Bachelor [EN]: Chapter 59

Han-lip was now in the marketplace, where trading was in full swing. The number of stalls had doubled, and everyone was trying to sell off their remaining items before the market closed.

Many people were also wandering around, trying to identify potential rivals for the upcoming Ascension Tournament.

With no spirit stones and only a few elixirs left, Han-lip didn’t expect to find anything of great value. He simply followed the flow of cultivators, observing the stalls, listening to their haggling, and broadening his horizons.

“That won’t do! This one is acceptable, now show me something else.”

“This is a fragment of a magic treasure! The materials alone are worth more than your bowl!”

The sounds of haggling echoed around the stall.

“A magic treasure fragment?”

Among the items, one caught the crowd’s attention, and cultivators gathered around. For a lower realm cultivator, a magic treasure was something they could only dream of. The fact that even a fragment of one had appeared in Tae-nam Valley caused people to flock like cats to the smell of fish.

“Where is it?”

“Let me see it too!”

“Is that really a magic treasure?”

“Wow, it’s beautiful…”

A man who looked to be about twenty-seven years old stood in front of the stall. His skin was dark, and his hands were large, making him look like a farmer who had somehow wandered into Tae-nam Valley. However, anyone who used their Heavenly Eye Technique [a technique to perceive spiritual energy] to check his magical power could see that he was a 10-star expert.

‘Isn’t he afraid of death, going up against someone like that?’

Some cultivators, curious, looked at the stall owner and saw an ordinary-looking man in blue robes. Despite only being at the 7th or 8th level, he showed no fear of the man before him. However, those with keen eyes noticed the leaf pattern embroidered on the stall owner’s sleeve and realized he was a disciple of the famous Jinyeop Clan, the Yeop family.

Between the two men lay a bowl with strange patterns and a translucent piece of cloth. The cloth was wrinkled and torn around the edges, as if a dog had chewed on it. The only thing that drew attention was the faint white light that shimmered from the cloth.

“This is a magic treasure?”

Most of the people who saw the magic treasure fragment couldn’t hide their disappointment.

“This fragment is peculiar. Anything covered by it immediately disappears, and while it doesn’t leak any spiritual energy, it can absorb external spiritual energy.”

The dark-skinned man explained to the stall owner with a cold face. Then, he pulled out a silver-colored rat from his sleeve.

“A first-class demonic beast, a Gold-Eating Rat!”

Someone in the crowd recognized the rat, causing another stir. Then, the man covered the rat with the cloth. Miraculously, both the silver rat and the cloth disappeared at the same time. Many people tried to find them with their Heavenly Eye Technique, but to no avail. The man seemed satisfied with their reactions and removed the cloth from where it had been, and the rat returned to its original spot.

“It has the same effect on inanimate objects as well.”

After speaking, he took out a sharp dagger and covered it with the cloth, making it disappear as well.

“Amazing!”

“It completely hid it.”

“This is incredible.”

The surrounding people exclaimed in admiration.

“So, is it worth trading for your bowl?”

The man asked the stall owner again.

“I told you, I’m not trading it. If you want to hide, just buy a few low-grade Invisibility Talismans. How can you cover my head or hide my feet with something this small?”

“Didn’t I tell you? This magic treasure fragment was made by a cultivator who reached the Core Formation or Nascent Soul stage! How can anyone below that level see through this concealment? How can you compare it to an Invisibility Talisman!”

The stall owner retorted sarcastically, and the man shouted back in anger.

“It sounds good, but this thing is useless to me! You need to offer thirty spirit stones or other items to trade for this bowl!”

The stall owner also shouted back coldly.

* * *

“You…”

The man was furious, clenching his fist and taking a step forward.

“What are you doing? Are you trying to force a trade? We, the Yeop family, won’t be easily pushed around!”

“Hmph! What’s so great about the Yeop family!”

The man in blue robes at the stall didn’t care and retorted. The man didn’t back down verbally, but he did slowly unclench his fist. It seemed the Yeop family’s reputation was indeed significant.

The man was furious that the man in blue robes was trying to intimidate him with the Yeop family name. He was a 10-star expert who was respected wherever he went. Normally, he would have already lost his temper, but no matter how much he thought about it, he really wanted that Wind Returning Bowl. The magic tool was compatible with his cultivation method, and if he could trade for it, his strength would surely increase greatly. Among the items he had, besides the magic treasure, he only had necessities, and he had used up all his spirit stones a few days ago, leaving him in a dilemma.

“Sir, how about selling me the magic treasure fragment? I’ll give you ten spirit stones.”

A man in gray robes, who had been watching, offered a trade to the dark-skinned man.

“I’m not selling it! If you want it, give me thirty spirit stones.”

He shook his head firmly, making it clear that he wouldn’t accept that price.

“Hmm. If your magic treasure were just a little bigger, it would be worth that much, but unfortunately, it’s too small. It can barely hide anything.”

The man in gray robes disappeared into the crowd, looking disappointed.

“How about twelve?”

“I’ll offer thirteen.”

The cultivators who had been listening nearby, tempted by the magic treasure fragment, began to call out prices. Even if it wasn’t very useful, it was something worth keeping and studying. It might even give them some enlightenment!

The price rose to twenty, and the person who called out the price was a plain-looking young man with a round face. The price had risen too high, and no one else was willing to bid higher. The person who had just called out the price was likely a disciple from some clan. Only they would have the money to spend on something like this.

“Twenty?”

The dark-skinned man seemed tempted. This price was above his minimum. Combined with his other items, he might be able to get the Wind Returning Bowl.

“You’re offering twenty spirit stones?”

The man looked at the round-faced young man and asked kindly. But for some reason, the young man’s face turned bright red, then pale, as if he was flustered.

“I… I don’t have that many spirit stones!”

The young man stammered, finally blurting out what he had been holding back. Everyone who heard him was dumbfounded.

“You don’t have it? Then why did you shout out the price? Are you trying to play with me?”

The dark-skinned man was furious and about to explode. The young man was suffocating under the immense pressure he was emitting.

“I just… I just called out the price for fun, since everyone else was doing it! Please forgive me, sir!”

The round-faced young man quickly explained, his face covered in cold sweat. He was only a 5-star cultivator, how could he withstand such spiritual pressure!

“Who was the one who called out nineteen just now? I’ll give you one spirit stone for free, please buy this item!”

The young man desperately tried to find a way out. Unfortunately, no one stepped forward. The person who had called out nineteen was regretting having bid so high.

“Then, is there anyone who called out eighteen?”

The young man cried out, almost in tears, as the dark-skinned man’s face grew more and more menacing. For a cultivator of his level, two spirit stones were all he had. And those were the result of over a year of hard work.

“Please wait a moment.”

A voice, neither slow nor fast, rang out, and a person stepped forward.

“And who are you?”

The dark-skinned man looked at the young man in front of him with a dark expression. He was already at the end of his patience, and if this guy also talked nonsense, he was going to beat him half to death, regardless of whether he was a 9-star expert or not.

“I am also interested in this item and wish to acquire it.”

The young man smiled, pointing at the cloth. The cultivator was Han-lip, who had been observing the entire situation. When Han-lip heard the man say that the magic treasure fragment could even conceal spiritual energy, a thought flashed through his mind.

Then, when he saw the man hide the dagger, this magic treasure became something Han-lip absolutely had to have. Even if the round-faced young man had actually offered twenty spirit stones, he would have intervened in the trade to get the item.

“How much will you pay?”

The man’s expression changed at Han-lip’s words, and he asked with a gentle face. Han-lip replied, taking out a talisman from his sleeve and placing it on the stall.

“A Flight Talisman!”

“It’s a high-grade low-level talisman!”

The cultivators who recognized the talisman on the stall exclaimed in surprise. Only about five or six high-grade low-level talismans had been traded in the entire Tae-nam Gathering, and their prices were astronomical.

* * *

The appearance of the Flight Talisman changed the way both the dark-skinned man and the man in blue robes looked at Han-lip.

“Alright! I’ll trade!”

The dark-skinned man readily agreed. How could he refuse such a profitable deal?

“Before the trade, I will verify that the magic treasure fragment can conceal objects and absorb external spiritual energy, as you said. If that is true, I will trade immediately.”

“The effects of the item I described are true, so feel free to verify it!”

The dark-skinned man smiled and agreed to Han-lip’s condition. Han-lip didn’t hesitate to take out an object and cover it with the cloth. When the object disappeared, he shot a small ball of white spiritual energy from his fingertip towards the spot. A moment later, the ball of light disappeared instantly at the spot where the object had been.

After confirming this, Han-lip’s face lit up with joy. He lightly picked up the cloth, and the object reappeared, with the spiritual energy ball that had just disappeared fluttering inside.

“Everything you said is true, sir. I will take this magic treasure fragment. The Flight Talisman is now yours.”

Han-lip took the cloth and put it in his possession, then bowed to the dark-skinned man.

“Good! You are very generous!”

The dark-skinned man was also very happy, examining the Flight Talisman he had obtained to confirm that it was genuine. Han-lip, with a smile, turned to leave the crowd, but he hadn’t gone far when a debate started.

“Isn’t he an idiot! Trading a high-grade talisman for such a useless item!”

“I know, right? How can you use such a small fragment?”

“You can’t say that. He must have a specific use for it, that’s why he traded!”

Han-lip could only laugh at their words.

‘How could you know how important this magic treasure is to me?’

“Hey, sir! Wait a moment! Please wait for me!”

Han-lip hadn’t gone far when someone shouted from behind and ran towards him.

‘Is he calling for me?’

Han-lip hesitated for a moment and turned his head. He saw the young man who had just escaped trouble running towards him. Han-lip was curious and waited for him to approach.

“Sir, I finally caught up with you!”

The young man shouted, out of breath from running.

“What is it?”

“I wanted to give you this! Thank you for your kindness, sir.”

The young man placed a small booklet in Han-lip’s hand and then ran away again, looking embarrassed.

# 61