"One is a material called 'Silver Core Stone,' and the other—one I myself do not know what it is." The elder spoke calmly, opening one of the silk boxes with a smooth motion to reveal a pale silver stone, about the size of a clenched fist. He then closed the lid and, with a simple gesture, launched both boxes directly toward the front. "Silver Core Stone! Hold on—this one we both want!" Upon hearing the name, the graceful woman beside him suddenly brightened with excitement. Though the young man also paused momentarily, he quickly recovered and, with one hand, gestured into the air, drawing a wave of jade-like light that surged toward the box containing the stone. When the name 'Silver Core Stone' was first mentioned, Han Li's expression also shifted. As the young man reached out to seize the box, Han Li's face darkened. With a mere movement of his arm, a soft "crack" echoed, and his arm expanded several feet, firmly grasping both boxes in his hands. At that moment, Qing Xia had just reached close enough, yet showed no sign of stopping, charging straight toward Han Li with the determined intent to forcibly reclaim her. Han Li coldly exhaled, slightly shifted his shoulders, and his body smoothly slid backward several paces, like a spring in motion. At the same time, he raised a golden palm and delivered a solid punch. With a soft "pffft," Qing Xia, as if made of paper, was instantly pierced through by the golden palm and completely dissolved. "A high-level cultivator!" The young man, who had been chanting incantations, slightly frowned and hesitated upon witnessing Han Li's display of skill. "Master Qian, please hold on. We can certainly discuss this further—there's no need to resort to physical action. Master, has this silver core stone still not been sold to this guest? Regardless of the price, I'm willing to offer double what it's worth. Would you allow us to take it first?" The lady with the surname Lü stopped the young man and, with remarkable intelligence, turned to inquire of the elder. "No. Even if Lady Lü is the descendant of Huangliang Master, our rules at the Celestial Pavilion cannot be broken Our shop is not an auction house where the highest bidder always wins—we operate on a first-come, first-served basis. Unless this esteemed guest here truly decides to pass, you may only acquire the silver-core stone. Whether this rule is genuinely observed or whether the elder has deliberately delayed it, the statement was delivered with a calm, understated tone. A woman named Lü was momentarily startled, turning her head to look at Han Li. Yet Han Li did not lift his head at all. Instead, he opened another silk box, revealing a long, rectangular mineral stone that was dull and gray in color. Its surface was remarkably smooth, resembling fine jade, yet its pale hue seemed strangely unimpressive. "My master, Lord Qiulong. This silver-core stone is a must for Lü's sister. I am willing to pay double the price for it. Please, allow me to take it from you." The young man named Qian stared steadily at Han Li, speaking with polite formality, though his tone was firm and stiff—implying that Han Li had already secured a significant advantage. "Then, I shall not allow it!" Han Li stared at the gray stone slab in his hands, gently rubbing it with a fingertip, without lifting his eyelids. "What did you just say?" The young man with the surname Qin looked deeply displeased, completely unprepared for Han Li's immediate refusal, having thought no further. "Perhaps this item is indeed exceptionally rare to your companion. But how do you know that I don't need it myself?" Han Li glanced at the young man calmly. "I've already stated that I'm willing to pay double the price!" The young man's gaze grew cold, his words carrying a subtle tone of threat. The woman with the surname Lu furrowed her brows, but this time she did not intervene. "I myself do not lack spiritual stones. If you are willing to simply walk away, I would be happy to pay you a sum of spiritual stones," Han Li sighed, speaking softly. Though the man and woman before them were clearly of distinguished standing, with powerful patrons, Han Li, as a lone bachelor, remained steadfast. With only a few days before entering the Sunset Tomb and needing to break through his current bottleneck to restore his own inner power, he had little intention of staying any longer. Naturally, he did not care much for these two Jin Dan cultivators. Even if their patrons stepped in, Han Li believed he would still be able to escape, given the vast gap in their cultivation levels. However, his blunt reply left Tian Xing pale as a sheet, and even the previously composed elder, who had remained expressionless, could not help but show a touch of surprise. Could it be that the man before them was also someone of great standing, unyielding even in the face of direct disciples of Qiu Long Master and Huang Liang True Sovereign? Xu, however, found himself thinking differently. Upon hearing Han Li’s reply, the young man named Qian grew increasingly gloomy. Yet the lady of the Lü surname seemed to hold a view similar to that of the elder. After gazing at Han Li several times, she suddenly opened her mouth and said, "May I ask your name? Which senior master have you studied under? Perhaps your master knows my ancestor as well!" "I am merely a wandering scholar with no formal lineage or teacher," Han Li replied with a smile, neither confirming nor denying. "Indeed? If you're unwilling to share, then I understand. However, shall I trade you a bottle of 'Tianxin Pills' for the silver core stone? These pills temporarily enhance one's spiritual awareness, compensating for the inherent deficiency of body-builders in this regard, and prove especially useful when breaking through a critical stage." After a brief hesitation, the lady gently flipped her hand, producing a jade-green bottle, and spoke calmly. "The Tianxin Pills? Those are the exclusive secret medicine of my esteemed elder, Master Huangliang. To exchange them for such a modest silver core stone seems rather wasteful," the young man of the Qian surname exclaimed, immediately stepping in to object. It was precisely the elderly Xu, who had stood by silently all along, who now seemed touched by the news. As for Tian Xing, however, he appeared as though he had never heard of this medicine before, looking somewhat puzzled. "Does enhancing one's spiritual awareness also benefit cultivators, even if only temporarily?" Han Li thought for a moment and asked out loud. "Cultivators already possess a strong spiritual awareness, so the effect would naturally be quite subtle," replied the Lady Lu, somewhat surprised and slightly puzzled. "Then, Lady Lu, please take back this vial. I shall not exchange it." Han Li shook his head again. This time, Lady Lu's expression grew somewhat displeased. Xu, on the other hand, looked utterly astonished. After all, the reputation of Tianxin Pill was so renowned—considered a supreme elixir for overcoming cultivation bottlenecks—that it was hard to believe someone would refuse such a valuable offering merely for a modest spiritual artifact material. Had it not been for the fact that the Tianxin Pill showed no effect against the unusual toxin on this elder's body, Xu himself might have been compelled to retrieve the Yinxin Stone and offer it directly to Lady Lu. This young lady could produce a bottle of Tianxin Pills so casually, clearly quite favored by the Huangliang Immortal Sovereign. While the elder was still astonished, Han Li had already calmly inquired about the prices of the two items. Though somewhat hesitant, the elder did not demand an exorbitant sum, yet still quoted a price that, even for ordinary cultivators, was considered a premium. Han Li nodded in appreciation, then flipped his hand to reveal a storage bracelet. With a simple swipe of his hand on the bracelet, a pile of high-tier spiritual stones spilled out—more than sufficient to cover the cost of both items. These stones had been exchanged from the human realm during his journey. In the spiritual realm, low- and mid-tier stones offered little benefit to his cultivation, so it made sense to convert them into higher-tier stones. Without further hesitation, the storekeeper used his own storage bracelet to collect the stones, and the transaction was thus concluded. Han Li then sealed the silk box and immediately headed straight for the door, while Tian Xing, startled and anxious, hurried after him. The young man's expression shifted several times, and only when he couldn't quite determine Han Li's true identity did he allow him to leave without obstruction. Yet in his heart, he had already made a firm decision: upon returning, he would dispatch messengers to investigate Han Li's background and find out exactly who he was. But for most spiritual artifact artisans, this material was far from exceptional—indeed, it often performed worse than standard premium materials. It was only in certain special artifacts and divine implements crafted for cultivators that it proved truly remarkable, with some extraordinary applications. For Han Li, however, this material proved to be remarkably versatile and highly satisfying. Over the following several days, Han Li accompanied Tian Xing through the various shops in the city selling materials, gathering several more types before sending Tian Xing on his way. He then settled into a modest, unassuming spiritual artifact workshop, renting an entire space and beginning to work in seclusion. … After one month, Han Li departed from the city with a calm demeanor. Half a month later, he arrived at the entrance of a vast canyon—the gateway to the Sunset Tomb. The canyon stretches for several miles in width, with strange, vividly red stones scattered across the ground and along both sides—so much so that even the surrounding sky seems tinged with a deep crimson, creating a striking and awe-inspiring sight. Near the vast canyon, a few cultivators and body-builders gather in small groups. Some are whispering to one another, while others sit motionless in quiet meditation. Most of them are mid-level cultivators and body-builders, only willing to form temporary teams once they've gathered sufficient companions before venturing into the canyon. Occasionally, some pre-arranged groups arrive from afar, rushing straight in without pausing at the entrance, entering the canyon immediately. A few high-level cultivators and body-builders, confident in their own prowess, also enter without hesitation. Yet, regardless of their rank, none of them dare fly very high—most remain at a low altitude, hovering only a dozen or so zhang above the ground. Because anyone with a clear mind would understand that once one flies too high above this land, they effectively hand over half their life to the immortal cultivators—or to those with ulterior motives. Moreover, the sunsets' tomb is home to countless ancient birds and beasts, turning the skies entirely into a zone devoid of any restrictions. (Second update!)