Bachelor [EN]: Chapter 233

The two white-robed old men calmly approached the teleportation array and bowed. After examining it for a while, they exchanged glances and nodded.

“There are no issues with the teleportation array. Passing through here will lead to the outer hall of the Void Sky Garden, so you are on your own from there,” one of them said.

Having spoken, they stepped onto the teleportation array without delay. A white light flashed, and they vanished.

Following this, the immortals in the main hall began to cautiously observe each other.

Unlike the others who hesitated, Man Cheon-myeong’s group jumped down from the pillars without hesitation and disappeared into the teleportation array. Only then did the others rush to the array.

The teleportation array flashed continuously, and in an instant, the number of immortals in the main hall was halved. Merchant Hyeon-gol also moved first, blending in with the crowd. Han Li’s eyes gleamed as he scanned the area where the Extreme Yin Cult and others were.

Unfortunately, at that moment, Extreme Yin also looked at Han Li, causing him to be startled. Quickly averting his gaze, Han Li felt even more uneasy.

It seemed that Extreme Yin would not let him go. Hiding his gloomy feelings, he stood up abruptly and stepped forward confidently.

Extreme Yin watched Han Li’s figure until the end, sneering. Beside him, Oh Chuk couldn’t help but ask quietly,

“Master, you seem concerned about that fellow. Is there a problem?”

Extreme Yin shook his head and replied,

“No, I’m just keeping an eye on him because he’s useful.”

He seemed unwilling to elaborate. Oh Chuk, who had always been favored by Extreme Yin, couldn’t help but feel puzzled. At that moment, Elder Cheong-yeok cleared his throat and spoke.

“We should depart as well. It seems there are few left now.”

“Indeed. If we delay any further, the teleportation array might disappear, and we’d have to wait a month for the next one.”

Having spoken, Extreme Yin turned into a black cloud, taking Oh Chuk with him as he descended. Elder Cheong-yeok followed leisurely behind.

Lady On had already left the jade pillar, clearly not wanting to get involved with Extreme Yin and the others.

* * *

After passing through the teleportation array, Han Li felt dizzy and his vision blurred. However, it was only for a moment. He arrived at a desolate small hill and looked around.

He was a little bewildered because there were only two men and a woman around him; the others were nowhere to be seen.

The woman looked at Han Li, smiled, and approached him. It was none other than Fairy Ja-ryeong.

The man who had been with her seemed to have been teleported elsewhere. Han Li couldn’t help but smile wryly, thinking he was in for some trouble.

The other two men were an old man dressed in white and a masked man completely covered in a black robe.

The old man was one thing, but the masked man was emitting a dark green aura all over his body, making it clear at a glance that he was a cultivator who had mastered demonic arts.

As Fairy Ja-ryeong approached Han Li with a welcoming smile, the gazes of the two men turned to him. The old man’s eyes were friendly, but the masked man’s were extremely cold.

Han Li, too, received their gazes with an expressionless face, revealing nothing.

“I didn’t expect you to come, Senior Han. It seems I will have to rely on your help to pass through this gate, I’m sorry to say.”

She spoke with a slightly embarrassed and apologetic tone.

“It’s commendable that you’ve greatly improved your cultivation, Fairy Ja-ryeong, reaching the late Foundation Establishment stage. But coming here seems like too much of an adventure. Even for Core Formation cultivators, safety cannot be guaranteed in the Void Sky Garden.”

At his words, a bitter expression appeared on Fairy Ja-ryeong’s clear face.

“I didn’t want to come here either. However, as you can see, Elder, I am about to attempt Core Formation, but my aptitude is lacking, and I have hardly any elixirs to nourish myself. I spent a fortune to barely obtain a map of the Void Sky Garden.

I heard there are many precious spiritual herbs in the Void Sky Garden, so I hoped that if I was lucky, I might find something suitable. I don’t plan to take any more risks after passing the first gate.”

Han Li sighed at her words.

He wouldn’t have succeeded in Core Formation if he hadn’t forced it with the Three Revolutions Origin Art, the Great Connection Technique, and a large amount of spiritual herbs. For Fairy Ja-ryeong, who had nothing, it must be even more desperate.

Old memories surfaced, and he felt a sense of camaraderie. Besides, he had obtained the Heavenly Thunder Bamboo from her, and although it wasn’t much, he had been paying her spiritual stones every year, so he couldn’t just ignore her.

“Since I’m with you, Fairy Ja-ryeong, I will naturally look after you. However, if a crisis arises that I cannot handle, you will have to save yourself.”

“Thank you, Elder Han! I have my own plans, so please don’t worry.”

Fairy Ja-ryeong smiled brightly at Han Li’s reply, her beautiful face seeming to glow.

Han Li was momentarily stunned, realizing his foolishness, and quickly turned his head, feeling a faint flush on his face.

She wasn’t the most beautiful woman in the world, but her smile had something that stirred people’s hearts.

Han Li was greatly surprised. If he hadn’t known that the Great Connection Technique wasn’t reacting, he would have suspected that he had been hit by some high-level charm technique.

He couldn’t understand his own behavior just now. With a slightly nervous heart, he cautiously observed Fairy Ja-ryeong. However, she had returned to her original appearance, and her beauty was long gone.

As his doubts grew, the old man in gray clothes approached. He cupped his fist and greeted Han Li and Fairy Ja-ryeong.

“I am Gal-rip from Heavenly Terrace Island. May I know the names of the two fellow cultivators?”

Han Li cleared his mind and cupped his fist, a smile on his lips.

“I am Han Li, and this is Fairy Ja-ryeong of the Myoeum Sect.”

He didn’t react much to Han Li’s name, but he seemed a little surprised at the mention of Fairy Ja-ryeong of the Myoeum Sect.

“I have heard of the fame of Fairy Ja-ryeong of the Myoeum Sect. It is an honor to meet you in person today.”

The old man spoke these words, but his eyes were full of doubt. It was because Ja-ryeong’s appearance was not as outstanding as the rumors suggested.

Fairy Ja-ryeong knew that the other party was just being polite and simply responded with a smile. The old man was also skilled at controlling his emotions, and he quickly returned to his usual expression and looked at Han Li.

“It can be said that it is fate that we were teleported to the same place. How about we move together? This place is full of vengeful spirits, and even Core Formation cultivators are often devoured by them.”

Gal-rip’s face hardened as he spoke, as if he knew the Void Sky Garden well. As the other party mentioned vengeful spirits, Han Li also looked around with a new perspective.

The hill where Han Li and the others stood was bright and had a faint glow that blocked the external ghostly aura, allowing them to discuss things in peace. However, just a little beyond the hill where they stood, there was a thick fog filled with a pale, ghostly aura, and it seemed that eerie winds and the wailing of ghosts could be heard.

Seeing this situation, his gaze turned to the sky.

It was blurry due to the ghostly aura, but it certainly didn’t look like the inside of the palace. Rather, it looked like the middle of a deserted wasteland. Ja-ryeong, who had been listening beside him, also chimed in with a worried voice.

“I heard that the Land of Vengeful Spirits, the first obstacle, wasn’t that dangerous before. But as more cultivators died in the fog of ghostly aura, it has become increasingly ominous.

The cultivators who lost their lives in the Land of Vengeful Spirits are full of resentment and become powerful vengeful spirits with strong magic power. They are jealous and hateful of the living cultivators who newly arrive here.

Once you encounter them, you cannot escape without killing them. That’s why more cultivators have died here in the recent Void Sky Garden expeditions. Moreover, in the last expedition, a group of cultivators encountered a Ghost King with high intelligence, and only one survived while the rest were annihilated.”

‘Ghost King?’

Han Li stroked his chin with a puzzled look.

He didn’t know exactly how the ranks of vengeful spirits were divided, but he knew that a powerful vengeful spirit of the Ghost King level was equivalent to a late-stage Core Formation cultivator. Moreover, if it had high intelligence, it would be even more difficult to deal with.

Gal-rip looked at Han Li’s expression and spoke again.

“Although the possibility of encountering a Ghost King is not high, it will certainly be safer if we move together. Although I am old, I don’t want to die at the hands of ghosts and wander as a vengeful spirit.”

The old man’s words were frank and straightforward. Fairy Ja-ryeong didn’t interject any further. She was intelligent enough to know that the other party’s proposal was directed at Han Li.

After explaining about the Land of Vengeful Spirits, she was quietly waiting for Han Li’s answer. Han Li simply smiled. He didn’t immediately answer Gal-rip’s words but instead looked at the black-clad man standing on one side.

“Elder Gal-rip, aren’t you going to ask that person?”

At those words, Gal-rip’s face changed for the worse. The old man hesitated for a moment before huffing and saying,

“Hmph, there’s no need to mention that demonic cultivator. When we were first teleported here, I offered to join forces out of goodwill, but he coldly told me to get lost. If this old man didn’t have a good temper, it wouldn’t have ended like this.”

The old man was very angry at that person. On the other hand, Han Li became a little interested in the black-clad man. He turned his head and shouted to the demonic cultivator,

“Fellow cultivator, do you not wish to join us? If several Core Formation cultivators join forces, we can avoid danger even if we encounter a Ghost King.”

Han Li’s voice was not loud, but it clearly reached the other party’s ears. However, he coldly glanced at them once and then turned his head away again.

The old man snorted at the black-clad man.

“What did I tell you, Elder Han! He is someone who ignores the goodwill of others, so let’s just move together, the three of us.”

The old man seemed to be dwelling on the fact that the other party had humiliated him. Han Li chuckled lightly. At that moment, Fairy Ja-ryeong’s expression changed.

“Oh my!”

Han Li also looked in the same direction as her. The black-clad man was walking alone into the ghostly aura. It seemed he was trying to pass through this place alone.

“He must be crazy to want to die. If he goes through the ghostly aura alone, he will most likely not be able to pass this gate.”

Han Li didn’t care about the old man’s sneer and narrowed his eyes, watching the black-clad man’s actions.

He didn’t believe that the other party was crazy to want to die. He probably had a special means to overcome this obstacle.

When the black-clad man reached the border between the white light and the ghostly aura, a green light burst out from his sleeve and fell to the ground. Surprisingly, it was a small spirit beast that resembled a monkey.

The small monkey was about a foot tall, and its body was covered in bluish-green fur that emitted a faint light. What was unusual was that its nose was high and large, taking up half of its face.

Han Li was puzzled and didn’t react much, but the old man’s expression changed greatly.

“Isn’t that a Soul-Weeping Beast! No wonder he was so arrogant; he had such a spirit beast.”

The old man and Fairy Ja-ryeong looked at the small monkey with quite surprised expressions. Only Han Li raised one eyebrow and asked,

“Soul-Weeping Beast? I’ve never heard of it before.”

“The Soul-Weeping Beast is not a spirit beast born from the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, but a unique life form that is refined by a certain demonic sect and is somewhere between a spirit beast and a vengeful spirit. Although it has no particular use in normal times, it is said to devour souls by nature, so no matter how powerful a vengeful spirit it encounters, it can inhale it through its nose and put it into its stomach. Then, it melts it down in an instant, so it is a great spirit beast.”

A look of envy appeared on Fairy Ja-ryeong’s face. But she soon composed herself and sighed.

“But…”

# 235