[{"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-942":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},2335868,4565,"Chapter 942","a-mortal-s-journey-to-immortality-chapter-942",942,"\u003Cp>\"Not interested! I never conduct transactions with sneaky individuals. Let’s just forget it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Far beyond the old man’s expectations, Han Li had flatly refused without even listening, causing his face to betray a flicker of shock—but then he seemed to recall something, his wrinkles relaxing as he let out a soft chuckle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You speak too soon, my friend. You’d best hear me out first. Only after listening can you make your decision—and even then, it won’t be too late. Otherwise, the one who suffers will be you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Something that harms me? Now that piques my interest. I’ll listen—for now.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That’s wise of you, my friend. Let me show you something first, then we can discuss the transaction.\" The old man chuckled, slapped his spirit beast bag, and a green glow shot out, spiraling once before landing atop his head, revealing a spirit beast the size of a fist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The spirit beast resembled a snail enlarged several times, its entire body an intense emerald green, slowly swaying its translucent, elongated antennae, moving with extreme sluggishness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A worm beast... What is the meaning of you bringing this creature? Do you intend to have it spray poison at me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How could I use such a low-grade spirit beast against you? To be honest with you, my friend, this beast has undergone a slight mutation—and its mutation grants it the ability to pierce illusions and deceptive techniques. Just now, when you were standing off against the Yinluo Sect’s disciples, I happened to have attached a fragment of my spiritual sense to this creature. You understand what I mean, don’t you? The illusion where you transformed the bamboo tube into a long sword? It may fool others, but not this beast’s spiritual perception.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Even if that’s true, what then? Do you have some other plan?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ha! Why be so hostile? I mean no harm—I merely ask that you give me three or four treasures, or a large sum of spirit stones, and I’ll immediately forget everything I just saw. I swear I won’t bother you again.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’re blackmailing me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What? You’ve decided to kill me? Better calm that impulse. I’m a lone cultivator too—I’m not intimidated by your threats. I came here alone precisely because I have full confidence in my ability to protect myself. Long ago, I sent a disciple to follow the Yinluo Sect and that Tianlan Holy Maiden. If anything happens here, my disciple will immediately expose your illusion of the bamboo tube. Then your troubles will be immense. And this is Jinjing City, where countless high-level cultivators have gathered for the auction. Do you really think you can kill me and erase the evidence here? If I let out a single long cry, you’ll be helpless. By then, my disciple will lead the Yinluo Sect here—I’ll keep you occupied, and you won’t be able to escape. You’ll have only one path: death. Perhaps four or five Nascent Soul cultivators together couldn’t kill you—but what about seven or eight? As I know, the Yinluo Sect’s Nascent Soul Elders in Jinjing aren’t limited to just a few. With so many, do you still believe you can escape? Paying to avoid disaster is the wise choice.\" The old man stepped back two paces, a sly smile on his face, and raised his hand—wooden shield flew from his sleeve, transforming into a dull yellow haze that enveloped his entire body, his posture cautious to the extreme.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Li frowned slightly, his gaze sweeping over the old man’s shield, his expression darkening as he fell into deep thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It seems I must offer you something, or trouble will follow. Tell me—what treasure do you want?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That’s the spirit! I only seek wealth—I have no intention of fighting you to the death. I’m not picky—just give me a few ancient treasures, and I’ll be perfectly satisfied.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old man’s greed made Han Li’s brow twitch slightly. His expression darkened as he reached toward his storage bag, palm flipping to reveal a golden-silver glow in his hand—a sphere the size of an egg, faintly visible within.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A few ancient treasures? Your appetite is too big. I don’t have any others—but this Cloudxiao Pearl was something I acquired long ago. Due to my cultivation method, it’s unsuitable for me. Take it and go. Don’t be greedy; you might choke on it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old man’s face lit up with delight, but after a flicker of caution, he did not reach for the treasure directly. Instead, he tossed the worm beast aside, swept his sleeve sharply—and a wave of black light shot out, instantly engulfing the golden-silver sphere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a moment, seeing no unusual reaction, he carefully passed through the shield and pulled the sphere to his front.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The patterns on this are unusual—definitely not an ordinary treasure. But what’s its true power?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You should test it yourself, my friend. I guarantee you’ll be astonished.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That’s true. But one ancient treasure to buy me off? Don’t you think that’s a bit childish?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Li’s lips curled slightly, revealing a faint, almost imperceptible sneer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hmm, yes—it is childish. How about this: I’ll send you on your way right now?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old man froze in shock—before he could react, his spiritual power surged uncontrollably into the sphere in his hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a soft *pop*, the sphere exploded—dozens of beetles burst forth, the Three-Color Golden Beetles Han Li had carefully hoarded. The moment they appeared, they spread their wings and lunged viciously at the old man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At such close range, the old man had no time to dodge. Only a fleeting thought of dread crossed his mind before the beetles slammed onto his face, biting en masse. Had he not been a Nascent Soul cultivator with thick protective spiritual light, his face would have been unrecognizable in an instant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With so many grotesque insects gnawing relentlessly on his face and his vision blocked, the old man, in fury and terror, frantically clawed at his face with both hands, trying to tear them off, while inhaling sharply to scream—a deafening cry meant to summon other cultivators.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But at that moment, a bone-chilling cold snort reached his ears. Though quiet, the sound tore through his spiritual sense like a blade—his body convulsed, and he involuntarily screamed, the cry dying instantly in his throat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old man’s heart lurched in terror—he was about to flee backward into the air—when the agony in his spiritual sense vanished instantly. The beetles clinging to his face lifted their wings and flew away. His vision cleared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But at the same instant, a golden sword, wrapped in violet flame, appeared before his eyes—and slashed downward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ahh!\" The old man roared in terror. He had no time to summon a treasure or use a teleportation technique—he could only pour every ounce of his spiritual power into the shield before him, hoping to at least block the blow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In his panic and rage, he now understood: this so-called wandering cultivator from beyond the sea had intended to kill him from the start—there had never been any thought of paying to avoid trouble. Fury and regret surged through him—but his yellow wooden shield was an ancient treasure he’d struggled hard to obtain, its defensive power immense. Even if the opponent were a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator, it should withstand a single strike.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the instant the old man’s thoughts raced—*pfft*—the yellow shield, upon contact with the golden sword, split cleanly like tofu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sword’s descent continued unimpeded—a blinding flash of gold—and the old man’s body split cleanly into two halves, collapsing sideways. A black infant, no more than an inch tall, stared dumbly in terror from afar—immediately frozen solid by a mass of violet ice, utterly immobilized.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The golden sword spun once, then struck the now-orphaned worm beast, slicing it into a bloody mist, before flying back to hover above the violet ice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A thunderclap rang out—several thick golden arcs shot from the sword, forming a fine electric net that enclosed the Nascent Soul.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Roaring thunder echoed continuously as the violet ice—and the Nascent Soul within—vanished into nothingness beneath the golden light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only then did Han Li’s expression ease slightly—but his movements didn’t pause. He reached behind him, snatching the old man’s storage bag from his waist. From his other sleeve, two crimson fireballs the size of fists shot out, reducing both the old man’s corpse and the worm beast to ash.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without hesitation, Han Li soared into the air—blue light flickered several times, and his entire body vanished like a phantom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just fifteen minutes later, five colored beams of light suddenly appeared above the ground, spiraled once, then descended, revealing five figures—three men and two women.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were Lin Yinping, Ge Tianhao, and three others—the fourth was a young man with an unfamiliar face, a Core Formation cultivator.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This is the place—my master’s spiritual trace vanished right here,\" the young man said, holding a magical disc, his face tense with unease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"There’s residual spiritual energy here—and yes, traces of that Li fellow’s aura. And there’s blood on the ground. It seems your master was silenced.\" Ge Tianhao scanned the area, his gaze settling on a dark red stain, his tone grim.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Net\u003C\u002Fp>",1528,"2026-06-20T21:12:49.722Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","de2caf8a506da7930350cd8ffa3ed75a833c7985cc3dc9127e0d12225598030d","a-mortal-s-journey-to-immortality-chapter-943","a-mortal-s-journey-to-immortality-chapter-941",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fa-mortal-s-journey-to-immortality-cover.jpg"]