"To be honest, fellow Daoist, there are no issues with the quantity or quality you requested, but..." Hei Lang said, a hesitant expression on his face.

"But what?" Han Li asked.

"It's just that this batch of Purple Yang Warm Jade is currently in the hands of another person, and he hasn't yet..." Hei Lang stammered hesitantly.

"So, you're talking to me about a transaction using someone else's belongings? Moreover, the other party is unaware of this, and it's uncertain whether they'd even be willing to trade," Han Li said, his face darkening with displeasure.

"Of course not! Those things were originally partly mine!" Hei Lang seemed to be stung by these words, his eyes suddenly flashing with fire as he slammed his fist on the table.

With a crash, all the teacups on the table toppled over, spilling tea everywhere.

"Apologies, I was rude." Hei Lang immediately noticed his loss of composure, forcibly suppressing the fire in his eyes, and said.

"You have something to say, why not just say it plainly?" Han Li asked, seeing this scene, a thought occurred to him.

"I have my own way of making that person agree to trade with you at this price, but I need your cooperation. If you agree, we can continue talking; if you feel it's inappropriate, then we'll stop here," Hei Lang said, trying to keep his tone calm.

"Such a beneficial transaction naturally interests me, but you just mentioned cooperation. How do you want me to cooperate? Hei Lang, you wouldn't think a few vague words would be enough to make someone willing to take a risk, would you?" Han Li asked, frowning.

"Fellow Daoist, you exaggerate. It's not really a risk, just using some negotiation tactics to force that person to agree to the deal. You just need to follow my cues, and I can guarantee there will be no danger in the process," Hei Lang said immediately.

"That may be so, but I can't just trust your word. I'm willing to cooperate, but I also have a condition," Han Li said thoughtfully.

"Please speak, fellow Daoist," Hei Lang said, startled, and nodded.

"Hei Lang, you must already know that I'm not alone; I have another companion. We always act together. If you want my cooperation, you'll have to bring him along," Han Li said with a smile, changing his tone.

"If that's the condition, there's no problem at all. As long as it's someone you trust, the more help the better," Hei Lang said, hesitating slightly before nodding in agreement.

Han Li's eyes flashed with surprise at these words, but he quickly regained his composure.

As long as he and Shi Chuan Kong acted together, even if there was some danger later, as long as no Da Luo realm cultivator appeared, he was confident he could retreat safely.

For Purple Yang Warm Jade, it was worth taking some risks.

"In that case, let's go now," Hei Lang said, standing up, sounding somewhat impatient.

Han Li didn't want to delay either, so he immediately stood up, and the two quickly left the teahouse.

Outside the teahouse, a tall figure stood there, none other than Shi Chuan Kong.

"What's going on? Why were you in such a hurry to summon me?" Shi Chuan Kong frowned, glancing at Hei Lang behind him.

Han Li moved his lips slightly, using voice transmission to roughly explain the transaction with Hei Lang.

"This deal sounds pretty good! This must be fellow Daoist Hei Lang, please lead the way," Shi Chuan Kong said to Hei Lang, a hint of joy flashing in his eyes.

"Of course, of course. Please come with me." Hei Lang nodded to Shi Chuan Kong, and without calling for an animal-drawn carriage, quickly walked away.

Shi Chuan Kong immediately followed closely behind, looking around warily, as if afraid Hei Lang was playing some trick.

Han Li was about to follow when he remembered something, and waved over Lu Xie, who was nearby.

"Thank you for working so hard these past few days to take us around. This is your reward," Han Li said, taking out seven or eight top-grade magic stones and handing them to Lu Xie.

"Thank you for your generous gift, Senior!" Lu Xie said, overjoyed, repeatedly thanking him upon seeing so many top-grade magic stones.

Han Li waved his hand and quickly chased after Shi Chuan Kong and Hei Lang.

The three of them went this way and that, passing through several streets in a row, and soon arrived in front of a somewhat dilapidated shop.

This shop was in a remote location, but its scale was not small. The plaque at the entrance read "Sky Vault Shop" in three large golden characters, giving it an imposing air.

At this time, the shop seemed to be doing little business. There were no customers, and only a thin man who looked to be in his forties was sitting behind the counter, looking down at something, while a young servant was organizing items on the shelves.

"Welcome, esteemed guests, to our humble shop. What are you looking for?" the thin shopkeeper said, hearing the sound, looking up with the customary smile of a businessman on his face.

Hei Lang ignored the thin shopkeeper and walked toward the surrounding shelves on his own.

Han Li also strolled into the shop. This shop seemed unremarkable, but there were quite a few treasures of good quality among the goods in the store.

"Esteemed guests, our shop mainly deals in materials. Although it's not a top-level shop in Black Weasel City, we have a full range of goods and will certainly not disappoint you," the thin shopkeeper said without getting angry, walking out from behind the counter and introducing Hei Lang, while secretly sizing up Han Li and Shi Chuan Kong behind him.

While the thin shopkeeper was sizing up Han Li, Han Li was also observing this man, and suddenly frowned.

"Shopkeeper, besides selling, does your shop also buy things?" Hei Lang asked in a low voice, stopping in a corner after looking around the store.

"Of course we do, but we don't buy everything. It depends on what you have to sell," the thin shopkeeper said, startled.

Hei Lang leisurely flipped his hand and took out a black jade box, slightly opening a crack. Strands of terrifying magic energy fluctuations emanated from within, and one could vaguely see a section of black tree root.

The thin shopkeeper's eyes suddenly lit up, and he was about to take a closer look when Hei Lang closed the jade box and glanced toward the outside, indicating that it was not convenient to look at it more closely here.

"This... fellow Daoist, please come with me. We'll have a confidential talk in the inner room. As for these two fellow Daoists, please wait here for a moment..." the thin shopkeeper immediately understood and said to Han Li and Shi Chuan Kong.

"My two friends here also have some things to sell." Hei Lang interrupted the shopkeeper.

Han Li's heart stirred, and he flipped his hand and took out a wooden box. Shi Chuan Kong also took out a wooden box.

Even through the wooden boxes, one could feel the strands of astonishing aura fluctuations emanating from within.

"In that case, all three of you, please come with me." the shopkeeper said, startled, and immediately smiled, leading the three of them inside.

Han Li and Shi Chuan Kong exchanged glances before following.

The three quickly arrived in a closed, elegant room, which was not small, at seven or eight zhang in size.

The thin shopkeeper flicked a magic seal, and a layer of water-like azure light restrictions appeared on the four walls of the elegant room, completely separating it from the outside world.

"This place has unique restrictions, and even great神通 cultivators in the Taiyi realm cannot pry into our conversation. The three esteemed guests can rest assured," the thin shopkeeper said, inviting the three to sit down.

"The restrictions here are indeed extraordinary, but before discussing business, should you come out in person? Li has never had the habit of communicating with puppets," Han Li said with a faint smile, looking directly at the thin shopkeeper without sitting down.

Shi Chuan Kong and Hei Lang's expressions both changed upon hearing this, and they immediately understood, both looking at the thin shopkeeper.

"Hehe, this fellow Daoist has good eyes. I'm even more interested in this transaction." After a moment of silence, the door to the elegant room opened again, and another thin middle-aged man walked in with a smile.

The shopkeeper in the elegant room suddenly looked blank, and then mechanically walked toward the outside.

"Your soul control technique is also exceptionally profound. If I hadn't practiced a similar secret technique, I wouldn't have been able to see through it." Han Li glanced at the newcomer, smiling faintly.

This thin middle-aged man's cultivation had reached the Golden Immortal realm, but he was wearing some kind of treasure that concealed his aura, making him appear to be only at the True Immortal level.

He secretly felt relieved. If he was just a Golden Immortal, there was no need to worry about any danger.

"Fellow Daoist, you flatter me, please sit down." the thin middle-aged man said, taking a seat.

Han Li and Shi Chuan Kong sat down, but Hei Lang remained standing.

"This fellow Daoist, is there still a problem?" the thin middle-aged man asked, frowning slightly.

"There's no problem, I just think it took quite a bit of effort to see you," Hei Lang said with a sudden smile.

"You..." The thin shopkeeper's expression changed upon hearing this, and he looked at Hei Lang with suspicion.

"Brother Guan, long time no see." Hei Lang waved his hand, and black tentacles suddenly emerged from his body, wriggling as if they had a life of their own.

His appearance changed rapidly, transforming into a black-skinned, long-faced, fierce-looking young man who looked like a jackal that had endured months of hunger.

Hei Lang's voice also changed, becoming hoarse and shrill.

Han Li and Shi Chuan Kong had already seen that Hei Lang's previous appearance was an illusion, so they were not surprised.

"Hei Lang? You're still alive!" The thin shopkeeper's body trembled, revealing an expression of disbelief.

"I'm naturally still alive, but I didn't expect Brother Guan to still be in Black Weasel City. You're truly courageous. The Black Weasel Army is searching for our traces everywhere, but you've hidden in Black Weasel City. Indeed, the most dangerous place is the safest place," Hei Lang said with a smile.

The thin shopkeeper's expression changed, and murderous intent flashed in his eyes.

"I advise Brother Guan not to have any other thoughts. Although your strength is not weak, since I dare to appear before you, I've naturally made thorough preparations. If I don't leave this shop within an hour, someone will tell the Black Weasel Army everything about you, not to mention these two fellow Daoists are here," Hei Lang said, pulling over a chair and sitting down, not worried at all.

The thin shopkeeper narrowed his eyes upon hearing this, glancing at Han Li and Shi Chuan Kong, whose expressions remained calm, and his expression quickly returned to normal, saying:

"Speak, why have you come to find me?"