Bachelor [EN]: Chapter 802

Faced with the giant of incredible divine power, both Xiao Hong and Cultivator Lee’s expressions darkened. However, their purpose in attacking was to draw the opponent’s attention.

As the giant absorbed all the black flames with its eyeballs, it focused its gaze on the two people in the air. A strange black light flickered, and dense black threads shot out.

Having witnessed the terrifying power of the black threads earlier, Xiao Hong and Cultivator Lee’s expressions changed, and they moved quickly. One threw out an object that transformed into a blue shuttle, into which they flew and disappeared. The other transformed into a giant, dark purple hawk in the air and vanished. They barely managed to teleport away and avoid the attack.

As Nong Dong, Xiao Hong, and the other two circled above the giant lizard and the giant, attacking and dodging repeatedly, explosions continued to echo. However, the giant lizard and the giant were merely annoyed by them and did not leave their positions.

If they hadn’t, no matter how skillfully the four circled around using their escape techniques, they wouldn’t have been able to withstand the attacks of the Void Refinement-level [a high level of cultivation] monsters for long.

The four attacked, and in critical moments, they teleported to create distance and avoid danger.

As the four cultivators persistently clung to them, the monsters gradually became enraged. Thanks to this, the giant lizard and the giant’s attention slowly began to shift away from the spirit fruit.

Meanwhile, Han Li quietly moved downwards. To move without being detected by the Void Refinement-level monsters, he had to use the Great Azure Talisman [a magical artifact for concealment].

Even with the talisman activated, Han Li didn’t make a sound, taking every precaution. He approached slowly and carefully. The closer he got to the Zhi Dragon Fruit, the faster his heart beat.

The moment he harvested the spirit fruit, no matter how great his concealment techniques were, the giant lizard and the giant would immediately discover him. Then, all that would be left was to save his own life.

When he stopped moving within reach of the spirit fruit, a faint, clear fragrance wafted out, and he could clearly see the tiny dragon-shaped seeds inside the peel.

Han Li didn’t rush to pick the fruit but touched his storage pouch and took out several items. He stretched out both hands and simultaneously launched silver, glittering beads towards the two giant creatures.

Then, with lightning speed, he grabbed the air with one hand, and the cluster of Zhi Dragon Fruit that had been growing so lushly disappeared.

*Kwaaaaang!*

*Heuaaaak!*

Earth-shattering roars echoed, and red shadows and black threads flew in almost simultaneously at incredible speed, piercing through Han Li’s body.

However, it was just an afterimage of Han Li. His real body had already teleported away.

*Kwakwakwang!* *Kururung kwagwang!*

Continuous booming sounds rang out. Silver lightning bolts appeared on both sides, emitting bolts of lightning as thick as bowls, and a whirlwind arose around them, followed by thunder. It sounded as if the sky was collapsing.

The silver beads were Lightning Pattern Beads that Han Li had personally refined.

Each of the four Lightning Pattern Beads he threw at once contained power equivalent to a full-force attack from a Void Refinement cultivator, so it was no wonder that the area was covered in lightning.

It was a very wise decision.

If he hadn’t temporarily disoriented the giant lizard and the giant with the Lightning Pattern Beads, even if he had teleported away, he wouldn’t have easily escaped their pursuit.

The giant and the giant lizard, having had their spirit fruit stolen, couldn’t contain their anger and rampaged, but they were still held back by the power of the Lightning Pattern Beads and couldn’t leave their positions.

Nong Dong, Xiao Hong, and the others were equally surprised to see the power of the Lightning Pattern Beads. However, they soon showed expressions of joy and used their escape techniques to leave the area.

Now, apart from the lightning and the roars of the giant beasts, nothing remained around the giant grass. Han Li used the Extreme Wind Thunder Technique to its fullest, flickering madly and disappearing into the distance.

To ensure he was completely out of danger, he even spat out a mouthful of essence blood and used the Blood Shadow Escape Technique [a powerful escape technique that consumes blood]. Then, the giant lizard and the giant, having escaped the lightning, roared in fury when they saw that all the cultivators they had been attacking had disappeared.

* * *

Several hours later, on the summit of a rocky mountain tens of thousands of miles away.

A low rumble of thunder sounded, and Han Li appeared in the air, enveloped in a pale blue lightning. Han Li glanced back and smiled. It had been dangerous, but he had finally obtained the spirit fruit.

Nevertheless, he spread his consciousness and carefully searched the area around the rocky mountain before descending to the summit. He first took out a jade bottle and then took out two bright red pills from it and swallowed them. He had used the Blood Shadow Escape Technique in his haste, but now that he was out of the danger zone, he needed to replenish his energy with pills.

As the pills went down his throat, a clear energy flowed through his meridians.

With a slightly more relaxed expression, Han Li moved his hand again and took out an ice-like, transparent jade box. He slowly opened the jade box, revealing purple fruits inside, each as large as a fist and looking very fresh.

He held the jade box up to his eyes and examined the spirit fruit. Suddenly, he picked up one of them with two fingers and began to observe it closely. After a long while, Han Li let out a long sigh.

‘It’s definitely the Zhi Dragon Fruit!’

The Zhi Dragon Fruit, a Void Refinement-level spirit medicine that could be repeatedly cultivated by leaving seeds, was an invaluable treasure for Han Li. Otherwise, why would he have volunteered for the most dangerous role in this endeavor?

With the Zhi Dragon Fruit in his possession, the corners of his mouth couldn’t help but turn up.

Now, if he could just obtain the Ascending Cloud Glue, he could refine the Ascension Pill, which even Void Refinement cultivators coveted, along with other auxiliary spirit medicines. Thinking this, Han Li’s mood improved even more.

At that moment, he raised his head and looked somewhere in the sky, regaining his composure.

After a while, a sound of air being torn apart was heard, and a white streak of light flew in. The streak of light stopped above Han Li’s head; it was Nong Dong. His gaze was fixed on the spirit fruit Han Li was holding, and he couldn’t look away.

“Hehe, indeed, Fellow Daoist Han’s escape techniques are remarkable. To have safely escaped with the spirit fruit and arrived here. May I examine it to confirm if it is indeed the Zhi Dragon Fruit?”

Each time Nong Dong spoke, the blood-red spot on his lip moved with him. He flashed his figure and landed on the summit, approaching Han Li.

“Is there any need to rush? Let’s examine it slowly when the other cultivators arrive.”

Han Li said calmly with a smile, and the jade box in his hand disappeared with a flash of spiritual light.

“Ah… you are right. I was too eager.”

Nong Dong’s eyes changed for a moment, but as if something had occurred to him, he quickly returned to his original expression. He smiled and stepped back, sitting cross-legged on a rock about a dozen feet away from Han Li.

Han Li remained standing in place, his hands behind his back, quietly waiting for the others to return.

About an hour later, Cultivator Lee and Xiao Hong arrived together, greatly rejoicing at the news that Han Li had successfully obtained the spirit fruit. However, they suppressed their excitement and waited quietly until everyone had gathered.

Another quarter of an hour passed, but the last person was nowhere to be seen. The cultivators’ hearts sank with a sense of foreboding. But then, a golden streak of light flew in from the horizon and stopped above the rocky mountain where everyone had gathered.

“I’m sorry, did you wait long? I happened to find a ten-thousand-year-old Azure Spirit Wood on the way. I managed to pull it out by the roots.”

The girl in the white robe smiled sweetly as she descended.

“A ten-thousand-year-old Azure Spirit Wood? Isn’t that the best material for refining wood-attribute treasures? It seems Fellow Daoist is having good luck on this journey.”

Xiao Hong said, a little surprised.

“Hehe, luck? Compared to the Zhi Dragon Fruit, the Azure Spirit Wood is nothing. Brother Han, did you get the spirit fruit?”

Ye Ying laughed lightly and turned her gaze to Han Li.

“I did. Let’s all gather and confirm it first.”

Han Li nodded and, with a wave of his hand, touched his storage pouch and took out the jade box, opening it. A faint fragrance spread, and everyone began to assess the authenticity of the lush fruits inside the jade box.

“It must be it. It’s the Zhi Dragon Fruit.”

Xiao Hong was the first to make a judgment, her face full of joy. After a while, the others also withdrew their consciousness and nodded in satisfaction.

“Now that we’ve confirmed the item, it’s time to divide it. However, there are six Zhi Dragon Fruits, so even if we each take one, there will be one left over.”

Han Li opened his mouth calmly, scanning the jade box. At his words, the others inwardly narrowed their brows.

“It’s true that we don’t know how to divide the sixth spirit fruit. Let’s put that aside for now and divide the rest, one for each of us.”

Cultivator Lee said, seemingly impatient.

“Brother Lee’s words are in line with my thoughts! Fellow Daoist Han, how about we divide our shares first and then talk about it slowly?”

Xiao Hong also agreed with a low laugh, and Nong Dong and Ye Ying had no objections. Seeing this, Han Li smiled calmly. He first went to Xiao Hong and, with two fingers, gently picked up a Zhi Dragon Fruit and offered it to the woman.

Xiao Hong was overjoyed and was about to take out a wooden box to receive it, but for some reason, Han Li didn’t hand over the spirit fruit and only smiled.

‘Ah!’

The woman paused for a moment, then finally remembered something. She immediately flicked her sleeve and took out a golden sword, tearing off a talisman and throwing it to Han Li.

It was his natal magic treasure, the Azure Bamboo Cloud Sword. Han Li retrieved the sword and dropped the spirit fruit into the woman’s wooden box. While Xiao Hong happily checked the spirit fruit in her possession, Han Li moved to Cultivator Lee.

Cultivator Lee had also seen the previous situation, so before Han Li could give him a look, he released the sword’s restriction and handed it over. As they were distributed one by one, Han Li quickly had only two Zhi Dragon Fruits left in his possession.

He carefully put one away, then threw the jade box in the middle of where everyone was standing and stepped back. Frankly, one for seeds was enough for him. And there was no great benefit to taking more.

Seeing that Han Li, who had been holding the Zhi Dragon Fruit, was not greedy and acted sensibly, the other cultivators’ gazes softened.

“Hmm, what should we do with the remaining one? If you don’t mind, how about an auction? The person who offers the most spirit stones [currency in the cultivation world] takes the Zhi Dragon Fruit, and the spirit stones are divided equally among the rest of us.”

Nong Dong cleared his throat and suggested.

“Hmph, aren’t you being too calculating? Who doesn’t know about the Nong family’s vast wealth? Even if we emptied everything we had, we wouldn’t be able to beat you in spirit stones.”

Cultivator Lee scoffed and narrowed his white eyebrows.

“Then do you have another plan?”

“If spirit stones won’t work, then we have no choice but to barter. Whoever offers enough items, whether it’s pills or materials, that are of equal value to the Zhi Dragon Fruit, takes it. What do you think of my plan?”

Xiao Hong smiled, pushing back her flowing hair. Cultivator Lee nodded repeatedly at her words, and Ye Ying also tilted her head, thinking, before showing a look of agreement.

“Since Fellow Daoist Xiao’s suggestion makes sense, let’s do it that way.”

Nong Dong, although not very willing, smiled politely and agreed since everyone else was doing so.

Unexpectedly, the last spirit fruit fell into Ye Ying’s hands. She generously took out a pile of rare materials she had and divided them into four similar bundles, allowing the group to take what they wanted.

Seeing her act so generously, Nong Dong and Xiao Hong had no choice but to give up the last Zhi Dragon Fruit. Among them, Han Li chose the bundle containing the ten-thousand-year-old Azure Spirit Wood.

* * *

An hour later, a blue carriage about a dozen feet in size appeared in the high sky above the rocky mountain, transforming into a blue streak of light and flying away.

In just a few breaths, the carriage appeared hundreds of feet away, and after flashing a few more times, it completely disappeared from view.

Han Li sat at the very back of the carriage, fiddling with a piece of green wood in one hand. The foot-long piece of wood had a surface that sparkled like crystal, and silver spiritual threads flickered on the cut surface.

‘It will take a while to grow the Azure Spirit Wood, but it might be useful in the future.’

This wood was transparent, making it seem non-existent, and it was difficult to process with water or fire, making it one of the best materials for engraving formations.

Moreover, having been ten thousand years old, it even possessed a slight divine power that resisted the power of the five elements.

Usually, this kind of wood was used to make large magic treasures, and it was very suitable for making magic treasures that could carry people, such as ships, shuttles, and carriages.