Bachelor [EN]: Chapter 1016

As soon as Han Li saw the folding screen and the golden cauldron in the distance, he headed straight for them. Liu Shui’er and Shi Kun exchanged glances and followed behind him.

They stopped near the screen and the large golden cauldron, creating a strange atmosphere. When Han Li stopped, the other two naturally halted as well, carefully examining the two objects.

They were slightly surprised by the painting on the screen. It depicted a bizarre door with golden and silver magic characters engraved on it. The ancient, jet-black door with the two-colored magic characters shimmering on it looked incredibly mysterious.

Moreover, the golden and silver magic characters were surprisingly the ancient script of the True Immortal Realm, the Silver Script and the Gold Script. Han Li raised his eyebrows and released a wisp of his consciousness to examine the giant door depicted on the screen.

However, suddenly, a powerful force appeared and, before he could react, pulled his consciousness into the screen. Han Li’s expression changed as his connection with the released consciousness was severed.

Shi Kun also took a step back abruptly. It was clear that he had been affected even more severely than Han Li. Liu Shui’er, who had her face hidden by her bamboo hat, also seemed to have noticed the strangeness of the screen, as her body flickered.

He left the screen for a moment and lowered his head to examine the golden ancient cauldron. The delicate patterns on the cauldron’s surface resembled clouds. Most of the complex patterns were spiral-shaped, making him feel slightly dizzy just by looking at them.

Han Li was inwardly startled and cautiously released a wisp of his consciousness to circle the golden cauldron a few times. The consciousness only hovered around the outside and could not penetrate the inside at all. It seemed to possess the power to block consciousness, perhaps due to the special materials or refining method used.

He did manage to find that there were square indentations on both sides of the cauldron, indicating that something could be inserted there. Han Li pondered for a moment before raising his head, looking at the other cultivators with a glint in his eyes.

Liu Shui’er and Shi Kun were also staring intently at the golden cauldron with fervent eyes. Or rather, they were staring at the square indentations on both sides.

Shi Kun, in particular, seemed to be barely holding back his urge to jump up and down.

“Do you have any idea about this golden cauldron?” Han Li asked slowly, narrowing his eyes.

“Of course not. This is my first time here, how would I know anything about it?” Shi Kun shook his head, trying to hide his excitement.

“Oh, is that so? You were staring so intently at something you don’t even know about.”

“That’s… You should ask Fellow Daoist Liu. She knows much more than I do.”

Han Li smiled, not letting it slide, and the giant man rolled his eyes, pulling Liu Shui’er into the conversation. The woman was inwardly annoyed by this, but she forced a smile when Han Li looked at her.

“This cauldron is a magical artifact containing the Void Spirit Pill and several other treasures that my master and Senior Dan desire. Fellow Daoist Shi and I sensed it because of the items they gave us. Fellow Daoist Shi, why don’t you show Brother Han what it is?”

“Hehe, hearing Fellow Daoist’s words, I am curious about what it is.”

“Ah, that is…”

Shi Kun hesitated, inwardly troubled by Liu Shui’er’s counterattack.

“Am I making things difficult for you?” Han Li’s voice was as gentle as could be, as if it were nothing, but Shi Kun was startled and quickly burst into laughter.

“Hahaha! Why would I be troubled by this? I was about to take it out anyway. It’s a necessary item to obtain the treasures.”

A golden light flashed in Shi Kun’s palm, and something appeared.

It was a square seal that shone with golden light, with a dragon’s head engraved on it. Han Li examined the seal before turning his gaze to Liu Shui’er.

She understood Han Li’s intention and calmly took out a golden object from her hand. It was similar to Shi Kun’s, but instead of a dragon’s head, it had a phoenix head engraved on it.

“It’s the ‘Exquisite Moon Key’. It’s the only item that can open this golden cauldron, and neither can be missing. Although we don’t know the situation inside the cauldron, my master said that there is a high chance that the Void Spirit Pill is inside the item that can be opened with the Exquisite Moon Keys.”

“My master said the same thing,” Liu Shui’er explained, and Shi Kun added. The woman had already said everything, so there was nothing to hide.

“Then, would you two open the cauldron? I need to check if there are any items inside that my seniors need. Ah, if there is a sufficient quantity of Void Spirit Pills, there will be no need to argue. We can just divide them equally.”

At Han Li’s suggestion, Liu Shui’er and Shi Kun exchanged glances.

“We should open the cauldron. Fellow Daoist Shi, how about we insert our Exquisite Moon Keys at the same time? There might only be one pill, but if there are two or more Void Spirit Pills, there will be no need to fight over them.”

“No problem. But I think it would be better to hand over the Exquisite Moon Keys to Brother Han. After Fellow Daoist Han takes out the treasures, we can distribute them fairly.”

Shi Kun said something surprising, making even the quick-witted woman hesitate for a moment, unsure of how to respond.

“Why is that? Do you not trust Brother Han?”

“If Brother Han, with his outstanding abilities, helps us find the treasures, that would be the best. Here, take my Exquisite Moon Key.”

The quick-thinking woman threw the phoenix-headed seal to Han Li as soon as she finished speaking. Shi Kun also sneered and threw his item.

Han Li, who had received the pair of Exquisite Moon Keys with a blue aura, was awkwardly smiling.

“I don’t know if this is okay.”

“Haha, if Fellow Daoist Han keeps them, it will reduce the bickering between me and Fellow Daoist Liu.”

“I would also feel more at ease if Brother Han takes charge of this matter.”

Shi Kun and Liu Shui’er smiled in succession.

“I’m in a difficult position, having taken on this difficult task,” Han Li said, shaking his head with a helpless expression. However, since he had already received the items, there was nothing he could do. He immediately walked towards the golden cauldron.

The reason he was so calm was that he believed he could overwhelm the two with his strength. The absolute difference in power often solved many troublesome problems.

As Han Li stepped forward, Liu Shui’er and Shi Kun simultaneously showed tense expressions, but they wisely did not follow him.

Han Li stood before the golden cauldron, carefully examining the indentations before sending the pair of Exquisite Moon Keys flying. With a clear sound, the seals transformed into golden dragons and phoenixes mid-air and plunged into the indentations on either side.

*Woong!*

The Exquisite Moon Keys, half-inserted, fit perfectly into the indentations. The lower parts of the seals filled the indentations, leaving only the dragon and phoenix heads, which emitted a dragon’s roar.

A golden light flared up, and the spiral patterns on the cauldron’s surface came to life. The golden light around the cauldron also swirled in the air. Just by looking at it, Han Li felt dizzy and as if he was being sucked inside.

Han Li was startled, but the cauldron was merely an inanimate object that had lost its master. He quickly activated the Great Connection Technique while a dark blue light flashed in the depths of his eyes, calming the dizzying sensation.

Then, with a shout, he formed a hand seal and sent a blue magic seal towards the cauldron. The cauldron’s roar transformed into a pleasant phoenix’s chirp. The dragon and phoenix heads on both sides of the golden cauldron wriggled as if they were alive, and the golden light that had been scattered everywhere gathered towards the cauldron.

*Kwaang!*

Sounds of wind and thunder echoed from inside the cauldron, and a small golden mass suddenly flew out, trying to escape. However, Han Li, who had been prepared, would not let them go.

From his sleeve, a gray aura surged out, trying to trap all the golden masses.

*Paat!*

However, the golden masses broke through the gray aura and scattered. The gray aura had failed to stop the treasures at all. Han Li was startled and formed a hand seal with one hand, spitting out a small blue cauldron from his mouth. It was the Heaven Refining Cauldron.

*Tung!*

He slammed the small cauldron with his palm, causing the lid to fly off and a bundle of blue threads to shoot out.

*Shwishshwishsh!*

The sound of air being torn filled the main hall, and countless blue threads bound the golden masses without exception, like a net from the heavens.

As Han Li gestured, the blue net emitted a dazzling light, causing Shi Kun and Liu Shui’er, who were watching from behind, to close their eyes unconsciously.

In the meantime, the blue threads wrapped around the golden masses, turning into a blue mist before disappearing into the small cauldron, and the blue cauldron lid fell, sealing the entrance.

Han Li summoned the blue cauldron and turned to look at the two.

“The treasures have been secured, so you two seniors should check if there are any items you want.”

He floated the Heaven Refining Cauldron low and waited with his arms crossed. Liu Shui’er smiled lightly, bowed her head, and walked over gracefully, while Shi Kun cleared his throat and walked over as well.

As they approached, the blue cauldron spun around and sent the lid flying. A faint blue light flickered inside.

“It looks like a spirit treasure, but can you tell me its name?” Shi Kun suddenly asked.

“Why do you ask?”

“It’s just that I happened to see a copy of the Chaos Myriad Spirit Chart stored in my clan before, and it looked very similar to Fellow Daoist Han’s treasure.”

“From the Chaos Myriad Spirit Chart?”

Han Li narrowed his brows slightly.

“Is this the first time you’ve heard of the Chaos Myriad Spirit Chart?”

“I’ve heard rumors about it, but I don’t know the details. May I ask for an explanation?”

“Every clan with some influence in the Spirit Realm possesses an Extraterrestrial Stone that fell from the sky, and what’s written on it is the Chaos Myriad Spirit Chart. It lists various natural spiritual objects and acquired treasures that have appeared in the Spirit Realm and is updated from time to time. The Heaven Piercing Spirit Treasure I mentioned is an acquired treasure at the end of the list. I was lucky enough to see it briefly, so I might be misremembering.”

Shi Kun explained honestly.

“I don’t know if this cauldron is the treasure you mentioned, Fellow Daoist Shi. It could be, or it might not be. But what’s important now is whether there’s anything you want among these treasures, isn’t it?” Han Li said with a smile, reluctant to talk about the cauldron, so Shi Kun didn’t press further. After their conversation ended, Liu Shui’er, who had been constantly watching the Heaven Refining Cauldron, finally spoke.

“Brother Han, you can show us the treasures now. The Void Spirit Pill is easy to recognize, so we’ll know right away.” The woman seemed more interested in the Void Spirit Pill than the identity of the blue cauldron.

*Paat.*

Han Li sent out various colored formation flags from his sleeve, and the flags that had been lost around the cauldron created a white protective barrier. It was a simple restriction formation. It was set up to prevent any accidents from happening during the appraisal, just in case.

Liu Shui’er and Shi Kun looked at the barrier indifferently. It was a simple restriction that they could break at any time. Han Li blew a blue aura from his mouth towards the small cauldron, and a rumbling sound was heard from inside, followed by a dazzling blue light.

Liu Shui’er and Shi Kun also held their breaths and watched. The small cauldron spun around, grew larger, and a sphere of light wrapped in blue threads popped out.

“Open,” Han Li said, and a hand seal extended from his hand, causing the blue threads on the surface of the sphere of light to split and scatter into points of light. The moment the blue threads disappeared, a golden light flashed from within, and something emerged.

Han Li quickly reached out and used an invisible force to hold it in the air. A gourd bottle with complex patterns was flashing brightly. Liu Shui’er and Shi Kun’s expressions changed slightly when they saw it, but they didn’t show any other reaction.

So, Han Li flicked it and pulled it into his hand. The gourd bottle seemed to possess some spirituality, as it trembled, trying to escape from his hand.

*Pat!* Han Li took out a white talisman and stuck it on the gourd bottle, and it became docile. He brought it in front of his eyes and observed it closely with his consciousness and Spirit Eye ability before withdrawing his spiritual energy and throwing it into the air.