Chapter 317: Scorpion Token

Qi Liang stepped forward a few paces, flipped his hand, and produced a white token carved with a scorpion pattern, emitting a faint white glow.

With a wave, a beam of white light flew out from the token and vanished into the white restriction in a flash.

Sizzle!

A crack immediately split open on the restriction outside the building.

After Han Li and the other entered, the crack closed at once.

Only then did Han Li get a clear view of the pavilion: three stories, exquisitely crafted, entirely white, radiating a faint white light, as if made from some special jade.

At the main entrance hung a white plaque inscribed with three large characters: "Scorpion Pavilion."

The edges of the plaque were carved with scorpion patterns very similar to those on the token Qi Liang had just produced.

Elder Li, this exchange meeting is convened by the Scorpion Sect, a subsidiary force of our sect. Though the Scorpion Sect's strength is ordinary, they excel in various restrictions and Dao soldier refinement techniques—no small matter." Qi Liang explained in a low voice.

Han Li nodded thoughtfully upon hearing this.

Qi Liang put away the token and entered the pavilion.

The interior was lavishly decorated: crimson carpets on the floor, dragons and phoenixes carved on the white walls, screens and bonsai scattered about—a scene of worldly luxury.

Several maids in red shirts stood at various spots inside. Seeing the two enter, they immediately curtsied.

Though these girls appeared no different from ordinary humans, they had no breath or heartbeat—they were all Dao soldiers.

Moreover, each of these maid Dao soldiers exuded a not-weak aura, comparable to a Combined Essence stage cultivator.

Han Li scrutinized the maids; their movements were agile and natural, their eyes bright, without any hint of dullness, almost indistinguishable from real people.

Having now refined Dao soldiers himself, his insight in this area was naturally incomparable to before.

Yet even so, he still could not discern how the Scorpion Sect had managed to refine these maid Dao soldiers.

His Thunder Armor Dao soldiers, though physically tough and swift in action, likely surpassed these maids in combat power, but fell far short in agility.

Just then, a figure hurried out from within—a young woman in her prime. She bowed respectfully and said, "Greetings, two seniors."

"Take us to the trading hall," Qi Liang said indifferently.

"Yes, please follow me, seniors." The young woman promptly agreed and led the two up a nearby staircase, soon arriving at a hall on the third floor.

The hall was quite spacious but only furnished with some tables and chairs, and was empty of people.

In the center of the room stood a large screen painted with a landscape scene. Though the brushwork was heavy, it was lifelike, giving one a sense of being there.

Han Li glanced around the room, frowned slightly, then turned his gaze to the screen.

The young woman muttered incantations, formed a hand seal, and shot a beam of white light into the screen.

A layer of white crystalline light immediately emerged on the screen, and the landscape seemed to come alive, spinning swiftly on its surface.

The landscape painting on the screen also emitted a black radiance, merging with the white crystalline light to form a black door.

Seeing this, a trace of surprise flickered in Han Li's eyes.

The young woman chanted spells and continuously formed hand seals.

The black light from the door on the screen grew brighter and rapidly expanded.

With a dull "puff," the black door shot out from the screen, suspended in midair, then split open to reveal a long passage.

"Seniors, the hall is ahead. Please." The young woman ceased her spell and said.

Qi Liang nodded and waved his hand, signaling she could leave.

The young woman bowed again and quickly withdrew.

"Let's go." Qi Liang stepped into the passage.

Han Li walked while examining the passage, a hint of curiosity in his eyes.

The passage before them was clearly a spatial restriction of some kind, highly sophisticated, with exceptionally stable space.

"The Scorpion Sect excels in spatial restrictions, especially in opening void realms. I've heard that some of our sect's secret realms were opened with their help." Qi Liang glanced at Han Li and said.

Han Li nodded slightly, then frowned and said, "But this is just an exchange meeting, nothing illicit. Why go to such trouble and hold it in a void realm? Is it because there are too many people and the outer hall can't accommodate them?"

"Hehe, the number of people isn't large. The Scorpion Sect does this partly to make the venue more dignified and to network with us True Immortal cultivators, and partly to show off their skills." Qi Liang shook his head with a smile.

"I see." Han Li nodded in understanding.

"By the way, this exchange meeting will be held daily for the next few days. If Brother Li is interested, I'll have them give you a Scorpion Token as well, so you can come over in the coming days." Qi Liang added.

"Then I'll be in your debt." Han Li smiled slightly and said.

"No trouble at all. With Brother Li's profound cultivation, they'd be eager to make your acquaintance." Qi Liang waved his hand.

As they spoke, the two reached the end of the passage and entered a side hall. A tall, spirited old Daoist in a green robe stood there, smiling at them.

"Friend Qi, welcome! Eh, and this friend is?" The old Daoist stepped forward, then noticed Han Li behind Qi Liang and paused slightly.

"This is Elder Li of our sect, a good friend of mine. He has been in secluded cultivation for years, so few know him. Brother Li, this is Friend Chang He of the Scorpion Sect, also the host of the exchange meeting." Qi Liang, seemingly familiar with the old Daoist, chuckled and introduced them.

"True Man Chang He, I've long heard of you!" Han Li clasped his fist toward the old Daoist.

"So it's Friend Li. A pleasure to meet you." Chang He returned the greeting.

"Friend Chang He, Brother Li has just arrived today and doesn't have a Scorpion Token yet. You wouldn't turn him away, would you?" Qi Liang chuckled.

"What are you saying, Friend Qi? We'd be delighted to have a distinguished guest like Friend Li. Friend Li, this is our sect's Scorpion Token. The exchange meeting will be held here daily for the next few days. Please feel free to attend." Chang He said, flipping his hand to produce a white token and handing it over eagerly.

"Many thanks." Han Li took the token and nodded.

"Not at all. Please follow me; the exchange meeting will begin soon." Chang He led the two out of the side hall, through a corridor, and into a round main hall.

The hall was extremely luxurious: the floor was paved with a top-grade material called green pine jade, and the walls were inlaid with many bright top-grade gems, illuminating the entire hall brilliantly.

In each of the four corners stood an antique small tripod, burning a pale yellow incense stick that emitted a refreshing fragrance—clearly a very precious incense.

In the center of the main hall was a large round table surrounded by over twenty spacious chairs.

These tables and chairs were all made of a white, crystalline blue jade that exuded a cool aura, refreshing the mind—clearly a top-grade material.

Around the round table were already seated over a dozen people, both men and women, all True Immortal stage cultivators.

As the three entered, everyone looked over. Some seemed to recognize Qi Liang, while they merely glanced at Han Li a few times before looking away.

Han Li kept his eyes straight ahead, found a seat, and sat down. Only then did he discreetly survey the surrounding crowd.

Nearly half of those present were elders of the Candle Dragon Sect, but Han Li only had a vague impression of two or three. The rest, judging by their attire, were outsiders, and he knew none of them.

Qi Liang, being well-connected, chatted with many present. With Chang He's deliberate facilitation, the atmosphere in the hall gradually became lively.

Han Li did not join the conversation but sat silently to one side, his gaze seemingly casual as he swept the room.

With his powerful divine sense, he easily perceived the cultivation levels of those present. Among the dozen or so True Immortals, most were at the early True Immortal stage, with only two at the mid stage.

One was a portly middle-aged man wearing Candle Dragon Sect elder robes, with two thin black mustaches on his upper lip and darting eyes, looking exceptionally shrewd, like a fat rat.

The other was an outsider, a white-robed old man with a rather cold demeanor, who sat with his eyes closed, paying no attention to anyone around him.

The rat-like Candle Dragon Sect middle-aged elder sensed Han Li's gaze and turned to look, their eyes meeting.

The man grinned at Han Li, his mustache twitching, looking quite comical.

Han Li found it somewhat amusing but did not show it. He nodded slightly in return and was about to look away.

Just then, the portly middle-aged man's eyes suddenly glowed with black light, which rapidly spun into two small whirlpools.

A strange force shot out from them, entangling Han Li's gaze.

The scenery around Han Li abruptly changed: the hall and the crowd vanished, replaced by a white mist world.

The white mist roiled slightly, and several young women emerged from it, wearing thin gauze that outlined their exquisite curves, making obscene gestures at Han Li.

"Illusion..." Han Li paid no attention to the women, swept his eyes around, and spoke with a faint smile, then exhaled a breath.

The women around him dissipated, and the white mist world suddenly cracked with countless fissures, then shattered and vanished, returning him to the hall.

The portly middle-aged man trembled slightly, the black light in his eyes flickering wildly before fading entirely, a look of shock on his face.

Han Li's gaze turned cold as he looked toward the portly middle-aged man.

The portly middle-aged man wore a look of chagrin and repeatedly smiled apologetically at Han Li.

Though the covert struggle between the two was subtle, everyone present was a True Immortal cultivator and naturally sensed it, surprise showing on their faces.