Hearing this, Han Li merely smiled faintly and said nothing. He knew that Senior Brother Lu standing beside him would certainly speak on his behalf.
Sure enough, before Marquis Nanlong, shrouded in golden light, could say another word, the middle-aged man surnamed Lu eagerly began to introduce Han Li.
"Marquis, this is our newest junior brother, Han Li, who has only recently formed his Nascent Soul. The lady beside him is his concubine. Junior Brother Han, the Marquis is an old friend of our Master's. You should make each other's acquaintance."
"Greetings, Marquis Nanlong!" Han Li's robes billowed as he cupped his fists in a salute, looking perfectly composed.
"Han Li? That name sounds very unfamiliar. It seems Fellow Daoist Han truly is a newly advanced Nascent Soul cultivator. I do wonder about his abilities, though — how about I give them a try?" Marquis Nanlong spoke with an air of casual indifference from within his beast-drawn carriage.
"What? Junior Brother Han has only condensed his Nascent Soul a few years ago — how could he possibly be a match for Fellow Daoist Nanlong? You are already a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator." Lu Luo's smiling expression shifted slightly, and inwardly he groaned without end.
This old monster may have eccentric tastes, but why would he suddenly want to test Junior Brother Han's abilities? And it certainly didn't look like they had ever met before!
"Relax. I won't abuse my cultivation level to bully the young. I merely wish to compare spiritual senses. Fellow Daoist Han's spiritual sense is quite formidable — not at all like that of someone who has just formed his Nascent Soul. It piqued my curiosity, that's all."
As Marquis Nanlong finished speaking, the golden light surrounding the beast-drawn carriage flickered and dimmed, revealing three figures seated together within the massive vehicle.
One man and two women!
The man wore a magnificent purple robe embroidered with serpents and a tall jade crown atop his head. A long beard reached his chest, and he sat between the two women. The women were dressed in immaculate white gowns, exquisitely beautiful, nestled half against the man's embrace.
The long-bearded man was naturally Marquis Nanlong. The two women flanking him were almost certainly concubines — though their cultivation was only around the Foundation Establishment stage, both were gracefully slender and brimming with feminine charm.
"The Marquis jests. Though Junior Brother Han's spiritual sense is somewhat powerful, contests of spiritual sense are extremely dangerous and should not be undertaken lightly." Lu Luo was genuinely growing anxious. No longer caring about the wariness in his heart, he openly refused the proposal.
"Heh heh! Why so hasty, Fellow Daoist Lu? Perhaps Fellow Daoist Han himself is willing to give it a try." Marquis Nanlong chuckled coldly and spoke at an unhurried pace, his narrow eyes fixed on Han Li, a cold glint flickering within them.
"Besides, if Fellow Daoist Han truly refuses my kind offer — if I'm not mistaken, we are already within a thousand li of Tiantian City, which means the Forced Trade rule should apply."
"Forced Trade? What does the Marquis mean by that?" Lu Luo's expression changed subtly, a vague sense of foreboding stirring in his heart.
"Nothing much. I see that this Lady Mu and Fellow Daoist Han seem quite intimate — she must be someone dear to you, yes? As it happens, I also have two beloved concubines here, though I've grown somewhat tired of them. How about I trade them for Fellow Daoist Han's concubine? These two are no less beautiful or accomplished in cultivation than this Lady Mu. They clearly meet the conditions for a Forced Trade. If Fellow Daoist Han is unwilling to trade, then he must compete with me in a contest of spiritual sense. If he wins, he not only keeps his own concubine, but mine become his as well." Marquis Nanlong's gaze swept coldly over Mu Peiling before he spoke with a blank expression.
The two concubines nestled in his arms briefly shifted in expression, but quickly regained their composure.
Hearing this, Lu Luo's face was filled with shock and anger, and he was momentarily at a loss for words.
Mu Peiling, standing at Han Li's side, went deathly pale in an instant.
"Forced Trade? Senior Brother Lu, could you explain that in detail?" Han Li's brows furrowed slightly at this, and he asked in a calm tone.
To Han Li, Marquis Nanlong was merely a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator. Given his current abilities, Han Li felt no great fear.
"It's actually quite simple. The Forced Trade is a rule established by the organizing powers specifically for Nascent Soul cultivators."
"You should know, Junior Brother, that once a cultivator reaches the Nascent Soul stage, no faction is willing to offend them lightly. The powers responsible for hosting the trade fair are no exception. However, with a trade fair of this scale, disputes and conflicts are inevitable. For cultivators below the Nascent Soul stage, the organizers can simply suppress them by force. But when conflicts arise between Nascent Soul cultivators, the organizers are reluctant to get entangled in the trouble. That is why several special rules were established, allowing Nascent Soul cultivators to resolve their disputes among themselves. The Forced Trade is the least commonly used of these."