Bachelor [EN]: Chapter 666

667. Demon Lake Island

Demon Lake Island was a small, obscure island on the edge of the inner sea, known only to the cultivators who frequented the area. It gained its name from the ‘Verdant Copper’ found in some of its lakes, a material that, while not precious, was essential for crafting certain unique magical artifacts. This attracted low-level cultivators from time to time.

The lakes here were a clear, beautiful jade color, and anyone who jumped in would naturally float. Despite the lake’s mysterious reputation, the island lacked spirit veins and lush forests, so it wasn’t a popular destination.

However, today, for some reason, 50 to 60 low-level cultivators had gathered by the central lake, setting up formations. Most were at the Qi Refining stage, with only about half a dozen at the Foundation Establishment stage.

In the middle of the lake, three Core Formation stage cultivators were in hushed conversation.

“Junior Brother Lei, are you sure about this? I’ve spent a fortune trying to break this restriction. I’ve already used over 200,000 spirit stones, and if we fail this time, I don’t know what I’ll do!”

“Senior Brother Oh, you’re exaggerating. You’re the wealthiest among us; how could you have spent all your fortune? Your Golden Inscription Pavilion is famous in this sea area; you can’t possibly be short of spirit stones.”

“That’s because you don’t know! Many large commercial establishments like the Fire Cloud Pavilion have sprung up around the Golden Inscription Pavilion, and we’re barely staying afloat.”

“Stop complaining. The Golden Inscription Pavilion hasn’t been in business for just a year or two. If it wasn’t profitable, it would have closed down already.”

A woman in a red robe retorted sharply at the old man’s sigh.

“It’s true that the Golden Inscription Pavilion used to earn a lot of spirit stones. But after Master disappeared a hundred years ago, we’ve been too busy trying to appease other forces. And about twenty years ago, after the news that Master was severely injured by the Six Extremes [a powerful force or technique] and his life was unknown, things have become extremely difficult. It’s only because I’m a late-stage Core Formation cultivator that we’ve managed to survive until now.”

“Enough. It’s not just you who has suffered since Master disappeared. Because of your fiery temper, you’ve made enemies with so many cultivators, and you’ve been chased and attacked for no reason for years. At least Senior Brother Oh has been running the Golden Inscription Pavilion and has connections with the Blood Light Sect, so he’s been living without worries.”

The man in the gray robe’s words made the man in the navy robe twist his face and retort.

“Senior Brother Oh, Junior Brother Lei, stop it. We’ve all suffered since Master disappeared. Shouldn’t we find the secret hideout today and divide the treasures? After that, we can hide somewhere to cultivate or expand our forces; who cares?”

At the woman’s words, the old man and the navy-robed youth exchanged glances and then fell silent. After a moment, the navy-robed youth asked the woman.

“Junior Sister Cai, are you sure there’s a secret hideout with treasures hidden beneath here? It’s definitely the restriction that Master set up, but he prepared so many temporary hideouts on small islands, didn’t he? If it’s just one of those places, then we’ve wasted our efforts.”

“Junior Brother Lei, are you saying you don’t believe me?”

The beautiful woman looked displeased.

“Junior Sister said you knew the location of Master’s hidden treasures, but you haven’t told us how you found out. Now that we’re about to break the restriction, please tell us. It’s true that Master favored you, but given his personality, he wouldn’t have told you this.”

The navy-robed youth licked his lips and said expressionlessly.

“That makes sense. It’s strange that a junior sister who disappeared for several years suddenly shows up and asks us to find treasures.”

The old man in the gray robe also supported the youth’s words.

“Are you saying that if I don’t tell you the truth, the two of you will join forces against me?”

The woman’s face turned cold, and as she raised one hand, a purple bracelet on her fair wrist was revealed. Seeing the bracelet with mysterious spells engraved on it, the old man and the youth’s expressions changed drastically.

“I never imagined that Master would give the Frozen Jade Bracelet to Junior Sister. With such a precious treasure, how could Senior Brother and I be a match for Junior Sister even if we joined forces?”

The navy-robed youth revealed jealousy and anger at the sight of the precious treasure. His anger was directed not at the woman, but at their master. The old man in the gray robe’s expression changed constantly, and then he made up his mind and burst into laughter.

“How could we have any other intentions towards Junior Sister? It’s just that we’ve spent so many spirit stones trying to break the lake’s restriction, so we just wanted to be sure.”

“Anyway, if we find the treasures, we can get all the spirit stones back, right? But if Senior Brother Oh and Junior Brother Lei are still curious, I can tell you.”

“Oh, is that so?”

The old man had a smile on his face, but the youth still had a dark expression and just listened.

“You all know that although I was Master’s disciple, I was actually his concubine. While I was serving him, he mumbled about this place in his sleep. Perhaps he was worried about how to deal with the treasures he had accumulated, since he didn’t have much time left.”

“You found out about the secret hideout so easily?”

Oh and Lei exchanged glances, and Lei couldn’t help but ask.

“Whether you believe it or not is none of my business, but if there were no treasures under here, why would Master have placed such a complex restriction on a temporary hideout?”

“It seems that Junior Brother Lei and I were short-sighted. It’s fortunate that the restriction has only one layer left. Isn’t that right? Then I’ll go see how far it’s progressed.”

Oh, the old man in the gray robe, coughed and flew towards the lake, emitting a yellow light.

“I’ll go check the situation too.”

Lei raised his eyebrows, spoke to Cai, and immediately descended into the lake with a flash of crimson light. As soon as Oh and Lei left, the woman curled her lips and her eyes turned cold.

After a shichen [approximately two hours], when Oh returned, the surface of the lake began to ripple, and Lei also emerged from the lake.

“Junior Brother Lei, Junior Sister Cai’s formation is already… That, what’s that?”

Oh was about to say something with a smile, but his expression changed instantly as he looked up at something. Cai and Lei were surprised and followed his gaze, and they saw a flash of blue light, and a dazzling blue beam of light was flying towards the lake where they were.

“This is bad, a high-level cultivator is coming this way!”

“A high-level cultivator in such a remote place? Could it be that the people you’re using have leaked the information?”

Cai questioned Oh.

“I haven’t said a word to anyone else; how could the information have leaked?”

“There’s no need to panic. It might just be passing by.”

At Lei’s words, Cai and Oh regained their composure, but the blue beam of light quickly approached, and the figure of a man was vaguely revealed.

“So fast!”

The Core Formation stage cultivators felt a bad premonition, and their expressions changed drastically. The blue beam of light stopped above the three cultivators, and the young man in the blue robe was looking down at them.

“Is this Demon Lake Island?”

At the young man’s blunt tone, the cultivators scanned the young man’s cultivation with their spiritual sense and were shocked.

“Yes, this is Demon Lake Island, Senior. If there is anything you need from us, we will do our best.”

Oh quickly bowed and smiled, hiding his surprised expression.

“Okay, then you guys are here…”

The young man scanned the low-level cultivators by the lake and had a smile that was not quite a smile.

“We are refining a special magical artifact and needed a large amount of Verdant Copper, so we brought our disciples to work.”

“Verdant Copper? Are you saying you’re setting up a formation to break the seal to get the material?”

The young man, with his arms crossed, could see at a glance that the low-level cultivators had set up various formations around the lake. He spoke with a smile, but it was clear that he didn’t believe the Core Formation stage cultivator’s words.

Oh, who didn’t know that the other party was skilled in formations, was sweating on his forehead. Cai and Lei were quietly bowing their heads, as if they were leaving everything to Oh.

“That’s a misunderstanding. I’m very interested in formations, so I’ve set up various formations to test their effects.”

Oh hurriedly made excuses, but the young man scanned them without any change in expression.

“What is your relationship with Manhozi?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Cai suddenly raised her head and answered.

“The cultivation techniques you’ve learned are all different, but they all resemble Manhozi’s Turbid Sky Demonic Art. You might have been able to deceive others, but not me. To think you’d run into me…”

“Do you know our master?”

Lei took a deep breath and asked, realizing that they could no longer deceive him.

“I’ve met him a few times. You’re probably here for the treasures at the bottom of the lake. Manhozi said he was the only one who knew about this place, so does your appearance here mean I was deceived? Or did you find out about this place through another route?”

At Han Li’s words, the cultivators’ hearts sank. No matter how they heard it, it was like a bolt from the blue for the three cultivators. Judging from the other party’s tone, it was clear that Manhozi had told him directly.

‘Is Master still alive?’

The same thought flashed through the minds of the three cultivators.

“The three of us are indeed disciples of Master Man. May I ask what your relationship is with our master, Senior?”

Cai was the first to regain her senses and asked with a forced smile.

“Manhozi is just… Hmm, this small island is quite crowded. Whoever you are, come out now.”

Han Li’s expression changed, and he flicked his five fingers towards the hill by the lake. Then, a navy-blue thread appeared, turned into a long beam of light, and flew towards the hill.

Cai’s face turned pale when she saw it.

Kwakwang!

After the blue light passed, half of the hill was cut off, and a bald giant emerged from within. The giant had a fierce face, and his clothes and even his body were shining with golden light, making him look like a person made of gold.

He raised a golden, glittering shield and created a semi-circular barrier, looking at Han Li with surprised eyes.

“Golden Flower Old Ancestor!”

Oh muttered in surprise. At that moment, a red light passed over the lake and hid behind the giant, and surprisingly, it was the Core Formation stage woman.

“Junior Sister Cai! You’ve brought in the Golden Flower Old Ancestor!”

Oh instantly understood what had happened and shouted.

“Tch, do you two even have the right to say that? Senior Brother Oh, you were plotting with the Blood Light Sect cultivators to kill me on the way back, weren’t you? You’re about to be married to the daughter of the sect leader after joining the Wood Sword Pavilion of Grass Capital Island! There were rumors that the wedding gifts would come from the treasures here.

If I hadn’t acted first, I would have been the one to lose my life today! But the Old Ancestor is already blocking the Blood Light Sect and the Wood Sword Pavilion, so you shouldn’t expect anything. Isn’t it right that I, who have been by Manhozi’s side for so long, should have his legacy? The Old Ancestor has also promised to take me in as his official wife.”

Cai smiled triumphantly and stood shoulder to shoulder with the giant in the golden robe.

“Then why did you ask us to come in the first place?”

“It’s because of the restriction under the lake. Among the disciples, only Senior Brother Oh and Junior Brother Lei were taught formations by Manhozi.”

It seemed that Cai had already decided to reveal her true colors to Oh and Lei. At this, Oh and Lei’s expressions twisted.

“Enough, let’s talk about our matters later. First, I need to have a few words with that cultivator.”

The bald giant frowned and interrupted Cai.

“Did you also come to find Manhozi’s secret hideout, cultivator?”

The Golden Flower Old Ancestor, an early Nascent Soul cultivator, couldn’t accurately gauge Han Li’s cultivation, so he became wary and scanned Han Li up and down as he asked.

“That’s right. The items under the lake are mine, so it would be best if you left, cultivator.”

At Han Li’s words, the bald giant was enraged, but at the same time, his heart turned cold. Judging from the other party’s tone, it was clear that he was a person with great divine powers. However, the giant calmed his anger and became serious.

“Are you trying to drive me away to take the treasures for yourself?”

# 668