Chapter 137 Golden Bamboo Pen
"Two spirit stones!" A clear female voice rang in Han Li's ears.
Han Li was taken aback, only to realize that the stall owner who had been reading a book with her head down was actually a sweet and lovely girl.
"Is there anything lacking in this book?" Han Li asked after coming to his senses.
"No, it contains all thirteen layers of the Changchun Cultivation Method, without missing a word," the girl said generously.
Han Li nodded and casually flipped through a few pages before closing the book.
"Do you accept medicine in exchange?" Han Li asked straightforwardly.
"Medicine?" The girl looked surprised, her beautiful eyes widening.
"It depends on what kind of medicine it is. If it's medicine for healing or treating illnesses, it's not worth much," the girl said gently, tucking a strand of stray hair behind her ear.
Upon hearing this, Han Li knew that the deal could be sealed. He reached into his pocket without hesitation and took out a bottle of "Yellow Dragon Pill," placing it in front of the girl.
"It's a medicine that solidifies the foundation and enhances spiritual power!" Han Li said confidently.
"Solidifying the foundation and enhancing spiritual power?" The girl, who had been calm all along, became somewhat nervous. She leaned forward, approached Han Li, gently picked up the jade bottle, poured out a pill, and then lowered her head to sniff the medicinal properties.
Han Li, looking down at the girl's exposed neck, could clearly see it due to their close proximity. Because the girl was so close, a delicate feminine fragrance wafted over, causing Han Li's heart to beat faster and his face to blush involuntarily.
"It's indeed a medicine that enhances spiritual power!" After sniffing for a while, the girl exclaimed in delight.
She looked up, her face full of joy as she looked at Han Li, eagerly saying, "If you have more of this medicine, I'll exchange as much as you have for it. You can freely choose anything from my stall. If that's not possible, I can also buy it with spirit stones!"
After saying this, the girl held onto the bottle of medicine tightly, staring at Han Li without blinking, afraid to hear a "no" from him.
Seeing the previously gentle and lovely girl suddenly become so nervous, Han Li couldn't help but smile wryly. However, he couldn't help but think that perhaps he had underestimated the value of this type of medicine. He would have to be more careful in the future!
"Miss, please don't rush. Let's finish the current transaction first, and then discuss the next one, okay?
" Han Li originally wanted to refuse, but when he saw the clear look in her eyes, he suddenly thought of his younger sister at home and softened.
The words just came out of his mouth without thinking.
"I'm really sorry! I was a bit impulsive." The girl seemed to realize her rudeness and blushed.
"This book, as long as you give me two of these pills," the girl said calmly after calming down.
Han Li thought the price was fair, so he agreed and then began to look at other items on the stall.
"What's this?" Han Li's interest was piqued by a inconspicuous gray cloth bag, especially since it was tightly sealed with a thin red rope, bulging inside. Han Li reached out and grabbed it.
"These are seeds of the Seven Star Grass, which is the best material for making talisman paper after ten years of cultivation." The girl explained crisply.
Han Li's heart stirred. Such things were very useful, so he didn't hesitate to put the bag in front of him.
"The other items are not useful to me?" After taking a rough look, Han Li said slowly.
"Are you sure you don't want anything else? This Frost Talisman is very powerful, and this Spring Rejuvenation Talisman can greatly restore your physical strength..." The girl seemed reluctant and actively stepped forward to recommend to Han Li.
Seeing the girl's innocent and charming appearance, Han Li couldn't help but chuckle.
"What's so funny?" The girl blushed again.
"I actually just want to buy some cinnabar and a pen for drawing talismans, but unfortunately you don't have them here!" Han Li spoke honestly, which was rare for him.
"Cinnabar and a talisman pen?" The girl frowned, hesitating.
After thinking for a moment, as if making a big decision, she suddenly looked up and said to Han Li, "I don't have cinnabar, but I have a high-quality talisman pen made from the neck hair of a second-level demonic beast, the Golden-eyed Ape.
However, its price is quite high. I don't know if you have enough medicine to exchange for it? "
Han Li was surprised to hear this but still smiled and said, "As long as the item is good, I will make sure the lady is satisfied with the medicine."
Upon hearing this, the girl felt relieved.
She took out a talisman, waved her hand over it a few times, and then threw it into the air, where it turned into a streak of firelight and disappeared.
"Please wait a moment, sir. My brother will bring the items soon." The girl felt a little embarrassed.
"No problem. As long as it's a good item, I don't mind waiting a little longer." Han Li said calmly.
After that, there was a period of silence between Han Li and the girl. They both felt a certain ambiguity between them.
Han Li found himself somewhat entranced by this unusual feeling, savoring a faint fragrance from across the table with each breath. The girl kept her head down, looking at her toes, lost in thought. Han Li noticed a slight blush on her fair neck.
"Sister!" A loud voice suddenly broke the delicate atmosphere, causing Han Li to want to glare at the speaker. But when he turned around and saw the newcomer clearly, he couldn't help but be taken aback.
A burly man with an imposing figure was running towards them, causing some cultivators to stumble along the way. Initially angry, they looked shocked when they saw the man's extraordinary physique and hesitated before begrudgingly giving way.
Seeing the reactions of the cultivators, the girl felt a headache coming on. Her brother's behavior was too reckless. Wasn't he just picking fights with other cultivators for no reason?
"Here, sister! I brought the items." The burly man, carrying a strong wind with him, rushed to Han Li's side and handed a long wooden box to the girl.
Ignoring her brother's reckless behavior, the girl passed the wooden box to Han Li, indicating for him to open it and take a look.
Taking the box, Han Li glanced at the girl before opening it, revealing a golden-haired pen emitting a faint yellow light from tip to shaft.
"This pen is called the Golden Bamboo. Its tip is made of the neck hair of a second-level demonic beast, the Golden-eyed Ape, while the shaft is made of a mixture of gold essence and black iron.
After being refined by a Foundation Establishment cultivator with the flames of literary and martial arts for three days and three nights, the pen was finally completed.
" The girl explained lightly, but her eyes were full of reluctance as she stared at the item.
Although Han Li didn't fully understand what the girl said, he knew that this
pen was extraordinary and had a significant background. He couldn't help but be surprised that the girl was willing to part with it, perhaps for the medicine?
"Miss, are you really willing to exchange this pen with me? It's quite a treasure!" Han Li gently stroked the smooth shaft of the pen with his fingers, his voice low as he confirmed.
Seeing Han Li's doubt, the girl hesitated for a moment before deciding to tell him the truth, fearing that he might think the item was ill-gotten and refuse to accept it.
"This pen is a family heirloom left by our clan, previously used by a master talisman maker.
Unfortunately, my brother and I have no talent in talisman making, so we wasted it.
My brother is preparing to participate in the Ascension Conference, but his cultivation has reached a bottleneck.
He can only break through with the help of medicine, so he's willing to exchange this item for your medicine.
" The girl explained softly, her expression somewhat helpless.
"Encountering another person stuck at a bottleneck in their cultivation! What a coincidence!" Han Li wondered.
In fact, Han Li had misunderstood!
Among those preparing to participate in the Ascension Conference's arena battles, seven or eight out of ten were stuck at a bottleneck and unable to break through.
Because those who believed they still had potential to advance another level mostly wouldn't immediately participate in the arena battles of the Ascension Conference.
Instead, they would hide away and continue to cultivate in the hope of making further progress.
By doing so, they would have a greater chance of success in breaking through during the next conference.
This situation led to all medicines that could enhance spiritual power becoming valuable before each Ascension Conference.