A Mortal’s Journey to Immortality: Wang Yu’s Rebirth as the Reincarnation Dao Ancestor - Chapter 175

Chapter 172 Preparations, the Great Array, the Skeletons Moved

Time flew by, and another year passed.

During this time, Han Li made many preparations.

Cultivating the Invisible Needle magic weapon using Nascent Soul-level True Essence and Infant Fire was only one aspect.

He also crafted a pair of Thunder Boots from the finest leather of the Thunder Whale to increase his agility and speed during short-distance maneuvers.

The Thunder Whale’s horn was refined into a Thunderclap Thorn.

If he used the lightning power contained within the Thunder Absorbing Pearl to activate the Thunderclap Thorn, he could unleash a considerable attack. The

Thunder Absorbing Pearl contained a portion of the Heavenly Tribulation Lightning absorbed by the Thunder Whale during its tribulation.

While the first few tribulation lightning bolts of the Transformation Tribulation were mediocre, the seventh and eighth, especially the eighth, possessed astonishing power.

Back then, the Thunder Whale, after fully releasing the lightning energy stored within the Thunder Absorbing Pearl, absorbed a portion of the power of the eighth tribulation lightning bolt.

In other words,

Han Li could replicate a strike from the Transformation Tribulation if he wished.

Even though its power was far inferior to the complete eighth tribulation lightning, it was still enough to pose a strong threat to most Nascent Soul cultivators.

This also meant that he had gained another one-time explosive attack.

Even if the tribulation lightning contained within the Lightning Absorbing Pearl was exhausted, he could still recharge it and unleash an attack far more powerful than that of an ordinary Nascent Soul cultivator.

In fact, even a single Thunderclap would not be inferior to an ordinary Nascent Soul magic weapon, and might even be stronger.

After all, this was the horn left behind by an eighth-level special bloodline demon beast after its metamorphosis.

It contained the thunderous talent of the Thunder Whale.

The attack made from this horn was comparable to the regular attack of an eighth-level demon beast.

Theoretically, it was another Nascent Soul level technique.

And he only wanted more of these techniques.

In addition,

Han Li strengthened his control over all the spirit insects and spirit pets.

Especially with the Gold Devouring Insects, he finally completed a new round of master recognition and reinforced the restrictions on each spirit insect.

This made him even more adept at using his insect-controlling techniques, such as the Insect Armor Technique.

In his spare time, he deliberately concealed his cultivation level, only revealing his mid-stage Core Formation level when he met Senior Brother Lu Changfeng of the White Water Sword Sect.

However, even so,

Senior Brother Lu was deeply shocked at their first meeting:

“Junior Brother Han, what is your cultivation level?”

“I was fortunate enough to reach the mid-stage Core Formation, fortunate, fortunate,”

Han Li said modestly.

A mid-stage Core Formation cultivator over 150 years old would be considered a genius in any sect. Even with the help of elixirs, he would still be a first-rate genius.

“Are there so many opportunities in the Outer Sea?”

For a moment, Senior Brother Lu even had the idea of venturing into the Outer Sea himself.

“There are indeed many opportunities, but even more dangers. If you want to hunt demons, Senior Brother, you should think twice before acting,”

Han Li reminded him.

The two talked all night long.

He told him about the interesting stories and dangers of the Outer Sea, and some of his fabricated encounters. Senior Brother Lu then recounted the changes in the White Water Sword Sect over the years, highlighting the enviable achievement of having three Core Formation cultivators in their lineage.

This exchange helped maintain his existing relationship with the White Water Sword Sect.

“Senior Brother, I still have to make a trip to the Outer Sea. Next time you encounter Master, please give him my regards.”

“Of course, of course.”

Looking at a development plan for the Outer Sea, Lu Changfeng fell into deep thought.

After much deliberation, feeling it had great potential, he personally delivered it back to the White Water Sword Sect, placing it in the hands of his father and his uncle, the sect leader.

Lu Yu and the sect leader exchanged a glance upon seeing the two- to three-hundred-year-long plan.

“Plant Rainbow Grass on many nameless islands with coral reefs, isolate them with arrays, and assign special people to take care of them.”

“When the Rainbow Grass unfolds its leaves in a hundred or two hundred years, countless demonic beasts will go mad and walk into the trap, lining up to deliver themselves to our door?”

“We human cultivators only need to conserve our energy and wait for the rabbits to run into the tree stump?”

With the help of arrays, we can relatively easily trap and kill one high-level demonic beast after another.

For sustainable development, we should also release the low- and mid-level ones back into the sea?

In this way, in just a few hundred years, the high-level demon cores harvested by human cultivators will more than double?

“Your disciple is not bad.”

“What a wonderful plan to expand the Rainbow Grass.”

“What a bold idea…”

As long as we try enough times, we can find out which sea areas and islands are suitable for planting Rainbow Grass.

As long as we steadily set up arrays and cover the planting area with arrays, we can prevent the Rainbow Grass from being picked and damaged by demonic beasts or outsiders in advance, and we can also use the arrays as traps to kill high-level demonic beasts later.

The only drawback is that the time span is a bit long.

“Should we report this to the higher-ups of the Holy Sect?”

“Of course.”

“To be honest, our help to Han Li has been far too insignificant. He probably doesn’t feel much belonging to our White Water Sword Sect.”

“Then, let’s find some time to inform him of our relationship with the Holy Palace. The Holy Palace can then bestow rewards upon him, which will surely win him over.”

“Mm.”

…

Back in his cave.

Just as Han Li was about to make some further preparations, Yuan Yaoyan knocked on the door of his secluded cultivation chamber.

“Husband…”

“What is it?”

“We’ve found Jin Qing.”

“Oh? Found him? Didn’t he disappear from Tianxing City for four or five years? Where is he?”

“Husband, he recently returned to his cave on the 39th floor of the Holy Mountain in Tianxing City. The communication jade slip we left in front of his cave reacted.”

Yuan Yaoyan said.

“Since he’s back, doesn’t that mean we’ve found the place?”

Han Li stood up, his previous languor gone.

He turned to the two women, his gaze softening:

“You two have worked hard.”

“Husband, we only left a communication jade slip to keep in touch, it’s nothing,”

the two women shook their heads.

“Alright, leave Jin Qing’s matter to me. You two should continue your secluded cultivation. Yuan Yao, you must use the remaining time to consolidate your cultivation. Yan Li, you must work even harder; you can’t fall too far behind me and your junior sister.”

Han Li didn’t urge them with the tight schedule, but encouraged them by pointing out the difference in their cultivation levels.

He didn’t want Yan Li to be impatient for quick results, causing her mindset to change and creating hidden dangers.

A calm and stable mindset is the foundation for rapid advancement in cultivation.

“Husband, don’t worry,”

the two women said solemnly.

In the past two years, Yuan Yao had consumed many rare pills refined from seventh-grade demon cores. Three months ago, with the help of several high-grade spirit stones, a spirit eye pearl, and a spirit eye stone, she naturally broke through her cultivation level, becoming a minor expert in the late Core Formation stage.

Yan Li, too, with the accumulation of abundant cultivation resources, saw her cultivation level rise rapidly, reaching the peak of the mid-Core Formation stage.

The two women knew the danger and importance of their trip to the Void Heaven Palace, and naturally dared not slacken in the slightest.

After instructing the two on some matters, Han Li left directly.

He concealed himself and observed Jin Qing for a while.

This guy had been causing trouble in Tianxing City, solely to search for knowledge related to formations. After studying for several months, he hastily departed with some formation tools.

“It seems he was blocked by the formation of the Xuan Bone Burial Ground.”

“However, this guy only studied formations for a few months before preparing to forcibly break the formation?”

Was he really serious?

When Jin Qing arrived at his destination, Han Li, who had been following him all along to prevent any unforeseen complications, immediately made his move.

First, he approached silently and stealthily.

Then, he suddenly released a powerful divine sense, abruptly suppressing him across major realms.

Jin Qing had just arrived and his mind was beginning to relax

when he suddenly felt his body sink.

His brain reacted a beat slower.

Taking advantage of the middle-aged man’s momentary panic and stiffness after being suddenly attacked, Han Li revealed himself, arriving in the blink of an eye, and slapped the early-stage Core Formation cultivator on the back of the head.

The blow caused Jin Qing’s brain to shut down instantly.

He didn’t wake up until a month later.

After restraining Jin Qing, Han Li found a place underground to bury him and began to observe the area. Soon, his divine sense detected another Core Formation stage aura on the western side of the island.

There, someone was frantically trying to break the formation.

This person was named Hu Yue, Jin Qing’s friend, and the two had explored this place together.

“Early-stage Core Formation.”

Then he wasn’t Ji Yin’s subordinate.

On the other side, Hu Yue sensed Han Li’s aura and swallowed hard.

“S-Senior…”

Han Li, disguised, stepped forward and inquired about all the information about the place.

After learning the general situation on the island, he knocked them unconscious and imprisoned them.

“These two really don’t know anything.”

It takes courage to come here to explore.

“Sleep, and when you wake up, get away from here.”

“Although these past few years have been a waste of time, it’s better than losing your lives here.”

After observing the array formations and combining them with the information he knew, he was even more certain that this remote and uninhabited thousand-mile-long island was the place where Xuan Gu was imprisoned.

“Such a large island, located not too far out in the Inner Star Sea, has been abandoned because of the internal affairs of Ji Yin Island. If some of the hidden dangers on the island were removed and mortals were relocated, it would be enough to support millions of people.”

Han Li felt a great pity.

He spread his divine sense and found that the island was mostly made of earthen slopes, and at a glance, everything was grayish-yellow.

“Wait, something’s not right. Why isn’t there even a single spiritual vein here?”

Not only is there no spiritual vein, but it’s also filled with turbid and yin energy.

That bastard Ji Yin has turned a thousand-mile-long island into a wasteland.

Han Li quickly deciphered the outer array formations one by one, thanks to his powerful cultivation and somewhat decent array formation skills.

The core array’s central hub was a stone pillar.

The pillar was carved with complex runes, with eight ancient symbols spiraling from top to bottom, connected by countless stripes.

In addition, the pillar also had many rare Yin-Yang Jade pieces, which were worth one hundred spirit stones in the Chaotic Star Sea and as much as seven or eight hundred spirit stones in Tiannan.

Because of the presence of these Yin-Yang Jade pieces, the pillar was always surrounded by shimmering black and white light spots.

Coupled with the occasional appearance of small, fiery red winged snakes, it was truly a beautiful sight.

“Is this the Spirit Sealing Pillar?”

What a treasure!

Han Li’s eyes lit up.

The so-called Spirit Sealing Pillar, as the name suggests, is a massive magical artifact specifically used by ascetic cultivators to seal nearby spiritual energy and completely prevent its leakage.

It is recorded in the array-based inheritance left by the young master of the Qingyang Sect, but lacks detailed methods of its creation.

If the Spirit Binding Array could be used in conjunction with the Spirit Sealing Pillar, the sealing effect on the spiritual energy within the area would undoubtedly be greatly enhanced.

The Spirit Sealing Pillar’s characteristic of preventing spiritual energy leakage generally serves two purposes.

First, it can seal extremely rare spiritual herbs and medicines, preventing their spiritual energy from leaking out and causing a significant loss of their spiritual essence, with an effect similar to the Spirit Sealing Talisman.

However, the sealing range is not on the same level.

Second, it can be used to suppress powerful ghost-like demons to prevent their escape.

“So, this place was set up by the extremely Yin to seal the Xuan Bone? The winged demons surrounding the Spirit Sealing Pillar are an even greater safeguard?”

The so-called winged demons are those small, fiery red snakes with wings.

They are demons that only form under special conditions and have an extremely short lifespan of only a few hours.

The flames it naturally spews are no less powerful than the inner fire of a Core Formation cultivator.

These little creatures possess an extremely strong aggression towards living beings,

devouring their primordial spirits and souls.

Moreover, unless the Three Yang energy of the formation built upon this site is destroyed, the Winged Evils are inexhaustible, constantly appearing. Xuan Gu,

with only his primordial spirit and no physical body, cannot escape this place without overcoming the Winged Evils.

“First the Spirit Sealing Pillar, then the Winged Evils…”

One is responsible for suppression.

The other serves as a safety net.

Oh, right.

It seems a Core Formation cultivator has also been assigned to guard this place.

However, that person has been here for hundreds of years, long since losing patience and the sense of responsibility to stay here constantly; he’s recently slipped away to slack off again.

In conclusion:

“The bond between Ji Yin and Xuan Gu is truly deep, a master and disciple relationship.”

The disciple is so considerate of his master.

It’s truly touching.

…

After marveling at the inherited culture of the Extreme Yin Island lineage, Han Li summoned Ti Hun:

“Time for a feast.”

Last time, Ti Hun was unhappy because it hadn’t been able to devour the Thunder Whale’s essence. It felt that its master, Han Li, had stolen its food.

So this time, Han Li had to make up for it.

The Winged Demons, in essence, are soul bodies.

Encountering Ti Hun, they are definitely at a disadvantage. Sure

enough,

when the little monkey was first released, it was initially reluctant.

But when it saw the Winged Demons flying around in the formation, its eyes immediately lit up.

It immediately patted its chest and kept spewing out soul-absorbing yellow light from its large nostrils.

Every time it caught a Winged Demon, Ti Hun was overjoyed.

Soon, Ti Hun had devoured every single one of the Winged Demons here.

If the Three Yang formation here wasn’t disrupted, the Winged Demons would reappear soon.

Ti Hun, still not satisfied, kept smacking its lips and looking at Han Li, as if asking: Is there more?

“I’ll find you a treasure land where Yin energy gathers to set up this Three Yang formation later.”

Han Li patted the little monkey’s head.

A Three Yang land with abundant Yin energy not only helps generate Winged Demon Spirits, but also aids in the cultivation of another type of physique.

Cultivators of that physique often achieve twice the results with half the effort in such a terrain.

Unfortunately,

Nascent Soul cultivators generally don’t go to great lengths to create the most favorable cultivation environment for low- to mid-level novices of that physique.

After collecting the Crying Soul, Han Li released the level seven Ice-Fire Wolf.

“Freeze this place.”

Upon receiving the command, the Fire Wolf lowered its head, while the Ice Wolf raised its head, then quickly brewed a wave of icy breath.

A frost wave swept across, and the carefully laid out plan to continuously breed and create Winged Demon Spirits was destroyed in an instant.

The Three Yang land became a frozen wasteland.

With another hand seal and a slap on the ground:

“Rise.”

The ground beneath the stone pillar instantly bulged up into a massive mound.

The Spirit-Sealing Pillar burst forth from the earth, soaring dozens of feet into the air before gradually shrinking and disappearing into one of Han Li’s storage pouches.

Such a Spirit-Sealing Pillar was worth at least six thousand spirit stones in the Chaotic Star Sea.

This amount of spirit stones was enough to buy two or three level-five demon cores with special bloodlines.

Below the Spirit-Sealing Pillar, the entrance to a cave several feet in diameter appeared.

After a moment of contemplation, Han Li, as planned, concealed his cultivation level, lowering his magical energy to the level of the early Core Formation stage.

Then, he released his Fiend Core clone, the Fiend Soul.

The two of them ventured deep underground together.

The cave was very deep. To keep a low profile and to lull Xuan Gu into a false sense of security, allowing him to capture all of Xuan Gu’s souls, Han Li led the Fiend Soul for a full quarter of an hour before traversing all the stone steps and reaching the end.

At the end was a huge square hall over twenty feet in diameter.

Besides the entrance, this hall had two semi-circular side doors on the left and right, their destinations unknown.

Above the main hall, a bright luminous pearl shone, its milky white light illuminating the space rather than making it gloomy and dark.

In the center of the hall lay a skeleton, white as jade, half-reclined beside a small pool.

A small, emerald-green arrow, about an inch long, was embedded in the skeleton’s head,

pinning it firmly to the ground, creating an eerie atmosphere.

In the center of the pool, a large lotus flower, about the size of a bowl, emitted a glow of blue, red, and yellow. A few inches above the lotus, a delicate seven-colored rainbow was reflected in the air,

resembling the legendary Seven-Colored Lotus.

“Seven-Colored Lotus?!”

Han Li exclaimed, feigning surprise and delight. He

then pretended to command the Fiend Soul to activate its Blood Refining Divine Light for protection and approached the pool to pick the lotus.

“Pick that lotus.”

Now, it was the Xuan Bone lying on the ground’s turn to choose.

Should it destroy this Fiend Core clone and then seize his body? Should he first seize the body of the Demon Core clone, and then join forces with the demon-crowned serpent disguised as the Seven-Colored Lotus to deal with him?

(End of Chapter)