Before the sea of fire transformed from the flock of fire crows could surge toward the opposite side, Han Li’s Wind and Thunder Wings flickered behind him, and his figure abruptly vanished from the spot in a silver arc.
The man, furious at the destruction of his poisonous mist, was startled by this sudden disappearance. He hastily released his spiritual sense while forming hand seals, summoning a web of green threads from his body that spread out like a spider’s web, covering a radius of over ten zhang around him.
At that moment, a thunderclap resounded, and Han Li materialized several zhang behind the man. The green web trembled and instantly descended like lightning.
With a deafening boom, a golden net of lightning manifested around Han Li, countering the green web. The green threads disintegrated upon contact, leaving the male demon utterly shocked. His body shimmered with spiritual light as he attempted to flee.
Just then, a three-colored flame shot toward him mercilessly. The man’s protective spiritual light flared, intending to block the flames momentarily for an escape.
However, with a muffled explosion, a three-colored halo erupted between them.
The dazzling halo expanded and contracted, enveloping the man’s figure.
A scream followed as the man was engulfed in the three-colored flames, instantly reduced to a wisp of green smoke, vanishing without a trace.
Even the Silver-Winged Night Yaksha dared not face the might of the Three Flames Fan head-on, let alone this mere eighth-level demon beast.
This scene sent chills down the spine of the snake demon woman, who had been too late to intervene.
Though her abilities surpassed the man’s, Han Li had effortlessly slain her companion. Dealing with her would likely be no trouble for him.
Without hesitation, the demon erupted in crimson light, exploding with a bang and splitting into several fiery red snakes that fled in all directions.
Han Li was momentarily taken aback but soon smirked. Channeling spiritual power into his eyes, a piercing blue light burst from his pupils. With a sweep, he locked onto one of the fleeing snakes.
His Wind and Thunder Wings trembled, and with a thunderous roar, he vanished.
Silver light flashed repeatedly as Han Li teleported several times, reappearing above the chosen snake, his gaze icy.
The crimson snake looked up in terror and, without hesitation, spat out a thumb-sized orb wrapped in red light—its fire-attribute demon core, cultivated over countless years—straight at Han Li.
Han Li’s lips curled slightly as he reached out with one hand, grasping at the air.
A sizzling sound followed as purple flames shot from his palm, forming a giant purple hand that seized the orb.
Explosions echoed within the grasp as red and purple flames intertwined before silence fell.
The snake below shuddered, its flames dimming drastically.
Panicked, it attempted to flee once more.
But Han Li’s eyes flashed with killing intent. Forming a seal, the purple hand swelled several times its size and descended.
Before the snake could react, an icy chill immobilized its entire body.
It realized too late that strands of purple frost had already coiled around it.
Though such cold could not truly restrain a near-ninth-level demon beast, the momentary delay was enough for the purple hand to descend.
In desperation, the snake spat a blood-infused fireball, but it only caused the flames on the hand to flicker slightly before the hand seized its vital spot.
Purple ice spread rapidly, extinguishing the last of its flames and encasing it in a massive, glittering block of ice.
The purple hand then vanished.
Han Li flicked his sleeve, releasing over a dozen golden streaks that circled the ice.
With flashes of gold, the ice and the snake within shattered into dozens of pieces. A green light shot out, but Han Li was prepared.
Activating his sword art, golden arcs erupted from the surrounding flying swords, weaving into a net that trapped the green light.
The arcs contracted, forming a golden sphere that imprisoned the light.
Han Li raised his hand, summoning a black jade vial. A beam of light sucked the golden sphere inside, which he calmly stored away.
From the blue mist in the ice crevice, silver light flickered as Bai Yaoyi emerged, surveying the scene with astonishment.
From the moment she had hidden below to her reappearance, mere moments had passed—yet Han Li had effortlessly slain two shape-shifting demon beasts.
She knew well the strength of these beasts. Though only eighth-level, each rivaled a mid-Nascent Soul cultivator. Had they not, she would not have been so thoroughly pursued.
Though aware of Han Li’s prowess, witnessing him dispatch them so easily still left her stunned.
As Bai Yaoyi stood dazed, Han Li recalled his centipedes and gold-devouring beetles into his spirit beast pouch, floating back gracefully.
“Fellow Daoist Bai, your poisoning seems severe,” Han Li remarked, frowning at her pallor.
“I hadn’t expected the demon’s poison to corrode my barrier. Fortunately, I’ve taken a ‘Hundred Herbs Pill.’ Half a day of meditation should expel it,” she replied calmly.
“I’d only just finished refining pills. Had you arrived moments earlier, I might not have been able to assist,” Han Li said with a faint smile.
“Then I was truly fortunate,” Bai Yaoyi chuckled.
“But how did you encounter these two shape-shifting demons? I thought high-level beasts rarely appeared near North Cold Island,” Han Li asked, glancing around.
“It’s a long story. This isn’t the place to linger. Let’s depart, and I’ll explain on the way,” she said urgently, her expression shifting.
“What? More demons? How many?” Han Li’s eyes narrowed.
“More than a few! Our Small Extreme Palace may be in grave trouble,” she said bitterly.
Han Li’s heart chilled, but his expression remained neutral. “If you say so, let’s return to your palace. But with your poisoning, travel may be difficult. Allow me to assist.”
“Many thanks, Fellow Daoist!” Bai Yaoyi said gratefully.
The two then descended back into the blue mist.
Silence returned to the crevice.
Two hours later, azure and silver streaks shot from the crevice, vanishing into the horizon.
Half a day later, an ink-black cloud rolled in from another direction, shrouding the area for miles.
A furious roar soon erupted from the cloud, which churned with lightning before a sinister wind swept through, dispersing it entirely.
Days later, Han Li and Bai Yaoyi returned to Small Extreme Palace, standing before Frost Li the Transcendent in the hall of eternal ice.
“Junior Sister Bai, are you certain? They’ve truly allied?” Frost Li’s face was grim.
“The Azureback Gray Wolf is a deputy valley master of Ten Thousand Demons Valley, equal to the Millennial Corpse Bear. How could I mistake it? And the two eighth-level demons pursuing me were clearly not from the Glacial Sea. There’s no doubt!” Bai Yaoyi said firmly.
“So Ten Thousand Demons Valley and the Glacial Sea demons have joined forces. This time, they’re determined. Brother Han, thank you for aiding Junior Sister Bai. You must be weary—rest in the guest pavilion,” Frost Li said, dismissing him.
Han Li rose without hesitation and departed.
“In two days, I’ll introduce you to two renowned rogue cultivators of Jin. You’ll surely bond,” Frost Li added abruptly.
“Understood. Many thanks, Fellow Daoist Shi,” Han Li nodded indifferently before vanishing down the passage.
Once Han Li was gone, Frost Li turned to Bai Yaoyi. “Summon all palace elders. We must strategize. Double the guards at once!”
“Yes, Grand Elder!” Bai Yaoyi produced a stack of transmission talismans.
Han Li returned to his temporary residence, meditating on the second floor.
During their journey, Bai Yaoyi had recounted her discovery: a gathering of high-level shape-shifting demons, led by the Azureback Gray Wolf and the infamous Twin-Headed Black Flood Dragon of the Glacial Sea. Spotted, she had fled, pursued only by the two demons.
After a fierce battle, poisoned and exhausted, she had sought Han Li’s aid.
Now, with closed eyes, Han Li pondered the implications, his thoughts unsettled.
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