Bachelor [EN]: Chapter 953

“You’re quite sharp! To deduce so quickly that we’re after something from the Glacial Heaven Realm. Fellow Daoist Han, there’s no need to worry. With our status, we can send you into the Glacial Heaven Realm even if you’re not a member of the Heavenly Fortune Thirteen Clans. Since we’re offering you such a great opportunity, it wouldn’t be too much to ask for a small favor, would it?”

Although a look of surprise flashed across her face, Madam Jeongjok did not deny it. Han Li, with an awkward expression, pondered for a moment before letting out a long sigh.

“I haven’t reached a bottleneck in my cultivation yet, so even if I were to enter the Glacial Heaven Realm, I wouldn’t gain immense benefits. Moreover, I’m already scheduled to enter the Glacial Heaven Realm, so I don’t need the Seniors’ help.”

“Scheduled to enter the Glacial Heaven Realm? That can’t be! Although you’re hiding your true face with an illusion technique, you’re definitely not one of our Thirteen Clans. How could an outsider have obtained the qualification to enter the Glacial Heaven Realm from Heavenly Fortune?”

Dan Cheonin expressed his doubt.

“Brother Dan, don’t jump to conclusions. I know that recently, one outsider has obtained the qualification to enter the Glacial Heaven Realm. In that case, it would be correct to call you ‘Fellow Daoist Han’ instead of ‘Fellow Daoist Lyeo.'”

Madam Jeongjok also seemed a bit surprised, but she didn’t lose her smile. At their words, Han Li inwardly let out a small sigh.

Even though he had changed his appearance with a secret technique, he couldn’t deceive the two people before him. Fortunately, judging from Dan Cheonin’s tone, it seemed they hadn’t confirmed his true identity.

“Han, you say? Then I’ve heard a story as well. It’s said that an outsider activated the Glacial Heaven Token a year ago and agreed to use a super-large formation in exchange for entering the Glacial Heaven Realm.”

“That’s right. It seems the protagonist of that rumor is Fellow Daoist Han before us.”

Madam Jeongjok smiled as she looked at the silent Han Li.

“Haha, if you were going to enter the Glacial Heaven Realm anyway, then that’s great. We don’t need to take any separate action.”

Dan Cheonin wasn’t flustered and was rather pleased.

“I don’t know what the Seniors are planning, but I have things I need to do for my own clan, so I don’t know if I’ll have time once I enter the Glacial Heaven Realm.”

“Ah, you mean gathering materials? That won’t take long, so don’t worry. If it doesn’t work out, you can prioritize our matter first! Even if you can’t gather the promised materials, I’ll speak well of you to my clan. Then who can blame you?”

“Since you’re going to enter the Glacial Heaven Realm anyway, you can tell us what you need to do. Brother Dan, please explain it to Fellow Daoist Han.”

Madam Jeongjok interjected.

“If the Senior thinks so, then it’s fine to tell him. I have no objections.”

“Actually, it’s a very simple matter! We want Fellow Daoist Han to join forces with two others who possess the Origin Body [a rare physique] to open one of the restrictions in the Glacial Heaven Realm and bring us some items. Whether Brother Dan and I survive the Great Heavenly Tribulation [a powerful trial] depends on those items. If we succeed this time, we won’t have to worry about losing our lives.”

Madam Jeongjok nodded at Dan Cheonin’s words and spoke with a serious face.

‘Great Heavenly Tribulation!’

At that moment, Han Li recalled Cheongwonja, who had been hiding in the Land of Darkness. Even if one’s cultivation was sky-piercing, there was no way to avoid the threat of the Great Heavenly Tribulation. It was a matter that wouldn’t end until one reached the True Immortal Realm.

Han Li’s heart grew heavy.

“I discovered that restriction in the Glacial Heaven Realm when I reached the Saint Ancestor realm. At the time, I couldn’t open the restriction, but I was able to grasp some understanding of it by chance. The items inside are useless to cultivators of the Upper Ancestor realm, but they are life-saving items for Saint Ancestor cultivators, allowing them to overcome the Heavenly Tribulation.”

“If it’s a restriction within the Glacial Heaven Realm, isn’t it something left behind by an immortal? I’ve heard that many cultivators who entered the Glacial Heaven Realm before died because of the restrictions. Are you confident that this will succeed, Senior?”

Han Li asked cautiously.

“My cultivation is inferior to other Saint Ancestors, but I pride myself on being among the top five in Heavenly Fortune when it comes to restrictions and formations. The restriction’s power has almost dissipated after so many years. If that weren’t the case, I wouldn’t have spent so much time devising this plan. Does Fellow Daoist not trust my words?”

Madam Jeongjok stared at Han Li meaningfully.

“No, how could I dare think such a thing!”

“I wouldn’t blame you even if you didn’t trust me. Although I am a woman, I am not narrow-minded. We have spent a thousand years devising a method for those with the Origin Body to break the restriction. I’d say we have at least a 70 to 80 percent chance of success.

The other two with the Origin Body have been staying in Unseong. One is a natural Origin Body, a mountain spirit, who is now a guest elder in our Jeong Clan. And the other one was changed by Brother Dan through acquired means. Now that Fellow Daoist Han has been added, we will surely be able to break the restriction.”

Madam Jeongjok revealed her confidence.

“If Senior Dan could create an acquired Origin Body, why have you waited until now?”

“That’s because you don’t know. The Origin Stone itself is very rare, and not just anyone can easily absorb it into their body. At the time, Brother Dan barely gathered the materials and tried it on six or seven people at the same time, but only one succeeded. We tried to do it again, but we couldn’t find a way to gather the materials. We just hope that Fellow Daoist will enter the Glacial Heaven Realm and help the other two. We don’t want you to take any great risks.”

Madam Jeongjok explained the reason seriously.

“It seems I don’t have a choice.”

Han Li, who had been pondering, gave a bitter smile.

“Haha, that’s right!”

Dan Cheonin emptied his wine bottle and glanced at Han Li, laughing coldly.

“If it’s as simple as you say, I can help, but the Glacial Heaven Realm itself is dangerous, and there are many restrictions that might have been left behind by immortals. Are you confident that I can return alive, Seniors?”

“There is no such thing as a 100 percent chance in this world. If I said I was confident, would you believe me?”

Madam Jeongjok replied with a smile that wasn’t quite a smile.

“Since you, Seniors, have admitted that it’s uncertain, I would like you to agree to two conditions in exchange for me taking the risk.”

Han Li calmly stated the words he had prepared.

“Conditions? Speak! We were going to give you a generous reward if you succeeded this time anyway.”

At his words, Madam Jeongjok’s face became more relaxed, and she smiled. She had an attitude that nothing was a problem.

“My conditions are simple. First, you already know that I intend to borrow the teleportation array after I come out of the Glacial Heaven Realm, right? However, the number of spirit stones [currency] required for teleportation is enormous, and I cannot afford it alone.”

Han Li stated his conditions clearly and closed his mouth.

“The number of top-grade spirit stones required to activate a super-large teleportation array is indeed enormous. Then, let’s do this. I will provide half of them. Are you satisfied?”

Madam Jeongjok agreed without hesitation. Her tone suggested that that amount of spirit stones was nothing. As the woman readily agreed, Han Li raised the corners of his mouth and continued.

“I am very grateful for your words. My second condition is that after breaking the restriction in the Glacial Heaven Realm, I will handle anything other than the items you mentioned as I see fit.”

“That’s fine too! What we need are the items we asked for, not any treasures or elixirs.”

Madam Jeongjok accepted immediately, as if she had expected it, without even consulting Dan Cheonin. She glanced at Dan Cheonin, but he didn’t express any opposition either.

“I am not greedy, so these two conditions are enough. Once I enter the Glacial Heaven Realm, I will lend my strength to the two Seniors.”

Han Li stood up from his seat and clasped his hands towards Madam Jeongjok and Dan Cheonin.

“You’ve thought well! With Fellow Daoist Han’s help, I have a feeling that this matter will surely succeed. I will explain the details before the Glacial Heaven Realm opens. And be careful not to let this matter leak out.”

Madam Jeongjok smiled brightly and didn’t forget to give a final reminder.

“Understood, Seniors. If there is nothing else, I will take my leave.”

“Alright, you may leave. If you encounter any difficulties in the meantime, mention my name or Brother Dan’s name. Then most of the troublesome matters will be resolved. Ah, Fellow Daoist Han doesn’t know my name yet. I am Chae Ryuyeong. You can also call me Madam Biseol.”

Madam Jeongjok smiled gently.

* * *

When Han Li walked out of Sunhyanggak, many people were already entering the auction house across the street. It seemed the auction was about to begin. Han Li also immediately moved his steps.

The side doors on both sides of the main gate were much wider, and the number of guards standing there was also quite large. However, the guards were only maintaining order and not conducting any inspections.

Han Li mixed in with the others and entered. After passing through the gate, his eyes brightened, and several passages appeared.

Above the passages, simple ancient characters such as Appraisal, Pawnshop, and Grand Hall were written, and next to each passage, there were young boys who appeared to be servants.

Han Li, who had been examining the passages, was a little puzzled but didn’t ponder for long and approached one of them.

“Appraisal? What does this mean?”

“This is where items are appraised at the auction house. If you have any precious items, you can have them appraised here and then put them up for auction.”

A handsome boy replied politely.

“Oh, I see.”

Han Li nodded and entered the passage. Although Chae Ryuyeong had promised to prepare half of the spirit stones needed for teleportation, the remaining half was still a considerable amount. Therefore, he decided to put the items he had been carrying up for auction at the auction house, as originally planned.

The passage wasn’t long, and after turning a corner, he arrived at a bright red door.

The door was wide open but covered by a blue protective barrier. And in front of the barrier, seven or eight cultivators of different races were standing in a line, waiting for their turn.

‘So many people?’

Although he was surprised, he quietly went to the back of the line and stood there. Soon, the protective barrier flickered, and a person of a different race with red hair walked out, smiling. It seemed like something good had happened inside. As the person of a different race left, the next person of a different race entered.

After a short while, all the people who had been standing in front of Han Li had left, and it was his turn.

After passing through the protective barrier, a wide space was revealed. The walls were filled with magic characters, so there was no need to be conscious of others’ gazes. There was a table, three wooden chairs, and a simple teleportation formation in the corner.

Someone was sitting in the chairs, but their faces and even their figures were obscured by the light of spiritual energy. Han Li examined them with his consciousness.

It was impossible to sense any energy from those sitting in the chairs, as if they possessed some kind of treasure. Of course, there was no way to know how deep their cultivation was.

“If you have any items you wish to put up for auction, please present them so that we can examine them. Let me tell you in advance that the Four Clans Auction House only handles the best materials and treasures, so items of lower grade must be sold separately in the side hall. If you are not satisfied with our appraisal, you may raise an objection. Now, we will begin the appraisal.”

The person sitting in the middle opened their mouth with a clear voice. It was the voice of a young woman.

“Understood. Thank you for the explanation.”

Han Li slightly lowered his head and sent a jade bottle of jade color and a pure white jade box flying from his sleeve. Then, the two people who had been silent reached out and began to examine the jade bottle and the jade box respectively.

When the jade-colored jade bottle was opened, a strong herbal fragrance wafted out, and a faint dragon’s roar echoed as a green light shot out.

“Hmm!”

The person holding the jade bottle hurriedly sealed the bottle and emitted a white light from one sleeve to retrieve the green light. Then, a blue pill was visible within the green light.

The pill had a smooth surface with an intricately engraved silver dragon pattern. And inside it was a half-foot-long jade-colored bamboo.

*Kwagwang!*

As he quietly examined the bamboo and touched it with his fingertip, a thunderous sound was heard, and a golden lightning bolt the thickness of a finger shot out.

“This is Golden Thunder Bamboo!”

“Golden Thunder Bamboo? You must examine it carefully to be sure.”

The appraiser shouted in surprise, and the woman next to him also urged in surprise.

“Rest assured. I will appraise it meticulously.”