Almost simultaneously, a flash of azure lightning appeared above the jade carriage, and Han Li emerged eerily. Without a word, he flicked his sleeve, releasing dozens of small golden swords that swam out like fish, transforming into golden streaks that rained down, enveloping the entire carriage.
“Break!”
The middle-aged Taoist’s expression changed drastically. With a loud shout, he pointed at the Bagua mirror above his head, activating the treasure.
Instantly, a beam of black-and-white light shot out from the mirror’s surface, transforming into a web of fine threads that tangled with the golden streaks.
The two collided outside the azure glow, producing a series of muffled *puff* sounds!
The golden swords flickered with light, effortlessly slicing through all the threads.
The Taoist was shocked. Before he could react, the flying swords struck the azure barrier.
The same scene repeated—the azure light barely resisted before being pierced through, allowing the golden streaks to shoot straight at the two inside.
At this moment, both Elder Long and the Taoist were terrified.
Simultaneously, they activated their escape techniques, abandoning the jade carriage beneath them. Transforming into streaks of azure and white light, they fled in opposite directions, barely evading the golden swords as they reached over a dozen zhang away in the blink of an eye.
As the middle-aged Taoist fled, he slapped a spirit beast pouch at his waist. A clear chirp sounded as a snow-white spirit bird, about a foot long, flew out in a spiral.
The bird had emerald-green eyes, a crimson beak, and a pair of black claws.
Seeing the bird appear, the Taoist felt slightly relieved. He reached into his sleeve and pulled out a crimson token, its surface shimmering with red light and densely packed with faint runes.
But before he could activate it, a spatial fluctuation erupted above him. With a flash of azure lightning, Han Li appeared.
Han Li snorted coldly, his eyes glowing with blue light.
The Taoist, surnamed Hua, panicked and tried to activate his treasure, but suddenly felt a sharp pain in his divine sense, as if a spike had been driven into his skull. He let out a scream, blood trickling from his nose and ears, and the token in his hand trembled, nearly dropping.
Seizing the opportunity, Han Li flicked his fingers, sending out five red threads that vanished in a flash. At the same time, green light shimmered in his other hand as a wooden ruler appeared, which he lightly waved toward the snow-white bird.
Under the crimson flames, the red threads pierced through the immobilized Taoist’s body, then coiled around him, transforming into five thick fiery ropes that bound him tightly.
The Taoist, enduring the pain in his head, regained some clarity and paled at his predicament. Unable to move, he desperately tried to summon his spirit bird for help, but there was no response.
Frantic, he glanced sideways and saw a silver lotus floating above the bird, emanating seven-colored Buddhist light that immobilized it mid-air.
Before the Taoist could think of a way to escape, a gentle breeze brushed his head, followed by a golden streak flashing from the wind.
With a scream, his head was severed, rolling to the ground.
Han Li emerged from the wind and, without hesitation, raised both hands. Thunder roared as golden arcs intertwined, forming a net that enveloped the headless corpse. The net shimmered with golden light, its power terrifying.
Han Li then chanted an incantation, and the fiery ropes around the corpse flared, spewing crimson flames that reduced the body to ashes.
Almost simultaneously, a white light—encasing the Taoist’s Nascent Soul—burst from the flames, wielding a white *ruyi* scepter as it tried to flee.
But it crashed into the golden net.
After a series of thunderous booms, the net repelled the Nascent Soul before exploding in a burst of golden light and arcs.
The Nascent Soul dissipated in the blinding lightning.
Han Li exhaled lightly before turning his cold gaze toward the other side.
Elder Long had already fled over forty zhang away and was hesitating whether to join the fight when he saw the Taoist perish. His heart sank, his body turning cold with fear.
As Han Li’s gaze swept over him, the elder suddenly swung a green disk, severing his own arm with its sharp edge.
The arm exploded with a *bang*, enveloping him in a bloody mist. A shrill scream erupted as the mist transformed into a faint blood shadow, darting away at incredible speed.
In just a few flashes, the blood shadow had vanished into the distance, leaving Han Li momentarily stunned.
Han Li narrowed his eyes, hesitating briefly before shaking his head with a hint of regret.
*This man truly has some tricks, even knowing a bizarre escape technique similar to the Blood Shadow Escape. But chasing him now would be too troublesome—better to head to Starfall City.*
With that thought, he glanced at the spirit bird still immobilized by the Eight Spirit Ruler. With a flick of his finger, a golden sword light sliced through the bird, killing it instantly.
Such spirit beasts, raised from birth with blood oaths, could never be tamed by others. Han Li had no reason to spare it.
He then transformed into an azure streak, flying straight toward Starfall City.
At full speed, he pierced through the Windfire Heavenly Barrier in the time it took to drink a cup of tea, arriving above the massive island.
Pausing briefly, he gazed at Starfall City in the distance.
The towering city walls were covered by a thick blue barrier, while above, vast swaths of azure-red light clashed against it, producing earth-shaking thunder.
Without hesitation, Han Li shot toward the city.
In a few flashes, he arrived before a city gate but was blocked by the blue barrier.
The Star Palace cultivators behind the barrier soon noticed him. A sharp whistle sounded as over a dozen guards of varying heights appeared on the gate, eyeing him warily.
*If he’s from the Inverse Star Alliance, why is he alone? But if he’s someone else, how could he have reached the city under siege?*
Han Li, with his enhanced vision, saw their expressions clearly. Without a word, he flipped his palm, revealing the Star Palace guest elder token from years ago. He tossed it forward, letting it hover before the barrier.
The guards stirred. A few higher-ranking cultivators examined the token closely, and one suddenly paled, whispering urgently to the others. Their faces turned to shock, and one quickly pulled out a formation flag, waving it at the barrier.
The barrier rippled, and the token shot through as if the barrier were nothing.
Han Li watched coldly, unmoving.
The guards passed the token around, their expressions shifting between surprise and joy. One pointed at Han Li and spoke before sending a transmission talisman flying into the city.
Another took out a formation disk, chanting briefly before speaking:
“Esteemed Senior Han, please forgive our caution! These are extraordinary times, and we’ve never seen your true appearance. We cannot let you in yet, but we’ve sent word to the Palace Master. She will arrive shortly.”
The voice bypassed the barrier, transmitted directly to Han Li via the disk.
Han Li nodded faintly and stood with his hands behind his back.
He didn’t wait long. Within the time it took to eat a meal, three dazzling streaks of light shot from the city, landing at the gate.
Two men and a woman stood there, the woman in the center clearly in charge. Her stunningly beautiful face struck Han Li as oddly familiar—it was Ling Yuling, now dressed as a woman.
The two men flanking her were a yellow-robed cultivator in his thirties and an elderly man with white hair and beard. The guards behind them stood rigidly, not daring to breathe loudly.
“It really is Fellow Daoist Han! Wonderful! I thought you wouldn’t make it!” Ling Yuling’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “Open the barrier at once and let him in!”
“Palace Master, is this wise?” the yellow-robed cultivator hesitated. “What if he’s an imposter sent by the Alliance? The risk is too great.”
“Don’t worry. This guest elder token is unique—there’s only one in the world. And given his power, no one in the Star Seas could take it from him in single combat.”
At her words, the yellow-robed man reluctantly nodded.
The guards hesitated no longer. They pulled out formation flags and disks, activating them in unison. Multicolored light merged into the barrier before the gate.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage