After a full meal's worth of time, Han Li reappeared before the pavilion, his figure drifting gracefully upward toward the hillside. His facial expression remained calm and composed. Wang Elder furrowed his brows slightly, then relaxed them as soon as Han Li landed on the stone slope, smiling and asking, "Master Han, how do you find this treasure? Are you satisfied?" "The pavilion is modest, with all necessary rooms—such as the alchemy chamber and the sanctuary for the spirit beasts—fully equipped. There's nothing lacking, yet I still have one matter that remains unclear, which I would like Elder Wang to clarify first." "As long as it concerns the Tianji Pavilion, Master Han, please feel free to ask. I will never withhold any information." Wang Elder replied warmly. "Then, I shall be direct. I know the Tianji Pavilion's greatest advantage lies in its ability to expand or contract at will, making it convenient to carry around. However, I wonder whether this treasure functions similarly to a storage bag—allowing items to be placed into or withdrawn from it while it is in a contracted state. Does it possess the functionality of a spirit-beast bag, enabling the spirit beasts housed in the sanctuary to scale with Han Li stared at the silver-robed cultivator and asked slowly. "This artifact can transform not only the dwelling itself but also inanimate objects such as tables and chairs that have been crafted within it. However, it has no effect on living beings such as spiritual beasts. Even if the spiritual beasts under your care possess their own profound cultivation techniques capable of transformation, they cannot withstand the immense spatial pressure generated by the Tianji Fu's shifting dimensions and will be instantly extinguished. Moreover, even if some spiritual beasts could endure this pressure, once the Tianji Fu contracts or expands, the dwelling becomes immediately sealed off, cutting off all external spiritual energy intake. Over time, the spiritual beasts within will inevitably perish." Master Wang had no intention of concealing anything—his explanation was clear and thorough. After all, these issues could be immediately deduced simply by presenting the relevant details. "Then, each time the dwelling is retracted, the medicinal plants in the garden must be transplanted first, otherwise they will not survive," Han Li mused and added a follow-up question. "Indeed, Master Han is correct—these are all fundamental problems that the Tianji Fu cannot resolve." "Yet even so, a dwelling naturally endowed with a spell that allows it to be summoned at any time and place—its value still surpasses that of ordinary treasures." Wang elder furrowed his brows, then spoke with serious tone. "Indeed, that is precisely why I am interested in the Tianji Mansion. Should the Tianji Mansion truly possess all the benefits mentioned earlier, I would hardly be able to hope for it myself." Han Li chuckled lightly. "Then, Brother Han intends to exchange for this item, is that correct?" Wang elder's eyes brightened with excitement. "I still have some rare materials that I haven't used yet. First, kindly provide me with a list of items you'd like to exchange for—so I can assess what I can offer. Then we can discuss how many materials it will take to secure this treasure." Han Li smiled, his demeanor relaxed and casual. "Of course. All the materials required by my hall are listed here in this jade scroll. Please take a look." The silver-robed cultivator beamed warmly, and with a flick of his sleeve, a beam of white light shot toward Han Li. Han Li seized the object firmly, finding it to be a white jade scroll. He then took it in his hands and examined it carefully right on the stone slope. ...An hour later, Han Li appeared at the entrance of the Tianji Pavilion, where Elder Wang warmly escorted him out. Han Li turned, bowed slightly to him, said a few farewell words, and then drifted away. Elder Wang only returned to the Tianji Pavilion with a satisfied expression after he had watched Han Li's figure fade into the distance. Meanwhile, Han Li stroked the slightly bulging storage pouch at his waist, his eyes flashing briefly before a gentle smile spread across his lips. After spending a considerable amount of rare materials that he didn't need to secure the Tianji Estate, he then directly sold a portion of the spirit beasts' pills and medicinal herbs to the Tianji Pavilion, earning a surprising number of spiritual stones. Thinking back to the astonished expression on Elder Wang's face when he had presented so many materials, Han Li found it both amusing and deeply mindful. The saying that "men die for money and birds die for food" remains a timeless truth at all times. As long as it was worth it, he didn't consider himself a mid-stage Yuan婴 cultivator who would truly be overlooked or targeted. Though the Tianji Pavilion boasted such a distinguished reputation and should naturally command solid credibility, having revealed his wealth and posing as an overseas independent cultivator, he still had to remain on his guard, wary of any ill intentions from the Master Wang might harbor. Thus, as soon as he stepped out of the Tianji Pavilion, Han Li projected part of his consciousness outward, scanning the surroundings to detect any hidden observers. After a while, upon confirming that no one was following him, he moved to a more secluded corner behind another pavilion. There, his figure flickered and suddenly rose an inch, his appearance and attire transforming simultaneously in a surge of emerald light. When he emerged once more from the pavilion, he had become a middle-aged scholar dressed in a blue robe, with three flowing strands of white beard, his face refined and striking—such that, at his current cultivation level, no one but a late-stage Yuan婴 cultivator would be able to discern his true form. Only then did Han Li feel at ease as he proceeded toward the other merchant pavilions. After visiting several more large merchant houses without success, Han Li was deeply disappointed. It wasn't that the merchant houses lacked valuable treasures—some ancient materials recommended by the store managers, which Han Li found particularly appealing—were simply not suitable for crafting puppets or the Three-Flame Fan. While he generally didn't lack ancient treasures, he ultimately decided not to purchase any. "It seems we'll have to wait until the auction is held," Han Li thought, standing at the end of the street and gazing at a grand stone hall before him. This seemingly simple, ancient hall—the "Bao Guang Hall"—stood out from ordinary buildings, with three stories each over twenty zhang in height, resembling a massive pavilion. Perhaps only such a large structure, capable of accommodating over a thousand cultivators, could host an auction. At the entrance of the grand hall, several cultivators at the Foundation Stage were stationed there, using a seal to prevent ordinary cultivators from entering—appearing as though they were still preparing for an upcoming auction. Besides Han Li, a few others were also pointing and discussing the stone hall, clearly aware that it would soon serve as the venue for the grand auction. Han Li gazed deeply at the hall, admiring its radiance, before preparing to turn and leave. Yet at that moment, four male and female cultivators suddenly stepped out directly from within the hall. Han Li glanced at them casually, only for his expression to shift, and he quickly composed himself, turning smoothly and stepping back toward his original path. "Hold on, please, friend—stay a moment," a pleasant and melodious voice called out behind him as he had just taken a few steps. Han Li felt his heart sink, his facial muscles twitching slightly, and his body halted abruptly. "Is there something I can assist you with, friend?" he calmly replied, turning to face the speaker. Six or seven zhang behind him, a young woman draped in white silk, her face veiled and her skin as pure as snow, was gazing at him with sparkling eyes. Standing beside her were two other women and a man, all of whom were equally astonished at Han Li. Upon a mere glance, it became clear that all of them were Yuan-Enlightened cultivators—particularly the white-robed woman and the black-robed man of about forty who stood beside her, both of whom were Yuan-Enlightened cultivators at the mid-stage, just like himself. Han Li felt a slight weight settle in his heart. "Nothing at all," the white-robed woman said, studying him from head to toe, her gaze lingering briefly on the long, strip-like bundle behind him before flowing gently with a warm, gracious smile. Though she could not be seen clearly in face, her figure was tall and graceful, every movement alluring. Such a stunning beauty extending a friendly invitation, yet Han Li felt no sense of being flattered—he simply wanted to turn and walk away immediately. For this young lady had previously fought against him on the grasslands. "To make friends? You must be jesting. With your character and cultivation, this is precisely what I have long sought. However, I currently have matters that keep me occupied, so I am unable to stay here at present." Internally, Han Li felt a bit uneasy, yet he maintained a cold exterior, bowing slightly before turning to resume his departure. "Why so urgent, Master? I still have a few questions I would like to ask you. Would you be able to answer me one or two?" The young lady flashed past like a white shadow, stepping in front of Han Li and saying with a slightly furrowed brow. "Is it that you are now questioning my attendants?" Han Li's expression darkened, and his tone grew stiff. "Miss Lin, is there any particular matter between you and this guest?" The black-robed cultivator finally could not hold back and spoke up. This man wore a faint layer of dark aura upon his face, clearly indicating mastery of a profound magical technique. "No." Though I have only just met this guest, for some reason, I always feel he resembles the person I came to find in Dajin. Brother Ge knows well that I have already stayed in Dajin for several years in search of this individual, so my younger sister wonders if this is merely a slight illusion of the silver screen. The Tianlan Maiden gently stroked her silken hair, her gaze now cool and steady as it settled upon Han Li. "Wait— you mean this person is the one who possesses our sect's Gui Luo Fan!" The once-pleasant face of the black-robed cultivator suddenly darkened, his eyes sharp and intense as they fixed upon Han Li. "I'm not entirely certain it's the same person. While his appearance and build differ slightly, he does feel somewhat similar to me, and notably, he carries a bamboo cylinder that resembles the one I saw behind the person in question." The Tianlan Maiden's eyes narrowed slightly, her tone calm and composed. "A bamboo cylinder!" The black-robed cultivator paused, his gaze now shifting to the long, rectangular bundle behind Han Li—indeed, it looked very much like a large bamboo cylinder. However, when he attempted to penetrate the wrapping with his spiritual awareness to investigate further, he was promptly and firmly pushed back by a powerful opposing spiritual awareness. Startled, he quickly withdrew his awareness, his face growing increasingly cold. "Esteemed companion, I am Ge Tianhao from Yin Luo Sect. Could you please open the package behind you so we may take a look? As long as it is not something we expect, we shall not disturb you further," Ge Tianhao said calmly, displaying a clear sense of caution. Not only he, but also another male and female cultivator dressed similarly, exchanged glances and then stepped forward, standing on either side of Han Li, forming a clear show of pressure. Han Li remained expressionless, arms folded behind his back, silent. Though none of the five cast spells or activated their divine artifacts, a palpable aura of tension surged throughout, and the atmosphere instantly grew tense.