The giant flood dragon suddenly shuddered, shaking its head and tail as it opened its maw, unleashing a torrential azure beam. Simultaneously, the remaining horn on its head emitted a thick purple arc, which merged seamlessly with the beam, forming a fearsome assault that surged toward the barrier ahead.
At the same time, the golden miniature figure raised a hand to its forehead, and in an instant, a golden pillar of light shot skyward, vanishing into the colossal sword hovering above.
The sword emitted a resonant hum, its size doubling as it radiated blinding golden light, as dazzling as the sun itself.
After releasing the beam, the miniature figure—now half its original height—paid no heed to its altered form. Instead, it swiftly formed hand seals, and the giant sword transformed into a golden rainbow, slashing forward in tandem with the azure beam.
Both attacks converged on the same point of the barrier.
A deafening explosion erupted as azure and golden energies collided, intertwining and coalescing into a massive orb of light several zhang in diameter, its surface crackling with countless purple arcs.
This orb, imbued with unfathomable power, slowly penetrated the barrier under the combined force of the two beings, tearing through the spatial obstruction with unstoppable momentum until it was halfway through.
Both the flood dragon and the golden figure rejoiced.
The flood dragon, after signaling to the man with drooping eyebrows, shrank back to its original size in a flash. Transforming into an emerald streak, it swept the man up and shot toward the orb.
Mid-flight, it cast a cold glance in Han Li’s direction.
Han Li, however, stood motionless in the distance, merely observing the scene with a vacant expression.
A flicker of disdain crossed the flood dragon’s face, as if it regarded Han Li as already dead. With a clear cry, it vanished into the orb.
It harbored no fear of Han Li exploiting the opportunity to escape.
The orb, fused with the essence of both the flood dragon and the golden figure, could only be traversed by their direct guidance. Without their aid, passage was impossible.
Seeing the flood dragon depart first, the golden figure wasted no time. Transforming into a golden mist, it enveloped the rotund man and, in a few flashes, reached the barrier, poised to exit.
But just then, a muffled thunderclap erupted near the orb, followed by a spatial ripple as a winged figure materialized.
With a mere shrug of its shoulders, a gray mist surged forth, enveloping the golden radiance.
The miniature figure felt an inexplicable pull, and before it could react, the winged figure clung to the golden mist like a shadow. A calm voice echoed from within: “Since you’ve found a way out, I trust you won’t mind taking me along.”
The voice belonged unmistakably to Han Li.
The golden figure froze, its gaze darting to where Han Li had stood—only to see another “Han Li” still present. This “Han Li” grinned at the figure before dissolving into a wisp of emerald light, vanishing without a trace.
It was none other than Han Li’s long-cultivated Spirit Substitution Talisman.
Realizing the two Void Refinement cultivators intended to breach the barrier, Han Li had swiftly substituted himself with the talisman while using his Wind and Thunder Wings to teleport stealthily near the orb.
The talisman, refined over centuries and inherently capable of substitution, had gone unnoticed by the flood dragon and the golden figure in the heat of the moment.
Seizing the opportunity, Han Li had latched onto the golden figure’s escape route with his Magnetic Divine Light, clinging like a shadow.
“You dare court death?” the golden figure snarled, instantly grasping Han Li’s ploy. Its radiance flared, unleashing a storm of golden light to repel him.
Yet, as the golden light met the gray mist, crackling sparks erupted, and despite the violent tremors, the mist held firm.
The golden figure’s heart sank.
“Had you been in your true form, I’d stand no chance,” Han Li chuckled from within the mist. “But as a mere avatar, shaking off my Magnetic Divine Light will take time. Are you willing to linger here that long?”
“You threaten me?” the figure roared, preparing another move.
But then, a piercing shriek tore through the air. Within the mist, Han Li felt his blood boil, surging toward his skin. Yet, his perfected Vajra Arts rendered his body impervious, and he remained unharmed.
The golden figure, however, paled at the sound. The rotund man beneath it, despite the protective mist, turned crimson and swayed unsteadily.
“Blood Weeping Art!” the figure bellowed, striking downward with a golden beam that stabilized the man.
Above, the distorted portal now bore a massive bone claw, slowly prying it open. The claw, jade-white and radiating immense pressure, was the source of the shriek.
Another claw emerged, gripping the portal’s edges as the shrieking gave way to thunderous roars—the demon was on the verge of breaking through.
“Seems we needn’t wait,” Han Li said coolly, suppressing his shock. “If the first to leave decides to seal the portal to trap the demon, we’ll be its next meal. Doesn’t that concern you?”
The golden figure’s face darkened further at the sight of the claws. After a tense pause, it gritted its teeth. “Fine. You win this gamble. I’ll take you out.”
Han Li inwardly rejoiced. Relaxing his grip slightly, he allowed the golden figure to envelop him in its radiance as they plunged into the orb.
Inside, Han Li was blinded by light before finding himself in the sky above the stone mountain, the half-embedded orb beside him.
Nearby, the emerald flood dragon and the drooping-browed man stared in shock at Han Li’s unexpected escape.
Without hesitation, Han Li’s wings flared, and he vanished in a streak of blue-white lightning, reappearing dozens of zhang away.
Strangely, the golden figure made no move to restrain him.
The flood dragon’s eyes gleamed with malice, but before it could act, a terrifying spatial ripple erupted around the orb. The sky twisted like crumpled paper, accompanied by a sound akin to a tidal wave.
“Disaster!”
“Space storm!”
The group, including Han Li, blanched and scattered in all directions, abandoning any thought of teleportation amidst the brewing chaos.
Moments later, the distorted space birthed countless black threads, which expanded rapidly before shattering into liquid-like white light. This light transformed into voracious cyclones, devouring everything in their path—reducing objects to dust or swallowing them whole with eerie screeches.
Han Li, now atop a distant hill, watched the storm impassively. Though it paled compared to the spatial tempests he’d endured during his dimensional travels, he had no desire to relive the experience.
Recalling how he’d barely survived those storms—thanks largely to the Ice Phoenix’s spatial talents—and the near-total loss of his treasures, he shuddered.
As the storm showed no signs of abating, Han Li finally turned and flew toward his cave, leaving the others behind.
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