The Immortal Ascension

Chapter 62: The Transaction

One by one, strange and unfamiliar items were pulled out by Han Li and sorted into two piles based on their level of suspicion, placed to the side.

He gradually became amazed. Doctor Mo had quite a variety of miscellaneous items on him, many of which were clearly deadly at first glance.

A wrist-mounted arrow that could kill with a single drop of blood.

A pouch of Poison Sand soaked in snake venom.

A dozen or so razor-sharp Boomerangs.

...

As the number of items increased, Han Li's breathing became more hurried. The more carefully he searched, the more alarmed he felt.

It was only then that he realized how fortunate he had been when he had fought Doctor Mo. If the other party hadn’t intended to capture him alive, he would have long been dead.

Wiping the cold sweat from his face, Han Li mocked himself: "Here I am, a living person, being frightened by the belongings of a dead man."

Finally, the search was complete, and Han Li began to examine each item in the pile he deemed suspicious.

"This small bottle contains something with a foul smell. It seems to be some kind of antidote, probably harmless."

"This strange weapon looks like a small wheel. Although I don’t know what it’s for, it likely has no connection to the giant man. I’ll set it aside for now."

"As for this sachet..."

Han Li fiddled with the items while muttering to himself, clearly engrossed. At that moment, he was holding an ordinary sachet embroidered with plain white silk flowers.

Logically, such an ordinary sachet shouldn’t arouse suspicion. But Han Li thought that while such an item might be normal for an average person, it was unusual for someone like Doctor Mo, a formidable figure.

Han Li first held it in one hand to gauge its weight. It felt light, likely containing nothing heavy. Then he squeezed it and felt a paper-like texture, as if there were pages hidden inside.

Han Li’s spirits lifted. He opened the sachet and, as expected, found several sheets of paper inside.

He glanced at them briefly and recognized Doctor Mo’s handwriting, which gave him some confidence. Upon closer inspection, Han Li was stunned—it turned out to be a suicide note Doctor Mo had left for himself.

Han Li was puzzled, his curiosity piqued. He picked up the letter and read it in detail.

After finishing, Han Li exhaled a long, heavy breath and furrowed his brow, becoming deeply troubled.

He clasped his hands behind his back and began pacing unconsciously, like an old man. Every few steps, he would stop, ponder something, then continue walking, only to stop again and continue thinking.

In this way, Han Li unknowingly circled Doctor Mo’s corpse like a donkey turning a millstone. His face alternated between red and pale, showing the turmoil in his heart, unable to control himself.

This state of unease, happening to Han Li, would surely have drawn loud mockery from Li Feiyu if he had known.Han Li's current predicament was entirely due to a grim piece of news and a difficult choice left to him in the will. The antidote for the "Corpse Worm Pill" was actually poisonous, and it was a rare type of yin poison. According to the letter, this poison could only be neutralized by his family heirloom, the "Warm Sun Jade." There was no other cure, not even the legendary antidotes could counteract it.

In these pages, Doctor Mo made it very clear to Han Li that the will and the yin poison he had administered earlier were his contingency plans for the worst-case scenario. If his attempt at Possession failed or something unexpected happened, Han Li would most likely be the one to survive. To settle his affairs posthumously, Doctor Mo proposed a simple transaction in the letter that would benefit both parties. This would not only relieve him of his worries but also grant Han Li a substantial fortune and countless benefits.

As for whether Yu Zitong would be the one to survive in the end, Doctor Mo didn't even consider it. In the letter, he spoke of Yu with disdain, describing him as cold-hearted, cowardly, and only possessing a bit of cleverness. Even as a Cultivator, Yu would never achieve anything significant, and the one who would have the last laugh would certainly not be him.

When Han Li read this, he couldn't help but feel a bitter amusement. Doctor Mo, with all his cunning, probably never anticipated that he would ultimately fall into a trap set by someone he usually looked down upon. If Han Li hadn't concealed his true progress in the Eternal Spring Art, he would have most likely perished alongside Doctor Mo, allowing Yu Zitong to reap the benefits. Of course, this was also related to Doctor Mo's own delusions of Immortal Ascension, which had clouded his judgment. It seemed that no matter what kind of Cultivator one was, they should never be underestimated.

The transaction proposed by Doctor Mo in the letter was straightforward. He demanded that Han Li visit his home within one to two years. Firstly, the yin poison Han Li was afflicted with would activate within two years. Secondly, Doctor Mo had a wife, concubines, a daughter, and a considerable estate. Before leaving, Doctor Mo had made many arrangements and spread misleading information, but if he didn't return for a long time, his unruly subordinates and enemies might become suspicious and pose a threat to his family. Therefore, Han Li had to act before things worsened, protect Doctor Mo's family, and ensure they were settled properly, preferably away from the Jianghu's conflicts, leading a comfortable and ordinary life.

As compensation for plotting against Han Li and as a reward for Han Li's willingness to help despite past grievances, Doctor Mo was willing to designate one of his daughters as Han Li's wife. The dowry would be half of his entire fortune and the "Warm Sun Jade."

Before leaving, Doctor Mo had already entrusted the jade to his wife, specifying that it was to be used as the daughter's dowry. Therefore, for the sake of his own life, Han Li had no choice but to marry, whether he wanted to or not.Of course, he also clearly pointed out that his enemies and adversaries were very powerful, and his subordinates were not easy to control. With Han Li's current abilities, directly confronting them would likely be beyond his capability. To this end, he had specifically prepared two false identities for Han Li in a hidden compartment of his residence, leaving behind tokens and handwritten letters of proof for Han Li to choose the most suitable identity. Additionally, he included in the letter a list of trusted associates, suspicious individuals, and enemies, as well as details on matters that required careful attention.

Finally, as proof of his sincerity in leaving this will, he attached the methods for controlling and summoning the "Giant Iron Slave" and the "Cloud-Winged Bird."

What puzzled Han Li was the vague mention that the Iron Slave was a soulless corpse, merely a walking dead, as its original soul had already reincarnated. The letter advised Han Li not to feel sorrow upon seeing it, which left him somewhat baffled. Did he really seem like someone with such deep emotions?

However, even setting aside the matter of poisoning, it would be a lie to say that Han Li was not tempted by such a vast fortune. He had always been sensitive to money, and the deal proposed by Doctor Mo before his death greatly intrigued him. As for marrying Doctor Mo's daughter, this stirred unusual feelings in Han Li, who was at the age when romantic feelings first awaken. After all, judging by Doctor Mo's appearance, his daughter was unlikely to be unattractive.

But the risks involved were no small matter. A single misstep could cost him his life. The enemies Doctor Mo considered his adversaries were not to be taken lightly!

Doctor Mo, who had meticulously arranged his affairs, had tightly bound Han Li to the safety of his wife and daughter through a web of life, beauty, and immense wealth. It seemed Han Li had no choice but to swallow this honey-coated poison with a bitter face.

(End of Chapter)