The Immortal Ascension

Chapter 43: All Set

During this period, the Seven Mysteries Sect also experienced a significant event.

The idol of the new generation of disciples, "Senior Apprentice Li," demonstrated his exceptional alertness by uncovering two spies from the Wild Wolf Gang who were attempting to steal the list of disciples sent down the mountain for training. Along with a dozen fellow disciples, he captured them on the spot, earning considerable merit.

A few days later, Sect Leader Wang, in front of many disciples, conferred the position of Protector upon Li Feiyu, officially elevating him to the middle ranks of the Seven Mysteries Sect. This caused quite a stir, and Li Feiyu's reputation grew even more prominent.

Han Li, however, remained oblivious to all this. He was secluded in a closed wooden hut, undergoing special training. Except for occasional trips to the kitchen to fetch food, he had not interacted with anyone for many days and naturally had no idea of his friend's current glory.

As summer turned to autumn, time flew by, and the day before the agreed-upon date finally arrived.

In the thorny forest at the bottom of the ravine, a bizarre figure appeared and disappeared among the sharp, spiky branches. The extremely dangerous thorns posed no obstacle to him. Like a wisp of smoke, he ghostly slipped through the dense web of thorny vines, appearing nearby one moment and emerging from afar the next. The entire process was eerily silent, as if he were not a being of flesh and blood but an intangible entity.

Finally, the figure came to a halt on a tree trunk, standing straight on a branch and gazing into the distance. It was Han Li, who had made some progress in his cultivation.

At this moment, his clothes were tattered, revealing patches of skin, and his hair was disheveled. His face was streaked with black and white marks, making it unrecognizable. Most astonishingly, small iron bells hung from his neck, waist, arms, thighs, and ankles.

Seeing these iron bells and recalling Han Li's ghostly movements in the forest, it was easy to understand how bizarre his earlier movements had been.

He stood motionless, looking towards the Valley of Divine Hands, and murmured to himself:

"The timing is just right. I finally mastered the Ruyan Step on the last day. With it, I have a better chance of protecting myself."

Although his facial expression was unclear, the joy in his eyes was unmistakable.

After months of diligent study and practice, Han Li had mastered several powerful secret techniques. He was quite confident in these skills, believing that even if he couldn't match Doctor Mo's unfathomable abilities, he could still rely on them for self-preservation.

A gentle breeze blew, and Han Li felt a chill. He looked down at his "holey attire" and imagined his current appearance, feeling a bit of wry amusement.

Recalling his practice of the Ruyan Step, he still felt a lingering fear. Practicing movement techniques in the thorny forest was indeed a life-threatening endeavor. Initially, due to his unfamiliarity with the technique, he was inevitably scratched by the hard thorns, leaving him covered in wounds and bleeding profusely.

Fortunately, he had the Essence Nourishing Pill with him. Not only did it treat internal injuries, but it was also remarkably effective for external wounds. After taking one pill, the bleeding stopped immediately, and by the next day, even the scars had completely disappeared.Han Li marveled at this for a long time. This medicine was far superior to ordinary wound-healing ointments. However, he couldn’t understand why it was named "Essence Nourishing Pill." In his opinion, names like "Scar Remover" or "Bleeding Stopper" would have been more fitting.

If the master who created the "Essence Nourishing Pill" were to learn of Han Li’s thoughts, he would likely be so furious that he’d spit blood. His meticulously crafted, sacred healing medicine was being compared to the common "Golden Wound Ointment" used by quacks in the Jianghu. How could this not infuriate such a master!

However, it was precisely because Han Li practiced in such a dangerous environment that he was able to fully unleash his potential. In a short period of time, he had achieved a decent level of proficiency in the "Ruyan Step," making it immediately useful.

Moreover, just a few days ago, Han Li had unsurprisingly reached the sixth layer of the "Eternal Spring Art." This was the highest level of the chant Doctor Mo had given him. Without the assistance of those dozen or so bottles of Spirit Medicine, even if he had exerted all his strength, he might not have been able to achieve this in his lifetime.

After several years of cultivation, Han Li had gained considerable insights into the Eternal Spring Art. He found this cultivation method to be quite peculiar, differing greatly from ordinary martial arts in both its practice and its effects.

First, Han Li believed that the success of this art and the speed of its cultivation depended largely on the individual. It hinged on the cultivator’s aptitude and whether it aligned with the art.

Those with excellent aptitude would naturally progress smoothly and without hindrance. Even without external assistance, they could likely reach higher levels through sheer effort.

On the other hand, those with poor aptitude would find themselves stuck at a certain level without the help of Spirit Medicine. Han Li speculated that such individuals would reach their limit and have no room for further advancement. Like himself, he had progressed smoothly through the first three layers, but suddenly found the fourth layer to be extremely difficult, with no progress at all.

However, with the aid of miraculous Spirit Pills, the impossible could become possible, allowing one to break through the limitations of their aptitude and advance further. This showed just how reliant this cultivation method was on the power of medicine!

Yet, few in the world would consume Spirit Medicine like snacks, taking one or two pills a day as he did. Therefore, it was no surprise that he effortlessly mastered the fifth and sixth layers, which were supposedly even more difficult, without experiencing the hardships he faced in the fourth layer.

Now that he had achieved Major Achievement in the sixth layer of the Eternal Spring Art, Han Li felt more energetic and his mind sharper, but he had yet to discover any other miraculous effects. Strangely, since he began cultivating this art, each layer had only enhanced his spirit, mind, and senses, with minimal effects on his body. It merely made him stronger and his steps lighter. The energy flow it produced—which Han Li called Pseudo True Energy—could circulate freely through his meridians like ordinary True Qi, but aside from making his sense of touch more sensitive, it had no practical effects and lacked the astonishing power of True Qi.

Additionally, having reached this point, Han Li felt that there must be more to the chant beyond the sixth layer. Perhaps its true wonders lay in the final few layers.

Thinking of this, he shook his head helplessly and sighed. Given his current relationship with Doctor Mo, obtaining the later layers of the cultivation method was out of the question.Han Li halted his wandering thoughts and leaped down, landing softly on the ground without making a sound. He then strode confidently toward the small wooden cabin.

Tomorrow, he would meet with Doctor Mo. Before that, he needed to make full use of his talents to meticulously plan out the steps of their encounter in his mind. He carefully considered every possible detail that might arise and devised the best strategies to handle any potential dangers that could occur.

(End of Chapter)