The Magical Treasure Fragment

Several of the spell techniques were simple to learn. "Hiding Technique" and "Voice Transmission Technique" were both supplementary spells, similar to "Celestial Eye Technique." As long as one understood mana, anyone could learn them, and Han Li managed to master them without much trouble.

The Voice Transmission Technique was exactly the spell that required the use of "Voice Transmission Talismans," which he had seen used numerous times before.

The Hiding Technique was a purely ordinary spell. It worked by attaching spiritual power to the whole body, causing it to take on a protective color similar to the surrounding environment, making it difficult for others to notice. This spell had a bit of a "chicken rib" quality, because the Celestial Eye Technique could easily break through it. It was utterly useless for fooling the eyes of other cultivators.

"Quicksand Technique" and "Freezing Technique" were both localized spells. One could transform the soil within the reach of one's mana into sand, and the other could cause water in an area to condense into ice.

The power of these two spells depended entirely on the depth of the caster's mana. If a being of great divine power were to cast them, turning a thousand miles of fertile fields into a desert, or freezing a great river into a glacier, was not impossible.

The reason they were classified as low-level, elementary spells was simply that they were easy to learn. Even a low-level Qi Condensation cultivator could easily pick them up. The only limitation was that, due to the caster's mana restrictions, their range was pathetically small.

Han Li had originally found these two spells very difficult, but after his abrupt breakthrough to the ninth layer, his mana had doubled overnight. Suddenly, he could handle both spells with ease. He was now able to freely turn an area the size of a table into sand or freeze it into ice, a feat that filled him with a rare moment of excitement.

As for the remaining spells, Han Li could not grasp them for the time being. With no other choice, he was forced to set them aside to be slowly studied and researched later.

The Great Southern Assembly was about to come to a close. In the final two days, the young cultivators who had come to trade finally reached their peak numbers.

At this moment, in the large trade square where Han Li was located, over two thousand cultivators were crowded together. The number of stall owners had multiplied several times over compared to before. Most of them were trying to seize this last opportunity to sell off all the items they still had not managed to trade. Furthermore, many high-level cultivators who had seemingly been holed up somewhere, unseen, finally showed their faces. They, too, wished to take this excellent opportunity to observe their peers and potential rivals.

Han Li could only smile wryly. He realized that even though he had now entered the ninth layer, he was still only in the mid-tier among so many cultivators. There were still many people above the ninth layer!

Han Li currently had no spirit stones, and his stock of pills was pitifully thin. Thus, he had no intention of treasure hunting. He simply let the flow of people carry him along, walking from one stall to the next. Wherever there was a crowd, he would go, his only purpose to listen to the cultivators' comments and insights on the items being bought and sold, hoping to broaden his knowledge.

On this journey, he overheard a great deal, which truly opened his eyes and allowed him to learn quite a bit about various magical tools and materials. For example, he learned of flying dart magical tools that could automatically chase enemies; gourds that could spew fire; long sabers that could freeze a person upon cutting them; the eggs of Silver-Winged Ants could be used to make medicine; the scales of a century-old Iron-Tailed Snake could be used to forge artifacts, and so on.

The more he heard, the more fascinated Han Li became. Without realizing it, he had drifted to the middle section of the square.

"No, I don't want that thing of yours. You'll have to trade with something else!"

"No way! This is a fragment of a Magical Treasure! The material alone is more than enough to exchange for your alms bowl!"

"What use is a fragment to me? Do you think I can find a Core Formation cultivator to refine it for me? Don't even think about trading this 'Returning Wind Bowl' of mine for that!"

A burst of fierce arguing came from a stall ahead.

"A fragment of a Magical Treasure?" The words that shocked everyone immediately caused an uproar among the nearby cultivators. The crowd swarmed around that stall, forming an impenetrable circle.

One must understand that a Magical Treasure was something a low-level cultivator would not even dare to dream of. But now, such a thing had appeared in the Great Southern Valley. Even if it was just a fragment, it was still a miracle, making these cultivators’ hearts itch with unbearable curiosity, like a cat smelling fish.

"Where is it?"

"Let me see!"

"Is this really a Magical Treasure?"

"Tsk tsk! It's beautiful!"

"It's just a rag!"

...

Because Han Li was relatively close to the stall, and his body was naturally more agile than the average cultivator, he managed to snatch a good spot in the inner circle. He could see everything clearly.

In front of the stall stood a man in his late twenties or early thirties. He had dark skin, thick limbs, and at first glance, one might mistake him for a farmer who had wandered into the Great Southern Valley. However, anyone who used the Celestial Eye Technique to look at this man's mana could not help but gasp. This dark-skinned fellow was actually a tenth-layer master.

"Is this guy looking for death, picking a fight with someone like that?" some cultivators thought to themselves in amazement, turning their gazes to the stall owner.

The stall owner was a very ordinary person in green robes, with only a seventh or eighth layer of mana. However, facing the man before him, his face showed not a trace of fear.

Someone noticed a leaf-shaped pattern embroidered on the stall owner's collar. It was then that the cultivators suddenly understood. So this person was a disciple of the famous cultivation clan, the Ye Family of Qinye Ridge. No wonder he was so brazen.

On the stall between these two men lay a strange yellow alms bowl with peculiar patterns, and a small piece of semi-transparent cloth-like material.

This piece of "cloth" was crumpled and uneven at the edges, as if it had been gnawed on by a dog. Its only noteworthy feature was that it occasionally flickered with a white light, making it rather unique.

Was this a Magical Treasure fragment? After seeing the real thing, many in the crowd felt a great disappointment. It did not match the image they had in their minds at all.

"This fragment is marvelous! If you use it to cover an object, it will instantly become invisible. What's more, not a single shred of spiritual energy will leak out, and it won't hinder spiritual energy from entering from the outside." The dark-skinned man spoke coldly, explaining in a loud voice to the stall owner.

After saying this, he suddenly turned his sleeve cuff downward, and a silver-colored little mouse scurried out from inside.

"A first-tier demon beast, the Metal-Eating Mouse!" someone in the crowd of onlookers called out the mouse's name, causing a small stir of excitement.

"As expected from a tenth-layer master! He can even catch a first-tier demon beast!" many people thought involuntarily.

At this moment, the dark-skinned man picked up the 'cloth' and covered the silver mouse with it!

The result was miraculous! The silver mouse and the 'cloth' instantly vanished. Even when many people tried to see through it with their Celestial Eye Technique, they found nothing.

The man was somewhat satisfied by the look of astonishment on everyone's faces. Then, he suddenly grabbed at the empty space in front of him, and the piece of 'cloth' reappeared in his hand. The white mouse's form became visible once again.

"And it's not just living things. The effect is the same for inanimate objects."

Having said this, the man produced a small dagger, only a few inches long, which was brimming with spiritual energy. He placed it on the ground and covered it with the 'cloth' once more. The same result occurred: it vanished without a trace, and not a shred of spiritual energy leaked out.

"Truly marvelous!"

"It can become invisible!"

"Tsk tsk! Unbelievable!"

...

The crowd of onlookers buzzed with discussion.

"So, what do you say? Trading for your bowl is more than fair!" The man removed the 'cloth' again, put the small dagger away, and said to the stall owner.

"No deal! If I need to make something invisible, I can just buy a low-middle grade Invisibility Talisman. Besides, with something this small, can I make my head invisible, or my feet?" The stall owner shook his head and replied with a sneer.

"Didn't I tell you? This is a Magical Treasure fragment, refined by either a Core Formation cultivator or a Nascent Soul cultivator. Unless they are a cultivator of the same level, who can possibly see through its concealment? How can an Invisibility Talisman compare to it!" The dark-skinned man said angrily.

"You can talk until the sky falls, but I have no use for this thing. What would I want it for? Either you take out thirty spirit stones, or some other item of equal value to exchange for this bowl!" the stall owner said coldly.