Chapter 220: Secret Shop, Auction

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### Volume Three, Volume Four: Overseas Wind Rising**Category:** Fantasy Cultivation**Author:** Wang Yu**Book Title:** A Record of a Mortal's Journey to Immortality

The scholar was initially startled by Han Li's words, but then he smiled. "Senior," he said, "fortunately, you told me this; otherwise, I might have made a wasted trip! While the Heaven Star Sect's array formations are famous, that doesn't mean Star Dust Pavilion has top-quality array flags and plates. Currently, Star Dust Pavilion has plenty of array flags and plates, and a wide variety too! But these are just ordinary goods sold to minor cultivation families and rogue cultivators. The Heaven Star Sect would never let their true high-grade formation tools circulate outside. After all, array formations are fundamental to their sect's foundation. Easily allowing high-grade array flags and plates to flow out would expose weaknesses in their formations to outsiders! For them, that would be a significant loss!"

As the scholar explained to Han Li, he secretly glanced at him. However, Han Li's hood concealed his face completely, revealing nothing, which left the scholar feeling frustrated and powerless.

Han Li, though greatly surprised by what the scholar implied, maintained a calm and composed voice, showing no trace of astonishment or shock. "From your tone," he said, "it sounds like you can find what I'm looking for."

Hearing this, the scholar first looked around, ensuring no one was nearby. Then, he lowered his voice and spoke furtively: "Senior, if you trust me, I can indeed introduce you to a secret shop that very few people know about. Although a small portion of the items sold there have questionable origins, the goods are absolutely top-tier treasures rarely seen elsewhere! I believe there, Senior, you will certainly find satisfactory formation artifacts."

"A secret shop?" Han Li's voice remained calm, but he was truly startled by the scholar's words. Han Li had heard rumors about secret shops over the past few years, to varying degrees. He knew that if what the scholar said was true, this would be a rare opportunity to broaden his horizons.

"It seems, Senior, you also know something about secret shops. Hehe! That's even better, then I don't need to explain much more. The monthly auction at this secret shop is in about two or three hours. If you want to go, Senior, you should decide soon. I can lead the way immediately!" Seeing that Han Li showed no aversion to the secret shop after hearing his words, the scholar secretly rejoiced. He knew that this client was almost certainly the right one.

"It won't be too far, will it?" Han Li suddenly asked.

"Not far, it's right here in the market. Senior, have you agreed?" The scholar became somewhat excited. Bringing a potential client to this secret shop could earn him a considerable commission of spirit stones!

"Let's go," Han Li said, letting out a slight breath, his voice turning cold.

"I'll lead the way then!" The scholar replied, a joyful expression on his face, and walked ahead.

After navigating several twists and turns led by the scholar, he brought Han Li to a solitary, dilapidated hut. The hut's door was tightly shut, with no markings on it. It appeared very inconspicuous.

However, after the scholar rhythmically tapped the wooden door a few times, the door opened, and a woman in her thirties emerged. This woman had an ordinary appearance and her cultivation was only at the sixth or seventh layer of Qi Condensation, making her quite unremarkable.

"Madam Zhang, I've brought a new guest who also wishes to participate in this auction." Before the woman could speak, Wang Ziling eagerly stepped aside, revealing Han Li behind him, and spoke excitedly.

Upon hearing Wang Ziling's words about bringing a guest, Madam Zhang not only showed no joy but frowned, appearing somewhat displeased. However, once she clearly saw that Han Li was a Foundation Establishment cultivator, her expression changed, and a slight smile appeared.

"Now this is a proper guest! A Foundation Establishment Senior. Unlike the previous guests you've brought, who were all sorts of characters. Please come in, Senior!" Although the woman's cultivation was low, she showed no hint of reverence towards Han Li. She seemed to truly regard Han Li as just an ordinary visitor.

"Senior, I can only escort you this far. I'll take my leave now!" Wang Ziling's face flushed slightly from the woman's remarks, and he quickly took his leave from Han Li.

Han Li briefly glanced at the scholar's disappearing figure. Then, as the woman stepped aside, he entered the hut.

Inside the hut, various low-quality materials for alchemy and artifact refining were haphazardly scattered everywhere, making it appear like an ordinary raw materials shop.

As Han Li observed carefully, the woman, who had just closed the door again, said solemnly: "Sir, please follow me."

With that, the woman took two steps to a corner of the room, extended a hand, and pressed it against the floor.

A yellow light flashed from her hand, and a large hole opened up in the floor. The woman motioned to Han Li and then descended the steps first.

Han Li hesitated slightly. After a moment's consideration, he walked to the tunnel entrance and carefully followed, maintaining his natural vigilance.

The tunnel was short; after walking about ten *zhang*, they reached a small stone door. In front of the door, two black-clad figures stood, one on each side, each wearing a ghastly demon mask.

After a quick glance at the black-clad figures, Han Li's expression immediately turned serious. These two were actually Foundation Establishment cultivators, just like him, and one of them appeared to be at the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment. This startled Han Li. He developed a deep wariness towards the strength of this secret shop.

The woman, acting as if she hadn't seen the black-clad figures, simply pushed open the stone door and led Han Li inside. The two black-clad figures also paid no attention, showing no intention to stop them.

Upon entering the stone door, Han Li was stunned. Vermillion carpets, snow-white jade walls, and high-hanging palace lanterns—all of it exuded the opulence and grandeur of the mortal world. It seemed the owner of this place was indeed an intriguing character!

The grand hall was oval-shaped, dozens of *zhang* in diameter. Inside, there were seven or eight rows of wooden chairs, on which dozens of cultivators, dressed in various styles, were seated. Opposite them was a solitary empty table, and not far from one side of this table, three more sandalwood chairs were placed.

Seeing Han Li and the woman enter, the seated individuals couldn't help but glance at Han Li.

After being scanned by these gazes, Han Li broke out in a cold sweat, his expression changing drastically. Most of these people were actually Foundation Establishment cultivators!

Only then did Han Li understand why the woman beside him had shown no reverence. Here, he was merely an ordinary member among them!

"Sir, you've arrived just in time! The trade fair is about to begin. This humble one will take her leave now; I still need to attend to matters upstairs." After saying these two sentences while turning her head, the woman left him there alone and departed.

Han Li felt helpless. After glancing at the many cultivators in the hall, he silently found a secluded corner and sat down.

He now noticed that, like him, all the cultivators here had concealed their true appearances by wearing masks, hoods, or other means. It seemed no one was foolish enough to want their identity recognized.

Although there were many people in the hall, everyone remained silent, making it extremely quiet. This created a subtle tension in the air.

Seeing this, Han Li also remained perfectly quiet. Aside from maliciously wondering if he knew anyone here, he focused his attention entirely on a wooden door behind the long table opposite him. It seemed the host was likely preparing inside.

After Han Li had sat for a full two or three hours, the wooden door behind the table finally opened, and three people emerged one after another.

The attire of these three people was identical to that of the two black-clad figures guarding the stone door. One couldn't discern any master or subordinate among them.

They now stood side by side behind the long table, and the person on the far right spoke first in a low, hoarse voice: "Welcome, fellow cultivators from the cultivation world, to our trade fair. This time, we have both our old customers and newcomers participating for the first time. However, that makes no difference; our establishment treats everyone equally!"

As soon as the person on the right finished speaking, the one on the far left immediately continued: "The rules for this trade remain unchanged: our establishment will call out a base price in spirit stones, and everyone will then bid using spirit stones. If your spirit stones are insufficient, you may also use other items of equivalent value as collateral. The specific value will be jointly assessed by the three of us! In short, the highest bidder wins the auctioned item." This person's voice was completely opposite to that of the one on the right—it was high-pitched and thin, making it very uncomfortable to listen to, likely falsetto.

"Finally, once our items have been auctioned, it will be time for everyone's free trade. If you have anything to exchange or sell, you may come forward, display it yourself, and trade independently. We will not interfere in the slightest; we merely provide the venue. That concludes our introduction. Let the auction begin!"

The person in the middle, speaking with a rich and resonant voice, projected it throughout the hall. As soon as he finished speaking, the three individuals swiftly moved aside, vacating the space behind the table, and then each sat down in one of the three sandalwood chairs. Concurrently, a tall, slender middle-aged man emerged from behind the wooden door, his face bearing a shrewd expression.

This man came to stand behind the table, cleared his throat a few times, and then began to speak: "This auction will be presided over by me. First up for bidding is a top-tier magic tool, the Fiery Cloud Sword. This..."