At the same time as Chang He spoke, Han Li noticed another eager gaze looking over, belonging to none other than Shu Tiansheng.

Seeing Han Li looking at him, Shu Tiansheng forced out a slightly ingratiating smile.

"I'm sorry, this Scarlet Cloud Fire Crystal can only be exchanged for the materials I just mentioned," Han Li said, retracting his gaze and shaking his head resolutely.

"Fellow Daoist Li, is there truly no room for negotiation?" Chang He's expression changed, still somewhat unwilling to give up.

"This Scarlet Cloud Fire Crystal is out of the question, but I do have some smaller pieces in my possession. If any of you can provide information on the whereabouts of one of the nine materials I mentioned earlier, you can obtain a piece," Han Li mused for a moment before saying.

As he spoke, he swept his hand across the table again, and two more fist-sized Scarlet Cloud Fire Crystals appeared.

Chang He looked at the two Scarlet Cloud Fire Crystals with a fervent gaze, remaining silent for a long time before finally slumping back into his seat.

Shu Tiansheng also sat back down, lowering his eyelids, clearly lacking any information on this matter.

Seeing this, Han Li sighed, waved his hand, and put away the three Scarlet Cloud Fire Crystals on the table.

The exchange meeting continued, but after the Scarlet Cloud Fire Crystals, the items brought out afterwards seemed ordinary, and the atmosphere became dull.

Half an hour later, the exchange meeting ended hastily in this atmosphere.

Han Li did not linger here, and immediately got up with Qi Liang to leave.

Chang He was still unwilling to give up and asked again if he could exchange for a Scarlet Cloud Fire Crystal before Han Li left.

This time, Chang He targeted the two smaller pieces and took out many rare treasures.

However, Han Li did not need these things and refused again, disappointing Chang He.

However, he took out a communication formation plate and gave it to Chang He, telling him to send him a message if he obtained those materials or information in the future.

Chang He then perked up slightly, guaranteeing again and again that he would do his best to find them, and asked Han Li to leave one or two Scarlet Cloud Fire Crystals for him no matter what.

Han Li was slightly surprised by the man's eagerness to obtain the Scarlet Cloud Fire Crystals, but he nodded in agreement. Soon after, he left the Scorpio Pavilion with Qi Liang.

"I wonder where Fellow Daoist Li is going next?" Qi Liang asked.

"I'm going to look around in other places, hoping to take this opportunity to purchase some more materials. After all, such large-scale exchange meetings are rare," Han Li said, looking towards the front of the street.

"I also have some matters to attend to, so I won't accompany Fellow Daoist Li. Take care," Qi Liang nodded, taking his leave.

"Alright, see you at the Dao Lecture Conference," Han Li said with a smile. He then bid farewell and walked towards the front of the street.

Qi Liang looked at Han Li's back, and after pondering something, sighed slightly and turned to walk in the other direction of the street.

Han Li walked past two streets, suddenly stopped, turned around, and said with a slightly cold expression: "You've been following me for so long, may I ask what you want?"

Not far behind Han Li, a plump man was standing there, none other than Shu Tiansheng.

"You must be Fellow Daoist Li Feiyu. I am Shu Tiansheng from Tiansheng Peak. I was impolite at the exchange meeting just now, please forgive me," Shu Tiansheng clasped his hands in apology, his attitude quite sincere.

"It's a small matter, not worth mentioning. But what are you doing following me?" Han Li said with a slightly softened expression.

"Thank you for your generosity, Fellow Daoist Li. I followed you here to ask, do you plan to continue searching for those materials you mentioned at the auction just now?" Shu Tiansheng cupped his hands, changing the subject.

"I don't like beating around the bush, please speak directly," Han Li said calmly.

"Yes, yes, the truth is, I know the whereabouts of one of the materials, but there were too many people just now, so I didn't say it in public," Shu Tiansheng said with an apologetic smile, then became serious.

"Oh, which material is it?" Han Li's eyes lit up.

Shu Tiansheng opened his mouth, but then swallowed his words back, looking hesitant.

"Don't worry, what I said inside still counts. If you can provide information on one of the materials, you can get a Scarlet Cloud Fire Crystal," Han Li said, seeing Shu Tiansheng's expression.

"It's not... I do know the whereabouts of one of the materials you need, but it's not one of those nine, but Blood Crystal Lotus Root," Shu Tiansheng looked at Han Li and said.

"Blood Crystal Lotus Root... Not bad, this is also something I want. What do you want to exchange this information for? Speak directly," Han Li was startled, took a deep look at Shu Tiansheng, and said.

"Since Fellow Daoist Li is so straightforward, then I won't hide anything. I hope to exchange this information for a Scarlet Cloud Fire Crystal," Shu Tiansheng said with a smile.

Han Li just looked at the other party without saying a word.

"I know that the Blood Crystal Lotus Root is not among the nine materials you mentioned, and its value is also lower than those nine materials. How about this, I will add a sum of Immortal Essence Stones to exchange for a small piece of Scarlet Cloud Fire Crystal, how does that sound?" Shu Tiansheng took a deep breath and said.

"That's not necessary. Blood Crystal Lotus Root is also something I want. Just tell me its whereabouts, you don't need to add Immortal Essence Stones," Han Li shook his head, and said with a calm expression.

Although his expression did not change, he was delighted in his heart. In fact, compared to the nine materials for the Dao Pill, he wanted the Blood Crystal Lotus Root even more at the moment. As long as he had this item, he could immediately start refining the Myriad Wheel Pill.

"Thank you for your generosity, Fellow Daoist Li. Actually, there are many cultivators gathered in White Jade City now, including many True Immortals. There are actually many exchange meetings and auctions like the one just now. To tell you the truth, I happen to know about a secret high-end auction three days later. The requirements for participants are extremely high, they must be at least True Immortal mid-stage. I only accidentally found out that there is said to be Blood Crystal Lotus Root appearing at this auction," Shu Tiansheng moved his lips slightly and said through voice transmission.

"Secret auction!" Han Li's heart stirred, and his eyes narrowed involuntarily.

It actually required True Immortal mid-stage cultivation to participate. Then, more than half of the True Immortal elders of the Candle Dragon Dao would be unable to participate. This auction seemed truly extraordinary.

"Fellow Daoist Li can easily break my illusion technique, so I think there is absolutely no problem with your cultivation," Shu Tiansheng said with a smile, having returned to his casual manner.

Han Li ignored the other party's probing, pondered for a moment, and nodded: "Alright, I will definitely participate in this auction. If there is Blood Crystal Lotus Root at that time, I will give you a Scarlet Cloud Fire Crystal as agreed."

"That's settled then, let's meet here again at noon three days later," a gleam of joy flashed in Shu Tiansheng's eyes, and he quickly bid farewell and left.

Han Li watched the person leave, turned around, and continued to walk forward.

Time passed quickly, and night soon fell.

Huge moon-shaped gemstones emerged in various places in White Jade City, emitting bright white light, illuminating the entire city like daytime.

The shops and buildings throughout the city also lit up with bright lights. Under the setting of the night, White Jade City looked even more charming than in the daytime.

Han Li walked out of a shop in the city.

Hoping for the best, he had visited all the remaining material shops in the city, but unfortunately, he still couldn't find the materials he needed.

Although he had been mentally prepared for this, he still couldn't help but feel a little depressed. In this case, he could only pin his hopes on those private exchange meetings and auctions.

However, this half-day of browsing was not without gain.

Han Li had inquired about another exchange meeting from a shopkeeper, which would be held tomorrow.

Although this exchange meeting was of ordinary scale, probably smaller than the one at Scorpio Pavilion, Han Li did not plan to miss it.

Han Li walked out of the shop, turned a few blocks, and came to a rather quiet street.

The buildings on both sides of the street were inns, and there were not many pedestrians.

Han Li had been wandering around for a day. Although he wasn't tired, he still wanted to rest.

He looked around, chose a smaller inn, walked over, and asked for a quiet superior room.

Under the guidance of the inn's waiter, he soon arrived at a room on the third floor.

"Guest, please have a good rest. Let me know if you need anything," the waiter said cleverly.

Han Li looked around the room, which was not bad.

He casually rewarded the waiter with a spirit stone, then waved his hand, signaling that he could leave.

The waiter was overjoyed, bowed, and quickly retreated.

Han Li turned around to close the door, but at this moment, the sound of footsteps rang out.

A female cultivator in red walked past the door, her face covered with a veil, making it impossible to see her appearance, but she looked young and had a graceful figure.

Although White Jade City was not small, the number of cultivators in the city was too large, resulting in crowded housing, and the inns were designed like those in the mortal world.

The woman in red glanced at Han Li, did not stop, and quickly walked past, soon disappearing into the corridor.

Han Li looked at the woman's graceful back, and a hint of doubt appeared in his eyes.

Although the woman had restrained her own aura, Han Li's spiritual sense was so powerful that he keenly sensed that her cultivation was definitely at the True Immortal realm.

In the current White Jade City, a True Immortal cultivator was nothing.

However, the woman's back vaguely gave Han Li a sense of familiarity, as if he had seen her somewhere before.

He thought for a moment, but couldn't come up with anything, so he shook his head and stopped bothering himself.

After closing the door, Han Li set up a layer of restriction in the room, and sat down cross-legged on the bed.

...

Three days passed in a flash.

At noon, Han Li arrived at the place agreed upon with Shu Tiansheng.

"Fellow Daoist Li, you're here," Shu Tiansheng had been waiting there, and greeted him with a smile when he saw Han Li coming.

Han Li nodded without saying much.

"The location of the auction is relatively hidden, please follow me, Fellow Daoist Li," Shu Tiansheng said through voice transmission and walked forward.

The two walked silently all the way. After passing through street after street, taking up half an hour's time, they arrived at a remote little shop.

The area was sparsely populated, and the shop had no business. There was only a skinny old shopkeeper lying on a reclining chair behind the counter, looking half-asleep.