The night passed without incident.
The next morning, Han Yi left early.
Today, he planned to sell the magic artifacts he had acquired, look for suitable replacements, and casually inquire about the progress of the war.
Red Sun Peak, Red Sun Market.
Han Yi was slightly surprised as he entered the market. It was completely different from how it had been just a few days earlier.
Back then, the markets on both the Inner and Outer Peaks had been bustling with activity, almost unbearably crowded. Now, they were eerily deserted, even quieter than before the war with the Blood God Sect had begun.
Without dwelling on it, Han Yi headed straight for the Nine Dragons Merchant Guild.
The shopkeeper was still the same man, surnamed He, full name He Fangwei.
When He Fangwei saw Han Yi, a faint smile appeared on his face.
"Fellow Daoist, you're truly fortunate to have returned to the Sect alive."
The last time Han Yi had inquired about purchasing a defensive magic robe, He Fangwei had deduced that he was an Outer Peak Disciple, likely at the Sixth Layer of Qi Refining.
This deduction was merely a guess, however, as Han Yi always wore a mask that concealed his aura, preventing He Fangwei from directly perceiving his cultivation level. He could only speculate.
Typically, when a disciple joins the Inner Sect, the Sect bestows upon them a basic defensive magic robe to ensure their safety.
Of course.
He Fangwei's suspicions about Han Yi weren't solely based on the robe purchase. They were also fueled by subtle clues he had gathered over time—the repeated buying of materials and selling of Medicinal Pills. Having lived so long and managed the Nine Dragons Merchant Guild, He Fangwei's ability to judge character was exceptional.
This had piqued his intense curiosity about Han Yi. It seemed almost unbelievable that an Outer Peak Disciple could possess such extraordinary Pill Refinement skills.
Yet, He Fangwei couldn't help but recall Han Yi's Sixth Layer of Qi Refining cultivation when he had gone to the battlefield. Knowing full well the terrifying combat prowess of Blood God Sect cultivators, He Fangwei concluded that Han Yi's chances of survival were vanishingly slim.
Thus, he dismissed the matter from his mind without further investigation.
But now, to his astonishment, so many Late-Stage Qi Refining disciples had perished, while Han Yi—still at the Sixth Layer—had not only survived but appeared completely unscathed. His luck, it seemed, was truly remarkable.
In truth, Han Yi was unaware that the Red Sun Market was unusually quiet that day because many of the disciples who had gone to battle were nursing their wounds in their courtyards, leaving them no time to visit the market.
"Oh?" A thought stirred in Han Yi's mind.
He Fangwei, the shopkeeper of the Nine Dragons Merchant Guild, was rumored to be backed by the legendary Golden Core Stage Supreme Elder of the Inner Peak. He undoubtedly knew far more about the inner workings of the sect than ordinary Inner or Outer Peak disciples.
If Han Yi wanted to gather information, seeking out He Fangwei seemed like the most logical approach.
Adopting a timely expression of lingering fear, Han Yi said, "Yes, I was incredibly lucky. If my luck had been even slightly worse, I might not have made it out of Heavenfall City alive."
And wasn't that the truth? If Han Yi had been simultaneously ambushed by three cultivators at the Eighth Layer of Qi Refinement, he would have been in grave danger. He might very well have met his end in Heavenfall City.
"By the way, Shopkeeper He," Han Yi asked bluntly, cutting to the chase, "do you know why we were ordered to evacuate overnight?"
He Fangwei shook his head. "This old one is merely a businessman. How would I possibly know such things?"
"Let's get back to business, Fellow Daoist. Have you come to sell any Medicinal Pills today?"
Han Yi understood that He Fangwei simply didn't want to tell him. After all, to He Fangwei, Han Yi was just an ordinary disciple without the standing to be privy to such privileged information. Without a proper relationship, certain matters were naturally off-limits.
Han Yi shook his head. "Shopkeeper He, I have some Magic Artifacts here. Would the Nine Dragons Merchant Guild be interested in acquiring them?"
"Of course we'll take it," He Fangwei replied without hesitation. "Nine Dragons handles all kinds of transactions."
Han Yi nodded and produced the first Magic Artifact.
It was a long-handled, umbrella-shaped artifact, the most severely damaged of the lot, with over half of it destroyed.
"This is a Mid-Grade Magic Artifact," He Fangwei said, his eyes gleaming with a merchant's shrewdness as he assessed the item. "But the damage is too extensive—completely beyond repair. We'll have to dismantle it for materials."
"I'll offer three hundred Spirit Stones. That's a fair price, Fellow Daoist. You won't get a better offer anywhere else."
Han Yi nodded.
He knew, of course, that the shopkeeper's claim of a "fair price" was just standard business jargon. He couldn't afford the time and effort to seek appraisals elsewhere. Building trust took time, and he had already established some familiarity with Nine Dragons through previous transactions.
"Very well, three hundred Spirit Stones it is," Han Yi confirmed.
He Fangwei smiled inwardly. During this turbulent period for the Sect, resource prices had doubled. This transaction alone would net him a handsome profit.
"Hold on, there's one more thing," Han Yi said, seeing He Fangwei preparing to settle the bill. He retrieved a second Magic Artifact from his Storage Pouch—a long, banner-like artifact.
"Ah, the Blood Soul Banner," He Fangwei's eyes lit up, but his gaze towards Han Yi became complex.
"Shopkeeper He recognizes it?" Han Yi asked.
"Of course. The Blood Soul Banner is a standard Magic Artifact of the Blood God Sect."
He Fangwei picked up the banner, nodded, and a satisfied expression crossed his face. "A Mid-Grade Magic Artifact. It's slightly damaged, but nothing serious. A bit of refining will restore it."
He delivered the last line with a cryptic smile. "Fellow Daoist, your luck is truly extraordinary."
Han Yi remained calm. "Lucky indeed. Shopkeeper He, what's your offer?"
"Hmm... According to market prices, a standard Mid-Grade Magic Artifact typically ranges from one thousand to ten thousand Spirit Stones."
"This Blood Soul Banner houses four primary souls. Ordinarily, it would be worth around four thousand Spirit Stones, but due to the damage, I'll appraise it at three thousand five hundred."
He Fangwei paused. "However, to be frank, Fellow Daoist, combat-type artifacts like this are currently in high demand. The Nine Dragons Merchant Guild is willing to offer a concession and value it at four thousand Spirit Stones. How does that sound?"
He Fangwei initially intended to appraise the Blood Soul Banner at 3,500 Spirit Stones, but after a moment's consideration, he added another 500.
After all, this was a Magic Artifact from the Blood God Sect, and only Late-Stage Qi Refining cultivators within the sect possessed such high-grade artifacts. How had Han Yi acquired it?
It couldn't be mere luck, as Han Yi claimed. The most likely explanation was that he had killed a Late-Stage Qi Refining cultivator from the Blood God Sect and taken the artifact as spoils.
This realization complicated He Fangwei's expression and ultimately led him to offer the extra 500 Spirit Stones.
While making a profit was fundamental for a merchant, the methods and amount depended on the circumstances.
"Alright, we'll appraise it at 4,000 Spirit Stones."
A genuine smile finally lit up Han Yi's face.
Four thousand Spirit Stones! To think, his Shadowless Sword had only cost 3,500. Even with its damage, the Blood Soul Banner was clearly superior, indicating a higher grade than the Shadowless Sword. It was a pity he couldn't wield such an artifact himself, forcing him to sell it.
"Oh, and there's one more item."
Han Yi retrieved a blood-red longblade and placed it on the table, its invisible aura of killing intent instantly permeating the room.
He Fangwei's gaze toward Han Yi grew even more complex.
"Fellow Daoist, your luck is truly something else."
Han Yi nodded. "Indeed, truly fortunate. Shopkeeper He, please appraise this as well."
After a thorough examination, He Fangwei priced the blade at 3,000 Spirit Stones.
Han Yi was slightly puzzled. An intact Blood Blade was valued at 3,000 Spirit Stones, while the damaged Blood Soul Banner was appraised at 4,000.
Noticing Han Yi's confusion, He Fangwei explained, "The value of a Magic Artifact is primarily determined by its raw materials and power. The Blood Soul Banner's power surpasses that of the Blood Blade, and even with its minor damage, its price remains higher."
Han Yi nodded. "Alright, let's proceed with Shopkeeper He's appraisal."
"There's one final Magic Artifact. Shopkeeper He, could you assess this as well?" Han Yi retrieved the three silver pearls used by the Cold Youth and placed them on the table.
He Fangwei abruptly stood up, exclaiming in astonishment, "A High-Grade Magic Artifact—the Silverlight Pearls?!"
His gaze remained fixed on the pearls for a full three breaths before shifting to Han Yi. The complex expression on his face had solidified into solemnity. "Fellow Daoist, your luck is truly heaven-defying."
The word "luck" now carried a deeper, unspoken meaning: inherent strength.
Han Yi caught the subtext and chuckled noncommittally. "Indeed, quite fortunate. Quite fortunate."
"Shopkeeper He, do you recognize this set of Magic Artifacts?"
"Of course! The renowned Silverlight Pearls. This set originated from the Southern Dipper Divine Palace, one of the three great Sects, and enjoys exceptional prestige among High-Grade Magic Artifacts."
"Fellow Daoist, are you certain you wish to sell them?" He Fangwei's eyes burned with intensity as he stared at Han Yi.