Bachelor [EN]: Chapter 466

Inside the vast underground hall, spanning hundreds of feet, Nam Longhu and Luo Weiying sat cross-legged, using their magical treasures to attack the already weakened protective barrier.

The characters that appeared on the barrier initially emerged as small as beans, gradually growing into fist-sized silver symbols that floated in the air.

Around them, a white wind dragon, streaks of golden light, two ice-formed serpents, and a large cyan ring continuously launched attacks. Each attack caused the barrier to tremble and flash with chaotic light.

Having exhausted their magical power day and night, Nam Longhu and Luo Weiying’s complexions had turned somewhat pale. They cursed inwardly at the absurd strength of the Minor Sumeru Vajra Formation [a powerful defensive formation].

Although their vital energy was already depleted, they couldn’t give up with only one layer of the barrier remaining.

*Rumble!*

Shortly after, a tremendous explosion occurred, and the old man and Nam Longhu’s faces brightened.

“It’s broken! Our efforts weren’t in vain!” the old man, who had been sitting cross-legged, exclaimed as he stood up first. Nam Longhu, who had been sitting in the corner, also had a glint in his eyes, though his complexion was not good.

Nam Longhu and the old man began to eye each other warily as they looked at the table where the barrier had disappeared.

No matter how long they had known each other, it was not the time to talk about friendship when treasures were within arm’s reach.

The silent old man smiled and spoke first.

“Fellow cultivator Nam Long, isn’t it obvious what we’re both thinking? Although your cultivation is higher than mine, you suffered a great loss of vital energy in the Peony Grasslands, so we’re probably evenly matched now. If we cause trouble between us in this state, wouldn’t it be a disaster for both of us?”

“How could I not understand Brother Luo’s intentions? Let’s divide the elixirs in half, and I’ll take the bowl while Brother Luo takes the rest. How about that?” Nam Longhu glanced at the bowl on the table.

“The bowl? Very well, let’s do that. Now is not the time to covet treasures; it’s more urgent to take the elixirs and extend our lifespans. I can concede the bowl.” The old man’s expression changed slightly, but unexpectedly, he agreed. Nam Longhu was surprised by the old man’s decision but couldn’t hide his delight.

He had thought they would need to negotiate to divide the treasures, but it was unexpected that he would give up the bowl so easily. Luo Weiying spoke calmly, noticing Nam Longhu’s gaze.

“Why are you looking at me like that? Have you changed your mind?”

“Haha! Of course not. Then let’s move at the same time. You take the three treasures and the jade slips on the bowl, and I’ll take the bowl. Then we’ll divide the elixirs equally.”

“Very well.” The old man flicked his sleeve, sending a white aura towards the three magical artifacts and several jade slips, while Nam Longhu emitted a golden aura and flew towards the bowl.

Having smoothly taken what they wanted, Nam Longhu was beaming as he looked at the bowl, while the old man expressionlessly examined the three treasures.

Nam Longhu, who had been quietly examining the bowl, suddenly dropped his smile and swiftly attached a yellow talisman to it.

“Brother Nam Long, what are you doing?”

“What am I doing? Didn’t you realize that those three treasures and jade slips were magical artifacts prepared by the ancient cultivator to seal this bowl? If it’s sealed in such a high-grade bowl, it must be something extraordinary. Would I dare to break the seal here without any preparation?”

Nam Longhu replied, attaching five or six talismans to the bowl in an instant.

“Haha! It seems you’ve misunderstood something. Let’s divide the remaining elixirs and go our separate ways. For some reason, it doesn’t seem like a place to stay for long.”

“Let’s do that. We’ll divide the Heavenly Essence Fruits [elixirs that extend lifespan] that extend lifespan equally, and then each of us can choose one of the remaining items.”

Nam Longhu held the bowl in one hand and reached out with the other towards the Heavenly Essence Fruits on the table. At the same time, a giant golden hand, a foot long, appeared in the air and moved towards the table.

Luo Weiying also quickly reached out, and a hand made of white light appeared, trying to grab the Heavenly Essence Fruits and the purple spirit mushrooms.

*Thud! Thud!*

With a low thud, the Heavenly Essence Fruits and purple spirit mushrooms on the table flashed with green light and disappeared. Then, light erupted from the table, and the other elixirs and spirit herbs vanished as well.

Nam Longhu and the old man’s eyes widened at the sight.

Just then, the bowl in Nam Longhu’s hand changed. The talismans suddenly burst into black flames and disappeared.

Nam Longhu, who had been furious at the disappearance of the elixirs and Heavenly Essence Fruits, noticed the change in the bowl and turned pale. He quickly flipped his other hand and took out an old golden talisman, reaching towards the bowl, but it was already too late.

The ordinary-looking bowl emitted a loud noise and was engulfed in pitch-black light. Nam Longhu, who was holding the bowl, couldn’t dodge in time, and the black light shot out and seeped into Nam Longhu’s face.

“Hyaak!” Nam Longhu screamed and threw the bowl against the wall, and the golden talisman fell, losing its power. His face was horribly distorted.

“This is bad!” The old man, who was watching from nearby, immediately realized that Nam Longhu was being possessed and was greatly alarmed.

He immediately shot two navy-blue spears towards Nam Longhu.

However, Nam Longhu growled lowly, raised his head, and deployed a black aura barrier, not even looking at the incoming spears.

*Clang!*

Nam Longhu extended one arm, and the two navy-blue spears clanged and bounced off, tearing his sleeve.

The old man’s wrinkles deepened as he looked at the exposed forearm. The pitch-black forearm had bulging crimson veins, making it look like a demon.

The old man’s heart grew heavy.

The entity that had instantly devoured Nam Longhu’s consciousness, a mid-Nascent Soul cultivator [a high level of cultivation], and possessed his body was no ordinary being. What was sealed inside the bowl was definitely not a normal soul.

The old man immediately flicked his sleeve, holding a white magical artifact in one hand and a bundle of red silk in the other. The silk quickly unfurled, blocking the old man’s front.

Luo Weiying felt a little relieved only after taking minimal precautions. There was nothing better than the Hao Yang Silk [a powerful defensive artifact] for blocking evil demonic energy.

Nam Longhu slowly rose and, instead of attacking the old man, carefully examined his own body.

“Kikikik. Finally, I’m free! Who will stop the Holy Ancestor’s descent this time! Now, the Human Realm belongs to our Holy Realm!”

‘Holy Ancestor? Holy Realm?’ The old man was bewildered by the unfamiliar words. However, recalling the numerous barriers that had been placed in the pond, he felt a strong urge to flee.

Without any warning, a white light spread from his body, turning into a beam of light and flying towards the entrance.

*Bang!*

It seemed as if he could pass through the entrance and escape, but his vision flashed, and something exploded.

*Crack!*

Even though the Hao Yang Silk had blocked the front, the old man was thrown back by the immense force. Although he was still protecting his body with spiritual power, he momentarily lost his balance.

At that moment, Nam Longhu was standing at the entrance, having already recovered his black fist, and was sneering. The color drained from the old man’s face.

“Although it was a weak blow compared to my true form, you managed to withstand my attack, so you must not be a cultivator from a lower realm. I shall quench my thirst with you.”

The demon, disguised as Nam Longhu, muttered ominously. After speaking, Nam Longhu left an afterimage and rushed towards the old man at high speed.

The old man was terrified and tried to pull himself away from the wall, but it was impossible. The opponent’s movements were too fast, and he was already trying to grab the old man’s neck with his black claws.

In desperation, the old man gathered the white light from his entire body and poured spiritual power into the red silk. At the same time, the silk protecting his body emitted a red light and collided with the black claws.

*Shriek!*

The black claws dug deep into the red silk, which was emitting a red light, but stopped. The old man breathed a sigh of relief and quickly moved his body away from the stone wall.

Nam Longhu’s lips curled up as he watched.

*Bang!*

Nam Longhu’s other arm moved towards the red silk, and the red light, which had been intense, scattered instantly.

*Bang!*

The old man was shocked and didn’t know what to do when another fist flew towards him. Even the remaining protective barrier was blown away, and the old man’s body was once again deeply embedded in the stone wall.

‘No!’ The old man suddenly had an idea and hurriedly tried to activate a white flag.

However, Nam Longhu, who was swinging his fists, didn’t give him the chance. Every time the old man tried to inject spiritual power into the flag, Nam Longhu would swing his fist and scatter the spiritual energy.

As a result, he could only watch with a desperate face as the red silk in front of him became increasingly bleak. If the red silk was completely destroyed, he would be pulverized by that fist.

The old man gritted his teeth. A white light spread from the top of his head, and the old man’s Nascent Soul [a cultivator’s soul], with a pained expression, broke through his skull. The Nascent Soul was holding a small navy-blue sword tightly to its chest with a bewildered expression.

*Crash!*

Almost simultaneously, the red Hao Yang Silk was torn apart.

The Nascent Soul disappeared from the spot without hesitation and reappeared at the entrance. It was trying to escape through the passage.

But then, a strange thing happened.

The robe that Nam Longhu was wearing burst open, revealing his bare back, and the face of a demon, which had been engraved on a blood talisman, was embedded in his back!

The demon’s face opened its eyes fiercely, revealing silver-white pupils. At the same time, a purple shadow flashed at the corner of its mouth.

The old man’s Nascent Soul, which was about to release the hidden sword and combine it with its natal magical treasure to use a teleportation technique, heard a sound like the wind. Then, his back felt hot, and something popped out between his eyebrows.

Something long had pierced through the Nascent Soul’s head. The old man’s Nascent Soul screamed miserably and lost its strength, falling down.

The purple demon’s tongue extended from its mouth and pierced through the Nascent Soul’s head. The demon watched the Nascent Soul fall, then laughed wickedly and curled its tongue, putting the old man’s Nascent Soul into its mouth.

The demon, having swallowed the Nascent Soul, closed its eyes contentedly. Then, it turned and looked at the navy-blue sword, which had lost its owner, and its eyes gleamed.

As it reached out its hand, the heart was torn from Luo Weiying’s body and scattered into a bloody mist. Nam Longhu looked around expressionlessly and then turned into a black aura and flew into the passage.

Shortly after, he arrived at the bottom of the lake, then flew back up and hovered above a rocky mountain, looking down.

Having risen over a hundred feet, he touched the red restriction and caused lightning to strike, but strangely, the lightning bent before it could touch Nam Longhu’s body, leaving him unharmed.

Nam Longhu looked around and then changed direction and disappeared.

* * *

The sect leader of the Ghost Spirit Sect and Wei Wuai, who had arrived at the center of the basin, were standing in front of the altar, looking up at the endless staircase.

They should have arrived already, but as they got closer to the altar, large-scale restrictions appeared, causing delays.

Upon arrival, the size of the altar was even more magnificent.

“Let’s go. The clue to the Spirit Burial Garden must be at the top of the altar,” the sect leader of the Ghost Spirit Sect said, urging everyone after staring blankly for a while.

“Huh!” He took a step forward to ascend the stairs, but frowned, causing the other cultivators to look at him nervously.

“Everyone must be careful. There are restrictions on the stairs, so it won’t be easy to climb,” the sect leader of the Ghost Spirit Sect said, gritting his teeth as he looked at the faint yellow light flickering on the endless stairs. Wei Wuai also slightly narrowed his eyes.

“Let’s go!” As soon as they stepped onto the stairs, it felt like a thousand-pound weight was pressing down on their shoulders. Wei Wuai’s situation was the best, but the Core Formation cultivators [a lower level of cultivation] of the Ghost Spirit Sect were trembling and their faces turned pale.
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