Chapter 1188: Capturing the Spirit Infant

“Set the Formation!”

Kui Huan and the woman, who had long been paying attention to the seal, immediately issued the command in unison without hesitation.

The thirty-six Falling Cloud Sect disciples simultaneously tossed their formation flags and disks into the air above the seal.

Instantly, the formation tools radiated spiritual light, and layers of multicolored mist materialized out of thin air, swirling downward to envelop the area.

The black light, caught off guard, saw a flash of multicolored spiritual radiance before being completely wrapped and trapped within the mist.

Naturally, the entity within the black light was the Second Spirit Infant.

When engulfed by the flames of the Three Flames Fan, it instinctively expelled all the demonic energy it had absorbed to preserve its life. As a result, while the demonic energy was annihilated by the flames and most of its demonic body was refined away, this accidental act dispelled the demonic corruption from the Spirit Infant, restoring its consciousness in an instant.

Drawing on Han Li’s memories, the Second Spirit Infant decisively self-destructed the demonic weapon, the Crimson Blood Sword, to break free from the tricolored flames. Fearing Han Li’s pursuit with the Wind and Thunder Wings, it gritted its teeth and also self-destructed the recently repaired Ghost Luo Banner.

The self-destruction of these two treasures was indeed formidable. Caught off guard, Han Li allowed the Second Spirit Infant to seize a sliver of opportunity and escape right under his nose.

However, the Second Spirit Infant knew such tactics wouldn’t delay Han Li for long. It had already resolved to use the Spirit Infant’s teleportation technique immediately upon exiting the Demon Abyss, fleeing to one of the Seven Spirit Islands.

As a precaution, it had long prepared a hidden refuge on the island, even employing special treasures and an advanced concealment array to evade Han Li’s spiritual sense, buying itself time to recover.

But the Second Spirit Infant never expected that Han Li, who usually acted alone, would gather so many low-level cultivators outside the seal this time. Moreover, they had prearranged a powerful restriction formation to block the exit, lying in wait for it to walk right into the trap!

Now trapped within the multicolored mist, the Second Spirit Infant was both shocked and furious.

It frantically waved its tiny hands, sending waves of dark sword energy slashing in all directions.

Yet the multicolored mist was remarkably resilient. Though much of it was severed by the sword energy, it instantly regenerated with a flash of light, leaving no opening for escape.

Realizing this, the Second Spirit Infant’s expression darkened. It clenched its hands together, then flung them outward.

Two black pillars of light shot forth, transforming into two massive swords over ten feet long, which it swung downward with all its might.

The cultivators desperately maintaining the formation flags and disks could no longer hold on.

With two thunderous booms, the multicolored mist was split open, revealing a gap several feet wide. Though spiritual light flickered around the edges, the gap was too large, and the cultivators couldn’t replenish their spiritual energy in time to close it.

Seizing the opportunity, the Second Spirit Infant vanished with a teleportation technique.

In the next moment, a black-green Spirit Infant materialized outside the mist.

It glared fiercely at the surrounding cultivators before forming hand seals, preparing to teleport away in succession.

But just then, a gentle breeze blew past, and a figure materialized with the wind.

“Not good!” The Second Spirit Infant didn’t hesitate, instantly teleporting away.

The figure that appeared with the wind was none other than Han Li, who had pursued it with the Wind and Thunder Wings.

Seeing the Second Spirit Infant flee without even a glance, Han Li’s expression darkened, and he snorted coldly.

A thin bloodline suddenly split open between his brows, and a wisp of black energy swiftly emerged, coalescing into a pitch-black eyeball that eerily fixed its gaze into the distance.

A black streak shot out, vanishing in a flash before exploding in mid-air twenty-odd zhang away.

With a flash of black light, the Second Spirit Infant stumbled into view, its tiny face filled with terror and disbelief.

Han Li smirked, then spat out a small cyan cauldron, which he caught in his hand. With a flick of his cyan-white wings, he vanished silently into the wind.

The Second Spirit Infant turned and saw this, its heart sinking. It immediately transformed into a streak of black light, attempting to flee.

But at that moment, a burst of cyan threads sprayed from the void, ensnaring the Spirit Infant like a spider’s web.

Though the Second Spirit Infant panicked, it released countless dark sword energy beams in an attempt to break free.

After a series of explosions and flashes of black light, the cyan threads remained unscathed.

Terrified, the black-green Spirit Infant prepared to use another secret technique when a flash of cyan lightning heralded Han Li’s sudden reappearance nearby, holding the cauldron.

Seeing the Spirit Infant still struggling, Han Li’s eyes turned cold. He flicked the cauldron lightly with a finger.

With a soft *ding*, the lid opened, and a column of cyan light shot skyward.

The cyan threads binding the Spirit Infant glowed in response, tightening their grip. The Second Spirit Infant felt its spiritual energy stagnate abruptly.

In a flash of cyan light, it was yanked backward, helplessly sucked into the cauldron.

Han Li pointed at the lid, which descended as a streak of cyan light, sealing the Void Heaven Cauldron once more.

The cauldron’s glow faded, fully sealed again.

Han Li relaxed, a faint smile finally appearing on his face.

Once inside the Void Heaven Cauldron, even a late-stage Spirit Infant cultivator stood no chance of escape.

“Congratulations, Senior Han, on your success!”

Kui Huan and the woman, along with the Foundation Establishment disciples, stepped forward to offer their respects, their faces betraying a hint of sycophancy.

“Heh, you’ve all contributed significantly this time. These two bottles contain some pills that will slightly aid your cultivation. Take them and divide them among yourselves. Additionally, the Demon Abyss must be reinforced with more personnel to prevent other demonic cultivators from infiltrating.” Han Li smiled faintly, retrieving two white jade bottles from his storage pouch and tossing them to Kui Huan, along with further instructions.

“Yes, this disciple will discuss the matter with the other sects and arrange for additional personnel immediately. Senior, why not rest for a few days on Spirit Turtle Island before returning to the sect?” Kui Huan accepted the bottles eagerly.

“No need. The sect isn’t far, and I have other matters to attend to. I won’t linger here.” Han Li waved his hand dismissively, then stowed the cauldron and transformed into a cyan streak, shooting into the sky.

Kui Huan and the woman bowed deeply as they watched him leave, only straightening after a long moment.

“Fellow Daoist Kui, what pills did Senior Han leave you? Given his status, they must be extraordinary, right?” A red-robed cultivator from further away approached with his disciples, eyeing the jade bottles enviously.

“I’m not entirely sure, but they’re likely quite valuable. For now, let’s focus on reinforcing the seal.” Kui Huan chuckled dryly, stashing the bottles away with a flash of white light, clearly unwilling to discuss the matter further. He then directed the disciples to begin repairs.

Though the seal had mostly healed, its spiritual glow had noticeably dimmed.

The Falling Cloud Sect disciples immediately flew toward the stone pillars to reinforce the formation.

The red-robed cultivator, though curious about the pills, took the hint and ordered his own disciples to assist.

As the pillars hummed, a milky-white spiritual light spread across the seal, gradually thickening and solidifying…

Over ten days later, Han Li returned to Cloud Dream Mountain.

However, he bypassed the Falling Cloud Sect entirely, heading straight for the Mother-Child Peaks.

As he dispelled the restrictions and landed before his cave dwelling, he found a woman already waiting for him.

“It’s you.” Han Li blinked at the white-robed woman before him.

“Greetings, Master!” The beautiful cultivator bowed gracefully, her expression solemn. It was his nominal disciple, Liu Yu.

“Have you been waiting here all this time?” Han Li frowned slightly before speaking indifferently.

“Not just me. Senior Sister Mu and Senior Sister Song are also here. The three of us were worried, so we took turns waiting for your return. Right now, they’re visiting Junior Sister in her cave.” Liu Yu peeked at Han Li before answering obediently.

“Hmph, with my current cultivation, retrieving my own Second Spirit Infant was hardly a concern. But you’ve all met Qin’er?” Han Li asked casually.

“Yes, we have. Junior Sister Tian is indeed clever and quick-witted. No wonder Master personally took her as a disciple.” Liu Yu smiled sweetly.

“Qin’er is different from you. She possesses the Dragon Chant Physique, which limits her path in the Great Dao. I took her in for other reasons. There’s no need for you to probe further.” Han Li’s eyebrow twitched as he spoke lightly.

“Master jests. This disciple wouldn’t dare!” Liu Yu’s heart leapt with joy, though her face showed a hint of embarrassment.

“Enough. Since you’re all here, summon the other three. I have something to discuss with you.” Han Li stroked his chin before speaking solemnly.

“Understood. This disciple obeys.” Liu Yu straightened immediately, her heart tightening.

Han Li nodded, flicking his sleeve toward the sealed cave entrance. A surge of cyan light blasted forth.

With a rumble, the stone door slowly rose, and Han Li strode inside, his robes fluttering.

Liu Yu transformed into a streak of white light, speeding toward Tian Qin’er’s cave.