Bachelor [EN]: Chapter 323

On the way back, the hunchbacked old man muttered darkly. “You wouldn’t report us, would you?” “Why would he report us? What good would that do? I don’t know about the woman, but that Han fellow seemed quite clever; he wouldn’t do something so foolish. We should just hope that the two Immortals realize their limits and return quickly before they try to climb Storm Mountain. Besides, though it wasn’t intentional, he already eliminated the biggest obstacle, Feng Tianji, didn’t he? Now, if the two Immortals join us, there shouldn’t be any problems.” The white-haired old man spoke, and the red-faced old man agreed. “He was indeed quite sharp. Things are going well, but just in case, it would be good to secretly assign someone to monitor him.” “If we’re careful not to get caught, we’ll do as Immortal Yun says. However…” The white-haired old man trailed off, and the hunchbacked old man urged him on. “What’s bothering you?” “I don’t know if it’s just my imagination, but he seemed very confident about leaving this place. No matter how much we explained how dangerous Storm Mountain is, he didn’t look genuinely scared. Could it be that he really has a plan to reach the summit…?” The hunchbacked old man shook his head. “That’s impossible. The yin winds [winds carrying negative energy] blowing on the mountain alone would be impossible to withstand. All the countless corpses left on the mountain are those who chased after vain dreams, aren’t they!” “That’s right. It must be my imagination.” However, Immortal Jin, who had been quietly listening to their conversation, was thinking something different. * * * After the three old men left, Han Li and Mei Ying also left their dwelling. They toured the village, collecting and memorizing necessary information such as the surrounding geography, the locations of other villages, and the distribution of yin-essence beasts [creatures formed from negative energy]. Based on the villagers’ words, Han Li roughly sketched a map. On the second day, having completed his preparations, Han Li informed the village elder that he intended to go to Storm Mountain. The plump old man, feeling regretful, urged him to stay, but seeing his firm resolve, he eventually agreed. After Han Li and Mei Ying returned to their dwelling and rested for a night, someone secretly came and knocked on their door as they were about to leave the village. “Is that Immortal Yun?” “Immortal Han, I’ll be brief. I don’t know if you can really leave this place, but I came because I think there’s hope. If you manage to get out, could you deliver this urn to the Heavenly Talisman Sect?” The old man stared at Han Li and took out an urn from his robes, handing it over. “What do you mean?” He couldn’t just agree to any request without knowing what was inside the urn. The red-faced old man sighed deeply and opened the urn himself, showing the small bone fragments inside. “There’s no other intention. Inside is the refining formula for the Spirit Descent Talisman, one of the three great talismans of the Heavenly Talisman Sect, which only the sect’s head can learn. I just can’t bear to see the Heavenly Talisman Sect lose its unique skill, so I’m asking you to return it to the sect on my behalf if you succeed in escaping.” “The Spirit Descent Talisman, only passed down to the sect head? Does that mean you are the head of the Heavenly Talisman Sect?” The old man’s face turned even redder as he nodded. “Shamefully, Yun is the 27th sect head of the Heavenly Talisman Sect. Our sect is a small one located in Huayun Province of Dajin, so even a Foundation Establishment cultivator [a low-level cultivator] like me can become the sect head.” “You said the method to refine the Spirit Descent Talisman is only passed down to the sect head, so is it alright to entrust it to me? Also, I’ve heard of Dajin’s reputation, but I’ve never been there before, and I might not have the chance in the future.” To Han Li’s question filled with doubt, the old man replied without any displeasure. “When I entrust this to you, it’s as good as tacitly allowing you to look at the talisman’s refining method. Besides, it’s likely not something that would interest you. The refining method of the Spirit Descent Talisman has been passed down through our sect for generations, but after a few senior members refined a few talismans, no one has been able to refine it since. It’s a pity to keep such a thing in our weakened sect. Also, whether you actually go to Dajin or deliver this talisman’s formula to our sect is up to you. Anyway, it’s a refining method that our sect’s founder personally researched and created, so how regrettable would it be if it were lost like this? Even if it doesn’t return to the Heavenly Talisman Sect and ends up in the hands of another cultivator, I think I’d feel better. Then, when I meet the elders of the sect in the afterlife, I’ll have something to say, wouldn’t I?” Looking at the old man’s sorrowful face, Han Li was at a loss for words. It seemed that the old man, who was the head of the Heavenly Talisman Sect, had made this request simply for peace of mind. There was no obligation and only benefits, so there was no reason to refuse. And he was also curious about what kind of item the Spirit Descent Talisman, which was said to be difficult to refine, was. From what he had learned through various scriptures, he knew that in the cultivation world, besides ordinary talismans containing the five elements, there were also special talismans with mysterious effects. These secret talismans were difficult to classify under the five elements and were refined using each sect’s unique methods, so even if outsiders knew about them, they couldn’t replicate them. For example, the Transformation Talisman he had seen when he was almost killed by the Holy Palace Elder’s ambush in the Void Sky Hall, or the Holy Palace’s special teleportation talisman, also belonged to these secret talismans, with the former being far more valuable than the latter. “I will do my best, but please don’t have too high of hopes.” “Hehe, that’s enough! Just hearing those words from you, Brother Han, makes me feel relieved.” The old man expressed his sincere gratitude and, after giving Han Li a few words of caution, tactfully left. Looking at the urn as the old man walked away, it was light and crude, and didn’t seem to have any special function. Only then did Mei Ying, who had been standing silently behind him, ask the question she had been holding back. “I’ve never heard of the Spirit Descent Talisman before. Is it really that powerful?” “I don’t know, but it doesn’t seem ordinary.” Han Li, who had returned to the room with the item, lightly picked up a bone fragment and checked its contents. “Hmm?” “What is it? Is there a problem with the refining method?” Mei Ying, who had quickly followed and sat next to him, revealed her curiosity with sparkling eyes. Perhaps because they had even kissed, she seemed to feel much closer and more comfortable with him. “It’s not that, but the materials needed to refine the talisman are too extraordinary. So this is why the Heavenly Talisman Sect couldn’t make the talisman even though they had the refining method.” “Are the materials that extraordinary for you too, Brother Han?” “The other materials are also a problem, but the main material is something that’s hard to find even with a thousand gold pieces. A talisman that can only be refined with the soul of a Nascent Soul stage demon beast [a high-level demon beast], isn’t that amazing?” Mei Ying’s mouth fell open in surprise at Han Li’s calm smile. “The soul of a Nascent Soul stage demon beast?” She didn’t notice that Han Li’s expression gradually became strange as he examined the bone fragment. * * * After spending a night, Han Li and Mei Ying left the village, receiving worried looks from the guards. Arriving back at the place with the black rocks, Han Li looked at the yellow dust rising in the desert, determined his direction, and began walking towards another nearby village with Mei Ying. Han Li’s idea was simple. If the woman’s brother was alive, he would surely be staying in one of these villages, and if he found him, he could head to Storm Mountain. In an instant, the two disappeared into the desert. * * * One month had passed, and on a day, a group of about fifteen men and women wearing gray clothes were quietly approaching a mound of earth in a blood-red terrain, surrounding it. On top of the mound, several thick-necked, blue-green monsters were curled up, fast asleep. These ugly toad monsters, called Wall Island Beasts, were one of the few yin-essence beasts that were not poisonous and could be eaten. They intended to hunt the Wall Island Beasts to alleviate the village’s food crisis. They had moved swiftly and silently, but one of the giant toads suddenly opened its red eyes and spotted the humans approaching from about twenty feet away. “Attack!” The humans’ shouts and the monsters’ warning cries overlapped. In an instant, about fifteen white spears flew out. As a result, most of the Wall Island Beasts were pierced by the spears before they could even jump, and only the two most agile ones managed to avoid the attack. However, even those two were injured as they couldn’t completely dodge the spears. The Wall Island Beast was the lowest-ranked yin-essence beast, and other than emitting yin energy from its mouth, it had no other means of attack. However, it could jump higher and run farther than anyone else. The two surviving beasts opened their large mouths and spewed out black yin winds, then jumped about eight feet in an instant, escaping the humans’ encirclement. Belatedly, several spears cut through the air, but they were not enough to catch up with the monsters. As the Wall Island Beasts jumped once more and ran towards the rocky terrain, a blue light flashed, and they fell straight down. It was natural for the young men and women, who had been disheartened and were about to cry, to be surprised at this sight. Swish, swish. Two blue lights emerged from the yin-essence beasts’ bodies in succession, and a pair of men and women appeared from behind a nearby rock. The man with an ordinary face and clear eyes and the woman with a beautiful appearance and gentle demeanor were none other than Han Li and Mei Ying. The two were wearing clothes made of light navy demon beast leather, and a translucent demon beast tendon was hanging from the blue short sword in Han Li’s hand. After confirming the two yin-essence beasts that had fallen to Han Li’s swift attack, he turned his head towards the group, who were looking at them with wary eyes. “The Wall Island Beasts suddenly ran at us, so I had no choice but to act, but we have no intention of taking them, so don’t worry. However, I have something I’d like to ask you, would you answer?” A relatively older young man stepped forward and responded to Han Li, who was smiling with goodwill. “You really won’t take the Wall Island Beast meat?” “We don’t lack food, so of course, we don’t need it.” The young man hesitated for a moment, but since there was nothing to lose, he nodded in agreement. “Then ask away!” “Are you perhaps from the nearby Red Earth Village?” The young man frowned, but soon answered honestly. “That’s right. We are villagers from Red Earth Village!” “That’s good. Has there been any new outsider who recently came to your village? I’m looking for someone.” “There were no new villagers, but when the space rift occurred, we found a few skeletons of a man and a woman in the area where the yin-essence beasts were active. Unfortunately, it seems they were already eaten by the yin-essence beasts.” “Skeletons…” Mei Ying’s face darkened as she stood behind Han Li. For the past month and a half, they had already visited three other villages, inquiring about her brother’s whereabouts, but they couldn’t find any clues. But now, hearing that they were all killed, she couldn’t help but feel a sense of foreboding. The young man’s wariness decreased slightly as he realized that Han Li’s group was really looking for someone, and he answered readily. “We buried the remains, but the items they had are stored in the village’s warehouse. Would you like to go and take a look?” “Yes, please. We’ll be in your care.” Han Li nodded, looking at the beautiful woman who had lost her words. Even if they were dead, they had to confirm their identities. If her brother was really among them, they could stop their search. The young man, who had ordered the others to take care of the yin-essence beast corpses, spoke to Han Li in a friendly manner. “Hehe, I knew you were outsiders just from your way of speaking. It seems you haven’t been here long.” Han Li simply responded with a smile. Following them for a few miles, they arrived at an unfamiliar village. It was much smaller than the others. Although a stone wall protected the entire village, it was only about four feet high, and it was broken in many places, showing that they didn’t have the resources to repair it. Also, judging by the size of the village, it seemed that only about a hundred people lived there at most. Once inside, the young man pointed to a relatively large building and told them to look around on their own. It seemed that dealing with the Wall Island Beast meat was urgent. # 325