Bachelor [EN]: Chapter 946

Pop! Pop! Pop!

The puppets burst open, releasing a burst of multicolored energy, and transformed into beautiful women in vibrant clothing. At the same time, twenty-four handsome young men, each holding a different musical instrument, appeared on either side of the main hall.

Soon, uplifting music filled the hall, and the women began to dance. Their movements were incredibly fluid, and each motion released a strange, alluring fragrance.

The atmosphere in the hall shifted instantly. From the moment the puppets appeared, Gap Cheonmok had been watching with wide eyes. After a while, the music stopped, and the twenty dancing women also ceased their movements.

“How fascinating. The consciousness within those puppets doesn’t seem to belong to you, Fellow Cultivator Han,” Gap Cheonmok murmured, his eyes gleaming with interest.

“You noticed! They are called Spirit Servants. Think of them as being somewhere between a spirit and a physical object. Unlike Soul Puppets, they are created by fusing the soul of a spirit insect with a puppet body. In a way, although the methods are different, the goal is similar to that of a Soul Puppet. However, they differ in that they act on instinct and have no capacity to develop spirituality.”

“A fusion of spirit and puppet! I had considered it before, but I failed repeatedly, even after experimenting with the souls of numerous spirit beasts. What kind of spirit was infused into these Spirit Servants?” Gap Cheonmok asked, his face a mixture of surprise and delight.

“I obtained them by chance, so I don’t know the specifics. However, if you research the Spirit Servants and separate the souls, it shouldn’t be difficult to discover their true nature.”

“That’s true. Does that mean you’re giving these puppets to me?”

“They are interesting, but I don’t have much use for them. Since you are so talented in puppetry, I hope you can reach even greater heights with them.”

“These Spirit Servants will certainly be of great help to me. However, I cannot simply accept such valuable items. I will purchase them at a high price.”

“Spirit stones are unnecessary. If you feel uncomfortable, Fellow Cultivator Gap, perhaps you could answer a few questions for me?” Han Li said, his eyes sparkling as he finally got to the main point.

“Questions? Ask me anything. I will answer as long as it doesn’t involve the secrets of my clan.”

“Of course. It’s definitely not related to your clan’s secrets.”

“Then, you may ask anything.” Gap Cheonmok nodded, his expression relaxed.

“While staying in the city, I heard that Heavenly Cloud City possesses an intercontinental teleportation array. Is this true? And if so, which clan controls it?”

“There is indeed an intercontinental teleportation array. However, it is not controlled by any single clan but is jointly managed by some of the thirteen clans.”

“I would like to know which clans manage it.”

“To ensure the safe storage and regular maintenance of the teleportation array, the Crystal Clan, the Stone Cocoon Clan, the Multi-Hand Clan, and our Myriad Ancient Clan manage it. Are you interested in the teleportation array’s formation, or do you wish to use it, Fellow Cultivator Han?” Gap Cheonmok was a man of keen intellect. He quickly understood Han Li’s intentions from his questions.

“I wish to use the teleportation array to travel to another continent.”

“Unfortunately, it will be difficult for you to use the teleportation array.” Gap Cheonmok shook his head with a wry smile, without asking for the reason.

“I know that the cost of activating the teleportation array is high. However, I must use it no matter the cost. What I want to ask is whether there is absolutely no chance for an outsider like me to use the teleportation array.” Han Li fixed his gaze on Gap Cheonmok. Although his expression remained unchanged, he was inwardly tense. This was his true purpose in seeking out Gap Cheonmok.

“Since you ask, I will be frank. If you were a member of the Saint Clan and from Heavenly Cloud, it would be easy for you to use the large teleportation array. However, with your current status, it is too difficult.

However, the situation is different now that we are facing the invasion of the Horned Tooth Clan’s army. If you make great contributions to Heavenly Cloud during the war, there will be room for discussion.

I am only in charge of puppet refinement in my clan, so you would need to discuss this matter in detail with the elders. However, we are currently recruiting guest elders from outside clans in preparation for the great war. I have already told the elders about how easily you dealt with a fellow cultivator of the Horned Tooth Clan, and they have shown interest in you.” Gap Cheonmok hesitated, unable to give a definite answer. However, Han Li frowned. He had no desire to get involved in someone else’s war. If he got caught up in a war of such a massive scale, even a small mistake could cost him his life.

“Thank you for your words, but I need to think about it a bit more. If I wish to meet with your clan’s elders in the future, could you introduce me, Fellow Cultivator Gap?”

“After receiving such a precious gift, of course, I should do that for you!” Gap Cheonmok replied without hesitation. After that, Han Li mainly discussed puppetry with Gap Cheonmok.

Once the topic of puppets came up, Gap Cheonmok’s eyes lit up as if he had been waiting for this moment, and he talked non-stop. His puppetry skills were truly astonishing, and by repeating what he said, one could gain considerable inspiration.

Han Li also talked about the puppetry he had learned from the Great Evolution Divine Lord, which surprised Gap Cheonmok. Their conversation was very enjoyable and beneficial.

Half a day later, Han Li, after seeing him off, descended Mount Yunha and returned to his residence. Upon entering the inn, Han Li immediately activated the restrictions, completely sealing off the room. He went to one side of the room and sat down in a cross-legged position.

Although he had not obtained what he wanted, he had learned more about the large teleportation array and had also acquired a Soul Puppet, so it wasn’t all bad.

With a soft sound, he came out of his thoughts and with one hand, he brushed past his storage pouch and took out a square wooden box. Upon opening the lid, he saw the long white snake lying still inside.

He stared at the wooden box with his dark blue eyes, as if he was looking through the puppet. Unfortunately, even with the use of his Brightsight Spirit Eyes [a technique that enhances vision], the important parts were still blurry, and he couldn’t discern the principle behind it.

Han Li frowned at this. He released his powerful consciousness to envelop the white snake and try to scan its core, but for some reason, his consciousness was forcibly repelled.

However, the other parts were no different from ordinary puppets. He did discover that the materials were somewhat unique and that the arrangement of some of the mechanisms was very intricate, but the true essence of the Soul Puppet was contained in the part he couldn’t examine.

He could have forcibly injected his consciousness, but that would have damaged the puppet. Besides, if he could do it, wouldn’t others be able to do the same?

Considering that the Myriad Ancient Clan still monopolized the Soul Puppet refinement method, it was clear that this method wouldn’t work. Perhaps the puppet would be destroyed at the same time as the secret of the Soul Puppet was revealed.

Han Li thought that making it recognize him as its master was the priority, so he opened his mouth and released a blue thread. The blue thread circled his wrist once and quickly entered his body.

Han Li extended his wrist forward. A blue light flashed, and a few drops of blood dripped from his wrist onto the white snake. The drops of blood touched the white snake’s shimmering body and strangely disappeared.

He formed hand seals and sent a series of magic seals towards the white snake. The snake hissed, and the puppet flew out of the wooden box, writhing and flying around Han Li’s face.

Han Li flipped his other hand and took out a set of multi-colored formation disks. As he spread his hand, the formation disks transformed into more than a dozen beams of spiritual light and shot out.

The beams of spiritual light spun in the air and disappeared, then a multi-colored formation with glowing magic characters appeared.

Han Li activated a magic seal towards the white snake. The puppet’s red eyes flashed, and after hesitating, it couldn’t resist Han Li’s consciousness and slowly flew into the formation.

Wooong!

The formation hummed softly, and the magic characters rose and were quickly absorbed into the puppet. The white snake was surrounded by a crimson aura and remained motionless.

Han Li was in a good mood. This method was something he had learned from the Heavenly Collapse Clan, and it had a high probability of success in making the puppet recognize its master. Once it recognized its master, even a cultivator with ten times more magic power would not be able to easily take the puppet away.

Han Li slowly closed his eyes. The process took a full day, and when Han Li opened his eyes again, it was nearing the final stage. He chanted a spell and pointed at the formation.

The white snake within the formation emitted light from its entire body and transformed into a white-clad woman, slowly descending next to him. The woman’s face was expressionless, and she remained silent. Han Li carefully looked at the woman’s face and raised the corners of his mouth.

“Your spirituality is not yet high, so you are no different from a doll. From now on, I will call you ‘Wawa’!”

Upon hearing his words, a red light flashed in the white-clad woman’s eyes. However, she still remained cold and unmoving. Han Li shook his head and, with one hand, formed a hand seal and put her back into his storage pouch.

Then, the light formation collapsed in an instant, turning back into more than a dozen formation disks and returning to him.

This time, he took out another jade case. The jade case, covered with layers of red talismans, was the item given to him by the Big Head Yi Clan member. Judging from the Big Head Yi Clan member’s words and the pursuit by the Horned Tooth Clan soldiers, it was undoubtedly an important item.

‘Before negotiating with the Myriad Ancient Clan elders, I need to know what’s inside.’

He had a feeling that the item inside the jade case was extremely important to the Myriad Ancient Clan. If so, he might be able to use the jade case as a bargaining chip to use the teleportation array.

However, he couldn’t just hand it over to the Myriad Ancient Clan without confirming its identity. He needed to know what it was to gauge its value and make a proper deal.

Han Li frowned at the white light shimmering from the restrictions.

If the process of opening the jade case was too noisy, it would be impossible to hide it with the current barrier. Therefore, Han Li took out several more sets of formation flags from his storage pouch and threw them towards the walls.

Immediately, a blue light barrier and a multi-colored light barrier appeared. Only then did Han Li feel relieved, and with one hand, he summoned a black shadow. The black shadow escaped from his palm and transformed into a black mountain about a foot in size, then began to spin.

Gray light flowed from the base of the mountain peak, forming a protective barrier that quietly enveloped Han Li.

Han Li had already researched the red talismans on the jade case. The talismans had no other function but were specialized in suppressing the pressure of spiritual energy.

The only concern was whether the talismans were linked to other restrictions inside the jade case. Han Li didn’t want the jade case to explode as soon as he removed the talismans.

Fortunately, some of the divine abilities he possessed were perfect for dealing with such restrictions. Han Li made thorough preparations and floated the jade case in the air.

While controlling the black mountain with his consciousness, he raised his snow-white hand and grasped the air. Then, the Primal Magnetic Divine Light [a powerful energy] was emitted more intensely than before from the black mountain, and five skull heads popped out from his snow-white fingertips, rushing towards the jade case while cutting through the air.

“Break!” Han Li shouted softly, pointing at the five skulls.

Shhh! Shhh! Shhh!

The skulls simultaneously opened their mouths and spat out multi-colored cold flames. The multi-colored cold flames flickered, and the red talismans lightly fell off the jade case. When the last talisman fell, Han Li clearly saw the change that occurred in the jade case.

“……!”

His expression changed drastically as the multi-colored cold flames that had been enveloping the jade case transformed into a giant multi-colored hand, trying to grab the jade case. A powerful but unstable wave flowed out from inside the jade case and was caught by the giant multi-colored hand.

Bang!

At that moment, an explosion occurred, and a white light formation appeared around the jade case. It was contracting and expanding, as if it could explode at any moment. Han Li’s expression darkened as he saw the formation containing immense spiritual power.