Bachelor [EN]: Chapter 397

The Six Factions of Wol Country, after retreating to the Nine Nations Alliance, settled in North Liang Country, which had the fewest cultivators among the nine nations.

The reason why there were hardly any other major cultivation sects in North Liang Country was due to the lack of resources needed for cultivation. The Six Factions, having nowhere else to go, had no choice.

Moreover, after nearly a century of infighting with the existing large and small sects, the Six Factions barely managed to establish themselves there. Now, the Six Factions had largely recovered their former power, and their influence within the Nine Nations Alliance had grown considerably.

The Eomwol Sect, being the most powerful among the Six Factions, had managed to secure a spot on a spiritual vein with relatively strong spiritual energy.

After relocating to Mount Yeongrong, located in the west of North Liang Country, the Eomwol Sect cultivators built countless pavilions and halls, and set up various restrictions and massive formations.

Mount Yeongrong could roughly be divided into three sections: the lowest part was where the low-level disciples resided and cultivated, the mid-section was accessible only to disciples at the Foundation Establishment stage or higher, and the highest section was naturally where cultivators at the Core Formation stage or higher resided.

Although Foundation Establishment stage cultivators were not much to look at in the eyes of higher-level cultivators at the Core Formation stage or above, they were essential disciples for maintaining the Eomwol Sect, which had not been rebuilt for long.

Moreover, the administrative affairs within the sect, both large and small, were also handled by Foundation Establishment stage cultivators.

Among them, Won Gon was in charge of procuring worldly goods, and he was the only Qi Refining stage cultivator to hold an administrative position.

The reason was that Won Gon’s family was one of the indigenous families of North Liang Country, and they had contributed to the Six Factions’ settlement in North Liang Country. As compensation, the Eomwol Sect promised that the descendants of the Won family would be in charge of the various administrative duties within the sect.

Won Gon was the nephew of the head of the Won family, and his aptitude was so poor among the Qi Refining stage disciples that his future was bleak. To help him, the head of the Won family personally asked the higher-ups of the Eomwol Sect to arrange an administrative position for him.

After that, even when other cultivators gossiped about his low cultivation level, Won Gon would just laugh it off and live freely, enjoying his administrative work.

On this day, Won Gon left Mount Yeongrong with a few Qi Refining stage disciples who were of lower cultivation than him, and they were visiting shops in the secular world.

Unbeknownst to him, a powerful consciousness was emanating from a nearby tavern, watching him intently.

* * *

Not long after, Won Gon finished his work and left the city with his two subordinates. They were about to return to Mount Yeongrong.

However, before they could even leave the city, a silver light flashed in the sky, and a woman of dazzling beauty appeared, smiling.

“We are disciples of the Eomwol Sect. Senior, you are….”

Won Gon, tense at the appearance of the other party, tried to invoke the Eomwol Sect’s influence to resolve the situation. However, before he could finish his sentence, the young woman giggled and spewed pink mist from her mouth.

The mist instantly surrounded the three cultivators, but Won Gon’s meager cultivation was no match for it. Seeing the three cultivators fall from the sky, the woman flicked her sleeve and pulled them over.

After examining the cultivators with her dark eyes, the woman disappeared with them.

*Whoosh.*

A white streak of light flew over ten miles and landed in a forest, where a young man in a green robe was sitting on a tree stump, meditating.

The light faded, and the woman approached the young man and respectfully reported.

“Master, I have brought them all. They said they were disciples of the Eomwol Sect, so I must not have brought the wrong people.”

“You weren’t seen by anyone, were you?”

The young man opened his eyes and asked calmly. He was Han Li, who had rushed to North Liang Country in one go, day and night.

Since he had decided to sneak in and meet Nangong Wan, there was no reason to cause unnecessary trouble. To do so, it was essential to find out specific information about Mount Yeongrong and the Eomwol Sect, and for this purpose, he had sought out Eomwol Sect cultivators.

Having started as an ordinary low-level cultivator and reached his current level of cultivation, Han Li knew that even those belonging to cultivation sects often had ties to the secular world and that there were many who traveled back and forth. So, he had entered a city relatively close to Mount Yeongrong and waited.

He had originally targeted another low-level cultivator, but after discovering Won Gon, who held an administrative position, he changed his target. Even if he was a low-level cultivator, someone with an administrative title would know more, so he had ordered Eunwol to kidnap him.

“Yes! Their cultivation was low, so there was no difficulty in bringing them. The other high-level cultivators wouldn’t have noticed.”

“Good, you did well. Then, let’s use your illusion techniques and my Dream Incantation to make them confess everything they know.”

“Understood!”

Eunwol turned her body and once again spewed pink mist from her lips, completely enveloping them. Han Li also rose to his feet, and soon after, a blue light began to flicker within the mist.

* * *

Mount Yeongrong, despite its name meaning ‘exquisite,’ did not appear exquisite to those who saw it for the first time. Rather, it was closer to being massive and bizarre.

The largest peak of the mountain alone occupied tens of miles, with a gentle slope at the bottom that rose sharply upwards.

The terrain was so rugged that it was impossible for mortals to climb, but it was also rich in spiritual energy, so only cultivators at the Core Formation stage or higher had established residences and lived there.

Of course, to prevent infiltration from the outside, powerful restrictions were in place, and even disciples who were ordered to travel back and forth could only use designated paths.

Han Li stood on a stone path at the foot of Mount Yeongrong, looking up at the mountaintop. His face, with his hands behind his back, looked unusually calm today.

He had used a secret technique to make his face look exactly like Won Gon’s and was suppressing his cultivation to maintain a Qi Refining level. After obtaining the desired information from the Eomwol Sect’s low-level cultivators, he had placed restrictions on them and left them in a cave.

With Won Gon’s administrative token and the information he had learned through the Dream Incantation, entering the mountain gate was very simple.

The place where he was standing was a market that the Eomwol Sect had established next to Mount Yeongrong, where disciples within the sect could exchange goods and purchase items. Among them, the shop that specialized in trading worldly goods was naturally Won Gon’s responsibility.

Han Li did not rush towards the mountain peak but instead delivered the goods that Won Gon had brought to the shops.

According to their memories, Nangong Wan was not in closed-door cultivation, but she was about to have a major event, so she was staying secluded and not receiving guests, making it difficult to meet her.

Also, the low-level disciples had no idea why Nangong Wan had accepted the marriage proposal from Wi Rijin of the Hwaeui Sect.

Nangong Wan was the youngest Core Formation stage cultivator in the Eomwol Sect, and with her innate beauty, she was an object of worship for the male disciples. Many secretly admired Nangong Wan, and Won Gon was one of them.

Although he had only seen her two or three times in the decades since he had entered the sect, he had completely fallen for her. Han Li read Won Gon’s memory of being heartbroken after learning about Nangong Wan’s marriage and was speechless.

In any case, while handling his tasks according to Won Gon’s memories, Han Li waited for the right time. Perhaps because he was not one to socialize with other cultivators, no one seemed to think he was strange.

After half a day, seeing the sky darken, he moved again. He began to climb the mountain again, following Won Gon’s original schedule.

Won Gon was a Qi Refining stage disciple, but as an administrator, he had a small residence in the second area of Mount Yeongrong. The Foundation Establishment stage disciples he encountered on the way up all showed displeasure and did not even acknowledge him.

It seemed that Won Gon, except for having a few subordinates, was not well-regarded by other cultivators.

After entering the second area, Han Li did not head to Won Gon’s residence but instead took out a low-level magic tool and headed towards the mountain peak. As soon as he reached the boundary of the third area, two Foundation Establishment stage cultivators appeared and blocked his path.

“Won Gon! What are you doing here? Don’t you know that you can’t enter this place without permission?”

The cultivator with a pale face, who seemed to know Won Gon, immediately rebuked him.

“I report to you, Senior Uncles. This, this junior sister wishes to, to see Senior Ancestor Nangong. Could you please allow it?”

“What? Are you crazy? You dare to say you want to see Senior Ancestor Nangong?”

The two cultivators were startled and scolded him.

“That’s… This junior sister went out to purchase materials this time and met a senior with tremendous cultivation! And they left me with an item and a message to deliver to Senior Aunt Nangong. Moreover, they said that only Senior Aunt Nangong could solve it and even placed a restriction on my body.”

Han Li instantly put on a pitiful expression and mumbled.

“A senior? Was it a Core Formation stage cultivator?”

The pale-faced cultivator asked in surprise.

“I don’t know. But they said they were an old friend of Senior Aunt Nangong. They heard about Senior Ancestor’s joyous occasion and left a gift and a message, asking me to deliver it personally.”

Han Li looked as if he was about to go crazy.

“An old friend of Senior Ancestor? Then it could be a Nascent Soul stage senior!”

“That could be. But if that’s the case, why didn’t they come up here themselves?”

The pale-faced cultivator was also flustered, but it seemed that his doubts were not resolved.

“Who knows! Maybe they have other urgent matters or reasons why they are reluctant to visit our sect directly. Junior Sister Won, give me your hand. Let’s check the restriction and talk again!”

The burly cultivator did not hesitate for long and immediately ordered Han Li. Knowing that this might happen, Han Li immediately offered his wrist and at the same time, used his spiritual power to make it seem as if a restriction had been placed on him.

The cultivator who grabbed Han Li’s wrist felt it and widened his eyes, and the pale-faced cultivator also injected his spiritual power to confirm, and his expression changed.

“Indeed, there is a powerful restriction on your body. Judging by the complex shape of the restriction, it is most likely the work of a Nascent Soul stage cultivator. Even so, we cannot let you in as we please, so take out the gift. We will show it to Senior Ancestor Nangong on your behalf and convey the message. If Senior Ancestor Nangong recognizes who the person is, she will call for you!”

The pale-faced cultivator spoke more gently. Han Li looked anxious and hesitated before nodding.

“Yes, please do so. And please be sure to mention that there is a restriction on this junior sister’s body! Don’t forget?”

Han Li took out a long wooden box from his waist pouch and handed it over, making a detailed request. The wooden box was sealed with a faint silver talisman, and the spiritual energy emanating from it was unusual.

“Alright, wait here. Junior Brother Ma, I’ll go!”

The pale-faced cultivator glanced at Han Li as if he was a nuisance and disappeared with the wooden box. Han Li stood there quietly waiting.

He believed that Nangong Wan would surely meet him after seeing the item in the wooden box, but he couldn’t help but feel strange as he approached his meeting with her.

* * *

It was a full half hour before the pale-faced cultivator returned.

“Senior Ancestor Nangong has confirmed that the person is indeed an old friend. Follow me to see Senior Ancestor and have the restriction removed.”

The pale-faced cultivator said only what was necessary and then flew up again with Han Li. Han Li was secretly pleased but outwardly followed him with a tense expression.

“Be careful. If you deviate even slightly from the designated path, I won’t be able to save you.”

Han Li nodded repeatedly, indicating that he understood the pale-faced cultivator’s warning. At that moment, a navy blue streak of light flew over, and the pale-faced cultivator recognized who it was and stopped respectfully.

The light faded, and a middle-aged cultivator in silk clothes with a gloomy expression appeared.

“Junior Brother Son, why are you bringing a Qi Refining stage disciple up the mountain path? Don’t you know the rules?”

The silk-clad cultivator asked coldly.

“Senior Uncle Lam, this junior is on the way up the mountain by order of Senior Ancestor Nangong. Otherwise, how would I dare to bring a Qi Refining stage disciple here?”

“Senior Aunt Nangong? Tell me in detail what happened.”

“That is, Junior Won….”

The silk-clad cultivator asked with a puzzled expression, and the pale-faced cultivator explained the current situation without hiding anything.