Bachelor [EN]: Chapter 632

“……I’m fine! I only suffered a minor injury to my vital energy due to the backlash of the heaven and earth’s energy.”

Contrary to everyone’s expectations, Hanryeo Sang-in, who had been trembling within the lotus, calmly rose and sat cross-legged again.

Baek Mong-hyung and the middle-aged man, who had approached the lotus and heard his words, were relieved. They were about to ask something when Hanryeo Sang-in quickly spoke and flipped his hand. Sixteen silver blades appeared, transforming into silver lights and flying away.

The silver lights circled in the air and flew back towards Hanryeo Sang-in. Then, with a low shout, the sixteen blades simultaneously began to embed themselves into his body. The silver blades, leaving only their handles, were deeply lodged in various parts of his body, except for his head.

Han Li couldn’t take his eyes off the sight. He noticed complex flames of navy blue and white flickering around Hanryeo Sang-in’s body.

“Fellow cultivators, please immediately withdraw your cold flames!” Hanryeo Sang-in closed his eyes and called out solemnly.

The old monk, as if he had been waiting, waved his hand towards Hanryeo Sang-in, and the green cold flame suddenly gathered into a ball and returned to him. Han Li and the other cultivators also quickly began to cast spells to retrieve their cold flames.

Soon, only the navy blue Dry Glacial Ice Flame remained on Hanryeo Sang-in’s body. Still, the Great Elder of the So Geuk Palace did not relax. He immediately formed hand seals and chanted a strange incantation, causing the silver blades all over his body to tremble.

*Woong!*

A white chill flowed out along the blades, and in an instant, the blades sparkled transparently like crystals. And Hanryeo Sang-in’s voice also subsided.

*Bang! Pop! Pop!*

Silver-white light burst out along the blades and scattered into ice fragments. This happened repeatedly, with the silver-white chill continuously flowing out along the blades and exploding. Only then did Han Li realize something and slightly move the corners of his mouth.

The Great Elder of the So Geuk Palace was forcibly expelling the Profound Jade Cold Energy he had absorbed, using the power of a magical artifact.

It was clear that he had not reached the Transformation Stage [a cultivation stage]. If he had the cultivation of the Transformation Stage, the Profound Jade Cold Energy would be the best remedy to replenish his vital energy, but if not, it would be extremely painful.

Hanryeo Sang-in, letting out a long sigh, finally opened his eyes. Now his eyes were back to normal, but he still maintained his youthful appearance.

A bitter expression lingered on Hanryeo Sang-in’s face as he raised his head.

“Senior Brother Hanryeo! Are you alright?” the middle-aged man quickly asked from the air.

“I’m fine. I just need to rest for a while,” Hanryeo Sang-in said with a wry smile as he rose. The lotus of light he had been sitting on collapsed and disappeared into light. He slowly descended to the rocks below.

“It’s truly unfortunate. If Cultivator Hanryeo’s consciousness had been a little stronger, he might have succeeded. Still, in any case, it has been proven that the secret technique can help one break through the late Nascent Soul stage [a cultivation stage] and reach the Transformation Stage.”

The old woman praised Hanryeo Sang-in’s secret technique.

“Madam Yong is right, but could we gather so many cultivators with extreme flames like this if not for today?”

“That’s true. Gathering fellow cultivators of the same level with cold flames is a big task, but it would also be difficult to find a place full of cold energy like the Profound Jade Cave. However, there are many points to learn from Cultivator Hanryeo’s secret technique.”

The old monk said with a smile. At those words, Hanryeo Sang-in merely twitched the corners of his mouth and shook his head. Then, he raised his hand to examine his taut skin, and the eyes of the Great Elder of the So Geuk Palace wavered.

“Cultivator Hanryeo, if you have finished your spell, please stop the operation of the formation. Shouldn’t we also return to the building to recover our vital energy?” Han Li frowned, looking at the barrier that still blocked the surroundings.

“What’s the rush? There’s one more thing to take care of,” Hanryeo Sang-in replied indifferently, without even looking at Han Li. The middle-aged man in the blue robe and Baek Mong-hyung had already stood behind Hanryeo Sang-in and silently supported his opinion.

“Cultivator Sa, what do you mean by that?” The old monk, who had been watching the situation, frowned at the strange atmosphere. The old woman also remained silent but showed her vigilance.

“It’s not that I have any ill intentions, so please don’t misunderstand. It’s just that I have something from this palace that I need to get back from Fellow Han.”

Hanryeo Sang-in finally lowered his arm and looked at Han Li.

*Woong!*

The sixteen silver blades embedded in his body resonated simultaneously and flew out.

“Something to get back?” The old monk and the old woman looked at Han Li at the same time, puzzled.

“You’re joking too much. I, who am visiting the So Geuk Palace for the first time, when did I take something from this place?” Han Li slowly rose and asked expressionlessly. At those words, Hanryeo Sang-in’s expression became strange, and he silently took out a blue cauldron from his sleeve.

“Dry Glacial Cauldron!” The old monk recognized the cauldron and raised his voice. Then, he hurriedly fumbled in his sleeve and took out an identical cauldron. His expression darkened as he looked back and forth between the two cauldrons.

“Great Master Magu, there’s no need to be so surprised. They are all Dry Glacial Cauldrons. It’s just that the original Dry Glacial Cauldron is a pair. These are imitations of the Heaven-Reaching Treasure [a powerful magical artifact], and they are treasures that imitate the Heaven-Reaching Treasure called the Void Sky Cauldron that Cultivator Han is carrying. Cultivator Han, you do have a treasure, don’t you?”

“A Heaven-Reaching Treasure! Cultivator Han really has a Heaven-Reaching Treasure?” This time, the old woman exclaimed in surprise and looked at Han Li as if she couldn’t believe it. Her gaze was clearly filled with greed.

The old monk in the gray robe was also startled and looked at Han Li again. He had heard that he was a cultivator from Cheonnam, but it was astonishing that a cultivator from such a remote place possessed a Heaven-Reaching Treasure.

“Oh, the Void Sky Cauldron… Before I answer, I have a question. Why are you so sure that I have the Void Sky Cauldron? And can you tell me what relationship your palace’s Void Spirit Hall has with this treasure?” Han Li did not deny it and had a face that seemed to be smiling.

“Indeed, you had the Void Sky Cauldron! The cold flame that the cultivator has cultivated, the Violet Extreme Flame, must have been created with the Dry Glacial Ice Flame that the Void Sky Cauldron possesses, right? Besides the Dry Glacial Cauldron of this palace, what else in the world would possess the Dry Glacial Ice Flame other than the Void Sky Cauldron?”

He had already been sure that Han Li possessed the Void Sky Cauldron, but he couldn’t help but feel his heart race at the other’s answer.

“That means you already knew on the day we first met.”

“That’s right. But I didn’t expect Fellow Han to admit it so readily. The Void Sky Cauldron is the Heaven-Reaching Treasure of the founder of this palace, Immortal Bingbaek. After going on a journey with the treasure, she returned after a hundred years, and then her whereabouts became unknown. After that, the Void Spirit Hall was built. I don’t know how you obtained it, but I must retrieve the treasure of this palace.”

At Hanryeo Sang-in’s words, Han Li, as if he had roughly resolved his doubts, let out a laugh and said nothing more. However, Hanryeo Sang-in narrowed his eyes and revealed a sinister look at his nonchalant attitude.

“I heard from Yoi that Fellow Han’s divine abilities are great. I know that you are almost on par with a late Nascent Soul cultivator and are a powerful figure who can’t be dealt with even by a monster like the Silver Yaksha. If we had encountered you in another place, this palace would have no way to deal with you, but haven’t you forgotten that you are already trapped in a formation and have entered the closed Profound Jade Cave? Moreover, Fellow Han’s magic power is at most about three stars, so how much chance of victory do you think you have?”

Hanryeo Sang-in’s eyes flashed, and the middle-aged man and Baek Mong-hyung also watched Han Li, preparing for battle.

“I didn’t know that I would be used after trying to help the cultivator. Is the So Geuk Palace such an ungrateful place?”

“I have already given you everything I promised. I gave you the magic formula to refine the cold flame, and I also gave you the secret technique that the old one has researched for hundreds of years to surpass the realm. Moreover, wasn’t it Fellow Han who willingly participated in this to see if the secret technique was effective? I think I have already repaid the favor enough.”

Hanryeo Sang-in also retorted with a sneer.

“Is that so? Hearing that, it seems like it. But you must keep in mind that I am not the only cultivator trapped in this formation. Surely you don’t intend to kill everyone to keep such a huge secret like the Heaven-Reaching Treasure, do you?” Han Li glanced at the old monk and the old woman. At those words, the two cultivators’ faces darkened, and especially the old monk holding the small cauldron looked displeased.

“Sowing discord, I and the two cultivators have known each other for more than a year or two.”

“…Indeed, this is a matter between Cultivator Sa and the So Geuk Palace, so this old one has no intention of interfering. Do as you please.” The old woman coldly glared at Han Li first and then flew to the corner of the formation. Han Li’s eyebrows slightly rose.

“Cultivator Han, you came to help Fellow Hanryeo, so please resolve this amicably. How about this? Cultivator Han, you return that treasure called the Void Sky Cauldron, and your palace will compensate you sufficiently. If we have reached this level of cultivation, we know that it is good for everyone to get along well, don’t we?” Unexpectedly, the old monk hesitated for a moment and tried to mediate between the two.

“The situation in this palace is not good right now, so I don’t want to create a grudge with Fellow Han either. If you hand over the cauldron, I will compensate you with a large amount of spirit stones! I am confident that I will give you enough spirit stones so that Fellow Han will not have to worry about them in the future.” Hanryeo Sang-in also eased his expression and made a proposal. However, Han Li just laughed softly and said nothing.

At the clear disregard, Hanryeo Sang-in’s face hardened, and his shoulders trembled. Then, navy blue flames soared all over his body, turning into a huge fireball. The middle-aged man in the blue robe and Baek Mong-hyung also formed hand seals and activated about a dozen shining flying swords and two dark spears, respectively.

Seeing this, the monk, as if he had no choice, chanted a Buddhist invocation and tried to retreat like the old woman. But as he retreated, he suddenly changed direction and flew towards Han Li!

Han Li was startled and couldn’t guess the other’s intention when suddenly a telepathic message came.

“Fellow Han, use this Dry Glacial Cauldron! This humble monk will also be with you.”

The old monk suddenly reached out and sent a navy blue light towards Han Li. It was the Dry Glacial Cauldron.

“Magu, what are you doing?” Hanryeo Sang-in roared in anger. He didn’t know why the old monk was acting like this, but from Han Li’s point of view, there was no reason to refuse the Dry Glacial Cauldron. He flicked his sleeve and pulled the cauldron with a blue aura.

Hanryeo Sang-in saw this and quickly formed a hand seal, pointing at the cauldron.

*Bang!*

The small cauldron, hit by the magic seal, stopped in mid-air, and Dry Glacial Ice Flame blazed from the gap in the lid, turning towards Hanryeo Sang-in.

“Indeed, what have you done!” The old monk in the gray robe, as if he had expected it, clenched his fist in the air, and at the same time, a huge green hand appeared to grab the cauldron.

“Explode.”

*Kukwakwang!*

As the enraged Hanryeo Sang-in spat out something from his mouth, the huge green hand distorted, and golden ancient incantations flowed out. Then the golden light exploded and disappeared along with the huge hand.

“The Righteous and Upright Song Incantation! You have mastered the Confucian techniques!” The old monk muttered in surprise, but Hanryeo Sang-in didn’t care and reached out again to pull the cauldron. At that moment, a bundle of blue threads appeared nearby, wrapped around the cauldron, and pulled it away without giving him a chance to react.

“Explode!” The surprised Hanryeo Sang-in formed a hand seal again and uttered the same sound as before from his mouth.

*Kukwakwakwang!*

The golden incantations exploded along the blue threads, making a loud noise, but the blue threads did not budge and pulled the small cauldron into Han Li’s hands.

“The Void Sky Cauldron!” Hanryeo Sang-in muttered in despair.

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