The Immortal Ascension

Chapter 13: Strange Phenomenon

Knowing that Han Li had injured his foot, Zhang Tie personally brought the meal to his room, intending to eat with him.

Han Li watched as Zhang Tie clumsily moved around his room, shifting chairs and rearranging the table. After a long while, everything was finally set up for the meal. Han Li couldn’t help but find it amusing, though he was also deeply touched.

Once the two were seated at the table, they began chatting about trivial matters within the sect while eating, occasionally exchanging insights about their respective cultivation practices.

Whenever the topic of Zhang Tie’s "Elephant Armor Skill" came up, he would roll his eyes in frustration.

Zhang Tie had developed a deep aversion to the "Elephant Armor Skill." Although he had only practiced the first layer, he had already suffered greatly under Doctor Mo’s harsh training. Not only did he have to soak in foul-smelling medicinal concoctions at fixed times, but he also endured frequent beatings with Doctor Mo’s wooden stick, all in the name of tempering his bones and muscles.

These brutal training methods had left him unable to sleep peacefully for a period of time. His body was covered in bruises, and even the slightest touch against the wooden bed would send sharp pains through him, making him grimace in agony.

For Zhang Tie, it was nothing short of a nightmare.

In contrast, Zhang Tie was deeply envious of the nameless chant Han Li practiced. He thought it was as simple as sitting like a monk and reciting scriptures. Hearing this, Han Li could only remain silent.

Han Li could understand Zhang Tie’s fear of the higher layers of the "Elephant Armor Skill." Anyone who knew they would have to endure even more severe torment than before would surely feel restless and uneasy.

The fact that Zhang Tie had persisted this long without giving up earned Han Li’s deep admiration.

If it were Han Li, he would never have practiced such a self-torturing martial art, even if it could make him a top-tier expert overnight.

As they talked, the dinner was soon finished. Zhang Tie quickly cleaned up the dishes and then took his leave, advising Han Li to rest early to recover from his foot injury.

Han Li stood at the door, watching Zhang Tie leave, before hurriedly returning to his room. He closed the doors and windows tightly, leaving only a small vent open for air. Then, he took out the bottle from his bag and began studying it again.

After all, Han Li was just a teenager. After fiddling with the bottle for a while and finding no clues, he grew bored. Coupled with his injured foot and mental fatigue, he soon found himself leaning against the bed with the bottle in hand, drifting off to sleep.

He had no idea how much time had passed when, in the midst of a deep sleep, he suddenly felt a cold sensation spreading from one of his hands.

Han Li shivered and struggled to open his heavy eyelids, looking groggily at the hand that had caused the disturbance.

In an instant, he sat up straight, his mouth hanging open so wide that drool began to trickle down the corner of his mouth unnoticed. All traces of sleepiness vanished as he was completely stunned by the sight before him.

Strands of visible white light descended through the only open vent in the room, converging onto the bottle in his hand. They formed tiny white specks, the size of rice grains, enveloping the entire bottle in a thin layer of white radiance.The white light was very soft, not dazzling at all, and the icy sensation emanated from this faint glow.

Han Li swallowed a mouthful of saliva that had turned cold, suddenly jolting awake. He flung the bottle aside as if it were scalding hot and scrambled away, rolling and crawling to the other side.

After cautiously observing for a while and finding no apparent danger, he carefully approached again.

The bottle, enveloped in the white light, appeared exceptionally beautiful and alluring, with a touch of mystery.

Han Li hesitated for a moment, then gently poked the bottle with his finger. Seeing no reaction, he cautiously picked it up again. He placed it back on the table and leaned in close, excitedly observing this never-before-seen spectacle.

Han Li stared intently at the bottle within the white light for over a quarter of an hour without blinking, finally uncovering a few of its secrets.

The bottle was continuously absorbing the white light dots drifting nearby through its surface. No, it wasn’t absorption—these light dots were desperately squeezing into the bottle, each one vying to get in, as if they were alive.

Curious, Han Li lightly touched one of them with his fingertip.

It was cool! But aside from that, there was nothing else particularly special.

Han Li looked up.

Strands of white light were still falling continuously from the skylight above, showing no signs of stopping.

Han Li glanced at the tightly closed doors and windows around him, then looked up at the open skylight.

An idea struck him. He gently pushed the door open and peeked outside.

Fortunately, it was already late at night. Aside from the occasional chirping of autumn insects, everything was quiet, and there was no one around.

Han Li pulled his head back, turned around, grabbed the small bottle, stuffed it into a leather pouch, and quickly ran outside.

He ran all the way to a secluded, empty spot before finally stopping.

He scanned the area with his eyes, making sure there was truly no one else around. Then, carefully, he took out the bottle again and gently placed it on the ground.

The light dots that had been near the bottle had disappeared without a trace after it was placed in the pouch.

But Han Li wasn’t worried.

Sure enough, after a short while, strands of light, far more numerous than those inside the house, gathered from all directions. Then, countless white light dots densely appeared around the small bottle, forming a massive light sphere the size of a washbasin.

(End of Chapter)