[{"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-971":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},2335897,4565,"Chapter 971","a-mortal-s-journey-to-immortality-chapter-971",971,"\u003Cp>Since the Han man arrived, no other cultivators came for a long time; the three went their separate ways, none making any effort to speak with the others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nearly half a month passed, and the miasma had largely receded, when a stunning aura of flight suddenly appeared on the horizon—two brilliant streaks of light, side by side like ribbons, hurtling straight toward the mountain peak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The flight aura circled once above their heads, then landed precisely in the center between the three, revealing a man and a woman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man was the elderly Fu of the Nine You  Sect; the woman was a beautiful black-clad “lady,” with slightly thick eyebrows and a face as cold as ice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“All three of you have arrived as agreed—what an honor for Fu. I had even prepared for the possibility that some of you might not come, but now it seems unnecessary.” The Fu elder swept his gaze over Han Li and the others, his face beaming with delight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The black-clad beauty beside him remained silent, icy and expressionless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I came, but if what you’ve promised isn’t worth my time, Yuan will leave immediately. I’m at a critical juncture in breaking through my bottleneck—I have no time to waste on trivial matters.” The Han man sneered, speaking bluntly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Rest assured, Brother Yuan. You’ve already met Han and Bai—surely you don’t suspect I’d deceive you? First, let me introduce you all. This is my junior sister, Chang Zhifang, an Inner Chamber Elder of the Nine You  Sect. Brother Yuan, as the local host, hails from the Southern Wastelands’ Poison Saint Sect; you’ll be of great help here. Han Daoist is a wandering cultivator from beyond the seas, with astonishing abilities. Bai Daoist…” The Fu elder pointed to each of them in turn, making the introductions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the Fu elder mentioned Han Li’s astonishing abilities, both the Han man and Bai Yaoyi shot Han Li a look of surprise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Li, upon hearing this, paused, then frowned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You overstate my abilities. My cultivation is ordinary—where could such talk of ‘astonishing powers’ come from?” Han Li said calmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why hide it further? I’ve heard you destroyed a Foundation Establishment cultivator in Jinjing, and shortly after the underground exchange, you killed the infamous Fire Demon Head Monk with a single blow. Your cultivation level speaks for itself,” the Fu elder said with deep implication.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You killed the Fire Demon Head Monk?” The Han man’s face turned pale; he whirled to stare at Han Li.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bai Yaoyi’s bright eyes flickered, revealing a trace of shock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only the black-clad beauty seemed already aware, her expression utterly unmoved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother Fu may be mistaken. I did kill an overconfident Foundation Establishment cultivator in Jinjing, but the Fire Demon Head Monk was not my doing—he was slain by another cultivator. Do you truly believe a wandering cultivator like me possesses such heavenly power?” Han Li sighed helplessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Another cultivator? I did hear that two cultivators with similar faces confronted the Fire Demon Head Monk at the time. Was it truly not you?” The Fu elder’s expression subtly relaxed, yet his tone suggested doubt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother Fu overestimates me. If I had the power to instantly kill a Nascent Soul mid-stage cultivator, why would I have avoided the Yin Luo Sect back then? I could’ve simply walked out openly—who would dare stop me?” Han Li rubbed his chin, speaking lightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That does make sense. Still, Xiao the Elder, though low in cultivation, was extremely cunning and skilled in multiple flight arts. That you killed him is no small feat. By the way, do you know the cultivator who killed the Fire Demon Head Monk? Could he be one of those reclusive great masters from beyond the seas? Hmph—such a powerful cultivator remaining unknown is only possible in the distant lands beyond the seas.” The Fu elder murmured in wonder, clearly intrigued by the incident.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve heard something else. Right after the Jinjing auction ended, near the underground exchange, a two-headed, four-armed demon resembling a ghostly fiend appeared—it alone devoured several Nascent Soul cultivators. I’m told only the intervention of a great master stationed at the exchange scared it off; otherwise, all those cultivators would’ve perished. Han Brother, did you witness this?” The Han man suddenly asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The cultivator who killed the Fire Demon Head Monk and I only met a few times—we have no deep connection. As for the demon, it appeared after I had already left. I know nothing of it.” Han Li shook his head slightly, his expression unchanged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I see. What a pity. If we could find that cultivator, our chances might be greater.” The Fu elder chuckled dryly, clearly unwilling to pursue the matter further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Han man’s eyes narrowed, filled with suspicion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Bai Yaoyi opened her lips slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother Fu, you summoned us here years ago—surely it’s time to reveal the details. I wouldn’t have come so far if not for the debt I owe you from long ago.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Naturally. But this matter is no trivial one. Let me first set up a barrier before I explain fully.” The Fu elder agreed at once, then flicked his ten fingers toward the surrounding air—over a dozen You green flames shot out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a series of “pops,” the You flames exploded into clusters of green mist, vanishing instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Li’s spiritual sense swept the area and confirmed faint barrier fluctuations nearby. Though he didn’t know the nature of the barrier, the ease with which the elder had cast it made him tense—he raised his estimation of the Fu elder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not just Han Li—Bai and Yuan also scanned the barrier with their spiritual senses. The elder’s seriousness stirred a spark of interest in them both.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This matter has been in my planning for thirty years. Only now has the timing truly matured. Hence, I’ve invited you all to assist. Have any of you heard of the Peiying Pill—an ancient wonder herb?” The Fu elder exhaled deeply, his tone solemn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Peiying Pill?” Both Bai Yaoyi and the Han man stared blankly—they had never heard of such a pill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Li, however, stirred slightly, his expression turning thoughtful—as if recalling something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You know of this pill?” The Han man couldn’t help asking, seeing Han Li’s reaction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, I’ve heard a little. The Peiying Pill was a sacred herb of an ancient sect from the Primitive Era. Legend says it grants immense benefits to a Nascent Soul cultivator’s nascent soul, making breakthroughs far easier—truly a divine pill for us Nascent Soul cultivators. But that sect vanished at the end of the Primitive Era, and the formula was lost. Few in today’s cultivation world even know of it.” Han Li spoke slowly after a moment’s thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had he not been a master alchemist himself, and had he not studied countless ancient texts, he never would have known of this pill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing Han Li’s words, both the Han man and Bai Yaoyi showed a flicker of delight. The Han man couldn’t wait—he turned immediately to the elder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother Fu, you mention this now—do you have the formula for this pill?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For Nascent Soul cultivators, any method or pill aiding breakthroughs—even in ancient times—were treasures guarded like life itself. Yet such things were vanishingly rare; those who possessed them never spoke of them, not even to closest kin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Over the centuries, most were lost; the few remaining became unusable due to the changed cultivation environment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today, aside from a few rumored heavenly artifacts, Nascent Soul cultivators could only rely on pills to enhance their cultivation base to break through. Thus, the Han man’s excitement surged at the mention of the Peiying Pill’s effects.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Heh, I didn’t expect Han Brother to know of this pill—it surprises me. Indeed, this matter concerns the Peiying Pill. I obtained its formula over a hundred years ago.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You truly have the Peiying Pill formula?” The Han man clapped his hands together, his dark cheeks flushing red, his eyes blazing with ecstasy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bai Yaoyi and Han Li exchanged glances, their faces equally hard to conceal their delight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Correct. I possess the formula, and I am skilled in alchemy. With all materials gathered, brewing the Peiying Pill poses no problem.” The Fu elder nodded without hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then your tone suggests the materials are hard to obtain. Is that why you summoned us?” Han Li’s brow twitched, his voice grave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Han Brother, you’re remarkably perceptive. Had I not been missing one key ingredient, I would’ve brewed the Peiying Pill long ago. This time, I’ve called you all to help secure that ingredient.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“After all these years, even as a Nine You  Sect Elder, you couldn’t obtain this ingredient? It must be exceedingly rare,” Bai Yaoyi frowned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“More than rare. I once believed this creature had vanished from the mortal realm entirely—I’d dismissed the Peiying Pill formula as useless. But then, by chance, I discovered traces of it. That’s why I revived my intention to brew the pill.” The elder sighed bitterly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Enough with the riddles, Brother Fu. What’s the ingredient? Just say it.” The Han man snapped impatiently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The flesh and blood of the Yin Zhi Ma.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yin Zhi Ma? Does such a spiritual creature even exist in our realm? Where did you find it?” Han Li’s eyes narrowed sharply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bai Yaoyi and the Han man exchanged glances, equally stunned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Heh, I once thought this creature had vanished from this world too. But thirty years ago, I stumbled upon traces of the Yin Zhi Ma—right here, somewhere in the Southern Wastelands.” The elder chuckled, his expression enigmatic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Net\u003C\u002Fp>",1595,"2026-06-20T21:12:49.722Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","f938548c3d3828ad6bc614bd334908c7c6e2d4202e2ac91999cf2a169cb5d43c","a-mortal-s-journey-to-immortality-chapter-972","a-mortal-s-journey-to-immortality-chapter-970",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fa-mortal-s-journey-to-immortality-cover.jpg"]