During the fierce counterattack from the demonic ape earlier, the Yuan Magnetic Divine Light and the Five-Colored Cold Flames deployed by Han Li were only able to hold off briefly before being shattered one after another. In the end, he barely managed to block the assault with a small crystal shield.
The sheer brute strength of the demonic ape was one thing, but the purple broken blade it wielded was truly formidable. Striking from a distance, it was nearly impossible to defend against.
With Han Li’s extensive combat experience, he immediately thought of using the Gold Devouring Beetles as a countermeasure.
He didn’t release too many of the golden beetles. Instead, he merged the Dharma Form of the Sacred Demon with his own body, manifesting four arms that each wielded a treasure, simultaneously striking the ape’s two fists.
At the same time, the two Gold Devouring Beetles that had been seized loosened their sharp teeth and flapped their wings violently, struggling to break free. The mutated beetles possessed immense strength of their own.
Under this dual assault, the beetles managed to wrench themselves free from the ape’s grip.
The two beetles immediately shot toward the distant broken blade, entangling it relentlessly.
Seeing this, the demonic ape simply swung its fists wildly at Han Li.
However, with Han Li’s formidable physical resilience, he was unafraid, leading to the current stalemate.
The demonic ape’s armor and the purple blade were extraordinarily powerful, but its true terror lay in its overwhelming strength.
Although Han Li hadn’t fully unleashed his six arms, he had already pushed the Sacred Demon Art to its limits, yet he still seemed slightly inferior.
However, whether due to severe injuries or overconfidence in its current methods, the demonic ape only relied on its fists and didn’t employ any other supernatural abilities.
Only after adapting to the ape’s ghostly speed could Han Li calmly parry its attacks.
Yet, ordinary treasures had little effect on the purple armor, at most leaving superficial marks.
This bizarre purple armor made the ape seem encased in an impenetrable shell, leaving Han Li deeply frustrated.
*It seems I’ll have to try another approach.* Han Li’s expression remained cold as he pondered silently.
Taking a deep breath, a jade-white hand suddenly emerged from his sleeve.
A ghostly wail echoed as five white skeletal skulls materialized, spewing rolling waves of Five-Colored Cold Flames that surged toward the demonic ape.
At the same time, Han Li spat out a small cyan cauldron.
With a swift spin, countless green threads shot out, entangling the opponent before disappearing in a flash.
Meanwhile, thunder rumbled behind Han Li as a pair of wings unfurled.
With a slight tremble, his body transformed into a blue-white lightning arc, darting toward the hall’s exit.
He intended to use these two techniques to momentarily stall the ape while he escaped, putting distance between them before luring it into the Spring Thunder Sword Formation in the passageway.
Only by leveraging the formation’s power could he trap and ultimately slay the demon.
However, something utterly unexpected happened.
As the blue-white lightning flashed and Han Li reappeared at the entrance, a sudden anomaly occurred.
From the void beside the door, a blood-red object several zhang long—the blood bed the ape had previously lain on—materialized and crashed down toward him.
*How did this thing get here?* Han Li was startled, the thought flashing through his mind involuntarily.
But the blood bed descended too quickly, its surface erupting with bloody light and countless eerie runes.
Han Li didn’t dare hesitate. Instinctively, he let out a low shout, swinging the weapons in his four golden arms to block while his black and white palms transformed into a flurry of fist shadows.
Though caught off guard, he trusted his six arms could repel the object.
Golden light flashed as the four weapons struck the blood bed.
With a thunderous boom, golden and bloody lights clashed, but the bed merely paused before continuing its slow descent.
Han Li’s expression darkened. The fist shadows condensed into two massive black-and-white fists, ready to strike again.
But then, a chilling sensation crawled up his spine, his skin prickling with goosebumps.
*Danger!*
Trusting his instincts, he retracted his hands instantly. One tapped the shrunken crystal shield to activate it, while the other formed a seal to cast another spell.
But it was already too late.
A white line split the void behind him, and a bloody arm shot out, its clawed fingers piercing forward.
Han Li’s golden protective aura and his near-indestructible body were torn through like paper. The arm impaled him, emerging from his chest.
Staring at the bloody limb protruding from his torso, Han Li’s face twitched, his eyes blank with disbelief.
A sinister cackle echoed through the hall—not from the armored ape, but from the spatial rift behind him.
“Foolish brat, daring to scheme against me? You’ve brought about your own doom. But your refined essence will make a fine feast.”
The bloody figure leaped from the rift, its arm retracting as it lunged for Han Li’s head with jagged teeth.
Yet, in that instant, Han Li’s body was enveloped in emerald light before vanishing into motes of green, leaving only a pierced talisman behind.
The blood shadow’s bite met empty air. Snarling, it turned toward the exit, where Han Li reappeared, pale but unharmed.
No wound, no blood—only a torn robe hinted at the attack.
The blood shadow’s gaze flicked to the talisman on its arm, now glowing green.
Han Li snorted, uttering, “Retrieve.”
The talisman transformed into a green streak, vanishing into his body.
This was the *Spirit Substitution Talisman* he had nurtured for centuries, far surpassing its human realm counterpart.
Though he hadn’t activated any defenses in time, the talisman had taken the fatal blow in his stead.
Without it, he would’ve been gravely wounded. Now, the talisman was spent, requiring another century of cultivation.
*But what is this blood shadow?* Han Li’s eyes gleamed blue as he scrutinized the figure.
Beneath the bloody haze, its form mirrored the armored ape—three horns, fanged maw, and elongated arms.
The blood shadow grinned, summoning the armored ape with a wave.
The ape strode forward as the shadow merged into its armor.
A surge of black-red demonic energy erupted, accompanied by an overwhelming spiritual pressure.
Han Li staggered back, realization dawning.
“*Soul-Splitting Demon Art!*” he blurted.
The ape’s voice echoed coldly, “Oh? You know of this technique? Indeed, I used it to heal. Though risky, it hastened my recovery. Curious—you, a denizen of the Spirit Realm, practice a supreme demon art of the Ancient Demon Realm. Altered, but recognizable.”
“So your injuries are nearly healed?” Han Li’s face darkened.
“Hah! My flesh lags, but my spirit is mostly restored. Submit, and I may spare your soul for reincarnation.”
The ape’s laughter boomed, its power undeniable.
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