Winds Stir Over the Seas – News

The cultivators below took turns presenting their items, and none of them were ordinary goods. They were essentially all treasures that only Core Formation cultivators could make use of. No wonder the secret market had to hold a dedicated exchange meet like this.

Han Li watched coldly from the sidelines. None of them caught his interest, but the items did stir up the emotions of the other cultivators, and the atmosphere gradually heated up.

When it was Han Li’s turn, he casually pulled several rare sixth- and seventh-grade demon beast materials from his storage pouch and placed them in front of him. These naturally drew surprised glances from the others.

In the blink of an eye, it was the last person’s turn—a swarthy, middle-aged cultivator who was one of only three mid-Core Formation cultivators present.

The looks others cast his way carried an extra measure of awe.

Unfazed, the man slowly drew out two items from his person and tossed them casually onto the table.

One was a dull copper piece the size of a palm. The other was a gray-white bone strip half a foot long, resembling the spine of some animal.

Most cultivators were taken aback. They couldn’t see anything special about these objects and wanted to hear his explanation.

But the middle-aged cultivator, after placing the items down, said slowly:

“I will sell these two things only to those who know their worth. If you don’t have that fate, don’t force it.”

Then, unconcerned, he leaned back in his seat, narrowed his eyes, and didn’t even glance at the beautiful female cultivator pressed tightly against his side. That left the woman somewhat embarrassed.

Hearing this, the others exchanged awkward, silent glances.

Only Han Li and Yun Tianxiao’s expressions shifted subtly after identifying the two items.

A strange look crossed Han Li’s face. Although the items were far from him, his powerful spiritual sense allowed a sweeping glance that made both objects perfectly clear.

The bone strip was nothing special—though it wasn’t ordinary demon beast material, it wasn’t something he valued. But the copper piece stirred a flicker of interest. It was engraved with strange, archaic characters. These characters were largely similar to the ancient script on the beast-hide scroll that contained the nameless Qi-Refining technique. Could there be a connection between them?

He had never been able to decipher the contents of that ancient text.

While Han Li was quietly pondering this, Yun Tianxiao suddenly let out a hearty laugh.

“Haha! I didn’t expect Brother Sun to be so generous. To think you could bring out the spiritual bone of an eighth-grade demon beast! Yun finds himself quite tempted.” The man swept his gaze over the bone strip and spoke as if joking.

This remark startled the entire room into a stir.

That item was by far the most precious thing yet.

An eighth-grade demon beast—what kind of existence was that? For Core Formation cultivators, this spiritual bone was an absolute rare treasure.

Han Li’s heart stirred further at these words. Could this man know something about the eighth-grade demon beast?

When Sun heard Yun Tianxiao identify the origin of the bone strip, he only chuckled. He cast a meaningful glance at Yun Tianxiao but said nothing more.

The exchange meet had truly heated up now. Everyone’s face showed unconcealed excitement.

The attending female cultivators also stared fixedly at the items on the round table, unable to hide their burning desire.

Seeing this, Han Li lowered his head to glance at Wen Siyue in his arms. He noticed a hint of envy in her eyes as well.

It seemed these things were irresistible to any cultivator, regardless of gender.

Just then, the fat old man spoke up, stating the items he wanted to trade and his conditions.

“I want to exchange Celestial Spirit Seeds for several five-hundred-year-old spirit herbs. The demon core requires a seventh-grade demon beast’s spiritual sinew in trade. Of course, if someone offers enough spirit stones, I’ll sell it too. And...” After seeing the rare items brought by those behind him, the fat old man’s earlier arrogance had mostly dissipated.

However, when he mentioned wanting a spiritual sinew, his gaze inadvertently swept toward Han Li. Among the materials on Han Li’s table happened to be one that fit the requirement perfectly.

Unfortunately, Han Li had no interest in a sixth-grade demon core. He didn’t even stand to signal a trade; he merely sat still with Wen Siyue half-embraced in his arms, his expression calm.

“I wouldn’t mind having a sixth-grade demon core, but I don’t have a spiritual sinew. I’d like to know how many spirit stones you’d part with it for,” another cultivator with graying hair asked, showing clear interest.

“As all fellow Daoists know, things aren’t what they were a few years back. Demon cores are getting harder to come by. Naturally, the price for this sixth-grade one is higher. If you’d be willing to pay fifteen thousand spirit stones, you can take it,” the fat old man said, seeming reluctant to sell the core for cash. He quoted a plainly inflated price.

The gray-haired man sneered and said nothing more. Clearly, he thought it too expensive and abandoned his initial intent.

“I want the demon core.” An old woman with white hair spoke coldly, her face expressionless.

As she spoke, a storage pouch flew toward the fat old man.

He was startled at first, but after briefly checking the pouch, a satisfied expression appeared.

“Only Madam Qing has such boldness. We poor cultivators are no match for you.” He seemed to know the old woman and cheerfully tossed the demon core to her.

The white-haired woman gave a cold snort. She caught the demon core, examined it, and put it away without another word.

The fat old man’s other items were inquired about by several cultivators, and most were traded away.

The few materials no one wanted were put away by him.

When it came to the red-turbaned eccentric’s “Coiling Earthworm” beast egg, a fierce competition broke out.

The man’s terms were lenient: whoever offered the highest-value trade or the most spirit stones would get the egg.

In the end, it was claimed by an unremarkable cultivator in red robes, who exchanged several bottles of rare pills.

After five or six more people, it was Han Li’s turn.

Han Li glanced at the pile of materials before him. Before he could speak, he felt several burning gazes land on his face—including that of the fat old man who had specifically wanted the spiritual sinew.

Han Li chuckled softly.

He didn’t stand. Instead, he leaned back, drawing Wen Siyue along with him, and spoke calmly:

“I don’t want anything for these materials. I’m just looking to exchange them for information. If the intelligence satisfies me, I’ll hand over the whole pile.”

“Information?”

“Intelligence?”

...

Han Li’s words caught the others off guard, but they weren’t ordinary people. Though slightly surprised, no one made a big fuss. Instead, curiosity was piqued, and they waited to hear what Han Li would say next.

Yun Tianxiao’s gaze flickered with a hint of doubt.

“Does any fellow Daoist here know the location of an eighth-grade demon beast’s lair? I want to trade these materials for that information,” Han Li said slowly and deliberately.

“An eighth-grade demon beast!”

Everyone gasped at his words. Almost all of them changed color.

“Fellow Daoist, are you joking? You can’t possibly be thinking of going after an eighth-grade demon beast?” the fat old man blurted out, utterly incredulous.

“Of course not. I have other business that requires this intelligence. As for the specifics, I’d rather not go into detail.” Han Li tapped the edge of the round table with one finger, unhurried.

At the same time, his gaze swept unceremoniously over the other cultivators’ faces. They all looked stunned and alarmed, which left Han Li feeling disappointed.

Finally, his eyes settled on the swarthy Sun.

When Sun saw Han Li’s look, he was momentarily taken aback, then seemed to understand and smiled wryly.

“Fellow Daoist, you don’t think Sun knows about an eighth-grade demon beast, do you? I’m afraid you’ve mistaken me.” He shook his head in denial.

Seeing this, Han Li made no attempt to hide his disappointment. He let out a deep sigh.

Just then, a sweet, charming voice suddenly sounded in Han Li’s ear.

“I know where an eighth-grade demon beast is. But I don’t want these materials. I have another condition I’d like Fellow Daoist Li to agree to.”

Han Li was completely stunned.

“You know the location of an eighth-grade demon beast?” he asked, hardly believing his ears.

The person who had spoken was none other than Wen Siyue, the woman cradled in his arms.

“Yes, I know the approximate location of an eighth-grade demon beast’s lair,” Wen Siyue said, her composure surprising. She lay half-sprawled against Han Li, tilting her delicate face upward as she spoke steadily.

“Siyue! What nonsense are you talking? How could you know the location of an eighth-grade demon beast? Don’t speak recklessly!” Madam Fan was first stunned, then her face hardened as she scolded.

“Uncle-Master Fan! Siyue truly does know the whereabouts of an eighth-grade demon beast. I have no intention of deceiving Senior Li. Please rest assured, Uncle-Master!”

Just as doubt churned in Han Li’s heart, he suddenly felt the woman tighten her arms around him. Then, biting her lip, she spoke resolutely.