Bachelor [EN]: Chapter 176

Han Li’s face was pale as he swallowed hard, staring at the dented groove on his Turtle Shell Magic Artifact. It was clear that even this couldn’t fully withstand the monster’s attacks.

Before he could formulate a plan, the mantis rubbed its two forelegs together, then took flight, its gray wings emitting a faint light.

Han Li had completely forgotten that the mantis was an insect with wings. He could no longer rely solely on his Rapid Shadow Step [a movement technique that creates afterimages].

He activated auxiliary magic techniques like the Body Lightening Technique [a technique to increase speed], and from his Demonic Treasure Pouch [a magical storage pouch], he released golden, black, and red glows.

He intended to strike first and gain the upper hand. However, the mantis didn’t wait for Han Li’s attack.

The moment he floated into the air, the mantis flashed and disappeared, then reappeared above him, poised to slice him in two with its sharp front legs.

But at this moment, Han Li was calmer than ever.

His shoulder flickered, leaving an afterimage as he vanished from his spot. Only the Golden Thread Mother Swords [a set of small, sharp swords] and the Five Dragon Rings [a set of magical rings], which had been circling him, flew towards the monster like a swarm of bees.

The giant mantis swung its two blades at an incredible speed, creating a net-like barrier along their trajectory.

The moment three of the Golden Thread Mother Swords’ blades and a red hook touched the barrier, they shattered into fragments and scattered.

In the gap, Han Li, who had reached the Wind Riding Shuttle [a flying artifact], felt a sharp pain in his chest.

As he hurriedly recalled the remaining magic artifacts, the lights that had been approaching the mantis’s blades quickly turned back.

However, the mantis didn’t stop. It crossed its front legs again, catching up to the retreating magic artifacts with fierce momentum and shattering the two golden blades.

Han Li was heartbroken, feeling like he could spit blood. The Golden Thread Mother Swords weren’t particularly valuable, but it was rare to have so many as a set.

Moreover, he had used them like his own limbs for years and had grown fond of them. He never imagined they would be shattered like this.

It was fortunate that the Five Dragon Rings, which Han Li cherished, were undamaged.

However, if he didn’t come up with a plan soon, not only would his remaining magic artifacts be in danger, but his own life as well.

He steeled his heart and frantically poured spiritual power into his feet. At the same time, the Wind Riding Shuttle vibrated slightly and shot up as a streak of white light. He had acted on the assumption that the monster wouldn’t be able to follow the Wind Riding Shuttle.

However, his assumption was completely wrong. The mantis was chasing him closely.

‘This is impossible! Its attack power is immense, and it’s faster than the Wind Riding Shuttle. How can this be?’

He was filled with resentment at this unprecedented situation. He was certain that the mantis monster was a higher-level creature than the white spider he had encountered in the underground cave.

This giant mantis seemed to be beyond the peak of a Fourth-Level monster, possibly even a legendary Fifth-Level one. It was a species that could rival a Core Formation cultivator [a high-level cultivator].

As this thought crossed his mind, cold sweat ran down Han Li’s back, and he desperately sent out fireballs.

Although the monster cleaved them apart instantly, it slightly slowed its flight speed, buying him some time.

However, at this rate, he would eventually be caught. He did his best to defend while also diverting his consciousness to search through the Demonic Treasure Pouch.

Suddenly, something soft caught his attention, and a thought flashed through Han Li’s mind. He lowered his head to look at the ground, then fiercely changed the Wind Riding Shuttle’s direction, diving into the dense undergrowth.

At the same time, he selected a magic artifact from the Demonic Treasure Pouch and threw it, deploying five puppet soldiers.

The magic artifact activated, and the soldiers shot out, firing arrows of light at the monster that was chasing Han Li.

Despite his frantic attacks, the giant mantis danced its blades, shattering the magic artifact and puppets in a short time.

However, by the time the mantis had blocked the attacks and tried to find him, Han Li had disappeared into the dark undergrowth.

The mantis’s green eyes flashed as it slowly flew low, quickly sweeping through the area near the undergrowth.

At that moment, Han Li, who was watching, was under a large tree, looking up at the giant mantis circling above.

He was wearing a silk cloak that completely concealed his aura. This Spirit Concealing Veil [a cloak that hides one’s presence] was the magic artifact that Xian Ni had used in the battle against the white spider.

This cloak perfectly concealed not only the fluctuations of spiritual energy but also his breathing and scent.

Han Li was hoping that the mantis would quickly leave. If the monster didn’t move as he wished, it would be a very difficult situation. He was holding the Blood Spirit Nail [a powerful, lethal artifact] in one hand, just in case.

The Blood Spirit Nail had shown incredible speed and lethality when used by the Black Fiend Cult Master, but after seeing the giant mantis’s power, he wasn’t sure if it could definitely deal with the mantis.

The giant mantis circled the undergrowth several times before suddenly dropping rapidly towards the spot where Han Li was hiding. Han Li’s face turned pale as he watched.

He stared blankly at the monster that seemed about to reach him, and decided to release the Blood Spirit Nail the moment the monster got closest. This was the only way to kill the monster.

Although the risk he had to take was enormous, this was a critical moment where he couldn’t consider such things.

His heart pounded in his ears, and he took a deep breath, just about to activate the Blood Spirit Nail.

However, at that moment, something absurd happened. The mantis, just twenty or so feet away from Han Li, changed direction and landed not far from him.

A moment later, a miserable animal sound was heard, and the mantis soon returned, carrying a huge boar.

Watching the mantis’s back, he slumped down, landing on his rear.

If he hadn’t delayed his attack, risking everything, he would have been the monster’s meal instead of the boar.

His survival could only be described as a stroke of luck. Han Li sighed deeply, and as he thought of the person responsible for this disaster, a fire blazed in his chest.

It was definitely a trap set by the Soul Controlling Sect cultivator who had taken over Gokhun’s body. He had been thoroughly tricked by the opponent’s meticulous and cunning plan.

“Ha! Now that I’ve survived, let’s see how you get out of this!”

He had placed three Spirit Stabilizing Charms [charms that restrict movement] on him, so he couldn’t have escaped yet. Once he met that person again, he wouldn’t let him off the hook.

Once his stamina and magic power had recovered to some extent, he moved cautiously to avoid attracting the monster’s attention.

As the cold wind brushed against his body on the way back, his agitated mind calmed down, and his head began to clear.

He carefully reviewed the events that had occurred since he met the fake Gokhun.

As he recalled the facts revealed by the Demonic Soul Controlling Sect cultivator and the mantis monster at the same time, something felt off. He doubted that the man was really a Foundation Establishment cultivator [a mid-level cultivator].

There was no way that such a powerful insect monster could exist naturally in a place only a hundred miles away from Jia Yuan City. He considered the power the man had enjoyed in the Soul Controlling Sect and the assumption that he had raised the giant mantis.

It was unbelievable that a Foundation Establishment cultivator had captured and tamed such a powerful spirit beast. A spirit beast of that level could easily handle three or four late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators.

‘Then, that person wasn’t originally a Foundation Establishment cultivator, but a Core Formation cultivator…’

He was startled by his own speculation. And as he approached the small mountain peak where he had been earlier, he stopped and pondered.

He couldn’t understand how a Core Formation cultivator had lost his body and become a pitiful soul wandering around.

If he had encountered a Core Formation cultivator of similar level, he should have been able to escape, even if he couldn’t win. Unless he had faced the Nascent Soul old monsters [extremely powerful cultivators] of Yue Country.

However, the Nascent Soul cultivators of the Seven Great Sects had long since stopped interfering in worldly affairs, and some of them weren’t even in Yue Country.

Even though the Demonic and Righteous paths were engaged in such a large-scale war, there was no news of Nascent Soul cultivators from either side getting involved.

He couldn’t imagine what would happen if Nascent Soul cultivators got involved. He wondered what their intentions were, just watching from the sidelines while their disciples fought.

‘Could he have accidentally encountered one of those old monsters?’

If the soul inside Gokhun’s body was that of a Core Formation cultivator, it would explain the secrets of the Demonic path and the existence of the mantis monster.

After thinking this through, Han Li broke out in a cold sweat and wore a strange expression. He was both afraid and excited.

‘Did he deliberately pretend to be a low-level cultivator to play with me?’

Han Li began to think again, starting with the worst-case scenario.

‘No, he wouldn’t have deliberately tried to appear weak!’

Regardless of anything else, it was a fact that the opponent had only taken over Gokhun’s body a few years ago. If that was the case, the profound magic power he had possessed in his previous life would have been lost, and he would have had to rebuild his magic power from scratch. Therefore, he was currently only at the level Han Li had perceived.

Moreover, the opponent had already lost control of the mantis monster. If he had been able to control it, he wouldn’t have been traveling alone, leaving such a powerful guardian behind.

The opponent was weaker than ever now. The reason he had tricked Han Li into going to the cave was because he had hoped the mantis monster would kill him instead.

After reviewing the situation, he had figured out the truth. Now that he had a grudge against the Soul Controlling Sect cultivator, there was no need to seek an opportunity to gain an advantage. If that person escaped and recovered his Core Formation magic power, he would tear him to pieces.

Therefore, he couldn’t let this Soul Controlling Sect cultivator live. No longer hesitating, he rode the Wind Riding Shuttle to the mountain peak.

He arrived at the summit in an instant and saw Gokhun, who was completely immobilized by the charms. He was delighted and took out his magic artifacts.

Conversely, the opponent, upon seeing Han Li, was shocked as if he had seen a ghost. However, he forced a smile and began to move his lips.

Han Li unleashed two streaks of black light in just a few steps. Now that he had decided to kill him, there was no need to hesitate. As the Five Dragon Rings flew towards him with a menacing aura, Gokhun’s expression changed.

Han Li expected him to be torn to pieces, but Gokhun’s body flickered and dodged the attack.

“What are you doing! Have you forgotten your oath!”

The Soul Controlling Sect cultivator was also furious, having nearly died. He hadn’t expected Han Li to launch such an offensive the moment he appeared.

Han Li ignored his words and stared intently at the three Spirit Stabilizing Charms on the opponent’s body.

‘The charms didn’t fall off, but he moved?’

He was filled with doubt at this unbelievable event.

However, now was not the time to argue with the opponent. He immediately poured spiritual power into the Five Dragon Rings, increasing their size several times, and the much thicker streaks of black light tried to engulf him again.

He had decided to sacrifice Gokhun’s body to destroy the cunning Core Formation cultivator’s soul.

Only then did the Soul Controlling Sect cultivator realize that Han Li was determined to kill him. He opened his mouth and spat out a green light, which blocked the Five Dragon Rings’ attack.

As the opponent blocked his attack, Han Li looked at the green light with suspicion. The dazzling short sword, about an inch long, had a light that resembled moonlight.

“A magic treasure!”

Han Li’s expression changed slightly.

Since the opponent had a magic treasure, it would be more difficult to deal with him, but if he could destroy him in this battle, that magic treasure would be his.

It was now certain that the soul possessing Gokhun’s body was that of a Core Formation cultivator. Thinking this, Han Li continued his fierce attacks with the Five Dragon Rings while holding the Soul Capturing Bell [an artifact used to capture souls] in his other hand.

The reason he hadn’t taken it out from the beginning was because he had thought that the Spirit Stabilizing Charms had completely immobilized the opponent, but now he needed to use the Soul Capturing Bell to subdue him again.

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