The figures on the armored beasts, upon closer inspection, turned out to be women with pale purple skin and dark green eyes.
Each had long, flowing hair, wore black battle armor, and wielded various obsidian weapons, all with delicate and refined features.
When the armored beasts halted, the women silently leaped down, revealing their full forms. Han Li’s pupils contracted sharply as he gazed into the crystal orb.
From the waist down, these women had the lower bodies of centipedes!
Dozens of tiny legs paired with their human torsos sent a chill down Han Li’s spine, making him shudder slightly.
Yet these foreign women seemed highly disciplined, quickly forming orderly ranks.
One of them, seemingly of higher status, stepped forward, glanced toward the earthen wall, and suddenly grinned—her mouth splitting open to her ears, revealing rows of needle-like teeth and a forked, snake-like tongue.
The once-delicate face twisted into a grotesque visage. The stark contrast could easily frighten the timid into unconsciousness.
Though Han Li wasn’t so easily shaken, he still flinched, his eyelid twitching.
The others had all witnessed this as well.
The young girl’s expression darkened, while the other Fire Sun Clan serpent-folk stood in fearful silence.
“Hmph, so what if they’re the Wuluo Clan? Just remnants. Our Wa Clan eradicated them once—we can do it again. The other two clans fell because of ambushes. Now that we’re prepared, how could we fear these lingering stragglers?” The woman snorted coldly and flicked her sleeve toward the crystal orb.
A red flash extinguished the flames around the orb, and the entire formation ceased operation, the images vanishing instantly.
The white-robed serpent-folk straightened at her words, bowing in unison. Their fear faded, replaced by fierce determination.
Han Li observed this with a faint, knowing smile.
The woman’s seemingly casual remark had been laced with a subtle mental technique.
Though well-hidden, Han Li, trained in the Great Derivation Art, detected it effortlessly.
Otherwise, these low-level priests wouldn’t have been so easily roused to battle.
“Now that we know the enemy, split into four teams and guard the city gates. Intercept any Wuluo priests. Anyone who dares retreat will face the clan’s punishment!” The woman stood, her voice icy.
The serpent-folk bowed solemnly and dispersed as planned, leaving only the woman, the young girl, Han Li, and four elder serpent-folk in the hall.
These four, all at the early Core Formation stage, were the clan’s strongest after the woman.
Han Li glanced at them indifferently before looking away.
The woman exhaled deeply and turned to speak to Han Li—
But then, earth-shaking drumbeats erupted, followed by relentless explosions. The ground trembled violently once more.
“They’ve begun the siege!” The woman’s expression darkened, a bitter smile on her lips.
“Aren’t you going out, Fellow Daoist Fire?” Han Li asked curiously.
“No need. The Wuluo elites will come to us,” she replied, shaking her head.
“Oh?” Han Li was genuinely surprised.
“Our Wa Clan and the Wuluo are mortal enemies. We know their ways. Even with all defenses activated, their true experts will slip through. They excel at stealth and prefer assassinating the strongest first before slaughtering the rest.” She forced a smile.
“I see.”
Han Li stroked his chin, thoughtful, then suddenly chuckled and said something that stunned the woman and the others:
“So, this hidden fellow Daoist isn’t one of your allies? Shall I invite him out?”
“What? They’re already here?!” the woman gasped.
Before she finished speaking, Han Li reached toward a nearby pillar.
A crystalline hand materialized midair and seized the pillar.
A black streak shot out just before the grasp landed, darting twenty yards away before materializing into a Wuluo woman.
The Fire Sun Clan members tensed, weapons at the ready.
The woman brandished a crimson stone rod, while the four elders drew gleaming silver blades that writhed like serpents.
The young girl nocked a white bone arrow onto her yellow great bow.
The exposed Wuluo woman had silver eyes that gleamed eerily against her purple skin.
She ignored the others, staring coldly at Han Li. “Your aura is wrong—not Wa Clan. Which upper clan are you from? To see through my stealth, are you from the ‘White Eyes’ or ‘Thousand Phantoms’?”
She’d mistaken Han Li for a member of two famed Thunder Continent clans known for their spiritual sight.
Han Li smiled faintly but didn’t answer. Instead, his gaze flicked to a shadowed corner, and he pointed.
A green sword shot forth, slashing into the darkness.
A black streak met it midair, clashing violently as a figure emerged from the shadows.
Han Li’s eyes flashed blue. The sword’s radiance intensified, shredding the black streak before lunging at the new foe.
The shadow twisted into a black thread, darting away—but the sword pursued as a green thread, matching its speed.
The two threads weaved through the hall, appearing and vanishing in blurs.
Suddenly, the black thread split into eight, scattering in all directions.
Han Li recalled his sword, which reformed and vanished into his body.
The black threads reunited, revealing a golden-eyed Wuluo woman, glaring furiously.
“Golden and silver pupils—Wuluo royalty!” the woman gasped. “You killed the other clans’ high priests!”
“Clever. But since we’re here, your clan’s fate is sealed,” the golden-eyed Wuluo sneered.
The first Wuluo reappeared beside her, standing shoulder-to-shoulder.
Han Li studied them, noting the strange aura masking their cultivation levels—likely due to a rare treasure.
Before the woman could speak, the young girl loosed her arrow.
A barrage of yellow-white projectiles engulfed the two Wuluo.
Seizing the moment, the woman hurled her rod, which transformed into a fiery serpent. The elders slashed with silver blades, their attacks converging.
Amid the onslaught, the Wuluo women raised their hands, unleashing swirling black halos that absorbed the barrage effortlessly.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage