Bachelor [EN]: Chapter 346

After the tournament concluded, the disciples who placed in the top ten each received a top-grade magic artifact. Meng Jeok, the black-clad youth, also received a small jade box containing spirit pills.

Han Li, looking at the small jade box, made a decision in his heart.

‘If things go well this time and I obtain the root of the Spirit Eye Tree, it won’t matter. But if not, I’ll have to snatch that from the hands of a Gogeommun [Great Sword Gate] disciple.’

In any case, having even one spirit pill would be of great help in condensing the Nascent Soul [a stage in cultivation]. While Han Li was thinking this, Elder Bu had already begun sending the disciples away.

The young cultivators, not knowing where they were going, were already filled with joy.

First, the Baek Ga [Baek Family] cultivators and the middle-aged Baekgyowon [White Cloud Academy] cultivator disappeared, followed by the lower-realm disciples in pairs. Soon, Han Li found himself in a desolate, rocky area shrouded in thick fog.

Narrowing his eyes, he unconsciously tried to spread his consciousness to see where he was, but his consciousness was blocked by an unknown restriction before it could reach even a few dozen feet, and it bounced back.

‘Hmm.’

Startled by the unexpectedly powerful barrier, he decided to move more cautiously. The old man, having confirmed that everyone had been sent, finally got up and raised one hand.

A yellow magic seal flew from his hand and disappeared into the dense fog.

Soon, the thick fog around them writhed as if alive, clearing a path and revealing a moss-covered cliff as the view brightened.

The white-robed scholar, as if accustomed to this sight, warned them coolly before the other two high-level cultivators could speak.

“Listen well. The only reason you have the opportunity to enter the forbidden area of the Three Sects of Unmong Mountain is because the Myungcheong Spirit Water has properties that require it to be used immediately after refinement. Normally, you would never be allowed to approach this place.

Once inside, you can only stay for one night, and you must leave no matter what by the next day. There are restrictions set up everywhere inside, so if you wander around carelessly, a great misfortune will occur.”

The lower-realm disciples all indicated that they understood. Then, a hoarse, raspy male voice came from the direction of the moss-covered cliff.

“If you’re done, let the rest come in. I’ll open the entrance.”

As the Wol [a family name] cultivator said this, the cliff suddenly rippled like water, emitting green light in all directions, making it impossible for anyone to look directly at it. After a moment, everyone could see clearly again and observed the change.

The cliff had vanished in an instant, and in its place stood two massive stone doors, tightly sealed together.

The spells and talismans densely engraved on the stone doors flashed with multicolored light, making it clear how powerful the restrictions were, even without explanation.

Moreover, the stone doors were surrounded by layers of yellow protective barriers, making it seem impossible to even approach them. At this moment, a figure in yellow robes appeared in front of the massive stone doors, his hands behind his back.

The Wol cultivator, who appeared to be in his forties, had a sinister glint in his eyes beneath his thick, black eyebrows.

The middle-aged Baekgyowon cultivator, looking at the murderous face of the yellow-robed cultivator, muttered as if envious.

“Hehe! Senior Brother Wol’s Ghostly Killing Art has improved quite a bit. Cultivating near the sacred water must make a difference every day.”

“Hmph! Anyone could do it if they had the patience to sit here for fifty or sixty years, guarding the restrictions. But I don’t know if Junior Brother has such patience!”

The middle-aged Baekgyowon cultivator looked embarrassed.

“I was just saying. How could I not know the hard work of Senior Brother Wol, Senior Brother Wi, and Senior Brother Jeon, who guard this place? I was just…”

“Enough. Let’s hurry! These restrictions were jointly set up by me and several Nascent Soul seniors from the three sects, so the time to open the entrance is limited.”

The yellow-robed cultivator immediately flipped his palm and took out a yellow spirit tablet.

He began to chant something carefully. Suddenly, yellow light flowed from the spirit tablet, melting the yellow protective barrier as it touched it, creating a passage several feet long.

“Everyone, go in! Hurry!”

The Baek cultivator urged them on, turning into a white streak of light and rushing in. The gray-robed old man and the middle-aged Baekgyowon cultivator also gave similar orders and shot out like arrows.

Han Li and the others, seeing their movements, followed on their magic artifacts.

As soon as the group reached the stone doors, the yellow-robed cultivator scattered the light from the spirit tablet, and the passage disappeared instantly. He quickly counted the number of disciples and said coldly.

“Follow me.”

Then, his ten fingers flicked in the air as if playing a golden instrument, forming complex hand seals, and he spread his hands wide. Crimson and yellow lights left his hands and struck the stone doors, which were densely sealed with restrictions.

Then, the spells on the tightly closed blue gate began to stir one by one, and with a grand vibration, they revealed a long, square passage that had been hidden.

The yellow-robed cultivator silently strode in first, and the others hesitated for a moment before following right behind him.

Han Li walked in the middle of the group, pretending to walk diligently without looking around, but in reality, he was using his consciousness to thoroughly examine his surroundings.

This square passage was carved into the inside of the mountain using magic artifacts. The four walls emitted strange lights, and profound spells were engraved every few steps.

He couldn’t fully understand the spells in the moment, but they were definitely not the kind that would be engraved for decoration.

The passage was not long. After walking about a hundred feet, the view brightened, and a clean hall appeared. The hall was about fifty or sixty feet wide and seven feet high, not very large.

In the middle of the hall, there was something like a stone table, several feet in size. The horizontal and vertical lines engraved on it, ten lines each, revealed that it was unexpectedly a giant ancient Go board [a strategy board game]. Black and white pieces were densely arranged on it, as if the game had reached its climax.

On either side of the Go board sat an old man and a child. The older one was a fifty-year-old man with a long face, wearing silk robes, and the younger one was a child who looked no older than seven, like a celestial being from a fairy tale.

The Baek cultivator, seeing the young boy, was flustered and bowed deeply.

“N-Nam Senior Uncle! What brings you here, Elder?”

“Nam Senior Uncle?”

The gray-robed old man and the middle-aged Baekgyowon cultivator were stunned at the sight of the unfamiliar boy, but their expressions changed drastically at the Baek cultivator’s words.

Looking again, the boy, with his short hair tied up in a single knot, a gold ring on his hand, and sitting barefoot, reminded them of a certain figure they had only heard rumors about.

The two of them were also surprised and quickly bowed.

“Wanbae [Junior] Doo Hoi greets Senior Nam!”

“Wanbae Woo San-an greets Senior Nam!”

“Get up. I’m in the middle of an important match with my junior brother Ho, so wait quietly until it’s decided.”

His skin was soft, and his voice was unmistakably that of a child, but his tone was like that of a stern old man.

“Understood!”

The three Core Formation [a stage in cultivation] cultivators, including the Baek cultivator, immediately stepped aside and stood quietly.

The long-faced old man sitting opposite the boy only gave them a wry smile but did not say anything.

The yellow-robed cultivator, who had led the group in, also stood respectfully as soon as he entered the hall, like a disciple serving his master.

The young cultivators were in an uproar, seeing that the three grandmasters were unexpectedly calling the young child their senior uncle.

Even if they were Qi Refining [a stage in cultivation] disciples, how could they not know what that title meant? They were all staring at the child with wide eyes, their hearts in turmoil.

Han Li was also startled the moment he saw the child.

‘No way, why is a Nascent Soul early-stage cultivator here?’

Even if he couldn’t defeat a Nascent Soul early-stage cultivator, it wouldn’t be difficult for him to escape in his current state. Besides, it didn’t seem like the other party was here because of him.

Han Li, still expressionless, silently analyzed what variables the appearance of the Nascent Soul cultivator would bring to his plans. Eventually, after the child and the old man took turns placing stones for about an hour, the long-faced old man spoke respectfully first.

“With Senior Nam’s brilliant skills, I can only accept defeat!”

The child seemed pleased at those words, but soon, he rolled his black eyes and asked suspiciously.

“Junior Brother Ho, you didn’t lose on purpose, did you! Didn’t this old man tell you beforehand? When playing Go, you should never show mercy.”

At his question, the already long face of Elder Ho became even more gaunt, and he hurriedly denied it.

“How could Wanbae dare to deceive Senior! It is clear that Senior’s Go skills are so outstanding that I am no match for you.”

“Hehe, it seems my skills have improved since before. It seems that discussing the art with Go masters in the mortal world wasn’t a waste of time.”

The child soon wiped away his smile and changed the subject.

“Alright. Now that the Go game is over, shall we get down to business?”

Then, turning his small body, he scanned the faces of the Core Formation cultivators who were waiting respectfully, and finally looked at the face of the white-robed scholar.

“Junior Brother Baek, how long have you been in Gogeommun?”

“It has been a little over a hundred years since I joined.”

“A hundred years! Hmm, that’s a pity.”

The face of the blue-robed Baek cultivator changed slightly, but he maintained a polite smile.

“Senior Uncle, what do you mean by that?”

“What do I mean?”

The child’s face became sinister as he looked at him.

“The last disciple of the Lord of the Jeongdo Hoyeonggak [a sect] has been staying in the sect for so long! It seems that Gogeommun can no longer accommodate a big shot like you. Isn’t it time for you to return to your master’s sect?”

The Baek cultivator’s face turned pale at the child’s words. The gray-robed old man and the middle-aged Baekgyowon cultivator, who were listening from the side, were also startled and quickly distanced themselves from him.

The middle-aged cultivator asked in disbelief.

“Cultivator Baek, is what Senior Nam said true?”

The Baek cultivator hesitated, unable to find the words, and finally opened his mouth with a distorted face.

“Since Senior Uncle has already seen through everything, there’s no point in Baek trying to deny it! But I won’t be dragged away without a fight!”

As soon as he finished speaking, a white light flashed from his body, and he rushed like an arrow towards the group of disciples behind him. A hand in the white light was about to grab someone, and the target was Meng Jeok, the black-clad youth who possessed the Nine Spirit Sword Body!

“What are you doing!”

“This is bad!”

The gray-robed old man and the middle-aged cultivator roared and gathered their spiritual power, but it was clearly too late.

Meng Jeok, despite being unexpectedly attacked, did not panic and immediately released a terrifying sword aura, cutting through the giant hand that was trying to grab him.

However, the difference in cultivation between the two cultivators was too great, so how could he stop it?

The sword aura did not damage the white hand made of spiritual power at all and shattered into pieces. Just as Meng Jeok was about to be caught, the Baek cultivator’s body suddenly slumped and fell to the ground.

The giant hand of white light that he had created also shattered like crystal and disappeared without a trace. The black-clad youth was dumbfounded, not knowing what had happened, and then he heard the child muttering as he rubbed his small hands expressionlessly.

“Hmph! You’ve mastered the sect’s Taebaek Hwagi Art well, but did you really think this old man came here just to play Go? To be played by such a trick?”

The people in the hall, except for Han Li, were stunned, not understanding how he had subdued the Baek cultivator.

Han Li also looked back and forth between the cultivator who had just fallen and the small child with a strange expression.

The moment the cultivator impulsively reached for Meng Jeok, Han Li’s consciousness detected a subtle movement from another place. A very thin red thread-like thing flashed from the child’s body, pierced the cultivator’s body, and the situation was over.

At first, he thought it was a needle-shaped hidden magic treasure for a sneak attack, but unexpectedly, he realized that the red thread was a thread made by refining sword energy containing a sharp chill.

Han Li couldn’t help but admire the technique!

He had heard before that when cultivation using sword-type magic treasures reached a certain level, one could freely transform sword energy to break through a thousand magic treasures and ten thousand magic techniques, and it was not just a rumor.

Seeing with his own eyes today that sword energy could do such a thing, it was amazing.

The child turned his head and spoke to the long-faced elder who had finished playing Go with him.

“Junior Brother Ho, this guy is still useful, so keep him alive for now and lock him up in the Gollyong Cave!”

Elder Ho nervously stepped forward, took the fallen cultivator, and disappeared out of the stone chamber. At this sight, Han Li glanced sideways at Doo Dong.

His expression was no different than before, but with the situation as it was, he had unconsciously clenched his fists. Han Li just smiled faintly and ignored it.

# 348