Bachelor [EN]: Chapter 900

The blue wings blurred and then stopped in front of Yuan Yao and Lian Li.

“This is made by condensing the Kun Peng’s energy. Try it and see if it works!”

Yuan Yao and Lian Li looked doubtful as they took the blue feathers and infused them with their magical power.

A loud boom echoed, and blue energy spread out, enveloping them.

“Wow, it’s truly profound. I’ll try first, and if I fail, Brother Han, please guide me.”

Lian Li smiled playfully at Han Li.

“Haha, of course. I’ll be watching from the side.”

Without hesitation, Han Li’s form blurred, and he transformed into a blue roc, diving into the black mist first. Lian Li, holding the blue feather, was also enveloped in blue energy and descended.

“Junior Sister, be careful!”

Yuan Yao couldn’t help but warn her.

“Don’t worry. With Brother Han watching over me, nothing will happen.”

Lian Li said lightly and slowly descended. Yuan Yao quietly watched her. The blue roc that Han Li had transformed into waited patiently for Lian Li near the black mist.

Soon, the blue energy entered the black mist, and a joyful voice was heard.

“It works! It’s difficult to use a large amount of spiritual power, but at least flying and using techniques and treasures is no problem.”

“That’s good then. Miss Yuan, you should come down now and see for yourself.”

Having heard their conversation from above, Yuan Yao relaxed, smiled, and descended.

At that moment, an anomaly occurred. The calm black mist suddenly surged, and a whirlwind began to form, swirling violently.

Han Li, in his roc form, was startled. The wind was strong, and the powerful suction made it impossible to escape. He could only do his best to slow down the speed at which he was being pulled in. He moved next to Lian Li, grabbed her, and flapped his wings with all his might.

*Kwarurung! Kwakwang! Kwakwang!*

But then, as the black energy swirled, countless lightning bolts appeared densely packed.

“… !”

At the familiar sight, Han Li’s heart grew heavy. The black lightning writhed as if it were alive. In the end, a black light flashed, and the blue roc holding Lian Li disappeared into the vortex.

Yuan Yao, who was slowly descending from above, was shocked to see this. She tried to escape immediately, but the black vortex surged at once and swallowed her. She too vanished into the vortex of flashing black lightning.

In the instant the lightning flashed, Han Li felt his surroundings become hazy, and the sky and earth spun. Fortunately, he was used to being teleported, so as soon as he landed in another place, he endured the dizziness and formed a hand seal, returning to his original form.

He quickly released gray energy to protect himself and Lian Li, who was beside him. Only then did he cautiously look around.

They were on a high platform made of carved jade. Around the high platform stood a dozen or so blue stone pillars, their surfaces shimmering with magical characters. [These are likely runes or symbols used in formations.]

Surprisingly, the high platform they were on was covered by a small formation. The stone pillars emitted a shimmering white light that formed a barrier around the platform. Outside the barrier of light, the black energy surged, making it impossible to see what was there.

Han Li slightly narrowed his brow.

“Brother Han, where is this…?”

Lian Li, who had barely regained her senses, looked around, her face pale.

“It seems we were sucked into the Ghostly Mist and moved to another place.”

“Does that mean this isn’t the land of the Underworld?”

Lian Li asked, delighted at Han Li’s words.

“That’s not certain. Judging by the feeling of being teleported, it wasn’t that far, so we’re probably still in the land of the Underworld.”

Han Li shook his head with a cautious expression. Then, Lian Li, remembering something, looked around and said in surprise,

“Oh no! Junior Sister Yuan, who was outside the black mist, wasn’t teleported here. What if we end up losing each other?”

“Don’t worry. Even if Miss Yuan is alone for a while, nothing major will happen. First, we need to find out where we are. If we haven’t left the land of the Underworld, joining up with Fellow Cultivator Yuan won’t be a big problem.”

At Han Li’s words, Lian Li, who had been anxious, relaxed slightly.

“My junior sister and I have never been separated since we started cultivating. I’m afraid I’ve shown a disgraceful side of myself in front of you, Brother Han, because I was worried about her.”

“No, I understand your feelings, Fellow Cultivator Lian. But right now, it’s more urgent to solve the problem at hand.”

Han Li smiled wryly and strode towards one of the stone pillars. He narrowed his eyes, examining the magical characters, then turned his head to look outside the light barrier.

He activated his Brightsight Spirit Eyes [a technique to enhance vision] and looked clearly into the black mist.

“Hmm…”

“Did you find something?”

Lian Li approached, worried, as Han Li’s expression changed.

“Besides where we are, there are six more similar structures, arranged in a circle. Moreover, this place seems to be inside a mountain.”

“Inside a mountain? If this is really the land of the Underworld, who would have made something like this?”

“I don’t know. More than that, what I want to know is how that person manipulated the Ghostly Mist to pull us in here. Could it be related to Rahu…?” [Rahu is a celestial being in some mythologies, often associated with eclipses and chaos.]

Han Li couldn’t be sure without any clues.

“I don’t think we can make an accurate judgment right now. But we can’t just wait here either.”

Lian Li sighed.

“That’s right. We don’t know what the owner of this place intends. In a way, this place is protecting us, but in another way, it’s also a restraint that confines us. Let’s leave this place first. The magical characters on the stone pillars are so profound that it’s difficult for me to solve them with my skills. It seems we have no choice but to break the barrier by force.”

“Is it such a powerful restriction? I’ve studied formations before, so let me take a look for a moment.”

Lian Li stepped forward confidently at Han Li’s words.

“Ah, if Miss Lian can solve the restriction, that would be great.”

Han Li, who had hesitated, smiled and stepped aside. Lian Li then went to the stone pillar and began to concentrate, her eyes sparkling. Meanwhile, Han Li stood with his hands behind his back, watching the outside of the light barrier.

After a short while, Lian Li sighed, her face pale, and smiled wryly.

“The restriction is too profound for me to understand. It’s beyond my ability, I’m ashamed to say.”

“It’s alright. Then, let me try with my flying sword.”

Han Li, as if he had expected this, didn’t mind and immediately flicked his sleeve. A clear cry was heard, and a golden flying sword, the size of an inch, flew up.

The flying sword circled above his head, transforming into a three-foot-long sword, its golden light shining brilliantly.

“Go.”

The golden light flashed, and the flying sword, transformed into a beam of light, sharply slashed at the light barrier.

*Bang.*

Unexpectedly, the golden beam of light flashed gold and white, then bounced back weakly. Han Li’s expression changed drastically, and he stopped the flying sword.

He had predicted that the light barrier would be strong, given the power of the barrier, but he had never imagined that the Azure Bamboo Cloud Sword [a powerful magical sword] would be repelled.

Lian Li, who had been watching from the side, was also surprised and immediately opened her mouth to take out the black palm-leaf fan and struck the light barrier. Black flames surged and spread, but the same thing happened again.

The black flames bounced back, flashing white light as soon as they touched the light barrier. Lian Li gasped in surprise.

“It’s so powerful!”

Han Li, who had been lost in thought for a moment, raised one hand this time, revealing a pitch-black palm. As his five fingers approached the light barrier, a large amount of gray energy poured out.

*Woong.*

The light barrier, which had been still, began to vibrate as the gray energy surged into it. Han Li raised the corners of his mouth.

‘If it’s a restriction with the attributes of the five elements, the Origin Magnetic Divine Light [a powerful technique] can’t be ineffective.’

He mobilized all his magical power, further strengthening the energy flowing from his palm. The light barrier then shook even more violently. The light barrier gradually became distorted, centered on his palm.

Seeing this, Lian Li’s eyes widened. She had seen him use the Origin Magnetic Divine Light before, but she had never imagined that it would be so effective in breaking a restriction.

With a heavy sound, the light barrier began to crack under the Origin Magnetic Divine Light. Soon after, the black energy from outside immediately rushed into the jade platform.

Han Li immediately transformed into a blue roc, and Lian Li also hid herself with the blue feather she had prepared, following behind him. Having already surveyed the surrounding situation, Han Li, in his roc form, flew without hesitation, following the black mist somewhere.

Soon, the view in front of them cleared, and this time, a blue and yellow barrier appeared. However, he recognized that it was just a simple isolation barrier and did not hesitate to tear it apart with the roc’s claws.

*Chwa-rak.*

Fortunately, the barrier was easily torn. Han Li’s form blurred, and he instantly moved through the gap to the rocky area on the other side of the barrier, returning to his original form in the blue light. Lian Li also followed him closely out of the barrier.

Han Li hurriedly turned his head, and the yellow barrier he had torn apart was instantly restored, preventing the black energy from entering. Only then did Han Li feel a little relieved.

At that moment, Lian Li’s surprised voice was heard.

“Brother Han! There’s an entrance here. Should we go in and check it out?”

At her words, Han Li was startled and looked to see a milky white passage emitting light on a blue cliff dozens of feet away. Han Li raised his eyebrows, looked left and right, and was dumbfounded.

Unexpectedly, the place they had come out of was a protruding rock on a steep cliff, and the platforms they had been on seemed to be located below the cliff. Han Li, looking at the cave, did not move immediately but flicked his fingers.

*Shwi-shwik!*

*Weng!*

Two golden petals flew up, transformed into beetles, and flew into the cave. Han Li sat on the ground and closed his eyes. Seeing this, Lian Li quietly waited by his side.

After a short while, Han Li suddenly opened his eyes, his face pale.

“Oh no, there’s someone inside the cave. Moreover, their cultivation is so deep that I can’t gauge their strength. My spirit insects have also been captured.”

As soon as he finished speaking, an old voice echoed around them.

“I heard there was a problem with the Seven Gates Locking Yin Formation [a powerful formation], and it seems we have guests. Now that you’ve come this far, come in and rest!”

Han Li and Lian Li were startled and exchanged glances.

“Let’s go. Judging by the consciousness left on the spirit insects, they are likely more terrifying than the demon kings.”

Han Li was restless inside, but he appeared very calm on the outside. Lian Li nodded, and the two slowly headed towards the cave entrance.

After following the passage for about a hundred feet, the view in front of them brightened, and they found themselves in a classic-style hall with white sand on the floor. Inside the hall, there were only a few chairs, tables, and some strange flowering trees.

The flowering trees seemed to be about a foot tall and emitted a fresh fragrance even from a distance. Thanks to this, it felt as if they had entered a deep forest. And in the middle of the hall, an old man wearing a gray robe was sitting on a chair.

The old man with a long beard scanned those who had entered the hall with his shining eyes.

“You are of the human race!”

The old man opened his mouth, seemingly surprised. Han Li also scanned the old man and was startled, slightly bowing his waist in greeting.

“Senior, do you know about the human race? How should we address you, Senior?”

“Hehe! Of course, I know. This old man is also of the human race. My previous name is not worth mentioning now, and I am now using the surname ‘Kang’.”

The old man smiled and looked at Han Li and Lian Li with a gentle gaze.