“You are Han Li, the body cultivator who personally saved ‘Dai’er.’ Whatever request you have, just speak up. This old man will do his best to fulfill it.” The purple-robed man spoke amiably as soon as he saw Han Li.
At that moment, he stood at the camp entrance with Dai’er and several body cultivator subordinates, seemingly preparing for a journey.
The little girl clutched the man’s hand tightly, her clear eyes fixed intently on Han Li. Though she remained silent, her small face had been lit with joy ever since she saw him.
“I have no requests. Saving your granddaughter was merely a coincidence,” Han Li replied indifferently, looking at the purple-robed man before him.
“Heh, Zhao is not one to forget kindness. I’ve heard you practice the Vajra Arts and have reached the third layer. A close friend of mine had ancestors who once cultivated this technique, advancing to the astonishing sixth layer. I happen to carry a token of his. Take it and seek out his descendants. They should lend you their cultivation insights—it may prove useful.”
The purple-robed man laughed heartily, retrieving an ordinary-looking short sword from his robes and handing it to Han Li. At the same time, he whispered a location and a name into Han Li’s ear.
Hearing it was related to the Vajra Arts, Han Li hesitated briefly before accepting the sword.
With that, City Lord Zhao bid farewell to Madam Fang, the man surnamed Qin, and the others, then mounted a giant wolf with the girl in tow.
But just then, the seemingly docile wolf suddenly reared its head, leaping several zhang into the air as if startled.
The purple-robed man was startled, but a faint black glow flickered around his legs. With a firm squeeze, the wolf let out a low growl and calmed down.
The others found this odd but dismissed it. Wolves acting wild wasn’t uncommon. Instead, they praised the city lord for subduing the beast with just his legs.
Only Han Li’s expression flickered for an instant when the black glow appeared on the man’s legs, but it vanished just as quickly.
As the man’s figure faded into the distance, the others dispersed. Han Li remained standing silently for a long while, his expression shifting as he watched City Lord Zhao depart.
“That’s unmistakable—it’s corpse energy. Why take the girl? Hah, just a mere puppet. Might as well help her one more time.” Recalling the girl’s clingy, adorable behavior, Han Li sighed softly and turned back toward the camp.
Soon, he disappeared among the wooden huts.
Not long after leaving the camp, the purple-robed man urged his wolf into a full sprint. His subordinates, though puzzled, followed without question.
These were City Lord Zhao’s body cultivators, while the old steward and maids, unable to keep up, remained at the camp.
After racing over a hundred li, a small mound appeared ahead. A strange glint flashed in the man’s eyes as he directed the wolf toward it.
His subordinates, baffled but unquestioning, followed. But as they reached the top, the man abruptly reined in his mount.
The others instinctively halted.
Then—sudden chaos!
The ground beneath one wolf split open, swallowing both beast and rider without even a scream.
The others, shocked, moved to help, but two bone spears shot from the earth, impaling two riders instantly.
The last man turned his wolf to flee, only for three black serpent heads to emerge, biting into his body and tearing him apart.
The earth trembled as two snake demons and a giant sandworm emerged.
Only then did the purple-robed man turn, surveying the scene coldly. “Clean this up. Leave no traces.”
He dismounted with the girl, eyeing the wolf disdainfully before slamming a palm down.
With a dull thud, the wolf collapsed, its head shattered like a melon.
“Stupid beast. Nearly exposed me,” he muttered darkly.
Strangely, the girl in his arms remained calm throughout the carnage, showing no reaction.
The demons devoured the corpses, erasing all evidence.
Satisfied, the man nodded—then suddenly raised a hand. Black mist swirled, coalescing into a spear.
With a flick, the spear shot toward an empty spot in the distance.
A golden fist materialized, shattering the spear mid-air. Then, with a flash of golden light, a young man appeared.
Han Li!
Somehow, he had followed undetected for a hundred li.
“Kill him!” the man ordered coldly.
The snake demons and sandworm lunged.
The human-faced snake demon, recognizing Han Li as the one who thwarted their earlier ambush, hurled bone spears. The three-headed serpent coiled and sprang, while the sandworm spat corrosive green liquid.
“No!” the girl cried, her composure breaking.
The man remained unmoved.
Han Li smirked, clenching his fists. He smashed the spears mid-air, reducing them to dust.
Dodging the acid, he blurred into afterimages, reappearing several zhang away.
The liquid sizzled against the ground, emitting foul fumes.
The three serpent heads struck next, sinking fangs into his shoulders and neck.
The other demons pounced, triumphant.
Han Li’s eyes turned icy. With a twist, he wrenched one head clean off.
The other two writhed, but golden light flashed—his hands severed them like blades.
Spinning, he met the airborne demons.
A chorus of roars and hisses erupted—then a bloody rain fell.
“Overestimating yourselves.”
Han Li emerged unscathed, hands behind his back.
Chunks of demon corpses thudded to the ground, staining the earth crimson.
In moments, he had slaughtered all three.
“Who are you, using a corpse to deceive so many? Bold indeed,” Han Li said coldly, his killing intent manifesting as a gray-white aura.
The man had stood motionless, unfazed by the demons’ deaths. But Han Li’s aura made him frown.
“Fourth-layer Vajra Arts explain your speed. But masking your presence without magic? Intriguing. Yet your killing intent—no ordinary body cultivator bears such weight. Who are you?”
Han Li’s face darkened. Ignoring the question, he glanced at the dazed girl.
“I’ve no patience for puppets. End yourself, or I’ll do it.”
Golden light flared as he strode forward.
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