Bachelor [EN]: Chapter 840

The next morning, four young boys and girls from the Celestial Peng Clan came to see him. They were all at the Foundation Establishment stage, and although very young, they seemed to possess outstanding talent.

Han Li followed them without a word, leaving the guest house and heading towards a certain part of the city. After flying for the better part of half a day, a bizarre building came into view at the edge of the city.

It was a huge plaza that looked like an arena. It was surrounded on all sides by massive walls a hundred feet high, spanning several miles.

On top of the stone walls, hundreds of Peng statues stood, and above them, some kind of restriction was deployed, each emitting a dazzling light of five colors, forming a curtain of light that covered the entire plaza.

Also, in the center of the plaza, there was a high platform made of pure white jade, which looked like an altar. And now, Han Li was standing on this high jade platform.

Around him, about a dozen Celestial Peng Clan members with solemn faces were surrounding him. Unexpectedly, both men and women were wearing white robes and were at the Nascent Soul stage.

Jin Yeol, Elder Seo, and another Celestial Peng Clan elder stood before Han Li. Behind them, young women dressed as maids each held a silver tray with a white aura.

“Cultivator Han, the items are prepared. Also, before the trial, we will have three of our cultivators assist you so that you can fully unleash the power of the Peng relic and Peng blood essence. Initially, we will help you refine the two items, and then we will also teach you the Celestial Peng Clan’s transformation technique. So, I hope you will not disappoint us.”

Light of spiritual energy flickered on Jin Yeol’s face.

“Rest assured. I will do my best to fulfill what I have promised.”

“Good. Then let’s start with the fusion of the Peng blood essence! Elder Seo will invoke the power of the blood essence and forcibly fuse it with your blood. It will be a very painful process, but you must endure it.

After that, if you consume the Peng relic, I will personally help you refine it. Be especially careful not to be backlashed by the power of the Peng contained in the Peng relic. After all, you are not truly a member of the Celestial Peng Clan, so there will be risks.”

After Jin Yeol gave a few words of caution, Han Li nodded cautiously. The girl seemed satisfied with his obedient attitude, smiled, and gestured towards the back.

Then, a maid carefully stepped forward and presented the silver tray to the girl. Jin Yeol flicked her finger towards the silver tray.

A white light flashed, and a small bottle the size of a finger appeared. It was made of a unique material that was neither metal nor jade.

Jin Yeol’s expression became solemn as she looked at the small bottle, and the other Celestial Peng Clan members immediately bowed, showing their respect.

Soon, incantations came from Jin Yeol’s mouth, and as she reached out her hand, a blue thread extended and touched the small bottle. The bottle trembled and rose into the air, approaching Han Li.

Han Li immediately went up to the jade altar and sat cross-legged.

At that moment, Elder Seo and the beautiful woman suddenly reached out, each taking out a red lotus and a banana leaf filled with jade-colored energy.

The blood-red lotus spun around and grew to the size of a palm, emitting a rich fragrance, while the banana leaf grew to the size of a person in a green aura, revealing bizarre green spell characters.

Shortly after, the blood-red lotus fell on his head. Then, Han Li’s whole body became languid, and surprisingly, he was suppressed by the blood-red lotus. At the same time, the fragrance of the lotus wafted into his nose, intoxicating him.

However, Han Li was not flustered and remained calm, closing his eyes in the center of the lotus. Elder Seo’s low shout was heard, and the petals of the blood-red lotus slowly folded, turning into a bud.

Seeing this, Jin Yeol flicked her five fingers towards the small bottle.

Poof, poof, poof!

Blue threads flew and disappeared into the small bottle. Then, the small bottle emitted a green light, and with a clear cry, a blue Peng bird spread its small wings and flew up.

In response, Jin Yeol, who had been prepared, flapped the golden wings on her back. Then, golden energy soared from her wings and enveloped the blue Peng bird. The Peng bird fluttered in the golden energy and turned into a blue liquid, with a faint silver light visible.

Jin Yeol made a hand seal with both hands and pointed at the blue liquid. Following the golden energy, the blue liquid headed towards the flower bud.

Soon, the blue liquid mingled with the blood-red and golden light and disappeared into the blood-red lotus.

At that moment, Elder Seo suddenly disappeared and appeared like a ghost next to the lotus.

Then, the silver wings on Elder Seo’s back spread wide, and a silver light of spiritual energy poured out and flowed into the blood-red lotus. The beautiful woman also appeared on the other side of the lotus and infused it with white spiritual energy.

Wooong.

In response, the blood-red lotus bud cried out, and the blood-red energy began to surge violently.

Just then, the jade-colored banana leaf floating in the air fell and touched the blood-red lotus, exploding and pushing numerous dark green threads into it.

Dark green patterns appeared on the surface of the blood-red lotus, and the next moment, the blood-red color disappeared completely, and the vibration stopped. However, Elder Seo and the beautiful woman just closed their eyes and focused on infusing pure spiritual energy.

Jin Yeol, who was watching from the side, sighed deeply and smiled.

“As expected. This person’s energy is accepting the Peng blood essence. The key is how much of the power of the Peng blood essence he can unleash with the body of a foreign race…”

Jin Yeol, who was talking to herself, looked at the high-ranking Celestial Peng Clan members standing beside her and suddenly gave a chilling order.

“You all saw it. The fate of our entire clan depends on this matter. This person must be kept a complete secret, and from now on, this person’s identity will be that of the third Saint secretly cultivated by our clan overseas. Do you all understand?”

“Great Elder, rest assured. We will never leak it.”

The Nascent Soul stage Celestial Peng Clan members were startled and answered in unison.

“I also know that none of you will do anything that could harm our clan. In two months, we will select those among you who will accompany the Saints to participate in this delayed trial.”

Jin Yeol announced in a much gentler tone.

“So soon? I thought there was still a year left.”

Someone among the high-ranking members asked in surprise.

“I heard that over ten races, including the Red Rong Clan and the Crow Clan, have requested to advance the trial. The elders of our clan in the Joint Elder Council raised objections, but most of them agreed.”

“Why is that? There must be a reason, right?”

Another person asked, indignant.

“Of course, there is a reason. They claimed that the Abyss is unstable recently, and advancing the trial can prevent major accidents.”

“The monsters of the Abyss are originally mortal enemies of our Bi-Peng Clan. When has there ever been peace? They are clearly targeting weak branches like us.”

“What’s the use of saying that? Since the majority of the Joint Elder Council has agreed to this, we have no choice but to accept it. Also, recently, other races have frequently appeared in the Celestial Peng Clan’s territory, wantonly plundering. Some of you must leave immediately and kill all those despicable beings. We must clearly warn the other branches to abandon their delusions of trying to harm our clan before the trial ends.”

Jin Yeol’s face became extremely cold.

“Understood!”

The Celestial Peng Clan members bowed their heads and answered, then received their orders and left the place in a hurry.

Suddenly, the jade altar became silent, and except for Jin Yeol, Elder Seo, and the beautiful woman who were circulating their energy, only the maids remained.

Jin Yeol’s gaze turned to the blood-red lotus.

The lotus bud had grown twice as large as before, thanks to the continuous infusion of spiritual power by two Combined Body stage beings. At the same time, the dark green patterns on the surface of the lotus also sparkled, looking as if they were alive.

Suddenly, Jin Yeol reached out towards the silver tray behind her.

A sound of air being torn was heard, and a milky white bead floated up and was caught in Jin Yeol’s hand. She picked up the bead and examined it closely, and Jin Yeol’s expression became a little strange.

“Whose Great Elder’s relic is this?”

“It is the relic of the 9th Great Elder. As you instructed, we brought the oldest one that has been stored. The power it contains has also been mostly lost.”

The maid answered respectfully.

“The 9th? The relic of Great Elder Hong-Woon, who founded the Awakening of Insects Divine Power and died of madness in the end.”

“Yes, it is the relic of Great Elder Hong-Woon. Great Elder Hong-Woon’s death was strange, and it is said that the relic left behind contains not only the power of the Peng but also some of the power of his consciousness before his death. It has been kept in a secret chamber because there were concerns that it might leave aftereffects in the body of the one who absorbed it. If you don’t think it’s suitable, I will immediately bring another relic.”

The maid became a little uneasy at Jin Yeol’s reaction and explained.

“No. This will do.”

Jin Yeol glanced at the blood-red lotus again and regained her composure. At that moment, the blood-red lotus bud began to wriggle and move in a bumpy manner.

* * *

Two days later, above the jade altar.

A huge blue bird left afterimages, appearing and disappearing in various places in the sky, with golden lightning and blue energy swirling on its surface. Suddenly, the huge bird stopped in one place and fiercely slashed the air with its two claws.

Wheek!

Then, ten streaks of white light extended and disappeared, leaving afterimages. As it flapped its two wings, this time blue energy gathered and turned into wind blades, densely filling the surrounding hundred feet.

Crash!

A loud noise rang out, and the huge blue bird opened its mouth and surprisingly spat out golden lightning orbs. The lightning orbs collided with each other and exploded, filling the surroundings with the light of lightning.

When the huge bird’s sharp cry was heard again, it had already spread its two wings and disappeared into the gale. A moment later, a gust of wind suddenly blew in the higher sky, and the huge blue bird appeared.

This time, its body, enveloped in blue light, had suddenly grown to a size of a hundred feet. When its two wings were fully extended, the altar was hidden in its shadow. The three people standing on the jade altar, looking at it, had their expressions stiffen at the sight of the Peng’s enormous size.

“Great Elder! Is it really right to have him consume the relic of the 9th Great Elder, who was not in good condition?”

“Why do you ask? Elder Seo, do you think I would give a foreign race some other spiritual elixir?”

The girl’s face hardened, and she asked coldly at Elder Seo’s uneasy question.

“How could I dare! It’s just that the speed at which that person is learning the transformation technique is too fast, and the fact that he takes on the form of the Peng True Body after transforming is strange. That’s a level that even a Spirit Transformation stage member of our clan cannot achieve. Is he really from the human race?”

The old man seemed to be unconvinced.

“You personally fused the Peng blood essence, and yet you don’t know if that person is a Bi-Peng Clan member or not? Of course, I didn’t expect him to possess such strong abilities. Perhaps it’s because the refined Peng feathers really contained the blood of the Peng True Spirit, which changed his constitution.”

Jin Yeol pondered and found the most plausible reason.

“If we look at it that way, it’s not an incomprehensible situation, but…”

The beautiful woman also sighed and nodded.