The Huaxi Fairy suddenly twisted her delicate body, as if she had anticipated the move, and turned around in a flash. A palm wrapped in crystalline sand shot forward like lightning.
With a loud “bang,” their palms collided.
After the explosion of golden flames and crystalline sand, both figures were simultaneously jolted backward, retreating several steps.
“I knew you’d pull this trick, you old ghost. Seems you haven’t had enough suffering yet. I’ll make sure you—” The Huaxi Fairy’s once-charming face twisted into a grimace of fury, but before she could finish her words, her expression abruptly shifted to one of sheer terror. Her body trembled violently as a withered, greenish hand burst from her chest, clutching a tiny, struggling figure that bore her exact likeness but was contorted in agony.
The Wugou Patriarch blurred momentarily before appearing ghost-like in front of the Huaxi Fairy’s Nascent Soul, staring coldly at her without a word.
At the same time, a faint, almost imperceptible green shadow flickered into existence behind the woman.
Almost simultaneously, the golden fire-being that had been relentlessly attacking the Extreme Mountain in the sea of flames vanished with a soft “poof.”
With no resistance left, the Extreme Mountain descended with crushing force, obliterating the entire sea of flames in a deafening roar.
“You actually mastered the Substitute Spirit Technique! Otherwise, I would never have ended up like this. But don’t gloat—husband and wife share the same fate. If I’m doomed to perish here, you won’t survive either. Don’t forget the Life-Linked Restriction you placed on me!” The Huaxi Fairy’s Nascent Soul struggled desperately for a moment before realizing escape was impossible. She ceased all resistance, her voice dripping with venom as she spat at the Wugou Patriarch.
“Is that so? If that’s what you think, then go in peace. I cracked your restriction years ago. The only reason I endured until now was for the item hidden in your sleeve,” the Wugou Patriarch replied tonelessly, though a strange glint flickered in his eyes.
“That’s impossible! Ah—”
The Huaxi Fairy’s Nascent Soul screamed in disbelief, but before she could utter another word, the green figure transformed into a golden fire-being with a “poof,” engulfing both her Nascent Soul and her body in an instant, reducing them to ashes.
The Wugou Patriarch’s pupils contracted slightly, but his expression remained impassive as he reached out and made a grasping motion in the air.
A black, ink-like formation disk shot out from the golden flames, landing squarely in his palm.
After scrutinizing the disk for a moment, the Wugou Patriarch blew on it lightly.
A muffled thud echoed as the disk rapidly disintegrated before his eyes, dissolving into a dense black smoke that hovered in place.
With a deep inhale, the Wugou Patriarch absorbed the smoke into his body. After a brief internal check, a look of relief flashed across his eyes.
Meanwhile, the golden flames condensed once more, reforming into a hazy green figure standing motionless.
With a final “bang,” the sand shield melted completely into liquid, but the silver flames that should have surged forward instead froze unnaturally in place, as did the enormous firebird, its wings folding mid-air.
The Wugou Patriarch’s gaze flickered toward the colossal golden ape not far away.
Han Li, in his transformed state, met the Wugou Patriarch’s gaze with an inscrutable expression before rumbling, “Though I don’t know the details of your marital strife, I can guess the gist. Now that you’re alone, do you still intend to fight?”
“Of course not. In my current state, the Tian Ding True Person’s techniques hold little value for me. Besides, you’ve yet to reveal even half your strength. I have no intention of provoking you further. I’ll take my leave now.” The Wugou Patriarch replied coolly. The green figure beside him merged into his body, vanishing without a trace. With a flick of his sleeve, a radiant light enveloped him, and he shot into the sky like a streak of light, disappearing into the horizon after a few flashes.
Han Li was slightly surprised by the Wugou Patriarch’s abrupt departure but made no move to stop him.
Meanwhile, an earth-shaking explosion erupted in the distance.
Han Li turned to see the blood-colored mist dissipating, revealing the Golden Vajra Body and the Nine-Eyed Blood Toad locked in a standoff. Both bore severe injuries—the former missing limbs and its golden glow dimmed, the latter covered in wounds with only five of its nine eyes still open, the rest bleeding profusely.
It was a clear case of mutual destruction.
The other two battlefields, however, still raged with thunderous clashes, showing no signs of abating.
Han Li smirked inwardly, his giant ape form shifting as he prepared to charge toward the Nine-Eyed Blood Toad.
Just then, the toad let out a deep sigh.
“Brother Han, there’s no need to continue. We three have lost this battle and will no longer harass your companions.”
As it spoke, the toad’s body erupted with blood mist, its wounds healing at a visible rate. With a roll, it transformed back into its human form.
Han Li hesitated briefly before his ape form shrank with a low roar, reverting to his original appearance in a flash of golden light.
The combatants in the other two battles naturally took note.
Qingping Daoist and Lady Wanhua, though reluctant, had no choice but to withdraw their techniques and treasures, retreating from the fray with grim expressions before appearing beside Xiao Ming.
“Brother Xiao, are we really giving up just like this?” Lady Wanhua asked bitterly.
“What else can we do? The Wugou Patriarch and the Huaxi Fairy are gone. The three of us stand no chance of victory,” Xiao Ming replied slowly.
Qingping Daoist’s face darkened, but he remained silent.
“Brother Han, we admit defeat. We have no face to stay here any longer and shall take our leave,” Xiao Ming said with a cupped fist, a faint glow enveloping him as he prepared to depart with his companions.
“Brother Xiao, you think you can fight and leave as you please? That’s quite the insult,” Han Li retorted coldly.
By now, the Golden Crab and Bingpo had also withdrawn, joining Han Li’s side. Bingpo’s face was alight with joy, while the crab transformed into a young Daoist with a flash of silver lightning.
“Brother Han, what do you mean?” Xiao Ming paused, his pupils flickering.
“Are you feigning ignorance? Don’t you owe me an explanation?” Han Li countered calmly.
“Brother Han truly refuses to suffer any losses. Here are three Yin Blood Crystals as compensation.” Xiao Ming sighed, flicking his sleeve to send a jade box hurtling toward Han Li.
Han Li caught it mid-air, scanning its contents with his spiritual sense before nodding in satisfaction. The box vanished into his storage.
Xiao Ming cupped his fists once more before transforming into a blood-red streak and soaring away, followed closely by Qingping Daoist and Lady Wanhua.
Though they had failed to obtain the Tian Ding True Person’s legacy, there was still time before the palace closed. They could still scavenge for treasures elsewhere.
“Thank you, Brother Han. Without your intervention, I would have surely perished,” Bingpo said with a deep bow, her gratitude evident.
“No need for formalities. Given our shared origins and our status as fellow human Great Ascendants, it was only natural to ensure your safety,” Han Li replied with a smile, waving dismissively.
The Crab Daoist remained silent.
After exchanging a few more words, the trio took off in a streak of light.
Hours later, a formation lit up in the central zone, and Han Li’s group emerged.
Bingpo’s expression shifted as she scanned their surroundings. “I sense Xue Ling’s location. I’ll use the formation to transport us there.”
Han Li nodded in agreement.
Bingpo produced a formation disk, her fingers dancing over it before tossing it into the air. Another glowing formation appeared, and the trio stepped inside, vanishing once more.
Hours later, inside a pavilion, Xuepo was retrieving artifacts from a shelf when her expression changed. Abandoning the remaining items, she formed a hand seal and shot into the sky, halting mid-air just as a formation materialized nearby.
Han Li and the others stepped out.
“You’ve finally emerged,” Xuepo murmured, her gaze fixed on the woman beside Han Li—her mirror image.
“You’ve endured much these years. I owe you for finding Brother Han. Otherwise, we might never have met again,” Bingpo replied with a faint smile.
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