Bachelor [EN]: Chapter 162

As he entered the imperial city and approached the palace, a smile formed on his lips.

‘Excellent! The Reversal Qi marks I hid beforehand are intact, so it seems no one has discovered them.’

Shortly after, the nine cultivators arrived above the palace, and the sight of the imperial palace came into view.

“As planned, we will split into two groups. One group will go to the Moon Kingdom Emperor’s bedchamber to rescue him, preparing for the Black Fiend Cult to retreat and take him hostage. The others will go directly to the abandoned palace where the Black Fiend Cult Leader is, eliminate the Four Great Blood Guardians, and then join forces with the returning cultivators to deal with the Cult Leader.”

Liu Jung seriously reiterated the plan, and everyone nodded in agreement.

The plan was for Jin Gyocheon and Jong Wiyrang to rescue the Moon Kingdom Emperor and join the group later, while Liu Jung and the others would immediately attack the abandoned palace guarded by the Four Great Blood Guardians. Before the group split, Liu Jung instructed the two female cultivators,

“Seventh Junior Sister and Jin Junior Sister, be especially careful!”

The two solemnly replied and flew away like the wind.

“From now on, show no mercy to any cultivators you encounter. Consider anyone wandering within the imperial palace to be a member of the Black Fiend Cult and deal with them. Let’s move quickly and help the two Junior Sisters complete their task smoothly!”

As soon as Liu Jung finished speaking, he took the lead and flew towards the abandoned palace. Han Li and the others closely followed behind.

Their imposing appearance was noticed by a Black Fiend Cult disciple guarding the outside of the abandoned palace. At the same time, a sharp warning sounded, and various spells and magical artifacts flew towards them.

“Trying to outshine the moon with fireflies!”

Liu Jung waved his hand, and a silk cloth appeared, growing immensely and enveloping everyone following him. He seemed quite confident in the power of this magical artifact.

As the silk cloth unfurled, it not only remained undamaged by the spells and magical artifacts but also deflected some of the spells, causing screams to echo from the cultivators hiding near the abandoned palace.

“As expected, Senior Brother Liu!”

Song Mong praised him and then unleashed his own magical artifact.

A huge navy-blue sword split the night sky from above. It was his favorite top-grade magical artifact, the Azure Silk Sword.

“Go!”

As Song Mong formed a hand seal, the navy-blue giant sword began to rotate with a strange sound. Seeing the sword’s movements from below, the Black Fiend Cult disciples showed signs of fear.

Song Mong wore a mischievous smile. His finger pointed at the Azure Silk Sword, which had transformed into a disc.

At the same time, the navy-blue light of the giant sword pulsed, emitting countless thin rays that shot out over an area of several dozen yards.

Seeing this, the Black Fiend Cult disciples scattered in panic, trying to block Song Mong’s attack with various defensive spells and magical artifacts. However, the continuous, miserable screams indicated that most of their attempts had failed.

Most of their defenses were breached, leaving their bodies riddled with holes, and some barely survived but lost their combat power.

“The Myriad Silk World. I’ve heard it’s amazing, but seeing it in person, it’s truly extraordinary.”

Jin Gyocheon, who had heard of Song Mong’s technique, praised him, causing a triumphant expression to appear on his face.

The Black Fiend Cult disciples guarding the gate of the abandoned palace were now terrified and did not dare to attack them recklessly.

“Activate the Four Symbols Formation [a type of magical barrier] and trap them.”

At that moment, an extremely cold voice echoed from the abandoned palace. Then, a white shadow appeared, emitting a chilling aura. It was Bingyao, one of the Four Great Blood Guardians, who was on guard duty today.

He gritted his teeth, issued the order, and glared at the Yellow Maple Valley cultivators.

“Hmph! You vile thing, surrender your life!”

As soon as Liu Jung sensed his magical power, he realized that he was one of the Four Great Blood Guardians. He snorted, and two silver streaks quickly shot out from him.

The others immediately activated their various magical artifacts to launch a joint attack. This was not a duel between fellow disciples, and they had no reason to show mercy to their opponents in a one-on-one fight.

Han Li also released six golden rays from his wrist guard. How wonderful it would be if this attack could kill that Blood Guardian!

However, Han Li and his group felt their vision blur, and they felt as if the world had turned upside down. They were shocked and looked around, only to find themselves suddenly in a place where ice was everywhere. It was as if they had fallen into a world of ice.

The whole world was white, and snow was swirling, and the white shadow they had just seen had vanished without a trace.

Liu Jung and the others were a little flustered, but they soon realized that they were trapped in the Four Symbols Formation. Therefore, even in this absurd situation, their minds quickly calmed down. In fact, for them, who were already Foundation Establishment cultivators [a stage of cultivation], a simple formation was not a great cause for fear.

“Hehe, daring to kill my cult’s disciples! Wait there for a while!”

It was as if the cold voice of the white shadow was coming from all directions.

“Four Symbols Formation?”

“Does anyone know about this formation? If we don’t break the formation and get out quickly, it will be difficult to deal with the Four Great Blood Guardians when they gather.”

Rather than being angry at Bingyao’s words, Liu Jung calmly analyzed the situation. However, the others seemed to know nothing, as they just looked at each other.

Jin Gyocheon hesitated and opened his mouth when everyone remained silent.

“I have some knowledge of formations, but I don’t know specifically how to break this one. I only know that it’s the kind of formation that ordinary cultivators would have difficulty dealing with.”

“This has become troublesome. It means we have to break the formation with brute force….”

Liu Jung did not want to waste time and magical power here.

If they attacked blindly, they would eventually break it, but that would mean they would all expend a significant amount of magical power, putting them at a disadvantage in the upcoming battle.

“Junior Brother Han! What are you doing?”

Song Mong, who knew nothing about formations, was just looking around when he was the first to notice Han Li’s strange behavior.

He had taken out something like a crystal ball, brought it to his eyes, and was staring in a certain direction. At Song Mong’s words, everyone’s attention focused on Han Li.

Calmly lowering the crystal ball, Han Li turned to Liu Jung.

“I think I’ve found the weakness of the formation.”

“The weakness of the formation?”

Everyone was delighted at Han Li’s words, and Liu Jung could not hide his joy.

“To find the flaw in the formation so quickly, you live up to your reputation. What is the weakness?”

Liu Jung praised him and asked. Han Li smiled and handed the crystal ball he was holding to Liu Jung.

“If Senior Brother examines it through the Violet Light Orb, you will see it.”

He pointed in the direction he had just been looking. Liu Jung immediately took the magical artifact and examined the transparent crystal ball. After looking around through the Violet Light Orb, he handed it back to Han Li.

“Junior Brother Han is right. The energy fluctuations in that area are unstable and appear thin. It is highly likely to be the weakness of the formation the opponent has deployed.”

Liu Jung’s voice was not loud, but it was filled with confidence.

“Then, Senior Brother Liu means….”

Jin Gyocheon could not help but urge him on.

“Everyone, attack at once using your magical artifacts. We should be able to break this formation without expending too much magical power!”

“Then let’s move quickly!”

At Liu Jung’s suggestion, Song Mong immediately activated the Azure Silk Sword and made it spin above his head. The others also seemed full of motivation now that they had a clear target.

Liu Jung shouted without delay.

“Let’s attack! Let’s break the formation in one go and make them look foolish.”

No sooner had he finished speaking than a dozen or so magical artifacts emitted brilliant light and flew towards the spot Han Li had pointed out.

At this time, Bingyao, who was outside directing the cult members to maintain the formation, was also in a hurry. After the Black Fiend Cult Leader ordered the abandoned palace to be heavily guarded, at least two Blood Guardians had to be on duty every day.

However, Yeopsa, who was supposed to be on duty with him, had just achieved a great feat and had become arrogant, secretly going to practice with the Blood Thunder, saying he was about to reach the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment.

He had pretended not to notice in order not to offend him, who was gaining fame among the Four Great Blood Guardians, but now this had happened. Due to a moment’s mistake, a powerful enemy had invaded, and he was left to guard the abandoned palace alone!

However, he was not so foolish. He planned to trap the enemy with the Four Symbols Formation and send someone to call Blood Thunder and the other Four Great Blood Guardians from other halls.

He knew that no matter how many Qi Refining disciples [a stage of cultivation] there were, they could not face powerful enemies, but he judged that there would be no problem in buying time by trapping the enemy with the formation.

If he could just buy a little time, everyone would come running. Once the four Blood Guardians gathered and attacked together, there would be nothing to fear.

‘Thump, thump, thump!’

Just as he finished thinking this, a huge tremor was felt in the Four Symbols Formation. At the same time, a tremor that seemed to overturn the formation shook, and it seemed as if it would break at any moment.

“No way! The Four Symbols Formation so quickly?”

Bingyao’s white face turned pale.

“Lord Bing, the disciples in charge of the formation were killed by the attack just now, so it seems we can’t maintain the Four Symbols Formation. It seems the enemy has found the weakness of the formation.”

A Black Fiend Cult disciple standing next to him cautiously reported the situation.

Bingyao, enraged by the report, was about to scold him when a gentle voice came from behind.

“What’s going on, Bingyao? You even activated the Four Symbols Formation, but you can’t even trap the enemy.”

“Finally, you’ve come, Cheongmun!”

Bingyao turned his head with a sense of relief, and two people were standing in the air about five or six yards away.

One was a handsome man in his thirties, wearing a blue robe, who was examining the Four Symbols Formation, and the other was a very tall giant with a bald head. At a glance, he could tell that it was Cheolra, who had fought Han Li before.

“What is the identity of the intruders? And where did that bastard Yeopsa go?”

Cheolra rubbed his bald head and made a ferocious expression.

“Yeopsa is….”

‘Boom!’

Before Bingyao could finish his answer, another huge tremor was felt, and the Four Symbols Formation shattered and disappeared. Han Li and the others, who had been hidden in the white mist, revealed their faces.

Cheongmun’s expression changed slightly as he confirmed the faces of the intruders, and Cheolra was greatly surprised.

“Haha! Did you think you could trap us Yellow Maple Valley cultivators with such a backward formation!”

“Yellow Maple Valley?”

Cheongmun expressed his doubt, but soon his face showed understanding. If it wasn’t a Seven Great Sect like Yellow Maple Valley, how could they send so many Foundation Establishment cultivators?

“Invading the imperial palace in the middle of the night, is it okay to defy the sect’s orders?”

Cheongmun asked calmly without waiting for Liu Jung’s response. He thought that if the opponents were from the Seven Great Sects, they would naturally hesitate to step into a forbidden area.

Liu Jung scoffed at him and was about to say something when he closed his mouth at a louder voice.

“Aren’t you a member of the Heavenly Bamboo Cult! How are you with the Yellow Maple Valley cultivators?”

The bald Cheolra had discovered Han Li’s face among the Yellow Maple Valley group and shouted in surprise.

At those words, everyone looked at Han Li with strange eyes, including not only the enemy but also the Yellow Maple Valley cultivators.

At this time, Cheongmun also saw Han Li’s face clearly for the first time and showed signs of agitation.

“When did I say I was a member of the Heavenly Bamboo Cult?”

Han Li, who had accepted the bald giant’s question, also shifted his gaze to Cheongmun. He was one of the faces who had asked him to travel together after the Tae Nam Gathering had ended.

Now, the reason why he was chased by Hwang Euin after parting ways with him, who had persistently requested to travel together, became clear.

Recalling the old memories, Han Li felt a surge of anger and at the same time, he burned with a desire to kill Taoist Cheongmun.

“If you are not a member of the Heavenly Bamboo Cult, then how can you control puppets?”

The bald man still seemed puzzled.

“What kind of technique Junior Brother Han uses is none of your business! Everyone, attack! They are deliberately stalling for time, so we must not fall for their tricks.”

Liu Jung shouted. Silver light burst from him immediately, and he launched a surprise attack on Bingyao, who was closest to him. The Yellow Maple Valley cultivators also seemed to have realized the opponent’s cunning intentions and activated their respective magical artifacts, entering the fray.