The market was not crowded at the moment. Han Li only saw twenty or thirty cultivators in the outer area; it looked rather desolate.
"Could everyone have gone to the Star Dust Pavilion in the center?" Han Li wondered to himself.
However, he had no immediate intention of heading there.
Because the shop claiming to craft magical tools had made such an audacious boast! (The talisman shop only refunded spirit stones equal to the materials if they failed!) This greatly piqued his curiosity. So, after circling around once, Han Li couldn't help but step inside.
The shop wasn't large—it seemed to have only three rooms and a back courtyard!
When Han Li entered the front hall, there was already a middle-aged man dressed as a scholar talking with a white-haired, ruddy-faced old man. Standing nearby was a dark-skinned, powerfully built man with a respectful expression.
The scholar and the old man were deep in animated conversation. Though they saw Han Li enter, they paid him no mind and continued their lengthy chat. It was the muscular man who, very dutifully, stepped forward a few paces and politely asked:
"Is this customer here to buy a magical tool, or to place a custom order?"
"First, let me see what magical tools you have in stock. Then I'll decide whether to order one," Han Li said calmly.
"Of course. Would the customer like to see mid-grade or high-grade tools?" The burly man asked, a hint of delight appearing on his face as he realized a potential sale was at hand.
"Top-grade tools. And only the finest among the top-grade!"
Han Li's voice wasn't loud, but these words immediately stunned the muscular man before him! The two who had been chatting so enthusiastically also abruptly fell silent, turning to examine Han Li with astonished gazes.
"The customer wishes to see top-grade magical tools... and only the finest?" the burly man asked, having to confirm he hadn't misheard after recovering his wits.
Top-grade tools were not something an ordinary person could afford. They typically cost hundreds of low-grade spirit stones. Even if an average cultivator saved spirit stones their entire life, they might not be able to purchase a single one. And Han Li was asking for the finest among the top grade on his first request. No wonder the burly man was so flustered.
"Xiao Hei, come back! Don't be rude to this senior!" The white-haired old man finally realized Han Li's Foundation Establishment stage status. His expression changed abruptly, and he hurried over, shouting to dismiss the muscular man.
"This old man is the owner of this shop. Senior, please give whatever instructions you wish!"
This old man, clearly a Qi Condensation stage cultivator along with the scholar, suddenly found a "high-ranking" expert like Han Li visiting his small shop. He couldn't help but feel apprehensive.
"It's nothing. I just want to see if you have any exceptional magical tools. If there's something suitable, I might buy one or two," Han Li replied. Hearing this, the old man relaxed slightly, though a trace of embarrassment remained on his face.
"I'm afraid I may disappoint the senior. Although our shop has two or three top-grade tools, they are merely for show and not what one would call 'the finest.'" Faced with a Foundation Establishment cultivator like Han Li, the old man dared not conceal the truth and spoke plainly.
Upon hearing this, Han Li felt a twinge of disappointment. But he also silently cursed himself for being naive! No matter how boldly the sign outside boasted, it was just a way to attract business. How could he have taken it so literally?
Han Li shook his head and turned to leave. However, as he neared the door, he still twisted his head back and made a remark, his tone carrying a note of dissatisfaction.
"So, the sign outside claiming you can craft top-grade tools is just an empty boast?"
"No! Senior misunderstands. My little shop does business with absolute integrity. Every word on our sign is the absolute truth, without a shred of falsehood! If the right materials are provided, this old man can indeed craft top-grade magical tools." The white-haired old man, seeing his shop's reputation was at stake, hurried to explain.
"You can craft top-grade tools?" Han Li was greatly surprised. A flicker of doubt passed through his eyes, and his words were full of skepticism.
He had assumed someone else was the artificer. He never expected it was this very old man.
It was no wonder Han Li didn't believe him. Crafting top-grade tools was not like making mid or high-grade ones, which could be forged with mundane fire. It required refinement using innate true fire or earthly fire, much like refining Foundation Establishment Pills.
But this old man was only a Qi Condensation stage cultivator. He couldn't possibly possess innate true fire, and this place didn't look like it had access to subterranean fire either. So how could this person craft top-grade tools?
"This is Senior's first time visiting Brother Xu's shop, so it's perfectly normal not to know these things! Brother Xu comes from a long line of artificers. His skill is absolutely on par with the masters of the great sects. Moreover, the Xu family has, for centuries, maintained a level-two Fire Crow, whose demonic flames are even more potent than innate true fire by a good measure. That is more than sufficient for crafting top-grade tools without any worry." The middle-aged scholar, who had been silently observing, suddenly spoke up to explain on the old man's behalf. However, this only made Han Li more suspicious.