Bachelor [EN]: Chapter 447

In Chang Prefecture, located in the northern part of the Dongyu Kingdom, a basin occupied two-thirds of its area. This basin was covered in dense jungle, and a massive mountain range, stretching for about a million li [approximately 500,000 kilometers], ran through its center, known as the Myriad Peaks Mountain Range.

No one had ever counted if there were truly over ten thousand peaks, but it was a place abundant with various spirit beasts and rare spirit herbs. However, except for specific periods every few decades, even cultivators did not dare to enter recklessly to gather herbs or capture beasts.

The Tiannan cultivation world called the Myriad Peaks Mountain Range by another ominous name: the Land of Fallen Demons. And in a remote part of this mountain range was the infamous Fallen Demon Valley, known as the most dangerous place in Tiannan.

It was a secret valley that had existed since ancient times, and countless cultivators had ventured into it in search of treasures. However, after tens of thousands of years, it became shrouded in bloody rumors, and no one dared to seek it out anymore.

However, it wasn’t the Fallen Demon Valley that kept cultivators away from the Myriad Peaks Mountain Range. Rather, it was because the mountain range had been covered in miasma for some time.

The miasma was so toxic that exposure could lead to death, and it was difficult to discern directions within it.

Under these circumstances, even if cultivators didn’t necessarily die from the miasma, it was difficult for them to properly search for spirit herbs or hunt spirit beasts.

At best, they would briefly wander around the outer areas where the miasma was thinner before quickly retreating.

However, every 50 years, the miasma in the mountain range would dissipate, and at the same time, the spatial rifts in the Fallen Demon Valley would become the most stable. Although it was only for a year, the Tiannan cultivators who wished to find treasures would take this opportunity to enter the mountain range.

Despite the abundant resources, only a few cultivators managed to find treasures, but every time, over a thousand cultivators would flock to the area.

Then, merchants backed by nearby families or sects would form several markets to trade the spirit herbs and spirit beasts that the cultivators had obtained, seeking short-term profits.

This year, as the day when the miasma of the Myriad Peaks Mountain Range would dissipate was approaching, cultivators were flooding into Chang Prefecture. Their numbers were far greater than in the past few visits, and most of them were cultivators from other countries.

As high-level cultivators frequently appeared, the local cultivation sects were startled and hastily ordered their disciples to refrain from going out, sending some to investigate the reason.

The news they obtained was shocking to the local cultivation forces.

* * *

On a small mountain on the outskirts of Chang Prefecture, a male and female cultivator at the Core Formation stage stood side by side at the summit.

The handsome man was wearing a navy blue robe, and the woman was dressed in a palace attire, with a particularly voluptuous figure.

The two cultivators appeared calm on the surface, but they were anxiously waiting for someone, looking up at a certain spot.

After a while, a silver streak of light flew in from afar.

Seeing someone flying in using a 遁術 [dùn shù – a type of movement technique], the two revealed expressions of joy. When the silver streak of light arrived in the sky above the mountain and dissipated, a scholar wearing a silk robe appeared.

“You’ve finally arrived! Did you obtain the spirit token that allows entry into the Fallen Demon Valley?” the woman asked, smiling as she greeted the well-built scholar.

“Fortunately, I managed to get it,” the scholar said with a grin, raising one hand and sending two streaks of blue light towards the male and female cultivators.

They hurriedly held the golden bronze spirit tokens in their hands and checked the red characters ‘Fallen Demon’ engraved on them. The woman was filled with joy, but the male cultivator frowned and remained silent.

“Now that we have the Fallen Demon Tokens, we can enter the Fallen Demon Valley. If we can find even a single ancient pill there, we might have a chance to condense our Nascent Souls, right?” the woman chattered excitedly.

“To think that one small spirit token costs thirty thousand spirit stones,” the man in the navy blue robe beside her sighed softly. To obtain the three spirit tokens, the three cultivators had spent their savings of several hundred years.

“There’s no need to regret it. If it weren’t for a cultivator from a sect who gave up the chance to enter the Fallen Demon Valley among my acquaintances, we wouldn’t have been able to obtain the spirit tokens even if we had given a hundred thousand spirit stones. Besides, the Ghost Spirit Sect originally intended to monopolize the method to enter the Fallen Demon Valley, but they were forced to share the opportunity like this due to pressure from other sects.”

The cultivator in navy blue robes did not refute the scholar’s words but still asked with a worried expression.

“But can we trust the method that the Ghost Spirit Sect told us? I heard that there are numerous spatial rifts at the entrance of the Fallen Demon Valley, and one wrong move could lead to disappearance. Is it true that the elder of the Ghost Spirit Sect returned alive from the Fallen Demon Valley before?”

“Unless the Ghost Spirit Sect wants to antagonize the entire Tiannan, they wouldn’t give us false information. Besides, the Ghost Spirit Sect elder only barely escaped with his Nascent Soul, and his physical body died in the Fallen Demon Valley, didn’t it?”

“But the Fallen Demon Valley is known to be a dangerous place, and I’m not sure if this decision is right.”

“With our three talents, there’s no other way. If we miss this opportunity, we’ll die before 200 years pass, so we have to try even if the chances are slim. And the spatial rifts and dangers on the outskirts of the Fallen Demon Valley are less than inside, so if we’re careful, there shouldn’t be any problems.”

This time, the woman stepped forward to speak, seeing the man’s continued worries. And the scholar nodded in agreement with the woman’s words.

“I heard that the Ghost Spirit Sect released several hundred Fallen Demon Tokens this time, and most of them fell into the hands of various sects. Even the Moran Tribe’s mages obtained Fallen Demon Tokens. Hundreds of cultivators will enter the Fallen Demon Valley at the same time, so what is there to fear? If we miss this opportunity, it might become a lifelong regret.”

“If you say so, brother, then I will also try to enter the Fallen Demon Valley,” the man in navy blue robes no longer expressed his worries to the two cultivators.

* * *

Similar conversations were taking place in various places near Chang Prefecture.

About half a year ago, rumors spread that the Ghost Spirit Sect had discovered a way to enter the Fallen Demon Valley and was trying to monopolize it.

Then, the Tiannan cultivation world began to stir. The sects that had been quietly living after the war sent their disciples to question the Ghost Spirit Sect about the truth of the matter, and the other sects of the Demonic Six Sects did the same.

The high-ranking members of the Ghost Spirit Sect were furious that the secret had been leaked, but they were forced to admit the truth due to pressure from other forces. As a result, other sects openly demanded the method to enter the Fallen Demon Valley, and after an agreement, they decided to sell the Fallen Demon Tokens.

With the spirit tokens, one could enter the Fallen Demon Valley by following the Ghost Spirit Sect cultivators during the time when the spatial rifts in the Fallen Demon Valley were the calmest.

Of course, to reduce the dissatisfaction of the rogue cultivators, about a hundred spirit tokens were supplied specifically for rogue cultivators or small sects.

Therefore, Chang Prefecture had recently become crowded with many cultivators, and the local cultivators who had been aiming for herbs or spirit beasts near the Myriad Peaks Mountain Range were all keeping a low profile, avoiding the high-level cultivators.

* * *

The closest city to Chang Prefecture was Yehuo City.

Although it was about ten thousand li away from the Myriad Peaks Mountain Range, cultivators who did not prefer to camp out began to stay here.

As it was a large city, there were enough inns even with the increase in cultivators. Among them, the Hongfu Inn had two groups of cultivators staying in separate annexes behind the inn.

In one of the annexes, female cultivators were staying. They were Ziling, Mei Ying, and Song, the women who had met Han Li in the Heavenly Star City. Ziling had concealed her original face with a special secret technique, making her look like a relatively ordinary woman.

“Cultivator Song, have you heard any news about Brother Han? The miasma seems to be about to dissipate, and if he doesn’t come by then, he’ll miss the opportune time to enter the Fallen Demon Valley.”

“As Cultivator Ziling knows, our sect’s Elder Zheng announced to the outside world that Junior Brother Han had entered secluded cultivation, but in fact, he went to the extreme west, didn’t he? If nothing happens, he should be able to return within a year or two, so don’t be too impatient. There are still a few months left until the miasma dissipates. I’ve already left a message with our sect, so if Junior Brother Han returns, he’ll be able to find us right away. With Junior Brother Han’s strength, what could possibly happen to him?”

Cultivator Song said, smiling to reassure her.

“No matter how high one’s cultivation is, one can never know what one might encounter in the cultivation world, so I’m worried,” Ziling sighed, unconsciously thinking of the Land of Yin and Yang. Such a thing was unimaginable without experiencing it.

“But sister, aren’t you using ‘Junior Brother Han’ too much lately? You weren’t so respectful before,” Ziling teased Song playfully, her worried expression disappearing. A blush appeared on Song’s face, but she quickly composed herself and replied.

“If Cultivator Ziling can kill a Nascent Soul mid-stage cultivator, I’ll serve you too. Junior Brother Han is now being mentioned alongside the three great cultivators of Tiannan.”

“Haha! I was also very surprised when I heard about Brother Han’s story. It’s hard to believe that he was a Core Formation cultivator like me just ten years ago. If I had known this would happen, I would have tried to make Mei Ying his concubine back then,” Ziling burst out laughing.

Mei Ying, who was listening beside them, blushed and tried to say something but stopped, looking a little dejected.

“I don’t think I’ve ever heard the story of Cultivator Mei Ying almost becoming Junior Brother Han’s concubine? I thought there was some kind of connection between you and Cultivator Ziling. What man wouldn’t be swayed by your sister’s beauty?” Song said, a little surprised, and then teased Ziling instead.

“That’s right. If I had known that Cultivator Han would become like this, I would have married him. If one becomes the partner of someone like Cultivator Han, it would be of great help to one’s cultivation.”

“If we get Brother Han’s help, the chances of finding the Spirit Nectar Fruit will also increase. Are you really determined not to enter the Fallen Demon Valley, sister? Mei Ying gave up because there are too many cultivators suddenly trying to enter the Fallen Demon Valley, making it dangerous, but you…”

Ziling hesitated for a moment before asking Song.

“I’ve thought about it for a long time, and although I’m still in the early stage of Core Formation, I think I can reach the peak and advance my cultivation without the help of the Harmony Pill if I train for 200 or 300 years. I’m going to focus on cultivation rather than risking my life to enter the Fallen Demon Valley,” Song replied firmly after organizing her thoughts.

“Since you’ve already decided, then I won’t persuade you any further. I won’t enter the Fallen Demon Valley alone without Brother Han’s help either. Since so many high-level cultivators are entering, the danger has increased accordingly.

There will be many cases of cultivators killing other cultivators to obtain treasures. Entering alone with only early Core Formation cultivation is no different from entering a tiger’s mouth,” Ziling said with a wry smile, and Song and Mei Ying looked at her with worried expressions.

“Who would have known that the Ghost Spirit Sect’s secret would be leaked? At first, I thought Cultivator Ziling had deliberately spread the news to take advantage of the chaos and find treasures,” Song muttered, and Ziling’s expression darkened.

“The fewer people who know about such things, the better. Now that things have turned out this way, it’s become even more difficult to obtain the Spirit Nectar Fruit.”

“Oh, so it wasn’t Cultivator Ziling who spread the rumors? Then it must be someone else’s doing,” a familiar male voice came from outside the door.

“Junior Brother Han!”

“Brother Han!”

Han Li, wearing a slightly worn blue robe and carrying a yellow bamboo tube about a foot long on his back, stood at the entrance.

He had changed since his two-year trip to the extreme west. He exuded an even more mysterious aura that was impossible to fathom.

# 449