The Immortal Ascension

Chapter 42: The Cloud-Winged Bird

"You're getting too carried away. This kid is very shrewd and not an easy one to deal with. Don't let your imminent success be ruined by this boy." Suddenly, the voice of another young man echoed in Doctor Mo's mind.

Doctor Mo's expression changed, his face turning as cold as frost. He coldly reprimanded:

"Yu Zitong, keep your nose out of my business. I don't need your lectures. If I succeed, you'll naturally benefit. However, the Cultivation Method you gave me seems to have some flaws. Are you hoping for something to go wrong?" The suspicion in Doctor Mo's words was unmistakable.

The voice seemed to fear Doctor Mo. After hearing his threat, it hurriedly explained:

"How could there be any mistakes? Didn't you test it on animals? As for one of them dying, it was just because you're not yet proficient in the method. But the death of that one shouldn't hinder your plans."

"Hmph! It better be so. It's a pity I can't practice more, or I would have more confidence." After hearing this and recalling the previous test of the Cultivation Method, the last trace of suspicion in Doctor Mo's mind vanished.

After he finished speaking, the voice, having learned its lesson, remained silent. Only Doctor Mo's neurotic muttering filled the room, creating an eerie atmosphere.

Meanwhile, Han Li was in an inconspicuous ravine, even more remote and hidden than the place where he had met Li Feiyu.

The terrain here was long and narrow, sandwiched between two steep peaks forming a straight line. Both ends of the ravine were densely blocked by shrubs, making passage impossible. The only way out was a secret rope hanging from the top of the shorter peak.

The ravine was also covered in dense thickets of thorns, leaving only a small clearing where Han Li could stand. At the top of the ravine, countless unnamed vines intertwined to form a natural green canopy, ensuring that no one passing by could see him below.

Han Li placed his belongings under a large boulder and returned to the center of the clearing. He closed his eyes, pondered for a moment, then opened them with a determined expression and softly said, "I'll start with the most difficult to practice—the Soft Bone Technique."

Thus, Han Li began his solitary path of cultivation.

Unbeknownst to him, not far away, a small yellow bird perched on a branch, watching him day and night. Seeing that he showed no intention of escaping, it did not fly back to report to its master.

Time flew by, and half of the four months had passed in the blink of an eye.

Now, the ravine appeared empty, with no sign of Han Li. Only the little yellow bird remained, calmly preening its feathers, seemingly indifferent to the disappearance of its surveillance target, as if it had already forgotten its mission.Suddenly, another gray bird flew through the green vines above and entered the trench. After circling a few times in the air, it landed on a yellow wooden stump at the edge of the clearing, seemingly intending to rest for a while before flying away again.

At this moment, the small yellow bird tilted its head slightly, casting a haughty glance at the newcomer of its kind, then revealed a mocking expression almost human-like, as if it looked down upon the gray bird.

The newly arrived bird stood on one leg, scanning its surroundings, and finally noticed its counterpart. It spread its wings slightly, as if preparing to fly over.

Abruptly, an unexpected event occurred. A withered, yellowish hand descended from above and firmly grasped the bewildered gray bird.

This sudden turn of events filled the bird with terror. It struggled desperately, but it was utterly powerless against the control of the hand's owner.

Only then did the bird realize that the stump beneath its feet had somehow transformed into a young man dressed in a yellow robe. The boy had dark skin, ordinary features, thick eyebrows, and large eyes. Aside from his clear gaze, there was nothing particularly striking about him.

The young man smiled, watching the bird struggle in his hand. When it was nearly exhausted, he finally loosened his grip and spoke gently:

"Go on, don’t be so foolish next time! Make sure you choose your landing spot carefully."

The bird, now free, didn’t even spare a glance at its companion. It flapped its wings frantically and flew out of the trench without looking back.

After watching the bird fly away, the young man stood still for a while before murmuring to himself:

"It seems my Concealment Technique and Disguise Art have reached a certain level. Next, I should practice the assassination skills in the secret chamber."

With that, Han Li moved toward the newly built wooden cabin nearby. As he passed by the tree where the small yellow bird perched, he couldn’t help but glance up at it.

Han Li had noticed this peculiar bird over half a month ago. It had been staying on a nearby branch, constantly watching him, as if it possessed remarkable intelligence.

The moment Han Li first saw it, he was captivated by its intelligence and grew extremely fond of the little yellow bird.

He tried to lure it away, but no matter what method he used—"enticement," "seduction," or "setting traps"—nothing worked. The bird showed no intention of falling for his tricks and even occasionally looked at him with a mocking gaze, as if he were a fool, leaving Han Li both amused and frustrated.

Later, in a fit of anger, he attempted to approach it forcefully. But before he could get close, the bird immediately took flight into the sky. As soon as Han Li left, it would return to its original spot, leaving him standing there helplessly, staring at it.

Thinking of this, Han Li turned his head away with a hint of resentment, no longer paying attention to the bird. Deep down, he had already vaguely realized that this bird’s origin was likely connected to Doctor Mo and was probably sent to keep an eye on him.

However, Han Li didn’t care. As long as it wasn’t Doctor Mo personally monitoring him, what could a little bird possibly report? Moreover, he genuinely adored this intelligent creature and couldn’t bring himself to use harsh methods against it.

Meanwhile, Doctor Mo was in a stone chamber, drawing a strange formation with beast bone powder. As he worked, he discussed something with another person in his mind, completely unaware that Han Li had already figured out his surveillance method.

(End of Chapter)