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

by Translator: Johnchen

  In the blink of an eye, all the bystanders had left and the nearby buildings began to each employ their protective restrictions. Han Li’s cheek twitched at the sight of this and a layer of sparkling azure light rose up from his face, followed by an ominous glint shining from his eyes.

  When the four surrounding Nascent Soul cultivators saw this, they began to circulate their magic power in response and the magic treasures in their bodies restlessly stirred.

  Han Li thought of something and sneered. The azure light vanished from his face and he calmly said, “If I remember correctly, the West Jin Market strictly prohibits fights between cultivators. Violating this will have three of the great Daoist sects and four of the great Buddhist sects pursue you. Do you want to find out what it feels like to be chased for thousands upon thousands of kilometers? Or do you feel like they are beneath your consideration, given your backing with the Yin Sifting Sect?”

  Just as Han Li finished speaking, an overbearing voice echoed from a distance, “Hmph! Who dares ignore our rules? This humble Daoist is curious to meet them!”

  Then, two balls of light streaked from a building at the other end of the street, one silver and one gold. They quickly circled in the air before dropping down to reveal an old Daoist with a rosy complexion and greying hair beside an ugly middle-aged Buddhist monk with a large flat nose.

  The old Daoist glared at Han Li and the Saintess’ party with fury. “I know you... So it was esteemed cultivators of the Yin Sifting Sect. Does your sect plan on breaking our rules and having a battle in our West Jin Market?”

  The Buddhist monk didn’t appear to have anything to say, but he was far from pleased. He coldly stared at the Yin Sifting Sect members, but when he caught sight of Han Li and the Endless Sky Saintess, he revealed a trace of surprise.

  Although there were a number of unknown Nascent Soul cultivators in the Great Jin, it was quite rare to see an unknown mid-stage eccentric in particular. With the sight of two of those unknown eccentrics in front of him, it was no wonder he felt shocked.

  Ge Tianhao coldly said after hearing the old Daoist’s words, “Wu Bi! I only wished to have this Fellow Daoist verify a few things. Do you plan on meddling?”

  Wu Bi then imposingly said, “I don’t care what you do, but none may break the rules of this market. If you truly wish to take action, then move to another place, or I won’t keep being this polite.”

  Enraged by his words, Ge Tianhao harshly said, “Could you wait until after we take action? I was thinking of experiencing the abilities of your Grand Truths Sect.”

  The Buddhist monk grinned and said, “Fellow Daoist Ge, there is no need to be angry. So long as nobody uses magic power, we will not interfere. These two Daoist also appear quite unfamiliar. Might you grant me your names?”

  “I am the Endless Sky Saintess, Lin Yinping. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance. The matter is quite simple: I suspect this Fellow Daoist is actually a great enemy of our Endless Sky Temple, and I wish him to undo the bundle on his back and verify his identity. If I am mistaken, I will offer my deepest apologies and will bother him no further.” With that said, she then turned to look at Han Li with her bright eyes.

  “That’s funny,” Han Li calmly said, “ Who do you think I am? My surname is simply Li. Why do you want to verify my identity?”

  Lin Yinping curled her lips and a trace of killing intent flourished from her eyes. She said with an icy tone, “If Fellow Daoist is unwilling, then it is possible you truly are our irreconcilable foe. As the Endless Sky Saintess, I cannot allow you to run free.”

  Wu Bi’s heart stirred and he frowned, asking, “The Endless Sky Saintess? You’re the Saintess of the Soaring Tribes?” As for the Buddhist monk, astonishment appeared on his face.

  Lin Yinping calmly nodded, “I’ve made a poor showing of myself. Yes, I am indeed appointed as the tribe’s Saintess.”

  Wu Bi ceased his angry appearance and spoke with a more relaxed tone, “Your noble tribe’s Immortal Xu possesses heavenly talents, and had entered mid-Nascent Soul stage before the age of four hundred. I had met him several times in the past. How is he doing?”

  “Immortal Xu is doing well. Around thirty years ago, he had entered late-Nascent Soul stage and became one of the tribe’s Grand Immortals.” Lin Yinping inwardly rejoiced at the fact that this old Daoist had a friendship with one of her tribe’s Grand Immortals.

  “As I had anticipated, Fellow Daoist Xu had already entered late-Nascent Soul stage. It may be possible for him to ascend to an entirely greater stage, given his young age.” Wu Bi’s expression grew peculiar as emotion began to show in his voice.

  Faintly feeling that this matter was turning for the worse, Han Li’s mind began to quickly churn. Could it be that he would have to face off against these many Nascent Soul enemies? Or would he have to escape using Bloodshadow Evasion?

  During his hesitation, he received a sound transmission of Monarch Soul Divergence. Those few words had completely freed his heart of worry.

  Wu Bi had then finished speaking with the Endless Sky Saintess about Immortal Xi. He swept his eyes towards Han Li and with some hesitation, he asked, “Fellow Daoist, your cultivation is quite unordinary. Might I ask where you’re from? Perhaps I can mediate in your dispute.” Although he wasn’t sure of his identity, Han Li was still a genuine mid-Nascent Soul cultivator. Vagrant cultivator or not, he was not someone to take lightly.

  “I’ve never heard that I’d have to give my identity and origins to enter the West Jin Market. If your market truly has such a rule, I will naturally comply. But if there isn’t, I would prefer not to answer.” Han Li’s expression had remained stiff but he spoke with an obviously sarcastic tone.

  Wu Bi’s expression grew sullen and was annoyed by his answer, but before he could give a reply, the Buddhist monk at his side chuckled and took the initiative to speak, “Our market has no such rules of course. Fellow Daoist Wu Bi only wished to use your identity to help you resolve this misunderstanding. If you are unwilling to explain yourself, then all we can do is make sure nothing happens within the market boundaries. But if Fellow Daoist Lin and company were to wait at the market’s entrance which isn’t within the scope of our protection...”

  These words were spoken with a smile but their meaning was clear.

  Han Li coldly laughed in his mind. He swept his gaze past Ge Tianhao and the Endless Sky Saintess and saw their eyes flickering. It was obvious that they were intent on attacking him for the possibility of acquiring the Ghost Sifting Banner and the Holy Beast’s incarnation.

  Just as he thought this, Han Li stared at the Endless Sky Saintess and gloomily ask, “So you will leave the matter be so long as you see what I have in my bundle? While you might not have any grievances with me, do you think my resentment is so easily dissolved with an apology?”

  “Are you threatening us?” Ge Tianhao’s cold voice dripped with hostility.

  Han Li bellowed with laughter and continued with a grim tone, “It was nothing but a jest. But if you truly are mistaken and forced me to reveal my bundle for nothing, do you feel that I won’t do anything to right this wrong? While I might not have great abilities, I have quite a bit of mastery over my evasion techniques. Even if you were to attack me all at once, I am quite confident I’ll be able to escape. Don’t blame me for what happens to your sects afterwards. As a lone cultivator, I don’t fear retaliation.”

  With that said, Ge Tianhao and the others had changed expressions. Even the Buddhist monk and old Daoist Wu Bi felt a bit of apprehension.

  Not only was Han Li a mid-Nascent Soul stage cultivator, but his attitude and words displayed him as a troublesome and vengeful character that all large sects make an effort to avoid.

  After all, with his cultivation and a lack of responsibility tying him down, he could act against the sect’s various disciple and cause irreparable harm. It would be even more troublesome if this person was truly skilled in evasion techniques. Even a late-Nascent Soul cultivator
might not be enough to catch him. So long as this person was ruthless enough, even the entire ten great devilish sects would find him difficult to manage.

  And as a vagrant mid-Nascent Soul cultivator, the great sects would attempt to draw him in with all their effort and would avoid offending him at all cost. If it was truly too late to stop him from becoming an enemy, then it would be better to hunt him down as soon as possible.

  Ge Tianhao and his sect members had decided to forcefully verify Han Li’s identity on the behalf of reacquiring his sect’s Ghost Sifting Banner, but immense problem would afflict his sect if he was mistaken, provoking vengeance upon nothing.

  With that thought, he couldn’t help but take a glance at the Endless Sky Saintess.

  She frowned, feeling quite a headache over the matter. If this man was a truly vengeful character, he would later wreak havoc in the Endless Sky Plains.

  Then, she blinked with bright eyes and wore a charming smile. “Why is Fellow Daoist Li speaking with such a grave tone over a minor affair? We only wish to see what is inside the bundle on your back. If I have truly made a mistake, you can list a fair condition to make up for our error. Do you feel that is fair?”

  Chapter 945: Jade Pendant

  The Endless Sky Saintess didn’t wish to provoke a powerful enemy over a simple misunderstanding and offered a concession.

  “A condition?” Han Li coldly glanced at the woman with a blank expression.

  The Saintess raised her head and calmly proposed, “If Fellow Daoist Li is willing, I can compensate you with a sum of spirit stones as an apology.”

  “Hehe... not spirit stones.” Han Li coldly laughed and suddenly grabbed the bundle on his back.

  His sudden movements captured the attention of the nearby cultivators.

  Han Li simply shook the bundle open for a sheathed saber to fall onto the ground. As soon as it appeared, a series of cries sounded out and it sparkled with golden light. From these traits, one could immediately tell it was an extremely rare treasure.

  It suddenly made sense to the others why Han Li would be furious at having his bundle forcefully opened as it would reveal his beloved treasure to nosy outsiders.

  When the Saintess saw the sword, a trace of astonishment was betrayed from her eyes. She released her spiritual sense in disbelief and examined the saber for a long while before finding that there was nothing strange about it, not even the slightest trace of an illusion.

  When Ge Tianhao and his fellow sect members saw the saber, they exchanged a glance with one another, all of them feeling somewhat embarrassed. As a result of this matter, they had nearly committed a grave error. Fortunately, this conflicted hadn’t escalated and caused an unfair grudge to be held against his sect.

  The old Daoist Wu Bi and the Buddhist monk watched this with a silent smile, obviously distancing themselves from the affair.

  The Saintess sighed and a trace of disappointment appeared on her face. With an apologetic tone, she said, “It appears I’ve been mistaken. If you have any conditions, I will strive my hardest to fulfill them to your satisfaction.”

  Han Li looked at her and his eyes focused on an ornament she hung at her waist. “I already have enough spirit stones. How about you hand over that jade pendant?”

  “This?” She looked at pendant with complete bewilderment.

  Since she wore it on her body, it was no ordinary ornament. It was an exquisite butterfly-shaped jade ornament that was a rare support-type magic tool, and had an effect of focusing one’s mind. However, this item was only precious to Foundation Establishment and Core Formation cultivators. To a mid-Nascent Soul cultivator, its effects would be negligible. The Saintess only valued this treasure as it was a possession she kept throughout her life.

  ‘What reason could he possibly want the jade pendant?’ She fiddled with the jade pendant with a hesitant expression.

  Han Li’s eyes flickered and he readily suggested, “What, does Fellow Daoist Lin hate to part with it? Then, let’s change it. How about that pearl hairpin?”

  The Saintess raised her brow and suddenly came to a decision, tossing the jade pendant over to Han Li. “Of course you can have it, it’s only a trifling magic tool. I was simply being a bit sentimental.”

  Han Li caught the ornament and felt a warm sensation. He nodded with satisfaction and made it disappeared with a flip of his hand.

  Afterwards, he beckoned to the golden saber and it flew into his hand with a hum. A grey cloth leaped out from his sleeve and quickly covered it back into a bundle. With it now placed on his back, he turned around and made his way to the market entrance.

  When the others saw his cold demeanor, they couldn’t help but look at each other in dismay.

  As Han Li was about to leave, the Saintess suddenly thought of something and asked, “We still don’t know of your esteemed name. Could you give it to us?”

  “I am a vagrant cultivator from overseas — Li Feiyu!” Without slowing his footsteps, he indifferently shouted as he walked away.

  “Li Feiyu? Brother Ge, have you ever heard of such a fierce cultivator from overseas? I know many people, but none as heartless as him.” The Saintess stared at Han Li’s back and a cold glint flickered from her eyes. While she couldn’t place it, she wasn’t able to dispel her doubts about the bundle and still felt uneasy.

  Ge Tianhao’s expression turned unsightly due to her words and said, “Lady Lin’s question is quite difficult for me to answer. Although the cultivators overseas technically belong to the Great Jin’s cultivation world, they are quite independent and few of them ever set foot on this mainland. Additionally, their circumstances are greatly varied. Countless vagrant eccentrics and factions of all sizes exist, not to mention the many grand cultivators that have yet to reveal their abilities. Of course, the three famous overseas Immortals are a different story as they have already risen to fame.”

  The Saintess frowned knowing that she wouldn’t be able to track him down and could only leave the name of “Li Feiyu” in the back of her mind.

  ...

  Han Li left the market in a blur and appeared in a nearby street bustling with mortals.

  As he walked, he faintly smiled and spoke through voice transmission, “Senior, you have me in admiration. I didn’t think that you could use spiritual sense to deceive so many Nascent Soul cultivators! Even I couldn’t sense the slightest oddity about your miraculous transformation.”

  Monarch Soul Divergence indifferently replied, “It wasn’t much. After you finish cultivating the last three layers of the Great Development Technique, you could have other cultivators dance in your palm. If I were even more skilled in illusion techniques, killing low-grade enemies without touching them would prove an easy task.”

  With much newfound respect, Han Li sighed, “Of course. The first four layers are already so fearsome. If I manage to cultivate the technique to completion, my spiritual sense would reach unimaginable heights. It is a pity that I don’t have the time to refine the last four layers of the technique even though Senior has given them to me.”

  Monarch Soul Divergence chuckled, “Although your spiritual roots are poor, you have a high aptitude for cultivating my technique. With the addition of other soul nurturing arts and fantastic items to aid you, your understanding of the Great Development Technique may exceed even mine during my prime.”

  “I hope that will be the case. However, there is something that puzzles me. Why did Senior have me take the Saintess’ ornament?”

  Monarch Soul Divergence snorted and asked, “Do you think the Endless Sky Saintess will easily allow you to run free now that she’s come to the Great Jin?”

  Han Li sighed with helplessness and said, “She’ll most likely scour the Great Jin to find me since I took away the Soaring Tribe’s holy beast incarnation and seized that strange cauldron as well. It also seems she has joined together with the Yin Sifting Sect, and they’ll likely prove to be quite a problem later on.”

  Monarch Soul Divergence slowly s
aid, “For that reason, I had you take something from her body. In the past, I had learned the refinement technique for a detection pearl. By using their scent, you’ll be able to detect their presence from fifty kilometers away. In the future, you’ll be able to detect her and will be able to sense her approximate location. This way, you’ll be prepared for any of her attacks. However, in about a year, it will completely lose effect as the item fades with time. That should be more than enough for you to avoid her while you stay in the Jin Capital.”

  “So it was like that. Thank you for your consideration, Senior.” Han Li hastily replied with joy.

  “I wasn’t thinking about you,” Monarch Soul Divergence indifferently said, “I just wanted to make sure nothing happened to you before you helped me refine my grand puppet.”

  Han Li faintly smiled and said nothing else. He made a sudden change of direction and walked into a nearby alley, making a few turns before arriving in a secluded and abandoned courtyard.

  There, he came to a sudden stop and his expression turned sullen. He then slowly turned around and glared at an area that appeared to be empty. A cold glint shined from his eyes. “Why have you been following me?”

  “Fellow Daoist Li is worthy of his cultivation. You were able to see through the Ghost Shadow Technique that I’ve strenuously trained. There is no need for you to worry. I have no hostile intentions.” A chuckle sounded out and in a flash of green light, a silhouette made an appearance.

  Han Li examined this person with narrowed eyes.

  This eccentric was a shriveled old man with a crafty appearance and an early-Nascent Soul cultivation. His sly face betrayed his thoughts.

  A hostile expression appeared on Han Li’s face and he solemnly said, “You still haven’t answered my question. Don’t you know it is offensive to follow a fellow cultivators? I could kill you here, and no one would find out.”

  The small old man chuckled and calmly said, “I’ve only come to find Fellow Daoist Li with the sincere thoughts of an exchange, there is no need for you to be so fearsome. Rest assured, you will certainly benefit from it.”