Chapter 370: The Challenge (Part 2)

“What’s so amusing? I merely harbor a compassionate heart and wish to avoid harming others!” The immortal master across from him, seeing Han Li’s indifferent expression, couldn’t help but grow furious, increasingly putting on the airs of a “superior expert.”

“Nothing! I just feel this contest seems a bit easier than I imagined!” Han Li tapped the solid ground beneath his feet with his toe and spoke nonchalantly.

“What? How dare you look down on me like this!” The middle-aged cultivator’s face flushed crimson. He raised his hand, and a gleaming object appeared in his palm. But before he could activate it, he suddenly felt a blur before his eyes, followed by darkness, and then collapsed limply to the ground, unconscious.

Han Li glanced at the middle-aged cultivator lying on the ground and walked out with an unchanged expression. The other cultivators in the hall were astonished by this scene.

They could clearly see the difference in cultivation between Han Li and his opponent, yet Han Li had emerged victorious—a truly unexpected outcome.

However, not all cultivators were completely stunned. The old man who had been stern-faced the entire time revealed an extremely peculiar expression. He gave Han Li a meaningful glance and, though he said nothing, seemed to understand how Han Li had struck.

Han Li chuckled softly, calmly placed two bamboo slips in front of the old man, set his unconscious opponent on the ground, and returned to the group of victorious cultivators.

The old man looked down at the still-unconscious middle-aged cultivator, shook his head slightly, and showed a faint, ambiguous smile.

“Number eight!”

When the final victor emerged, the old man glanced at the other ten cultivators who had not yet fought, cleared his throat lightly, and said calmly, “Next, challenges will begin in numerical order. If you feel your spiritual power is severely depleted, you may rest first and challenge later. However, all challenges must be completed today, or they will be considered forfeits. Moreover, challengers may not challenge someone who has already fought. As for the extra number eleven, you will challenge one of the final ten victors.”

“Alright, let’s begin!”

Seeing that the old man had finished speaking, the cultivator ranked number one eagerly selected an opponent who appeared to have the lowest cultivation from among the ten and entered the platform together.

The challenged opponent was only at the sixth layer of cultivation, while he was at the seventh layer—it seemed like a sure win!

But after the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the sixth-layer cultivator emerged first from the white light. As for the number one cultivator, he came out later, covered in wounds, his face flushed with shame. Without a word, he rushed straight out of the hall.

Witnessing this, the remaining challengers’ expressions changed, while the victorious cultivator returned to the group of ten, completely unbothered.

“Next!” the old man called out without a hint of surprise, as if the cultivator’s victory was only to be expected.

“Senior, my spiritual power hasn’t recovered yet. I’ll wait a moment!” The number two cultivator said, his face slightly red.

“Number three!” The old man paid no attention to whether this person truly hadn’t recovered or was simply afraid to fight and directly called the next number.

The next cultivator frowned slightly but also avoided the challenge.

The number four cultivator, however, couldn’t bear the embarrassment and reluctantly picked an opponent, entering the platform. The same scene repeated itself.

Seeing the severely wounded number four cultivator, the remaining challengers all showed astonishment.

In this situation, the next two cultivators also postponed their challenges, believing it wiser to let others test the waters first.

“Number seven!” The old man’s expression shifted slightly before he slowly called out Han Li’s number.

Han Li walked out silently, pointed at a sixth-layer cultivator, and selected him as his opponent.

The cultivator was a burly man. Seeing that Han Li had not backed down and had even chosen him, he grinned fiercely and strode toward the platform. Han Li, in contrast, walked slowly, as if pondering his strategy.

As the burly man and Han Li disappeared into the white light, everyone watched the platform intently. The Foundation Establishment old man closed his eyes, seemingly meditating, but a moment later, his eyelids twitched slightly, and a trace of surprise appeared on his face as he opened his eyes in astonishment.

Then, a figure appeared on the platform within the white light.

The cultivators hurriedly focused their gaze. As the white light dissipated, they saw that it was Han Li. He was completely unharmed, but with one hand, he dragged his scorched and battered opponent leisurely out of the platform, looking utterly at ease.

At this sight, not only were the fellow challengers stunned, but the remaining challenged cultivators also showed expressions of disbelief.

As for Wen Qiang behind the old man, his mouth hung open, unable to close for a moment.

Han Li placed his barely breathing opponent in front of the old man and, under everyone’s astonished gazes, casually returned to his original spot.

The other challengers instinctively made way for him, showing a trace of awe.

Seeing this, Han Li sneered inwardly. It seemed that no matter where you went, strength was the most convincing argument.

Perhaps Han Li’s unexpected victory gave the remaining challengers confidence, as the next few did not avoid the fight and directly selected opponents for battle. However, all of them ended up severely wounded.

Witnessing this, the earlier challengers, horrified, completely abandoned any competitive spirit. In the end, after discussing among themselves, they all forfeited. After all, charging into a fight knowing they were outmatched would be sheer foolishness!

Thus, the old man announced on the spot that only Han Li had secured the qualification for the Gu Family to trade on the large island. The old man then handed a blue jade slip to Han Li, saying that delivering it to the Gu Family would suffice.

Then, without ceremony, the old man issued orders for everyone to leave, and all the cultivators were unceremoniously ushered out of the hall.

In the corridor, when Han Li handed the blue jade slip to Shopkeeper Gu, the expression on his face was truly a sight to behold: first disbelief, then astonishment, and finally, sheer delight.

“Immortal Han, I won’t waste words on gratitude. Rest assured, the Gu Family will absolutely fulfill the conditions we promised you.” By the time these words were spoken, Han Li, Shopkeeper Gu, and Wang Changqing were already on their way back to Gu Family Manor in a beast-drawn carriage.

Though he spoke with immense gratitude, Shopkeeper Gu clutched the jade slip tightly, as if afraid it would fly away, making for a rather amusing sight.

“I believe Shopkeeper Gu would not do something as thankless as burning bridges—especially not with a cultivator,” Han Li said, leaning against the carriage wall with a faint smile.

Hearing these words, which carried a subtle warning, Shopkeeper Gu and Wang Changqing turned pale and repeatedly assured him they wouldn’t dare.

Soon after, Han Li returned to the wooden cabin on the hill, where Qu Hun dutifully stood guard.

Han Li had only practiced his energy cultivation in the cabin for three more days when Wang Changqing came again. This time, he was there to inform Han Li that he could go to the Ascension Pavilion on the immortal mountain to apply for permanent residency on Quei Xing Island and, while there, secure a cultivation site. After all, every cultivator on the island could have their own cave dwelling.

Although the location he would get would undoubtedly have sparse spiritual energy since he hadn’t participated in the Spirit Land Competition, it would still serve as a place for cultivation.

Carrying the signed guarantee provided by the Gu Family, Han Li flew on his artifact toward the center of Quei Xing Island, leaving Qu Hun to guard the cabin as usual.

Along the way, Han Li passed over seven or eight cities and dozens of small towns before finally catching sight of the immortal mountain Wang Changqing had mentioned.

It was a colossal green mountain, its upper half towering into the clouds, with three peaks piercing the sky—a truly majestic and imposing sight. Countless smaller peaks sprawled beneath the main peaks, too many to number.

At a glance, Han Li couldn’t even begin to guess how vast this mountain was.

Han Li stared blankly at the so-called “immortal mountain,” utterly captivated.

“Eh, isn’t this Fellow Daoist Han?” A voice suddenly called out from behind Han Li. Startled and finding the voice somewhat familiar, Han Li quickly turned around.

Not far behind him, the frail-looking Wen Qiang was smiling at him, standing on a wheel-like flying artifact.

“So it’s Fellow Daoist Wen! What a coincidence!” Han Li paused for a moment before letting out a light laugh.

Hehe! Yes, I didn’t expect to run into you either! I’m truly impressed that you managed to defeat a member of the guard team!

“Guard team?” Han Li was taken aback by this!