"Then, the seed seeds I hold in my hands—well, I won't be able to stay in Tianyuan City much longer this time either. How many thousand-year herb remedies I can exchange for, I'll exchange for that many." The excitement on the female yin-elf's face slightly faded as she sighed softly. "You needn't be discouraged, Lady. I didn't say this visit was solely to exchange for seed varieties. If my friend can assist me in gathering certain materials, I'm equally willing to offer thousand-year herb remedies in return." Han smiled gently. "Materials?" Indeed, I have a list here—Lady, you may review it and see how many of these materials your yin-elf clan can provide." As he spoke, he shook his sleeve, and a white jade scroll shot out into the air. A pale hand emerged from the black mist and instantly grasped the scroll in its grip. "Hm, many of these materials are indeed our yin-elf clan's rare bones and inner essences. You truly dared to list them down, didn't you? Do you intend to craft some kind of artifact?" The female immortal merely glanced at her with her divine awareness, emitting a soft "Hmm." "I indeed intend to imbue several treasures," said Han Li calmly. "As for some spiritual bones and essences—what's so special about that? Don't your own race often do the same?" "Hmph. That's true enough," the woman replied with a cold tone. "Even when we need spiritual bones and essences from other races, we always use materials from outside our own. No matter how excellent our own members are, they never use them. Your human race has long been offending the preferences of many of us." Upon hearing this, Han Li gave a light laugh, as if completely unconcerned. "I don't think the仙子 is particularly concerned about this matter," he added. "Otherwise, she wouldn't have said such things." The woman in the dark aura hesitated slightly before speaking slowly: "As long as you don't use materials from my own clan, I'm quite indifferent. However, the items listed in your jade scroll are extremely rare among our race. I can only manage to supply half of them." "Moreover, the prices are quite high." "Never mind! As long as the items are suitable, on the matter of the immortal elixirs, I won't let the fairy lady suffer any loss." Han Li beamed with delight and replied promptly and confidently. "Then that's settled. However, I find it inconvenient to bring these items to Tianyuan City to transact with you personally. If you're willing, we might instead trade at the Universal Treasures Fair several years hence. That gathering is held every millennium by the joint effort of the human and feline-fairy clans. The venue for this year's fair has already been decided—right at Jiuxian Mountain, where the territories of Xuanwu and Tianhu are adjacent." The black-robed woman said. "The Universal Treasures Fair! Indeed, I've heard of it before. Given your suggestion, Han Li, I must certainly attend." After a moment's thought, Han Li nodded. "Very well, then. I'll first present the elixir seeds for your inspection. Please let me know if any catch your eye. Then we can exchange tokens of trust. That way, when the fair comes around, we won't have difficulty recognizing each other." The female eldritch maiden smiled gently, her voice sweet and soft, unconsciously carrying a touch of fox-like charm. Han Li nodded without hesitation, readily agreeing. Now that she had been seen in the hall, the woman from the demonic race was immediately presented without any hesitation. Though the demonic race was not particularly powerful, it encompassed countless varieties of beasts—both terrestrial and aerial—amounting to millions. Moreover, having thrived in the spiritual realm for so many years, the supply of spiritual bones and inner essences was abundant. Not much was needed—just if this woman could locate half of these materials, it would already be a significant contribution. Should her luck be favorable, the so-called Universal Treasure Gathering might yield even more rewards. The remaining few items could then be pursued gradually. While mentally calculating, Han Li calmly returned to the original material stall where he had first come. The storekeeper had already prepared a storage bracelet and was waiting there with respectful courtesy. Upon receiving it, Han Li inspected it briefly and then furrowed his brows. Indeed, as expected, the storage bracelet contained only a modest amount of the required materials. It seemed that they would indeed need the long-term assistance of the scholars and scholars. Han Li paid quietly in spirit stones and then left the shop. He didn't go anywhere else—he simply transformed into a streak of azure light, soaring upward directly toward the "Jixian Pavilion," the hall specially designated for high-level cultivators in Tianyuan City. Though named a pavilion, the Jixian Pavilion actually consisted of several independent pavilions. Each pavilion stood thirteen stories tall, elegant and refined, spaced hundreds of zhang apart, and each protected by its own independent array and seal. Such accommodations required a steady outlay of spirit stones, and even cultivators at the Transcendent stage or above rarely qualified to reside there. In fact, the Jixian Pavilion was primarily reserved for Transcendent-stage cultivators—while the Combined-stage cultivators had certainly stayed there before, they had only encountered such an opportunity a few times over several centuries. Thus, Han Li made no concealment, simply revealing a subtle aura befitting a Combined-stage cultivator to the head merchant of the Jixian Pavilion. The master, who had reached the stage of Divine Spirit, naturally gasped in surprise, immediately bowing deeply and addressing Han Li with the utmost respect, selecting the finest floor-level pavilion for him and dispatching his most beautiful female attendants to serve there. Since Han Li had no intention of staying long in the city, he did not hesitate to accept. After the attendants had thoroughly cleaned the pavilion, Han Li quietly ascended to the top floor and began to meditate and rest there. The next morning, while seated on his cushion in meditation, Han Li suddenly blinked open his eyes and murmured softly: "Indeed, he has arrived. Yet his aura seems unfamiliar—quite a cultivator at the Consolidated Mid-stage, not the elder Qi, who came last time. That is rather unexpected. Moments later, a gentle footstep sound came from downstairs, followed by a slightly nervous voice from one of the attendants: "Reporting to the elder, the Golden Yu Zen Master has come to pay his visit." "Master Jin Yue, thank you. I understand. I'll go right away." Upon hearing the name, Han Li felt a sudden sense of alertness and replied without hesitation. While other senior monks of Tianyuan City might not be familiar with him, Master Jin Yue—being one of only two cultivators who had reached the Consolidated Stage and achieved transcendence—had long been renowned throughout the city. Indeed, this senior monk, said to have originated from the Buddhist lineage, had remained secluded for years within the city's secret halls, rarely appearing outside the Monastic Council. Few people outside the Council had ever seen him in person. It was no wonder the attendants of Ju Xiang Pavilion were so nervous upon his sudden appearance. Nevertheless, since Master Jin Yue had already demonstrated his cultivation prowess before the two Qingming Guards, even if he weren't the one, the Monastic Council would surely have sent another senior monk to make this visit. Han Li silently pondered this, then, with a single hand gesture, activated a subtle spell. A flash of luminous energy rippled through his form, causing his figure to momentarily blur. In the grand hall on the first floor of the attic, a monk dressed in a light golden robe stood before a scroll of an ancient painting hung on the wall, gazing at it with quiet appreciation. Several beautiful attendants stood nearby, their faces filled with eager excitement. Suddenly, the monk turned around and glanced sharply toward the empty corner of the hall. Instantly, a shimmer of jade-green light flashed, and a figure in jade-green robes materialized silently—none other than Han Li. "I hope I haven't disturbed you, Master Jin Yue," the monk said, reciting a Buddhist chant as he bowed respectfully to Han Li. "No, no, Master, I have long admired your reputation," Han Li replied promptly, bowing both hands in return, then fixing his gaze upon the monk with steady attention. The monk appeared to be an elderly monk with a white beard of about half a foot in length, his face etched with deep lines, his eyes narrowed so tightly that they seemed barely able to open. "Ah, I recently learned of Master Han's name from a letter sent by Elder Qi. I heard that you not only advanced from Huashen to Heting stage within just a few centuries, but also that you are a cultivator who has achieved transcendence, having once served as a commander of the Qingming Guard in this city. Is this truly so?" Master Jin smiled and asked directly. "He heard from Qi Elder that you have no intention of joining Tianyuan City. That is truly a pity. Otherwise, the flying-clad cultivators among the Elder Council would not have only me left." The monk turned, expressing deep regret. "Only one? As I recall, wasn't there also Lei Luo True Person among the Elder Council? Could it be..." Han Li was momentarily startled. "Lei Luo True Person perished during the siege of the foreign clans' assault," the monk sighed, with a wry smile. "Indeed, that's surprising. I only knew two of our cultivators had passed away, and never expected Lei Luo to be among them." Han Li was genuinely surprised. Upon hearing this, the monk solemnly chanted several more Buddhist mantras before continuing, "Though you have declined Qi Elder's invitation, as a member of the flying-clad cultivators, I still wish to extend my invitation to you to join the Elder Council of this city." Friend Han should be well aware that we transcendent cultivators differ from the native cultivators, and that Tianyuan City nearly houses nine out of every ten transcendent cultivators.