Chapter 18: Tang San Provokes Han Li!

With the cover of the Hidden Spirit Veil and the Qi-Concealing Technique, Zhu Chen and Huo Ling'er successfully stole the Pegasus carriage from the stables.

Afterward, the two rode the carriage, galloping toward the vast Cangmang Mountains in the Desolate Region, leaving the boundaries of the Fire Kingdom's capital in the blink of an eye.

"It's a good thing I knew the guards at the stable's back door were on patrol duty. Otherwise, even with your Invisibility Treasure Clothing, stealing my father's mount wouldn't have been easy. So, what do you think? Am I amazing, right?"

Huo Ling'er, feeling exceptionally excited to be leaving her father's 'supervision' for the first time, was constantly gesturing animatedly inside the carriage. From time to time, she would lift the curtain to peek at the scenery outside, and then lean toward Zhu Chen, blinking her large, watery eyes as she asked him what they would play with once they reached the Cangmang Mountains.

Zhu Chen didn't know how to answer her.

He was feeling quite hesitant himself.

His original plan was to go directly to Stone Village to borrow the *Original True Interpretation* and, while there, use the spiritual liquid provided by Han Li to establish a connection with the Willow Deity.

The spiritual liquid from the Heaven-Palm Bottle, also known as the Sky-Reaching Creation Dew, contained the power of the Law of Time. To top-tier great cultivators, it was an extremely precious tonic. Even when diluted several times, it was something countless low-level cultivators would scramble for.

If he could use this item to connect with the Willow Deity, he would certainly be able to command her attention. Once that happened, borrowing the *Original True Interpretation* for a look would definitely be no problem. Most importantly, he could boost his favorability with the Willow Deity, laying a profound foundation for eventually winning her over in the future.

In short, since Zhu Chen had decided to go to Stone Village, he had certainly come prepared. After all, how could one go to a lady's home empty-handed for the first time?

However, ever since learning that the Mountain Treasure had been born, Zhu Chen had become conflicted.

As far as he knew, that Mountain Treasure was the inheritance of the Supreme Hall. It contained not only precious ancient techniques like the *Six Paths of Reincarnation Heavenly Art*, the Hou, and the Luan Bird, but also the Ten Perils Treasure Technique, the Grass Sword Manual. Even in the Nine Heavens and Ten Lands of the Upper Realm, these were treasures that countless people would fight for.

Now that the inheritance was right before his eyes, how could he not have ambitions?

"Oh right, Zhu Chen, I heard Father say earlier that many ancient ferocious beasts are gathering in the Cangmang Mountains now. It seems they are fighting over a very powerful exotic treasure. Even our Fire Kingdom's Spirit Totem, Lord Vermilion Bird, has gone there. Do you think if the two of us go there now, we might obtain that treasure?"

"Hehe! If we can get our hands on that exotic treasure, I think Father will truly see us in a new light!"

Just as Zhu Chen was lost in thought, Huo Ling'er's voice drifted into his ears at the perfect moment.

These words were meant to be idle chatter, but to Zhu Chen, they served to further solidify his desire to contend for the Mountain Treasure.

"Actually, it's not impossible for us to get that treasure, but we must plan carefully..."

...

The World of Mortal Cultivation.

At this moment, in a private courtyard somewhere in the Scattered Star Seas.

Han Li sat on a stone stool with a furrowed brow, staring intently at the fragment of the Void Sky Palace map on the table. His eyes betrayed a hint of worry, making him look deeply preoccupied.

His current mood was extremely complex.

Just moments ago, a Golden Core cultivator he knew had come to find him. The other party had expressed interest in his mastery of formations and invited him to explore an ancient cultivator's cave dwelling together, promising to split the rewards afterward.

This was a perfectly normal occurrence. Had it been any other time, he wouldn't have thought twice about it; at most, he would have immediately prepared some life-saving escape tools just in case.

But now, he was hesitating.

"The timing of Jin Qing coming to ask for my help is exactly as described in the *Mortal Cultivation* novel that Fellow Daoist Zhu gave me. It seems the stories in this novel truly are things that will happen to me in the future."

"If that's the case, the ancient ruins Jin Qing and the others found must be the trap set by that Mysterious Bone Immortal for possession."

"If I accept the invitation to explore those ruins, it will inevitably unfold just as the novel describes: Qu Hun will be possessed by the Mysterious Bone Immortal, and I will face life-threatening dangers there."

"Although Fellow Daoist Zhu said that once we know our future, things are likely to change, this place is simply too dangerous. I absolutely cannot go..."

After much deliberation, Han Li ultimately decided to abandon this expedition to the ruins.

Zhang Tie was a close friend he had met at the Seven Mysteries Sect in his early years. Although the man had now been refined into his external incarnation, he was one of the few 'true friends' he had left. If the man was to be possessed by the Mysterious Bone Immortal during this trip, then he might as well not go to those ruins at all.

As for Jin Qing, Han Li had already tried to advise him earnestly during their conversation, hinting that he shouldn't take such risks so easily. However, the man was far too interested in the ancient cave dwelling and remained unmoved by his warnings. There was nothing more Han Li could do.

Han Li let out a heavy sigh, then pulled the Void Sky Palace map fragment into his hand, thinking to himself, "I can skip the Mysterious Bone's cave, but the Void Sky Palace contains a massive opportunity for me. If I don't go, I fear I will be haunted by inner demons..."

The Void Sky Palace contained many treasures, such as the Void Sky Cauldron, the Heaven-Mending Pill, the Nine-Curved Spirit Ginseng, the Wolf-Head Jade Ruyi, and the Azure Blue Ice Flame. These treasures would be of immense help to his future cultivation. If he missed this chance, he would surely regret it for the rest of his life.

Regarding the Void Sky Palace "dungeon," Han Li desperately wanted to go. But having read the novel, he knew the journey was surrounded by powerful enemies. Setting aside whether the returned Mysterious Bone Immortal would appear, the Nascent Soul stage cultivators from both the Righteous and Demonic factions alone were more than his match.

Therefore, after careful consideration, he decided to seek help from the people in the chat group.

This was precisely why he had agreed so readily when Zhu Chen came to borrow the Hidden Spirit Veil and the Qi-Concealing Technique earlier. Although he didn't know the specifics of the cultivation levels in Zhu Chen's world, someone who could casually give away a powerful technique like the *Vermilion Bird Treasure Technique* could not be weak.

Just as Han Li was calculating who to ask for help next, someone in the chat group suddenly @-ed him.

He thought it was Zhu Chen returning the Hidden Spirit Veil.

However, upon opening the chat, he discovered that the person who had @-ed him was none other than his most disliked person, Tang San.

[Tang San: @Han Li, don't think you're so great just because you have that certain spiritual liquid. If we're talking about spiritual immortal herbs, I have plenty of them here too.]

After @-ing Han Li, Tang San followed up by sending several real-life images.

The images in the chat group could reflect the most authentic aspect of an object. Whether it was the medicinal spiritual aura of an immortal herb or the oppressive aura of a treasure, others could feel it clearly.

And what Tang San had sent just now were the immortal-grade spiritual herbs he had "taken" from the Binghuo Liangyi Eyes, including water from the Yin-Yang Twin Springs.

...

(End of Chapter)