*(Ugh! Got a call, my parents have something going on, I need to go over there this afternoon. So I can only post a short 2k chapter first! Whether I can manage to write the next one in time depends on the situation, please be understanding!)*
"You..." The man looked extremely furious, clenched both fists, and took a step forward.
"What? Are you trying to force a sale? People from our Ye family aren't easy to bully!" The stallholder rolled his eyes and said rudely.
"Hmph! The Ye family is so impressive!" The dark-skinned man, although not backing down verbally, still relaxed his fists, obviously showing great wariness towards the Ye family.
The man was inwardly furious at the stallholder using the Ye family to pressure him. As a level-ten expert, he was accustomed to being flattered. Now, suffering such humiliation, his original intention had been to leave in a huff. But he truly couldn't bear to part with that "Returning Wind Bowl." This magical artifact's function perfectly matched his cultivation technique, and if he could trade for it, it would undoubtedly significantly boost his strength. But at this moment, apart from this artifact fragment, everything else on him was useful, and his spirit stones had been completely spent days ago, leaving him in a difficult position.
"Sir, how about selling this fragment to me? I'll offer ten spirit stones." A figure wearing a loose gray robe emerged from the observing crowd. He walked up to the man, clasped his hands, and said earnestly.
"Not for sale! If you want it, bring thirty spirit stones." The dark-skinned man shook his head vigorously, a price he absolutely could not accept.
"Ah! If this artifact fragment were a few sizes larger, it might be worth that price. Unfortunately, it's really a bit too small; the area it can cover is too limited!" Seeing the man refuse, the gray-robed cultivator showed a look of regret on his face and, without further entanglement, returned to the crowd.
"Twelve, deal?"
"I'll offer thirteen?"
...
Many of the surrounding cultivators were tempted by this artifact fragment. Even if it was useless once brought back, keeping it for slow study was fine! Perhaps they could gain some insight from it!
Just like that, the price was soon bid up to twenty. The bidder was a simple-looking, round-faced young man.
Faced with such a high price, everyone else fell silent. They all felt this price was already quite high. Any higher would be a bit wasteful! After all, for these low-level cultivators, having ten or so spirit stones was already considered good. And those who had just been bidding were mostly disciples of various clans; only they would be slightly more affluent!
"Twenty?" The dark-skinned man's expression shifted slightly. This price had touched his bottom line! If he added just one or two other small items, perhaps he could trade for the "Returning Wind Bowl" from the stallholder.
"Are you willing to offer twenty spirit stones?" The man asked the round-faced youth, his expression softening considerably.
The round-faced youth, for some reason, flushed and paled alternately, looking extremely flustered.
"I... don't... have that many spirit stones!" A stammered sentence burst from the round-faced youth's lips, leaving everyone watching in stunned silence.
"You don't? Then what were you shouting about just now? Were you deliberately messing with me?" The dark-skinned man flew into a rage upon hearing this. The anger he had been suppressing immediately erupted, and the powerful aura emanating from him pressed down heavily on the youth!
"I just thought it was fun listening to others bid! I just blurted it out along with them! Please forgive me, sir!" The round-faced youth hurriedly tried to excuse himself. He was already drenched in sweat, with bean-sized beads rolling down continuously. How could a mere level-five cultivator withstand such spiritual pressure?
"The one who bid nineteen just now, which one was it? I'm willing to give an extra spirit stone for free so you can buy it!" The youth, in a desperate attempt at wit, quickly shouted.
Unfortunately, the surroundings were silent; no one responded. It seemed that person had also regretted it and no longer wanted it!
"Then what about the sir who bid eighteen?" The youth looked at the dark-skinned man's increasingly grim face and was almost in tears. He was just a small independent cultivator; he only had two spirit stones on him, which he had obtained after a full year of hard work.
Just as everyone expected a good show, "Hold on!" an unhurried voice suddenly rang out. A person entered from outside the crowd and stopped the dark-skinned man.
"What do you want?" The dark-skinned man asked, his face gloomy, as he looked at the newcomer. His patience was nearly gone. If this person also intended to interfere, he wouldn't mind dealing with him too, even though this newcomer was no weakling—a level-nine cultivator!
"I am very interested in this item and would like to acquire it!" This person pointed at the piece of "cloth" and said to him with a smile.
This cultivator, whom the dark-skinned man had mistaken for an interfering busybody, was none other than Han Li.
It turned out that from the moment Han Li heard this person mention that this artifact fragment could turn invisible and conceal spiritual energy, his interest was piqued. A vague idea had jumped into his mind!
After the dark-skinned man demonstrated the hidden small blade, the idea in Han Li's mind became clearer, and he immediately became determined to obtain this artifact fragment at all costs! Therefore, even if the round-faced youth truly had twenty spirit stones and wanted to buy it, Han Li would have stepped in to snatch the item away.
"How much will you offer to buy it?" The dark-skinned man was taken aback but his expression softened as he asked.
"I don't intend to buy it, but to trade for it." Han Li calmly produced a talisman from his sleeve and placed it on the stall for everyone to see clearly.
"A Flight Talisman!" Someone who recognized it immediately exclaimed.
"It's a high-grade, first-tier spiritual talisman!" The other cultivators also gasped in surprise. After all, since the start of this Tainan Gathering, only five or six such first-tier high-grade talismans had appeared, and each had sold for an astonishing price!
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(End of Chapter)