Bachelor [EN]: Chapter 112

“Do you really have the spirit herb? It must be at least a thousand years old. Spirit herbs that are 700 or 800 years old are useless.”

As soon as Han Li set up the barrier, the youth asked urgently, as if he had no time to spare.

He seemed to be in a truly desperate situation. Han Li, who had been calmly observing him, didn’t answer but immediately took out the box containing the spirit herb from his storage pouch.

This wasn’t the thousand-year-old Yellow Essence he had sold before, but a thousand-year-old Purple Cinnamon Flower, which had a similar value.

Since the other party hadn’t specified a particular herb, it was clear that any spirit herb that had grown for over a thousand years would suffice.

As Han Li expected, it was likely to be used as a supplementary ingredient to maximize the effect of the main medicinal ingredient.

“This is…”

The youth’s eyes were filled with anticipation.

“Yes. It’s a thousand-year-old spirit herb. But before opening the box, we need to discuss what you’ll trade for it, right?”

Han Li spoke rather coldly. Since the other party was begging for a spirit herb, he should pay a reasonable price!

When the opportunity arose, it would be good to get as much as possible, in addition to the magical artifacts containing formations.

“What do you want? Besides the magical artifacts I mentioned earlier, I don’t have much else.”

“So, you’re trying to exchange a few flawed magical artifacts for a thousand-year-old spirit herb?”

The youth was flustered by Han Li’s words, but Han Li’s expression remained calm throughout.

“That is…”

The youth thought about it, and it seemed impossible to make a deal like this.

“Are you perhaps not interested in refining magical artifacts?”

After pondering for a while, the youth suddenly spoke, making Han Li feel bewildered.

“What do you mean? You’re not going to teach me how to refine magical artifacts, are you?”

“That’s exactly it! The only thing I possess is the art of refining magical artifacts.”

The youth answered happily to Han Li’s random question, which he had asked without understanding. The youth was truly taken aback.

He had thought he might get a few magical artifacts with formations, but he didn’t know why the thought had jumped to the art of refining magical artifacts.

Moreover, he suspected that the youth was overestimating himself. There were many Qi Refining cultivators who knew how to refine magical artifacts.

“However, due to my sect’s rules, I cannot directly teach you, but I can give you a book containing my insights.”

Han Li was even more speechless at the increasingly absurd words. Seeing that Han Li remained silent throughout his story, the youth thought that he didn’t want to trade and, forgetting that he had to hide his identity, hurriedly continued.

“My grandmaster was once an elder of the Divine Weapon Sect, who was in charge of refining magical artifacts, and his skill had reached its peak. My refining technique was personally taught by him, and giving you a book containing his insights is already a violation of my grandmaster’s teachings. However, how much you achieve in refining magical artifacts through that book depends on your efforts. I guarantee that it is a secret technique that no one in the cultivation world knows!”

The Divine Weapon Sect was one of the three great sects of the Yuan Wu Kingdom, along with the Heavenly Formation Sect and the Myriad Talisman Sect, each famous for magical artifacts, formations, and talismans, respectively, even in neighboring countries.

Thinking about it that way, the book of insights that the other party was offering wouldn’t be bad to have. It might be useful someday.

“Can the magical artifacts containing the Five Elements Formation really be improved?”

“Of course! There are friends who are already well-versed in formations, so if we further research the art of refining magical artifacts that I’ve learned, it’s definitely possible.”

Seeing that the other party was asking this, the youth shook his head vigorously, as if a deal was likely to be made.

Han Li nodded silently and opened the box. At the same time, the scent of the spirit herb, full of spiritual energy, filled the barrier.

The youth smelled the fragrance and carefully examined the spirit herb, a satisfied expression on his face. Han Li then closed the box and handed it to the youth.

The youth immediately reached out to take the box, but it didn’t budge, as if Han Li’s hand and the box containing the spirit herb were stuck together.

The youth’s face was filled with bewilderment. Han Li looked up at the youth, who was looking at him with a puzzled expression, and couldn’t help but sigh.

The other party really seemed to have never experienced the hardships of the world. How could he not understand such a clear intention? Han Li had no choice but to speak directly.

“You should also take out the magical artifacts and the book. We should exchange them at the same time, shouldn’t we?”

“Ah…! That’s right. I was so eager that I didn’t think of that.”

The youth, who immediately realized his mistake, turned as red as a beet and took his hand off the box. Then, he hurriedly took out the items from his storage pouch.

“Here are 18 formation plates and 36 formation flags. They contain the Five Elements Formation, so if you arrange them well according to this book, you can deploy the formation. And this is a record of the insights I gained from refining magical artifacts for twenty years. It would be best not to show it to others, as you might incur the wrath of the Divine Weapon Sect. It contains many of the Divine Weapon Sect’s secret techniques.”

The youth explained in detail and didn’t forget to give important advice. Seeing his sincerity, Han Li felt a sense of goodwill towards the youth.

A thought crossed Han Li’s mind. After hesitating for a moment, Han Li placed the box he was holding into the other party’s arms and took the items. This action seemed to have startled the youth.

“‘Cloud So Insights,’ so Cloud So must be your name. What’s your family name?”

Han Li, who had been speaking in an indifferent tone, became much gentler after checking the items.

“Ah… I am Je Woon-so.”

He hesitated for a moment and revealed his name, but his expression showed that he didn’t understand Han Li’s intention.

“It’s not that, but I have a proposal. I’ve received the insights, but I’ll use a sealing technique to seal the book so that I won’t be able to check its contents for five years. If you improve these magical artifacts during that time, I’ll return it to you without even opening a single page. How about it?”

“Really? If you do that, I’ll be more than grateful! Don’t worry about fixing the Five Elements Formation magical artifacts! If I can’t succeed, I’ll ask my friends to set up a formation for you!”

The youth, who was truly surprised by the unexpected proposal, bowed repeatedly and expressed his gratitude. Han Li smiled and lifted the book using both palms.

As he chanted a spell, silver symbols appeared from his palms and swirled around before being absorbed into the book. At the same time, a silver light emanated from the book, and it became stiff, making it impossible to read without breaking the seal.

“Now that it’s sealed, you should also leave your spiritual power on the book. That way, you can check if the seal has been broken when we exchange it back.”

He handed the sealed book to the youth, who was delighted. The youth immediately injected his spiritual power and watched as his spiritual power seeped into the seal and mixed with it before returning it to Han Li.

Even with this, he wouldn’t be able to gain the other party’s trust immediately. However, if he returned the book after a few years with the seal intact, he would be able to give this youth and his formation master friends enough trust to interact with them.

Of course, whether the other party was someone worth building a genuine relationship with would only be known after a long time. Han Li took the book and told the youth how to contact him before leaving the place. The youth, who was still standing there, had an unbelievable look on his face. He had obtained a thousand-year-old spirit herb so easily!

Han Li, who was in a much better mood, was on his way back to the magical artifact refining shop he had visited earlier.

Je Woon-so’s skill in refining magical artifacts and the identities of his friends were a hundred times more valuable than a useless secret technique book.

If he could build a good relationship, his life in the cultivation world would definitely become much easier.

He finally entered the shop where the old man was anxiously waiting. When Han Li reappeared without breaking his promise, the old man, whose wrinkled face was full of smiles, personally served tea and brought out fruit to treat him.

Moreover, his respectful tone made Han Li, who had a thick skin, feel his face getting hotter and hotter.

Then, Han Li placed the centipede’s shell in front of the old man. Old Seo immediately picked up one of them, touched it, examined it, and began to appraise it.

“This is a first-grade upper-level poisonous insect-type demon beast’s shell. It’s a really good material. The number of demon beasts is decreasing, and among them, poisonous insect-type demon beasts are difficult to encounter, so you’re amazing.”

As expected, the materials brought out by a Foundation Establishment cultivator were different. It was a rare poisonous insect-type demon beast’s shell, which was clearly different from most of the crude items he had seen so far! It was suitable for making magical artifacts such as armor or shields.

According to his judgment, the material itself was already enough to block the attacks of top-grade magical artifacts, so if the refining was successful, it would definitely be a top-grade magical artifact. The excited old man was about to take the poisonous insect’s shell when Han Li stopped him.

“Shopkeeper, don’t rush. There are still more materials.”

Han Li was a little worried that he had chosen the wrong person, as the old man’s eagerness seemed hasty.

“There are more materials?”

The old man was stunned. He didn’t know what kind of materials Han Li would bring out, but since better items were often presented later, his expectations grew.

The shop owner’s attitude was not very trustworthy, but he didn’t have time to look for another refiner, so he took out the parts he had taken from the Black Dragon’s corpse.

If the old man could even identify the identity of the materials he was taking out now, it would mean that there was no problem with his insight or skill.

Then, he could start by having him refine the centipede’s shell. The Black Dragon’s materials were really good, so he was thinking of waiting until he found a more renowned refiner.

The old man was about to drink his tea to moisten his throat when he suddenly spat out the tea after seeing the materials Han Li was taking out.

“This is a Flood Dragon’s hide and horn! And even its teeth and eyeballs! This is unbelievable! Sir, did you perhaps catch a Flood Dragon!”

The old man, who was greatly shocked, muttered while looking down at the materials in front of him with a truly strange look.

The reason for his surprise was that demon beasts like Flood Dragons had long disappeared from the cultivation world in this area.

Moreover, even if there were any, a Flood Dragon that had evolved once like this would be comparable to a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator.

It was not a demon beast that a typical Foundation Establishment cultivator could handle unless they were a Core Formation cultivator.

However, if several cultivators had joined forces to kill the demon beast, it didn’t make sense that such precious parts would come out of one person. It was as if he had cut up an entire Flood Dragon and brought it all.

‘Could it be that they fought together and he monopolized the materials, or did he use some strange means to catch the Flood Dragon alone?’

The old man was touching the materials while having all sorts of thoughts. He was about to develop a sense of awe towards Han Li. It was unexpected that the shop owner recognized the materials at a glance.

Originally, he thought it would take some time, but he gained a little trust from the fact that he was able to accurately identify the materials as soon as he took them out.

“Shopkeeper Seo, I’m relieved to see that you recognized the materials at once. Then, let’s start refining!”

“Yes! Let’s start right away! Sir, don’t worry. When I was learning the art of refining, I worked with my father to refine Flood Dragon materials, so I know how to handle them!”

He nodded, but he was holding the Flood Dragon’s claw in his hand, as if he didn’t want to let go of it.

Han Li almost laughed at his attachment. It was clear that the other party was a person who was deeply immersed in the refining of magical artifacts.

Otherwise, no matter how good the materials were, he wouldn’t have shown such a disgraceful appearance. Now, the old man gathered the materials and led Han Li to the back.

# 114