The Immortal Ascension

Chapter 12: Smashing the Bottle

"Bang!"

Han Li clenched his fists and slammed one of them hard onto the table.

"Use a tool to smash the bottle open." This was the decision Han Li had arrived at after much deliberation.

Using brute force to open it was a method he had thought of long ago—a last resort when no other options were available.

Although this approach was simple, straightforward, and effective, the thought of such a uniquely beautiful bottle being irreparably damaged made Han Li's heart ache. He was extremely reluctant to resort to such a crude method. If there were any other way to open it, Han Li would never have chosen such a violent approach.

He could have asked his Senior Brothers for help, but deep down, Han Li had already subconsciously claimed the bottle as his own treasure. He was absolutely unwilling to let anyone else know about it. Besides, anyone on the mountain could be the owner of the bottle. If they found out it was in his possession, they might demand it back. The bottle was so beautiful and intriguing that Han Li couldn’t bear the thought of giving it up.

Han Li’s curiosity about the mysterious contents of the bottle had been thoroughly piqued. Although he knew it might just be an empty bottle, he was willing to take the gamble that whatever was inside would be even more fascinating than the bottle itself.

The more he thought about it, the more restless he became.

If he didn’t solve the mystery of what was inside the bottle, he wouldn’t be able to sleep peacefully that night.

Having made up his mind, Han Li sneaked into the valley’s storage room, where miscellaneous items were kept. From the array of tools, he selected a relatively heavy small iron hammer and brought it back to his room.

Once inside, he found a discarded half-piece of hard green brick in the corner of the room. He then chose a relatively flat depression in the floor, placed the brick there, and carefully laid the bottle horizontally on top of it.

Han Li raised the hammer in his right hand, paused briefly in mid-air, and then decisively brought it down on the most protruding part of the bottle—its belly.

"Clang!"

Afraid that using too much force might damage whatever was inside, he started with a light tap to test the bottle’s hardness.

Seeing no signs of cracking, Han Li felt reassured. It seemed he could use more force to smash the bottle.

"Clang!" Fifty percent force.

"Clang!" Seventy percent force.

"Clang!" One hundred percent force.

"Clang!" One hundred and twenty percent force.

Han Li’s strikes grew increasingly forceful, the swing of his arm more exaggerated, and the speed of the hammer’s descent faster with each blow. By the last strike, half of the bottle was embedded into the green brick, yet the bottle remained completely intact, showing no signs of breaking.

Han Li was stunned. He reached out and touched the spot where the hammer had struck, but there wasn’t a single mark left on it. The bottle’s surface remained smooth and pristine, glowing with a faint green hue.

This was completely beyond Han Li’s expectations.

Only now did Han Li truly realize that this small bottle was no ordinary object. It was definitely not something someone would have intentionally discarded. Most likely, the owner had accidentally lost it. Right now, the owner might be searching the entire mountain for it. If Han Li wanted to keep it, he would have to hide it carefully and ensure no one else ever saw it again.In Han Li's mind, as long as he wasn't actively stealing or robbing, anything he found on the ground naturally belonged to him. If it were an ordinary item, he might have returned it to its owner, but this bottle was so mysterious that it was likely lost by a wealthy family's disciple or someone of high status on the mountain. Han Li didn't have a particularly favorable impression of either type of person.

Han Li's family had been poor since he was young. Even after a whole day of hard work, they often couldn't afford a full meal. Within the Seven Mysteries Sect, he often saw the first type of people spending money lavishly, indulging in extravagant food and drink (disciples of the Seven Mysteries Sect could pay extra for better meals if they didn't want the standard fare), treating money as if it were nothing. Whenever he saw this, Han Li felt uncomfortable. Moreover, these wealthy disciples often looked down on and excluded those from poorer backgrounds, frequently mocking and insulting them with words. There had even been a few minor conflicts and group fights among the children. Han Li had participated in one of these fights, but unfortunately, he was beaten black and blue by the wealthy disciples who had trained in martial arts, leaving him unable to show his face outside. It took several days of rest before he recovered.

As for those with status and a bit of influence on the mountain, they didn't leave a good impression on Han Li either. From Guardian Wang accepting bribes from his uncle to Wu Yan directly entering the Seven Wonders Hall through the influence of Deputy Sect Leader Ma, although he hadn't seen many of the big figures on the mountain, the grand image he had of them as a child had already been shattered.

For items lost by these two types of people, Han Li not only didn't want to return them but also felt like hiding them away as a prank.

Thinking this, Han Li immediately took off a small leather pouch hanging around his neck. This pouch was specially sewn by his mother from a piece of animal hide when he left home. It was waterproof and moisture-proof, meant to hold a talisman made from a wild boar's tusk, which was supposed to protect him from harm and ensure his safety.

Han Li loosened the pouch's opening, placed the bottle inside along with the talisman, tightened the opening again, and then hung the pouch back around his neck.

After doing all this, he looked around and saw no one. He straightened his chest, patted the slightly bulging pouch, and felt that it wouldn't attract anyone's attention.

Only then did he feel much more at ease, no longer worried that the bottle might be found and reclaimed by its owner.

Han Li quietly returned the hammer to its original place and pretended nothing had happened, leisurely wandering around the Valley of Divine Hands until it was completely dark. Then, dragging his injured foot, he returned to his room.

(End of Chapter)