Eleven glowing orbs floated before Han, each one shimmering in the night air, filling the space in front of him with a mesmerizing glow.
The clock had just struck midnight, and Han had truly become a force to be reckoned with.
Compared to the first few days when he'd only managed to collect two or three orbs, now Han was raking in rewards like never before.
Impressive!
As Han inspected the drops from his eleventh day of logging, five inferior spiritual herbs caught his eye: Tiger Blood Grass, Sunflower Blossom, Red Blood Ginseng, Rhinoceros Horn Wood, and Powerfruit.
These were all standard drops, and after a quick glance, Han stored them away, planning to refine them later.
There were also three talismans.
[Talisman: X-ray Talisman]
A talisman engraved with the X-ray technique. When activated, it allows the user to see through certain objects. The talisman can be used three times before it disintegrates.
[Talisman: Invisibility Talisman]
A talisman engraved with the Invisibility technique. When activated, the user temporarily becomes invisible. The talisman can be used three times before it disintegrates.
[Talisman: Hypnosis Talisman]
A talisman engraved with the Hypnosis technique. When activated, the user can hypnotize the target. The talisman can be used three times before it disintegrates.
Seeing these three talismans, Han immediately understood their potential uses.
What a guilty pleasure...
These talismans were a bit too "unconventional." They seemed more suited for the kind of worlds that didn’t mind bending a few rules.
X-ray vision, invisibility, and hypnosis—if someone saw Han carrying these, they might start questioning his character.
Han made sure to carefully store the talismans, keeping them in reserve for when the need arose.
[Lucky Elixir: True Qi Pill]
This pill can increase a martial artist's True Qi and also has restorative properties.
[Lucky Elixir: Vital Essence Pill]
This pill strengthens the body, boosts vitality, and fortifies essence.
Two more pills: the Vital Essence Pill was ready for Han to use, as it worked directly on the body, but the True Qi Pill was still out of reach.
At Han's current stage—Body Tempering—he still had internal breath. Only by advancing to the Meridian Realm would a martial artist's internal breath be transformed into True Qi, a much higher level of energy.
One drop of True Qi was at least equivalent to ten drops of internal breath.
This pill could only be taken by someone in the Meridian Realm, so Han could only stare at it for now. But there was no doubt that it was a valuable item.
Of all the types of elixirs, cultivation aids like this were among the most precious.
[Curious Item: Yin-Yang Dew]
When applied to the eyes, it grants the ability to see Yin and Yang, discern spirits and deities, and peer into the underworld. The effect lasts permanently.
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The last drop was particularly interesting.
According to the description, it was an item that would grant Han the ability to see spirits and discern the boundaries of life and death. It was like an innate ability, but much more powerful than anything he could fake with the Water Avoidance Pearl or Qi Perception Talisman.
Without hesitation, Han applied the Yin-Yang Dew to his eyes.
It wasn’t painful at all—rather, it was cool and soothing.
When the cool sensation subsided, Han opened his eyes. They seemed brighter than before, but still, there was no sign of Yin, Yang, or any supernatural presence.
If Han had been able to see such things in the Immortal Tree Secret Realm, he might have started questioning his own sanity...
"Now, this is truly an awakened talent," Han said, pleased with the result.
While cultivators could typically perceive Yin and Yang and spirits, this talent was far more potent and extraordinary than what ordinary cultivators could achieve.
----------------------------------------
The next morning, Han wandered outside the Peach Grove for a while before ultimately deciding to enter.
There was no way he was going to avoid this place just because of yesterday’s events.
"Han!" Yun Duo waved cheerfully at him. To his surprise, she was there too.
Lu Qingmo seemed unaffected by the previous day’s events, appearing as though nothing had happened.
After a typical lesson, Lu Qingmo brought up something serious.
“After yesterday’s earthquake, it’s likely that the nearby villages and wildernesses are going to see an increase in wandering spirits and ghosts,” she explained.
“The Department of Spirits is swamped with work, and they can’t spare anyone for the task. Would you be willing to patrol the area and clear the wild lands?”
Han and Yun Duo immediately agreed.
“If you encounter wandering spirits or ghosts, exorcising them should suffice. But if you come across malevolent spirits or vengeful souls, eliminate them on the spot.”
“Yun Duo, don’t forget to use your Soul Passage technique.”
“Got it, Master,” Yun Duo nodded, a hint of embarrassment on her face, as if recalling her previous mistake.
The two left the Peach Grove, but as soon as they were outside, Han turned to Yun Duo.
“Wait here for a second. I just remembered something I forgot to mention to Aunt Mo.”
Yun Duo blinked, nodding in agreement. She watched as Han rushed back into the building.
Han found Lu Qingmo still standing on the balcony, and quickly spoke up, “Aunt Mo, I have a question.”
Lu Qingmo eyed him carefully, preparing to throw him out if he started bringing up yesterday’s awkward incident.
What happened yesterday was far too embarrassing.
It wasn’t just that she had suffered a demonic calamity—during the event, she and Han’s souls had formed a strange connection.
That connection had made her... want to return to Han’s soul.
“Have you ever read any strange stories? Some mention that purifying and exorcising spirits can bring great rewards. Is there any truth to that?”
Lu Qingmo responded, “Exorcising spirits is a noble deed. Perhaps, in some way, it can accumulate merit.”
“Is that all?” Han blinked. “In some stories, they say that exorcising 3,000 souls can lead to immediate ascension.”
“Who would immediately ascend by exorcising spirits?” Lu Qingmo shook her head. “Your talent is already very impressive. Focus on your cultivation and stop thinking about these fantastical tales.”
“Though there are legends,” she added. “It’s said that if you protect a spirit during its reincarnation and bless its future life, the spirit will leave behind a miraculous power in gratitude, helping you achieve immortality.”
“Achieve immortality?” Han’s eyes widened.
“It’s just a nice wish,” Lu Qingmo smiled softly.
“So, is this considered a good deed?” Han asked.
“Of course,” Lu Qingmo nodded. “But unfortunately, many of these techniques that claim to grant blessings in the next life are nothing but empty words.”
Han couldn’t help but feel that, well... he might just be able to do it!
----------------------------------------
Outside Black Cloud Town, Yun Duo babbled on nonstop.
“Han, last time I didn’t react quickly enough. Don’t worry, I won’t make the same mistake this time!”
“Han, you don’t need to be scared. The wandering spirits and ghosts in the wilderness are weak, and even the malevolent ones aren’t very strong. I’ll protect you.”
“Han...”
Having already gone through one adventure with Yun Duo, Han had grown used to her endless chatter.
It wasn’t so bad, really. A little more talking from someone her age was better than complete silence.
“Do earthquakes always increase the number of ghosts?” Han asked.
“They do,” Yun Duo explained seriously. “During an earthquake, the ground’s spiritual energy becomes turbulent. Combined with natural disasters, souls that should have dispersed often linger in the human world.”
She paused, her expression thoughtful. “There’s a legend that when such natural disasters occur, the Underworld’s gates open, letting some souls return to the mortal realm.”
“Of course, that’s just a legend. No one has proven it.”
“Normally, once a person dies, their soul dissipates. It’s rare for them to linger unless they have special talents, or if the time and place are right—or if someone interferes.”
Han nodded, understanding. The idea of souls remaining behind was rare. If it were common, the human world would be swarming with ghosts by now.
But where did all those souls go? No one knew.
After all, if anyone had actually seen the Underworld, they wouldn't be coming back to tell anyone about it...