After spending a large portion of his spirit stones, Han Li had even managed to gather most of the materials needed for the new ancient formula.
For the remaining parts, Han Li gritted his teeth and took a risk by selling two of his 400-year-old herbs. With that, his only option left was to participate in more missions to hunt down devil path cultivators. This way, not only could he earn a considerable spirit stone reward, but the contents of his enemies' storage pouches could also be exchanged for even more spirit stones.
Relying on the several talisman treasures in his possession and the power of the Grand Unity Technique, Han Li could safely escape even if he encountered a cultivator at the late Foundation Establishment stage. Similarly, if a devil path cultivator in the early or middle Foundation Establishment stage ran into Han Li, they would naturally be powerless to fight back and would meet their end at his hands.
Of course, a freak like the young master of the Ghost Spirit Sect, whose status as a Foundation Establishment cultivator was already abnormal, would hardly participate in such operations.
As a result, over the course of that year, Han Li had actually gained a bit of a reputation among the Foundation Establishment cultivators of the seven sects.
Everyone knew that a new fierce character had emerged from Yellow Maple Valley. Though only at the mid Foundation Establishment stage himself, he had repeatedly ambushed and killed over a dozen devil path cultivators, retreating unscathed each time—truly an incredible feat.
Using the spirit stones he had obtained, Han Li gathered the remaining materials on the ancient formula. Hearing that other sects' camps had similar exchange markets established, Han Li asked Fatty Chen to keep an eye out for any pill formulas for him. But judging by the current situation, that didn't seem promising.
Just as Han Li was about to bid the man farewell and leave, a sudden burst of fragrant scent brushed past his nose.
Startled, Han Li turned his head to look and saw a beautiful but cold female cultivator standing behind him.
Upon clearly seeing that alluring face and voluptuous figure, Han Li kept his expression unchanged outwardly, but inwardly, his heart began to flutter with unease. It was actually Senior Sister Chen, with whom he had shared an intimate encounter. The moment he recalled the passionate and sensual scenes from that night, a strange feeling welled up in his heart.
Speaking of it, since parting ways with this woman in the forbidden area, he hadn't seen her for a very long time, and he had no idea when she had also arrived at this place.
"Fifth Uncle, here is what you asked for!"
Senior Sister Chen glanced indifferently at Han Li. A flicker of surprise passed through her eyes before she stepped forward to Fatty Chen and handed him a storage pouch.
"Hehe! Niece Qiaolian, you came just in time! These goods are urgently needed here!" Fatty Chen's fat face jiggled with delight upon seeing her.
"Fifth Uncle?"
Han Li was stunned for quite a while by Fatty Chen's address!
He never would have guessed that this fat man he had known for over half a year was actually Senior Sister Chen's elder. With her mid Foundation Establishment cultivation, her status in the Chen family was surely not low.
Aside from that initial glance at Han Li, Senior Sister Chen thereafter looked coldly away, not sparing Han Li's direction so much as another half-glance. This left a rather unpleasant taste in Han Li's heart.
"Brother Chen, I'll take my leave now. I'll come back to visit another time!" Unwilling to stay any longer, Han Li offered his polite farewell and turned to walk out of the exchange market.
It was only then that Chen Qiaolian cast a cold glance at Han Li's retreating figure. She furrowed her delicate brows and asked Fatty Chen, who was examining the storage pouch: "Fifth Uncle, was that coward buying things from you?"
"Coward?"
Fatty Chen was left dazed by Chen Qiaolian's words.
"Yes, the guy who was just standing here!"
"You mean... Han Li?" Fatty Chen blinked his small eyes, a look of utter disbelief surfacing on his face.
"Yes, him. Is there something wrong?" Chen Qiaolian asked, somewhat puzzled.
During the previous venture into the forbidden area, Han Li had not left a good impression on this Senior Sister Chen. She had always believed him to be an opportunistic bystander who had stumbled into luck and avoided battle.
Fatty Chen fell silent for a moment, then suddenly sighed, his tone somewhat peculiar: "Qiaolian, you just arrived here, so there are some things you're not clear about yet. I don't know why you think this fellow is a coward, but your junior sect brother has quite a reputation here! He's a formidable figure who has already wiped out over a dozen Foundation Establishment cultivators. He's absolutely not some mediocre person. I was even thinking of recommending him to the clan head after this war ends. If we could win him over, he would be a tremendous asset!"
"He wiped out over a dozen Foundation Establishment cultivators?" Senior Sister Chen's cold face showed a look of shock upon hearing this, utterly unable to believe what she had just heard.
She stared blankly toward the entrance of the exchange market, but Han Li had long since left the building.
After walking out of the exchange market, Han Li pondered briefly and then headed toward his master, Li Huayuan's residence, intending to pay his customary respects and fulfill his duties as a disciple.