Bachelor [EN]: Chapter 220

Two months later, Han Li finally emerged from the secret chamber.

His face looked quite tired, but his eyes were full of joy.

Every time he thought of the 72 Azure Bamboo Cloud Swords he had placed inside his body, he couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

He had spent a full 20 years refining this set of natal magic treasures [treasures refined with one’s own essence], succeeding without a single error.

Although he hadn’t tested their power yet, he was certain that after nurturing them within his body for a while, each blade would be superior to ordinary magic treasures like the Green Rainbow Sword.

While he was feeling triumphant, news of the Silver Centipede’s egg-laying reached him through the Soul Puppet.

He felt even more elated.

After resting for a day, he went to the Silver Centipede. The secret chamber where the Silver Centipede was kept was covered with white eggs on all sides.

Without delay, he dug another cave next to the secret chamber and drew a massive neural control formation in the new Silver Centipede nest, pouring in a large amount of blood.

Afterward, he moved most of the eggs to the new secret chamber and performed a ritual to imprint them with his ownership. In the original room, only about a thousand eggs remained, emitting a vigorous aura.

Having completed everything, Han Li finally returned to his daily routine. He visited the Core Formation cultivators in the vicinity for a long-overdue chat and resumed his cultivation, which he had been putting off.

While Han Li was enjoying a comfortable life in the mortal world, the Chaotic Star Sea’s cultivation world was in turmoil due to a series of major events.

The biggest incident was the sudden appearance of traitors in various forces, including the six palaces. The leaders and sect masters of each force were suddenly killed, and unknown figures seized control.

In addition, small sects were destroyed en masse, and treasures were stolen. In an instant, the various forces of the Chaotic Star Sea sensed a crisis and began to shrink back, suspecting each other.

To make matters worse, rumors began to circulate in the Chaotic Star Sea’s cultivation world that the Twin Sages of the Star Palace had already fallen into demonic possession and lost all their immense cultivation.

Furthermore, there were rumors that the Star Palace had fallen into the hands of some subordinates, and the Twin Sages, who had already lost their cultivation, had been pushed out of power.

These rumors caused an uproar in the cultivation world. Everyone was on high alert, watching the reactions of the Star Palace people.

Surprisingly, the Star Palace did not show any reaction, neither denying nor acknowledging the rumors. This made the cultivators of the Chaotic Star Sea even more uneasy.

The ambitions and desires of each force, which had been hidden for a long time, began to stir. Some were plotting, and others were forming alliances. However, on the surface, peaceful days continued.

Those with any sense knew that this peace was merely a prelude to a storm.

The Core Formation cultivators Han Li met also talked about this situation every time they met, expressing their concerns. However, Han Li was not particularly worried. He didn’t care whether the Star Palace continued to control the Chaotic Star Sea or if another force overturned the situation.

In any case, someone like him, who did not belong to any force, just needed to be careful and avoid the storm.

According to his plan, he would spend the next few years focusing on cultivating his flying swords and producing high-quality formation artifacts. Then, he planned to go to the Outer Star Sea to hunt sixth-grade demonic beasts this time.

In any case, now that he had become a Core Formation cultivator, he would definitely need elixirs made from the inner cores of sixth-grade demonic beasts to enhance his magic power.

For several days, Han Li focused on researching formations during the day and sitting cross-legged at night, using the fire in his dantian [energy center] to tame the 72 Azure Bamboo Cloud Swords.

Not long after, the Silver Centipede eggs began to hatch.

Han Li, taking a high-grade spirit beast bag, went to the secret chamber and collected all the beetles that already recognized him as their master. He would check on them from time to time and prepare for future enemies.

He was very satisfied with his current peaceful cultivation life.

Now that he had successfully formed his core, his interest naturally turned to the Nascent Soul stage [the next major cultivation stage]. These days, he sometimes imagined whether the day would come when he would succeed in forming his Nascent Soul.

One day, he got up from his residence and went outside. A middle-aged man in his forties was standing outside the cave. With clear skin and long eyebrows, he was gentle and courteous in his demeanor.

When the middle-aged man saw Han Li coming out, he greeted him.

“Fellow Daoist Han, I hope I haven’t disturbed you.”

“Brother Jin, not at all. Please come inside!”

The middle-aged man was Jin Qing, a Core Formation cultivator living nearby. He was a good person, and when Han Li had just succeeded in forming his core, he had generously given him guidance, so they maintained a good relationship.

He had said he was going to travel the world, but it seemed he had returned. It was very nice to see him again after so long.

Jin Qing shook his head and smiled calmly.

“No, thank you. I have something to do, so I should just say what I need to here and leave.”

“Please, tell me anything!”

At Han Li’s playful words, Jin Qing smiled and opened his mouth.

“After returning to my residence, I heard from acquaintances that Fellow Daoist Han has made some achievements in formation research in the past few years. Congratulations. I was just about to look for a formation master because I was having some difficulties with formations, and when I heard the news, I came to find Fellow Daoist Han. So please, don’t refuse my request.”

“Formations? What are you talking about?”

At Han Li’s words, Jin Qing rummaged through his storage pouch and handed him something.

“Please take a look at this.”

Han Li took it and was surprised to see a white pearl about the size of a thumb. He looked at Jin Qing with questioning eyes.

“What is this?”

“You’ll know if you inject some spiritual power into it.”

His tone was a bit mysterious. Han Li injected some spiritual power into it. The moment the spiritual power seeped into the pearl, a blinding white light burst out.

If it had been a mortal, they would have closed their eyes involuntarily, but Han Li, being a Core Formation cultivator, only narrowed his eyes and observed carefully.

As a result, his mind was jolted. Surprisingly, there was something inside the pearl. Then, as he injected his consciousness, his face gradually became serious.

After withdrawing his consciousness, Han Li took a deep breath and looked at the middle-aged man.

“Is this a relic left by an ancient cultivator?”

“I’m not sure. But leaving a map in such a classic way is probably something only ancient cultivators would do.”

Jin Qing seemed a bit excited and impatient.

Han Li simply nodded. Leaving important information in objects like pearls or shells was a common practice among ancient cultivators in the Chaotic Star Sea.

And inside the pearl was a map.

“This pearl was originally one of two, and the two maps must be combined to form a complete map. Another fellow daoist and I found them at the same time in a small shop. They were mixed in with other ordinary pearls, forming a necklace. The two of us each took one and decided to find the area recorded on the map.”

Han Li stroked his chin, lost in thought.

“So you’ve already found the area on the map.”

“That’s right. After wandering around for almost five or six years, I found it recently! But unfortunately, the entire area is sealed by a powerful formation, so I had to return. On my way back, I made a promise to find someone skilled in formations to break the formation together. As Fellow Daoist Han knows, it’s very difficult to find someone skilled in formations among us rogue cultivators.

Even if I know a few people, I don’t have any connection with them, so I was worried. That’s when I heard about Fellow Daoist Han. That’s why I came to ask for your help, shamelessly. If you can solve the formation, we will split whatever we find in the ancient cultivator’s relic equally, so please help me.”

Jin Qing explained the situation in detail, waiting for him to make a decision.

After hearing the whole story, Han Li didn’t answer immediately and scratched his nose.

“Brother Jin, I think I need some time to think. Can I give you an answer in two days?”

“Of course. Think it over carefully, and if you really can’t, I’ll look for someone else.”

Jin Qing readily agreed and left after chatting for a while. Han Li watched the middle-aged man’s retreating figure, lost in thought.

Ancient cultivator relics were not uncommon in the Chaotic Star Sea. However, it was impossible to know whether they would be empty or contain high-level cultivator books or precious magic treasures.

In fact, he had no desire to leave his residence to search for some ancient relic.

The Chaotic Star Sea, with all sorts of undercurrents, was not very safe, and the Azure Bamboo Cloud Swords had not been nurtured for long, so their power was insignificant.

Therefore, it was natural for him to hesitate to go out at this time.

If someone else had come to ask for his help, he would have refused without a second thought. However, he had a good relationship with Jin Qing, and he had received a lot of advice from him in the past, so he didn’t want to refuse his first request outright.

Two days later, Jin Qing came to find him again, and Han Li finally decided to go with him.

First, it was to return the favor he had received from the other party, and also, when he thought about it, he was curious about the ancient cultivator’s relic. Perhaps there might be some good items!

Jin Qing was overjoyed, and the next day, he left the Heavenly Star City with Han Li and the Soul Puppet.

The fact that the Soul Puppet was Han Li’s clone was something that the Core Formation cultivators living nearby couldn’t have failed to notice, so Jin Qing didn’t say anything about it.

* * *

Two months later, Jin Qing and the others were flying through a remote sea area in the Chaotic Star Sea.

According to Jin Qing, they would arrive at their destination soon. After another half-day, a huge island appeared.

The island was quite large, with an area of about a thousand li [approximately 500 kilometers], and the mountain in the center had a lot of soil, making the whole island look yellow.

Han Li was a little surprised and turned to look at Jin Qing.

“Is this the island?”

“According to the map, this island is here. I asked the mortals living nearby, and they said that there are no spirit veins and no trees can grow, so it’s an abandoned island.”

Han Li thought for a moment and then smiled.

“The more peculiar a place is, the higher the probability that it’s a relic left by an ancient cultivator.”

“Haha! I thought so too, so I searched the entire island and found the most likely place.”

“Then where is the place covered by the formation?”

“If you go about a hundred li to the west, there’s a huge earthen hill, and the area nearby is sealed by a powerful formation.”

At Jin Qing’s explanation, Han Li smiled and said,

“Then let’s go quickly. Maybe Brother Jin’s companion has already solved the formation and is waiting for us.”

“Haha! That wouldn’t be bad either. If they solved the troublesome problem at once, we can just give them a bigger share.”

Jin Qing rubbed his chin and replied with a sly joke.

“Then let’s go!”

Jin Qing transformed into a streak of blue and white light and shot forward. Han Li also urged his magic treasure with the Soul Puppet and followed behind him.

A hundred li was just a short distance for a Core Formation cultivator. Soon, a very high yellow earthen hill came into Han Li’s view.

It was so high that the entire mountain was covered in yellow soil, making it look more like a huge pile of dirt than a mountain.

As they approached the mountain, a gale blew, and sand and stones flew up. The tremendous gale, mixed with yellow soil, made the surroundings dark, and they couldn’t even see what was in front of them.

The Core Formation cultivators were not afraid of a sandstorm, and a barrier of light immediately appeared, protecting them.

After going another ten li, the sandstorm subsided without a sound, and they were able to reach the foot of the earthen hill.

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