One month later, in a seemingly ordinary small town, some individuals with strange horns on their heads and scales on their faces and limbs walked back and forth along the streets.
In addition, a sparse handful of particularly powerful individuals—all using various methods to conceal their appearances—appeared on the main trading street in the eastern quarter, occasionally entering and exiting a number of secluded shops that seldom saw regular visitors.
"What? You want twenty thousand catties of Wind Spirit Gold?" In one rather dimly lit shop, a middle-aged shopkeeper with short purple horns on his head stared at his customer with undisguised shock.
Though the frequent high-value transactions he had seen recently had made him somewhat inured to surprises, the sheer volume of materials this customer was requesting still sent a jolt of alarm through his heart.
"What, can't you produce it? I've heard this shop on Dragon Island is famous for selling Wind Spirit Gold. Surely you can't be unable to provide even this quantity?" The figure standing before the shopkeeper spoke in a low voice, his entire body shrouded in a layer of pale green light that completely concealed his features and age, giving him an exceptionally mysterious air.
"If you had come half a month ago, our shop could have assembled such a large quantity of Wind Spirit Gold, but our current stock holds only eight thousand catties. The rest were purchased by several other distinguished guests over the past two weeks," the middle-aged shopkeeper said respectfully.
A figure dressed like this and spending with such extravagance was without doubt a powerhouse from some other realm beyond the island. As a mid-tier dragonman possessing only a trace of true dragon bloodline, he naturally dared not show the slightest discourtesy.
"Eight thousand catties it is, then. I'll take everything you have. Here is the payment." The figure in the green light considered for only a moment before making his decision. With a flick of his sleeve, a circular ring flew out.
"Very well. Please wait a moment, and I'll have someone deliver the materials immediately." The middle-aged shopkeeper gave the contents of the storage ring only a cursory inspection before immediately agreeing.
He then produced a disc-shaped magical tool from his person, spoke a few quiet words into it, and waited alongside his customer.
About the time it took to finish a cup of tea later, a flash of light rippled through a small concealed formation array in a back room of the shop, and a tall, young dragonman materialized.
He strode quickly into the shop and produced three identical cyan storage bracelets from within his robe, handing them all to the middle-aged shopkeeper.
"Please verify the quantity and check whether everything is correct," the shopkeeper said, promptly presenting the storage bracelets to the customer.
"I trust your establishment's reputation. There's no need for inspection." The figure in the green light spoke coolly, and with a slight movement of his arm, a wave of green luminescence swept out, drawing all three storage bracelets back into his hand. He truly did not bother checking anything, and immediately turned and departed.
Only two bewildered dragonmen remained in the shop.
"That man has some nerve—twenty thousand catties of Wind Spirit Gold, and he doesn't even bother to look," the tall young dragonman let out a breath and remarked with a mixture of admiration.
"What do you know! These people who can come to Dragon Island must have connections with the true dragon lords on the island. Besides, at their level of cultivation, would they really fear being cheated by a shop like ours? If word were to reach the island's stewards, we'd be the ones in trouble." The middle-aged shopkeeper rolled his eyes and retorted.
After a moment's thought, the young dragonman nodded in sudden realization.
At the same time, a streak of green light descended upon a hilltop outside the small town. As the light faded, a figure in green robes appeared—none other than Han Li.
He took out the three storage bracelets again, gave them a brief inspection, and a look of satisfaction appeared on his face. His escaping light flared once more, and he transformed into a green rainbow that pierced through the sky in the direction of another part of Dragon Island.
Three months later.
A green rainbow streaked across the sky above a range of crimson-red mountains. After a few flickers, it suddenly plunged down into an ordinary valley below.
At the center of the valley, upon a completely unsheltered platform, sat five men and women of varying appearances and attire.
A young girl who appeared no older than seven or eight, an elderly man with greenish skin, a middle-aged couple who looked to be in their thirties, and a burly man whose body was covered with countless silver patterns.
The green rainbow circled once in the air before landing with perfect precision at the center of the platform, and from within it, Han Li emerged at a leisurely pace.
Han Li swept his gaze over the others present, offered a faint smile, and sat down cross-legged not far from the young girl.
None of the people gathered showed the slightest surprise at Han Li's arrival, and all remained seated in silence.
After a while longer, a whistling sound broke through the distant horizon as a five-colored rainbow streaked toward them at the same time.
After a few flickers, the rainbow arrived above the valley, the light receded, and a beautiful woman in iridescent robes emerged.
The woman descended slowly from the sky to the platform, surveyed her surroundings with an icy expression, found an unoccupied corner, and sat down cross-legged.
"That makes enough of us. Let us begin the exchange at once. If no one has any objections, I'll start by casting the first stone," the greenish-skinned elder said, slowly rising to his feet the moment the woman settled down.
"If you're willing to go first, please feel free."