Bachelor [EN]: Chapter 1032

The turmoil of Yun City

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The cultivators within the teleportation array ascended together, flying towards a destination within Yun City.

During their flight, Horned Chi Clan soldiers frequently tried to intercept them, but they were no match for the two early-stage Fusion cultivators and the numerous late-stage Void Refinement cultivators. [Fusion and Void Refinement are stages of cultivation, indicating power levels.]

Even as they eliminated enemies and moved away from the teleportation array, Yun City remained in chaos, with a noticeably high number of Horned Chi Clan soldiers. Large and small Horned Chi Clan warships, spirit beasts, and soldiers were everywhere. Han Li even spotted a giant puppet lying motionless on the roadside, its body so battered that there wasn’t a single undamaged spot.

Clearly, one of the puppets guarding Yun City had fallen.

The fact that a giant puppet, said to possess power comparable to an early-stage Fusion cultivator, had fallen here demonstrated the Horned Chi Clan’s overwhelming strength. It seemed impossible to defend Yun City this time.

Han Li felt a sense of unease, but they didn’t encounter a single Star Realm cultivator during their flight. It was as if all the high-level beings from both sides had vanished from the city. Meanwhile, Liu Shui’er and Shi Kun acted as if they were complete strangers, not speaking to him.

Fairy Yue also confirmed the token and remained silent. She would offer a brief smile when their eyes met, but she didn’t initiate any private voice transmissions.

Han Li, however, was unconcerned with their attitudes. He was only worried about the chaotic situation in Yun City. He feared that the Horned Chi Clan’s invasion would make it impossible to use the giant teleportation array.

They quickly broke through the enemy lines and flew towards Eight Peaks Mountain, destroying several enemy warships and chariots along the way. Upon reaching Eight Peaks Mountain, there were no Horned Chi Clan soldiers in sight, but groups of Heavenly Cloud soldiers were visible everywhere.

Brilliant light emanated from the eight peaks of Eight Peaks Mountain, forming layers of protective restrictions, and bronze chariots and giant puppets were stationed in the nearby clouds. Before the cultivators who had returned from the Guanghan Realm could ask, over a hundred soldiers approached. Among them, a dark-faced giant recognized them and burst into loud laughter.

“So, you’ve finally returned from the Guanghan Realm. Senior Bi is waiting for you in the command hall, so follow me!”

“Senior Bing, it’s you. We apologize for keeping you waiting.”

Fairy Yue and the middle-aged man who had just reached the Fusion stage recognized the dark-faced cultivator and quickly clasped their hands in greeting. Liu Shui’er and other cultivators who had been in Yun City for a long time also changed their expressions and bowed.

Han Li unconsciously narrowed his brows but bowed like the other cultivators.

“Ah, Fairy Yue and Fellow Daoist Ying are now respectable Star Realm beings, so you can treat me casually from now on. Now, let’s all go see Senior Bi.”

The dark-faced giant chuckled and waved his hand towards Fairy Yue and Fellow Daoist Ying. The cultivators’ expressions relaxed considerably at those words. If a Great Ascension stage Heavenly Cloud Elder was still present, it meant the war situation wasn’t at its worst yet. [Great Ascension is another high level of cultivation.]

The dark-faced giant led them to one of the mountain peaks, and the rest of the cultivators followed behind. Over a hundred Heavenly Cloud soldiers split into two groups, guarding them on the left and right.

After a short while, they passed over the mountain peak, and a small city came into view.

Silver-white statues guarded the high walls surrounding the city. Some were in the shape of demonic beasts, and others were in the shape of humans. Their sizes varied, but they all emanated the same fierce killing intent. Blue-armored soldiers patrolled in groups on the city walls. They were all humanoid puppets that seemed lifeless.

Outside the city, a dozen or so metal golems were stationed, holding weapons, and above the city, 50 or 60 strange light formations floated, emitting bizarre lights.

It was the Man Clan city he had visited once before. Various races were coming and going, and it seemed to have become the temporary central command for Yun City.

Guided by the dark-faced giant, the group landed in front of the command hall and entered, led by two white-robed cultivators outside the door. There were only three people inside the main hall. The one sitting calmly on the chair was the Heavenly Cloud Clan’s Great Ascension stage cultivator, the young man named Bi.

Beside him, Void Refinement stage cultivators stood respectfully, listening to the young man’s orders.

“Greetings, Supreme Elder.”

As soon as they entered the main hall, Fairy Yue and the middle-aged man led the group in a grand salute.

“Oh, you’ve arrived. It’s good that two of you have entered the Saint Clan. Everyone, please rise.”

The young man looked at Fairy Yue and the middle-aged man Ying and smiled. The cultivators obeyed and stood up. Whether it was a misunderstanding or not, Han Li felt that the young man’s smile seemed to deepen slightly when he looked at him.

He was reminded of how the young man had suddenly given him the ‘Heavenly Gang Seal’ before he left, which made him feel uneasy. Fortunately, the young man didn’t look at Han Li for long and waved his hand to the two cultivators beside him, signaling them to step back.

“I’ll explain briefly. Yun City is in this state because our clan fell into a trap set by the Horned Chi Clan. While our main force at the front was lured away, the Horned Chi Clan army took advantage of the opening and invaded Yun City. The city’s restriction formations were also stolen, so even the great restriction formation couldn’t stop the army. We plan to retreat from Yun City soon, so you should also move to the nearest Fuxiao City.”

“Is the situation really that dire? With you here, Senior, how can we abandon Yun City and retreat?”

Fairy Yue’s face turned pale. The other cultivators also looked surprised.

“Do you think there are no Great Ascension stage beings in the Horned Chi Clan? There were two Horned Chi Clan Supreme Elders among the Horned Chi Clan army that came this time. They sent a message in advance, telling us not to engage in this battle. If we didn’t, they wouldn’t interfere either.

If we don’t follow this condition, the consequences are obvious. I can’t fight two cultivators of the same level, and they can’t guarantee they can kill me even if they attack together, so we are reluctant to engage in a full-scale war.”

“But there are dozens of Star Realm cultivators in this city alone. If they stepped forward, they could turn the tide of the battle, but I didn’t encounter a single one on the way here. Could it be that they are all…”

The middle-aged man Ying also asked abruptly, surprised.

“They are safe, so don’t worry. They are just not in the city because of other matters. As you have seen, the fact that there are no Horned Chi Clan Star Realm cultivators in the city is thanks to them. The Horned Chi Clan will probably realize this soon and send more Star Realm cultivators. It’s only a matter of time before Yun City is breached. So, you should follow Fellow Daoist Bing and leave this place immediately.”

At the young man’s words, Fairy Yue and the middle-aged man Ying quickly bowed their heads and accepted the order. The others did the same, but Han Li seemed hesitant.

“That’s right. Fellow Daoist Han, please stay for a moment. I have something else to say to you.”

The young man Bi glanced at Han Li and said. Han Li was startled but had no choice but to obey. As the other cultivators followed the dark-faced giant out of the main hall, the young man Bi stared at Han Li with a strange expression.

“Senior, please tell me whatever you need.”

Han Li felt a chill run down his spine as he was left alone with the Great Ascension stage cultivator, and he spoke respectfully.

“The reason I asked you to stay is because I have a favor to ask. Fellow Daoist Han, you are a human from the Fengyuan Continent, right?”

“How did you know that? Have you perhaps been to the Fengyuan Continent, Senior?”

Han Li was unable to maintain his composure and asked in surprise.

“Hehe, how could I have only been there! I have had connections with some human cultivators and shared friendships with them. Although the human race is not powerful, some of their inherited divine abilities are not to be taken lightly. However, they are so difficult to cultivate that most cultivators cannot master them.”

The young man Bi unexpectedly chuckled softly.

“Then I will tell you the truth. I am indeed a human from the Fengyuan Continent.”

“I knew it! What is your relationship with Ice Phoenix Fairy that you possess the Void Spirit Cauldron within your body?”

As soon as Han Li readily admitted that he was a human, the young man uttered something shocking.

“You know about the Void Spirit Cauldron?”

Han Li hesitated for a moment before opening his mouth and releasing a small cauldron. It was the Void Heaven Cauldron.

“So, this is it. Even after so long, its aura remains the same.”

The young man Bi narrowed his eyes and muttered.

“I have heard of Ice Phoenix Fairy. But this is not the Void Spirit Cauldron, but a treasure called the ‘Void Heaven Cauldron.'”

“Void Heaven Cauldron?”

At Han Li’s words, the young man was stunned for a moment before reaching out his hand. The small cauldron instantly lost its connection to Han Li’s consciousness and flew to the young man with a whoosh. Han Li’s expression changed slightly, but he remained silent.

“Upon closer inspection, it is indeed slightly different from the Void Spirit Cauldron. The refining technique is crude, but it is not a counterfeit… It seems to be a prototype made before refining the Void Spirit Cauldron.”

At those words, Han Li suddenly fell into thought.

“In any case, this was also Ice Phoenix Fairy’s, so I must assume that you have a connection with her. After you return to the human race, I would like you to find her on my behalf and deliver these items and a letter.”

The young man Bi released the small cauldron.

“To be honest, I only obtained the Void Heaven Cauldron by chance, and I have never met Ice Phoenix Fairy.”

Han Li quickly retrieved the Void Heaven Cauldron into his body and told the truth. If she had ascended to the Spirit Realm and was still alive, she would be an old monster of the same level as the young man Bi, and he didn’t want to get involved in unnecessary trouble.

“It doesn’t matter if you don’t know her. As long as you return to the human race, it won’t be difficult to find news of the famous Ice Phoenix Fairy. If she has passed away, you can deliver the items to her descendants.”

The young man Bi threw him a jade box and a light blue jade slip. Han Li sighed inwardly and had no choice but to take the items. Each item was sealed with a golden talisman.

“The talismans are specially refined, and only Ice Phoenix Fairy or her blood-related descendants can remove them. If anyone else tries to remove them, they will immediately explode.”

The young man Bi continued.

“Of course, I am not asking you for this favor without any compensation. I will give you rare materials that can only be found in the Thunderous Continent as a reward, and I will also resolve the matter of the giant teleportation array. Although Tian Jizi and others have already promised to allow you to use the giant teleportation array, the situation is so urgent that all the teleportation arrays in the nearby cities have been sealed.

I will personally issue an order to allow you to use the giant teleportation array in Fuxiao City. Of course, before that, you must first make a heart demon oath and swear that you will keep your promise.”

“Since you have said so much, how can I, as a junior, refuse?”

Han Li, after some deliberation, accepted the conditions. He made a hand seal, made a heart demon oath, and then placed the items in his storage bracelet. [A heart demon oath is a binding magical oath.]

Oaths were meaningless in the mortal realm, but after ascending to the Spirit Realm and reaching the Void Refinement stage, they had a significant effect. The most terrifying obstacle every time one overcame a cultivation bottleneck was the heart demon. [A heart demon is a manifestation of inner doubts and fears that can hinder cultivation.]

Therefore, a heart demon oath made to a high-level cultivator had a strong binding force. The young man Bi nodded in satisfaction and took out three jade boxes filled with materials from his sleeve and threw them to Han Li.

Han Li sent out a blue aura and collected them without even looking at the contents.

“That’s enough, you can go now!”

Having finished what he had to say, the young man Bi removed his smile and gave the order. Han Li bowed respectfully and left the main hall.

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