The scholar listened carefully to Han Li's words, first startled, then smiled warmly and said, "Master, thank you for telling me about this matter—otherwise, I might have wasted my entire journey! Though the Tianxing Sect's array techniques are well known, within the current Xingchen Pavilion, although there are numerous array flags and discs, both in quantity and variety, these are merely standard offerings sold to small cultivation families and independent practitioners. The true premium array artifacts—the refined, high-grade ones—are never made available outside. After all, array techniques form the very foundation of the Tianxing Sect's identity. If they casually release their finest array flags and discs, outsiders would notice weaknesses in their techniques, which would be a serious loss for them!" As he explained to Han Li, he kept glancing at him. Yet Han Li's cloak concealed every expression on his face, showing no sign of reaction at all—leaving the scholar feeling utterly helpless and frustrated. "From the way you're speaking, it seems you've already found what I'm looking for!" Although Han Li was deeply surprised by what the scholar had said, his voice remained calm and composed, conveying no trace of astonishment or bewilderment. Upon hearing this, the scholar first glanced around, making sure no one was nearby, then lowered his voice and spoke in a hushed, secretive tone: "If my senior trusts me, I can indeed introduce you to a well-kept secret shop that few people know about. While a small portion of its goods may have questionable origins, all of its merchandise are top-tier rarities—products that are exceptionally hard to find outside this region. I believe, in that shop, my senior will surely find the perfect array of layout and array instruments." "An underground shop?" Han Li's voice remained steady, yet within him, a genuine sense of surprise stirred. Over the past several years, he had heard fragments of stories about such secret shops. Should the scholar's account prove true, this would truly be a rare opportunity to broaden his horizons. "It seems, then, that my senior is already familiar with some of these secret shops. Ah-hah!" That's better—then the younger generation won't have to waste any more words. There will be roughly two or three more hours until the secret shop holds its monthly auction. If the elder wishes to attend, he should make his decision promptly; I can immediately show the way! Upon hearing what I had just said, Master Han did not seem at all reluctant toward the shop, which gave the scholar a quiet sense of satisfaction—he now knew for certain that this client had chosen wisely. "Won't it be too far?" Master Han suddenly asked. "Not at all—it's right within this marketplace. Has the elder agreed?" The scholar grew visibly enthusiastic. Securing a promising new client for this shop could bring in a considerable share of spiritual stones! "Then let's go!" Master Han exhaled softly, his tone suddenly turning colder. "I'll show the way right away!" The scholar beamed with delight and stepped forward first. After seven turns and eight bends, guided by the scholar, Master Han was led to a solitary, weathered cottage. The main door was tightly shut, with no visible markings, appearing quite unimpressive. Yet, after the scholar gently tapped the wooden door in a rhythmic pattern, the door opened, and a woman in her thirties stepped out. She was ordinary in appearance, her cultivation level no more than sixth or seventh stage of Qi Condensation, truly unremarkable. "Madam Zhang, I have brought a new guest with me who also wishes to participate in this auction," Prince Ling quickly stepped forward, making room for Han Li behind him, and said with enthusiasm. Upon hearing that Prince Ling had brought a guest, Madam Zhang did not appear pleased at all—instead, she furrowed her brows, showing clear reluctance. However, upon seeing that the guest was a Foundation Stage cultivator, her expression changed, and a slight smile appeared on her face. "This guest is indeed impressive—she's a true Foundation Stage elder. How different from the guests we've had before, who came in all sorts of varying qualifications. Please, let the elder enter." "The woman's cultivation level was modest, yet she showed no sign of reverence toward Han Li, as if truly treating him as an ordinary visitor. 'Senior, I'm sorry, but I can only take you this far. I must now bid you good day!' Prince Zǐ Líng, flustered by the woman's few words, hurriedly turned to bid farewell to Han Li and departed. Han Li glanced at the儒生's retreating figure, then stepped into the small room, making room beside the woman. Inside, the room was cluttered with various low-quality materials used for alchemy and crafting, resembling a typical store for raw supplies. As Han Li carefully observed, the woman who had just closed the door suddenly adopted a serious expression and said, 'Please follow me.' With that, she took two steps to a corner of the room and extended her hand, pressing it firmly onto the ground. A flash of yellow light illuminated the room, and a large opening appeared in the floor. After calling out to Han Li, she descended the stairs first. Han Li's expression was slightly hesitant. After a moment's pause, he finally approached the passage and proceeded with caution. Yet, naturally, Han Li remained alert throughout. The passage was short; after walking about ten zhang, it opened into a modest stone door. Standing to the left and right of the door were two black-robed figures, each wearing masks resembling evil spirits. The crimson tapestry, the snowy jade walls, the lofty hanging lanterns—all vividly conveyed the opulence and prosperity of the worldly realm. It truly seemed that the host was no ordinary person! The hall was elliptical, spanning dozens of zhang in diameter. Inside, there were seven or eight rows of wooden chairs, occupied by several dozen cultivators dressed in various styles. Across from them, a single empty table stood alone, and near one side of the table, three sets of sandalwood chairs were arranged. Upon seeing Han Li and the woman enter, all the seated cultivators turned to gaze at him. After being swept by their collective gaze, Han Li suddenly felt a cold sweat break out all over him, his face pale with shock. It seemed that most of them were cultivators who had already reached the Foundation Stage! Only now did Han Li understand why the woman beside him did not show him any sense of reverence. Here, he was merely an ordinary guest! "Your timing is indeed fortunate!" said Han Li. "The trading session is about to begin. I must return upstairs to attend to a few matters. I shall not be able to stay for the rest of it." The woman turned and said a few words before leaving him alone here, walking off by herself. Han Li, helpless, glanced at the numerous cultivators in the hall and then quietly settled into a more secluded corner. He had now noticed that all the cultivators here, like himself, were concealing their true appearances with masks, cloaks, and other means—clearly, no one was foolish, and none wished to be recognized. Though there were many people in the hall, everyone remained silent, creating an atmosphere of profound stillness and a subtle undercurrent of tension. Han Li, thus, remained composed. Aside from silently wondering whether any of them might be familiar faces, he focused entirely on the wooden door behind the long table. It seemed the host must be preparing inside! After sitting quietly for two or three hours, the door behind the table finally opened, and three people stepped out one after another. The attire and appearance of these three were identical to those of the two black-robed guards stationed at the stone gate, making it impossible to distinguish them from the guards. At that moment, they stood side by side behind a long table, and the person on the right spoke first, in a low, hoarse voice: "Welcome, esteemed fellow cultivators from across the realm! This gathering features both long-time clients and newcomers attending for the first time. However, all such distinctions matter little—our store treats every guest equally!" As soon as the person on the right finished speaking, the one on the left immediately added: "The rules for this transaction remain unchanged: our store will announce a base price in spirit stones, and then all participants will compete by offering spirit stones. Those who may not have sufficient spirit stones on hand may pledge equivalent items as collateral—specific values will be jointly assessed by the three of us. In short, the highest bidder secures the item." This person's voice was entirely different from that of the one on the right—sharp and thin, quite unpleasant to listen to, likely delivered in a false tone. "Finally, once our store's goods have been auctioned off, it will be time for free trading among everyone. If anyone has items they wish to exchange or sell, they may simply come forward, display them, and conduct transactions on their own—our staff will not intervene at all, merely providing the space. That concludes my remarks. Now, let the auction begin!" The middle speaker's voice was deep and resonant, echoing clearly throughout the hall. We need to head to bed soon—write everything after we wake up. Everyone's monthly ticket is what fuels our momentum. As long as we can land in sixth place on the new book list, we'll be thrilled. Just one more spot to go! Wang Yu will keep striving, and everyone keep voting!