Bachelor [EN]: Chapter 450

Han Li, having spent the night in the forest, immediately retrieved the Heavenly Fiend Corpse the next day and flew towards the Myriad Spirit Mountain Range.

Yesterday, before meeting with Fellow Daoist Ziling, he had tried to find Nam Longhou, but he couldn’t find any Heavenly Extremity Gate disciples in the city. It seemed that the Heavenly Extremity Gate cultivators were either staying elsewhere or had not yet arrived.

Han Li was not impatient and decided to stay near the Myriad Spirit Mountain Range, planning to refine puppet corpses of the Core Formation stage until they arrived. Since the Yangyi Ring was in his possession, Nam Longhou would also be looking for him.

Han Li guessed that the Northern Polar Essence Light they mentioned was not an entrance to the outskirts of the Chuma Valley but a passage to the center.

Otherwise, how could the Ghost Spirit Sect have managed to send hundreds of cultivators into the Chuma Valley at the same time?

Han Li organized his thoughts and flew away in a streak of blue light. At his speed, it would only take half a day to travel from Ye Hua City to the vicinity of the Myriad Spirit Mountain Range.

He planned to visit several markets near the Myriad Spirit Mountain Range to purchase the materials needed for refining puppets.

The materials he had obtained during the war with the Morans, combined with the materials he received in return for the Yuanming Lamps, were comparable to the wealth of a medium-sized sect.

Now that it was possible to mass-produce high-level puppets, he only needed to purchase sufficient auxiliary materials from the market.

However, in the case of the ancient Nascent Soul stage puppets, he had only obtained a few of the main materials, and many more were still needed.

In particular, the main material called Blood Wind Wood was not as rare as the Essence Crystal, but it was not a common item traded in the market.

Han Li had already ordered the disciples of the Fallen Cloud Sect to immediately report any sightings or news of related materials, so he would be able to obtain them eventually, no matter how long it took.

At that moment, Han Li’s expression changed, and he slowed down.

Several cultivators were engaged in a fierce battle ahead. Han Li frowned but didn’t pay much attention to it.

Various forces were mixed in this area, and since no one was managing it, it was inevitable that small and large disputes would occur.

Four men and one woman were divided into two groups and fighting, all of them appearing to be in the early stage of Core Formation. It seemed that they had some deep-seated grudges, as their attacks with magical treasures and talismans were relentless.

However, the group of two men and one woman was being completely overwhelmed by the other two men. It wasn’t because the two men’s magic power was profound, but because they had released hundreds of giant moth demons to suppress their opponents.

Each time the palm-sized moths flapped their wings, they scattered poisonous powder, making the three cultivators dizzy.

However, although the three cultivators were being pushed back, they were all at similar levels, so it didn’t seem like a winner would be decided anytime soon.

Among the magical treasures they were using, Han Li noticed a silver giant brush and a golden scroll used by a scholar-like man wearing a golden robe, and he took a closer look.

He didn’t know which sect they belonged to, but he had no intention of getting involved in unnecessary matters. Just as he was about to pass by quietly, Han Li noticed a yellow maple leaf symbol on the scholar’s sleeve.

‘Yellow Maple Valley?’

Han Li paused and stopped. Then, as he looked at the scholar’s face again, his expression changed.

Meanwhile, the two cultivators who were suppressing their opponents noticed Han Li, who was about a hundred yards away. They scanned him with their spiritual sense, and their faces immediately changed.

“We, the disciples of the Spirit Beast Sect, greet Senior!”

The two cultivators quickly retrieved their magical treasures, leaving only the poisonous moths, and flew towards Han Li, cupping their fists in greeting.

“The Spirit Beast Sect? Are you demonic cultivators?”

Han Li, upon hearing their introduction, stopped his blue light and revealed himself.

“Are you not Senior Han of the Fallen Cloud Sect!”

“You know me?”

“I had the honor of witnessing Senior Han’s battle from afar during the war with the Morans.”

The Spirit Beast Sect cultivator replied even more respectfully, with a hint of anxiety.

“It’s fortunate that you recognized me. I’m not one to interfere in other people’s affairs, but since I have a long-standing relationship with Yellow Maple Valley, I would appreciate it if you would stop here today.”

At Han Li’s straightforward words, the two cultivators exchanged glances and sized each other up.

“What? Do you think I’m making an unreasonable request?”

“No, of course not! We will naturally follow Senior’s orders.”

The taller one, seeing the change in Han Li’s expression, answered smartly. At the same time, his heart sank. If the other party had decided to get involved, the outcome was already decided.

He winked at the cultivator next to him, and they formed hand seals, causing two spirit beast bags to fly into the air. The poisonous moths that had been tormenting the three cultivators returned to the spirit beast bags.

As the poisonous moths disappeared, the three male and female cultivators who had been fighting them finally understood the situation and happily flew towards Han Li.

Seeing them flying over, the two Spirit Beast Sect cultivators, not wanting to encounter them, cautiously asked Han Li,

“Do you have any other instructions? We will do our best to follow them.”

“No, you can leave now.”

Han Li, understanding their intentions, waved his hand.

“Then, we will take our leave.”

The two cultivators were greatly relieved to hear that and hurriedly transformed into two streaks of green light, splitting the sky.

Watching the Spirit Beast Sect cultivators flee, the three cultivators finally arrived in front of Han Li.

“We are truly grateful for your help, brothers. May we know your esteemed name?”

The scholar, looking at Han Li’s appearance, was surprised but also felt a faint sense of familiarity.

“Are you a cultivator from Yellow Maple Valley?”

Han Li asked expressionlessly, without answering the other’s question.

“Yes, I am Jin Jiaoren of Yellow Maple Valley, and these are my sworn brothers from the Huadao Sect. Do you perhaps know Senior Linghu?”

Since Han Li had helped them despite not being a high-ranking member of the six sects he knew, he assumed that Han Li had a connection with Senior Linghu.

“Jin Jiaoren! You must be from the Jin family.”

“Do you know my family?”

Even at the scholar’s question, Han Li remained silent and looked at him closely again. The three Core Formation stage cultivators could only feel anxious.

“How could I not know the Jin family, one of the three major cultivation families of Yellow Maple Valley? If your name is Jin Jiaoren, what is your relationship with Jin Jiaotian?”

“Do you know my sister?”

“Your sister?”

He had expected it because of their similar faces and names, but he couldn’t help but be surprised.

“How is she doing?”

Han Li asked after a long pause, his tone becoming gentler.

“My sister failed to reach Core Formation and passed away from illness over a hundred years ago.”

“Passed away?”

Han Li recalled the beautiful Jin Jiaotian and the day they last said goodbye.

“…Senior, were you acquainted with my sister?”

Jin Jiaoren couldn’t help but ask again, noticing his expression.

“Yes, I heard she was getting married when I last met her. But then the demonic path invaded, and I lost contact.”

“My sister did not marry. The family we were engaged to defected to the demonic path, and the marriage fell through. After that, my sister lived alone for the rest of her life and passed away.”

Jin Jiaoren hesitated before telling the story of Jin Jiaotian. Then, looking at the other’s cultivation and appearance, he thought of someone who had been the subject of recent rumors.

“Lived alone for the rest of her life?”

Han Li looked up at the sky with a sense of regret and closed his mouth.

“Judging by your expression, you seem to have realized who I am. There are many forces gathered here, so be more careful.”

After saying that, he turned into a streak of light and flew away without looking at the three cultivators again.

“What kind of connection does that senior have with the Jin family?”

“Connection? How could our Jin family have a connection with someone like that? If my guess is correct, that senior is the one from Yellow Maple Valley who eliminated the Moran Sacred Ancestor during the war and recently killed the elder of the Jin State demonic cultivators. It seems he knew our deceased seventh sister, but isn’t that strange?”

Jin Jiaoren looked in the direction where Han Li had disappeared and answered with a troubled expression at the female cultivator’s question.

“What? That was him? No wonder he looked so young. I heard he was about our age.”

“Yes, when he was in Yellow Maple Valley, he was only at the Qi Refining stage. Later, I participated in the Blood Gold Trial with him and my sister, but I never imagined that he would become a figure comparable to the three great cultivators of Tiannan.”

Jin Jiaoren said with a sigh.

“I heard that Senior Linghu tried to recruit him back to Yellow Maple Valley but failed. Is that true?”

The cultivator wearing a navy blue robe, who had been listening quietly, opened his mouth.

“I don’t know about that, but it’s possible.”

Jin Jiaoren hesitated and then glossed over the matter. It seemed to be something difficult to talk about even with his sworn brothers.

At this, the cultivator in the navy blue robe changed the subject.

“Still, we were lucky this time. While you were blocking most of the poisonous moths with the magical treasures you just refined, Senior Han came to our rescue. Perhaps when your magical treasures are complete, we won’t have to fear the Yun brothers anymore.”

“That’s right. I’ve heard that the Jin family has a magical treasure called the Golden Script Silver Brush, but I never thought you’d be able to refine a similar one.”

“The scrolls and brush magical treasures used by our Jin family cultivators are merely imitations of the real thing. I’ve always wanted to refine a set of magical treasures, but I couldn’t gather the materials, so I used flying swords. But this year, I finally succeeded in refining them. They will probably be a great help when we enter the Chuma Valley.”

Jin Jiaoren explained with a smile, then looked around cautiously with a serious expression.

“Let’s be more careful from now on. As Senior Han said, there are many cultivators trying to enter the Chuma Valley. It would be good to find our fellow disciples from the six sects and join forces.”

“You’re right.”

“We’ll follow your lead, Brother Jin.”

The three cultivators did not stay there long and transformed into streaks of light, flying away.

* * *

After flying for a long time after parting with the three cultivators, Han Li could faintly see the Myriad Spirit Mountain Range. The miasma of the mountain range had thinned, and the densely packed forests and rugged peaks revealed themselves after a long time.

The scale was so vast that the word ‘immense’ seemed inadequate.

Han Li slowed his escape technique and followed the traces of other cultivators. He slowly closed his eyes, and a powerful spiritual sense, similar to that of a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator, extended out for a hundred miles in all directions.

After a while, he quietly opened his eyes, increased his speed, and headed directly towards his target.

After a short while, he saw an old man and a young cultivator sitting cross-legged on top of a mountain peak.

A dazzling blue light circled above the two cultivators’ heads and stopped in mid-air.

“Hah!”

The two cultivators were startled and jumped up. The two cultivators’ cultivation was not high; the old man was in the mid-stage of Qi Refining, and the boy seemed to be around the fifth level of the Foundation Establishment stage.

The old man looked at Han Li, but he couldn’t discern anything with his abilities, so he quickly bowed and greeted him.

“I have a question, so there’s no need to panic! Which direction is the nearest market?”

“If you go about 400 miles to the west, there is a newly opened market.”

“400 miles? I understand.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Han Li disappeared from the spot. Seeing him vanish from sight in an instant, the old man and the boy’s mouths fell open.

* * *

400 miles away, a shabby market hastily made of stones appeared.

The market was small, with only a handful of cultivators trading inside. However, Han Li didn’t mind and purchased a large quantity of the necessary materials before immediately taking flight.

Then, he flew another ten miles and landed on an unnamed hill when the miasma of the mountain range became thicker. Now, creating a temporary cave was too easy for him.

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