Soon, some cultivators ran out of spirit stones and began offering rare treasures instead, each more expensive and rarer than the last, making Han Li's head spin!
"I'll trade a set of Inverted Five Elements Formation prohibition technique tools for this herb!"
Someone blurted out in desperation, silencing the other cultivators who had been clamoring.
Not because the voice was loud, but because the "Inverted Five Elements Formation" he mentioned was far too famous. Almost everyone knew about it! In some respects, it was absolutely more valued by cultivation families and sects than even a thousand-year spirit herb.
This miraculous prohibition technique, known as the "Minor Restrictive Formation," besides covering a smaller area and lacking offensive capabilities against enemies, was no less effective in its illusory concealment and enemy-trapping functions than the grand protective formations of major sects!
If one's own family or sect had such a wondrous formation guarding them, wouldn't that provide tremendous security?
However, normally, such a powerful prohibition technique could only be arranged by a formation master who specialized in this array, spending half a year or a year working painstakingly in some location, and expending vast amounts of manpower and resources. Let alone converting this wondrous formation into portable tools!
If this was true, this auction was truly full of surprises and eye-opening events!
When Han Li heard this, a gleam flashed in his eyes, and his spirits lifted immediately. He turned to look at the speaker.
A Qi Refining stage youth wearing a tiger-head mask, his body was short and stocky, extremely inconspicuous. He didn't look like someone who could possess such a wondrous item! But from the anxious look in his eyes, he seemed to be the real deal.
"You have the Inverted Five Elements Formation deployment tools?" The tall, thin man recovered from his shock and, calming down, eyed the youth with deep suspicion. Although he didn't quite believe it, if the other party truly had this set of prohibition technique tools, the thousand-year spirit herb would naturally belong to him.
The other cultivators, upon hearing this, also focused their attention on the youth's response.
"I do, but it's not completely successful yet. It can only exert one-tenth of the formation's power! However, if you're willing to give me this herb, I can guarantee that within a few years, I will increase the power of this deployment tool set several times over, reaching at least half its full potential." Seeing everyone looking at him, the youth couldn't help feeling a bit flustered! But since this thousand-year spirit herb was so crucial, he stammered on.
"Oh, it's not real then, just an unfinished prototype?" Many cultivators were greatly disappointed upon hearing this. They had originally planned that if the youth truly had this set of tools, they would commission a set no matter the cost in spirit stones. But now that it was an unfinished prototype, they naturally lost interest!
Formation masters in the cultivation world were even rarer than pill refiners and artifact refiners! Because once one decided to delve deeply into formation studies, it essentially meant giving up the possibility of achieving the Great Dao. After all, human energy was limited; one couldn't simultaneously cultivate and study profound formations within a limited timeframe.
Therefore, some began to consider seeking out the formation master behind this youth after the trading session ended.
After all, a formation master capable of researching the conversion of this wondrous formation into portable tools could certainly deploy the formation in reality! For some families and smaller sects, as long as this wondrous formation could protect their critical locations, whether it could be converted into tools or be carried around was of no importance!
"Are you joking? This is an auction—how can we wait several years to see results? This time, I'll let it slide because you're young. If you make false bids and false claims again next time, don't blame our people for being less than polite!" Upon hearing that it was indeed a false claim, the tall, thin man's expression immediately turned cold. He spoke stiffly.
The short, stocky youth opened his mouth under the mask, seemingly wanting to say something more. But the auction host turned his head and ignored him, making the youth sigh helplessly and sit back down in his seat.
When Han Li saw this scene, he narrowed his eyes, studied the youth carefully a few more times, and firmly memorized his appearance and attire.
Meanwhile, the thousand-year spirit herb fell into the hands of a Foundation Establishment cultivator who bid two thousand spirit stones plus several Illusory Moon Stones!
Thus, the secret shop's auction concluded. The following time was for the cultivators present to trade freely. If one felt there was nothing worth exchanging for, they could of course leave through the stone door that had just opened.
The burly, tall man who had traded Iron Essence for the puppet beast did not leave immediately. Instead, he leisurely remained seated, seemingly also intending to participate in the free trading. In contrast, the strange person with the cloth bag over his head left hastily as soon as the stone door opened, leaving some observant bystanders puzzled.
Han Li didn't bother thinking about these matters—he had enough to worry about himself! He had originally planned...
As soon as the time came, he would immediately find the short, stocky youth to see if the other party could give him the deployment tools.
Although that so-called "Inverted Five Elements Formation" prohibition technique tool set only possessed one-tenth of the original formation's power, for Han Li, this was sufficient!
After all, he had long heard of this wondrous formation's reputation. He believed that even this fraction of power was far too extravagant for his extremely rudimentary cave dwelling. It would be more than enough to protect that small patch of land!
But Han Li hadn't expected that just as he identified the youth's direction and tried to approach, the youth was immediately surrounded by four or five other cultivators, seemingly to discuss something with him.
This unexpected turn of events left Han Li somewhat frustrated! He also worried—could these people be like him, wanting to acquire the deployment tools?
However, Han Li's concern did not materialize!
After chatting with the youth for a few sentences, those people suddenly exchanged glances, shook their heads a few times, and dispersed one after another, leaving only the short, stocky youth standing dejectedly on the spot.
Han Li was delighted in his heart. He walked over in a few steps, then cleared his throat, about to speak. But before he could get the words out, the short, stocky youth glanced at him casually and said listlessly:
"If you don't have a thousand-year spirit herb, don't bother me! The formation master behind me urgently needs spirit herbs to save his life! He can't design grand formations for you now!"
Hearing this, Han Li was greatly surprised, but then chuckled softly.
"What if I have a thousand-year spirit herb, but I'm not looking for a formation master to set up a formation?" he teased the youth with a smile.
The youth was only at around the tenth layer of Qi Refining, so Han Li didn't need to be particularly wary of him, which was why he spoke so casually.
"You have spirit herbs, Senior?" The youth immediately perked up, a look of joy appearing on his face as he looked at Han Li.
Han Li didn't respond immediately. Instead, he looked around.
It seemed no one was paying attention here. All the other cultivators were focused on the person at the front who was demonstrating an interactive artifact!
"Shall we talk over there? There are too many people here!" Han Li pointed to an inconspicuous corner of the hall and said softly.
"Sure, absolutely!"
The short, stocky youth agreed without hesitation. Then he and Han Li walked to that corner before stopping. At this point, the nearest cultivator was still five or six zhang away. But after Han Li casually set up a sound-isolating barrier, he no longer worried about others eavesdropping.
Speaking of which, ever since Han Li successfully reached Foundation Establishment, many minor techniques he previously couldn't use had become easy to learn immediately! This was vastly different from his previous clumsy inability to master them, which had made Han Li happy for a long time. This sound-isolating barrier was one such commonly used minor technique he had casually picked up.
"You really have spirit herbs? They must be at least a thousand years old! Herbs that are only seven or eight hundred years old are useless!" The youth, seeing that Han Li had finished setting up, immediately said urgently. It seemed he was truly anxious!
Han Li glanced at him indifferently and said nothing! Instead, he directly took out the box containing the spirit herb from his storage pouch.
Although it wasn't the Thousand-Year Yellow Essence Fungus he had sold before, it was a Thousand-Year Purple Osmanthus of no lesser value. Since the other party hadn't specified which herb they needed, it seemed any thousand-year spirit herb would do. In Han Li's estimation, the youth was most likely using the thousand-year spirit herb as a medicinal primer, which was why he wasn't particularly particular.
"This is..." The youth stared fixedly at the box, his face full of anticipation.
"Indeed, inside is a thousand-year spirit herb! But before I open the box for you to inspect, shouldn't we discuss what you'll offer in exchange for this herb?" Han Li said in a cool voice. Since the other party needed his help, he naturally had to make him pay a handsome price! For such a rare set of deployment tools, Han Li wanted to acquire several more sets to keep as backup.
"What does Senior want? Besides that set of tools, this junior truly has nothing of value to offer!" The youth said, looking somewhat troubled after a moment of surprise.
"You think an incomplete set of deployment tools alone can exchange for a thousand-year spirit herb?" Han Li asked, showing no disappointment at the youth's words, his tone as calm as before.
"This..."
The short, stocky youth scratched his scalp, also feeling that this was rather inappropriate.