The phantom images of these ancient trees were of unknown origin, their branches and leaves stretching out to cover everything in a pale green hue. When the sword threads struck them, a flash of green light rendered them completely unharmed.
The Great Geng Sword Formation, already disrupted by the silver spikes, was now further overwhelmed by the rapidly expanding phantom trees. The golden threads could no longer converge, and the formation was effortlessly broken.
Han Li’s heart sank, but before he could react, the silver-ranked Wood Spirit, who called himself Murui, let out a chilling laugh. “Impressive. Your sword formation is indeed peculiar, but now that I’ve summoned my lifebound spirit tree and merged with it, no matter how capable you are, you won’t escape death today.”
With that, Murui formed hand seals, his body dissolving into a phantom shadow that merged into the ancient tree behind him.
An unbelievable sight unfolded.
The phantom tree suddenly released an overwhelming spiritual pressure, its entire body glowing as it transformed into a towering green giant, ten zhang tall. The giant bore a tree-like crown, its limbs covered in lush greenery, resembling a humanoid ancient tree. On its trunk-like torso, a massive face appeared—none other than Murui himself.
This was the true form of a Wood Spirit—the Wood Spirit Body!
Meanwhile, the silver spikes in the air ceased firing, leaving only the giant standing alone in the sword formation.
Though stunned, Han Li acted without hesitation. With a wave of his hand, the vanished golden threads reappeared around the giant, slashing toward it in unison.
Yet the green giant remained motionless, merely smirking at Han Li with disdain.
A sharp metallic screech echoed as golden and green lights clashed. All the sword threads rebounded, utterly failing to harm the giant.
“Tch, a mere Human cultivator at the Deity Transformation stage dares to challenge my lifebound spirit tree? A fool’s dream. Though activating my Wood Spirit Body will force me into centuries of slumber, its durability is beyond even your so-called Heaven-reaching Spiritual Treasures. Now, hand over your life!”
The giant took a massive stride, ignoring the surrounding sword threads as it closed the distance in a single step, nearly reaching Han Li.
Han Li’s lips twitched. Without a word, the five-colored halo around him trembled and vanished, reappearing instantly around the giant’s waist with a thunderous roar.
The charging giant suddenly slowed, its movements reduced to a crawl.
Seizing the opportunity, Han Li pointed at the ground beneath the giant.
A silver firebird burst from the earth, circling the restrained giant before spitting out several silver orbs. Then, with a flap of its wings, it surged forward in a blaze of silver flames.
Boom!
Thunder roared as silver lightning clouds erupted beneath the giant’s feet, followed by explosions of silver fire, engulfing it completely.
The sheer force of the attack was staggering.
Yet Han Li wasn’t done. He spun in place, summoning a golden-and-silver robe that expanded midair, unleashing a storm of fist-sized lightning orbs and arcs upon the giant.
Caught between the lightning from above and the flames below, the giant was submerged in a sea of destruction.
Still unsatisfied, Han Li roared, dissolving the Great Geng Sword Formation entirely. Hundreds of golden sword lights materialized from all directions, converging upon the giant in a relentless barrage.
Explosions and piercing shrieks filled the air as Han Li retreated, watching coldly from a distance.
He was certain that even a late-stage Void Refinement cultivator wouldn’t survive such an onslaught—let alone a Deity Transformation cultivator.
As the smoke cleared moments later, the giant stood unharmed, its body now crystalline, as if carved from jade. Not a single scratch marred its surface.
With a mighty grip, the giant shattered the five-colored halo around its waist.
Free once more, it laughed and stomped the ground, sending out a ripple of green light that extinguished the silver flames and trapped the firebird in an unbreakable seal.
Even the Spirit Devouring Heavenly Flames, capable of consuming spiritual energy, were powerless against this green radiance.
As for the seventy-two golden swords—now reduced to their original size—they clattered uselessly against the giant’s body, some even dimming and wailing in protest.
Han Li’s expression darkened as he recalled the swords, storing them in his sleeve.
“I am now indestructible. Even those a realm above me cannot harm me. Go ahead—try whatever you have left. If you can so much as scratch me, I might spare your life,” the giant boomed, arms crossed, its laughter deafening.
The silver-ranked Wood Spirit, now in its true form, displayed power beyond imagination. None of Han Li’s attacks had made the slightest impact.
Han Li’s heart pounded. He had underestimated the gap between a silver-ranked Wood Spirit and a Void Refinement cultivator.
Though his Divine Devilbane Arts and Hundred Meridians Treasure Refinement Technique made him far stronger than his cultivation suggested, he had never been certain of his limits.
Deity Transformation cultivators were no match for him, but he had never truly tested himself against Void Refinement experts—until now.
After witnessing the battles of Void Refinement cultivators like Ye Chu and the Long Family, he had believed himself their equal, if not superior under the right circumstances.
Had he known earlier, he might not have needed his Gold Devouring Beetles against the Shadow Tribe’s Red Shadow.
But now, facing this overwhelming foe, he had no choice but to fight.
Yet even his best efforts were futile.
Unless…
There was one last method.
If it failed, he would have to resort to the Bloodshadow Escape, fleeing for his life in hopes of a miracle.
He would never surrender.
His mind racing, Han Li’s expression hardened.
Without a word, the Wind and Thunder Wings on his back trembled, crackling with arcs of blue-white lightning as countless fist-sized thunderballs formed.
At the same time, he formed hand seals, and four identical clones appeared beside him, each with wings and poised in the same stance.
“Interesting,” the giant chuckled, unfazed.
The five figures shot forward as white streaks, vanishing mid-flight—only for several to reappear moments later, stumbling out of distorted space as the giant’s palm struck.
With a single grasp, an invisible force obliterated the clones.
Yet Han Li was already moving.
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