Bachelor [EN]: Chapter 715

The Demonic Palace

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The Misty Moon Mountain Range was located in the northwest of Great Jin, a region known for its rugged terrain and numerous peaks. The highest peak soared tens of thousands of feet into the sky, perpetually covered in snow.

Unbeknownst to ordinary people, a vast plain stretched for dozens of miles at the summit, where enormous palaces had been constructed.

Furthermore, the mountain’s peak was protected by a powerful, unnamed barrier. While the outside world was battered by cold winds and swirling snow, the inside enjoyed a perpetual spring, filled with exotic flowers and trees.

The pavilions and towers were exquisitely decorated, and the laughter of palace women in their finery was captivating.

It was on this Mount Mata that the Demonic Palace stood, a place that made anyone who heard of it shudder.

The Demonic Lord, who had ruled Great Jin for over a thousand years and led the Heavenly Devil Sect to become the most powerful demonic sect, was today receiving honored guests in the largest hall of the Demonic Palace.

The number of guests was small, only about seven or eight, and they were seated on either side of the hall.

In the center, dozens of beautiful women were performing a captivating dance.

It was a beautiful spectacle that was pleasing to the eye.

At the head of the hall, a sickly old man leaned back in his chair, watching the performance with satisfaction.

The guests seated on both sides included both men and women, all of whom were extraordinary individuals.

After a while, the performance ended, and the palace women bowed to the old man before exiting.

“Senior Brother Hu, the beauty of the maids is truly exceptional. It seems you have put a great deal of effort into gathering these beauties,” a scholar in a navy blue robe, seated on the left, said with a smile.

“In my life, I have no other hobbies but the pursuit of beauty. Perhaps the day I am no longer attached to this, I might achieve some enlightenment! If the other fellow disciples wish to advance further, they should focus solely on cultivation to reach the Transformation Stage… Only then, even if I pass away, will the Heavenly Devil Sect not be looked down upon by other sects,” the old man with the wooden crown replied with a dry cough.

“Senior Brother Hu, please don’t speak like that. The cultivation of the Heavenly Devil Sect’s disciples is nearing the Transformation Stage, so good news will come soon. Besides, who would dare to provoke the Heavenly Devil Sect’s might!” the scholar in the navy blue robe responded with a smile.

“Is that so? I heard that the Yin Fiend Sect is about to be expelled from the Ten Demonic Sects. Who would have thought that a sect that has dominated the demonic path for thousands of years would end up like this? Even if they survive now, they will only be a second-rate sect.”

“It is said that this time, seven or eight Nascent Soul elders of the Yin Fiend Sect have gone missing, and even Sect Master Fang was defeated. No clues have been found as to who did it. Could it be that the Yin Fiend Sect has offended someone among the Transformation Stage seniors?” a burly man in a silk robe cautiously inquired.

“The reason why many fellow cultivators have gathered here is probably to ask about the Yin Fiend Sect’s matter. But everyone, rest assured! This matter is definitely not the doing of the old fogeys of Great Jin. It’s probably the work of some old monster from outside Great Jin. If they do this again, we will not sit idly by,” the old man stated.

Upon hearing the old man’s words, the cultivators were greatly relieved, and the topic shifted to the strange events and rumors in the cultivation world.

“Senior Brother Hu, it has already been two hundred years since you last took a concubine. Is it because a woman from a certain family has caught your eye that you are holding such a grand ceremony this time?” a woman in a green robe, about thirty years old, asked with a smile. The other cultivators also looked very curious.

Although they knew that Hu Jinglei, the Supreme Elder of the Heavenly Devil Sect, was fond of women, he had not formally taken many concubines.

“I never thought I would take another concubine. All three women possess great talent and outstanding beauty. Especially one of them is exceptional, and it is because of her that we are holding this ceremony,” Hu Jinglei said, not hiding his joy as he mentioned the three women.

“Since Senior Brother Hu praises them so highly, I am even more curious,” a wandering monk with disheveled hair couldn’t help but say.

‘Just what kind of women are they to have moved the heart of the Demonic Palace’s master so much!’

“We who cultivate are not greatly bound by the rules of the mortal world. If the fellow cultivators are truly curious, it is not difficult to show their faces beforehand. I will have them come and serve you some humble wine,” Hu Jinglei said with a smile, unexpectedly agreeing readily.

At those words, the wandering monk’s expression changed, and he declined, but Hu Jinglei waved his hand, and a girl standing behind him approached and bowed.

“Go and invite the honored guests.”

“Yes, I will go and inform them…”

Before the palace girl could finish her reply, a red light flashed outside the hall and flew towards the old man Hu.

It was a sound transmission talisman. Hu Jinglei looked surprised and grabbed it, and the light blazed in his palm.

“Oh, Old Monster Feng and Fellow Cultivator Xiang have arrived. And they are bringing a distinguished guest? Who is it that these two old men are treating so well?”

“Senior Feng of the Outer Heaven Island and Senior Xiang of the Western Spirit Mountain have arrived?” the scholar in the navy blue robe asked, startled after hearing Hu Jinglei’s mutterings. The other cultivators’ expressions also changed.

“Who else could it be but those two? It seems they have brought an outsider with them. I wonder who it is. They are almost here, so I should go out and greet them myself.”

“Then we will all go and pay our respects to the senior,” the burly man in the navy blue robe hurriedly stood up, and the other cultivators agreed. Old Man Hu nodded and rose from his seat, slowly walking out of the hall, with the others quietly following behind.

Mount Mata was shrouded in a fierce blizzard and a huge yellow protective barrier, making it difficult to see inside. However, the figures of three cultivators appeared above the barrier.

Two old men and a young man—it was none other than Xiang Zhili, Old Monster Feng, and Han Li.

“The Demonic Palace seems to have grown larger than before. Did they expand the buildings because they increased the number of maids? Tsk, tsk, it seems very comfortable to live as the Supreme Elder of the number one demonic sect,” Old Monster Feng clicked his tongue as he looked down at the palaces below the barrier.

“If Brother Feng is envious, you can tell Old Man Hu. Then he will immediately create another Supreme Elder position in the Heavenly Devil Sect and build a huge demonic palace comparable to this one for you, won’t he?”

“Forget it. My cultivation method requires a stable environment, and if I stay in such a flashy place, I will only regress instead of advancing,” Old Monster Feng sighed and shook his head. At this moment, a group of cultivators flew up from below.

Han Li, who had been silent the entire way, also looked at them closely and was stunned when he saw a cultivator flying at the back.

‘…?’

“Fellow Disciple Han, do you know any of the cultivators?” Xiang Zhili turned his head, looked at him, and asked in confusion.

“There is a cultivator I know.”

“I see.”

Han Li concealed his surprise and answered calmly, and Xiang Zhili nodded.

Old Man Hu had already arrived at the barrier and was forming hand seals and chanting incantations. Soon, the barrier flickered and began to split open on its own.

Xiang Zhili and Old Monster Feng entered without hesitation, and Han Li also transformed into a streak of blue light and followed behind. As the three cultivators entered, the yellow barrier immediately returned to its original state.

After a while, the light faded, and the three cultivators appeared before Old Man Hu’s group.

“Brother Xiang, Fellow Cultivator Feng! You are a little late this time. I heard you left early, so why have you only arrived now? Did something happen?”

“Just as Brother Hu said, there was a slight delay on the way. But that matter can be discussed later. First, there is a cultivator I would like to introduce to Fellow Cultivator Hu. This is Fellow Cultivator Han Li, who has agreed to help us with our work, and we will be interacting on equal terms from now on,” Xiang Zhili said with a smile and pointed at Han Li. Then, one of the cultivators behind Old Man Hu was shocked when he saw Han Li’s face.

“Interact on equal terms?” Old Man Hu also widened his eyes and looked at Han Li again.

“I am Han Li, Brother Hu!” Han Li cupped his fist in a casual manner that was neither arrogant nor humble.

“Are you two mistaken about something? How can a mere Nascent Soul Late Stage cultivator have such qualifications?” Hu Jinglei’s expression hardened as he questioned them.

“There is a good reason for it,” Xiang Zhili smiled without a change in expression and began to move his lips, sending a sound transmission. Then, Hu Jinglei’s hardened face gradually changed to surprise and excitement.

“Fellow Cultivator Han was acquainted with Linglong Yaobi [a powerful artifact or being] and was a great help in the battle to destroy the Goma [a type of demonic creature] in Kunwu Mountain! Moreover, the recent incident with the Yin Fiend Sect was also the work of the fellow cultivator. I thought it was some Transformation Stage cultivator who had done this. Indeed, with Fellow Cultivator Han’s abilities, he is qualified to interact with us on equal terms.” After Xiang Zhili’s sound transmission ended, Hu Jinglei’s gaze became much gentler.

“I have also heard of Brother Hu’s reputation. Please forgive my rudeness in coming here unannounced.”

“A talent like Fellow Cultivator Han is always welcome. By the way, you two must be familiar with the cultivators who have come to offer their congratulations this time, right?” Hu Jinglei shifted his gaze from Han Li and asked Xiang Zhili and the others.

The Nascent Soul cultivators standing behind Old Man Hu were shocked to hear that Han Li was involved in the Yin Fiend Sect incident, and they were even more shocked to see Old Man Hu treating Han Li as an equal. They were all in disbelief.

Coming back to their senses at Hu Jinglei’s words, they hurriedly bowed to Xiang Zhili and Old Monster Feng.

The two Transformation Stage cultivators waved their hands casually, but one of them bowed to the old monsters and then cupped his fist towards Han Li.

“Brother Han, congratulations. You have already reached the Nascent Soul Late Stage in the time we haven’t seen each other.” The white-haired boy in the green robe was surprisingly Old Man Gu Zhu, whom Han Li had visited with a human-shaped puppet to obtain the feathers of the Black Phoenix.

He was still at the Nascent Soul Middle Stage, with no improvement in his cultivation.

“I never thought I would meet Fellow Cultivator Gu Zhu here. My current cultivation is all thanks to good fortune,” Han Li smiled and returned the greeting, as the other party had given him the Black Phoenix feathers, which helped him refine the Three Flame Fan. Old Man Gu Zhu coughed and was about to say something when Hu Jinglei interrupted.

“Alright, let’s all go inside.”

At Old Man Hu’s words, Old Man Gu Zhu swallowed what he was about to say and simply smiled at Han Li. Thus, they went back down and returned to the huge hall.

Those who entered the great hall took their seats again. However, Han Li, Xiang Zhili, and Old Monster Feng sat in seats closer to the head of the hall, subtly indicating that their status was different from the other cultivators.

The other cultivators did not find it strange that the Transformation Stage cultivators Xiang Zhili and Old Monster Feng were treated that way, but they were shocked that Han Li, a Nascent Soul cultivator, was sitting with them.

They were suspicious of Han Li’s identity. They asked Old Man Gu Zhu, who seemed to know Han Li, but he knew nothing, which disappointed them all.

Han Li ignored the cultivators who were whispering about him and quietly remained in his seat.

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