Bachelor [EN]: Chapter 831

After retrieving the Gold Devouring Beetles, Han Li released two more spirit insects from his sleeve. Just as before, when the two Gold Devouring Beetles couldn’t bear the weight and fell, he collected them again.

This time, four Gold Devouring Beetles flew out from his sleeve, and after half a day, he released and retrieved over a thousand Gold Devouring Beetles. Thanks to this, he was barely able to split the stone into three pieces.

Looking at the three pieces of stone, Han Li nodded in satisfaction.

As he formed hand seals [a series of specific hand gestures used in cultivation techniques] with both hands, a golden light flashed behind him, and he suddenly transformed into a three-headed, six-armed illusory figure. Han Li bent down and slowly lifted one of the stone pieces with both arms.

It was as heavy as lifting an entire mountain, but he was barely able to carry it using the Dull Light [a technique that enhances physical strength] and fly away. With a slight smile, he put the stone down and examined the cave.

‘There might be something else.’

However, apart from a few materials and some spirit stones [currency used by cultivators], there was nothing else of note. Han Li took everything he needed and returned to the main hall.

He took one of the three foundation stones and hid the other two in secret places within the cave, covering them with an illusion array [a formation that creates illusions].

He then returned to the surface of the sea, activated the Wind and Thunder Wings [a magical artifact that grants flight], and transformed into a streak of shimmering light, disappearing into the distance.

Three days later, he returned to the eastern part of the Blackrock Mountain Range and immediately placed the stone in the secret chamber. For the remaining two days, Han Li did not rush to leave the cave but examined the foundation stone in the secret chamber.

The foundation stone was extremely hard, and even using ice seals, lightning strikes, and demonic energy had no effect. Furthermore, except for the Heavenly Spirit Flame [a powerful flame used by cultivators], even his Nascent Soul Fire [a flame powered by a cultivator’s core] could not melt it. Of course, even the Heavenly Spirit Flame had only a very slight effect.

If he were to make an offensive treasure like the Myriad Mountains [a powerful magical artifact] with this weight, its power would be immense. It was also the perfect material for making a top-grade defensive treasure.

He would have to think carefully about how to handle this over time.

But then, while examining the Gold Devouring Beetles that had gnawed on the foundation stone, Han Li was startled.

The Gold Devouring Beetles were in a deep sleep, as if they were about to undergo their next evolution. It was impossible for a fully grown Gold Devouring Beetle to evolve without an anomaly occurring.

Han Li was pleased, but on the other hand, he was worried about how to handle this stone. However, he decided to think about it again after the Gold Devouring Beetles had evolved.

The two days passed in an instant, and it was the seventh day, the day he had promised with the bull-headed beast. As expected, early in the morning, not only the two demon beasts but also the giant golden-furred monkey and the giant boar had arrived outside the eastern part of the cave.

They were quietly waiting outside Han Li’s cave with fearful expressions, not making any noise at all. Around noon, a blue aura scattered like bubbles, and a giant stone gate, about twenty feet in size, appeared.

*Koo-roong.*

The stone gate opened on its own, revealing a milky white passage.

“Come in!”

A calm, youthful voice echoed from within the passage.

The four demon beasts were startled but dared not refuse and entered the passage. Except for the small bull-headed beast, the other demon beasts had to shrink their bodies to barely pass through the stone gate.

After a while, Han Li sat on a stone chair in the main hall, scanning the four demon beasts. His gaze lingered on the golden-furred monkey for a long time.

*Thud.*

Before the demon beasts could speak, Han Li flicked his sleeve and dropped something onto the floor. It was the head of a large navy blue Flood Dragon. The small beasts couldn’t hide their surprised expressions upon seeing it.

“This is the head of the Bo Guang Honored One. Since the trader is dead, the deal is now void. It has been seven days since you came here, so you all must have made your decisions, right?”

His tone was unyielding. The four demon beasts felt a chill in their hearts at the sight of the Flood Dragon’s head, which emanated the aura of an eighth-level demon beast.

“How could we have any other choice! We have prepared the items you wanted, Senior!”

The bull-headed beast exchanged glances with the other beasts and replied with a smile.

“Good. I have also prepared enough of the Wood Spirit Flowers you wanted.”

Han Li said calmly and reached out to touch the storage bracelet on his wrist. A white light flashed, and a long, rectangular jade box appeared in his hand.

As the jade box opened, a strong fragrance of herbs wafted out, revealing golden buds. There were easily over a hundred of them.

“So many Wood Spirit Flowers! And all of them are over a thousand years old!”

The giant monkey exclaimed in surprise upon seeing the flowers.

“Now that you’ve confirmed the Wood Spirit Flowers, you should show me the Gold Marrow Crystal Insects and the Gold Thread Coral Silk, right?”

“It seems like the quantity is insufficient. There are only about a hundred. According to the agreement, the deal is complete with ten pairs of spirit insects.”

The bull-headed beast, looking pleased, said calmly. Han Li smiled slightly, levitated the jade box into the air, and flipped his other hand, taking out another long, rectangular jade box.

It was also full of Wood Spirit Flowers. The demon beasts were dumbfounded upon seeing it.

“Now, is it enough? Take out all the spirit insects and coral silk you brought.”

Han Li stared intently at the four demon beasts and calmly commanded.

The startled demon beasts whispered to each other and eventually took out fist-sized crystal minerals and black gourds from their possessions. Fifteen crystal stones and three black gourds were placed on the ground in an instant.

Han Li’s eyes sparkled as he reached out into the air, and one of the crystal stones flew to him. He lowered his head and examined it closely, seeing a pair of milky white insects congealed inside.

He sent his consciousness into the crystal, enveloping it. The small insects shimmered with light and twitched, emitting a golden liquid from their mouths that was absorbed into the crystal. The crystal glowed brightly with a golden light.

Han Li exerted force on the hand holding the crystal, but it only flashed with golden light and did not break.

“Indeed, it’s the Gold Marrow Crystal Insect!”

“Please be assured, Senior. Even if we were bold, how could we dare to deceive you?”

The bull-headed beast gave a wry smile at Han Li’s mutterings.

“Is that so?”

At the demon beast’s words, Han Li put down the crystal and this time summoned one of the gourds. As he tilted the gourd, purplish-gold sand poured out. Han Li examined the purplish-gold grains and then summoned the other two gourds, pouring them onto the ground as well.

“That’s right. It’s definitely top-grade Gold Thread Coral Silk. Even with fifteen pairs of Gold Marrow Crystal Insects, it doesn’t quite match the two boxes of Wood Spirit Flowers… but it’s close enough, so I’ll make the deal.”

He said calmly as he examined the weight of the sand. At his words, the four demon beasts nodded with faces full of joy.

Han Li threw the two jade boxes, and the bull-headed beast and the golden-furred monkey each caught one and carefully stored them away. At the same time, the crystal stones and gourds disappeared into Han Li’s sleeve.

“This deal was very satisfactory. If you have more Gold Marrow Crystal Insects and Gold Thread Coral Silk, or other rare items, come here to trade. I have many precious materials besides Wood Spirit Flowers, so you won’t lose out. Now, you may leave.”

Under his powerful aura, the demon beasts dared not say anything and respectfully bowed before retreating.

As the demon beasts flew away, creating gusts of wind, they finally breathed a sigh of relief after traveling over a thousand miles and gathered again in the sky.

“That was fortunate. To obtain so many Wood Spirit Flowers at once, and all of them over a thousand years old. Just by offering these, we won’t need to provide the rest of the tribute. We won’t be punished by the Sky-Devouring Clan!”

“That’s right. I didn’t expect that person to have so many Wood Spirit Flowers. If I remember correctly, even if we combined all the Wood Spirit Flowers that grow naturally on that mountain, it wouldn’t be as much as this. Could there be more places we haven’t searched? From what he said, it seems he still has a considerable amount.”

The giant boar spoke, and the giant monkey frowned in response.

“Perhaps that’s the case. He probably didn’t obtain the Wood Spirit Flowers from elsewhere. Considering how much the Sky-Devouring Clan values this flower, it’s likely a unique spirit flower that only grows in the Blackrock Mountain Range.”

The three-headed serpent rolled its eyes.

“That’s enough. Either way, it’s not our concern. We just need to endure for a hundred years, erase the slave mark, and then run away. Let’s focus on collecting the high-grade spirit stones that the Great One requested. If we cause trouble and things go wrong, it’ll all be for naught.”

The bull-headed beast, who had been listening quietly, stepped forward.

“Now that we have the Wood Spirit Flowers, we’re safe for a hundred years. The key is the spirit stones. Low-grade spirit stones are useless to us, and mid-grade spirit stones are useless to the Great One. High-grade spirit stones are also difficult to obtain since the spirit stone mines are empty, and this time, he wants us to bring four different types of top-grade spirit stones with different attributes. These top-grade spirit stones are difficult to find around the Blackrock Mountain Range. Even if we try to trade with other cultivators on the surrounding islands, we’ll only be able to obtain water-attribute spirit stones at best.”

“But the Great One needs top-grade spirit stones to break through his cultivation, doesn’t he?”

The giant boar muttered worriedly at the golden-furred monkey’s words. The four demon beasts fell silent for a moment, lost in thought.

“It was difficult to obtain them before, but wasn’t that person’s divine ability amazing? Moreover, he seems to be from another region. He might have high-grade spirit stones of other attributes.”

The serpent’s three heads tilted, and the middle head opened its mouth.

“I’ve also considered that. But why would we need to obtain top-grade spirit stones for our cultivation? If we try to trade, we might only arouse suspicion. Let’s look for other methods first, and if we can’t find any, then we can trade with that person.”

“That makes sense. Let’s discuss it again after the Sky-Devouring Clan’s envoy has visited.”

The bull-headed beast cautiously shook his head, and the golden-furred monkey agreed. Thus, the four demon beasts dispersed without making a clear decision.

At that moment, Han Li was in the secret chamber, holding a Gold Marrow Crystal Insect and his eyes were sparkling. The Gold Marrow Crystal Insect was famous among both the human and demon races, but there were hardly any opportunities to capture them. Even when they were occasionally found, it was only in pairs or triplets, and their price was comparable to the entire fortune of an average high-level cultivator.

That was why he had secretly laughed when the sixth-level demon beasts said they could offer Gold Marrow Crystal Insects.

The Gold Marrow Crystal Insect was used in various fields. It was not only a main ingredient in some pills that enhanced cultivation but also had a great effect on body refinement.

If one washed their body with the substance called Gold Marrow that these insects emitted, they could have a body much stronger than even a body refiner of the same level.

However, Han Li was more interested in the third method of use, which was very rare, rather than the first two. It was to refine the Gold Marrow Crystal Insect to materialize the Golden Illusory Form of the Brahma Saint True Devil, which appeared when using the Brahma Saint True Devil Art [a powerful cultivation technique].

Of course, other materials besides the Gold Marrow Crystal Insect were needed for the powerful divine ability to condense the Vajra Dharma Body [a powerful defensive technique] of the Buddhist Sect. Perhaps those materials were also very rare and could only be obtained through fate.

Han Li sat silently, holding the crystal stone, and then suddenly took out four more crystal stones.

‘Ten pairs are enough to condense the Brahma Saint True Devil Form.’

He planned to use the remaining five pairs to strengthen his body for the next mid-stage tribulation [a trial a cultivator must face to advance]. If things went smoothly, it would be enough in about five or six years.

As he made his plans, Han Li unhesitatingly took one of the crystal stones and emitted a blue light of spiritual energy from his hand, closing his eyes. The pair of insects in the crystal stone, which had been motionless, emitted a dazzling light, trembling from head to tail, and released a golden liquid.

Soon, two streams of golden liquid passed through the crystal stone and flowed into Han Li’s palm.

*Paaat!*

The golden liquid, enveloped in blue light, emitted an even more explosive light, and the golden light, mixed with the blue light, slowly spread out, completely covering one of his arms.

When the light faded, Han Li’s forearm was dyed gold.

He then grabbed his golden forearm with his other hand and chanted an incantation. Light emanated from his golden forearm, creating a milky white glow. Han Li calmly breathed, channeling the spiritual power within his body into the circulation of the energy flow.