203: Reverse fate

The bloody scent of Caixia Mountain had not yet dissipated, and the birdsong in the forest carried a hint of panic.

"Han Li"—or rather, the mo yuan fragment dominating this body—silently wiped away the non-existent blood on his fingertips and stuffed the few low-quality Spirit Stones and the "Evergreen Skill" manual he had scavenged into his bosom.

A cold stream of data flashed through his consciousness, and the optimal path based on fragmented memories and the current environment was being rapidly generated.

"Target: Yellow Maple Valley."

"Current Identity: Seven Mysteries Sect Menial Disciple, suspected of killing an Outer Sect Disciple (Corpse disposal: No need to dispose, forest beasts will handle it)."

"Risk: Seven Mysteries Sect investigation (probability 37%), Mo Juren's attention (probability 91%). Must move away as soon as possible."

"Resources: 4 low-quality Spirit Stones, 1 low-grade Cultivation Technique, 1 woodcutter's knife, a small amount of dry rations."

"Plan: Head directly north, cross the Lanzhou border, and proceed to the sphere of influence of Yellow Maple Valley in Jingzhou. Avoid major towns along the way, use Spirit Stones to replenish stamina, and attempt to Cultivate the "Evergreen Skill" to lay the foundation."

The plan was set, without the slightest hesitation.

He took one last look in the direction of the Seven Mysteries Sect, and in those eyes that belonged to a youth but were filled with cold rationality, there was not a trace of attachment.

Immediately turning around, his figure merged into the dense forest and sped off towards the north.

His movements were nothing like those of a malnourished menial Disciple; his steps were precise, his breathing long and steady, and he could always avoid rugged terrain in the most energy-efficient way, as if he were an efficient machine in motion.

This was the ultimate control over energy and the body brought about by the instinct of the mo yuan fragment.

On the way, he attempted to circulate the crude "Evergreen Skill".

The incantation of the Cultivation Technique flowed through his mind once, and its operating principles, efficiency Bottlenecks, and even subtle errors were instantly analyzed thoroughly.

He did not follow the Cultivation Technique entirely as described, but based on his own understanding, he made fine adjustments, and the efficiency of absorbing Spiritual Qi was actually increased by several tenths compared to the original version.

The few low-quality Spirit Stones were held in his hand, and the pure energy was extracted bit by bit, flowing into his parched Meridians and nourishing this weak body.

Although it was a drop in the bucket, it was enough to support him in traveling day and night.

He avoided the main roads, taking only remote trails, drinking mountain spring water, eating wild fruits, and occasionally hunting small beasts to fill his stomach.

Sleeping in the open and eating in the wind, it was extremely arduous, but there was no expression on his face, only a pair of eyes that constantly observed, calculated, and evaluated the environment.

More than ten days later, he had moved far away from the Caixia Mountain area and stepped into a sparsely populated barren mountain in the north of Lanzhou.

On this day, just as he was climbing over a steep mountain ridge, the sounds of weapons clashing and shouting vaguely came from the valley ahead, mixed with faint fluctuations of magic power.

"Combat encountered. Participants: Cultivator. Energy level: Low (Qi Refinement Stage). Suggestion: Evade."

His consciousness immediately gave feedback.

He lowered his figure and, like a nimble cat, silently climbed onto a giant rock to the side to overlook the scene below.

In the valley, three Cultivators wearing identical green Daoist robes, with cultivation levels around the fourth or fifth layer of the Qi Refinement Stage, were besieging a middle-aged Cultivator dressed in luxurious but now damaged clothing, whose cultivation level was around the sixth layer of the Qi Refinement Stage.

Two corpses were already lying on the ground, and judging by their clothing, they were on the same side as the middle-aged Cultivator.

"Manager Li! Hand over that 'Red Sun Ginseng', and I will spare your life!" a green-robed Cultivator shouted sternly, his Flying Sword attack becoming increasingly fierce.

The middle-aged Cultivator known as Manager Li was struggling to defend himself, his face pale as he shouted angrily: "You people from the Hundred Herbs Hall dare to engage in foul play! This ginseng is needed by my Young Lord to save his life, how can..."

Before he could finish speaking, another green-robed Cultivator spotted an opening, and a poisonous needle Magical Artifact shot silently towards his ribs!

By the time Manager Li noticed it, it was already too late, and despair flashed in his eyes!

Just at this moment, the "Han Li" on the rock flickered his eyes.

"Opportunity analysis: Hundred Herbs Hall (a small local Cultivation force in Lanzhou). Manager Li (suspected to be a member of a Family in Jingzhou). Red Sun Ginseng (low-grade Spiritual Plant, average value)."

"Intervention risk: Exposure of Cultivator identity (100% probability), possible pursuit by both sides (68% probability). Intervention benefit: Possible acquisition of more accurate route information and maps to Yellow Maple Valley (85% probability), possible acquisition of additional resources (50% probability). Benefits outweigh risks."

The calculation was completed in an instant.

Just as the poisonous needle was about to hit Manager Li, an inconspicuous pebble shot down from the rock, hitting the side of the poisonous needle with absolute precision!

Ding!

With a soft sound, the poisonous needle was deflected by an inch, flying past the corner of Manager Li's clothing and sinking deep into the ground!

"Who?!" Both sides of the battle were startled, and they looked up at the top of the rock abruptly.

They saw a ragged, young-faced but cold-eyed youth standing there silently, weighing another pebble in his hand.

"Where did this wild brat come from! You're courting death!" A green-robed Cultivator saw that it was just a Mortal youth ("Han Li" had deliberately restrained the meager Spiritual Qi he had just Cultivated), felt teased, and raised his hand to slash with a Wind Blade!

"Han Li" did not dodge or avoid it, and only when the Wind Blade reached his body did he sidestep at an impossibly tiny angle. The Wind Blade shattered the rock behind him, but he remained unharmed.

At the same time, he flicked his wrist, and a second pebble shot out, not targeting the Cultivator, but Manager Li, who had just escaped death and was stunned!

The pebble gently struck an Acupoint on Manager Li's lower back.

Manager Li's body went numb, and his previously congested Spiritual Qi instantly became much clearer!

Although he didn't understand why, at this critical moment of life and death, his reaction was extremely fast. He roared, the light from the Magical Artifact sword in his hand surged, and he fiercely forced back a green-robed Cultivator in front of him, taking the opportunity to swallow a Medicinal Pill, and his Aura recovered quite a bit!

"Many thanks, little friend!" Although Manager Li did not know if this strange youth was a friend or foe, he had undoubtedly helped him a great deal at this moment.

The three green-robed Cultivators were shocked and angry, and their attacks resumed, but because they had to be distracted to guard against the strange youth on the rock, they became restricted.

"Han Li" did not attack directly again, but just stood there silently, occasionally throwing a pebble seemingly at random, either hitting the key nodes where the green-robed Cultivators exerted force, or hitting the ground around Manager Li to indicate the direction to dodge.

Every intervention was precise and perfect, subtly guiding the battle towards a balance.

He used purely Mortal means, yet achieved effects that Spells could hardly reach.

Those cold eyes and his precise grasp of the battle situation made the three green-robed Cultivators feel a chill in their hearts.

Finally, one green-robed Cultivator had his opening seized by Manager Li and was severely injured by a sword!

The remaining two saw that the situation was hopeless, exchanged glances, gritted their teeth, helped up their companion, and fled out of the valley in a sorry state.

Manager Li did not pursue, as his consumption was huge and he was already at the end of his rope.

He panted heavily, looking at the youth on the rock with vigilance and gratitude.

"Han Li" slowly walked down from the rock and came to Manager Li, getting straight to the point, his voice calm and waveless: "I want to go to Yellow Maple Valley. Give me a map and the route."

Manager Li was stunned and carefully examined the youth, only then did he discover that there was a thin flow of Spiritual Qi in the other party's body, obviously a Cultivator who had just entered the path, but that miraculous method just now...

He suppressed the shock and suspicion in his heart and hurriedly cupped his hands and said: "Many thanks for your life-saving grace, little friend! I am a manager of the Li Family Village in Jingzhou, and this trip is precisely to return to Jingzhou! Yellow Maple Valley is within Jingzhou, and I am very familiar with the route! If you don't mind, little friend, you can travel with me!"

"Fine." "Han Li" agreed concisely.

With Manager Li as an old horse who knew the way and a local snake, the subsequent journey was countless times smoother.

Not only did they avoid many dangerous areas, but they were also able to carry out small amounts of resupply at some small markets where Loose Cultivators gathered.

Manager Li was grateful for "Han Li"'s life-saving grace, and seeing that although he was young, he was unfathomable, he was even more inclined to befriend him, telling him everything he knew, detailing the rules for Yellow Maple Valley recruiting Disciples, the preferences of several Foundation Establishment Stage Junior Martial Uncles, and even the distribution of forces in the Jingzhou Cultivation world.

Half a month later, the border of Jingzhou was already in sight from afar.

On this day, the two were resting by a small stream.

Manager Li looked at the youth sitting silently opposite him, whose Aura was becoming more and more solid day by day, and finally couldn't help asking: "Little friend Han, your natural talent is extraordinary, and your intelligence is far beyond your peers, why must you join Yellow Maple Valley? With your ability, even as a Loose Cultivator, your future might not necessarily..."

"Han Li" opened his eyes, his gaze still cold: "There is something there I must avoid, and also a path I must take."

Manager Li seemed to understand but not quite, and wanted to ask more, when suddenly, a melodious bell rang from the distant horizon, and a brilliant sword light flashed across the sky, in the direction of the Yellow Maple Valley mountain gate!

"It's the Yellow Maple Valley Welcoming Bell! It seems it is just the time for them to open the mountain to recruit Disciples!" Manager Li said with pleasant surprise, "Little friend, let's speed up our pace; we should be able to arrive tomorrow!"

"Han Li" looked up at the direction where the sword light disappeared, and deep in his cold eyes, a tiny ripple seemed to rise.

Avoid Mo Juren, avoid the predetermined fate brought by the little green bottle.

Step directly into the Immortal gate, and in another way, start the path of the Dao.

The trajectory of fate seemed to have already deviated.

He stood up in silence.

"Let's go."