The man appeared to be in his forties, with a dignified and imposing square face, holding a thick white jade book in one hand, his expression composed. It was none other than the Azure Dragon Venerable, who had once fought alongside Han Li against the demonic army.
“Senior should be well aware that using forceful methods rather than my voluntary cooperation will not yield what you desire. Moreover, does Senior not consider the opinions of the other esteemed figures in the city?” Frost Li stared at the Azure Dragon Venerable and spoke slowly.
“Had you said this a few days ago, I might have indeed hesitated. But now, I have mastered a new divine ability that will ensure your willing cooperation. As for the other fellow Daoists in Sky Abyss City, you need not hold out hope. Yesterday, I officially joined the city as one of its elders. Do you think they would weigh the importance of a deceased cultivator over me?” At this point, the Azure Dragon Venerable no longer bothered with pretense and spoke coldly.
Frost Li’s expression changed, and she let out a soft sigh before suddenly raising a jade-like wrist and swiftly slashing it through the air before her.
A flash of white light followed, and a hazy spatial rift appeared.
Her figure blurred as she transformed into a shadowy silhouette and instantly vanished into the rift.
Frost Li’s actions were as swift as lightning, leaving Xiao Hong and the others nearby momentarily stunned.
By the time they reacted in fury, the white spatial rift flickered and mysteriously sealed itself shut.
The Azure Dragon Venerable, however, remained unfazed. He merely flicked the jade book in his hand toward the void.
A silver flash erupted as a silver ancient character shot out from the book, expanding to the size of a human head before striking the spot where the spatial rift had vanished.
With a thunderous boom, the void twisted and distorted like water, then shattered into fragments.
A muffled groan sounded as Frost Li stumbled out of the void, staggering back several steps before barely steadying herself. She raised her head once more, her expression still icy but her face now visibly pale.
“Hmph, if you could escape from me, I’d willingly reverse my name. Now, will you submit and let these fellow Daoists seal your magic power, or shall I do it myself?” The Azure Dragon Venerable swept a glance at Frost Li and spoke arrogantly.
Xiao Hong and the others instantly surrounded her from all sides, sealing off any escape.
Frost Li stood motionless, but her heart sank like a stone.
“Oh? I wonder how the Azure Dragon Daoist’s name would sound reversed. Why not demonstrate it for me, Han Li?”
Just as Xiao Hong was about to step forward, a cold male voice suddenly echoed through the hall!
Her face instantly drained of color.
At the same time, a deafening explosion resounded.
The grand doors, sealed with layers of restrictive spells and glowing faintly with spiritual light, suddenly burst inward from the outside!
As the doors shattered, a violent surge of energy flooded in.
Two mid-stage Void Refinement cultivators standing in the path of this terrifying force were sent flying as if struck by a colossal beast, their bodies crashing heavily against the opposite wall.
The wall itself had been reinforced with restrictions, making it as hard as steel.
These two human cultivators were not body-refinement practitioners, and with their heads bloodied, they collapsed without even a groan.
The impact had even knocked their Nascent Souls unconscious.
The others trembled in fear, darting away from the door like startled rabbits.
The Azure Dragon Venerable’s face also darkened upon hearing the voice.
Frost Li, however, was overcome with shock and joy. She swiftly turned, her beautiful eyes fixed on the doorway.
The terrifying aura outside receded as a young man in a green robe calmly strode in.
It was none other than Han Li!
“Brother Han, you’ve finally returned.” Despite her usual icy demeanor, Frost Li could not conceal her excitement, her cheeks flushing as she spoke.
“Indeed. Though I encountered some trouble, I managed to escape unscathed.” Han Li’s gaze swept over her face, and a faint smile curled his lips.
“Brother Han, to have escaped from a Demon Saint—truly a cause for celebration! Fellow Daoists and I must host a banquet to welcome you back and ease your shock.” The Azure Dragon Venerable, after all, was a mid-stage Body Integration cultivator. Though momentarily flustered, he quickly regained his composure and forced a smile.
Han Li ignored him entirely. Instead, his eyes narrowed, sweeping over Xiao Hong and the others like sharp blades. Without a trace of emotion, he uttered two words: “Very good.”
Apart from the two unconscious cultivators, the remaining Void Refinement-stage figures, including Xiao Hong, turned deathly pale.
Even those who had never met Han Li now knew exactly who stood before them—their terror was indescribable.
The main reason they had been swayed by the Azure Dragon Venerable was his assurance that Han Li had perished. Otherwise, they would never have dared involve themselves in such matters.
Now, not only was Han Li alive, but he had caught them red-handed, leaving no room for excuses. Their fate was sealed.
“Senior Han, congratulations on your return! My master—”
A burly man with a rough appearance clasped his fists and began to speak, but Han Li’s expression darkened. Without a word, he flicked his sleeve.
A thunderous impact sent the man flying, crashing into the wall before vomiting a mouthful of blood and collapsing.
The others gasped in shock—his chest armor, seemingly intact moments ago, suddenly shattered into fragments.
Han Li’s casual strike had not only severely injured the man but also destroyed his treasured armor.
This sight extinguished any remaining hope in the others. They shuddered, unable to utter a single word of protest.
The Azure Dragon Venerable’s face twitched, but recalling how Han Li had once fought multiple Body Integration cultivators alone, he found no courage to retaliate. Instead, he forced a hollow laugh.
“Brother Han, there’s no need for such fury. The man you just injured is Elder Gu’s beloved disciple. If you act so harshly, how will you explain yourself to Elder Gu?”
“Explain? What explanation? If Elder Gu has any complaints, he can seek me out directly. As for you—shouldn’t you be the one giving me an explanation?” Han Li sneered before turning his gaze sharply onto the Azure Dragon Venerable.
“Cough… This situation was not my intention. I believed you had perished, hence my pursuit of Frost Li. Now that you’ve returned, I shall personally visit to apologize.” The Azure Dragon Venerable feigned magnanimity, avoiding confrontation.
“An apology? I wouldn’t dare accept it! I risked my life to aid you at Yi Tian City, yet within days of my absence, you dared to act like this. If I do not respond, how can I face the city?” Han Li’s voice dripped with menace as he glared at the Azure Dragon Venerable.
“Enough! What do you intend to do—fight me here and now?” The Azure Dragon Venerable’s patience wore thin, his tone turning aggressive.
“Since you’ve suggested it, I’ll oblige. If you dare to bully your way into my home, you must be confident in your abilities. Let’s see if you can back it up.” Han Li chuckled darkly, accepting the challenge without hesitation.
The Azure Dragon Venerable’s face twisted in fury.
Han Li wasted no more words. With a flick of his sleeves, a chorus of clear chimes rang out as countless emerald-green swords surged forth.
Simultaneously, golden light erupted from his body, unleashing an even more terrifying spiritual pressure that crashed toward the Azure Dragon Venerable.
Cornered, the Azure Dragon Venerable could no longer suppress his rage. With a livid expression, he raised his jade book, unfurling it to reveal swirling multicolored light and countless hovering runes.
Xiao Hong and the others, witnessing two Body Integration cultivators about to clash, were petrified. Yet, with the earlier examples fresh in their minds, they dared not flee. They could only retreat to the edges of the hall, praying for survival.
Han Li ignored them entirely, his gaze locked onto the Azure Dragon Venerable as he prepared to unleash his sword arts.
At that critical moment, a white streak of light shot into the hall, coiling like a divine dragon before landing between the two.
As the light faded, an elderly monk in golden kasaya emerged, his wrinkled face beaming with a kindly smile.
“Fellow Daoists, do you truly intend to destroy Elder Bai’s residence? For this old monk’s sake, cease hostilities and allow me to mediate.”
It was none other than the Golden Moon Zen Master!
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