The scholar listened to what Han Li said and was momentarily stunned, but he quickly broke into a grin. Then, beaming, he said: "Senior, it's a good thing you told me about this, or I would have wasted your time! The Tianxing Sect's formations may be famous, but that doesn't mean the Stardust Pavilion carries quality formation flags and formation disks. What they have in stock now — while plenty in quantity and decent in variety — is nothing more than common goods aimed at small cultivator families and loose cultivators. The truly premium formation tools, the Tianxing Sect would never let those slip out. Formation craft is, after all, the very foundation of their sect. Letting outsiders get their hands on high-grade formation flags and disks would expose the workings of their arrays! For them, that simply wouldn't be worth the risk."
As the scholar explained, he kept stealing glances at Han Li. But the cloak on Han Li's head concealed every trace of his expression, revealing nothing whatsoever — which left the scholar with a frustrating sense of helplessness.
"Judging by your tone, you seem capable of finding what I need." Although Han Li was genuinely surprised by what the scholar had said, his voice remained flat and calm, betraying not a hint of shock or astonishment.
The scholar looked around cautiously, and once he confirmed no one was nearby, he lowered his voice and said in a hushed, secretive manner: "If Senior trusts this junior, I can indeed introduce you to a secret shop that very few people know about. The goods sold there — well, a small portion of them have somewhat questionable origins, but the merchandise is absolutely top-tier, the kind of rare finds you simply won't encounter anywhere else! I'm certain that's where Senior will find the formation-setting tools you're satisfied with."
"Secret shop?"
Han Li's voice was still calm, but inwardly he was genuinely startled by the scholar's words.
Over the past few years, Han Li had heard occasional rumors about secret shops here and there. He knew that if what the scholar claimed was true, this really was a rare opportunity to broaden his horizons.
"It seems Senior already knows a thing or two about secret shops. Hehe! All the better — then I won't need to waste breath explaining. In about two or three hours, this secret shop will be holding its monthly auction. If Senior wishes to go, you'd better decide quickly, and I can lead the way right now!"
The scholar saw that Han Li hadn't shown any displeasure at the mention of a secret shop, and inwardly he was delighted. He knew this customer was almost certainly the right match.
"It's not too far, is it?" Han Li suddenly asked.
"Not far at all — right here in the market. Does that mean Senior agrees?" The scholar grew somewhat excited. Bringing a potential new customer to this secret shop meant a handsome commission in spirit stones.
"Let's go," Han Li said, letting out a soft breath as his voice suddenly turned cold.
"I'll lead the way right now!" The scholar's face lit up with pleasure, and he strode ahead.
After a series of twists and turns with the scholar leading, he brought Han Li to a solitary, dilapidated little cottage. Its door was shut tight, with no markings of any kind on it — it looked thoroughly unremarkable.
Yet the scholar rapped on the wooden door in a specific rhythm, and it opened to reveal a woman around thirty years of age. She was plain in appearance, and her cultivation was only at the sixth or seventh layer of the Qi Condensation stage — thoroughly unremarkable in every way.
"Mrs. Zhang, I've brought a new customer. He'd like to participate in this auction." Before the woman could speak, Wang Ziling eagerly stepped aside to reveal Han Li behind him.
When Mrs. Zhang heard that Wang Ziling had brought a customer, instead of looking pleased, she frowned slightly, seeming rather displeased. But once she saw clearly that Han Li was a Foundation Establishment cultivator, her expression changed and a trace of a smile appeared.
"Now this is more like it — a senior at the Foundation Establishment stage! Not like the last few you brought in, all sorts of riffraff. Please come in, Senior." Despite her low cultivation, the woman showed no particular deference toward Han Li, treating him as though he were just an ordinary visitor.
"Senior, I can only take you this far. I'll take my leave now!" Wang Ziling's face flushed red at the woman's words, and he hastily bade Han Li farewell before hurrying off.
Han Li glanced briefly at the figure where the scholar had disappeared, then stepped into the cottage as the woman moved aside to let him pass.
Inside, low-quality materials for pill refining and artifact crafting were piled about in a disorderly fashion — it looked like nothing more than an ordinary raw materials shop.
As Han Li was examining his surroundings, the woman, having closed the door behind them, spoke with a solemn expression: "Please, follow me."
With that, the woman walked two steps to a corner of the room and pressed one hand down against the floor.
A flash of yellow light emanated from her hand, and a large hole split open in the ground. The woman beckoned to Han Li and descended the steps first.