A Cold Welcome on Heavenly Market Street

The harbor of Starseeker Island was as bustling as ever. Numerous large and small seafaring vessels came and went from the port, shuttling back and forth without pause. In the sky above, flashes of various colors flickered from time to time as cultivators flew in and out. The mortals on the ground were all accustomed to the sight and paid it no mind.

But today, a streak of white light flew in from beyond the island, swift as lightning. It paused only briefly above the port before shooting straight toward the island’s interior.

If anyone had drawn near that white light, they would have clearly seen two faint human figures flickering within it. They were none other than Han Li, who had completed one revolution of his Three Revolutions Heavy Origin Art, his magical power now at the peak of Foundation Establishment, and his doppelgänger, Curly Soul, whose cultivation had been elevated to a level nearly matching Han Li’s through a massive expenditure of medicinal pills.

Speaking of it, more than twenty years of compressing his true essence had not only made Han Li’s technique purer and more profound than cultivators of the same rank, but the fact that Curly Soul had managed to catch up to his own cultivation level during this time filled Han Li with intense joy.

If not for the fact that Curly Soul still required several special auxiliary items to condense a Demonic Core, and that Han Li himself needed to make some preparations for his own attempt at Core Formation, he would not have emerged from his cave on Little Huan Mountain.

But on this journey, he had already made up his mind. Aside from purchasing goods and retrieving the spirit stone payment that Old Master Gu had promised from the Gu family, he would return directly to the mountain and not go anywhere else.

After all, this was a critical period for his cultivation; he simply could not afford to be distracted.

Thinking this, the Divine Wind Boat carried Han Li and Curly Soul straight toward the Starseeker City at the island’s center.

He still had plenty of spirit stones on him, so he wasn’t in a hurry to visit the Gu family first. It would be more convenient to buy the things he needed first and then head over.

Several hours later, Han Li could vaguely make out a massive city surrounded by tall, fortified walls.

Although Han Li had never been to Starseeker City, judging by the markings on his map and the city’s imposing grandeur, this was definitely the place.

Just as he was thinking this, Han Li suddenly felt the Divine Wind Boat beneath his feet grow slightly heavy, becoming as heavy as a thousand jun.

Han Li was momentarily stunned, but he quickly realized he had encountered a restriction.

This city truly deserved its reputation as the foremost city of Starseeker Island, setting up such a large-scale flight prohibition at this great a distance.

In truth, with his current peak Foundation Establishment cultivation, he could easily ignore this restriction and continue flying forward. At most, it would cost him a bit more magical power.

But Han Li did not wish to draw attention. So he tapped the front of the Divine Wind Boat, and the magic tool slowly descended.

Han Li and Curly Soul calmly stepped off the boat and stood on the ground.

After shrinking the Divine Wind Boat and storing it in his storage pouch, Han Li gazed at the distant colossal city, allowed a faint smile to appear on his face, and then led Curly Soul slowly forward.

Starseeker City was at least three or four times larger than the Eastern Stone City he had visited before.

Walking along a street in Starseeker City, Han Li looked at the thoroughfare, which was wide enough for several beast-drawn carts to travel side by side, and felt a pang of emotion.

He casually asked a mortal for directions to the Heavenly Market Street, and then, without hesitation, Han Li and Curly Soul headed toward the northern part of the city.

“So this is the so-called Heavenly Market Street?”

Han Li stared at the scene before him in slight surprise, his face showing unexpected astonishment.

A massive, hazy white barrier covered the entire northern district of Starseeker City. This wasn’t just one street; there were easily over a hundred of them, if not more. This was completely different from the single, lonely street Han Li had imagined.

But what stunned Han Li the most was the presence, in the middle of this district, of a massive pavilion floating thirty zhang above the ground.

This pavilion was a verdant, brilliant green, exuding a faint fluorescence, as if it were a single, enormous piece of jade. It was an extremely eye-catching sight.

Han Li stared at the pavilion, shimmering in the sunlight, for a long time.

Although he had no idea how the pavilion managed to float in midair without falling, he found it exceedingly novel.

But just at that moment, Han Li’s expression shifted. He quickly withdrew his spiritual Qi, suppressing it to the level of a Qi Condensation layer eight or nine cultivator.

Immediately after, the sound of footsteps came from behind him, followed by a melodious, pleasant woman’s voice.

“Is this Senior and Fellow Daoist visiting Heavenly Market Street for the first time? Every cultivator who sees the Sky Dream Pavilion for the first time is shocked for quite a while!”

The woman’s voice was as beautiful as a oriole’s, causing Han Li to involuntarily turn his head to look.

More than ten steps behind him stood five cultivators: three men and two women.

The men were nothing special, but the two women were enchantingly beautiful and daringly dressed.

Their simple attire revealed not only their snowy-white arms and smooth calves, but they also wore no shoes or stockings, their jade-like feet completely bare.

Even more striking were the three exquisite, glowing gold rings—one large and two small—they wore on their wrists and foreheads, adding a unique, fiery charm to their appearance.

The three men were far more ordinary in looks; one of them even had a face full of pockmarks, making him appear somewhat ugly.

These five were all cultivators around the tenth layer of Qi Condensation, apparently also wanting to enter the light barrier.

“And who might you fellow Daoists be?” Han Li asked, slightly puzzled, after giving the somewhat shocking pair of women a second look.

“This little one is Yan Li, and this is my good friend Yuan Yao. We are rogue cultivators from a nearby island. We heard that a shipment of rare materials from other large islands had arrived on Heavenly Market Street today, so we came here to take a look along with these three fellow Daoists we met on the road.”

The speaker was a petite, sweet-faced young woman with a round face. She looked at Han Li and Curly Soul curiously and spoke with a charming smile. Judging by her voice, she was the one who had spoken first.

The other young woman by her side was even more strikingly beautiful. Not only was her skin white as snow and so delicate it seemed it might bruise at a touch, but her tight-fitting clothes perfectly outlined her graceful, alluring figure, making any man who saw her unconsciously swallow his saliva. She truly had the capital to bring ruin to nations and cities.

However, this woman was not looking at Han Li. Her bright, beautiful eyes were fixed steadily on Curly Soul, her lovely face showing a faint hint of surprise.

Seeing this, Han Li frowned slightly.

Although Han Li himself had hidden his true cultivation with the Qi Attraction Art, Curly Soul’s late Foundation Establishment cultivation was completely unconcealed.

It was Han Li’s intention that having Curly Soul, a late Foundation Establishment cultivator, accompany him would not only avoid many troubles, but also prevent other cultivators from harboring any ill intentions.

But now, it seemed that Curly Soul’s presence as a high-level expert was undoubtedly intimidating, but it might have been a bit too eye-catching.

Thinking this, Han Li maintained a composed expression and said:

“Please don’t laugh at us, fellow Daoists! I am Han Li, and this is my Uncle-Master Curly Soul. It is indeed the first time for both of us to visit Heavenly Market Street.”

“I knew it! If Uncle-Master Curly and Fellow Daoist Han weren’t seeing the Sky Dream Pavilion for the first time, how could you stop and stare! Why don’t you come in with us? My sister and I could introduce you to the various shops in Heavenly Market. You see, while we aren’t from Starseeker Island, we’ve been to Heavenly Market Street many times. We know everything about it,” the petite Yan Li said cheerfully upon hearing Han Li’s words.

“Yes! If Uncle-Master Curly doesn’t mind, we sisters would be happy to be your guides on Heavenly Market Street. It would allow you to find what you want to buy in less time and with less trouble,” the exceedingly beautiful Yuan Yao added, her eyes sparkling. Her charming, gentle smile made it truly difficult for any man to utter a refusal.

Hearing this, the three male cultivators who had come with the two women could not help but look displeased.

But glancing at Curly Soul, a “Senior” at the Foundation Establishment stage, they could only grumble silently.

Han Li was surprised inwardly.

This was the first time he had ever been voluntarily accompanied by beauties.

But judging by the women’s glances, it seemed they were genuinely more interested in Curly Soul, the powerful senior, and that he was merely an afterthought.

Although he didn’t know what the two women were thinking, Han Li had no intention of getting involved with these two beautiful enchantresses.

So, under Han Li’s instruction, Curly Soul, who had remained silent all this time, finally spoke in a hoarse voice:

“No need! I have never enjoyed large crowds. Han, Disciple-Nephew, let’s go.” With that, Curly Soul grabbed Han Li, who wore a somewhat apologetic expression, and strode into the light barrier without showing any intention of further conversation.

Curly Soul’s blunt rejection caused the two women’s expressions to shift slightly, their faces full of disappointment. The three male cultivators, however, were greatly encouraged and secretly revealed pleased looks.

“Never mind, young ladies! This Senior Curly clearly has a strange temperament. It’s better if we just go in by ourselves!” the pockmarked male cultivator said, stepping forward ingratiatingly.

Hearing this, the two enchanting beauties exchanged a glance, then forced a smile and acknowledged him with a sound. They then lightly stepped into the light barrier.

By this time, Han Li and Curly Soul’s figures had long since disappeared from sight among the numerous streets.

Seeing this, the two women looked at each other helplessly. They could only pick a random shop and walk in.