Bachelor [EN]: Chapter 461

Nan Longhou and Luo Weiying exchanged meaningful glances.

‘This expedition’s harvest isn’t too bad. Three ancient treasures, two elixirs, and the refining method for an ancient treasure. How should we divide it?’ Han Li asked casually, pretending not to notice their gazes.

‘We don’t know the efficacy of the elixirs, but as Fellow Daoist Han knows, the reason we two entered the Chuma Valley was to find elixirs. How about we each take one medicine bottle, and Fellow Daoist Han chooses other treasures?’ Nan Longhou said calmly, holding two medicine bottles in his hands. Han Li slightly narrowed his eyes at his words and looked down at the other ancient treasures.

‘…Everyone knows the value of ancient elixirs. To be honest, I’d like to have an elixir myself, not just an ancient treasure. Who knows if it might greatly increase my cultivation?’ Han Li said, stroking his chin.

At those words, Nan Longhou and Luo Weiying’s expressions immediately changed, but Nan Longhou still maintained a smile and tried to persuade him again.

‘Fellow Daoist Han is still in his prime, why would you compete with old men like us, who have little time left, for an elixir? You reached the Nascent Soul stage [a high level of cultivation] in such a short time, so you’ll have many more opportunities to increase your cultivation in the future.’

‘Being in my prime and whether or not I should take an elixir are completely different matters. If I have the chance, I would naturally take an elixir even if it means giving up other ancient treasures. It’s not like I’m lacking in ancient treasures either,’ Han Li stated, his expression unchanged.

‘We can’t give up the elixirs either, so how about this? If Fellow Han gives up the elixirs, he can take two treasures instead. What do you think, Fellow Nan Longhou?’ Old Man Luo, becoming anxious as Han Li insisted on taking an elixir, proposed a condition. Nan Longhou smiled wryly at those words.

‘If Fellow Han is willing to give up the elixirs… we can concede to him choosing two treasures first.’ Even as he said that, a hint of regret flashed across his face. He had lost many useful ancient treasures in the Peony Grassland, so he couldn’t give up a powerful ancient treasure unless it was an elixir.

Han Li showed a slightly hesitant expression. Seeing this, Old Man Luo hurriedly tried to persuade him.

‘For someone with a long lifespan like you, Fellow Daoist, wouldn’t it be better to have powerful ancient treasures to increase your chances of winning in a fight? You might even save your life with the ancient treasures you obtain now. You can always find elixirs, can’t you?’ Old Man Luo became verbose, worried that Han Li would insist on the elixirs. Han Li gave a wry smile as if he was in a difficult situation.

‘It seems like we won’t reach a conclusion unless I concede. Then, how about this? You two can divide the elixirs, and in return, since I’ve been interested in refining and researching, would you give me the mirror treasure, the jade slip, and the spirit herbs?’ Han Li said calmly, summoning the purple mirror with a wave of his hand.

‘Haa, you’ve thought it through well. Let’s do as Fellow Han wishes.’ Nan Longhou and Luo Weiying were slightly taken aback by the unexpected proposal, but they quickly exchanged glances and replied.

They were a little suspicious that Han Li didn’t choose only ancient treasures, but securing the elixirs was the most important thing right now.

As the two cultivators readily accepted Han Li’s proposal, he put away the purple mirror and placed the box containing a large amount of materials and the jade slip into his storage pouch.

Starting with Han Li, Nan Longhou and the old man each took a medicine bottle and put it away.

Afterward, the three cultivators’ gazes turned to the remaining two ancient treasures. There were two treasures left, but three people to divide them, so it was another problem.

As Nan Longhou and Luo Weiying were lost in thought, Han Li blinked his clear eyes and smiled lightly.

‘I have enough ancient treasures, so how about this? You two can each choose one of the remaining ancient treasures, and compensate me with spirit stones [currency used by cultivators].’

‘If Fellow Daoist Han is willing to concede, then we will accept without hesitation! This old man carries quite a few spirit stones.’ Old Man Luo revealed a delighted expression as Han Li gave up the ancient treasures first. In the Tiannan cultivation world, good ancient treasures were hard to find even with many spirit stones.

Nan Longhou, who was also lacking in ancient treasures, smiled and agreed with Han Li’s suggestion. The two cultivators emptied their spirit stones, handing over a considerable amount to Han Li.

Thus, a mutually satisfactory deal was made.

Han Li watched as Nan Longhou and the others each took an ancient treasure, then casually summoned the cyan silk robe that had been discarded to the side and put it into his storage pouch.

The two cultivators saw it, but since Han Li had just conceded the ancient treasures to them, they didn’t bother with such a trivial matter.

The cyan silk was a rare treasure, but it was less practical compared to an ancient treasure that could be used for attack.

After the three cultivators divided the treasures, they collected the spirit herbs around the lava lake. The spirit herbs that survived here were unlikely to be ordinary. The fire-attribute Golden Yang Grass was a top-grade material for making fire-attribute elixirs.

When they no longer saw anything that caught their attention, the three cultivators returned to the stone table to discuss their future plans.

‘Now that we’ve obtained the treasures we planned for, I don’t intend to stay in the central area any longer. Would you like to leave together along the path to the outer area?’ Han Li stated his schedule calmly.

‘We went through so much trouble to get here, how can we just leave like this? Do you really want to leave this place so badly, Fellow Han?’ Nan Longhou asked with a light smile.

‘It’s not that, but I don’t want to risk any more danger. I still have a long time to live in the cultivation world, so why would I risk my life here?’

‘Hehe! I didn’t know Fellow Daoist Han was so cautious. Then, it seems we won’t be able to go together. You can just return the way you came,’ Old Man Luo smiled faintly.

‘Then how do you plan to pass through the Arctic Origin Light without the Yangyi Ring?’

‘We’ve already planned for that. Merchant Chang Kun found a teleportation array in the central area, so we can go directly to the outer area. That would be faster than going back the way we came,’ Nan Longhou explained to Han Li, who had a puzzled expression.

‘That’s good then. I’ll take my leave now. I wish you both good luck in finding more treasures.’

‘Thank you for your kind words!’

‘We won’t see you off!’ Han Li nodded and bowed, and Nan Longhou and Old Man Luo faintly revealed delighted expressions. Han Li, who had a smile on his face, glanced indifferently at the remaining transparent skeleton before turning into a streak of blue light and disappearing.

The old man, who had been maintaining a smile, withdrew it as Han Li disappeared using a 遁術 (dunjutsu) [a technique for escaping] technique. Nan Longhou also turned expressionless and tapped his spirit beast pouch, summoning several small, yellow orioles.

They were the Thousand Li Orioles he had raised.

Nan Longhou waved his sleeve, and the Thousand Li Orioles disappeared into the passage with a flash. He closed his eyes and focused on something. Luo Weiying stood beside him, raising an eyebrow. After some time, Nan Longhou slowly opened his eyes.

‘I had the Thousand Li Orioles search the surroundings, but it seems he really left. He’s not in the vicinity, at least,’ Nan Longhou said cautiously.

‘His spiritual sense is so strong, isn’t it possible that he’s hiding somewhere and deceiving us?’

‘Don’t worry. If he was really hiding nearby, I would have known. I can’t explain why in detail, but I’m certain,’ Nan Longhou stroked his chin confidently.

Luo Weiying pondered for a moment, then made hand seals and sent out magic seals in all directions. He created a white light soundproofing barrier. Nan Longhou smiled as if he expected it.

‘It’s always good to be careful. Fellow Daoist Han’s cultivation is clearly low, but it’s impossible to see through him. He looked at the skeleton at the end, could he have found something?’ Luo Weiying said, finally feeling relieved.

‘Fellow Luo, you worry too much. No matter how talented he is, how could he discover the secret of the skeleton in an instant? He probably just looked at it unconsciously,’ Nan Longhou shook his head.

‘Whether he found something or not, it’s clear that he doesn’t want to be with us. He might be planning to search for treasures alone, relying on his own strength!’

‘As long as he doesn’t interfere with our plans, it doesn’t matter what he does. Let’s not lower our guard and do what we need to do. According to the records left by Merchant Chang Kun, this ancient skeleton is the key to the Blood Restriction Gate.

I have high expectations for what treasures might be behind that door, which is sealed with such a powerful restriction! The color of the transparent skeleton clearly shows traces of a spell being cast,’ Nan Longhou said with a sigh.

‘Compared to the treasures behind the Blood Restriction Gate, the treasures we’ve divided now are just dust. It’s not far from here, let’s go quickly,’ Old Man Luo agreed with his words.

‘I also have high expectations. If Merchant Chang Kun hadn’t found the skeleton near the Blood Restriction Gate back then, what would we have done? But it’s strange that he only managed to sit in meditation and die here after activating the Blood Restriction.’

‘Something must have happened. We don’t need to worry about that, Fellow Nan Longhou, let’s just go.’

Soon after, two streaks of light shot out of the cave and flew around a huge mountain peak, heading somewhere.

* * *

At that time, Han Li was already far along the path he had come from. Eunwol asked in his mind, already a hundred miles away.

‘Master, are you really going to leave like this? Those guys were clearly hiding something. The skeleton was also strange.’

‘I know. At most, there are more hidden treasures. It’s not that I’m not tempted, but the Spirit Fruit is more urgent right now. The Ghost Spirit Sect must already be ahead, so I can’t waste any more time,’ Han Li explained calmly as he diligently searched for the path.

‘Indeed, there’s no treasure more precious than the Spirit Fruit that increases cultivation. But why did you suddenly take the cyan silk robe? It doesn’t seem like something you would be greedy for, Master.’

‘Those two old men were blind,’ Han Li said with a sneer, this time raising the corners of his mouth.

‘Huh?’ Eunwol was puzzled, but Han Li didn’t answer immediately. He swiped his hand across his storage pouch and took out the cyan silk.

*Tear!*

Han Li used force in both hands to tear the cyan silk robe apart, and Eunwol exclaimed in surprise.

Something had been hidden inside the cyan silk robe. Han Li put away the torn cyan silk, leaving only something thin and soft in his hand.

‘It’s a map! It seems to be a map of the Chuma Valley,’ Eunwol was greatly surprised, but Han Li simply examined a certain point that was marked in bold on the map.

Even without Eunwol’s exclamation, Han Li knew that the terrain marked on the map matched the Chuma Valley. Most of it was roughly drawn, but the area around the bold mark was very detailed. It wasn’t far from where he was now.

However, Han Li shook his head and put the map away.

He knew that the hidden map held some important secret, but the Spirit Fruit was his priority right now. Since he had already memorized the path he came from, he could always come back if he had any regrets after obtaining the Spirit Fruit.

Eunwol seemed to understand Han Li’s thoughts and closed her mouth.

Then, Han Li took out the jade box he had just obtained and spoke to the bamboo tube on his back with utmost respect.

‘Many of the materials needed to refine the Seven Flame Fan have already become extinct. But a senior with your innate talent would know the substitute materials, wouldn’t you? If you can create a treasure similar to the Heaven Piercing Treasure in the current cultivation world, Wan Bei [a respectful way to refer to oneself] will be greatly impressed.’

‘Boy, do you think this old man is a fool? Even if I’m interested in the Heaven Piercing Treasure, do you think I’d research a refining method for you, who has nothing to do with it? Just to impress you?’ The Great Yan Divine Lord sneered at Han Li’s sudden change in tone.

‘It wouldn’t be easy to refine a treasure that imitates the Heaven Piercing Treasure. It would be impossible without the help of a natural genius like you, Senior. If you help me succeed, I will fulfill your requests within my capabilities. What do you say?’ Han Li proposed calmly, without any sign of anger.