Bachelor [EN]: Chapter 705

“What are these?”

The young boy didn’t recognize the flags. When they went to Mount Kunwu in the Great Jin, the Tian Lan Beast was still without intelligence, and he hadn’t seen Han Li obtain the Ghost Soul Banners.

However, how could the Tian Lan Beast not sense the aura of souls emanating from the Ghost Soul Banners before him!

“Can we use the souls within these already refined flags to create the Crimson Soul Banner?”

“If it’s just souls, there’s no reason why not. However, looking at them, both flags seem to be treasures of considerable value, even if they’re not as good as the Crimson Soul Banner. Wouldn’t it be a waste to destroy them like that? Besides, these two alone won’t provide nearly enough souls.”

The young boy, who had been examining the Ghost Soul Banners closely, replied.

“It’s alright. Although they are useful, they don’t mean much to me since I have a Spiritual Treasure. And as for the lack of souls… what if I had a dozen or so of these?”

“A dozen or so? So, these are part of a set of treasures! You already have a dozen of them.”

The young boy suddenly realized something and spoke.

“Not yet, but I know where to find them. To be honest, I also know of another treasure that contains even more condensed souls. Unfortunately, it’s in the hands of a Deity Transformation stage monster, so it’s difficult to get.”

Han Li mentioned another treasure with regret.

What he was talking about was the Myriad Demon Banner of the insect demon he had encountered in the Myriad Demon Valley. He had suffered quite a bit because of that banner back then, so he knew well that the number of souls it contained was incomparable to the Ghost Soul Banners.

“Since Fellow Cultivator Han is confident in gathering enough souls, I will teach you the method to refine the Crimson Soul Banner. I am also interested in the Primal Magnetic Divine Light. I wonder what will happen when you master it. So, will you start preparing to refine the Crimson Soul Banner as soon as you return to Tiannan?”

“There’s no need to rush. All of this is after I have first raised my magic power to the peak of the late Nascent Soul stage and thoroughly refined the cold flames of the Five-Colored Devilish Light. Besides, the remaining Ghost Soul Banners are in the hands of other Nascent Soul stage demonic cultivators, so I need to further hone my cultivation.”

“Do as you wish. Then, I will teach you the method to refine the Crimson Soul Banner when we return. If you gather the other auxiliary materials beforehand, you can save time.”

The young boy’s figure blurred, and his illusion disappeared. Han Li was inwardly delighted and emitted a strong blue light from his entire body, disappearing into the sky.

* * *

Several months later, he returned to Tiannan through the ancient teleportation array.

He collected the Six-Winged Flying Centipedes he had stationed to guard the teleportation array, destroyed the array once more, and left the underground cave.

Two months later, when he arrived at the Undulating Mountain Range of the State of Ji, Han Li informed Luo Ruo of his return and headed straight for the Mother Peak.

However, Nangong Wan was still in secluded cultivation. To cultivators, a mere year was nothing, so Han Li left her undisturbed.

The Tiannan cultivation world was completely unaware that the number one cultivator of Tiannan had been away from the Fallen Cloud Sect for some time.

However, Luo Ruo was relieved to hear that Han Li had returned.

The Fallen Cloud Sect was barely maintaining its position as a super sect thanks to Han Li’s reputation and the presence of three or four Nascent Soul stage cultivators within the sect.

As soon as Han Li returned to his residence, he used a flying sword message to send a jade slip to Liu Yu.

The message instructed her to gather the auxiliary materials needed to refine the Crimson Soul Banner while he was in secluded cultivation.

Afterward, he entered a secret chamber and focused on the final stage of the Azure Essence Sword Scripture and refining the cold flames contained within the Five-Colored Devilish Light.

As time flowed like water, fifty years passed in the blink of an eye.

During that time, Han Li only stopped cultivating once when Nangong Wan emerged from seclusion, and they spent some special time together traveling outside the Fallen Cloud Sect.

While traveling, Han Li was completely immersed in Nangong Wan, but after returning to the Mother Peak, he continued his arduous cultivation.

Such was the sorrow of cultivators.

They possessed lifespans that were incomparably longer than those of mortals, but they had to cultivate ceaselessly until death in pursuit of the dream of immortality.

This was a difficult task for ordinary cultivators, even if they were not naturally strong-willed.

Continuing to cultivate seemed endless, but giving up was not easy either.

However, the fact that their lifespan nearly doubled each time they reached a new realm was an enormous temptation.

Thus, the cultivators of the cultivation world were divided into two groups.

Those of the middle and lower ranks, whose aptitude and cultivation were not very high, realized that they were unlikely to improve much after reaching a certain level. They would take multiple concubines or make various friends and live freely.

Some even returned to the mortal world to care for their clans and rule over a region.

The remaining few high-level cultivators felt that the path to eternal life was not far off and did not waste a single moment, focusing solely on cultivation.

Han Li and Nangong Wan belonged to the latter group.

They were late and mid Nascent Soul stage cultivators, respectively, and were at the pinnacle of the human realm, but they did not give up hope of ascending to the Spirit Realm and achieving eternal life.

Although they cherished and loved each other as partners, they restrained the pleasures that could be enjoyed between a man and a woman.

While interactions between men and women could enhance cultivation, their cultivation methods were not greatly related to such things, and the increase in magic power was too insignificant compared to their cultivation. Rather, being bound by personal feelings could hinder their enlightenment. Therefore, after entering seclusion again, they did not easily emerge.

Then one day, lightning struck the clear sky above the Mother Peak, and the surrounding heaven and earth spiritual energy within hundreds of miles began to fluctuate. Countless, diverse masses of spiritual energy bloomed from the mountains, rocks, and trees, rapidly condensing towards the Mother Peak.

The resulting cloud of light was almost countless, and it swirled around the cave where Han Li was, painting the sky with vibrant colors.

This enormous celestial phenomenon caused not only Han Li’s disciples but also Nangong Wan, who was in secluded cultivation, to leave their secret chambers and look up at the sky.

The Mother Peak was not far from the Fallen Cloud Sect, so the high-level cultivators also sensed this and immediately transformed into a dozen or so dazzling streaks of light, flying out of the Fallen Cloud Sect’s grand formation and heading towards it.

At the very front were Luo Ruo and Madam Song, who had already reached the Nascent Soul stage, with serious expressions.

And right behind them was a woman in white robes, her face filled with joy. It was Liu Yu.

Although her cultivation had not improved much, she wielded power within the Fallen Cloud Sect on behalf of Han Li, making her the de facto leader, aside from the Nascent Soul stage elders.

Luo Ruo and Madam Song also respected her and treated her with courtesy.

Liu Yu was quite excited.

If Han Li were to make another breakthrough, her position would advance unhindered, like a ship sailing with the wind.

Having already tasted power, she was no longer in a state to focus on cultivation.

Even in her current state, not only her fellow cultivators but also the old monsters of the Nascent Soul stage were extremely polite to her. How could she not feel good about that!

Moreover, she was well aware of her own aptitude.

She had repeatedly tried to reach the Nascent Soul stage but had failed, and now she had given up hope and was only focused on assisting Luo Ruo in leading the Fallen Cloud Sect.

However, even if she could not achieve the Great Dao [the ultimate path of cultivation] on the path of cultivation, she did not want to live quietly and disappear without a trace. Luo Ruo was very satisfied with her attitude and often delegated important tasks and authority to her.

They had already arrived outside the Mother Peak, but a restriction blocked their way.

Seeing the cloud of light formed by the masses of spiritual energy in the sky rushing towards the secret chamber where Han Li was, they quickly sent a voice transmission inside.

After a while, the mist dispersed on its own, and everyone flew in without hesitation. At the end of the passage created through the mist, Mo Peiling appeared.

She was holding a yellow formation flag and waiting for them.

“Greetings, elders. Fellow Cultivator Nangong is waiting, so please follow me inside.”

They followed Mo Peiling towards the Child Peak, where Nangong Wan was standing in a pure white palace dress. She looked like a celestial maiden bathed in moonlight.

She nodded briefly to Luo Ruo and the others as they arrived, looking worried, and did not take her eyes off the cloud of spiritual energy. Beside her stood a man and a woman, Han Li’s disciples, Zhan Jin’er and Shi Jian.

Both of them had successfully formed their cores [reached the Core Formation stage] decades ago, and Zhan Jin’er, in particular, looked like she was still sixteen or seventeen years old because she had taken a pill that prevented her appearance from changing.

They bowed respectfully behind Nangong Wan as Madam Song and Luo Ruo arrived.

“Elder Nangong, is Fellow Cultivator Han trying to reach the Deity Transformation stage?”

Luo Ruo looked at Nangong Wan, unable to hide his excitement.

“If he weren’t struggling to reach the Deity Transformation stage, such an enormous spectacle wouldn’t have occurred. However, judging by how long this phenomenon has been going on, it doesn’t seem to be progressing smoothly.”

Nangong Wan’s eyes flickered.

“Not smoothly? How can that be? Fellow Cultivator Han has already caused such a massive change in the heavens.”

“If the clouds of spiritual energy were merging with my husband, we could say that he was almost successful. However, although he has managed to draw in the clouds of spiritual energy, he doesn’t seem to be properly controlling the heaven and earth spiritual energy. It doesn’t seem like it will go smoothly this time.”

After hearing Nangong Wan’s words, the others could see that the clouds of spiritual energy, emitting light, were struggling to fall towards the Mother Peak and were being repelled by an invisible force.

Luo Ruo’s heart grew heavy, and he did not ask further, focusing his gaze on the mountain peak. Although Madam Song did not speak, her trembling eyes showed that she was not at peace.

The other cultivators who were watching were the same, but they could not speak in front of the Nascent Soul stage elders.

Then, at that moment, the clouds of spiritual energy in the distant sky vibrated, and a world-shaking roar erupted, scattering into a myriad of colorful lights.

The masses of spiritual energy that had gathered around the Mother Peak disappeared in an instant.

The area around the Mother Peak returned to its original state as if nothing had happened.

A look of regret flashed across Nangong Wan’s face, and seeing this, Madam Song spoke.

“It is now certain that Fellow Cultivator Han has taken a step into the entrance of the Deity Transformation stage. Although he did not overcome the final hurdle today, it doesn’t matter. Considering Fellow Cultivator Han’s remaining lifespan and magic power, he can succeed again at any time.”

“That’s right! Seeing that he caused such a change in the heavens with his first attempt, he will surely succeed in the future.”

Luo Ruo was also regretful, but he hid it and nodded in agreement with Madam Song’s words.

“That’s true, but with my husband’s cautious nature, he wouldn’t have attempted to enter the Deity Transformation stage without being fully prepared. He would have cultivated until he could no longer increase his cultivation, and then taken the final step. So, unless he encounters a fortuitous opportunity, the result will not change no matter how many times he tries.”

Nangong Wan smiled wryly after a moment of silence. But how could Luo Ruo and Madam Song not know this?

They were just comforting each other, but Nangong Wan’s cold words made them unable to continue speaking.

Liu Yu was also about to say something out of regret when Han Li’s clear voice was heard from the Mother Peak.

The voice was neither loud nor soft, but it was clearly heard by everyone.

“Wan has come! And Senior Brother Luo, and Junior Sister Song as well. Since you’re here, come inside. Since my attempt to enter the Deity Transformation stage has failed, I will probably have to leave Tiannan for a while. Luo Yu, come in as well.”

“Let’s all go in together.”

Nangong Wan smiled at Luo Ruo and the others after hearing Han Li’s voice. Luo Ruo and Madam Song did not refuse and followed her inside.