Mortal's Journey: Reborn as Xin Ruyin, she begins by possessing Qi Yun's body.

Before Wan Xiaoshan could finish speaking, his wrist was grabbed by Qingyan Zhenren. The force was not strong, but it carried a firmness that left no room for escape.

Master Qingyan spoke first, his tone carrying a hint of impatience and deliberate distance: "Young friends Qi and Han are new to Tainan Valley and must have their own important matters to attend to. Don't cause them any trouble here. Come with me to see your family first."

These words left Wan Xiaoshan speechless. He looked at Qi Yunxiao and Han Li, his face full of guilt and helplessness.

He wanted to say something, but was held back by Master Qingyan and couldn't move.

Seeing this, Qi Yunxiao understood. He gave Wan Xiaoshan a gentle smile and shook his head, indicating that he didn't need to make things difficult for him.

Then he turned and exchanged a glance with Han Li. Without saying anything more, the two turned side by side and walked towards the bustling square ahead.

Wan Xiaoshan, on the other hand, looked like a prisoner being led to the execution ground, with a bitter face and downturned lips.

Her eyes were full of grievance and resentment. She walked slowly, looking back every few steps in the direction where Qi Yunxiao and the other person had left. However, she was firmly held by Qingyan Zhenren and had no choice but to slowly move towards the distant pavilion.

He looked so frustrated.

Qi Yunxiao walked a few steps side by side with Han Li, then turned his head to look at Han Li, whose expression remained reserved.

His tone was calm and without the slightest hint of reluctance: "Fellow Daoist Han, would you like to stroll around with me and look at the items on these stalls, or would you prefer to explore on your own?"

Upon hearing this, Han Li paused slightly, lowered his eyes, and pondered for a moment.

He has always been accustomed to being alone and is cautious by nature. Acting alone allows him to freely explore opportunities while avoiding exposing his secrets. Traveling with Qi Yunxiao, on the contrary, makes him feel more constrained.

After a moment, he looked up at Qi Yunxiao and said in a calm but firm tone, "Thank you for your kindness, Fellow Daoist Qi, but I'll just wander around by myself."

"No problem."

Upon hearing this, Qi Yunxiao did not show the slightest displeasure on his face. Instead, he smiled and nodded. He had already figured out Han Li's personality and had not expected him to come along anyway.

"Then let's agree to meet here again in an hour, shall we?"

"Can."

Han Li nodded slightly in agreement.

Qi Yunxiao said no more, raised his hand slightly to Han Li, then turned around and walked towards the stall area on the east side of the square, his figure quickly blending into the crowd.

Han Li gazed in the direction he had left, a faint hint of contemplation flashing in his eyes.

He then composed himself, turned and walked toward a quieter stall on the other side, his steps steady and his eyes warily scanning his surroundings.

At this moment, the square had already been surrounded by the stalls of cultivators, forming a wide "回"-shaped path.

The stalls were sparsely distributed on both sides of the road, leaving enough open space in the middle for the passing cultivators to stop and select and trade.

The monks browsing the stalls walked in twos and threes, or stopped in front of the stalls, looking down at the items and negotiating prices with the stall owners.

They might chat side by side, their tone filled with anticipation, worry, and trepidation about the upcoming Ascension Ceremony.

It has a certain earthy, bustling atmosphere of everyday life, yet it also possesses a unique spiritual aura found only in the world of cultivation.

As dusk settled and the afterglow of the setting sun faded, night quietly descended, but the square did not fall into darkness; instead, it was brightly lit.

In front of most stalls, there were huge bronze lamps of the same style. The lamps were antique in appearance and carved with simple cloud patterns. They were about a meter tall and stood steadily on both sides of the stall.

Each lamp base rests on a fist-sized white stone, which is smooth and lustrous.

It emitted a soft yet non-glaring white light, illuminating the stalls under the lamp as if it were daytime, making even the tiny spiritual herbs and fragments of minerals displayed on the stalls clearly visible.

Even the nearby roads were clearly visible under the soft light, without any darkness.

Although it was late, the square was much more crowded than during the day, and it was bustling with activity.

The originally sparse stalls have been expanded significantly, and the stall owners have taken out their items, placed them on their stalls, and shouted loudly to attract the attention of passing cultivators.

The number of cultivators browsing the stalls increased dramatically, with large numbers of young cultivators dressed in various colors continuously pouring into the square.

There were lone cultivators and groups of three or five family disciples. The place was bustling with noise and the spiritual energy was constantly fluctuating, making the entire square even noisier.

Qi Yunxiao strolled among the stalls, his gaze casually sweeping over the surroundings, and gradually a sense of understanding began to emerge in his heart.

The monks in the square, whether setting up stalls or browsing, were all young people in their teens and twenties.

He was tall and upright, with a lively and agile aura; he had not even seen a cultivator who was over thirty years old.

He thought to himself that this "Tai Nan Small Gathering" must be a grand event held every five years, specifically for the younger generation of cultivators.

It serves both as an opportunity for the younger generation to exchange skills and seek opportunities, and as a warm-up for the upcoming Tianwutai Arena Tournament.

However, even though they are all so-called "junior" cultivators, their strength is not to be underestimated.

Qi Yunxiao's gaze narrowed slightly as he discreetly examined the spiritual energy fluctuations of the surrounding cultivators, gradually forming a judgment in his mind.

Most of these young cultivators came to participate in the Heavenly Mist Arena Tournament. Their cultivation levels were generally above the seventh level of the Qi Refining stage. They had a calm aura and a solid foundation, making them far superior to ordinary rogue cultivators.

Cultivators like him and Han Li, who had reached the eighth level of Qi Refining, were not uncommon among the crowd. Along the way, he had already seen many cultivators whose auras were comparable to his own.

Even more so, there are some cultivators who have reached the ninth level of Qi Refining, whose spiritual energy fluctuations are thick and powerful. Even if they just stand there casually, they can make people feel a strong sense of oppression.

Qi Yunxiao knew in his heart that his cultivation level was only average among the crowd in the square, and not particularly outstanding.

In a short while, he saw five or six cultivators whose cultivation levels far surpassed his own, but he felt no panic or inferiority.

He wasn't like Han Li, who had cultivated alone since childhood and was unfamiliar with the ways of the world. In the past, he often saw cultivators at the ninth level of Qi Refining or above in the market of the Tianxing Sect.

It's just that I've never seen so many high-level Qi Refining cultivators of the same age in such a concentrated way before.

Thinking this way, Qi Yunxiao became more and more composed, slowed his pace, and carefully scanned the items on the stall.

It mainly contained ores, spiritual herbs, and some basic cultivation techniques and talismans, a dazzling array of items.

As he strolled around, he secretly plotted to see if he could find any refining materials he needed.

If a suitable one comes along, use any extra low-grade magical artifacts you have to exchange for it.

At the same time, he was also quietly observing the surrounding cultivators and silently keeping an eye on those opponents with powerful auras.

They were secretly making preparations for the upcoming Tianwutai Arena Tournament.