“Evil-Warding Divine Lightning!” The enraged black-robed woman, who had been about to unleash a demonic secret technique, shrieked in alarm. Before she could utter another word, Han Li waved both hands, and a golden net rumbled as it descended upon her. Terror flashed in her eyes as her body transformed into a wisp of smoke, darting backward just in time to evade the golden net’s encirclement.
Han Li’s expression remained impassive. With a sudden flap of his Wind and Thunder Wings, he vanished from his original spot. Seeing this, the black-robed woman immediately recalled the rumors about Han Li and hastily formed a hand seal. Her figure blurred slightly, and in an instant, seven or eight identical women appeared side by side. These figures moved in perfect unison before scattering in all directions, each transforming into a streak of yellow light, making it impossible to discern which was the real one.
Silver lightning flickered as Han Li reappeared with a faint thunderclap where the woman had stood moments earlier. Gazing at the fleeing streaks of light, he showed no panic. Instead, a cold smile curled his lips. Channeling spiritual power into his eyes, a blue glow shimmered deep within his pupils as he activated his Brightsight Spirit Eyes.
Raising his head, Han Li scanned the distance. All the yellow streaks appeared dim and devoid of spiritual energy—mere illusions. Startled, he quickly glanced around and suddenly noticed an almost imperceptible wisp of smoke silently approaching from behind. The woman had used the illusions to divert his attention while her true body lurked nearby, waiting to ambush him. Her audacity and skill were remarkable; without his Brightsight Spirit Eyes, even his spiritual sense would have failed to detect her. Her evasion techniques were likely on par with Silvermoon’s.
Though inwardly alarmed, Han Li remained silent. He turned and flew toward the giant ape, seemingly abandoning pursuit of the black-robed woman.
The wisp of smoke had closed within a few yards of Han Li. Pausing briefly, the woman materialized soundlessly, her palm glowing with an inch of yellow light as she thrust it toward Han Li’s back like lightning. The strike was precise and vicious, aimed directly at his heart. A successful hit would crush it instantly, destroying his physical form.
But just as her hand shot forward, Han Li’s body swayed slightly as if by chance. His face spun around at an imperceptible speed, now facing the woman. His lips parted slightly, and golden light surged from his mouth.
“Ah!” The black-robed woman’s face drained of color as she twisted aside, but it was too late. At such close range, evasion was impossible.
With a *bang*, a golden arc erupted from Han Li’s mouth, striking her squarely on the shoulder. The stench of scorched flesh filled the air as she screamed and plummeted from the sky.
Han Li’s wings flapped once more, and with a thunderclap, he vanished, only to reappear beside the falling woman in a flash of lightning. His palm, wreathed in eerie blue flames, pressed lightly against the back of her neck.
A *sizzle* echoed as a thick layer of blue ice encased her entire body. The black-robed woman felt a chilling numbness before losing all sensation, her frozen form hurtling toward the ground.
Han Li hovered motionlessly in mid-air, his other hand already raised. Countless slender arcs of lightning extended, weaving a golden net that ensnared the ice statue. A cold glint flashed in his eyes as golden light erupted from the statue. Amidst a series of cracking sounds, the woman’s body shattered into countless icy fragments, vanishing without a trace. The only remnant in the net was a delicate, doll-like Nascent Soul—her face deathly pale, trembling with fear at the power of the Evil-Warding Divine Lightning.
Han Li’s gaze flickered. Just as he prepared to annihilate the Nascent Soul with a flick of his golden arcs, the black-robed woman’s Nascent Soul suddenly shrieked, “You can’t kill me! I’m the consort of the Yin Luo Sect’s master from the Jin Kingdom! If you kill me, the sect will hunt you down endlessly!”
“The consort of the Yin Luo Sect’s master?” Han Li stared coldly at the Nascent Soul for a moment before silently loosening the golden net and turning away. The Nascent Soul, momentarily stunned, then gleefully attempted to escape through the gap, already plotting vicious revenge against Han Li.
But just then, Han Li, now a dozen yards away, silently activated a spell. The loosened net abruptly tightened, ensnaring the Nascent Soul once more. With a crackle of lightning, it exploded in a thunderous blast, obliterating the Nascent Soul before it could even utter a final cry.
“Destroying your body wasn’t enough—did you really think I’d let you go seek revenge?” Han Li muttered with a sigh before flying resolutely toward the giant ape without looking back.
From the black-robed woman’s attack to her demise at Han Li’s hands, the sequence seemed complex but unfolded in mere moments. The gaunt elder in the distance had attempted to intervene, transforming into a streak of golden light the instant the woman was in peril. However, a pink mist suddenly surged from another direction, intercepting the golden light.
After a thunderous collision, the mist dispersed but succeeded in halting the golden light. As the radiance faded, the gaunt elder’s livid face emerged, his eyes blazing with fury at the pink cloud. He dreaded the wrath of the Yin Luo Sect’s master upon learning of his consort’s death, his hatred for Han Li and the interloper burning fiercely.
From within the mist came a soft, mocking laugh as it gradually dissipated, revealing a handsome, effeminate youth—the infamous Yun Lu, the Joyous Demon of the Hehuan Sect!
“Fellow Daoist Han, since you rescued me, I’ve repaid the favor. We’re even now,” the demon chuckled, casting a sidelong glance at Han Li.
Han Li, having just slain the black-robed woman, flew closer and replied indifferently, “Your rescue was mere coincidence. I never sought repayment. But the Venerable Zhu before us isn’t someone we can handle alone—and do you truly think he’s here without reinforcements?”
As he spoke, Han Li glanced behind the gaunt elder. Beyond the black-robed figures still controlling the corpse puppets and evading the giant ape’s rampage, a dense mass of enemy spell warriors advanced. Even the bold Yun Lu paled at the sight.
Han Li had rescued Yun Lu under heavy fire, expending two thunder pearls in the process. Just as he considered collaborating with the demon, the Yin Luo Sect unleashed a horde of bronze-armored corpse puppets. Before Han Li could react, the Soulcry Beast in his spirit beast pouch grew restless, brimming with excitement.
Having fully refined the Soulcry Pearl, Han Li sensed its agitation clearly and released it out of curiosity. The beast immediately expanded into a colossal black ape, voraciously devouring the corpse puppets’ necrotic energy.
This surprised Han Li. While he knew the Soulcry Beast could consume spirits and demons, its effectiveness against artificially crafted corpse puppets was unexpected. Whether this was an innate ability or an evolved trait, it was a welcome boon.
Now, faced with the advancing spell warriors, Han Li and Yun Lu exchanged glances, their resolve wavering. Yet abandoning the Soulcry Beast amidst the puppets was unthinkable for Han Li.
As he prepared to recall the beast with the Soulcry Pearl, raucous laughter erupted behind them: “Fear not! Since Fellow Daoist Han has this creature to handle the puppets, leave these foes to us!” The voice belonged to Long Han.
Han Li turned to see Long Han and a group of cultivators hovering dozens of yards away, having just arrived. Relief washed over him—this explained why the spell warriors hadn’t attacked immediately; they’d spotted the reinforcements.
Long Han’s eyes flickered with surprise at Han Li’s partially transformed state but he quickly dismissed it—now wasn’t the time for questions.
The cultivators’ gazes locked onto the enemy spell warriors. Across the battlefield, after fierce clashes, some skirmishes were finally concluding.
Both sides had suffered comparable losses, but this was no sparring match. Defeat often meant death, and even the victors, exhausted and depleted, were swiftly dragged into fresh battles.
Long Han had already dispatched others to relieve Feng Bing and the white-robed female cultivator in their fight against Tian Zhong. Only by fighting alongside his wife could he unleash their full strength. At this stage, neither Long Han nor the gaunt elder had anything left to say.
With a wave of his hand, Long Han signaled the attack. The remaining cultivators, all elites, unleashed their treasures in a dazzling assault.
The enemy spell warriors countered with equal ferocity, and the two forces—the last reserves of each side—clashed violently.
Though the enemy boasted a late-Nascent Soul Venerable, Long Han, Yun Lu, and three other mid-Nascent Soul cultivators managed to hold their own. Han Li considered joining the assault on the gaunt elder, but a glance toward the colossal azure avian creature sent his expression shifting rapidly.
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