Han Li eyed the goods on the stall with curiosity, sweeping his spiritual sense lightly over them.
Of the two items, one was a branch. The wood-attribute spiritual energy it contained was exceedingly thin, yet it was suffused with an intense bolt of lightning power — as though the entire branch had been condensed from pure lightning. This greatly surprised him!
The thing immediately reminded him of the Heavenly Lightning Bamboo from years past.
But even a ten-thousand-year Golden Lightning Bamboo hadn't possessed lightning power this violent. The Evil-Warding Divine Lightning was typically kept deeply quiescent and restrained.
As for the other item, a blood-colored crystal, it reeked of a pungent, coppery smell. It seemed to be the inner core of some beast, though he couldn't identify its exact origin.
Han Li was mildly interested in the branch, but after studying it for a while he quietly moved on to the next stall.
The next stall was run by a demon-tribe member. Before them sat a chunk of dark, lustrous ore the size of a head, radiating a biting chill.
…
Thus did Han Li stroll along, passing before each stall in turn. Whenever he encountered something unfamiliar or intriguing, he would pause and examine it in detail.
Yet from beginning to end, he never uttered a single word, treating the stallkeepers as though they were invisible.
Before long, Han Li had looked over every last stall, and a faint twinge of disappointment stirred within him.
The goods on display were each rare enough in their own right, but nothing that truly caught his eye had appeared. A few items hailed from the Desolate Regions, yet they were arcane specialties useful only to a very particular circle of people.
Han Li cast his gaze around, debating whether to leave Grand Mystic Hall then and there, when suddenly he heard footsteps behind him — someone was approaching.
A flicker of white light rippled across his body, and he wheeled around with uncanny speed. The newcomer halted mid-step, seemingly startled by the swiftness of his reaction.
It was a demon-tribe figure shrouded entirely in black qi, with what appeared to be a rather slender build. They looked Han Li up and down.
Both of them, however, were obscured by concealment arts. Aside from vague, wavering outlines, neither could make out any concrete details about the other.
"Did you need something?" Han Li spoke first, his tone perfectly composed.
"Did you fail to find anything suitable, friend?" A light laugh came from within the black qi — the voice was pleasant and melodious. A woman.
"Indeed. There is nothing here that catches my interest. Why do you ask?" Han Li replied.
"It seems this really is your first time at Grand Mystic Hall. In truth, what our two races exchange goes beyond the goods laid out openly. The truly valuable items are always traded privately, one-on-one, off the record." The woman spoke at an unhurried pace.
"Why bother with that? Wouldn't openly offering them make it easier to find the right buyer?" Han Li furrowed his brow.
"Are you truly ignorant, or are you playing dumb? When truly good items are put up for exchange, even with a Light-Shielding Pendant and a Cloud Veil Banner hiding your appearance, you'll easily draw attention. Besides, some items are inherently hot — the last thing you want is for too many people to learn of their whereabouts. Enough talk. Do you want to trade or not?" The demon woman seemed to grow impatient, her voice dropping several degrees cooler.
"If you truly have something worthwhile, I am naturally willing to trade. But why approach me in particular?" Han Li agreed readily enough, then posed another question.
"That's simple enough. You were examining the stall goods so closely — at a glance, you're almost certainly a newcomer to Celestial Abyss City. Though your cultivation has been suppressed, a careful look reveals that you are a Deity Transformation cultivator. That makes you a suitable trading partner for me. Besides, you're not the first person I've sought out. Tell me — what do you have that might interest our demon tribes? I have my own items, but I'm also handling trades on behalf of many of my clansmen. So if you have something good, by all means bring it out." The demon woman was entirely forthcoming, her tone candid.
At these words, the corner of Han Li's mouth twitched into a faint smile.
"I do happen to have some items that may suit your people. But shouldn't you let me know what you're offering first?"
"Hmph. I have everything from spirit herbs and materials to human artifacts and ancient treasures. What are you looking for?" The demon woman let out a cold laugh.
"I have no need for finished artifacts or the like — materials are more my interest. Do you happen to have the spirit blood of a True Toad Beast? I'm in urgent need of some." Han Li's eyes flickered as he posed the question.