Bachelor [EN]: Chapter 222

Han Li, with his inferior skills, couldn’t match Fellow Daoist Shi’s theoretical knowledge.

Recognizing his own limitations, he didn’t argue with her about formations. Instead, he skillfully applied Xin Ruyin’s techniques based on her insights, often earning a look of admiration from Fellow Daoist Shi.

Thus, an unspoken agreement formed between them. She would analyze the formation and identify its weaknesses, and he would then break through the barrier. This division of labor led to significant progress in dismantling the formation.

Jin Qing and the others were unable to interfere with the formation, so they simply sat in the stone chamber, circulating their Qi [internal energy] and waiting for the two to complete their task.

Three months later, Han Li and Shi Jie gathered the others. Their combined efforts had nearly dismantled the massive formation, leaving only one layer remaining.

If they could overcome this final restriction, they would finally uncover the secret of the strange stone pillars.

The protective barrier was now completely different from its initial state. Its area had shrunk by almost half, and its color had changed from yellow to a reddish-red, radiating an intense heat.

Strangely, the seven-colored lights that had once swirled around the barrier were now winged insects. They floated lazily in the air, constantly spewing flames.

Jin Qing asked, a hint of surprise in his voice,

“What kind of demonic creatures are those?”

As the others looked puzzled, Shi Jie stepped forward to explain.

“They are fire-type demonic creatures called ‘Shi’ak.’ They are a rare species that only appears in specific environments and have extremely short lifespans, often disappearing within hours.

The demonic flames they spew from birth are as powerful as the flames cultivators draw from their dantian [energy center]. They also devour the souls of mortals and the nascent souls [immature souls] of cultivators, making them very dangerous.

The remaining barrier seems to be generating heat, which is prolonging the lifespan of these fire demons. Anyone who tries to forcefully break the formation without knowing this will likely suffer greatly from these demons.”

Jin Qing and the others’ expressions changed at the mention of devouring nascent souls.

“‘Shi’ak?'”

Elder Gan, who had been mostly silent, finally spoke.

“The two of you must have a plan to deal with this, which is why you called us. Just tell us what to do, and we will follow your instructions.”

The others’ gazes also turned to Shi Jie and Han Li. Han Li simply smiled and remained silent, so Shi Jie smiled brightly and replied,

“Fellow Daoist Han and I were initially troubled, but after discussing it for a few days, we came up with a suitable plan. However, we will need your help.”

Her face was ordinary, but her voice was clear and pleasant.

Hu Yue smiled and said,

“Fellow Daoist Shi, please tell us. If it’s something Fellow Daoist Han has decided, we will follow it without question.”

“To overcome this obstacle, we need water-attribute magical artifacts, which are the opposite element. Fellow Daoist Han and I have already prepared them. You just need to hold the artifacts and wait in the designated positions. When Fellow Daoist Han removes the last barrier, we will eliminate the Shi’ak that emerge all at once.”

Han Li added calmly,

“Everyone must absolutely not use your own treasures to fight the demons. The demonic fire of the Shi’ak, being born with the fire attribute, is unusually powerful, so you shouldn’t let them get close.”

Seeing Han Li’s cautious expression, Hu Yue and the others also became tense.

Afterward, Han Li took out a ruler, a scale, and a harpoon, handing them to Jin Qing, Qu Hun, and Elder Gan, respectively. Shi Jie took out a navy blue handkerchief and gave it to Hu Yue.

Following Hu Yue’s instructions, everyone took their positions. She quickly retreated, took out a dagger-like magical artifact, and watched Han Li’s actions.

He calmly looked around to ensure everything was in order, then took out a dozen or so navy blue formation magical artifacts from his storage pouch. They were all flags and discs with water attributes, and they circled around him.

*Papat pat.*

Han Li’s fingers moved rapidly, and the formation magical artifacts flew and landed in various places. The flags were planted deep into the ground, and the discs floated above them, forming a solemn formation.

Seeing that the formation magical artifacts were properly placed, Han Li took a breath and was about to cast a spell when he suddenly sensed someone flying in at high speed.

Shortly after, a navy blue streak of light cut through the sky and arrived above them in an instant. When the light faded, a strange man with twin swords on his back appeared in the air.

Han Li and the other cultivators were startled by the man’s sudden appearance.

The strange man had a thin build, white hair that reached his shoulders, and a bizarre basket hanging from his waist. His face was covered with red spots, and his sharp eyes were filled with a fierce aura.

Judging by the fluctuations of his magical power, he seemed to be a mid-Nascent Soul cultivator [a high-level cultivator].

The strange man paused slightly at the sight of so many Nascent Soul cultivators gathered, but his expression changed drastically when he saw the last remaining red barrier and the formation Han Li was about to activate.

“Do you all have a death wish! How dare you try to steal while this Dao Lord [a title for a powerful cultivator] is away? Get off this island now!”

“Dao Lord?”

“Steal?”

Hu Yue and Jin Qing exchanged confused glances, and Han Li and the others were also momentarily puzzled.

‘Isn’t this an abandoned island with no owner?’

Hu Yue frowned and asked calmly,

“Are you saying that you are the Dao Lord of this island?”

“This old man has been on this island for hundreds of years, so of course, I am the owner of this island.”

Hu Yue asked again,

“When Jin Qing and I came last time, we didn’t see you.”

The old man’s eyes flashed, and he shouted angrily,

“What? You came before too! Hmph, you must have been trying to do something while this Dao Lord was away.”

Hu Yue sneered,

“So, you’re saying that you live alone on this island and call yourself the Dao Lord.”

“Hah! There’s no need for useless talk. You’ve already committed a capital crime by recklessly damaging the restriction. If you don’t leave, I won’t let you go.”

A strange yellow light flashed in the strange man’s eyes, and he threw the basket from his waist. At the same time, the bamboo basket transformed into a gloomy white aura and shot towards Hu Yue.

Hu Yue, angered that the opponent had attacked first, immediately shook her sleeves and sent out two streaks of red light.

*Bang!*

The white aura scattered chaotically. Hu Yue, relieved by the sight, shouted,

“Is that all you’ve got? You’re all talk!”

*Squeak, squeak*…

However, the strange man suddenly smiled without answering, and Hu Yue’s heart turned cold.

“What is this? My flying daggers!”

The two flying daggers were shaking weakly within the strange man’s white aura. Then, the white aura, which had begun to sparkle again, rapidly gathered and returned to its original basket shape.

The flying daggers were also trapped inside the basket, surrounded by the white aura, making it impossible to retrieve them.

Hu Yue, who had her treasure stolen in an instant, had an incredulous look on her face, and Han Li and the other cultivators’ expressions also changed.

However, the strange man didn’t give them time to think. He sneered and spread his arms, and two gray swords flew towards Hu Yue.

Jin Qing, who was standing next to her, immediately flicked his finger, sending out a small seal the size of a thumb. The seal rapidly increased in size and tried to crush the gray swords that were flying towards them.

*Clang, clang, clang.*

The three treasures collided, emitting dazzling light.

At that moment, Elder Gan glanced at Han Li and Qu Hun, then silently reached out and threw a black and white harpoon at the strange man.

Han Li secretly sighed. Now that everyone had stepped forward, he and Qu Hun couldn’t just stand by. It seemed they would have to subdue the strange man and then talk things out.

Having made up his mind, he took out the Mixed Origin Treasure and the Green Bamboo Sword and joined the fight.

Even at this sight, the strange man showed no fear. His mouth opened, and black beads shot out towards everyone’s treasures.

*Kwa kwa kwang!*

It was a huge collision sound.

Contrary to everyone’s expectations, the beads automatically exploded after touching Elder Gan’s and the others’ treasures, emitting a black light. The treasures caught in the explosion lost much of their spiritual energy, and their light dimmed.

Elder Gan grimaced and made a hand seal to immediately retrieve his harpoon treasure. To regain the power he had lost in this one attack, he would have to nurture it in his nascent soul for at least several years. However, his attempt was a little too late.

Along with the strange man’s laughter, the bamboo basket flashed again and emitted a huge white light, trapping several more treasures.

Elder Gan’s expression changed as if he had realized something.

“Ancient Treasure! He’s using an Ancient Primordial Treasure!”

Han Li also paused at those words.

Ancient Primordial Treasures were simply treasures refined by ancient cultivators. However, these ancient treasures had simple functions but immense power, making them no match for the treasures they used.

Moreover, the materials used in ancient treasure refinement were different from those of the present, making it impossible to store them inside the body. This was the most important difference between ordinary treasures and Ancient Primordial Treasures.

In fact, the pair of spears called the Dry Sky Spears that the six hall elders had used to capture the Spirit Essence was also one of the Ancient Primordial Treasures.

Han Li was a little surprised by the mention of an ancient treasure, but he had no intention of revealing his hidden trump cards in front of so many cultivators.

The more cards he had left, the higher his chances of escaping a crisis. That was always his way.

Also, even if the opponent possessed an ancient treasure, it didn’t seem like he could overwhelm the combined attack of so many Nascent Soul cultivators. It seemed that he could win even if he fought at the level of an ordinary Nascent Soul cultivator.

Thinking this, Han Li did his best to make the Green Bamboo Sword fight against the white aura while observing the others’ actions.

If he waited, someone would step forward first.

Indeed, after hearing that the bamboo basket was an ancient treasure, a look of joy appeared on Hu Yue’s face. After all, since the opponent had attacked first, it wouldn’t be too outrageous to join forces, kill him, and take his treasure.

After hesitating for a moment, Elder Gan made a hand seal, and three streaks of black light soared from his storage pouch. They were surprisingly huge black flags, each about a zhang [about 3.3 meters] long, and they had an extraordinary, ominous aura.

Then, a black aura spewed out from his mouth and was absorbed into the flags, causing ghostly cries to echo out, confusing the minds of the surrounding cultivators.

At the same time, Hu Yue also gave up on her flying dagger treasure and rubbed her hands together, emitting a series of blue lightning flames.

Jin Qing also twitched his eyebrows and made a hand seal. His treasure, the giant seal, roared like a dragon and increased in size several times. Naturally, the strange man’s gray flying swords, which had been confronting them, began to be pushed back.

The three cultivators were displaying tremendous power. Han Li secretly smiled, thinking that the strange man would be in trouble now. However, even with these tremendous attacks, the strange man’s expression barely changed, and he was still sneering at them.

He took off the short-sleeved leather jacket he was wearing, revealing his upper body. At that sight, Han Li almost bit his tongue in surprise.

On the strange man’s thin chest, there were skull heads the size of fists attached to his left and right sides. The black skulls with long hair were wriggling as if they were alive.

At that moment, the blue lightning flames and the three black flags had reached the strange man’s nose, and the strange man was only waving his two fingers and chanting a bizarre incantation.

*Kiyaaaak!*

The two skulls simultaneously let out low, strange cries, vying to bite one of the strange man’s fingers each, and then flew up in excitement.

# 224