Chapter 2156: Acquisition

The enormous hall was clearly divided into two sections.

One half, like an ordinary shop, displayed rows of stone counters laden with various materials and treasures.

Behind each ten-zhang long counter stood a beautiful young attendant.

Near these counters, a dozen or so men and women were browsing for items, while the beautiful attendants occasionally offered explanations with a smile.

The other half of the hall was obscured by a hazy blue light screen. At what appeared to be the entrance to this screen, two emotionless attendants in green robes stood guard.

Inside the light screen, shelves were vaguely visible, also holding treasures, but these were clearly of higher value than those displayed outside.

Han Li's brow furrowed slightly, and some of the powerful spiritual pressure he had suppressed within him was instantly released.

Although it was only a cultivation level around the late Void Refinement stage, it was enough for everyone in the hall to sense it, and their gazes involuntarily swept over, their faces showing expressions of awe.

At that moment, the blue light screen shimmered, and a demoness emerged from within, her beauty and cultivation far surpassing those of the outside attendants.

She appeared to be in her early twenties, dressed in a brocade robe, exuding grace and elegance.

With a graceful movement, she walked a few steps to Han Li's side and, bowing her head slightly, said,

"Welcome, Senior, to the Splendid Pavilion. I am Xiaoyan, the acting manager of this establishment. How may I be of service?"

This woman was a high-level demon of the God Transformation stage.

"I heard your pavilion is the largest shop in Blue Waterfall City. Is that true?" Han Li asked, scrutinizing the demoness without showing any emotion.

"To answer you, Senior, we dare not claim to be the largest. However, when it comes to the completeness of our inventory, our shop is definitely second to none," Xiaoyan replied with a charming smile.

"Oh, if that's the case, I haven't come to the wrong place. I have some items I wish to purchase in large quantities from your esteemed establishment," Han Li said, nodding faintly.

"It is an honor for this junior that you would choose our pavilion, Senior. This is not the place for conversation; please follow me to the VIP room on the second floor," Xiaoyan said, her heart filled with delight, speaking quickly.

For her, coming from someone of such cultivation, the word "large quantities" definitely signified a significant transaction.

Han Li had no objections. After nodding, he followed her towards the staircase.

A short while later, Han Li was seated in an exceptionally elegantly decorated room, savoring a cup of fragrant, pale silver tea.

The woman in the brocade robe stood to one side, smiling as she spoke.

"Senior, this konjac tea is also a specialty of Blue Waterfall Lake. It has the effect of consolidating the soul and nourishing the spirit. Even our pavilion only receives a few dozen jin a year, making it extremely rare."

"Indeed, it's extraordinary. However, at my level of cultivation, this effect is negligible," Han Li said casually after finishing his tea, showing little concern.

"Someone of your esteemed cultivation naturally wouldn't pay much heed to mere spirit tea. But I wonder, Senior, what items you are looking to purchase in large quantities during this visit? As long as our pavilion has them, this junior will certainly meet your requirements!" The woman in the brocade robe finally got to the main point.

"Demon Gold and Bloodtooth Rice!" Han Li, not one for unnecessary talk, directly named the two items.

Upon hearing the first name, Xiaoyan's expression remained unchanged, but as soon as she heard the second, her face subtly shifted, and she remained silent for a long moment.

"What's wrong? Is there an issue with these two items at your pavilion?" Han Li asked intentionally, feigning ignorance.

"To be honest, Senior, Demon Gold is manageable. Although it's relatively rare, our vault still has a considerable amount in stock. If you truly desire it, you may take as much as you wish. As for Bloodtooth Rice, that poses a challenge for our pavilion," the woman in the brocade robe said, showing a troubled expression.

"Before I came, I heard that Blue Waterfall City strictly controls Bloodtooth Rice, allowing even high-cultivation individuals to purchase only a few grains annually. But with your pavilion's capabilities, can't this restriction be somewhat relaxed?" Han Li asked, raising an eyebrow.

"It seems, Senior, that you are truly unaware of the local production situation for Bloodtooth Rice. Your previous assumption is quite mistaken," the woman in the brocade robe said with a wry smile.

"I've just arrived here, so I'm indeed not very clear on this. Could you please explain, fellow Daoist?" Han Li asked calmly after a moment of silence.

"This matter doesn't need to be kept secret, so there's no harm in telling you, Senior. It's not boasting on my part! While our Splendid Pavilion can't claim to have every material and treasure, we do have reliable supply channels that allow us to maintain a certain stock. However, Bloodtooth Rice, a specialty of this city, is entirely controlled by the City Lord's Mansion. Each year, we can only obtain a limited quantity from them according to specific regulations. Although our pavilion is one of the few major shops in the city, we truly don't have much Bloodtooth Rice. Furthermore, according to the City Lord's Mansion's rules, the sale of Bloodtooth Rice must be registered, and annual inspections are strictly carried out," the woman in the brocade robe explained truthfully.

"So, there's absolutely no room for flexibility?" Han Li asked slowly again, his brow furrowing upon hearing this.

"I'm truly sorry, this matter is beyond my capabilities. However, if you only need two or three more grains, I could perhaps find a way, even risking reprimand from above. But for any more than that, our pavilion is truly powerless," the woman in the brocade robe replied after a moment of hesitation.

"Heh heh, two or three grains? If I only needed that little, why would I have sought out your Splendid Pavilion? Never mind, since your pavilion finds Bloodtooth Rice difficult to handle, let's just discuss Demon Gold. Roughly how many pieces do you have, and what are their prices?" Han Li chuckled, skillfully changing the subject as he asked.

"As for Demon Gold, please rest assured, Senior! Our pavilion just received a new shipment a few days ago, numbering over a hundred pieces. May I ask how many pieces you require? If you truly need a substantial amount, I can take the liberty of lowering the price for you," the woman in the brocade robe replied, her spirits lifted and full of confidence.

"Over a hundred pieces? Then bring them all," Han Li said, his expression betraying little emotion.

"All of them? Did this junior mishear?" Even the woman in the brocade robe gasped.

"What, do you think I'm joking, fellow Daoist?" Han Li said faintly, his eyes narrowing slightly.

"How could this junior dare to think such a thing? Please wait a moment, Senior. I will have someone bring out the items for your inspection immediately," the young woman said with a forced smile, suppressing her excitement.

"Very well, I shall wait here then!" Han Li nodded calmly with a faint smile.

After the time it takes to eat a meal, Han Li was personally escorted out of the Splendid Pavilion's main entrance by the woman in the brocade robe.

He swaggered to the roadside and hailed another beast-carriage. After instructing the driver to go to another large shop, he closed his eyes inside the carriage, resting.

In this manner, Han Li visited five or six large shops consecutively throughout the day, almost completely clearing out their entire stock of Demon Gold. However, he had no success whatsoever regarding Bloodtooth Rice.

These large shops unanimously refused his request to purchase Bloodtooth Rice in large quantities.

Han Li remained undeterred by this. He found an inn to stay for the night, and the next morning, he continued visiting various shops one by one throughout Blue Waterfall City.

This time, however, Han Li specifically sought out shops of medium size.

In this way, Han Li stayed in Blue Waterfall Lake for seven consecutive days, having visited almost every shop, large and small, in the city. He had also amassed a large quantity of Demon Gold.

Such a vast amount of Demon Gold naturally came at an exorbitant price in demon stones. However, compared to Han Li's immense wealth, it was merely a drop in the ocean, hardly worth noting.

Yet, despite collecting so much Demon Gold, Han Li failed to find any further pieces containing the mysterious crystal bead, which greatly disappointed him.

Nevertheless, he did not abandon his intention to acquire Demon Gold and continued purchasing it from various shops, both large and small.

As for Bloodtooth Rice, after being turned down by the first few establishments, Han Li did not mention it again to the small and medium-sized shops.

His actions naturally led some well-informed individuals in the city to realize that a foreign demon seeking Demon Gold had suddenly arrived in Blue Waterfall Lake.

Most people, however, paid little attention to this.

Given Blue Waterfall City's reputation and the large number of foreign demon merchants passing through, such occurrences happened almost every few days.

But to certain individuals with keen interests, it was a completely different matter.

On the eighth day, just as Han Li stepped out of his lodging and was about to hail a beast-carriage, a figure suddenly flickered before him. A demon man with a handlebar mustache appeared, approaching Han Li with a fawning smile and saying,

"I heard, Senior, that you are purchasing Demon Gold in large quantities. My companion happens to have a batch; I wonder if you might be interested?"

"I only buy in large quantities. If you only have a few or a dozen pieces, don't bother me," Han Li replied nonchalantly after briefly assessing the man and realizing he was only at the Nascent Soul stage.

"Rest assured, sir. If it were only that little Demon Gold, how would this junior dare to disturb you? The amount of Demon Gold my companion possesses will absolutely satisfy you, Senior," the demon man continued with a deferential smile.

"Oh, is that so? Where is your companion? If it's outside the city, then forget it," Han Li said, his expression subtly shifting, appearing somewhat tempted yet also a little suspicious.

"Please rest assured, Senior. My companion is waiting for your esteemed presence at the city's most renowned Immortal Dwelling Tower," the demon man quickly explained.

"From your demeanor, it seems your words are true. Very well, I shall make this trip," Han Li said, his gaze flickering a few times as his expression softened.

Upon hearing this, the demon man was naturally overjoyed. He quickly waved a hand to the side, and a pre-arranged beast-carriage immediately pulled up.

The demon man and Han Li then boarded the carriage and rode off towards one end of the street.

Several hours later, in a relatively secluded hall, Han Li finally met several unfamiliar male and female demons.