Bachelor [EN]: Chapter 796

“My name is Ye Yeong,” the white-robed girl said with a bright smile, her voice as clear as a nightingale’s song. “I am Han Li.”

“Han Li? It really is you! I was wondering how you had a treasure like the Immortal Slayer Wine back then, but it turns out you were a high-level cultivator. Then you must be practicing a dual cultivation technique of both body and magic.”

So Hong’s gaze remained cold.

At the mention of dual cultivation of body and magic, Nong Dong, Cultivator Lee, and the white-eyebrowed youth were startled, and the white-robed girl’s expression turned blank.

“Since you say my cultivation method is dual cultivation of body and magic, let’s assume it is. Is Da-ah doing well?” Han Li asked calmly, without any change in his expression.

“…It was a wise decision for Da-ah to return to our clan with me. Her cultivation speed is extremely fast, and she has already reached the Core Formation stage. It’s only a matter of time before she reaches the Transformation stage,” the woman in the black skirt replied after a moment of silence when Da-ah was mentioned.

“It’s a relief if nothing is wrong.”

“Cultivator So, are you acquainted with Brother Han?” the girl named Ye Yeong asked, looking between Han Li and So Hong with a playful tone.

“Acquainted… let’s just say we’ve known each other for a long time,” So Hong replied with a smirk.

At that moment, Nong Dong was observing the cultivators. It seemed as if he was looking at Han Li and So Hong, but his gaze lingered on Ye Yeong before drifting away. A deep-seated greed could be felt in his eyes, but no one noticed it.

“We haven’t entered the depths of the Great Desolation yet, but the fact that we can meet here proves our abilities. However, the journey ahead will be even more dangerous. If we don’t join forces, it will be difficult to reach the Black Stone Forest,” So Hong said to everyone after a moment of thought. Everyone’s expressions changed at the mention of the Black Stone Forest.

“Is this mission really just about scouting the movements of the Wood Spirit Clan? Or is it just about collecting the information gathered by the informants we planted before? Honestly, if that’s all there is to the mission, it doesn’t seem that difficult,” Ye Yeong asked with a smile.

“That depends on our luck. If everything goes smoothly, it will be easier than other missions, but if things go wrong and the Wood Spirit Clan notices, we could all be annihilated in an instant. However, it is clear that this is something we must do for the safety of both clans,” Nong Dong replied with a sigh.

“If it’s such an important matter, I don’t understand why they sent cultivators at the Transformation stage like us. If a Void Refinement stage cultivator were to step in, it would be much faster and safer,” Cultivator Lee said, frowning with suspicion.

“Haha, judging by your words, it seems that Cultivator So is the person in charge from the Spirit Clan,” Nong Dong said, turning his gaze to So Hong in response to Cultivator Lee’s question.

“Since Brother Nong knows that, you must be the person in charge from the Human Clan.”

“Yes, that’s why I know more about these things than the others,” Nong Dong said, his red spots moving as he twitched his lips, but he did not deny it.

Ye Yeong pouted, then glanced at Han Li as if she had thought of something. However, Han Li looked as if he hadn’t heard anything and was completely calm, which surprised her.

“The reason why cultivators at the Transformation stage were dispatched for this mission is because the Wood Spirit Clan has already set up the Heavenly Wood Dream Net in the Black Stone Forest. It’s a barrier that detects intruders who have surpassed the Transformation stage,” So Hong explained to the Spirit Clan cultivator who had expressed doubt.

“I see. Still, it’s too much to send two mid-Transformation stage cultivators, not to mention Cultivator Nong,” Cultivator Lee said, nodding as if he finally understood, then looked at Han Li and Ye Yeong with a displeased expression.

“Brother Lee, rest assured. There must be a good reason why the elders sent Cultivator Han and Miss Ye on this mission. I guarantee it.”

“Since you say so, I won’t say anything more. However, if anything hinders the mission or if you put yourselves in danger due to your own mistakes, don’t blame me if I ignore you,” Cultivator Lee warned coldly, though Nong Dong tried to lighten the mood with a smile.

“Hmph, what’s the difference between us? Anyone would think you’re a Void Refinement stage cultivator,” Ye Yeong finally couldn’t hold back and frowned at his continuous provocation.

“When you reach our level, everyone knows how much of a difference even a small gap can make,” Cultivator Lee replied with a sneer and arrogance. Ye Yeong was about to retort when Han Li intervened.

“Cultivator Nong and Cultivator So seem to know more about the mission than we do, so please explain it to us. I only heard a rough outline and didn’t know that so many people would be involved. If I had known beforehand, I wouldn’t have taken on this mission,” Han Li said with a blank face, actually feeling displeased. He had a hunch that things wouldn’t be simple when he heard that a large number of cultivators would be dispatched for this mission in the Heavenly City.

He had considered giving up the mission, but if he did, he wouldn’t be able to apply for other missions and would be stuck in the Heavenly City for ten years. Therefore, he had no choice but to participate in this mission, even though he had to leave the Heavenly City within a few years.

However, after gathering at the meeting place over the course of a month, he couldn’t help but smile bitterly when he saw that the people gathered there were not non-Ascended cultivators, but cultivators from the Spirit World and the Demon Clan.

‘This mission is more dangerous and complicated than I expected. Jo Moo-gwi said that he would announce dangerous missions one after another for the non-Ascended cultivators, but could it be that I was mistaken and took on a different mission?’

However, he had received a sufficient amount of Extinction Pills before departure, and he had also heard that he would be able to leave the Heavenly City if the mission was successful. If so, it matched what Jo Moo-gwi and Senior Moon had said.

“Since we don’t have much time, let’s talk as we go,” Nong Dong suggested with a smile.

“That’s a good point. We’re short on time, so let’s move quickly. We can share the relevant information on the way,” So Hong agreed, and the other cultivators nodded in agreement.

“Alright, let’s depart.”

“Then, it would be best if everyone boarded my Spirit Cloud Ship and traveled together. It will consume a bit of spirit stones [currency used by cultivators], but it will save everyone’s magic power, and the ship itself has a stealth function, which will reduce the chance of being detected on the way,” Nong Dong said enthusiastically.

A faint white light emerged from the bushes. Within the light was a two-story ship, about twenty feet long, that glowed faintly.

The pure white ship, made of jade, had strange cloud-shaped patterns and gold and silver magic characters engraved on its surface, making it look like an extraordinary object.

Whoosh!

Boom!

As the ship vibrated, the gold and silver magic characters exploded simultaneously, and white clouds enveloped the ship, making it look like an ordinary cloud. The huge cloud flew away without making a sound. What was even more surprising was that the ship’s flying speed was comparable to that of a Transformation stage cultivator.

“As expected of a cultivator from the Nong family, who controls the Human Clan’s auction house. You’ve prepared a very useful treasure for this long journey. The Spirit Cloud Ship isn’t a rare treasure, but one that can reach this speed is a top-grade one,” So Hong said, looking around the ship from the deck and praising it.

“You flatter me, Cultivator So! Since you are from the Seven Luminaries Clan, you must have seen almost all kinds of treasures. My Spirit Cloud Ship is nothing special except for its slightly faster speed. Still, there’s plenty of space, so we can take turns looking at the outside situation while the rest can rest comfortably in the private rooms. If things go smoothly, half a year will pass in the blink of an eye.”

“Alright. Then, let’s take turns for ten days each, and the rest can do as they please. Choose the private room you want,” So Hong said, nodding and organizing the situation.

The others did not object to the two’s words and each chose a room they liked. Since it was a place to sit and rest, they each set up a restriction to prevent others from peeking.

Afterwards, the five cultivators discussed and decided on the order of their shifts.

Han Li was assigned the last shift, so his turn would come 40 days after departure. Han Li did not interact deeply with the others and returned to his private room to set up a restriction.

The other cultivators, including So Hong, were the same. Except for Nong Dong, who was the first on duty, everyone entered their private rooms. Nong Dong returned to the bow of the ship, took out a jade-colored cushion, and sat cross-legged.

“Half a year… I must hope that day comes soon,” Nong Dong muttered softly, moving his lips and closing his eyes. A strange smile appeared on his face.

When the ship became quiet again, So Hong and Cultivator Lee sat facing each other at a wooden table.

“What did you say? That young girl named Ye Yeong has the blood of the Heavenly Phoenix and is a disciple of the True Spirit Family?” Cultivator Lee asked in surprise, as if So Hong had said something shocking.

“Cultivator Lee, is there any reason to be so surprised? Your Profound Hawk Clan is also one of the rare Heavenly Bird Clans, so you should be able to sense the Heavenly Phoenix bloodline. Our Black Phoenix Clan is a branch of the Phoenix Clan, so even though our Heavenly Phoenix blood is not as pure as hers, we have no problem sensing it.”

“No wonder! I felt a subtle discomfort as soon as I saw her. That’s why I couldn’t maintain my composure at the meeting place. But why are you telling me this, Cultivator So?”

“Well, if she had the blood of another True Spirit Family, it wouldn’t matter. But it’s the blood of the Heavenly Phoenix, called the King of All Birds! You must know what this means, Brother Lee.”

So Hong smiled, but her gaze was icy cold.

“Hmph, of course, I know. But we must not forget that the elders emphasized how important this mission is to our clan before we departed. If we ruin the mission for personal reasons, we won’t survive even if we obtain the Heavenly Phoenix blood,” Cultivator Lee said with a dark face and a sneer.

“Haha, when did I say I would act before achieving our goal? Of course, completing the mission is the priority. It’s not too late to act after the mission is successful.”

“Hmm, it’s fine if it doesn’t affect the mission. But what if the other two cultivators step in to help her? And even if we obtain the Heavenly Phoenix blood, how will the two of us divide it? It’s not something that can be divided into two.”

Cultivator Lee’s eyes lit up, then he shook his head after thinking.

“The Heavenly Phoenix blood is much more important to our Black Phoenix Clan. Let’s do this! If you help me obtain it, I will give you three Black Flame Pills as a reward. I’ll take care of the other two. Besides, there’s no guarantee that they will survive in the Black Stone Forest, which is a dangerous place.”

So Hong promised an astonishing reward.

“Three Black Flame Pills? Are you serious?”

“I am also a person of some status in the Black Phoenix Clan. I was able to refine them after gathering materials for a long time. I was originally going to use them when breaking through to the Void Refinement stage.”

“Then let’s do that. I will help you obtain the Heavenly Phoenix blood on the way back after completing the mission. However, the blood of a True Spirit is not easy to obtain. Especially since we don’t know how long it has been passed down in the True Spirit Family, it will be difficult to completely separate it.”

Cultivator Lee frowned, thinking of something.

“Don’t worry. Our Black Phoenix Clan has done extensive research on separating the Heavenly Phoenix blood, even if we don’t know about the blood of other True Spirits. We have a 70-80% chance of success.”

“If Cultivator is confident, then that’s fine,” Cultivator Lee said, nodding after hearing So Hong’s words.