A flash of golden light later, the Gold Devouring Beetles charged into the silver mist ahead without hesitation. In the next moment, they were locked in a frenzied battle with thousands of silver insects.
Though the Gold Devouring Beetles numbered only a tenth of their silver counterparts, their size was several times larger, and their physical resilience and devouring capabilities far surpassed those of their opponents.
The silver insects slashed wildly with their forelimbs and bit down fiercely with their fangs, yet not a single scratch was left on the golden beetles’ shells.
In contrast, the golden beetles tore their opponents into pieces with a few bites and swiftly devoured them.
Even though multiple silver insects attacked a single Gold Devouring Beetle simultaneously, within moments, most of the silver swarm had vanished.
The remaining silver insects finally lost their courage and turned to flee once more. However, under the suppression of the Divine Essence Magnet Light, escape was impossible. One by one, they were overtaken and devoured by the golden beetles.
Just as the last silver insect was about to be consumed, it suddenly burst apart in a flash of light.
A faint, almost invisible shadow shot out from the explosion, attempting to stealthily escape.
An ordinary being would likely have missed this elusive shadow, but Han Li, hovering high above, narrowed his eyes with a blue glint. Without hesitation, he reached out with one hand.
His jade-white fingers parted slightly, and a surge of five-colored cold flames shot downward. In the blink of an eye, the shadow, which had already fled dozens of feet away, was ensnared.
The shadow shuddered and revealed its true form—a faint silver figure with a human face and an insect body, writhing desperately within the cold flames, its expression twisted in agony.
Han Li’s expression darkened. With a slight curl of his fingers, the cold flames transformed into countless five-colored threads that converged inward.
The trapped figure was instantly shredded into countless fragments.
Han Li relaxed slightly and waved his hand, dispersing the threads.
He then pointed at the swarm of Gold Devouring Beetles below, and they swiftly transformed into hundreds of golden flowers, shooting back into his sleeve.
With another gesture, the black mountain shrank and flew into his grasp. He exhaled lightly.
From releasing the beetles to annihilating the entire swarm and recalling them, it had taken only an instant.
Though he had deployed a considerable number of beetles, the toll on his spiritual sense was minimal, causing him no significant strain.
Of course, he had already resolved that if the beetles couldn’t eliminate the swarm quickly, he would recall them immediately to avoid excessive mental exhaustion.
As expected, the Gold Devouring Beetles proved to be the perfect counter to these silver insects, wiping them out effortlessly.
Using other treasures would not have been as efficient.
Han Li glanced in the direction of the battle between the two insect swarms before his body shimmered with green light. Transforming into a green streak, he shot into the distance and vanished beyond the horizon.
Almost simultaneously, deep within the silver swarm over a hundred thousand miles away, an enormous silver insect—far larger than the others—suddenly raised its head and gazed in Han Li’s direction.
Beneath the faint silver glow, the insect bore the face of an elderly man.
His brows furrowed, and a trace of suspicion flickered across his features.
After staring for a moment, the man-faced insect turned its gaze forward, where the silver tide clashed violently with rolling green mist, locked in a stalemate.
After a brief hesitation, the insect let out a piercing shriek.
Nearby silver insects surged toward it like a frenzied tide, rapidly coalescing into a colossal silver behemoth that grew larger by the second.
Within moments, all the silver insects within a mile radius had merged into a single entity—a monstrous creature over a hundred zhang long.
With a flap of its wings, twin cyclones roared beneath it, lifting its massive body into the air as it charged forward.
…
Though Han Li didn’t know the exact origin of the strange spirit he had just destroyed, he was well aware that its appearance was no good omen.
After leaving the area, he altered his course multiple times mid-flight and used the Taiyi Concealment Talisman to mask his presence before finally continuing on his way with peace of mind.
Though he was now alone, he was confident that even an early-stage Body Integration cultivator wouldn’t pose an insurmountable threat. With this assurance, he flew along a newly chosen route toward the other end of the Illusionary Moon Realm.
…
Two months later, above a vast desert shrouded in yellow sandstorms within the Illusionary Moon Realm, three bizarrely designed green chariots suddenly appeared, crackling with arcs of green lightning as they streaked across the sky.
In just a few flashes, they arrived at their destination and halted in unison about a hundred zhang above the swirling sands.
Now, their true forms became clear—three ancient yet exquisitely adorned chariots, their surfaces shimmering with green runes of varying sizes.
At the front of each chariot stood two ox-like beasts clad in green armor, their massive eyes blood-red, and their nostrils exhaling streams of green smoke that instantly raised the surrounding temperature to a scorching degree.
On each chariot stood two short figures and a towering armored puppet, standing over two zhang tall. The puppet wore a green mask with glowing red eyes, gripping reins connected to the oxen, with a blade at its waist and two silver spears strapped to its back.
The short figures were also armored, each carrying a massive gleaming silver dharma wheel on their backs. Their faces were covered in gray spots, with protruding fangs, making them grotesque in appearance.
The six figures scanned the desert below, murmuring amongst themselves.
After a brief discussion, one of them raised a hand and produced an ancient bronze mirror, which they tossed into the sandstorm below.
As the mirror spun, a green halo expanded outward, instantly calming the raging winds and revealing a vast expanse of ruined palaces stretching beyond sight.
The sight filled the six figures with excitement. With a shout, they prepared to descend.
But just then, a thunderous roar erupted from the horizon. A massive green lightning sphere materialized in the distance before hurtling forward, crossing hundreds of zhang in an instant to appear near the chariots.
The six figures recoiled in shock but quickly identified the intruder—a colossal bird puppet over twenty zhang long, with a golden body, silver head, and green feathers.
It was none other than the famed Thunder Roc puppet!
However, the puppet was heavily damaged, missing half its feathers and one of its claws. Despite its injuries, the crackling green lightning covering its body was a terrifying sight.
The six figures tensed. One let out a sharp cry, and the three chariots shot forward as green streaks to intercept the puppet.
Before contact, the three armored puppets yanked their reins, prompting the oxen to roar and spew torrents of green flames, forming a blazing sea.
Simultaneously, the six figures chanted, and their silver dharma wheels shot into the air, swelling into six radiant full moons that slashed toward the Thunder Roc with unstoppable force.
The Thunder Roc’s eyes flashed silver as its lightning aura intensified. Its remaining claw lashed out, conjuring a massive green claw shadow that blotted out the sky, descending upon the chariots.
The puppet ignored both the silver moons and the sea of flames, focusing solely on its attack.
The six figures panicked but quickly adjusted. With coordinated gestures, they merged the six moons into a single massive disk that collided with the claw in a deafening explosion of green and silver light.
Meanwhile, the green flames engulfed the Thunder Roc, clashing violently with its protective lightning in a storm of thunderous roars.
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