Bachelor [EN]: Chapter 287

After hearing the story, Han Li calmly processed the information.

“If what you say is true, then from that year, the demonic beasts in the abyss began to act violently, causing many high-level cultivators to die or be injured. Even Nascent Soul Stage cultivators couldn’t withstand them. That explains why the number of cultivators in other sea areas has increased.”

His tone was casual, but inwardly, he was greatly surprised. The demonic beasts of the abyss were rampaging, and even Nascent Soul Stage cultivators were being harmed; how could he not be shocked?

No matter how he considered it, it was an ominous development.

“Now, I’ll ask about the Insect Demon. Why did you mistake me for the Insect Demon?”

At those words, the three cultivators exchanged glances, hesitant to speak. Then, Cultivator Min cleared his throat and spoke first.

“Ahem, well, it’s true that you resemble the rumored Insect Demon. A young man who wields several blue flying swords, possesses a Core Formation cultivation level, and commands tens of thousands of insect demonic beasts…”

However, his voice grew softer and softer. After saying it out loud, he realized that the young man before him was indeed very similar to the Insect Demon.

Cultivator Min’s heart grew uneasy. Han Li’s eyes gleamed as he asked calmly,

“I really do sound similar. Then, could you tell me what this Insect Demon has done to earn such a notorious reputation?”

“There are too many incidents related to the Insect Demon. The most famous one is the incident four years ago when he used a swarm of insects to eliminate seven or eight Core Formation Stage cultivators in one fell swoop. That’s when he started to gain notoriety.”

Although Han Li’s expression didn’t change at the cautious answer, his heart sank.

“Originally, he disappeared after that incident, but a year later, incidents of cultivators being killed and treasures being plundered began to occur frequently in the sea area around Qi Origin Island. Moreover, the survivors all claimed that it was the work of the Insect Demon, saying they were attacked by a Core Formation Stage cultivator who commanded flying insects.

These incidents happened so frequently that the number of victims is said to reach 100. That’s how the Insect Demon’s notoriety spread widely.”

Cultivator Min, having finished his explanation with a tense face, observed Han Li’s reaction.

Not only Cultivator Min but also the old man and Cultivator Jang were on edge. What if the other party got angry at their honest answer?

The possibility that the young man before them was the Insect Demon could not yet be ruled out. Han Li, however, showed no sign of anger and instead chuckled lightly.

“Interesting. It seems the Insect Demon’s notoriety is quite something, but do you know anything about his appearance or the insect demonic beasts he commands?”

“Appearance? There’s no particular description, so it seems the Insect Demon’s appearance is ordinary. However, the flying insects are said to have two colors, gold and silver. Ah, now that I think about it, Senior, you command three-colored beetles, so you’re definitely not a demonic cultivator, are you?”

Cultivator Min, who had been hesitant at first, finally noticed the difference between the Insect Demon and the young man, and his face brightened. The old man and the fierce-looking Jang Han also seemed to have the same thought, and their expressions changed.

If the other party were really the Insect Demon, they would have already lost their lives. After looking up at the sky for a moment, as if pondering something, he conveyed information that would please the old man and the others.

“Thank you for the detailed information. Well, I have some business to attend to, so I must be going. However, please don’t mention our meeting today to anyone else. I might suffer harm for being mistaken as the Insect Demon, wouldn’t I? I believe you all understand.”

The old man barely suppressed his laughter and replied,

“Of course, of course. We will keep it a secret, so please don’t worry. Then, we also have a long way to go, so we’ll be on our way.”

Han Li quietly nodded as he watched the cultivators who were eager to leave. Then, the three cultivators bowed deeply and immediately flew away.

Han Li watched them leave, and only then did his face harden. Even now, killing them would be as easy as flipping his hand, but he had no intention of doing so.

He was not one to enjoy slaughter. Besides, it didn’t matter if his actions were revealed.

This place was far from his residence, but if he had encountered them near the island shrouded in sea fog, he wouldn’t have let a single one of them leave alive.

Also, since he planned to go into seclusion for 20 or 30 years once he returned to his residence, those who were looking for him would naturally give up.

However, the title of Insect Demon was too much!

It was true that he had no choice but to use the Gold Devouring Beetles to annihilate the cultivators of the Azure Cloud Sect, but when had he ever plundered treasures and slaughtered cultivators?

Someone was impersonating him and committing heinous acts. Han Li wasn’t angry, but he was a little bothered. He had always thought that the Azure Cloud Sect was the only group in the Outer Star Sea that considered him an enemy.

At the time, he was afraid of attracting too high-level demonic beasts, so he didn’t go into the deep sea but hunted near the boundary of the deep sea in the Outer Star Sea.

As a result, he had trapped a seventh-level demonic beast in a barrier and was about to deal with it when he encountered a group of eight Core Formation Stage cultivators. They arrogantly called themselves cultivators of the Azure Cloud Sect and tried to kill him and take the demonic beast.

So, Han Li had no choice but to release tens of thousands of Gold Devouring Beetles and kill them. It was beyond his ability to stop a late-stage Core Formation cultivator with a powerful ancient treasure from escaping in the gap when he was careless.

At that time, Han Li also knew that the Azure Cloud Sect was one of the groups that held sway in Qi Origin Island, so he had no choice but to risk entering the deep sea.

Fortunately, he had been wandering the deep sea for several years, but he had never encountered a demonic beast of the eighth level or higher.

The most dangerous time was when he had attracted several seventh-level demonic beasts. He barely managed to kill them using formations, Gold Devouring Beetles, and all sorts of magical artifacts.

Through these days, he had collected hundreds of sixth and seventh-level demonic cores, enough to refine pills, and also had a pile of various materials.

And on his way back to his residence after a long time, he had accidentally discovered the Glass Beast. There was no reason to leave such a rare demonic beast alone, so the moment he deployed a formation to trap the Glass Beast, the old man and the others had unexpectedly appeared.

He couldn’t have been in a good mood when he heard them call him the Insect Demon in surprise.

It was highly likely that the Azure Cloud Sect, unable to find him, had created a fake Insect Demon by imitating his use of insects and the Azure Bamboo Cloud Swords.

However, unfortunately, Han Li had been in the deep sea area for several years and was completely unaware of this fact, so it was all for naught. But there was a problem.

Finding a high-level cultivator who commanded insects was not difficult, and finding flying insects similar to the Gold Devouring Beetles was not impossible.

But if the Azure Cloud Sect was behind it, why did gold and silver flying insects appear instead of the three-colored beetles that had killed them? It wasn’t a coincidence caused by a mistake of the late-stage Core Formation cultivator who had barely survived.

If anyone knew about the Gold Devouring Beetles before their evolution, it would be those he had met before coming to the Outer Star Sea.

‘Could it be… those old monsters from the Void Sky Temple, even here?’

His heart grew cold. If his guess was correct, the situation was taking a strange turn. Han Li, who had been standing still, kicked off the ground and immediately soared into the sky.

Then, he turned into a streak of blue light and flew towards the island covered in sea fog.

In the light, Han Li quietly sneered.

He realized that there was no need to worry about whether it was a fake Insect Demon, a scheme by the Azure Cloud Sect, or the work of the old monsters. After all, once he returned to his residence, he had no plans to venture out for a while.

If he didn’t get involved in the chaotic Outer Star Sea due to the abyss demonic beasts and wasn’t discovered by the groups chasing him, wouldn’t that be killing two birds with one stone?

If he made progress in his cultivation, who could do anything to him even if he became the Insect Demon?

The cultivation world was a world of the strong preying on the weak. Only the strong had the right to judge right and wrong. Having made his decision, he was returning to his residence as quickly as possible.

At a similar time, in a secret room somewhere in Black Stone City on Qi Origin Island, two cultivators were secretly meeting.

A sharp voice spoke as if it could no longer be contained.

“It’s been three years since I used my brother’s method. How much longer do we have to wait for that guy to fall into our trap?”

“Cultivator Oh, don’t be impatient. Aren’t you using your senses every day to search every corner of Black Stone City? The moment that guy sets foot in the city, he won’t be able to escape Brother Oh’s eyes.”

The one who spoke first was none other than the Extreme Yin Patriarch. Still looking like a lifeless middle-aged man, he expressed his dissatisfaction.

“Hmph! It’s been a long time since I sent my disciples to commit robberies according to my brother’s suggestion, but it hasn’t had any effect. Could it be that you have other intentions and are doing this on purpose? Is it even possible that the entire Azure Cloud Sect can’t find a mere early-stage Core Formation cultivator!”

“Come now, it’s unfair to say that. It’s not like we’ve only known each other for a year or two, don’t you know my nature? Besides, my sect also has a grudge against that guy, so why would I intentionally not capture him?”

The owner of the dry voice was a middle-aged man wearing a white robe, and the white aura around his pale face was extraordinary.

The middle-aged Taoist smiled as if he had thought of something and opened his mouth.

“But Cultivator Oh! I also have a question. What did that guy do that you would risk hiding in Heavenly Star City and come here? I can’t believe the story about revenge for your grandson.”

‘That cunning old fox!’

The Extreme Yin Patriarch secretly frowned at the other’s words, but outwardly, he showed no reaction.

“No matter how many times you ask, my answer will be the same. That bastard ambushed and killed my grandson in the Void Sky Temple, so I will capture him and extract his soul alive for refinement.”

The Taoist still shook his head.

“Hehe, I believed you when you said that two years ago. But is it possible that you would abandon even the Extreme Yin Island and not even consider the safety of the Ghost Eye [a powerful artifact or technique] and stay here just for revenge for your grandson?”

“…”

When the Extreme Yin Patriarch remained silent, the Taoist revealed his final card.

“Besides, in the past two years, a Manbup Sect elder also suddenly appeared on this island. And that’s not all. At least two or three Nascent Soul Stage cultivators are disguising their identities and wandering the nearby sea areas. What is so attractive about Qi Origin Island that so many Nascent Soul Stage experts are appearing at the same time?

Most importantly, according to the news I received two days ago, they are surprisingly chasing after the very guy that Brother Oh is looking for. Do you want to say that they also came to avenge your grandson?”

The Extreme Yin Patriarch flinched and fell silent. Noticing his agitation, the Taoist continued to persuade him.

“There’s no need to hide it. No matter what secret that guy has, many cultivators are already looking for him, so what problem would it cause if I knew? It’s said that others besides your disciples have also been impersonating the Insect Demon and appearing in various places. It seems they are trying to muddy the waters.”

In the end, the Extreme Yin Patriarch grumbled and opened his mouth.

“If you’ve already found out that much, you should just find out for yourself. Why did you come to me?”

“That’s right. Even if Brother Oh doesn’t tell me, it will take time, but I will be able to figure out the truth. However, by then, the Azure Cloud Sect won’t be the only one with the information. Wouldn’t it be better to join forces beforehand?”

The Extreme Yin Patriarch, with a complicated heart, pondered for a moment, but in the end, he sighed and agreed with the other’s words.

“I didn’t want to hide it, but I swore an oath with other cultivators, placing a Heart Demon [a self-imposed curse that punishes oath-breakers] on myself, not to reveal the secret. Since the Manbup Sect’s pursuit has already begun, I don’t know how much information they’ve released, but it’s as good as breaking the oath.”

“Of course. Brother Oh, why are you so concerned about oaths? If everyone who broke an oath fell into a Heart Demon, half of the demonic cultivators would already be dead.”

“I’m not worried about the Heart Demon, but wouldn’t it be better if fewer people knew about this? If everyone jumps on the bandwagon, I don’t know if there will be anything left for us.”

After that, the Extreme Yin Patriarch’s lips moved with a serious expression.

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