi cultivation, seeing if there was any possibility of breaking through his bottleneck. Naturally, by now, he had achieved nothing.
*Knock* *Knock* Two knocks came from outside the quiet room.
“What is it?” Han Li asked coldly, though he had already anticipated this, opening his eyes.
“Senior Li! This junior has been sent to invite you to participate in the exchange meeting. I wonder if you are interested in attending?” a sweet female voice said respectfully.
“Understood. Of course I’ll attend!” Han Li replied slowly, then stood up, pulled open the stone door, and exited the quiet room.
Outside, a woman dressed in white was bowing her head, waiting respectfully. As soon as she saw Han Li emerge, she lifted her head, revealing a charming and captivating face.
But upon seeing the woman’s beautiful face, Han Li’s body couldn’t help but jolt slightly. He stared at her face, a flash of astonished surprise in his eyes.
“How could it be her? Why is she here?” Han Li thought, extremely taken aback.
“Senior, is there something wrong?” The woman, being stared at so directly by Han Li, couldn’t prevent a deep blush from spreading across her lovely cheeks. She lowered her head and asked somewhat uneasily.
“Nothing. Lead the way,” Han Li quickly returned to his normal expression and said flatly.
The white-clothed woman still felt vaguely uneasy but obediently complied. She then moved her feet lightly and led Han Li away from the quiet room.
Gazing at the woman’s tall, full, and proud figure ahead, Han Li’s brows furrowed slightly unintentionally, the doubt on his face growing stronger.
Passing through the second-level plaza, the woman leading the way brought Han Li to a secluded stone wall.
The woman pressed her hand lightly against the stone wall. After a ripple of white light, a stone door covered in talismanic scripts appeared out of thin air.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage