Bachelor [EN]: Chapter 629

How much time had passed? Suddenly, the large man trembled and opened his eyes.

At this, Han Li, who had been emitting the cold flames, and the other cultivators changed their hand seals, as if they had received a signal, and retrieved the cold flames that were entering the light orbs.

Then, the lotus flowers they had been sitting on scattered and disappeared, and they each entered a state of rest in their own way.

This had happened about a dozen times in the past few days. Each time, they had to expend almost all of their magical power, but they all had plenty of spirit pills and spirit stones, so they would recover within half a day.

The large man in the light orb, seeing that the others had withdrawn their cold flames, also closed his eyes and rested. After some time, the old woman, looking at Han Ryeo Sang-in in the light orb, took a deep breath.

“I am truly in awe of Fellow Cultivator Han Ryeo. To endure the extreme pain of undergoing marrow cleansing with five different cold flames… Even if you can control the power of the cold flames, isn’t it a pain worse than death! It seems that Brother Han Ryeo has learned a special technique for training the body. Otherwise, no matter how much you endure with your consciousness, your body would have collapsed.”

“Madam Yong is right. Senior Brother Han Ryeo learned a secret technique to train his body in his youth, making his body incomparably stronger than other cultivators.”

A middle-aged man in a blue robe replied with a smile, speaking for Han Ryeo Sang-in.

“I knew it. But since we have already cleansed Fellow Cultivator Han Ryeo several times with the cold flames, both his body and Nascent Soul [a nascent soul, a stage of cultivation] must have reached their limits. It will be decided in the next two days.”

“However, the profound cold energy inside the formation has been greatly depleted, so we should stop its operation, replenish it, and then start again.”

As the gray-robed monk spoke solemnly, Han Li calmly said,

“Ha! I didn’t expect a cultivator to understand this secret technique so well. You are right. We will gather the profound cold energy from all over again and start.”

Han Ryeo Sang-in in the light orb was full of doubt. Han Li felt a pang of guilt inside and turned to look at him.

Han Ryeo Sang-in had already risen to his feet and was floating leisurely in the milky white light orb, and the five silver blades that had been embedded in his body were nowhere to be seen. Even the wounds had disappeared as if they had been washed away.

“It was just a guess.”

Han Li just smiled and vaguely glossed over it.

“Oh, since you have such a good eye, please tell me how likely I am to break through this time. I’m curious to see how much it differs from my own prediction.”

Han Ryeo Sang-in took out a navy blue robe from his storage pouch and put it on, continuing to talk to Han Li.

“This secret technique was created by the cultivator, so of course, the cultivator’s prediction will be accurate.”

At Han Li’s calm words, he smiled and said nothing more. Soon, Han Ryeo Sang-in flicked his fingers in the air.

Woong!

The hand seals flew and were absorbed into the formation, stopping its operation. As the five pillars of light disappeared, Han Li and the other five cultivators floated down from the air.

A whirlwind that had been circling around rushed in, carrying the milky white cold energy, but the cultivators, who had been prepared, protected themselves with their own cold flames.

“We will reactivate the formation after a day, so please rest well in the meantime. If I succeed in breaking through tomorrow, I will fulfill my promise as agreed.”

Han Ryeo Sang-in, with his strengthened body, clasped his hands to everyone and spoke sincerely.

“We have already made a promise, so of course, we must do our best to help! Besides, if this secret technique helps in reaching the Transformation stage, who knows if I might need it later.”

“If this humble monk can reach the late Nascent Soul stage, this event will be a great opportunity.”

The old woman and the monk calmly responded to the other’s polite remarks. However, Han Li only nodded and said nothing.

Han Ryeo Sang-in, seemingly satisfied with their answers, expressed his gratitude and then focused on operating the formation again. The remaining cultivators went to the building made of sunstone to rest.

A day passed in an instant.

Han Li and the cultivators came out of the building again and found Han Ryeo Sang-in sitting in the milky white cold energy, which had doubled in size compared to yesterday.

As Han Li was about to examine the changes in the formation in detail, the monk looked at something in surprise. He also turned his gaze to the sky, and his expression became strange.

The entrance that had been visible in the distance had disappeared, and the huge cauldron that would open the passage was also nowhere to be seen.

“Fellow Cultivator Han Ryeo, why is this happening?”

The old woman immediately showed her vigilance upon seeing this.

“Everyone, please don’t misunderstand. I was worried that we might be disturbed at this crucial moment, so I temporarily blocked the entrance. And the cauldron is needed for the power of the Qianlan Cauldron when breaking through, so I have retrieved it.”

“Is that so…?”

The monk and the old woman replied, but they were still somewhat unconvinced. And Han Li just stared at the sky without saying anything. The atmosphere inside the cave became awkward for a moment.

“It seems that I have made the cultivators uneasy. Then, even if we don’t use the cauldron, I will leave the entrance sealed and place the Qianlan Cauldron near the entrance. How is that?”

Han Ryeo Sang-in kindly suggested an alternative without showing any sign of displeasure. Then, with a flutter of his sleeve, the cauldron containing the navy blue flames fell towards the entrance, hundreds of feet away.

Although their suspicion had not completely disappeared, they were quite relieved that the cauldron, which could control the entrance, was now far away from Han Ryeo Sang-in.

The old woman thought for a moment and then relaxed her face.

“It’s not that we are uneasy. Would we ever suspect the cultivator? We were just curious and asked the reason. There is no time, so let’s begin!”

The old woman, with a dry laugh, flew into the formation first.

“What do you think, Brother Han? Fellow Cultivator Han Ryeo’s words make sense, but this humble monk is still uneasy. Let’s join forces for safety. Fellow Cultivator Yong has a deep connection with the Sojeok Palace, so be careful.”

It was the gray-robed monk’s telepathic message. Han Li was startled inside, but he just turned his gaze to look at the monk. He was smiling at him.

Kukukung!

Just as he was thinking about what the other party’s intentions were in sending the telepathic message, a loud noise suddenly came from the Void Hall above the Profound Cold Cave. It sounded like it had been struck by a powerful blow.

Everyone’s expressions changed.

If they had been on the mountain peak where the Sojeok Palace was located, they would have seen a phoenix made of pure white jade, tens of feet tall, circling the protective barrier surrounding the mountain and flapping its wings. The Ice Phoenix was surprisingly condensing cold energy that was hundreds of feet long, creating ice mountains and dropping them.

The tremendous impact caused an earth-shattering roar.

A white light exploded, and the thick protective barrier was severely distorted. It did not break, but the shock shook the entire mountain, and some buildings could not help but collapse.

This was the power of the Ice Phoenix, transformed from the woman in the silver robe. When most of the demon beasts of the Ice Sea Lower Realm were harmed, she was enraged and tore through the space of the Great Forbidden Formation, flying into the sky above the Ice Castle.

Caught off guard by her surprise attack, the cultivators in the mountain hurriedly hid themselves, but the high-level cultivators of the Sojeok Palace would not stand idly by.

As the white ring floating above the demon beast began to condense ice mountains again, silver streaks of light and white light masses appeared from the protective barrier. When the light faded, those who appeared were Baek Yo-i and an old man with gray-white hair.

From afar, Baek Yo-i flew two silver flying swords, and the old man with gray-white hair released a treasure from his sleeve. Unexpectedly, it was a glossy and transparent jade bottle.

The bottle shimmered with silver light, and it was peculiar that a loud noise could be heard from inside. The Ice Phoenix rolled its green eyes to look at it, then flapped its wings, and a dozen huge ice spears were instantly condensed and flew towards them.

The old man snorted and formed a hand seal.

The jade bottle trembled and released a dozen black and white auras, which wrapped around the ice spears, causing the huge ice spears to become as thin as chopsticks and be sucked into the jade bottle.

The Ice Phoenix showed a puzzled look, but immediately its form blurred and turned into a huge blizzard, covering the two of them. Baek Yo-i and the gray-white-haired old man also did not retreat and boosted two silver streaks of light and black and white auras.

Ku Kwakwang!

On the mountain peak, blizzards and lights intertwined.

The strange thing was that Madam Mi and the other Sojeok Palace elders were nowhere to be seen. It seemed that they were either maintaining a powerful restriction or had already gone to the front to face other high-level demon beasts.

The cultivators inside the Profound Cold Cave could also feel that the outside was in chaos. Han Ryeo Sang-in looked at the cave entrance, and his face darkened for a moment.

“It seems that the demonic creatures have already begun to move. In this case, we must seal the entrance even more. We cannot let all our efforts go to waste by being disturbed at this crucial moment. To fight against the demon beast army, I will need your help, so how could I possibly do anything to the three of you?”

The Great Elder of the Sojeok Palace exclaimed resolutely.

“We understand Fellow Cultivator Han Ryeo’s feelings. However, if we help the cultivator overcome the hurdle in his cultivation, our vitality will be greatly damaged, and you are even sealing this place, so frankly, we are uneasy. To be honest, although we have a friendship with your palace, we cannot risk our lives based on just a few words, can we?”

The monk narrowed his brows and expressed his position.

“It is natural for everyone to be cautious. I wouldn’t put myself in danger either. Then, what would you like to do, Great Master Magu?”

Han Ryeo Sang-in asked, looking troubled.

“Let’s do this. If you have no other intentions, please let the three of us keep the Qianlan Cauldron. We will return it to you as soon as the secret technique is completed. That way, we can also help the cultivator with peace of mind.”

The gray-robed monk’s eyes lit up, and he suddenly demanded the Qianlan Cauldron. At those words, Han Li and the old woman were stunned, but they soon realized the monk’s intention.

“That’s a good idea.”

Han Li immediately agreed. The old woman also thought about it carefully and nodded.

Then, suddenly, the middle-aged man in the blue robe’s expression changed, and he interjected.

“Great Master Magu, this is not right. You know what kind of treasure the Qianlan Cauldron is. How can we hand over a specialized magical artifact for cultivating Qianlan Ice Flames to another cultivator?”

While trying to persuade the monk, the middle-aged man kept shaking his head.

“We said we would keep it temporarily and return it when we leave this place. We are not taking it away, so what is the problem? Are you suspecting us, Fellow Cultivator Ouyang?”

“It’s not that…”

The middle-aged man was about to retort, but Han Ryeo Sang-in interrupted him.

“That’s enough, Junior Brother Ouyang! Great Master Magu’s words are not wrong. Very well. I agree as well. But which of the three of you will keep the Qianlan Cauldron?”

It was strange that the Great Elder agreed so easily, but at his question, the monk and the old woman were speechless for a moment.

“Since Great Master Magu proposed it, let the Great Master keep the cauldron. I have always trusted the Great Master’s character.”

At the old woman’s words, Han Li also thought for a moment and then nodded.

“I am grateful for your trust. Then, this humble monk will keep the cauldron for a while!”

At the decision of the three, Han Ryeo Sang-in immediately pointed at the cauldron in the air, and the cauldron, having retrieved the surrounding navy blue flames, slowly fell down.

The monk shook his sleeve and wrapped the cauldron in a green aura. It seemed that he was trying to bind it temporarily. Although it was a cauldron containing Qianlan Ice Flames, he was also a cultivator who handled extreme flames, so he was not afraid.

This time, Han Li went to sit on the purple pillar of light first. Frankly, he had almost mastered the secret technique in the past few days. However, since the most important process was still remaining, he intended to see it with his own eyes and learn the essence of the secret technique.

Therefore, although he was not happy about the cave being sealed, he trusted his own divine powers. Even if the Great Elder overcame the hurdle and became a Transformation stage cultivator, there was no reason to fear him until he solidified his realm.

Moreover, the limitations that a Transformation stage cultivator had in the Human Realm were briefly written in the jade slip that Linglong had left behind.

However, for safety, he quietly summoned the Taiyin True Flame within the range of the formation. Since it was a place made of stone, the others would not be able to notice it.

Now, the monk also sat on the pillar of light again with a gentle smile. Han Ryeo Sang-in immediately flicked his fingers and activated the formation again. Once again, energy rose from all directions, and a protective barrier was deployed, and just like before, the situation outside was not visible.