Bachelor [EN]: Chapter 423

Han Li raised his head, gazing at the red sunset, and continued,

“If there really is a Spirit Candle Fruit in Chuma Valley, I will also take the risk. Now that my cultivation has reached the Nascent Soul stage [a high level of cultivation], it will be difficult to advance further through ordinary methods. However, what’s the point of saying this before anything is certain? When the time comes, I will tell you that the Guiryeong Sect’s method might be dangerous, but that’s just my guess. It’s also possible that their method is safer than the one left by Merchant Changkun.”

Lady Song listened to the long explanation, seemingly realizing something, and remained silent.

“This wasn’t something I should have talked about now, but since you asked, I answered. However, now that we’re returning to Thousand Sun City, the most important thing is to survive the upcoming war. So, once we return, completely forget about Chuma Valley and focus on the war.”

“Yes, Senior Uncle!”

The blue light streak sped up again, flying towards the city.

* * *

A few days later, at the Thousand Sun City’s Falling Cloud Sect encampment.

Han Li sat in a secret room layered with restrictions, holding a giant sword about six feet long in both hands, lost in thought.

The crimson and blue flames flowing over the sword’s surface were Han Li’s Violet Aurora Flames and the strange lamp’s flames.

After parting with Jaryeong and returning, Han Li had spent a few days meeting several Nascent Soul cultivators who maintained good relations with the Falling Cloud Sect, thanks to Lyu Rak’s introduction.

In fact, he didn’t often have the chance to meet so many cultivators of the same level, but in just a few days, he had become acquainted with over a dozen of them. They had also heard of Han Li’s reputation and treated him well, so he got along quite well with some of them.

And only after finishing these greetings could he find the time to deal with the aftermath of the battle at Yellow Dragon Mountain.

The fact that the flying sword was unharmed was entirely due to the Violet Aurora Flames maintaining a balance of power.

He didn’t know what the identity of the blue lamp flame was, but it possessed power comparable to the Violet Aurora Flames, making it a headache to figure out how to refine it away.

If he couldn’t resolve this issue, he wouldn’t be able to use the Azure Bamboo Cloud Swords, and he wouldn’t be able to easily use the Azure Glacial Flames or the Violet Aurora Flames in battle.

After a while, Han Li threw the giant sword into the air and cast a blue magic seal. The giant sword then circled the secret room and scattered into dozens of small flying swords. Following his will, most of the flying swords were absorbed into his body, but only one flying sword remained in front of him.

Han Li narrowed his eyes as he looked at the flames on the sword’s surface.

He opened his mouth, and crimson flames burst out, overwhelming the small amount of blue flames. Another blue magic seal flew from his hand, and the fierce crimson flames pushed the blue flames, making them shrink into a small bean-sized ball.

Watching this, Han Li’s heart grew even heavier.

He took another deep breath and flicked his ten fingers, sending various magic seals towards the sword. The crimson flames gained more power and once again overwhelmed the blue light.

The blue flames barely clung to the tip of the sword, looking as if they would extinguish at any moment, but the more the crimson flames pushed, the more fiercely they burned.

Han Li became slightly impatient and hastened the pace of his magic seals. However, after a long time with no progress, his face hardened.

After pondering for a moment, Han Li decided to cover his five fingers with eye-piercing crimson flames and reached out towards the bean-sized blue flame.

Han Li’s five fingers pierced through the crimson flames, but he retreated, feeling immense recoil from the blue flames.

However, he covered his entire palm with crimson flames using his consciousness and suppressed the blue flames.

He continued this action for a while before shaking off his five fingers. The crimson flames instantly disappeared.

A wry smile appeared on his face as he looked at the still brightly shining blue flames.

‘This is more troublesome than I thought.’

Kuurung.

Han Li gestured towards the flying sword, and a low thunder sound was heard as golden lightning flashed.

The lightning exploded as soon as it appeared, scattering into countless golden sparks, but the blue flames flickered and swallowed them. Soon, the bean-sized blue flame grew larger, becoming the size of an egg.

Watching it carefully, Han Li seemed to have made up his mind and opened his mouth, sucking in the crimson flames from the flying sword. Soon, all the crimson flames on the flying sword disappeared, and the blue flames, which had been overwhelmed by the Violet Aurora Flames, enveloped the entire flying sword.

Han Li sneered, but his face clearly showed a hint of regret.

He immediately sensed the abnormality in his body, but he shot sword energy with his ten fingers. Just like the Evil-Slaying Divine Lightning, the blue sword energy was absorbed by the flames and disappeared.

However, Han Li did not hesitate and mobilized the spiritual power within his body, continuously shooting out sword energy. Soon, the blue flames, which had grown into a ball, blazed fiercely in front of Han Li’s face.

It was after Han Li had consumed almost a third of his spiritual power.

Looking at the huge flames, Han Li instead let out a laugh. He reached out and pointed at the flying sword engulfed in blue flames.

Pshoo.

The Azure Bamboo Cloud Sword lightly escaped from the flames and returned to his hand. Han Li examined it closely and found that no flames remained on its surface.

“I knew it! No matter how miraculous it is, there’s a limit to how much spiritual power it can absorb. By absorbing so much Azure Origin Sword Energy, it has become controllable.”

He then clenched his palm, and the flying sword disappeared with a flash of blue light.

Only then did Han Li infuse his consciousness into the blue flames and observe them. The blue flames vibrated and slowly began to move, flickering and staggering, which was not normal.

Han Li pondered, resting his chin in his hand.

It would be a waste to just throw away such powerful flames. The blue flames in front of him had absorbed a large amount of Azure Origin Sword Energy, and although they were now barely controllable, they were not flames he had refined, so he couldn’t control them freely like the Azure Glacial Flames or the Violet Aurora Flames.

He narrowed his brow, then reached into his storage pouch and took out a jade-white rib bone and a pale yellow bottle. It was the bone jade slip with the Profound Yin Scripture written on it and the magic tool he had used to absorb the souls of demon beasts.

He opened the bottle, and black energy seeped out.

Han Li clenched his five fingers in the air, and the black energy flew into his palm. Following his consciousness, the Yin Soul energy surged into the rib bone in his other hand.

The pure white rib bone turned pitch black and floated into the air. Han Li infused his consciousness into it and began to search through the contents of the Profound Yin Scripture.

He found the words “Yin Fire Lightning” and was delighted, carefully examining the contents.

According to the Profound Yin Scripture, if one succeeded in refining Yin Fire Lightning, its power would be tremendous, surpassing even the Heavenly Capital Fire in terms of destructive capability.

Originally, it was made by infusing a large amount of pure Yin Fire from the Profound Yin Great Method with the power of lightning and mixing it with other materials, refining it through a special method. When the completed Yin Fire Lightning was activated, the Yin Fire and lightning would move, creating tremendous explosive power.

However, unfortunately, this lightning pearl was a one-time consumable, difficult to make, and could only be refined by cultivators with lightning-attribute spiritual power.

That was why even Old Devil Extreme Yin and Merchant Hyun Bone had failed to refine Yin Fire Lightning.

Han Li had not paid much attention to the Yin Fire Lightning refining method when he first saw it. He had the Evil-Slaying Divine Lightning, but he did not cultivate the Profound Yin Great Method, so he considered it unnecessary.

However, as he looked at the blue flames, the refining method for Yin Fire Lightning suddenly came to mind. Although Han Li could not use the Profound Yin Great Method, he thought he could improve the refining method and use the blue flames in front of him.

In fact, he had previously considered refining lightning pearls with the Azure Glacial Flames or the Violet Aurora Flames, but the amount he had refined was so small that it was too precious to risk.

However, since he couldn’t control the blue flames in front of him anyway, it might be a good idea to try making lightning pearls. If successful, it could become a weapon to catch opponents off guard in battle.

After organizing his thoughts, he took out the other materials needed for refining lightning pearls from his storage pouch. After laying out everything he needed, he looked at the blazing blue flames and raised both hands.

Kuurung!

Golden lightning flashed from his palms and flew towards the blue flames.

* * *

Inside a large hall in the Falling Cloud Sect encampment, Lyu Rak sat expressionlessly in a chair.

In front of him were the Nascent Soul cultivators of the Falling Cloud Sect, including Elder Hong and Lady Song, who looked somewhat anxious.

“Disciple Dan, how many days has it been since your Junior Uncle Han entered seclusion?”

“Reporting to Senior Uncle, it has been over two months. Senior Sister Song and I have been waiting outside the secret room, but he has not come out.”

“I see. My junior brother told me in advance that he would enter seclusion to prepare for the great war, so we shouldn’t disturb him. However, the Morans seem ready to attack at any moment, which is a problem.

Moreover, he has repeatedly made excuses to postpone the high-level meetings, but this time, the three great cultivators are gathering, and they have sent a letter directly inviting Junior Brother Han. This meeting is only for mid-Nascent Soul cultivators, which shows how much they value Junior Brother Han.

Furthermore, I expect that this meeting will decide how to conduct the war, so if we can attend, there will be many benefits.”

Lyu Rak sighed and muttered.

“Still, Junior Uncle Han is in seclusion, so disturbing him might ruin things.”

Lady Song said cautiously.

“That’s why Senior Uncle Lyu has been postponing it, isn’t it? However, if Junior Uncle Han doesn’t appear at tomorrow’s meeting, what will others think…”

A middle-aged cultivator hesitated, trying to object, but someone’s voice was clearly heard.

“What do you mean, what will others think?”

Han Li was walking into the hall from the entrance with a calm expression.

“Junior Brother Han, you’ve finally come out of seclusion!”

While the others bowed in greeting, Lyu Rak stood up with a smile on his face and welcomed him.

“I haven’t completely achieved what I intended. I was going to continue my seclusion, but I was worried about the Morans, so I decided to come out for now. It seems I came out at the right time.”

“Hahaha! You must have heard about the letter. There are so many people who want to meet you. Others are one thing, but you must attend tomorrow’s high-level meeting. Half of our Falling Cloud Sect’s forces are participating, and we can’t afford to suffer great losses. Listen carefully to how we will move in this great war and ease this senior brother’s worries.”

Lyu Rak looked at him with a serious expression.

“Yes, I should go tomorrow. I have also heard of the reputations of the three great cultivators, so I am looking forward to it.”

Lyu Rak was excited by Han Li’s acceptance and chatted about what had happened in the meantime.

“Are you saying that the mages have dispatched troops to attack the barriers near the borders?”

“That’s right. It only happened a few days ago, and there were no casualties, but we should assume that the Morans’ war preparations are complete.”

“If their war preparations are complete, what about our side?”

“Our situation is different from the Morans. Although the Moran mages have also united their tribes, they are not like our Thousand South, where so many sects have gathered. However, the Morans have been preparing for the invasion for a long time, and we have only just begun our preparations, so we are a bit late. Still, the four major powers have joined forces, so we are roughly in a state to fight a decisive battle.”

“That means the great war could start at any time.”

Han Li rubbed his nose, his face darkening.

“If that weren’t the case, the three great cultivators wouldn’t have rushed to gather and hold a meeting tomorrow. There are hardly any cultivators above the mid-Nascent Soul stage in all of Thousand South.”

Lyu Rak sighed. The other Core Formation cultivators in the hall, who had been listening to the two elders’ conversation, also looked somber.

Afterwards, Lyu Rak told him about the training progress of the Falling Cloud Sect disciples and other related matters. While listening to him, Han Li was thinking about the meeting of the three great cultivators of Thousand South that would take place tomorrow.

After finishing the conversation, Han Li got up first and left the hall. He was extremely tired after suppressing the blue flames day and night for two months and then refining the lightning pearls.