The surroundings were eerily empty, not a single ghostly shadow in sight, yet the low, rumbling roar grew increasingly loud, as if it had already reached the vicinity in the briefest of moments.
The woman’s delicate face instantly paled as she frantically glanced around in terror. But then, as if suddenly remembering something, she turned and fled through the air at a speed three times faster than before.
However, in that brief delay, a faint silver glimmer flickered in the distance where there had been nothing moments ago, vanishing as quickly as it appeared. When the silver light flashed again, it was already within a mere hundred zhang. Hidden within it was a figure with wings on its back—Han Li, who had caught up.
Han Li observed the woman fleeing ahead in a streak of red light, slightly surprised by her speed. It seemed the world was vast, filled with countless extraordinary techniques and mystical arts. Even a Core Formation female cultivator possessed such a terrifying movement technique. Who knew how many secret skills or treasures might surpass his Wind and Thunder Wings?
A hint of reflection crossed Han Li’s mind, but his Wind and Thunder Wings never ceased their motion. With another flap, he transformed into a silver arc, appearing directly in front of the woman in an instant. Calmly, he raised a hand, fingers slightly spread, and five streaks of azure sword light shot from his fingertips.
The woman’s face drained of color as she shrieked, “Senior, spare me!” Immediately, the red light around her flared brilliantly, merging with the azure streaks to form a dense, blended barrier that tightly encased her.
Han Li frowned slightly, watching her coldly without a word. The five sword energies struck the barrier in quick succession.
A series of dull thuds echoed as the wind-and-fire barrier proved unexpectedly resilient, blocking the first three sword strikes. But when the fourth struck, the woman’s desperate gaze met the shattering of her shield. Before she could react, the final two sword energies pierced her vitals, ending her life.
Han Li watched her lifeless body plummet, shaking his head slightly. With a flick of his finger, a fireball reduced her corpse to ashes. Her storage pouch and the ribbon-like treasure she wielded floated into his grasp.
“If I didn’t kill you, it might soon be a Nascent Soul demonic cultivator hunting me instead,” Han Li sighed. Lightning crackled around him as he shot toward the next target locked by his spiritual sense.
This time, his prey was the black-robed cultivator with the highest cultivation among the group—already at the peak of mid-Core Formation, on the verge of late-stage.
Mid-pursuit, Han Li suddenly tapped his spirit beast pouch, releasing a swarm of tri-colored Gold Devouring Beetles. Guided by his divine sense, the insects condensed into over a dozen tri-colored flying swords, each streaking toward the fleeing Foundation Establishment cultivators. Their shallow cultivation and slow speed made them easy prey for the transformed swords, sparing Han Li the effort of hunting them individually. The Core Formation cultivators, however, he would handle personally.
After all, their speed made them harder targets for the beetles, which excelled only in short bursts.
The black-robed cultivator, standing atop a gleaming black dagger, fled with a grim expression. This mission to avenge his sixth junior brother had unexpectedly led him into the hands of a Nascent Soul cultivator. Whether this unknown pursuer was the killer or merely connected to the Beast Taming Sect, one thing was clear—they had stumbled into a deadly feud.
Given the Beast Taming Sect’s terrified reaction, this pursuer was likely their enemy, and the black-robed cultivator’s group had merely been caught in the crossfire.
If not for the pursuer’s clear intent to silence them, he wouldn’t have fled so desperately. But with a Nascent Soul cultivator involved, this matter was beyond their paygrade. He would have to report to his master upon return.
A pursuer bold enough to hunt demonic Core Formation cultivators was either a Nascent Soul expert from another faction or a rogue cultivator with no fear of the demonic path’s might.
As these thoughts raced through his mind, an eerie, intermittent thunderclap sounded from the side. Startled, he turned—only for a flash of azure light to plunge him into oblivion.
Han Li impassively recalled the massive azure sword from the distant corpse.
Though the cultivator had maintained a protective barrier while fleeing, it proved as flimsy as paper against Han Li’s Emerald Swarm Sword, shattered in a single strike. His gaze then shifted toward another distant figure.
Pulled along by two emerald-green skulls, the brocade-robed cultivator nervously scanned his surroundings. He knew all too well that despite his head start, as long as he remained within the Nascent Soul cultivator’s spiritual sense, death could come at any moment.
Thus, he flew at full speed, senses stretched to their limits, heart lodged in his throat. When he turned forward again, his heart plummeted.
A young man in pale blue scholar’s robes hovered in the air ahead, smiling warmly with gleaming white teeth.
Before the brocade-robed cultivator could react, the youth spoke amiably, “You’ve traveled so far, fellow Daoist. Allow Han to escort you the rest of the way.”
With a flick of his sleeve, countless golden specks surged forth, coalescing into a massive golden cloud that blotted out the sky before descending with lethal intent.
The brocade-robed cultivator had no time to scream before he and his treasures were swallowed whole. Moments later, the cloud lifted, leaving no trace behind.
“These evolved Gold Devouring Beetles are far more formidable than before, devouring even treasures in an instant. Truly worthy of their ‘devour all’ reputation,” Han Li murmured, expression unchanging.
He tossed out another spirit beast pouch, and after reluctant circling, the golden beetles finally returned. Han Li frowned slightly, sighing inwardly.
As the insects grew stronger, controlling them was no longer as effortless as before—a bittersweet realization.
With a thunderous roar, Han Li vanished in a flash of silver light.
Han Yunzhi rode atop a pristine spirit bird, streaking forward as a white rainbow three to four zhang long. Bathed in a soft glow, her jade-like features radiated an almost sacred aura.
Yet her brows were tightly knit as she studied a palm-sized green jade disc, her expression shifting between uncertainty and dread.
The disc, translucent and emerald-green, bore ancient golden and silver runes along its edges, pulsing with astonishing spiritual energy—clearly no ordinary treasure.
At its center, on a mirror-smooth surface, seven or eight red dots flickered like fireflies. But then, one dot flared before vanishing without a trace.
Han Yunzhi bit her lip, worry flashing across her face as she focused intently on the disc. Moments later, two more dots blinked out.
Her serene features finally twisted in alarm.
When yet another dot disappeared, only two remained, flickering at opposite ends of the disc.
“Four Foundation Establishment disciples, all struck down almost simultaneously. Does this person possess a cloning technique, or some other unfathomable power? It seems I underestimated the abilities of Nascent Soul elders. The Ghost Spirit Sect cultivators likely fare no better. Had I known, gathering everyone to fight together might have been wiser,” she murmured, brushing a strand of hair from her forehead with a bitter smile, her voice barely audible.
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