Chapter 949

Not long after the Yin Luo Sect’s cultivators departed, a figure suddenly stirred in a nearby pavilion, and two more cultivators emerged.

The two glanced at the empty entrance, their expressions grim as they whispered to each other, then followed suit and walked out.

As soon as they left the marketplace, the two split up; one drew a small banner and gave it a gentle shake, his body vanishing instantly within a swirl of purple mist, then pursuing the direction in which Ge Tianhao and the others had gone.

The other took a different path, transforming into a streak of light that shot straight toward the imperial capital.

…

At this moment, on an unnamed wasteland mountain near Jinjing, the old man of the Fu family said to Han Li with a look full of hidden meaning:

“You’ve been teleported here already. Don’t you want to ask anything?”

“Why the unnecessary trouble? I’m indeed puzzled why you insisted on using a teleportation array to leave the marketplace—but I assume you have your reasons.” Han Li had already carefully scanned the surroundings the instant he teleported out; nothing unusual was present, so he replied calmly.

Han Li’s cautious behavior did not escape the old man’s eyes. But instead of anger, he felt deep satisfaction.

“Actually, nothing much. I received word beforehand that several Yin Luo Sect cultivators were searching for someone near the main exit of the marketplace. I figured you wouldn’t want to meet them, so I used the teleportation array to avoid them. You don’t think I went too far, do you?” The Fu elder’s eyes flickered, smiling faintly.

“Yin Luo Sect? What do you mean by that?” Han Li’s heart tightened, but his expression remained unchanged as he countered.

“Heh, no need to worry. If I truly meant you harm, I’d have already set up traps nearby. Aren’t you the cultivator who clashed with Ge Tianhao in front of the Baoguang Hall that day?” The Fu elder smiled mysteriously, speaking slowly.

“I didn’t expect you to know even that. But why help me? Could you really be doing this just because of our prior agreement, risking enmity with a major demonic sect like the Yin Luo Sect? I find that hard to believe.” Han Li fell silent for a moment, then replied coolly.

“What’s the Yin Luo Sect? You still don’t know my origins, Han brother. I’m merely the Enforcement Elder of the Jiuyou Sect. Our sect has long-standing grievances with the Yin Luo Sect—I’d be delighted to see Ge Tianhao humiliated. Of course, I helped you mainly because I have a favor to ask.”

“Jiuyou Sect? My apologies—I’ve long heard of your sect’s name. But with your sect’s strength, why would you need my help?” Han Li’s heart leapt when he learned the man was also an Elder of the Ten Great Demonic Sects; his vigilance surged.

“This matter is personal—I can’t involve my sect’s people. But it’s not urgent. Let’s attend the exchange fair first; afterward, I’ll explain it in detail. Rest assured, it will benefit you too. If you find it unsuitable, I won’t force you.” The Fu elder smiled.

“In that case, I’ll accept your favor for now.” Han Li pondered briefly, then smiled.

He’d already angered the Yin Luo Sect—he had no desire to antagonize another major demonic sect. Whether or not he’d truly help the man later, he’d pretend agreement for now.

“I knew Han brother was a man of action. Let’s go—the location of the exchange fair isn’t far.” The Fu elder’s face lit up briefly, clearly pleased with Han Li’s response; the two then transformed into twin streaks of light and shot off into the distance.

After a swift flight, the old man led Han Li down suddenly into a stretch of pitch-black wasteland mountains three thousand li from Jinjing, landing and circling until they halted before an ordinary-looking stone wall.

The stone wall faintly glowed green, mostly covered in mud and moss, utterly unremarkable.

Han Li didn’t even glance at the wall; instead, he narrowed his eyes and scanned the surroundings, realizing they were deep within a wild ravine between two peaks, where waist-high wild grass and shrubs grew everywhere—had the Fu elder not brought him here, no one could have guessed this place harbored cultivators.

The Fu elder had clearly been here before.

He skillfully flicked his sleeve, sending forth a palm-sized disc that flashed white light before vanishing into the stone wall.

Moments later, golden light suddenly flared on the stone wall; Han Li’s vision blurred, and the wall vanished entirely, revealing a massive opening over ten zhang in diameter.

Before the entrance stood two middle-aged cultivators clad in emerald robes.

Both were at the late Foundation Establishment stage; one held the Fu elder’s magical disc.

“So it’s Elder Fu! This elder’s face is unfamiliar—may I ask your name?” The cultivator holding the disc bowed to the two, then glanced at Han Li and asked calmly, neither subservient nor rude.

“This is Han Daoist from beyond the seas—I’m his sponsor. What’s there to check? Give him an identity disc—we’re in a hurry to attend the exchange fair.” The Fu elder glared, speaking bluntly.

“Heh, since Elder Fu is sponsoring you, there’s no issue. Here’s an Nascent Soul-level identity disc—this allows you to attend this exchange fair, and grants free entry to the next three underground gatherings. Of course, if you violate the fair’s rules, the disc will be revoked or destroyed. And as per regulations, you must pay ten thousand spirit stones to possess it.” The emerald-robed cultivator courteously returned the disc to the Fu elder, then handed Han Li a similar one, explaining.

“Here—spirit stones.” Hearing the price, Han Li winced inwardly, but outwardly paid without hesitation, tossing over a bag filled with over ten thousand spirit stones.

“Here’s the disc—Elder, please take it.”

After briefly checking the bag’s contents, the emerald-robed cultivator beamed and bowed, offering the disc engraved with 347 characters with both hands.

Han Li glanced at it, then raised an eyebrow, asking skeptically:

“Three hundred forty-seven? So many participants in this exchange fair?”

“Of course not. Han Elder, some cultivators won’t attend due to various reasons. Based on past experience, only about two hundred will show up.” The other emerald-robed cultivator explained.

“Ah, still quite a few.” Han Li nodded, understanding.

“Enough. Time’s up—we’ll head in now. Please convey my regards to your master.” The Fu elder, seeing Han Li now had the disc, turned and strode into the tunnel.

“These two aren’t weak. From your tone, they share the same master—who is he?” Han Li followed, asking casually.

“Their master is no ordinary person. Have you heard of the Four Great Solitary Cultivators of Da Jin?” The Fu elder chuckled, countering.

“Yes, of course. Is he one of them?” Han Li grew curious.

“Correct. Their master is Yi Xitian, the most mysterious of the Four Great Solitary Cultivators—he’s been at late Nascent Soul for many years. I once had the fortune to meet him personally; I witnessed him effortlessly slay an eighth-rank beast with heavenly-level power—his cultivation is truly unfathomable. Rumor says he’s one of only two in Da Jin’s last thousand years who might reach Soul Transformation. The fair’s organizers assigned these two to guard the entrance, likely to leverage their master’s reputation.” The Fu elder explained, sighing with admiration.

“Your cultivation is exceptionally deep—once you break through, late Nascent Soul is within reach. Why envy him? And who’s the other who might reach Soul Transformation?” Han Li’s interest stirred, asking.

“The other is Master Biyue of the Buddhist Jinghuo Sect. He reached late Nascent Soul in just four hundred years—universally recognized as a once-in-ten-thousand-years genius. As for me, I admit I’m gifted compared to ordinary cultivators, but I can’t compare to either of them. I’ve been stuck at this stage for two or three centuries—I’ve long given up on advancing further. But you—you’ve only just broken through to mid-stage; perhaps you might easily break your bottleneck?” The Fu elder smiled bitterly.

“Elder Fu, you jest. Is there such good fortune in this world?” Han Li laughed dryly, brushing it off—he took none of it seriously.

Under the Fu elder’s lead, Han Li now saw white light flickering ahead—a grand hall entrance appeared, voices bustling, and he felt his spirits lift.

…

Elsewhere, a hundred li above the underground exchange fair’s location, Ge Tianhao’s face twisted in fury, black qi churning around him as he clutched the skull of an unknown cultivator, using a soul-searching technique to extract memories from his spiritual sense, focusing on the critical moments.

The cultivator’s face contorted, eyes rolling back, body trembling violently as if in unbearable agony.

Nearby, Lin Yinping and another black-robed cultivator in his fifties watched expressionlessly.

Moments later, the soul-searched cultivator suddenly convulsed violently; black blood streamed from his ears and nose, and he collapsed, unconscious.

Ge Tianhao frowned, then five fingers erupted with pitch-black flames, instantly reducing the man to ash. He closed his eyes slightly, slowly absorbing the extracted memories.

“Well? Did you find out his identity? Why was he sneaking behind us?” Lin Yinping asked the moment Ge Tianhao opened his eyes again.

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