Chapter 623: Going and Returning

A Record of a Mortal's Journey to Immortality, Volume 5: Renowned in All Directions

"Alright, we'll do as Brother Han says. But as for this zombie ghoul, fellow Daoist, how do you plan to deal with it?" The white fox transmitted its thoughts to Han Li.

"First, I'll use my Gold-Devouring Beetles to see if they can consume it. If not, it doesn't matter. We can just let this monster fend for itself. Besides, I took the jade box that might contain its master's primary soul. It won't be able to stir up any major trouble." Han Li glanced at the green-furred zombie ghoul and said indifferently.

Then, with a single hand, he slapped his waist, and a spirit beast pouch flew into the air.

Countless Gold-Devouring Beetles swarmed out, forming a several-zhang-large three-colored insect cloud that landed on the zombie ghoul.

A loud gnawing sound erupted, but after Han Li observed with a cold gaze for a moment, he saw some of the Gold-Devouring Beetles suddenly flip over and die, their originally three-colored carapaces instantly turning a vivid green.

"What potent corpse poison!" Han Li murmured, his expression slightly changing.

After a slight hesitation, he let out a soft incantation, and all the flying insects ascended once more, returning to the spirit beast pouch.

"Although the corpse poison on the zombie ghoul isn't among the ten most potent poisons in the world, it's definitely something your unevolved Gold-Devouring Beetles can't resist," the white fox said, its eyes slowly rolling.

Han Li snorted, looked coldly at the zombie ghoul, and furrowed his brow.

This creature's body was incredibly tough, likely far surpassing the venomous flood dragon he encountered that day.

The Gold-Devouring Beetles had only managed to bite through a tiny bit of its flesh. At this rate, it would likely take sacrificing ninety percent of his three-colored Gold-Devouring Beetles to completely destroy the monster. Han Li naturally wouldn't engage in such a losing endeavor.

"Let's go," Han Li said without further hesitation.

"There's no other way! We'll leave this zombie ghoul here. Perhaps it will have another use in the future!" The white fox nodded. Then, with a flash of light, it split off a small yellow wolf.

As soon as the small wolf appeared, it immediately opened its mouth towards Han Li and the white fox, enveloping them in a burst of yellow light. The man and the fox instantly vanished from the stone chamber.

Outside the cliff, Senior Martial Brother Wang, Kui Huan, and the others stood with anxious expressions.

None of them knew earth-escape techniques, so they could only wait there impatiently for Han Li's return.

"Senior Brother, do you think Junior Martial Brother Han will succeed?" Kui Huan, unable to wait any longer, asked Senior Martial Brother Wang.

Upon hearing this, the other two also looked over with concern. It was clear that all of them had considerable faith in Senior Martial Brother Wang's judgment.

"It's hard to say," Senior Martial Brother Wang mused with a wry smile. "Logically, with Junior Martial Brother Han's tenth-layer Qi Condensation cultivation, it might not be easy to catch that demonic fox. However, Junior Martial Brother Han possesses many mysterious magical artifacts, so he might give us an unexpected surprise. Whatever the outcome, it wouldn't be surprising."

Upon hearing this, Kui Huan and the other two exchanged glances.

The short, stout young man sighed, then waved his injured hand, seemingly about to say something.

But just then, a flash of light appeared on the mountain wall. Within a cluster of yellow light, Han Li emerged, carrying the small fox.

"Junior Martial Brother Han!"

"He really caught the little thing!" they exclaimed excitedly, everyone's face alight with joy.

"It was nothing," Han Li said with a faint smile. "This demonic fox was quite cunning, circling around inside. If it hadn't run out of spiritual power at the end, I probably wouldn't have caught it so quickly." He raised his hand and tossed the white fox to Kui Huan, who was standing diagonally opposite him.

Kui Huan was momentarily stunned, then eagerly caught it.

"Junior Martial Brother Kui! Be careful. Don't let it escape again!" the short, stout young man quickly reminded him from the side.

"Don't worry! I know what I'm doing," Kui Huan replied confidently as he held up the white fox.

Then he reached into his storage pouch, pulled out a green leather bag, and quickly stuffed the small fox inside.

"Heh heh! With this Azure Cloud Pouch, where do you think you'll run now?" Kui Huan said with a smug expression after quickly tying the pouch opening.

Han Li glanced at the leather pouch a few times, seeing that it was merely a low-grade magical artifact, and dismissed it from his mind.

"It's truly thanks to Junior Martial Brother Han's help that we managed to capture this demonic beast," Senior Martial Brother Wang said to Han Li with unusual sincerity, ignoring the small fox in the bag. "We are not ungrateful people. How about this: once the demonic fox is sold for a good price, Junior Martial Brother Han will take thirty percent of the proceeds, and the remaining seventy percent will be equally divided among the four of us?"

Han Li smiled faintly upon hearing this, knowing that the other party had truly decided to befriend him after witnessing his formidable abilities.

So, he nodded politely and said:

"Brother Wang can make all the decisions. I have no objections."

Although the other three were a little reluctant to receive fewer spirit stones, they also knew that without Han Li's intervention this time, their efforts would truly have been for naught.

Therefore, no one raised any objections!

Afterwards, Han Li exchanged a few more polite words with them, then immediately made an excuse about having matters to attend to and parted ways with the four, flying alone towards the sect.

After a discussion, Senior Martial Brother Wang and the other three decided to strike while the iron was hot and headed straight for a market in the central part of Cloud Dream Mountain.

With a large number of disciples from the three sects gathered there, they estimated they could sell the Snow Cloud Spirit Fox for a high price.

Thus, the three, heading in the opposite direction from Han Li, cheerfully left the swamp.

Not long after leaving the others, Han Li casually found a small hill and descended. Then, he sat cross-legged on a rock and closed his eyes to meditate.

Since he carried the jade ruyi, the white fox would be able to sense its location and find its way to him when the time came.

About half an hour later, Han Li's expression shifted, and he opened his eyes.

Almost simultaneously, the ground before him flashed with yellow light, and the white fox calmly emerged.

"You're quite quick!" Han Li said noncommittally, glancing at the white fox.

"It's not that I'm quick; it's that those few people tried to contain me with a low-grade spirit artifact. They underestimated me quite a bit," the white fox said with a grin, raising its head, a mischievous glint in its eyes. "Those fellows probably haven't even realized I'm gone yet."

"However, by doing this, those few disciples of the Falling Cloud Sect have wasted their efforts," Han Li said expressionlessly. "If the opportunity arises, I'll give them some compensation."

"If that's the case, then those few gained a blessing from misfortune," the white fox said leisurely, shaking its head.

"Alright, enough idle chatter," Han Li said, shaking his sleeve. "Transform into a smaller form and hide in my sleeve! We're heading back now."

Without a word, the white fox's body rapidly shrank amidst a silvery glow. Then, a white shadow flashed, and it leaped into Han Li's sleeve.

Since he had placed a restriction on the white fox, Han Li wasn't afraid of it suddenly turning malicious and harming him. Thus, he brazenly flew back the way he came.

Han Li didn't return directly to his cultivation cave. Instead, he took the white fox to the foot of Falling Cloud Sect's main peak.

Imbuing an artifact spirit required several materials and special auxiliary items.

The sect's market at the foot of the mountain should have what he needed.

He planned to begin this task as soon as he returned to his cave. Otherwise, as long as he hadn't yet taken this demonic spirit, which called itself Silver Moon, as an artifact spirit, he wouldn't feel at ease.

Han Li's trip to acquire the materials went smoothly. After casually finding a raw material shop, he purchased everything he needed.

Although these items weren't common, they weren't considered rare or valuable either. Therefore, no one questioned Han Li about the purpose of his purchases.

Han Li, carrying the materials and the white fox, flew contentedly towards the herb garden.

However, when he flew over the herb garden, he found two people waiting for him outside its protective formation.

One was Kui Huan, sighing and looking utterly dejected, while the other was Senior Martial Brother Wang, whose face was grim.

Seeing this, Han Li secretly sighed.

He naturally knew why the two had come. But outwardly, Han Li pretended ignorance and landed not far in front of them.

Upon seeing Han Li return, Senior Martial Brother Wang and Kui Huan exchanged glances, both showing awkward expressions.

"Fellow Daoists, why have you returned so quickly? Have you sold the Snow Cloud Fox?" Han Li asked, taking a few steps forward, his expression unchanged.

"Well... we martial brothers are afraid we've let Junior Martial Brother Han down," Senior Martial Brother Wang said with a wry smile after a moment of hesitation.

"Oh, what's wrong? Did something happen to the Snow Cloud Fox?" Han Li asked, stroking his chin, uttering words that startled the two opposite him.

"Junior Martial Brother Han, how did you know about this?" Kui Huan asked, his eyes wide with surprise and suspicion.