Bachelor [EN]: Chapter 375

“Forced trade? What are you talking about?”

Lü Luo’s face changed, a bad feeling washing over him.

“It’s nothing much. Seeing how close Miss Mo and Fellow Cultivator Han are, I assume you two are lovers? I have two concubines, but I’m a bit tired of them. How about I exchange them for Fellow Cultivator Han’s… companion?”

“My two concubines are not inferior in beauty, so it meets the conditions for a forced trade. If Fellow Cultivator Han doesn’t want to trade, then we can have a duel of spiritual sense [a battle of mental power]. If you win, you can keep your companion and take my concubines as well.”

Nan Longhou’s gaze swept coldly over Mo Peiling before he spoke, his tone flat.

Lü Luo was furious at those words, but he was speechless. The color drained from Mo Peiling’s beautiful face.

“Senior Brother Lü, can you explain the forced trade in detail?”

“Forced trade is a rule created by the organizers, targeting Nascent Soul cultivators [a high level of cultivation].”

“As Fellow Cultivator Han knows, no force wants to offend a Nascent Soul cultivator easily. The same goes for those who host this trade fair. However, in such a large trade fair, there are bound to be some conflicts or clashes.

If it were cultivators above the Nascent Soul stage, they could just be suppressed, but there’s no way to deal with Nascent Soul cultivators. So, they created these special rules to let Nascent Soul cultivators resolve things among themselves. Forced trade is one of the rarest rules used.”

Lü Luo’s expression was grim as he explained.

“Specifically, during the trade fair period, within a thousand miles of the venue, if a Nascent Soul cultivator proposes a trade and the exchange doesn’t happen, this rule can be used.

The two sides resolve the dispute through a duel of cultivation or skill. However, this rule is very restrictive. The one who proposes the forced trade can only make the trade even if they win, and they cannot gain any other benefits. Both sides can injure each other but cannot kill each other.

If they break this rule, the organizers will hunt them down by any means. So, unless someone really needs an item or is sure that the opponent’s cultivation is clearly inferior, no one does this easily. It’s a foolish thing to do, gaining nothing but resentment.”

Concubines were definitely objects of trade. Among the demonic and heretical cultivators, it was even a trend.

So, the opponent completely met the conditions for a forced trade. Even if the Law Enforcement Cultivators of the Nine Nations Alliance were called, this duel could not be avoided.

Han Li wasn’t worried about dying, but he was not in a good mood since he was about to be ambushed for no reason even before the trade fair started.

However, he didn’t consider Mo Peiling at all. He just thought that if he accepted the trade, he would get two beautiful women, so it wouldn’t be a loss.

Han Li and Mo Peiling were listening to Lü Luo’s explanation together. Han Li was calm, but Mo Peiling’s heart was filled with regret and worry.

If she had known there was such a rule at the trade fair, she would never have asked Han Li to bring her along.

She didn’t know about Nan Longhou, but seeing how his concubines acted, it seemed impossible to maintain her purity like when she was with Han Li. Moreover, a man who exchanged women like objects…

Mo Peiling gritted her teeth.

“So? Fellow Cultivator Han, will you just trade, or will you duel and then trade?”

Nan Longhou didn’t move from the beast carriage, increasing the tension. In an instant, the surroundings became quiet, and everyone, including Lü Luo, Mo Peiling, and even Nan Longhou’s two concubines, were looking at Han Li.

Han Li rubbed his chin and chuckled.

“A duel of spiritual sense is possible. I haven’t been a Nascent Soul cultivator for long, so I wanted to see how lacking I am compared to other cultivators. However, if I happen to win, I don’t want the lord’s concubines.

Just tell me the ‘real reason’ why Lord Nan Longhou is so insistent on a duel of spiritual sense. Of course, I don’t want ridiculous reasons like you just didn’t like me or you really fell in love with my companion at first sight.”

There was no sign of worry on Han Li’s unwavering face. Nan Longhou’s eyes lit up at these words, and the others didn’t know what was happening, so they just watched the situation.

“Good, let’s do it!”

Nan Longhou was silent for a moment before accepting Han Li’s proposal. His dignified face became serious.

“Young Master…”

Mo Peiling was surprised that Han Li had agreed to the duel and revealed her complicated feelings.

“It’s okay. We’ll just have a duel.”

“Fellow Cultivator Han, be careful. And if you think you can’t do it, admit defeat immediately. This senior brother will step in and stop the duel.”

Lü Luo sighed and urged him, and Han Li just nodded.

At this time, Nan Longhou on the beast carriage had already pushed away his concubines and floated into the air. Han Li’s body also glowed with a blue light and shot out, facing him in the air.

Originally, the forced trade rule required a Law Enforcement Cultivator of the Nine Nations Alliance to be present, but if both parties tacitly agreed, it was not necessary.

“I don’t know why the lord is so insistent on a duel of spiritual sense. I’m really curious about the lord’s intentions.”

Han Li stopped when he was about five yards away and spoke calmly.

“You seem to be a smart person. If you want to know the real reason, you must first show me a spiritual sense that is not inferior to mine in the duel. If the spiritual sense of the cultivator who scanned me earlier wasn’t as strong as I thought, I wouldn’t have come all this way. But I don’t have high expectations. The difference between the early and mid-Nascent Soul stage is that big.”

Nan Longhou laughed coldly.

“You are right. I just don’t want to give up my companion, so I’ll consider this as receiving guidance from the lord.”

Contrary to his relaxed words, the aura of spiritual sense emanating from Han Li’s body was immense.

“Let’s see what you can do!”

Nan Longhou was not afraid and instead shouted, releasing his spiritual sense at the same time. Between the two cultivators, formless energies that seemed visible to the naked eye collided, creating explosions. A fierce gale swept through the area.

Nan Longhou was startled by this sight and increased the release of his spiritual sense several times.

At the same time, explosions continued, and the gale formed a hazy stream, enveloping the two cultivators, making their figures vague. Then, two shadows were created in the air, as if they were there and not there.

“Spiritual Sense Manifestation? How can this be! Fellow Cultivator Han’s spiritual sense is this strong!”

Lü Luo, who was watching the battle below, lost his composure and shouted.

“Spiritual Sense Manifestation? Then can the young master win against him?”

“I don’t know. Usually, Spiritual Sense Manifestation is a skill that only mid-Nascent Soul cultivators can show… Is the cultivation method that Fellow Cultivator Han has mastered specialized in spiritual sense? It must be. That’s why he has such a powerful spiritual sense.”

“Then you mean the young master might win!”

“That’s another story. Even among mid-Nascent Soul cultivators, there are differences in ability. Nan Longhou reached the mid-Nascent Soul stage 300 years ago and has probably reached the peak of the mid-stage. It will be difficult for the fellow cultivator to defeat such an old monster!”

The hope that was just beginning to form in Mo Peiling seemed to disappear.

And then, the explosions in the air gradually accelerated, and the gale also became uncontrollably larger, completely obscuring the two people’s figures. This time, Lü Luo couldn’t help but exclaim.

“Huh! I can’t believe it. Fellow Cultivator Han is not being pushed back!”

Mo Peiling was greatly delighted again at the old man’s words and was about to ask something. However, a blinding flash of light and a tremendous roar suddenly came from the sky. The gale that had been dimly surrounding the area swept in all directions.

Lü Luo and Mo Peiling, who were dozens of yards below, were also caught in the influence of this fierce gale.

“This is bad!”

Lü Luo’s figure swayed, and he stood in front of Mo Peiling. As he crossed his arms, a blue protective barrier rose, enveloping the two of them.

In that instant, the fierce gale struck the barrier.

Thud!

As a result, a strange collision sound was heard, and the barrier that was hit by the gale caved in, forming a concave shape.

The gale was dispersed and scattered to both sides of the barrier, so the barrier quickly returned to its original shape. Only then did Lü Luo remove the blue light and make the barrier disappear.

Nan Longhou’s warriors, who were not far away, were forming a huge golden barrier by raising their golden spears with skilled movements. From afar, it looked like a huge shield made of gold was protecting the beast carriage.

However, not long after the white gale passed, the golden barrier was shattered. The warriors and female cultivators who were directly hit by the remaining force of the gale screamed in pain and bled.

The female cultivators in the palace attire who remained in the beast carriage were still fine thanks to the gold restriction of the beast carriage, but they were just as terrified.

At this sight, Mo Peiling gasped and stared blankly at Han Li’s figure.

Soon after, Nan Longhou appeared in the air, and the golden light surrounding him shattered, flying towards his subordinates. Those who were enveloped in the golden light stopped screaming and regained their original stability.

They were greatly surprised, but they were not seriously injured.

Nan Longhou, having done what he needed to do, looked at Han Li again with an expression of disbelief. He had released a considerable amount of spiritual sense, but the opponent seemed unaffected. He had probably saved his strength for the duel, just like him.

Whatever Nan Longhou was thinking, Han Li was smiling at him.

“Is the duel over? I was almost at my limit if we continued.”

“Haha! Fellow Cultivator Han, you are too modest. I don’t know about your cultivation method, but your spiritual sense is definitely not inferior to mine. Let’s stop the duel here. Otherwise, we might hurt each other’s feelings.”

Nan Longhou, who had been lost in thought, also relaxed his expression and spoke as Han Li showed respect.

Han Li smiled slightly at the changed tone. Even in the world of Nascent Soul cultivators, strength was status.

Nan Longhou realized through the duel of spiritual sense that Han Li was not someone he could treat lightly. Moreover, his spiritual sense was so strong that he met the conditions he was looking for. Now, he was in a position to ask for his help.

“Fellow Cultivator Han’s spiritual sense is not inferior to mine, so I will tell you the real reason why I asked for the duel. As you said, there is no way I would do this without another purpose. However, it is difficult to talk about it here, so let’s meet again on the third day of the trade fair at the place written on this jade slip. I will introduce you to other cultivators and share very important news.”

Then, he flicked his sleeve and shot a small jade slip. He completely ignored Lü Luo.

Han Li was a little surprised by the unexpected words, but he reached out and grabbed the jade slip with his energy, then looked at Nan Longhou with a meaningful gaze. Then, without even checking the contents of the jade slip, he put it into his storage pouch.

At this sight, Nan Longhou laughed rather than getting angry and disappeared in a golden light. The golden light of the beast carriage became strong again and shot out like an arrow towards All-Heaven City.

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