Bachelor [EN]: Chapter 696

‘That’s true, but…’

Han Li was about to say something but turned his head to look at the entrance of the main hall.

Shortly after, three cultivators entered through the entrance.

One was in the mid-Nascent Soul stage, and the other two were in the early stage.

The mid-Nascent Soul cultivator was a burly man with pockmarks all over his face, wearing a purple robe. He didn’t even pay respects to Ling Yuling and instead scanned Han Li with an arrogant expression.

However, his pupils contracted, and he wore an expression of disbelief.

‘Elder Ma, please come in. Once you are seated, I will introduce the honored guest of the Star Palace after the other elders arrive,’ Ling Yuling said with a smile.

‘His cultivation is so profound that it’s impossible to fathom, so it’s no wonder the Palace Lord values him.’

The burly man quickly regained his composure, gave Han Li a perfunctory smile, and then sat down in a chair.

The other two Star Palace elders also bowed to Ling Yuling after the burly man in the purple robe sat down quietly, and then followed suit.

Ling Yuling raised her hand and subtly swept her hair back, a flash of coldness passing through her gaze.

Seeing this, Han Li simply wore a strange expression, as if he was smiling or not.

It was clear at a glance that the man called Elder Ma seemed to be dissatisfied with the newly appointed Star Palace Lord, and Ling Yuling also seemed to be trying to use this opportunity to establish her authority by borrowing his prestige.

Soon after, other Star Palace elders arrived one after another, and they were all surprised by the appearance of an unfamiliar Great Cultivator named Han Li.

They were all shrewd old men, and just by seeing Elder Ma obediently lower his tail, they were startled and looked at Han Li with the utmost respect.

In an instant, about twenty Star Palace elders gathered in the main hall. Except for Old Man Jo, the burly man in the purple robe, and Ling Yuling, who were in the mid-Nascent Soul stage, the rest were all cultivators in the early stage.

‘Now that almost everyone has arrived, I will introduce our honored guest. This is Cultivator Han Li, whom the former Palace Lord personally invited as an honored guest elder!’

‘Cultivator Han… what, Han Li?’

As expected, it seemed that everyone had heard the name, and someone murmured in surprise amidst the commotion. Han Li’s eyes lit up as he looked over, and unexpectedly, it was an old man with a kind face wearing white clothes.

Looking at the old man, Han Li searched his memory and, after remembering something, his expression changed.

‘Who would have thought it was you? I saw you at the Illusory Sky Hall. You were in charge of opening the Illusory Sky Hall at the time… Where is the other cultivator?’

Han Li’s voice became a little grim. In response, the old man in white clothes turned pale.

He was surprisingly the Star Palace law enforcement elder who had almost killed Han Li with a single blow to the heart at the Illusory Sky Hall!

At first, he had only thought that he looked familiar, but after hearing the other party’s murmur, he remembered.

‘Does Brother Han know Elder Seomun?’

‘It’s nothing. I just had an unpleasant encounter with Cultivator Seomun before I condensed my Nascent Soul [a stage of cultivation].’

Han Li, whose expression had darkened, immediately returned to a blank expression and answered, as if he had thought of something.

‘I see. Even if Elder Seomun has caused any trouble for the cultivator, I hope Brother Han will be generous.

Then, shall we talk about dealing with Man Chun-myung again?’

She glossed over it, and Ling Yuling also felt relieved and hurriedly changed the subject. However, the old man in white clothes found it difficult to calm his uneasy heart.

‘I don’t know what the Heavenly Star Twins told Cultivator Ling… but the condition I agreed to was that I would only help within my capabilities when the cultivator’s life was in danger.

But are you asking me to risk my life fighting a cultivator of the same level for the sake of the Star Palace?’

The entire main hall became as quiet as a graveyard at Han Li’s calm question.

‘If the Star Palace suffers, would I be safe? Besides, I never asked Brother Han to risk his life fighting Man Chun-myung.

I only hoped that you would hold him back during the battle, and that should be within Brother Han’s capabilities.’

Ling Yuling narrowed her beautiful brows.

‘It’s not impossible, but who can guarantee that once we start fighting, it won’t lead to a life-or-death battle, especially since the opponent is also a Great Cultivator [a powerful cultivator]?

If you promise that I can leave at any time if the opponent tries to use a powerful technique, then I will consider stepping forward.

Besides, you know that the safety of the Star Palace and the safety of the cultivator are different matters. Even if the Star Palace disappears, the cultivator’s life can be saved.’

As Han Li pointed out each point, Ling Yuling’s expression subtly changed.

‘According to what Cultivator Han said, it means that you will eventually step forward. If we pay a suitable price! Am I right?’

Old Man Jo, who had been listening silently, stroked his beard and interjected.

‘Of course, there is nothing in this world that cannot be traded. If your palace offers sufficient conditions, it is not impossible to face Man Chun-myung at the risk of my life.’

‘Do you have something you desire?’

This time, Elder Ma opened his mouth with a glint in his eyes.

‘Well, rather than that, why don’t you make an offer?’

At Han Li’s indifferent words, the expressions of the Star Palace elders changed, and some of them exchanged messages with each other and discussed.

It was natural for anyone to refuse to fight a cultivator of the same level at the risk of their life unless a considerable price was offered.

Therefore, no one was angry or felt resentment when Han Li refused to engage in a life-or-death battle.

Moreover, everyone knew that the battles between Great Cultivators at the pinnacle of the human realm were much more intense and dangerous.

The problem now was to offer a trade condition that Han Li would find satisfactory. What kind of magical treasures, materials, or cultivation techniques and secret arts would please a Great Cultivator!

Ling Yuling, who was sitting at the highest seat, quietly watched the elders murmuring and exchanging private conversations before moving her red lips.

‘What Brother Han said makes sense. However, it would be difficult to win Brother Han’s heart with ordinary items. How about offering the Star Palace’s Yuanzi Divine Light cultivation method and Yuanzi Mountain as conditions?

It is such a profound technique that I believe only a genius like Brother Han is qualified to cultivate it, which is why I am offering it.’

At the woman’s words, Han Li was lost in thought for a moment. The other Star Palace elders were also startled and exchanged glances as if they found it strange, but no one stepped forward to object.

The Yuanzi Divine Light was a famous cultivation method that the Heavenly Star Twins had cultivated, but they also knew all about its difficulty and shortcomings, so it was no different from a white elephant for ordinary Nascent Soul stage cultivators.

Therefore, they were not only not opposed to offering the Yuanzi Divine Light cultivation method and Yuanzi Mountain as trade conditions, but they were also worried that Han Li would refuse.

Contrary to everyone’s expectations, Han Li nodded without much deliberation.

‘It seems that Fairy Ling knew what I wanted. I am not a greedy person, so let’s trade with that.

I cannot promise to kill Man Chun-myung, but I will prevent him from harming other cultivators.’

‘Good! I believe that Brother Han will not break his promise. I will immediately pass on the cultivation method of the Yuanzi Divine Light, and I will give you the Yuanzi Mountain as soon as the battle is over.’

‘Then I will wait for Cultivator Ling’s news. I am tired from traveling a long distance, so may I take a rest first?’

‘Of course! Elder Jo, please take Cultivator Han to his resting place and treat him well.’

Ling Yuling agreed and instructed Elder Jo with a bright face.

The white-haired old man quickly replied, bowed to the Palace Lord, and then guided Han Li out.

Han Li nodded towards Ling Yuling and, as he followed behind, suddenly looked meaningfully at Elder Seomun, who was sitting among the elders.

‘Hic!’

Only then did Han Li leave the main hall without any change in expression, but the remaining Elder Seomun’s heart sank.

Cold sweat ran down his back, and he felt excruciating pain in his consciousness, almost falling out of his chair.

However, as soon as Han Li disappeared from his sight, the pain vanished as if it had been washed away, and everything returned to normal as if he had just had a dream.

Even if he was a Great Cultivator, he could not enter deep into the Star Palace and openly kill an elder there.

However, the old man decided that he would hide in a secret place after this meeting and only appear after the battle had begun.

He judged that he might suffer great harm if he lingered in front of Han Li.

Since he had almost lost his life to his flying sword at the time, it was not a grudge that would be easily forgotten.

‘Palace Lord, can Cultivator Han really deal with Man Chun-myung? What if he is just saying that and betrays us by colluding with the Reverse Star Alliance? Wouldn’t it be safer to just use the power of the restrictions to defend Heavenly Star City?’

After Han Li and Elder Jo left the main hall, the burly man in the purple robe raised a question to Ling Yuling.

‘Don’t worry. Cultivator Han and I have known each other since before he made an agreement with the former Palace Lords.

Although we cannot say that we are close, I know that he had a deep conflict with the demonic old monsters of the Reverse Star Alliance regarding the Illusory Sky Hall. He is definitely someone who cannot collude with them.

Also, Cultivator Han became a Great Cultivator before Man Chun-myung and possesses the Illusory Sky Hall, so his chances of winning are much higher. And is there a better alternative than this right now?

No matter how miraculous the formation that defends Heavenly Star City is, how long can it last when the opponent is pouring the power of wind and fire day and night with the Wind and Fire Heavenly Severing Formation [a powerful formation]?

We must decide the outcome through this battle. When the time comes, either the Reverse Star Alliance will disappear, or our Star Palace will disappear.’

Ling Yuling declared decisively.

‘Since the Palace Lord says so, I have no choice but to trust that person.’

The burly man in the purple robe also thought about it carefully, but since there was no other solution, he had no choice but to agree.

Ling Yuling smiled calmly as he no longer argued and said,

‘Now, let’s discuss how we will attack them on the day of the decisive battle…’

*

Inside a secret chamber, Han Li was sitting in a lotus position, forming hand seals with his eyes closed. After some time, his eyelids twitched, and he slowly opened his eyes.

‘You’ve decided to take action.’

Han Li heard the laughing voice of the boy who was the transformed spirit of the Heavenly Orchid.

‘How did you know?’

‘I don’t know exactly what kind of secret technique it is, but didn’t you leave a mark on that person’s consciousness before leaving the main hall? It’s not like Cultivator Han did that just to have a chat with him.’

‘Since the cultivator has seen through it, I won’t deny it. I almost lost my life to that person, so I can’t just let it go without getting revenge!

The situation was a bit inconvenient at the Star Palace battle, but now that he has already left that place, it’s time to move.’

Han Li sneered and then touched his waist. A silver light flashed, and a humanoid puppet appeared silently and seeped into the wall of the secret chamber without a sound.

Han Li also got up and walked towards the stone door of the secret chamber. He passed through a short passage and emerged into the main hall of the building where he was staying. Old Man Jo was sitting there, drinking tea, and discovered him.

‘I heard that Cultivator Jo is also proficient in wood-attribute techniques. If you don’t mind, how about we discuss our insights on cultivation?’

Han Li looked at the surprised old man with a smile.

Half a day later, one of the spirit lamps called the Yuan Spirit Lamp in a certain place in the Star Palace went out.

The Star Palace disciple who was guarding the place was startled and hurriedly reported to the higher-ups, and at the same time, the Star Palace became chaotic.

After an hour, several Star Palace elders rushed to the residence where Elder Seomun was staying and broke into one of the secret chambers.

This was because a disciple had seen Elder Seomun enter that place.

However, no trace of Elder Seomun could be found anywhere in the secret chamber. After that, various rumors circulated about the strange disappearance and death of Elder Seomun.

*