Bachelor [EN]: Chapter 374

“However, even if Junior Brother Han is a genius, he’s still quite young. We don’t really know the extent of his actual strength, do we?”

The middle-aged man hesitated slightly, clearly stating his concern.

“I’ve considered that as well. A common mistake cultivators make when focusing solely on cultivation is neglecting to refine their powerful techniques and skills. Even with high cultivation levels, they often struggle against those of the same level in actual combat. Although Junior Brother Han doesn’t seem like that type, I still need to confirm it. So, I’ll stay behind to protect the sect during this trade fair, and you should go with Junior Brother Han.”

“So, what you’re saying, Senior Brother, is…”

The middle-aged man realized something from the silver-haired old man’s expression. The old man was about to answer with a smile when suddenly, the fog in front of them began to swirl. The agitated fog split into two, creating an opening.

The middle-aged man and the silver-haired old man immediately fell silent and entered the opening.

* * *

Three months later, the largest trade fair in the Tiannan Region, held once every hundred years, took place in the northern part of the Wu Kingdom.

Deep within the mountains of the Wu Kingdom was All-Heaven City, the headquarters of the Nine Nations Alliance, and the only sanctuary for cultivators in the Tiannan Region.

Everyone residing in this city, regardless of age or gender, was a cultivator with a spiritual root. There were at least six or seven old monsters of the Nine Nations Alliance who were in the mid-Nascent Soul stage or higher. Anyone who dared to act recklessly in this city would be annihilated on the spot.

This was why neither the righteous nor the demonic paths, nor even the Heavenly Dao Alliance or rogue cultivators, dared to act as they pleased here.

And a month before the largest trade fair in the Tiannan Region was to begin, the Nine Nations Alliance, considered the host, had mostly deactivated the famous grand formation, the Upper Origin Extinction Light Formation [a powerful defensive formation].

Cultivators who came from afar had arrived early and were staying in the city, and some impatient ones had even set up stalls in the city’s market and were already trading.

During the few days when the trade fair was officially held, various rare items would be available, but they often came with prices that ordinary cultivators couldn’t afford. Therefore, it was better to hurry if one wanted to trade for something at a reasonable price.

The once-quiet All-Heaven City soon became bustling, and the market was almost like a city where ordinary mortals lived.

The only auction house in the city was run by the Nine Nations Alliance, and rare items were already being auctioned off at high prices.

The atmosphere throughout All-Heaven City was very lively.

About ten days before the trade fair, three streaks of light approached the city from thousands of miles away.

When the light faded, it revealed a group of two men and one woman.

A cold-looking beauty was close to a young man wearing a blue robe, and the woman’s expression was quite affectionate. The other was a middle-aged man in a blue robe, with an extraordinary aura.

They were naturally Han Li, Elder Lü, and Han Li’s concubine, Mo Peiling, who had flown from the distant Ji Kingdom.

The silver-haired elder had decided to stay behind to protect the Fallen Cloud Sect in case of any unforeseen events. That was why Han Li and Elder Lü had appeared here.

Mo Peiling had just finished her seclusion due to a bottleneck in her cultivation. When she heard about attending the best trade fair in Tiannan, she asked Han Li for permission to go with him.

If she failed to break through, this trade fair, held once every hundred years, might be her last chance. Han Li, thinking that this trip wouldn’t be dangerous, immediately agreed.

It wasn’t bad to have a beauty in the group for such a long journey.

As Han Li and the middle-aged man looked around, the cultivators passing by changed their expressions and immediately fled upon seeing them. Ordinary cultivators were afraid of seeing two Nascent Soul cultivators together and decided to take a detour.

Mo Peiling was initially a bit uncomfortable with these situations, but she quickly got used to them.

At this moment, Elder Lü urged them to move on, looking at Han Li with a gentle face.

“The trade fair started being held in All-Heaven City less than a hundred years ago. Before that, it was hosted by the righteous and demonic paths, alternating between the Tianluo Kingdom and the Fengdu Kingdom. Back then, the Heavenly Dao Alliance hadn’t been formed yet, and the Nine Nations Alliance was struggling due to the Mulan Dharma Masters [a powerful group of cultivators], so the righteous and demonic paths were the only ones who could host such events.

However, as the power of the righteous and demonic paths grew too strong, other forces began to check them, and since the last time, the Nine Nations Alliance, which can be considered neutral, has been in charge of the trade fair. It’s a blow to the righteous and demonic paths!”

“I’ve heard interesting stories about All-Heaven City. It’s the only city in the entire Tiannan Region that is solely inhabited by cultivators. When the Dharma Master coalition invaded the Wu Kingdom, the newly formed Nine Nations Alliance cultivators used the Upper Origin Extinction Light Formation to repel them. I heard that many Nascent Soul cultivators died in that battle, so the situation must have been terrible.”

The middle-aged man smiled at Han Li’s interest.

“Haha! Junior Brother Han, rest assured. All-Heaven City will definitely not disappoint you. But you seem a bit different since you came out of seclusion. It’s not just that your cultivation has increased, but it’s as if you’ve mastered some kind of technique. Otherwise, your aura wouldn’t have changed so much.”

“I am indeed practicing a new technique, but I am still far from mastering it. I’ve heard from other disciples that Senior Brother Lü’s Thousand Wave Technique is renowned as one of the top-tier techniques. I would like to see it if I have the chance.”

Han Li, smiling naturally, turned the topic to the middle-aged man who was testing him.

“The disciples are talking nonsense. My Thousand Wave Technique is just an ordinary water-attribute technique. It’s enough to deal with Core Formation cultivators, but it’s disadvantageous when fighting against cultivators of the same level or higher. It’s just that I have two decent techniques that have kept me alive until now.”

Elder Lü shook his head and smiled wryly.

Han Li didn’t believe his words. During the previous attack by the righteous and demonic paths, Elder Lü had escaped unscathed, while the silver-haired elder, who had a slightly higher cultivation, had only managed to escape after suffering serious injuries.

The “decent techniques” he mentioned must be extraordinary moves. Han Li was about to reply when his face hardened, and he turned his gaze to the sky.

“Young Master, what happened?”

Mo Peiling, who was standing beside him, asked curiously. Now that she was Han Li’s concubine, she couldn’t be as cold as before.

“A group of cultivators is approaching, and there’s a Nascent Soul cultivator among them. It seems they’re heading towards us.”

Han Li relaxed his hardened face and calmly replied.

“Oh! That’s right. You noticed it faster than I did. Your spiritual sense must be stronger than I expected. And you were even spreading your spiritual sense to guard your surroundings even after arriving near All-Heaven City. You’re so careful and meticulous!”

Elder Lü looked at him again, as if he had a new appreciation for him. Han Li just smiled.

In fact, with his powerful spiritual sense, he could automatically sense this much without deliberately trying. However, the approaching cultivators had also discovered Han Li and Elder Lü from that distance, so they must also have a powerful spiritual sense.

Han Li and Elder Lü slowed their flying speed, wondering who was coming.

After a while, the sound of drums echoed, and golden light flashed at the end of the sky. Warriors clad in golden helmets and armor were escorting a lavishly decorated demonic beast carriage as they flew over. In addition, white cranes flew in front of the group, and behind them, women dressed as palace attendants followed in a line, as if a king were making an appearance.

Mo Peiling’s eyes widened at the magnificent procession, and Han Li was also puzzled inside, but his expression didn’t show it at all.

Originally, there were many strange beings among the cultivators in the cultivation world, and especially when they reached the Nascent Soul stage, their personalities became eccentric, and they often did strange things. So, he was a little surprised, but it wasn’t enough to bother him.

However, Elder Lü was shocked when he saw the procession and muttered in a low voice.

“Nan Longhou! Is that old monster also here for the trade fair?”

He whispered to Han Li.

“He’s a person with great abilities but a strange personality. Junior Brother Han, be especially careful with your words. I’ll handle him since I know him.”

The middle-aged man, who had given a hasty warning, stopped in the air with Han Li and waited respectfully for the group to arrive.

Han Li noticed the tension in Elder Lü’s expression, but he didn’t say much. Mo Peiling also wisely kept her mouth shut.

After a while, the golden-armored warriors and the demonic beast carriage approached, and Han Li was inwardly startled when he saw the group.

The warriors holding spears looked brave, but they were just Foundation Establishment cultivators. What surprised Han Li were the two spirit beasts pulling the carriage.

Covered in blue scales and with horns on their heads, they resembled the legendary Qilin [a mythical Chinese creature], and their fiery red wings resembled a phoenix.

As the carriage got closer, Elder Lü greeted them with a bright voice and clasped his hands.

“Is the one inside Lord Nan Longhou? I am Lü Luo of the Fallen Cloud Sect. The last time I saw you was 300 years ago when I followed my master, Immortal Mu Li. It is an honor to see you again.”

Elder Lü greeted them with a tone that was neither servile nor rude, but Han Li could sense that he was wary of Nan Longhou. It was similar to how he would treat a cultivator older than himself.

“Oh, so you’re that Mu Li’s disciple. I think you were a Core Formation cultivator back then, but you’ve condensed your Nascent Soul in 300 years! I heard that Mu Li passed away around that time. What a pity. But who is the cultivator next to you? I don’t recognize his face.”

A languid voice came from within the golden light, and it mentioned Han Li at the end.

Han Li just smiled upon hearing this and didn’t say anything. Senior Brother Lü immediately stepped forward to introduce Han Li before Nan Longhou in the golden light could continue.

“Lord Hou, this is Junior Brother Han Li, who recently joined our Fallen Cloud Sect. He hasn’t been a Nascent Soul cultivator for long. The young lady next to him is his concubine, Mo. Junior Brother Han, Lord Hou was my master’s friend. Greet him.”

“Greetings, Lord Nan Longhou!”

Han Li waved his sleeve and clasped his hands.

“Han Li? Your name is unfamiliar, so you must be a newly ascended Nascent Soul cultivator. How about I test your skills?”

Unexpectedly, Nan Longhou said this from inside the demonic beast-pulled carriage.

“What? Junior Brother Han hasn’t been a Nascent Soul cultivator for even a few years. How can he be a match for Lord Nan? You are in the mid-Nascent Soul stage.”

The smile on Lü Luo’s face stiffened. Even if this old monster had a strange personality, to ask to test his skills right after meeting him!

“I won’t use spiritual power. I just want to test your spiritual sense. Your spiritual sense was quite strong for a newly ascended Nascent Soul cultivator. I want to see your skills.”

With these words from Nan Longhou, the golden light above the demonic beast carriage disappeared, and three figures came into view.

There was one man and two women.

The man wore a purple-gold robe with a dragon pattern, a jade crown on his head, and a beard that reached his chest. The flower-like women, dressed in white palace attire, leaned against him.

The man was obviously Nan Longhou, and the women on either side were most likely his concubines. The women had about Foundation Establishment cultivation, with soft skin and graceful lines, making them very seductive.

“You must be joking. Junior Brother Han’s spiritual sense is strong, but competing with spiritual sense is very dangerous. How can we recklessly agree to a duel?”

Lü Luo became quite flustered and immediately rejected the offer, forgetting that he was wary of him.

“Hehe, why are you in such a hurry, Cultivator Lü? Junior Brother Han might want to duel himself.”

Nan Longhou sneered and turned his gaze to Han Li.

“Besides, if Junior Brother Han refuses my offer… this place is already within a thousand miles of All-Heaven City, so the rules of ‘forced trade’ will apply.”