Published: September 2, 2025
Chapter 533: The Exchange Meeting
The old fellow, upon hearing Han Li’s words, gave an awkward smile and quickly agreed. Then he changed the direction of the flying device, heading east at high speed.
Han Li followed calmly behind, his expression extremely composed.
“Senior, your face seems somewhat unfamiliar. May I ask your honorable surname and where you used to cultivate in seclusion? Perhaps I have heard your name before!” Huang Mingli glanced back at Han Li cautiously and asked carefully.
“My surname is Li. I used to cultivate in a secluded mansion, and I just recently succeeded in foundation formation before coming out. It’s natural that Dao Friend Huang hasn’t seen me before,” Han Li replied casually, not revealing the truth.
Huang Mingli couldn’t detect any flaw in Han Li’s words. Though still somewhat suspicious inside, he could only offer his congratulations politely.
Then, being quite tactful, Huang Mingli didn’t ask for much information from Han Li. Instead, he took the initiative to tell Han Li about recent repeated clashes between cultivators and demonic beasts. Judging by his sighs, it seemed he did not have much hope for humanity’s future in this area.
Listening to the man’s endless chatter, Han Li didn’t say much but gained a clearer understanding of the current situation in the outer sea.
In the following half month, nothing unexpected happened. Han Li and the old fellow smoothly arrived at a small island that looked quite ordinary.
The island was barely over a hundred li in size, with spiritual energy so thin it was pitiful. Except for small patches of grass and trees, it was just bare gray rocks, truly resembling the deserted islands that were common in the outer sea.
It seemed choosing this place was the best way to conceal the secret market’s existence.
However, even so, when they were still half a day’s journey away from the island, Han Li and the other began using concealment techniques, hiding the light of their flying escape.
This was naturally required by the secret market’s owner.
At that time, after hearing Huang Mingli’s earnest request, Han Li did not show any impatience and silently complied. This put Huang Mingli at ease.
After all, some core formation stage cultivators were not easy to deal with.
At this moment, Huang Mingli flew a round above the island, then landed near a pile of scattered stones.
Han Li, following beside him, showed a flicker of surprise on his face.
If he wasn’t mistaken, there were no restrictions or formations here. Could it be that...
Just as Han Li was slightly puzzled, Huang Mingli was already standing beside a huge boulder, skillfully knocking three times on the stone wall.
After a moment, the boulder suddenly split open a black hole about a zhang wide.
Huang Mingli immediately stepped forward, whispered a few words into the hole, then turned and called out loudly to Han Li in the air:
“Senior Li, this is the place. Let’s go in!”
Han Li nodded lightly, descended from the air, and walked directly over.
Inside the hole was a slanting stone stairway, beside which stood an elderly man with white beard and hair, wearing a gray robe, and seemingly at the late foundation establishment stage.
“Welcome, Senior, to our market district. I hope you find whatever you need inside,” the elder said with a smile, neither humble nor arrogant.
“Hopefully,” Han Li said calmly, leading the way down.
Now Han Li clearly understood. Apparently, to avoid alerting demonic beasts to the abnormal spiritual energy here, no formations or restrictions had been set up. Instead, this was just a temporary low-key place.
After walking down the stairs a short distance, Han Li’s eyes lit up.
Ahead was a vast underground world, about five or six zhang high, with soil solidified by petrification technique and supported by green stone pillars. Scattered throughout were square stone houses bearing various signs.
More than a hundred cultivators were inside these stone houses, trading various goods and materials.