“If I recall correctly, I have no prior dealings with either of you. For you to seek me out so abruptly, it must be related to that traitor!” the Water Being asked bluntly.
“Indeed. The two of us have already discovered the hiding place of that traitor,” the silver figure replied with a buzzing voice. A flash of silver light later, its body shrank abruptly, quickly matching the size of the Fire Being.
“Since you’ve found him, why not capture him yourselves? Did you encounter some unforeseen trouble?” The Water Being’s form rippled violently upon hearing that their target had been located, despite its typically cold and ruthless demeanor.
“We arrived just a step too late. That traitor is cunning beyond measure—the moment he sensed danger, he fled into the Chaotic Valley and submerged himself in the Scorching Light Pool. The dangers of that pool need no explanation; you know them well. Only someone like you, Brother Water Wraith, with mastery over water-based divine abilities, could possibly dive in and drag him out,” the Fire Being said gravely.
“The Scorching Light Pool? How did he manage to escape there? Even I wouldn’t dare claim certainty in entering and exiting that place safely!” The Water Being’s voice turned sharp, tinged with anger.
“We didn’t anticipate it either. We had a chance to intercept him, but we were delayed by a group of demonic cultivators who intervened—even a Black Phoenix clansman showed up,” the silver figure replied with frustration.
“How did the demonic clans learn of the traitor’s existence?” the Water Being demanded, displeased.
“That remains unclear, but it was likely leaked by the human faction. Regardless, we have little time to waste here. Our battle with those demons will soon spread, and human cultivators will likely come searching. Right now, only Tian Ying and Huang Shi are guarding the Chaotic Valley. If more Deity Transformation-level humans or demons arrive, they won’t hold out for long,” the Fire Being urged.
“What’s there to fear? Even my Water Spirit body can’t guarantee safe passage through the Scorching Light Pool. How could mere humans or demons easily descend into its depths?” The Water Being regained its composure.
“That’s not the point. This is the territory of humans and demons. If they seize control of the Chaotic Valley, we’ll lose all chance of recovering the Divine Blood,” the Fire Being countered, shaking its head.
“It seems you’re unaware—the Artifact Spirit Clan will arrive here in a few days, led by Xu Tian, one of their Eight Mystic Spirits,” the Water Being said slowly, its tone oddly measured.
“Xu Tian, the Mystic Spirit?!” Both the silver figure and the Fire Being exclaimed in unison.
“Indeed. Now you understand my meaning. Once the Artifact Spirit Clan arrives, that traitor will have nowhere to run. We need only wait patiently for a few days,” the Water Wraith said coolly.
“But that would mean the Divine Blood falls into the hands of the Artifact Spirit Clan!” the silver figure protested, unwilling to accept this.
“Better them than the humans or demons. If they were to unravel the secrets of the Divine Blood, our Spirit Clan would suffer immense losses. Alas, our Five Elements Spirit Clan can only mobilize Spirit Generals like us now—those at the Mystic Spirit level and above are locked in battle with *those beings* on another front and cannot spare any attention here,” the Water Wraith sighed.
At the mention of *those beings*, both the Fire Being and the silver figure flickered erratically, their emotions visibly stirred.
“If I recall correctly, you’ve only recently returned from that front. How are things there?” the Fire Being couldn’t help but ask.
“Dire. Even with several Saint Spirit-level elders joining the fight, the Yaksha Clan has dispatched multiple Yaksha Kings. We’re barely holding the line. The Yaksha are natural devourers of the world’s spiritual essence—many of our abilities are countered by them. They are the true nemesis of our Spirit Clan. As for the humans and demons, eliminating a few low-level members is inconsequential, but we must avoid provoking a full-scale conflict. If we’re caught in a two-front war, our clan’s situation will become truly perilous. Among the Spirit World’s races, ours has always been the weakest,” the Water Being replied after a pause, its tone resigned.
The Fire Being and the silver figure fell silent, their spirits visibly weighed down.
—
At the same time, atop a barren hill, the palace-robed woman stood surrounded by several demonic cultivators, her gaze fixed on the entrance of a misty valley in the distance, her expression dark.
“Well? Still no word from Senior Huan?” she asked abruptly, without turning her head.
“We’ve dispatched multiple messengers skilled in escape techniques. They will find Senior Huan,” a green-faced demon replied gruffly.
“Good. Guard the valley entrance tightly—don’t let those Spirit Clan members escape. Once Senior Huan arrives, those two Spirit Clan cultivators will be slain without fail. And when that happens, I shall reward you handsomely,” the woman declared coldly.
The demons brightened at this promise, their morale lifting instantly.
The Black Phoenix Clan was one of the demonic faction’s Seven Royal Clans—their rewards were never meager.
—
Over a lush grassland, over a dozen cultivators flew swiftly, hovering about thirty feet above the ground.
Among them were Huangliang Spirit Lord, the Sunset City Lord, and others, all at least at the Core Formation or Nascent Soul stage—a formidable force by any measure.
“Brother Lan, are you certain those Spirit Clan members are truly in the Chaotic Valley?” Jin, the burly man, asked the city lord beside him.
“Absolutely. The reports didn’t come from just one or two people—many witnessed it. At the time, the Spirit Clan and high-ranking demonic cultivators were locked in battle. Those who saw it knew they were no match and could only watch. The Chaotic Valley isn’t far; we can reach it within days,” Lan replied eagerly.
“The Chaotic Valley… That place has a sinister reputation. Many who enter vanish without a trace. Some even claim to have glimpsed ancient giants within,” Jin interjected with a frown.
“I’ve heard those rumors too—even ventured inside once to investigate. There were no giants, just baseless hearsay. As for the missing cultivators and body refiners, most were low or mid-tier. The valley does have perilous zones; their deaths aren’t surprising. That said, the Scorching Light Pool is indeed mysterious—I’ve never dared to venture deep,” Lan said gravely.
“Whether there are giants or not, with Senior Huangliang here, there’s nothing to fear,” the monk-like cultivator remarked, casting a glance at Huangliang Spirit Lord.
“Hmph, I wouldn’t be so sure. Legends say the ancient giants possessed strength enough to uproot mountains and hurl them at the sun. As a mere Void Refinement cultivator, I wouldn’t dare make such claims. That said, it’s highly unlikely any giants remain in the Chaotic Valley. The ancient ones were dim-witted, savage, and fiercely territorial. If any still lived, they would’ve slaughtered every human and demon entering the Sunset Tomb—even ancient beasts wouldn’t dare linger. The tomb wouldn’t have remained so peaceful all this time,” Huangliang Spirit Lord said with a faint smile.
Lan and the others could only nod in agreement.
With that, the group ceased further discussion and sped toward the Chaotic Valley.
Soon, they dwindled to specks on the horizon, vanishing into the distance.
Yet, after the time it takes to burn a stick of incense, a white glow flashed on the grassland, and a figure slowly rose from the earth.
It was the delicate-looking demon youth.
He gazed in the direction Huangliang Spirit Lord had disappeared, a cold smirk playing on his lips.
The Illusory Flame Moth perched obediently on his shoulder, wings fluttering lightly.
After a long, narrowed-eyed stare, the youth gave a slight shrug—and sank back into the earth.
—
“Ha!” Han Li roared, thrusting his spear forward. A winged wolf burst into a spray of blood, impaled clean through.
At the same moment, dozens of wind blades whistled through the air, blanketing his position. Seven or eight identical winged wolves circled above.
Han Li ignored the blades entirely. Instead, the crystal at the spear’s tip flashed, and he hurled it like a black bolt of lightning.
With his monstrous strength and the spear’s artifact power activated, the weapon pierced through another wolf in an instant.
Han Li pointed at the spear from below, and it abruptly curved midair, streaking toward a third wolf.
The beast spat frantic blades of wind, but none could halt the spear’s momentum. A shriek later, it too plummeted, skewered.
By then, the wind blades had rained down on Han Li.
He didn’t so much as blink. A golden sheen enveloped him, deflecting every strike.
Apart from his newly donned robes being shredded once more, he emerged unscathed.
What followed was a swift massacre. Han Li guided the spear through the remaining wolves, exterminating them all.
With a final gesture, the spear whistled back into his grasp.
He glanced at the crystals embedded in its hilt—their glow had dimmed considerably.
Sighing, he smacked the shaft.
*Plink. Plink.* The spent crystals fell to the ground.
Without a second glance, he retrieved fresh green spirit stones from his storage bracelet, slotted them into the spear, and stowed it away.
His gaze swept over the wolf corpses before settling on a peculiar silver-hued mushroom beneath a nearby tree.
Enveloped in a milky haze, the luminous lingzhi emitted an alluring aroma.
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