Definition
A mid-grade demon beast core, useful for alchemy and crafting, but far less valuable than a true magical treasure.
Tier-Five
A mid-grade demon beast core, useful for alchemy and crafting, but far less valuable than a true magical treasure.
Story context
Alright, fellow Daoists, buckle up. The Void Heaven Palace arc is not over, but our favorite mortal is already doing what he does best: getting the heck out of dodge. This chapter is a masterclass in Mortal Stream problem-solving. Han Li has his prize, he has a target—the Outer Star Seas—and there's a shiny inter-island teleportation array sitting in front of him. The only catch? A pair of local Core Formation gatekeepers, a squad of suspicious rogue cultivators, and one too few chairs at the table. What follows is a beautiful, layered negotiation that has absolutely nothing to do with martial prowess and everything to do with information, leverage, and the willingness to part with treasures that are 'tasteless to eat, yet a pity to discard.'
Why it matters
- Pay attention to how Han Li’s victory is engineered. He does not fight anyone. He wins because he identifies a *structural* weakness: the thin man has a secret he cannot afford to reveal, and the gatekeepers are corruptible with a resource they covet. The fight happens entirely within the social and information domain. - This chapter also reinforces Han Li’s core rule of ‘never reveal a treasure.’ He presents himself as a wandering cultivator (Fellow Daoist Qu), using a disguise and keeping his true strength hidden. Even when offering bribes, he frames them as items he “cannot use yet,” maintaining his cover as someone of lower status. - Finally, note the cold simplicity of the conflict resolution. There is no dramatic shouting match. Once the threat is delivered, the thin man yields instantly. Once the bribe is accepted, the gatekeepers comply. In the Mortal Stream, the most effective negotiations are often the quietest ones.
Quick facts
Source novel
A Record Of A Mortal S Journey To Immortality
First appearance
A Bargain Struck with a Leak
Chapter references
1
Type hints
mortal stream, information warfare, teleportation array
Guide tags
Underhanded Tactics, Information Warfare, Starry Sky Hall
Appears in chapters
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