Bachelor [EN]: Chapter 683

A shichen [roughly two hours] later, Han Li sat on the main seat in the grand hall, with four women standing respectfully with their hands clasped at their sides.

Only after returning to the 낙운 [Falling Cloud] Sect did Mo Peiling and the other women learn that Han Li had not only become a Great Cultivator of the Nascent Soul late stage but had also surpassed the other three cultivators, establishing himself as the number one cultivator in the 천남 [Southern Heaven] region.

“There’s no need to worry about the second Nascent Soul. I’ll erase its self-awareness and refine it again in a few days. But you all have quite the nerve. How dare you think of entering the core of the 추마 [Demon Bone] Pit? Don’t you know that even Nascent Soul cultivators who entered the core have never returned alive?”

Han Li coldly reprimanded the three women.

“We apologize, Senior Uncle. We were in desperate need of the 환령 [Returning Spirit] Grass, so we took the risk. We will never cause you such worry again,” Song said immediately, explaining their actions.

“If it’s the 환령 [Returning Spirit] Grass, then you must have been trying to refine the 환멸 [Returning Extinction] Pill to overcome a cultivation bottleneck, right?”

“That’s correct, Master,” Liu Yu answered honestly this time.

“If that’s the reason, there’s no need to go searching for the 환령 [Returning Spirit] Grass. I happen to have a bottle of it. You can each take two pills,” Han Li said, casually taking out a small cyan bottle from his storage pouch and tossing it to Liu Yu. It was something one of the Nascent Soul old monsters he had killed possessed, and since it was useless to him, he decided to give it away.

Liu Yu, overjoyed by Han Li’s words, thanked him repeatedly. Song and Mo Peiling also bowed their heads, unable to hide their delight.

“It’s just a bottle of pills, that’s enough. There are more important matters I’ve called you here to discuss.”

“We will follow your orders, no matter what they may be,” Song replied respectfully, and the other women listened intently.

“As you know, I don’t want to be involved in managing the sect. However, as the Grand Elder, I can’t just ignore everything and leave it all to Senior Uncle Lü, can I? So, I need a disciple to assist Senior Uncle Lü while I’m in closed-door cultivation.

Liu Yu, how would you like to manage the sect’s affairs on my behalf? Of course, I won’t let you waste your time. I’ll give you useful secret techniques and treasures, making you unmatched among cultivators of the same level. And if you wish, I can formally accept you as my disciple.”

“Really?”

“Would I lie to you in my current position?”

“This disciple will follow Master’s will!”

Liu Yu accepted Han Li’s command without hesitation. Whether it was the power within the 낙운 [Falling Cloud] Sect or the chance to become Han Li’s formal disciple that moved her was unknown.

Han Li nodded in satisfaction. He flicked his sleeve, and a white jade slip, a green ring, a red hairpin, and a golden, radiant flying sword appeared before her.

Liu Yu received the jade slip and treasures with both hands, bowing repeatedly, her face filled with excitement. She didn’t know what secret techniques were written on the jade slip, but the treasures were all incredibly precious, things she could only dream of in the past.

“Go see Senior Brother Lü for now. I’ll send a voice transmission to let him know in advance,” Han Li said. Liu Yu obediently replied and immediately left the hall. After she left, Han Li took out a voice transmission talisman, muttered something, and flicked his hand. The talisman turned into a streak of fire and disappeared.

“I have a separate task for you, Junior Sister Song.”

“I will follow your orders, no matter what they may be.”

“It’s nothing special. Within the next few years, when the sect takes in new disciples, find a disciple with an innately strong consciousness and bring them to me. I will take them under my wing and teach them separately.”

“A cultivator with an innately strong consciousness… They’re rare, perhaps one in a hundred years. I can’t guarantee it, but I will do my best!” Song replied hesitantly.

“There’s no rush, just keep an eye out. I see that you’ve already reached the peak of the Core Formation middle stage. I’m not sure if you can advance your cultivation just by relying on the 환멸 [Returning Extinction] Pill. This is the 陰元 [Yin Origin] Pill. It’s not a famous pill, but it’s said to have great effects on female cultivators who are virgins. Try taking it,” Han Li said, raising one hand. A black bottle appeared from the blue light and flew silently towards her. Song had never heard of the 陰元 [Yin Origin] Pill, but she believed that anything Han Li, a Great Cultivator, said would surely be of great help.

The woman thanked him joyfully, and Han Li gave her a few instructions before sending her away. Now, his gaze turned to Mo Peiling.

Mo Peiling seemed a little nervous, slightly raising her head before lowering it when she saw him looking at her. Her fair ears were flushed red.

“It’s already been a hundred years since you became my concubine.”

“Yes, when you took me in, you had just succeeded in forming your Nascent Soul, and now you’ve already become a Great Cultivator of the late stage.”

“Originally, I had you practice the 전봉배원 [Dual Cultivation] Technique, which was meant to help you overcome the Nascent Soul cultivation bottleneck, but you advanced to the middle and late stages faster than planned. However, the 전봉배원 [Dual Cultivation] Technique is only useful at the Nascent Soul stage.”

“Does what you say mean… that you are going to send me away from 자모 [Violet Mother] Peak?” Mo Peiling’s face turned pale.

“Why would I send you away? That’s not what I meant. But half of the reason you became my concubine back then was due to pressure from your family. Now that you’re a Core Formation cultivator, no one will force you into marriage.

And I can’t keep you by my side with such an ambiguous status. It’s hindering your future, and when Wan’er returns, what will I say?” Han Li paused after saying this.

“Then, what do you want to do with me?”

“It’s simple. Like before, I’ll give you two choices. First, you’ve suffered enough while practicing the 전봉배원 [Dual Cultivation] Technique, so I’ll give you ample compensation and set you free. You can leave 자모 [Violet Mother] Peak and marry whomever you wish, and I won’t interfere.”

“Even with your current reputation, who in 천남 [Southern Heaven] would dare to take me as a wife if you release me?” Mo Peiling muttered with a bitter smile. Han Li frowned at her words and continued.

“Second, if you want to focus on cultivation, you can continue to stay on 자모 [Violet Mother] Peak and remain my concubine in name only. In reality, I will accept you as my disciple and guide your cultivation. Your aptitude isn’t bad, so it would be good to make you Wan’er’s disciple and have her teach you her techniques.

It’s a technique more suitable for women, so it might be better than learning from me. This way, there will be talk, but it won’t cause you any great harm.” Han Li stared directly at the woman’s face. However, Mo Peiling’s face darkened even after hearing the two choices.

“Can’t I choose both?”

“What do you mean?”

“I want to become your true concubine! I want to follow you for the rest of my life.”

“That’s not possible.” Han Li’s expression changed at Mo Peiling’s resolute appearance, but he ultimately shook his head.

“Is it because my cultivation is too low to serve you? Or is it because you don’t like my appearance?” Mo Peiling’s face turned white.

“It’s neither. Your cultivation at the Core Formation middle stage is by no means low, and your appearance is among the top ten of all the women I’ve seen.”

“Then, is it because you’re worried that Elder Nangong might dislike it that you rejected me without a second thought?”

“Of course, Wan’er’s thoughts are important. But more importantly, I’ve been focusing solely on cultivation, and I’ve been in closed-door cultivation for decades at a time. If you were a Nascent Soul cultivator, with a lifespan of a thousand years, it wouldn’t matter as much, but with your current cultivation, if I go into closed-door cultivation, you might only have a few chances to see me in your lifetime. I can’t let you waste your precious time like that.”

It was a difficult situation for Han Li as well.

Even with large amounts of pills, condensing a Nascent Soul required a stroke of luck. Mo Peiling knew this, so she already knew that her chances of condensing a Nascent Soul were not high.

Mo Peiling, who had been stunned by Han Li’s words, tried to say something, but he waved his hand to stop her.

“I’m not asking you to choose right now, so think about it slowly for a few years. I’ll be entering closed-door cultivation for a while. In the meantime, focus on your cultivation and also pay attention to teaching the basic techniques of 전금아 [Golden Cicada] on my behalf.”

“Yes! I will follow your orders.”

Han Li nodded at her reply and gave her some pills that would help with her cultivation. He then gave her a few more instructions regarding 전금아 [Golden Cicada] before sending her away.

Alone in the grand hall, Han Li finally closed his eyes and let out a long sigh. His heart seemed uneasy.

A moment later, he opened his eyes again, having regained his usual composure. He flicked his storage pouch and summoned a silver, shining humanoid puppet.

Han Li quietly examined the puppet. When he moved his consciousness, a silver light flickered on the puppet’s face.

The puppet, which had originally had the appearance of a middle-aged man, began to blur vaguely. When the light disappeared, it had transformed into an exact replica of Han Li. Soon, its body shrank, its form became blurry, and it vanished.

Han Li nodded in satisfaction and stood up, heading towards one of the secret chambers in his residence. Before reaching the secret chamber, he suddenly spoke.

“Is the second Nascent Soul behaving itself? I hope it’s not causing any trouble for the cultivator.”

“How could a mid-stage Nascent Soul without a physical body cause trouble for this old man? It’s just that having another one in here makes the pot a bit cramped,” a young boy’s voice came from within his sleeve.

“Heavenly Orchid Saint Ancestor, please bear with it a little longer. I will assimilate and retrieve the second Nascent Soul again. After this is done, I will help the cultivator overcome the Heavenly Tribulation of Fire. Is that alright with you?”

“As long as you remember that, I can wait as long as necessary,” the Heavenly Orchid Saint Ancestor replied happily and readily. Han Li smiled and entered the secret chamber. The stone door closed silently behind him.

Reaching the center of the secret chamber, he immediately flicked his sleeve. A blue light burst out, swirling in the air before a blue cauldron appeared. A vague figure of a young boy emerged from the cauldron, sitting on top of it with a beaming face.

It was like a child waiting for a good show.

He immediately flicked his storage pouch and took out a set of formation flags, sending over a dozen flags to various parts of the secret chamber. A yellow protective barrier suddenly appeared, enveloping the entire space.

Han Li formed a hand seal and pointed at the 허천 [Void Sky] Cauldron.

Swish!

The lid flew off, and the young boy, as if expecting it, moved to the side and watched the cauldron with a smile. Nothing came out of the cauldron except for a rumbling sound.

Han Li’s face hardened as he chanted an incantation and sent out a magic seal. The 허천 [Void Sky] Cauldron trembled slightly, and a bluish object rose up. It was something about a chi long, wrapped in blue threads, looking like a silkworm cocoon.

“Break!” Han Li shouted softly, and a strange thing happened. The blue threads split apart, and a dark green second Nascent Soul appeared. It was limp with its eyes closed, as if it had no consciousness.

Han Li narrowed his eyes and stretched out his hand into the air. Silver, shining needles extended from his fingertips and disappeared into the Nascent Soul in the air. The unconscious Nascent Soul flashed black light all over its body and disappeared on the spot.

The silver needles pierced through the air and fell apart. Yet, Han Li was not flustered at all. Instead, he raised the corners of his mouth and pointed at the 허천 [Void Sky] Cauldron. A bundle of blue threads flew from one side of the secret chamber and rushed towards somewhere.

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