After the time it took to finish a meal, Han Li's figure appeared atop a low hill.
He could make out, in the distance, the faint outline of a massive city gate, and before it a bustling crowd of carriages and pedestrians. His expression was dark as still water.
"Forget it. Now that we know this demon is truly in Great Jin, that counts as an unexpected gain. You'll have your chance to reclaim your flying swords — but now isn't the time. Your cultivation hasn't fully recovered, and the Three Flames Fan hasn't been forged yet. Even if that demon was also severely wounded before, with his domineering soul-absorbing and pill-devouring demonic arts, he's probably recovered seventy or eighty percent by now. Confronting him now, your odds of victory aren't high." Within Han Li's spiritual sense, the Grand Sovereign Dayan calmly transmitted his voice.
"You're right, Senior. Even if I caught up to him now, my chances of snatching back the swords would only be ten or twenty percent at best. That ancient demon really is too powerful. Before, I only wanted to recover the flying swords so I could deploy the Great Geng Sword Formation — that's why I was feeling impatient. It seems I'll have to wait until your puppet and that fan are finished before I try my hand against this demon again. Still, this demon seems to have important business — he's been flying at incredible speed. He hasn't even noticed our presence. But clearly, he hasn't been able to do anything about the two Green Bamboo Bee Cloud Swords either. He can't subdue them, yet he's reluctant to abandon them. Made from ten-thousand-year-old Golden Lightning Bamboo as the primary material, with Crystal Refining powder and Geng Essence — two rare materials — mixed in, these two flying swords truly are no ordinary magical treasures. Besides, the only way to destroy them would be to burn through his vital essence and slowly refine them with demonic flame. That demon would never do something so costly for so little gain." Han Li let out a cold laugh.
"That's true. But having said that — if you could devote yourself wholeheartedly to nurturing those dozens of flying swords with your Nascent Fire for four or five hundred years each, and then use them to form a sword formation, the power would be terrifying. It might not be inferior to a Spirit Treasure." The Grand Sovereign Dayan sighed, somewhat wistfully. Back in his most glorious days, he had never dared dream of crafting a destiny-bound magical treasure from such rare materials.
"Mm, perhaps. But I can't possibly spend the majority of my lifespan nurturing magical treasures." Han Li replied with a bitter laugh.
"Haha, you're far more sensible than I ever was. If I'd had even half your caution back then, I would have entered the Deity Transformation stage long ago. This demon appearing in the Jin capital at this time means there's an eight or nine in ten chance he'll be attending the auction. Han boy, you'd best keep your eyes open — don't let him recognize you."
"Thank you for your concern, Senior. I'll be careful. I originally planned to use the connections of General Zhu Nan's residence to learn the details of the auction. It seems I'll have to investigate on my own. If I remember correctly, there's a tavern in the Jin capital that belongs to the Feng family as well. I'll go check that out first — better than staying at an inn and drawing the attention of watchful eyes." Han Li muttered a few words under his breath. Straightening his robes, he strode down the hill with deliberate steps, heading straight for the massive city gate in the distance.
Although the Jin capital was praised by mortals and low-level cultivators alike as magnificently grand and spectacular — as if it were peerless under heaven — in Han Li's eyes, it still fell a few ranks short when compared to Star City in the Chaos Star Sea. That had been the largest city Han Li had ever seen in his life.
But Jin capital did have its own unique merits. Apart from anything else, beyond the outermost city wall, moving from outside in, an additional six layers of massive walls had been constructed at intervals of one li, each rising five or six zhang higher than the one before. The final, tallest stone wall rose over forty zhang into the sky — built entirely through mortal labor alone, it was truly a remarkable feat.
Beyond the multiple walls, the city interior was divided into thirteen major districts. The Imperial City to the far north alone spanned dozens of li, and the remaining districts were no smaller — each one enormous in its own right. However, compared to Star City, the streets and buildings of Jin capital were packed together as densely as cattle hair. It took Han Li the better part of half a day to pass through two districts from the city gate and reach a point within the city.
This made him, long unused to traveling at such speeds, furrow his brows in quiet frustration.
Now, Han Li looked at the two-story tavern before him, and without changing expression, clasped his hands behind his back and walked inside.
The tavern's business was doing reasonably well at the moment — more than half the tables were occupied.
Han Li gave the room a casual sweep, then headed straight for the counter. A gaunt, middle-aged man who looked like a shopkeeper stood there.
Without wasting words, Han Li swayed slightly to left and right, blocking most of the other customers' line of sight, then brushed his sleeve. A jade pendant appeared silently on the counter, face up, engraved with the characters "Guan-Ning Feng."
Upon seeing the jade pendant, the shopkeeper's expression shifted slightly. He studied Han Li for a moment, then calmly picked up the pendant and examined it carefully.
After a short while, the man suddenly pocketed the pendant and lowered his voice:
"Follow me!"
The shopkeeper turned and, taking advantage of the other customers' inattention, slipped through a side door on the first floor of the tavern.
Han Li followed him inside.
"So the young master has arrived. Your servant Feng Quan greets the young master." The moment Han Li stepped into a quiet room, the shopkeeper promptly returned the jade pendant with both hands and bowed respectfully.
It seemed this man, too, took him for Feng Yue — dead from poison.
"Find me a place to stay where no one will disturb me. It can't be in the tavern — preferably somewhere with no one around. Only you need to know about my arrival. Don't let a single other person in this tavern find out." Han Li didn't stand on ceremony. His tone was cold as he issued his orders.
"Yes, your servant will arrange accommodations at once. If the young master would rest here for now — it will only take half a day." Shopkeeper Feng answered without the slightest hesitation, seemingly quite capable.
"Good. Go quickly and return quickly." Han Li nodded with satisfaction.
Shopkeeper Feng then backed out of the room, carefully closed the door behind him, and hurried away.
Han Li pulled up a chair and sat down, closing his eyes to rest in the quiet of the room.
After an indeterminate stretch of time, Han Li's expression shifted and his eyes opened. Outside the door, the sound of footsteps had begun to echo once more.