Bachelor [EN]: Chapter 11

“No one can know about this bottle. I have to be careful even in the mountains! The light it absorbs is too noticeable. Once it’s discovered, the secret will be out immediately.”

Han Li resolved to keep the bottle a complete secret, not uttering a single word about it to anyone.

“I’m in urgent need of herbs for cultivation, but I can’t use them if I can’t solve this problem! I need to find a way to resolve this issue.”

He felt depressed as he thought about his stagnant cultivation progress. Regardless, the progress of his Nameless Cultivation Method could no longer be delayed.

He wasn’t thinking this way because Master Wen was urging him. He had a subtle feeling that his changes were inextricably linked to the Nameless Cultivation Method.

* * *

Han Li realized that he could safely use the bottle in this Spirit Valley until Master Wen returned to the mountain.

He was the only one living in the entire valley.

Normally, no outsiders would enter carelessly, so he could use the bottle without worry during this period. Han Li calculated when Master Wen would return.

It would be difficult to find any good herbs nearby, so he would likely have to go far away to find them. He would probably have to go to a remote, deep mountain area with dense undergrowth.

Only in such remote areas would there be hope of finding rare herbs.

Considering the time it would take to travel there and search for herbs, it would take at least a year before he returned to the mountain.

It had been half a year since Master Wen left this place and descended the mountain. So, he would return to the Seven Mysteries Sect within six or seven months.

Before he returned, Han Li needed to grow more herbs and make medicine according to some of the rare formulas he had learned.

He couldn’t waste this green liquid carelessly. Han Li planned to cultivate herbs that would help increase his inner power and concoct medicines that could break through his cultivation bottleneck.

These were all things that Master Wen had tried to make before, but he had failed because he couldn’t gather all the necessary top-grade herbs.

Once these medicines were released on the market, ordinary people would squander their fortunes for them, and martial artists would risk their lives to obtain them.

Master Wen had not been able to create these kinds of medicines. Even though he knew how to make these elixirs, he had no herbs and could only sigh while looking at the sky.

Han Li had been extremely interested in the methods of making these rare medicines when he was learning medicine from Master Wen.

Although he didn’t expect that he would ever be able to make these precious medicines himself, he had memorized quite a few of the formulas.

Even when Master Wen saw him learning these formulas with enthusiasm, he had an attitude as if he would never use them.

Whenever Han Li asked, he would immediately explain in detail. He didn’t hide anything at all.

Now that all these formulas were in Han Li’s mind, he focused on diligently cultivating the necessary herbs.

He knew that he didn’t have much time left. He planned to quickly make elixirs before Master Wen returned and then never use them carelessly again.

In his heart, Han Li knew that Master Wen was an intelligent and cautious person, but he had no intention of sharing the secret of the bottle with him.

Han Li felt that the relationship between him and Master Wen was very special. It was complex, unlike other typical master-disciple relationships.

Master Wen always looked at him with a peculiar gaze. This made Han Li constantly feel that the other party was hiding some secret from him.

Especially in the last year or two, Han Li’s intuition had become even stronger.

This made it impossible to view the relationship between Han Li and Master Wen as a normal master-disciple relationship. There was nothing to criticize in Master Wen’s actions towards him.

He never hit him, yelled at him, or cursed at him. In terms of the Nameless Cultivation Method, he spared no effort to ensure that he could cultivate under the best conditions.

However, a thin barrier separated them. An unnatural atmosphere surrounded Master Wen. Master Wen was clearly aware of this gap.

However, he showed no intention of building a master-disciple bond. He still did what he had to do and only provided what Han Li needed for his cultivation.

And the strange gaze he had felt was gradually disappearing. It seemed as if it hadn’t appeared even once for a long time. Nevertheless, Han Li’s keen senses were secretly telling him that the other party had never truly given up on his hidden goal, but was only hiding his feelings more skillfully.

This only deepened the rift between Han Li and Master Wen. In this situation, how could he tell him the secret of the bottle!

When Han Li’s thoughts reached this point, he felt uncomfortable. A master-disciple relationship like the one between him and Master Wen was probably unique within the Seven Mysteries Sect. He couldn’t help but sigh. After Master Wen returned, he would never be able to use the bottle again. The safest thing to do was to hide it as if it never existed. Only after making this decision did Han Li feel more at ease and fall asleep.

* * *

In the following months, he secretly used the green liquid in the bottle to cultivate a large number of rare herbs.

He used the herbs to make rare elixirs that were not recorded in the medical texts, and he also experienced numerous failures.

His failures were agonizing because the herbs used in the concoctions were extremely rare.

But he couldn’t blame himself. He comforted himself by saying that even Master Wen would fail once or twice if he were to use such complex formulas.

He made elixirs that were difficult to see even once in a lifetime, such as the Yellow Dragon Pill, the Clear Spirit Powder, the Golden Marrow Pill, and the Nourishing Essence Pill, and stored them in a dozen small bottles. Looking at these bottles, Han Li’s face was filled with joy.

With these elixirs and miraculous medicines, he felt like he could break through not only the fourth level of the Nameless Cultivation Method but also the fifth and sixth levels without much effort.

Among these medicines, the Yellow Dragon Pill and the Golden Marrow Pill would be of great help to his cultivation. They all increased inner power and had miraculous effects that could transform one’s body.

The Clear Spirit Powder was a rare medicine in the world, used as an antidote for thousands of different poisons.

Finally, the Nourishing Essence Pill was an elixir that could be used for both internal and external injuries. No matter how severe the internal or external injury, one pill could save a life and speed up recovery.

Han Li had not intended to make the Clear Spirit Powder and the Nourishing Essence Pill, which were unrelated to cultivation. However, after thinking about it, he realized that he had become half a martial artist, and there would be days when he would be harmed by others.

He could unknowingly get caught up in the grudges and conflicts of the martial world, where people kill each other. If he made medicines that were effective for detoxification and healing beforehand, they would be of great help when he was poisoned or injured.

With this thought in mind, Han Li made these two elixirs. Life was only one, so he was preparing for unexpected events.

Han Li had no desire to die young. Even if it slightly delayed his cultivation progress, it was unavoidable.

As with everything in the world, not everything can be perfect. When people work, there are always some shortcomings in their work.

On the day Han Li finished making the elixirs, he immediately swallowed one Yellow Dragon Pill and one Golden Marrow Pill according to the instructions in the medical texts.

These two medicines were legendary elixirs. Their medicinal properties were so strong that he was able to break through the stagnation at the third level that very night. He had finally reached the fourth level of the Nameless Cultivation Method.

Once he reached the fourth level, Han Li was able to experience a different sensation than before. His senses exploded, and he entered a mysterious realm.

Everything in front of him suddenly became so bright and clear, and he could see even the smallest objects that he could never have seen before, as if they had suddenly become larger.

Even the very fine spiderwebs on the corner of the wall were clearly visible. His hearing also became more sensitive, and he could hear countless sounds that he had previously ignored or not felt.

For example, the sound of earthworms digging in the ground far away, or the sound of insects flying outside the room.

They were as clear and distinct as if they were right next to his ear. In addition to this, his sense of smell was also very different from before.

He felt as if he had become a completely different person, and his body felt lighter and faster than before.

Even if he didn’t sleep for three or four days in a row, it wouldn’t be a problem for Han Li now. Han Li carefully checked the changes from before.

He could know everything that was happening outside without moving from his spot. He felt like everything was in the palm of his hand.

Only today did he realize that the fourth stage of this cultivation method was the true achievement of minor success!

If the fourth level had such a great effect, how wonderful would the results be if he reached the fifth and sixth levels?

Not long after Han Li realized the subtle achievements of the cultivation method he had been practicing, his master, Master Wen, was returning to Spirit Valley.

He was not alone but with another person.

* * *

As soon as Master Wen entered Spirit Valley, Han Li heard a cough from afar.

He was meditating in the stone chamber, diligently cultivating to advance to the next stage.

After hearing Master Wen’s voice, he quickly circulated his inner power and went to greet his master.

He met Master Wen at the entrance of Spirit Valley. Han Li was greatly surprised as soon as he saw Master Wen.

He had sunken eye sockets and looked like he was about to collapse, and his face was lifeless. He had always looked sickly, but it had never been this bad.

What surprised Han Li even more was the figure wearing a black bamboo hat who was following behind him.

He was completely covered in a green robe, not revealing even a bit of skin.

He was two heads taller than Han Li and had a sturdy build. He was wearing a bamboo hat, so his face could not be seen clearly, but he felt like he had a hideous and ugly appearance.

Han Li suppressed his rising questions and quickly approached Master Wen to pay his respects. Then, he stood respectfully, waiting for Master Wen to speak.

Han Li knew that the other party didn’t care whether he was polite or not.

Han Li was certain that Master Wen, who was usually very interested in the progress of the Nameless Cultivation Method, would ask about his cultivation first.

As expected, when Master Wen saw Han Li come out to greet him at Spirit Valley, he was momentarily bewildered and then asked in a weak voice.

“How is your cultivation of the Nameless Cultivation Method? Have you made any progress?”

A hint of anxiety and expectation appeared on his face. Han Li had already prepared his answer in his mind, so he spoke as he had planned.

“It’s the same as before, not much has changed.”

Han Li had decided not to reveal the results of his cultivation because there was no way to explain his tremendous achievements to anyone. How could he suddenly reach the fourth level miraculously when there had been no changes?

“Show me your hand.”

Master Wen’s expression darkened, and his tone became stern. Han Li felt uneasy at Master Wen’s expression.

He wasn’t afraid that the other party would take his pulse and find out about his achievements.

This was because, upon reaching the fourth level, he had become able to hide his strange inner power at will.

He had the confidence to deceive both heaven and earth, so there was no reason to fear Master Wen’s pulse taking.
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