At this moment, Han Li’s Spirit Infant felt an intense heat coursing through its entire body, as if it were filled with scorching magma, leaving it parched and its limbs flushed red.
Just then, an immense suction force erupted from his physical body below. The Spirit Infant shrank abruptly by more than tenfold without any ability to resist and vanished into the crown of his head, returning to his Dharma Form.
The fiery energy that had filled the Spirit Infant now found an outlet, surging wildly into his physical body.
Han Li’s body, already crystalline in appearance, shimmered with radiant light as the heat poured in, turning his flesh semi-transparent. Even the faint golden bones within his muscles became vaguely visible, entwined by countless delicate threads of light that pulsed with a soft, multicolored glow.
Simultaneously, countless tiny streams of energy flowed rapidly through his meridians from his Dantian.
Wherever this energy passed, the scorching heat dissipated, transforming into waves of refreshing coolness that brought him immense comfort.
Within moments, all the energy converged and surged toward his head.
Han Li felt as if a great lock within his sea of consciousness had been effortlessly shattered by this energy. A tingling sensation, penetrating deep into his soul, erupted from his core, forcing his mouth open as a long, resonant cry burst forth!
Nearby human cultivators, who had just witnessed the vanishing of the giant ape phantom and the sudden disappearance of the oppressive aura that had restrained them, were now filled with shock and uncertainty.
They scrambled to their feet, their reactions varying wildly.
Some hesitated, still gazing toward the sea of mist in the distance, hoping to discern what had happened.
Others, sensing extreme danger, urgently called for their companions, preparing to flee.
The white-haired elder, the moment he regained movement, transformed into a streak of white light, darting straight into his cave abode to gather his clansmen for immediate departure.
But mere moments after they regained mobility, Han Li’s resounding cry rolled over them like thunder.
The roar swept across the hundreds of miles of mist, churning it into mountainous waves that surged outward in all directions.
Cultivators at the edge of the mist sea were stunned and immediately fled in panic.
Yet, as the cry reached their ears, their minds buzzed violently, as if thunderbolts had exploded inside their skulls. They screamed and plummeted from the sky.
Though some cultivators had lost their magic power, their physical bodies remained far stronger than ordinary humans. Even falling from hundreds of feet in the air only caused severe pain without fatal injury.
However, the unrelenting roar from afar was like a soul-rending demonic sound, forcing them to writhe in agony on the ground, clutching their ears in a futile attempt to lessen the torment.
But the cry seemed to directly affect their consciousness—even those who tore cloth to block their ears found no relief. The sound pierced their minds with deafening clarity, booming ceaselessly.
Within moments, it felt as if they had endured months of suffering. Many wished for death to escape the unbearable torture, feeling as though life was worse than death!
Meanwhile, the colossal waves of mist reached the edges of the sea, surging outward with terrifying momentum.
Some cultivators, barely able to turn their heads, paled at the sight.
Though the waves were merely composed of mist, their overwhelming force still struck fear into their hearts.
After all, they could no longer summon any treasures or techniques to defend themselves, and who knew what hidden power these waves might carry?
Just as the towering white waves were about to crash into the mountains, submerging the human cultivators—
The cry from the heart of the mist sea abruptly ceased. A cold snort followed, and with a series of loud *bangs*, all the mist waves exploded into nothingness, as if the terrifying spectacle had never occurred.
After what felt like an eternity, the human cultivators staggered to their feet, exchanging fearful glances. None dared to speak, silently summoning their escape lights to return to their caves.
Soon after, streaks of light shot out from the mountains, scattering in all directions.
They flew without pause, only stopping after traversing hundreds of thousands of miles. Some hesitated before descending, while others vanished entirely, never to return.
Living as neighbors to a being whose mere cry could bring them to the brink of death was simply too unnerving.
Yet, the earlier celestial phenomenon and Han Li’s display of immense power had also sparked speculation among some. While horrified, a few began to entertain other thoughts.
The white-haired elder, after settling his disciples in a small valley far away, immediately dispatched a subordinate—a burly man second only to him in cultivation—with a jade slip in hand, racing day and night toward the distant Gu Clan headquarters.
Almost simultaneously, rumors spread like wildfire: a newly ascended Body Integration cultivator now resided at Sunrise Peak.
Meanwhile, the sea of mist around the mountain returned to its usual state, thick white fog shrouding the peak in silence.
—
Three days later, in the mountain’s cavern chamber, Han Li slowly opened his eyes. His pupils gleamed with a dazzling blue light before fading back to their usual dark hue.
Though he had successfully advanced to Body Integration days prior, he had spent the intervening time meditating to stabilize his realm.
Now, having suppressed the adverse effects of his rapid advancement, he could finally turn his attention to other matters.
His gaze swept the room, and a peculiar expression flickered across his otherwise calm face.
Even without releasing his divine sense, he could clearly perceive the ambient spiritual energy drifting in the air.
Exhaling softly, he formed a hand seal and uttered a simple incantation.
A startling scene unfolded—the air hummed violently as countless translucent wind blades, each the size of a palm, materialized, filling the chamber.
“As the records state, upon reaching Body Integration, one’s perception and manipulation of spiritual energy far surpasses that of the Void Refinement stage. Without expending much magic power, one can directly shape energy into attacks.” Han Li murmured, his face alight with satisfaction.
A flick of his sleeve dispersed the wind blades into motes of light.
Closing his eyes, he meticulously examined his body and magic power post-breakthrough, ensuring no hidden flaws remained.
After a thorough inspection, his eyes snapped open, brimming with joy.
His physical resilience and magic power had surged beyond expectations. He estimated that even against a peak Body Integration expert, he now stood a strong chance of victory.
Suppressing his elation, he turned his thoughts to future plans.
As a Body Integration cultivator, he now feared no one in the human and demon races—save for the elusive Great Ascension beings. This meant he could act without restraint.
Still, he would remain here for the next few years, solidifying his foundation before venturing out.
First, he needed to confirm whether his beloved wife, Nangong Wan, had ascended to the Spirit Realm. Given that she might have used a spatial node to cross over, she could be anywhere—even in demon territory.
If no trace of her appeared in Sky Abyss City, he would have to search the entire human and demon realms.
Worse, if she remained trapped in the mortal world due to insufficient cultivation, he would have to devise a way to breach the boundary and assist her directly.
With the right elixirs and treasures, boosting her power to ascend would be trivial.
The thought of his wife stirred a tumult of emotions, leaving him lost in reverie for a long while.
With a sigh, he refocused, shifting to other matters.
Next, he needed to locate the descendant of Lady Ice Soul—the “Fairy Xu”—to fulfill his promise to the Weng Clan youth.
Then there was the matter of the materials Qing Yuanzi had requested.
Though he had gathered most, he had prioritized returning to human territory after teleporting from Thunder Continent, ensuring his safety first.
With six to seven centuries remaining before the deadline, he could afford to reach late-stage Body Integration before delivering the items and trading for the Netherworld Divine Milk.
That would be the safest course.
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