Bachelor [EN]: Chapter 340

A red light approached from afar, heading in his direction. Within the red light, a woman with a beautiful face stood coldly; it was none other than ‘Senior Aunt Mo,’ who had arranged for him to be in the herb garden.

The woman stopped in mid-air, looking at Han Li, seemingly a bit surprised by this encounter.

“Are you also heading to Thousand Heavens Peak after receiving the summons?”

“Yes, Senior Aunt Mo! Do you know why the Peak Lord has summoned the disciples?”

“I don’t know. It might be about the swordsmanship competition.”

After giving a brief answer, she looked at the flying sword magic tool Han Li was standing on and suddenly said,

“It’s a high-grade magic tool, but it’s not specialized for flying. To save time, I’ll take you.”

As soon as she finished speaking, a red light spread from her magic tool, enveloping Han Li. She increased her speed again, looking at Han Li with an expressionless face.

“Are you practicing the Frozen Ice Knot [a cultivation technique] I gave you? Although it won’t greatly help your basic cultivation, if you achieve even a small success, you’ll be able to use several water-attribute magic techniques with considerable power. If you succeed in Foundation Establishment [a major cultivation breakthrough], it might become your main cultivation method, so spend a little more time practicing it.”

At her question, Han Li simply said that he had achieved some progress. After all, if she wanted to test him, it wouldn’t be difficult for him to imitate a few low-level water-attribute magic techniques with his cultivation.

However, the woman didn’t delve deeper, perhaps because she had spoken without much thought. As Senior Aunt Mo took him to Thousand Heavens Peak, Han Li could smell a subtle fragrance from her.

Eunwol also seemed to have decided that it wasn’t the time to make a fuss, and his mind was quiet. When the two were almost at Thousand Heavens Peak, Han Li inadvertently looked down.

As a result, a green light rose from below, blocking the woman’s path.

“Junior Sister Mo, it’s been a while. I don’t know why you’ve been so busy lately. I’ve sent you several voice transmission talismans [a method of communication], but there’s been no reply?”

It was the cultivator from the Yan family who had blatantly asked for a disciple to do chores on the day Han Li entered the sect. The woman’s cold face became even more rigid in front of him.

“I am responding to the summons by the Peak Lord. How dare you block my path?”

“Hehe, Junior Sister Mo, why are you so serious? I just wanted to ask how you were doing and see if you’ve heard from the family elders. Since our families have already decided on our marriage, shouldn’t we discuss when the auspicious day will be?”

Unlike his seemingly friendly and cheerful face, his eyes were scanning her body in a sticky manner.

However, the gaze that soon fell on Han Li, who was standing behind the woman, was filled with a sinister light. Noticing his thoughts, the woman coldly shouted,

“What useless thoughts are you having again? Junior Brother Han is a cultivator under my guidance by the order of my master. Also, while I cannot refuse the marriage arranged by the family, when I will be with you is not up to you.

If you reach a level of cultivation similar to mine, then I will consider it, but if you don’t, don’t even think about touching a single strand of my hair before the end of this life!”

At her provocative words, the Yan family member’s face also contorted. Just as the Yan family member was about to open his mouth, the woman, as if her patience had run out, poured spiritual power into her magic tool.

The red light spread greatly, and the two people on the magic tool flew past the Yan family member’s head like an arrow. Han Li glanced back and saw the man’s face, red and purple with anger, his already ugly appearance even more grotesque.

After hesitating for a moment, Han Li finally opened his mouth.

“Senior Aunt Mo, are you betrothed to that person?”

The Yan family member was only at the early stage of Foundation Establishment, while the Mo family woman was a cultivator who had reached the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment. Moreover, the difference in their appearances was so vast that it was a mystery how the woman’s family had accepted such a marriage proposal.

Of course, Han Li didn’t want to pry into the details, but in this situation, it would be strange for a junior brother from the same peak to remain silent. So, knowing that he would likely be scolded by the clearly angry woman, he asked this question.

“That’s none of your business, Junior Brother!”

As he had expected, as soon as he asked the question, the woman’s eyes turned cold, and she drew a firm line. Han Li feigned embarrassment and immediately shut his mouth.

Thousand Heavens Peak wasn’t far, and soon after, the Mo family woman and Han Li arrived at the mountainside.

At the end of a stone-paved open space, a large hall built against the mountainside stood, revealing the traces of time. On a huge silver plaque, the words ‘Purifying Heart Hall’ were written.

The place where the disciples of Thousand Heavens Peak gathered to discuss matters was behind the large, firmly closed black wooden door.

Outside the Purifying Heart Hall, there were already about five or six hundred male and female disciples gathered in small groups, talking amongst themselves.

The Mo family woman leisurely moved her magic tool and landed in front of the great hall. The low-level cultivators around her respectfully greeted her, but she waved her hand and entered the great hall without hesitation.

Han Li watched her disappear and was about to blend into the crowd when the disciples gathered around, as well as those who were quite far away, all started whispering, looking at him with strange eyes.

Han Li quietly spread his consciousness and could clearly hear their whispers.

“Who is that?”

“I’ve never seen that face before. Is he a newly entered disciple?”

“Why did Senior Aunt Mo come with such a person?”

“Maybe he’s a relative of Senior Aunt Mo. I’ve never seen her accompany other male cultivators before.”

The words were filled with curiosity and jealousy. Han Li kept a calm face on the outside, but inwardly sighed and moved away from the front of the great hall, blending into the crowd.

After a while, a hearty and powerful voice suddenly rang out.

“Junior Brother Han, I didn’t expect to see you again today after we parted that day!”

Han Li turned his head to see who it was, and it was a man with a large build named ‘Dudong.’ Dudong smiled broadly and greeted him as if they were acquaintances. Han Li shook his head inwardly but immediately smiled and clasped his fist towards Dudong.

“It’s Senior Brother Dudong. You went with Senior Zhang that day. Have you been well?”

The Senior Zhang that Han Li was referring to was the white-haired old man who had taken him away on the day he entered the sect.

“Of course, I’ve been very well!”

His laughter was loud, and he appeared simple and honest on the outside.

According to him, the white-haired old man had recognized his talent for talisman crafting and was giving him a lot of guidance.

Han Li pitied the white-haired old man’s lack of discernment. The disciple he was working hard to teach in his old age was actually a guy who had infiltrated while hiding his identity!

Surely, there would be repercussions someday. Of course, he had no intention of telling Senior Zhang. Suddenly, Dudong lowered his voice and said cautiously,

“I heard that Senior Aunt Mo, who is in charge of Junior Brother Han, is the most beautiful woman in our Thousand Heavens Peak. She’s said to be one of the top three beauties in the entire Falling Cloud Sect. You appeared with her today, so you’ve earned the envy of other disciples. You’re going to have a hard time in the future.”

Han Li gave a wry smile, looked around, and mumbled as if he couldn’t help it,

“It seems so.”

“Did you talk to Senior Aunt Mo about the competition on the way here?”

“Well, not at all? It seems Senior Brother Dudong knows something about the competition? If you know anything, please tell me, Junior Brother.”

Zhang Han was startled by Han Li’s strange gaze, but he pretended to be simple and shook his head as if he didn’t know. The person he had thought was ordinary was sending him a gaze that seemed to see right through him, and strangely, his heart turned cold.

When Han Li turned his head elsewhere, that strange atmosphere disappeared in an instant.

However, Dudong, who had already become wary, didn’t talk to Han Li anymore and returned to another group with a forced smile.

Han Li watched him walk away and sneered, and then Eunwol’s voice echoed in his mind.

“You deliberately scared him away. You’ll be suspected in the future, you know?”

“I don’t know his identity, but he must have an ulterior motive for infiltrating the Falling Cloud Sect. I don’t want to be close to such a person, so I had to chase him away. I don’t want to get involved if something happens.

Besides, at most, he’ll just ambush me if he’s annoyed. Do I need to worry about someone like him? Since I have no intention of stopping his plans anyway, we’ll just have to go our separate ways.”

Eunwol seemed to think his words were reasonable and remained silent after hearing them.

He didn’t know what kind of scheme Dudong was plotting in the Falling Cloud Sect, but if it was discovered, all the senior and junior brothers who were close to him would not be free from the suspicion and vigilance of the higher-ups.

It wasn’t his business anyway, and Han Li remained alone, looking around at the other low-level disciples. There were men and women of all ages, but those who were older weren’t necessarily higher in cultivation, and those who were younger weren’t necessarily lower in cultivation.

Among them, there were a few young women who stood out, and many cultivators were paying attention to them. Like other sects, the Falling Cloud Sect also seemed to have a considerable number of followers for the beautiful young female cultivators.

While Han Li was lost in thought, the door of the great hall finally began to open. Following the dignified voice that came from inside, everyone straightened their posture and stood up.

“Disciples of Thousand Heavens Peak, come in!”

The calm voice of the man was that of the Thousand Heavens Peak Lord, a Nascent Soul stage cultivator [a high level of cultivation] whom Han Li had met before. The disciples outside the door all bowed and shouted in unison.

“We obey the orders of the Ancestor!”

After that, the gathered cultivators entered in order, and Han Li, who had entered the latest, was able to enter the Purifying Heart Hall in the last line with Dudong.

The inside of the great hall was quite spacious, easily over four hundred feet, but except for the dozens of large pillars supporting the roof and two chairs inside, the space was empty. However, thanks to the moonstones embedded in the pillars, the atmosphere was quite pleasant.

On the two chairs sat a dignified-looking cultivator in white robes and an old man with slightly fierce features and messy hair.

In front of them, about a dozen Foundation Establishment cultivators were standing in two rows.

The Mo family woman was standing in the same row as the Yu family youth who had guided Han Li when he entered the sect, and the Miao family youth, who had tested the newcomers using the Mind Questioning Talisman [a magical artifact] at the time, was still pale and weak-looking, facing them from another row.

The disciples immediately bowed and paid their respects.

“We greet Ancestor Shin and Ancestor Woo!”

“Enough, rise!”

The middle-aged man in white robes, sitting in the center, smiled and waved his arm.

The low-level disciples also moved in an orderly manner and split to both sides of the great hall, with Han Li and Dudong positioned on the outermost side closest to the door.

Han Li used his consciousness to examine the old man with fierce features and found that he was only at the early stage of Nascent Soul. This old man must be ‘Senior Uncle Woo,’ the vice Peak Lord of Thousand Heavens Peak, whom he had heard of but never seen before.

Han Li’s gaze lingered for a moment before he withdrew his consciousness, no longer paying attention. Soon, the Thousand Heavens Peak Lord, Ancestor Shin, fluttered his white robe sleeves and opened his mouth.

“You all probably expected the reason why I called you here. Yes, yesterday, a message came from the High Sword Sect that the swordsmanship competition has been decided to be held in half a year!

Since the last competition was held in our sect, this time it will be held in the White Cloud Garden, which is like a brother to us. Therefore, those of us and the High Sword Sect who wish to participate will go to the western mountain range of Yunmeng Mountain to hold the competition.

According to custom, each sect will select 30 participants for this competition, and the disciples who rank in the top 10 will receive great rewards! Therefore, we will first hold a selection within the sect to determine the participants for the swordsmanship competition.”

The middle-aged man in white paused for a moment and looked around the hall before continuing.

“Six of them will be decided by the six Peak Lords, each recommending one person, and the remaining twenty-four will be selected through duels among those who meet the participation requirements!

The disciples who ultimately qualify will be able to receive guidance from the sect elders for the remaining time. After the Peak Lords gathered yesterday and discussed with the Sect Master, it was decided that the selection within the sect will be held in one month.

All low-level disciples can participate in the swordsmanship competition, except for those who are over thirty years old or whose cultivation has not reached the 10th level of Qi Refining [the initial stage of cultivation]. Oh, yes, the disciple who was directly selected without competition in our Thousand Heavens Peak this time is your Senior Aunt Mo, whom Ancestor Woo and I have unanimously chosen.

That’s enough for now. Gun-ah, light the incense!”

“Yes, sir!”

The Yu family youth, called Gun, immediately came forward and quickly took out a bronze cauldron from the low table and brought it to the center of the great hall. He placed incense on the cauldron and lit it, and blue smoke began to flutter into the air.

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