"I'll continue traveling with everyone," Honglian said without hesitation.
"Good, good! Brother Han, have you also made up your mind?" The Daoist looked quite pleased as he turned to Han Li.
Han Li hesitated at these words. In theory, as a newcomer, sticking with this small group would be the optimal choice. Yet something in his gut told him it wasn't quite right—if he went along with it, he would surely regret it later.
"I think I'll wait until after the trading fair to decide. There's no rush," Han Li said with a smile, opting to stall for time.
"Oh?" Han Li's response clearly caught the others off guard, leaving Qingwen and the others somewhat stunned.
"What is there to hesitate about, Brother Han? We loose cultivators need to stick together so we won't be bullied. Besides, I'm quite interested in how you saw through my stealing technique—I was hoping we could exchange pointers in the days ahead!" Wu Jiuzhi sounded distinctly displeased.
Han Li listened to the young man's words without getting angry, merely smiling without responding.
"Hehe, Brother Han never said he definitely wouldn't travel with us. He just wants to think it over—that's only natural!" Daoist Qingwen quickly stepped in to mediate.
"Indeed, Daoist Qingwen has spoken what's in my heart. I do have certain difficulties that are hard to explain, which is why I need to be cautious!" Han Li looked at Daoist Qingwen with apparent gratitude, wearing an expression that said the Daoist had touched on something deep.
"In that case, I suppose I was being nosy!" The young man felt like he'd somehow ended up as the bad guy and was clearly unhappy.
Daoist Qingwen smiled helplessly, then gave Han Li an apologetic look with the expression of an elder brother tolerating a mischievous younger sibling.
Han Li naturally didn't take any of this to heart.
Now that this matter was settled, everyone rose to their feet and said their farewells before departing. Han Li found an empty room on the second floor and settled in for the night.
The next day, everyone except the monk and Han Li left the building together to set up their stalls.
While the monk continued his meditation in the hall downstairs, Han Li sat in his room, gently running his fingers over a stack of talisman paper as he sank into thought.
"So these are called low-grade talismans. The faint spiritual glow on them really is different from ordinary mortal talisman paper. It seems either the raw materials are special, or some kind of spell was used to enhance them," Han Li mused.
He had originally intended to practice the Spirit-Pinning Art he had learned before using this talisman paper. But it suddenly occurred to him that crafting a Spirit-Pinning Talisman probably required more than just paper—he would also need a brush and cinnabar ink. Both of these items seemed to be sold at the cultivators' stalls. Could it be that even these tools couldn't be ordinary mortal supplies, but had to be specially crafted by cultivators?
At this thought, Han Li couldn't stay sitting in his room. He decided to go find the monk. After all, the fact that he was a cultivation novice couldn't be hidden forever—he might as well ask openly.
"Your thinking is correct, benefactor. To successfully craft a spiritual talisman, one needs not only talisman paper made from special materials, but also cinnabar ink mixed with the blood of spirit beasts. As for the brush, that depends on the situation," Kusan the monk said calmly after hearing Han Li's question.
"Venerable Kusan, what do you mean by 'depends on the situation'?" Han Li sat cross-legged across from the monk, asking with genuine curiosity and no trace of embarrassment.
"The brushes we cultivators use for crafting talismans can be made from the spiritual fur of spirit beasts, or from charcoal made using certain rare treasures of heaven and earth. These can increase both the success rate and the power of the talismans. However, if one lacks the means, even an ordinary mortal brush will suffice—though the success rate would be pitifully low." The monk shook his head slightly, clearly disapproving of Han Li using that last method.
"Thank you for the guidance, Venerable Master! I'll go see if I can find a talisman crafting brush to trade for." Han Li stood and clasped his fists in a salute.
"Go carefully, benefactor." The monk closed his eyes once more, resuming his meditative practice.
It seemed he had no choice but to go out today. He remembered that the brush and cinnabar weren't cheap—probably six or seven low-grade spirit stones. Would he really have to sell the Flight Talisman he had just obtained?
As he walked, Han Li pondered these matters, eventually leaving the building and heading toward the trading grounds.
It was morning, so the cultivators on the road were scattered in small groups—not exactly bustling, but judging by their direction, most seemed headed for the trading grounds. Like the Daoist and his companions, most were likely going to set up stalls.
"Look at that enormous bird!" a male cultivator suddenly exclaimed.
Immediately after, a massive dark shadow swept overhead, passing above the cultivators on Han Li's road.
Han Li startled and quickly looked up.
A two-headed demon bird the size of a young calf was flying over them.
The creature resembled an eagle but wasn't one. Its body was covered in grey feathers, and when its wings spread wide, they spanned several zhang across. Below its body hung a pair of sickle-sharp talons, while two bald, vicious heads sat atop its neck, each bearing four small eyes that glowed with a faint green light.
What a fierce spirit beast!
"So ugly!"
"It's huge!"
"Catch it and use it as a mount—that would be perfect!"
...
The cultivators below stopped in their tracks, chattering excitedly, with some even looking ready to try their luck.
"Are you all tired of living? This is a 'Two-Headed Marsh Harrier,' a spirit bird raised by the Yan Family of Guyu Mountain—one of the premier cultivation clans! There are definitely Yan Family members up there. Do you want to court death?"
A few cold words shattered some people's dreams.
"The Yan Family? The only cultivation clan outside the major sects that possesses a Core Formation cultivator?" someone blurted out.
"Which other Yan Family would it be? I arrived earlier than you all, so I've seen this Two-Headed Marsh Harrier once before. I also know the Yan Family has sent a brother and sister pair to compete in this Ascension Assembly's arena competition!" Another cultivator announced smugly.
"You're kidding! The Yan Family is sending people to the Ascension Assembly? They've never done that in previous years! If that's the case, that's two fewer spots for us!"
"Exactly! What if we run into the Yan siblings in the arena? We'd be out of luck!"
...
The cultivators' expressions grew grim, and some even began sighing.
Han Li merely watched the departing creature in silence with cold eyes. This spirit bird was unmistakably the strange eagle Xi Tieniu had once seen, and that pair of godlike man and woman must be the Yan siblings!
Han Li was lost in thought when the nearby cultivators, having weathered this small commotion, went about their business once more.
Finally, he smiled faintly and walked away with an easy stride.
The plaza was already fairly crowded now. Though it wasn't quite as lively as the previous night, it was still bustling with activity.
Han Li felt the remaining bottles of pills inside his robe and decided to see if he could trade them for something useful.
This time, instead of entering from his usual spot, he entered from the opposite end of the plaza, planning to browse from the other side.
As he walked, Han Li's eyes darted left and right, taking in the various materials, talismans, and peculiar magical artifacts displayed on the stalls. The sheer variety was dazzling.
Suddenly, Han Li stopped in front of one particular stall. He stared, somewhat entranced, at a thin book on display.
The price tag before it read: "Art of Eternal Youth — Wood-element basic cultivation technique. Price: two low-grade spirit stones."
"I'll take this book," Han Li said slowly, bending down to pick it up and flip through it briefly before looking up at the stall owner with a calm expression.