Bachelor [EN]: Chapter 620

The giant cauldron not only resembled the Sky Piercing Cauldron but also seemed to possess extraordinary powers. The fact that the Azure Glacial Flame was confined within the cauldron and couldn’t escape was proof of its might.

This deepened his suspicions.

“Even though we haven’t spoken much, I have a feeling that you are the person I’ve been searching for all these years, Cultivator Han.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about. Could you please explain in detail?”

“There’s nothing to worry about. It’s just that I heard you swallowed two Ice Spirit Fruits in a row, so I invited you here. I’ve confirmed that you possess an extreme flame, so that’s enough. You are indeed the person I’ve been looking for.”

“May I ask what kind of cultivator you’ve been searching for?”

The Hanryeo Merchant’s smile deepened, but Han Li, not knowing the reason, merely narrowed his brows.

“Before that, I’d like to ask what you call the purple flame you possess, Brother Han. I’ve never heard of a flame that has a cold aura and is purple. Would you enlighten me and broaden my horizons?”

“It’s just something I roughly refined, so it doesn’t have an official name. I simply call it the Violet Extreme Flame for convenience, but how can its power compare to the Azure Glacial Flame?”

Han Li explained, looking at the purple flame flowing through his body. There was no need to elaborate when he didn’t know the other party’s intentions.

However, the Hanryeo Merchant seemed pleased with the simple explanation, beaming with delight.

“As you said, the Violet Extreme Flame is a fusion, but in reality, it’s a complex mixture of various cold auras. Moreover, it hasn’t been refined with a related cultivation method. If it had been refined, its power would have been even greater.”

“Are you saying its power can be increased? That I need to refine a flame that has already been refined?”

Han Li was momentarily stunned by the unexpected words.

“Brother Han, you don’t seem to know much about extreme flames? Well, there aren’t many such flames in the world! It’s important to refine the flame itself so that it can be controlled, but using special secret techniques to refine it can further enhance its power. Of course, how much the power increases depends on the degree of refinement and the flame’s inherent power. In the case of the Azure Glacial Flame, its power can be increased several times through refinement.”

The dwarf stroked his beard, gazing at the giant cauldron.

“Its power can be increased several times… This is also refined, is it similar?”

Han Li asked with interest, raising his index finger to summon a strand of purple flame.

“That also appears to be refined, but it’s not complete. It seems you used a method of forcibly compressing it with magic power. If you refine it so recklessly, the consumption of magic power will be enormous, and the resulting refined product will be very small.”

The Hanryeo Merchant calmly explained without being flustered.

“…Thank you for the guidance. Now, please tell me why you were looking for me.”

“Before that, there’s one more thing I’d like to ask. Not many cultivators can recognize the Azure Glacial Flame at a glance. Have you seen it somewhere before?”

The Hanryeo Merchant didn’t even blink as he scrutinized Han Li’s expression.

“I just vaguely remember seeing it in a scripture. Since I also handle the Violet Extreme Flame, I paid attention to it.”

Now that he knew the relationship between the Northern Night Sojeok Palace and the Sky Piercing Hall, he absolutely couldn’t reveal that he possessed the Sky Piercing Cauldron.

Han Li firmly denied it, and the Hanryeo Merchant simply smiled.

“I must have been overthinking it. The Azure Glacial Flame has a special meaning in our Sojeok Palace. Now, let’s get to the main point. As you might have guessed, I’m simply asking for your help, Brother Han, who possesses an extreme flame.”

The Hanryeo Merchant replied with a serious expression.

Han Li knew what kind of help the other party wanted without being prompted, so he simply waited silently. As expected, the Hanryeo Merchant paused for a moment before speaking again.

“What do you think of my cultivation, Brother Han? Is there any difference between me and other Nascent Soul late-stage cultivators?”

“Difference? You are a Nascent Soul late-stage cultivator, but your consciousness is stronger and your cultivation is higher than any other great cultivator I’ve seen before. So, you are definitely different from ordinary Nascent Soul late-stage cultivators.”

Since the other party asked first, Han Li didn’t hesitate to scan the Hanryeo Merchant with his consciousness and answer.

“Yes, I have already reached the peak of the Nascent Soul late stage. It can be said that I’m just one step away from the Spirit Transformation stage. But I’ve been stuck in this state for 300 years. I’ve taken all sorts of elixirs and tried various secret techniques, but I haven’t been able to move forward even a step. I’m just hovering at the door of the Spirit Transformation stage. This is all because I recklessly swallowed a spiritual elixir.”

The Hanryeo Merchant muttered desolately.

“I see. You must have already gained some understanding of the divine powers of the Spirit Transformation stage.”

“It’s difficult for me to meet outsiders in this state, so I’ve been focusing solely on cultivation to overcome this hurdle and reach the Spirit Transformation stage. But I just can’t seem to break through that wall. Fortunately, my long research hasn’t been in vain, and I’ve found a way to overcome this hurdle in some ancient scriptures. According to this method, I have at least a 30% chance of breaking through and reaching the Spirit Transformation stage.”

“Is it a method that uses extreme flames? But if that’s the case, there must be cultivators in your palace who have mastered related cultivation methods. Why did you seek me out?”

“The reason is that I need five Nascent Soul stage cultivators, each with a different extreme flame. Only with such diverse extreme stimuli can I have a chance to reach the Spirit Transformation stage.

I’ve found two cultivators within the Sojeok Palace, and I’ve asked two others from friendly sects and hermits. I’ve spent decades searching for the last one, and finally, you have appeared, Brother Han.”

“Five Nascent Soul stage cultivators, each with a different extreme flame… That’s certainly a difficult task. It might only be possible in the Sojeok Palace. Even the Taiyi Sect or the Heavenly Devil Sect would have difficulty with that. But don’t you need cultivators who have mastered similar attribute cultivation methods?”

Han Li sighed and asked.

“That’s right. This method requires a cultivator of the same level who has trained in an ice-attribute cultivation method. But for the rest, it’s enough if they possess an extreme flame.”

“Then, what do you intend to offer me in exchange for my help? Although I don’t know exactly how I’ll have to help, it will surely greatly damage my vital energy. Are there any other risks?”

“I highly value honest people like you, Brother Han. If you have any conditions, please tell me. If you’re willing to help, I’ll grant you anything.”

“Since you say so, I’ll speak my mind. I’d like to see the detailed incantation and confirm that it’s not dangerous before making a decision. No matter how good the conditions are, I can’t agree if the risk is too great. Of course, the incantation itself will be part of my reward.”

“No problem. Of course, your vital energy will be somewhat damaged, but it’s absolutely not dangerous. I guarantee it.”

“And as you already know, I came here to refine elixirs with Mystic Ice Flowers. I’ve already asked Senior Baek, but if you, Cultivator Sa, could also help, things would be much easier.”

Han Li smiled and presented his second condition, encouraged by the Hanryeo Merchant’s confident reply.

“Such a trivial matter. I’ll immediately mobilize the entire palace to find as many Mystic Ice Flowers as you need.”

“Please also provide me with a copy of the secret technique for refining the glacial flame that you mentioned earlier. It’s an opportunity to increase the power of the Violet Extreme Flame.”

“Understood.”

“Lastly, a sect like the Sojeok Palace, which has been around since ancient times, must have a considerable number of ancient scriptures. I’d like to look around the place where the books are stored.”

“That is… Alright. I accept that condition as well.”

The Hanryeo Merchant, who had been accepting every condition immediately, hesitated for a moment but eventually nodded.

“Since you’ve so readily agreed to all my conditions, I’ll have no choice but to help you when the time comes.”

Han Li said with satisfaction.

“Then, please wait a moment. I’ll start by copying the secret technique for refining the flame.”

The Hanryeo Merchant took out a white jade slip from his sleeve and began to copy it. Han Li simply waited with a calm smile.

After a while, the Hanryeo Merchant, having finished copying, threw another jade slip and a jade pendant from his sleeve. Han Li absorbed the three items in the air.

“That jade slip contains the method I’ve researched for increasing one’s realm through stimulation. But it can only be used by those who have reached the Nascent Soul late stage, so keep that in mind. If you carry the jade pendant, you can enter and leave our Sojeok Palace’s Scripture Pavilion.

I’ll tell you in advance that the numerous ancient scriptures stored in our palace are protected by special restrictions, so you cannot copy them at will. You’ll have to memorize the necessary content yourself. Also, you only have ten days, so you can look as much as you want during that time. After that, you’ll have no objection to returning the jade pendant, right?”

The Hanryeo Merchant stared at Han Li with a serious expression. Han Li paused at those words but then looked at the jade pendant again and smiled wryly.

“Since you say it’s ten days, I’ll have to follow it. I’ve already received the items, so I can’t go back on my word. You’re good at negotiating.”

“It takes two to tango, doesn’t it?”

The Hanryeo Merchant narrowed his eyes and smiled.

“Since we’ve already made an agreement, I won’t go back on it. Then, I’ll go look around the Scripture Pavilion. If you have any news about the Mystic Ice Flowers, please send word to the Scripture Pavilion.”

Having finished speaking, Han Li unexpectedly got up immediately.

“It will take some time to contact and gather the other cultivators, so you’ll have to stay in our palace during that time. If you need anything for your cultivation, please feel free to tell Junior Sister Baek. I won’t go far.”

The Hanryeo Merchant said, getting up from his seat as well.

“Thank you for your consideration.”

Han Li immediately cupped his fist and transformed into a streak of blue light, returning to the entrance.

As the blue light completely disappeared, the Hanryeo Merchant’s gentle smile gradually faded, and two pillars at the corners of the main hall flickered, revealing a man and a woman.

The man in blue robes was a middle-aged scholar with an ordinary appearance, and the woman in white robes was in her twenties, with a beautiful appearance somewhat similar to Baek Yo-i, but her overly pale face was a bit strange.

“Senior Brother Hanryeo, shouldn’t we verify that person’s flame? What if there’s a problem? What if its power is insufficient?”

The scholar in blue robes frowned as soon as he appeared.

“Although that person’s glacial flame is mixed, it seemed to contain the Azure Glacial Flame. How could its power be insufficient? Besides, we can’t wait any longer. Even if it’s risky, this is our only chance.”

The Hanryeo Merchant sighed.

“Is there no way to extend your lifespan, Senior Brother? There’s information that the Myriad Demon Valley is acting suspiciously, and many disciples have discovered traces of low-realm demon beasts on the outskirts of the Northern Underworld. Moreover, there was also the incident where a demon spirit of a high-realm demon was mixed in with the disciples returning from their missions! As you said, we’re only monitoring them instead of dealing with them immediately.”

The middle-aged man in blue robes was very worried.

“The last time the demons invaded was a thousand years ago. It’s not strange that the Myriad Demon Valley is moving again.”

“But I’m worried that you’re trying to overcome the cultivation hurdle now. Can’t you do it after we’ve repelled the demons?”

The middle-aged man in blue robes hesitated before asking.

“After repelling them? How long do you want me to wait! There was a time when we were surrounded by the rampaging demon beasts of the Myriad Demon Valley and held out for over ten years. I only have a few years left to live, how can I wait? Besides, Cultivator Ma and Cultivator Lee are on their way to our palace, and Cultivator Han is also staying here. When the time comes, it will only help us defend against the demons’ attacks, not make things worse.”

The dwarf stroked his beard and said calmly.

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