A Record of a Mortal’s Journey to Immortality c1-2248

by Translator: Johnchen

  “Many thanks for Master’s instructions. I will go out to see whether I can exchange for a brush to make talismans!” Han Li stood and cupped his fist towards the Buddhist monk.

  “Almsgiver, take care!” The Buddhist monk closed his eyes once more and continued the great undertaking of his meditation.

  It seemed he would have to go out today! He remembered that the brush and cinnabar were not inexpensive. It would cost approximately six or seven low-grade spirit stones. Could it be that he would have to sell the flight talisman he had barely been able to acquire?

  Han Li thought this as he walked. People were also exciting the building and walked over to the marketplace.

  Since it was currently morning, cultivators on the road were grouped in two and threes and were not at all lonely. However, they seemed to all be heading toward the marketplace. It appeared that the majority of them were like his own group, heading out to set up a vendor’s stall.

  “Quick, look! A huge bird!” A male cultivator suddenly cried out in alarm.

  Soon after, a large shadow swept across the road Han Li and other cultivators were treading.

  Han Li was quite startled and hastily raised his head to look.

  He saw a two-headed monstrous bird about the size of a calf, flying past over him.

  This bird somehow seemed to resemble an eagle and also something else entirely. Grey feathers covered its entire body. Its wings were seven feet wide, and it possessed a pair of sharp sickle-like claws. Above the two neck were two bald, fierce bird heads with four eyes that glowed with a green light.

  What a frightening demonic bird!

  “How unsightly!”

  “How large!”

  “Quickly capture it, it would make a great mount!”

  ……

  The cultivators below stopped one after another and started to talk. It seemed that there were even a few eager to try to capture it.

  “You don’t value your lives! That is the ‘Two-Headed Duck’ a spiritual bird raised by the number one cultivator clan, Guyu Mountain’s Yan Clan. It’s certain to have a member of the Yan Clan riding on it. Are you looking to bring about your own destruction?”

  These ice cold words woke up a few from their beautiful dreams.

  “Yan Clan? One of the large cultivation sects, the cultivator clan that hold Core Formation experts in reserve?” Someone cried out.

  “What other Yan Clan is there? I came here a bit earlier and already saw the Two-Headed Duck. I also found out that a brother and sister from the Yan Clan are participating in the Great Immortal Ascension Assembly’s tournament!” The cultivator said, proudly showing off.

  “No! The Yan Clan’s sent people to participate in the Great Immortal Ascension Assembly! Previously, they never sent anyone! If they did, then wouldn’t there definitely be two less spots?”

  “That’s right. If one were to come across the two from the Yan Clan, it would be great misfortune!”

  ……

  The complexion of these cultivators were somewhat unsightly, and a few even deeply sighed.

  Han Li coldly looked at the monstrous bird flying into the distance without speaking. After seeing this demonic bird, it was clear this was the monstrous eagle that Xi Tieniu had seen before and the male and female immortals were the brother and sister from the Yan Clan.

  Han Li grew deep in thought and passed through the rowdy nearby cultivators, going on his way.

  In the end, he faintly smiled and walked with ease.

  Currently, the people in the plaza were quite numerous. Although it could not compare with yesterday night’s liveliness and bustle, it could be considered completely crowded.

  Han Li groped the pill medicine in his bosom and decided to see whether he could exchange this medicine for some items.

  As a result, He didn’t enter from the the entrance he previously used and entered the plaza from the other end. He planned to begin his stroll from the other side.

  On the way, Han Li occasionally browsed left and right, looking at vendor stalls’ various materials and talismans. A few odd and wonderful magic tools also gave him a feast for the eyes.

  Suddenly, Han Li’s footstep stopped in front of some vendor’s stall. He looked at a thin book on display, somewhat lost in thought.

  The tile showing the book’s price noted: “Eternal Spring Arts”, wood attribute foundation cultivation technique. Costs two low-grade spirit stones.

  “I want this book!” Han Li calmly said to the vendor after he picked up this book and flipped through it.

  Chapter 137: Golden Sincerity Brush

  “Two spirit stones!” A clear, melodious female voice reached Han Li’s ear.

  Han Li was shocked. He discovered that the vendor sitting across from him with their head buried in a book was actually a sweet and charming young lady.

  “This book doesn’t have anything missing?” Han Li asked after he recovered.

  “Nothing. First through thirteenth layer of the Eternal Spring Cultivation Art is completely there, with not a single missing line.” The young lady answered with an easy-going manner.

  Han Li nodded his head. Then he flipped through several pages before closing the book.

  “Would you exchange it for medicine pills?” Han Li asked straightforwardly.

  “Medicine pills?” The young lady was somewhat stunned, widely opening her beautiful eyes.

  “ It depends on the medicine. If it’s for healing or illness, it will be extremely costly!” The young girl spout out as she stroked her forehead.

  Hearing this young lady’s words, Han Li knew this matter was of great importance and bluntly handed over a bottle of “Yellow Dragon Pellets”.

  “Consolidation medicine, it can progress once’s magic power!” Han Li said assuredly.

  “Consolidation medicine?”

  The young woman who was originally calm grew somewhat tense. She moved toward Han Li and lightly took the jade bottle. She tossed out a medicine pill and lowered her head to smell the medicinal quality.

  Han Li stood above her and clearly saw the young lady’s exposed, flawless neck. In addition, because the young woman was too close to him, the scent of a refined clan daughter assailed his nose and caused Han Li’s heartbeat to involuntarily speed up. His complexion also grew slightly red.

  “It truly is a medicine pill that can progress one’s magic power!” A moment after the young woman smelled it, she shouted with pleasant surprise.

  She raised her head and looked at Han Li with a happy expression, expectantly saying, “Do you still have more of this medicine pill? If so, I will exchange for how much you have. You can select the things in my stall as you wish. If there is nothing that will do, I can also purchase it with spirit stones!”

  With this said, the young woman tightly held the medicine bottle. Her eyes were unblinkingly fixed onto Han Li, afraid that she would hear him say ‘no’.

  Seeing the charming and gentle young woman suddenly tense up, Han Li found it funny. However, he could not help but think to himself that he had underestimated the value of this medicine pills a bit. In the future, he should be a bit more prudent!

  “Young woman, don’t be anxious. First let’s finish the business before us. Will it be fine to talk about it further then?” Han Li originally thought to refuse her. However, when he saw the clear expression in her eyes, he unknowingly recalled his little sister all of a sudden. His heart softened for a moment and those words slipped out.

  “I am truly embarrassed! I’ve somewhat forgotten my manners.” The young woman seemed to have became aware of her lack of manners, and her complexion turned scarlet.

  “This book only requires two pills of this kind of medicine.” The young lady said after she calmed down.

  When Han Li heard this, he felt the her price could be regarded as fair, so he agreed. Then his gaze swept across the other goods in her stall.

  “What is this?”

  An unremarkable small grey bag piqued Han L
i’s interest. This bag was unusual; the bag’s opening was bound tightly by a thin red rope, and its interior was bulging! Han Li reached out to grab it.

  “This is a bag of Seven Star Grass seeds. Seven Star Grass of ten years or more is the best material to create paper talismans.” The young lady clearly said.

  Han Li’s heart was moved. This would be quite useful. However, he put it down in front of him without the slightest hesitation.

  “The other items seem to be of no use to me.” Han Li slowly said after looking through once more.

  “You truly won’t select anything else? This Cold Ice Talisman is quite power. There is also this Returning Spring Talisman, it can restore a great portion of your physical strength…” The young lady was somewhat resigned and took the initiative to give Han Li recommendations.

  Having seen the young woman’s “you’re young and naive so you don’t know” appearance, Han Li could not help but laugh.

  “What’s so funny?” The young woman blushed once more.

  “I actually only wanted to buy cinnabar powder and a brush for drawing talismans. Unfortunately, you have neither here!” Han Li spoke the rarely said truth.

  “Cinnabar powder and talisman drawing brush!” The young lady wrinkled her brow and exclaimed somewhat hesitantly.

  She lowered her head and muttered to herself for a moment. It greatly seemed that she had made up her mind. Suddenly, she raised her head toward Han Li and said, “I don’t have cinnabar powder, but I have a top quality talisman brush made from the neck hair of the demonic beast, Golden Eyed Ape. However, its price is quite high. I don’t know if you have enough medicine pills to exchange for it.”

  When Han Li heard this, he was somewhat amazed. However, he kept smiling and said, “So long as it is good, I will be able to satisfy young lady with regards to the medicine pills.”

  When the young lady heard this, she felt relieved.

  She took out a spiritual talisman and used her hand to make several cutting motions over the talismans. She then threw it into the air, and it disappeared in a blaze.

  “Your esteemed self, please wait a moment. My elder brother will bring it shortly!” The young woman added, somewhat embarrassed.

  “No problem. So long as it is truly a good item, I don’t care about waiting for a bit longer!” Han Li calmly said.

  After this, Han Li and the young woman had nothing to say during this time, which caused them feel a rather ambiguous feeling.

  Han Li actually somewhat indulged in this peculiar feeling and faintly smelled her delicate fragrance as he breathed. The young lady had her head lowered and was looking at the end of her feet. It was unknown what she was thinking. However, when Han Li saw her spotlessly white neck, he blushed a bit.

  “Little Sister!” A large voice abruptly shattered the subtle atmosphere, causing Han Li to not help but want to ferociously glare at the voice’s owner. However, when Han Li turned around, he could not help but startled after he clearly saw the figure approaching.

  He was a large tall and sturdy man with a stature no less than that of Crooked Soul. He was currently rushing toward them. On the way, he bumped into a few cultivators, pushing them off to the side. Those cultivators were originally angry. However, after seeing the huge man’s far beyond normal stature, they all exposed an expression of shock and hesitated; without a better option, they pinched their noses and let it go.

  When the young woman saw the large man’s actions, she had a bit of a headache. Her elder brother’s behavior was far too rude and careless. Did this not give cause and reason for other cultivators to arouse dislike for him?

  “This is for Little Sister! I brought the items over.” The huge man was enveloped with a squall as he charged toward Han Li’s side. He extended his hand, which was the size of a palm-leaf fan, and revealed a slender wooden box that he handed over to the young woman.

  The young lady inwardly complained about her elder brother’s rudeness and carelessness. Then she handed over the wooden box toward Han Li, indicating that Han Li should open it and examine the contents.

  Han Li took the case. After taking a glance at the young woman, he opened the case, exposing a golden brush that emitted a faint yellow light from tip to shaft.

  “This brush is called Golden Sincerity. Its tip was created from the neck hair of the grade two demonic beast Golden Eyed Ape, and its shaft was created from a blend of gold essence and crow iron. Then it was refined under a Foundation Establishment cultivator’s well-learned ritual fire for three days and three nights. Only then was this brush successfully completed.” The young woman softly explained. However, this woman stared at the brush with an expression that she was reluctant to part with it.

  Although he didn’t completely understand what the young woman said, he knew this brush was not at all ordinary and had a great origin. He couldn’t help but feel amazed that she was willing to part with this object. Could it be for those medicine pills?

  “This young woman truly wants to exchange this brush with me? This is an impressive treasure!” Han Li used his finger to lightly stroke the smooth shaft and looked at the engraving on brush’s tip. “Golden Sincerity”, he confirmed with a deep voice.

  The young woman saw Han Li’s doubt. After hesitating for a moment, she decided to speak the truth and dismiss the other party’s doubts of the object’s origin, else he dare not trade.

  “This brush is an item handed down by my clan. It was used by some talisman creation expert. However, it is unfortunate that us two siblings do not have the slightest talent for creating talismans and would only squander this item in vain. In addition, my elder brother wishes to participate in this upcoming Great Immortal Ascension Assembly. His cultivation arts have already reached some sort of bottleneck and must break through with the support of medicinal power. As a result, I wish to use this object to exchange for your esteemed self’s medicine pills.”

  “How is it that when I met you, the man’s cultivation had reached a bottleneck! Isn’t this too timely?” Han Li thought with doubt.

  Actually, Han Li thought incorrectly!

  Of those in preparations for the Immortal Ascension Assembly’s competition, seven to eight out of ten were stuck at a bottleneck and were unable to break through. Because each and every person understood that they still had potential to push forward to another layer, they would not likely immediately participate in the Immortal Ascension Assembly’s tournament, but rather hide away and continue painstakingly cultivating, hoping to reach a further layer. When they would participate in the next great assembly, they would break through and hold a higher position in the assembly. This caused every Immortal Ascension Assembly to have an amazing demand for medicine pills that progressed ones magic power.

  Chapter 138: The Skill of Creating Talismans

  Han Li was on the way back to the building, exceptionally happy with the wooden box containing the “Golden Sincerity Brush” in his pocket.

  He used three bottles of Golden Dragon Pellets and four bottles of Golden Essence Pills to exchange for the young woman’s treasured item and the bag of Seven Star Grass seeds. After, he casually bought some cinnabar sand from other vendor stalls and rushed back full of anticipation and joy.

  After he opened the restriction barrier and entered the small building, Han Li saw the small Buddhist monk meditating and did not disturb him. Instead, he went to the second floor and returned to his room.

  After Han Li arranged the cinnabar and the talisman paper on the desk, Han Li took out the Golden Sincerity Brush and became absorbed in creating Soul-Lock Talismans.

  According to the Soul-Lock technique’s method to create talismans, the steps were: channel spiritual power through the right hand and slowly pour it into the brush shaft being held. Then lightly dip the brush tip into the cinnabar and draw the talisman incantation onto a slip of talisman paper.

  A quarter hour later, Han Li wore a happy expression on his face and stretched his somewhat stiff body. He looked at
the spiritual talisman flickering a silver light on the table and could not help but feel elated.

  From its appearance, this spiritual talisman was exactly the same as the one used by Doctor Mo. Although its Spiritual Qi was slightly weaker, it was of no matter as it was far better than the false goods Han Li practiced with. After all, those practice materials were only similar in appearance and didn’t have the slightest spiritual power.

  Han Li took the newly created spiritual talisman and excitedly studied it. After he was done, he prepared to attempt the Soul-Lock technique. Unexpectedly though, before he executed the spell, the spiritual power on the paper talisman suddenly grew chaotic and showed signs of violence.

  Han Li was shocked and reacted instantly, hastily throwing the talisman away.

  Puchi. The Soul-Lock Talisman suddenly combusted into the air without reason and turned into a ball of fire, reduced to a pile of ash.

  Han Li blankly looked into the air and remained silent. A while later, he sighed. It seemed that talisman was a failure.

  Han Li felt somewhat dispirited, but he did not yet lose his confidence. After all, he felt that the talisman from a moment ago was quite close to being a success. He believed if he were to exert his strength and create several more, he was certain to have success.

  For the next half day, Han Li manufactured Soul-Lock Talismans one after another. However, he had continuously failed.

  The spiritual talismans he created did not combust by themselves but instead suddenly turned into a small explosion when injected with his magic power. Furthermore, there were also spiritual talismans that would rapidly lose their spiritual power and become useless paper.

  When Han Li saw the last paper talisman he completed explode into shreds with a bang, the typically cool-minded Han Li could not help but raise his head to the roof and abruptly shout curses, “Damned Heavens, you’re playing with me! A dozen paper talismans, how could I not succeed a single time! This is only an elementary low-rank Soul-Lock-Talisman! Could it be that today was not a good day?”

  After these words left Han Li’s mouth, he felt his depression with had greatly lightened, and his mood became a bit happier.