Bachelor [EN]: Chapter 961

Woljong pondered, then cautiously opened his mouth.

“Even if the puppet’s spirit medicine is rare, it’s strange to risk one’s life entering the mountain range when the demonic energy is exploding like this. At this time, the possibility of powerful demonic beasts appearing even on the outskirts is much higher, and one could easily lose their life.”

“That’s because on the day the Zhixian [a rare, possibly mythical creature] appeared, a Seongjok [a powerful cultivator] senior came and offered three Ten Thousand Mysteries Pills, three Ten Thousand Year Blue Lotus Flowers, and a huge amount of spirit stones, regardless of whether the puppet Zhixian lived or died. The senior declared that they would stay in the village for a month from the day the Magma Mountain Range opened and then leave. Oh, the person who bought the Zhixian blood was also that senior.”

A beautiful woman in palace attire, who had been listening to their conversation, explained in place of the young man.

“Seongjok?”

This time, Han Li reacted.

“Yes, they use the surname Gok, but they didn’t seem to be from the Heavenly Luck Clan.”

“So, the people gathered here are all aiming for the huge reward offered by Senior Gok.”

Seomseom smiled faintly as she summarized the situation.

“Those who come to the Magma Mountain Range, regardless of their cultivation level, are all short on spirit stones. If they get a huge amount of spirit stones, they won’t need to risk hunting demonic beasts anymore.”

The palace-attired woman frowned, and Seomseom simply smiled and closed her mouth.

“Nara, don’t be rude. Aren’t they friends of Wol Hyeonjil?”

When the old man scolded the palace-attired woman, she reluctantly replied that she understood.

“If that happened a few days ago, why are you all gathered here? Could it be that the person managing this place is not ‘Senior Ryo’?”

Woljong looked around and asked as if something was strange.

“As Wol Hyung said, Senior Ryo left this place ten years ago. The new steward is very strict and has even revived the passage test. Those who fail the test cannot receive the Thundercloud Mountain Pass, and unlike Senior Ryo, they don’t give out the passes in advance. Wol Hyung, you happened to arrive on the first day of the test, so you saw the cultivators gathered.”

The neat young man complained.

“Don’t speak carelessly. The new ‘Steward Min’ revived the passage test to reduce the number of those with insufficient skills entering the mountain range and being harmed by demonic beasts.”

The old man said calmly, siding with Steward Min.

“It might have been necessary when many cultivators recklessly entered the Magma Mountain Range and lost their lives, but now there are hardly any cultivators who want to enter the mountain range. I think it’s a waste of time.”

“No matter what you think, no one can enter the mountain range without the Thundercloud Mountain Pass, and the person in charge of the examination now is Steward Min.”

The old man finished speaking meaningfully. When the oldest cultivator there spoke, the other cultivators did not say anything more.

“But why does Wol Hyung want to enter the mountain range? You wouldn’t miss such a good opportunity, would you? Why don’t you move with us? If someone as famous for hunting demonic beasts as Wol Hyung joins us, the chances of catching the Zhixian will greatly increase. If we catch the Zhixian and get the reward, I’ll make sure you get a good share.”

The palace-attired woman smiled at Woljong.

“Wol Hyung, time is not on our side. I think you know which is wiser, the reward you’ve already obtained or the reward you might or might not get.”

The Jeongjok woman quietly reminded Woljong when she saw him showing interest.

“There’s no need to worry. Actually, we’re not just entering the Magma Mountain Range to hunt the Zhixian. Although we’ll mainly search the outskirts, it’s not easy to find the Zhixian in the dense demonic energy. It’s often the case that unexpected luck comes when you’re not desperately seeking it. So, let’s do this. Nara, give the jade slip containing the Zhixian’s appearance and the tracking artifact to Wol Hyeonjil as well.”

The old man ordered casually. The palace-attired woman, without showing any displeasure, took out a white stone piece and a navy-blue formation disc from her storage pouch.

“Thank you, Senior Eon.”

Woljong, who had been hesitating, eventually accepted the items without refusing.

“Haha, you’re thanking me for just this! After all, your father and I have an old friendship.”

The old man smiled kindly. Han Li, who had been watching with his hands behind his back, slightly moved the corners of his mouth.

Almost at the same time, his telepathic message rang in the Jeongjok woman’s ear.

“Don’t you have something to say before we leave? What is this ‘demonic energy explosion,’ and what’s this about powerful demonic beasts appearing on the outskirts?”

Seomseom flinched and immediately moved her lips to reply telepathically.

“I apologize for not getting your permission in advance. The demonic energy explosion will have some impact, but it won’t be a big problem if we don’t go deep into the Magma Mountain Range. I was going to tell you when we entered the mountain range anyway. Instead, how about if I give you some extra materials in addition to the promised true blood and demonic core if we catch a Seongjok-level demonic beast?”

The woman immediately lowered her stance and proposed a negotiation in response to Han Li’s words. However, Han Li’s chilling voice was heard in the Jeongjok woman’s ear.

“I despise those who plot and scheme. I’ll let it slide this time, but if this happens again, the deal will be off. No matter how much I want to repair the Heavenly Demon Armor, I have no desire to be manipulated by others.”

It was a grim warning, but the Jeongjok woman was relieved. This matter had been resolved. Woljong and the old man were chatting amiably, reminiscing about old times.

Just then, something unexpected happened.

Two other peak Nascent Soul cultivators, who had not been interested in Woljong, approached him after hearing the other cultivators whispering.

“You’re the most famous demonic beast hunter here? Then you must know the Magma Mountain Range inside and out.”

A middle-aged man with a square head and green hair asked in an arrogant tone.

“That was in the past. I haven’t been to the Magma Mountain Range for a hundred years, so I don’t know it that well anymore. But why are you asking, seniors?”

Woljong replied calmly, though he was tense.

“Anyway, tomorrow, you’ll come with me and Cultivator Myo to find the Zhixian in the Magma Mountain Range. You’ll have to guide us.”

The green-haired alien was giving an order, not a suggestion. Woljong and the palace-attired woman’s expressions changed drastically at those words, and Seomseom and Han Li were also dumbfounded.

The old man, Eon, who had been listening, opened his mouth with a calm face.

“What do you mean by that?”

“I’m saying I’ll borrow this guy for a bit. Is that not allowed?”

The green-haired alien was being rude even to cultivators of the same level, as if he had something to rely on.

Eon did not respond to such an opponent but raised his head to look somewhere. There, another peak Nascent Soul alien was standing expressionlessly.

The old man’s pupils contracted.

Except for the thick skin with green stripes, he looked very similar to a human. However, the silver armor he was wearing was covered with blood-red thorns and reeked of blood.

The old man felt a chill in his chest when he met the alien’s gaze. If he, a cultivator of the same level, felt a sense of crisis, then the opponent was likely to have mastered a special technique.

‘This doesn’t feel good.’

The old man quietly scanned the surrounding aliens. Not all, but about a dozen of the outsiders were gathered around the green alien.

However, there were only seven or eight cultivators and Han Li’s group around the old man, Eon. Even if Woljong and Seomseom were included, they barely had enough people, and the other side was much more disadvantaged with two ninth-level Seongjok beings.

There were also four seventh and eighth-level Seongjok cultivators on the other side. The old man secretly sighed, realizing why the green-haired alien was acting so arrogantly.

“…Wol Hyeonjil is a cultivator with whom I have a connection, so I cannot allow you to take him away. Also, this Thundercloud Town is not a place where anyone can act recklessly. Even if you cause a disturbance, you must abide by the rules here.”

The old man’s voice also became cold.

“Rules? What rules?”

The green-haired alien frowned as if he had never heard of them before.

“If a fight breaks out here, you must move to the arena to settle the matter, and you must follow the words of the one who wins there.”

“Haha, are you telling me to fight that guy?”

The green-haired alien laughed as if he was dumbfounded.

“It’s out of the question to fight Wol Hyeonjil. According to the rules, only cultivators with similar cultivation levels can officially fight. If you still insist on taking Wol Hyeonjil, I will go out instead.”

“I’ve never heard of such rules, why should I follow them?”

The green-haired alien’s expression became menacing.

“If you break the rules and disturb Thundercloud Town, the steward dispatched by the Elder Council is authorized to revoke your qualification to enter the Magma Mountain Range and expel you. Are cultivators not afraid of the Elder Council?”

“The Elder Council?”

The green-haired alien flinched and looked at the armored alien behind him. Then, the armored alien frowned and asked someone nearby.

“Is that true?”

“Reporting to Senior Gyu, there are indeed such rules. But they are rules that have rarely been mentioned since the town was established.”

The man who had covered his entire body with a black cloak seemed to know Thundercloud Town well. The palace-attired woman and others felt suspicious about this. They had thought he was an outsider because of his strange attire, but he knew Thundercloud Town inside and out.

“So, I’m asking if the Elder Council steward will intervene if we break the rules and fight here.”

“I’m not sure about that. There has never been such a case before. But the new person who was appointed this time is said to be very rigid, so there is a possibility that they might intervene.”

The man in the black cloak replied quietly. Gyu, the alien, grasped the situation and turned his head to the old man.

“Then let’s do it according to the rules as you wish. We’ll receive the Thundercloud Mountain Pass and meet in the arena. I will personally compete with a cultivator in divine abilities, and if I lose, there will be no further arguments.”

The old man nodded cautiously and said to Woljong, whose face had turned pale.

“Wol Hyeonjil, I will step forward, so don’t worry.”

“How can I let Senior Eon suffer because of my matter? I will fight myself, so the other side will have to choose a new person to send out.”

Woljong shook his head.

“What nonsense! There are only two options, either you send out a cultivator to replace you or you face me directly.”

The green-haired alien shouted roughly. Woljong looked troubled at those words.

“Senior Han, we can’t let them take Wol Cultivator. During the demonic energy explosion, we must have an expert guide to reach the place where the Seonggye [a high-level demonic beast] demonic beasts are.”

Seomseom’s anxious telepathic message reached Han Li’s ears, who had been watching indifferently. When he glanced at the woman, she looked very anxious.

“What do you expect me to do, I’m only a seventh-level Seongjok.”

“There’s no need to deceive even me. I may have a low cultivation level, but I’m well-informed! I know that you helped Senior Gap of the Ten Thousand Ancients Clan and dealt with several cultivators of the same level on the spot. Your true strength is probably higher than a ninth-level Seongjok.”

The Jeongjok woman bit her lip and said something unexpected. Han Li narrowed his eyes and remained silent before replying calmly.

“You’ve done a thorough background check. Fine, I’ll help you this once since I need to repair the Heavenly Demon Armor.”

“Thank you.”

Seomseom was overjoyed to hear his words.

“Are those really the only two options? I feel like there might be a third option. Wol Cultivator has a prior engagement with us, so it seems difficult for him to accompany you.”

Han Li opened his mouth calmly and stood in front of Woljong. When he stepped forward, the palace-attired woman and the neat young man widened their eyes. Woljong also looked surprised.