Bachelor [EN]: Chapter 296

Barely managing to move his stiff body, Han Li clutched the Five Elements Ring and the Spirit Beast Pouch, hesitant to attack rashly.

“You discovered me a long time ago.”

Han Li’s voice was raspy, his mouth dry with tension. The demon beast cultivator, however, burst into laughter at his words.

“I found you the very first day I arrived. At first, I thought you were just a passing human cultivator, but I was intrigued when you lingered nearby for so long.”

The blue-robed demon beast cultivator narrowed his eyes, revealing sharp, white teeth. It might have been his imagination, but the teeth looked so menacing that a chill ran down Han Li’s spine.

‘So, he really is a ninth-level demon beast.’

Han Li forced a smile and asked,

“Then why didn’t you reveal yourself earlier?”

“I wanted to meet you sooner, but I had just completed my second transformation and needed to stabilize my body. It was difficult to move around. Now that my body is solid, I came out, only to find you had come to my dwelling. It was quite unexpected.”

Cold sweat beaded on the hand holding the Five Elements Ring, and his face grew even paler.

“If it was the second transformation, that means you just became a ninth-level.”

The ninth-level demon beast cultivator blinked, then replied coolly.

“Ninth-level? Is that how humans classify us demon beasts? This second stage of transformation must be what humans call a ninth-level demon beast.”

Han Li was speechless.

Even against an eighth-level demon beast, there might have been a chance of survival. But facing this ninth-level demon beast cultivator, he felt all hope was lost. Death seemed inevitable.

Having resigned himself, he stopped speaking and suddenly opened his mouth, releasing a dozen blue lights. Amidst the swirling lights, he tried to release the Spirit Beast Pouch he held in one hand.

At that moment, the demon beast cultivator also moved.

Then, Han Li’s vision blurred, and his hand felt lighter. The opponent had snatched the Spirit Beast Pouch.

Although a dozen flying swords blocked his path, the opponent’s speed was so incredible that he didn’t even have time to react before they returned to their original positions.

Han Li’s face paled with shock.

He vaguely recalled that the Gale Spirit was a high-level demon beast renowned for its incredible speed. At this close range, a ninth-level Gale Spirit’s speed was almost like teleportation. It was an impossible situation to defend against.

A myriad of thoughts flashed through his mind. His pale face momentarily regained its color.

He reached for the golden bead that emitted a dazzling light from his storage pouch. Han Li swallowed the bead instantly and then looked coldly at the demon beast cultivator.

He had already decided that if the demon beast cultivator tried to kill him, he would use the Evil-Slaying Divine Thunder to detonate the Dry Blue Wine in his stomach.

He couldn’t be sure he would take the opponent down with him, but he was certain he would inflict serious injuries. The Gale Spirit was puzzled by Han Li’s strange behavior but soon laughed, as if he didn’t care.

He fiddled with the Spirit Beast Pouch in his hand and said,

“Hehe, I never said I would harm you, cultivator. Why are you being so hasty?”

Han Li frowned and asked coldly,

“What do you mean? Aren’t demon beast cultivators known for capturing and killing human cultivators?”

He didn’t want to be toyed with right before his death. The Gale Spirit curled his lip and shook his head.

“It’s the clans in the sea nearby that are at war with humans. I’m not under their jurisdiction, and I’m just staying here for a while because I like this place called the Goblin Pond.”

Han Li was dumbfounded.

Since it was a combination of a sea creature and a bird, it might not actually be a sea demon beast. Moreover, judging from his tone, it seemed he wasn’t even from this area.

His mind raced. After a moment, Han Li retrieved his flying swords and regained his composure.

Since they were useless against his opponent anyway, it was better to take them back. If the opponent was deceiving him, he could just explode the Dry Blue Ice Wine at the end!

As Han Li put away his magical treasures, the Gale Spirit showed a satisfied expression.

“It’s enjoyable to interact with intelligent humans. I’ll return this to you as well.”

He handed the Spirit Beast Pouch back to Han Li without even looking inside. Han Li, relieved to have the pouch back, felt much better. The demon beast cultivator stared at Han Li and then said something unexpected.

“I wonder if you would be willing to be a guest at my dwelling. It would be the first time I, Feng, have invited a human cultivator.”

The Gale Spirit’s words were polite, but it wasn’t a situation where Han Li could refuse. He hid his bitter smile and nodded.

The Gale Spirit’s joy was evident at Han Li’s acceptance. Without another word, he took out a blue bead from his hand and enveloped Han Li and himself inside it.

Just as Han Li’s vision flashed, a blue light swirled, and he was pulled next to the Gale Spirit.

Splash.

The blue bead, carrying the two cultivators, entered the pond. After that, it was an endless descent. Since the bead itself was a faint blue color, Han Li could somewhat observe the underwater world.

Except for the palm-sized white fish swimming around with strange appearances, no other fish could be found. There were also no shrimp or seaweed.

The Gale Spirit smiled faintly as Han Li curiously observed the scenery of the pond, but he didn’t say anything.

After a while, the speed gradually slowed down, and the bead flew to one side.

In an instant, a huge black stone door appeared before them, and a white light flashed, indicating a restriction was in place. The Gale Spirit pointed at the stone door and said very politely,

“We have arrived. This is my humble dwelling, so please don’t laugh too much.”

Han Li managed a smile. As the bead touched the door, the stone door opened automatically. At the same time, the two cultivators, having passed through the white light, entered a dry passage.

The passage was dazzling with all sorts of lights, and pearls the size of dragon’s eyes were embedded in the walls, making it look magnificent. The Gale Spirit was proud as he saw Han Li’s surprised expression.

“Please come inside!”

The things that looked like pearls were not ordinary jewels but treasures that had accumulated spiritual energy for thousands of years in the deep sea, having special effects that blocked fire or prevented water from seeping in.

Looking at the passage in front of him, Han Li didn’t want to go any further, but under the expectant gaze of the ninth-level demon beast, he could only move forward.

The Gale Spirit, wearing a blue robe, calmly followed behind him.

The passage wasn’t very long, and they soon reached a beautiful hall decorated with various corals.

In the center, there was a table and jade chairs made of pure white, transparent jade.

Also, in each of the four corners, there was a small, ancient-looking brazier, burning black incense and emitting a clear fragrance.

The Gale Spirit sat down on a chair first and then invited Han Li to sit as well.

“Please sit here.”

Han Li sat down in front of the demon beast cultivator without saying anything. The Gale Spirit narrowed his eyes and asked gently,

“I haven’t even asked for your name yet. I am Feng Xi.”

“My surname is Lyu.”

Feng Xi fiddled with the silver crown on his head and then said with a strange expression,

“Hehe, so you are Cultivator Lyu. You must be very bewildered. In fact, if I had met another human cultivator, I would have killed them nine times out of ten. Basically, humans and demon beasts don’t have a very harmonious relationship.”

“I don’t know what caught Senior Feng’s eye about me.”

Han Li felt a chill in his heart but maintained his smile as he asked. Then, a green light flashed in Feng Xi’s eyes.

“You entered the deep sea with only a mid-Foundation Establishment cultivation, relying on your Qi Concealment Technique, right?”

“Qi Concealment Technique?”

The nameless incantation he had learned from the demon beast leather book flashed through Han Li’s mind.

“That’s right. It felt familiar, and when I thought about it, it was a technique I had seen from an old friend. It was amazing to see a human cultivator using such a Qi Concealment Technique.”

Han Li didn’t want to reveal that he had a leather book to his opponent, so he just remained silent. Feng Xi smiled slightly at that sight.

“Don’t worry. My friend has been dead for a long time, so I’m not asking for an explanation. I was just curious to see a human cultivator using our demon beast’s secret technique. The biggest reason I didn’t harm you is because you were practicing a pure wood-attribute cultivation technique. If that wasn’t the case, you wouldn’t be alive right now.”

Han Li was puzzled that the reason he wasn’t harmed was unexpectedly due to his cultivation technique’s attribute. Feng Xi didn’t explain further, even after seeing his expression.

He flipped his palm, and a white light flashed, revealing a golden wine jar and jade wine cups. Then, he tilted the wine jar, filling the cups with a turquoise liquid, and a rich fragrance filled the entire hall.

Smelling the fragrance, the demon beast cultivator already had a drunken look in his eyes, but he lightly pushed a cup and placed it in front of Han Li. Feng Xi said meaningfully,

“Now, please try the Azure Flame Wine that I brewed myself. It’s a precious spiritual wine that I only make one bottle of every hundred years. It can enhance cultivation and help those who are on the verge of the next realm, like you, to break through their boundaries.”

Han Li was a little surprised and looked down at the liquid in the cup. The opponent’s ability to grasp his situation at a glance was remarkable. However, he couldn’t believe that a single cup of wine could help him overcome his stagnation.

He had swallowed countless pills that helped with cultivation. If eating and drinking could lead to a higher realm, he would have already completed the Azure Origin Sword Formation. Also, he couldn’t just put anything into his stomach without knowing the opponent’s intentions.

“Do you think I, Feng, would do something to the wine? Don’t forget that I can take your life with just a flick of my finger.”

“Senior’s words are correct. However, until I hear the real reason why you’re not killing me, I can’t seem to relax.”

As the opponent insisted on making him drink the wine, his suspicion only grew. Feng Xi seemed a little surprised and subtly stirred up a sinister aura.

After a long while, Feng Xi frowned and then returned to a gentle expression.

“It seems that if I don’t tell you the truth, Cultivator Lyu’s misunderstanding will only deepen. This Azure Flame Wine is not only difficult to refine and takes over a hundred years, but it also uses the demon core of a demon beast in the Transformation Stage [a high cultivation stage for demon beasts] as its main ingredient. Moreover, only our Gale Spirit clan possesses the secret method to brew this wine.

Even if a non-demon beast cultivator knew the secret method, they wouldn’t be able to refine it due to a lack of aptitude. For me, it’s just a luxury to satisfy my palate, but for a Foundation Establishment cultivator like you, just one cup can agitate the true essence within your body and help you break through your cultivation stagnation.

Of course, the reason I’m letting you drink such a precious wine is all for my sake. There’s an important matter that I need to handle using your wood-attribute cultivation technique. However, your mid-Foundation Establishment cultivation is too lacking. Of course, it would be the same even if it were a late-Foundation Establishment cultivator. However, if you achieve success with the pure and dense cultivation technique you’ve practiced, it seems it will be of some help. Now that I’ve said this much, you know what the consequences will be if you refuse the wine, right?”

Han Li, with a complicated expression, asked again,

“What happens if I don’t make any progress in my cultivation after drinking this wine?”

“Hehe! Then you’ll become useless to me. Since you’ve wasted the Azure Flame Wine that I painstakingly refined, you’ll have to pay for it with your life.”

Of course, it was the answer he had expected, but it didn’t feel good to hear it directly. After organizing his thoughts, he sighed deeply and said,

“Alright. I’ll drink it!”

Han Li slammed his hand on the table, and a blue light flashed. The turquoise liquid in the jade cup flowed into his mouth.

# 298