Chapter 1349: Tianyuan Fang City

As soon as the blue-eyed man landed near Mount Yuanci, he gently shook the calabash in his hand towards the transparent beast below. Instantly, a sheet of silver light mist sprayed out from the calabash, swirling and dancing around the giant beast at the foot of the mountain. Suddenly, it transformed into several enormous silver runes, which vanished in a flash as they merged into the beast's body.

The transparent beast immediately glowed with a layer of silver light all over its body. Immediately after, its body drastically shrunk, becoming no bigger than a fist within moments. Strangely, Mount Yuanci also began to shrink in unison with the beast, giving the creature no chance of escape.

At this moment, the calabash emitted another surge of silver mist, enveloping the shrunken beast. Simultaneously, Han Li made a distant gesture, causing the small black mountain to slowly rise. The giant beast immediately turned into a ball of white light and was sucked into the calabash.

The blue-eyed man hastily sealed the calabash, and at the same time, affixed a golden talisman onto it. Only then did he let out a long breath.

The others had also retrieved their magic treasures and landed on the ground. However, when facing Han Li, their expressions were filled with deep respect. Having witnessed Han Li's recent display of power, everyone knew that this new captain possessed unfathomable abilities and was certainly not an ordinary Divine Transformation initial-stage cultivator. While greatly pleased by this, they also felt a genuine sense of awe towards Han Li.

“Let’s rest for a little longer, then we’ll continue our journey,” Han Li said. He put Mount Yuanci back into his sleeve, but only said this one sentence to the group. Then, he walked to the side, sat cross-legged, and closed his eyes.

Naturally, the others had no objections. They dispersed, resting once more, and began to recover the magic power they had expended. However, the immortaless Xu remained standing still. She hesitated for a moment, then suddenly walked towards Han Li. She curtsied respectfully and spoke softly.

“Thank you, Senior, for saving me just now. Otherwise, my Ice Crystal Sword would truly have been destroyed.”

“Ice Crystal Sword? Your flying sword is made of ten-thousand-year profound jade, isn't it?” Han Li opened his eyes, glanced at the woman, and asked calmly.

“Senior, your insight is truly sharp. Indeed, most of my flying sword is crafted from profound jade!” Immortaless Xu's heart trembled slightly, and she admitted.

“Since you use such an extremely cold sword, and your cultivation method is also ice-attributed, let me mention someone. Do you know this person?” Han Li's eyes flickered a few times as he slowly spoke.

“Please tell me, Senior!” Immortaless Xu was momentarily stunned but immediately agreed.

“There was an ancient cultivator named Immortal Ice Soul, who also cultivated an extremely cold cultivation method and was an ascended cultivator. Do you know this person?” Han Li gazed at her pair of radiant, star-like eyes and began to transmit his voice with barely moving lips.

The first time he saw this woman, he felt she looked somewhat familiar. Later, after careful consideration, he realized that her eyes were almost identical to the pair of eyes of the founding ancestor, Immortal Ice Soul, whose radiant image was summoned by the cultivators of the Minor Polar Palace in the Human Realm when they opened the Ethereal Spirit Hall. Although it was merely a radiant image, Immortal Ice Soul's eyes shimmered with flowing colors, shining like stars, truly unforgettable. He had always remembered them vividly. Now, seeing this woman again, with her ice-attributed divine abilities, and her magic treasure also crafted from profound jade, he casually asked, adopting a 'nothing to lose' attitude.

“Immortal Ice Soul! She is our Xu family's ancestor from a very long time ago. How does Senior know her? Is Senior from the same lower realm as our ancestor?!” Immortaless Xu was greatly surprised and transmitted her voice back in astonishment.

“Heh heh, it's not quite 'knowing' her,” Han Li replied with a faint smile. “But I, Han, owe my current achievements greatly to some benefits left by your ancestor in the lower realm. Hmm… why isn't your flying sword completely crafted from ten-thousand-year profound jade? Otherwise, its power could increase by nearly half.” He abruptly changed the subject, seemingly unwilling to elaborate further.

“Senior, you jest,” Immortaless Xu said with a wry smile. “Although ten-thousand-year profound jade cannot compare to the top-tier materials of the Barren World, gathering such a large quantity is extremely difficult. The fact that my flying sword can incorporate so much profound jade is already thanks to me acquiring it bit by bit, regardless of the cost.” She was initially surprised by Han Li's connection to her ancestor, but she honestly answered his question.

“I see,” Han Li said after a brief deliberation. “I happen to have some ten-thousand-year profound jade, enough for you to re-refine your flying sword. Since Immortaless Xu truly has a connection with Immortal Ice Soul, I will gift it to you. Consider it me returning a favor!” Then, with a sweep of his hand over his storage bracelet, a white light flashed, and a crystalline jade box about a foot in size appeared in his hand, which he handed over.

“Thank you for your generous gift, Senior!” Joy and surprise appeared on the woman cultivator's face. She hastily expressed her gratitude, took the jade box, and opened the lid.

The woman gasped. Inside the jade box were four fist-sized white crystal stones, emitting a milky-white cold radiance throughout. Not only was this profound jade enough for her to re-refine her flying sword, but the remaining material could even be used to craft another profound jade magic treasure.

A fervent glint flashed in the woman cultivator's eyes. After accepting the jade box, she bowed deeply to Han Li once more. Han Li waved his hand dismissively and closed his eyes again. He had obtained many things, such as the Heavenly Cauldron, Cold Marrow, and Extreme Cold Flame, that were closely tied to Immortal Ice Soul's legacy. By returning this favor to her descendant, he would naturally have one less mental flaw when facing his next inner demon tribulation.

Having received such a valuable treasure, Immortaless Xu wisely refrained from disturbing Han Li further and quietly departed. From a distance, the blue-eyed man and the others had also noticed the interaction between Han Li and the woman. Seeing Han Li give her a jade box and how overjoyed the woman immediately became—a stark contrast to her usual aloof demeanor—they all became very curious. However, no one was foolish enough to directly ask about it.

After resting for several hours, at Han Li's command to “depart,” everyone set off once more. Along the rest of the journey, no other foreign races were encountered. After completing their patrol route, they eventually arrived at the pre-arranged location and waited for a Golden Court Ship sent specifically to pick them up. The group split into two teams, boarded the spirit ship, and directly teleported back to Tiance City.

Because they had encountered foreign races and captured a savage beast tamed by barbarians, after Han Li and his group handed over the transparent giant beast to the 'Foreign Spirit Hall,' they naturally received a considerable reward. According to regulations, there would be a six-month rest period after each patrol. After a ten-year patrol cycle was completed, the patrol area could then be randomly changed. As Han Li had completed his first patrol, he also received a 'Dust Extinguishing Pill,' which he consumed on the spot.

Afterward, the team disbanded in the team hall. The blue-eyed man and the others bid farewell to Han Li and departed on their own. When the female cultivator surnamed Xu was bidding farewell to Han Li, she suddenly mentioned a piece of news that piqued Han Li's interest.

“Senior, in two days, it will be the triennial auction of barbaric items at the city's auction house. Are you also planning to attend?”

“Barbaric items? What, Fellow Daoist Xu, are you also interested in them?” Han Li's eyebrows twitched, and he asked in return.

“Senior, you jest,” the female cultivator said with a wry smile. “To participate in this auction, one must at least be a Divine Transformation cultivator like yourself. How could a mere Core Formation cultivator like myself be qualified to attend? Moreover, every barbaric item is practically sky-high in price, something someone like me wouldn't dare hope for. However, Senior, you might as well go and try your luck.”

“Thank you for informing me, Fellow Daoist,” Han Li said, neither confirming nor denying. “I might go and have a look.”

Seeing that Han Li had accepted her gesture of goodwill, the woman surnamed Xu immediately said no more and respectfully took her leave. As Han Li watched her receding figure, his eyes involuntarily narrowed.

In fact, even if the woman hadn't mentioned the auction, he had no intention of leaving the city immediately. Since arriving in the Spirit Realm, he hadn't yet begun to search for suitable pill recipes and spiritual herbs. He had originally planned to take action after this patrol. Now that there was an auction of barbaric items, it was a good opportunity to observe and learn. After all, he had long heard the incredible legends surrounding various barbaric items.

With these thoughts in mind, Han Li unhurriedly left the towering green stone pagoda. He immediately transformed into a ray of light and flew directly towards the marketplace marked on the map.

Tiance City's marketplace was naturally immense in scale. Almost all rare materials from the Three Realms and Seven Demon Lands could be found there. Furthermore, the occasional appearance of barbaric items made the place even more bustling. Both the local guards of Tiance City and outsiders entered and exited without cease throughout the day. Even more astonishingly, the massive light barrier separating humans and demons passed directly through the center of the marketplace, dividing it into two halves. Yet, right in the center of the marketplace, a grand hall was established. It directly connected the human and demon sides, allowing both races to freely exchange materials or barbaric items. After all, some items might not be very useful to one race, but could be extraordinarily rare to the other. The auction house, in particular, occupied one side of this grand hall.

Han Li's light of evasion landed directly on a certain street in the marketplace. He spotted a nearby pharmacy and casually walked in.

“Senior, what are you looking for? Although our shop is small, we have a very complete range of spiritual herbs.”

The pharmacy was not very large. It had only a middle-aged manager with a Core Formation cultivation and two Foundation Establishment assistants, and no other customers. Therefore, upon seeing Han Li, a Sky-Blue Guard, enter, the manager immediately rose with a beaming smile to personally greet him.

“Do you have any pill recipes or spiritual herbs that can refine the cultivation of Divine Transformation cultivators?” Han Li asked directly, without formality.

“Divine Transformation cultivators?” the manager replied, his spirits immediately lifting at the prospect of a large transaction. “We do have two pill recipes, but the required materials are too rare for our shop to fully stock.”

“Hmm, bring me the pill recipes to look at first,” Han Li said indifferently, furrowing his brow slightly.

“Yes, please wait a moment, Senior. I'll be right back,” the manager said respectfully. He then instructed an assistant to quickly serve Han Li tea and offer him a seat, before immediately going into the back room.