Bachelor [EN]: Chapter 804

“Greetings, Senior. If it’s not too much trouble, could you tell us why you are here?”

Xiao Hong, after taking a long breath, stepped forward and asked respectfully.

“So, you are cultivators of the Black Peak Clan. This old one is called Ziyun Shangren [Venerable Ziyun]. This city was built by my clan. I know you all have doubts, but this is not the place to talk. Follow me to the city, and we can discuss it there.”

The old Taoist smiled kindly and gestured with one arm, inviting them.

‘Ziyun Shangren?’

Xiao Hong was startled, realizing that the other party had immediately recognized her cultivation level. She exchanged glances with Nong Dong. Both of them were unfamiliar with the title ‘Ziyun Shangren’ and were hesitant to accept the request of a senior they didn’t know.

“Don’t worry too much. This old one has been living in seclusion for a long time and has had few opportunities to interact with other cultivators. It seems you are trying to pass through the First Line Heaven! Then it would be wise to heed this old one’s advice before you go. There have been recent changes, and recklessly entering would be very dangerous.”

The old Taoist explained kindly, seeing the expressions of Xiao Hong and the others.

Ziyun Shangren’s words didn’t completely dispel everyone’s doubts, but since he was making the request with good intentions, the cultivators’ tension eased a bit. Besides, they couldn’t ignore the news that something had happened in the First Line Heaven.

“Since Senior is inviting us so kindly, it would be impolite to refuse.”

Nong Dong made the decision. Frankly, even if he didn’t want to follow them into the city, he had no reason to refuse a request from a Nascent Soul cultivator [a high-level cultivator].

With Nong Dong’s words, it became even more difficult for Han Li and the others to object. They bowed to the old Taoist and accepted his offer. Ziyun Shangren smiled warmly, descended to the ground, and led the way toward the city gate.

Seeing this, the group also released their stealth techniques and used their movement techniques to follow the old man. As they got closer to the green area, they could see children playing by the lake.

“Haha, it’s a bit shabby, but please bear with it. We haven’t been here long, so we haven’t fully furnished the place yet. However, I recently acquired some rare spiritual fruits, so let’s enjoy them while we talk.”

The old Taoist’s kindness and the peaceful atmosphere naturally relaxed Nong Dong and Xiao Hong.

Soon, they reached the city gate, where the Foundation Establishment cultivators [low-level cultivators] guarding it lined up on both sides and bowed, clearing the way for them.

The old Taoist flicked his sleeve and walked ahead.

Nong Dong and the others scanned the guarding cultivators with their spiritual senses. Their expressions were respectful, and their energy was impeccable.

The group hesitated for a moment before slowly following the old Taoist through the Foundation Establishment cultivators. Han Li followed behind without any change in expression.

Everything seemed normal.

Bang!

But then, a clear cry was heard from high above, and a silver flame exploded, attacking one of the nearby Foundation Establishment cultivators. The silver flame instantly engulfed the cultivator.

“What is this?”

Xiao Hong and the others were simply dumbfounded.

“What is the meaning of this! I invited my juniors with good intentions, yet you dare to attack my guest!”

The old Taoist, who had been walking ahead, suddenly changed his expression and shouted, instantly appearing in front of Han Li. As he raised his hand, a huge, reddish hand tried to grab Han Li’s head.

However, Han Li was not at all flustered. He had grasped the situation the moment the silver flame had burned the Foundation Establishment cultivator.

The huge red hand was already descending, and the pressure of its spiritual energy alone made his body stiff and heavy. An ordinary cultivator would have been struck without being able to say a word.

However, he had practiced both body and magic, and his body was tempered using secret techniques such as the Dragon Scale Fruit, the Heavenly Corpse Pearl, and the Bone Tempering Technique. Even without activating the Demonic True Body, his physical toughness surpassed that of the demon cultivator, this cultivator, and Xiao Hong.

Han Li shook his shoulders, easily dispelling the pressure of the spiritual energy, and disappeared from the spot. He reappeared strangely about twenty feet away. It was the Swift Wind Transformation movement technique.

Considering his current physical abilities and situation, he had used the movement technique without using the Wind Thunder Wings.

“We must run! They are all puppets possessed by the Shadow Clan.”

Han Li shouted loudly as soon as he escaped, and then transformed into a streak of blue light, cutting through the sky.

At that moment, the cultivator engulfed in silver flames screamed in agony, and a gray shadow emerged from his body. However, the shadow also burst into flames and disappeared the moment it touched the silver fire.

It had all happened in an instant: the surprise attack with silver flames, and Han Li’s escape from the old Taoist’s counterattack.

Xiao Hong and Nong Dong, who had been stunned, were shocked and their faces turned pale upon hearing Han Li’s warning.

“Let’s go!”

They quickly transformed into four streaks of light and soared into the sky.

“Where do you think you’re going!”

The old Taoist, who had paused for a moment after Han Li evaded his attack, snorted as he saw the other four trying to escape. He flicked his sleeve, and countless red threads shot out, wrapping around one of the escaping lights in the sky and pulling it back.

As the light of spiritual energy faded, the cultivator, tightly bound by the red threads, was revealed. He struggled to break free, his body flashing with black light, but he couldn’t cut through the red threads no matter what he did.

At that moment, a long whistle was heard from inside the city, and streaks of light of various colors flew out.

Seeing this, the cultivator cried out in fear, and black light rapidly flowed through his body, causing his form to grow larger. Black steel wings spread out from his back, and his hands transformed into hawk claws, taking on the form of a half-demon.

For a demon, the most useful thing in a critical moment was a strong body. Especially this cultivator, who was from the Profound Hawk Clan, one of the seven great demon clans, was not someone to be trifled with. Suddenly, a black light, a foot long, shot out from his sharp claws, cutting through the red threads.

The cultivator showed a hint of joy as he saw the red threads starting to break. If he could just escape the red threads, he could use the Profound Hawk Clan’s unique escape technique.

However, before he could completely cut through the red threads by continuing to swing his claws, the color drained from his face.

“Tsk!”

The red threads, which had seemed to be torn apart, reconnected and returned to their original form.

The old Taoist sneered and his form became blurry as he appeared in front of the cultivator. As he touched the back of his head with one hand, a bright red shadow slowly emerged.

“Red Shadow, so you were indeed a Shadow Clan member!”

The cultivator was completely despondent upon seeing the Red Shadow. Among the Shadow Clan, the Red Shadow was equivalent to a Nascent Soul human cultivator. A mere Core Formation demon cultivator [mid-level cultivator] was no match for it.

“Now you know. Your body looks useful, so this venerable one will take it. Don’t worry, the others will soon follow you!”

The old Taoist’s eyes turned red, and a thin, unfamiliar voice was heard. At the same time, the red shadow covered the cultivator. The cultivator could only watch helplessly as the Red Shadow rushed towards him.

“Don’t even dream of it!”

Thud.

Knowing there was no hope of survival, the cultivator gritted his teeth. He bit his tongue, spitting out blood, and then spat out a dark red bead the size of a thumb. As the bead left the cultivator’s body, the young man’s eyes dimmed, and his skin withered, shrinking his body into that of a white-haired old man in an instant.

Unexpectedly, he had released his demon core, which he had carefully nurtured for many years. The bead expanded, emitting a dark red aura, and then exploded on its own. The old Taoist was startled and widened his eyes, and the Red Shadow also retreated quickly, as if it had seen a poisonous snake.

Boom!

A deafening explosion rang out, and a black aura spread out over a dozen feet, creating a whirlwind. The surrounding yellow sand swirled in the wind, like a yellow earth dragon.

The old Taoist, who had dodged the blast, appeared about a dozen feet away, narrowing his eyes. However, the black aura clung to his ankles like leeches. The old Taoist’s face hardened, and he suddenly let out a strange shriek.

Swoosh!

A sound of tearing through the air was heard, and suddenly a red shadow appeared in the air, plunging into the black aura.

Then, a bizarre thing happened. The whirlwind disappeared in an instant, and the black aura and the cultivator with white eyebrows vanished as if they had never existed.

Only then did the old Taoist sigh, unable to hide his anger.

He had never imagined that the cultivator, whom he had bound with a restriction, would explode his own demon core.

At that moment, the light faded, and eight male and female cultivators appeared around him.

“The plan has gone awry. They didn’t fall into the trap. However, I released the Shadow Fragrance while they were coming, and it should be on their bodies. The fragrance will last for an hour! I will personally lead the Mirage Beast and chase after the one who ruined this plan. You kill the other three.”

The old Taoist gave his orders grimly.

“Understood!”

The eight cultivators bowed and then split into three groups and flew away.

The old Taoist didn’t rush to follow them. Instead, he opened his mouth and let out a series of bizarre sounds. The sounds echoed loudly, seemingly reaching the ends of the sky.

Then, he pointed at the city gate, and a dozen gray shadows emerged from the bodies of the Foundation Establishment cultivators guarding the gate and were absorbed into the old Taoist’s body. The empty bodies of the Foundation Establishment cultivators collapsed to the ground.

Then, an unbelievable thing happened.

The children and ordinary people playing by the lake disappeared like bubbles upon hearing his strange cries. Even the small city was covered by a black aura, as if a shadow had fallen over it.

Croak, croak, croak.

The sound of frogs croaking, piercing the ears, echoed from within the black aura. The old man, who had stopped his strange cries, pointed expressionlessly at the black aura, and a gale blew, scattering the black aura.

Inside, a monster with two heads, each about a dozen feet in size, was sitting. The two snake heads, one gold and one silver, were attached to a blue-green frog body, and its four bloodshot eyes rolled around, making it a terrifying sight.

Thud!

The golden snake head spat out the remains of bones. It was the remains of the cultivator who had exploded his demon core a moment ago. He had been swallowed whole by the monster and now only bones remained.

The old Taoist’s form blurred, and the next moment he was standing on one of the monster’s heads.

“Let’s go!”

At his cold command, the huge monster leaped and transformed into a black aura, disappearing without a trace. The old Taoist was heading in the direction Han Li had escaped.

* * *

A woman with a pale face was flying through the sky, enveloped in a red light. Suddenly, her expression changed, and she shook one sleeve, taking out a blue jade pendant. One of the milky white beads embedded in the jade pendant had shattered into pieces.

The woman inhaled sharply and flicked the bead with her finger, causing it to shatter completely. After retrieving the jade pendant, the woman gathered her full magical power and increased her speed even more.

However, half an hour later, she was startled and had no choice but to turn her head. In the distance behind her, two lights of spiritual energy flickered, chasing after her.

The two were working together, and their speed was extremely fast, quickly closing in on the woman.

As the pursuers got closer, the woman surprisingly stopped her light and stood still in the air. Then, the two lights chasing from behind also stopped about a dozen feet away, and a pair of men and women appeared from within.

They both looked young, and both the man and the woman were outstanding in appearance and looked somewhat alike.

The one they were chasing was Xiao Hong, and she knew that the two were puppets possessed by the Shadow Clan, so she didn’t hesitate to form a hand seal and release two black flames. The flames immediately transformed into firebirds and rushed towards the man and woman.

The man and woman sneered coldly and shook their shoulders, releasing several streaks of gray light from their backs. It was a force that was not inferior to the black flames.

Clang!

The gray light and black flames intertwined and clashed.

Xiao Hong, raising her eyebrows, suddenly rolled her body in the air, and at the same time, a black light flashed dazzlingly, enveloping her.

Then, the cry of a phoenix was heard from within the black light, and a large bird spread its wings and flew towards the opposing man and woman. The bird was a black phoenix with a glossy black skin, a brown crest on its head, and jade-colored eyes that sparkled.

The young man and woman were momentarily flustered, but they exchanged glances and released two streaks of shadow. In an instant, a large wave of spiritual energy surged, and a series of loud noises continued.