After leaving the Myriad Immortals Pavilion, Han Yi mounted his sword and soared into the sky. Instead of returning directly to the Ninth Immortal Ring, he flew in the opposite direction along the Eighth Immortal Ring. It took him two full hours to reach another entrance to the Ninth Immortal Ring, from where he made his way back to the inn he had rented.
He had become extremely vigilant about concealing his movements. This deliberate detour was intended to shake off any potential pursuers.
Upon entering the inn, Han Yi laid out his purchases from the Myriad Immortals Pavilion:
A golden Technique Transmission Jade Disk Seven Spirit Talismans A unique Top-Grade Magic Artifact A miniature Human Immortal-grade Immortal Boat, shrunken to the size of his palm and resembling a model
The Technique Transmission Jade Disk contained the Disguise Technique.
The seven Spirit Talismans consisted of four Low-Grade Second-Tier Talismans, two Mid-Grade Second-Tier Talismans, and one High-Grade Second-Tier Talisman:
Low-Grade Second-Tier Spirit Talismans:
Annihilating Thunder Talisman x3 Teleportation Talisman x1
Mid-Grade Second-Tier Spirit Talismans:
Golden Shield Talisman x2
High-Grade Second-Tier Spirit Talisman:
Shadow Split Void Escape Talisman
The unique Top-Grade Magic Artifact was a gray pearl called the Five Thunder Pearl—or, more accurately, the Five Elements Thunder Pearl. This artifact had been forged by blending the five elemental thunders: Metal Thunder, Wood Thunder, Fire Thunder, Water Thunder, and Earth Thunder. The five thunders interacted in a cycle of mutual generation and mutual destruction, hence its name.
This was a single-use magic artifact, its power equivalent to a top-grade second-tier spirit talisman.
Among the seven spirit talismans and the single magic artifact, the Five Thunder Pearl stood out as the most precious.
According to the Cultivation World's pricing standards, a second-tier spirit talisman was valued similarly to a top-grade magic artifact, typically ranging from one thousand to ten thousand mid-grade spirit stones.
Han Yi spent a staggering twenty-three thousand mid-grade spirit stones on the seven talismans alone. The Five Thunder Pearl cost him an additional eight thousand.
As for the Human Immortal-grade Immortal Boat, it was a complimentary gift from Myriad Immortals Pavilion as a gesture of customer appreciation for Han Yi's substantial purchases.
Including the Disguise Technique spell, Han Yi's total expenditure at Myriad Immortals Pavilion amounted to thirty-two thousand mid-grade spirit stones.
This was no small sum. Even most Golden Core cultivators couldn't afford such extravagance; only those from Great Sects or those who had accumulated wealth over decades could possess such a fortune.
In reality, Han Yi's storage ring didn't contain nearly that many mid-grade spirit stones—barely over ten thousand at most.
However, he possessed a wealth of other treasures.
After careful consideration, he decided against selling the Spirit Jade Gui. This rare treasure could have easily covered the remaining balance if he sold a portion, but its myriad uses made him reluctant to part with it. Besides, he had other options.
He ultimately sold the Golden Light Shuttle.
This Magic Treasure, once wielded by Yuan Changtian, fetched a staggering 530 High-Grade Spirit Stones.
High-Grade Spirit Stones were the standard currency for trading Magic Treasures, and their exchange rates differed significantly from those of Mid-Grade and Low-Grade Spirit Stones.
While 100 Low-Grade Spirit Stones could be exchanged for one Mid-Grade Spirit Stone, 100 Mid-Grade Spirit Stones couldn't buy a single High-Grade one.
At the Myriad Immortals Pavilion, the exchange rate between Mid-Grade and High-Grade Spirit Stones was 150:1.
In the end, the Pavilion waived its commission and only charged Han Yi 200 High-Grade Spirit Stones.
All things considered, Han Yi had traded one Magic Treasure—the Golden Light Shuttle—for a wealth of items and 330 High-Grade Spirit Stones.
He emptied his Storage Ring and meticulously inventoried its contents:
Magic Treasure: Seven Stars Kunwu Sword.
Top-Grade Magic Artifacts: Black Light Broken Sword, Green Ripple Sword, Fire Mist Sword, Five Thunder Pearl.
Other Magic Artifacts: None.
High-Grade Spirit Stones: 431.
Mid-Grade Spirit Stones: Approximately 10,000.
Low-Grade Spirit Stones: Approximately 100,000.
Other: A new Immortal Boat, a damaged Immortal Boat awaiting repair, a Foundation Establishment Pill, four Four Orders Patrol Envoy Tokens, and more.
After cataloging his possessions, Han Yi stowed everything away except for the newly acquired Technique Transmission Jade Disk.
Disguise Technique.
The Disguise Technique within this jade disk was fundamentally different from ordinary martial arts. It was named as such simply because a Nascent Soul cultivator had drawn inspiration from such skills, using them as a foundation to fuse multiple aura-manipulating spells and create an entirely new technique.
Han Yi pressed the Technique Transmission Jade Disk to his forehead. After a full quarter of an hour, he finally lowered it, utterly awestruck by the technique. The cultivator who had conceived it had taken an unconventional approach, vastly expanding the scope of "disguise."
The "disguise" here encompassed not only facial features and physique but also aura and even form.
Facial features were self-explanatory, referring to the eyes, nose, mouth, and other facial features. Physique was equally straightforward—height, build, and weight.
By mastering this Disguise Technique, a slender young cultivator with gentle features could transform into a short, obese, and intimidating elderly man with a sinister countenance, one glance enough to mark him as someone to avoid.
As for aura, it referred to a cultivator's unique spiritual signature, encompassing their mana, personal energy field, and the strength of their Divine Soul.
Previously, after Han Yi had killed someone and been pursued, his pursuers—such as Gu Zhijing and Lu Zhi—had tracked him using Soul-Tracking Talismans, which captured his aura for pursuit.
In the past, Han Yi had only heard of aura-altering spells that either suppressed one's aura or exchanged it for one of equal level.
The most common method for suppressing one's aura is the Aura Concealment Technique, but it can only alter the aura, not the cultivator's appearance.
This Disguise Technique, however, possesses an astonishing ability: it can operate in reverse, enhancing a cultivator's aura.
Strictly speaking, if the hypothetical advanced state of this auxiliary spell truly allowed for aura enhancement, it could be classified as a combat spell.
For example, when facing an opponent of the same cultivation stage, one could project the aura of a Golden Core cultivator, using the superior pressure to overwhelm the enemy, reducing their combat power to a mere fraction of its original strength.
As for the final ability, changing one's physical form, that represented an even higher level of mastery than aura enhancement.
The theoretical vision proposed transforming a cultivator's aura into that of a member of the Demon Race, or even a Heavenly Demon.
Such wildly imaginative concepts left Han Yi utterly astonished.
At the Myriad Immortals Pavilion, Shangguan Yun hadn't mentioned changes to racial forms because this aspect remained purely the Nascent Soul True Monarch's initial idea, never even developed into a proper hypothesis.
A Divine Transformation Great Power once reviewed this spell, commenting that if it could evolve to the point of altering one's racial form, it would no longer be a mere spell but an Immortal Art.
Han Yi put away the one-use Technique Transmission Jade Disk, its magic spent, and began cultivating the spell.
In just one day, he had grasped the basics, and a faint crimson line appeared on his Proficiency Panel:
Disguise Technique (Beginner 11/100)
The initial stages of cultivating the Disguise Technique were straightforward: continuously cast the spell and experiment with altering his true features. He tried widening his mouth, narrowing his eyes, changing his hair color, and refining the shape of his nose.
Three days later, the Disguise Technique advanced from Beginner to Initial Glimpse of the Dao. Half of Han Yi's appearance no longer resembled his original form.
Ten days later, the Disguise Technique broke through from Initial Glimpse of the Dao to Hall Entry. Han Yi's appearance was now completely transformed into that of another person. While still handsome and refined, his features had gained a gentle elegance and cultured refinement.
If asked which face left the deepest impression on him, aside from his current one, it would undoubtedly be the face from his previous life.
The first time Han Yi used the Disguise Technique to perform a "face change," he morphed into the face of the other Han Yi from his past life—the one who belonged to another timeline.
A month later...
Having advanced his Disguise Technique to the Masterful stage, Han Yi's face remained unchanged, but his body visibly shrunk, becoming leaner and less conspicuous. His height decreased from 1.85 meters to 1.78 meters, matching his height from his previous life.
Apart from his eyes, demeanor, and clothing, he now looked exactly as he had in his past life.
Satisfied with this transformation, Han Yi ceased further cultivation of the Disguise Technique. After reverting to his original appearance, he left his room, settled his bill at the front desk of the Ten Thousand Immortals Inn, and departed. Transforming back into his previous life's likeness, he found an isolated spot, mounted his sword, and summoned his new Immortal Boat. With a sudden surge, he soared into the sky and vanished into the distance.
He refused to believe anyone could track him down this time.
For this meticulously planned escape, he had not only mastered the Disguise Technique but also acquired seven Second-Tier Spirit Talismans and a special Magic Artifact, arming himself to the teeth.
Of course, if he encountered a Golden Core cultivator who recognized him, his chances of survival would still be slim. But he had done everything humanly possible to prepare. If fate still led a Golden Core cultivator to corner him, then it was simply his destined tribulation.
Han Yi refused to believe his luck could be that bad.
To further ensure his safety, Han Yi didn't exit through Shu Capital's main gate but instead chose the sixteenth side gate.
Shu Capital was vast, boasting ninety-nine side gates flanking its main entrance.
As the Immortal Boat passed through the sixteenth side gate's passage, Han Yi gradually increased its speed until it transformed into a streak of light, flashing into the distance.
However,
aboard the Immortal Boat, he once again used the Yi Yao Secret Technique to divine the fortune of his journey ahead. This time, the divination was ambiguous, showing a mixture of fortune and misfortune.
The Immortal Boat halted in mid-air ten li outside Shu Capital.
From the deck, Han Yi gazed ahead, then glanced back at the majestic Immortal City. Hesitation flickered in his eyes, but after a mere three breaths, the Immortal Boat resumed its journey, flying away from the city walls. If someone is tampering with the Heavenly Secrets concerning me, does that mean I'm destined to remain trapped in Shu Capital forever, unable to return to the Profound Pill Sect?
That was clearly impossible.
If I turn back simply because of an ambiguous divination, my Dao Heart will suffer a devastating blow. I might not even survive the Golden Core Tribulation, let alone traverse the endless Immortal Path.
The Immortal Boat accelerated, but instead of flying in a straight line, it flew ten li before deviating slightly, then continued for another dozen li.
High above a dense mountain forest, twenty miles from Shu Capital's main gate, a gaunt cultivator sat cross-legged on an Immortal Boat, a longsword strapped to his back.
If Han Yi were present, he would find the man's appearance vaguely familiar, bearing a resemblance to Li Yuanqing and Li Yuanqing, the two men Han Yi had killed in Jia Mountain City.
This was none other than Li Yuanyi, the Li Clan's Grand Elder, who had been missing for seven years.
Li Yuanyi sat with his eyes tightly shut, his aura restrained yet brimming with immense power—like a coiled dragon in slumber, terrifying in its potential.
On the Immortal Boat, flanking Li Yuanyi, lay two corpses.
No, to be precise, two headless corpses, each accompanied by its severed head.
The blood on the bodies and heads had long since dried, uncleaned, lending the scene a grotesque and unsettling quality.
If Han Yi were here, he would instantly recognize these remains as those of Li Yuanqing, the Li Clan's Second Elder, and Li Yuanqing, the Li Clan's Third Elder—the very men he had slain.
Beside the corpses lay a massive tortoise shell, its mottled gray surface marred by a patch of vivid crimson blood that slowly writhed without forming a distinct shape, like a living entity.
Such a bizarre scene would undoubtedly terrify any ordinary mortal to death, and even cultivators would be utterly horrified.
Just as Han Yi's Immortal Boat crossed ten miles beyond Shu Capital, completely leaving the radius of the capital's national fortune, the tortoise shell before Li Yuanyi on the Immortal Boat suddenly hummed, emitting a blood-colored light. The vivid crimson stain began to swirl rapidly, forming a blood-red arrow that pointed with a life-threatening intensity toward Shu Capital's sixteenth side gate.
Li Yuanyi, the gaunt cultivator who had been sitting cross-legged on the Immortal Boat, abruptly opened his eyes, scarlet bloodlight flickering within.
"Finally, they've emerged."
"After returning from the Southern Border, I was fortunate enough to acquire this Extreme Yin Turtle Shell and master the Bloodline Curse Technique. Even spells that conceal Heavenly Secrets and disrupt Causality cannot evade the curse's pursuit, save for the Great Qian's national fortune."
"My hatred burns deep. Today, I will avenge the annihilation of my clan."
"Hate, hate, hate! Kill, kill, kill!"
The crimson bloodlight in Li Yuanyi's eyes had already begun to spread, forming a web of blood-colored veins beneath his eyelids. These veins snaked down his face, obscuring half of it and lending him an eerie and terrifying appearance.
Yet he made no attempt to stop it, for even if he tried, it would be futile.
The conditions for casting the Bloodline Curse Technique were exceedingly harsh. It required not only the corpse of a beloved relative but also the near-annihilation of his entire lineage. Before initiating the ritual, Li Yuanyi had secretly slaughtered over three hundred descendants of the Li Family, leaving no survivors.
All in pursuit of Han Yi.
However...
Though the price for casting this Bloodline Curse Technique was horrifying, the rewards it offered upon success were exponentially greater.
The moment he executed Han Yi—the root cause of all this devastation—he would instantly gain tenfold, even a hundredfold, the accumulated feedback from every life he had taken, including the Li Family cultivators slain by Han Yi himself.
With his cultivation already elevated from Late Foundation Establishment to Peak Foundation Establishment through the curse's power, he could directly advance to the Golden Core Stage—a single step into the heavens.
Once Han Yi was dead, eliminating any number of Li Family descendants would be a trivial matter.
This was a thoroughly wicked Evil Art.
But he didn't care.
Above the mountain forest, the Immortal Boat ascended. With a gentle tremor, it flew toward the sixteenth side gate. After a moment, it subtly adjusted its course, traveling several more kilometers before correcting its direction again.
Over a hundred kilometers away, Han Yi remained oblivious to the approaching danger. He skillfully maneuvered his Immortal Boat, constantly shifting its position as he sped toward the Profound Pill Sect.
According to his calculations, if he continued straight ahead, leaving Ancient Shu County behind and crossing Gaoyuan County, Taihe County, and Ancient Creek County, he would reach Nanyang County. From there, the Profound Pill Mountain Gate would be within reach.
However...
An hour later...
Han Yi started in alarm as another Immortal Boat appeared behind him, rapidly closing the distance. He raised an eyebrow, a premonition of trouble stirring in his heart.
He subtly altered his course, only to find the pursuing Immortal Boat mirroring his maneuver. After two more evasive maneuvers, the pursuer stubbornly matched each turn.
Han Yi's certainty hardened: they were definitely after him.
Han Yi's expression turned grim.
He had meticulously disguised himself, completely altering his appearance and aura. Since returning, he had only visited the Myriad Immortals Pavilion and the Ten Thousand Immortals Inn, avoiding all other contact.
How had the Immortal Boat behind him managed to track him down?
Of course, there was another possibility: the Immortal Boat might not be pursuing him at all, but simply heading in his direction for some other reason.
However, Han Yi considered this exceedingly unlikely. Such a coincidence was simply too improbable.
Just as he was pondering this, a dazzling light flashed from the Immortal Boat behind him, still several miles away.
In the next instant, a figure teleported to within a hundred meters of Han Yi's Immortal Boat.
Han Yi's heart leaped in alarm. His pursuer had used a Teleportation Talisman! Judging by the distance covered, it was likely a High-Grade Second-Tier Spirit Talisman.
"Han Yi of the Heaven's Will Sect!"
"DIE!"
A piercing roar erupted, brimming with boundless resentment. This wasn't the rage of a single person, but the collective fury of over three hundred dead members of the Li Family, now bursting forth from Li Yuanyi.
In the next instant, a beam of sword light descended from the sky.
This sword light had been unleashed the moment Li Yuanyi appeared, even before he could speak. He couldn't wait any longer. He had immediately used a High-Grade Second-Tier Spirit Talisman to prevent Han Yi from escaping and to launch a surprise assassination.
The descending sword light, originally azure blue, was now veiled in a crimson haze, tinged with blood under the influence of the Bloodline Curse Technique.
Boom!
The sword light streaked downward, piercing straight through the Immortal Boat at Han Yi's position, like a thunderbolt splitting the vessel in two.
Bang!
Crack!
The control core of the new Immortal Boat, a gift from the Myriad Immortals Pavilion, shattered as the Spirit Stones in all its sockets exploded. The sword light annihilated the entire control core, causing the Immortal Boat to snap in half and plummet toward the forested mountains below.
Before the wreckage could hit the ground, the sword light surged forth again, even before the sonic boom could register.
A hundred meters away, Han Yi materialized, the ashes of a Low-Grade Second-Tier Spirit Talisman—a Teleportation Talisman—drifting from his hand.
His expression was grave, but far from despairing.
"Peak Foundation Establishment."
"No, he's at Late Foundation Establishment. He must have used some secret art to forcibly elevate himself to the peak."
"And something about his condition feels off."
"His appearance... I've seen it somewhere before. That's it—the Li Family. He bears a striking resemblance to Li Yuanqing and Li Yuanqing. Combined with his cultivation realm, it's easy to deduce that he's the Li Clan's Grand Elder, Li Yuanyi."
Han Yi's eyebrow twitched.
He stared intently at the newly arrived Li Yuanyi, noticing the crimson madness swirling in his bloodshot eyes and the grotesque, blood-colored markings spreading across half his face.
This man had clearly lost his mind.
"Shamanic Art again?" Han Yi thought, a chill running down his spine as he recalled his recent encounter with the Black-Robed Evil Witch.
He could easily dispatch an ordinary Late Foundation Establishment cultivator. Even against a Peak Foundation Establishment opponent, Han Yi, whose Sword Control Technique had broken through to a new level, feared no one.
But if Li Yuanyi resorted to Shamanic Art, Han Yi would have to be on full alert. This mysterious and unpredictable power was notoriously difficult to defend against.
Just then, the azure blue Sword Light, faintly tinged with bloodlight, bore down upon him.
A surge of murderous intent blazed in Han Yi's eyes.
"Kill!"