Seeing the burly man so confident in the restriction, Han Li’s eyes flickered a few times, but he said nothing. The old man surnamed Ma shared the same concerns as the burly man and frowned deeply upon hearing this.
“Actually, though this matter is somewhat troublesome, we need not worry too much,” Han Li suddenly smiled and said nonchalantly.
“Oh? What does Brother Han mean?” Now, the burly man naturally dared not ignore Han Li’s words and hesitated slightly. The old man surnamed Ma also looked at Han Li with surprise.
“The infiltration of Mulan spies into Tiannan is something your alliance leaders couldn’t possibly be unaware of. They must have caught some before. However, a high-ranking cultivator being a spy is hard to explain to the Beast Spirit Sect. But since the three of us belong to different factions, few would believe we deliberately framed the Beast Spirit Sect alone. If we clarify the situation and send back any relevant information we’ve heard about the Mulan people for verification, no major trouble should arise. I suspect the Beast Spirit Sect might have already harbored suspicions about Elder Gu. After all, over so many years, it’s hard to believe Fellow Daoist Gu never slipped up. Even if they hadn’t suspected him before, reviewing his past actions now would surely reveal inconsistencies,” Han Li stroked his chin and spoke unhurriedly.
“Brother Han’s words make sense. I’ve also used a secret technique to record our earlier conversation onto a jade slip, which can serve as evidence,” the bald-browed man’s frown eased as he waved a white jade slip he had somehow retrieved, his expression turning peculiar.
“That should suffice. It’s a pity Fellow Daoist Bu is in seclusion recovering from severe injuries, or his testimony would make this even more airtight,” the old man surnamed Ma sighed in relief upon hearing Han Li’s words and seeing the jade slip, his worries largely dispelled.
Next, the three discussed a few more details when suddenly, a strange hissing sound came from within the silver light barrier. Startled, they exchanged uneasy glances.
Just as the bald-browed man was about to act, a thunderous boom echoed as a green claw shot out from the flames, striking the barrier violently. The entire silver light shield trembled fiercely.
“What is this? He still has the strength to shake the restriction?” the bald-browed man exclaimed in disbelief. Han Li and the old man surnamed Ma were also taken aback.
The burly man solemnly formed a hand seal, sending a beam of white light into the barrier. The dense flames inside paused, revealing the scene within.
“Tsk!” Upon seeing it clearly, the bald-browed man and the old man gasped sharply, while Han Li’s expression darkened. Gu Shuangpu was nowhere to be seen; in his place stood a half-human, half-snake monster.
This grotesque creature wore Gu Shuangpu’s robes, its face and limbs covered in emerald-green scales. Its eyes were cold and sinister, fingers sharp, and two serpentine tails several feet long tapped lightly on the ground behind it.
Though its scaled face still bore Gu Shuangpu’s features, its lips parted to reveal a purple-black forked tongue flickering in and out, emitting eerie hisses that sent chills down the spine.
“Possession Art! He’s merged with the Twin-Tailed Emerald Serpent!” the old man surnamed Ma paled and cried out in alarm.
“Possession Art? Isn’t that a lost forbidden technique? Using it means forfeiting reincarnation!” The bald-browed man, clearly aware of the technique’s bloody reputation, turned furious and wary. He immediately retrieved a silver restriction token from his storage bag.
With a deep breath, he spat essence onto the token and tossed it above his head, chanting rapidly. Meanwhile, the monster inside the barrier acted.
Its cold gaze swept over the three outside before its tongue flickered twice. Its mouth split wide, spewing a stream of purple-black venom toward them.
The bald-browed man ceased his chant and pointed at the token. Silver light erupted as over a dozen silver spell symbols shot into the barrier. A dragon-like hum resonated as the barrier thickened, and larger silver thunderflowers began forming atop it.
The venom struck the barrier, instantly blackening a section and spreading rapidly. Seizing the moment, the serpent monster lunged, its claws tearing through the weakened barrier like paper.
The monster’s eyes gleamed with triumph as it prepared to escape. The bald-browed man, horrified, summoned a white rod-like treasure to shield himself. The old man surnamed Ma similarly summoned his ruler treasure, raising a protective glow.
Both knew the horror of a Nascent Soul cultivator using Possession Art—such a monster could rival a mid-stage cultivator. They braced for a prolonged battle, prioritizing defense over offense.
Just then, a resigned sigh came from Han Li. He stepped forward, positioning himself directly before the breach. The serpent monster, halfway out, spat another stream of venom at him.
“Careful!” “Dodge!” the two shouted in alarm, not out of deep camaraderie but shared dread of the monster and the impending Mulan assault.
Ignoring their cries, Han Li raised his hand slowly yet swiftly, his palm suddenly coated in eerie blue flames. He reached out, grasping the venom mid-air.
The burly man and the old man were stunned, while the monster, after a brief pause, spat another volley.
A cold smile curled Han Li’s lips as blinding blue light erupted between them. A sizzling sound filled the air before the radiance vanished abruptly.
Blinking in shock, the two looked again—only to freeze in disbelief.
The serpent monster stood just outside the barrier, its face twisted in glee, but its entire body was now a glittering blue ice sculpture. The venom it had spat hung frozen in a thin, protruding icicle.
Han Li stood behind the monster, his blue-flamed hand slowly retracting from its neck.
“A first-time Possession Art monster—intelligent but inexperienced in combat. Hardly a threat,” Han Li remarked coolly. He raised his other hand, releasing a thick golden lightning arc that enveloped the ice sculpture in a fine net.
Blue and golden lights intertwined as cracking sounds erupted. The ice shattered into countless fragments, revealing a fist-sized purple-black mass that darted away—only to collide with the golden net, emitting an inhuman shriek.
Han Li’s expression turned fierce. His fingers clenched, and the net constricted violently, exploding in a blinding golden radiance that consumed the mass entirely.
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