Bachelor [EN]: Chapter 244

It wasn’t a good sign that the Nascent Soul cultivator was coveting the Blood Jade Spider he possessed. Despite his unease, Han Li had no choice but to agree, given the way the Extreme Yin Patriarch was looking at him.

‘Let’s observe the situation for now.’

He released one of the spirit beast pouches hanging from his waist. Soon, a white light burst from the pouch and landed in front of Han Li.

When the light faded, a white spider the size of a millstone appeared, its ferocious face scanning its surroundings. The Extreme Yin Patriarch couldn’t take his eyes off the spider as it emerged.

“It really is the Blood Jade Spider! Hahaha….”

After a while, the Extreme Yin Patriarch’s strange gaze disappeared, but his laughter remained. The sound reverberated through the air, causing Han Li’s expression to subtly change.

The Nascent Soul cultivator’s magical power was incredibly profound. Han Li assumed that the other party would soon get to the point, so he returned to a serious expression.

Before the Extreme Yin Patriarch could say anything, a hurried voice from Old Man Xuan Bone reached his ears.

“How can you possess the Blood Jade Spider! You should have told me from the start!”

His voice was full of frustration. Han Li was immediately angered by those words.

“Why would I need to tell you what I possess?”

However, with both the Extreme Yin Patriarch and Old Man Xuan Bone acting strangely, it became clear that there was a secret about the Blood Jade Spider that he didn’t know. Whether this would bring him fortune or disaster was yet to be seen.

Just as he was pondering these facts, Old Man Xuan Bone’s telepathic message sounded again.

“The Extreme Yin Patriarch will surely ask you to go to the inner area with him. If you accept his offer, I will secretly follow.”

Perhaps sensing Han Li’s displeasure, Old Man Xuan Bone’s voice became gentler. However, Han Li only felt more uneasy.

What if he got caught up in the chaos because of the Blood Jade Spider and something terrible happened! The Extreme Yin Patriarch finally spoke, and Old Man Xuan Bone’s prediction was correct.

“Han Li, have you ever thought about going to the inner area? If you wish, I can safely take you there and back.”

“The inner area, you say?”

Han Li was startled by the middle-aged man’s tempting words. The inner area was too dangerous for a Core Formation cultivator. There might be many treasures, but there were also immense dangers lurking there.

It was a place he had dismissed as soon as he heard about the Void Sky Hall. Now that he had just obtained the Nine-Bend Spirit Ginseng, which was of great help to Nascent Soul cultivators, there was no reason to take unnecessary risks.

He had no intention of trusting the Extreme Yin Patriarch’s words about taking him there safely, nor Old Man Xuan Bone’s advice to accept the offer.

How important was his life!

Han Li forced a smile and refused.

“With my cultivation level, the inner area is not suitable for me. I plan to experience the first two gates and then return, so I don’t think I need to go to the inner area.”

At those words, the Extreme Yin Patriarch’s face turned cold. At the same time, Wu Chou scolded him with an angry expression.

“Han Li, we didn’t even hold you accountable for offending the Patriarch earlier, yet you refuse such an offer? Are you daring to look down on our Extreme Yin Sect!”

The Extreme Yin Patriarch also didn’t stop Wu Chou, revealing his displeasure.

Han Li remained silent. He could hear Old Man Xuan Bone’s urging words in his ears, but he couldn’t be swayed so easily.

“I will not go. I don’t know what Sect Leader Wu intends to do by calling me to the inner area, but it certainly isn’t for my benefit. As a Core Formation cultivator, I simply wish to explore this place safely and leave.”

A vicious glint appeared in Wu Chou’s small eyes.

“Hmph! Do you think you can decide whether to go or not? If you refuse to go, this Sect Leader will destroy you. Don’t think that we won’t dare to act because of the people from the Sacred Palace!”

In truth, the Patriarch had given him a heads-up to threaten Han Li, but Wu Chou was genuinely annoyed by him.

There was no reason for this animosity. Han Li also had no liking for him, so he coldly glared at him before speaking directly to the Extreme Yin Patriarch.

“I don’t know why you need my spirit beast, Senior. But I do know that if the spirit beast’s owner dies, it cannot be controlled. Moreover, I believe you know that I can order the Blood Jade Spider to self-destruct if I am in danger.”

The middle-aged man seemed slightly surprised by the threatening words.

Han Li knew that the real target of this negotiation was the Extreme Yin Patriarch, so he didn’t see the need to argue with Wu Chou.

However, Wu Chou was enraged by this disregard, his face becoming menacing as he was about to shout something. At that moment, the Extreme Yin Patriarch raised his arm to stop him.

“A clever and bold junior… Since this Patriarch intends to use your Blood Jade Spider, I won’t let you come here for nothing. Once we reach the inner area…”

The Extreme Yin Patriarch was about to state his conditions when his face suddenly hardened. He slowly turned his head to glare at a certain spot and shouted fiercely.

“Who dares to eavesdrop!”

His sharp voice was filled with killing intent, indicating that he was extremely angry.

Han Li was startled for a different reason. He wondered if Old Man Xuan Bone had been discovered. He quickly began to think about how he should react.

However, when a very old voice was heard, he realized that there was no need for such thoughts.

“There’s no need to be so angry. I’m just passing by, yet you act as if you’re about to attack.”

A blue light flashed, and an old man in scholar’s robes appeared in the air, dozens of feet away. He narrowed his eyes, which were filled with a smile, and looked at the Extreme Yin Patriarch and the others.

Surprisingly, it was the Azure Serene Hermit, who had been with the Extreme Yin Patriarch all day. The Extreme Yin Patriarch concealed his killing intent upon seeing the old man, but he couldn’t help but grimace.

“Azure Senior, were you following me?”

“Following you? I was just wandering around and happened to see Senior Wu and the young friend chatting from afar, so I thought I’d come over to say hello. If I had known that Senior would be so displeased, I wouldn’t have done so.”

“……”

Whether he was making excuses or not, the Extreme Yin Patriarch only stared down at the Blood Jade Spider with a slightly pale face.

The Azure Serene Hermit nodded and continued.

“A Blood Jade Spider, truly a rare spirit beast. According to what the previous seniors said, it is one of the most suitable spirit beasts for obtaining the Void Sky Cauldron, so it will greatly increase the success rate compared to Senior Wu’s Fire Python or the Myriad Heavenly Golden Silkworms.”

“Wandering around? Coming to say hello? Do you think it makes sense for someone like you to use stealth techniques!”

The Extreme Yin Patriarch was furious at the old man’s absurd explanation. Moreover, his face hardened even more when the secret of the Blood Jade Spider, which he had tried to hide, was revealed.

The old man in scholar’s robes turned his gaze away from the white spider and looked at Han Li.

“So, you’re the junior that Senior Wu was concerned about. This old one has always wanted to take in a young man with courage and insight as a disciple. How about taking me as your master this time?”

“You want to take me as your disciple?”

Han Li couldn’t tell if this was a moment to be happy or not. At that moment, the Extreme Yin Patriarch emitted a black aura with a cold face, carefully uttering each word.

“Azure Senior. What do you mean by that?”

“Hehe! I was just joking, why are you so tense? If I were to take that junior as a disciple, Extreme Yin Brother wouldn’t stand for it. But if Wan Huzi were to find out that there is a Blood Jade Spider here, I wonder what he would think.”

At the Azure Serene Hermit’s words, the Extreme Yin Patriarch’s expression relaxed, but then hardened again when Wan Huzi was mentioned.

According to his original plan, he would first hide the fact that he had obtained the Blood Jade Spider and then incite others to fight against the righteous cultivators. Then, while they were fighting and greatly weakened, he would use Han Li’s Blood Jade Spider to secretly take the Void Sky Cauldron, allowing him to monopolize the treasure!

He had no intention of keeping his promise to share the spoils with others. That is, until his plan was exposed by the old fox in front of him.

He wasn’t confident that he could kill the other party and silence him. Moreover, even if the chances of success were high, he couldn’t act rashly when facing the righteous forces like the Myriad Heavenly Sect.

The power of Wan Huzi’s Heaven-Supporting Demonic Art was something the Extreme Yin Patriarch knew well. Although he had achieved some success in the Heavenly Capital Corpse Fire, he wasn’t confident that he could fight on equal terms with his opponent.

If the other party were to take Han Li as a disciple, like the old man, he would have no choice. Now that the old man had already learned about the Blood Jade Spider, he had to revise his plan.

He changed his expression and looked at the old man. He had understood the meaning of the other party’s words. The old man in scholar’s robes also confirmed the Extreme Yin Patriarch’s reaction and smiled. He moved his lips silently, as if sending a telepathic message.

The Extreme Yin Patriarch’s expression was strange.

The message the old man had sent telepathically was very simple, as he opened his mouth again and began to speak aloud.

“What do you think of this idea?”

Without much thought, the Extreme Yin Patriarch immediately agreed.

“Very well. I will do as you suggest.”

The old man, with a satisfied expression, turned his gaze to Han Li and spoke calmly.

“Then, which one of us should take this junior as a disciple?”

“Let him choose for himself. That would be fair.”

The old man looked momentarily puzzled at the Extreme Yin Patriarch’s words, but nodded without much thought. Seeing the old man’s reaction, the Extreme Yin Patriarch smiled and turned his head to speak to Han Li.

“As you’ve already heard, your Blood Jade Spider is a very important spirit beast for finding treasures. I’m telling you that I will not give up on it no matter what.

If you think that I can’t do anything because you are the spirit beast’s owner, you are completely mistaken. This Patriarch has mastered the art of refining spirit beasts into zombies, so I can simply kill the Blood Jade Spider and turn it into a corpse demon.

However, doing so would greatly reduce the Blood Jade Spider’s cultivation, so I don’t want to use this method unless it’s absolutely necessary. If you are worried about being disadvantaged after this is over, then become a disciple of one of us.

Then, we will be like family, and I will share some of the treasures we find with you. You are a smart person, so you should know which choice to make.”

The Extreme Yin Patriarch, having spoken with a calm tone that was half threat and half enticement, looked at Han Li.

Han Li was lost in thought, wondering which choice he should make.

He had been hoping that the two would fight each other after the Azure Serene Hermit appeared, giving him a chance to escape. But who would have known that these cunning old men would so easily form an alliance?

Now, even if Old Man Xuan Bone intervened, there was no chance of victory.

Moreover, threatening them with the Blood Jade Spider seemed useless. Even if he tried to order it to self-destruct, there was a high chance that the other party would subdue him before that. Besides, there was a way to survive, so there was no reason to provoke the Nascent Soul cultivators.

It was impossible to refuse their offer.

Just as Han Li was about to speak, the Azure Serene Hermit’s telepathic message sounded in his ears.

“Han Li, this old one has never taken a disciple before, and my days are numbered. If you become my disciple, you will inherit all my treasures, including my magical artifacts. Such a great opportunity will never come again in your life.”

His words were full of enticement. Even if the other party’s words were not true, he couldn’t help but be swayed.

However, before he could even consider the old man’s words, the Extreme Yin Patriarch’s low voice sounded this time.

“I don’t know what that old monster promised you, but let me tell you one thing. That old monster is a rogue cultivator, and he only occupies a desolate island. Even if he gives you everything, it won’t be much.

However, the Extreme Yin Sect is completely different. There are many seniors and a strong power, so if you become this Patriarch’s direct disciple, you will be able to wield immense power. If you wish, I can provide you with anything from beautiful maids to rare alchemy ingredients. I see that you were close to that girl Zi Ling from the Myriad Sound Sect. If you want, I can capture her and make her your companion.”

The Extreme Yin Patriarch directly listed numerous conditions in one breath.