Bachelor [EN]: Chapter 859

Han Li watched the Ice Scale Beast’s actions, lost in thought. To be honest, the Ice Scale Beast was only at the cultivation level of a Nascent Soul cultivator. That’s why, even after subduing it and making it his spirit beast, he hadn’t used it to face enemies. Despite this, the beast had followed Han Li, consuming elixirs made from various rare materials. Over the years, it had already reached the 10th-grade demon beast realm. With just one more step, it could overcome its tribulation and reach the Transformation stage. Usually, most demon beasts undergo a transformation lightning tribulation at the 8th grade, fully developing their intelligence and transforming into human form. However, mutated spirit beasts and those with special bloodlines were exceptions. They needed to reach even higher realms to transform, and some never achieved human form in their entire lives. But once they successfully transformed, their spiritual nature and divine abilities far surpassed their peers, making it possible to kill enemies with higher cultivation. The Ice Scale Beast was originally a peculiar beast with a Qilin [a mythical hooved Chinese creature] bloodline, and it had already undergone a mutation due to a fortuitous encounter. Whether it would have another chance to transform was something only the heavens knew. However, judging by its current state, the aura of the Ice Shroud might become the opportunity for it to overcome the Transformation stage tribulation. But Han Li inwardly smiled wryly. At any other time, he would have been happy that his spirit beast was evolving, but now was not a good time. He couldn’t predict what kind of trouble the phenomena accompanying the demon beast’s evolution might bring. Lei Lan and the others didn’t know the exact state of the Ice Scale Beast, but they were amazed by its fur, which grew brighter with each passing moment, and its increasingly powerful aura. By then, Han Li’s group had ventured deep into the Ice Shroud land, having covered almost half the distance. The Ice Scale Beast swallowed another group of mid-level Ice Shroud demons and then lay languidly on Han Li’s shoulder. Its eyes were narrowed, and it looked quite carefree. Just as they passed over a glacier, a large canyon appeared before them. Black winds swirled, obscuring their vision, but strangely, the canyon itself was unusually quiet. However, Han Li’s group wasn’t surprised and entered the canyon. The canyon was about three to four hundred yards wide and a thousand yards high. The black winds above them created a dim light, giving those flying through it a sense of oppression. *Krrng!* A low growl suddenly echoed. When Han Li turned his head, he saw the Ice Scale Beast, which had been lying down, quickly rise, its fur bristling. The Ice Scale Beast had never reacted like this, even after encountering so many Ice Shroud demons. ‘Could it be…’ Realizing something, Han Li immediately slowed down. Lei Lan, Bai Bi, and Jin Xiao, who were flying behind him, looked at him with suspicion, but Han Li didn’t say a word, his dark blue eyes fixed on the front. Just as someone was about to ask what was going on, he raised his hand and waved it in the air. Then, a streak of golden light shot out from his palm, striking the distant canyon. *Kwaang!* The golden light tore through the black glacier, splitting the ice below the canyon and creating a large gap. *Kieeeak!* A painful cry echoed from underground, and black energy surged from the gap in the glacier, instantly transforming into a black mist about a dozen yards in size. “A, an Ice Shroud King! There’s such a demon here!” Bai Bi exclaimed. Lei Lan and Jin Xiao were equally surprised. At that moment, a huge ball of mist rolled around, dyeing the surroundings black. From within it, a black ice phoenix, about twenty yards in size, appeared, glaring at Han Li with its pitch-black eyes. Or rather, it was more accurate to say that it was glaring at the small beast on his shoulder. The Ice Scale Beast growled lowly, its jade-green eyes flashing as if it wanted to pounce immediately. However, Han Li, with a furrowed brow, was lost in thought. Then, he suddenly grabbed the Ice Scale Beast from his shoulder and forcefully threw it above his head. Then, Han Li’s wings flapped, and he transformed into lightning with a thunderous sound and disappeared. The next moment, a thunderclap echoed above the ice phoenix’s head, and he appeared. The ice phoenix, startled, roared in anger and swung its claws to kill him in one blow. *Shwek!* A black claw, about a yard in size, flew towards Han Li, trying to tear him apart. But Han Li ignored it and swung his arms, striking the air. *Puh puh puh puh puhk!* Black and white lights collided with the giant claw in succession. But then, a strange thing happened. *Jjaenggang!* A pair of giant claws shattered like broken pottery. In response, the black ice phoenix let out an earth-shattering roar and opened its mouth, frantically spewing black wind towards Han Li’s head. However, just before the black wind reached him, Han Li rode the wind and disappeared without a sound. The ice phoenix, flustered, looked around in all directions, searching for him. Just then, a gentle breeze blew from behind the black ice phoenix, and someone appeared silently. Like a ghost, he stepped on the phoenix’s back, his black and white fists flashing as he relentlessly struck the ice phoenix’s back. *Puk! Puk!* The moment the black and white lights touched the phoenix’s back, their radiance enveloped the ice phoenix’s body. Then, cracks appeared on the ice phoenix’s massive body, and it began to shatter with a *jjaeng* sound. The ice phoenix, shattered into pieces like ice shards, fell down, and then a large amount of black energy rose into the air again. Unlike before, it didn’t have any form and was emitting a strange black light. *Hwik!* After a moment, a small shadow quickly rushed in and began to devour it. Its nose was twitching, as if it was very happy. It was the Ice Scale Beast that Han Li had thrown into the air. Even before the Ice Scale Beast had landed, the black ice phoenix had already shattered, and the small beast had not missed this opportunity, rushing in to devour the black energy. However, the black energy was what the Ice Shroud King had transformed into, so it wouldn’t obediently enter the beast’s stomach. It suddenly created tentacles to attack, and at the same time, it summoned black ice from the ground to try to solidify its body. However, the black tentacles were shattered by the small beast’s claws before they could even touch it, and the black ice melted into clear water when Han Li flicked out a few silver flames. The time it took for Han Li to step in and kill the black phoenix was very short. The Celestial Peng Sages and Jin Xiao, who had been watching, were once again amazed by his skills, their expressions changing every moment. The black energy grew and shrank erratically as the Ice Scale Beast devoured it, but the beast held onto it tightly with all four legs and wouldn’t let go. In the blink of an eye, half of the massive energy had disappeared. The small beast let out a low growl and jumped off the black energy, lying down on the ground. In response, Han Li threw a white jade bottle at the remaining black energy and chanted a spell. The jade bottle spun around, emitting a blue energy from its mouth, which wrapped around the remaining black energy and returned it to the bottle. Bai Bi and the others, who were watching, showed a hint of envy. The Ice Shroud King was called a king, but in reality, its divine abilities were nothing special, and it could be dealt with by an ordinary Transformation stage cultivator. Aside from being difficult to find, this demon was a concentrated form of Ice Shroud energy, making it very useful for magical artifacts, elixirs, and special secret techniques or divine abilities. However, Han Li had discovered and captured the demon alone, so the others couldn’t dare to demand their share. After a while, the Ice Shroud energy was completely contained within the jade bottle. Han Li, having retrieved the jade bottle, looked down at the small beast lying on the ground with a worried expression. The Ice Scale Beast was curled up, its eyes half-closed. Han Li, who was connected to it through their consciousness, shared the small beast’s complex emotions of excitement, fear, and a slight impatience. In response, he slowly descended to the ground and gently stroked the small beast’s head, calming it down. Then, the Ice Scale Beast stuck out its pink tongue and licked Han Li’s hand, and its anxiousness gradually disappeared. At that very moment, white lights appeared in the air, which had been filled with black energy, and fluttered down. At the same time, the small beast’s body turned pink, and a strange fragrance began to spread around it. It was a fragrance like no other in the world. Bai Bi and the others, who were watching Han Li and the small beast, twitched their noses at the scent. “Nirvana Flesh Fragrance! It seems that Brother Han’s spirit beast is about to evolve.” “That’s right. It seems that our schedule will be delayed by about a day.” In response to Bai Bi’s question, Han Li stroked the small beast a couple more times and then stood up. “It’s a joyous occasion for a spirit beast to evolve. But this is not something to take lightly here. Once the Nirvana Flesh Fragrance spreads, all the demons in the Ice Shroud land might come running. If we’re unlucky and attract some unknown high-level demon, it will be dangerous.” “I know that very well. But are you saying that we should just abandon the spirit beast and leave?” Han Li’s eyes turned cold. “That’s not what I meant, it’s just…” Bai Bi quickly shook his head and tried to explain as the other’s tone became dissatisfied, but Han Li waved his hand, cutting him off. “It doesn’t matter what you think. If you feel it’s dangerous, you can leave first, but I will stay here.” At Han Li’s decision, Bai Bi, Lei Lan, and Jin Xiao exchanged glances and smiled wryly. They also understood Han Li’s actions. How could they easily abandon a spirit beast that would become a spirit general after evolving! Han Li didn’t bother with them any further and busied himself. The small beast would be staying here for at least one night, and demons that smelled the fragrance would come flocking. ‘Since this is the Ice Shroud land, most of them will naturally be Ice Shroud demons.’ Han Li’s dark blue eyes flashed as he rose into the air, taking out several sets of formation tools and discs from his storage pouch. *Shweeeek!* As he flicked his hand, dozens of lights flew in all directions and disappeared. *Kuurrrurrrung!* The surrounding ground trembled, and ten red pillars of light rose from the glacier, creating a massive formation with a diameter of a hundred yards. The inside of the formation was filled with strange patterns, and red spell characters floated around. The intense heat also made the surrounding air feel hot. It was the fire-attribute formation tool ‘Ten Directions Flame Extinguishing Formation’ that he had purchased from the Heavenly Essence City for a considerable amount of spirit stones. This formation was so powerful that even a Transformation stage cultivator would have difficulty escaping it once caught inside. Not to mention ice-attribute demons, which were of a conflicting element. In addition, Han Li formed hand seals and summoned 72 golden swords from all over his body. *Wooong!* At the same time, the flying swords that had risen above his head trembled and multiplied into hundreds of sword lights. As he chanted a spell, he reached out his hand towards the densely packed sword lights. Then, hundreds of golden lights scattered in all directions and disappeared. Unexpectedly, he had set up the Great Geng Sword Formation along with the formation. The sword formation deployed by him, who had reached the peak of the Transformation stage, would be difficult for even a late-stage Void Refinement cultivator to escape unscathed if they were caught in it. Having completed his preparations, he floated above the formation and flicked his sleeve, causing a silver flame to escape from his sleeve, transforming into a silver firebird with a clear cry. The silver firebird spun around and disappeared into the glacier. After that, Han Li spread his hand and released the Triangular Wind Chariot again. He sat cross-legged on the chariot, which floated in the air, and closed his eyes. At that moment, the small beast below was completely enveloped in white light and was emitting an increasingly intoxicating fragrance, luring the surrounding creatures. Even though he had deployed a massive formation to block the energy, the fragrance couldn’t be hidden. The fragrance spread further and further into the pitch-black darkness. Lei Lan, Bai Bi, and Jin Xiao, having finished their discussion, quietly flew up and stood on the chariot. They had no desire to be attacked by the Ice Shroud demons, but judging from the dangers they had experienced so far, they wouldn’t be able to find the Netherflame Fruit, let alone descend to the third level, without Han Li’s protection. Fortunately, Han Li had made sufficient preparations, and his strength was also great, so they concluded that a one-day delay wouldn’t be a big problem as long as no powerful demon appeared.