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

by Translator: Johnchen

  A short moment later, he withdrew his peculiar gaze and lightly flicked his finger, shooting the jade slip back to Han Li with a woosh. He then slowly said to Han Li, “Tell me where you received this object. The jade slip doesn’t contain enough to disprove a relationship between you and my two traitorous disciples.

  Han Li faintly smiled and didn’t answer, asking his own question instead, “Since Senior’s divine abilities are so great, then surely his reputation must’ve been equally great. Could Senior bestow his grand name to me?”

  When Han Li avoided answering his question and asked his own, the youth was initially furious, and his appearance grew fierce. But soon after, he thought of something and coldly replied, “You should’ve heard of me before. The Bone Sage, Xiao Cha.”

  ‘The Bone Sage?’ Han Li couldn’t recall having heard that name.

  However, he didn’t pay this any mind and calmly said, “Since Senior believes this jade slip is insufficient to prove my identity, then my cultivation art should be enough. Senior should’ve seen that my cultivation art is completely different than what he passed down. Please take another look.” Having said that, Han Li flourished his Azure Essence Sword Arts to its greatest extent and emitted a blinding azure light from his body.

  Soon after, Han Li flicked his fingers and shot out eight azure essence sword streaks towards the walls, resulting in several bowl-thick holes.

  “As for the origin of the jade slip, it is quite simple! Junior exterminated an evil cultivator and unexpectedly acquired it from his body. If Senior doesn’t believe this, then there is nothing else to say. We can only fight.” Han Li lightly patted his hands and spoke mildly.

  Xiao Cha stared at Han Li’s azure light with an extremely gloomy expression. A long while later, his expression relaxed and he said, “Your cultivation art truly differs from my own Profound Yin Arts; it isn’t even a Devil Dao cultivation art. It is only natural for a Divine Ancestor such as I to see this. However, you have a Fiend Core Avatar and happened to come across this place. It is proper for this old man to be careful. Still, this old man has another question for you. Apart from the jade slip, what else did you acquire from that corpse?

  Han Li’s expression stirred upon hearing this, and he faintly felt as if this long period of intimidation was all for this final moment. With that thought, Han Li didn’t answer and instead calmly asked, “Since Senior has cultivated a profound soul body but was trapped here for so many years, there must be many restrictions and flaws to the Profound Soul Demonification Technique. For example, there is no way to travel underneath sunlight, and you find yourself vulnerable to a particular type of magic tool...”

  “Humph! Do you believe I will actually tell you this?” The youth couldn’t help but grow furious and abruptly interrupt him.

  Han Li calmly spoke with an indifferent expression, “Of course not! So does Senior really believe that Junior is going to tell him about something that Junior shouldn’t know about?”

  When Xiao Cha heard those cold, mocking words, he was shocked, and his furious expression gradually faded away.

  Chapter 429: Ruined Map Reconstruction

  “Since you are unwilling to answer, then how about...”

  The Bone Sage changed the topic as if wanting to change his question, but at that moment, clear ringing suddenly came from the old devil’s body. The beautiful sounds left Han Li stunned.

  When the Bone Sage heard this, he was startled but revealed an expression of joyful disbelief.

  He no longer paid attention to Han Li and struck his own abdomen. With a tear, a white rib bone shot out from his body and flew once around him before landing in his palm.

  The clear rings were coming from this rib bone.

  Han Li blinked and revealed puzzlement. He was at a complete loss.

  With the rib bone in his hand, the old devil’s smile grew even stronger.

  Crush. The old devil exerted force into his grip and turned the bone to dust. A white sphere of light floated from the dust, revealing a black cricket. It croaked without end inside the light sphere, but once it saw the Bone Sage, it stopped chirping and left the light sphere before entering his body.

  The Bone Sage broke into laughter and clutched the light sphere in his hand. The white light soon disappeared to reveal an embroidered cloth stained yellow from age.

  When Han Li saw this item, he was shocked.

  Han Li’s mind stirred. He knew that this could be a clue to possibly unravel the mystery behind the map fragment. He couldn’t help but observe his every movement with wide eyes.

  Unfortunately, after taking a quick look at it, the Bone Sage quickly stuffed the embroidered cloth into his robe. He then calmly gazed at Han Li and said, “Since you have no relation to my two traitorous disciples, I don’t have any time to waste on you. I have an important matter to attend to, so let us part ways. I will give you a word of advice before I leave. If you stay here for too long, my sinful disciple might take notice and will rush over here.” With that said, the Bone Sage ignored any response Han Li might have had and turned into a streak of blood light with a sneer, hastily flying past Han Li towards the entrance.

  Han Li was initially stunned but soon frowned. His body immediately turned into a blur of flourishing azure light, making a full circle around the main hall. After collecting his former comrade’s storage pouches and magic treasures along with turning their corpses to ash, he hurriedly flew out of this place. It seemed the old devil held no interest in the storage pouches of Core Formation cultivators. Although he didn’t know whether he looked upon the belongings of Core Formation cultivators with disdain or was merely being negligent due to a pressing matter, it proved to be a very convenient situation for Han Li.

  However, he couldn’t help but think of the embroidered cloth. He was also afraid that if he was too slow in leaving, the Bone Sage might lay a trap at the exit which would prove greatly troublesome.

  But when Han Li thought of how the Bone Sage had seized control of his avatar, Crooked Soul, Han Li felt a painful fire burning in his heart. However, from his opponent’s attack, Han Li felt that his odds of success weren’t high, causing him to feel helpless.

  With that thought, Han Li flew to the surface.

  That old devil had long disappeared without a trace, leaving Han Li in awe of his amazing movement technique.

  But when Han Li saw that it was so peaceful and quiet all around him, he recalled how so many people had entered and only he managed to leave. He couldn’t help but feel an indescribable sense of cold loneliness in his heart.

  But as soon as those negative emotions appeared, they were thrown to the back of his mind. After all, the path of cultivation was long and arduous. Now was not the time to mourn.

  Han Li didn’t dare to stay for much longer. After getting his bearings, he immediately fled from the island and reached for his storage pouch.

  After a short moment, an embroidered cloth appeared in his hand with a flash of white light.

  As he looked at it, he felt his heart thump.

  He didn’t need to carefully inspect it to know that this was undeniably related to the Bone Sage’s own. Although Han Li didn’t know what secrets it concealed, it had caused that deep old schemer to lose his self control.

  With that in mind, Han Li couldn’t help but examine the embroidered cloth.

  The originally indistinct map had completely disappeared. However, the map had been replaced with a pattern of a small golden sword of light. Regardless of how Han Li turned the embroidered cloth, the sword of light always pointed towards the northwest. The sword point shot a red line straight towards the edge of the embroidered cloth, releasing a faint fluorescence.

  Han Li frowned. Although he didn’t know the item’s specific purpose, if he didn’t understand such a simple map as this, then he must be an idiot.

  This clearly illustrated that the object’s holder would meet an opportunity should they follow the small sword to some location.

&nb
sp; While grasping the map, Han Li became lost in contemplation.

  It seemed the Bone Sage had been so hurried because the matter regarding the map was time sensitive. In addition to his happy expression, it was obvious that the prize was certain to be great.

  Once Han Li came to this conclusion, he immediately turned his body in the direction indicated by the sword on the map. If he didn’t rush, the prize would be seized by others as long as the map didn’t expire first.

  After some slight consideration and a long while of hesitation, he finally decided to follow this direction and left the desolate island in the blink of an eye.

  About a quarter hour later, a vast, eerie black fog rushed towards the island from a distance. After circling around the cave’s entrance, the fog scattered to reveal a pale skinned middle-aged man that appeared to lack even a single drop of blood.

  When he saw that the restrictions and formation spells were destroyed and the spirit seal pillar had been pushed to the side, he immediately entered the underground cave with furrowed brows.

  After a short moment, a long, resentful roar came from down below, causing the nearby land to tremble.

  The middle-aged man then flew out of the cave and towards the sky as a black streak of radiance.

  He apprehensively looked all around and shot out several tens of streaks of black radiance with a sudden twirl. Those streaks of black radiance turned into huge black birds that searched the nearby fifty kilometers.

  But when the huge birds returned from their search with nothing to show, the middle-aged man’s expression became extremely unsightly. He turned his head towards the sky and didn’t make any other movements for a long while.

  After a unknown amount of time, he suddenly broke out into cold laughter.

  “Old monster, so what if you are able to escape? You are no longer the Devilish Ancestor Bone Sage from long ago, and I am no longer one of your trifling Core Formation disciples. Once I am finished with the matters of Heavenvoid Hall, I will ferret you out from the Scattered Star Seas.” With no further hesitation, he soared through the skies and transformed back into a huge black fog.

  Then, as if wanting to vent his anger, a black beam of light as thick as a bucket shot out of the black fog, causing the entrance of the cave to cave in and turn into ruins.

  Afterwards, the black fog flew into the distant sky like a meteor streak.

  Naturally, Han Li was unaware of what had just taken place. He was flying in the direction of the map, pushing his magic treasure at his greatest speed.

  As he was fearful of coming across the Bone Sage, Han Li was extremely vigilant and would occasionally release the entirety of his spiritual sense to check for an ambush.

  After several days of flight, nothing unexpected had occurred, much to Han Li’s relief.

  But one day, just as Han Li was hastening on his journey, he suddenly heard the sound of conflict coming from ahead of him. From the faint explosions and dazzling flashes of light, it seemed that there were cultivators in the midst of fighting.

  Han Li frowned and used his powerful spiritual sense to carefully gaze into the distance.

  A man and a woman were currently fighting against three embroidered-clothed cultivators surrounded in an evil Qi.

  However, their strength was pathetically low, and they were only at early Foundation Establishment. It seemed that the man and the woman were at a disadvantage.

  Han Li rubbed his nose. Since he knew they weren’t a threat, he felt disinclined to taking a detour and prepared to fly past them. As for the cultivators fighting, he wouldn’t bother asking them anything. He had something important to attend to.

  With that thought, Han Li increased his speed and rushed forth as a streak of green light, appearing before them in the blink of an eye.

  The combatants were greatly shocked and happened to all recoil away from him and retrieve their magic tools.

  As Han Li flew past them, he paused for a moment and casually swept his gaze over them.

  “Yi!” The female cultivator from the male-female pair seemed to recognize Han Li. She shouted with joy, “Elder Han, I am the main disciple of the Exquisite Sound Sect’s Envoy of the Right. Those three cultivators are from our sect’s great enemy, the Poisonous Dragon Union.”

  Sometimes, I wonder if I should leave these in.

  Chapter 430: Wen Siyue

  Han Li was startled by her yell and he couldn’t help but look over and examine the woman.

  “You’re a disciple of the Exquisite Sound Sect?” Han Li asked with a calm expression.

  The young woman appeared to be about twenty years of age and had a face of soft jade with skin as fair as snow. Her flowery expression of pleasant surprise revealed a very sweet charm.

  “Disciple Wen Siyue pays her respect to Elder Han!” This lovely young woman hastily flew to Han Li’s side and respectfully gave him a bow. Her body wasn't lacking in neither grace, given her firm chest and ample bottom. In addition to the young woman’s sweet voice, he could detect an intoxicatingly sweet fragrance from her.

  Han Li calmly sized her up and slowly asked, “How did you recognize me? Have I seen you before?” Han Li felt slightly puzzled as he was certain that this was the first time he had seen her.

  “Although this is the first time Junior has paid her respects to Senior, the sect master hung several of Senior’s portraits in the offerings hall. I’ve seen them every time I passed by.” The young woman respectfully said.

  Han Li was stunned and didn’t know whether he should laugh or cry. He didn’t think that those three woman from the Exquisite Sound Sect would actually do something like this. This must be one of their method of disseminating the fact that he had become the Exquisite Sound Sect’s elder.

  Despite feeling slightly gloomy, his face didn’t reveal the slightest peculiarity, and he turned his gaze towards the middle-aged man to the side, and spoke with a slight smile, “Brother Wen, I haven’t seen you in so many years. It seems you’re doing well!”

  Ever since the middle-aged man saw Han LI, his face had appeared odd. Now, his expression had become even more complicated. When he looked at Han Li, his gaze seemed to contain both admiration and a feeling of self-inferiority.

  “I didn’t expect that Senior Han would still recognize me. Although I’ve seen your portrait at the Exquisite Sound Sect, I didn’t dare to believe it given that so much time had passed. Congratulations on Senior’s Core Formation.” He spoke with slight bitterness.

  This middle-aged man was actually the youth Wen Qiang that Han LI originally met at Stalwart Star Island.

  Although his appearance resembled that of his youth, his hair was now growing white, and his face showed signs of aging. It seemed he was on the verge of appearing elderly.

  “There is no need for Brother Wen to call me Senior. After all, we were acquainted when we were still of the same generation!” Han Li spoke with a smile.

  Han Li saw that Wen Qiang was only at mid Foundation Establishment and wouldn’t have any hope of Core Formation. Han Li couldn’t help but inwardly sigh upon seeing a youth at his prime had become so elderly.

  In truth, even if Wen Siyue didn’t yell for him to stop, he would’ve done so anyways. With his outstanding memory, he would’ve recognized Wen Qiang from a single glance despite not having met him many times. As he had originally given Han Li a good impression, it was only natural for Han Li to lend him aid in passing and not stand by and watch him die.

  After hearing Han Li, Wen Qiang stated that he didn’t dare to do so. Han Li could only follow suit.

  When the young woman heard the two chatting, her mouth slightly widened from alarm.

  Her soft, spirited eyes blinked several times, wanting to ask something. But she was interrupted when Han Li spoke with a cold voice towards the three enemies, “Where do you three think you’re going? Did I say you could leave?”

  The three enemy cultivators were panic stricken upon seeing a hostile Core Formation cultivator arrive
. But after seeing that Han Li didn’t seem to mind them and was happily chatting, they couldn’t help but slowly fall back and test their luck.

  The three turned deathly white upon hearing Han Li. After exchanging a mutual glance, they immediately flew off on their magic tools with defensive magic tools and barriers of all colors at their side.

  “Humph! You’re courting death!” Han Li coldly snorted and lightly flicked his finger, shooting out three brilliant streaks of azure light, appearing behind them in a single instant.

  Pff. Pff. The three cultivator’s magic tools and defensive barriers were shredded through like paper by the thick swordlights. With three simultaneous miserable screams, their magic tools filled the sky with fluorescent lights before disappearing without a trace.

  After the young woman and Wen Qiang watched Han Li’s extermination of the three Poison Dragon Union cultivators, they couldn’t help but look at Han Li with even greater respect.

  Han Li inwardly nodded his head. While these three azure essence swordstreaks appeared unremarkable, they actually consumed a significant amount of spiritual power. Regardless, Han Li was quite satisfied as they were able to kill Foundation Establishment cultivators in a single strike. It seemed that the azure essence swordstreaks had increased in power along with his cultivation.

  Han Li seemed to have thought of something and asked, “Ah, that’s right. Since you both have the surname Wen, does that mean...”

  When Wen Qiang heard Han Li, his face revealed embarrassment, and he replied, “Senior Han jests. Siyue is my daughter.”

  Han Li was stunned, but soon burst into laughter, “Then I must congratulate Brother Wen! Fellow Daoist Siyue has reached Foundation Establishment at such a young age. Perhaps she will one day reach Core Formation as well!”

  Having heard that, Wen Qiang laughed with a prideful expression, “I won’t conceal this from Senior Han. Siyue is truly my pride. She became Foundation Establishment after only a little more than twenty years. I have high hopes for her. While I won’t be progressing any further, I can only hope for her to travel farther than I ever did.”