A Record of a Mortal’s Journey to Immortality

The Road to the Inner Valley

On the west side of Devilfall Valley, on a small mountain filled with brown rocks, a person was sitting and another was standing at the top of the mountain.

The person sitting cross-legged was a white-robed old man with a benevolent appearance. The person standing was wearing embroidered clothes and a tall crown. His long beard reached his chest.

They were none other than the Heavenpeak Sect Elder Lu Weiying and Marquis Nanlong.

Marquis Nanlong stood twenty meters in front of Lu Weiying with his hands behind his back. He appeared to be looking into the distance with a calm expression, but there was a faint trace of anxiety in his eyes.

Lu Weiying, who was sitting cross-legged on a huge rock, seemed to sense Marquis Nanlong’s anxiety and suddenly said, “Brother Nanlong, there’s no need to be too anxious. That person’s teleportation location is very likely remote, so it’ll naturally take more time for him to come over. Didn’t we personally see him enter the spell formation and be teleported in?”

Marquis Nanlong sighed and helplessly said, “That is true, but you also know that Devilfall Valley is rife with danger. There are some dangers that can’t be dealt with just with great abilities. We can’t lack this person. Otherwise, our trip to Devilfall Valley will be in vain.”

Lu Wei opened his eyes and couldn’t help but grumble, “That Greatnorth Essence Light is one thing, but is the Fire Toad truly that powerful? Why else would we have dragged this person along with us?”

Marquis Nanlong frowned and explained, “I’ve never seen it with my own eyes. However, in Master Cang Kun’s statement, it was described as extremely fearsome. It would be best to find a pertinent cultivator to deal with it. Otherwise, even if we are able to deal with it, it won’t be easy. If we aren’t careful, our vitality will be greatly damaged. In such a dangerous place, I don’t want to give others an opportunity.”

After a moment of thought, Lu Weiying said, “Brother Nanlong’s words are reasonable. It seems you’ve become more careful after the Moulan Plains incident. However, I’ve read about the Fire Toad in some ancient records. This ancient beast wasn’t very famous in ancient times. According to what was written, it shouldn’t be difficult to deal with. However, since Master Cang Kun said so, I reckon the one in the valley is a mutated Fire Toad.”

Marquis Nanlong didn’t completely agree with the old man’s opinion. “Mutated? That is possible. However, I feel that this beast is exceptional because it has no natural enemies in the valley and has been cultivating for far too long.”

Lu Weiying closed his eyes once more and leisurely said, “At this point, there is no point in saying anything else. The Fire Toad must be exterminated. The passage to the Fire Toad is filled with Greatnorth Essence Light. Those who aren’t prepared will never be able to pass through. We don’t have to worry about the ancient cultivator’s remains being discovered by others.”

When Marquis Nanlong saw the old man’s calm appearance, he faintly smiled. Just as he was about to say something, his expression suddenly changed and he hastily turned to look at the sky.

In the distance, azure light flashed, following which an azure streak slowly flew over.

“It’s him. He’s finally arrived.” Marquis Nanlong, who was more familiar with Han Li’s light, immediately recognized the direction of the light with a smile.

When Lu Weiying heard this, he hurriedly opened his eyes and stood up.

It appeared that although the Heavenpeak Sect elder appeared calm on the surface, he was also anxious.

The azure streak of light appeared to be extremely careful and didn’t travel very quickly. After a long while, it finally arrived above them.

The azure light receded to reveal a cloaked figure floating above them. He looked down at the two people.

“Is that you, Fellow Daoist Han?”

Marquis Nanlong examined the cloak with his spiritual sense and was surprised to find that it was unable to penetrate it.

Han Li stroked the cloak on his head and chuckled. “Why? Did you make an appointment with anyone other than me?” At the same time, he glanced at Lu Weiying.

Lu Weiying also discovered the abnormality of Han Li’s cloak, but his expression remained unchanged.

“Fellow Daoist Han must be joking. Brother Lu and I have been waiting for you for a long time.” Marquis Nanlong heaved a sigh of relief upon hearing Han Li’s voice.

Although he felt that Han Li was strange wearing the cloak, seeing that Han Li did not want to mention this matter, he did not ask further.

The three of them weren’t indecisive and immediately began to discuss the matter of killing the Fire Toad.

To reach the Fire Toad, they had to first enter the inner valley.

The so-called “Inner Valley” was actually a place that used an even more powerful ancient restriction to seal off a large area at the center of Devilfall Valley.

However, this time, there was a different path to the inner valley.

After circling around the entire outer valley, Han Li easily found a dozen or so passageways of different sizes.

However, these passageways were all heavily restricted. If he wanted to pass through them, he would have to break through the restrictions bit by bit. If he wanted to force his way through, he would only be asking for trouble.

These ancient restrictions were all extremely powerful and merciless. It would be fine if he didn’t attack, but if he did, they would definitely retaliate.

Back then, Master Cang Kun was confident that his attainments in array formations were not weak. After studying it for a few days, he completely gave up.

It wasn’t that he really couldn’t undo it, but it would take too much time for him to do it alone.

Later on, Master Cang Kun spent a lot of effort and, with luck, found another hidden path that was covered in Greatnorth Essence Light.

The passage was extremely secretive and wouldn’t be easily discovered. However, the Greatnorth Essence Lights in the passage were enough to kill any cultivators that entered without knowing.

However, now that he had the Heaven-Earth Ring, entering the inner valley should be an extremely easy task.

Han Li and the two of them discussed for a moment and immediately rose into the air without any rest, preparing to fly towards the inner valley.

However, as soon as he rose into the air, Marquis Nanlong slapped his storage pouch and took out several bells of different colors. They were several inches in size and he hung them from his waist.

Han Li looked at Marquis Nanlong in surprise.

Marquis Nanlong saw the curiosity in Han Li’s eyes and explained, “These are Sense Bells. As long as there are any abnormal changes in the spatial fluctuations, the bells will automatically ring. Although they can’t predict all the spatial cracks, they will warn us of most of the spatial cracks.”

Han Li’s heart stirred and he nodded. The three of them turned into three streaks of light and flew away from the small mountain.

They flew all the way to the center of the valley. The bells were quite effective.

Once a spatial tear appeared, the bells would immediately release a clear jingle, allowing the three to be on guard so that they wouldn’t run into it.

However, most of these spatial tears were traceable or dim. As for truly invisible spatial tears, the bells weren’t able to warn them.

Han Li knew this clearly because on the way, he saw a hidden crack with his spiritual eye not far away from the three of them. Three rays of light brushed past it. The copper bells did not call the police.

Seeing this, Han Li had some sense of propriety.

However, as Marquis Nanlong had said, this copper bells indeed made the journey much more convenient.

Marquis Nanlong and Lu Weiying were also able to free themselves and increase their speed.

Since the three of them were on the way, and there was no invisible rift in front of them, Han Li naturally did not need to warn them and was happy to remain silent.

Just like that, the three of them had a safe journey.

Half a day later, they appeared outside the inner valley, in front of an unfamiliar mountain ridge.

There were over ten small mountain peaks connected to each other, forming a miniature mountain range that was several tens of kilometers in size.

Behind the mountain range, there was a patch of blood-red light that obscured the yellow sky, making it appear extremely demonic.

Marquis Nanlong was also seeing the crimson light for the first time, but he immediately warned as if he had recognized it, “That must be the inner valley. Those crimson lights are extremely powerful restrictions. Do not provoke them, or else you will suffer heavy losses.”

Han Li squinted his eyes and looked at the blood light expressionlessly.

Even if Marquis Nanlong hadn’t mentioned this, he wouldn’t have rashly charged into the strange blood light.

However, these ancient devil cultivators were quite interesting. They actually laid down layer upon layer of formidable restrictions in Devilfall Valley. What was the original purpose of this valley? Why was it so tightly guarded? Could it be a prison or a cage?

For some reason, Han Li had this strange thought, but he immediately laughed and denied it.

What kind of monster would require such a large valley as a cage? This was simply impossible. It was most likely an important stronghold for ancient devil cultivators!

Han Li guessed in his heart.

At this moment, Marquis Nanlong brought the old man and Han Li into the upper territories and flew directly between the two mountain ridges.

When they arrived, Marquis Nanlong raised his hand and the three of them slowly descended to the ground.

He used his naked eye to look ahead. There were green grass, rocks, huge trees, and vines. Everything seemed normal.

A trace of excitement appeared on Marquis Nanlong’s face, but he calmly said, “This is the place. This place shouldn’t be like this, but Master Cang Kun cast an illusion technique before he left, blocking the entrance of the passageway. As such, I can’t see the entrance. Let me break the illusion technique first.”

Soon after, he waved his sleeve, and a white jade pendant flew out from his sleeve. It circled around before stopping above his head.

Marquis Nanlong muttered an incantation and formed a gesture with his hands, casting a series of incantation seals of different colors onto the jade badge above his head.

All of the incantation seals were absorbed by the jade pendant in a flash. Soon after, the jade pendant began to tremble with dazzling light and let out a clear ring.

Marquis Nanlong let loose a loud cry, and a vast expanse of white light shot forth from the jade pendant, sweeping toward everything in front of him.

A strange scene then unfolded.

Wherever the white light passed, all the rocks and trees were torn apart like a painting and disappeared in the light.

The white light let out a clear cry before quickly disappearing into the jade pendant.

In front of Han Li and the other two, there was an unfamiliar scene.