The Immortal Ascension

Chapter 30: The Fall of a Tyrant

"How old do you think I am?" The muscles on his cheeks twitched a few times as he stiffly asked an unrelated question.

"Judging by your appearance, you seem to be in your sixties. But since you’re asking, your actual age must differ from your appearance. Are you much older or younger than you look?" Han Li was somewhat surprised but maintained a calm tone as he spoke.

"Tsk tsk! Truly, practicing the Eternal Spring Art has turned a country bumpkin into such a sharp and intelligent person!" Doctor Mo marveled, his gaze now filled with eagerness as he looked at Han Li.

"You guessed correctly. I’m only thirty-seven years old." A number that Han Li found impossible to believe came out of Doctor Mo’s mouth.

"Impossible!" Han Li, who had always remained composed, was shocked for the first time.

"Impossible! Indeed, it’s impossible! Anyone who sees me would not only think I’m in my sixties but would also believe it if I claimed to be seventy. No one would doubt it." Doctor Mo’s voice suddenly became high-pitched and sharp, grating on Han Li’s ears and making him feel uncomfortable, as if it had touched a deep wound in his heart.

"I, Mo Juren, was once a renowned figure in the Martial Forest of Lan Prefecture in the Yue Kingdom. I carved out my own territory with my bare hands. Heh! Back then, who in Lan Prefecture didn’t know the might of 'Ghost Hand'? Whether it was the righteous or the underworld, those who followed me prospered, and those who opposed me perished." Doctor Mo returned to his original tone, narrating his story in a low voice. As he spoke, his eyes shone with a sharpness akin to swords and sabers, as if he had returned to the days of his glory and power.

Hearing Doctor Mo’s words, Han Li was secretly astonished. He hadn’t expected his nominal master to have such a grand background.

"Unfortunately, the good times didn’t last. Just as I was entering middle age and preparing to expand my influence further, I was betrayed by a trusted subordinate who used a sinister method to harm me. Although I managed to control the injury with my medical expertise, I couldn’t fully recover. My martial skills were greatly diminished, and I could no longer establish myself in the north. Fearing further assassination attempts from my enemies, I had to abandon my base and family, disappearing into obscurity. I traveled to other parts of the Yue Kingdom in search of a cure, hoping to restore my former strength." As he recounted his later experiences, he became completely immersed in the memories. His fists clenched tightly, his nails digging deep into his palms until blood flowed freely, yet he seemed oblivious to the pain. His face contorted with a vicious, gnashing expression, a look of such ferocity that it sent chills down one’s spine. It was clear that he harbored an intense hatred for the traitor who had poisoned him.

Sensing the deep-seated resentment in his words, Han Li couldn’t help but feel a cold shiver run through his body, a chilling sense of dread settling in his heart.

"Heaven had mercy on me. In a mysterious place, I stumbled upon a strange book. The book was profound and difficult to understand, and it took me immense effort to grasp even a fraction of its contents. From it, I found a shortcut to restore my strength. I followed the methods described in the book, but the result…" Doctor Mo paused, not continuing immediately, but his expression was filled with frustration and a hint of regret."So, you ended up in this ghostly state," Han Li coldly finished the sentence that Doctor Mo had left hanging.

"Exactly. I never expected that following the method in that book would restore my power but also cause me to age rapidly, turning me into this prematurely aged, half-human, half-ghost figure," Doctor Mo nodded somberly, not angered by Han Li's sarcasm.

"Have you figured out the reason by now?"

"It was due to improper practice that allowed evil Qi to invade my body. Now, one day of my life consumes the energy equivalent to ten days of an ordinary person. I am constantly depleting my life force. Fortunately, I am skilled in recuperation techniques and have concocted a secret medicine as described in the book, which has slowed my aging in recent years, allowing me to hold on until now."

"What does the chant I practice have to do with solving your problem?" Han Li went straight to the heart of the matter.

"Not long after I became like this, I discovered a solution from the book—it's the 'Eternal Spring Art' that you practice. As long as someone who has reached the fourth layer helps me with energy manipulation and uses Eternal Spring Qi to stimulate certain acupoints, I can escape this predicament and regain my lost vitality."

"Why does it have to be me? Can't anyone else practice this chant?" Han Li pondered for a moment before asking a question that had been on his mind for a long time.

"Do you think just anyone can learn the 'Eternal Spring Art'? This chant not only requires a young person to start from scratch but also demands that the practitioner possesses a 'Spiritual Root' physique. Although I don't know what a 'Spiritual Root' is, I had already tested hundreds of children before you, and none could practice the Eternal Spring Art," Doctor Mo said with a look of frustration.

"Is that so?" Han Li was slightly taken aback, not expecting the chant's practice to be so stringent.

"In the remaining years, I thought it was impossible to find someone who could practice the chant, so I gave up and disguised myself as a wandering Jianghu doctor, drifting from place to place. Unexpectedly, I encountered Sect Leader Wang of the Seven Mysteries Sect, who had also been ambushed. Out of sympathy, I saved his life, and at his invitation, I became a patron of the sect, planning to live out my final days incognito on the mountain. Heh! A miracle still happened. Initially, fearing that my medical and martial arts would be lost, I brought you into the valley, intending to take you both as disciples. But for some reason, I had you try the Eternal Spring Art, probably still holding onto a sliver of hope. Even if you couldn't practice the chant, I would have taken you in and passed on some of my knowledge. But to my great surprise, you actually responded to the art. Haha! Heaven truly leaves no path closed!"

Doctor Mo revealed all these mysteries in one breath, his face flushed with a sickly red, clearly pleased with his good fortune.

"I haven't reached the fourth layer of the Eternal Spring Art yet. Why are you restraining me now and revealing all this?" Han Li finally asked the question that concerned him the most at the moment."This is your own fault. I've put so much effort and care into you, yet you fail to satisfy me, always playing tricks on me. Now, we're just one step away, but you refuse to take that final leap. I could have waited for you for another two years, but during my recent descent from the mountain, I was recognized by an old enemy. After a fierce battle, although I managed to kill him, I also exhausted what little energy I had left, greatly shortening my lifespan. Even if I use all my strength, I can only extend my life by one more year. How can I wait any longer?" Doctor Mo's triumphant expression vanished completely, replaced by a fierce glare, and he finally roared at Han Li.

After hearing this, Han Li's expression remained unchanged, showing no signs of being moved.

However, his heart was in turmoil, far from the calm and composed demeanor he displayed outwardly.

Although he had long anticipated that Doctor Mo had deep intentions toward him, he had never imagined such a significant revelation. The other's background, experiences, and cultivation techniques all exceeded the scope of what he had imagined.

(End of Chapter)