Chapter 830: Blood Curse Gate

A Mortal's Journey to Immortality

Seeing Han Li's action, Marquis Nanlong and the old man each unceremoniously and carefully placed a medicine bottle into their storage bags. Their gazes then naturally fell upon the two remaining ancient treasures. With two treasures and three people, it was indeed a bit difficult to divide them.

As Marquis Nanlong and the old man hesitated, Han Li blinked and chuckled softly.

"Let's do this," Han Li said slowly. "I'm not lacking in ancient treasures. If both of you fellow Daoists have enough spirit stones, feel free to take these two ancient treasures. Just pay me an equivalent amount in spirit stones."

"Given Han Daoist's generosity, it would be disrespectful for us not to accept. I, for one, have brought plenty of spirit stones," the old man surnamed Lu immediately brightened and agreed without hesitation. After all, ancient treasures were priceless and virtually unobtainable in the cultivation world of Tiannan.

Marquis Nanlong, who also lacked ancient treasures, naturally agreed to Han Li's suggestion with a smile on his face.

So, after the two of them painstakingly collected nearly all the spirit stones they possessed, they finally managed to gather a sufficient amount and handed them over to Han Li.

This way, both parties were quite pleased.

After watching Marquis Nanlong and the old man put away the two remaining ancient treasures, Han Li casually waved his hand, and the Green Silkworm Robe that Marquis Nanlong had tossed aside was drawn into his grasp, as if an afterthought. He then nonchalantly put it into his storage.

Marquis Nanlong and the old man were momentarily surprised by this. However, since Han Li had just yielded two ancient treasures to them, they found it awkward to comment on such a trivial matter.

Although the robe was rare, its practical use wasn't significant, so they allowed Han Li to pick it up.

After dividing the treasures, the three, still somewhat greedy, also picked the spirit herbs growing by the lava lake, with each person receiving several stalks.

These spirit herbs, able to survive in such a place, were naturally not ordinary. They were a fire-attribute spirit herb called 'Golden Sun Ganoderma,' a top-tier material for refining fire-attribute spirit pills.

After confirming there was nothing else here that could attract their attention, the three gathered before the stone platform again to discuss their next steps.

"Now that the treasures have been secured, I don't plan to remain in the Inner Valley any longer," Han Li said unhurriedly. "I intend to return the way we came, directly to the Outer Valley. Perhaps you two fellow Daoists would like to come along?"

"Han Daoist, don't jest," Marquis Nanlong chuckled. "My brother Lu and I have only just managed to enter the Inner Valley; we certainly won't be returning so soon. But Han Daoist, why are you in such a hurry to leave the valley?"

"No particular reason," Han Li replied casually. "I've already made some gains, and I don't intend to take any more risks. The path of cultivation is still long. I have no interest in lingering in such a dangerous place."

"Haha! I didn't expect Han Daoist to be so well-versed in self-preservation. Unfortunately, we two cannot accompany you. Han Daoist, you may leave the valley alone first," the old man surnamed Lu said with a smile.

"Go alone? But if I take the Two-Element Ring with me," Han Li asked slowly, a strange expression on his face, "how will you two fellow Daoists contend with the Arctic Primordial Light in the passage?"

"We've already considered that point. Rest assured, Brother Han!" Marquis Nanlong replied confidently and without hesitation. "Grandmaster Cang Kun had already found a teleportation array in the Inner Valley that can directly transport one back to the Outer Valley. However, it's a bit of a distance to get there, so returning the way we came would be faster. Otherwise, I would have told you directly."

Han Li was momentarily taken aback but then nodded, his expression returning to normal.

"So that's it. In that case, I shall take my leave of you two fellow Daoists now. I hope you both achieve great gains."

"We thank Han Daoist for your auspicious words!"

"I won't see you off, fellow Daoist."

Seeing Han Li truly take his leave, Marquis Nanlong and the old man surnamed Lu exchanged pleased glances.

Han Li smiled faintly, casting a fleeting, almost imperceptible glance at the crystalline skeleton. He then transformed into a streak of green light and shot towards the exit, vanishing from sight in an instant.

The old man, who had been smiling all this time, saw Han Li's escape light leave the area, and the smile on his face vanished instantly. Meanwhile, Marquis Nanlong expressionlessly patted the spirit beast pouch at his waist, and several golden-yellow birds flew out from within.

These were the 'Thousand-Mile Orioles,' his tamed spirit birds.

With a flick of his wide sleeve towards the exit, the orioles transformed into streaks of golden light and shot out, also flying into the passage. They disappeared in a flash.

Then Marquis Nanlong gently closed his eyes, seemingly sensing something.

Seeing this, Lu Weiying's eyebrow twitched slightly. He then waited calmly to the side, not uttering a word.

After an unknown period, Marquis Nanlong's eyelids twitched slightly, and then he slowly opened his eyes.

"That person has indeed left. At least he's not in the vicinity. The Thousand-Mile Orioles have searched within a ten-mile radius, and there's no trace of him," Marquis Nanlong said calmly.

"Didn't you say his spiritual sense was incredibly powerful? Could he have used a stealth technique to evade your search?" the old man surnamed Lu asked, frowning slightly.

"Don't worry. If he truly hid nearby and didn't leave, there's no way he could escape my detection. As for the reason, I won't go into detail with Brother Lu," Marquis Nanlong said, stroking his chin, a hint of something strange in his voice.

Seeing Marquis Nanlong's confidence, Lu Weiying was somewhat skeptical. However, after a moment's thought, he formed a few hand seals and cast several spell formations outwards.

A small, white sound-insulating barrier then appeared around them, completely enclosing them.

Marquis Nanlong smiled, but a hint of disapproval crossed his face.

"Being cautious is always wise. We've never been able to fully discern the true nature of this Han Daoist. His cultivation level doesn't seem high, yet he gives me a profound and unfathomable feeling. He glanced at the skeleton at the end; I wonder if he noticed anything unusual about it?" Lu Weiying said with relief after setting up the sound-insulating barrier, but a hint of surprise and doubt crept into his voice on the last sentence.

"Brother Lu, you're overthinking it. Although Han Li's abilities are considerable, how could he know the skeleton's secret? It was likely just an unconscious action. After all, the skeleton does look somewhat unusual," Marquis Nanlong said, shaking his head.

"Whether he truly noticed anything abnormal or not, it's true that he didn't want to remain with us. Perhaps he believes his abilities are sufficient to search for treasures in the Inner Valley alone!" the old man said thoughtfully after a moment's consideration.

"Alright! As long as this kid doesn't interfere with us, it doesn't matter whether he truly left the valley or not. We just need to stay vigilant. It's getting late; let's get moving."

"According to Grandmaster Cang Kun's last will, these ancient cultivator skeletons are the keys to breaking the Blood Curse Gate. Since this gate is sealed with such powerful restrictions, it's clear that whatever lies inside is extraordinary. In ancient times, Blood Curse Gates were generally used to store immensely valuable treasures. This ancient cultivator's remains turning transparent is a sign that this curse was performed. Grandmaster Cang Kun retreated from this difficulty back then, which conveniently benefits us," Marquis Nanlong said with a sigh.

"Indeed. Compared to the valuable treasures behind the Blood Curse Gate, the items we've obtained are likely insignificant. Alright, let's depart. Although the Blood Curse Gate isn't far from here, it's best we retrieve the treasures soon," the old man surnamed Lu said after a moment of contemplation.

"Brother Lu is right; let's go. I'm also very much looking forward to what lies behind the Blood Curse Gate. If Grandmaster Cang Kun hadn't coincidentally discovered this ancient cultivator's remains near the Blood Curse Gate back then, we would have been powerless against it. It's quite peculiar that the person who cast the curse on this gate back then didn't leave far from it but instead perished right here. It seems this ancient cultivator certainly had a story of their own."

"Stories or not, I'm not interested in any of that. Brother Nanlong, let's go."

Soon after, two streaks of escape light shot out from the cave beneath the colossal peak, soaring over the peak and heading towards an unknown destination.

At this moment, Han Li was not lingering nearby; he was already flying back on his return journey.

He was now a hundred miles away, and in Han Li's mind, Silvermoon was asking something.

"Master," Silvermoon's puzzled voice transmitted. "Did you truly leave? Those two were clearly hiding something from you, and that skeleton also seems to have some issues."

"Of course I know about that. It probably involves some other treasures. While I was somewhat tempted, what I'm more concerned about is the Spirit Candle Fruit. Apart from that, what other treasures in the valley would be more useful to me? We've already fallen so far behind the Ghost Spirit Sect. Regardless of what Marquis Nanlong and the other man are plotting, I don't wish to interfere further," Han Li said indifferently, flying back along the original path.

"I see. Compared to the Spirit Candle Fruit, there truly are no other treasures in this Fallen Devil Valley that would be more valuable to Master. However, what was Master's intention in suddenly picking up that Green Silkworm Robe at the end? I didn't think Master was genuinely coveting it," Silvermoon asked curiously about another matter.

"Heh heh! In this matter, you could say those two old fellows were blind," Han Li said with a slight sneer, the corner of his mouth curving upwards upon hearing her words.

"Master, what do you mean by that?" Silvermoon asked, puzzled.

Han Li didn't answer immediately. Instead, he suddenly reached out and patted his storage bag.

With a flash of green spiritual light, the Green Silkworm Robe appeared in Han Li's hand.

With a 'zzzt' sound, Han Li's hands, like hooks, easily tore open the Green Silkworm Robe along one edge.

"Oh?" Silvermoon exclaimed in surprise.

Because from a hidden seam in the green robe, Han Li had actually pulled out a small piece of material that was neither cloth nor silk. On it were crude, thick and thin lines, sketched with a charcoal pen using the most primitive method. Han Li put away the torn robe, held the thin, soft material in one hand, and examined it closely, his eyes slightly narrowed.

"This is a map. And it seems to be a map of the Fallen Devil Valley!" As Han Li gazed at the item, Silvermoon naturally saw it clearly as well. She only needed a few glances before she couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.

Han Li remained silent, but as he stared at a prominent, thick mark on the map, his eyes narrowed slightly.