Chapter 2167: The Great Battle of the Mu Clan (6)

“Fellow Daoist Han, the decision is yours,” Crab Daoist said indifferently, appearing entirely unconcerned.

Han Li nodded slightly and pointed a finger toward the two demon corpses in the distance.

With two soft *pops*, two crimson fireballs shot out, transforming into raging flames that reduced the remains to ashes.

At the same time, his other hand made a grasping motion in the air, and a green formation disk materialized in his palm.

Muttering an incantation, Han Li prepared to activate the restrictions on the disk to teleport himself and Crab Daoist out of the space.

But just then, a deafening explosion resounded from the sky above, and the entire space began to tremble violently, as if on the verge of collapse.

Startled, Han Li wasted no time. He flung the formation disk forward, and it burst into radiant light, transforming into a hazy white array.

In a flash, he appeared at the center of the formation.

Almost simultaneously, Crab Daoist blurred and followed closely behind, stepping into the array.

Han Li casually flicked a spell seal.

The formation hummed before erupting in a blinding white light, and in an instant, both Han Li and Crab Daoist vanished without a trace.

The next moment, countless white cracks appeared in the surrounding void, and with a series of crisp shattering sounds, the entire space collapsed into nothingness.

Above an unnamed mountain at the edge of the mountain range, space rippled as a white formation array manifested. A moment later, two figures—Han Li and Crab Daoist—emerged from it.

Han Li’s expression was grim, while Crab Daoist remained composed.

“What happened? Why did the restrictions suddenly fail?” Han Li summoned the formation disk back with a wave of his hand. The light dimmed as it transformed back into the green disk, which he held close to his mouth and asked in a low voice.

“Brother Han, it’s bad news. The Sacred Tree just revealed that the third array node has been breached. Some of the Wood Realm Formation’s restrictions are now unusable, and the remaining ones are weakening,” Cao Ji’s grave voice transmitted from the disk.

“A node has already been destroyed? How is that possible? How did the demons find it so quickly? Even if they did, with the restrictions and the other fellow Daoists guarding it, how could they destroy it?” Han Li’s heart tightened, and he pressed urgently.

“Wait—I’ve just received a sword message from one of the guardians of the third node before their demise… Damn it! Six Sacred Ancestor avatars appeared together, slaughtered all the guardians, and then destroyed the node. It seems someone among the demons is also deeply familiar with the Wood Realm Formation. Those avatars went straight for the third node, which is why it was destroyed so swiftly.” After a brief pause, the voice of the Wood Tribe warrior from the disk turned furious.

“If the demons truly have someone who understands the Wood Realm Formation, then our location and the first node will likely be targeted next. The formation’s defensive restrictions may hold against ordinary demon Venerables, but they won’t last long against Sacred Ancestor avatars. We must end this battle quickly. Fellow Daoist Cao, don’t worry about conserving the formation’s energy—double the surveillance range of the restrictions and alert me immediately if anything happens. I’ll wrap things up here soon so we can focus on the next wave of enemies.” After a moment of contemplation, Han Li issued firm instructions.

“Very well. We have no choice. Rest assured, Brother Han, I’ll do my best,” Cao Ji replied after a brief hesitation, gritting his teeth in agreement.

The disk’s light dimmed, and no further sound came from it.

“So the demons have someone who knows the exact locations of the nodes. Heh, it seems this guarding mission won’t be as easy as we initially thought. Brother Crab, let’s go—we’ll deal with the current enemies first.” After a brief silence, Han Li suddenly chuckled.

He swiftly tapped the formation disk several times with a finger, causing ripples in the nearby space. A swirl of five-colored light enveloped them, and in the next instant, both Han Li and Crab Daoist vanished without a trace.

Elsewhere in the void, within another patch of five-colored radiance, Fei Xiaoxi—a Night Yaksha cultivator at the Body Integration stage—was exerting her full power, manipulating several multicolored orbs to fend off over a dozen blood flood dragons.

These flood dragons were a vivid crimson, their bodies wreathed in churning blood mist that concealed countless drops of essence blood. They snarled and lashed out with terrifying ferocity.

Hidden within the five-colored radiance of the restrictions, the Wood Tribe cultivators had already lost nearly half their number, leaving only eight or nine survivors. Yet they continued to unleash attacks with their treasures, desperately targeting the massive crimson-haired demon in the center.

However, all their assaults were effortlessly blocked by the swirling blood-colored bands around the demon’s body. With the slightest counterattack, waves of bloody energy erupted from the bands, repelling the treasures and shaking the protective radiance around the Wood Tribe cultivators.

Those who had already fallen had met their demise when the bloody energy shattered their defenses.

Meanwhile, the two ape-headed, wolf-bodied monsters had split into over a dozen shadowy clones, their claws unleashing a relentless barrage of attacks. Yet they dared not approach the massive demon too closely.

Though Fei Xiaoxi and her allies were still holding their ground, they were clearly at a disadvantage.

The crimson-haired demon, its massive arms waving wildly, was covered in flickering black runes. The blood flood dragons it controlled grew thicker and larger, their bands emitting eerie howls as the demon fought with increasing ferocity.

Fei Xiaoxi maintained a calm expression, but inwardly, she was growing anxious. She had assumed that even if the demon practiced the legendary Blood Karma Infinite Devil Arts, its original cultivation base would limit its power. At best, it might rival a Body Integration cultivator, but surely not surpass her—especially with over a dozen Void Refinement allies aiding her.

Yet the reality of the battle proved far worse than she had anticipated.

The Blood Karma Devil Arts were terrifyingly profound. The blood flood dragons were as formidable as real flood dragons, and even when she destroyed one or two, the demon could simply summon replacements from the blood mist with a wave of its hand.

When she attempted to target the demon directly, the bands around its body shifted unpredictably, deflecting all her lethal strikes.

Despite her formidable techniques and treasures, Fei Xiaoxi found herself locked in a battle of attrition, relying on the formation’s support to match the demon’s energy.

As time passed, the situation grew increasingly dire.

Just as she was considering calling Cao Ji for reinforcements, a thunderous roar erupted from the five-colored radiance beside her. Two figures materialized within the restrictions—Han Li and Crab Daoist!

Fei Xiaoxi was stunned.

“Interesting. So the four Void Refinement demons were indeed one entity in disguise. For a newly ascended Body Integration cultivator to hold the upper hand against a higher-stage opponent—this devil art is truly extraordinary,” Han Li remarked, his expression shifting slightly as he studied the massive demon.

“Brother Han, why are you here? Have you already dealt with your opponents?” Fei Xiaoxi exhaled deeply, her expression complex.

“The other demon Venerables have been eliminated. But Fellow Daoist Fei’s adversary seems quite troublesome. Allow me to assist you.” Without waiting for her reply, Han Li formed a single-handed seal. His body erupted in golden light, swelling rapidly until he transformed into a towering golden-furred ape over a hundred zhang tall.

The moment the ape appeared, its massive furry hands reached out, and two swirling orbs—one azure, one black—materialized in its palms. With a flash, they solidified into two miniature mountains, each over a dozen zhang tall.

With a thunderous roar, the ape channeled its full power. Golden light seeped from its pores, and its arms thickened as it swung the two mountains with terrifying force, hurling them toward the crimson-haired demon.

A piercing shriek tore through the sky as the mountains blurred into streaks of black and azure light before vanishing.

The crimson-haired demon had panicked the moment Han Li and Crab Daoist appeared, already plotting an escape. But before it could act, it witnessed Han Li’s transformation and attack.

“Damn it!” the demon cursed inwardly, attempting to disengage from Fei Xiaoxi.

But it was too late.

As blood light flared around its body, an explosive boom echoed in its ears. The sky darkened slightly before two mountains reappeared from the void, hurtling toward it like a tempest.

The demon’s face twisted in fury. With no time to recall its blood flood dragons, it roared and summoned the swirling bands before it. The bands condensed into a massive blood-colored shield, several zhang tall and a foot thick.

Two earth-shaking impacts struck in rapid succession.

Though the shield was formidable, it was no match for the mountains infused with the Mountain Giant Ape’s divine strength.

The first strike caused countless hairline cracks to spiderweb across the shield.

The second strike, crashing into the first, combined their forces and shattered the shield instantly.

With nothing left to stop them, the two mountains bore down on the crimson-haired demon.

“Fight to the death!”

Realizing the dire threat, the demon paled and bellowed. Black runes surged along its arms, forming a pair of dark gauntlets. It threw a furious barrage of punches at the oncoming mountains.

Simultaneously, its body swelled, and countless blood threads erupted from its fur, amplifying its aura nearly twofold.

Clearly, the demon had activated a forbidden technique, burning its vitality for one desperate strike.