Bachelor [EN]: Chapter 298

After some deliberation, the Poisonous Dragon and the Turtle Demon finally agreed to the proposal.

“Since Fellow Daoist Feng has asked this of us, we must lend our strength.”

At those words, Feng Xi smiled, a confident expression on his face.

“By using a formation, we can combine your earth and water attributes, and temporarily fuse them with thunder-attribute spiritual power. Adding my wind-attribute technique, the power of wind and thunder will be complete. However, to balance your powers and adjust the subtle differences, we need Fellow Daoist Lye’s wood-attribute technique.”

Seeing Han Li staring blankly, Feng Xi smiled strangely, as if he had thought of something.

“Fellow Daoist Lye, I almost forgot to mention something… Although the Jade Flame Wine you drank last time has an excellent effect on human cultivators, it is not meant for demon cultivators.”

“That wine initially enhances your cultivation to the point of transcending your current level, but within a few years, it will produce impure demonic energy. When that happens, your core will be thoroughly contaminated, and your spiritual power will explode, leading to your death.”

Having said this, the Gale Shaman closed his mouth and looked at Han Li with a chilling gaze. Meeting his gaze, Han Li merely sighed softly, his face showing no surprise or fear.

Han Li spoke calmly.

“Fellow Daoist Feng, what must I do for you to remove that demonic energy? Perhaps you will only open a path for me to live if the magic treasure refinement is successful.”

At the unexpected answer, Feng Xi and the demons looked intrigued. Feng Xi spoke coldly, his face emotionless.

“Hahaha, since Fellow Daoist Lye is so intelligent, I won’t speak at length. If the Wind-Thunder Ritual is successful, I will remove the future threat for you, but if it fails, you will be the first sacrifice to bear my wrath. Even a Nascent Soul cultivator [a high-level cultivator] cannot remove the turbid demonic energy of the Jade Flame Wine, so it is best to abandon any foolish dreams of escaping and resolving it on your own.”

“I understand perfectly.”

Han Li nodded and smiled bitterly. Of course, he believed that even if the magic treasure was successful, they would not let him live. Whether they knew his inner thoughts or not, the other three demons began to chat in front of the jade table.

Having received the answer he wanted, Feng Xi felt much better and asked the Poisonous Dragon.

“I heard that Fellow Daoist Mu’s Flood Dragon clan participated in the massive offensive in the Myriad Fathom Sea this time. Is that true? I thought the Flood Dragon clan usually didn’t get involved in such matters.”

“That is correct. Some of the higher-level cultivators of our clan have stepped forward. Otherwise, how could we have captured a human city and killed two Nascent Soul human cultivators?”

Listening to their conversation, Han Li, who had not shown any emotion until now, subtly changed his expression.

As Han Li listened with great surprise, Feng Xi asked once more.

“I heard that a few years ago, when Fellow Daoist Mu was protecting your younger brother, you were ambushed by human cultivators. You eventually repelled them, but it was quite a struggle. Is that what triggered this? The Flood Dragon clan was considered relatively friendly, wasn’t it?”

The Poisonous Dragon spoke calmly.

“Recently, the human cultivators residing on nearby islands have arrogantly mistaken the surrounding sea areas as their own. They even treated demon cultivators like us, who have reached the Transformation Stage [a high cultivation stage], the same as low-level demons who have not yet shed their beastly forms. They brought this upon themselves. The incident I experienced was merely a small spark that ignited the existing conflict.”

He paused, glanced at Han Li, and continued with a cold gaze.

“The most important reason was that the humans killed a Myriad Fathom Sea royal clan member, the Suanni Beast, who had just reached the seventh level. If the enraged clan had not spared no blood to activate the Myriad Demon Decree [a decree that mobilizes demons], how could so many demons have risen up at once to slaughter the humans?

The reason our Flood Dragon clan got involved was because the young Suanni Beast, when it died, had the sacred artifact of the sea clan, the Brahma Saint Fragment, stolen from its body. Although it was not a complete item and had no practical value, it is still an item passed down through generations within our demon clan, so we cannot leave it in the hands of human cultivators.”

The Gale Shaman was slightly surprised and then gave the Poisonous Dragon a subtle smile.

“I have heard about the Suanni Beast being killed, but the news of the Brahma Saint Fragment being stolen is new to me. If that is also gone, it will be even more difficult for the Suanni Beast clan to maintain their throne. Could it be that the Flood Dragon clan’s involvement is to take that position and become the master of this sea area?”

“I do not know what intentions the clan has. I am not particularly interested in such matters. However, the Three Brahma Saint Techniques recorded in the Brahma Saint Fragment are a pity. I heard that it is a powerful secret technique passed down through generations of the demon clan since ancient times, but the four pieces of the complete Brahma Saint Fragment were scattered long ago.”

The Turtle Demon burst into laughter and interjected.

“Hahahaha! Fellow Daoist Mu, you are too greedy. I don’t really believe that such an ancient secret technique is passed down, but the Flood Dragon clan’s Dragon Transformation Art is just as great!”

“That is true. If one masters the Dragon Transformation Art to its peak, one can transform from a Flood Dragon into a true dragon, so it can be said to be the highest-level technique of our clan.”

Listening to the Poisonous Dragon’s display of pride, Han Li thought about the Brahma Saint Fragment.

‘Brahma Saint Fragment…’

The silver coin fragment he had obtained not long ago came to mind. Could the item they were talking about be the one he possessed?

The silver coin fragment was engraved with the technique of a demon cultivator, and its power seemed considerable. Although he did not know what the Brahma Saint Fragment was used for, just hearing that it was a sacred artifact passed down in the demon clan made him realize he had gotten involved in a difficult situation.

Was the black-skinned cultivator, the original owner of the silver coin fragment, the very person who caused the flood of abyssal demons? His cultivation had reached the mid-stage of the Core Formation [a cultivation stage], so it was not impossible for him to kill a seventh-level demon.

Han Li’s heart was beating a little faster, but he was not too flustered. He was already in a situation where it wouldn’t be strange if he died at any moment, so what difference would it make if one more cause was added?

Because of Han Li, they could not delve deeper into the conversation, so Feng Xi turned his head to look at him.

“Fellow Daoist Lye, you have just reached the late-stage of Core Formation and your cultivation is not yet stable, so you should follow that light and return to your residence first to continue your cultivation. We cannot have any problems arise while refining the magic treasure.”

A white light emitted from the Gale Shaman’s fingertip flew towards one of the doors. Having no choice, Han Li forced a smile and rose to his feet. In truth, he wanted to hear a little more of their secret conversation.

At that moment, Feng Xi’s warning was heard once more.

“It would be best if you stay in your residence. If you wander around carelessly and I misunderstand, who knows what might happen!”

Han Li, who had already reached the door with his back to the three demons, paused for a moment and then continued on his way. The Poisonous Dragon, confirming that he had disappeared, expressed his concern.

“Is it alright? He doesn’t seem like the type to obediently do his best. What if he causes trouble while we are refining the magic treasure?”

The corners of Feng Xi’s mouth curled up.

“The Wind-Thunder Ritual refinement will be led by the three of us anyway, and the human is just a tool to provide wood-attribute spiritual power. Once we start refining the magic treasure, no matter how unwilling he is, he won’t be able to interfere. Besides, the demonic energy I injected into his body remains, so what can he do?”

The Turtle Demon suddenly smiled.

“Speaking of which, this is the first time I’ve heard that the Jade Flame Wine has turbid demonic energy injected into it. Could it be that Fellow Daoist Feng had already taken precautions?”

“Hehe, of course. The Jade Flame Wine consumed by humans is specially refined, and the turbid demonic energy contained within is more accurately called Chaos Demonic Qi. I extracted it from the body of a demonic cultivator I killed some time ago.”

The Poisonous Dragon and the Turtle Demon exchanged smiles at his words, and it seemed that even their last remaining concerns had disappeared.

At that moment, Han Li followed the white light into a stone chamber.

The room was decorated quite elegantly, with a bed made of white jade, a table and chairs, and various flowers and plants. The white light soon disappeared as Han Li entered the room.

Han Li confirmed this and immediately closed the door. He then took out various formation tools from his pouch and placed them in various parts of the room, forming a small formation.

This formation had almost no defensive capabilities, but it had the function of giving a warning if someone tried to scan the room with their spiritual sense. The Gale Shaman would soon notice this and get angry, but he would not kill him over such a trivial matter. Thinking this, Han Li looked into the most concerning matter.

He sat cross-legged on the bed and began to thoroughly examine his body. After a moment, Han Li opened his eyes again.

Just like before, he seemed perfectly fine. It seemed that the demon had either lied or that the evil energy was difficult to detect before it manifested. Han Li stroked his chin, a look of concern on his face.

After a long while, he took out an item, a determined expression on his face.

* * *

Two days later, the Gale Shaman knocked on his door once more and entered. He seemed very pleased as he informed Han Li of the purpose of his visit.

“We will begin refining the magic treasure today, so let us go together. Fellow Daoist Mu and Fellow Daoist Gui are already waiting for us in the secret chamber for magic treasure refinement.”

He led Han Li out of the room and walked almost as if he was running. As a result, they arrived in front of a wall made of jade.

Feng Xi struck the wall without hesitation, and the jade cracked, creating a small door. He stood to one side, waiting for Han Li to enter first. Looking inside, Han Li could feel a hot aura emanating from within.

Raising his eyebrows, he let out a long sigh and moved forward. Inside, the Turtle Demon and the Poisonous Dragon were indeed waiting, but it was not them that caught Han Li’s attention.

In the middle of the secret chamber was a circular platform about ten feet long, and from the pond within it, flames of immense heat were pouring out. And all around, huge and complex refining formations were installed, which were astonishing to behold.

As Han Li entered, the Poisonous Dragon and the Turtle Demon gave him a cold look and then ignored him.

“Finally, everyone is here. I have already explained the refining process to you two brothers, and Fellow Daoist Lye, you just need to go over there and continuously inject wood-attribute spiritual power. You wouldn’t have any other thoughts now, would you?”

Feng Xi pointed to a corner of the formation with a meaningful look.

Han Li, unable to take his eyes off the flaming pond, smiled bitterly.

“Even if I had other thoughts now, would anything change?”

“It’s good that you know.”

However, judging from Feng Xi’s sneer, he did not seem to fully believe Han Li’s words.

‘The old demon is quite perceptive.’

Han Li walked in the direction he had pointed and sat down cross-legged. Confirming this, Feng Xi nodded and turned to the Poisonous Dragon and the Turtle Demon, politely requesting.

“Then, you two brothers, please enter the formation and prepare yourselves.”