Chapter 1040: Silver Moon, Xue Ling, and Long Meng

Han Li felt a chill upon hearing these words and quickly turned his gaze toward the palace within the formation.

From the outside, the structure appeared unchanged, showing no signs of abnormality.

Puzzled, he was about to ask Silvermoon again when an astonishing spiritual pressure suddenly erupted from the palace. With a thunderous boom, a beam of yellow light burst through the roof, transforming into a massive yellow hand that lunged straight for the Eight Spirit Ruler.

This sight startled the cultivators outside the palace who were breaking the formation, with some even exclaiming in shock.

At that moment, an enchanting feminine laugh echoed from the palace, and the space around the Eight Spirit Ruler distorted abruptly as a disheveled figure materialized eerily.

As soon as this figure appeared, it opened its mouth and spat out a thick beam of light as thick as an arm. The beam flashed like thunder, effortlessly piercing through the yellow hand.

A shrill scream followed as the hand rapidly disintegrated, revealing a figure enveloped in yellow light who hastily retreated backward.

The disheveled figure chuckled softly, then flickered ghost-like across a distance of ten zhang, instantly closing in on the retreating figure.

The yellow-clad cultivator panicked and spat out a blood arrow.

The attack, formed from essence blood, was incredibly swift, but the disheveled figure merely swayed slightly, allowing the blood arrow to pass through as if striking an illusion. Meanwhile, one of its arms seemed to twitch.

Another agonized scream erupted from the yellow-clad cultivator, who then dispersed into a cloud of yellow mist before reforming far away.

Now, however, his face was deathly pale, his body covered in blood, with several deep claw marks across his chest and one arm completely severed. He looked utterly wretched, like a beaten dog.

“Seventh Uncle!”

A female Taoist from the Ye Clan outside the formation gasped in disbelief upon recognizing him.

This pitiful, one-armed figure was none other than the highest-ranking elder of the Ye Clan—the large-headed eccentric. The Ye Clan cultivators were stunned, and even the white-robed scholar paled.

Though Han Li and the others didn’t know the large-headed man’s exact identity, their spiritual senses confirmed his late-Nascent Soul cultivation. Their shock was no less than that of the Ye Clan members.

Han Li focused on the disheveled figure, but upon closer inspection, he froze.

The person wore a blue robe, unmistakably the attire of a Poison Saint Sect disciple. Though their face was obscured by tangled hair, their build resembled that of the sect’s Grand Elder, Hua Tianqi. Yet, moments ago, the voice that had spoken was unmistakably that of a young woman.

This was utterly bizarre!

If not for the extraordinary abilities of those present and the Eight Spirit Ruler right before him, Han Li would have turned and fled. He always avoided unknown dangers.

The other cultivators also sensed something amiss and eyed the mysterious figure with suspicion.

If this person could reduce a late-Nascent Soul cultivator to such a state, could they be at the Deity Transformation stage?

The thought sent a chill through everyone’s hearts.

Seeing the large-headed man escape, the mysterious figure sneered but didn’t pursue. Instead, their icy gaze swept over the crowd outside the formation.

Their eyes were like blades, and those who met them felt as if struck by a heavy hammer. The weakest among them—the Ye Clan’s elderly Taoist nun and the beautiful woman from the Hua Xian Sect—staggered back two steps before steadying themselves.

Han Li’s heart sank. Activating his Brightsight Spirit Eyes, he barely managed to resist, but even so, a bone-chilling cold swept over him as if he stood in the depths of winter.

His face paled slightly.

“Oh? You are—” The mysterious figure’s voice, unmistakably feminine, suddenly refocused on Han Li, studying him intently as if witnessing something unbelievable.

At that moment, one of Han Li’s spirit beast bags twitched, and a streak of white light shot out, circling once before landing before him as a snow-white fox.

Without hesitation, the fox rolled on the ground and transformed into a stunning young woman in white robes—Silvermoon, taking human form through the fox’s body.

“So it is you!” The mysterious figure trembled upon seeing Silvermoon, speaking coldly in a woman’s voice. Then, with a toss of their head, the tangled hair fell back, revealing their face.

“Hua Tianqi!” The crowd stirred as someone recognized him.

The figure’s face was covered in green patterns—undeniably Hua Tianqi. Yet, his pupils had turned an eerie emerald green, fixed unblinkingly on Silvermoon with an odd expression.

The bizarre sight silenced the onlookers.

Given their experience, they immediately understood—Hua Tianqi had been possessed. Fear gripped them as they speculated about the possessor’s identity.

Seizing the moment, the large-headed man quietly retreated, putting distance between himself and “Hua Tianqi.” He swallowed a pill and slapped several talismans onto his severed arm. A white glow later, the wound closed and healed.

Then, with a grim expression, he looked back at “Hua Tianqi.”

Han Li narrowed his eyes, thoughts racing.

It seemed this being was the one who had summoned Silvermoon. But were they friend or foe?

“Xueling, you should have come here many years ago. Yet it took you so long. And now, your aura is so weak, even inhabiting a lowly four-eyed fox. Does this not disgrace our Silvermoon Wolf lineage?” “Hua Tianqi” said coolly, their earlier odd expression gone.

Silvermoon brushed a strand of hair from her forehead and remained silent for a long moment before speaking uncertainly, “You are… Linglong?”

“Hua Tianqi” stared at her, then burst into a peal of laughter.

“To think the Silvermoon Wolf Clan’s most beautiful, the favored consort of the Heavenly Kui Divine Wolf, has lost her memories. I should have guessed—when the Yuan Cha Saint’s avatar expelled your soul from your body, how could your consciousness remain intact? Dear sister, I am not Linglong. I am Longmeng!”

The contrast between the masculine face and the seductive feminine laughter was deeply unsettling.

Han Li frowned, a bad premonition growing.

Though he didn’t fully grasp the relationship between this woman and Silvermoon, her tone carried unmistakable schadenfreude.

Silvermoon’s brows furrowed as she stared at “Hua Tianqi,” her expression shifting uncertainly, as if the words had triggered fragmented memories.

“Your words… remind me of some things. But much is still unclear. If I recall correctly, you are me, and I am you, aren’t we?” Silvermoon said calmly.

“Hmph! So you do remember something. Yes, we were once one person—Linglong. To survive her fifth millennium tribulation, she practiced our Silvermoon Wolf Clan’s supreme secret art. But something went wrong, splitting her soul into two—you and me. Back then, your soul was stronger, so you dominated the body while I was forced into slumber. But now, the tables have turned. Your soul is pitifully weak. I could erase you with a flick of my wrist.” “Hua Tianqi’s” voice turned icy.

Silvermoon tensed but quickly composed herself.

“My memories may be fragmented, but I remember the Bloodsoul Brand well. You can’t kill me. If I perish, so will you.”

“Hua Tianqi’s” face darkened, their eyes blazing green. Silvermoon gasped as an invisible force sent her flying.

Han Li reacted instantly, summoning a giant azure hand to catch her gently.

Enraged, “Hua Tianqi” glared at Han Li.

Acting on instinct, Han Li raised his arm, and the Yuan Shield expanded before him.

A deafening crash later, the shield’s surface shimmered violently, now bearing a deep dent.

Han Li inhaled sharply.

The other cultivators, previously baffled by the exchange, now stirred uneasily.

The Silver-Winged Nightfiend and the Lion-Hawk Beast, who had been watching “Hua Tianqi” with confusion, suddenly paled upon hearing the names “Linglong” and “Xueling.” Exchanging glances, they began edging toward the teleportation formation.

“Hua Tianqi,” surprised by the failed attack, snorted disdainfully but then smirked, glancing between Han Li and Silvermoon.

“Xueling, your scent lingers strongly on this man, and you emerged from his spirit beast pouch. Have you become his spirit beast?”

“What if I have?” Silvermoon replied coldly, her face darkening.

“Keke, nothing! I merely congratulate him. To tame the favored consort of the Heavenly Kui Demon King as a pet—even the Three Emperors of the Spirit Realm wouldn’t dare dream of such a feat.” “Hua Tianqi” laughed mockingly.