The Sword Talisman

1,233 words

Everyone who witnessed this scene thought their eyes were playing tricks on them.

When they saw the gray light turn and fly back toward the Seven Mysteries Sect crowd, everyone assumed the dwarf had changed his mind—that he planned to first slaughter the other low-skilled disciples before returning to deal with the gray-robed man.

Who could have predicted that the gray streak would fly straight into the middle of the crowd, where an ordinary-looking disciple simply raised his hand and casually collected it? The scene was utterly unbelievable.

On the Seven Mysteries Sect side, everyone from Sect Leader Wang to the gray-robed man was overwhelmed with surprise and joy at this unexpected turn of fortune.

In his elation, Wang Juechu felt immense relief at his foresight in allowing Han Li to participate in the deathmatch. He realized that whether everyone survived the fight and whether the Seven Mysteries Sect could continue to exist now depended entirely on this suddenly unfathomable Doctor Han.

Li Feiyu, who knew Han Li somewhat better, stood with his mouth hanging open, unable to close it for a long time. He had always known his friend was unusual, but watching him casually collect an immortal's flying sword on the spot felt like a白日梦 from which he couldn't wake.

As for Zhang Xiuer, Elder Li, and Jia Tianlong on the opposite side—they were all struck speechless, their faces displaying a remarkable variety of expressions.

Numerous gazes, filled with fear, doubt, and joy, all landed on Han Li. Yet Han Li remained perfectly composed, a faint smile playing on his lips, as if the attention of so many people meant nothing to him.

But no one knew that beneath his calm and unhurried exterior, Han Li was actually quite frustrated inside.

Heaven knew, Han Li had no intention of making his move just yet! His original plan was to wait until the dwarf grew careless and dropped his golden shield, then strike by surprise. He would have quietly crept up behind the target and finished him off with a simple "Fireball."

But human calculations could never match Heaven's arrangements. Han Li had only been watching the gray streak fly back and forth, his fingers itching with curiosity, when he unconsciously used the "Telekinetic Art" he had practiced countless times—and effortlessly seized the object.

The ease with which he had taken it far exceeded his expectations. He had merely extended his spiritual power onto the gray light, easily erased the dwarf's spiritual印记, and established his own connection to it. Under his direction, the gray light wobbled unsteadily toward him like a toddler learning to walk, and he collected it without issue.

Now Han Li felt two things at once: secret delight at having so easily seized the opponent's treasure, and concern that he now had to face the dwarf directly.

He knew very well that he had no great confidence in forcibly breaking through the other man's tortoise shell. His only source of confidence was that his spiritual power was several times deeper and denser than his opponent's.

Of course, none of this concern showed on Han Li's face. He understood deeply that if he could gain the psychological upper hand, he would hold a significant advantage in any actual confrontation, increasing his chances of victory. This was a trick he had learned from the Blinking Sword Art manual.

Thus, while the dwarf looked like he was facing a great enemy, Han Li showed the opposite—an expression of complete confidence.

He now idly toyed with his newly acquired treasure. The gray light in his hand pulsed restlessly with spiritual energy, cold light streaming from it, making its true form impossible to discern.

Han Li glanced up at the pale-faced dwarf and smiled faintly. Wrapping his hands in spiritual power, he rubbed the gray light between his palms. The light immediately dissipated, revealing its true appearance.

It was a talisman—and not just any talisman, but a peculiar one bearing the image of a small gray sword.

The gray sword on the talisman paper was drawn with such lifelike detail that it seemed almost real. Even without spiritual power driving it, the small sword emitted a faint, flowing light, as if it were a true peerless blade, radiating a chilling edge.

Seeing this, Han Li felt some disappointment. This was clearly not a flying sword or any similar magical treasure. Though peculiar, it was still just a paper talisman.

But then he recalled the majesty with which this same talisman had displayed its power, and he felt some consolation. After all, he had witnessed its might firsthand, and it would surely prove useful to him in the future.

Han Li casually tucked the talisman into his bosom. He dared not use it openly in front of its original owner—who knew what tricks the dwarf might have embedded in it? Besides, his "Telekinetic Art" had seen very little practical use and was still quite clumsy. Even if he tried to use the talisman now, he probably couldn't harm his opponent anyway.

On the opposite side, Brilliant Gold Elder watched helplessly as Han Li stowed his treasure away. Rage burned in his chest, but he lacked the courage to charge forward. The other party had easily erased his spiritual印记 from the talisman, which meant Han Li's spiritual power was at least several times deeper than his own. He simply didn't have the nerve to fight.

Seeing the dwarf hesitate and shrink back, clearly furious but afraid to speak, Han Li understood that his opponent was completely intimidated and had no idea of his true strength. His boldness grew.

Han Li decided to continue his game of borrowing the tiger's might. After casting the Wind Riding Technique on himself, his form flickered several times as he appeared directly before the dwarf.

Brilliant Gold Elder's fear deepened at Han Li's ghostly movement. He couldn't help but step back several paces, speaking in a weak, fearful tone:

"What do you intend? I haven't encroached on this area's mines, nor have I picked any spirit herbs or medicines. I've only collected some gold from mortals. I haven't violated the interests of your local families. You have no reason to kill me."

Hearing this, Han Li felt secret joy. He understood that the dwarf had mistaken him for a member of some immortal cultivation family. His confidence swelled further. He deliberately smiled blandly, then leaned in with a mysterious air and asked softly:

"And who might you be, sir? Why have you taken the initiative to involve yourself in mortal affairs and disrupt the local secular order? This puts my family in a difficult position."

The dwarf's spirits lifted at the mild tone of Han Li's words. It seemed the other party had no intention of attacking him. His small eyes darted around several times before he quickly deflected:

"I am a disciple of the Ye family of Qin Ye Ridge. I was only passing through here. I have some old ties with the Wild Wolf Gang's chieftain, so I couldn't refuse his plea and lent a hand. I had absolutely no intention of offending your family. I hope you'll forgive me, brother. May I ask which family you represent? I will surely come to apologize properly in the future!"

(Readers, if you enjoy the story, please don't forget to bookmark this chapter.) (The chapter ends.)

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Reading Guide Decoding

Han Li Steals an Immortal's Sword and Bluffs His Way to Victory

Cultural / Xianxia Notes

The Sword Talisman (剑符): What Han Li just seized isn't a fully-fledged flying sword (飞剑)—those are legendary weapons controlled telekinetically by high-level cultivators. Instead, it's a sword talisman: a single-use or limited-use talisman imbued with the power of a flying sword. In xianxia terms, it's like getting a prototype or a rental of the real thing. Useful, powerful, but not quite the legendary treasure. This distinction matters because it shows that the dwarf is powerful enough to wield such a tool, but not powerful enough to own the real deal—a subtle hint at his place in the cultivation hierarchy.

The Telekinetic Art (驱物术): This is one of the five basic spells for cultivators, but Han Li's use here is remarkable. He doesn't just move the talisman; he overwrites the dwarf's spiritual印记 on it. In cultivation logic, this is like a hacker taking over a remote server with superior administrative privileges. The fact that Han Li can do this so easily proves that his raw spiritual power (法力) is far deeper than the dwarf's, even if his martial skills with the spell are still clumsy.

The Art of Bluffing (虚张声势): Han Li's psychological games here are a core tenet of the Mortal Stream. He knows he may not be able to break the shield, so he uses the fear of the unknown as his primary weapon. The dwarf, assuming Han Li is backed by a powerful immortal family, folds under the pressure. This is classic xianxia realpolitik: power is not just what you can do, but what others believe you can do.

Chapter Overview

Get ready, friends—Han Li has officially stepped out of the shadows and into the spotlight, and he's doing it with style! Chapter 92 is a masterclass in psychological warfare, where our favorite cautious cultivator accidentally steals an immortal's flying sword and then bluffs his way into the other guy's head. The battlefield goes quiet; everyone, friend and foe alike, is stunned into silence. But behind Han Li's serene smile, his brain is running at lightspeed, calculating risks and masking his own uncertainty. This chapter beautifully demonstrates that in the Mortal Stream, sometimes the most powerful weapon isn't a spell—it's the fear in your opponent's eyes.

Key Plot Points

The gray light turns back toward the Seven Mysteries Sect, and everyone assumes the dwarf is about to massacre the low-level disciples. Instead, Han Li casually raises his hand and collects the flying object—an act so shocking that the entire battlefield freezes in disbelief.
Sect Leader Wang Juechu feels a wave of relief and self-congratulation for allowing Han Li to participate in the deathmatch, realizing the sect's survival now depends entirely on him.
Li Feiyu is stunned speechless, his mouth hanging open, as he processes that his friend has just casually collected an immortal's flying sword. He acts as the reader's proxy for the sheer absurdity of the moment.
Underneath Han Li's calm exterior, he's actually frustrated: he never intended to reveal himself yet! He explains that he used his Telekinetic Art almost unconsciously, drawn by curiosity, and was surprised by how easily he erased the dwarf's spiritual印记 and claimed the talisman.
Han Li realizes he has no sure way to break the dwarf's golden shield, but his confidence is bolstered by his superior spiritual power reserves—several times deeper than the dwarf's.
After examining the captured object, Han Li discovers it is not a flying sword but a talisman bearing the image of a gray sword. Though disappointed, he recalls its displayed power and pockets it for future use.
The dwarf, Brilliant Gold Elder, is utterly intimidated. He mistakes Han Li for a member of a local immortal cultivation family and begins to grovel, claiming he only sought gold and meant no offense.
Han Li decides to maintain the bluff, adopting a mysterious tone as he questions the dwarf's motives, buying time and psychological advantage.

Reading Guide

This is a turning point where Han Li transitions from purely reactive survival to proactive manipulation of situations. He's no longer just dodging bullets; he's starting to decide which bullets to fire.
Note how the narrative contrasts the dumbfounded reactions of the mortals (Li Feiyu, the sect leader) with Han Li's internal frustration. This highlights the "normal person vs. cultivator" gap that the novel constantly reinforces.
Pay attention to the detail that Han Li's Telekinetic Art is still "clumsy." This is a deliberate authorial choice to keep Han Li's power feel earned and unstable—he's not a perfect genius, but a man who succeeds through preparation, luck, and rapid adaptation.
This chapter sets up a key dynamic for the arc: raw power vs. social leverage. Han Li has the power, but he's using the assumption of a powerful family behind him to control the conversation. Watch how this bluff plays out.