“It’s the person ahead, isn’t it? He does have some abilities, but since I’ve caught up with him, it would be a huge joke if he still managed to escape.” A woman’s voice rang out.
From the black radiance behind emerged the shadowy woman and the Blood Venom duo.
It was unclear what method they had used to track Han Li so precisely.
With a light chuckle, the woman formed a hand seal with one hand. The black radiance swirled around them and transformed into a black formation circle.
As strange lights flickered within the formation, the woman and Blood Venom’s figures blurred slightly before vanishing simultaneously.
The next moment, something unbelievable happened.
Despite the near-supernatural speed of the cyan-white streak, a spatial ripple suddenly appeared not far ahead, and a massive black formation materialized eerily.
Han Li was startled, but it was already too late to stop his flight.
With the Wind and Thunder Wings at full speed, though his movement was astonishingly fast, he couldn’t control it at will.
Before he could react, the cyan-white streak plunged straight into the black formation.
Han Li’s vision darkened as black radiance surrounded him from all directions, accompanied by gusts of chilling wind. It felt as if he had stepped through the gates of the underworld.
Alarmed, Han Li didn’t hesitate. With a thunderous crackle, countless golden arcs erupted from his body, transforming into writhing golden lightning serpents.
The roar of thunder filled the air!
Wherever the black radiance or chilling wind touched the golden lightning, they exploded and dissipated into nothingness.
“Evil-Warding Divine Lightning! You actually cultivate this divine lightning!” The woman’s astonished voice echoed from all directions, brimming with excitement.
Han Li was momentarily stunned, unsure of her intentions, when suddenly the black radiance around him began to spin, accelerating rapidly.
Panicked, Han Li summoned the golden arcs back to his body, forming a golden lightning robe that encased him.
But at that moment, a woman’s soft laughter reached his ears.
“No need to panic, fellow Daoist. I mean no harm—I merely wish to invite you to stay with me for a while.”
Han Li had no intention of accepting such an “invitation.” With a flick of his wings, he prepared to flee.
Yet the woman seemed to have anticipated this. She raised a hand and pressed it lightly in the air.
An invisible force clamped down on Han Li. Despite his formidable physique, his movement was forcibly halted.
Han Li’s heart sank.
In that brief delay, the massive formation flashed with black light, and the three figures vanished simultaneously.
After a dizzying sensation, Han Li inwardly cursed. He quickly circulated the Great Development Art to clear his mind.
When his vision stabilized, he found himself standing on a high platform resembling an altar, having been teleported from mid-air.
Beneath his feet was another teleportation formation.
Not far away stood the woman and Blood Venom, motionless, as if they had never moved at all.
Judging by the thick darkness in the surrounding air, they were likely in one of the lower layers of the Abyssal Depths.
What chilled Han Li further was the presence of seven or eight half-human, half-demon creatures standing near the platform, each with cultivation levels ranging from Nascent Soul to Deity Transformation.
From the sprawling structures nearby, it was clear he had been transported to some kind of demonic lair.
Han Li suppressed his frustration, refraining from any rash actions. He simply stared silently at the woman opposite him.
This woman was undoubtedly the “master” Blood Venom had mentioned—no ordinary being could have whisked him away so effortlessly.
“Fellow Daoist, please accompany me to the main hall for a discussion,” the shadowy woman said with a soft laugh before gliding toward the distant buildings.
Blood Venom gave Han Li a strange glance before following her, seemingly unconcerned about him escaping.
Han Li scanned the structures and glanced at the sky, his expression turning bitter.
The sky was shrouded in gray clouds, flickering with black lightning and an oppressive spiritual pressure—clearly sealed by formidable power. Breaking free would be impossible in a short time.
However, the woman’s earlier words suggested she didn’t intend to kill him immediately. If he remained cautious, he might find an opportunity to act.
After all, he had no rigid prejudices against demons.
Having made up his mind, Han Li relaxed slightly. With a flash of cyan light, he transformed into a streak and followed.
Under the woman’s lead, Han Li arrived before the tallest wooden hall in the complex and landed.
The shadowy woman and Blood Venom strode inside.
Han Li’s gaze swept over the demonic guards at the entrance—short, ape-like creatures, each standing atop a pale-black giant spirit flower rooted in the soil.
A flicker of realization crossed his eyes.
He might have just uncovered the reason they had targeted him.
Without further delay, Han Li took a deep breath and stepped into the hall under the watchful eyes of the ape demons.
The hall was vast and empty.
Apart from the shadowy woman and Blood Venom, there was no one else inside.
Two rows of wooden chairs lined the sides, while the woman had already seated herself atop a giant golden flower at the center.
Blood Venom stood obediently beside her.
“Attendant, serve our guest tea!” The woman gestured for Han Li to sit on a nearby chair before clapping her hands twice.
Moments later, a delicate green-robed maid emerged from nowhere, carrying a wooden tray with two white teacups.
She handed one to Han Li and presented the other to the shadowy woman—none was offered to Blood Venom, who showed no reaction.
Han Li stared at the tea in his hand, his lips twitching. He hesitated to drink it.
The jade-white cup contained a dark, ink-like liquid emitting a faintly foul odor.
Just the smell alone made Han Li’s expression shift.
With his knowledge, he instantly recognized dozens of deadly poisons within the tea—though he could only identify a fraction.
Even the known toxins were lethal to ordinary people.
Despite his confidence in his physique, he wasn’t reckless enough to gulp it down.
“Don’t worry, fellow Daoist. This ‘Yin Execution Tea’ is brewed from eighty-one rare poisons. Individually, they are deadly, but their interactions neutralize their toxicity. In fact, regular consumption can slightly enhance one’s spiritual sense.”
Noticing his hesitation, the woman smiled faintly and took a sip.
Han Li hesitated briefly before cautiously tasting the tea.
If she intended to harm him, resistance would be futile—better to appear bold. Besides, she seemed sincere.
The tea was intensely bitter at first, but as it slid down his throat, it transformed into a scorching heat that spread through his meridians. Simultaneously, a cooling sensation flooded his mind, sharpening his awareness.
A quick internal scan confirmed no lingering toxicity.
Relieved, Han Li set the cup aside.
“Thank you for your hospitality, Senior. But may I ask why you’ve brought me here? This is my first time in the Abyssal Depths—I don’t recall offending anyone.”
“I invited you here to discuss important matters. But there’s no rush—stay for a few days. I’ll explain in due time. By the way, may I know your name? I am Mu Qing.”
The shadowy woman studied Han Li intently, making him uneasy before she finally spoke.
“Senior Mu Qing, this junior’s surname is Han,” he replied honestly.
Lying about his name would serve no purpose.
“Fellow Daoist Han! Bi’er, escort our guest to the VIP pavilion. Ensure all his needs are met.”
Mu Qing nodded before her tone suddenly turned cold.
The green-robed maid, who had been standing by, knelt in acknowledgment.
With no choice, Han Li stood and followed her out of the hall.
Soon, only Mu Qing and Blood Venom remained.
The shadowy woman gazed thoughtfully at the door where Han Li had exited. Blood Venom stood silently, as if mute.
“Aren’t you going to ask why I changed my mind?” Mu Qing suddenly spoke.
“Whatever the master decides must be justified. This servant has no need to question it.” Blood Venom bowed slightly, his voice calm.
“Heh, you hide it well. But there’s no secret here. I spared him because I found greater value in him.”
“Greater value… Does the master mean his Evil-Warding Divine Lightning?”
“Precisely. While high-quality blood sacrifices are rare, they can still be gathered. But with his divine lightning, our plans gain an extra ten percent chance of success. The choice is obvious, isn’t it?”
Mu Qing’s voice was serene, as if discussing the weather.
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