Chapter 22: The Honest Man Han Li_1

"Now that Han Daoist has arrived, the assembly of Daoist friends is complete,"

Li Deshun looked around and spoke, acting as a leader and half a host, he had expended a lot of energy to facilitate this gathering of loose cultivators, with each invitation carefully considered.

Yet, he had invited twenty-two Pihai Realm loose cultivators, but there were twenty-seven present, with an excess of five, uncertain of who had leaked the news.

Soon, the gathering of loose cultivators officially began.

It consisted of two parts, the first being a transaction, where each person took their turn: the person whose turn it was could present treasures for others to bid on, seek to purchase treasures, or simply pass.

The second part was the exchange, an opportunity to share cultivation insights, information each had gathered, to privately invite others for joint experiences, or even to explore relics and so on.

As the initiator, Li Deshun naturally took the stage first. The red-robed elder pondered for a moment and then said:

"This old man has an Eighth Grade Pill Recipe—'Open Sea Pill,' a Yellow Rank Extreme Grade Cultivation Technique 'Crimson Sun Scripture,' and two Yellow Rank High Grade Cultivation Techniques. I wish to exchange for Lifespan Extension Pill, a secret technique for liquefying True Qi, or an elixir that speeds up the liquefaction of True Qi."

As his voice fell, silence engulfed the room. Some loose cultivators scoffed coldly, others shook their heads, and finally one cultivator said:

"Daoist Li, the Open Sea Pill formula is indeed precious, but it still falls far short of the Lifespan Extension Pill, a secret technique for liquefying True Qi, or an elixir that accelerates the liquefaction of True Qi, even if you add three more cultivation techniques."

The other loose cultivators nodded, feeling Li Deshun was harboring delusions. How precious were the three items he needed? Even disciples of large sects would find them hard to obtain, let alone loose cultivators like themselves.

If they possessed these three items, they could use them directly, and perhaps even have a chance to break through to the Gangyuan Realm and become a Great Master.

"This old man can add some Spirit Stones and elixirs; I only need one of the items," Li Deshun continued to say.

Unmoved, the loose cultivators remained indifferent, while Han Li felt a slight interest. Cultivation techniques and such he had plenty of, but he did take note of the Open Sea Pill recipe, although Han Li remained silent.

Seeing this, Li Deshun had no choice but to say, "Very well, they can also be exchanged for Spirit Stones."

If the loose cultivators did not have or were unwilling to part with such items, there was nothing he could do. He would simply exchange some for Spirit Stones and then check the mansion city or province city to see if there was a chance to obtain them.

Li Deshun quickly obtained a large amount of Spirit Stones, leaving him with only one pill formula in hand. The Open Sea Pill could enhance the cultivation of Pihai Realm practitioners, but he was asking too high a price, which the loose cultivators were all too reluctant to pay.

Han Li never made a move.

Following Li Deshun, one loose cultivator after another carried out transactions and made purchases, the scene bustling with activity as many wore happy expressions, having acquired the items they desired.

Even Han Li made several purchases, securing two pill formulas and a Refining Blueprint, all of Eighth Grade, costing him a considerable amount of Spirit Stones.

When it was Han Li's turn, he laid some items in front of him and said in a deep voice:

"Fellow Daoists, I have here three Yellow Rank Extreme Grade Cultivation Techniques, two Yellow Rank Extreme Grade martial skills, twelve Yellow Rank High Grade Artifacts, and six bottles of Eighth Grade Elixirs, each containing ten pills... Priority will be given to exchanges for Eighth Grade or higher pill formulas, Refining Blueprints, followed by Spirit Stones."

Astounding!

All the loose cultivators turned to look, fixating on the pile of items in front of Han Li, each feeling incredulous.

The treasures Han Li brought out were almost half of what the previous fourteen loose cultivators had combined—a wealth that even disciples of great sects could not match.

How could the old ancestor of the Han Family possess so many treasures?

Was he not just a common cultivator who, greedily indulging in the pleasures of women and nearing the end of his life, had luckily broken through to the Pihai Realm?

Could it be that some stroke of fortune allowed him to break through to the Pihai Realm and obtain a large amount of treasures?

Could this only be a part of it, with Han Li still hiding even more treasures?

...

All sorts of thoughts flitted through the minds of the loose cultivators, and the way they looked at Han Li instantly changed.

In the eyes of many loose cultivators, a glint of greed flashed by, and some even openly displayed their murderous intent, quickly concealing it again, planning to commit murder and robbery after the gathering.

"Han, my friend, you... you... sigh!"

Li Deshun was startled by the scene, quickly regaining his composure, his expression turning somewhat ugly.

For loose cultivators, flaunting wealth is taboo, something absolutely not to be done—too easily attracting fatal disasters. Loose cultivators have no backing; if they're killed, they're killed, and claiming their treasures is what truly matters. Even disciples of large sects occasionally fall victim to murder and robbery.

He also believed that Han Li had luckily stumbled upon a fortune to achieve a breakthrough to the Pihai Realm. Having always stayed in Lingjun City and not yet roughed up by the cultivation realm, he was too naïve and dared to display so many treasures—something not even Li would dare to do.

Regardless of whether Han Li's trade was successful or not, he had already been targeted; he would certainly be ambushed on his way back in an attempt to seize all his treasures and resources.

After giving Han Li a deep look, Li Deshun made a decision, not to get involved in these troubled waters.

Although he wanted to win over Han Li, the man truly lacked wisdom. Moreover, Li did not have enough strength to deter those cultivators with malicious intents. Risking his life for Han Li was not worth it; he, too, had aspirations to break through to the Gangyuan Realm.

However, it wouldn't hurt to give Han Li a heads-up before leaving. Whether he could survive the trip back depended on his own destiny. Li Deshun had a good idea of whether a cultivator at the second tier of the Pihai Realm could withstand repeated ambushes.

Han Li took note of everyone's expressions, especially those who showed their murderous intent. He discreetly marked them, waiting for these fish to take the bait.

For Han Li, the treasures he had presented were quite ordinary; he had many, and these were just a small part that he didn't hold in high regard.

Sacred treasures such as Profound Rank cultivation techniques, martial techniques, and Lifespan Extension Pills would not be brought out by him.

He had been rewarded with hundreds of Yellow Rank Extreme Grade cultivation and martial techniques by the system. Treasures like Eighth Grade Elixirs and Yellow Rank High Grade Artifacts were all self-refined by him, conveniently marketed here.

After a silent moment, many loose cultivators sprang into action. Some cultivators in need traded with Han Li, resulting in him obtaining an Eighth Grade Pill Recipe and Refining Blueprint, along with a vast number of Spirit Stones.

There were more loose cultivators watching from the sidelines, their expressions varied, not coming forward to trade. Either they had no need, or they lacked the treasures and Spirit Stones to offer, or they didn't see the merit in trading when they could acquire them by killing Han Li.

A mere Pihai Realm second-tier loose cultivator was easy to ambush and kill.

Since coming down from the mountain, Han Li had never used his Tianxuan Mountain Disciple identity. Almost no one knew he came from Tianxuan Mountain, and even if they did, they wouldn't care too much about it.

Seeing no one else coming to trade, Han Li casually stored the remaining treasures into his Space Ring, his face showing a hint of distress, seemingly mourning the fact that he hadn't sold everything.

An honest man!

Many loose cultivators instantly labeled Han Li with this tag, some looking at him with pity; this honest man wouldn't live much longer.

As a Gangyuan Realm great master, Han Li saw everyone's reaction and let out an innocent and honest smile, while inwardly thinking: Little fish, do keep taking the bait!

Since having to reveal a part of his strength, he didn't mind gaining some extra wealth in this way, which would also add to his record of achievements and extend his influence.