Bachelor [EN]: Chapter 722

A few days later, a blue streak of light left the crimson mist and disappeared without a trace.

Not long after, several forces in the Great Jin, who had been monitoring Han Li, realized that he had left silently. Many were relieved by this, but strange rumors circulated among the higher-ups of some major sects.

The story was that someone who had not even reached the Deity Transformation stage was interacting on equal terms with Deity Transformation cultivators, and even easily killing Core Formation late-stage cultivators, without losing any lifespan due to the Heavenly Origin Qi [a type of energy].

However, now that he was gone, the local major powers were greatly relieved that Han Li had no intention of establishing a sect and expanding his influence in the Great Jin.

* * *

Thirty or forty years had passed since Han Li disappeared. During that time, there were occasional conflicts in the Great Jin cultivation world, but no earth-shattering events occurred.

Far away from there, at the summit of a mountain in Tiannan.

A cheerful laugh echoed from inside a cave.

“The time and effort I put in were not in vain. I’ve finally refined the Solar Essence! Now I can refine the Rejuvenation Elixir!”

The laughter that had been echoing in the cave gradually subsided.

A month later, a figure quietly flew from the mountain peak, becoming a blue streak of light that cut through the sky. Three months later, it appeared in the center of the Chuma Valley and disappeared deep within.

However, a few days later, endless dark ghostly energy spread from beneath a small, nameless mountain in the center of the Chuma Valley.

The pitch-black mist covered the surrounding hundred miles, and within it, a chilling wind blew, accompanied by the continuous sounds of wailing ghosts.

This situation continued for half a year before the eerie energy gradually dissipated. A month later, a young man appeared strangely in the Chuma Valley, turned into a blue light, and left the area.

Because his escape and concealment techniques were too advanced, no one noticed him entering or leaving the Chuma Valley. The person was Han Li, who had just finished refining the Soul-Devouring Banner and the Mustard Seed Space [a type of spatial storage].

Decades ago, after returning to the Fallen Cloud Sect from the Great Jin, he had finished refining the Solar Essence and brought it under his control. A few months ago, he had also refined several bottles of the Rejuvenation Elixir.

Since Nangong Wan was still in secluded cultivation, Han Li first consumed a bottle himself, and then sent the Rejuvenation Elixir for her to her residence using the Flying Sword Transmission [a method of communication]. Then, he returned to the Chuma Valley to begin refining the Soul-Devouring Banner.

The dozen or so Ghost Banners were filled with souls, and with the help of the Heavenly Orchid Saint’s clone, it took some time, but the refining was completed smoothly.

The half-finished Black Wind Flag had finally been reborn as the Soul-Devouring Banner.

Now back at the Fallen Cloud Sect, Han Li began to learn the most basic first and second levels of the Nascent Soul Divine Light technique.

Even though he had the Soul-Devouring Banner, a spatial treasure, he needed to learn at least some of the Nascent Soul Divine Light to put the Nascent Soul Mountain inside the treasure.

Before entering secluded cultivation, Han Li suddenly had an idea. He took a bottle of Rejuvenation Elixir and visited the herb garden before entering the secret chamber.

During that time, the human-shaped puppet was in charge of cultivating spirit insects and spirit herbs inside the cave with a mysterious bottle.

* * *

Ten years later, Han Li, who had been adjusting his energy in the secret chamber, opened his eyes with a troubled expression.

The Nascent Soul Divine Light was indeed extremely difficult to cultivate, and without the help of the Nascent Soul Mountain, it was impossible to continue.

He had only managed to cultivate the first level, but it was time to go to the Star Palace and retrieve the items he had left there.

“If I were you, I would first find a demonic core with metal attributes to supplement your Five Elements Spiritual Roots [a cultivator’s innate affinity for different types of energy]. This old man has never heard of the Nascent Soul Divine Light technique, but if you cultivate a technique with five attributes without the proper spiritual roots, it will put a great strain on your body. Moreover, techniques with multiple attributes become more difficult to cultivate as you progress.”

“I know that, but demonic beasts with metal attributes are so rare, and I need at least a demonic core from a Transformation stage beast. Where can I find such a core?”

Han Li sighed and flipped his hand, causing a beautiful five-colored light to shine on his palm.

“What about the Golden Flood Dragon King we encountered in the Chaotic Star Sea? It’s a tenth-level demonic beast, so its demonic core should be sufficient, right?”

The young boy rolled his eyes and said this.

“The Golden Flood Dragon King’s demonic core would certainly be useful! But that demonic beast is the leader of the Flood Dragon clan in the Outer Star Sea, so it won’t be easy to deal with. I’ll prepare a metal-attribute magic treasure first and think about it again. Didn’t the senior say that it’s also possible to refine spiritual roots using magic treasures or treasures?”

Han Li frowned and pondered before shaking his head.

“It’s not impossible to use something like a magic treasure instead of a demonic core. However, it will take a long time to refine, and the risks you have to take will be greater.”

“I’ve bought enough time with the Rejuvenation Elixir, so I’ll consider this again after I return from the Chaotic Star Sea.”

Han Li got up, stretched, and was about to open the door of the secret chamber. But then, a silver light flashed, and another ‘Han Li’ appeared, standing there blankly.

Han Li, who was communicating with the second Nascent Soul inside the human-shaped puppet, suddenly changed his expression and shouted.

“What? The Mystic Heavenly Immortal Vine has come back to life!”

Han Li was jolted awake by the news from the human-shaped puppet.

Although he had given a few drops of Rejuvenation Elixir to the Mystic Heavenly Immortal Vine before entering secluded cultivation, as if possessed by a ghost, he had thought it was hopeless and was just doing his best to the end.

But now that the Mystic Heavenly Immortal Vine had revived, he could hardly believe it.

Han Li immediately headed to the herb garden. The Mystic Heavenly Immortal Vine was planted next to precious spirit herbs such as the Nine-Bend Spirit Ginseng. When Han Li arrived there, he was shocked by the sight of the Mystic Heavenly Immortal Vine.

The withered branches, which had barely shown a hint of green after being given the mysterious green liquid, had surprisingly grown into lush vines that were spreading and climbing around the surrounding white jade pillars.

The vitality of the vegetation emitted by the vine was incomparable to the other spirit herbs growing in the herb garden. Even the white rabbit that had transformed from the Nine-Bend Spirit Ginseng was napping peacefully beneath it.

When Han Li approached, the white rabbit twitched its long ears and tried to open its red eyes, but after recognizing him, it went back to sleep.

The spirit beast that had transformed from the Nine-Bend Spirit Ginseng had lived with Han Li for hundreds of years under his protection, and had come to regard his herb garden as its own territory, losing all wariness of him.

Han Li was dumbfounded, but he didn’t disturb the sleeping rabbit and went to the Mystic Heavenly Immortal Vine to examine it closely.

Apart from emitting an astonishing amount of spiritual energy, the revived Mystic Heavenly Immortal Vine looked no different from an ordinary vine spirit tree.

The unique thing was that the color of the vine was such a vivid jade green that it seemed to have the luster of metal rather than wood. Also, the patterns on the leaves were so mysterious that each one was different, and they somehow looked familiar.

‘This is!’

Han Li, who had been carefully examining the leaves, realized something and widened his eyes. The patterns on the leaves were similar to the Silver Inscription characters recorded in the Golden Jade Book!

After frowning and studying a dozen leaves in a row, he was able to understand the secret a little. The leaves were unexpectedly incomplete Silver Inscription characters, with a few strokes missing.

He was dumbfounded, and then he grabbed a leaf with two fingers and rubbed it. The surface was so soft and smooth that it could be mistaken for being made of jade.

Han Li had studied the Mystic Heavenly Immortal Vine for some time. He had heard that such a spirit tree appeared when a world was created, heaven and earth were opened, and chaos was born.

Whether it was the Mystic Heavenly Immortal Vine or another Mystic Heavenly Immortal Tree, if it bloomed or bore fruit, it would possess a mysterious ability that defied the laws of that world, making it worthy of being called a heaven-defying treasure.

Such heaven-defying treasures had only been passed down in stories since ancient times, and no one had actually seen one.

Ancient scriptures stated that only four or five heaven-defying treasures were born in one world, and their growth period was exceptionally long, almost 100,000 years.

Also, the time it took for a fully grown fruit to fall was only a few days or even a few hours, so obtaining a flower or fruit was like trying to pick a star from the sky.

Moreover, while the flowers and fruits possessed heaven-defying powers that defied the laws of heaven and earth, the tree itself was only used as a common refining material and had no great value.

Han Li released the leaf and fell into deep thought. He wanted to call the young boy who had transformed from the Heavenly Orchid Saint right away and ask him about the Mystic Heavenly Immortal Vine, but he didn’t.

The young boy was probably cultivating inside the Void Sky Cauldron and was completely unaware of the current situation.

Before entering the secret chamber to cultivate, he had used the power of the Void Sky Cauldron to block the demonic beast from knowing the outside situation.

This was to protect his various secrets. Of course, he had no intention of ever telling the demonic beast about the mysterious bottle.

Han Li had not even told the young boy that he possessed a stem of the Mystic Heavenly Immortal Vine, so he could not possibly reveal that he had given the Rejuvenation Elixir to revive it.

Even if the Mystic Heavenly Immortal Vine was a burden to others, if someone started to covet it, it would cause trouble.

Moreover, since he possessed the mysterious bottle, if he used most of the mysterious liquid to promote the growth of the Mystic Heavenly Immortal Vine, he might be able to obtain a flower or fruit in two or three hundred years.

If he told the young boy about this, the main body in the Spirit World might find out someday, which could bring disaster.

Thinking this, Han Li sighed and placed several powerful restrictions near the Mystic Heavenly Immortal Vine before calmly leaving the herb garden.

Three days later, Han Li left the human-shaped puppet at his residence, informed the elders of the sect, and left the Cloud Dream Mountain Range.

Then, Han Li appeared on an unnamed peak in the Cloud Dream Mountain Range before turning into a blue streak of light and disappearing into the distance.

* * *

A few months later, in Heavenly Star City.

In the palace of the Star Palace, located at the top of the sacred mountain, a woman was cultivating a secret technique, emitting a white aura.

The light of spiritual energy flickered continuously, and the woman’s face was contorted in pain.

The white light emanating from her body suddenly began to flicker and lose control, so the woman stopped her technique and finished her cultivation.

The woman sighed, opened her closed eyes, and was startled when she glanced around. A faint figure was standing with arms crossed on one side of the secret chamber.

“It’s you, Brother Han.”

The woman’s expression softened and she smiled when she recognized the other person’s face. However, her eyes showed clear signs of tension.

This was because he could enter the deepest part of the Star Palace, the secret chamber of the Star Palace’s owner, which had twenty or thirty large and small restrictions, without any restrictions.

“Fellow Cultivator Ling, it’s been a while. But it seems like you’re having some problems with your cultivation technique.”

“I was just wondering what to do about a minor problem, but now that Brother Han is here, I should ask for your guidance.”

“There’s no need for guidance. Just tell me what the problem is, and I’ll see if I can think of a good solution. Of course, before that, I need to see if I can take the Nascent Soul Mountain.”

“You came to this palace because of the Nascent Soul Mountain. It originally belonged to you, so of course you should. But have you found a way to move it?”

“I have a method, but I’ll have to try it to see if it works.”

“Then I will guide you personally.”

“Thank you.”

Ling Yuling replied with shining eyes, and Han Li nodded.

An hour later, Han Li and the woman passed through the deep underground passage again and arrived at the jade gate they had visited before.

Ling Yuling took out a spirit token and released the restriction on the jade gate, and the jade gate slowly opened. Han Li took a light breath and slowly moved forward. Ling Yuling followed behind him.

The situation was the same as before.

As soon as they entered, the power of the five elements rushed at them, and the spiritual power in their bodies began to violently fluctuate, trying to escape. However, Han Li, who had already reached the peak of the late-stage Nascent Soul, had much purer magic power than before, so he would not let it happen. He used his technique to suppress the spiritual power in his body and formed a hand seal, clasping his hands in front of his chest.

*Pachut.*

Then, a five-colored light sphere the size of an egg floated up, and the power of the five elements that had been bothering him became much weaker.

“Congratulations, Brother Han! You’ve cultivated the first level of the Nascent Soul Divine Light.”

Ling Yuling, who was standing behind him, sensed the change in the power of the five elements and offered her congratulations.

“How could I have come to move the Nascent Soul Mountain if I hadn’t even cultivated the first level?”

“If you’ve learned even the first or second level of the Nascent Soul Divine Light, you should be able to move the Nascent Soul Mountain. But if you’re going far away, it won’t be easy. If it doesn’t work out, you can stay in this palace. I will support you with all the resources you need, and I will never interfere with your cultivation.”

Ling Yuling couldn’t help but say what she had been holding back.

“If I had any intention of entering your palace, I would have agreed a long time ago. Let’s see if this method works first.”

Han Li looked at her and replied calmly.