A Record of a Mortal’s Journey to Immortality

The Pool and the Blood Curse Gate

Without Silvermoon’s reminder, Han Li could see the rough outline of the map. It was indeed exactly the same as the terrain of Devilfall Valley.

However, the rest of the diagram was extremely crude, and only the part around the mark was detailed.

Not only did the man draw out the location in the inner valley, but he also clearly marked the nearby terrain.

Han Li calculated that the location of the mark and his current location were very far apart. Furthermore, he did not know what kind of strange danger he would encounter along the way.

Han Li muttered to himself for a moment before shaking his head and putting away the map.

Han Li knew that the location marked on the map definitely contained some major secret. However, before he settled the matter of the Spirit Kindle Fruit, Han Li did not intend to do anything else. He would naturally wait until he obtained the Spirit Kindle Fruit before he investigated further.

Silvermoon seemed to have guessed Han Li’s thoughts and did not say anything else. Han Li took out a new jade box and stuffed it into the bamboo tube on his back as he calmly said to Monarch Great Development.

“Many of the materials required for the Sevenflame Fan have long been extinct or are difficult to find. However, with Senior’s talent, you may be able to find a replacement. If you are truly able to replicate a Divine Spirit Treasure in the current cultivation world, Junior will truly prostrate himself in admiration.”

Monarch Great Development fell silent for a moment before sneering, “Youngster, do you think I’m an idiot? Although I am very interested in the Divine Spirit Treasure, why would I study the refinement method for you for no reason? Just because of your few words of admiration?”

Han Li didn’t reveal any surprise and calmly said, “Divine Spirit Treasures aren’t so easy to replicate. Although I’ve never seen anyone else who has Senior’s talent, I don’t have much confidence in you being able to figure out a method to replicate them. However, if Senior is truly able to do it, I can agree to any of Senior’s requests as a reward. What does Senior think?”

Monarch Great Development fell silent for a moment after hearing Han Li’s words. He then snorted and proudly said, “Divine Spirit Treasures. I acquired some information from an ancient cultivator’s ruins many years ago and learned of the existence of such heaven-defying treasures. I was naturally very curious about these treasures that even ancient cultivators revered, so I paid more attention to them. Unfortunately, there is very little information on Divine Spirit Treasures and I haven’t been able to find anything. Now that I’ve become a ghost, I don’t want to leave this world with any regrets in a few decades. As a result, even though I know that you’re using a provocation technique, I’ve accepted it. Besides, I’m only looking for substitute materials, not a new method to refine a Divine Spirit Treasure. How difficult is that? When the time comes, don’t forget to agree to one of my requests.”

“Alright, it’s settled then.” Han Li smiled and agreed with a smile.

With such an extraordinary person who could even create the Great Development Technique here, Han Li naturally would not waste it.

He already had the Heavenvoid Cauldron, a Divine Spirit Treasure, in his possession, but he didn’t know when he would be able to use it. Besides, he could never have too many heaven-defying treasures like the Divine Spirit Treasures.

Monarch Great Development was completely silent. He was most likely already opening the jade box and studying the refinement method within.

The spiritual light around Han Li’s body intensified, and his speed instantly increased.

…

Half a day later, when Han Li approached the mountain where the Purple Pattern Scorpion nest was located, Marquis Nanlong and Lu Weiying were walking in an unfamiliar underground passage. This place was extremely dark and damp. Even with their cultivation, they could only see things that were several tens of feet away.

Lu Weiying slowly walked three meters behind Marquis Nanlong and said, “Brother Nanlong, I didn’t think that there would be such a dark and damp place in a world filled with lava. I am now 70% to 80% convinced of the Blood Curse Gate.”

Marquis Nanlong smiled and replied, “So Brother Lu had always been skeptical! As you know, I didn’t mention anything about the Blood Curse Gate when I found Master Cang Kun’s statement. Otherwise, the Ghost Spirit Sect wouldn’t have let this place go. The Blood Curse Gate is a secret passed down from generation to generation.”

Lu Weiying suddenly smiled and said, “However, if it weren’t for the fact that two Nascent Soul cultivators are required to open the Blood Curse Gate, I fear Brother Nanlong wouldn’t have dragged me along.”

Marquis Nanlong chuckled and vaguely replied, “Brother Lu must be joking. I’ve known Fellow Daoist Lu for so many years, so I naturally have to bring you along, Brother Lu. Otherwise, why would I keep this matter a secret from that Han brat?”

“Then I must thank Brother Nanlong for your kind intentions.” Lu Weiying tactfully dropped the subject.

In such a situation where only the two of them were searching for treasures, it would be better to give Marquis Nanlong a slight warning so that Marquis Nanlong would know that he was on guard against him and wouldn’t burn the bridge after crossing it. He didn’t want to fall out with Marquis Nanlong in a place like this and have another battle.

Marquis Nanlong was also aware of the old man’s intentions. His expression remained unchanged, but he inwardly sneered.

The two silently walked forward for a short distance before a faint light appeared up ahead. The two of them were overjoyed and immediately quickened their pace, entering a stalactite cave of considerable size.

The cave was over 300 feet wide, and the ceiling of the cave was filled with stalactites that were several feet in size. The walls of the cave were shimmering with white light, but the most eye-catching thing was that there was a 30-meter-wide green pool at the center of the cave.

Apart from the fact that the water in the pool was slightly greener, there seemed to be nothing out of the ordinary.

Lu Weiying looked around and couldn’t find any restrictions, so he couldn’t help but ask, “Is the Blood Curse Gate really here?”

Marquis Nanlong glanced at the old man, who claimed to have been convinced but had raised doubts again, with a mysterious smile and said, “It can’t be wrong! However, the Blood Curse Gate is an important place. Master Cang Kun used a restriction to seal it before he left. As long as the restriction is removed, it will be seen.”

Lu Weiying was stunned for a moment before he also examined the pool with a look of realization.

At that moment, Marquis Nanlong waved his sleeve, and a small blue flag flew out. With a puff, the small flag disappeared into the pond.

Marquis Nanlong then formed an incantation gesture and began to chant something.

All of a sudden, ripples appeared on the surface of the pool, and the water slowly began to spin faster and faster, gradually forming a huge vortex. At the center of the vortex, a faint buzzing sound could be heard.

“Water Splitting Flag? I didn’t expect Brother Nanlong to have such a rare treasure.” Lu Weiying was surprised to see this.

Marquis Nanlong shook his head and indifferently said, “It’s nothing. Apart from separating the water, it doesn’t have much use.”

He then let loose a low cry and raised his hands, sending two more spell seals into the vortex.

The water in the pool rose tens of feet into the air before suddenly splitting apart, revealing a passageway.

Marquis Nanlong wordlessly flew down as a streak of golden light.

Lu Weiying hesitated for a moment before transforming into a streak of white light and closely following after him.

A short moment later, Lu Weiying’s face paled.

This pool was very deep. No, it should be said that it was extremely deep.

He flew down for over 2,300 feet, but he still hadn’t reached the bottom. As he flew, he raised his head to look at the entrance of the pool that had turned into a small speck of light. He felt a faint sense of oppression in his heart.

Fortunately, after flying for over 1,000 feet, Marquis Nanlong, who finally saw the bottom, slowly descended from the sky and arrived at the bottom of the pool.

The old man felt an indescribable sense of relief, and he also withdrew his streak of light before floating down.

The bottom of the pool was over 100 feet wide and was circular in shape. It appeared to be even larger than the opening of the pond. The ground was wet and covered with a huge limestone floor, making it appear exceptionally smooth.

In the middle of the bluestone ground, there was the Water Splitting Flag. It was half-buried in the ground, but the flag emitted a hazy spiritual light.

They were surrounded by tall, dark-green water curtains that extended all the way to the entrance of the pond.

Lu Weiying examined the nearby area and frowned, “If the Blood Curse Gate was hidden here, it would be quite difficult to find. Ordinary people wouldn’t go thousands of feet deep into the water. However, how did Master Cang Kun know of this place? This is quite strange.”

Marquis Nanlong faltered for a moment before saying with uncertainty, “Well… Master Cang Kun’s spiritual sense must’ve reached deep into the pool and detected it.”

“That’s possible!” The old man stroked his chin and his eyes flickered.

Marquis Nanlong muttered to himself for a moment before shaking his head. He tossed this doubt to the back of his mind and slapped the storage pouch at his waist.

A streak of white light flew out from the pouch, and the white jade pendant that he had used at the entrance to the inner valley was lifted into the air, spinning incessantly.

Marquis Nanlong formed an incantation gesture with his hands and continuously struck the jade pendant with various colored incantation seals. In the blink of an eye, the jade pendant absorbed all of them.

Soon after, white light flashed and the jade pendant suddenly stopped spinning in front of a water curtain, emitting a clear phoenix cry.

Marquis Nanlong wordlessly raised his hand and pointed at the jade pendant.

The jade pendant trembled, and a vast expanse of white mist immediately erupted from the surface of the jade pendant, sweeping forward.

A strange scene then unfolded.

Wherever the white light passed, the water curtain would distort and tear apart like a painting, vanishing into the light.

In its place was a thirty-meter-tall arched stone gate that flickered with crimson light.

There was a huge one-horned ghost head on the stone gate that almost occupied half of its surface. It was vivid and ferocious. Lu Weiying’s eyes twitched and he muttered, “This is the Blood Curse Gate?”

He didn’t know why, but when he saw this door, he suddenly felt his heart palpitate and he felt greatly uneasy.