Bachelor [EN]: Chapter 343

Han Li had already returned to his cave dwelling inside the stone mountain, pacing outside the stone chamber with a rare, serious expression.

As he descended after winning the final competition, several disciples from Thousand Heavens Peak approached to congratulate him, but the Soul Devouring Monkey inside his body suddenly began to heat up intensely.

Startled by the burning pain, Han Li realized that the Soul Devouring Monkey was finally trying to evolve to the next stage and was calling to him!

With this unexpected good news, he hurriedly returned to his dwelling. However, Han Li was shocked when he used his spiritual sense to look inside the stone chamber where the spirit beast was sleeping.

A terrifying atmosphere permeated the dark stone chamber, where no light could be found. Black ghostly energy swirled everywhere, emitting a chilling, eerie yin energy.

In one corner of the stone chamber, something resembling a silkworm cocoon, about the size of a mat, was emitting a jet-black aura, which was presumably the Soul Devouring Monkey. Han Li, setting aside his excitement, felt a sense of unease and sat down outside the stone chamber where the Soul Devouring Monkey was.

According to the scriptures, when a spirit beast begins to evolve, it is best for the owner to stay by its side and not leave for even a moment. However, one should never rashly interfere with or disrupt the evolution process. One should only intervene when the evolution fails and the spirit beast’s life is in danger.

Han Li intended to follow this teaching today. He calmed his anxious heart and slowly let time pass.

As Han Li had expected, it would take at least several days, but the morning after he began guarding the stone chamber, a change was visible in the black cocoon. Han Li, who had been meditating in a cross-legged position, opened his eyes wide with joy at the sudden cracking sound.

The eerie ghostly energy, as if drawn by some powerful force, gathered in one corner of the stone chamber, where the black cocoon was located.

In the pitch-black darkness, a dazzling light flashed, and the moment he blinked, something with a familiar yet strange aura appeared in the stone chamber.

Han Li, raising his eyebrows, stood up abruptly and lightly spread his arms, causing the stone door of the Soul Devouring Monkey’s chamber to slide open.

Looking inside, the cocoon was split in two, with only a shriveled shell remaining, but the Soul Devouring Monkey was nowhere to be found in the stone chamber.

Just as he was about to spread his spiritual sense, a black light flashed in the void of the stone chamber, and with a low howl, it flew towards Han Li. He originally intended to move his body to dodge immediately, but for some reason, Han Li changed his mind and stayed put.

As a result, a small, cold object nestled into his arms.

“What is this?”

Han Li picked it up, looking puzzled. The baby monkey, which had shrunk to the size of a fist, was undoubtedly the evolved Soul Devouring Monkey, but other than its fur changing from silvery-white to black, there were no other noticeable changes.

However, after calmly examining the Soul Devouring Monkey’s body, Han Li finally discovered two differences.

Another tiny hole had appeared below the Soul Devouring Monkey’s large nose, between its two nostrils. It was such a small change that it would be impossible to notice without very close observation.

The Soul Devouring Monkey’s ability to counter ghostly energy or souls was due to the light that it emitted from its nose, which devoured souls. But now, another hole had appeared below its nose. Did this mean that this ferocious beast had become even more powerful than before?

The other change was that a blood-red, demonic figure had appeared on the fur of the spirit beast’s back.

The demon in the pattern had a simple appearance with a three-eyed head and one leg, but it was so vividly depicted that anyone who saw it could feel its wicked and ferocious aura.

Silvermoon also chattered in Han Li’s mind about the changes in the Soul Devouring Monkey, but she didn’t provide any particularly useful information.

Perhaps because the Soul Devouring Monkey had been refined with the Soul Nurturing Pearl, the monkey showed a very affectionate attitude towards Han Li, constantly rubbing its fluffy head against his clothes.

Han Li placed the small monkey in one hand, and a faint sense of joy, anger, sorrow, and pleasure was conveyed to him, causing him to chuckle.

After playing with him for a while, the Soul Devouring Monkey soon showed signs of fatigue and began to doze off, so Han Li carefully placed the small monkey into the spirit beast pouch.

Then, he turned his gaze to the Gold Devouring Beetles’ stone chamber next to the Soul Devouring Monkey’s chamber. Now, only a few dozen gold and silver Gold Devouring Beetles remained. As the cannibalism was coming to an end, they would soon enter their breeding season.

He was pleased to see that the beetles were definitely a bit larger than before, and he returned to his training room to continue his scheduled cultivation.

On the day of the final selection, the judge who announced Han Li’s victory said that those selected for the expedition team would receive personal guidance from Core Formation cultivators, but before that, they would have to spend some time cultivating on their own.

And when it was his turn for guidance from a Core Formation cultivator, he would be notified by the sound transmission talisman. Han Li, of course, did not have his heart set on receiving guidance from a Core Formation cultivator, and he simply intended to spend a few days doing as he was told when he was called.

He held the Spirit Eye Jade in both hands and silently cultivated in the secret chamber. And the spirit Silvermoon, also borrowing the body of a fox demon, was simultaneously cultivating in the secret chamber next to him.

When he thought about it, Silvermoon’s act of borrowing the body of another demon to cultivate was truly mysterious.

According to her, Silvermoon’s cultivation as a spirit was at the late Core Formation stage, but in the body of a fox demon, it was merely the same as a low-level demon’s cultivation. Therefore, she could only exert her full power for a very short time while borrowing the body of a fox demon.

However, since the spirit itself could never improve its cultivation no matter how much it cultivated, she declared that she would now raise the fox demon’s cultivation through training.

Silvermoon, residing in the body of the fox demon, was improving her strength day by day by consuming the low-level pills provided by Han Li.

Time flowed like the wind, and in the blink of an eye, three months had passed since Han Li began his arduous cultivation in the cave.

During this time, Kyuhwan and the others had visited once, apologetically confessing that they had told the sect elders about his skill in refining talismans.

Since it was a performance he had deliberately set up to hide his true abilities, he had no reason to be bothered by it and sent them back with kind words.

It was also surprising news at Thousand Heavens Peak that Han Li was on the list of twenty-four disciples. The cold-faced Mo woman visited the herb garden once and spent half a day guiding Han Li on any difficulties he had while practicing the Profound Ice Technique before returning.

Except for these two times, no one disturbed his cultivation.

On this day as well, Han Li was cultivating the Azure Origin Sword Technique in the secret chamber of his cave dwelling when he suddenly stopped his cultivation and got up from his seat.

When he came out of the secret chamber and into the herb garden, a sound transmission talisman that had transformed into a flame was frantically wandering through the thick fog outside the herb garden.

With a wave of his hand, Han Li released the restriction, and a powerful heat obediently fell into his palm. As he closed his palm, the sound transmission talisman disappeared into ashes, and Han Li muttered to himself.

“Peak Lord Baek, Senior Song! Isn’t she the Core Formation female cultivator known as the most beautiful woman in the Falling Cloud Sect? Why is this woman calling for me?”

With a less than pleased expression, Han Li released his flying sword magic tool and flew towards Baekbong Peak.

* * *

Baekbong Peak was located at the easternmost part of the Falling Cloud Sect, far away from the other five peaks. It was like a noble plum blossom in a snowy field, perfectly matching the symbolic atmosphere of the peak.

Although it was the smallest and lowest peak compared to the other peaks, the scenery was no less beautiful than the main peak, with lush flowers and trees.

Before long, Han Li appeared near Baekbong Peak.

Since this was a place where mostly women lived, male cultivators from other peaks who came to Baekbong Peak on business had to first report to an outer sect disciple at the entrance of the mountainside and obtain permission to enter the mountain.

If they accidentally touched even one of the restrictions spread out on Baekbong Peak, they would likely be in serious trouble. Han Li diligently landed his magic tool at the entrance of the mountainside peak.

Outside the mountain gate, three Qi Refining female cultivators were engaged in lighthearted conversation. He noticed them looking at him with curiosity as they saw a strange face approaching.

Han Li approached them, cupped his hands, and said,

“I am Han Li from Thousand Heavens Peak. I have come to receive guidance from Senior Song, so I ask that you inform her.”

A young woman with freckles on her face responded with a smile.

“You must be Han Li. Senior has already mentioned it, so Junior Brother Han can go directly to the Jobong Pavilion at the top of the peak. Senior is waiting for you there!”

Han Li immediately got back on his magic tool and soared into the sky. Not long after he flew away, the women resumed their conversation freely.

“Did that Junior Brother Han really participate in the sword competition? He doesn’t look like he has high cultivation.”

“Besides, he looks so ordinary.”

“Hehe, you don’t know because you don’t know. In my opinion, after watching all of Junior Brother Han’s matches…”

Having heard this far, Han Li smiled wryly and withdrew his spiritual sense, heading towards the summit. Baekbong Peak was not very high to begin with, so he reached the summit in an instant.

The flat basin, about a hundred yards in diameter, was surrounded by white clouds floating gracefully and abundant spiritual energy, resembling a celestial realm where immortals might live.

In the serene atmosphere, only one pavilion stood tall in the center of the basin. The white wooden pavilion was divided into three floors, and its architectural style and pure white appearance were the epitome of elegance.

Han Li stopped his magic tool in front of the pavilion and shouted loudly without hesitation.

“Disciple Han Li, I have come to see Senior Song!”

Then, he felt a faint spiritual sense scan his body. Knowing this, Han Li pretended not to notice and remained motionless.

After a while, a gentle yet alluring voice of a woman came from inside the pavilion.

“Since you’ve come this far, just come up to the second floor.”

“Understood!”

Han Li stepped forward without saying anything more and opened the wooden door.

The first floor of the pavilion was completely empty, with nothing but a formation for practicing cultivation techniques. Han Li glanced around once and immediately headed to the second floor.

The second floor was just as quiet and simple. Except for a few bookshelves filled with magic tools and jade books, there was nothing but a low stone table and chairs around it.

A woman dressed in blue was sitting on one of the chairs, holding a bamboo slip and concentrating intently.

The woman, who appeared to be at the early Core Formation stage, seemed to be studying some kind of cultivation technique.

Just as he was about to speak after hesitating for a moment, the woman gently raised her head, revealing her exquisite beauty.

“Are you Han Li?”

The woman, who looked no older than twenty-six or twenty-seven, had a voice that was as calm as could be.

“Yes, Senior.”

“Well, since you’ve come all this way, it must be fate that we are connected. I will do my best to guide you, but your stay at Jobong Pavilion will only be for three days. How much you can learn and improve during that time depends on your efforts.”

As the woman’s clear eyes gazed at him, he felt as if she was seeing right through him for some reason.

It was very strange that an opponent who was only at the early Core Formation stage could make someone with a strong spiritual sense like Han Li feel this way. Clearly, the opponent possessed an unknown divine power that could see through minds.

Han Li maintained an extremely respectful posture on the outside while activating the Great Stellar Connection Technique inside to circulate throughout his body.

While Han Li was not revealing his thoughts and being thoroughly cautious, a strange light flickered and disappeared in the clear eyes of the woman in blue. She looked tired and closed her eyes.

“Recite the entire incantation of the cultivation technique you are practicing. And wait on the first floor and do not come up until I give you instructions. I will examine the incantation and explain the difficult parts to you.”

“Yes. The cultivation technique I am practicing is the Profound Ice Technique given to me by Senior Mo, and this technique is…”

Han Li calmly recited the incantation.

After about an hour, when Han Li had finished reciting the incantation, the woman in blue nodded slightly and waved her hand, signaling him to go downstairs.

Han Li bowed and went down to the first floor. The woman in blue narrowed her eyes as she watched the back of the Qi Refining youth, but she remained seated in her chair.

After a while, she slowly got up and waved her hand, creating a blue soundproof barrier around her. Then, a sound transmission talisman flew up, transformed into a flame, pierced through the soundproof barrier, and disappeared out the window.

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