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

by Translator: Johnchen

  The expansive black clouds appeared to be reacting to Han Li’s hostile vigilance. They started to quickly swiveled and started pulling back at the center of the clouds with a grand flourish of devilish Qi.

  Han Li’s heart trembled. Just as he was about to impatiently order his puppets to attack, he heard the Bone Sage’s cold voice in his ear.

  “Youngster, don’t attack him. He is merely giving you a show of his strength. He doesn’t wish to truly kill you. Let’s see what my traitorous disciples wants from you, before you do anything else!”

  The Bone Sage’s voice transmission surprised Han Li, giving him a sudden realization. He then forcefully suppressed the restlessness in his heart and asked, “Great Senior Zenith Yin, for what reason has Senior come to find this Junior?” Han Li’s voice was gloomy and serene, possessing neither arrogance nor humbleness.

  “You’re still calm despite receiving my attack. It seems you are quite courageous.” Grandmaster Zenith Yin answer was besides the point. Han Li was unsure whether his words were that of praise or contempt.

  “As a Nascent Soul cultivator, if Senior wishes to exterminate Junior, my courage wouldn’t make a difference.” Han Li unconsciously frowned and replied with a calm expression. He felt slightly more at ease, knowing that the Bone Sage was hiding not far away.

  If he were to act together with the old devil who knew the weakness of the Profound Yin Arts, it would be possible to fight against Zenith Yin. Naturally, that would require the Bone Sage to assist him, which was something Han Li couldn’t guarantee. As a result, he didn’t possess the slightest intention of angering the Bone Sage.

  At that moment, the black clouds eventually billowed away and flashed several times. Woosh. The clouds disappeared to reveal a middle-aged man and a short, thin, and ugly youth — Zenith Yin and Wu Shou.

  “You are Han Li, a rogue cultivator from Heavenly Star City?” The middle aged man looked at Han Li with interest.

  “That’s correct. I am Han Li, although it seems Senior already knows this.” Han Li revealed a bitter smile and spoke with a tone of helplessness.

  “Don’t be anxious, I’m not here to look for trouble. It’s not about that matter with the Exquisite Sound Sect either. The previous attack was merely because I felt that formation spell was in the way, so I sought to break it.” Zenith Yin spoke with an indifferent smile.

  ‘What was in the way? Did you not merely wish to intimidate me with your immense strength?’ Han Li thought, completely aware of the truth. But contrarily, he respectfully asked, “Then, Senior is here for...?”

  As Han Li clearly understood that Zenith Yin was waiting for him to ask that, he could only hold his nose and play along.

  Zenith Yin chuckled upon hearing Han Li’s question. After closely examining Han Li, he was able to sense his inward restlessness.

  “Do you recognize what this is?” Zenith Yin raised his hand, revealing a dense white ball. Without giving him a chance to clearly see what it was, he lightly tossed it towards Han Li.

  Han Li revealed slight confusion. When the item flew in front of him, he caught it with his sleeve and carefully brought it before his eyes.

  The item wasn’t large and was badly damaged, but Han Li recognized it at a glance. It was a small amount of the pure white threads from the Bloodjade Spiders.

  Han Li blankly stared at it, baffled at why Zenith Yin had given this to him. But after some thought, he immediately recalled the battle that had occurred with the Hidden Fiend Sect. When he was trying to escape the entrapment, he had used the Bloodjade spiders to deal with a demon corpse that was blocking his path. That should’ve been when Zenith Yin had acquired this object.

  ‘Why is he asking about this item now?’ Han Li’s expression slightly changed as suspicions began to come to mind.

  However, as Zenith Yin wasn’t going to give him much time to think, he could only answer honestly, “I undoubtedly recognize this item. They’re threads that my spirit beast shootout. Why has Senior mentioned this?” Han Li’s expression was doubtful as if he couldn’t bring himself to believe it.

  Zenith Yin revealed a smile upon hearing this.

  “Good, very good! I came to look for you because I wish to see your spirit beasts. How about you take them out and let this Grandmaster take a look at them?” Grandmaster Zenith Yin revealed a trace of excitement and spoke with a surprisingly gently voice.

  This caused Han Li to grow even more vigilant. This was because Han Li had caught a trace of well-concealed greed contained in his smile. It was only revealed for an instant before it faded away.

  Showing such an expression at the mention of his Bloodjade Spiders wasn’t a good omen by any means. Although he felt even more restless underneath Grandmaster Zenith Yin’s gaze, Han Li could only hesitantly force himself to agree.

  ‘Well, no point in dragging this out!’, Han Li gloomily thought.

  He then raised his arm and lightly patted the spirit beast pouch at his waist. A white light then flew out and landed in front of Han Li. The light faded away to reveal a white spider the size of a millstone, fiercely observing its surroundings.

  When Zenith Yin saw the Bloodjade Spider, he continuously stared at it as if it were an extremely precious treasure. His expression gradually became happier.

  “Great! It truly is a Bloodjade Spider! Hehe...” After a long while, Grandmaster Zenith Yin broke into wild laughter as he faced the sky, causing the nearby air to tremble. Han Li’s expression involuntarily changed. The cultivation of a Nascent Soul cultivator was truly profound!

  However, Han Li soon wore a cautious expression. He knew that Zenith Yin was about to mention the true heart of the problem.

  But before Grandmaster Zenith Yin could speak, the Bone Sage’s apprehensive voice was transmitted to Han Li’s ear.

  “How did you get that Bloodjade Spider? Why haven’t you told me about this?” The Bone Sage’s voice was filled with regret and furious alarm.

  “Why would I have told you that I possessed it?” Han Li grew sullen.

  But he immediately calmed his mind and had second thoughts. Since the Bone Sage was also moved by it, it seems the Bloodjade Spider possessed a great mystery. Would the appearance of this unknown matter prove to be a benefit or detriment to him?

  As Han Li was inwardly mulling this over, the Bone Sage urgently sent him another voice transmission, “That traitorous disciple Zenith Yin will definitely invite you to go with him into the Inner Halls. Do not hesitate to go with him. I will be secretly following after you and provide assistance.” Perhaps sensing that Han Li’s tone was unsettled, the Bone Sage’s voice became much more gentle.

  When Han Li heard this, his heart became even more uneasy, contrary to the Bone Sage’s intentions. He faintly felt that he was about to be dragged into a great maelstrom where he would meet a terrible death if he weren’t careful.

  As these suspicions stirred in Han Li’s mind, Zenith Yin eventually spoke as the Bone Sage had predicted, “Han Li, do you wish to go to the Inner Halls? If you do, I will bring you through safely!” Zenith Yin voice was amiable and his words were filled with great enticement.

  “Go to the Inner Halls?” Han Li was astonished.

  It was a place that was said to be too dangerous for a Core Formation cultivator, but the treasures that it contained were far more precious than in other areas of the Heavenvoid Hall. But after Han Li came to know of the particulars of that place, he had decided not to go. He was even more averse to braving the dangers of the Inner Hall now that he had just acquired the Ninecurl Spirit Ginseng, an item that greatly helped when congealing a Nascent Soul.

  Zenith Yin’s offer to safely bring him through the Inner Halls, and the Bone Sage’s exhortations for him to agree were met with complete disdain and distrust from Han Li.

  He only had one life, after all!

  After a moment more of pondering, Han Li declined with a forced smile, “To this Junior, the Inner Halls are truly out of reach. Junior will be sa
tisfied with passing only two trials. As such, Junior will forgo going to the Inner Halls. His luck isn’t that good!”

  Grandmaster Zenith Yin’s expression sank, and his eyes became stern.

  At his side, Wu Chou loudly rebuked him with a scowl, “Han Li, my ancestor didn’t chase after you for your offenses during that previous matter. Now, you use excuses to refuse his kind offer to bring you into the Inner Halls. Could it be that you hold our Zenith Yin Island in contempt?”

  Although Grandmaster Zenith Yin didn’t stop Wu Chou, he wore a displeased expression and looked at Wu Chou with a cold gaze.

  Han Li grew silent once more. He again heard the Bone Sage exhort him to agree, causing even more distrust to swell in his heart.

  “I won’t go. Although I do not know why Island Lord Wu plans on bringing me into the Inner Halls, it definitely won’t be a matter of only broadening my experiences. It would be better for me to use my time to look for treasures in safer areas.” Han Li spoke with an indifferent expression.

  Chapter 455: Another Surprise

  “Humph! Do you truly believe that you get to decide whether or not you can go? If you don’t come with us, this young lord will kill you here. Did you truly believe that our Zenith Yin Island wouldn’t dare to act due to the words of the Star Palace enforcers?” Wu Chou’s small eyes ominously glinted.

  Although Wu Chou had been previously warned by Grandmaster Zenith Yin, he still attempted to threateningly pressure Han Li. Wu Chou felt Han Li was truly displeasing to the eye. The malice he felt towards Han Li was nearly innate, born from no particular reason.

  Han Li found this feeling mutual. That recent outburst was merely met with an indifferent glance and did nothing to improve Han Li's impression of him. Paying no further heed to Wu Chou, he spoke to Grandmaster Zenith Yin, “For a reason unknown to me, Senior requires this Junior’s spirit beast. But this Junior is also well aware that if a spirit beast’s master dies, their spirit beasts are incapable of recognizing another master. In addition, Junior is capable of ordering the Bloodjade Spider to self detonate during a moment of crisis. Surely, Senior doesn’t wish to see that!”

  Han Li clearly understood that Wu Chou was merely playing the part of a paper tiger. As such Han Li was unwilling to tango with Wu Chou and decided to speak with the true authority, Grandmaster Zenith Yin.

  However, this action by Han Li caused Wu Chou to fly into a rage from the humiliation. After a hostile expression appeared on his face, he spewed a slew of profanities at Han Li. But he was soon stopped by a wave from Zenith Yin, “Good, I am fond of Juniors with courage and understanding. Since this island lord requires your Bloodjade Spider, I naturally won’t drag you along without payment. Once we arrive in the Inner Halls, I will...”

  Just as Zenith Yin was about to list his conditions, his expression suddenly grew sullen and he stopped speaking. He turned his head around to fiercely stare in a certain direction with a malicious look on his face.

  “Let this Grandmaster have a look at you, eavesdropper!” Grandmaster Zenith Yin’s voice was shrill and full of killing intent. He appeared extremely angry.

  Han Li felt alarmed. He immediately thought that the Bone Sage had been discovered and was unconsciously pondering about how he should deal with this situation.

  However, Han Li was surprised to hear an aged voice.

  “Old Pal Wu, there is no need to be so angry. I merely encountered you by coincidence. Don’t tell me you’re going to attack?” A hundred meters away in the air floated a Confucian-robed old man covered in an azure glowing light.

  It was someone Grandmaster Zenith Yin was quite familiar with, Layman Qing Yi!

  “Fellow Daoist Qing! You followed me!” When Zenith Yin saw him, he grimaced, and his killing intent faded.

  “What? Follow you? I was merely taking a stroll and happened to see Fellow Daoist Wu and this young Junior having a chat. So I thought I’d come over and say hi. I didn’t think that I’d cause Fellow Daoist Wu to be so unhappy. Sigh, had I known earlier, I definitely wouldn’t have acted so rashly.” The Confucian-robed old man dryly laughed and spoke with a completely unconcerned tone.

  He soon grew unconcerned with keeping up his own pretences and turned his gaze from the pale Zenith Yin to the Bloodjade Spider.

  “Tch tch. This is a Bloodjade Spider? It truly is a rare spirit beast. From the analysis of earlier cultivators, this is one of the spirit beasts that are most likely capable of acquiring the Heavenvoid Cauldron. Its odds are far greater than your Fire Serpent or Wan Tianming’s Gold Threaded Silkworm.” Layman Qing Yi spoke, shaking his head.

  ‘Taking a stroll nearby? While invisible?’ After hearing the old man’s shameless excuse, Grandmaster Zenith Yin grew furious. But his expression only grew gloomier upon hearing Qing Yi reveal the secret about the Bloodjade Spider.

  After turning his gaze away from the Bloodjade Spiders, the Confucian-robed scholar examined Han Li several times before saying, “So this is the Junior that Old Pal Wu was concerned with earlier. This old man is also quite fond of guiding courageous and insightful youngsters. I am quite interested in taking taking him in as my disciple. How about it? I’ve never taken in a disciple before.” Zenith Yin paled after hearing this.

  “Take Junior in a disciple?” Han Li blinked several times. He didn’t know whether he should be excited or cynical.

  Zenith Yin’s expression was icy, and threads of black Qi began to surge from his body. He spoke each of his words forcefully while staring at the old man, “Fellow Daoist Qing, what are you planning?”

  “Hehe! I was only joking! Old Pal Zenith Yin doesn’t need to be so nervous. If I were to truly take this youngster as a disciple, I fear Fellow Daoist would attack me without restraint. However, if Hu Manzi were to know of this Bloodjade Spider, would he back down?” The old man chuckled. A strange expression appeared within his eyes as he played the matter off.

  Layman Qing Yi’s words initially caused Zenith Yin to relax. But upon hearing him mention Man Huzi, he started to feel a strong headache.

  Zenith Yin had originally planned to keep the Bloodjade Spider a secret and manipulate the others into driving the Righteous Dao cultivators away from the Inner Halls or have both sides suffer a mutual defeat. He would then use to the fire serpent to put on a display of being incapable of acquiring the treasure while secretly using Han Li’s Bloodjade Spider to secure it. He alone would acquire the Heavenvoid Cauldron. As for his previous promises, he had never intended on keeping them in the first place.

  But he didn’t expect in the slightest that his meticulous plan would be thrown into disarray by this old cunning fox. He was uncertain about whether or not he could kill him to shut him up. And even if he were confident, he couldn’t easily act and weaken his own side prematurely. After all, he still had the Righteous Dao cultivators to contend with.

  Zenith Yin’s face twitched when the old man mentioned Man Huzi. He had previously experienced just how fearsome Man Huzi’s Heavenbearing Devil Arts were. Even with his newly acquired minor mastery of his Heavenwide Corpsefire, he didn’t hold any confidence in facing that man. If by chance that man were to use the pretext of taking in that youngster as a disciple, then he would insist on taking the lion’s share of the treasure. He wouldn’t have any way to prevent it. Unless...

  Seeing that he was no longer able to preserve the secret of the Bloodjade Spiders, Zenith Yin started to think of how he wouldn’t suffer a smaller portion of the treasures.

  At that moment, his heart stirred and he looked at the old man with an odd expression, faintly guessing the meaning behind his previous words. The Confucian-robed old man faintly smiled in response to his odd expression and transmitted a message to his ear.

  Zenith Yin’s expression started to ceaselessly fluctuate.

  The old man’s voice transmission was short and he quickly resumed speaking out loud,“How about this proposal?”

  Without taking much time to think, Zenith Yin gloomily said, “Fine,
I accept.”

  The old man revealed a pleased expression and said,“Good, this is how it should be.” He then glanced at Han Li and unhurriedly said, “Now, between the two of us, who do you think is more suitable to become his master?”

  After muttering to himself, Zenith Yin said, “Naturally, he will decide who will become his master. That would be a bit more fair.”

  The old man blankly stared for a moment before revealing a strange expression. But after some conderation, he nodded his head in agreement.

  When Zenith Yin saw this, he wore a seldom seen smile. He then turned towards Han Li and indifferently said, “You must’ve already heard our chat! Your Bloodjade Spider is something that we require in our treasure hunt, something that we cannot release under any circumstance. If you believe I won’t kill you because you are the master of the spirit beast, then you are gravely mistaken. This Grandmaster happens to know of a convenient method to refine spirit corpses. If worst comes to worst, I will kill the Bloodjade Spider and refine it into a demon corpse. Since the Bloodjade spider’s cultivation will greatly suffer from this, I won’t do this unless I am forced. If you are afraid of any disadvantages that will result from being involved, then you can become either of our disciples and receive our protection. Also, you will acquire a portion of the treasure should we be successful in acquiring it. As you appear to be a smart fellow, you should know what to do!”

  Zenith Yin calmly laid out both the carrot and the stick, causing Han Li’s expression to change.

  In fact, Han Li was inwardly cursing without end. Ever since the Confucian-robed old man had arrived, Han Li felt ill at ease as if the situation had taken a turn for the worse. He had originally wished for the two eccentrics to fight amongst themselves, allowing him to slip away in the ensuing chaos. But he didn’t expect for the cunning old foxes to reach an agreement after only a few words.

  Now, Han Li reckoned there wasn’t the slightest chance that the Bone Sage would appear to help him.

  As for using the Bloodjade Spider as a threat, it seemed it wouldn’t have any effect. He reckoned that if he were to truly order the Bloodjade Spider to self detonate, Zenith Yin would rush to refine it. But as his life was hanging by only this thread, he couldn’t afford to damn himself by angering these Nascent Soul cultivators.