A Mortal’s Journey to Immortality: Wang Yu’s Rebirth as the Reincarnation Dao Ancestor - Chapter 125

Chapter 123 Obtaining an Insect and Encountering Two Beauties, Becoming a Wedding Dress for Others

A few months later, Han Li and his Sha Dan clone appeared in the sky above Xiao Huan Island.

After many years, returning again brought a different kind of feeling.

He first used his divine sense to search the island and immediately confirmed that no cultivator had established a cave dwelling there.

“Still no one taking over this place?”

Han Li shook his head with a smile.

This island has never had any spiritual veins, and only a village of mortals has lived there for generations. If mid- to low-level cultivators want to settle on this island long-term, according to the rules of the Kui Xing Island sea area, they need to provide some spirit stones to the formation where the village is located to provide spiritual power to protect the mortals on the island from “Heavenly Wind,” one of the “Three Great Calamities of the Chaotic Star Sea.”

However, while such rules benefit mortals, they are not beneficial to cultivators.

Therefore, this island has always been in a state of neglect.

No cultivator has ever come here to burn spirit stones to settle down.

As for the three great calamities of the Star Sea, they are: Heavenly Wind, demonic beasts, and ghostly mist.

Heavenly Wind is actually a seasonal hurricane.

Twice a year, it appears from one end of the Chaotic Star Sea and sweeps towards the other.

Wherever it passes, towering waves crash, houses crumble, and lives are lost. Even low- to mid-level cultivators struggle to withstand it head-on; once caught in its grip, survival is nearly impossible. Mortals wishing to thrive must ideally reside on islands protected by celestial arrays. Otherwise, their chances of survival are slim.

“The mortals on this island are resilient; even with few cultivators lingering here, they have still thrived for many years,”

Han Li thought, withdrawing his thoughts and using a mid-level Earth Escape Talisman to return to his hidden cave.

It wasn’t that he didn’t want to use Earth Escape Technique, but rather that he wasn’t proficient in this mid-level technique, despite its considerable life-saving capabilities. Even though he had practiced it extensively over the past two or three decades, he still couldn’t grasp its essence.

Earth Escape Technique, one of the five elemental mid-level techniques, seemed to be outside his repertoire of expertise.

Therefore, he always stockpiled Earth Escape Talismans to compensate for this weakness.

At this moment…

Upon entering the secret chamber, a scene that brought him immense joy immediately came into view:

“Excellent! There really are Gold-Eating Insects!”

Several secret chambers, originally protected by restrictions and specifically used for feeding these strange insects, now had no restrictions whatsoever. The stone doors and the surrounding bluestone walls were riddled with holes, like a honeycomb. The

insect-breeding chambers were almost completely destroyed.

These holes weren’t smooth; instead, they were extremely rough, as if gnawed out by some tiny creature.

And this damage was clearly not the work of the strange insects he had left behind.

Nor was it the work of a cultivator.

There was only one remaining answer…

He didn’t delay any longer and headed straight for the herb garden.

He had transplanted dozens of spiritual herbs into this area within his cave, including a flowering tree that was hundreds of years old.

When he and his avatar entered the herb garden, a sweep of his divine sense immediately noticed a shimmering silver sphere on the branch of that flowering tree.

The silver sphere wasn’t large, only slightly larger than a fist.

However, the shimmering silver light was quite eerie, dazzlingly bright in the dark herb garden deep within the cave:

“Indeed…”

“It’s a Gold-Eating Insect!”

The Gold-Eating Insect, a swarming ferocious insect, ranks twelfth on the list of extraordinary insects. It loves to devour other extraordinary insects, adept at consuming metals and the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. Its carapace is hard, impervious to blades and spears, and immune to water and fire. It is extremely ferocious, preferring to swarm into spheres and habitually dwelling beneath spirit trees. Jade and wood can trap it, and spider-like extraordinary insects are mutually restraining…

Of course,

this is only the knowledge of the Gold-Eating Insect’s habits and information held by the cultivators of the Spirit Control Sect .

The Gold-Eating Insect actually has another identity, called: Gold-Eating Immortal!

Even in the Immortal Realm, the Gold-Eating Insect is a renowned ferocious insect.

It has the potential to grow to the level of even devouring True Immortals alive.

Moreover, when he wrote in his previous life, he also added a hidden ability to the Gold-Eating Insect: Devouring Inheritance.

When the Gold-Eating Insect devours a large number of other strange insect eggs, it forcibly strips away the innate abilities of the devoured insects!

For example,

if the Gold-Eating Insect devours a large number of Golden-Backed Mantis eggs, it can enhance the sharpness of its forelegs.

If it devours a large number of Six-Winged Frost Centipede eggs, it can extract the bloodline power of the True Dragon White Dragon and gain ice-type talents and the ability to fly thousands of miles in an instant.

If it devours a large number of Flying Purple-Striped Scorpion eggs, it can greatly enhance the hardness of its carapace and gain venomous abilities.

If it devours a large number of Golden Silkworm or Blood Jade Spider eggs, it will also unlock the ability to spin silk.

This was originally a Gold-Eating Immortal ability he conceived for the Immortal Realm chapter, a part of the “draft.” He just didn’t know if the Gold-Eating Insects in this world had corresponding abilities.

If they did, then the mature Gold-Eating Insects he cultivated would be worthy of devouring immortals and possess the title of “Gold-Eating Immortal.”

If not, then it would be somewhat unworthy of the title.

“They are adept at devouring the spiritual energy of heaven and earth and the five metals…”

In other words, Little Huan Island wasn’t once without spiritual veins, but rather they were completely consumed by these Gold-Devouring Insects.

After the spiritual veins dried up, these insects also went into a slumber in some underground corner.

It wasn’t until he left behind a group of strange insect larvae and eggs that these Gold-Devouring Insects with enormous potential were awakened.

“Although the Gold-Devouring Insects have great potential, their early silver form is very weak. Only when they grow into semi-mature forms with a completely golden body are they barely usable.”

“In the human realm, these things can devour magical treasures and the five metals, or even the magical treasures of Nascent Soul cultivators to grow…”

The more they devour, the more spiritual power they grow.

The better the materials they devour, the harder their bodies become.

In the immortal realm, theoretically, they can even devour immortal artifacts, divine weapons, and various immortal materials, absorbing immortal metal energy from them to evolve.

“To cultivate Gold-Devouring Insects, there are a few things that are indispensable.”

The most important, without a doubt, is: Rainbow Grass.

Used to accelerate growth and mass reproduction.

In short, the more the better.

Each additional offspring will eventually reach a mature stage comparable to the Nascent Soul stage.

Before reaching maturity, the Gold-Eating Insects engage in internal strife and devour each other during each evolution, then lay a large number of eggs to give birth to new and stronger evolved individuals.

Other materials needed for advancement include: strange insects and their larvae; metal from the Five Elements used to strengthen magical artifacts; and metal materials used to craft magical artifacts. Furthermore, high-level demon cores and pure spiritual energy infusion are also essential.

He believed that even without the small bottle’s help, he could still cultivate the Gold-Devouring Immortal.

He definitely could.

After all, he had advantages such as foresight, the benefits of the forbidden area, and information from Biling Island.

He forced the level four Blood Jade Spider to spit out spider silk.

He then used this silk to wrap around the silver sphere formed by the Gold-Devouring Insect swarm.

Spider silk was the Gold-Devouring Insect’s natural defense.

Playing with the white cocoon in his hand, Han Li smiled excitedly:

“If I can obtain the method the Tuwu people used to accelerate the maturation of the Gold-Eating Insects, I can reduce the natural sedimentation time of the Gold-Eating Insects by tens of thousands of years. Therefore, I might be able to cultivate dozens or even hundreds of mature Gold-Eating Insects within a thousand years. With so many mature Gold-Eating Insects, my chances of sneaking into the Spirit Realm should be greatly increased…”

The armor transformed from a swarm of semi-mature Gold-Eating Insects at the Core Formation level is comparable to a high-grade magic weapon.

The armor transformed from a swarm of mature Gold-Eating Insects would probably be no less powerful than a replica of a spirit treasure.

…

After collecting the Gold-Eating Insects and the spiritual herbs and medicines transplanted there, Han Li summoned more than a dozen Iron-Armed Beasts and pointed to the path the Gold-Eating Insects had dug up:

“Dig down!”

He wanted to see if any had escaped underground.

…

Half a month later.

Kui Xing Island, one of the twenty-four outer star islands.

Han Li arrived in his flying boat.

As one of the three largest islands in the southwest corner under the jurisdiction of the Star Palace, this island spans a thousand miles.

Over three hundred peaks, each over a thousand feet tall, rise from the island, each possessing its own spiritual vein. The main peak, over ten thousand feet tall, belongs to the Wood Dragon True Person, a peak-stage Core Formation cultivator and also the island’s lord. Behind him is a powerful cultivation clan.

The two secondary peaks, also over ten thousand feet tall, belong to two vice-island lords at the early Core Formation stage.

These two, though without a family, are a Daoist couple.

Together, relying on their unique cultivation techniques, they are comparable to a mid-stage Core Formation cultivator.

On the surface, it appears that three Core Formation cultivators have taken over Kui Xing Island.

In reality, it is the Wood Dragon True Person representing his family who has acquired it.

Cultivators on Kui Xing Island who wish to rent a mountain peak to establish a cave for cultivation must pay a fee in spirit stones based on the quality of the mountain’s spiritual vein and the rental period. The operating rules are similar to those of the Sacred Mountain on Tianxing Island, except the rental period is variable and the price is much lower.

After observing it closely for a while, he was quite certain that the main spiritual vein of this island was not much inferior to that of Taiyue Mountain in the Yue Kingdom of Tiannan. The reason it hadn’t been fully developed was largely due to its location on the seabed, making it inconvenient to mine spiritual minerals.

In the Chaotic Star Sea, this place would likely be beneath the notice of a Nascent Soul cultivator,

much like how the Nascent Soul stage of the Ghost Spirit Sect looked down on Taiyue Mountain in Huangfeng Valley.

But in Tiannan, it would definitely be a coveted spiritual vein treasure land sought after by many ordinary Nascent Soul sects.

For example, the six sects of Yue Kingdom fled to the Northern Liang Kingdom like stray dogs.

The island has a main city called Kui Xing City, and many other towns for ordinary people. Kui Xing City, the main city, is divided into four major areas: east, west, south, and north. The entire area appears bustling with activity, densely populated, and filled with various buildings.

However,

the only place where cultivators truly gather is in the north.

Han Li came wearing a mask, a magical artifact from the Thousand Illusions Sect, to conceal his appearance.

He also came alone.

Only his figure was on the Flowing Cloud Flying Boat.

It was simply too high-profile for his Fiend Core clone to appear with only the cultivation of the Core Formation stage. Once it appeared, at this critical juncture when the world was about to change, it would inevitably attract attention.

This was not what he wanted.

Therefore, he could simply show his face; after all, he wasn’t here to do anything dangerous.

It was best for his Fiend Core clone, after being processed into a corpse, to lie dormant in the spirit beast pouch and observe the situation.

The Flowing Cloud Flying Boat shrank and entered the storage pouch at his waist.

Then, he stepped out and crossed a thin light barrier that enveloped the entire northern district of Kui Xing City. Upon entering the barrier, his figure blurred rapidly and then disappeared.

This was the effect of the northern city’s formation, used to isolate mortals without spiritual power, preventing outsiders from disturbing the cultivators’ meditation.

His divine sense expanded…

“Hmm? This northern city is quite interesting.”

From the outside, the northern district of Kui Xing City appeared unremarkable. But inside, hundreds of streets stretched for miles, lined with shops run by cultivators for their purchases.

In other words,

the area outside the northern city was a gathering place for mortals, while the northern city

itself was the main gathering place for cultivators.

Tian Du Street in the northern city was where Kui Xing City’s valuables were concentrated. Whether it was rare and top-grade magic artifacts or materials from high-level demonic beasts, one could find them here. The other streets were mostly for Qi Refining stage disciples. As soon as

he entered Tian Du Street, he was met with gazes.

There were two female cultivators and two male cultivators.

The two male cultivators were both at the eleventh or twelfth level of Qi Refining, standing one on each side of the two women.

One was a handsome young man in a scholar’s robe; if he wore glasses, he would actually have a rather exotic, refined, and somewhat roguish look.

The other had a rugged appearance, clearly the kind of ruthless person who had lived a life of v*olence; his cultivation was also the highest among the four, at the eleventh level of Qi Refining. Han Li glanced at this man more closely. Based on his experience, he could almost certainly conclude that this man, like himself, possessed a pseudo-spiritual root of four elements. To

have reached his current cultivation level, he must have consumed a large amount of d*rugs. In other words, he had either stumbled upon a fortuitous opportunity or had been a tribulation cultivator.

Next were the two female cultivators.

Their cultivation was only at the tenth level of Qi Refining.

Their cultivation was very ordinary, but their appearance was surprisingly stunning. These two had delicate features, were charming and beautiful, and dressed quite boldly, even more “frankly” than the women of the Myriad Sounds Sect he had occasionally seen in Tianxing City.

The disciples of the Myriad Sounds Sect in Tianxing City typically employed a style of half-concealing, veiled seduction, leaving much to the imagination.

These two were even more direct, completely abandoning the veil, their snow-white arms and bare legs fully exposed. Furthermore, they wore no shoes or socks, their jade-like feet deliberately immobilized by spiritual energy.

Additionally, both women wore three exquisite, luminous gold rings—one large and two small—adorning their wrists and foreheads, adding a unique and fiery allure.

The two women differed in their figures: one was tall and graceful, more alluring and beautiful; the other was petite and charming, with lively eyes, sweeter and more approachable.

Upon seeing Han Li, the four men bowed with envy, saying,

“Greetings, Senior.”

They also aspired to Foundation Establishment

and a lifespan of over two hundred years.

Han Li, however, gave the two women a second look, especially the taller, more devastatingly beautiful female cultivator.

This woman was the most beautiful female cultivator he had ever seen since he began cultivating, without exception.

The women of the Hidden Moon Sect and the Myriad Sounds Sect could not compare.

“And you are, fellow cultivators?”

Han Li asked casually.

“My name is Yanli, and this is my good friend Yuan Yao. We are independent cultivators from a nearby island. Some time ago, we learned that a batch of rare materials from other large islands had arrived in Tiandu Street, so we came here with fellow cultivators Chen and Xu, whom we met along the way, to take a look and broaden our horizons…”

The speaker was a sweet-looking girl with a round face.

She smiled sweetly and looked Han Li up and down.

It was clear that Yanli was more lively and proactive than Yuan Yao, which explained why she had run headlong into the Qingyang Sect’s young master’s trap in the original timeline. After all, those second-generation young masters liked to play with this kind of proactive woman, then discard her when they were done with her.

Yuan Yao, on the other hand, seemed somewhat reserved, hence her cold and aloof demeanor.

“Ladies, I’m new here and lack a guide familiar with the area. Would either of you be free to show me around Tiandu Street?”

Ignoring the two male cultivators with unpleasant expressions, Han Li politely addressed Yuan Yao and Yan Li.

“Senior, are you looking to buy magic weapons or pills?”

“I do intend to buy a few suitable top-grade magic weapons, and I might also consider buying a few bottles of pills…”

Han Li’s words were utterly sincere, without any hint of boasting.

However, to the four of them, it was a buzzing sound.

Buying top-grade magic weapons was one thing, but the key was that he wanted to buy several. And he might even buy a few bottles of pills suitable for Foundation Establishment cultivators?

This person must have at least four or five thousand spirit stones, right?

That amount of spirit stones was enough to provoke even poorer Core Formation cultivators to secretly make a purchase.

Yan Li’s gaze immediately became even more eager.

Originally, she had assumed this man was just a Foundation Establishment cultivator in the early stages, like the other early and mid-stage Foundation Establishment masters in the sect—not wealthy enough to help her and her sister advance further. Now it seemed she had misjudged him.

Could this ordinary-looking Foundation Establishment cultivator be some kind of second-generation rich

kid? “Senior, Yuan Yao and I are both free. Please, Senior, take us along to broaden our horizons…”

Yanli said, slightly excited.

Yuan Yao bit her lip secretly upon hearing this.

Although relying on a man was shameful, she and her senior sister desperately wanted to improve!

They didn’t want to waste any more of their youth!

After all, they were both getting on in years, and their cultivation was still shallow; at twenty-four or twenty-five, they were only at the tenth level of Qi Refining. On their own, it was impossible to kill demons for spirit stones and other cultivation resources. If they delayed for another few years or even a decade, they might miss the optimal time for Foundation Establishment. Even if they were lucky enough to establish their foundation ten years later, their appearance would have faded considerably. At that time, they would lose a major asset of being female cultivators.

The man in front of them, though plain-looking, was quite wealthy.

If he was reliable, she and her senior sister might consider…

“Brother Chen, Brother Xu, we sisters have important matters to attend to, so we must take our leave now. We hope to meet again someday.”

Yanli politely greeted the two male cultivators goodbye.

These two seemed courteous to them, but these past few days they had been clinging to them like glue.

She absolutely didn’t believe they had any good intentions.

She simply didn’t want to offend them, which was why she hadn’t acted.

Now, the excuse offered to her was perfect for getting rid of them.

The scholar-like young man and the burly middle-aged man exchanged a glance, smiled bitterly, and despite their grim expressions, they still respectfully bowed to Han Li and took their leave. Their figures quickly disappeared at the entrance to Tiandu Street.

Meanwhile, in an alleyway off several other streets

, the young man slammed his fist against the wall:

“Damn it, the fat sheep that was almost in our grasp just slipped away like that. Those two little bitches are just too lucky…”

“Alright, Brother Xu, if we can’t catch them, we can’t get a good price. We’ll have to find another way,”

the burly man said, shaking his head.

“We’ve been following them for over twenty days, are we just going to give up like this? You’ve seen how outstanding their looks are, especially the one named Yuan Yao, she’s probably the most beautiful female cultivator we’ve ever seen since we started cultivating, right? She’s so beautiful that even I’m a little reluctant to sell her. Hiss… Such a beauty, such a beauty, if we just capture her and resell her as a cultivation vessel, we can definitely make a fortune.”

“Of course I know that these two women’s looks are worth a large sum of spirit stones, even enough for us to exchange for two Foundation Establishment Pills. But those two have finally latched onto that Foundation Establishment cultivator, what can we, mere Qi Refining cultivators, do? Can we just forcibly take them from a Foundation Establishment cultivator?”

The burly man was also extremely frustrated.

“Damn it, we were so close, so close to luring the two women out of Kui Xing City…”

Inside the city, they dared not make a move.

But outside the city, there were plenty of ways to manipulate the two beauties.

“Alright, haven’t you noticed that Yuan Yao and Yan Li have been deliberately distancing themselves from us? And the longer we spend time together, the stronger this wariness becomes. They haven’t left the city because they’re probably looking for an opportunity to shake us off.”

The burly man patted the young man’s shoulder, clearly seeing things clearly.

“I know, but I’m just so resentful. I haven’t even tasted those two yet.”

The young man licked his lips, growing angrier and angrier, feeling increasingly cheated. Finally, he couldn’t help but slam his fist heavily against the wall in frustration:

“Damn it, such exquisite beauties, all for nothing, going to that person. Disgusting, hateful!”

They were the villains, and that person was the hero.

Wasn’t this just making things easier for someone else?

(End of Chapter)