Bachelor [EN]: Chapter 714

“Fellow Disciple Han already demonstrated power comparable to a Transformation Stage cultivator back in Kunwu Mountain. So, if he were to fight Fellow Pung now, how would you predict the outcome?”

Xiang Zhili asked with a smile, unconcerned by the reactions of the two.

“If it’s a fight to the death, there’s a 10% chance of victory, a 30% chance of mutual destruction, and a more than 50% chance of escaping with serious injuries.”

At those words, even Xiang Zhili was momentarily stunned before bursting into laughter.

“Fellow Disciple Han, no matter how great your abilities, aren’t you being too overconfident? Putting aside the other possibilities, a 30% chance of mutual destruction with Fellow Pung is quite something.”

Han Li calmly stared at Xiang Zhili before flipping his palm and taking out a crimson bead.

“That’s an Immortal Slayer Bead!”

“Immortal Slayer Bead!”

Indeed, both Xiang Zhili and Old Monster Pung recognized it at the same time and showed signs of dismay. Han Li didn’t stop there and this time took out a pitch-black bead.

Seeing it, Xiang Zhili stopped stroking his beard, and his eyes flashed.

“I happened to get my hands on a few Immortal Slayer Beads. If Fellow Pung really wants to try, I’m confident I can end it in mutual destruction.”

Han Li said calmly and immediately concealed the two beads.

At this, Old Monster Pung and Xiang Zhili exchanged surprised glances. There were a few items that Transformation Stage cultivators in the mortal realm feared, and one of them was the Immortal Slayer Bead. [A powerful artifact capable of causing significant damage.]

If one were to be hit by an Immortal Slayer Bead without any preparation, the damage would be significant. If Han Li in front of them had four or five Immortal Slayer Beads, it wouldn’t be difficult for him to die together with them.

“I didn’t expect Fellow Disciple Han to possess such treasures. But since I’ve stepped in, Fellow Pung shouldn’t pursue this matter any further. There won’t be a need to use the Immortal Slayer Bead this time. Fellow Disciple Han’s abilities far surpass those of ordinary cultivators, so it wouldn’t be bad to interact with him on equal terms. What do you think, Fellow Pung?”

Xiang Zhili smiled brightly and turned his head to look at Old Monster Pung.

“I’ll leave it to you, Fellow Xiang. But I can overlook the matter of my descendant’s death, but the matter of the spatial node must be clarified.”

“Actually, I was about to talk about that. Fellow Disciple Han, you’re probably planning to ascend to the Spirit Realm using a spatial node after reaching the Transformation Stage, right? If that’s the case, how about we join forces?”

“What do you mean?”

“I believe you have more information that we don’t know. And you’re probably too busy breaking through to the Transformation Stage to search for those places one by one, right? Since we’ll all be using the spatial nodes once we find them, it would be beneficial for everyone if we joined forces.”

Old Monster Pung stared intently at Han Li, watching how he would react. Han Li didn’t answer immediately and frowned in contemplation.

Xiang Zhili simply smiled and gave him time.

“Are Fellow Xiang, the cultivators you’re suggesting to join forces with, just Fellow Pung and me?”

“Besides us, there’s also Fellow Hu from the Heavenly Devil Sect. Fellow Bai from the Taiyi Sect has other important matters to attend to, so he can’t help. Fellow Disciple Han, don’t look down on us just because there are few of us! Except for Old Monster Cha from the Myriad Demon Valley, we are all the Transformation Stage cultivators of Great Jin.”

“Are there so few Transformation Stage cultivators? I thought there would be at least seven or eight in Great Jin, which is called the holy land of cultivation.”

“There were two more three or four hundred years ago. Knowing they didn’t have much lifespan left, they tried dangerous secret techniques as a last resort and ended up dying with their bodies exploding.”

At those words, Han Li also sighed and spoke in a somber voice.

“I remember that Fairy Linglong gave the cultivators information about spatial nodes. There should be at least dozens of them, but were there none that were usable?”

“Of course, that’s not the case. Most of them have long since disappeared, but we did find three. Two of them had spatial storms at the entrance that were too fierce to enter, and the remaining one could barely be entered, but the spatial node was too unstable and could collapse at any moment. I heard that Old Monster Cha found another spatial node entrance in the Lesser Polar Palace, but the palace lord noticed it and blew up the Void Spirit Hall! Because of that, Old Monster Cha was furious and spat blood, eventually retreating to the Myriad Demon Valley.”

This time, Old Monster Pung explained, and when he mentioned Old Monster Cha at the end, there was a feeling of pity mixed with schadenfreude.

“I see. No wonder there were so many high-level demon beasts attacking the Lesser Polar Palace at the time. But if the palace lord acted like that, won’t Old Monster Cha seek revenge in the future?”

“Old Monster Cha wouldn’t dare. Although he’s a demon cultivator who has survived since ancient times, the current mortal realm is still the domain of us humans! At any time, the number of human Transformation Stage cultivators has always overwhelmed the demon race. The reason why other Transformation Stage cultivators didn’t deal with that demon before was because there were more disadvantages than advantages, but also because he was discreet and didn’t interfere in the affairs of the mortal realm. Moreover, because of the agreement made with the Transformation Stage cultivators before, it’s difficult for Old Monster Cha to leave the Myriad Demon Valley with his real body. If he were to destroy a large force or slaughter cultivators, we Transformation Stage cultivators would join forces to kill him.”

Xiang Zhili’s expression became a little cold.

“It was strange that there was a den of demon cultivators like the Myriad Demon Valley in Great Jin, but now I understand.”

“But recently, I heard that Old Monster Cha found another spatial node. It’s not yet known whether he can enter that spatial node.”

Old Monster Pung suddenly interjected.

“Fellow Hu and I have already confirmed that. Only someone like Old Monster Cha can use it; there’s no way for us to enter. The spatial storm at the entrance was so severe that it would be fatal for human cultivators like us. But Old Monster Cha has a sturdy demon body, so he seems to be thinking of trying to enter.”

“Is Old Monster Cha planning to enter the spatial node?”

Old Monster Pung raised his voice in surprise, as if he was hearing it for the first time.

“That’s right. It will probably take a preparation period of one or two hundred years. Only the heavens know what will happen after entering the spatial node.”

Xiang Zhili said solemnly.

“Now that I think about it, Old Monster Cha’s lifespan is also running out. Otherwise, he wouldn’t make such a hasty decision.”

After a long while, Old Monster Pung let out a long sigh.

“Old Monster Cha didn’t say it directly, but it’s most likely for that reason. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be pushing things so urgently with his meticulous personality. Actually, this isn’t just Old Monster Cha’s problem. Our lifespans are also…”

Xiang Zhili muttered with a dark face.

“Fellow Disciple Han, after hearing this much, you must have made a decision, right?”

Old Monster Pung, also in a somber mood, suddenly asked Han Li.

“Fellow Xiang’s words make sense. I certainly don’t have time to search for spatial nodes. I’ll give you the information, but there’s a condition. If you find a suitable spatial node, you must inform me immediately. That way, I can examine it beforehand and prepare accordingly.”

“What kind of condition is that? Of course, we should do that. If we enter the spatial node together, we can help each other.”

Xiang Zhili was delighted and secretly pleased that Han Li didn’t ask for a high price. Han Li nodded and raised his hand, throwing a white light towards Xiang Zhili.

It was a very ordinary-looking jade slip.

“……!”

Xiang Zhili’s eyes lit up as he received the jade slip and scanned it with his consciousness.

“That’s it, that’s it! It contains more detailed information about the spatial nodes and even the method to deploy the reverse passage transfer formation. If we master this formation, it will be a great help to us. Since Fellow Disciple Han is cooperating like this, we will also keep our promise. Here are two Ten Thousand Mile Talismans. If you keep them, we’ll contact you as soon as we find a suitable spatial node.”

Xiang Zhili, with an excited face, took out two jade talismans from his sleeve and threw them. Han Li received them and immediately stored them in his storage pouch.

Old Monster Pung’s cold expression softened considerably after Han Li handed over the jade slip.

“Now that I think about it, Fellow Disciple Han, there’s something I must say! Since your abilities have already surpassed the late Nascent Soul stage, the prohibitions that Transformation Stage cultivators must abide by will also apply to you. This means you must be careful not to repeat something like the Yin Fiend Sect incident.”

Xiang Zhili, who had taken the jade slip, hurriedly reminded him as if he had remembered something.

“Prohibitions?”

“It’s nothing much… The power of Transformation Stage cultivators is so great that if they wield it recklessly, the order of the mortal realm will be broken, right? So, a long time ago, Transformation Stage cultivators established rules together. Once one reaches the Transformation Stage, they must not fight each other, and especially, they are strictly forbidden from interfering in the affairs of the cultivation world. Killing so many Nascent Soul cultivators of the Yin Fiend Sect, including the Grand Cultivator, will cause unnecessary chaos in Great Jin. This time, we’ll let it slide since you didn’t know about the prohibitions and you’re not yet a Transformation Stage cultivator, but now that Fellow Pung and I have acknowledged your abilities, there will be no exceptions next time. If you promise to abide by the rules, I’ll spread the word to the other cultivators. Of course, the prohibitions are mutual, so the other Transformation Stage cultivators won’t attack you recklessly either.”

Xiang Zhili smiled. Han Li was momentarily stunned by those words before smiling back.

“I don’t interfere in sect matters unless it’s absolutely necessary. The Yin Fiend Sect incident was because they came to Tiannan first and provoked me, so I retaliated. There won’t be such incidents in the future.”

“The Yin Fiend Sect incident is already in the past, so let’s leave it at that! But do you have somewhere urgent to go? If not, how about we go to Mount Mata together with Fellow Pung and me? While we’re at it, I can introduce you to Fellow Hu. Fellow Hu recently sent out invitations, saying he’s going to take a few Nascent Soul female cultivators as concubines. Fellow Pung, you must have received one too, right?”

Xiang Zhili suddenly changed the topic and made an unexpected suggestion.

“Of course, I received one. I heard that the three concubines he’s taking this time are all peerless beauties in the early Nascent Soul stage. But is this the fifth or sixth time that Old Devil Hu has invited us to Mount Mata because he’s taking concubines? There are already countless beauties that his descendants have brought to the Demon Palace, so why is he taking more concubines!”

Old Monster Pung frowned.

“Fellow Pung, you know why. Old Devil Hu is lustful because of the cultivation technique he practices. But he always treats the women he likes with respect, performs the concubine ceremony, and officially recognizes their status. Anyway, we don’t have partners, and unlike the maids, the concubines receive special treatment and are favored, so it’s fine!”

“Do I care if he takes concubines or not? It’s just a hassle to come all the way here every time he invites us. And he’s so concerned about face that if you don’t respond to his invitation, he’ll hold it against you. Moreover, he has such high standards that he doesn’t even consider ordinary treasures as gifts.”

“That’s because we’re after some of the elixirs of Mount Mata. Fellow Pung, if you don’t want anything from Fellow Hu like Fellow Bai, you don’t have to go.”

“The person you two are talking about must be the Transformation Stage cultivator of the Heavenly Devil Sect. I wasn’t invited, so it wouldn’t be proper for me to go uninvited. Besides, I haven’t prepared a suitable gift.”

Han Li, who had been listening to their conversation, hesitated to go along.

“Don’t worry. What can Old Devil Hu do if I bring a guest to Mount Mata?

Besides, if we can find a suitable spatial node in this jade slip, Old Devil Hu will be grateful. As for the congratulatory gift, we can just give him one or two ancient treasures. Since we weren’t acquainted before, it wouldn’t be right to give him something too precious! Going to Mount Mata might be another opportunity for you. The unique elixir of Mount Mata, the Demon Refinement Heavenly Origin Pill, is quite helpful in overcoming the Transformation Stage bottleneck. This elixir can only be refined with the spiritual herbs that grow on Mount Mata, so it’s a rare and precious item that’s hard to find outside. If you do well and get one or two pills, it will be much easier for you to sense the Heavenly Origin Qi later.”

Xiang Zhili persuaded him meaningfully.

“Are you referring to the Demon Origin Pill, which was lost in ancient times, when you say Demon Refinement Heavenly Origin Pill?”

Han Li exclaimed in surprise upon hearing the name of the elixir.

“That’s right! I didn’t expect you to know about it. Then there’s no need to explain it any further. So, will you come with us?”

Although he was surprised that Han Li knew about the Demon Origin Pill, Xiang Zhili still smiled and asked him to come along.