The others listened, for with two female cultivators present as companions, they found it difficult to offer any praise or criticism. Han Li, however, merely stroked his chin, showing no outward sign of surprise or hesitation. He didn’t need any furnace vessels to enhance his cultivation, nor did he wish to burden himself with unnecessary companions. Though he found the female cultivators’ furnace vessels rather pitiful and felt a subtle discomfort, he himself was equally in need of support and thus remained silent. Eventually, the two female cultivators on the platform, having received no bids, were led away with a look of disappointment. At this, Xu Yun smiled lightly and explained, "These two women have relatively shallow cultivation levels. Though they willingly offered themselves as furnace vessels, they offer little tangible benefit to higher-level cultivators, which is why the bidding fell short. Of course, this isn’t absolute—should any Foundation Stage cultivator find their appearance appealing and decide to purchase them at a premium, that would certainly be no surprise." The well-dressed man chuckled a few times, saying nothing. Xu Yun continued to talk and laugh as usual, completely unconcerned. Further auction items that were rare and exceptional in the Inner Star Sea appeared, but Han Li grew increasingly relaxed, no longer eager to linger. Just as he was looking for an excuse to leave, Xu Yun seemed to have sensed his growing impatience and offered willingly, "The items being auctioned now aren't particularly outstanding. True treasures will only appear during the once-a-year joint grand auction. Then, fellow cultivators can experience them firsthand. For now, I'd like to take you all to other parts of Black Stone City to show you around." The group of well-dressed men naturally agreed. Even if they had items they particularly liked, their spiritual stones had already been drained during the transportation. Thus, with a simple nod, Xu Yun led them out of the bidding hall. With the mortal woman accompanying them, they exited the Mingzhu Pavilion through another corridor. …… "The several stone cottages connected together serve as temporary lodging for foreign mortal men and women. Any mortal seeking to survive in Black Stone City must register here for better management. However, if no one hires them within a certain period, these mortals will have to leave the city immediately. The mortal woman they saw earlier at the Mingzhu Pavilion is one of those who has just moved out." "The larger stone house adjacent to it is the city's largest raw material merchant, the 'Cunjin Pavilion.' It specializes in selling various rare materials. It's said that as long as you can name a material, the pavilion can provide it. While this may be somewhat exaggerated, the pavilion certainly enjoys an outstanding reputation." "The area right next to it, where three stone cottages are connected together, is..." Xu Yun, walking with the group along a particular street, casually mentioned these details as if he were familiar with them. When Han Li heard this, he felt a sudden spark of interest and paused his steps. "Qu Chu! What's going on?" The scar-faced cultivator was taken aback, asking with a touch of puzzlement. The group of dressed-in-ruffian-clad men also looked at Han Li, who was falling behind, and expressed similar confusion. "I still have a few matters I'd like to attend to personally," Han Li said, lifting his head to gaze at the sky and then looking down with a calm demeanor. Though his voice was soft, it carried an unmistakable sense of finality. Xu Yun and the elegant man named Yi were both startled. Naturally, they did not wish to see such a capable cultivator depart without further words of persuasion. As they prepared to speak, Han Li's sudden glint of frost swept over them, and both felt a sudden chill, their objections instantly silenced. They could only murmur in response. Then, they watched as Han Li stepped into the nearby Cunjin Pavilion and vanished from sight. At that moment, they exchanged glances, filled with surprise and bewilderment, and both found themselves drenched in a cold sweat. Meanwhile, the others standing nearby looked somewhat puzzled, unsure of what had transpired. "This person is—," the well-dressed man cleared his throat, clearly intending to say more. "Since Curmudgeon has decided not to join us, he must have his own plans. I'll then take the rest of you to explore another street!" For no apparent reason, Xu Yun suddenly cut off the man's words and hurried off toward a different street. Immediately, the well-dressed man heard the inner voice of the scar-faced cultivator. "Easy, friend! This person is enigmatic and unpredictable—better to keep our distance. Otherwise, a single misstep could cost us our lives. Curmudgeon's cultivation level is undoubtedly far beyond ours. We should refrain from discussing him further." Hearing these words, the well-dressed man's expression changed several times. After glancing at the Cincin Pavilion, he gave a slight nod and then proceeded to follow the others. At that moment, Han Li had already been guided by a handsome young man into a more refined room. Though the Jinjin Pavilion appeared as a vast stone hall from the outside, inside it was divided into numerous individual rooms, each staffed with specialists selling various types of raw materials. Han Li did not hesitate—upon entering the pavilion, he simply requested to see the head manager. Other cultivators would naturally find it difficult to achieve such a straightforward access. But by slightly relaxing his Jian Dan stage cultivation level, Han Li was immediately escorted with courtesy to this VIP room. For a Jian Dan cultivator, even in Black Stone City, such treatment was no small matter. Han Li only stayed in the room for a brief moment, when a plain-looking elder entered with a warm smile. "This esteemed guest is new to us, isn't he? It's his first visit to Jinjin Pavilion. I am Li Xun, the head manager, pleased to meet you!" the elder said, bowing slightly to Han Li. He himself was also a Jian Dan stage cultivator, just at the initial level. "Master Qu indeed visited this hall for the first time, and has a few matters he would like to consult with Brother Li. I hope you won't mind!" Han Li replied with a composed and respectful demeanor. "Please go ahead and speak. Brother Li will do my utmost to assist." The senior officer Li proved to be remarkably generous, not asking Han Li what exactly he needed, but immediately offering his promise with confidence. This open and generous manner left a favorable first impression on Han Li. However, Han Li still hadn't been able to detect the subtle changes in his cultivation technique, and thus remained unimpressed by his visibly frail appearance as a middle-aged man. Han Li smiled slightly. "I would like to purchase a rare medicinal ingredient used in the preparation of pills. However, Master Qu only remembers the ancient name of this herb, and thus has been unable to locate it. That is why I have come to seek your assistance." Han Li stated directly and without hesitation. "Ah! This is nothing at all—trivial matter, quite manageable." Upon hearing Han Li’s words, Li Xi’s mind instantly relaxed, and he smiled warmly and said so. Then, turning to the door, he coldly instructed, “Send someone to fetch Gu Yu.” “Yes!” A young servant immediately sprang into action. “Please wait a moment,” Li Xi turned back, smiling. “Though Gu Yu’s cultivation is only at the Qi Condensation stage, he has specialized in researching ancient formulas and medicinal herbs from the early periods. He is quite knowledgeable in this field, and I am certain he will not disappoint Qu Daojun.” As Han Li’s face brightened with a few expressions of delight, just as he was about to speak, a streak of red light shot in from outside, circled the roof, and landed precisely in the elder’s hands—turning out to be a message scroll. As Han Li’s expression briefly changed, the scroll instantly ignited upon the elder’s palm. The elder stared at the flame for a moment, then flipped his hand, extinguishing the glow. Only then did he lift his head, gazing at Han Li with a look of surprise. "Li Zhi has indeed been impolite! I didn't expect Master Qu to have only just arrived in Heishi City today. I should have made an effort to extend my hospitality to you!" The elder's demeanor instantly warmed up by a third. In this brief span of time, he had already gathered a good deal about Han Li's background. This surprised Han Li slightly, though he maintained a gentle, composed smile, concealing his inner thoughts. "My dear friend, your kind words are most gracious. In fact, I too have gone through considerable effort to reach this Qiyuan Island, and I don't wish to draw too much attention to myself," Han Li lightly replied. Seeing Han Li's composed demeanor, the elder immediately sensed that Han Li had no intention of dwelling on the matter and promptly shifted the conversation to the island's various anecdotes and local stories, which proved most engaging for Han Li, making their exchange pleasant and flowing. At that moment, a scholar in his thirties entered from outside, bowed deeply to the two of them, and respectfully said: "Gu Yu pays his respects to both of the esteemed elders." "Didn't know I was called upon, what would you have me do?" This man had a refined appearance, with a long, dark beard and bright, dark eyes, exuding a sense of elegance and grace. Li Xun merely nodded and gestured slightly, inviting him to speak. "Master Qu has some questions about ancient medicinal herbs. Just answer honestly," the elder said calmly. "Understood! I will do my best," Gu Yu replied, standing up with a serious demeanor.