Published: August 25, 2025
Chapter 222: Expert in Magical Artifact Refining
At this moment, the marketplace wasn’t very crowded. Han Li only saw about twenty or thirty immortal cultivators around the outskirts, making the place feel rather desolate.
“Could it be that everyone has gone to the Stardust Pavilion in the center?” Han Li wondered to himself.
However, he didn’t immediately head for the Stardust Pavilion.
That was because the magical artifact shop there boasted an overly confident attitude! (The shop that refined talismans only refunded spirit stones equal to the materials if refinement failed!) This piqued his curiosity. So, after circling around, Han Li couldn’t resist and walked inside.
The shop wasn’t large, apparently consisting of just three rooms and a backyard.
When Han Li entered the front hall, a middle-aged man dressed like a scholar was already inside talking with an elderly man with white hair but a rosy face. Beside them stood a dark-skinned yet respectful strong man.
The middle-aged man and the elder were engrossed in their conversation. Although they noticed Han Li’s arrival, they didn’t pay it much mind and continued their lively discussion. It was the strong man who responsibly stepped forward a few steps and politely asked:
“Sir, are you here to buy a magical artifact, or would you like to commission one?”
“I want to see what magical artifacts you have in stock first, then decide whether to commission something,” Han Li said calmly.
“Very well. Would you like to see mid-grade or high-grade magical artifacts?” The strong man, seeing a genuine customer, couldn’t help but show a pleased expression.
“Top-grade magical artifacts, and only the finest among them!” Han Li’s voice was low, but this statement immediately stunned the strong man! The two who had been talking enthusiastically suddenly fell silent and stared at Han Li with astonished eyes.
“Sir wants to see top-grade magical artifacts, and only the best among them?” The strong man blinked, reconfirming that he hadn’t misheard.
Top-grade magical artifacts were not something ordinary people could afford, often costing hundreds of low-grade spirit stones. Even cultivators who had saved spirit stones their entire lives might not be able to buy one. And Han Li had just requested to see the finest top-grade artifacts. No wonder the strong man reacted so awkwardly!
“Xiao Hei, come back! Don’t be rude to this esteemed guest!” The white-haired elder finally realized Han Li was a foundation establishment stage cultivator and his expression changed. He hurried over and stopped the strong man.
“I am the owner of this shop. Esteemed guest, please feel free to give your orders!”
The elder and the scholar were evidently cultivators at the qi refining stage. Seeing a “high-level expert” like Han Li visit their humble shop made them quite uneasy.
“It’s nothing. Let me see if you have any excellent magical artifacts. If something is suitable, I’ll buy one or two,” Han Li said.
The elder immediately breathed a sigh of relief but still spoke a bit awkwardly.
“I’m afraid I’ll disappoint you. Although we do have two or three top-grade magical artifacts, they are merely for show and not genuine masterpieces.”
Facing Han Li, a foundation establishment stage cultivator, the elder dared not conceal the truth.
Han Li was disappointed to hear this but couldn’t help silently cursing himself for being foolish! No matter how grand the sign outside the shop was, it was just a sales tactic. Why had he taken it seriously?
Shaking his head, Han Li turned to leave. But just as he neared the door, he turned back with some dissatisfaction.
“So you’re saying that the claim outside about refining top-grade magical artifacts is just empty talk?”
“No! Esteemed guest, you’ve misunderstood. Our shop conducts business with integrity, and every word on the sign is true. If the materials are appropriate, I can indeed refine top-grade magical artifacts,” the white-haired elder quickly defended the shop’s reputation.