"Since Senior has no interest in staying here, then this junior will take Senior directly to another floor to view the puppets!" The middle-aged man immediately agreed in a compliant tone upon hearing Han Li's words.
He then walked out of the room, used the iron token in his hand to close the gate with a flash, and headed back toward the teleportation formation they had arrived through.
Han Li followed silently behind him, his expression unchanged throughout.
Just as the two were about to step onto the teleportation formation, a sudden buzzing sound filled the air. With a flash of white light, several figures appeared within the formation.
The middle-aged man was momentarily taken aback by this sight. After glancing more carefully into the formation, his expression darkened.
These figures turned out to be four demon guards clad in black battle armor, an elderly man in brocade robes, and a young girl in blue clothing.
The elderly man in brocade robes had a sallow complexion and a gloomy face, and he possessed Deity Transformation cultivation. The yellow-clothed girl, meanwhile, had a round face and was remarkably pretty, with Core Formation level cultivation.
However, layers of black demonic runes flickered faintly across her body, her expression was cold and detached, and her cultivation appeared to be suppressed by restrictions — she was clearly a newly arrived slave!
After Han Li swept his spiritual sense casually over the girl, his pupils contracted sharply, a flash of disbelief crossing his face.
At this moment, the elderly man in brocade robes across from them had also noticed the middle-aged man approaching. His gaze darkened, and he greeted them with a hollow smile.
"So it's Shopkeeper Fang! Bringing a customer to select slaves, are we? If nothing caught the eye, I happen to have some fine new arrivals on my end — this customer could take a look."
"No need. Senior Han is more interested in the magic crystal puppets. Shopkeeper Huang, why don't you tend to your own affairs?" The middle-aged man replied coldly, clearly on poor terms with the elderly man.
"Senior Han! So it's an honored guest — how rude of this old Huang not to recognize you sooner. If Senior is interested in puppets, I happen to have several high-grade puppets in my possession that I could show you." The elderly man swept his gaze over Han Li, his expression shifting slightly, but after a quick turn of his eyes he immediately broke into a wide smile and bowed.
"Shopkeeper Huang, what exactly do you mean by this? Senior Han is my guest. I have plenty of magic crystal puppets in my own collection and will naturally take Senior Han to choose from them. Shopkeeper Huang, why don't you see to your own matters first? Your new slave here — wait, there isn't a trace of demonic energy on this slave. She's not from our Saint Realm!" The middle-aged man's face turned ugly as he cut the elderly man off, but when his gaze fell upon the yellow-clothed girl, his expression suddenly shifted to one of surprise.
"Heh heh, Shopkeeper Fang, you're only noticing now? This girl truly isn't an ordinary slave. I went to great lengths to acquire her — she has a very special purpose. As for the specifics, I'll discuss them in detail with Brother Zhao when I have time. But as for the magic crystal puppets — I know perfectly well what kind of stock you have. You could fool someone around the Nascent Soul stage, perhaps, but if you're trying to show them to Senior Han, I'm afraid they wouldn't even catch his eye." Shopkeeper Huang yawned, unwilling to discuss the girl further, and instead continued speaking to Han Li with great enthusiasm.
"Shopkeeper Huang, you—" The middle-aged man's veins bulged on his forehead at these words, and he was about to erupt in anger.
But just then, Han Li raised a hand to stop him and said something to the elderly man in brocade robes that stunned everyone present.
"We can discuss the magic crystal puppets later. How much for this girl? I'll take her!" Han Li pointed at the yellow-clothed girl, a strange expression flickering across his face.
"Senior has taken a liking to this girl. I'm afraid I cannot agree to that — she has already been claimed by someone else and cannot be sold to Senior." The elderly man's mouth twitched slightly before he hurriedly replied with an apologetic smile.
"What? Can the Myriad Slave Tower take pre-orders on slaves now?" Han Li's eyes flashed. He paid no heed to the elderly man and instead turned to the middle-aged man, asking calmly.
"Slaves from this tower are strictly cash-on-delivery — there is no such thing as pre-orders. Shopkeeper Huang, since Senior has taken a liking to this girl, why not sell her to him? Are you really afraid that Senior Han can't afford the magic stones?" The middle-aged man blinked, then suddenly smiled and said to the elderly man.
"You talk as if it's simple. This girl is wanted by Senior Zhao Wenhao! If I just hand her over, are you going to deal with the fallout?" The elderly man replied irritably.
"What? Senior Zhao wants this slave?" The middle-aged man sucked in a sharp breath at the news. After sweeping his gaze over the girl twice, his face showed a look of hesitation.
"Who is Zhao Wenhao? Could he be from the Zhao family?" Han Li's brow twitched slightly as he asked calmly.
"Senior Han, not only is Senior Zhao from the Zhao family — he is the current head of the Zhao family. Making an enemy over a mere Core Formation slave would really not be a wise move." The middle-aged man hesitated for a moment before managing a strained smile to offer his advice.
"The head of the Zhao family! That most likely makes him a Void Refining cultivator. But so what? No matter who wants this girl, I'm taking her now. If he has objections, he can come find me afterward." Han Li showed a hint of surprise, but after a brief pause, he sneered coldly without a shred of politeness.
The middle-aged man and the elderly man both changed expressions upon hearing this.
Just as the middle-aged man was about to say something more, Han Li suddenly took a step forward. In a blink, he materialized among the four demon guards. With a single movement of his arm, he seized the yellow-clothed girl by the shoulder. His figure flickered once more, and he returned to his original position with the girl in tow.