[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-a-mortal-s-journey-to-immortality":3,"chapter-a-mortal-s-journey-to-immortality-a-mortal-s-journey-to-immortality-chapter-88":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","A Mortal's Journey to Immortality",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2335014,4565,"Chapter 88","a-mortal-s-journey-to-immortality-chapter-88",88,"\u003Cp>Jin Guang Shangren stood proudly in the center of the arena, with the Wild Wolf Gang behind him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before stepping onto the stage, he had assured Jia Tianlong that he alone could eliminate all seven Mystic Gate contestants; as payment for taking on the entire match, the originally promised five thousand taels of gold had been raised to eight thousand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking of the vast sum of gold he would receive afterward, Jin Guang Shangren’s heart burned with eagerness; he sneered at the opposing group, already impatient to slaughter them all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Li was not with Li Feiyu, but stood on the opposite side of the crowd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Feiyu had paired up with Zhang Xiuer, whispering sweet nothings between lovers; Han Li naturally had no intention of intruding on their private world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How on earth do these two lovers think? To be flirting in the middle of a fight to the death!” Han Li felt a faint sourness rise in his mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Regaining his composure, Han Li, like the others, stared curiously at the dwarf across the way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Wild Wolf Gang has hidden all their people behind, yet sent forward this poorly dressed little man—this is utterly absurd! Could this dwarf possess some extraordinary technique?” Han Li blinked, thinking to himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Wang clearly shared Han Li’s thoughts; he did not order a mass charge, but instead dispatched a sword-wielding guardian to face the dwarf alone, hoping to first probe his capabilities before deciding further action, to avoid unnecessary casualties.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although the duel was officially a free-for-all, if both sides sent only one fighter, a one-on-one clash was perfectly reasonable. Master Wang thought so—and acted accordingly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jin Guang Shangren saw only one man approaching from the opposing side and understood their intent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He let out a series of eerie cackles; his grating voice made everyone who heard it feel a pang of discomfort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The guardian sent out was a burly man in his thirties, his face fierce, his grip on the blade showing bulging tendons—clearly a master of close-quarters swordplay. Despite the eerie laughter, his expression remained calm, revealing ample combat experience.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the giant draw near, Jin Guang Shangren ceased his cackling. Calmly, he withdrew a yellow talisman from his robe. The talisman shimmered with golden light, its surface covered in golden characters and intricate patterns—obviously priceless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dwarf ignored the approaching warrior, holding the talisman in one hand, and began chanting incantations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though the seven Mystic Gate guardian had no idea what the dwarf was doing, his vast battle experience told him one thing: no matter what the dwarf was attempting, he must not be allowed to finish—otherwise, it would be disastrous for him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without hesitation, he lunged forward, closing the distance in a few swift strides. Raising his steel blade, he brought it down in a flash of cold light—straight at the dwarf’s head—with overwhelming force.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the blade descended toward Jin Guang Shangren’s skull, the incantation ended. Before the blade could strike, he slapped the talisman against his chest. Instantly, a blinding golden radiance erupted from the point of contact.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dazzling light blinded the giant, yet he did not panic. His blade still came down with full force.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Clang!” A metallic clang rang out across the entire arena.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The giant felt a searing heat in his palms—his weapon nearly flew from his grip. Shocked, though still unable to see clearly, he knew something was wrong. He tapped his toe against the ground and leapt backward several zhang, halting with his blade held in a defensive stance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, he heard a chorus of sharp intakes of breath from the crowd inside and outside the arena.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing those sounds, the giant grew even more anxious—he desperately wanted to know what had happened, why it was so bizarre. Fortunately, his vision finally returned. He quickly focused his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There, several zhang away, the dwarf stood motionless, his entire body enveloped in a golden aura one inch thick—a solid armor shielding him completely, impervious to wind or rain. Clearly, the previous strike had only struck the golden barrier, not the dwarf himself. This golden light, whatever it was, was as unyielding as steel, rendering the blade’s blow utterly futile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though the giant guardian had seen many wonders, this unprecedented spectacle left him stunned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He gripped his blade, his mind blank, unsure whether to advance or retreat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not only the giant was stunned—all those on Sunset Peak were dumbfounded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rumors of cultivators were rare even among martial artists, and in this remote corner of the world, those who knew of them were even fewer. Thus, most present regarded this talismanic phenomenon as profoundly mysterious and inscrutable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While Jia Tianlong secretly rejoiced and the seven Mystic Gate members exchanged bewildered glances, Han Li, standing at the rear of the crowd, was far more shocked than anyone else.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Li was likely the only person on the peak, besides the dwarf, who understood cultivation arts. Clearly, the dwarf had used a talisman similar to the Spirit-Stabilizing Talisman—perhaps even a more advanced version.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While others weren’t looking, Han Li silently recited the incantation of the Heavenly Eye Technique, secretly activating it on himself, then swiftly turned his gaze toward the dwarf.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beneath the golden aura, faint, almost imperceptible white light drifted across the dwarf’s body—so pale compared to the golden glow that, unless deliberately sought, it would be easily missed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dwarf was, in fact, a cultivator with far weaker spiritual power than Han Li. This revelation filled Han Li with both joy and unease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Joy, because even as a novice, his spiritual power surpassed the dwarf’s—proving the dwarf was merely a half-baked cultivator. Unease, because he did not know how many spells the dwarf knew, how potent they were, or whether he himself could handle them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>web\u003C\u002Fp>",967,"2026-06-20T21:12:45.940Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","8386b4458ec30438a56898b0f15a2840b58ecc9d41637d23b76bbf610e383fea","a-mortal-s-journey-to-immortality-chapter-89","a-mortal-s-journey-to-immortality-chapter-87",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fa-mortal-s-journey-to-immortality-cover.jpg"]