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

by Translator: Johnchen

  Such a display was quite hard to imagine. With just a single wave of a hand, such an expert could easily shatter mountains and overturn the seas.

  However, Han Li felt some resentment toward these Nascent Soul cultivators and inwardly cursed them several times for their detached observation of the wars of lower level cultivators. When would these profound cultivators finally take action?

  ‘Could it be that was what happened? Is it possible that this Core Formation Expert came across a Nascent Soul Eccentric?’ Han Li speculated in his mind.

  If a Core Formation cultivator truly was trapped inside Crooked Soul’s body, it completely made sense. After all, he knew much secret information about the Devil Dao’s invasion and possessed such a powerful spirit beast as well.

  After further contemplation, Han Li conceded that Crooked Soul was most likely a Core Formation cultivator. This caused him to break out in cold sweat and wear a queer expression, holding traces of both fear and excitement.

  “Could it be that he had disguised himself to lure me in? Did he pretend to have low cultivation to play with me this entire time?” Han Li did his utmost to ponder about the possibility of the worst case scenario.

  “Impossible. Those displays of weakness couldn’t be faked!” After a moment more of deliberation, he finally arrived at a definite conclusion.

  It was an indisputable fact that he had already occupied Crooked Soul’s body for several years. The only possible reason for this was because he had lost his body, along with his profound cultivation, like he previously said.

  Even with his primordial soul, Crooked Soul would only be able to re-cultivate without any bottlenecks. His current cultivation should be as it appeared.

  Furthermore, Han Li figured out that he was unable to control the mantis spirit beast. Otherwise, why wouldn’t he have such a fearsome beast follow him as a bodyguard?

  During his current moment of weakness, Crooked Soul’s greatest need was strong protection. That was why he had no choice but to trick Han Li into entering the cave, in the hope that his uncontrollable mantis would kill him.

  With his sharp mind, Han Li mulled through the series of events before gradually realizing the complete truth. His heart grew courageous once more.

  Han Li wasn’t merely taking advantage of someone’s weakness. He was dealing with a Core Formation cultivator, a great enemy belonging to the Controlling Spirit Sect.

  If Crooked Soul managed to run away, he would come back as a Core Formation cultivator and be certain to dismember him into countless pieces.

  Therefore, Han Li absolutely couldn’t leave this person alive.

  Understanding how things stood, Han Li continued his flight without the slightest hesitation and flew onto the small mountaintop.

  In the blink of an eye, Han Li arrived on the mountaintop and saw Crooked Soul still held in place. The talismans on his body were still untouched.

  Han Li was jubilant and descended about thirty meters away from Crooked with a relaxed heart. But at the same time, he held a magic tool in each hand.

  Having seen Han Li descend, Crooked Soul appear extremely shocked, as if he hadn’t expected that Han Li would return alive.

  Following that, he forced himself to widely smile, wanting to say something.

  But Han Li just advanced several steps forward and raised his hand, shooting two black streaks of light toward him.

  Since Han Li already decided to kill him, he had no need to speak with him.

  Seeing the fierce and overbearing advance of the Black Dragon’s Claws, Crooked Soul’s complexion paled.

  Recognizing that Han Li wanted to rip him apart, Crooked Soul’s body suddenly flashed, jumping several meters to the side and avoiding the attack.

  “What are you doing? Don’t tell me you forgot about your death-oath?” The Controlling Spirit Sect cultivator cried out in a fluster.

  He clearly hadn’t expected to see Han Li again and was caught off guard by his attacks.

  Han Li appeared to have ignored Crooked Soul’s words. Instead, he was intensely staring at the three Soul Lock talismans still on his body as if he didn’t dare to believe his own eyes.

  ‘The talismans weren’t removed but he can still move?” Han Li’s heart was filled with doubt.

  However, now was not the time to be distracted by questions. Thus, Han Li snorted and remained silent. He pointed at the Black Dragon’s Claws and caused them to immediately grow several times their original size, turning into two huge black lights before charging toward Crooked Soul.

  Han Li had already made up his mind. Even if he had to sacrifice the body of Crooked Soul, he had to thoroughly eliminate this Core Formation cultivator.

  Seeing that Han Li had no intention to stop until he was dead, Crooked Soul gaped from desperation upon seeing the Black Dragon’s Claws oppressively charge toward him. A streak of green light spouted out from Crooked Soul’s mouth, rigidly blocking the full power of the Black Dragon’s Claws.

  Chapter 343: Green Brilliance Dagger

  “What is that?”

  Han Li was greatly surprised that Crooked Soul was actually able to block his full power strike and couldn’t help but stare at the green light.

  The inch-long dagger glimmered with a translucent green brilliance.

  “Magic treasure!” Han Li couldn’t help but exclaim in surprise.

  Regardless of whether it was a magic treasure or not, Han Li was still shocked.

  With just his sixth layer Qi Condensation cultivation, he still was able to use that item to block the Black Dragon’s Claws.

  Han Li was surprised that he still had a magic treasure to protect himself. It’ll be a bit more troublesome, but Han Li would be able to kill him with pleasure and leisurely acquire this treasure.

  He was now completely certain that this person was once a Core Formation cultivator!

  With that in mind, Han Li continued his fierce assault with the Black Dragon’s Claws and flipped his hand, revealing the “Spirit Guiding Bell”.

  The reason why Han Li didn’t think of using it from the start was because he thought that it was unnecessary, since Crooked Soul had already been restrained by the Soul Lock Talismans.

  Seeing that Han Li took out the Soul Guiding Bell, Crooked Soul’s eyes flashed with panic. But, soon after, he immediately struck his lower abdomen with a grimace, spitting out an emerald-green ball. As soon as it appeared, it released a soft green light that enveloped his entire body.

  At this moment, Han Li started to ring the Soul Guiding Bell, intending to cause Crooked Soul’s bones to become numb and leave him unable to fight.

  After a series of rings, Crooked Soul stood there unscathed as if he was completely unaffected.

  Han Li’s expression grew solemn. It was clear that the green ball’s radiance was protecting him from the bell’s effects.

  With that in mind, he rang the bell two more times. Seeing that it had no effect, he gloomily put it away. Then with a wave of his hand, over ten puppets appeared in a flash of white light. They were Han Li’s last remaining grade two puppets. If these were broken, then he would only be able to use his weak self-made puppets.

  Therefore, Han Li had no intentions of dragging this on further. As soon as the puppets appeared, he commanded them to shoot light beams and arrows in an overbearing assault.

  Upon seeing such a fearsome attack, Crooked Soul clenched his teeth in furious alarm. He hastily flung incantation gestures toward the green ball, causing it to quickly spin and glow brighter.

  Suddenly, the streaks of light interweaved among each other and erupted in a dazzling explosion. Crooked Soul then rode the waves of the explosions to retreat about ten meters.

  Han Li was left dumbstruck. A cultivator at only the sixth layer Qi Condensation was actually able to block the full power attack of a mid Foundation Establishment cultivator; this action was heaven defying. However, when he recalled that this person was once a Core Formation cultivator, he didn’t feel that i
t was too strange; he’d have a few trump cards after all.

  Crooked Soul inwardly sighed in relief; his secret techniques had managed to block Han Li’s attack. At that same moment, he was mulling over the words he should use to persuade Han Li to stop his furious barrage of attacks. Since he had a pitiful amount of magic power, he wouldn’t be able to last much longer.

  But without waiting for him to speak, Han Li touched his storage pouch after a moment of hesitation and suddenly raised his hand, releasing a blinding flash of red light.

  Crooked Soul was astonished!

  Without understanding what had happened, the floating green ball had ruptured before his eyes, and he felt an agonizing pain from the very depths of his soul. He couldn’t help but scream loudly as he fell to the ground with limbs incessantly flailing about.

  The green light protecting Crooked Soul’s body had disappeared without a trace upon the destruction of the green ball. With nothing left to obstruct the light beams and arrows, he was suddenly overwhelmed as if he were drowning in a torrent of rain.

  Without a master to control it, the green dagger suddenly decreased in power and was forcibly suppressed by Han Li’s Black Dragon’s Claws, as if it was going to collapse at any time.

  Han Li was overjoyed.

  He hadn’t expected that risky strike to be so effective.

  The reason why he hadn’t used the Blood Spirit Drill to directly strike at the heart or the head was because they were not vital points to Crooked Soul, a moving corpse.

  At most, Han Li would only be able to severely injure him while being unable to kill him.

  With that in mind, it would be better to strike at that troublesome green ball.

  However, he hadn’t expected that the green ball would rupture from a single strike and cause Crooked Soul to meet his end.

  It appeared that the green ball had a close connection to his soul. It was no wonder that he had such an unsightly expression when he spouted it out to face an enemy!

  Could it have been the golden core he had condensed from Core Formation? Han Li sinisterly guessed.

  Han Li then waved his hand, stopping the puppets’ attacks before taking a close look in Crooked Soul’s direction.

  After the streaks of light faded away, Han Li clearly saw a blackened corpse lying on the ground. Han Li was greatly surprised to find that the corpse hadn’t turned into ash.

  Could it be that Crooked Soul’s body was extraordinary because he was a jiāngshi?

  Han Li remained motionless, looking at the corpse for a moment and muttering to himself. He then raised his hand to the sky, causing six fist-sized fireballs to appear in the air. “Go”. With a single command, the fireballs shot toward the corpse like a loosed arrow.

  Puff. Puff. Han Li indifferently gazed at the corpse as it burned in the inferno.

  An instant later, an egg-sized green sphere of light suddenly flew out from the inferno, wanting to escape.

  Han Li’s face grew cold and his body blurred, appearing behind the ball of light. His hand shot out like lightning, grabbing it while covered in white light. The green sphere of light suddenly let out a miserable scream before Han Li crushed it with his spiritual power infused hand.

  Han Li then blurred, returning to Crooked Soul in an instant. With a wave of his sleeve, the fire on Crooked Soul’s body disappeared without a trace.

  “It seems even a Core Formation cultivator can be duped with a mere illusion technique.” Han Li lowered his head to look at the blackened Crooked Soul with a sneer on his face.

  Han Li then carefully examined Crooked Soul’s injuries.

  He was greatly surprised to find that apart from his completely scorched exterior, Crooked Soul’s internal organs and bones were entirely undamaged, much to Han Li’s pleasure.

  Although Crooked Soul was only an empty corpse, Han Li had regarded him as a loyal servant. If Han Li was able to repair him, then he would naturally do so. Besides, he had a plan in mind that required Crooked Soul.

  As such, Han Li lightly rung the “Soul Guiding Bell”. Crooked Soul immediately stood up and opened his eyes with a blank expression.

  Han Li nodded his head. Although Crooked Soul had flesh wounds, he should be able to quickly recover with his exceptional regenerative power as a jiangshi.

  Han Li then turned his gaze toward the small shining green dagger floating in the air. Having lost its master, it was now completely still.

  Han Li proceeded to use his Black Dragon’s Claws to gradually suppress it before carefully submerging his spiritual sense into it. He found that he was completely blocked from entering it.

  “It seems like the rumors were true. Without Core Formation cultivation, I will be completely unable to use magic treasures.” Han Li thought with annoyance. He could only look upon this magic treasure with envy.

  However, Han Li was still very interested in this magic treasure. After a few cautious tests, he finally grabbed it with his hand and carefully admired it.

  The blade of the dagger was only an inch and a half long. Without a master to imbue it with spiritual power, its splendor had greatly weakened. However, it still released a mist of cold aura that appeared exceptionally beautiful.

  In addition, the dagger’s body was inscribed with two ancient characters. Han Li couldn’t help but softly whisper upon reading its name, “Green Brilliance.”

  Han Li lovingly fiddled with it for a moment before reluctantly putting away the “Green Brilliance Dagger” inside his storage pouch.

  Han Li looked around to see if he had missed anything. As a result, his attention was drawn to specks of green light on the ground.

  He went over to take a careful look and discovered that they were fragments of the green ball that had been destroyed by Blood Spirit Drill. Although it had been shattered, its radiance hadn’t diminished in the slightest.

  He walked over and bent down, carefully gathering the shards.

  Although he didn’t know how he could make use of it, Han Li could guess that it should have something to do with a Core Formation cultivator’s golden core.

  Chapter 344: Exterminating a Demon in a Formation

  Han Li didn’t carefully study the fragments; instead, he carefully swept his surroundings once more. After he was convinced that he hadn’t overlooked anything, he started to think about how he should deal with the huge mantis.

  He didn’t want to let this demonic beast slip by. After all, its forelimbs were rare, high-quality crafting materials, not to mention the other parts of its body.

  As for subduing the monster alive, Han Li abandoned the thought after some consideration.

  He clearly understood that he did not have the experience required to attempt it. Cultivators that control demonic beasts have learned to restrain magic beasts since their childhood and have become extremely familiar with the process. Wanting to vainly keep such a powerful spiritual beast was just wishful thinking.

  As for the Controlling Spirit Sect cultivator, he had probably lost control of the mantis when he lost his body and changed appearances. Else, his spirit beast would’ve remained in his control. The spirit beast would’ve loyally served him for a lifetime and never leave him. It was bound to be more loyal than a human.

  As for whether Han Li should inform the Seven Sects and their allies of this information, he decided to wait for a few days and listen for any news since he had no way of knowing whether the Controlling Spirit Sect cultivator’s information was genuine or not. After all, he could travel at great speed. Even if he was a few days late, he would be able to arrive at the Seven Sects’ Camp before the deadline.

  As a result, Han Li spent a day in the dense forest near the mountain cave, secretly setting up the “Five Elements Reversal Great Formation”.

  Han Li didn’t lay out a portion of the great formation in a hurry, like he did at the Imperial Palace. He had set up the formation in its entirety; its power was naturally far greater than before.

  At this moment, he saw the
huge mantis leave to hunt for food. It had actually brought back a huge black tiger, leaving Han Li astonished.

  This was the first time he had seen this kind of black tiger; it was definitely no common beast. However, it was quite unfortunate that this beast had met its end, merely becoming a wholesome meal for the mantis.

  Having finished his preparations, Han Li quietly snuck into the mountain cave.

  But just a short moment later, he was already rushing out of the cave on his Divine Wind Boat, flying straight toward his formation. A shadow closely pursued him; it was the huge mantis that Han Li had startled.

  Because he had placed the formation nearby, Han Li entered the formation’s territory soon after he left the cave. Although the mantis was somewhat intelligent, it couldn’t possibly comprehend the formation spell and was easily trapped within the formation spell.

  In the following two days, Han Li allowed the huge mantis to frantically run around within the Five Elements Reversal Formation, fully displaying the effects of the illusionary entrapment and the boundaries of area confinement.

  After the two days had passed, the demonic beast was exhausted and no longer moved within the formation. At that moment, Han Li took out many puppets and started to unceasingly harass it from outside the formation, prohibiting it from resting.

  Although the mantis’ attacks were exceedingly fearsome, its defense was just ordinary. Because it couldn’t approach the puppets attacking it, it was forced to use its scythe-like forelimbs to protect itself.

  This continued for half a day until the demon mantis was no longer able to endure, allowing the puppets to strike at its body. Although its injures weren’t heavy, its strength had been mostly exhausted. At this moment, Han Li took turns changing the puppets’ spirit stones.

  Seeing that it was almost time to finish up, Han Li summoned a treasure talisman, a small yellow knife. Under the cover of the puppets’ attacks, it stabbed through the mantis’ head, killing it within the formation.

  Victorious, Han Li walked toward the demon beast’s corpse with barely concealed excitement. He then took out his huge silver sword and cut off its incisive forelimbs.