Chapter Seventy-Six: The Mysterious Little Bottle

“The Sun Mark… If what Nangong said is true, then those with the sun mark on their foreheads should be cultivators of the ancient divine race, and their cultivation must be exceedingly profound. In life, Nangong must have been an extremely powerful figure. Yet he claims that those of the ancient divine race, upon reaching the Sixteen-Star Sun Realm, could fight as many opponents as there are people in an entire star domain like Nangong himself. Their strength is beyond imagination. But if the tale of the Battle Authority is not a fabrication, then what kind of terrifying existence could possibly slay a cultivator at that level?”

Qiu Han shut his eyes, pondering for a moment. Then he opened them again, casting aside the tangled thoughts in his heart and focusing on the mysterious little bottle in his hand. “Senior, do you recognize this object?”

“It’s somewhat unusual. Open it and see.”

At those words, Qiu Han pinched the lid of the bottle. His brows furrowed slightly as he applied more force, but after a while, he set the bottle down, his expression somewhat awkward. Gripping the Inkfeather Blade in his right hand, he slashed forcefully at the lid.

A grating, piercing screech rang out as the blade scraped against the bottle. The corner of Qiu Han’s mouth twisted with a wry smile.

“Well, um, Senior Nangong, my cultivation is insufficient—I can’t open the bottle. I must trouble you, Senior, to lend me a hand.”

Qiu Han’s tone was self-deprecating as he addressed Nangong Li in the Celestial Compass space.

“Hm? You can’t even open a mere little bottle? Use your spiritual sense to check what’s inside.”

Nangong Li sounded puzzled.

After another moment, Qiu Han responded with another bitter smile: “This… ahem, Senior Nangong, my cultivation is too low, my spiritual sense too weak—I can’t detect the secret within this small bottle at all. My spiritual sense is blocked outside… But Senior, your powers are vast and unmatched throughout the ages. Even if you’re not what you once were, a mere flick of your finger, a hint of your divine arts, would surely dispel the bottle’s mystery. Help me just this once and I will strive with all my heart to reach the Nascent Soul stage, assist you in entering the cycle of reincarnation, and restore your former glory! If ever you have need of me, I will serve you loyally, even unto death!”

The wryness at the corner of Qiu Han’s lips grew subtly sly, but his expression and tone remained deeply respectful, his attitude humble in the extreme. His words tumbled out in a rush, as if afraid his sincerity might go unnoticed.

“Boy, when did you become so good at flattery? Are you praising me or mocking me? You look the part of a decent man, but who would have thought you’re all show and no substance—useless! Back when I considered taking you as a disciple, I must have been out of my mind. Good thing I was wise enough not to make that mistake. I’d like to know which short-sighted fool actually did. If it had been me, I’d have smacked such an unworthy disciple dead on the spot. Go on, stand aside and calm your mind. I’ll borrow your body to cast a small spell and investigate further.”

Nangong Li’s voice dripped with disdain and a hint of anger.

“Hm? This little bottle’s material is no ordinary thing, nor is it a spiritual tool used by cultivators. It seems to carry a trace… of the ancient immortal clan’s aura. Could it be an artifact of the immortals? Spiritual sense is blocked… Wait, the pattern on this bottle is an array, and a pure immortal array at that… Boy, why didn’t you tell me this bottle swallows spiritual sense?”

At first, Nangong Li seemed to be speaking to himself, but then his voice thundered with rage.

“Ahem, well, to be honest, Senior, I did sense a force inside this mysterious little bottle, pulling and devouring my spiritual sense. I thought it was due to my weak cultivation. But you, Senior, are mighty—though not what you once were, you’re still formidable. I reckoned such a trifling bottle would pose no threat to you, so I didn’t think it worth mentioning. I beg your pardon, Senior!”

Qiu Han coughed awkwardly, his expression tinged with embarrassment. His attitude was all humility and deference, his explanation thorough and filled with admiration for Nangong Li’s strength—enough that no one could truly blame him. Yet the faint smile at his lips betrayed a hint of sly satisfaction, belying his supposed sincerity.

“Hmph, spare me your flattery. You think I can’t see through you? You must have suffered at the hands of this little bottle, damaged your spiritual sense, and realized you’d get nothing more except further harm. So you lavished me with praise and invoked my rebirth as leverage: help you just this once, and you’ll pledge yourself to my cause. You’re showing that you weren’t so willing to help before, but now you’ve found my weakness. Whether I believe you or not doesn’t matter—your aim is achieved. As for not mentioning the bottle’s devouring property, one, you feared I’d refuse to help if I knew; two, you saw my interest in the ancient divine race and thought I’d be intrigued by the bottle, so you played mysterious to lure me in. With all these factors, you were confident I’d act. Am I right?”

“Your methods aren’t exactly brilliant, but you know how to use circumstances to your advantage. Qiu Han, for one so young, you’re quite cunning. I must say you’ve surprised me.”

Nangong Li’s analysis was thorough and unerring, and Qiu Han was inwardly shaken. Truly, Nangong Li was a millennia-old monster—his insight was astounding. Even such a minor stratagem could not escape his notice. Qiu Han coughed, looking embarrassed, and explained, “Senior Nangong, your wisdom is unparalleled. My petty scheming is nothing before you. It’s true I was at fault, but I swear I meant you no harm. Please, be magnanimous and do not hold it against me. Whatever I promised, I will fulfill with all my heart, and if I break my word, may my soul scatter and never enter reincarnation!”

“Hmph, enough. Who am I to argue with a mere Qi Refining novice like you? So, you want to know what’s inside this bottle. I’ll tell you: even in my current state, I cannot open it. Still, I know roughly where it comes from. This bottle is the artifact of an immortal.”

“An immortal? You mean a high-level cultivator’s treasure?”

Qiu Han was puzzled.

“Cultivator? Boy, have you never heard the legends of the ancient immortals? Let me tell you, this mysterious little bottle isn’t the tool of some mere cultivator—it’s a true relic of the ancient immortal clan.”