Bachelor [EN]: Chapter 1065

The day of the Myriad Treasures Assembly finally arrived. Han Li, who had been meditating in his residence, sensed something and retrieved the Myriad Sword Diagram before leaving his private chamber.

Hai Da-shao and Qi Lingzi were waiting respectfully. Hai Da-shao bowed and presented a golden invitation card from his sleeve.

‘Senior Han, this is the invitation card for the Myriad Treasures Assembly. With this, you can attend any auction and freely enter any part of the assembly venue. The first day features a grand auction at Flying Immortal Peak, which is traditionally the most important auction of the assembly, where major powers and individuals display their precious treasures.’

‘You seem quite knowledgeable about the Myriad Treasures Assembly. You haven’t just been idling these past few days.’

Han Li smiled and took the golden invitation card to examine it. On the front were two simple ancient characters, ‘Myriad Treasures,’ and on the back was a magnificent silver design.

‘While I was in seclusion, have all the Seven Fiend Kings arrived?’

‘Five of the Seven Fiend Kings have arrived, except for the Wolf King and the Fox King,’ Hai Da-shao quickly replied.

‘The Wolf King and the Fox King haven’t arrived yet? That’s unusual. The Seven Fiend Kings usually value the Myriad Treasures Assembly and attend without fail.’

‘From what I’ve heard, the Wolf King is unable to attend due to mastering a powerful divine ability, and the Fox King seems to be absent from the Fox Territory altogether. They sent word through their subordinates that they couldn’t attend due to some matter,’ Qi Lingzi added, having heard the rumors.

‘Then let’s get going! Although there are many activities at the Myriad Treasures Assembly, I’m only interested in a few, so I certainly can’t miss the first auction. You two can come along and observe. With the invitation card, it shouldn’t be a problem to bring a few disciples.’

‘Disciples? Does that mean you’re accepting us as disciples!’

Upon hearing his words, Qi Lingzi and Hai Da-shao, stunned, exclaimed emotionally.

‘Your cultivation is too low, but if you wish, I will accept you as nominal disciples. Once you reach the Transformation stage, I will recognize you as formal disciples, so from now on, focus on your cultivation and don’t disappoint me,’ Han Li said, shaking his head with a serious tone.

‘A nominal disciple is more than enough! Master, please accept our bows!’

Without hesitation, Qi Lingzi bowed his head three times, and Hai Da-shao, also excited, quickly knelt and performed the disciple’s salute. Han Li nodded at their sincere greetings and waved his sleeve to help Qi Lingzi and Hai Da-shao up.

‘You both know a bit about my background. I also took in two disciples in the Lower Realm, so you have senior brothers and sisters. However, I, who focus solely on cultivation, wouldn’t have taken them in without a reason, would I? It’s the same for you. To prevent any unnecessary doubts, I’ll briefly explain the reason.’

At Han Li’s last words, the hall turned cold. Hai Da-shao and Qi Lingzi, whose cultivation was low, felt a chill all over their bodies and stammered, ‘No, we wouldn’t dare.’

‘Haha, it’s human nature; there’s no reason not to doubt. If I had met a Fusion stage cultivator who wanted to take me as a disciple when I was at the Foundation Establishment stage, I would have been terrified.’

Han Li smiled, and his expression softened. Hai Da-shao and Qi Lingzi exchanged awkward glances and didn’t try to explain further.

‘Frankly, if you were just ordinary Foundation Establishment stage cultivators or body refiners, I wouldn’t have taken you in, even as nominal disciples. The reason I’m accepting you today is, first, because of fate. After observing you for a while, I found your characters to be decent! But the more important reason is that Hai Da-shao was born with a Hidden Spiritual Root, and Qi Lingzi carries a legacy artifact within his body.’

‘A Hidden Spiritual Root!’

‘A legacy artifact?’

Hai Da-shao and Qi Lingzi were dumbfounded. They had no idea about the Hidden Spiritual Root and legacy artifacts, which were difficult to detect even for high-level cultivators.

‘Qi Lingzi’s legacy artifact is simple. It’s a magic tool containing the proper techniques and secret arts of the Boundless Sect, and its seal will be released when you reach a certain level. When the time comes, you will not only be able to learn the techniques and secret arts within, but the legacy artifact itself is also a rare treasure that will be compatible with the techniques.’

‘No wonder I’ve felt uneasy in my body before. I’ve also had strange dreams sometimes!’

Qi Lingzi muttered in surprise, his eyes wide, and Han Li chuckled and continued.

‘You were born with great fortune. Although the Boundless Sect isn’t very famous, in my view, the principles contained in its related divine abilities and secret arts are profound. I won’t need to teach you anything separately; I just need to give you some simple guidance.

Even if you master the techniques and raise the Boundless Sect’s reputation as its true leader, I will not interfere. The reason I’m accepting you as a disciple is also because I only need to give you some guidance without hindering your cultivation.

Otherwise, no matter how talented you were, I wouldn’t have taken you in. Of course, I will provide you with abundant resources for cultivation. If you have any complaints about this, you don’t have to serve me as your master.’

‘How could that be! Just becoming a nominal disciple under Senior’s tutelage is the greatest luck in the world. I will follow Senior’s orders on which techniques to learn, and I will never complain,’ Qi Lingzi replied loudly, bowing his head.

‘It’s good that you accept it. Then, Hai Da-shao…’

‘Master, you can call me ‘Hai Yue-tian.’ Hai Da-shao is a nickname my friends use jokingly; how can I be called that by my master?’

Hai Da-shao spoke firmly, which was rare for him, as Han Li turned his head.

‘So your real name is Hai Yue-tian. Very well, I will call you Yue-tian from now on.’

‘Yes, Master.’

‘Your situation is a bit different from Qi Lingzi’s. When I first saw you, I didn’t know your exact condition, but after consulting with fellow cultivators of the same level for the past few days, I learned that you were born with a Molten Gold Body and also possess a Hidden Spiritual Root within your body. No, it would be more accurate to call it a Hidden Lightning Spiritual Root.’

‘A Hidden Lightning Spiritual Root!’

Hai Da-shao repeated the words, his face showing that he didn’t quite understand.

‘Although it’s a rare constitution, children with the Molten Gold Body are born among the human race with a certain probability. That’s why you were able to master body refinement so quickly. However, the reason why the Hidden Spiritual Root is difficult to explain is that almost no one with this spiritual root has appeared from ancient times until now. Even if you are born with a Hidden Spiritual Root, it’s very difficult to discover it.’

‘Why is that?’

‘This kind of spiritual root only appears in people who have inherited a special constitution and special bloodline, and it’s often hidden by the power of that special constitution and bloodline.

Moreover, even if you are revealed to be a Hidden Spiritual Root cultivator, it’s often useless, so many ordinary cultivation sects don’t accept them as disciples. This is except for cases where the innate constitution is very outstanding or when they possess a Lightning Spiritual Root or some other rare spiritual root.

Even in those cases, if the time when the spiritual root appears is too long, it’s difficult to cultivate, so it’s considered not worth nurturing. Hidden Spiritual Root cultivators can only cultivate their magic power when the spiritual root appears.’

Han Li explained in detail to his nominal disciples.

Hai Da-shao’s eyes sparkled as he listened to the explanation about his spiritual root.

‘Now I understand what a Hidden Spiritual Root is and why it’s difficult to cultivate. But why are some Hidden Spiritual Roots, like the Hidden Lightning Spiritual Root, more valued?’

‘You’ve grasped the point at once; you’re quite clever. The Hidden Dark Spiritual Root is even rarer than the Hidden Lightning Spiritual Root, and there’s only one person recorded to have it, so it’s bound to be precious. Although your Hidden Lightning Spiritual Root makes it more difficult to cultivate than ordinary cultivators, if you can make the power of lightning your own, you can help others with their lightning tribulations [a trial of heavenly lightning that cultivators face when advancing in power].’

‘Are you saying that I can block lightning tribulations for others?’

Qi Lingzi was the first to raise his voice at Han Li’s words. As a cultivator, he understood the meaning of his words better than Hai Da-shao, who was a body refiner.

‘Yes! That’s why some high-level cultivators or cultivation sects nurture cultivators with the Hidden Lightning Spiritual Root. However, if you don’t have the potential to become a high-level cultivator, it’s useless even if you have a Hidden Dark Spiritual Root or a Hidden Lightning Spiritual Root.

The reason I took you in is, first, because your constitution and spiritual root are suitable for inheriting my dual cultivation method. When the spiritual root disappears, you can practice body refinement, so there’s no need to waste time. Second, I have also mastered techniques related to lightning, so I can pass them on to you. If you truly achieve great success and can help me even a little when I face my tribulation, it could determine my life or death.’

Han Li spoke his thoughts without hiding anything.

‘If Yue-tian achieves great success in cultivation, he will definitely do his best to help Master overcome the heavenly tribulation!’

Hai Da-shao immediately bowed to Han Li and solemnly swore.

‘Haha, there’s no need to worry about that now. I’m nurturing you with the thought of a one-in-a-million chance. It will take a long time for you to grow to the point where you can help me with my heavenly tribulation. And the biggest reason I took you in as disciples is because I like your character and because we are fated. You two have been calling me ‘Brother Han’ for a while, so I’ve suffered quite a loss, haven’t I?’

Han Li nodded, his expression softening, and smiled. Hai Da-shao and Qi Lingzi chuckled at his words.

‘Alright, let’s set off now. I need to familiarize myself with the faces of the fellow cultivators of the same level that I haven’t met yet, and I also need to check if any alien races will appear at this auction. I wonder which alien race has come from so far away.’

‘Yes, Master!’

With that, they left the Spirit Immortal Palace.

In the distance, soldiers were patrolling the low sky in groups, and anyone who tried to approach the Spirit Immortal Palace without permission was stopped and their identity was checked. This was because Mount Nine Immortals was also open to outsiders.

Han Li raised a blue aura and enveloped Hai Da-shao and Qi Lingzi before rising into the air. Although a no-fly order had been issued on Mount Nine Immortals, cultivators at the Fusion stage like Han Li were exceptions.

The patrolling soldiers pretended not to see him as he flew out of the Spirit Immortal Palace.

Han Li’s group flew towards the Flying Immortal Peak, looking down at the mountain range packed with people. There were so many human and demon cultivators that there was no place without people, even in the corners of the valleys.

Especially in the areas where buildings were located, there were swarms of cultivators, and the tops of the nine mountain peaks were filled with crowds.

Hai Da-shao and Qi Lingzi were excitedly observing the cultivators, but Han Li was not particularly interested.

After a while, a steep, giant mountain peak appeared before them. It was the Flying Immortal Peak, the highest peak on Mount Nine Immortals. There were even more patrolling soldiers here, and occasionally, there were also Thunder Guards riding blue wolves.

As Han Li’s escape light approached, several Thunder Guards blocked his path.

‘Senior, may we check your invitation card?’

A giant old man, who seemed to be the captain, asked politely with a cupped fist salute.

*Whoosh!*

Han Li scanned the other party and silently shot out the golden invitation card. The old man was clearly a body refiner, but he somehow managed to read the information hidden in the invitation card.

‘So you are Senior Han. If you are attending the auction, I will personally guide you to the Myriad Treasures Hall.’

‘That would be good. Lead the way!’

Han Li nodded and calmly gave the order. The old man ordered the rest of the body refiners in his unit to continue patrolling, and he turned his wolf spirit beast and flew towards the mountain peak.

The Flying Immortal Peak was, as its name suggested, a mountain peak that stood vertically, making it impossible for anyone without magic power to reach the top. Therefore, it was impossible for ordinary people to build structures there.

Thus, cultivators who were proficient in earth-attribute magic connected colorful cloud bridges and corridors along the cliffs of the Flying Immortal Peak, creating a path to the mountain top where the Myriad Treasures Hall was located.

The mountain top where the Myriad Treasures Hall was located was a fairyland with halls rising in the clouds, and the sounds of water and birds echoed in the lush greenery that could be seen here and there. Although he had heard of the Flying Immortal Peak, he was moved by the sight of it in person.