After a streak of bloodlight struck the barrier, Han Li, who had been poised for action, wielded his fan with one hand, unleashing a three-colored flame and a massive sword aura in quick succession.
The humanoid puppet’s Thunderfire Bow also released a shower of sparks, all converging on the same spot.
Finally, the barrier twisted violently before collapsing under the overwhelming force, revealing a massive hole from which surges of demonic energy poured forth.
With a startled cry, Silvermoon darted forward, enveloped in a ball of white light. Han Li, his Wind and Thunder Wings unfurled, followed in a flash of silver arcs, entering the space within.
As soon as Han Li emerged, countless tendrils of demonic energy surged toward him. Frowning, he flicked his other hand, sending the Yuan Shield flying from his sleeve. With a shimmer, a silver barrier formed around him.
The moment the inky demonic energy touched the shield, a sizzling sound of corrosion erupted, dimming the barrier’s glow slightly.
Seeing this, Han Li’s brow furrowed slightly.
Back when he had ventured into the abyssal depths of the Boundless Sea, the demonic energy there hadn’t been as terrifying as this. Unfortunately, his Divine Annihilation Lightning was nearly depleted, and the Yuan Shield’s barrier wouldn’t last long in this miasma. He had to act swiftly.
With this thought, Han Li cast a sidelong glance at Silvermoon.
She was now enveloped in the bloodlight of the Bloodblade, and though the demonic energy roiled around her, it couldn’t get too close. It seemed her borrowing of the blade from the Corpse Bear wasn’t without reason.
With a call from Silvermoon, she shot toward the center of the space. Han Li, meanwhile, soared upward, his figure gradually fading as he concealed his presence.
From the direction of the distant altar, Silvermoon’s laughter rang out, followed by several wolf howls and the icy voice of the black-armored woman.
“Hmph! Since you dare to return, it’s just as well. This Sacred Ancestor will turn you into a demon!”
Above the skeleton, a ball of bloodlight and a mass of black radiance intertwined, their clashes sending out explosive shockwaves that churned the surrounding demonic energy like two battling dragons, stirring the very heavens. For now, it was unclear who held the upper hand.
Seeing that Silvermoon was unharmed, Han Li felt slightly reassured. His pupils flashed blue as he scanned the vicinity of the black abyss.
Though the earlier spatial explosion had destroyed the altar, the two steles crafted from Spirit Jade—given their unique properties—should still remain intact. One of them was likely the key to activating the Sky Crystal Stele.
It didn’t take Han Li long. Through his enhanced vision, he soon spotted the two steles beneath a pile of rubble. One bore the remnants of the Dragon Seal, while the other lay perfectly preserved.
Overjoyed, Han Li glanced at the still-clashing black radiance and bloodlight before reinforcing his concealment, suppressing his aura to its limit as he silently descended.
His descent was soundless, unnoticed by the battling demons. Once his feet touched the rubble, he flipped his hand, producing a jade scepter. Under its azure glow, a faint yellow light shimmered over the barrier, and Han Li vanished into it.
When he finally grasped the stele, his tension eased slightly.
Without hesitation, Han Li summoned a blue orb from his storage pouch—the Sky Crystal Stele.
Gazing at the half-foot-long object, he tossed the jade scepter above his head and reached out, pulling the stele toward him. With his other hand gripping the stone tablet, he channeled spiritual power into the blue stele.
The stele trembled slightly, its surface glowing brilliantly.
With a solemn expression, Han Li pressed the crystal stele against the larger one. Like tofu, the crystal stele sank effortlessly into the stone.
Before Han Li could rejoice, an anomaly struck.
The stele erupted in blue light, suddenly weighing as much as a mountain. It slipped from Han Li’s grasp, embedding itself halfway into the ground, standing upright. The upper half emitted a resonant hum, and a furious roar echoed from the black abyss above.
Han Li’s heart clenched. Instinctively, he tapped the Yuan Shield, causing the barrier to expand severalfold.
Almost simultaneously, a black beam shot toward him.
A deafening explosion followed, and a massive burst of black radiance engulfed a ten-zhang radius. Rubble disintegrated into nothingness under the black light, and the silver barrier was swallowed by the darkness.
Han Li trembled violently within the black radiance, the silver and black starkly contrasting.
His expression darkened as he fired several spells at the barrier, smoothing its surface. Most of the black energy slid off, and the silver shield stabilized once more.
The Yuan Shashenzu’s avatar, having only managed that single strike, was immediately re-engaged by Silvermoon.
Another attack or two would have shattered the barrier completely.
Enraged, the twin-headed black wolf ceased evading Silvermoon’s assaults, spewing black beams and churning the surrounding demonic energy into towering waves aimed at her. It seemed willing to suffer severe damage to repel her.
But it was too late.
The ground trembled violently as dozens of radiant pillars erupted from the earth, soaring dozens of zhang high.
Each pillar shimmered with spiritual light, their surfaces adorned with thick, multicolored rings that spun rapidly.
An incredible sight unfolded.
The once-pervasive demonic energy surged toward the pillars like moths to a flame. Above the black abyss, countless fine threads of light materialized, weaving into a dense, spiderweb-like formation.
In the blink of an eye, a colossal sphere of light took shape, as massive as a small mountain.
Recognizing the backup formation’s activation, Han Li continued channeling spiritual power into the stele without hesitation.
The rings on the stele thickened, accelerating the absorption of demonic energy.
Within moments, the air was nearly cleansed of demonic energy, all drawn into the pillars.
Now deprived of its demonic energy, the twin-headed black wolf found itself at a disadvantage against Silvermoon.
Amidst the black radiance, the wolf howled incessantly, forced into retreat by the bloodlight.
Relieved, Han Li formed a seal with one hand and cast another spell at the stele.
The stele hummed lowly as the milky-white sphere above the altar descended menacingly. Even before nearing the black hole, its overwhelming spiritual pressure startled the twin-headed wolf, which abandoned its fight with Silvermoon and fled.
Silvermoon snorted, vanishing on the spot.
As the sphere landed, milky-white light flooded the hole. When the radiance faded, the black abyss was gone, replaced by a crystalline barrier sealing the demonic energy beneath.
Realizing the dire situation, the Yuan Shashenzu’s avatar—now a black wolf—glanced around and fixed its gaze on the stele beside the seal.
Having used the Dragon Seal before, it quickly deduced the stele’s significance. With a vicious snarl, its form blurred within the black radiance, splitting into three identical wolf shadows that lunged at Han Li and the stele.
A burst of bloodlight erupted beside Han Li, manifesting a sea of blood that surged outward.
Caught off guard, the three wolf shadows were engulfed by the blood sea, trapped within.
Simultaneously, a silver glow flashed above the blood sea. With a thunderous crackle, countless sparks rained down, enveloping the wolves.
Startled, the wolves raised their heads, spewing black radiance to form a shield against the sparks.
Han Li’s eyes glinted coldly as he flipped his hand, summoning the Three Flames Fan. With a fierce swing, three fiery birds, each a foot long, shot toward the wolves, their scorching heat evaporating the surrounding blood sea.
One wolf panicked, while the other two remained expressionless.
“Good!” Silvermoon exclaimed in delight. Forming a seal, she transformed into a massive silver wolf and pounced on the panicked one.
The Yuan Shashenzu’s avatar, recognizing Silvermoon’s form, paled in realization. “Soul Devourer! Don’t even think about it!” it roared.
Inhaling deeply, it exhaled a crimson mist that ignited into bloody flames, shielding it. The blood sea dissolved upon contact, freeing the wolf, which shot skyward.
But after flying a dozen zhang, a thunderclap erupted above it. A silver arc materialized, releasing countless azure threads that bound the wolf tightly before it could react.
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