The next moment, a black flash appeared several feet in front of Han Li, and the dark spear eerily materialized. With a flick, it transformed into a streak of black light, shooting toward him.
Han Li reacted with astonishing speed. Almost the instant the spear appeared, he opened his mouth and spat out a golden lightning arc, striking the spear squarely.
Though he didn’t know the spear’s abilities, the faint scent of blood emanating from it suggested it was likely a sinister artifact. The Divine Devilbane Lightning should have been its perfect counter.
But what happened next shocked Han Li!
The spear flickered with spiritual light and suddenly turned into a faint shadow, slipping past the golden lightning as if it had struck empty air. The spear was already at point-blank range, and now, with this bizarre ability, even Han Li—whose reflexes far surpassed ordinary cultivators—had no chance to evade.
With a *thud*, the spear struck Han Li squarely and exploded into a burst of black radiance.
The impact sent Han Li stumbling back a step, but he remained unharmed.
Though the black light from the explosion was bitterly cold, like the underworld’s gloom, it was blocked by a suit of black armor that had instantly manifested on his body.
An attack that would have annihilated an ordinary cultivator was strangely dissipated by a layer of black runes shimmering across the demonic armor’s surface.
Both Han Li and the golden-horned youth’s expressions changed.
Han Li was stunned by the spear’s eerie ability to ignore the Divine Devilbane Lightning. If not for the Sky Devil Armor’s automatic defense, he would have suffered a severe blow.
Meanwhile, the golden-horned youth was equally shocked. His nearly invincible “Soulshadow Spear” had unexpectedly failed. This technique had slain countless opponents, many of them his peers.
His eyes gleamed with an odd light as he fixed his gaze on Han Li’s black armor. Though he had never seen it before, the sinister runes and ferocious design made its extraordinary nature obvious. Instead of anger, he felt excitement.
“Good, very good. That armor of yours is impressive. I’ve decided to take it,” the youth said coldly, emphasizing the word *good* twice.
“Oh? If you have the skill, then by all means, try,” Han Li replied calmly, though inwardly furious.
“I don’t just want the armor—I’ll take your life as well,” the youth sneered, bringing his hands together before pulling them apart.
A silver ruler materialized, releasing a terrifying spiritual pressure that surged into the sky!
Han Li’s pupils contracted. His spiritual vision revealed densely packed silver runes covering the ruler—Silver Kui Script!
Without hesitation, he chanted under his breath and formed a hand seal. Countless green light dots appeared in the air, rapidly expanding into palm-sized lotus flowers.
In an instant, Han Li activated the Spring Dawn Sword Formation. Simultaneously, he flicked his sleeve, and a white streak shot out, circling once before transforming into a massive, translucent serpent over a dozen feet long.
The serpent lunged, coiling around the six-legged lizard that had just emerged from the golden halo, its fanged maw snapping down.
The lizard roared in fury, spewing yellow mist and slashing with all six claws. The two beasts clashed in a brutal struggle.
Han Li had full confidence in his spirit puppet. Though the lizard was at mid-Refinement Stage, while “Doll” was a tier lower, she wielded two ice-attribute treasures that balanced the scales.
Moreover, as a puppet, she had an advantage in close combat—her power wouldn’t wane unless fatally damaged.
With the puppet handling the beast, Han Li focused entirely on the youth within the sword formation.
The youth had already grabbed the silver ruler, glancing dismissively at the surrounding green lotuses.
With a flick of his wrist, the ruler hummed, conjuring countless overlapping ruler shadows that remained solid—a profound technique.
Han Li’s eyes twitched. Without hesitation, he activated the sword formation. The lotuses spun wildly, expanding several times over and merging into a vast green curtain.
The golden-horned youth blinked as the scenery blurred. Suddenly, he stood in a lush meadow, surrounded by wildflowers and birdsong. A soothing lethargy crept over him, tempting him to sleep.
“An illusion!” The youth’s dazed look vanished instantly, replaced by a scowl.
He slashed the ruler forward, sending countless shadows flying before converging into a massive silver ruler several feet long. With a dragon’s roar, it cleaved downward.
Wind and thunder roared as silver runes churned, distorting space as if to split the void itself.
The illusion shattered like broken glass, dissolving into fragments.
But the scenery shifted again—now, he stood in a dense forest of towering trees, their canopies blotting out the sky.
The earth trembled violently as the trees toppled, transforming into massive logs that rained down on him.
“Hmph! A mere illusion once was enough. Trying it again is suicidal!” The youth sneered, brandishing the ruler. A storm of silver shadows erupted, shattering every falling log into motes of light.
The ruler seemed uniquely suited to counter illusions. The shadows merged back into the silver ruler, striking toward the green curtain.
Han Li’s pupils shrank.
Just before impact, the ruler flared with blinding light. Under this cover, it split in two—one illusory shadow striking the curtain while the true ruler vanished into the void.
Had Han Li not kept his spiritual vision active, he would have missed it.
As the illusory ruler struck the curtain, unleashing a dazzling silver explosion, an almost imperceptible ripple appeared above Han Li’s head. The real ruler emerged and descended silently.
No sound, no wind—just a sudden, overwhelming spiritual pressure as it neared his skull.
But at that moment, golden light erupted from Han Li’s crown. A golden hand covered in purple runes shot out, tearing through the silver radiance to seize the ruler.
The ruler shrieked as silver and purple-gold light clashed in a deafening explosion.
Waves of force rippled outward as the ruler, encased in silver light, struggled wildly.
The golden hand tightened inexorably, fingers like hooks.
The youth, unaffected by the illusion, watched in shock and fury.
With a snarl, he formed a hand seal and pointed at the ruler.
A thunderous boom erupted as silver lightning arced from the ruler, striking the golden hand in a barrage of crackling energy.
Though the hand trembled under the assault, Han Li smirked and flicked his sleeve.
A towering, three-headed, six-armed golden figure materialized—his Dharma Form, now wreathed in purple-gold light.
Two of its heads lowered, spewing golden mist that swallowed the silver lightning.
Seizing the moment, the hand crushed the ruler’s protective barrier with a *snap* and clenched it tightly.
Another hand joined, grinding the ruler between them until its light dimmed.
One head then opened its maw, sucking the ruler inside and swallowing it whole.
All this happened in the blink of an eye.
By the time the youth realized what had happened, his treasured artifact was gone—severed from his spiritual connection.
Shock and fury twisted his face.
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