After spending some time searching, Han Li finally found an obscure little Daoist temple in the city. The priests there were all true mortals, without a shred of magical power.
Han Li was quite satisfied with this. He immediately offered some silver to win over the temple master and took up temporary residence.
After spending one night at the temple, Han Li set out at first light the next morning, heading straight for the academy he had detected cultivator auras from during the day.
An academy that could operate in a place like Jinjing and appeared to be of considerable size was certainly no ordinary establishment — it would have some connections to the Confucian sects.
However, Han Li couldn't care less about any of that. When he slipped silently into the academy and materialized before a white-haired elderly Confucian scholar, he made no effort whatsoever to conceal the powerful aura of a Nascent Soul cultivator radiating from his body.
The old scholar had been shocked when he first caught sight of Han Li and immediately gathered his magical power in readiness. But the moment he discerned Han Li's true cultivation level, the tension drained from his face. He abandoned his guard, stepped forward half a pace, and bowed respectfully.
"A senior graces our academy with his presence. Is there any matter in which this humble one might be of service?"
"Sharp of you. I do have a small matter to discuss. Tell me the locations of the trading markets in Jinjing and everything you know about the upcoming auctions. You local cultivators should know these things better than anyone," Han Li said with a smile, speaking in a leisurely tone.
"The market locations are no problem! I'll copy all the maps into a jade slip right away. As for the auctions, I don't know a great deal — what exactly would the senior like to know?" the elderly scholar replied without the slightest hesitation, producing a white jade slip from his storage pouch and beginning to inscribe maps of the market locations into it.
"The specific time and location of the auction, and whether there will be any rare or extraordinary materials for sale this time," Han Li said, his smile fading as his expression turned businesslike.
"The time and location are no issue. In nine days' time, the auction will be held at the Baoguang Hall in the Jinxi Trading Market. It's divided into two tiers — one for Core Formation cultivators and one for Nascent Soul cultivators — held on separate occasions. Nascent Soul cultivators may attend the Core Formation auction, but Core Formation cultivators cannot enter the Nascent Soul auction. As for what materials will be for sale, I truly cannot say. After all, this is a large-scale auction jointly organized by the biggest trading markets in Great Jin. Outsiders have very little way of knowing what will be offered. However, based on past experience, at least a hundred items of rare and precious grade will appear at such an auction. On top of that, some seniors will temporarily consign precious items they've brought along to be auctioned off. These events typically last five or six days," the old scholar answered honestly.
"So that's how it is. Baoguang Hall," Han Li murmured, nodding slightly to himself.
"Senior, the jade slip has been copied. Please take it." By now the old scholar had finished preparing the jade slip and presented it to Han Li with both hands.
Han Li said nothing. He reached out, took the jade slip, and swept his spiritual sense through it. A look of satisfaction appeared on his face, and he nodded.
"Very good. Don't mention our meeting today to anyone, or else — heh heh…" Han Li let out a cold laugh. Green light flickered across his body, and he vanished from the spot without warning.
The old scholar's eye twitched. He sank into his chair and furrowed his brow in thought.
After a long while, he finally swept the room with his spiritual sense. The result was nothing — it was truly empty, as though no one else was there.
Only then did the old scholar let out a genuine sigh of relief, a bitter smile spreading across his face.
…
After leaving the academy, Han Li studied the jade slip carefully before heading straight for the Jinxi Trading Market.
The so-called Jinxi Trading Market was actually a small district that used a masterful concealment formation to permanently shroud a quiet side street in the western part of Jinjing.
Han Li appeared at the market entrance and passed easily through the invisible barriers imperceptible to mortals, finding himself suddenly on a somewhat quieter street.
Of course, this quietness was only relative to the bustling crowds of mortals outside. A single glance revealed several hundred cultivators on the street, moving in and out of the shops lining both sides.
Han Li didn't need to scan the entire street with his spiritual sense to know that on days when an auction was about to take place, this Jinxi Trading Market was certain to have a Nascent Soul cultivator standing guard. Otherwise, an auction of this magnitude wouldn't be so easily organized.
With this thought in mind, Han Li strolled along at a leisurely pace, his gaze sweeping over the shops on either side.
This Jinxi Trading Market was clearly different from the ones Han Li had seen elsewhere in southern Great Jin. Nearly every building along the street was a tall, multi-story tower two or three stories high, each radiating an air of substantial wealth. They were clearly no small trading houses. In fact, Han Li recognized the names of some of these establishments from other markets he had visited.
It seemed that any trading house with real influence in Great Jin's cultivation world would open a branch here.
Since that was the case, there was no need for careful deliberation. Han Li carried the list of materials he needed to collect and went door to door, making inquiries one by one.
But whatever he still hadn't managed to acquire by now was, naturally, extraordinarily rare. These were not things one could easily stumble upon.
Han Li wasn't anxious. He had never truly expected to find what he needed so easily in a trading market — he was simply making the most of being in the area. In truth, there was one other important matter he had come to the market to attend to.