(Ran to the internet cafe three times today, and it was completely packed the first two times—no available machines! It’s really made me speechless. Luckily, I finally snagged one on the third try, so I could upload this chapter. Ugh! Also, I’ve been seeing a lot of readers nudging me for updates lately, and I’m honestly quite ashamed. This book still needs to go through a few more recommendation rounds before it can be put back on sale, and I’ve had to take on a part-time job for half the day just to make a living. Plus, I need to stockpile some chapters. So right now, I can only really focus on writing and post more once it’s on the recommendation list and back on sale. Please understand—after all, I have to eat, right!!)
After several agonizing, sleepless nights, Han Li gradually found himself leaning toward the option of risking everything for a breakthrough into Foundation Establishment, rather than wisely playing it safe and forever losing his chance at the immortal path. After all, he was absolutely unwilling to live out his life in such mediocrity!
But cautious by nature, before making his final decision, he made a trip to the Yuelu Hall. From the money-grubbing elder, he once again confirmed that there were no heaven-and-earth spirit herbs outside the forbidden grounds and that the brutal truth of the Blood Colored Trial was real. This completely extinguished any lingering hopes of an easy way out.
Having realized there was truly no turning back, Han Li finally steeled his heart. He resolved to participate in the Blood Forbidden Trial and gamble everything. Either he would successfully find the spirit herbs and achieve Foundation Establishment, or he would perish in this struggle within the forbidden grounds.
With this life-or-death goal clearly in mind, Han Li began preparing for his trip to the forbidden grounds in half a year’s time. He needed to raise his strength another level in this short period to increase his chances of survival.
The eleventh layer of the Eternal Spring Technique, without the aid of pills, was impossible to break through. If he wanted to enhance his strength, the only options he could think of were to learn more new spells and to purchase some powerful talismans and magic tools.
As for new spells, that should be relatively straightforward. He assumed Senior Brother Wu wouldn’t refuse to teach him. However, given his aptitude, in half a year he could at most learn two more low-level first-tier spells, or barely master one mid-level first-tier spell. As for high-level spells, he shouldn’t even think about them. Therefore, the fastest way to boost his strength lay in talismans and magic tools.
Speaking of magic tools, Han Li actually had quite a few now. But among them, besides the ring and small flag given by that Uncle Ye, only two items he’d acquired from the yellow-robed men who had ambushed him were of any real use: the long saber that could transform into a rope, and the gourd that shot out a ball for automatic attacks.
As for the Blazing Sun Sword and Cold Moon Saber he’d received when he first joined the sect, those were just the lowest-grade magic tools with minor fire and cold attacks attached to them. They simply wouldn’t cut it for anything important.
As for talismans, Han Li had originally been severely lacking. But fortunately, that Uncle Ye, who had skimped on many of his items, while stingy with the quantity of talismans, hadn’t faked their grade. He’d actually given over a dozen mid-level first-tier talismans and two rare high-tier talismans, which gave Han Li considerably more confidence.
There was also that talisman with a small sword drawn on it, which Han Li still hadn’t figured out. This item, which the yellow-robed man he’d killed had shockedly called a «Talisman Treasure,» must have quite a significant background. But as illicit goods he couldn’t show anyone, he’d never dared let others know about this talisman. He’d secretly noted the term «Talisman Treasure» and planned to find a suitable opportunity to ask someone about its meaning.
Of course, facing the terrifyingly brutal «Blood Forbidden Trial,» these things were definitely not enough. So Han Li planned to leave the sect once and head to the market town nearby in the mountain range to purchase more top-grade magic tools and talismans.
However, without a large sum of spirit stones as backing, this shopping trip would certainly not be satisfying.
Although these spirit stones would be a stretch for Han Li to come up with based on his current assets, they would also be vital for survival and waging a prolonged battle in the forbidden grounds later. This made him very reluctant to part with them.
After much deliberation, Han Li decided to cultivate several rare spiritual herbs of over a thousand years in the short term, either to exchange for spirit stones or to trade directly for other goods.
Actually, refining the Ageless Pill would have been a better choice, and might have been worth more. But the Ageless Pill required far too many ingredients, and there simply wasn’t enough time to gather them all. So he had no choice but to trade the raw herbs directly.
However, to avoid attracting the covetous eyes of others within the sect, Han Li secretly decided that he would only sell the cultivated herbs to outside cultivators and never trade them directly with fellow sect members, to prevent drawing the attention of anyone with schemes.
Thus, with a plan in mind, Han Li got busy.
First, from Wu Feng, among the numerous first-tier spells, he selected the most practical one: the Breath Concealment Technique. This was a completely defensive mid-tier auxiliary spell that could counter the Heavenly Eye Technique. As long as one wasn’t seen by the naked eye after casting it, it could fully conceal one’s spiritual energy and achieve the goal of hiding.
Of course, this technique would be useless against cultivators at the Foundation Establishment stage and above. It was purely a countermeasure used among high-level Qi Condensation stage cultivators, and far more practical than the Pseudo Concealment Technique.
The reason Han Li hadn’t chosen other offensive or defensive spells was entirely based on his own practical combat experience.
From that single life-or-death battle with another cultivator, he’d realized that the opportunities to properly chant incantations and cast mid-tier spells during a cultivator’s fight were extremely rare. Most of the time, one relied on low-tier spells with the shortest casting times, as well as magic tools and talismans, to quickly launch attacks or defenses. So if he wanted to use spells above the mid-tier in a fight, using talismans was more practical. Of course, if he had a companion to buy him the time to cast, that was a different story.
After obtaining the incantation for this technique and asking Wu Feng in detail about the tricks to cultivating it, Han Li began practicing with all his heart. However, as a mid-tier spell, the Breath Concealment Technique was absolutely different from the auxiliary spells he’d learned before, like the Wind Riding Technique or the Pseudo Concealment Technique. Cultivating it was extremely awkward and difficult. It seemed mastering it within half a year would indeed be a considerable challenge.
Just like that, Han Li diligently practiced the «Breath Concealment Technique» during the day, and at night, after collecting the Green Liquid, he focused on cultivating several commonly used spirit herbs. Moreover, to prevent that Senior Uncle Ma from discovering these herbs, he specifically avoided the times when Senior Uncle came to collect ingredients before doing his cultivation, and transplanted the herbs to a very remote corner of the medicinal garden. After all, herbs over a thousand years old always emitted a fragrance that was somewhat distinct.
But fortunately, Senior Uncle Ma was always so punctual when coming to collect things—neither early nor late. Each time he came in a hurry and left in a hurry, seeming perpetually busy, though Han Li had no idea what he was actually busy with.
Han Li had no interest in knowing what the other was doing. For him, it was best if Senior Uncle Ma remained busy like this, so he wouldn’t interfere with his little operations and allow him to complete his grand plan of herb cultivation.
When Han Li had initially mastered the «Breath Concealment Technique,» more than four months had passed.
And he had finally cultivated two thousand-year-old spirit herbs. He believed that in today’s cultivation world, where even herbs of a hundred years were hard to find, these would surely bring a small surprise to the market town of Yellow Maple Valley.
Han Li obtained a travel pass from Steward Yu, an acquaintance at the Hundred Mechanisms Hall, and left the mountain gate.
Disciples of Yellow Maple Valley were actually allowed to leave once every year, but as cultivators, no one would waste time going out, so very few actually applied.
After Han Li flew past the protective array of the mountain gate, he oriented himself and flew northeast, heading straight for the market town.
Truth be told, Yellow Maple Valley’s market town was quite famous and much more prosperous than those of other sects.
This was because the Jian Prefecture, where the Taiyue Mountain Range was located, bordered the Yuanwu Kingdom to the north, and the cultivation world of Yuanwu Kingdom was not hostile to that of the Yue Kingdom. Therefore, cultivators from the Yuanwu Kingdom would frequently appear in Yellow Maple Valley’s market to trade goods, bringing many special items unavailable in the Yue Kingdom. This was an unexpected delight, attracting many independent cultivators and cultivator family members to come here on reputation.
The market town was built at the northeastern edge of the Taiyue Mountain Range, so after flying for most of the day, Han Li arrived at his destination.
After landing nearby, Han Li didn’t immediately head over. Instead, he changed into a gray cloth shirt and put away all the items on him that identified him as a Yellow Maple Valley disciple, making himself look like an ordinary cultivator before walking towards the market.
According to the norms of the cultivation world, flying was prohibited within five li of a market town. So as Han Li walked along, he encountered many people hurrying to and fro. Among them, several were dressed in peculiar styles, making Han Li suspect they were cultivators from the Yuanwu Kingdom. It seemed the market town really did have a vibrant atmosphere.
Just as Han Li was pondering this to himself, he reached the street entrance of the market town.
(If readers find it enjoyable, please don’t forget to bookmark this book) (End of Chapter)