Bachelor [EN]: Chapter 354

Han Li gazed meaningfully at the fox’s eyes and leisurely posed his next question.

“I see! The information is lacking, but that’s alright. Let’s just deal with the Azure Glacial Flame first. You haven’t told me what other treasures are inside the Void Sky Cauldron, have you?”

“It’s not that I’m hiding anything, Master. Aside from the two Heaven Replenishing Pills, there really aren’t any other ancient treasures left inside the Void Sky Cauldron. It’s just an empty cauldron. After all, so many years have passed since the Void Sky Cauldron was placed in the Void Sky Hall. Cultivators with special abilities or methods to control the Azure Glacial Flame have visited from time to time, and the ancient treasures have been taken out one by one. The last one escaped when you visited last time, Master.”

“It doesn’t matter! With my cultivation, I’m not interested in ordinary ancient treasures anyway. It would be good if I could get my hands on the Void Sky Cauldron.”

Han Li seemed to have expected this. Yin Yue chuckled softly.

“You’re right, Master. As far as I know, there were only about fifty or sixty ancient treasures called Heaven-Reaching Spiritual Treasures [Treasures of immense power, often with unique abilities] in the ancient era. If you obtain one of them, you will surely gain the power to overturn the seas and shatter the stars.

To be honest, when I first saw your small bottle growing herbs, I thought it might be a kind of Heaven-Reaching Spiritual Treasure. But after thinking about it carefully, I realized it wasn’t.”

“Hmm, why? Did you think the mysterious bottle couldn’t compare to a Heaven-Reaching Spiritual Treasure?”

“That’s not it. No matter how outstanding other Heaven-Reaching Spiritual Treasures are, they only make existing techniques more powerful or special. But the bottle that grows herbs has a unique ability that defies the laws of nature. I think such a treasure could only be created by someone at the Transformation Stage or higher.”

This time, Han Li couldn’t help but be surprised.

“Are you saying that the treasure I possess is the work of a celestial being?”

“It’s highly likely.”

At those words, Han Li suddenly seemed to have an idea and took out the mysterious bottle, fiddling with it. His expression changed frequently, indicating that many thoughts were going through his mind.

After a long while, he slowly put away the mysterious bottle and asked again.

“Yin Yue, you must have heard about the elders of the Falling Cloud Sect, right? Between staying here and finding another place, which option do you think is better?”

Yin Yue calmly analyzed.

“That… Since you asked, I’ll be blunt, Master. What are your plans for the future? If you don’t have any other plans, staying in the Falling Cloud Sect isn’t a bad choice.

There are two Nascent Soul stage cultivators [A high level of cultivation in this world] here, and you won’t be under any particular restrictions. Moreover, the Falling Cloud Sect isn’t a small sect, so you can get all the help you need. If you have other plans, that’s fine too. If a Nascent Soul stage cultivator roams around as a rogue cultivator, who would dare to easily provoke them?”

“I don’t have any particular plans for the time being. I need to spend a few years stabilizing my Nascent Soul stage. After that, I must visit the extreme west. I need to find the remaining cultivation methods so I can learn the last three stages of the Great Evolution Technique. And since I made a promise, I have to visit the Yuan Wu Kingdom once. I promised to destroy the Bu family of that country. However, I don’t know if the Bu family of the White Cult is related to that family.”

Yin Yue pondered for a moment and suggested.

“In that case, it would be better for you to stay in the Falling Cloud Sect for now. Rather than wandering around as a rogue cultivator, you can receive advice and support from other Nascent Soul stage cultivators. It will be helpful for your cultivation, Master.”

“Yes, that makes sense. I’m tired, so you can leave now.”

After the fox finished speaking, Han Li turned and headed to his bedroom without giving a definite answer. The white fox watched him for a moment, then also walked out of the main hall.

* * *

Han Li lay on the stone bed, staring intently at the ceiling. His mind was too complicated to fall asleep.

Although it seemed simple on the surface, there were many dangerous moments when he condensed his Nascent Soul [The formation of a powerful core of energy in a cultivator’s body].

When his dantian [An area in the body where energy is stored] shrank, his meridians [Channels through which energy flows] twisted, causing him excruciating pain that felt like death, but he barely managed to endure it with his higher magic power compared to other cultivators. Among them, the effect of the pills made from Nine-Bend Spirit Ginseng was the greatest. If he hadn’t taken the Nine-Bend Spirit Ginseng pills beforehand, he would have fainted halfway through.

Originally, he wasn’t afraid of inner demons because he had treasures that were especially effective in stabilizing the mind and spirit, such as the Yang Soul Wood and the Para-Jade, as well as the Spirit Stabilizing Pills that he had specifically prepared for this occasion. He didn’t expect it to be as easy as blowing out a candle, but he still thought it would be much easier than for others.

However, the power and strangeness of the inner demons were beyond imagination.

They brought out the most terrifying and frightening things he had ever experienced or imagined, and his subconscious weaknesses, which he didn’t even know he had, surfaced.

Suddenly, his small hometown was attacked by bandits, and his parents and younger sister were brutally murdered. Or his path of cultivation was completely blocked, and he lost his cultivation, returning to being an ordinary person. Or even the secret of the mysterious bottle was revealed to the world, and a kill order was issued by the cultivation world. Anything that he would be even slightly reluctant to face became a reality. He couldn’t distinguish between dreams and reality, and he was deeply immersed in them, making his magic power useless.

Even the usually calm and collected Han Li was on the verge of succumbing to anger and fear several times.

Still, the Spirit Stabilizing Pills and other treasures weren’t completely useless, and they cleared his mind at the most critical moments, allowing him to break through all the illusions and return to reality.

Even now, thinking about it made him break out in a cold sweat. As soon as he regained his composure, the inner demons attacked again.

This time, happy illusions began.

He returned to his childhood, living happily with his parents and sister, and then he suddenly got married to Nangong Wan and lived with her. In the end, the Wen sisters and Jin Qiaotian and other women were also serving him.

Scenes of him becoming the most powerful cultivator in the Tiannan cultivation world, ascending to the Immortal Realm, and becoming an immortal, enjoying eternal life, passed by one after another.

He lost track of time while enjoying it, and he didn’t know how many years had passed. Finally, after experiencing all the blessings he would have enjoyed over several generations, he suddenly regained his senses for some unknown reason and was able to awaken and obtain the form of a Nascent Soul.

Han Li silently recalled the situation when the Nascent Soul first emerged from his body.

When the Nascent Soul was first created and broke through his skull, he clearly felt that the Nascent Soul was him and that he was also the Nascent Soul. However, he couldn’t control it no matter what he did, and he just watched with wide eyes as it laughed and played on his hair. It felt like he had returned to his very early childhood.

At that moment, Han Li forgot all his worries and attachments and became as peaceful as if he had returned to nature.

Now that Han Li thought about it, it was because he had just reached the Nascent Soul stage and had not yet unified his mind and will. It would change as his cultivation improved.

As he pondered over the process of condensing his Nascent Soul, he slowly fell asleep. And he had a very sweet dream. He returned to his childhood, playing with his older brother and sister, and when he returned home, it was time to eat. He could hear the warm laughter of his mother and father and the chatter of his siblings.

What a beautiful dream!

* * *

Three days later, when the silver-haired old man and others came to see him, Han Li decided without hesitation to join the Falling Cloud Sect.

The two elders of the Falling Cloud Sect were overjoyed to hear his answer.

They immediately proposed holding a grand gathering, inviting high-level cultivators from other sects, and holding a ceremony to mark Han Li’s entry into the Falling Cloud Sect.

Upon hearing this, Han Li firmly shook his head and refused. He said that he wanted to simplify everything and just notify the other two sects in Yunmeng Mountain. He would meet the other Nascent Soul stage elders eventually. Han Li had no desire to attract the attention of others.

The silver-haired old man and others thought it was inappropriate, but they understood that Han Li disliked commotion and agreed.

Then, Han Li followed them to the main hall of the main peak and received greetings from the Core Formation stage disciples. Half of them were people he had seen when he was still at the Qi Refining stage.

They had also heard rumors that a Nascent Soul stage cultivator would be joining the Falling Cloud Sect in three days, and they had a rough idea of his identity.

When they met Han Li, no matter what they thought inside, their outward behavior was extremely respectful and flawless.

The red-robed old man, whom he used to call ‘Grandmaster,’ and the peak lord and deputy peak lord of Tianchen Peak bowed their heads, calling him ‘Uncle Han.’

When his gaze reached the Song family woman among the group, she revealed a complex expression. She remembered trying to read Han Li’s mind before, but she had gained nothing.

Of course, with Han Li’s current cultivation, he had no reason to care about her thoughts.

After meeting with the Core Formation stage cultivators, the silver-haired old man discussed the issue of his residence. He could choose any place in the eastern mountain range of Yunmeng Mountain as his residence, and he didn’t necessarily have to be located on one of the peaks within the sect.

Then, for a day, Han Li searched for a suitable place and chose a mountain peak of medium height.

Although it wasn’t a high and rugged mountain peak, it was full of spiritual energy, and there were three slightly lower peaks nearby, making it ideal for setting up formations.

It was easy for Han Li to carve out a cave suitable for a residence. It was the largest cave he had ever had, but it didn’t take him half a day.

After finishing the work, Han Li temporarily set up powerful formations around the other three peaks surrounding his residence. At the same time, a thick mist spread for dozens of miles, protecting his residence.

Then, he returned to the Falling Cloud Sect’s herb garden. He had quite a few things to move from his previous cave. But at the herb garden below the stone mountain, an unexpected person was waiting for him.

A person with a beautiful figure and face bowed deeply as soon as she saw Han Li and pleaded.

“Disciple Mo Peiling was ignorant and offended Senior Han before. Please forgive me. The reason I came here today is to ask a favor. Please accept me as your disciple. I will serve you with all my heart for the rest of my life and will never betray you.”

Her eyes, which were usually full of confidence, were now filled with nervousness.

Han Li looked at the woman who had suddenly appeared and replied coldly.

“Accept you as my disciple? I don’t take disciples. Besides, what would I do with a mere Foundation Establishment stage female cultivator? I won’t punish you because of our previous connection, but you should be more careful in the future.”

“Senior! I, I…”

Mo Peiling was flustered by Han Li’s words and tried to say something. But Han Li immediately flicked his sleeve, and a gust of wind swallowed the words she was about to say. When she regained her senses and straightened her body, Han Li was already gone.

The woman stood there with a deeply disappointed face, unable to leave for a long time.

The sudden appearance of ‘Senior Han’ was a glimmer of hope for Mo Peiling.

At this time, Han Li had already entered his stone mountain residence and was in front of the spirit beast’s secret chamber, where there were now ten thousand golden Devouring Gold Beetles gathered. They were the newly hatched Devouring Gold Beetles that had successfully evolved over the past 20 years.

# 356