Ascending from the mortal realm to become an immortal begins with taking charge of a grotto-heaven.

Seeing that his sneak attack had failed, the middle-aged rogue cultivator stopped hiding and emerged from the dense forest.

"I have no grudge against you whatsoever, so what do you mean by this!"

"We have no grudges against each other. Junior Brother Zhang, you really do have a short memory!"

The middle-aged rogue cultivator gave a cold laugh, ran his hand across his face to reveal a fair complexion, relaxed brows and eyes, and a seemingly gentle and kind smile. Yet, deep within those eyes churned an unyielding gloom and resentment. He slowly spoke:

"Well? Junior brother, do you remember me now?"

"Wang Hao!"

Zhang Li's pupils contracted slightly, and he blurted out the answer instantly.

He did remember that face; the only one who escaped the net in the fake pill case.

He did remember this face. Back then, when the sect's elixir pyramid scheme was exposed, all those involved were caught, but Wang Hao was the only one who escaped.

Wang Hao's smile deepened, but grew increasingly sinister: "It seems Junior Brother hasn't completely forgotten me. Should I say it's because you have a good memory, Junior Brother Zhang, or because you have something to hide?"

"I don't understand what you mean."

"I have never offended my senior brother. On the contrary, he once tried to sell me a fake pill, which harmed my cultivation. Now he wants to kill me. What does he mean by this?"

As he spoke, Zhang Li casually reached for his sleeve.

Seeing this, Wang Hao's murderous intent intensified, and he sneered, "Don't you understand? If you hadn't exposed my secret drug dealing to Lu Ying back then, why would I have been forced to flee the Qingxuan Sect, hiding like a stray dog?"

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Using Boiling Qi Grass instead of Nourishing Qi Grass to refine pills, and then selling them at a low price to fellow disciples, cheating them out of their fellow cultivators—Does Senior Brother Wang really think he can escape the watchful eyes of the sect elders?"

"Stop spouting your platitudes!" Wang Hao roared, his aura as a fifth-level Qi Refining cultivator spreading out, forcing the surrounding vegetation to bow low. "Meeting you today is Heaven giving me a chance for revenge! Die!"

Before he finished speaking, Wang Hao flicked his wrist, and seven or eight bone-piercing poison needles, coated with deadly poison and gleaming with a cold light, pierced through the air, sealing off all of Zhang Li's escape routes.

Zhang Li was prepared. He activated the Vajra Talisman hidden behind him instantly, and a thick and solid golden light shield firmly protected him inside.

Ding Ding Ding Ding!

A series of loud, piercing collisions rang out as all the poison needles struck the golden light shield, only to create a fine ripple, leaving not a trace.

Wang Hao's expression changed, his eyes filled with disbelief: "A superior-grade Vajra Talisman? How could you, a mere outer disciple at the third level of Qi Refining, be willing to spend such a high price to buy such a spiritual talisman?"

He was once an outer disciple of the Qingxuan Sect and knew that although outer disciples looked glamorous on the surface, they were not much better than rogue cultivators. Their meager stipends were not even enough for cultivation. Otherwise, he would not have sold fake pills for profit.

"Since you know I was almost harmed, senior brother, shouldn't I be allowed to prepare more defensive items?" Zhang Li spoke calmly through the golden light barrier, not at all like someone facing a life-or-death battle. "As for you, senior brother, it's been two years and you only have this much skill. It's rather disappointing."

"That sharp-tongued brat!"

Wang Hao smiled coldly, his hands quickly forming hand seals, and a flying sword emitting a ghostly green light whistled out of his storage bag.

"I'd like to see how long your tortoise shell can hold out."

The eerie green flying sword transformed into a blur, slashing fiercely at the golden light shield, producing a muffled sound, and the golden light shield trembled violently.

While the superior-grade Vajra Talisman possesses formidable defensive power, Wang Hao's emerald green flying sword is no ordinary weapon. It is a poisonous spirit sword he forged with all his savings after becoming a wandering cultivator. The sword is imbued with potent poison and possesses inherent corrosive power, making it the most effective counter to various defensive spells and spirit talismans.

Zhang Li's gaze narrowed slightly as he clearly sensed that the golden light shield protecting his body was getting thinner and thinner, and wouldn't last much longer.

"A mere Qi Refining Level 3, relying on a talisman to boast? I'd like to see how many strikes you can withstand under this Poison Spirit Sword!" Wang Hao grinned maliciously. "Once I shatter your turtle shell, I'll personally tear you to pieces."

As soon as he finished speaking, the emerald green flying sword circled once in the air, its emerald green aura intensifying.

call out!

With another sharp whistling sound, the eerie green flying swords slashed repeatedly at the same spot on the golden light shield.

Boom boom boom!

After several heavy blows, the cracks on the Vajra Shield became increasingly dense, and it was on the verge of collapse.

"broken!"

Wang Hao roared and unleashed his final, powerful sword strike.

click-

A crisp cracking sound rang out, and the Vajra Light Shield, which had held firm for so long, shattered, turning into countless golden specks of light that dissipated into the night wind.

The moment the barrier shattered, Wang Hao's eyes flashed with murderous intent. He suddenly lunged forward, the Poison Spirit Sword flying back into his hand. His face contorted with rage: "Without your tortoise shell, let's see how you save your life! Die!"

This is the moment!

A cold glint flashed in Zhang Li's eyes, and he no longer held back. He suddenly activated the Thunderclap Talisman hidden in his sleeve.

Sizzle—!

A blinding purple lightning bolt exploded instantly, and the violent and domineering power of lightning swept through the entire dense forest. The crackling sound of the thunder suddenly drowned out all other sounds, and its power was extremely terrifying.

Caught off guard, Wang Hao's pupils contracted sharply, and extreme fear surged into his heart.

He never expected that Zhang Li would have extra money to buy another high-grade spirit talisman.

He tried to retreat and dodge, but the purple lightning was already right in front of him, giving him no chance to react at all.

Boom!

The thunder roared and exploded, striking Wang Hao's body.

The lightning lasted for a full three breaths before gradually subsiding.

As the smoke and dust cleared, Wang Hao lay limp in the charred pit, his clothes torn to shreds, his skin covered in spiderweb-like burn marks, and wisps of purple lightning still crackling and dancing in his wounds.

"You...how could you...?"

Wang Hao stared intently at Zhang Li, who was unharmed, his eyes filled with disbelief and extreme resentment.

He never imagined that he would die at the hands of someone at the third level of Qi Refining.

Zhang Li, too lazy to listen to Wang Hao's rambling, took out the Tianyang Sword and slashed down without hesitation.

To eradicate evil completely, Zhang Li bent down and picked up the storage bag from Wang Hao's waist and the Poison Spirit Sword that had fallen to the ground. He then condensed a wisp of green flame at his fingertips and threw it onto the corpse.

The raging fire engulfed the remains and traces, completely erasing any evidence of the fight.

Having done everything, he turned and dashed into the dense forest in the night, heading at full speed towards the Qingxuan Sect.

After this ordeal, Zhang Li disregarded the depletion of his magical power and, with the blessing of the Wind Control Talisman, returned to his residence in one breath.

Even now, he is still unable to calm down.

This was the first time he had experienced a life-or-death struggle in both his past and present lives, and it was also the first time he had killed someone.

The scene of their fight in the forest kept flashing through his mind: Wang Hao's poisoned flying needles and his resentful and venomous eyes before his death.

Zhang Li felt no remorse whatsoever. If he hadn't impulsively bought two high-grade spirit talismans, he would be the one lying in the scorched earth.

He slowly exhaled, calming his restless mind.