Bachelor [EN]: Chapter 1037

1038. Return

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Han Li now understood why even a Fusion stage cultivator would hesitate to cross the continent. Even with his strength, he had nearly died several times, making it highly unlikely that an ordinary Fusion stage cultivator would return alive.

However, on second thought, such experiences were crucial for top-tier cultivators. It was an opportunity for them, who usually enjoyed stable positions, to strengthen their resolve in the face of danger and find ways to improve their cultivation.

Similarly, Han Li had gained a lot from his hardships.

He had collected rare materials and secretly entered the residences of various alien races, learning their unique secret techniques and hand seals.

To avoid detection, he always chose the outskirts of alien race residences or small cities. These places were not frequented by top-tier cultivators, so the risks he had to take were not too great.

However, things did not always go smoothly. Once, he entered a small city of an alien race called the ‘Ming Race’ and accidentally encountered an alien who called himself ‘Thunder Cloud Child’.

Although the alien was clearly only in the mid-Nascent Soul stage, he surprisingly saw through Han Li’s disguise at a glance, and the two engaged in a fierce battle. As a result, Han Li, who had intended to end the fight quickly, was taken aback. Despite being a mid-Nascent Soul stage cultivator, the Thunder Cloud Child held his own against Han Li.

The Thunder Cloud Child possessed the legendary Five Thunder Body, which allowed him to naturally wield the power of five types of lightning. He had also cultivated a lightning-related divine ability that had been lost since ancient times, allowing him to transform his body into lightning.

Although he could not maintain this form for long due to his cultivation level, it was an ability that troubled Han Li. What was even more impressive was that the Thunder Cloud Child was a master of the Ming Race’s formations and had developed his own unique ‘Thunder Light Formation’ by applying his lightning divine ability.

It was a novel divine ability that could transform the lightning within his body into various formations to trap or attack enemies, and even defend against attacks.

Naturally, the Thunder Cloud Child could not easily overwhelm Han Li, who also possessed powerful divine abilities, and their battle continued for over a month. Eventually, they unexpectedly became friends.

Han Li was fascinated by the other’s Thunder Light Formation, and the Thunder Cloud Child was interested in Han Li’s Evil-Slaying Divine Lightning and Thunder Runes. They hit it off and even moved to another location to exchange their insights.

Han Li learned several very practical Thunder Light Formations, and the Thunder Cloud Child obtained some Evil-Slaying Divine Lightning and learned the Thunder Rune Technique.

However, after parting ways with the Thunder Cloud Child, Han Li discovered problems with the Thunder Light Formation. Whether it was because the divine ability was inherently difficult to learn or because the Thunder Cloud Child had secretly tampered with it, there were more and more issues as he practiced.

After practicing, Han Li concluded that it was definitely the Thunder Cloud Child’s doing and cursed him.

He had also played a trick on the Thunder Rune Technique, so the other could only condense a lightning rune once out of ten attempts.

Han Li had no choice but to improve the Thunder Light Formation he had received. The Thunder Transmission Formation that had appeared above the sea turtle and the cultivators earlier was one of the Thunder Light Formations he valued the most.

It was a divine ability that used the power of lightning to create a short-range transmission formation, allowing him to travel about ten thousand miles. If the Thunder Cloud Child had used it, the transmission location would have been accurate, and the transmission would have been completed quickly.

However, Han Li’s hand seals were incomplete, so no matter how much he modified it, he was randomly transmitted within a range of ten thousand miles. Also, it took ten times longer to activate the divine ability.

Even just now, he had tried to use the improved Thunder Transmission Formation, but he was still transmitted to a random location. That was why he had been so angry, thinking of the Thunder Cloud Child right after he was transmitted.

It was natural that he was happy to see human cultivators after wandering around the Fengyuan Continent for over a hundred years. He knew from the continent map that he was getting closer to human territory, but he did not know exactly how much was left.

Moreover, he felt different after meeting fellow human cultivators after a long time.

After suffering from alien races and monsters for so long, his longing for his homeland had grown, and he could not shake off his thoughts of Nangong Wan. She might have ascended to the Spirit Realm and might already be in Tianyuan City!

Many thoughts surged like waves, but Han Li expressionlessly released the blue flying chariot. The large flying chariot, pulled by two winged wolves, was covered with mysterious spell characters.

“You seem to be severely injured, so it would be difficult to travel long distances as you are. How about getting on the flying chariot to rest and let me guide you?”

“Thank you, Senior!”

“We will follow your orders.”

The Nascent Soul stage cultivators answered with bright faces. Although Han Li had said that he was not a Fusion stage cultivator, an ordinary Nascent Soul stage cultivator could not easily deal with a Stone Ape of the same level.

So, they naturally had to follow his orders, and honestly, resting was what they had been hoping for. The cultivators boarded the flying chariot, and Han Li had the blue wolf puppets absorb the hand seals.

Then, the puppets began to howl softly and come to life. The puppets flapped their wings and dashed forward.

Whoosh.

Immediately, the spell characters wriggled and rose, enveloping the flying chariot in a blue protective barrier.

“Which of the Three Territories are you from? How far is Tianyuan City from here?”

Han Li sat cross-legged on the flying chariot and asked the cultivators.

“We are all from sects in the Xuanwu Territory. This place is about half a year away from Tianyuan City.”

The middle-aged man, who seemed to have the highest cultivation among the four, answered first.

“If it’s half a year away, then you must know about the recent situation in Tianyuan City.”

“I have stayed in Tianyuan City for several years, so I know about its situation. However, my cultivation is not high, so I don’t know anything about the secrets.”

The middle-aged man said cautiously, understanding Han Li’s intentions.

“Haha, there’s no need to worry! I’m also from Tianyuan City, so I just want to hear about the recent situation. By the way, the fact that Tianyuan City is fine means that the alien race invasion failed.”

Han Li smiled, knowing what the other party was wary of.

“Alien race invasion! Have you been away from Tianyuan City since then? At that time, some alien races joined forces to attack the city, causing significant casualties among the human and demon races. It is rumored that even Fusion stage cultivators lost their lives. But for some reason, the alien race army retreated in the midst of the fierce battle. That’s why Tianyuan City was able to survive.”

The surprised middle-aged man honestly recounted the events of that time.

“Retreated?”

“Yes, there were many rumors about the reason at the time. Some said that the elite troops of the human and demon races had raided the alien races’ bases, causing them to retreat. Others said that a new Xuantian Treasure [a powerful artifact] had appeared, and the alien races had withdrawn their troops to pursue it.”

The red-armored giant continued the explanation.

“What other rumors were there about the Xuantian Treasure?”

Han Li was startled but asked without showing it.

“All sorts of strange rumors were circulating. There were stories that a Xuantian Treasure had suddenly appeared in another alien race territory, and that a cultivator from another star system had brought the treasure to our continent. An even rarer rumor was that a cultivator who had ascended from the lower realm had brought up a Xuantian Treasure.”

The middle-aged man smiled wryly as he recalled.

“Haha, a cultivator who ascended from the lower realm!”

Han Li burst out laughing as if it were absurd.

“You also think it’s an absurd story, Senior. What kind of object is a Xuantian Treasure that it could be brought up from the lower realm? I don’t know who started such a strange rumor.”

One of the female cultivators smiled and chimed in.

“It’s definitely a hard-to-believe story. Enough, tell me about the major events that have happened in the Three Territories and Seven Lands over the past hundred years.”

“There have been so many things that have stirred up the human and demon races that it will take some time.”

The middle-aged man said with a smile at Han Li’s command.

“We have a long way to go. It would be good if you could tell me in detail.”

“Since you say so, I will do my best.”

The middle-aged man was holding a spirit stone in one hand and was slowly regaining his vitality.

“Among the recent events in the Three Territories, the most important is the death of the Heavenly Spirit Emperor of the Heavenly Spirit Territory, who failed to overcome the Great Heavenly Tribulation [a test of power] several decades ago. A new Spirit Emperor is scheduled to be selected from the entire human race. Next, there was the strange disappearance of the young daughter of the Fire Flood Dragon King among the Seven Demon Kings. The Fire Flood Dragon King has been making a fuss with his subordinates…”

The middle-aged man mentioned the major events one by one, and the red-armored giant and the two women occasionally added details or filled in the missing parts.

As Han Li listened to their stories, he became increasingly thoughtful. Many surprising things had happened in the human and demon races during the hundred years he had been away.

The story continued for half a day, and silence fell inside the flying chariot. The Nascent Soul stage cultivators wisely kept their mouths shut and waited for Han Li’s reaction.

“Has a woman from the lower realm named Nangong Wan appeared in Tianyuan City?”

Han Li pondered for a while and suddenly said to the woman.

“That’s a name I’ve never heard of. Even if the other guards in Tianyuan City don’t know, there are not many cultivators who have ascended from the lower realm, so I would have heard of such a person if she existed.”

The middle-aged man recalled and stated firmly.

“…Perhaps she is using a different name. How many female cultivators have ascended during that time?”

“There may be some, but not many.”

“I see. You’ve worked hard telling me all sorts of stories for a long time, so from now on, you can rest and relax while we travel.”

Han Li nodded, closed his eyes, and did not speak any further. He was finding it difficult to maintain his composure, unlike his calm exterior, as he recalled Nangong Wan’s gentle voice and smiling face.

He felt a pang of longing when he realized that she had not yet ascended. A faint pain was felt in his chest.

The blue flying chariot flew much faster than when the Nascent Soul stage cultivators connected their escape techniques and went at full speed. The journey that was said to take half a year only took a month and a half, and the massive walls of Tianyuan City, like mountains, appeared in the distance.

Han Li stood on the flying chariot and looked at Tianyuan City with complex emotions. He had wandered far away for a long time and had finally returned.

“Senior, please use the transmission formation to enter the city.”

The middle-aged man cautiously suggested from the side.

In front of the flying chariot, not far from the city walls, a transmission formation was deployed, and a dozen Qingming Guards in blue armor were guarding it.

The formation flashed, and a few people walked out of it, chatted with the Qingming Guards for a while, and then flew away. It was a transmission formation leading to Tianyuan City.

There were no gates on the city walls that bordered the Desolate Wasteland, and usually, one had to use the transmission formation to enter and exit the Desolate Wasteland. However, when the guards stationed in Tianyuan City were on duty, they could use a separate hidden transmission formation.

Han Li gently stepped on the flying chariot and turned it downwards. The Qingming Guards below had already sensed the large flying chariot, and several senses were extended.

Han Li retracted the flying chariot and descended near the transmission formation with the other four cultivators.

“C-Captain!”

Turning his head, he saw a familiar face who was surprised to see him. It was Zhuo Chong, one of the Black Iron Guards he had led in Tianyuan City. He was now in the early Nascent Soul stage.

“If it isn’t Cultivator Zhuo. Although it’s late, congratulations on becoming a Qingming Guard.”

Han Li said gently with a smile.

“It really is Captain! Wow, could it be that you have already reached the Nascent Soul stage!”

Zhuo Chong, who was looking at him with a delighted face, asked in surprise. He had scanned him with his senses but could not properly grasp his cultivation, so he was guessing.

“That’s right. I didn’t expect to meet Cultivator Zhuo before even entering the city. Are the others doing well?”

“I don’t know what to say… Not long after you left, Captain, there was an alien race invasion. Half of the squad died during the war, and a few others left Tianyuan City. Now, only me and Fellow Immortal Xu are left.”

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