Just as the black-robed woman finally revealed her silver wolf demon form, Han Li and the Xu youth, along with Gui Ling and the others, slowly encircled a figure emitting a faint red glow.
All four of them fixed their gazes on this person, their expressions far from friendly.
Meanwhile, the silver-winged Yecha and the lion-avian beast watched from a distance, showing no intention of intervening.
“Fellow Daoists, what is the meaning of this? Why are you surrounding Zheng? I have done nothing to offend any of you!”
The figure within the red light was a seemingly amiable elder in his fifties, though his eyes darted around nervously—none other than the infamous Sisan Zhenren!
“If you were teleported in, why sneak around and hide? If you weren’t harboring ill intentions, you must have some other scheme,” the Xu youth said expressionlessly.
“Fellow Daoist, you jest. Upon entering and seeing so many powerful figures before me, it was only natural to be cautious before discerning friend from foe,” Sisan Zhenren protested with exaggerated distress.
“Oh? So you hid right beside me? Your stealth technique is truly remarkable. If not for the Five-Colored Spirit Light of the Spirit Rhinoceros Peacock sweeping over that spot, I might never have noticed,” Lin Yinping said coldly, her delicate brows furrowing.
“Fairy, this is a misunderstanding—”
Sisan Zhenren forced a smile, trying to explain, but Han Li suddenly interjected icily, “Before entering the Demon-Suppressing Tower, it was you who ambushed me with a treasure, wasn’t it? You fled quickly, but I caught a glimpse of your back. And even though that blood blade is sealed, its murderous aura still faintly emanates from you. Along the way, that blade must have devoured quite a few Nascent Soul cultivators. As for those who entered with you—I haven’t seen a single one. Their fate, heh…”
The Xu youth and Lin Yinping stiffened at these words.
Sisan Zhenren’s smile froze, but he immediately shook his head vehemently. “Fellow Daoist Han, don’t jest. What bloody aura? I’m just a wandering cultivator—how could I possess such a heaven-defying treasure capable of slaying peers? Without proof, you can’t falsely accuse me.”
“Proof? Ridiculous. If you’re not that person, then die!” Han Li’s face darkened as he roared, spitting out a golden sword the size of a finger. It transformed into a streak of golden light, slashing fiercely toward Sisan Zhenren.
The Xu youth and Lin Yinping exchanged glances but made no move to intervene.
Sisan Zhenren, however, panicked, spouting pleas of “mercy” and “misunderstanding,” yet still flicking his sleeve to release a blue flying sword to block Han Li’s strike.
The two swords clashed in midair, sparks of spiritual light erupting as they tangled violently.
Han Li sneered, forming a hand seal. The Emerald Swarm Sword’s golden light flared, and with a mournful cry, the blue sword was severed in two, falling from the sky as scrap metal.
Sisan Zhenren paled, helplessly summoning a bronze shield, only for it to be sliced apart just as easily, utterly incapable of withstanding Han Li’s sword light.
The Xu youth’s eyelids twitched at the sight.
After all, not every flying sword was forged with the rare material known as Geng Essence. The sheer sharpness of Han Li’s sword put the great immortal master on high alert.
The golden sword descended toward Sisan Zhenren’s head.
His expression flickered wildly before his feet flashed white, and he transformed into a blur, darting to the side.
But black-and-white light shimmered before him—Gui Ling stood there impassively, blocking his path. Startled, Sisan Zhenren twisted midair, changing direction again.
Yet the Xu youth moved with eerie grace, cutting him off once more, forcing him to halt.
In that brief delay, the golden sword reached his head, humming as it split into countless sword shadows, raining down upon him.
Cornered, a trace of savagery finally surfaced on Sisan Zhenren’s face. His sleeve flicked, and a streak of blood-red light shot out with a bang, dispersing the golden sword shadows. The golden sword was knocked back several feet, while the blood light split into a dozen crimson streaks, relentlessly pursuing it.
A rapid series of clashes erupted as the blood light engulfed the golden sword, its thick, nauseating stench making every human and demon present frown.
None of them were ordinary cultivators—they could all sense the terrifying power within that blood aura.
Yet Han Li merely narrowed his eyes, watching the spectacle with eerie calm, as if the sword under attack wasn’t his lifebound treasure.
The Xu youth shot Han Li a puzzled glance.
Sisan Zhenren, sensing something amiss, scowled and gestured sharply. The blood light retracted, swirling above his head before coalescing into a half-foot-long crimson dagger, wreathed in a faint bloody mist.
“So it is you! That blade is a replica of the Demon Dragon Dagger, isn’t it?” Han Li said slowly, studying the weapon.
The moment “Demon Dragon Dagger” left his lips, everyone’s expressions shifted—even the silver-winged Yecha’s eyes gleamed with interest as they locked onto the blood blade.
Sisan Zhenren ignored Han Li’s question, instead staring at the golden sword in shock.
Despite the relentless assault, the sword remained unscathed, its golden sheen undiminished. For someone who knew the blood blade’s power, this was unbelievable.
“Don’t waste your effort. My sword is special. No matter how strong your blade is, destroying it is a fool’s dream,” Han Li said with a smirk, beckoning the sword back to his hand.
“What, you’re not going to kill me now?” Sisan Zhenren’s eyes gleamed.
“Kill you? Why? Those you slaughtered were no kin of mine—I’ve no interest in avenging them. If you weren’t the one I suspected, killing you would’ve been no loss. But since you wield such a powerful treasure, we might as well join forces for now,” Han Li replied with a sinister smile.
“Fellow Daoist Han, you mean…” The Xu youth’s expression shifted as he grasped Han Li’s intent.
“To escape, brute force is our only option. Even if the Black Wind Banner is a Heaven-reaching Spirit Treasure, Yuan Cha’s Saint Ancestor is distracted. She can’t unleash its full power. If we concentrate our attacks on a single point, we might break this space,” Han Li said gravely.
Having once shattered space in the Ethereal Spirit Garden, he had some confidence. Back then, he’d exploited a weak point, but now, with multiple Nascent Soul cultivators here, coordinated force could achieve the same.
“Fellow Daoist Han makes a fair point. What does the silver-winged fellow Daoist think?” The Xu youth turned to the Yecha.
“That blood blade seems formidable. If it means leaving, I’m willing to try,” the Yecha said after a brief pause, its strange gaze lingering on Sisan Zhenren.
Han Li nodded slightly before addressing Sisan Zhenren coolly, “You heard our terms. We mean you no harm. Working together to break free helps us—and you. Unless you’d rather wait for that demon to devour your Nascent Soul.”
Sisan Zhenren’s face remained neutral, but his eyes flickered rapidly as he weighed the offer.
“Once we’re out, we go our separate ways—no retaliation?” he finally asked.
“Do we look like those self-righteous fools from the orthodox sects? As long as you don’t attack us, who’d bother hunting you down?” the Xu youth scoffed.
“Fair enough. If this place had Taiyi Sect members, I’d hesitate. But since you all agree, Zheng won’t refuse,” Sisan Zhenren said with a sudden smile.
His swift compliance surprised Han Li slightly, though it wasn’t entirely unexpected.
The group quickly gathered to discuss tactics.
Breaking the spatial barrier required overwhelming force, but simultaneous attacks weren’t the answer—their differing techniques, treasures, and attributes could clash, weakening the collective impact.
“Fellow Daoist Han, I recall you have another hidden ally. Why not summon them? Their flying blade seems quite potent,” the Xu youth remarked casually after a few exchanges.
The Yecha and others turned to Han Li.
Internally cursing the Xu youth, Han Li maintained his composure. “Rest assured, that fellow Daoist will assist when the time comes. But revealing themselves isn’t possible—their cultivation method forbids it.”
The Xu youth frowned but, recalling Han Li’s eerie prowess against the twin-headed ancient demon, dared not press further, merely snorting in displeasure.
Sisan Zhenren, who’d been all smiles since agreeing to cooperate, observed the tension between Han Li and the Xu youth, a cold glint flashing in his pupils.
Suddenly, his expression flickered before he lowered his head, as if deep in thought.
Unseen by the others, his lips moved subtly—he was secretly communicating with someone present.
When he looked up again, his face was all smiles. But none noticed the dense, needle-like white hairs sprouting across the back of his hidden hand.
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