Chapter 1813: Black Domain Exchange Meeting

A Mortal's Journey to Immortality

Upon hearing this, Young Master Hai and the other man, though slightly disappointed, dared not disobey Han Li’s instructions and immediately agreed.

Han Li immediately led them out of the main hall and headed straight for the well-like transportation array on the platform.

With Young Master Hai and Qilingzi inside the array, Han Li produced the silver token and waved it twice.

A silver light flashed from the array, transporting the two of them to the first floor of the main hall.

Then, Han Li unhurriedly stepped into the array himself.

The spiritual light flashed again, and his figure vanished instantly.

A short while later, Han Li found himself inside a magnificent palace seemingly constructed from red coral, engaging in pleasant conversation with an old Daoist priest who held a glamorous woman in his arms.

The old Daoist priest had a hooked nose, exceptionally gloomy eyes, and his white hair was tied into a triangular bun. He wore a gray Daoist robe adorned with eighteen vivid white skulls.

The glamorous concubine semi-reclining in the old Daoist priest's arms not only had a voluptuous figure but also skin as smooth as jade. She was clad in an exceptionally sheer white gauze robe, with most of her body nestled into the old Daoist's embrace, revealing only her enchanting face, as she listened with a smile to the conversation between the old Daoist and Han Li.

A little further away, on both sides of the main hall, stood seven or eight other beautiful women, similarly draped in various colored gauze robes, each standing respectfully with their hands clasped.

The old Daoist priest was, naturally, the master of this place, Patriarch Wan Gu of the White Bone Sect.

The woman in his arms, as well as the others on both sides, were all, nominally, his concubines. However, the woman in his arms far surpassed the others in both appearance and charm, clearly the old Daoist priest's favored one.

While casually discussing past events in the barren lands with the old Daoist, Han Li secretly pondered some rumors concerning Patriarch Wan Gu.

It was said that Patriarch Wan Gu's cultivation method belonged to the demonic path, and he was naturally extremely lecherous, particularly fond of dual cultivation techniques involving 'plucking and nourishing', seldom spending a night without a woman. It now seemed that these rumors were likely true.

"Haha, I didn't expect Fellow Daoist Han to be so young yet so widely traveled," the old Daoist priest remarked with a click of his tongue, then sighed and added, "When I first reached the Integration Stage, I only traveled around the human territories before returning. At my current age, I have no desire to venture far from human lands."

"Brother Wan Gu, you jest," Han Li said with a smile. "The reason I stayed in the desolate lands for so long was due to a series of fortuitous coincidences that left me no choice. In truth, I would never have dared to stray far from my own race if it were up to me. It was also fortunate that I managed to traverse almost half of the continent and return unscathed."

"Haha, then it seems Fellow Daoist Han is truly a person blessed with great fortune," the old Daoist priest said, his face wreathed in smiles, his words carrying a hint of flattery. "What's more, during this journey, you've encountered one good fortune after another, your cultivation breaking through several stages consecutively, and upon returning to your clan, you effortlessly succeeded in breaking through to the Integration Stage. As for further back, this humble Daoist does not know. But within the past tens of thousands of years, absolutely no one has advanced as quickly as you, Fellow Daoist. When I broke through the bottleneck to the Integration Stage, it took me several millennia to barely succeed. It's simply incomparable to your progress, Fellow Daoist Han. With your talent and age, Fellow Daoist Han, you might even have a chance to reach the Mahayana Stage."

"How could I dare to dream of the Mahayana Stage?" Han Li replied, naturally exceedingly humble. "I would be content just to survive a few more Grand Heavenly Tribulations."

"That's true!" Patriarch Wan Gu said, seemingly recalling something with a touch of melancholy. "The Mahayana Stage is indeed like trying to catch the moon in the water for us. Our human race has stood firm in the Spirit Realm for so many years, yet we've only produced a dozen or so Mahayana Stage existences in total. There was even a period when we had no Mahayana cultivators, which nearly led to the annihilation of our entire race."

This time, Han Li did not respond, only smiling without a word. He had indeed heard a thing or two about that great catastrophe of the human race.

That time, it seemed, they were attacked by an allied army of several foreign races. Had it not been for the Monster Race, who happened to be at their strongest then, with two Mahayana Stage cultivators emerging at once, and who knew deep down that their own race alone could not long stand firm in the Spirit Realm, they might not have given humanity such a great helping hand.

At that time, the human race truly might have faced annihilation.

"Fellow Daoist Han, having recently advanced to the Integration Stage, you must be planning to acquire many items at this Myriad Treasures Convention, correct?" Patriarch Wan Gu quickly concealed the peculiar look on his face and abruptly changed the subject.

"Indeed, I am in need of some alchemy materials and hope to make some gains here," Han Li said, nodding. "After all, only at such an event do rare materials, normally impossible to find, tend to appear."

"If that's the case, this humble Daoist has a suggestion. Would Fellow Daoist Han be willing to hear it?" the old Daoist priest said with a smile.

"Oh, please tell me, True Man!" Han Li said, slightly surprised.

"You may leave first." Patriarch Wan Gu did not immediately speak to Han Li. Instead, he bade the concubine in his arms to leave, and motioned for the other women to depart as well.

The women, naturally obedient, bowed respectfully to Han Li and the old Daoist priest, and one by one exited the main hall.

In a blink of an eye, only Han Li and the old Daoist priest remained in the main hall.

It was then that the old Daoist priest's expression turned serious as he spoke to Han Li again:

"Fellow Daoist Han, this should be your first time attending the Myriad Treasures Convention as an Integration Stage cultivator. I wonder if you've heard of the 'Black Domain Exchange Convention'?"

"'Black Domain Exchange Convention'? This is the first I've heard of it," Han Li said, his eyes flickering. "Is it something similar to a secret auction at a market?" He didn't show excessive surprise.

For a grand event like the Myriad Treasures Convention, it would be strange if there weren't some mysterious small-scale private trade fairs.

"Hehe, it seems Brother Han had already anticipated this, even if this is the first time you're hearing of it," the old Daoist priest chuckled. "For us Integration Stage cultivators, ordinary items are indeed hard to impress. Even the main auction at the Myriad Treasures Convention might not entirely satisfy everyone. Many fellow Daoists possess valuable treasures but are unwilling to exchange them for spirit stones, wishing only to trade for items they urgently need. Then there are some fellow Daoists whose items, though excellent, have obscure origins and cannot be directly auctioned. Furthermore, some treasures are simply too rare; even Integration Stage cultivators like us fear leaking information about them, as it could invite deadly trouble. Thus, it's unclear when it started, but during every Myriad Treasures Convention, several small private trade fairs are held concurrently. However, this Black Domain Convention is the most mysterious of them all. It's organized by mysterious cultivators specifically as an exchange convention for Integration Stage cultivators. Most Integration Stage cultivators who attend the Myriad Treasures Convention rarely miss this one."

The old Daoist priest paused, and seeing Han Li's interested expression, he immediately smiled and continued:

"These mysterious cultivators have unusual backgrounds and immense magical powers. They even once killed a disruptive Integration Stage cultivator at one of the exchange conventions. Since then, no one has dared to offend these organizers at any Black Domain Convention. Thus, participating in this Black Domain Exchange Convention is extremely safe. This exchange convention is solely for bartering; it only occurs once and concludes within a single day. Participants' identities and origins are never questioned. As such, it's perfectly suited for Integration Stage cultivators like us. Besides Integration Stage cultivators like us, some individuals possessing great treasures can also bring their items and participate. Of course, ordinary treasures are not allowed entry. Many from the Monster Race also participate. Therefore, the convention features monster beast materials strictly forbidden by the Monster Race, as well as spirit beast eggs that are impossible to obtain through normal channels. Some transformed monster women are even put up for auction. Tsk tsk, especially the women of the Sky Fox Clan; each one is an excellent dual cultivation cauldron, and countless human Daoists are greatly interested in them. Of course, those who actually acquire these monster women will surely keep them secretly hidden in their immortal abodes, otherwise, if the Seven Great Monster Kings found out, heheh... Naturally, some human women of exceptional talent are also put up for exchange. Those from the Monster Race are equally interested."

Upon hearing this, Han Li naturally understood that this so-called Black Domain Exchange Convention was similar to the underground trade fair he had attended in the Great Jin of the Human Realm. The only difference was that the main participants were Integration Stage cultivators, and the value of the exchanged items was incomparable.

After listening to all the old Daoist priest's words, he felt a slight shock in his heart.

Cultivators of the Human and Monster Races were strictly forbidden from forcibly abducting members of the opposing race to use as dual cultivation cauldrons or concubines. This was one of the prohibitions jointly established by both races.

Although much time had passed and few people mentioned this rule anymore, it would still be a huge trouble if one were truly caught in the act.

This showed that the mysterious cultivators organizing this Black Domain Exchange Convention were truly audacious.

However, the more audacious it was, the more likely it was for valuable items that could not see the light of day under normal circumstances to appear at such a dark-natured exchange convention. What interested him most, naturally, were the monster beast materials.

Han Li's heart involuntarily stirred.

"Hearing True Man speak of it like this, I am indeed quite interested. I just don't know where this exchange convention will be held, or when."

"The location of the Black Domain Exchange Convention is, naturally, a mysterious place called the Black Domain. However, the Black Domain isn't a fixed location but a movable Sumeru space. This alone demonstrates the immense divine abilities of these organizers."

"As for the time, the organizers will notify all interested cultivators through various means and inform them of the entry methods. To my knowledge, the entry methods are not the same for all cultivators. This humble Daoist has participated in this exchange convention many times and has some connections that allow me to know certain information in advance. If Fellow Daoist truly wishes to go, I can take you there when the time comes," Patriarch Wan Gu said with a smile.

"Then I thank True Man in advance." After a brief thought, Han Li also smiled and agreed.