Bachelor [EN]: Chapter 1017

The gourd bottle floated between Liu Shui’er and Shi Kun, motionless.

“It seems to be a container for elixirs or a treasure with metal properties. The gourd bottle itself has some divine power and contains several unknown flying swords inside.”

“If what Brother Han says is true, then it must be a ‘Sword Within Gourd’ from ancient times. The forging method has long been lost in the Thunder Continent, so it’s amazing to see it here. Fellow Cultivator Shi, may I examine it first?”

Liu Shui’er smiled at Shi Kun.

“Haha, how could I object to such a thing? Please, Fellow Immortal, examine it first.”

Shi Kun looked indifferent. At his words, Liu Shui’er pulled the golden gourd bottle closer, examined it carefully, and then shook her head, passing it to Shi Kun. Already disappointed by her actions, the giant took the gourd bottle with a displeased look and examined it.

“It’s quite a powerful treasure. What should we do with it?”

Shi Kun sighed, looking somewhat regretful as he asked. Then, Liu Shui’er winked at Han Li and gave a wry smile.

“Since it’s not a treasure that Master and Senior Dan want anyway, it would be best if Brother Han keeps it for now, and we divide it later.”

Shi Kun also didn’t hesitate and simply handed the treasure to Han Li.

“I agree. We can just divide it equally later.”

“If you both think so, then I’ll keep it for now.”

Han Li flicked his sleeve, took the golden gourd, and formed a hand seal with one hand, taking out another object from the Void Sky Cauldron. This time, a blue jade box with golden magic characters shimmering on it appeared.

At the appearance of the jade box, Liu Shui’er and Shi Kun were instantly alert and kept their eyes fixed on it. Han Li infused spiritual power into it and opened the lid.

Inside the jade box, two small, egg-sized horses lay with their eyes closed, emitting a strong medicinal fragrance that stung the nose. It was a fragrance that contained pure spiritual energy, clearing the mind. The small horses seemed to have already died.

Han Li emitted a blue light, and the two horses floated out of the jade box, flying towards Liu Shui’er and Shi Kun.

“This is the Emerald Grass that the two seniors mentioned. It has already been refined, so it should be useful to you. You can each keep one.”

At Han Li’s words, Liu Shui’er and Shi Kun looked delighted. Although they were slightly disappointed that it wasn’t the elixir they were waiting for, they were relieved that Han Li shared the precious spiritual grass without showing any displeasure.

Shi Kun burst into laughter, bowed, and pulled the cyan horse towards himself, taking it. Liu Shui’er also carefully checked it and put the Emerald Grass into her sleeve.

Han Li nodded, then floated the jade box in the air, showing that it was empty, and moved on to the next treasure.

The next items taken out of the Void Sky Cauldron were a hexagonal artifact and a golden pagoda. Both were treasures with tremendous power, so Han Li decided to keep them for a while and divide them later.

The next materials from the Void Sky Cauldron were the ones that Cai Liying and Dan Tianren had specified, so Han Li distributed them equally to Liu Shui’er and Shi Kun.

From this point on, Liu Shui’er’s eyes began to waver, and Shi Kun’s face darkened with impatience. The Void Spirit Pill had not yet appeared.

No matter how many other treasures they took, if they failed to obtain the most important Void Spirit Pill, it would be no different from failing the mission.

*Buzz.*

The blue cauldron rang clearly, spitting out a treasure wrapped in blue threads. As the blue threads disappeared, a purplish-gold bottle appeared, its surface smooth like a mirror and surrounded by a white aura.

The astonishing aura emanating from the small bottle made Shi Kun’s eyes widen, and Liu Shui’er’s gaze also changed. Only Han Li showed no change in expression. However, he soon stroked his chin and raised the corners of his mouth.

*Whoosh!*

The lid flew off, and the small bottle turned over, spewing out golden flames. The flames chirped clearly, circling in the air and transforming into a golden firebird.

Seeing the golden firebird soaring into the sky, Han Li flicked his white hand. From his fingertips, five-colored cold flames shot out one after another, attacking the golden firebird.

Attacked by the five-colored cold flames, the golden firebird cried sadly and returned to its original form, a golden pill. The small pill was densely engraved with patterns and emitted the brilliant golden light it had when it transformed into a firebird.

“It’s definitely the Void Spirit Pill.”

Looking at the pill’s original form, Liu Shui’er cried out in great joy. Shi Kun also showed excitement but, remembering something, asked Han Li.

“Is there only one?”

Instead of answering, Han Li immediately sent energy into the purplish-gold small bottle. Then, a golden light flashed from the bottle’s opening, and a golden firebird flew out.

“There’s more!”

Seeing that, Shi Kun’s face brightened.

“It seems there are two Void Spirit Pills that the seniors wanted. We can divide them, one for each of you, right?”

Han Li smiled lightly and asked the two cultivators meaningfully. Liu Shui’er and Shi Kun exchanged glances. The woman’s gaze was cold, and the giant’s face was cautious.

“It can’t be helped. Master ordered us to bring back all the Void Spirit Pills we could find, but since Fellow Immortal Liu has no intention of backing down, what can we do?”

Shi Kun, who had been hesitating, sighed.

“I will do the same. It’s better than returning empty-handed, and I’ll have something to show Master.”

Liu Shui’er also relaxed her cold gaze and agreed. Since both of them did not object, Han Li reached out towards the pills in the air.

*Whoosh! Whoosh!*

The golden pills flew towards Liu Shui’er and Shi Kun, one each. They were certain that they were Void Spirit Pills, but they still slowly examined them. They were that important.

Liu Shui’er muttered incantations and threw various hand seals, while Shi Kun held the pill and remained motionless. Only after a long while did the two people finish their examination and nod.

“Brother Han’s help was crucial in obtaining the Void Spirit Pills.”

Liu Shui’er smiled as she put the pill into a medicine bottle.

“I only did what I was supposed to do, as I was compensated by the two seniors.”

“There’s no need to be so modest. But there aren’t any pills left in the bottle, are there?”

Shi Kun took the pill and looked at the purplish-gold medicine bottle still floating in the air. At his words, Liu Shui’er’s eyes also sparkled.

“You’re quite greedy, Brother Shi. Why don’t you check yourself if there are more Void Spirit Pills?”

Han Li chuckled and threw the purplish-gold small bottle to Shi Kun. Shi Kun read the dissatisfaction in his expression, but he couldn’t be careless about anything related to the Void Spirit Pill, so he scanned the bottle with his consciousness.

The bottle was completely empty.

“Hmm…”

A look of disappointment flashed across Shi Kun’s face, and he looked up at the veiled woman.

“Fellow Immortal Liu, would you like to check as well?”

“Brother Han and Brother Shi have already checked, so there can’t be any mistakes. I trust you both.”

At her words, Shi Kun had nothing to say and awkwardly smiled, returning the bottle to Han Li. Han Li calmly sent a blue aura and collected the purplish-gold bottle.

After that, the materials taken out of the Void Sky Cauldron were almost extinct in the Spirit World, and all of them were what Cai Liying and Dan Tianren wanted, so Liu Shui’er and Shi Kun each took one. In the end, except for three treasures, the rest were divided equally between Liu Shui’er and Shi Kun.

There were no more items left in the blue cauldron. Shi Kun also saw that there were only a few golden lumps left, so he did not raise any questions this time.

“Brother Han, the treasures you are keeping are not what Master and Senior Dan need, so we can divide them among ourselves now.”

After waiting for the Void Sky Cauldron to be retrieved, Liu Shui’er smiled and brought up the topic.

“Haha, it’s perfect since there are three treasures, so we can each take one. Brother Han, you’ve done the most work, so please don’t hesitate and choose first.”

Shi Kun said magnanimously, and Liu Shui’er flinched but then smiled nonchalantly and agreed. It was not a strange thing.

The golden gourd bottle, the pagoda, and the hexagonal artifact could not be easily understood in terms of their exact divine powers and strengths by simply looking at them with the naked eye or consciousness. Therefore, even if they were being generous, it could not be considered a loss.

“I will do as you both say. I have already chosen, so what will you do with the remaining two?”

A smile appeared on Han Li’s lips, and the golden pagoda and the hexagonal artifact slipped out of his sleeve. He had taken the gourd bottle. Liu Shui’er and Shi Kun were puzzled but quickly forgot about it as they were busy choosing the remaining treasures.

“I will take the pagoda, if Brother Shi is okay with that.”

“Alright. I will take the remaining one.”

The woman made her choice first, and the giant paused for a moment before agreeing to her proposal.

“Thank you.”

Liu Shui’er gestured towards the golden pagoda and pulled it towards herself, and Shi Kun also took the hexagonal artifact. All three were pleased to have obtained a treasure each.

“I assume no one will stop me from taking this golden cauldron. It’s quite useful to me.”

At that moment, Shi Kun walked towards the golden cauldron and shrunk it down, holding it in his hand. At the other’s unexpected action, Han Li almost frowned but stopped himself.

“If you want it, I won’t stop you. If Fellow Immortal Liu agrees, then take it.”

“To be honest, it’s a very good treasure for storing important items, so I was also tempted, but since Brother Shi took it first, I have no intention of fighting over it.”

Liu Shui’er looked at the golden cauldron with regret, but since Shi Kun had rushed to take it, there was no way to take it from him.

Shi Kun smiled contentedly as he took the golden cauldron, then noticed Han Li looking at the folding screen.

“Is there anything there?”

“It’s not an ordinary object.”

At those words, Shi Kun was speechless. The folding screen that had swallowed their consciousness could not possibly be an ordinary object. He had asked if he knew anything specific, but Han Li had vaguely brushed it off.

Shi Kun was too embarrassed to delve further, so he used various secret techniques to examine the folding screen. Liu Shui’er also stood quietly in front of the folding screen, lost in thought.

At that moment, Han Li suddenly moved behind the folding screen and shot out a dense array of hand seals of various colors from his ten fingers.

Seeing that, Shi Kun and Liu Shui’er were startled and stopped what they were doing, staring blankly. A black aura swirled between Han Li’s eyebrows, and a pitch-black eye appeared. Then, a black beam of light shot out and was absorbed into the folding screen.

*Whoosh!*

Seven-colored auras flowed out of the folding screen, wrapped around Han Li like lightning, and disappeared. There was nothing left behind the folding screen.

Shi Kun and Liu Shui’er snapped back to their senses and went behind the folding screen, where purple ancient characters were floating within a blue curtain.

“A Cave-Heaven Within the Screen.”

Liu Shui’er narrowed her eyes and slowly read the characters.

* * *

At the same time, Han Li was in a bizarre space.

In the gray space, only a towering, giant black door was clearly visible, and above the door, gold and silver magic characters were densely engraved, making it look very mysterious.

The door in front of him was identical in appearance to the giant door in the folding screen painting. It was as if he had been sucked into the folding screen.

“It’s a space similar to a Sumeru Cave-Heaven [a pocket dimension].”

Han Li looked around and flipped his palm, scattering a set of colorful formation disks.

*Pah.*

The disks, which had turned into light orbs, sank into the ground. After a while, a thick wall of fog rose from where the formation disks had disappeared, completely obscuring Han Li and the giant door. On one side of the fog wall, Han Li finally relaxed and summoned the Void Sky Cauldron.

As he pointed at the cauldron, the lid flew off, and a white shadow escaped, transforming into a girl.

“Greetings, Young Master.”

Qu’er bowed and smiled.

“Very well done. You didn’t expose any aura inside the cauldron. Even I, who knew you were hiding, almost forgot about it.”

Han Li praised Qu’er with a satisfied look.

“It’s thanks to the treasures and talismans that Master gave me! Otherwise, how could I have deceived cultivators at the Nascent Soul stage?”

Qu’er took out a black handkerchief and a purple Taiyi Azure Talisman [a high-level talisman] and offered them with both hands.

“There’s no need to return them. You were originally skilled in earth techniques and stealth, so you were able to use the two treasures well. I have other treasures that I can use, so you keep them.”

“Yes, I understand.”

At Han Li’s words, Qu’er brought the black handkerchief and talisman to her body, and the treasures disappeared into her body.