The Immortal Ascension

Chapter 63 True Appearance

After wandering in circles for some time, Han Li finally came to a stop.

"Whether to make this deal or not, I'll decide later when I really can't detoxify the poison," he could only think helplessly in the end.

Then, he glanced at the giant outside the house and recalled the inexplicable words at the end of the will. A spark of curiosity arose in his heart, and he decided to try the method of controlling the giant.

Han Li bent down and rummaged through the pile of items, pulling out a small bell made of brass. The bell wasn't large—just the right size to be held in one palm—but it was exquisitely crafted, with perfectly balanced proportions. At a glance, it was clearly the work of a highly skilled artisan. The only difference from an ordinary bell was the faint traces of blood subtly embedded in the bell's surface, making it stand out conspicuously.

Han Li examined this Magical Artifact called the "Soul-Guiding Bell" carefully but couldn't discern its formidable power. According to the letter, this object could actually subdue such a terrifying monster as the giant—truly unbelievable!

Holding the small bell in his left hand and picking up a dagger with his right, Han Li cautiously stepped out of the stone door and slowly approached the giant with great care.

When he was still more than two zhang away from the giant, Han Li stopped, unwilling to get any closer to avoid unforeseen dangers.

At this moment, the giant was standing rigidly with his back to Han Li.

"Ding!" A crisp chime rang out from the small bell as Han Li lightly tapped it with the dagger.

Han Li frowned. The sound didn't seem any different from that of an ordinary bell. Could this really control the giant?

Doubt crept into his mind, and he slightly crouched, ready to flee back into the stone house at the first sign of trouble.

Upon hearing the bell, the giant's shoulders twitched slightly, as if reacting. Delighted, Han Li hurriedly struck the bell repeatedly.

"Ding! Ding!..." The chimes rang out one after another, and the giant's body began to tremble. Eventually, even his steps became unsteady, and he could no longer maintain his balance. Finally, he collapsed face-first onto the ground, unconscious.

The impact of the giant's massive body against the dry ground kicked up a cloud of dust, catching the unprepared Han Li off guard and sending him into a fit of sneezes, leaving him in an awkward state.

But Han Li had no time to dwell on such trivial matters. He quickly rushed to the giant's side, reached out, and yanked off the hood covering the giant's head, revealing a swollen face that sent a chill down Han Li's spine at first glance.

Suppressing his discomfort, Han Li didn't dare to scrutinize the face too closely. He swiftly used the dagger to make a small cut on his wrist, letting the blood flow freely onto the giant's face. Only after the entire face was thoroughly smeared did Han Li press on the wound and deftly wrap it with a clean cloth strip from his person, stopping the bleeding. Then, he calmly stood aside, observing the giant's reaction.

Something bizarre happened. All that blood gradually seeped into the giant's skin without leaving a single drop behind, leaving Han Li dumbfounded. He didn't even notice that his fingers pressing on the wound had applied too much pressure, causing blood to seep through the cloth again.

Once the blood had been completely absorbed, the giant opened his eyes and slowly stood up. His expression was wooden, his eyes vacant, devoid of any emotion.But when the giant man turned his head and his gaze met Han Li's eyes, Han Li felt a sudden "buzz" in his mind. A strange emotion, both unfamiliar and familiar, surged in his heart, as if something foreign had abruptly appeared deep within him. This thing circled around Han Li like a loyal, domesticated dog, calling out to him with an affectionate persistence.

Han Li was startled but quickly composed himself, for he saw the giant man’s previously rigid expression had now transformed into one of complete obedience. It gave Han Li a peculiar sense of control over the other’s life and death—an incredibly strange yet fascinating feeling.

Suppressing his inner excitement, Han Li issued a test command in a firm voice.

"Go and tear down that stone door."

Without a word, the giant man strode over to the stone door in a few steps, raised his clenched fists high, and swung them like a massive hammer. In just three or five strikes, he reduced the door to rubble. Then, like a whirlwind, he returned to Han Li’s side, awaiting his next order.

Han Li, who usually disliked extreme emotions, couldn’t help but grin from ear to ear. With such a powerful enforcer at his beck and call, what ordinary danger could possibly faze him now?

As he excitedly envisioned the wonderful life ahead, Han Li couldn’t resist casting eager glances over the giant man’s towering figure.

The more he looked at the giant man, the more satisfied he felt. What he had once considered an overly ugly face now seemed remarkably agreeable—even increasingly familiar.

"Familiar?" Han Li was startled by this thought. How could he find familiarity in a face he had never seen before?

Driven by this question, Han Li began scrutinizing the giant man’s features, searching for an explanation.

Gradually, he realized that if the man’s slightly swollen facial features were restored to their original proportions—shrunk down and rearranged—the face wouldn’t be unattractive at all. In fact, it would be a simple, honest face, one that Han Li knew all too well.

Han Li’s expression paled. After a long silence, he reached out and gently touched the giant man’s face.

"Brother Zhang... is it really you?" His voice was low, eerily calm.

The reconstructed face bore an uncanny resemblance to his long-lost friend, Zhang Tie. Combined with the cryptic words Doctor Mo had left behind, Han Li was now certain—this giant man was undeniably connected to Zhang Tie. Could it truly be, as the letter had suggested, that this was merely Zhang Tie’s hollowed-out shell, his soul long gone? But why had his body grown so terrifyingly large?

(End of Chapter)