Chapter 610: A Single Brocade Hard to Come By

For the rest of the day, Han Li visited dozens of shops, but the results were all the same. Many shopkeepers even advised him to make other plans, saying that although this item had appeared in Jukun City before, the chance of it reappearing was less than one in ten thousand.

Each time, Han Li merely expressed his thanks and then hurried on to the next shop without pause.

At dusk, as the sky darkened, Han Li arrived at the Yukun Tower that the Fiery Immortal had mentioned.

Slightly different from his imagination, the Yukun Tower was not a magnificent grand building but an octagonal tower with a large footprint, red walls and green tiles, with bells hanging from the eaves, exuding a quaint charm reminiscent of the mortal world.

At that moment, the southern gate of the tower was tightly shut, with a sealing talisman bearing the imprint of the Black Mountain Immortal Palace affixed to the outside.

After some inquiries, Han Li learned that the Yukun Tower was not a merchant establishment but a venue specifically for auctions, and it would only open once every three thousand years during the city's founding celebration.

The next opening was still about two or three hundred years away.

Seeing this, Han Li found a fairly private immortal inn in Jukun City, rented a temporary cave dwelling to stay in, going out to search during the day and cultivating behind closed doors at night.

Time flew by, and five or six years passed in the blink of an eye.

He had found nothing in his search for the "Xuanzhi Crystal," but he had gained a clear understanding of the market conditions in inner Jukun City.

True to its reputation as "a gathering of immortals and a meeting of merchants," the variety of spiritual materials and medicines, and the abundance of puppets and magical treasures, far surpassed any major city in the Northern Frost Immortal Domain.

Moreover, in terms of quality and price, it held a significant advantage.

Compared to the arbitrary pricing of goods in the Everlasting Union, this place was clearly more systematic and standardized. Thus, while searching for the Xuanzhi Crystal, Han Li sold off many unused immortal artifacts and materials, and also purchased various auxiliary ingredients for alchemy, including those for refining the "Susha Pill."

However, he did not dare to buy too much, purchasing only one or two sets of supplementary materials for each type of pill, after all, if he really encountered the "Xuanzhi Crystal Stone" later, he had no idea how many immortal spirit stones it would cost.

Previously, he had made a windfall at the Minghan Immortal Mansion, but after several hundred years of consumption in the Primordial Wilderness, along with parting gifts to Gold Boy and Little White, and his recent expenses in this city, his immortal spirit stones had dwindled to less than five hundred thousand.

This amount of immortal spirit stones sounded like a lot, and indeed it was not small, but compared to before entering the Primordial Wilderness, it had shrunk by more than half. Such a rate of consumption made even Han Li himself feel it was hard to bear, and he resolved to be more frugal in the future.

By now, he had already searched through most of the major shops in the city, but there was not a trace of news about the Xuanzhi Crystal Stone, and his previous cultivation had been delayed considerably. Thus, Han Li left Jukun City and returned to Wild Crane Valley.

Life in the valley naturally continued to live up to its name of "leisurely clouds and wild cranes," peaceful and comfortable.

Less than half a year after returning to the valley, Jingyang Shangren suddenly sent a message, inviting him to a gathering at the Wangbo Pavilion in the valley, saying that the "Purple Beauty" brewed earlier had reached its prime and he wanted everyone to come and taste it.

Han Li initially intended to decline, but after being pestered by three consecutive flying messages from that fellow, he had no choice but to leave his cave dwelling.

Wangbo Pavilion, located deep in Wild Crane Valley, closest to Mo Wuxue's cave dwelling, was a lakeside pavilion built in the center of a deep, secluded green pool. It was not very large, but its carved beams and painted rafters were exquisitely constructed, giving it a unique charm.

By the time Han Li arrived at Wangbo Pavilion, everyone else had already gathered.

Duan Yuzai and the others were seated around the stone table in the pavilion. On the table were some immortal fruits and spiritual vegetables, and beside them was a jade wine pot filled with deep purple wine, exuding wisps of rich, mellow aroma.

Yu Ziqi, now dressed in a snow-white robe, sat a little farther away from the others. He had lit a stick of sandalwood and was sitting cross-legged behind an ancient zither, his slender fingers plucking the strings, his eyes filled with warm smiles as he occasionally glanced at the only woman in the pavilion.

"Fellow Daoist Li, in this Wild Crane Valley, you alone share my refined taste and appreciation for this thing. If you hadn't come, wouldn't it have broken my heart?" Jingyang Shangren said, holding a crystal-clear emerald wine cup, complaining as Han Li arrived late.

"Hehe, what are you saying, Fellow Daoist Jingyang? I just returned from Jukun City not long ago, and I still have some miscellaneous matters to attend to. Otherwise, how could I have any excuse to decline? Please forgive me, everyone." Han Li said with a smile, clasping his fists in greeting to all present.

"I heard that Fellow Daoist Li went to look for the 'Flower Heart Stone.' Did you have any success?" asked a beautiful woman in a snow-white long dress with a graceful figure, slightly bowing in return as she spoke.

"Thank you for your concern, Fairy Mo. This trip was in vain, with no results at all." Han Li shook his head with a bitter smile and said.

"My old friend also sent word that he had made extensive inquiries, but there was still no news of the 'Xuanzhi Crystal.'" Duan Yuzai said, still dressed in his neat black robes.

"This matter cannot be rushed; it all depends on fate. Haha, let's not discuss it today. We must not waste Fellow Daoist Yu's sublime zither music and Fellow Daoist Jingyang's fine brew 'Purple Enchantress.'" Han Li laughed, changing the subject.

"Indeed, indeed! Fellow Daoist Li, have a drink first." Jingyang Shangren smiled as he poured purple wine into a prepared jade cup and handed it to Han Li.

Han Li took it, brought it to his nose, and sniffed gently before saying slowly, "Hundred-leaf fragrance, Bodhi fruit, purple flower linden... Fellow Daoist Jingyang is truly generous. This pot of fruit wine has so many fine ingredients added."

"Impressive! With just one sniff, you've nearly revealed my brewing recipe. You named every ingredient without error. How do you do it?" Jingyang Shangren exclaimed in surprise.

"Haha, it's nothing worth mentioning, nothing worth mentioning... Come, let's continue drinking!" Han Li shook his head with an air of composure.

During his time at Candle Dragon Dao, he had frequented Huyan Daoren and had drunk no small number of fine wines. The two had also exchanged much on the art of brewing, and thus Han Li had honed his sense of smell and discernment.

Seeing this, the others also broke into smiles and began chatting animatedly, the atmosphere growing even warmer.

When the wine had flowed freely, Jingyang Shangren suddenly said with great pride to Rehuo Zunzhe, "Heh heh, old ghost Rehuo, you've spent so long in Jukun City, have you ever attended an auction at the Yulun Tower?"

"That is a grand event held only once every three thousand years during the city's founding celebration. Each time, the number of participants is limited, and the 'Golden Silk Brocade' used as entry credentials is incredibly hard to come by. I recall that the last auction was unprecedentedly grand; when someone resold the brocade on the market, it fetched as much as six hundred immortal jade stones, and even then, there was no supply to meet demand. Tsk tsk, six hundred immortal jade stones just to get in and look around. Though I am the grand elder of the Fire Leaf Sect, I couldn't squander resources like that, so naturally I never went." Rehuo Zunzhe glanced at him and said.

"Heh heh, so you've never seen a 'Golden Silk Brocade' either?" Jingyang Shangren said with a smile.

"Old fellow, what are you trying to say?" Rehuo Zunzhe frowned and asked.

"Just want to broaden your horizons..."

As he spoke, Jingyang Shangren waved his hand, and a golden light shone in his palm as a palm-sized piece of gold foil emerged.

The gold foil appeared to be woven from extremely fine golden threads, adorned with various patterns of birds, beasts, fish, and insects, with an octagonal tower standing in the center.

Han Li's gaze swept over it, and he immediately recognized it as the Yulun Tower.

"This is... impossible. The next celebration is still over two hundred years away; this Golden Silk Brocade couldn't have circulated so early." Rehuo Zunzhe sat up straight, his face full of disbelief.

"What? Do you think my Golden Silk Brocade is fake?" Jingyang Shangren's face darkened, and he said with displeasure.

"Of course I know it's not fake. The Golden Silk Brocade is refined by the Hundred Creations Mountain using secret methods; such craftsmanship cannot be imitated elsewhere. Moreover, with the supervision of the Black Mountain Immortal Palace, who would dare to counterfeit it? That would be suicide! But precisely because of this, I find it incredible." Rehuo Zunzhe exclaimed.

Han Li's heart stirred slightly upon hearing the words "Hundred Creations Mountain."

He was no stranger to this immortal sect. As early as in the Spirit Realm, he had cultivated its inner technique, the "Hundred Meridian Treasure Refining Art," and had since heard of the sect's reputation many times.

It was said to be one of the top giant artifact-refining sects in the entire immortal domain, with branches in many large immortal domains. Its strength and reach were unfathomable.

Yu Ziqing also stopped playing the zither and walked over to stand behind Mo Wuxue.

Seeing everyone's attention focused on him, Jingyang Shangren suddenly changed his expression and, imitating Han Li, slowly shook his head and said with an air of composure, "Nothing worth mentioning, nothing worth mentioning..."

"You old fellow, you didn't invite us here for a drink with good intentions. You probably just wanted to show off this Golden Silk Brocade, right?" Rehuo Zunzhe spat and said.

"No, no... I brought out this Golden Silk Brocade only to tell Fellow Daoist Li that at this Yulun Tower auction, I will keep an eye out for him. If any 'Xuanzhi Crystal' is sold, I will definitely secure it for him." Jingyang Shangren drank another cup of wine, shaking his head as he spoke.

"Old man Jingyang, if that's the case, why not help him to the end and give him the Golden Silk Brocade outright?" Rehuo Zunzhe suddenly wore a mischievous smile and said.

"Well... at the auction, I also want to see if there are any treasures I fancy, hehe..." Jingyang Shangren faltered, then said with a grin while discreetly putting away the Golden Silk Brocade.

Han Li was also tempted by what Rehuo Zunzhe had said, but instead of speaking directly, he transmitted his voice to Jingyang Shangren:

"Fellow Daoist Jingyang, would you be willing to transfer this Golden Silk Brocade to me? Whether it's immortal jade stones, elixirs, or magical treasures, just name your price. If I have them, I won't refuse; if I don't, I'll find a way to get them for you. Even those rare wine recipes you've always coveted, I can offer you all of them."