Chapter 1992: Late Stage of Body Unification (III)

The figure seated cross-legged on the ground was none other than Han Li, who had been in seclusion for a long time without venturing outside.

At this moment, his eyes were tightly shut, and he remained motionless in his seated position. However, his expression suggested that his condition was far from ideal.

Around him, eerie points of light swirled and danced, sometimes gathering and dispersing, at times transforming into ferocious beasts or malevolent spirits, and at other times coalescing into the illusory forms of men, women, the elderly, and the young. Regardless of their appearance, once these phantoms took shape, they all lunged viciously toward Han Li. Yet, they were effortlessly repelled by the terrifying power emanating from treasures like the Extreme Mountain and the Azure Lotus.

These demonic entities could only buzz angrily outside the protective barrier of the treasures. However, as they were repelled time and again, their eerie cries grew increasingly shrill, as if they were gradually descending into madness.

Yet, Han Li did not even lift an eyelid, appearing completely indifferent to these disturbances. Beads of sweat rolled down his temples, indicating that he was under even greater strain than before.

The reality of the situation was indeed dire!

Within a mysterious space in his sea of consciousness, a green-robed incarnation of his primordial spirit was locked in a critical battle with another figure.

His opponent wore a pitch-black robe and wielded seventy-two dark, shadowy flying swords. His face was identical to Han Li’s, but this black-robed “Han Li” had blood-red glints in his eyes, his brow shrouded in thick black mist, and his face twisted into a sinister grin. Every movement he made radiated overwhelming demonic energy, as if a true fiend had descended upon the world.

Han Li formed hand seals with both hands—one controlling seventy-two small azure swords, the other unleashing continuous golden lightning snakes. However, the black-robed “Han Li” effortlessly countered by transforming his black flying swords into blooming black lotus flowers. With a flick of his sleeve, black lightning bolts, even thicker than the golden arcs, shot forth and viciously struck at Han Li.

Han Li’s expression darkened. Thunder roared across his body as hundreds of golden arcs erupted, shattering the black lightning.

“Hehe, it’s useless, boy. This catalyzed inner demon is nothing more than a replica of your true self. No—with the enhancement of my demonic nature, it’s actually three times stronger than your original body. After such a prolonged battle, you should already understand this.” A sweet, youthful female voice suddenly echoed through the void.

“Hmph, even if this inner demon is slightly stronger than me, the idea that it can defeat me and devour my mind is pure delusion. If I hadn’t been careless and allowed you, this demon, to invade my sea of consciousness, my mental state would never have given rise to an inner demon, let alone allowed it to turn against me.” Han Li’s face darkened further. With a single hand, he pointed toward his opponent, and a silver ruler abruptly materialized, transforming into countless ruler shadows that slashed forward. Only then did he reply coldly.

“Indeed, your divine abilities far exceed my expectations. It’s unlikely that this mere counterfeit inner demon can scatter your primordial spirit. But don’t forget—you’re still undergoing the late-stage Heavenly Tribulation. Even if I don’t know what countermeasures you’ve prepared, with most of your primordial spirit and magic power restrained, I doubt you’ll survive unscathed. If you don’t wish to perish body and soul, hand over that demonic armor to me. Once you do, I’ll immediately withdraw from your sea of consciousness and ensure you smoothly advance to the late-stage Body Integration realm.” The woman’s voice dripped with temptation.

The owner of this voice was none other than the extraterrestrial demon whose cross-border demonic thought Han Li had shattered back in Cloud City.

Through some unknown method, it had seized the critical moment of Han Li’s tribulation to invade his consciousness and catalyze a demonized inner demon to devour his primordial spirit.

Had Han Li not been vigilant and possessed a far more solidified divine sense than ordinary cultivators, the demon might have succeeded in its initial ambush.

“If extraterrestrial demons could be trusted, the sun would rise from the west. The moment I show any sign of weakness, this inner demon would seize the opportunity to swallow my primordial spirit. I’ve long heard that extraterrestrial demons excel at manipulating minds and killing without a trace. Now I see it’s true.” Han Li remained expressionless, utterly unmoved.

“Giggle, you’re quite sharp. In that case, I’ll simply wait for you to perish on your own. When your primordial spirit and body turn to ashes under the Heavenly Tribulation, the demonic armor will still fall into my hands.” The extraterrestrial demon’s voice suddenly turned hoarse and distorted, as if it had transformed into a man.

With a flick of its sleeve, the inner demon summoned a black ruler wreathed in demonic energy, which likewise transformed into countless black ruler shadows, blocking all of Han Li’s attacks.

Seeing this, Han Li’s expression grew even grimmer. He had already sensed the information transmitted by the other portion of his primordial spirit.

Outside, the Heavenly Tribulation seemed to be reaching a critical juncture. With the limited magic power and divine sense he had left, it was unlikely he could withstand the next wave of tribulation power. He had to eliminate this inner demon immediately to focus entirely on overcoming the tribulation.

With this thought, Han Li let out a low roar and formed a hand seal. Golden light flashed across his body as he suddenly expanded a hundredfold, transforming into a golden-furred giant ape the size of a mountain.

“Techniques and treasures you can mimic, but I refuse to believe you can replicate this transformation art. Take this first!” The giant ape’s voice boomed as it swung its massive fists toward the inner demon.

Before the fists even landed, two waves of golden light, imbued with immense force, surged forth, as if intending to crush the inner demon into paste.

The black-robed inner demon, however, flashed a strange smile. Black light shimmered across its arms as layers of black scales emerged. It raised its hands and clawed upward.

“Whoosh!” The sound of tearing air erupted as countless black claw streaks formed a massive net above the inner demon’s head. The golden waves struck the net but were deflected, failing to break through.

Yet when the two colossal fists followed, the net shattered inch by inch.

In that brief moment, the inner demon grabbed with both hands, and the seventy-two black swords vanished into its body. With a strange cry, black energy surged from its form. Two thick black horns sprouted from its head, and its body expanded rapidly, transforming into a colossal, bull-headed, human-bodied demon clad in black scales. Its size now rivaled the golden ape’s, and it fearlessly reached out with its own massive hands to meet the ape’s fists.

“Boom!” A series of deafening collisions sent the golden ape stumbling back several steps, while the demon was smashed into the ground, creating a massive crater.

From this exchange, Han Li realized that while the demon’s physical strength after transformation still fell short of his Mountain Giant Ape form, the difference was negligible.

Even if he could win in this state, it would take far too much time—time he didn’t have.

Desperate, Han Li’s thoughts raced before he gritted his teeth and made a decision.

Though the next technique would consume a vast amount of spiritual power, severely hampering his ability to deal with the Heavenly Tribulation afterward, he had no choice.

As soon as he steadied himself, he threw back his head and let out a long roar. A golden dharma form with three heads and six arms materialized behind him.

The dharma form’s six closed eyes snapped open, and it lunged forward, merging with the giant ape.

Golden light rippled across the ape’s body as two additional furry heads and four more arms sprouted from its shoulders.

The golden ape had now assumed a three-headed, six-armed form. With all six hands forming seals, its body expanded several times over, towering over the land, its head nearly scraping the sky.

At the same time, the ape took a deep breath. Golden light flashed across its six palms as radiant golden spheres materialized, spinning rapidly.

In the next instant, the golden light blazed like the sun, blurring before transforming into six golden halos that rapidly expanded outward.

Within a single breath, the six halos merged into one, forming a colossal golden ring hundreds of feet in diameter.

The ape’s three heads chanted in unison, their voices overlapping in a complex incantation.

Countless golden runes emerged within the halo, spinning swiftly.

A massive golden vortex formed in the void, lifted high by the six giant hands.

As the golden runes shimmered, an irresistible suction force erupted from the vortex’s center.

The bull-headed demon, caught in this force, staggered uncontrollably toward the vortex.

With a furious roar, the demon’s face twisted in panic for the first time.

Though it was a replica of Han Li’s true self, due to the nature of his True Spirit bloodline, the transformations of the Awakening Moon Art were the one ability it couldn’t mimic. Thus, when faced with Han Li’s dual transformation combining the Awakening Moon Art and the Sacred Devil Arts, it was utterly unprepared.

In desperation, the demon unleashed all its treasures—seventy-two black swords, two Extreme Mountains, the black ruler—sending them hurtling toward the vortex. Yet, it was futile.

The moment these treasures neared the vortex, they were ensnared by golden rune-laden light and forcibly sucked in, vanishing without a trace amid chaotic rumbling.

By now, the demon had been dragged within thirty to forty feet of the vortex’s center. A crimson trident appeared in its hands, and it stabbed it into the ground, embedding it nearly ten feet deep.

The demon’s movement halted momentarily, and its face lit up with relief.

But at that moment, the golden ape’s six arms moved in unison as it uttered a low chant. The golden vortex descended like a mountain.

With a final scream, the inner demon was engulfed by the golden light, vanishing without a trace.