In the treacherous world of cultivation depicted in The Immortal Ascension (凡人修仙传), survival hinges on more than powerful spells or rare elixirs. For Han Li (portrayed by Yang Yang), a seemingly insignificant green vial becomes the catalyst for his journey, accelerating his cultivation of the Changchun Gong (长春功) technique far beyond his initial expectations. Yet, his greatest lesson arrives not from the vial's magic, but from the lethal betrayal orchestrated by the man who first guided him onto the spiritual path – his own master, Mo Dafu (墨大夫). Their confrontation in the secluded valley reveals that the most potent weapon Han Li possesses isn't mystical energy, but the foundational skills of perception and intellect honed under duress. This clash, where deceit meets desperate ingenuity, lays bare the brutal realities of a cultivator's ascent.
The Poisoned Pact
Driven by a terminal illness, Mo Dafu's time dwindled to a mere year. His survival hinged entirely on Han Li reaching the fourth level of the Changchun Gong. When Han Li's (韩立) progress remained frustratingly slow, Mo abandoned mentorship for coercion. He revealed the horrifying truth: the "supplement" he had forced upon Han Li contained a dormant parasite. Failure meant the creature would awaken, consuming Han Li's internal organs in an agony-filled demise. The threat hung heavy in the valley air.
Han Li remained outwardly stoic, but Mo pressed his advantage. A chilling mention of Han Li's family in Qingniu Town (青牛镇) shattered the young man's composure. Faced with the endangerment of his loved ones, Han Li capitulated, promising the impossible: fourth-level mastery within three months. Mo, feigning benevolence, declared he would stay in the valley yet grant Han Li freedom from constant surveillance. "Practice as you wish," he offered, a hollow gesture masking his desperation.
Han Li recognized the deadly game. Mo's sudden leniency was a trap, a final test before the planned possession. Behind his calm facade, Han Li meticulously prepared. He accelerated his cultivation in secret, pushing the Changchun Gong far beyond the demanded fourth level, reaching an unprecedented sixth. Simultaneously, he devised intricate countermeasures against the master he once trusted, knowing their final reckoning approached with terrifying speed.
Shadows in the Mind
The anticipated confrontation erupted. Han Li's preparations proved partially effective; he overpowered Mo Dafu and administered a debilitating poison. Victory seemed within grasp. Yet, complacency proved costly. Han Li forgot the silent sentinel – Tie Nu (铁奴), the iron slave guarding the chamber door. A single, crushing blow from Tie Nu sent Han Li into unconsciousness, shattering his carefully laid plans.
Regaining awareness in Mo's secret chamber, Han Li faced the horrifying culmination of his master's scheme: soul displacement. Mo Dafu, accompanied by the spectral presence of a mysterious, long-dead Immortal whose essence resided within him, invaded Han Li's consciousness. Within the ethereal landscape of Han Li's mindscape, a brutal three-way struggle commenced for dominion over his body and spirit. The Immortal's true motive surfaced; he had manipulated Mo into forcing Han Li to the fourth level because that was Mo's own peak strength. He intended for master and disciple to exhaust each other, leaving him to claim the prize.
Han Li's hidden sixth-level cultivation shattered the Immortal's design. The surge of power was unexpected, overwhelming. Seeing his own plan unravel and recognizing Han Li's unforeseen strength, Mo Dafu experienced a moment of grim clarity. Resignation replaced ambition. "Enough words..." he conceded. In a final, paradoxical act of twisted mentorship, Mo instructed Han Li on the method to extinguish a hostile consciousness, enabling him to destroy the treacherous Immortal entity. With the words "Farewell, Master," Han Li severed the bond, ending Mo Dafu's existence and securing his own survival.
Seeds of Understanding
While Mo Dafu's initial intent in guiding Han Li was undeniably selfish – grooming a vessel for his own survival – his role proved undeniably transformative. Without Mo's ruthless intervention, Han Li likely would have remained an obscure, struggling youth in Qingniu Town, perpetually anxious about his next meal, never glimpsing the vast, perilous world of cultivation. Mo provided the essential scaffolding for Han Li's ascent: literacy, medical knowledge, and the foundational Changchun Gong technique.
Among these gifts, literacy emerged as the most profound. The simple, fundamental ability to read and comprehend text became Han Li's ultimate shield. It allowed him to decipher crucial information, question presented narratives, and ultimately, formulate his own strategies for survival. Words were the tools that unlocked understanding, enabling critical thought far beyond the mere execution of techniques. This resonated deeply with a universal truth: mastery of fundamental skills forms the bedrock of true capability.
The importance of these core competencies – reading, writing, comprehension – extends far beyond the cultivation sect. They are the universal "vial" containing potential. Writing, for instance, appears deceptively simple: a tool, a surface. Yet, the journey to articulate complex thoughts, to convey nuance and insight, demands relentless practice and deep reflection. It requires peeling back layers of assumption to reach the essence of an idea.
Han Li's ordeal underscores that profound power often resides not in the spectacular, but in the basic. The skills Mo imparted, however tainted by his motives, were seeds planted in fertile ground. Han Li's survival and future growth depended on nurturing those seeds – diligently watering them with effort, patience, and hard-won wisdom, waiting for them to take root and flourish in the unpredictable terrain of his destiny.
