Chapter 31: Tongyi Valley

Watching Han Li effortlessly blast a mu-sized crater in a remote cave dwelling area and then place the lifted spirit field into it, Luo Jun let out a breath and burst into laughter:

"Haha, Fellow Daoist Han's divine strength is astonishing, far exceeding my expectations. Truly, seeing is believing. Luo admires you!"

"You flatter me, Fellow Daoist Luo. Since the test is over, can we now discuss the real matter?" Han Li asked with a faint smile.

"Ahem! You jest, Fellow Daoist Han. How could I have such thoughts? By the way, becoming a guest elder of our sect requires little effort. Each year, the sect provides a stipend of fifty thousand spirit stones and some elixirs for cultivation. However, this year's elixir distribution has passed, so you'll have to wait until next year. Here is your token, which contains a map of the sect and brief introductions to the peaks, along with this year's stipend totaling eighty thousand spirit stones. The extra thirty thousand is a token of appreciation from Peak Lord Nangong." Luo Jun gave an awkward smile, then changed the subject, taking out a golden token and a cyan storage pouch, handing them to Han Li.

Gu Yunyue, upon hearing this, looked at Han Li with a complex expression. What Elder Luo had just described was treatment reserved only for Nascent Soul stage elders of the sect.

Judging from Han Li's behavior along the way, he indeed deserved it.

"Thank you. By the way, does the sect distribute the Wangxi Elixir annually, or are there other ways to obtain it?" Han Li expressed his thanks, took the token and spirit stones, and casually asked.

"Oh, the Wangxi Elixir is occasionally distributed within the sect. Although its healing effects are remarkable, it does little to advance cultivation, so some people put it up for trade in the sect's market. However, it's usually snatched up quickly and not easy to obtain." Luo Jun answered with familiarity.

"It seems I'll have to try my luck," Han Li said thoughtfully.

Luo Jun did not stay long. After a few more casual remarks, he left with Gu Yunyue and Yu Menghan.

In the following time, Han Li activated all the restrictions in the cave dwelling area, then took Liu Le'er on a tour of the cave, arranged a bedroom for her, told her to rest well, and then left the cave.

After about the time it takes an incense stick to burn, Han Li appeared outside a valley several li from Chuyun Peak.

At the valley entrance stood a white stone archway inscribed with three large vermilion characters: "Tongyi Valley." Below the archway, a broad bluestone street extended into the valley along its contours.

This Tongyi Valley was the sect market that Luo Jun had mentioned earlier. Before even entering the valley, Han Li could hear a cacophony of noise like that of a mundane market.

After pausing briefly at the valley entrance, Han Li stepped forward. When he reached the archway, most of the valley's scene came into view.

The street here sloped upward, lined with orderly shops and buildings, all built along the mountain terrain. The shops were adorned with various banners and signs, resembling a bustling mundane market.

It was just past noon, and the place was crowded with people flowing in and out of the shops, creating a lively atmosphere.

Han Li casually picked a pill shop with an imposing facade and walked in, but emerged expressionless after a short while, then headed to the next shop.

After visiting five or six fairly large pill shops, he hadn't seen a single Wangxi Elixir. In one shop, he learned that the last one received was two months ago and had been traded away on the same day it was put on the shelf.

After spending nearly half a day and traversing most of Tongyi Valley, Han Li still found nothing.

Coming out of a small shop, Han Li did not continue deeper into the valley but instead unhurriedly walked toward a secluded corner. Halfway there, he suddenly turned and coldly addressed a large tree not far away:

"You've been following me for quite a while since I entered the valley. Do you have something to say?"

"Fellow Daoist, please don't be angry. Misunderstanding, all a misunderstanding." A dry laugh came from behind the tree, and an old man in a gray robe stepped out from behind the trunk and approached Han Li.

The man had white eyebrows and a childlike face, with a radiant expression, giving him an otherworldly air.

"Misunderstanding?" Han Li said expressionlessly, sensing the other's Nascent Soul stage cultivation.

The white-bearded old man remained calm and said composedly, "I am Gao Buling, an elder of Luoxia Peak. I happened to notice you searching for the Wangxi Elixir, so I followed you for a bit."

"Luoxia Peak? If I recall correctly, that's the peak specializing in alchemy within the sect. Are you implying you have a Wangxi Elixir?" Han Li raised an eyebrow and asked.

"Hehe, I do have one Wangxi Elixir in my possession and am interested in trading. But I wonder if you have what I need?" Gao Buling glanced at the storage pouch at Han Li's waist and said with a smile.

"What would Elder Gao like in exchange?" Han Li asked impassively.

"No rush. May I ask how you are called?" Gao Buling didn't immediately name a price but instead asked.

"I am Han Li, a guest elder of Chuyun Peak. Now, can you tell me what you need in exchange?" Han Li asked calmly.

"A guest elder of Chuyun Peak? Your skills are remarkable; I can't even discern your cultivation level! But that's a minor matter. Cold Yin Profound Water, Blue Crystal Singing Sand, Heavenly River Star Stone, or Lanling Flower or Mo Xiang Grass aged over three thousand years... Do you happen to have any of these materials? Any one of them can be exchanged for this Wangxi Elixir." Gao Buling stroked his beard and said.

"Elder Gao, you must be joking. Which of these materials isn't an extremely rare heavenly treasure? If you had them, would you be willing to exchange them for a Wangxi Elixir?" Han Li's expression darkened as he retorted.

The white-bearded old man stiffened, then gave an awkward smile and said nothing.

"Please offer something more realistic, or I could buy it with spirit stones," Han Li continued.

Although he hadn't found the elixir, he had sold some of the materials and pills he obtained earlier in small batches, converting them into a considerable number of spirit stones. Combined with what Luo Jun had given him, he now had a decent fortune, though the few top-grade spirit stones he had obtained earlier were not included.

"Alright, since you put it that way, let's trade with spirit stones, as a gesture of friendship. One Wangxi Elixir for two top-grade spirit stones. How about that?" Gao Buling pondered for a moment, then sighed.

"Elder Gao, aren't you asking too much? Even if the Wangxi Elixir is rarely seen in this market, its highest price shouldn't exceed six hundred thousand spirit stones," Han Li frowned, looking displeased.

"I don't think it's excessive. After all, this is the price within the sect's market. If taken outside for auction, it would be hard to come by," Gao Buling said unhurriedly.

"How about this: I don't have the materials you mentioned, but I do have some other good items. Would you be interested?" Han Li said after a moment's thought.

"Other items? Fellow Daoist Han, if they're just ordinary magic tools, there's no need to bring them out. It's more convenient to settle with spirit stones," Gao Buling said with a smile.

"Azure Nether Crystal, Ten Thousand Yin Trapping Formation Diagram, and Po Yin Zhi. Would you consider these ordinary?" Han Li asked.

These items were obtained from the storage pouch of that Ghost Spirit Sect's Lu surname Nascent Soul cultivator. They were of decent grade but useless to him.

The old man hesitated, then after a long while said reluctantly, "Forget the first two items. The Po Yin Zhi is somewhat useful. But it must be at least a thousand years old, plus three hundred thousand spirit stones, and the Wangxi Elixir is yours."

Without any hesitation, Han Li turned and walked away.

"Fellow Daoist Han, please wait!"

Seeing Han Li suddenly turn to leave, Gao Buling immediately lost his composure and called out.

Han Li, of course, wasn't really leaving. After taking a few steps, he stopped at the call, turned around, and stood still, looking at the old man.

Gao Buling hurried over in three steps, gave an awkward smile, and said, "Fellow Daoist Han, don't be so hasty. The price is negotiable. But may I first take a look at the Po Yin Zhi in your possession?"

Without saying much, Han Li flipped his hand, and a half-foot-long wooden box appeared in his palm. He then opened the lid a crack. Gao Buling quickly swept his divine sense over it, his eyebrows twitching involuntarily before he immediately regained his composure.