The surroundings were eerily silent, with no sign of anyone, as if the place were completely deserted. The cultivator who had shouted grew furious and let out a cold snort. He swiftly formed hand seals, preparing to cast a spell to force the hidden figure out.
But at that moment, a faint buzzing sound emerged from all directions, growing louder and louder, as if something was rapidly approaching.
Instantly, the group of cultivators tensed, their eyes widening as they scanned their surroundings.
Moments later, specks of golden light appeared in the darkness, each encapsulating a golden beetle. More and more emerged, densely packed, until they completely surrounded the group.
A ripple of unease spread among the masked cultivators.
Even the two leading figures were inwardly shocked.
The one who had previously attacked a similar spirit insect knew all too well how troublesome these creatures could be. Now, faced with such a swarm, dealing with them would be anything but easy.
Thus, the face hidden beneath the cloak darkened instantly as his spiritual sense swept outward, searching for the cultivator controlling these insects.
Yet no matter how hard he searched, the opponent remained invisible, leaving no trace to be found.
His heart sank.
This meant the other party either possessed a rare treasure or secret technique to conceal themselves, or their cultivation and abilities far surpassed theirs. Either scenario was far from favorable.
“Since you’ve trapped us with these insects, at least give us a reason! If you still refuse to show yourself, are you truly the type to skulk in the shadows?” Another masked cultivator, who had summoned a jade hammer, bellowed sharply. The treasure before him trembled, emitting flickering green light.
“Tsk tsk, wanting to see me is easy—I’ll be right there. Fellow Daoist Miaohe, I came here specifically for you. How could I not meet you face to face?” A cold laugh suddenly echoed from the darkness, followed by a man’s indifferent voice resounding from all directions.
His tone suggested he was still a great distance away.
“Han? Who are you? When have I ever offended you?” Upon hearing the man’s voice, the masked cultivator shuddered. He tore off his cloak, revealing a youthful face dressed in Daoist robes, his expression full of shock and suspicion.
It was none other than the reincarnated Miaohe Zhenren!
The cultivator who had summoned the white silk also removed his cloak, revealing the yellow-robed elder who had accompanied Miaohe earlier in the day. His expression was grim as he scrutinized the distant darkness.
As for the other cultivators behind them, they were naturally disciples of these two Nascent Soul cultivators.
It was unclear why they were sneaking away from Biling Island in the dead of night.
In response to Miaohe’s question, only the man’s wild laughter echoed from all directions before abruptly cutting off, leaving the group exchanging bewildered glances.
“Fellow Daoist Miaohe, is this man your enemy?” The yellow-robed elder frowned and asked the Daoist.
Given the man’s words, it seemed he was here specifically for Miaohe, which made the elder hesitate.
“I don’t know. I have no recollection of any enemies surnamed Han!” Miaohe tilted his whisk slightly, his face expressionless. But inwardly, he was deeply puzzled, unable to recall any formidable foe by that name.
“Regardless of who he is, since he dares to confront us directly, he must be dangerous. Be careful!” The yellow-robed elder seemed wary of the unseen cultivator and offered a cautious reminder.
“I know that. But he’s clearly a Nascent Soul cultivator. How could I forget such a high-level enemy? Han…” Miaohe muttered, lost in thought.
Just then, the sound of something cutting through the night air suddenly rang out. A blinding streak of cyan light shot from the horizon, flashing several times before appearing amidst the swarm of insects.
The light dissipated, revealing a young man in a blue robe.
He glanced at Miaohe and the others, then sneered.
“Good. My patience wasn’t wasted. You really were planning to head to Biling Island! Will you hand over your spirit stones willingly, or shall I take them myself?” The young man spoke with utter nonchalance, treating Miaohe and the yellow-robed elder—both early-stage Nascent Soul cultivators—as if they were nothing.
But when Miaohe and the elder scanned him with their spiritual sense, their expressions changed drastically, their eyes flickering with fear.
They couldn’t discern his exact cultivation level, but the terrifying spiritual pressure emanating from him suggested his power far surpassed theirs—likely a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator. Moreover, his mention of their secret mission sent chills down their spines.
“Fellow Daoist, I am Huang Kun of Lihuang Island. What do you mean by ‘high-grade spirit stones’? Have you been misled by rumors?” The yellow-robed elder, ever the cunning fox, immediately adopted a polite tone, sensing the futility of resistance.
“Misled? Heh, I heard your private conversation myself. There’s no mistake. Blame yourself for seeking out Miaohe and crossing my path. Miaohe, do you recognize me now?” The young man scoffed dismissively before turning his icy gaze to Miaohe.
This was none other than Han Li, who had tracked Miaohe’s group using his Thousand Souls Technique and the Gold Devouring Beetles.
Huang Kun’s smile froze at Han Li’s blunt words.
“You… you’re Han Li? You actually formed a Nascent Soul?” While Han Li responded to Huang Kun, Miaohe studied his face, a flash of recognition dawning on him. His expression twisted in disbelief, as if he’d seen a ghost.
“Brother Miaohe, you know him? Who is he?” Huang Kun, torn between shock and anger, demanded when he saw Miaohe’s reaction.
Since the other party left no room for negotiation and escape seemed impossible, understanding his background was crucial. Even if he was a mid-stage cultivator, with two early-stage Nascent Soul cultivators working together, they might still stand a chance.
Meanwhile, Han Li hovered in the air, arms crossed, watching them with a cold smirk.
“Fellow Daoist Huang, this is the man who obtained the Void Heaven Cauldron back then. I never imagined he’d form a Nascent Soul in such a short time.” Miaohe’s face darkened as he spoke.
“What? The one targeted by the alliance’s extermination order? No wonder he looked familiar! But wasn’t he just a Core Formation junior? How did he reach mid-stage Nascent Soul so quickly?” Huang Kun gasped in horror.
“I don’t know either. But the Void Heaven Cauldron is hailed as the greatest treasure of the Scattered Star Seas. Perhaps it contains unimaginable elixirs that boosted his cultivation. No one has ever opened it before—it’s not impossible.” A glint of greed flashed in Miaohe’s eyes as he speculated.
“If that’s true, we’re in deep trouble! With his current power and the Void Heaven Cauldron, even the two of us combined might not be a match!” Huang Kun kept a wary eye on Han Li but transmitted his words privately to Miaohe.
“I know that! But even if we can’t defeat him, do you really think he can stop us from fleeing?” Miaohe’s lips twitched into a sinister, confident smile.
As for their Core Formation disciples, they wouldn’t hesitate to abandon them in a crisis.
“True enough!” Huang Kun paused, then chuckled dryly.
“Done whispering? Then it’s time to send you two on your way. Dream all you want about escaping!” Han Li’s expression turned cold as he spoke.
“Damn it, we forgot—he can eavesdrop on our transmissions!” Huang Kun’s face paled.
Miaohe was stunned, but before he could react, a thunderous roar erupted behind Han Li as his Wind Thunder Wings materialized. With a flash, he vanished in a burst of lightning.
“Be careful! His treasure allows him to use lightning teleportation!” Miaohe, having witnessed Han Li’s wings before, urgently warned Huang Kun while summoning a fiery red shield. It expanded into a protective barrier around him.
Huang Kun, meanwhile, formed hand seals, causing the white silk threads around him to weave into a dense net, shielding himself.
Just as they finished their defenses, silver light flickered ten feet before them, and Han Li reappeared.
Seeing their preparations, he smirked. Without summoning any treasures, he simply raised his arms. With a *whoosh*, violet flames engulfed his body. Then, like a blazing meteor, he lunged at Huang Kun.
The elder’s heart pounded at Han Li’s ferocity. Instinctively, he redirected the white silk threads toward the oncoming fireball, aiming to pierce Han Li a thousand times over.
Miaohe, seizing the opportunity, pointed at his jade hammer. It erupted in radiant light, transforming into a massive emerald streak that crashed toward Han Li with a deafening roar.
Han Li ignored both attacks, charging straight into the web of silk. Within the violet flames, his face bore a mocking smile.
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