Bachelor [EN]: Chapter 708

Han Li sat on the chair, observing the monk with an intrigued gaze. The monk didn’t have the youthful appearance of Yeomjuk, but he still looked like a scholar in his thirties, which didn’t match his frail, aged voice. However, Han Li had heard the name Wonji before. He was one of the three great cultivators of the Thunder Sound Sect (雷音宗), one of the four major Buddhist sects. Unlike other great Buddhist cultivators, Great Master Wonji had a unique reputation in the Great Jin and also held the rare position of Vajra Protector (金剛護法) [a powerful guardian deity in Buddhism]. Other than that, Han Li didn’t know much about him, except that he disliked the Taoist and Confucian sects. “I didn’t know that Great Master Wonji of the Thunder Sound Sect was serving as an Elder Guest of the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion. I almost made a mistake,” Han Li said, smiling as he sat on the chair and clasped his hands in greeting after observing the silver-robed monk for a while. “I don’t know which sect you belong to, Fellow Cultivator Han. It seems I’m meeting you for the first time,” Great Master Wonji asked, his eyes flashing at Han Li’s presumptuous attitude. “It’s natural that you don’t know. I’m also meeting a high monk of the Thunder Sound Sect for the first time.” “Senior Brother Wonji may be meeting Fellow Cultivator Han for the first time, but he has probably heard his name many times,” Yeomjuk, with his youthful face, chuckled lightly, making an unexpected remark. Han Li’s expression subtly changed as he turned to look at Yeomjuk. Chan Go flinched and immediately fell into thought. “Junior Brother Yeomjuk, what do you mean by that?” Great Master Wonji asked, looking puzzled. “You must remember the chaos caused by the Demonic Beasts of Kunwu Mountain and the disturbances at the Lesser Extreme Palace more than two hundred years ago. If my guess is correct, Fellow Cultivator Han is the one who directly experienced those two incidents.” “Kunwu Mountain and the Lesser Extreme Palace? Could it be that he is the one the Yin Fiend Sect and the Lesser Extreme Palace have been pursuing all along?” Great Master Wonji was startled and looked at Han Li with a new gaze. “I didn’t expect you to remember things from so long ago. Are you going to capture me and take me back there?” “Haha, Brother Han, what are you saying! Although the Yin Fiend Sect and the Lesser Extreme Palace have considerable power, they have nothing to do with our Heavenly Secrets Pavilion. Our pavilion has no reason to waste energy on such pointless matters. By the way, I heard that Brother Han was responsible for the deaths of the Yin Fiend Sect’s Old Demon Geon and the Lesser Extreme Palace’s Han Ryeo-sang. Is that true?” Pavilion Master Chan Go asked, feeling a chill in his heart as Han Li admitted everything. “There were various reasons why those things happened back then. But now, even if I deny the matters of Old Demon Geon and Han Ryeo-sang, no one would believe me.” Han Li sneered, raising the corners of his mouth. “I heard that Brother Han was a mid-Nascent Soul cultivator back then? If the rumors are true, you annihilated two great cultivators in that state, so your divine abilities must be extraordinary now that you’ve reached the late stage. This old monk is even more eager to test his skills with you,” Great Master Wonji said cautiously, his expression changing. “Great Master Wonji, is there really a need for that? If Brother Han sincerely wants to purchase the refinement method of the mustard seed space, we can sit down and discuss it calmly,” Pavilion Master Chan Go said, trying to dissuade the monk, knowing who he was dealing with. It seemed he didn’t want Han Li and the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion’s Elder Guest to clash. “Fellow Cultivator Chan Go, don’t stop me. Even if it weren’t about the mustard seed space, this old monk would still want to spar with Fellow Cultivator Han! I’ve been stuck in the late Nascent Soul stage for a long time, and this is an opportunity to gain enlightenment by exchanging blows with a cultivator of the same level. If Fellow Cultivator Han is as skilled as they say, I can’t miss this opportunity,” Great Master Wonji said, his eyes fixed solely on Han Li. Hearing this, Chan Go’s face darkened, and he glanced at Yeomjuk. “Fellow Cultivator Chan, don’t worry. It’s just a friendly spar, and neither Senior Brother Wonji nor Fellow Cultivator Han will come to any harm. Besides, this old monk also wants to see what kind of divine abilities a great cultivator from the Southern Border possesses!” Yeomjuk said with a smile, leaving the pavilion master speechless. “Do you know my origins?” Han Li asked, feeling a weight in his heart as Yeomjuk mentioned the Southern Border. “Don’t be surprised, Brother Han! Your identity is shrouded in secrecy among ordinary cultivators, but how could the Ten Great Righteous and Demonic Sects not be able to track you down? You don’t think the Yin Fiend Sect or the Lesser Extreme Palace still don’t know your origins, do you? They’re just pretending not to know because they fear your divine abilities. Both factions lost great cultivators and several Nascent Soul elders back then, and the local forces that are constantly targeting them are not to be trifled with. If that weren’t the case, your life in the Southern Border wouldn’t have been as peaceful as it has been,” Yeomjuk explained calmly, anticipating Han Li’s thoughts. “I see! I’m sure the Yin Fiend Sect knows my identity, even if other sects don’t. But I have no intention of sparring with a cultivator of the same level unless it’s for the mustard seed space. If I win, will Pavilion Master Chan Go promise to give me the refinement method?” Han Li’s expression relaxed after hearing the explanation. At those words, Great Master Wonji looked at the pavilion master. The pavilion master, who had looked unwell, smiled brightly again as if he had made a decision. “If Fellow Cultivator Han is confident, then I have no choice. If you can gain an advantage over Great Master Wonji, I will give you the refinement method of the mustard seed space.” “I’m relieved to hear you say that, Pavilion Master Chan Go. Then, shall I receive some guidance from Great Master Wonji? To be honest, I’m quite interested in Buddhist secret arts,” Han Li said, smiling as he rose from his seat. As the duel between the great cultivators was about to begin, the Core Formation cultivators who were standing on both sides began to murmur, and some couldn’t hide their excitement. Great Master Wonji sneered at Han Li’s provocation, revealing a fierce aura on his handsome face. “It wouldn’t be appropriate to spar within the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion with your divine abilities. How about we go outside? You two aren’t bound by the restrictions of the pavilion anyway,” Pavilion Master Chan Go suggested, considering the situation. “That’s fine. This old monk has no objections.” “I’ll do as the pavilion master says,” Great Master Wonji nodded slowly, and Han Li also showed that he didn’t mind. Thus, they went outside the main hall and reached the entrance again. The others remained in their places, while only Han Li and Great Master Wonji moved. One soared into the sky as a streak of blue light, and the other slowly rose, white lotuses blooming beneath his feet. Soon, they were floating in the sky above the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion, facing each other at a distance of several tens of feet. Great Master Wonji looked at Han Li with a serious expression and chanted a Buddhist invocation, a faint golden light appearing on his face. Seeing this, Han Li’s leisurely expression changed. “I’ve heard that Great Master Wonji is the Vajra Protector of the Buddhist sect. Is the cultivation method you practice the Myo-oh-gyeol?” “Oh, I didn’t know that Fellow Cultivator Han was so knowledgeable about Buddhist cultivation methods. This old monk is indeed practicing the Myo-oh-gyeol [a powerful Buddhist cultivation technique]. I look forward to your guidance,” Great Master Wonji replied straightforwardly after being momentarily speechless at Han Li’s immediate recognition of his cultivation method. Then, he clasped his hands together and chanted a Buddhist scripture, silver incantations swirling around his silver robe, turning his entire body golden. It was as if a golden statue of Sakyamuni [the historical Buddha] had appeared. Han Li’s expression remained unchanged, but he was inwardly surprised. ‘The Myo-oh-gyeol has already reached the fourth level!’ This meant that the opponent’s body was stronger than ordinary magical treasures and could not be cut by ordinary means. However, if that was all the opponent had to show, he would certainly not be his match. Han Li also flicked his sleeve, summoning dozens of golden flying swords that emitted clear cries. The flying swords transformed into long swords, each a foot long, and flew around him. Then, he lightly gestured with his hand. Woong! The flying swords vibrated, and their golden light intensified, instantly multiplying into seven each, creating hundreds of sword lights that covered the sky. The pavilion master and the Core Formation cultivators watching from below had their expressions change drastically at the sight of the sword lights, which resembled a golden wave. Although nothing had happened yet, the golden wave created by Han Li alone would be enough to overwhelm most Nascent Soul cultivators. Seeing this, Great Master Wonji formed a hand seal, and red and green lights flashed, transforming into a bright red Zen staff and a jade-green rosary, respectively. At the same time, Han Li also formed a hand seal with both hands, and hundreds of sword lights whirred as they flew towards the monk. “Let’s see what you’ve got,” Great Master Wonji shouted and fiercely flicked his hand. Then, the bright red Zen staff transformed into a red flood dragon and flew forward, while the jade-green rosary shimmered with green light, creating a protective barrier around him. Then, the great Buddhist cultivator closed his eyes and changed the hand seals with both hands, preparing a profound divine ability. Then, the red flood dragon trembled from head to tail and plunged into the golden wave of Azure Bamboo Cloud Swords. Despite being slashed by hundreds of flying swords at the same time, the red flood dragon, made of an unknown material, was not cut by the sword lights enhanced with essence. Instead, it tore and bit at the sword lights with its sharp teeth and claws. “Ten-Thousand-Year Fire Coral!” Han Li said, his eyes gleaming as he recognized the material. It was true that essence made the flying swords sharper, but it wasn’t as if there were no materials in the human realm that could match it. The Ten-Thousand-Year Fire Coral was one of them. However, such materials were even harder to obtain than essence, and Great Master Wonji’s staff was surprisingly made by refining the Ten-Thousand-Year Fire Coral, which was why it was not inferior to the Azure Bamboo Cloud Swords. Han Li was slightly surprised, but he wasn’t worried because the true power of the Azure Bamboo Cloud Swords didn’t just come from their sharpness. As he controlled them with his mind, only some of the sword lights held the red flood dragon in place, while the rest swirled around it and surged towards the monk. Despite the countless golden lights flying towards him, Great Master Wonji, who was still forming hand seals with both hands, didn’t seem to care. He seemed to have complete faith in the protective barrier created by the rosary. Han Li snorted inwardly, and the power of the sword lights intensified. Thump! Thump! The golden lights pierced the barrier, making dull sounds like old trees, but they only shook for a moment and didn’t create any holes. At this, Han Li recited a sword incantation in his mind. Woong! At the same time, hundreds of sword lights around the monk resonated, and they immediately soared high into the sky, merging into a single long sword. At that moment, Han Li reached out without hesitation. Chwa-reuk! The golden sword instantly darkened and began to emit a white chill, transforming into a giant ice pillar, tens of feet in size, in an instant. Seeing this, Great Master Wonji, who was below, also changed his expression. And then, Han Li coldly shouted as he swept his hand horizontally. “Cut it down.” The ice sword flashed and fell fiercely, creating ripples in the surrounding space even before it touched the green protective barrier. Woong! It was as if a giant iceberg was falling. At this, Great Master Wonji couldn’t just stand still, relying solely on the green protective barrier. He chanted a Buddhist invocation, and the lotus beneath his feet spun. At that moment, seven-colored Buddhist light spread out, and the monk disappeared from his spot. Then, the giant sword whirred and cut through the empty air. And the next moment, a white light flashed several feet away, and the monk strangely appeared above it. He changed his hand seals and released an immense pressure of spiritual energy, summoning a giant phantom, about six feet in size, above his head. The phantom’s entire body was shining with golden light, its eyes were fierce, and its curly hair and bare upper body made it look exactly like a Vajra Warrior (金剛力士) [a powerful guardian deity in Buddhism] of the Buddhist sect.