Han Li and the man sat across from each other at an Eight Immortals table, exchanging several glances, but neither made any move to strike up a conversation.
Cultivators who came here to buy things never tried to get chummy with strangers — doing so would only invite hostility.
The man sitting across from him, however, did cast a few curious glances toward Qu Hun, who stood at the foot of the staircase without entering the main hall.
With his keen eye, he had long since identified Qu Hun as a refined corpse, yet the fluctuations of spiritual energy emanating from it left him deeply perplexed.
After all, the iron-armored corpses and similar animated dead that cultivators refined were, as a rule, nothing more than laborers of immense strength — they were not supposed to possess Magical Power.
The man forcibly suppressed the urge to ask. Han Li's cultivation at the mid Foundation Establishment stage was the same as his own, and that made him quite wary.
By the time Han Li had nearly finished sipping his cup of plain tea, the woman finally walked back into the main hall.
Two hulking men now flanked her. Neither of them had a trace of Magical Power, and their expressions were utterly wooden — they were, in fact, two remarkably lifelike puppets.
Each carried an enormous tray, the contents of which were mounded high and draped with a cloth of red silk. These, presumably, were the "rare treasures" the proprietress had mentioned.
A flicker of surprise passed through Han Li's eyes. Moments ago, he had attempted to send his spiritual sense through the red silk covering the tray to see what lay beneath, only to find the unremarkable cloth an impenetrable barrier. That caught him off guard. He turned his head and shot a sidelong glance at the man sitting across from him.
The man wore the same look of surprise on his face — he had clearly done the exact same thing.
The middle-aged woman strode up to Han Li and the man, and spoke with a smile before they could utter a word:
"I've already had the pleasure of meeting Daoist Fan over here, but I still don't know this Daoist's name. My surname is Lan — both of you may call me Madam Lan." The woman introduced herself with the ease of someone who made friends on sight.
Faced with this, Han Li could hardly remain silent any longer, so he said with a touch of reluctance:
"My surname is Han!"
Then he said nothing more, putting on a cold, aloof air that clearly signaled he had no interest in further conversation.
Madam Lan did not take this to heart in the slightest.
After all, eight or nine out of every ten cultivators who came here wore that same deliberately frigid expression. She was long since used to it.
With a faint smile, the woman beckoned to one of the puppet men behind her, and the hulking figure immediately stepped forward. Madam Lan then extended her slender, jade-like fingers and whisked the red silk away, revealing several objects on the tray.
Han Li and the surnamed Fan both had the gleam of sharp focus flash in their eyes as they studied the items on the tray with full attention.
The tray held swords, short blades, throwing darts, and rings — all types of Magical Tools — along with a single jet-black suit of armor. Each item shimmered with its own luster, making it immediately obvious that none were ordinary wares.
But after taking a clear look at the Magical Tools on the tray, Han Li and the man reacted very differently.
Daoist Fan stared intently at the tray, a look of faint intoxication creeping into his eyes. Han Li, on the other hand, glanced once and then deliberately looked away, putting on an expression of total disinterest. This surprised Madam Lan, and she threw an extra look Han Li's way.
"This one is called the Frost Crystal Blade. It was forged from Xuan Crystal and Ice Jade — materials found only in the rarest of places. Not only is its offensive power formidable, but it also carries an uncommon yin-cold aura that can gradually sap an enemy's strength during prolonged combat without their even realizing it. It is truly a premium piece among top-grade Magical Tools." The woman reached out with her wrist, plucked a translucent short blade from the tray, and held it up to introduce it in an unhurried manner.
She then gave the Magical Tool a light wave, and an instant chill swept through the room, causing the few maidservants — who possessed only Qi Refining stage cultivation — to shiver uncontrollably.
"Might I take a closer look at this blade?" Daoist Fan asked, a barely concealed excitement in his voice as he eyed the Magical Tool.
This request drew a smile from Madam Lan. Without the slightest hesitation, she handed the blade over, then let her gaze drift toward Han Li in a seemingly casual manner.
Han Li's expression, however, remained perfectly composed. He merely looked down at the empty teacup in his hands, showing not a trace of interest in the Magical Tool. That disappointed Madam Lan.
"Very well, I'll take this Frost Crystal Blade. How many spirit stones will it cost?" The moment he spoke, Daoist Fan, who had been turning the blade over in his hands, announced in a loud voice.
Hearing this, Madam Lan was somewhat taken aback.
"You don't wish to take a look at the other items?" she asked, her expression betraying nothing.