A Record of a Mortal's Journey to Immortality: Immortal Realm-Chapter 1350: Inspiration

"Looks like you've made some fantastic additions to your collection over the years, Fellow Daoist Hu Yan," Han Li remarked with a smile.

"I've collected a lot of fine wine, but unfortunately, I haven't had anyone to share it with. Now that you're here, we can drink to our hearts' content!" Daoist Hu Yan declared.

Han Li naturally raised no objections to this, and the two of them sat down across the table from one another, sampling Daoist Hu Yan's prized collection while chatting about the past.

Before long, both of them were a little tipsy, and Han Li told Daoist Hu Yan about the current state of the Blaze Dragon Dao.

Daoist Hu Yan had stayed in the Blaze Dragon Dao far longer than Han Li, and he couldn't help but be saddened by this news.

"Once this storm has blown over, you can return to the Northern Glacial Immortal Region to revitalize the Blaze Dragon Dao if you're interested. Don't worry about resources, I can give you all the help you need in that department," Han Li offered.

He was indebted to the Blaze Dragon Dao as that was where he had obtained the Mantra Axis Scripture, and given his current wealth, supporting a small sect like the Blaze Dragon Dao was a piece of cake.

Daoist Hu Yan took a surprised glance at Han Li upon hearing this, then smiled as he said, "You must really have made something out of yourself if you're willing to make such a bold declaration. It's fine, just let nature run its course. If a sect is destined to fall, then there's no point in trying to forcibly reverse its fortunes."

"Your personality has remained the same, but your style of doing things has changed quite a bit," Han Li remarked in a contemplative manner.

"I've experienced many things, and in particular, suffering this regression in cultivation base has made me realize that there's no real importance to many of the things that I had clung onto stubbornly in the past," Daoist Hu Yan replied with a smile.

A thoughtful look appeared on Han Li's face upon hearing this.

"The current me is no longer the past me, and as for what the future holds, that's not something I can predict, nor is it something that I want to find out as I'm no longer fixated on the future me. There is wine in my cup right now, and that's all I want to focus on," Daoist Hu Yan said, then downed the contents of his cup in one go.

"You're right. Many things that we regard as important are actually nothing more than manifestations of our fixations of the past, the present, and the future. In reality, they hold no inherent importance," Han Li murmured as a hint of enlightenment flashed through his eyes.

Daoist Hu Yan raised an eyebrow in a perplexed manner, wondering what had suddenly come over Han Li.

"From the moment that we first set foot on the path of cultivation and began absorbing the world's origin qi, our bodies have already been severed from their mortal ties, and they're constantly changing over time.

“Essentially, we are turning into different people from one moment to the next, so there's no permanence in the concept of self. However, that does not mean that we don't exist..." Han Li continued as his eyes lit up with the glow of an epiphany.

Daoist Hu Yan shook his head and paid no further heed to Han Li as he drank three more cups of wine by himself in succession.

"Thank you, Fellow Daoist Hu Yan," Han Li said as he abruptly rose to his feet before extending a grateful bow toward Daoist Hu Yan.

"What for?" Daoist Hu Yan asked as he hurriedly sprang to his feet in an alarmed manner.

"What you said to me just now has allowed me to overcome a mental hurdle in my cultivation," Han Li replied.

Daoist Hu Yan faltered slightly upon hearing this, then burst into laughter, and he didn't ask for further elaboration.

From there onward, the two of them fully immersed themselves in drinking and reminiscing about the past, making no further mention of any subjects related to cultivation.

All of the immortal wines in Daoist Hu Yan's collection contained a great deal of immortal spiritual power, and given his current cultivation base, it didn't take long before he fell into a drunken slumber.

Han Li moved Daoist Hu Yan onto the bed with a sweep of his sleeve, then inspected his internal condition with his spiritual sense, upon which his brows furrowed slightly in befuddlement.

After that, he emerged from the room, and at this point, it was already late at night.

It was very peaceful in the valley, and it seemed that Nangong Wan, Yun Ni, and Bai Suyuan had all already retired for the night.

It had been a very long time since Han Li had been able to enjoy a moment of peace like this to himself, and he began taking a stroll through the valley.

Right at this moment, Bai Suyuan emerged from the bamboo forest up ahead, having changed into a white dress, and she called out in a gentle voice, "Senior Li."

"Why are you still up so late at night, Fellow Daoist Bai?" Han Li asked.

Bai Suyuan was silent for a moment, then asked, "Given your lofty cultivation base, I'm sure you've already managed to identify Senior Hu Yan's current ailments, right?"

"Fellow Daoist Hu Yan's essential energy is severely depleted, and it doesn't look like something that would result from an injury. I've only ever seen similar symptoms in some cultivators who have transmitted their own essential energy into others," Han Li replied.

"Your assessment is correct, Senior Li. Senior Hu Yan's cultivation base regression didn't come as a result of his injuries. Instead, it was all because of me," Bai Suyuan said in a quiet voice.

Han Li wasn't surprised to hear this, and he waited patiently for her to continue.

"Senior Hu Yan was indeed wounded in a battle not long after we arrived in the Black Mountain Immortal Region, but they were relatively inconsequential injuries that he could've recovered from with some rest and recuperation. However, I was too fixated on seeking vengeance for our clan's matriarch, Senior Bai Fengyi, that I attempted a breakthrough to the Golden Immortal Stage before I was fully ready.

“As a result, my meridians were thrown into a state of disarray, and I was on the verge of death. In order to save me, Senior Hu Yan transmitted his essential energy into my body to help me suppress my injuries and successfully reach the Golden Immortal Stage, at the expense of dire consequences for himself," Bai Suyuan explained in a forlorn manner.

"I see," Han Li sighed.

All of a sudden, Bai Suyuan stepped forward and fell to her knees before Han Li.

"Senior Hu Yan's current condition can't be treated by anyone below the High Zenith Stage. I'm sure you've already reached the High Zenith Stage, so please help him. In exchange, I'm willing to remain by your side as a servant for as long as I live," Bai Suyuan implored as tears began to well up in her eyes.

Han Li raised an eyebrow as he swept a sleeve through the air to bring Bai Suyuan back to her feet, following which he said, "Fellow Daoist Hu Yan is a close friend of mine, and he has just done me a significant favor, so I would've cured his condition even if you hadn't asked me to."

He summoned a white jade vial as he spoke, then offered it to Bai Suyuan.

An ecstatic look appeared on her face as she accepted the vial in a timid manner, and even through the vial, she was greeted by a fragrant, medicinal aroma.

"The vial contains ten Immortal Origin Enhancement Pills, which are very potent for restoring essential energy. Have Fellow Daoist Hu Yan take one every ten days, and he'll be able to recover his lost essential energy in no more than two months. As long as he works diligently in his cultivation from there, he should be able to return to his former cultivation base very soon," Han Li said.

"Thank you, Senior Li!" Bai Suyuan exclaimed in an ecstatic manner as she fell to her knees again.

"You can go now," Han Li said with a dismissive wave, then continued on his stroll.

Bai Suyuan hesitated momentarily, then extended a grateful bow toward him before departing.

Before long, Han Li had arrived at a small pergola deep in a bamboo forest, and Nangong Wan was standing inside.

"Why were you so cold to her? She was prepared to stay by your side as a servant for life as repayment," Nangong Wan said with a hint of a smile on her face.

Han Li shook his head with a smile as he latched onto her hand and said, "That vial of Immortal Origin Enhancement Pills will be enough to treat Daoist Hu Yan's condition, so the favor has been repaid. With that, our karmic ties with this place have been severed, so it's time for us to go."

Immediately thereafter, the two of them vanished from the valley amid a flash of lightning.

In the next instant, the two of them appeared in the sky above the valley, and Nangong Wan asked, "Where do we go from here?"

"The Extraheavensphere," Han Li replied as he raced up into the heavens with Nangong Wan in tow.

It didn't take long for them to reach the Extraheavensphere, following which Ham Li created another temporary cave abode in a safe area.

The two of them entered the Flower Branch domain, and Nangong Wan asked, "Are you going to continue your cultivation from before?"

Han Li nodded in response.

"I can't help you with your cultivation, but I'm sure you'll succeed," Nangong Wan said with an encouraging smile.

"Your encouragement is the biggest help you can give me," Han Li said as he wound his arms around her, then planted a gentle kiss on her forehead before making his way into his bamboo pavilion.

All of the restrictions on the floor of the pavilion were still operating as normal, and Han Li sat down with his legs crossed to meditate.

After taking a day and a night to prime himself into the best mental and physical condition, he entered his own consciousness again.

As usual, his self corpse soul was seated inside, but this time, as he raised his head to look up at Han Li, he immediately noticed that there was something different about him.

"You've made significant strides in your mental state. Looks like you're serious about severing me this time," the self corpse soul remarked.

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"That's right," Han Li declared, wasting no time as he summoned his spirit domain.

To his surprise, the self corpse soul made no attempt at evasion, simply allowing Han Li's spirit domain to descend upon him.

Immediately thereafter, a burst of translucent light flashed over Han Li's glabella, and countless translucent chains instantly shot out of thin air around his self corpse soul before binding him to the spot.

The self corpse soul didn't seem concerned by this at all, and there was even a composed smile on his face.

All of a sudden, everything around Han Li descended into complete darkness, and his self corpse soul was suddenly nowhere to be seen.

Is this an illusion?

Han Li immediately channeled his Spirit Refinement Technique while simultaneously releasing his tremendous spiritual sense, which took on the form of a series of giant swords that slashed through the air surrounding space.

However, the giant spiritual sense swords were merely devoured by the surrounding space without even the slightest ripple, much to Han Li's alarm.

Given how immense his spiritual sense was, even an illusion created by the Illusory Dao Ancestor shouldn't have been impervious to his powers.

Right at this moment, the surrounding scene suddenly transformed, and he found himself in the air above a pool of viscous blood that was giving off a nauseating stench.

All of a sudden, five menacing ghostly creatures sprang out of the pool before pouncing at him.

These ghostly creatures were extremely horrific in appearance, with their bodies riddled with putrid ulcers that were constantly spewing forth blood-infused pus, and each of them had seven or eight arms, the fingers of which were tipped with sharp claws of different lengths.

It was as if they were the amalgamation of all that was horrific and hideous in this world, presenting a truly harrowing sight to behold.