Bachelor [EN]: Chapter 30

Han Li only understood after deep observation and searching through various materials and books on magic tactics. The magical tools used by cultivators were not something that could be easily made with ordinary paper or paint.

Cultivators used special materials and methods to create magical tools, so even if the incantations and hand seals were flawless, the magic would fail without them.

The same principle applied to the Object Manipulation Technique. This technique also required specific items used by cultivators.

Therefore, Han Li used rare and strange objects from Master Moon’s room, such as the Soul-Calling Bell and the seven silver swords used in the Seven Ghost Soul-Devouring Great Spell, but the magic still failed.

Han Li was greatly disappointed by this, as it seemed that something else was needed for the Object Manipulation Technique.

Realizing that the necessary items for the Mind Stabilizing Talisman and the Object Manipulation Technique were not available, Han Li stopped focusing on them.

Instead, he decided to combine the secret techniques of his martial arts with magic.

Han Li immediately devoted himself to training, and soon he achieved some results.

He eventually learned how to use the Wind Riding Step [a movement technique focused on speed and agility] on his body and use the Swift Shadow Step [a movement technique focused on stealth and quick bursts of speed] again.

The balance and harmony between the two were crucial. It was difficult to switch quickly, but he could compensate for the shortcomings of the Wind Riding Step, which lacked evasion ability, and the Swift Shadow Step, which consumed a lot of stamina when moving.

While moving, his movements became so unpredictable that others could not even follow his shadow.

Once he became somewhat familiar with the two techniques, Han Li added his own unique methods to the Fireball Technique.

The Fireball Technique was a method of killing enemies by using his magic power to shoot a small fireball.

He thought that relying on magic power to launch fireballs was too slow. It was flashy but not practical in a fight in the martial world. So, Han Li planned to use the fact that flames could not burn him, holding them in his hand and using them like a sharp sword.

He now felt confident that he could defeat any master if he used extreme lightness techniques and high-temperature fireballs simultaneously.

It seemed like he could really go to the Southern Border to detoxify the poison now.

At this time, Han Li’s Evergreen Art [a cultivation technique] had also reached the seventh level thanks to the daily consumption of elixirs, greatly increasing his magic power. However, when it came to performing magic or fighting with magic power, he was no match for Lim Ja-dong.

In any case, Lim Ja-dong had received systematic training in magic since he was in the clan. The elders guided him, and his fellow disciples discussed with each other. It was different from Han Li, who was self-taught in a haphazard way.

He never thought that learning a few of these low-level magic techniques would make him a match for a real cultivator.

Besides, the enemies he had to face now were all martial artists from the secular world. Just as he was looking for an excuse to leave the Seven Mysteries Sect, the Arang Group suddenly proposed peace negotiations.

As soon as this news spread, voices of suspicion rose within the Seven Mysteries Sect, wondering if they were plotting something.

This was because the Seven Mysteries Sect had been struggling in recent battles with the Arang Group. How could they suddenly ask for negotiations in such a favorable situation?

The people of the Seven Mysteries Sect were divided into those who agreed to the negotiations and those who opposed them, raising their voices at each other. Lǚ Bìyǔ was one of those who strongly opposed the negotiations.

Since the opinions of both sides were evenly matched, no conclusion was reached. In the end, it was decided that they would first attend the negotiations, listen to the other side’s conditions, and stop fighting if they were not too excessive. If they came up with excessive conditions, they would continue the fight.

People who had been divided into two sides were not satisfied with this ambiguous decision, but it was the most reasonable compromise, so that was the conclusion.

* * *

After several rounds of negotiations between the Seven Mysteries Sect and the Arang Group, it was decided that the talks would take place near the border of Raksa Slope.

The Arang Group insisted that the heads of both sides must participate in the negotiations. The Seven Mysteries Sect did not react much to this condition. It was, in fact, a very normal negotiation condition.

The Seven Mysteries Sect would at most send a deputy sect leader, and the other side would also send a deputy leader to save face. In this way, the specific date of the negotiations was quickly set, and it was agreed to send a delegation of about a hundred people on that day.

Fearing that the other side might be planning an ambush on the day of the meeting, the Seven Mysteries Sect carefully prepared the personnel to participate in the meeting and the follow-up measures.

The delegation was led by Deputy Sect Leader Oh, the second-in-command of the Seven Mysteries Sect, and consisted of about a hundred masters. Most of them were core figures such as protectors and elders, and some elders and hall leaders would follow them to supervise. It was a truly powerful lineup.

They were confident that even if the elite group of the Arang Group came forward, this group of masters would be able to stop them.

Even if something unfortunate happened, they would be able to use their high-level martial arts to quickly break through the enemy’s encirclement and return to their own camp.

After that, some elites from the Blood Blade Hall would be waiting there to secure their retreat.

Lǚ Bìyǔ volunteered to participate in the negotiations, clearly drawn to the dangerous location. As the day of the negotiations approached, the delegation began to descend the mountain. It was clear that it would take at least several dozen days for them to come and go.

Han Li did not care whether the negotiations succeeded or failed. He was planning to leave this place soon and travel the world, so he had no interest in the rise and fall of the Seven Mysteries Sect.

He did not want to get involved in anything else. So, while the delegation was away, he calmly produced the herbs he needed and collected the seeds of rare herbs to prepare for the future.

Han Li was determined to formally bid farewell to the sect leaders when the delegation returned.

If they did not let him go, he would use his strength to thoroughly break their obsession.

In fact, disappearing without a trace was the easiest way. However, if they could not find Han Li, they might go to his family and bother them.

So, it was necessary to clearly state his intention to leave and show his strength. He had already thought of an excuse to leave, saying that he was worried about Master Moon and was leaving to find him. It did not matter whether the other party believed him or not.

With his current strength, he could easily take the lives of several sect leaders if he wanted to. But even at this time, Han Li had no idea what was about to happen.

* * *

On the evening of the fourth day after the delegation left the main sect, a figure, tattered and covered in dust, with disheveled hair, burst into his room. His eyes were bloodshot, and his pale skin and white lips barely managed to produce a hoarse voice.

“The negotiation team is finished. Sect Leader Oh is dead. The protectors and elders are dead too. Almost all of them are annihilated.”

‘Screech!’

Before Han Li could even ask a question, stunned by his words, a sharp warning sound suddenly began to ring out from somewhere on the mountain.

‘Boom boom boom boom!’

Then, a heavy drumbeat followed.

‘Ding~ Ding~ Ding~’

‘Thump thump thump thump thump thump…’

Various warning sounds began to ring out as if they had made a promise. Then, countless shouts and screams were heard, constantly echoing throughout the mountain.

Among them, the sound of weapons clashing could be heard, as if Noeul Mountain had become a huge slaughterhouse in an instant.

Before hearing any more, Han Li leaped out of the room. He scanned his surroundings and stomped his feet, already on the roof of the highest residence. From there, he looked at the situation outside the Divine Herb Valley. His face was very dark. Flames were rising everywhere he looked, and below them, the shadows of people were running around. A fierce battle with flashing blades was taking place, and the sounds of killing and being killed, warning sounds, and angry curses filled Noeul Mountain.

As soon as Han Li heard the sound of wind behind him, he asked without turning his head.

“Lǚ Bìyǔ, is this the work of the Arang Group?”

“Yes, who would have thought they would plot such a meticulous scheme? The negotiation team was almost annihilated.”

The one who brought the news to Han Li was Lǚ Bìyǔ, who had left Noeul Mountain four days ago. His voice was now full of anger.

* * *

“But how did those guys break through the outer outposts of the main sect? We clearly told them to strengthen the defenses along the road as we returned.”

Lǚ Bìyǔ muttered with suspicion.

“Such a large-scale advance must have been prepared a long time ago. It’s easy to plant spies in the outer defenses. And with these spies guiding the way, those at the outposts had no choice but to be caught off guard.”

Han Li calmly explained and continued.

“But it would be difficult for the Arang Group to attack all the branch halls. I think they will surround the peaks where each hall is located and gather the strength of the masters to attack the Sunset Peak, where the main hall is located. If they capture or kill the number one person in the sect, the other halls will collapse without even having to attack them.”

“Then what should we do now? Should we go to Sunset Peak?”

Lǚ Bìyǔ asked anxiously. Han Li was silent. And after a while, he turned his body and said to Lǚ Bìyǔ in a calm voice.

“Tell me first. There were countless masters in the negotiation team, so how were they annihilated? The Arang Group can’t be that capable.”

As soon as he heard those words, Lǚ Bìyǔ’s face flushed with anger, and he answered self-deprecatingly.

“They used huge repeating crossbows. Moreover, they were military-grade ones that had been modified to be even stronger.”

“Military-grade repeating crossbows?”

“Yes, two days after we left the main sect, we were passing through a pasture. We hadn’t left our territory yet, so everyone was relaxed. It was then that a group from the Arang Group appeared from underground, all carrying huge crossbows. Their arrows covered the entire sky. Disciples with insufficient martial arts died on the spot, and only a few masters and lucky people survived the attack. But even they were all injured and their momentum was weakened. I was one of the lucky ones. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be here now.”

Lǚ Bìyǔ’s eyes still held the terror of the arrows raining down. It was clear that it had been a great shock to him.

“After the arrows rained down, the masters of the Arang Group rushed in, and a fierce battle ensued. The survivors scattered to find a chance to live. I was lucky again, it seems that I was not a target that the enemies had to kill. There were few who chased me, and they were not very skilled.

But while I was escaping, I saw that all the strongholds that should have been occupied by the people of the Seven Mysteries Sect had been taken over by the Arang Group. The people of the Arang Group were hiding everywhere, waiting to kill those who asked for help. I was caught there and almost died, but I managed to capture a spy and hear about the situation of the others. He said that Sect Leader Oh and the elders had already died in the fight against the enemy masters. Only a few unknown people like me barely escaped.

After hearing this news, I desperately ran towards this place. Then, I happened to meet two other protectors who had escaped from that hell, and we barely made it to the main sect. The two protectors went straight to Sunset Peak to report the annihilation of the negotiation team, and I came to you under the pretext of needing to treat my injuries. I don’t know what to do now. What should I do?”

Lǚ Bìyǔ poured out a huge story in one breath and then made a regretful expression. Han Li was lost in thought as his story ended.

The shouts of battle that had been echoing through the mountains became even more intense.