Chapter 946: Heavenly Secret Pavilion

Han Li spent some time and finally found a small, obscure Taoist temple in the city. To his satisfaction, all the Taoist priests there were ordinary mortals, completely devoid of any magical power.

Han Li was pleased with this discovery. He immediately offered some silver, which moved the abbot, and secured a temporary stay at the temple.

After spending a night at the temple, Han Li departed early the next morning and headed directly to an academy he had sensed to have cultivators' auras during the day.

Given that this academy was established in a place like Jinjing and appeared to be a significant size, it undoubtedly had a notable background and was likely connected to the Confucian sect.

However, Han Li was entirely unconcerned. He quietly infiltrated the academy, appearing before a white-haired elderly Confucian scholar. Without any attempt to conceal it, he unleashed his powerful Nascent Soul stage aura.

Upon first seeing Han Li, the old scholar was startled and immediately gathered his spiritual energy. However, once he discerned Han Li's true cultivation level, his expression eased, he lowered his guard, took a respectful step forward, and bowed to Han Li.

"Senior, your presence honors our academy. Is there anything this junior can assist you with?"

"You are indeed perceptive," Han Li said with a leisurely smile. "I do have a minor matter for you. Please tell me about the locations of Jinjing's various markets and any information you have regarding auctions. As local cultivators, you should be the most knowledgeable about these matters."

"The market locations are no problem at all!" the elderly scholar readily agreed without hesitation. "I will immediately copy all the maps into a jade slip. As for the auctions, this junior doesn't know much, but what specifically would Senior like to know?" He then retrieved a white jade slip from his storage bag and began imbuing it with map data of the market locations.

Han Li's smile receded as he calmly inquired, "The exact time and location of the auction, and whether any rare and valuable materials will be for sale."

"The time and location are not a problem," the old scholar replied honestly. "The auction will be held nine days from now at the Baoguang Hall in Jinxi Market. It's divided into two levels: Core Formation and Nascent Soul, held at staggered times. Nascent Soul cultivators can participate in the Core Formation level auction, but Core Formation cultivators cannot enter the Nascent Soul level auction. As for what materials will be for sale, this junior truly cannot answer. Such a large-scale auction is jointly organized by several of Dajin's largest markets, making it difficult for outsiders to know the specific items offered. However, based on past experience, there will be at least a hundred rare and valuable materials. Additionally, some seniors will temporarily consign their own rare items for bidding. This auction typically lasts for five or six days."

"I see. Baoguang Hall," Han Li murmured to himself, nodding slightly.

"Senior, the jade slip is ready. Please take it," the old scholar said, finally finishing his task. He then respectfully presented it to Han Li with both hands.

Han Li silently took the jade slip. After sweeping his divine sense through its contents, a satisfied nod appeared on his face.

"Excellent. Do not mention having seen me today to anyone else. Otherwise, *heheh*..." Han Li gave a sinister chuckle. A flash of green light enveloped him, and he abruptly vanished from the spot.

The old scholar's eye twitched. He sat back in his chair, his brow furrowed in thought.

After a long moment, he swept his divine sense through the room, finding it empty, as if no one else remained.

Only then did the old scholar truly exhale, a wry smile gracing his lips.

After leaving the academy, Han Li carefully reviewed the jade slip, then headed directly for the Jinxi Market.

The so-called Jinxi Market was, in fact, a small area within Jinjing City's western district. It was perpetually concealed by a sophisticated stealth array, rendering a secluded street invisible to ordinary perception.

Han Li appeared at the market's entrance, effortlessly passing through the invisible barrier imperceptible to mortals, and suddenly found himself on a somewhat quieter street.

Of course, this "quietness" was only relative to the bustling mortal world outside. A glance down the street revealed at least several hundred cultivators moving in and out of the shops lining both sides.

Han Li didn't need to meticulously scan the entire street with his divine sense; he knew that with the auction impending, Jinxi Market was certainly overseen by Nascent Soul cultivators. A major auction of this scale would not be easily organized otherwise.

With these thoughts, Han Li walked at a leisurely pace, his eyes constantly scanning the shops on either side.

Jinxi Market was notably different from the markets Han Li had encountered elsewhere in southern Dajin. Almost all the buildings on both sides were tall, two- or three-story pavilions, suggesting significant wealth. These were clearly substantial businesses. Han Li even recognized the names of some pavilions from other markets he had visited.

It appeared that powerful businesses from across the Dajin cultivation world had established branches here.

Given this, there was no need for meticulous discernment. Han Li, carrying a list of several materials he needed to collect, immediately went from one shop to the next, making inquiries.

However, the items Han Li still sought were, by nature, exceedingly rare, and thus not easily acquired.

Han Li wasn't anxious. He hadn't expected to easily find his desired materials in the market; he was merely checking as a matter of course. He actually had another important task to accomplish there.

Participating in the auction would certainly require a substantial amount of spirit stones. While Han Li initially possessed a considerable sum, his masked cultivator avatar had spent most of them while collecting other materials. Now, facing such a large-scale auction, his remaining spirit stones were clearly insufficient.

Han Li intended to find a large business where he could sell some rare items and acquire more spirit stones.

Given the substantial amount of spirit stones he needed, the buyer naturally had to be a powerful and wealthy establishment.

As Han Li approached a three-story pavilion, his eyes narrowed slightly.

This pavilion was noticeably larger than the preceding shops. With many cultivators entering and exiting, it appeared to be an ideal place for his transaction.

However, when Han Li saw the large golden characters "Tianji Pavilion" inscribed on the plaque above the main entrance, his heart skipped a beat.

Could this "Tianji Pavilion" be *the* Tianji Pavilion, the one renowned for selling divination houses?

After a brief hesitation, Han Li stepped inside.

The first floor of the pavilion was quite spacious, measuring about thirty to forty zhang in both length and width. Five or six sharp-featured Qi Condensation stage apprentices were engaged in introducing items on the surrounding shelves to several customers.

The moment Han Li entered, an apprentice approached him with a beaming smile, ready to offer assistance.

"Step back. I'll attend to this Senior myself."

Seated in a corner of the hall, a middle-aged man in white robes was leisurely sipping fragrant tea. As soon as his divine sense swept over Han Li's cultivation, his expression shifted to surprise. He immediately set down his teacup and hastily interjected, stopping the apprentice.

He then straightened his robes, took a few steps forward, bowed to Han Li, and respectfully said:

"It is truly an honor for our Tianji Pavilion to be graced by Senior's presence. The first floor naturally won't have what Senior seeks. May I suggest Senior accompany this junior to the third floor for a more detailed discussion?"

"Very well. I was intending to find someone in charge here anyway," Han Li said calmly, his eyes flickering slightly.

He then calmly ascended the stairs, guided by the middle-aged man.

The seven or eight cultivators on the first floor who were shopping, witnessing this, naturally realized Han Li was a Nascent Soul stage cultivator, and a stir immediately arose among them.

"A Nascent Soul stage Senior! I've never seen one before. How can he look so young?"

"It looks like the Tianji Pavilion is about to handle a major deal. Tsk, tsk..."

A series of surprised exclamations and sounds of wonder followed.

The third floor of Tianji Pavilion wasn't large, but it was elegantly and uniquely furnished. Two young, beautiful female cultivators were also present; upon seeing the middle-aged man bring a guest in, they immediately brewed and served a pot of fine tea.

"Senior, please have a taste," the middle-aged man said with a smile, as soon as Han Li was seated. "This is our pavilion's Fog Rain Spirit Tea, acquired at great expense. It has a truly unique flavor."

"I'm not in a hurry to taste the tea," Han Li said calmly, without even glancing at the Fog Rain Spirit Tea. "Let's first see if your esteemed pavilion has the materials I wish to purchase. To be honest, I've already visited quite a few shops, and none of them had what I needed, so I don't hold much hope for your Tianji Pavilion either." With a flick of his sleeve, a green jade slip appeared on the tabletop.

"Since Senior is so eager, this junior will take a look," the middle-aged man said with a smile. "However, given that the previous shops didn't have what Senior desires, these materials must be quite extraordinary." He immediately extended his hand, beckoned the jade slip to him, and then immersed his divine sense into it.

A moment later, the middle-aged man's expression subtly changed.

Han Li's expression remained unperturbed. He had witnessed similar reactions many times from the shopkeepers he had previously visited. After all, every material he sought was exceedingly rare, with two of them being so obscure that even ordinary cultivators wouldn't have heard of them.

"No wonder Senior found nothing in the previous shops," the white-robed middle-aged man said with a wry smile, withdrawing his divine sense from the jade slip. "These materials are indeed beyond what ordinary shops can acquire. Apart from a small piece of 'Thunder Spirit Stone' that our pavilion still possesses, we are unable to assist with the rest."

"You have Thunder Spirit Crystal?" Han Li, who had been bracing himself for another disappointment, couldn't help but reveal a look of pleasant surprise.

"Indeed, Senior, your timing is quite coincidental," the middle-aged man replied. "This piece of Thunder Spirit Stone was just recently acquired by our pavilion. However, there's a slight complication: this rare material isn't actually ours. It was entrusted to us by another Nascent Soul stage senior, with whom we have a good relationship, to be exchanged for other items. If it remains unexchanged, it will be put up for auction in a few days." The middle-aged man hesitated before delivering words that momentarily stunned Han Li.