Han Li, however, was not merely standing idly by. With a flick of both sleeves, a dense swarm of talismans shot out, swirling around him, their silver runes flickering intermittently.
These talismans appeared extraordinarily mysterious, numbering exactly one hundred and eight.
Han Li swiftly formed hand seals and pointed several times toward the distant thundercloud, his expression turning grave.
Instantly, the talismans transformed into over a hundred streaks of silver light, vanishing without a trace before him.
The next moment, a flash of silver light appeared above the massive thundercloud, revealing the one hundred and eight silver talismans.
They spun rapidly, arranging themselves into a bizarre pattern that perfectly enveloped the thundercloud below.
At Han Li’s urging, the talismans simultaneously exploded, revealing a massive silver formation.
Within the formation, the faint silhouette of a grand palace emerged, as if it were not of this world.
The palace gleamed with silver radiance, countless runes swirling around it, while ethereal music faintly emanated from its center, soothing the mind.
Yet, if one strained to listen more closely, the celestial music would vanish without a trace.
Delighted to see the formation take shape, Han Li immediately intensified his spellcasting, causing the massive silver formation to slowly descend.
At that moment, a deafening roar erupted from the thundercloud.
Following several earth-shaking claps of thunder, the green thundercloud churned violently before several arcs of lightning, as thick as water vats, tore through it and shot outward.
These arcs were so immense that, after a few spirals within the clouds, they resembled ferocious dragons clawing through the sky.
In mere moments, the vast thundercloud was completely obliterated amidst the thunderous explosions.
With the thundercloud gone, the lightning arcs vanished as well, revealing the Nether Lightning Beast in the distance once more.
The beast now appeared utterly disheveled—its scales dull and lifeless, while the exposed parts of its body were severely charred. Only the silver horn on its head still shimmered brilliantly, with fine threads of electricity crackling around it.
Clearly, the massive silver arcs earlier had been unleashed from this horn.
But what shocked Han Li even more was that as soon as the beast reappeared, it opened its mouth and spat out a bloody glow.
Within the bloody light, golden streaks flickered—three buzzing beetles, unmistakably his Gold Devouring Beetles. The beast had forcibly expelled them from its body with its magic.
Such power sent a chill down Han Li’s spine.
When the Gold Devouring Beetles had unexpectedly been swallowed by the beast, he had been overjoyed and briefly entertained thoughts of slaying it. But witnessing this scene now, he realized such hopes were futile and immediately dismissed the notion.
Han Li’s gaze swept around until it landed on his Emerald Swarm Sword, floating near the beast’s feet, faintly glowing with golden light.
Evidently, while dealing with the combined assault of the thundercloud and the Gold Devouring Beetles, the Nether Lightning Beast had no time to concern itself with the sword and had casually discarded it. After all, the sword posed no threat to it.
Meanwhile, the beast glared at Han Li with undisguised fury in its eyes, clearly eager to tear him to shreds after suffering such a loss.
But before the beast could act, Han Li waved a hand, summoning the three Gold Devouring Beetles back to him. The small golden sword trembled before vanishing on the spot.
With a flash of golden light, the sword reappeared beside Han Li with a low hum before disappearing into his sleeve.
The returning Gold Devouring Beetles were similarly stored away.
The Nether Lightning Beast paused in surprise before letting out a furious roar, preparing to attack.
But at that moment, a silver flash appeared above its head—the massive formation had silently descended.
Even if the beast had initially failed to notice such a colossal object overhead, it could not ignore it now.
Looking up, the beast’s eyes flickered with alarm, but its horn immediately crackled with thunder, unleashing a massive silver arc that struck the formation below.
With a deafening boom, the lightning arc collided with the formation—only to be swallowed whole, vanishing without a trace.
Now sensing danger, the beast’s limbs crackled with electricity as it attempted to flee. But it was already too late.
The formation in the sky spun once before disappearing.
The Nether Lightning Beast had barely shot forward a dozen feet when a silver glow enveloped it, trapping it within a misty expanse. Glancing around, it could vaguely make out towering walls, grand halls, and countless pavilions in the distance—an endless labyrinth.
At first startled, the beast quickly calmed itself.
Having lived for tens of thousands of years, it had been trapped in formations countless times before and did not fear ordinary restrictions.
It raised its head, scanning the silver-hued sky above, but could discern nothing.
After a brief pause, the beast transformed into a silver arc and shot upward, its claws slashing at the void.
With sharp hisses, over a dozen green claw streaks shot out, striking the silver barrier.
Amidst a series of dull thuds, the barrier trembled briefly before stabilizing.
The beast halted mid-air, its expression darkening.
The power of this formation exceeded its expectations—it was no ordinary trap.
Unbeknownst to the beast, it was trapped within Han Li’s meticulously crafted “Nine Palaces Heavenly Qian Talismans,” a set of one hundred and eight talismans renowned for their unparalleled ability to ensnare foes.
Of course, the effectiveness depended on the target.
Given Han Li’s cultivation level, even a Body Integration-level being would struggle to break free, let alone this beast.
Outside the formation, Han Li, standing at its edge with one hand pressed against a talisman, suddenly staggered back two steps as a tremendous force reverberated through him. His expression shifted several times.
Fortunately, circulating his spiritual power swiftly stabilized him.
But it was clear the formation could not withstand the beast’s attacks for long—the gap in their power was simply too vast.
Still, Han Li had never intended to trap the beast indefinitely. A brief delay was all he needed.
Seeing the formation temporarily hold, he retracted his hand, unfurled his wings, and transformed into a green streak, fleeing toward his original path.
In a few flashes, he reached the horizon, on the verge of vanishing entirely.
But just then, Han Li’s expression shifted. With a wave of his hand, dozens of golden swords shot toward an empty patch of space.
To his surprise, a white-robed figure materialized—the ghost woman known as “White Ghost,” her arm and sleeve missing.
Forced into the open, her face mirrored shock. She seemed about to speak, but Han Li’s expression turned icy.
With a shrill cry from his sleeve, a black shadow emerged—a small black monkey, the Soul Devouring Beast.
With no time to waste, Han Li summoned this ghost-devouring creature immediately.
The ghost woman let out a piercing shriek, her face contorted in terror as she transformed into a white mist, fleeing backward.
But the Soul Devouring Beast was faster. In a blink, it swelled into a giant ape, its nose unleashing a yellow mist that ensnared the white light and dragged it back.
The light dissipated, revealing the ghost woman once more.
Panicked, she shrouded herself in a white barrier from her robe—a treasure that resisted the Soul Devouring Beast’s soul-snaring mist.
The beast growled, summoning dark winds and countless lightning bolts. Its body expanded, fur turning crimson, as three curved horns sprouted from its skull. A third, blood-red eye opened on its forehead.
Its face elongated, fangs bared, while three black bone spikes, wreathed in dark energy, grew from its back.
Terrified, the ghost woman unleashed a sonic wave, but Han Li, prepared, shielded himself and the beast with gray and multicolored light.
The attack barely fazed them.
With a roar, the Soul Devouring Beast’s third eye unleashed a blood-red lightning bolt, piercing the ghost woman’s barrier effortlessly.
Bound by the crimson arc, she was dragged toward the beast’s gaping maw and swallowed whole.
With a thud, the beast spat out a black jade token.
Han Li snatched it, examining it briefly.
“A Long-range Communication Talisman!”
Though different from human variants, he recognized its purpose, his expression flickering between surprise and contemplation.
Suddenly, thunderous booms erupted from the distant formation, accompanied by enraged roars.
Alarmed, Han Li recalled the Soul Devouring Beast, which shrank and vanished into his sleeve.
Stomping his foot, he transformed into a massive azure roc and soared away at breakneck speed.
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