Master Gu stepped forward and spoke with the gate guards. A guard then waved his hand, signifying that they could pass.
Master Gu hastily called out to Han Li and Wang Changqing before heading in.
Once they passed through the gate, it became much more shaded and quiet. In the corridor past the gate, there were several tens of individuals of seemingly high status having whispered conversations in groups of three. When they saw Master Gu arrive, they seemed to look at him with hostility.
But at this moment, the purple gate at the other end of the corridor opened, revealing a white clothed youth of about twenty years old. His appearance was delicate and refined, much like that of a frail scholar.
The youth gave Han Li a friendly glance before speaking courteously to Master Gu,“Are you Mister Gu? The others have already arrived. Cultivators that are participating in the challenge must go further in. As for you, Mister Gu, please wait outside.”
From a single glance, Han Li was undoubtedly sure that the youth’s cultivation was about the same as his current cultivation, the fifth layer of Qi Condensation.
Master Gu could only give Han Li an expectant look before stepping off to the side.
Han Li followed the youth through the gate. Afterwards, the gate immediately shut.
“My surname is Wen but Fellow Daoist can call me Wen Qiang. You seem quite unfamiliar. Could it be that you’re new to our Stalwart Star Island?”
“I am Han Li. I’ve just arrived here last month!” Having a month of practice, Han Li was able to speak the local language without problem.
“Hehe, how admirable! Daring to journey from your homeland with your current cultivation, Daoist Friend’s courage and insight must be outstanding! I wouldn’t have been able to do it. I’ve never taken a single step off this island since birth.” The youth spoke with admiration.
Han Li faintly smiled but didn’t say anything in response.
Han Li followed the youth, eventually arriving at a round hall. There were over thirty cultivators there, sitting and standing, each wearing various expressions.
A shriveled old man sitting across from the crowd of cultivators spoke quickly, “It seems that everyone has gathered. Let’s start drawing lots! Each fight will be decided in one round. Killing is forbidden and will result in disqualification.”
He was the only Foundation Establishment cultivator among a room of Qi Condensation cultivators. It seemed he was the cultivator in charge.
Once the youth surnamed Wen entered the hall, he hurriedly went to stand beside the old man and await his orders.
The old man didn’t pay the youth any attention. Instead, he took out an azure jade cylinder with over twenty bamboo sticks.
“To participate in the challenge, draw a lot. Once the number of challengers matches the number of the representatives of the incumbent merchants, the remaining challengers will be qualified to challenge them.”
The majority of the crowd stared at the jade cylinder as it was enveloped in a layer of azure light, concealing the sticks within. Naturally, the light repelled spiritual sense, and upon doing so, the owners of the spiritual sense seemed to have suffered and couldn’t help but sway.
Those that didn’t use their spiritual sense to probe the cylinder revealed schadenfreude. These cultivators naturally wished for Han Li and the other challengers to suffer a disadvantage.
As for Han Li, who possessed powerful spiritual sense, he would have no problem forcefully breaking through the azure light. However, this would be far to eye-catching. As such, Han Li could only helplessly look at the others in dismay and take his turn drawing lots.
When Han Li went up to draw his lot, he was unexpectedly able to see through the azure light, but all he saw was strange silver characters. He wrinkled his brow in response. He had completely forgotten that he still couldn’t read the local writing!
But still, Han Li expressionlessly drew a lot as if nothing had happened.
“Number one!” The old man coldly shouted. The two cultivators that drew that lot immediately walked forward.
The old man bluntly said, “You two will compete on the stage over there. There is a formation setup, so there is no need to fear destruction from magic techniques. It will be your victory if you are able to take away their lot. So long as you don’t kill your opponent, I don’t care what methods or tricks you use.”
“Yes, Senior!” The two participants bowed to the old man before walking towards the elevated platform at the back of the hall. The platform then flashed with white light and the two disappeared without a trace.
Shortly after, the two reappeared on the platform, revealing slight fatigue. One of them animatedly gave the old man two bamboo sticks. The other dejectedly walked out from the hall.
“Number two!” The old man coldly shouted.
Because the battles of Qi Condensation cultivators were simple, victory was decided extremely quickly. Battles ended almost as soon as they began. But Han Li was baffled to see that regardless of whether they won or lost, they were exceptionally happy.
“Number seven!” A cultivator walked out as soon as the old man yelled, but his opponent hadn’t revealed himself.
“Number seven!” The old man yelled again with a gloomy expression.
Han Li suddenly walked out and hastily apologized, “Senior! I apologize! I had misread my number. I thought it said nine!”
The old man didn’t pay any mind to what Han Li said and impatiently waved his hand. Han Li then tactfully went up to the platform with his opponent.
After a flash of white light, Han Li and his opponent appeared in a world of white mist. The area spanned about a hundred meters and was covered by the white mist in every direction.
The middle-aged cultivator spoke to Han Li with confidence, “Your cultivation is lower than mine by two whole layers. There is no need to fight. Fellow Daoist should forfeit. Else, I might accidentally give you a heavy injury!”
Seeing that this “expert” was only a seventh layer Qi Condensation cultivator and hadn’t released a protective barrier like he had, Han Li faintly smiled.
Chapter 370: Challenge (2)
“What’s so funny? I only wished to not injure you out of kindness!” When this cultivator saw that Han Li didn’t seem to care, he couldn’t help but become angry and increasingly flaunt his status as a ‘superior’.
Han Li tapped the floor with the tip of his foot, indifferently saying, “It’s nothing! I only feel that this competition is going to be easier than I had imagined.”
“What? You dare to look down on me?!” The middle aged cultivator’s face completely reddened. He raised his hand and revealed many glistening items. But before he could act, he suddenly saw the person in front of him blur. His vision then blackened, and he fell to the floor not knowing what had happened.
……
A short moment later, Han Li carried the unconscious middle-aged man off the stage with an indifferent expression.
When the other cultivators saw this, they were stunned.
There was a clear difference in their cultivation, but the victor was Han Li. This was far beyond their expectations.
Even the old man, who had appeared moody from the very beginning, revealed an odd expression.
He took a deep look at Han Li. Although he didn’t say anything, he seemed to know how Han Li had taken action.
Han Li chuckled and calmly handed the two bamboo sticks to the old man. He then dropped his unconscious opponent to the floor and went over to the group of victorious cultivators.
The old man saw that the middle-aged cultivator was still unconscious and lightly shook his head, revealing a mysterious smile.
“Number eight!”
A Record of a Mortal’s Journey to Immortality (Chapter 201-Chapter 400)
Wang Yu's books
- A Record of a Mortal’s Journey to Immortality (Chapter 1-Chapter 200)
- A Record of a Mortal’s Journey to Immortality (Chapter 401-Chapter 600)
- A Record of a Mortal’s Journey to Immortality (Chapter 601-Chapter 800)
- A Record of a Mortal’s Journey to Immortality (Chapter 801-Chapter 1000)
- A Record of a Mortal’s Journey to Immortality (Chapter 1001-Chapter 1200)
- A Record of a Mortal’s Journey to Immortality (Chapter 1201-Chapter 1400)
- A Record of a Mortal’s Journey to Immortality (Chapter 1401-Chapter 1600)
- A Record of a Mortal’s Journey to Immortality (Chapter 1601-Chapter 1800)
- A Record of a Mortal’s Journey to Immortality (Chapter 1801-Chapter 2000)
- A Record of a Mortal’s Journey to Immortality (Chapter 2001-Chapter 2248)