Bachelor [EN]: Chapter 229

Whether the Demonic Cultivator showed no interest in the other cultivators’ possessions because they belonged to Core Formation cultivators, or because he was truly busy, was unknown. What mattered was that he benefited from it.

Still, he was furious that the Demonic Cultivator had stolen Gu Hun’s body and fled. He had no choice but to let him go since he had no chance of winning against him.

Thinking this, Han Li had already ascended to the surface. The Profound Bone Merchant who had just left seemed to have vanished without a trace.

Han Li thought of those who had entered the underground cave with him. He felt a bit pathetic that he was the only one who had survived.

However, such feelings quickly disappeared. He had a long way to go in the cultivation world, so he couldn’t afford to be sentimental.

Han Li didn’t linger there for long and took to the sky, choosing a direction to fly. As he rummaged through his possessions, a white silk handkerchief appeared in his hand.

It had been a while since he had taken it out, and Han Li’s heart fluttered slightly.

He was now certain that this handkerchief was the same item that the Profound Bone Merchant had possessed. He wondered what secret was hidden within it that made such a deep-scheming old Demonic Cultivator lose his composure.

Han Li examined the piece of cloth closely.

The map that had previously appeared vague had completely disappeared, and small golden swords were now drawn in the empty space.

No matter which way he turned the silk handkerchief, the golden light slowly pointed towards a certain direction in the southwest, and a faint red line emerged from the tip of the sword, pointing to the corner of the handkerchief.

Han Li frowned. Even a fool would understand that if it simply pointed in one direction, it couldn’t be missed.

This was clearly an item that led someone in the direction the swords were pointing. Holding the map in his hand, he fell into deep thought.

Considering how hastily the Profound Bone Merchant had left, there must have been a time limit to the map’s function, and there would be a great reward upon reaching the destination.

If he wanted to find out what it was, he had to change direction immediately, and if he was even a little late, the map would disappear, or others would claim the reward first.

After pondering for a while, he eventually changed direction and completely left the island.

About an hour later, someone arrived on the island, scattering a gloomy black aura. The light circled above the underground cave before the aura dissipated, revealing a pale-faced middle-aged man.

The middle-aged man saw the broken barrier and the collapsed spirit pillar and immediately disappeared into the underground cave.

Shortly after, an angry roar echoed, shaking the nearby ground.

Then, the middle-aged man, surrounded by a black aura, soared into the sky. He looked around anxiously, and dozens of black lights shot out from his body, transforming into giant birds that flew in all directions, searching the surrounding hundred miles.

The giant birds returned, but there were no results.

The middle-aged man became very uneasy. He stared at the sky for a while without moving.

“It doesn’t matter if that old monster escapes, he’s not the same Profound Bone Demonic Cultivator from before! I’m not just some Core Formation disciple under your command anymore. I’ll finish the matters of the Void Sky Palace first, and then I’ll search the entire Chaotic Star Sea to find you!”

He turned back into a black aura and tore through the sky.

*Kwa-kwang!*

As if venting his anger, the middle-aged man shot a black light pillar as thick as a water barrel, turning the area near the underground cave into ruins.

Han Li, who had already left the island, had no idea that such a thing was happening. He was simply moving diligently in the direction the map was leading him.

However, he was extremely vigilant, in case he encountered the Profound Bone Merchant again.

As a result, he flew for several days without anything happening.

Relieved, Han Li was silently urging his magic treasure to fly when he suddenly heard the sound of someone fighting. The explosions and blinding lights that he saw from afar indicated that it was a battle between cultivators.

Han Li used his powerful consciousness to briefly observe them from afar.

Unexpectedly, a man and a woman were fiercely fighting against three golden-robed figures who were emitting a sinister aura. Their levels were only at the early Foundation Establishment stage, and the man and woman seemed to be losing.

Han Li scratched his nose.

Since he knew they were not a threat to him, he decided to just pass by without turning back.

He had no intention of getting involved in whatever was happening and just wanted to go on his way. Han Li increased his speed and quickly reached them.

The combatants, who had been fighting fiercely, were surprised and retreated as if they had made a pact, and they retrieved their magic tools. Moreover, Han Li, who was about to pass by, slowed down without realizing it.

“Huh?”

At the same time, the woman among the two cultivators recognized Han Li’s face.

“Elder Han! I am a direct disciple of Tao Wusa of the Myo Eum Sect, please help us. Those three are cultivators from the Poison Dragon Society, enemies of our sect.”

At her cry, Han Li’s gaze shifted to the woman.

“A disciple of the Myo Eum Sect?”

The woman, who looked to be about twenty years old, had fair skin and a jade-like face that was incredibly alluring. The beautiful woman, who caught one’s eye, quickly came to Han Li’s side and bowed.

“Disciple Moon Sa-wol, I greet Elder Han.”

Her supple chest and full hips, followed by her beautiful voice, resonated in his ears, and she even exuded a captivating fragrance that could intoxicate any man.

Han Li, who had been silently observing her, asked leisurely,

“How did you recognize me? Have you ever seen me before?”

Han Li was certain that he had never seen this woman before. Then, the woman answered respectfully,

“I have never met Elder Han, but the Sect Leader hung your portrait in the Gongbong Hall, so I was able to recognize you.”

At those words, Han Li was stunned and inwardly exasperated. It was clear that the three women had done this to deceive others into thinking he was an elder.

Han Li was dumbfounded, but he didn’t show any reaction on the outside and turned his head to the middle-aged man next to the woman.

“Brother Moon, it’s been a while. How have you been!”

The middle-aged man had been making strange expressions ever since Han Li had appeared, and upon hearing these words, his heart became complicated. A slight envy and a slight inferiority could be seen in his eyes.

He answered somewhat bitterly,

“I didn’t expect Senior Han to remember me. Even after seeing your portrait in the Myo Eum Sect, I couldn’t believe it. Although it’s late, I congratulate you on your success in forming your Core.”

The middle-aged man was unexpectedly Moon Jang, the young cultivator who had first encountered Han Li on the Strange Sound Island. Now, he only vaguely resembled his old self, with streaks of white hair and looking like he was nearing sixty.

Han Li smiled.

“Brother Moon, there’s no need to call me senior. We know each other, so let’s interact comfortably.”

He was still at the mid-Foundation Establishment stage, so it was clear that the other party would not be able to form his Core in this lifetime. Seeing the young man he had known in his prime in this state, Han Li couldn’t help but sigh.

In fact, he would have stopped even if Moon Sa-wol hadn’t shouted. With his incredible eyesight, he had already recognized Moon Jang at a glance.

Since he had left a good impression on the other party, he didn’t want to let him die in front of his eyes. Moon Jang repeatedly shook his head, saying he couldn’t do that, so he had no choice but to let him have his way.

The woman, who had been listening to the conversation between the two, was greatly surprised.

She was about to ask something with her eyes sparkling when Han Li’s head turned, and he shouted coldly,

“Where do you three think you’re going? Do you think I’ll just let you go?”

The cultivators who had been attacking Moon Jang and Moon Sa-wol were flustered by the appearance of a Core Formation cultivator. They had been trying to slip away while Han Li was chatting without paying attention to them.

However, when Han Li’s thunderous voice fell, their faces turned pale, and they shot off in different directions.

At the same time, they deployed all sorts of light-based defensive magic tools and spells.

“Hmph!”

Han Li’s face turned cold, and he flicked his fingers, causing three dazzling blue swords to shoot out, chasing after them.

The magic tools and protective barriers that covered their bodies were torn like paper, and they disappeared along with their owners’ screams. Not only the cultivators but even their magic tools had completely vanished.

The woman and Moon Jang were filled with awe as they watched Han Li destroy the Black Dragon Society cultivators with a single gesture.

At this time, Han Li was also nodding his head in satisfaction.

Although the Azure Essence Sword Nets [a type of sword technique] looked insignificant, they contained considerable power, and he was quite pleased that they had dealt with the Foundation Establishment cultivators at once.

It seemed that as his cultivation increased, the power of the Azure Essence Sword Nets was also becoming more useful. Han Li suddenly had a thought and asked Moon Jang,

“Now that I think about it, you share the same surname as this young lady, could it be…?”

“Yes, she is my daughter.”

Han Li burst out laughing.

“Then I congratulate you as well. Since Sa-wol has already reached the Foundation Establishment stage at such a young age, it’s not impossible for her to form her Core in the future.”

Moon Jang also revealed his pride and answered with a smiling voice.

“Sa-wol is my pride. She succeeded in reaching the Foundation Establishment stage at just twenty years old, so I have high expectations for my daughter. I have no more progress left, so I only hope that my daughter can go further.”

His eyes were overflowing with affection as he looked at Moon Sa-wol. Han Li looked at the woman again and nodded. She was indeed exceptionally talented.

After that, Han Li and Moon Jang briefly talked about their past.

Although they didn’t have a deep relationship, it was pleasant for Han Li to meet an acquaintance he had known a long time ago, so he was in a good mood.

Moon Jang told the story of how he had lived in the Chaotic Star Sea as an ordinary cultivator.

He said that shortly after meeting Han Li, his master had passed away due to old age, and he had spent decades alone on Strange Sound Island, barely managing to succeed in Foundation Establishment. After that, he had wandered around various islands, gaining experience, and eventually fell in love with a woman who was a disciple of the Myo Eum Sect, and he even became an outer disciple of the Myo Eum Sect.

After spending his days handling various tasks for the Myo Eum Sect, Moon Sa-wol was born, but his wife died of a serious illness not long after. He never remarried and raised Moon Sa-wol alone. Thus, Moon Sa-wol naturally became a disciple of the Myo Eum Sect.

Listening to the story, Han Li sighed several times.

His own story was too simple compared to the other’s. He had nothing to say except that he had diligently cultivated, so he gave a wry smile.

Finally, Han Li asked why the two had come out here and gotten into a fight. At that question, Moon Jang expressed great anger, and Moon Sa-wol’s face also darkened.

Moon Jang hesitated for a moment, but eventually opened his mouth.

It turned out that Moon Sa-wol had married a promising young cultivator when she came of age, and they had become partners in cultivation.

However, the young man had died in a duel not long after their marriage, and Moon Sa-wol had suddenly become a widow.

Since the beautiful Moon Sa-wol was now alone, many men had their eyes on her, and since she had no intention of rushing into marriage again so soon after her husband’s death, she had refused the proposals of several men in a row.

As a result, she had inevitably fallen out of favor with some of the higher-ups of the Myo Eum Sect, and Moon Sa-wol had been assigned the dangerous task of transporting cargo through the Black Dragon Society’s territory, which was always at odds with the main sect.

As a father, he couldn’t stand by and watch, so it was only natural that he had accompanied her on her mission.

However, the transport information, which should have been top secret, had been leaked, and they had been chased by the Black Dragon Society cultivators, leading to the battle that had just occurred.

If Han Li hadn’t appeared by chance, it was unknown what would have happened. Han Li also sensed that Moon Jang was subtly hoping that he would step in.

However, his relationship with the other party was not deep enough to take on the trouble of getting deeply involved with the Myo Eum Sect and interfering in internal sect matters.

# 231