Han Li’s Mountain Giant Ape transformation had long surpassed its capabilities during the Battle of Yitian, as his cultivation had advanced further.
Though the transformed ape’s strength still couldn’t rival that of a true Mountain Giant Ape, it possessed about thirty to forty percent of its power. Combined with the overwhelming force of the two Extreme Mountains, it was naturally not something a mere half-dragonized Venerable Azure Dragon could withstand.
Thus, the moment Venerable Azure Dragon attempted to block, the hidden divine power within the two Extreme Mountains sent him flying backward.
Had he not swiftly retracted his hands and spat out a peculiar treasure to save himself, not only would all ten of his fingers have shattered, but both arms would have been mercilessly severed.
Even so, his internal true essence reversed, and his meridians burned with excruciating pain, leaving him temporarily unable to mobilize most of his magic power.
Meanwhile, the giant ape’s eyes flashed with ferocity as it took a massive step forward. Its body blurred, shrinking back to human size in an instant. With that single step, it somehow traversed over a hundred zhang, appearing just a few zhang away from Venerable Azure Dragon.
“Third strike!”
Han Li’s icy voice suddenly rang out from the ape’s mouth as one of its arms blurred, launching a punch toward its opponent.
Venerable Azure Dragon paled in horror. Without time to think, he formed a hand seal with one hand, preparing to evade.
But at that moment, a bone-chilling snort echoed in his ears like thunder!
His mind felt as if pierced by a sharp awl, and with a muffled groan, even the last remnants of his magic power slipped beyond his control.
Meanwhile, an overwhelming murderous aura erupted from the giant ape as a massive golden fist surged toward Venerable Azure Dragon’s head like a hurricane.
Even before the fist connected, the sheer pressure alone nearly suffocated him. Given the monstrous strength of Han Li’s transformed ape, if that punch landed, even with his semi-dragonized body, Venerable Azure Dragon’s skull would shatter instantly.
Panic surged in Venerable Azure Dragon’s heart, but his body remained unresponsive. Fear twisted his expression.
Yet, as a Body Integration cultivator, he naturally had a few life-saving measures.
A flash of white light—a crystalline shield shot out from his body, blocking the path. Simultaneously, the scales covering his body contracted, instantly transforming into a hazy green battle armor that encased him entirely.
Against an ordinary Body Integration cultivator’s attack, these two layers of defense would have been more than sufficient.
But under the golden fist of the giant ape, they proved as fragile as paper.
A golden flash—the crystalline shield shattered into pieces with a deafening crash!
The golden fist blurred, landing squarely on the green armor.
The armor emitted a resonant hum as a phantom Azure Dragon emerged, claws outstretched, lunging toward the golden fist.
Yet, at that moment, the golden fist vanished, replaced by a swirling golden vortex about a foot wide.
With a single rotation, an unimaginable tearing force erupted. The phantom Azure Dragon barely touched it before being shredded into nothingness.
The instant the phantom vanished, the armor also disintegrated with a hum.
The golden vortex flickered, reforming into a massive fist that shot toward Venerable Azure Dragon’s head once more.
This time, the punch was silent, but the killing intent it carried was palpable even to the cultivators outside the barrier.
Under the shadow of the fist, Venerable Azure Dragon’s face twisted, his complexion deathly pale.
“Fellow Daoist Han, no!”
“Brother Han, stop!”
The onlookers outside the stone platform cried out in alarm, shouting almost simultaneously.
The next moment—BOOM!
The golden fist veered at the last second, grazing past Venerable Azure Dragon’s ear and striking the empty space on the platform.
Unnoticed by anyone, a hair-thin object shot from the golden fist, vanishing into Venerable Azure Dragon’s ear in an instant.
The entire platform trembled as the restrictive runes flared violently. A crater several zhang deep appeared where the fist had landed.
Venerable Azure Dragon, his face drained of color, stared blankly at the giant ape as it slowly retracted its fist, unable to speak for a long moment.
Seeing this, Golden Zen Master and the others outside the barrier finally exhaled in relief.
A golden flash—Han Li reverted to human form, his killing intent undisguised as he spoke coldly:
“I don’t care how you entered Skydeep City or what position you hold now. Within three days, I don’t want to see you here again. If you refuse to leave, prepare for death.”
With that, Han Li’s body shimmered with azure light as he transformed into a streak of green light, reappearing beside Ice Phoenix.
Golden Zen Master opened his mouth to speak, but Han Li clasped his hands first and said flatly,
“Fellow Daoists, my business here is concluded. Having just returned to the city, I have matters to attend to. I take my leave.”
With a flick of his sleeve, a burst of azure mist enveloped him and Ice Phoenix, and in the next moment, they stood atop the teleportation array.
With a resonant hum, the two vanished.
Han Li’s actions were swift, leaving Golden Zen Master and Elder Gu no chance to intervene.
By the time the two recovered, Han Li and Ice Phoenix had already departed.
“Fellow Daoist Han gave us no chance to persuade him. It seems his words were no jest,” Elder Gu muttered after a long pause, shaking his head wryly.
“Fellow Daoist Han’s actions are excessive. Regardless, Venerable Azure Dragon is now a city elder. How can we expel him on a single word? Fellow Daoist Azure Dragon, rest assured—I will gather the others to intercede on your behalf. We can surely change his mind,” Golden Zen Master said, shaking his head before turning to console the still-stunned Venerable Azure Dragon.
“No need. Since I was bested by Fellow Daoist Han, I have no face to remain in the city even if he hadn’t demanded it. I will depart Skydeep City tomorrow and renounce my position as an elder. Fortunately, few know of my affiliation, so my departure will cause no harm.”
Venerable Azure Dragon took a deep breath, his face still pale. With a flash of light, he vanished from the platform, reappearing atop the teleportation array before disappearing in another flash.
Golden Zen Master and Elder Gu exchanged glances, speechless.
“It seems Fellow Daoist Azure Dragon was deeply shaken. He feels he can no longer stay,” Elder Gu murmured.
“Naturally. Having clashed with Fellow Daoist Han and realizing the gap in their power, even I would choose to leave,” Golden Zen Master sighed.
“Are we truly to let a mid-Body Integration cultivator depart? This is a great loss to the council. Fellow Daoist Han, though far stronger, has no intention of joining us,” Elder Gu said hesitantly.
“Let us consult the others and see if there’s a way to salvage this. That said, with the demon army at our gates, Fellow Daoist Han’s aid is far more crucial. Moreover, Venerable Azure Dragon now fears him—it may be impossible to stop this.”
“Regardless, we must try. I will summon the others at once.”
Elder Gu flicked his sleeve, producing a stack of message talismans.
Golden Zen Master nodded, lost in thought.
Meanwhile, Han Li and Ice Phoenix soared toward his residence on a streak of azure light.
Han Li stood at the forefront, hands clasped behind his back, silent.
Ice Phoenix followed, her expression complex, equally wordless.
Hours later, they arrived at the highest hall of Han Li’s residence.
Hai Dayue and Qi Lingzi, who had been waiting impatiently, rushed forward in relief.
“Master! Aunt Feng! Did everything go smoothly?” Hai Dayue asked eagerly.
“What trouble could there be? Your Aunt Feng is safe. You may rest now—I have matters to discuss with her.”
The two disciples bowed and withdrew.
Once alone, Han Li gestured for Ice Phoenix to sit.
“Fellow Daoist Feng, you must have been greatly alarmed. I never imagined Venerable Azure Dragon would act so brazenly.”
Ice Phoenix sighed. “Under normal circumstances, he might have restrained himself. But with the demon army approaching, he seized any chance to advance his cultivation. Had he not feared your reputation, he would have acted sooner.”
Han Li nodded, unsurprised.
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