Bachelor [EN]: Chapter 558

In the center of the small plaza, a blue bamboo plant grew, piercing through the ceiling, with a massive formation spread out around it. Throughout the plaza, a dozen or so stone pillars rose, each with a black, corpse-like figure bound by iron chains, their abdomens split open.

Han Li and Lady Mi were startled, staring at the green-furred monster beneath the bamboo. It was devouring a headless corpse, the attire of which was that of a Won Clan cultivator. Beside the green monster, a corpse wolf was crouching, also eating something—the giant turtle that was the Won Clan cultivator’s spirit beast.

And the Yin-Devouring Beast was still lying motionless on the corpse wolf’s head. Seeing this, Han Li felt a chill run down his spine. Lady Mi, her face pale, looked around and cried out,

“Senior Brother Bu!”

She was staring at something in terror.

Han Li turned his gaze and saw gray cocoons floating in the air on both sides of the plaza. The white threads wrapped around them were unmistakably Soul-Slaying Threads [threads that can devour souls]. From one of the two cocoons came a ‘thud’ sound, while the other emitted a chilling aura through the threads.

It seemed that Old Man Bu and Bai Yaoyi were trapped inside, struggling to break free. To kill a mid-Nascent Soul cultivator [a cultivator at the middle stage of the Nascent Soul realm] and trap two others in such a short time, Han Li was inwardly tense, though he tried to appear calm. Lady Mi was worried about Old Man Bu, but now was not the time to save them. She turned her gaze from the cocoons and took out the wheel-shaped treasure, a Buddhist artifact, from her sleeve.

The green monster paid no attention to them, continuing its feast. It broke off an arm of the corpse and began to chew on it. As Han Li watched the blood-soaked corpse of the Won Clan cultivator, a blue light flickered in his eyes. At that moment, the Soul Devourer on his shoulder suddenly let out a sharp cry, its fur standing on end as it glared at the green-furred monster. Han Li sensed through the Soul-Nourishing Pearl in his body that, unlike usual, the Soul Devourer was trembling with fear. This made his heart even heavier.

At this moment, the green-furred monster seemed to have heard the Soul Devourer’s sharp cry and suddenly stopped moving. Thud! It threw the corpse it was holding, sending it flying nearly twenty feet before it crashed to the ground. It was an immense force. The green-furred monster slowly rose and looked at them, and only then could Han Li see the monster’s appearance. At first glance, it looked like a monkey, but upon closer inspection, it was completely different. Sharp fangs protruded several inches, and its silver-white eyes, contrasting with its blood-soaked mouth, had no pupils.

Han Li paid particular attention to the fleshy bulge on the monster’s back. The green-furred monster scanned the two cultivators, then fixed its gaze on the Soul Devourer on Han Li’s shoulder. The Soul Devourer’s fur stood on end under the green-furred monster’s gaze, and it immediately jumped off Han Li’s shoulder, pounding its chest with both hands. It emitted a black light and grew in size, transforming into a ferocious giant monkey about fifteen feet tall. The blood-red demonic patterns on its back became even more vivid, as if they were alive. The green monster seemed to sense something from the Soul Devourer’s transformation and stepped back, shaking its shoulders.

Swoosh-

The two fleshy bulges on its back split open, revealing silver wings covered in flesh. “Silver-Winged Yaksha!” Lady Mi exclaimed in shock, and Han Li’s face also turned pale for a moment. The Silver-Winged Yaksha was the highest-ranking corpse in the human realm, second only to the Golden-Bodied Moon Corpse. In other words, it was comparable to a late-Nascent Soul cultivator [a cultivator at the late stage of the Nascent Soul realm], and in a fight against an equal-level cultivator, the Silver-Winged Yaksha was more likely to win. It was a type of corpse that evolved from the Flying Corpse, and by flapping its wings, it could travel vast distances in an instant. It was born with both wind and earth elemental escape techniques. Moreover, it possessed a sturdy body that could not be damaged by ordinary magic treasures, wielded immense strength, and was skilled in illusions. Its pair of pupil-less eyes could also bewitch a cultivator’s consciousness.

“Two more have come, it’s been a while since I’ve had fresh meat to devour! I’ll eat my fill.” The Silver-Winged Yaksha spread its wings and spoke with its large mouth. Its tone was so clear that it was no different from a human cultivator. At those words, Han Li’s lips twitched, and he spread his hands. He sent out small swords, one at a time, towards the silver cocoons. Having realized the monster’s considerable abilities, he intended to rescue the other two cultivators and join forces with them. The Silver-Winged Yaksha saw this and merely sneered. Its silver eyes flashed with a strange light, and a huge gray hand appeared in front of the gray cocoons, instantly snatching the two golden lights. The flying swords had been captured by the giant hand made of Soul-Slaying Threads. Han Li was surprised, but not flustered. He immediately used his consciousness to control the flying swords. Thunder rumbled, and golden light flashed as the flying swords released Evil-Slaying Lightning, tearing through the Soul-Slaying Threads and trying to escape. However, gray threads flew out from the gray cocoons, wrapping around the flying swords in layers. Han Li narrowed his brows and clenched his hands in his sleeves, golden light flashing all over his body as a lightning net covered him. It was as if the God of Thunder had descended upon the human realm.

“Interesting. You tore through my Soul-Slaying Threads. So, it was you who defeated my Corpse Fiend Clones.” The Silver-Winged Yaksha said in an emotionless voice. “That’s right. Release the Yin-Devouring Beast and my companions, and we will leave this place immediately,” Han Li said, glancing at the Won Clan cultivator’s corpse and then pointing at the Yin-Devouring Beast and the cocoons. The Soul Devourer, transformed into a giant monkey, roared at the same time, emitting a red aura from the blood-red demonic patterns on its back. It was an attempt to intimidate the opponent. “If you want to take this little one, you can. I can also release your companions and let you live.” “Really?” Lady Mi asked, her face brightening as she floated the wheel-shaped treasure in the air. However, Han Li’s face showed no sign of joy. “I can, if you agree to one condition. You can leave this place, but you must leave that spirit beast behind.” The Silver-Winged Yaksha stretched out its green-furred hand, pointing at the black giant monkey. Lady Mi looked surprised. “Leave my spirit beast behind? Dream on.” “Then you can all stay here and be eaten by me.”

The Silver-Winged Yaksha’s face immediately contorted at Han Li’s refusal, its fangs lengthening and silver light emitting from its eyes. “Be careful of the illusion!” Old Man Bu’s faint shout came from one of the gray cocoons. But it was already too late. The silver light pierced their eyes, and even Han Li, with his Brightsight Spirit Eyes, involuntarily closed his eyes, while Lady Mi felt dizzy and couldn’t open hers. ‘No!’ Han Li felt a bad premonition and when he opened his eyes again, the surroundings had completely changed. The plaza and cocoons were gone, and only a thick fog remained. “It’s an illusion. And a high-level one at that.” “We’ll find out how powerful it is soon enough,” Lady Mi raised her eyebrows at Han Li’s words. She seemed anxious after hearing Old Man Bu’s weak voice. She cast a series of hand seals, and the Buddhist wheel-shaped treasure flashed, emitting seven-colored pillars of light. But the light pillars disappeared into the thick fog as if pouring water into the sea. Her face darkened, and she brushed her spirit beast pouch, causing a red aura to flow out and transform into a swarm of winged snakes. They were small, but their heads had horns, and their scales shone like crystals, making them extraordinary spirit beasts. She chanted an incantation and sent red hand seals towards the winged snakes, and the snakes opened their mouths, spewing flames that instantly turned into a raging sea of fire. Despite Lady Mi’s actions, Han Li was still scanning his surroundings with his blue-lit eyes. In the high waves of fire, a silver light flickered somewhere in the air, and two huge silver eyes appeared.

Kee hee hee. Laughter was heard, and silver light flowed from the huge eyes, and then something strange happened. The raging sea of fire and the winged snakes all disappeared. Han Li’s expression did not change at the sight, but Lady Mi’s face changed drastically, and she released red flying swords again to protect herself. Lady Mi was filled with worry. The power of the illusion was beyond her expectations, and she didn’t know if she could escape within a short time. Moreover, the strange laughter in the air was incessant, ringing in her ears, now as loud as thunder, making her head ache. Now, not only the silver eyes but even the fog everywhere flickered with silver light. Suddenly, the silver eyes folded like crescent moons, and heavy footsteps were heard in the fog. “Brother Han, is there no way out?” Lady Mi turned to Han Li, feeling as if the Silver-Winged Yaksha would appear at any moment. If even Han Li had no solution, she was prepared to use a secret technique, even if it meant consuming a large amount of blood, to escape. Han Li did not answer her question but instead released a thick bolt of lightning from one arm. Golden light flashed, and it collided with the silver crescent moon in the air. Boom! Krrrr. This time, the attack did not disappear. The silver crescent moon and the golden lightning collided and exploded. Lady Mi felt as if the earth and sky were turning upside down and blinked. When she regained her senses, she was back in the plaza. The thick fog and silver eyes were long gone. At that moment, the Silver-Winged Yaksha was standing under the bamboo, blocking the golden lightning with one of its silver wings. Lady Mi realized that the monster was holding a black mirror in its green-furred hand, reflecting the two of them. The mirror was not large, but it was filled with an eerie aura.

“To find my location within the illusion is strange. The power of the Silver-Eyed Illusion, enhanced by the Evil Moon Illusion Mirror, is more than doubled. Your eyes were strange in the illusion. Did you learn some special secret technique?” It said calmly, and with a flap of its silver wings, the golden lightning was deflected to the side. Han Li merely sneered and, without answering, flicked his sleeve, releasing dozens of golden swords. At the same time, thunder rumbled from behind him, and silver wings appeared. Then, he took a long breath and spat out a snow-white pearl surrounded by purple flames, causing the surrounding temperature to drop sharply. Until Han Li released the blue swords, the Silver-Winged Yaksha’s expression had not changed, but when the silver wings and the Snow Crystal Pearl surrounded by purple flames appeared, a cautious look came over it. Han Li still did not attack but threw a spirit beast pouch into the air. Golden flying insects swarmed out. He formed hand seals with both hands, creating a seven-colored barrier around him, and then flipped one hand, emitting a purple light that had transformed from a purple mirror. He had released almost all of his treasures except for his one-hit-kill weapons. The opponent was a being that surpassed a late-Nascent Soul cultivator, so he could not afford to be careless. The black-clad woman was startled by Han Li’s vast array of treasures. She also took out a blue shield and brushed her spirit beast pouch, activating two butterfly-shaped treasures. The butterfly-shaped treasures flapped their wings, looking like living spirit insects. She had more treasures as a mid-Nascent Soul cultivator, but it was not necessarily good to display too many treasures in battle. After all, she had to control each one with her consciousness. However, before Han Li and the woman could join forces, the Silver-Winged Yaksha first shot forward like an arrow, emitting a ferocious light. Bang! Its sharp claws dug into the ground, and Han Li and the woman could not tell what was happening. But a moment later, the entire plaza shook, and various lights flashed, and the corpse figures around them began to writhe on their stone pillars. Han Li’s expression changed, and he immediately flapped his wings. He and his surrounding treasures disappeared from the spot, leaving only the Swarm of Gold Devouring Beetles and the Soul Devourer. The Silver-Winged Yaksha saw this and gave a cunning smile, then flapped its wings made of flesh and disappeared as well.

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