Han Li swayed a few times and returned to the original battleground. Glancing at the fragments of spiritual tools scattered on the ground, he couldn’t help but feel a deep sense of regret.
He had put considerable effort into crafting these two items. Had it not been for encountering a Spirit General-level Spirit Tribe member, they would never have been destroyed so easily.
However, spiritual tools were meant to save lives, so he harbored no real remorse.
Not daring to linger, Han Li immediately decided to leave in the opposite direction of the small beast and the tiny sword.
But just as he lifted his foot, a man’s voice suddenly rang out from over a hundred feet above him: “Impressive, impressive! To escape from under Huaguang’s nose—you must be no ordinary body cultivator. You seem to have some background.”
Hearing this, Han Li’s face instantly paled, and his body froze in place.
At the same time, several streaks of spiritual light flickered in the air, and three more tiny figures, each only a few inches tall, materialized.
The central figure wore a dark blue robe, his eyes sharp as blades. He appeared to be clapping and laughing, but his gaze toward Han Li was icy, devoid of any warmth. Beneath his feet, he stood upon a swirling mass of blood-red mist.
Beside him were two others: a burly man whose body shimmered with red light and a cold-faced girl enveloped in milky-white frost.
Three more Spirit Tribesmen.
Han Li took a deep breath, suppressing his shock. His fingers, which had been tightly gripping two Immortal-Slaying Pearls, now relaxed slightly.
Facing three opponents at once, even with the pearls, he had no chance of injuring them all simultaneously. Since they hadn’t attacked immediately, there might still be a sliver of hope—no need to risk everything just yet.
His expression calmed, and he silently stared at the three figures in the air.
“Lord Xutian, this one will do. He’s a high-tier body cultivator and should know the location of the Chaos Valley. Plus, he has no mana—perfect for our purposes,” the red-glowing man said after scrutinizing Han Li, turning to the figure on the blood mist with deference.
“Very well, him it is,” the man on the blood mist replied casually, his face unremarkable.
Pleased, the burly man grinned savagely at Han Li, then suddenly twisted in midair, transforming into a fiery flood dragon about a foot long, diving straight down.
Han Li’s heart clenched—had he miscalculated? Were they truly intent on killing him?
Without hesitation, he steeled himself, golden light erupting from his body as he activated the Vajra Arts. Simultaneously, he prepared to hurl the Immortal-Slaying Pearls regardless of the consequences.
But just then, the man on the blood mist smirked and raised a finger, pointing lazily—yet with terrifying speed—toward Han Li.
A faint *pfft* sounded above Han Li’s head, and suddenly, the air around him tightened. An invisible force crashed down, pressing him into the ground.
*Not good!* Han Li thought. Under such pressure, throwing the pearls would likely engulf him in their destructive power.
Gritting his teeth, he channeled all his strength, resisting the force with sheer physical might.
But the pressure was overwhelming. Though he wasn’t crushed flat, with a *boom*, he sank waist-deep into the earth like a wooden stake. His entire body went numb, rendering him completely immobile.
“Hmm?”
The man on the blood mist seemed slightly surprised, clearly not expecting Han Li’s immense strength.
Han Li, too, was both shocked and furious. A mere finger-point from this man carried such power—this was no ordinary Nascent Soul-level opponent.
*Could he be a Mystic Spirit-level being from the Spirit Tribe?*
The fiery flood dragon reached Han Li in an instant. Taking advantage of his paralysis, it plunged straight into his head, vanishing without a trace.
Han Li let out a furious roar, his face contorting in agony.
Watching this, the man on the blood mist smiled faintly and lowered his finger.
The crushing force vanished, and Han Li, shaking violently, burst out of the ground, leaping several feet into the air.
But then, golden light flared around him as he clenched his fists and charged into the nearby forest like a whirlwind, smashing his fists into towering trees with relentless fury.
Everywhere he passed, trees were shattered at the waist with thunderous crashes, collapsing in halves.
The spectacle was terrifying.
At first, the man on the blood mist watched with amusement. But as Han Li continued his rampage for nearly half an hour without stopping, his smile faded, replaced by a flicker of doubt.
“Lord Xutian, is Shi Yan alright?” the frost-covered girl asked, concern creeping into her voice.
“He should be fine. Shi Yan’s true form is a Flame-Devouring Pearl—subduing a mere body cultivator’s consciousness should be effortless. Besides, his aura hasn’t weakened,” the man replied after a moment’s thought.
Reassured, the girl nodded.
Then—silence.
The distant forest’s destruction abruptly ceased.
The girl brightened, but the man narrowed his eyes slightly.
Moments later, Han Li emerged from the trees.
But now, his face was expressionless, his eyes dull and vacant.
“Shi Yan, how do you feel?” the man asked after a pause.
“Excellent. This human body is surprisingly sturdy. Though his consciousness was stronger than most mortals, it was nothing I couldn’t handle,” “Han Li” replied, twisting his neck—his voice now that of the burly Spirit Tribesman.
“Good. I was slightly worried—this body cultivator seemed unusual. But if you’re fine, then all is well,” the man said with a chuckle.
“Unusual? Just a bit stronger than most. Lord Xutian, I’ve already located the Chaos Valley. It’s a bit far—shall we head there now?” “Han Li” said dismissively.
“No rush. Huaguang is still chasing that mutated Leopard-Qilin Beast. He should return soon. We’ll wait,” the man replied leisurely.
Nodding, “Han Li” stood silently on the ground.
Half an hour later, a streak of white light shot through the sky, arriving before them in an instant.
The light faded, revealing the white-robed Spirit Tribesman, holding a glowing green chain that bound the struggling small beast.
“Oh? This human…” The white-robed figure blinked in surprise at “Han Li.”
“Don’t worry. Shi Yan has taken over this body. The original consciousness is gone,” the man explained.
“Ah, perfect. I didn’t bring a spirit beast ring, so carrying this thing is troublesome. You take it for now,” the white-robed figure said, tossing the chained beast downward.
Without a word, “Han Li” caught it effortlessly. A flash from his spirit ring, and the beast vanished.
“Alright, Shi Yan, since you know the way, lead us to the Chaos Valley. Time is short—we can’t afford delays. This is our best chance to obtain the Divine Blood. Normally, the Five Elements Spirit Tribe would never willingly give it to us. With it, we can awaken many more of our kin. Failure is not an option. Huaguang, go inform the Five Elements Spirit Tribe that we’re heading straight to the Chaos Valley. Shi Yan, once there, blend in with the humans and act as the situation demands,” Xutian commanded firmly.
“Yes!” “Han Li” replied coolly, while the others nodded solemnly.
“Good. Let’s move.”
At Xutian’s order, the group departed, vanishing into the depths of the forest.
—
Six days later, Han Li stood atop a small hill outside the Chaos Valley, accompanied by seven or eight distinguished human cultivators and body refiners—all at least Core Formation or high-tier body refinement.
Their expressions were grave as they stared at the distant entrance to the valley, silent.
“Brother Sun, are you certain Senior Huangliang and City Lord Lan will appear today to confront the Spirit Tribe?” a gray-robed middle-aged man asked an elderly man holding a palm-leaf fan.
“Absolutely. I received a flying sword missive from City Lord Lan’s attendant. Others are also waiting nearby. This battle is crucial—the seniors are determined to win. They’ve summoned us to guard against demonic interference,” the old man affirmed.
“If Senior Huangliang and City Lord Lan have ordered it, we naturally comply. But why have Brother Han and Brother Li joined us midway?” the old man asked, glancing at Han Li and a scholarly-looking man.
“I entered the Sunset Tomb seeking a breakthrough. How could I miss a battle at the Deity Transformation level? Observing might grant me insights. Besides, City Lord Lan has offered generous rewards,” Han Li replied evenly.
The scholar gave a similar answer.
Nodding, the old man dismissed his doubts—most here had come for similar reasons.
Suddenly, a piercing howl erupted from one side of the Chaos Valley.
Countless demonic auras surged forth, coalescing into gray-white mist that blotted out half the sky.
Beneath the clouds, bestial roars echoed, and a foul wind swept through the land.
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