Bachelor [EN]: Chapter 129

Han Li was slightly troubled. If there was a significant difference in magical power between two cultivators, simply looking at the opponent with the Heavenly Eye Technique could cause them to lose consciousness and become unable to fight actively during battle.

So, basically, these soul-charming spells control the opponent’s consciousness based on the difference in magical power.

He was deep in thought when he looked up and saw Dong Hwon-ah and the two men giggling. The pitiful expression he had seen on her face earlier was long gone.

Han Li sighed and got up to return to his room. Just as he was about to push open the wooden door, a man’s loud voice echoed from outside the inn.

“Cultivators inside the inn, listen up! The treasure competition to be held tomorrow will be conducted at separate locations. Cultivators from our nation, please come to the mountain peak west of Yeonryeong Fortress, and cultivators who have come from abroad, please come to the mountain peak to the east. Those who do not arrive by the appointed time tomorrow morning will be considered to have forfeited their participation in the competition, so please be aware and do not be late.”

The voice repeated the same message three times before moving on to another location. Han Li checked the information and immediately returned to his room.

It was unexpected that the competition would be held separately for domestic and foreign cultivators, but it wasn’t a big deal.

In any case, if cultivators were to gather and compete, there was a high possibility of problems arising. It was the same in any region; they were wary of outsiders and clashes with them.

* * *

At that time, on the western mountain peak of Yeonryeong Fortress, about fifteen people wearing the green robes of the Guiling Sect were busily moving around. They were burying something in the mountain, while the young sect leader of the Guiling Sect and his two Core Formation stage guards were watching the scene from the sky.

“Isn’t the effect of the temporary Yin Fire Grand Formation too weak?”

The young sect leader of the Guiling Sect seemed dissatisfied with the power of the formation.

“Young Sect Leader, please rest assured! Although it is a temporary setup, if my brother and I assist, we can maintain the effect of trapping the enemy to some extent. Of course, if there is a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator or a magical artifact with special abilities within the formation, there will be a problem, but most will not be able to escape.”

“Then that’s good. Since we brought the Guiling Twelve Guards, it won’t be difficult to catch a few troublesome fish that slip through the net.”

The young sect leader of the Guiling Sect didn’t seem too worried. In fact, the Yi brothers thought that even without using the souls of cultivators, the two Core Formation stage brothers could easily kill a few Foundation Establishment cultivators.

* * *

In the secret chamber of the Yellow Wind Valley in the Taeak Mountains, seven Core Formation stage cultivators gathered and listened to the story of the white-haired old man of the Yellow Wind Valley. As the old man’s story progressed, their faces darkened. Han Li’s master, Lee Hwa-won, Hongbul Seogo, and Roe Man-hak were also among them, unable to hide their unease.

Soon after they left the secret chamber, an emergency was declared throughout the Yellow Wind Valley. Talismans carrying messages flew haphazardly in the sky, and below, cultivators moved disorderly on their magical artifacts.

After some time, a hastily organized group of cultivators set out that very night towards a certain location. The same scene unfolded in the other six sects, and messages were constantly exchanged between the sects, creating a terrifying atmosphere in the Yue Kingdom’s cultivation world overnight.

In addition, the large and small cultivation families of the Yue Kingdom received a conscription order within a few days, jointly signed by the leaders of the seven major cultivation sects.

The conscription order stated that each family was to send out their talented individuals to follow the order, and those who opposed it or their families would be bloodied and destroyed by the enforcement team of the seven major sects.

Naturally, the Yeon family, which received the same conscription order three days later, was empty, and no one could receive it.

* * *

Han Li and the cultivators in Yeonryeong Fortress were naturally far away from their sects and were not receiving such news.

The next morning, as soon as it was light, cultivators began to gather hastily on the small mountain peak to the west.

There, a huge formation had already been set up, and two middle-aged men wearing Yeon family attire were sitting with their eyes closed inside it. And at the rear of the formation, there was a small hill where about fifteen people wearing Yeon family attire were gathered, discussing something. It seemed that they were planning to start the competition after everyone had gathered.

Han Li was also on the mountain peak, but not with Dong Hwon-ah. As was his usual habit, he had come alone and happened to meet Senior Brother Pa of the Giant Sword Sect, with whom he was chatting.

“Senior Brother Pa, do you know what this formation is for?”

“I’m ashamed to say that I’m not very familiar with formations either. Perhaps it’s a protective barrier? Anyway, when Foundation Establishment cultivators start fighting each other, such restrictions are necessary. Otherwise, a small mountain peak might disappear without anyone knowing.”

Senior Brother Pa said, stroking his chin, with an indifferent look.

“Yes, that’s highly likely.”

Although he said this, Han Li felt something was strange. The subtle unease that rose from the depths of his heart was purely based on intuition. Raising his eyebrows, he looked around. There were nearly thirty cultivators gathered everywhere, and the Taoist of the Clear Void Sect and Junior Sister Bang of the Heavenly Fortress were also gathered over there.

“Brother Han, let’s go and greet them. The lawless ones are gathered over there.”

“Senior Brother Pa, please go ahead. I would like to look around here for a while.”

In such a place, when many people gather, they attract attention. He absolutely hated that. The middle-aged cultivator of the Giant Sword Sect shrugged, showing that he couldn’t understand Han Li.

After all, there were not many opportunities to interact with so many people from other sects. Unlike Han Li, he didn’t want to miss this opportunity, so he joined them.

Han Li stood in place and habitually looked for a secluded spot. He walked away from the formation and began to watch the other cultivators with a cold gaze.

Time passed again, and Dong Hwon-ah and Senior Brother Bong arrived. As soon as they arrived, they went to where the Yellow Wind Valley cultivators were gathered. And soon, Dong Hwon-ah began to act like a fish in water, and the atmosphere there began to heat up. However, it was noticeable that Yeon-woo, who had never left her side, was not visible. At this time, the cultivators on the mound were counting the number of cultivators from the seven major sects.

“Young Sect Leader, two people have not yet arrived. It’s time, should we wait any longer?”

A Guiling Sect cultivator wearing Yeon family attire asked the young sect leader of the Guiling Sect.

“There’s no need. Tell them to activate the formation immediately. If we drag it out, they might notice something, and it will only make things worse. Send Number Eight and Number Twelve to hunt down those two. No one can leave Yeonryeong Fortress alive!”

A strong killing intent was felt in the young sect leader’s unhesitating command.

The cultivator standing next to the young sect leader of the Guiling Sect received the order and sent a telepathic message to the Yi brothers in the center of the formation. After a while, the cultivator turned back to the young sect leader of the Guiling Sect.

“Young Sect Leader, the elders say that three people are too far from the formation, so they ask you to lure them in.”

At that, the young sect leader of the Guiling Sect also twitched his eyebrows. It was unexpected that there were people outside the huge barrier. Young Sect Leader Wang Seon turned his gaze outside the barrier.

Indeed, three people were visible outside the formation. Two of them were cultivators from the Eomwol Sect, whispering to each other while leaning against a large tree in the corner, and to the west, a plain-looking young man from the Yellow Wind Valley, Han Li, was staring blankly at the mountain peak.

‘Those three, huh?’

Wang Seon pondered for a moment and then gave a low command to the Guiling Sect cultivator standing next to him. Then, a Guiling Sect cultivator wearing Yeon family attire appeared not far from the barrier.

“Participants, please come here and announce your attendance. After confirming the number of people, we will officially start the competition.”

His clear voice echoed throughout the mountain, attracting the attention of the cultivators. They immediately moved closer to the formation.

Naturally, the men and women of the Eomwol Sect, who had been hugging and giggling, also moved with regretful expressions. At this sight, Wang Seon’s lips curled up. But when his gaze turned to the west, that smile immediately froze.

Unexpectedly, Han Li was not moving at all, but was watching the people gathering in one place with interest. Moreover, he showed no intention of announcing his attendance.

“Which sect is that person from?”

“Judging by his attire, he seems to be a cultivator from the Yellow Wind Valley.”

Wang Seon asked coldly, and his subordinate answered cautiously.

“Tell the elders to start the work. I’ll take that Yellow Wind Valley disciple and stretch my body a bit.”

It was a calm tone, but Wang Seon’s eyes turned red, and he was already emitting killing intent.

“Yes! Young Sect Leader!”

The subordinate quietly trembled at the chill and answered respectfully.

* * *

Far away, Han Li, standing on a rock, seemed to be smiling and observing the crowd. But if you got closer, you would see that the smile was fake, and beads of sweat were forming on his forehead.

‘That cultivator in Yeon family attire is a Guiling Sect person!’

He was shocked as if struck by lightning at the fact he had just realized. Until the Yeon family disciple came forward to announce the attendance, he had not felt anything strange at all.

He had even been about to get up and go there. But the moment that disciple reached out his hand to gather the various cultivators, he saw dark green fingernails. He had seen fingernails of that color when the yellow-haired monster of the Guiling Sect had fought.

His mind cleared as if cold water had been poured over his head.

‘Those green fingernails cannot appear on a normal person. Could it be…’

As an unbelievable conclusion was reached, Han Li could not take a single step forward. While maintaining a smile on his face, he rolled his eyes and looked around. But there was nothing strange anywhere, and it didn’t seem like there was an ambush either.

‘Could it be that everything is a coincidence?’

The moment the word coincidence came to mind, Han Li erased it from his mind. There was no way so many coincidences could overlap. Moreover, even if it was a coincidence, Han Li had no intention of taking a risk. Especially since that formation had been bothering him from the beginning. Having made up his mind, the Wind God Talisman immediately appeared in his hand. But at the same time, a languid voice was heard from above his head.

“You have a keen eye for someone so young. To see through the flaws so quickly and try to run away. Surely you’re not thinking of abandoning your fellow disciples?”

Startled, Han Li kicked off the ground without thinking and disappeared. He stopped about ten feet away and then struck his body with his palm, creating a reddish barrier, and at the same time, a blue light enveloped his body within the barrier. Then, a gasp was heard in the air.

It seemed that they were impressed by Han Li’s quick movements and his agility in creating two barriers at once. Now a little relieved, Han Li also looked at the sky with a stern expression.

# 131