A Mortal’s Journey to Immortality: Wang Yu’s Rebirth as the Reincarnation Dao Ancestor - Chapter 144

Chapter 142 Rescue, Dissatisfied

“Miss Wang, how have you been?”

Han Li replied politely, pouring himself a cup of spiritual tea, blowing on the rim, and taking a small sip.

The spiritual tea served by the Miaoyin Sect to its guests was quite good. Although it wasn’t as fragrant as Xin Ruyin’s tea, nor did it have that bittersweet taste, this spiritual tea still had a unique flavor.

“Is it really you?”

A few strands of hair on the girl’s forehead fell in the wind, making her look listless.

The two remained silent for a long time.

She had imagined the appearance of the person who saved her countless times, mostly a handsome young man with sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes, or a mature, steady, and domineering handsome uncle, but never the type like this.

The one before her was utterly unremarkable.

The kind that would disappear into a crowd and be completely unremarkable.

Just too ordinary.

The imagined second-generation prodigy or rising star of some powerful force was gone.

“Miss Wang, you seem quite disappointed to see me?”

Han Li chuckled.

“Disappointed, I wouldn’t say, just a little surprised,”

the girl shook her head in denial.

“Surprised?”

“Yes, I truly didn’t expect you to appear at the Miaoyin Sect, Senior.” Wang Ning then suppressed the gap between expectation and disappointment, becoming more pragmatic.

“Oh? Why can’t I appear at the Miaoyin Sect, why can’t I appear before you?”

Han Li put down his teacup, his smile fading.

“Senior, you intercepted and killed the young master of the Qingyang Sect back then, the only bloodline descendant of the Three Yang Old Demon. The Old Demon is still alive; why did you risk coming here? Aren’t you worried that my Miaoyin Sect will expose your identity and whereabouts?”

Wang Ning said with a smile.

Her eyebrows curved.

Even through the veil of the rare treasure, it was difficult to completely conceal her captivating beauty.

“After all, Senior went to great lengths to pin the blame on my Miaoyin Sect, and through a series of coincidences, the charge of murdering the young master of the Qingyang Sect was pinned on my mother and me. Once your identity is exposed, Senior, even without concrete evidence, that person from the Qingyang Sect won’t let you off easily, will they?”

She was deeply frustrated at the mention of this.

She was just sitting at home when this trouble fell from the sky.

Anyone would be in a bad mood in that situation, right?

“Is that so? But back then, there were quite a few people lurking in the shadows who wanted to kill the young master of the Qingyang Sect. Even if I didn’t make a move, others would have. But their actions weren’t as measured as mine, and they would have inevitably affected you, young lady. Could it be that the wonderful experience you wanted to have?”

Han Li, unusually patient, argued with the young lady for a while:

“Even if those people failed, even if the young master of the Qingyang Sect protected you, Miss Wang, you should already be the young master’s furnace by now, right?”

“Your Miaoyin Sect has most likely become a vassal of the Qingyang Sect.”

“And the Star Palace has always been at odds with both the righteous and demonic paths. Once your Miaoyin Sect sides with the Qingyang Sect, how could the Star Palace tolerate you?”

“Of course, if the entire Miaoyin Sect was already eager to climb the social ladder by attaching themselves to the Qingyang Sect, then I, Han, would have played the villain and ruined your plans. But if the Miaoyin Sect has any backbone or foresight, and doesn’t intend to rely on the Qingyang Sect or hastily choose sides, then my actions not only haven’t harmed the Miaoyin Sect’s interests, but have actually helped them make a choice and won them favor with the Star Palace ahead of time, haven’t they?” “

The Miaoyin Sect has steadily developed in Tianxing City over the years, largely thanks to the Star Palace’s care and support. Otherwise, how could they have established themselves so smoothly? How could they have grown so strong? Isn’t this a benefit I gained by making the choice for you?”

“Miss Wang, you don’t even thank me for my good intentions, why are you blaming and threatening me?”

“Furthermore, before I left, I specifically left behind enough cultivation resources for you to condense your Golden Core and even reach the mid-stage of Core Formation. That wealth exceeds the total resources of your Miaoyin Sect back then. Your mother’s rapid advancement in cultivation over the past two or three decades, reaching the mid-stage of Core Formation, can you say she didn’t benefit from some of those resources?”

“Your family received benefits, yet instead of expressing gratitude, they blame me…”

“They even threatened me…”

“What kind of logic is that?”

Han Li’s words left the girl speechless.

Facts speak louder than words.

Because the Miaoyin Sect was among the first, even many years earlier, mid-level sects to actively side with the Star Palace, it received the most and the greatest support in all aspects.

Although it lost many benefits, it gained a much broader space for development.

In general, the benefits outweighed the drawbacks of what happened back then.

“Senior is eloquent, but I am not as good as you.”

The girl took a deep breath and shook her head.

She really didn’t have much room for argument.

Firstly, the fact that he didn’t kill her back then was already the greatest act of kindness. Moreover, this person left her a large amount of cultivation supplies, which was a fair compensation. Furthermore, this person also reminded her and her daughter to seek refuge with the Star Palace, which led to the current stability

of the Miaoyin Sect. Because they were the first force to voluntarily submit to the Star Palace, even though it was a case of paying a fortune for a horse’s bones, the Star Palace did not treat them unfairly.

“So, Miss Wang, will you still reveal my information to the Qingyang Sect?”

Han Li replied with a smile.

“Senior, you didn’t come here just to tell Ziling this, did you?” The girl returned behind the curtain to prepare to sit down again.

Han Li nodded, then looked at the girl’s back and asked,

“Where is your mother?”

“A month ago, a disciple found a batch of good goods outside, and my mother personally took charge of the contact and escort.”

In recent years, the Miaoyin Sect had long since moved beyond the vulgar trade of flesh and blood, focusing more on commerce.

With the connections established years ago and the channels provided by the Star Palace, the Miaoyin Sect’s commerce had flourished in recent years.

Even though it’s far inferior to the four major merchant alliances, it’s still far superior to most mid-tier forces.

“Good stuff? What good stuff?”

“I wonder, would you consider the inner core of a level six demon beast and a thousand-year-old spiritual herb to be precious items, senior?”

“A level six demon core and a thousand-year-old spiritual herb?”

“Indeed.”

“They are indeed good things.” Han Li nodded, then added with a hint of suspicion: “Your Myriad Sounds Sect can actually collect such rare items?”

Feeling slighted, the young woman gritted her teeth and blurted out another piece of news:

“Senior underestimates my Miaoyin Sect. We even managed to acquire a Heavenly Thunder Bamboo, which has been extinct in the Star Sea for many years.”

They had found it two months ago from a declining small sect.

That sect could no longer afford to pay its disciples’ spirit stones and was on the verge of disbanding. The last Foundation Establishment stage disciple gritted his teeth and sold a Heavenly Thunder Bamboo, which his ancestors had secretly cultivated for generations and was two thousand years old, to their Miaoyin Sect…

As for why they didn’t give it to the Star Palace? On

one hand, they were worried that the corrupt middle management of the Star Palace would resort to underhanded tactics; on the other hand, the Miaoyin Sect had maintained a good reputation over the years, and that declining small sect also wanted to satisfy some of its needs by forming dual cultivation partnerships with female disciples of the Miaoyin Sect.

“Heavenly Thunder Bamboo?”

At first, Han Li didn’t pay much attention, but upon hearing the news of the Heavenly Thunder Bamboo, his right hand suddenly tightened, and he crushed the teacup in his hand.

“What’s wrong, Senior?”

The young woman was startled again.

Han Li suppressed the turmoil in his heart and looked at the girl with pity.

Wang Ning’s heart sank.

“Senior…”

“Prepare for your mother’s funeral,” Han Li said calmly.

“Ah?”

“Your mother may not be coming back from this trip.”

“W-why?”

“I remember reminding you back then not to leave Tianxing City to do business, didn’t I?”

“I did mention it, could it be…”

A bad premonition rose in the girl’s heart.

Han Li also revealed some of the hidden situations within the Star Sea:

“The Inner Star Sea is currently rife with undercurrents and lurking dangers. Forces like the Six-Linked Palace have been infiltrated by the two leading forces of the righteous and demonic paths. Some sects and merchant alliances that originally sided with the Star Palace have had their high-level cultivators either bribed or controlled by the two leading forces of the righteous and demonic paths. Your Myriad Sounds Sect, if nothing unexpected happens, has also been schemed against this time.”

“By the way, you can take this as me exaggerating, but I believe I am stating a fact.”

These words struck Wang Ning like a bolt from the blue:

“How…how could this be?”

The girl’s body trembled slightly.

“This is the true situation in the Inner Star Sea. The Holy Demon Island and the Myriad Laws Sect, representing both the righteous and demonic paths, have joined forces and, after over a century of planning, have built a behemoth comparable to the Star Palace. In the coming decades, they may test the Star Palace and the Twin Saints at any time. Your Myriad Sounds Sect was the first to ally with the Star Palace, enjoying the convenience it brings, and naturally, you must also bear the risks and costs behind this convenience.”

The Myriad Sounds Sect is now a golden signboard used by the Star Palace to recruit various small and medium-sized forces.

Similarly, it is a thorn in the side of the Reverse Star Alliance.

No matter what the Myriad Sounds Sect does next, it will face the test

of choosing sides in advance. “Your mother will most likely encounter several high-level cultivators on her journey.”

“Those who refuse will surely die.”

“The righteous and demonic sects do need to make an example of them.”

And the Sect Master Wang of the Myriad Sounds Sect is precisely that “chicken” to be slaughtered.

“No, no, Mother will be alright. The three guest elders of the sect have all gone with her.”

Wang Ning said, her face slightly pale.

Her lips trembled.

“You expect those three charlatans to risk their lives for your mother? Ha, those three rogue cultivators at the early Core Formation stage, even if there were three or five more, wouldn’t be enough for me to handle alone,” Han Li said dismissively. “Besides, they don’t even need to risk their lives.”

“Why?”

The girl quickly approached Han Li, her eyes filled with anxiety.

“Think about it carefully, you’ll figure it out,”

Han Li said calmly, remaining composed throughout.

What did he care about Sect Master Wang’s life or death?

He had only taken a concubine, not his mother-in-law.

As for the interests of the Miaoyin Sect… what did they have to do with him?

The small Miaoyin Sect, if it’s gone, it’s gone.

“Could it be that they’ll turn against us? Will they side with the righteous and demonic forces?”

the girl asked, her face grim.

“As the saying goes, a wise man submits to circumstances. As long as those three aren’t fools and are willing to surrender part of their primordial spirit to be enslaved and controlled, their lives will be temporarily spared, right? And the three controlled ones can gradually interfere in the affairs of your Myriad Sounds Sect, using the conveniences your sect possesses to help them.” “

Therefore, hoping that the three of them will help your mother escape is less worthwhile than praying that your mother has some trump cards up her sleeve.”

The more Han Li sipped the spiritual tea, the more interesting it became.

Perhaps, the thrill of watching the drama unfold was truly delightful?

“Actually, if those three hadn’t gone this time, your mother might have survived by sheer luck. After all, your Myriad Sounds Sect has some value to both the righteous and demonic factions. Controlling the Myriad Sounds Sect would make it relatively easy to obtain information about the Star Palace. If the three of them hadn’t gone, your mother would have been the only option. Unfortunately, all three of them were taken along, so your mother is doomed. Tsk tsk…”

Controlling three high-level rogue cultivators is far more effective than controlling Sect Master Wang.

Sect Master Wang might risk his life to prematurely expose the existence of the Reverse Star Alliance for the sake of his daughter and sect, hoping to gain the Star Palace’s sympathy, recognition, and further support. But the three high-level rogue cultivators would never do that.

Those three are only concerned with their own lives, not their families.

“Senior, is there any way to save my mother? Senior, you must have a way, right?”

Wang Ning wasn’t stupid; she had her own set of logic, which told her that what the person in front of her said was not a lie.

It was definitely not baseless.

But it was precisely because she judged that what this person said was true that she was both shocked and panicked.

Her mother was her only family in this world.

“Seeking help from the Star Palace is much more reliable than asking for help from someone of unknown origin like me,”

Han Li said calmly.

“No, Senior, you are different.”

The middle and upper levels of the Star Palace were all ruthless and heartless.

If they asked those people for help, the Miaoyin Sect might truly have no chance of remaining independent. The higher-ups of the Star Palace will use this opportunity to plant high-level cultivators as protectors, gradually replacing the current core group and effectively sidelining the mother and daughter.

And by doing so, neither their Myriad Sound Sect nor the outside world can voice any objections.

The man before her…

had saved her years ago and specially left her a large amount of cultivation supplies, which showed that he wasn’t a bad person and had his own morals and principles. Even though he shamelessly took what belonged to her, he was definitely a reasonable and good person.

The fact that he could calmly chat with her now was proof that she had tested him.

“Heh, of course I’m different from those people from the Star Palace. I’m easy to talk to, right?”

Han Li saw through the girl’s little scheme at a glance.

“Senior, I didn’t mean that.”

The girl hurriedly explained.

Upon hearing this, Han Li waved his hand to interrupt:

“No need to explain all that, just tell me the price you can offer. Let’s keep things separate.”

Businessmen shouldn’t talk about feelings. “

Senior, could you tell me… the general rescue plan?”

Wang Ning asked cautiously after considering for a moment.

“How long have your mother and the others been gone?”

“Five days.” “

How many days is the journey from the trading location to Tianxing City? At the speed your mother and the others travel, how many days would it take them to arrive?”

“Nine days.”

She sought his help because of time constraints.

She would only resort to the Star Palace as a last resort.

“Nine days’ journey in total? Hmm, then there’s still time. With my escape techniques, I can definitely make it. As long as your mother is safe on the way, I can intervene and perhaps help her out.”

“But senior’s cultivation…”

“You look down on mid-stage Core Formation?”

“No, it’s just that I don’t want senior to put themselves in danger.”

A mid-stage Core Formation cultivator going to rescue someone would be extremely perilous.

“That’s a nice way to put it…”

Han Li smiled.

His aura no longer concealed.

Mid-stage Core Formation, late-stage Core Formation, peak late-stage Core Formation!

A pressure of magical power comparable to a Nascent Soul cultivator and a pressure of divine sense comparable to a Nascent Soul cultivator pressed down on the girl’s body and mind, leaving her instantly stunned. She was dumbfounded.

“Peak late-stage Core Formation? No, it’s a pseudo-Nascent Soul!”

But that didn’t make sense either.

She had seen cultivators in the pseudo-Nascent Soul stage before; in the Star Palace, she had seen more than one, but none of them could match the oppressive aura of this one.

The dual oppressive aura emanating from this cultivator’s magical power and divine sense was comparable to that of a newly promoted Nascent Soul stage expert in the Star Palace, who had only been at the stage for seven or eight years.

“Senior, are you a Nascent Soul stage cultivator who has concealed your cultivation?”

the girl asked tentatively, slightly excited.

“No, I’m just a mere Core Formation stage cultivator,”

Han Li shook his head.

This… how is this possible?

How could a Core Formation stage cultivator possess such a spirit?

After her initial shock, Wang Ning exclaimed sincerely, “With your cultivation, Senior, you are probably the number one person below the Nascent Soul stage in the Chaotic Star Sea.”

What?

The number one person below the Nascent Soul stage?

“I don’t like that nickname; give it to someone else,”

Han Li solemnly refused.

“Senior, please save my mother. After it’s done, I am willing to serve you faithfully and never abandon you. If I break this promise, may heaven and earth not forgive me.”

“You’re using yourself as a bargaining chip?”

Han Li was moved.

“Before you, senior, this is all I have to offer.”

“You know I’ve taken a liking to you?”

Upon hearing this, the girl raised her arm, rolled up her sleeve, and revealed the still-intact mark of virginity.

Silence spoke volumes.

“Then what do you think I’ve seen in you?”

After a moment’s thought, the girl removed the veil covering her face, revealing a breathtakingly beautiful face.

“Very beautiful, one of the most stunning beauties I’ve ever seen, comparable to my concubine…”

Hearing that someone possessed beauty comparable to her own, Wang Ning was deeply moved.

Hearing that the beauty was merely the concubine of the woman before her only fueled her suspicions.

“However…”

“Senior, however what?”

“However, what I’m attracted to isn’t just your beauty, but more importantly, your physique!”

“Physique?”

“Your physique is quite good. If developed properly, few cultivators in this world have potential exceeding yours.”

“How is that possible?”

Wang Ning was stunned.

She knew all too well what her spiritual root talent was like.

It was clearly just an ordinary three-spiritual-root system.

And if she truly possessed some extraordinary hidden physique, wouldn’t those Nascent Soul seniors have already taken her in as disciples?

Han Li smiled without saying a word, offering no further explanation.

He had already piqued her curiosity, and that was enough.

With this not-unfounded premise, her mind and body would belong to him for a long time.

After all, in the entire realm, besides the one sealed in Kunwu Mountain who might have seen the special nature of Zi Ling’s physique, only he, with his foresight, knew the situation.

Outsiders

couldn’t offer her any positive guidance.

If she wanted to go further, if she wanted to achieve something on the path of immortality, then no matter how far apart they were in the future, she would think of him, remember him, miss him, and follow in his footsteps hoping to get an answer.

“Senior…”

“Let’s go, let’s try to save your mother first.”

…

Several days later.

A small island several tens of miles in size.

The two groups gathered.

On one side was the purchasing team of the Miaoyin Sect, led by Sect Master Wang, a mid-stage Core Formation cultivator. On the other side was the seller, a medium-sized merchant guild.

The transaction went smoothly;

spirit stones were exchanged for goods.

However, just as the Miaoyin Sect was returning home, a group of cultivators dressed in black emerged from the sea in broad daylight, surrounding the Miaoyin Sect’s team in multiple layers.

“Tsk, finally caught a big fish,”

a man with an extremely ugly face stepped out from the group of black-clad men.

“Extreme Yin Island… Wu Chou?”

“Oh, Sect Master Wang actually knows me?”

“Fellow Daoist Wu Chou, my Miaoyin Sect has never had any grudges against Extreme Yin Island. Why did you bring people to block our way?”

“Why? Hmph, it’s all because you chose the wrong side, choosing the already rotten Star Palace as your backer. Since your Miaoyin Sect has become the Star Palace’s lackey, my Reverse Star Alliance naturally cannot let it go. Perfect, killing you will allow me to gain merit from the Three Yang Ancestor of the Qingyang Sect.”

He could kill the chicken to scare the monkey, befriend the Qingyang Sect, a demonic sect several times stronger than Extreme Yin Island, win the favor of the Three Yang Ancestor, and conveniently plant Reverse Star Alliance spies within the Miaoyin Sect to obtain information about the Star Palace…

Such a perfect deal, why wouldn’t he do it?

“Take the goods and rush out. Don’t linger in battle. Those who escape should immediately seek help from the Star Palace,”

Sect Master Wang transmitted his voice.

Three Core Formation stage guest elders and thirty or forty Foundation Establishment cultivators under their command immediately formed small groups to break through the encirclement.

“Hmph, trying to run? Do you think you can escape?”

On the side of Extreme Yin Island, more than two hundred Foundation Establishment stage men in black rushed forward, and eight Core Formation stage cultivators broke out of the formation.

Eight people, six in the early Core Formation stage and two in the middle Core Formation stage.

Crucially, Wu Chou had another mid-Core Formation stage refining corpse on either side of him.

These were two of the eighteen Heavenly Capital Corpses, the precious treasures of the Extreme Yin Ancestor:

“Kill! Don’t let anyone escape!”

The overwhelming strength difference left the Miaoyin Sect members ashen-faced.

Soon, both sides suffered casualties.

However, the Miaoyin Sect’s casualties were undoubtedly greater.

In a brief exchange, more than ten Foundation Establishment cultivators were brutally killed in the battle, slaughtered beyond recognition by the Extreme Yin Island cultivators.

Sect Master Wang, facing the two Heavenly Capital Corpses and Wu Chou, grew increasingly pale.

“It’s over.”

The Miaoyin Sect…it’s over.

They regretted leaving Tianxing City for a little commercial gain.

But just then,

a wind arrow pierced through several Extreme Yin Island cultivators, shooting from over ten miles away. As the arrow pierced and wounded a thick-skinned Heavenly Capital Corpse, a voice transmission reached Sect Master Wang’s ears:

“Burn your essence blood and escape! Your time is running out!”

Ten miles seemed like a long distance, but under the Wind Pattern Ring’s drawn bow and arrow, it was only a matter of a breath or two.

A high-grade ancient treasure, its power was extraordinary.

If it were driven by Wind Soul with wind-attribute magic, regardless of its destructive power, its speed alone would definitely be at the Nascent Soul level. However, since it wasn’t being driven by Wind Soul, its speed was only close to that of a Nascent Soul cultivator. Its power was also somewhat diminished.

The next moment, another wind arrow shot towards Wu Chou.

The arrow was incredibly fast, and Wu Chou didn’t think he could completely dodge it, so he hurriedly summoned another Heavenly Capital Corpse. The Heavenly Capital Corpse, shrouded in black mist and difficult to kill completely, helped block the attack.

And so,

a large hole suddenly exploded in the Heavenly Capital Corpse’s chest, pierced by the arrow.

Sect Master Wang’s face flashed with joy upon seeing this.

But upon closer inspection of the Heavenly Corpse, she discovered that this specially refined corpse was still full of life and could move freely without being affected by injuries. Her heart immediately tightened.

This was something no human cultivator could do.

“Which senior is protecting the Myriad Sounds Sect? This junior is Wu Chou, a disciple of the Extreme Yin Ancestor of Extreme Yin Island. Please grant me this favor.”

Wu Chou cowered, instinctively moving away from Sect Master Wang and hiding in the crowd.

However, the situation for the Myriad Sounds Sect did not improve.

On the Extreme Yin Island side, the disciples did not stop fighting.

Sect Master Wang was heartbroken.

“Aren’t you leaving?”

The voice transmission rang in his ears again.

“Senior, could you please step in and save my disciples? I will reward you handsomely afterwards…”

Sect Master Wang pleaded.

Turning to look at the other Myriad Sounds Sect cultivators trapped in the battle, he was filled with reluctance.

“Since you want to stay and die with us, then I will not accompany you.”

Han Li’s voice was no longer gentle, but icy cold.

“What the hell?

Trying to drag him down with them?

He’s already pushed himself to the limit by not forcing the Extreme Yin Primordial Spirit within Wu Chou to reveal itself. If this continues, Extreme Yin might emerge from Wu Chou’s body, accompanied by the Heavenly Capital Corpse Fire. Then he’ll be in trouble too.

You think your opponent is just a lowly disciple of Extreme Yin Island led by Wu Chou? But Wu Chou can summon his ancestor when he’s in dire straits!

And the most troublesome thing is that Extreme Yin’s true form might arrive.

With his resources, it’s not that he can’t fight Extreme Yin, but why would he risk his life to fight Extreme Yin for the sake of the Miaoyin Sect?

How foolish of him would he be to waste his resources like that to rescue people from the Miaoyin Sect?

Therefore, Han Li decided not to care about Sect Master Wang’s life or death.

This woman brought this upon herself; she can’t blame him.

He turned and quickly left, grabbing a wisp of air.

That wisp of air was Wang Ning, her form concealed by the “Invisibility Ring.”

“Mother, go quickly!”

the girl cried out in anguish.

The sound carried, detected by Sect Master Wang’s divine sense, causing the woman’s expression to change drastically.

Without further hesitation, she bit her tongue and hastily activated her essence blood, fleeing.

She dared not linger here for even a moment longer.

Her disciples and guest elders, even if they perished, so be it.

It was better than her dying here too.

…

Watching Sect Master Wang escape, Wu Chou did not pursue.

The two arrows from before still left him with lingering fear.

He dared not gamble his life on whether the newcomer had the ability or the will to kill him.

“Young Island Master, shall we pursue him?”

“Please, chase your mother.”

Don’t take him with you if you want to die.

(End of Chapter)