Storms Stir Beyond the Seas - Snow Spirit Water and Heavenfire Liquid

Chapter 382: Storms Stir Beyond the Seas - Snow Spirit Water and Heavenfire Liquid

The moment the two women and their three persistent male pursuers entered a nearby shop, Han Li and Qu Hun stepped out from behind another building.

He gazed at the shop the women had entered, a look of contemplation on his face.

After watching for a moment, he led Qu Hun toward the other streets.

At first glance, the streets here appeared no different from ordinary mortal market streets. Rows of similarly sized square buildings lined both sides, their signboards and hanging banners bearing names of every description: Wu’s Sundry Goods, Chen’s Magic Tool Shop, Five Elements Refining Shop, Huo Yang Raw Materials…

Han Li did not enter any of these establishments. Instead, he walked straight along the street toward the center of Heavenly Capital Street.

In his experience, any large, well-funded shop would occupy the prime location—right beneath the Clouddream Pavilion. And he wanted to get a closer look at this airborne pavilion to see what other peculiarities it might hold.

With this thought, he unconsciously quickened his pace.

Cultivators of various descriptions were constantly emerging from or disappearing into the shops along the street; Heavenly Capital Street seemed to have no shortage of them.

After walking several hundred zhang, Han Li knew he had found the right place.

The view suddenly opened into a small plaza of several mu. The plaza was paved entirely in clean white jade strips, appearing exquisitely ornate. Its center was empty, save for the Clouddream Pavilion floating above. But now, the airborne pavilion’s grand doors were tightly shut, showing no intention of receiving visitors.

Surrounding this modest plaza stood six small halls of varying architectural styles, each spaced evenly apart in an arrangement that suggested a subtle mutual watchfulness. Aside from these six shops, no other establishment dared to set foot in this plaza.

Seeing this, Han Li studied the airborne pavilion for a long moment, then turned his attention to the six halls on the ground.

“Sea Mountain Pavilion, White Water Tower, Jade Ring Residence…” Han Li murmured the names of these six shops to himself, simultaneously observing how cultivators moved between them. He wanted to pick the one with the most foot traffic to enter.

But a moment later, his brow furrowed as he silently cursed.

The number of people entering and leaving each of the six halls was almost identical. Moreover, most customers visited all six in turn before leaving, either reluctantly or in high spirits.

Frustrated, Han Li focused his attention on the six halls once more.

It was then that he noticed a subtle detail. The banners hanging outside each hall bore distinctive emblems that clearly carried deeper meaning.

The Sea Mountain Pavilion’s banner was embroidered with a blue monstrous beast. The White Water Tower displayed a small golden sword. The Jade Ring Residence bore the image of a green glossy ganoderma…

Seeing this, Han Li felt a vague suspicion that he had misunderstood something.

To confirm his guess, he thought for a moment, then headed toward the nearest hall—the White Water Tower. Qu Hun followed silently behind.

Upon entering the White Water Tower’s main hall, Han Li saw it was a fairly spacious room, roughly twenty to thirty zhang in both length and width.

Rows of white jade shelves lined the walls, displaying gleaming magic tools of various colors—over a hundred pieces in total. But a single sweep of his eyes told him that the best among them were merely high-grade magical tools, far beneath his notice.

Four or five smartly dressed blue-clad attendants were tending to seven or eight cultivators, recommending and helping them select magic tools from the shelves.

The moment Han Li and Qu Hun entered, one sharp-eyed attendant immediately recognized Qu Hun as a Foundation Establishment cultivator. Though he couldn’t sense Qu Hun’s exact cultivation level, his eyes lit up, and he quickly walked over.

After giving a deep bow to Qu Hun, he asked cleverly:

“Esteemed Senior, are you looking for any magic tools? I imagine ordinary tools would hardly catch your interest. How about I invite you to the side hall? Our shopkeeper can bring out some newly arrived top-grade magic tools for your perusal.”

Hearing such polished words, Han Li smiled faintly but said nothing. Qu Hun, however, spoke coldly:

“Lead the way. I will take a look.”

Hearing Qu Hun’s confident tone, the attendant grew even more pleased.

With a beaming smile, he led the pair into a side hall off the main chamber, then excused himself to fetch the shopkeeper.

No sooner had he left than a beautiful maidservant entered, served them two cups of fragrant tea, and silently withdrew.

Han Li did not stand on ceremony. He picked up the teacup and took a light sip.

After a short while, a middle-aged man with an ancient, distinctive appearance and a flowing three-strand beard walked in.

The man entered with a genial smile, but upon clearly sensing Qu Hun’s cultivation level, he started, then quickly clasped his hands in salute:

“I didn’t expect you, Fellow Daoist, to have reached the Half-Foundation realm! Truly worthy of congratulations! I am Cao Lu, the shopkeeper of this establishment. I offer my advance wishes for your success in forming your golden core!”

His tone was solemn and serious, catching Han Li slightly off guard.

But Han Li’s mind was quick. He immediately understood that the so-called “Half-Foundation” realm referred to Qu Hun having reached the peak of Foundation Establishment. He made Qu Hun rise and go along with it, saying:

“You flatter me, Fellow Daoist. Forming a golden core is no simple task. But I have come today specifically to prepare for my charge at Core Formation. Since I am new to Heavenly Capital Street, I am utterly unaware of where I might purchase the ‘Snow Spirit Water’ and ‘Heavenfire Liquid’ necessary for that endeavor. I would be grateful if Fellow Daoist Cao could offer some guidance.”

Qu Hun’s tone was very polite, for this middle-aged man with the ancient features was himself a mid-Foundation Establishment cultivator.

“Heh, that is easily arranged! Our Six Consecutive Halls operate as a single body. I will contact Fellow Daoist Ouyang of the Jade Ring Residence right away. If they have these items, I will have him send them over at once.” Shopkeeper Cao agreed without the slightest hesitation and immediately took out a transmission talisman. He spoke a few words softly, then turned it into a streak of red light that flew out of the room.

After that, Shopkeeper Cao began chatting with Qu Hun with great enthusiasm, occasionally making casual attempts to probe Qu Hun’s background and sect affiliation.

But how could Han Li reveal such things to a complete stranger he had only just met? He merely manipulated Qu Hun to speak vaguely, saying he was a cultivator who had just arrived at Starfire Island from elsewhere and, having coincidentally encountered his ‘junior nephew’ Han Li, planned to reside on Starfire Island for a while.

Upon hearing this, Shopkeeper Cao’s smile grew even wider, his friendliness reaching a level that even Han Li found somewhat overwhelming.

Just as Han Li was inwardly suspicious, wondering what the man was really after, a burly man with a bristling beard and a light blue robe walked into the side hall.

His face was purplish-red, his build towering and powerful, an image of raw might!

“Fellow Daoist Cao! Why the sudden need for Snow Spirit Water and Heavenfire Liquid? Is someone about to form a core?” the big man boomed with a hearty laugh as he entered. His round eyes swept briefly over Han Li before fixing on Qu Hun.

This blatantly disingenuous behavior made Han Li frown inwardly. He knew this man was not the straightforward, open-hearted person he appeared to be; on the contrary, he seemed to have a deep and calculating mind.

Wary, Han Li added a measure of caution toward this man.

Of course, both Han Li and Qu Hun maintained their normal composure, even wearing faint smiles.

“Hehe, Fellow Daoist Ouyang, allow me to introduce you. This is Fellow Daoist Qu, newly arrived on Starfire Island. And this is Fellow Daoist Han, a junior nephew of his who has already settled on our island. Brother Qu has reached the Half-Foundation realm and is preparing to charge at Foundation Establishment.” Cao Lu pointed at Qu Hun and Han Li, speaking cheerfully.

“Haha! Then I offer you my congratulations, Fellow Daoist Qu! If you succeed in forming your core, that will be one more pillar for our Chaotic Star Sea!” The bristly-bearded big man grinned widely, showing the same overwhelming enthusiasm.

But then, as if suddenly remembering something, he slapped his own back of his head and added with a feigned look of embarrassment:

“Look at my lousy memory! I nearly forgot that you must be anxious about the Snow Spirit Water and Heavenfire Liquid. But rest assured, Fellow Daoist! I have brought both items with me. There is enough here for two people to form their cores.” As he spoke, he produced two yellow-glowing jade boxes from his person and set them on the table in front of Han Li.

“These containers are carved from deep-sea top-grade earth-attribute jade, which counts as treasures in their own right. But compared to the value of the two spiritual materials within, they are naturally not worth mentioning!” Though the big man’s words seemed casual, Han Li could detect a hint of self-satisfaction beneath them.

“I am much obliged to you, Fellow Daoist,” Qu Hun thanked him calmly, then carefully opened the two jade boxes one by one.

Inside one box was a mass of clear, water-like liquid. The moment the lid lifted, a wave of bone-chilling yin energy rushed toward Qu Hun’s face. The other box contained the opposite: a mass of bright, fire-red liquid that radiated intense heat.

Qu Hun examined them carefully for a long while before nodding with satisfaction and closing the lids. Looking up, he asked the bristly-bearded man in a calm voice:

“How many spirit stones would you require to part with these two items, Fellow Daoist?”

Although the “Snow Spirit Water” and “Heavenfire Liquid” were not as rare as thousand-year spiritual herbs, they were still precious substances rarely found in the world. They were also essential for assisting in and increasing the success rate of Core Formation. Han Li was determined to have them.