Bachelor [EN]: Chapter 543

The old man retreated politely, still smiling. Once he was gone, the smile vanished from Han Li’s face.

“Senior Da Yan, can you discern that person’s cultivation? I used my strongest spiritual sense, and while I could tell that his Qi Refining stage cultivation was just an illusion, I couldn’t grasp his true cultivation at all. It felt strangely empty underneath.”

“I’m the same. My powerful spiritual sense couldn’t see through it either.”

“Does that mean his spiritual sense is much stronger than yours, Senior?”

“That’s unlikely. There might be someone with a stronger spiritual sense than mine, but not by such a large margin. He might have mastered a special secret technique or possess a rare treasure that prevents his cultivation from being exposed…”

Da Yan Divine Lord hesitated to speak definitively.

“If not that, then what could it be?”

“The opponent might have already reached the Deity Transformation stage, where the spiritual power of their entire body is dispersed through their meridians. They can even make their Nascent Soul [a cultivator’s core of power] temporarily intangible.”

“A Deity Transformation stage cultivator!”

Han Li was greatly shocked.

“Although I haven’t reached the Deity Transformation stage myself, I’ve heard that it’s one of the most basic abilities of that stage.”

“But why would a Deity Transformation stage cultivator remain in the mortal realm? Why wouldn’t they ascend to the Spirit Realm already?”

“I’ve wandered the world and never met a Deity Transformation stage cultivator, but I’m certain there are some who remain in the mortal realm. And not just one or two. Not everyone who has the ability can ascend to the Spirit Realm.”

“This is the first time I’ve heard of such a thing.”

“Hmph, what’s the point of telling you this when you haven’t even reached the late-stage Nascent Soul realm? You’ll understand the specific reasons when you reach the Deity Transformation stage yourself.”

“That’s true. Then, there’s a possibility that the old man downstairs is really a Deity Transformation stage cultivator.”

Han Li couldn’t help but smile wryly at Da Yan Divine Lord’s words.

“It’s just one possibility, but I did feel a faint sense of dread from him. It’s best not to provoke him.”

“I also felt a sense of danger, so it wasn’t just my imagination. That’s why I suddenly changed my words earlier. As a low-realm disciple, he must have a purpose for appearing in both Tiannan and Dajin. It seems I should act like I know nothing.”

“That’s probably for the best. Then, how about we leave the Heavenly Talisman Sect soon? If a Deity Transformation stage cultivator decides to silence us, it’ll be hard to protect our lives.”

“I’ve considered that, but if we leave in a hurry, it might arouse suspicion. So, it’s better to act like we know nothing for a few days. Besides, if he’s hiding his name and identity, he must have his reasons. Otherwise, there’s no reason to hide with such high cultivation.”

“That makes sense. I was too short-sighted.”

Da Yan Divine Lord chuckled and continued,

“You’ve probably recovered most of the vital energy you used up using the Blood Shadow Escape, right? Let’s slowly start refining the puppets now.”

“Yes, Senior. Even if you hadn’t said it, I was planning to deal with the evil dragons and immediately start refining the puppets. I must get my hands on the Scarlet Fire Sect’s inner core.”

“Finally, I’ll be able to see the puppets completed before I die! That will at least lessen my regrets.”

Da Yan Divine Lord laughed contentedly. Han Li also smiled, then flicked his sleeve, and a set of formation tools flew out and disappeared around them. He had set up several layers of barriers around them.

* * *

Han Li spent three days and nights in the Heavenly Talisman Sect’s library. During that time, he was able to go through all the talisman-related books on the second and third floors. There were quite a few unique talisman refining methods. Han Li copied the necessary information without hesitation so that he could look through it later when he had time.

He was inwardly surprised when he found records of the Heavenly Talisman Sect’s secret talismans in the scriptures.

The Spirit Transformation Talisman could be injected into the body and cultivated in the dantian [energy center], and its uses would be limitless later. It could be refined like a magic treasure to increase its power, and it wouldn’t be affected by the backlash of cultivation methods like the great techniques of the Demonic Path.

The Six Ding Heavenly Armor Talisman was a secret technique that could gather the surrounding heaven and earth spiritual energy to create six layers of protective barriers. If the surrounding spiritual energy was sufficient, the six layers of barriers would continuously regenerate, making it one of the few secret techniques that could draw on heaven and earth spiritual energy like a Deity Transformation stage cultivator.

Among the three great talismans, the Spirit Transformation Talisman could only be cultivated in the dantian by cultivators at the Core Formation stage or higher. However, the power of the Spirit Transformation Talisman was greatly affected not only by the cultivator’s cultivation and the duration of cultivation but also by the materials used.

In the case of the Six Ding Heavenly Armor Talisman, anyone could use it once it was refined, and the power of the talisman also depended on the surrounding spiritual energy. In areas with dense spiritual energy, it would boast tremendous power compared to other places.

However, according to the records of the past elders of the Heavenly Talisman Sect, the jade slip containing the method to refine the Six Ding Heavenly Armor Talisman disappeared after the death of the Heavenly Talisman True Immortal. They had been searching for it for generations, but they hadn’t even found a clue.

Now that the Heavenly Talisman Sect was almost in ruins, no one was left to investigate the matter. However, the problem with the Spirit Summoning Talisman was obtaining the materials, so they had never succeeded before.

As a result, the Heavenly Talisman Sect’s three great talismans were just a grand name, and only the Spirit Transformation Talisman was actually used.

Han Li became interested in the other talismans. Anything would surely be of great help to him.

* * *

Three days later, Han Li checked the last jade slip, stretched, and used his spiritual sense to check the first floor. Xiang Zhili was still on the first floor.

His previous Senior Xiang was very diligent and did nothing but sit in a meditative posture and cultivate.

What was funny was that from the first day he started looking through the scriptures, Qi Refining stage cultivators had been standing outside the pavilion, waiting for him to come out. It was as if they were worried he would leave without saying goodbye.

After organizing his thoughts, he went down the pavilion.

“Senior, have you finished looking through the books?”

The old man saw Han Li coming out and put away the jade slip he was holding.

“I’ve looked through enough of what I needed to see. Then, please continue with your work.”

Han Li smiled and said the last words meaningfully before walking out of the pavilion. Behind him, a strange light flashed in the old man’s eyes before disappearing in an instant.

As he came out, the Qi Refining stage cultivator with the surname Yang, who had brought him here, was waiting. Yang took a bow towards him and said politely that he would escort him to the main hall.

Han Li nodded and followed him. The middle-aged cultivator excitedly sent a sound transmission talisman.

Waiting for him in the main hall were not only a few high-ranking members of the Heavenly Talisman Sect but also two unfamiliar Core Formation stage cultivators. The unfamiliar man and woman looked to be in their forties.

Old Man Wen and the others greeted Han Li and immediately began the introductions.

“This is Fellow Daoist Shang from Golden Haze Mountain and Fellow Daoist Si from Bright Yang Valley. The two Fellow Daoists heard that Senior had come and have been waiting for several days to greet you.”

“I made the two Fellow Daoists wait a long time while I was looking for talisman-related books.”

“Not at all. It’s our honor just to be able to see Senior.”

The man and woman showed that they were happy to see Han Li’s cultivation. In fact, they had been half-doubtful about the appearance of a Nascent Soul stage cultivator.

Although the three families were weak, they were barely surviving by joining forces, so it would be beneficial to form a relationship with a Nascent Soul stage cultivator.

Han Li sat down, and when he gestured for everyone to sit, the three Core Formation stage cultivators and Ak Jin finally took their seats, while the other Qi Refining stage cultivators bowed their heads and waited on the side.

“Did you have any gains these past few days? Our Bright Yang Valley isn’t particularly skilled in talismans, but we have quite a few related scriptures. If you’re interested, you’re welcome to visit anytime.”

Fellow Daoist Si’s appearance was ordinary, but her voice was clear and pleasant.

“There’s no need for that. I have some business to take care of in Linjiang Prefecture.”

“Are you going to Linjiang Prefecture because of the evil dragons?”

Fellow Daoist Shang asked in surprise.

“Do you know about that?”

“Recently, all the cultivators in Linjiang Prefecture have been in an uproar because of those evil dragons. I’m worried that the news you heard might not be recent.”

“I did hear some news at a market about half a year ago. The evil dragons were said to have about seventh-grade cultivation, so they wouldn’t have been subdued so quickly, would they?”

“On the contrary, they carried out a large-scale ambush operation and barely managed to deal with one, and many cultivators were eaten or injured. I even heard that one Nascent Soul stage cultivator was injured.”

“A Nascent Soul stage cultivator was injured? How did that happen?”

“It seems that an eighth-grade Transformation stage Flood Dragon was mixed in with the evil dragon group. The cultivators who were ambushing were greatly harmed by that blue flood dragon. Later, some elders from the Southern Sea Sect tried to subdue them, but they couldn’t kill them. Since then, the evil dragons have been hiding on some islands along the coast, attacking cultivators or mortals who are wandering alone.

When Nascent Soul stage cultivators appear, they immediately use water escape techniques to flee into the deep sea. Recently, they’ve become increasingly ferocious, so many high-level cultivators from Hainan Island are gathering in Jingying Island to slaughter the flood dragons on a large scale. After all, an eighth-grade flood dragon is valuable.”

“An eighth-grade flood dragon?”

Han Li didn’t say anything, but he recalled the eighth-grade Poison Flood Dragon he had killed before.

Eighth-grade demon beasts were born from heaven and earth spiritual energy and had accumulated cultivation, so they surpassed mid-stage Nascent Soul stage cultivators. Moreover, they were even more advantageous when fighting in the sea. However, he was going there not for the eighth-grade blue flood dragon but for something else.

“I heard that there’s a red fire flood dragon similar to the Scarlet Fire Sect among the evil dragon group. Is it also on the island?”

“Scarlet Fire Dragon… Ah, there’s said to be one red flood dragon. But I don’t know if it’s a Scarlet Fire Dragon.”

“Then that’s enough.”

Han Li nodded in satisfaction. The cultivators gathered in the main hall were relieved to see Han Li’s expression relax.

At that moment, Old Man Wen glanced at the other two cultivators and asked,

“With a cultivation as outstanding as Senior Han’s, you must be an elder of some large sect, right?”

“I’m from a remote place, so I haven’t been able to take on an elder position in a Dajin sect.”

Han Li scanned the three cultivators as he answered. Old Man Wen and the others’ hearts skipped a beat at his gaze, but they were clearly delighted to hear his answer.

“Since you’ve already researched the Spirit Summoning Talisman, what do you think of it, Senior?”

“Fellow Daoist Wen, just say what you want to say. You’re not waiting for me to join the Heavenly Talisman Sect, are you?”

“That’s a misunderstanding. How could I have such thoughts! I just wanted to ask if you would be willing to become an honorary elder of our three families.”

Old Man Wen, startled by the unpleasant look on Han Li’s face, immediately blurted out what he had been thinking.

Honorary elders were a special position unique to Dajin’s elder system, created by small and medium-sized sects for high-level cultivators.

Unlike regular elders, honorary elders were just names on a list. They were not bound by the sect’s rules, nor did they receive orders from the sect leader or other high-ranking members. It was enough for them to help out a little when the sect was in trouble.

Moreover, they could choose not to help depending on the honorary elder’s mood.

There were too many small sects in Dajin, which was why this happened. The number of Nascent Soul stage cultivators was far less than the number of sects. Small and medium-sized sects could temporarily maintain the peace of their sects by making some Nascent Soul stage cultivators honorary elders.

There were also some high-level cultivators who disliked the restrictions of sects but wanted to be treated well, so this was possible.