These three Gold Devouring Beetles were the final survivors after tens of thousands of mature Gold Devouring Beetles and twelve candidate Beetle Kings devoured each other.
Back then, under the threat of the heavenly tribulation’s true lightning, Han Li had urgently summoned all the Gold Devouring Beetles that had been soaking in the Spirit Cleansing Pool’s water and consuming vast amounts of spiritual materials, causing them to fall into a deep slumber for evolution.
Unexpectedly, after enduring the strikes of the true lightning and absorbing some of its power, these beetles and the dozen or so candidate Beetle Kings began attacking and devouring each other.
This turn of events both shocked and delighted Han Li!
By the time he successfully weathered the heavenly tribulation and advanced to the Mahayana stage, the entire swarm had been reduced to just these three candidate Beetle Kings—or, more accurately, “Half-Step Beetle Kings.”
These three Half-Step Beetle Kings had not only grown several times larger than before, but their forms had also become extraordinarily ferocious, with deep purple markings on their backs faintly resembling lightning bolts, striking fear into anyone who saw them.
Moreover, the aura of these three Half-Step Beetle Kings was now incomparable to their previous state, nearly matching that of a late-stage Body Integration cultivator.
Coupled with their indestructible bodies and terrifying ability to devour anything, their true power was unimaginable!
Unfortunately, after reaching this stage of evolution, the three Half-Step Beetle Kings suddenly ceased their mutual devouring, leaving none to become the ultimate victor.
Otherwise, the legendary Gold Devouring Beetle King—a creature even True Immortals would flee from, as mentioned by Qing Yuanzi—might have truly emerged into the world.
Han Li carefully examined the three Half-Step Beetle Kings, his eyes flickering slightly before he silently activated his spiritual sense.
The three golden giant beetles trembled their wings and instantly transformed into streaks of golden light, darting through the chamber with a series of sharp whistles.
In an instant, the air above the chamber was filled with golden flashes, appearing and disappearing in every corner like phantoms.
Wherever his spiritual sense directed them, the three beetles moved as if they were extensions of his own limbs, without the slightest hesitation or resistance.
Satisfied, Han Li relaxed and formed a single-handed seal.
With a resonant hum, the three giant golden beetles rapidly shrank in size before vanishing into his sleeve.
With these three Half-Step Gold Devouring Beetle Kings, Han Li had essentially gained three powerful late-stage Body Integration allies—an enormous windfall.
His joy slightly subdued, Han Li pondered for a moment before sitting cross-legged on the ground. His lips moved silently, as if sending a message to someone, yet no sound emerged.
Moments later, a ripple appeared before him, followed by a silver arc of lightning, from which a figure silently materialized.
“Fellow Daoist Han, were you looking for me?” the figure said calmly.
It was none other than Crab Daoist.
“Brother Crab, please take a seat. Now that we’re alone, I believe we can resume our earlier conversation. Just to be thorough, I’d like you to repeat what you said before,” Han Li said with a faint smile, gesturing for Crab Daoist to sit.
“Very well. My earlier words were simple: you now meet the conditions to become my true master. If you can accomplish a few more tasks, I will serve you and obey your commands henceforth,” Crab Daoist replied indifferently.
“Who set these conditions? Surely it wasn’t your own sudden inspiration?” Han Li asked cautiously.
“Of course not. These were established by my former master. Only when someone meets the basic requirements will I speak these words,” Crab Daoist answered without hesitation.
“Your former master was a True Immortal-level existence. Since he set these conditions, there must be profound meaning behind them, and they cannot be false. Brother Crab, why not first tell me the remaining requirements, so I can assess whether I’m truly capable of fulfilling them?” Han Li replied after a long pause, his words measured.
“Very well. Here is a list of items. Gather them first,” Crab Daoist said, nodding before flicking a blue jade slip toward Han Li.
Han Li caught the slip with a single hand and frowned slightly. “Is this the only task?”
“Of course not. But if you cannot even accomplish this, there’s no need to know the rest,” Crab Daoist stated frankly.
“That makes sense,” Han Li conceded, pressing the jade slip to his forehead as his spiritual sense swept through its contents.
After a moment, he withdrew his spiritual sense and lowered the slip, his brow furrowed as he glanced at it once more before addressing Crab Daoist.
“The items listed here are indeed rare. Aside from time, gathering them will likely require considerable luck. If my fortune is poor, I may never complete the collection in this lifetime. Are you certain every single item is indispensable?”
“Not a single one can be missing—not even the slightest discrepancy in quantity. Otherwise, the condition remains unfulfilled,” Crab Daoist replied without hesitation.
“Very well. It seems earning your true service is no easy task. I can only promise to do my best,” Han Li said after a long moment of contemplation, his expression shifting before he finally made up his mind.
“Good. I hope you succeed. If there’s nothing else, I shall take my leave,” Crab Daoist said with a nod, his face expressionless as his body flickered and vanished into a streak of lightning.
Han Li stared at the empty space where Crab Daoist had stood, a strange glint in his eyes.
His earlier judgment seemed correct—Crab Daoist had indeed become far more sentient after his advancement to Mahayana. It appeared this pseudo-immortal puppet held secrets yet unknown.
After turning these thoughts over in his mind several times, Han Li silently stored the jade slip in his storage bracelet, placed his hands on his knees, and closed his eyes.
Having finally settled all outstanding matters, he could now focus on consolidating his newly attained realm.
Thus, Han Li remained secluded in his chamber as time outside flew by. A month passed in the blink of an eye.
On this day, Han Li, who had been sitting in meditation, suddenly opened his eyes—two piercing blue suns flashing within them before vanishing. He then slapped the top of his head with one hand.
With a *pop*, his fontanel split open, and a golden light surged forth. A figure several inches tall flickered into existence above him.
Clad in a green robe, the miniature figure bore Han Li’s exact likeness—as if he had been shrunk over tenfold. A small azure sword was strapped to its back, while three thumb-sized golden beetles clung to its shoulders and chest like eerie golden pendants.
The tiny figure lowered its head to examine itself before revealing a hint of joy.
Meanwhile, Han Li’s original body, which had remained motionless, suddenly stirred. His fontanel sealed shut with another golden flash, and he rose to his feet, bowing slightly toward the green-robed figure in the air.
Simultaneously, a green silhouette resembling Han Li emerged beside his body—Qu’er’s spirit puppet, which immediately stood at attention.
“Guard my body well. I wish to test the Soul Roaming technique now that my Nascent Soul has fully solidified. I shall return shortly,” the green figure declared in Han Li’s voice, its tone grave.
With a whoosh, the figure vanished into thin air.
Below, Han Li’s body and the green spirit puppet exchanged glances before silently sitting down in meditation.
Meanwhile, Han Li’s Mahayana-stage Nascent Soul reappeared tens of thousands of feet in the air. Glancing down, the white clouds below were barely visible. Raising its head, it faced a roaring white tempest—its green robes fluttering wildly as the gale’s force stung like blades against its skin.
Yet the tiny figure laughed instead of recoiling, murmuring to itself:
“The Celestial Winds beyond the heavens live up to their reputation. Had my Nascent Soul reached this height before, it would have been shredded to pieces in moments. Now, though uncomfortable, I no longer fear these winds.”
As it spoke, the figure formed a seal with one hand, its body blurring before transforming into a streak of golden light that plunged into the tempest. It darted through the winds at an incredible speed, ascending ever higher.
As it climbed, the surrounding gales grew increasingly violent. Amid the howling winds, razor-sharp blades of wind materialized, slicing pitch-black spatial rifts around the figure.
The green figure’s pupils contracted slightly, but after a brief hesitation, it pressed onward without evasion.
A wind blade flashed past its body, leaving a hair-thin spatial rift in its wake. The figure blurred as if about to be sucked into the rift—but with a twist of its body, it effortlessly broke free and continued forward unscathed.
Even spatial rifts, lethal to Body Integration cultivators, could not harm it.
After ascending another ten thousand feet like a shooting star, a deep, indescribable roar suddenly echoed from above, followed by a bizarre ripple of energy.
The surrounding winds trembled and shattered as the void above tore open, revealing a colossal entity that peered down at the green figure with eyes as large as pavilions.
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