Bachelor [EN]: Chapter 998

“That one is definitely a ferocious beast on par with the Sea-Suppressing Ape! This is no place to linger; let’s leave quickly.”

Liu Shui’er immediately formed hand seals, sending out streaks of navy light as she flew away. A battle between ancient ferocious beasts was not something to get caught up in; lingering nearby would only invite disaster.

Three streaks of light rapidly cut through the sky.

*Kwarurung!*

Not long after they left, a thunderous roar echoed from the distant shore. The aftershock sent waves surging high into the sky, reaching the very spot where Han Li and his companions had briefly stopped.

Fortunately, they were already far from the ancient ferocious beasts, flying towards the mainland.

“I’ve heard rumors, but I didn’t expect the Guanghan Realm to be teeming with ancient ferocious beasts that have already gone extinct in the Spirit Realm. If this continues, we might lose our lives before we even find the ruins.”

Upon reaching the mainland, Shi Kun began to grumble.

“It’s true that ancient ferocious beasts inhabit the Guanghan Realm, but I’ve heard they aren’t that numerous. We’re just unlucky to have encountered two at once,” Liu Shui’er said firmly, shaking her head.

“Unlucky, you say… I don’t know about that, but things certainly don’t seem right from the start.”

“We cultivators are beings who defy the heavens, but we can’t completely trust or dismiss luck, such as fortune and misfortune. We should just hope for better luck in the future.”

Liu Shui’er smiled faintly, but when Shi Kun remained silent, she spoke again.

“We’ll check our current location, so I’d like Fellow Daoist Han to provide protection.”

“That’s a good idea.”

Han Li accepted the request, curious about how the two would determine their location. He immediately flew up in a streak of blue light, spreading his consciousness wide and surveying the surroundings.

“Fellow Daoist Shi, let’s begin.”

“Haha, I’ve been waiting for this!”

Liu Shui’er and Shi Kun also flew in different directions, stopping in mid-air. Han Li and the two formed a triangular formation, spaced apart.

The woman and Shi Kun each took out a white disc and a yellow scroll from their sleeves, respectively. They tossed them into the air, formed hand seals, and chanted incantations. The disc expanded to more than a dozen times its original size, becoming as large as a full moon.

The yellow scroll also unfurled, emitting a yellow aura. Something was faintly drawn on the scroll.

*Pat.*

The bright yellow aura contracted, and the scroll vanished without a trace. Instead, yellow dots appeared, coalescing into a yellow curtain of light.

Shi Kun let out a shout, and the full moon-shaped disc merged into the yellow curtain of light. Their incantations grew louder.

*Wooong!*

Strangely, images of various mountains and rivers began to appear densely on the yellow curtain. Because it encompassed such a vast area, even huge mountains looked like mere specks, but the terrain was vividly depicted before their eyes.

Han Li’s eyes gleamed as he looked at the map of light spread out in the air.

“This Guanghan Map was created by combining the memories of those who have visited the Guanghan Realm, by my master and Senior Dan. It doesn’t cover the entire Guanghan Realm, but it should contain about 70 to 80 percent of it,” Liu Shui’er explained in a clear voice.

“Of course, what’s important now is whether we’re in an area marked on the map.”

Shi Kun finished speaking and sent his energy towards the map. The map flashed brightly, and a white light mass appeared in a corner, heading somewhere.

“We’ve found it. We’re near the Myriad Bird Ridge! Then the sea we just escaped from must be the Eight Fiend Sea!” Liu Shui’er said in a trembling voice, after confirming the location of the white light mass.

“No, the Myriad Bird Ridge! How did we end up in the Eight Fiend Sea…!?”

Shi Kun also exclaimed in shock. Han Li, who had been watching the white light mass with curious eyes, was also stunned into silence.

Before entering the Guanghan Realm, he had memorized the most dangerous areas.

Among them were the Myriad Bird Ridge and the Eight Fiend Sea. As its name suggested, the Eight Fiend Sea was home to eight ancient ferocious beasts, and the Myriad Bird Ridge was not only populated by tens of thousands of avian monsters but also had three ferocious avian ancient beasts comparable to the Sea-Suppressing Ape.

Han Li and Shi Kun frowned, and Liu Shui’er was also speechless for a moment, looking bewildered.

“We can’t go to the Myriad Bird Ridge. Even if we ignore the ancient ferocious beasts, we’d be dead if we encountered the bird swarms.”

“Fortunately, we escaped the Eight Fiend Sea safely, but we can’t guarantee our luck in the Myriad Bird Ridge. It’s best to go around it,” Shi Kun’s face darkened, and Han Li also firmly stated his position.

“I suppose that’s what we should do.”

Liu Shui’er sighed, glanced at Han Li and Shi Kun, and reluctantly agreed. Shi Kun’s face brightened a bit, but he frowned again after looking at the map.

“On either side of the Myriad Bird Ridge are the Azure Sun Desert and the Dark Beast Forest. The Azure Sun Desert is more dangerous than the Myriad Bird Ridge for beings below the Star Realm. The sunlight there is so intense that even with our cultivation, we can only endure it for about half a day! As for this Dark Beast Forest, I’ve heard that it’s inhabited by a species called Dark Beasts, which have long been extinct in the Spirit Realm, and their power increases several times over at night.”

Liu Shui’er pointed at the map and explained slowly.

“Neither will do! Although there are few records of Dark Beasts in the scriptures, we shouldn’t carelessly provoke demonic beasts with strange characteristics. The Dark Beast Forest is too dangerous, so let’s find another way out of here,” Shi Kun objected.

“Another way? Where are you suggesting? The ruins are already very far from here, and even if we take the shortest route, it will take three or four months. If we encounter any delays, it could take twice as long. Even going around the Myriad Bird Ridge will take another half a month, and now you want to avoid the Dark Beast Forest too?”

This time, Liu Shui’er did not back down and retorted coldly, and Shi Kun hesitated, unable to offer another solution.

“I admit that the Dark Beast Forest is a strange place. But it’s not like no one has ever passed through it safely before, and I’ve seen some methods for dealing with Dark Beasts in the scriptures. With our skills, we should be able to handle it. Besides, what will you say to Senior Dan if we return empty-handed without even trying?”

Liu Shui’er stared intently at Shi Kun, issuing a chilling warning. Shi Kun was not comfortable either. After pondering for a while, he looked up at Han Li.

“What do you think, Fellow Daoist Han?”

“I also received considerable compensation from both of you for accepting this mission. If you two agree, I’m willing to take some risks.”

“Hmm… If Fellow Daoist Han and Fellow Daoist Liu aren’t afraid of the Dark Beast Forest, then I guess I should take this opportunity to see what these Dark Beasts I’ve only heard about look like.”

At his response, Shi Kun changed his attitude and laughed heartily.

Liu Shui’er’s gaze softened at Shi Kun’s reaction.

“Since Fellow Daoist Shi has made up his mind, let’s all work together to pass through the Dark Beast Forest. I believe that with our skills, we can safely overcome this obstacle.”

“Haha, I hope so too.”

Shi Kun chuckled softly. They immediately flew up, moved along the coastline, and then changed direction.

Not long after, streaks of red and yellow light flew towards the coast from the sea. They were two different-looking alien cultivators.

One was a short, stout old man, completely covered in black armor, while the other was the opposite—tall and thin, looking like a skeleton. He was also peculiar for wearing a wide-sleeved robe.

They were some of the Heavenly Cloud cultivators who had remained at the teleportation location after Han Li’s group had left. They were now covered in dust, and their clothes were tattered.

“I’ve never experienced anything like this in my life! To encounter two ancient ferocious beasts at the same time. If they hadn’t been fighting each other, they would have surely tried to devour us. I lost some of my precious treasures while escaping the restriction.”

The stout old man looked truly distressed.

“It’s a stroke of luck that we managed to escape unscathed after encountering two ancient ferocious beasts. I was trapped in that strange sea for over ten days before finally escaping, and then those ancient ferocious beasts appeared, scaring me half to death,” the gaunt cultivator said, still seemingly shaken.

“That’s right. At least we’ve escaped that dreadful sea. I see mountains over there; I wonder if it’s a safe place.”

“The Positioning Disc didn’t work on the sea, so why don’t we try it again here? We need to know our location to determine our route.”

“Understood! I’ll try this time.”

At the gaunt cultivator’s words, the stout old man spat out a jade disc from his mouth. The disc spun in the air, growing larger, and the old man spat out a mouthful of essence blood, which was absorbed into it.

As the blood-red color seeped in, the jade disc began to clearly reflect a certain landscape. However, the cultivators’ faces contorted as they examined the jade disc.

“Why can’t we still determine our location?” the stout old man muttered suspiciously.

“It must be because this is a special terrain or because the ancient ferocious beasts fought nearby, affecting the surrounding heaven and earth energy. The Positioning Disc is not a precious item comparable to some legendary treasures.”

“If I had known it would be so useless, I wouldn’t have bought it at such a high price at the auction. It’s just a waste of the spirit stones I’ve saved up!” the stout old man grumbled, even at the gaunt cultivator’s words.

“It hasn’t worked properly so far, but that doesn’t mean it won’t in the future. It was an item that many cultivators competed to bid on. The Zheng Clan, which exclusively refines such items, makes a fortune every time the Guanghan Realm opens.”

The gaunt cultivator was just as frustrated, but he maintained an optimistic outlook.

“Understood. Since it’s come to this, let’s cross those mountains and try again.”

The stout old man pointed to the mountain range ahead.

“Sigh, I guess that’s all we can do.”

They flew up again, turning into streaks of red and yellow light, and flew towards the mountain range. No one ever saw them again after that.

* * *

Above a lush forest, three Heavenly Cloud alien cultivators were flying, emitting a dull glow. Behind them, a dozen or so monsters with the heads of deer and the bodies of lions were closely pursuing them.

* * *

*Whoosh.*

In a snowy, icy land, strange beings with long white fur all over their bodies were flying low, slowly moving forward. They were not affected by the fierce blizzard and silently advanced.

* * *

Deep in a jungle, two men with brown skin were holding bright red flags and waving them towards a giant tree.

*Kieeeek!*

A hideous demon face that had grown on the trunk of the giant tree was surrounded by flames that erupted from the flags, letting out a terrifying scream.

The demon face spewed green liquid and spread its roots like tentacles, throwing soil at the flames. Ordinary flames would have quickly died out, but the red flames did not diminish.

After a while, when the giant tree could no longer spew green liquid, the surrounding flames rushed in, turning the giant tree into black ash. The brown-skinned men then retrieved the flags and approached the ashes.

The men were overjoyed to find a jade-colored crystal inside.

* * *

Above an endless desert, a dozen or so men and women with horns on their heads were listening to a young man with three golden horns on his forehead. Everyone looked surprised at the incredible story.

“For this mission, the elders of our clan have separated the treasures of the Profound Heavens and created five treasures of defying heavens, and they have also moved the spies we have planted in various parts of the Heavenly Cloud to draw the attention of the Heavenly Cloud high-ranking officials! Everyone must clearly remember how important it is to complete this mission.”

The golden-horned youth urged in a solemn voice.

“Please rest assured, Special Envoy. We will successfully complete this mission, even if it costs us our lives!”

“We will do our best!”

The other cultivators also shouted, boosting their morale.

“Good. I have been training in the Heavenly Horn Sacred Mountain, so I haven’t had deep interactions with you all. But I believe that everyone will do their best for this great undertaking that will determine the future of our clan!

Although a dozen or so groups of our clan have entered the Guanghan Realm, only five groups with treasures will carry out this mission. The other groups will follow the same path as in previous years to divert the attention of other races. Now, let’s move according to the plan!”

As the golden-horned youth finished speaking, the Horned Clan group flew deep into the desert.