Chapter 420: Reaching the Summit

Below the Cold Flame Ancestor, the rolling thunder light on the pockmarked old man dissipated, revealing a mutilated body.

However, this remnant body was actually several pieces of dark red wood, faintly recognizable as the remains of a puppet, each piece inscribed with mysterious patterns.

Standing not far from the puppet remains was the pockmarked old man himself, who, aside from a pale complexion, bore not a single injury.

The Cold Flame Ancestor and Xiong Shan both changed expression at the sight.

“Life-substitution puppet!” Han Li said slowly, glancing at the dark red puppet remains.

The pockmarked old man flipped his hand to produce a pill and swallowed it, his pallor quickly recovering.

“I didn’t expect such a restriction here, but no matter. There are plenty of ways to kill without direct action,” he sneered.

With that, the pockmarked old man stepped forward, pausing after each step as he advanced slowly.

The Cold Flame Ancestor shuddered and hurriedly lifted his foot to continue climbing the stairs.

But as soon as he raised one foot, his face flushed crimson as his injuries flared up; he spat out a mouthful of blood and collapsed weakly again.

A look of despair crossed the Cold Flame Ancestor’s face. His gaze fell on Han Li not far away, and a glimmer of hope appeared in his eyes. He transmitted a plea: “Fellow Daoist Han, save me!”

Han Li frowned but did not move.

Carrying Lu Yuqing alone was already taxing enough; adding the Cold Flame Ancestor would make it impossible to reach the summit even with his utmost effort.

Seeing Han Li’s expression, the hope in the Cold Flame Ancestor’s eyes dimmed. But then his brows lifted as if he remembered something.

“Fellow Daoist Han, do you want the latter half of the ‘Great Cyclic Star Origin Art’?” The Cold Flame Ancestor’s urgent voice rang in Han Li’s mind.

“You have the latter half of the ‘Great Cyclic Star Origin Art’?” Han Li’s expression shifted, suppressing his excitement as he transmitted back.

“I don’t, but if you save me now, I can take you to get it,” said the Cold Flame Ancestor.

“You mean the latter half is inside this Netherfrost Palace?” Han Li raised an eyebrow, understanding immediately.

“Exactly. The stone tablet recording the first half of the ‘Great Cyclic Star Origin Art’ was something I obtained last time I came to this Netherfrost Palace, when I accidentally triggered a restriction. I came this time for the latter half. That place is extremely hidden; without my guidance, you will never find it,” the Cold Flame Ancestor said quickly.

Han Li did not reply immediately but fell into contemplation, weighing the truth of the Cold Flame Ancestor’s words.

From the earlier conversation between the Cold Flame Ancestor and Xiong Shan, both had gained considerable benefits when they came here during the last immortal mansion opening. The Cold Flame Ancestor had also mentioned before that the ‘Great Cyclic Star Origin Art’ was obtained from a secret realm, and if it was this Netherfrost Palace, it made sense.

Moreover, when the restriction outside the immortal mansion was broken earlier, the cyan stone tablet recording the first half of the technique had resonated with the restriction here, indicating a connection between them.

Given these circumstances, the Cold Flame Ancestor’s words were about seventy to eighty percent likely true.

At that moment, the pockmarked old man had already ascended a dozen steps and was not far from the Cold Flame Ancestor.

“Fellow Daoist Han, you’re not suspecting I’m lying to save my life, are you? I am willing to swear a heart demon oath that every word is true; may I be invaded by heart demons and perish beyond redemption if I lie!” The Cold Flame Ancestor, seeing the pockmarked old man approaching, showed terror and hastily transmitted again, swearing the oath.

“Very well, I’ll trust you this time.” Hearing the oath, Han Li relaxed and nodded.

“Wait for me here.” He set Lu Yuqing down on the step and walked toward the Cold Flame Ancestor.

Lu Yuqing had closed her eyes earlier to rest, not wanting to add to Han Li’s burden.

She had already opened her eyes and witnessed the series of events, so she nodded and stood still on the step.

Ascending was extremely difficult, but descending was quite easy.

Han Li flashed several times, quickly reaching the Cold Flame Ancestor. He bent down, picked him up, and immediately turned back.

The pockmarked old man was furious at the sight.

But he was still some distance away, powerless to intervene, and dared not launch another attack. He could only watch as Han Li rescued the Cold Flame Ancestor.

Xiong Shan, continuing upward, sensed Han Li’s actions and a flicker of contempt crossed his eyes.

Carrying one person might be barely possible with a strong physique, but carrying two was pure suicide. He didn’t believe a mere True Immortal could manage it.

Han Li, holding the Cold Flame Ancestor, quickly returned to his previous step and picked up Lu Yuqing as well.

With both in his arms, his shoulders sank and he swayed slightly.

The Cold Flame Ancestor and Lu Yuqing both changed expression at this.

Han Li took a deep breath, muttered incantations, and a dazzling purple-gold light emerged on his body surface.

Several clear cries and low roars came from the purple-gold light, and then the phantoms of a celestial dragon, a colorful phoenix, a green luan, a thunder peng, and several others appeared, then flashed and merged into his body.

Han Li’s body swelled several times in size, and layers of purple-gold scales emerged on his skin. His shoulders and ribs blurred, and two more ferocious heads and four more purple-gold long arms grew out.

His body immediately steadied. The four new arms held the Cold Flame Ancestor and Lu Yuqing, and he strode forward at a pace no slower than before.

The pockmarked old man saw this and an expression of disbelief appeared on his face.

Xiong Shan also sensed something. His climbing figure paused, and he turned his head to look, a trace of shock emerging in his eyes.

He gave Han Li a deep look, then withdrew his gaze and continued climbing toward the top.

“Fellow Daoist Han, your physical body has actually reached such a level. I truly admire you!” Cold Flame Ancestor said, a hint of joy flashing in his eyes.

“Spare me the flattery. But Fellow Daoist Cold Flame, I have a question.” Han Li said calmly as he continued walking.

A trace of embarrassment appeared on Cold Flame Ancestor’s face. “Please speak, Fellow Daoist Han.”

“That man behind us—you just called him Xue Han. We all participated in the matter of the Sacred Puppet Sect back then. Could this pockmarked old man be that same Xue Han?” Han Li’s eyes flickered as he transmitted his voice.

Cold Flame Ancestor’s expression changed. He was silent for a moment, then nodded.

Hearing this, a strange glint flashed in Han Li’s eyes. He transmitted again, “If so, then the identities of those other Ghost Cry Sect cultivators—are they also false?”

“Fellow Daoist Han, it’s best you don’t inquire too much about these matters. Knowing too much will do you no good,” Cold Flame Ancestor transmitted with a meaningful tone.

“That’s true. I was merely curious,” Han Li said with a raised brow, then smiled and asked no further.

Lu Yuqing glanced at the two beside her, her beautiful eyes flickering, but she said nothing.

During their conversation, Han Li had advanced a considerable distance.

Now, only thirty or forty steps remained to the end of the staircase.

Xue Han was far behind, while Xiong Shan still steadily led the way, about to reach the finish.

Han Li looked at the steps ahead, his expression serious.

These remaining steps were the most difficult to pass. He dared not be careless, mobilizing every ounce of physical strength within him.

Two-colored light flickered on Han Li’s body as he advanced steadily, step by step.

After climbing another dozen or so steps, Han Li’s movements became extremely slow. He had to rest in place for a while after nearly every step before moving again.

Xiong Shan was in the same situation—pausing after each step.

The gravity here had reached a terrifying level, and the air itself emitted a faint trembling hum.

A hint of fatigue appeared on Han Li’s face, and the two-colored light on his body flickered unsteadily.

Seeing Han Li’s condition, Lu Yuqing and Cold Flame Ancestor couldn’t help but show concern.

“Fellow Daoist Han, why don’t you put one of us down first, take the other to the top, and then come back for the remaining one?” Cold Flame Ancestor suggested.

“That would waste too much time. Don’t worry, I can still hold on,” Han Li said calmly, glancing at Xiong Shan, who was only five steps ahead and resting.

As he finished speaking, he stepped up another level.

The step trembled slightly, emitting a low rumble.

Xiong Shan cast a sidelong glance backward, his eye twitching, and immediately stepped up as well.

Han Li’s body was now trembling slightly. He narrowed his eyes, took a deep breath, adjusted his physical strength as quickly as possible, and stepped up another level.

The summit was within reach. The one who reached it first would have a better chance to seek treasures.

Neither yielded an inch; both sprinted with all their might.

These last dozen or so steps were so heavily affected by the gravity restriction that it took them a full quarter of an hour to traverse.

As Han Li’s foot landed on the summit, the gravity around him instantly vanished, and his whole body felt incredibly light.

With a whoosh, his body shot upward more than ten zhang.

A flash of light on his body, and he halted, landing on the ground.

Although he had climbed with all his strength, carrying two people meant he had to bear three times the gravity, so he was still a step behind Xiong Shan.

He let out a long breath, looked back down, and saw Xue Han standing at the fiftieth or sixtieth step, glaring at him fiercely.

Han Li grinned at him, set down Cold Flame Ancestor and the others, waved his hand to cancel the transformation, and looked ahead.

At the summit, a purple gate tower dozens of zhang high stood before him. Golden dragons coiled around both gate pillars, their heads protruding from under the eaves, each holding a golden dragon pearl in its mouth.

On the plaque of the gate tower, there were no words, only a painting of a thousand-li ice field, rough in brushwork but very vivid.

On both sides of the gate, sections of purple high walls stretched out of sight, their destinations unknown.

Han Li examined the purple gate tower and high walls, finding them ordinary structures without any restriction fluctuations. The dragon pearls in the dragons’ mouths were not immortal treasures but mere lifeless objects.

Only the painting of the thousand-li ice field was special; its depicted scene looked familiar to Han Li.

It seemed… to be exactly the vast ice field he had passed through when flying here earlier.