Although Han Li did not know how formidable this so-called “Seven Dragon Pillars” truly was, hearing Silvermoon’s panicked voice naturally made him tense. With a flick of his sleeve, the thirty-six Emerald Swarm Swords emitted a buzzing hum as they swam out in unison from his sleeves. Knowing that his opponent was no ordinary demonic cultivator, Han Li had no intention of probing his depths with lesser techniques. Instead, he directly unleashed his newly forged flying swords, aiming to swiftly overpower his foe.
The thirty-six golden lights, each about a foot long, circled above Han Li’s head. After several incantations were cast upon them, the golden lights trembled slightly before instantly multiplying into hundreds of identical sword beams, their radiance dazzling.
Just as Han Li was about to channel his incantations to form the Great Geng Sword Array, the seven surrounding light pillars launched their attack first. The silver flood dragons coiled around the pillars simultaneously turned their heads toward Han Li in the center, their mouths agape with a brilliant silver glow, as if preparing to spew something forth.
Without hesitation, Han Li tapped the blue shield before him. With a flash of spiritual light, the treasure transformed into a watery blue curtain, enveloping him completely. At the same time, he summoned the embroidered silk handkerchief, which dispersed into a misty white fog, floating around the watery barrier.
Simultaneously, a white figure shot out from Han Li’s sleeve and landed on the ground, materializing into a stunningly beautiful woman—Silvermoon, who had taken possession of the fox demon’s body and emerged on her own. As Han Li was momentarily surprised, Silvermoon raised her hand, releasing a burst of purple light—the Purple Cloud Net. This ancient treasure, under her nervous gaze, transformed into a web of purple flames, adding yet another layer of defense.
Han Li’s heart tightened. He had already set up two layers of protection, yet Silvermoon still deemed it insufficient. Could the “Seven Dragon Pillars” truly be this formidable? No sooner had this thought crossed his mind than the seven silver flood dragons silently spewed forth silver beams from their mouths—seven tangible, silver columns of light.
The seven silver beams, each as thick as a bowl, flashed and vanished, colliding with the purple fire net. Silver and purple intertwined, but the net lasted only a moment before melting like snow under the spring sun, leaving seven gaping holes. The silver beams continued unimpeded, striking the white mist formed by the embroidered handkerchief. Upon contact, the mist churned violently, showing signs of collapse.
Witnessing this, Han Li inhaled sharply, his expression darkening. At this rate, his three layers of defense would be breached in an instant. What kind of attack were these light pillars, to be so overwhelmingly powerful?
Just as Han Li was pondering this, Silvermoon, upon seeing the scene, suddenly relaxed.
“So it’s just a counterfeit. I worried for nothing!” Silvermoon muttered under her breath. With a graceful hand seal, she parted her lips and exhaled a fragrant mist, from which emerged a thumb-sized pink pearl, exuding a sweet aroma.
Then, her melodious yet deep incantations filled the air as she pointed a slender finger at the pearl. With a soft *pop*, the pearl burst apart, scattering into countless glittering, radiant particles that surged toward the blue watery curtain.
Han Li was momentarily stunned but made no move to stop it. As the water curtain absorbed the particles, its spiritual light flared brilliantly, its surface gleaming as if composed of countless identical bronze mirrors.
At that moment, the silver beams shattered the outer white mist and mercilessly struck the final layer of defense.
Seeing this, Han Li tensed, though his hands never ceased forming incantations. Unnoticed, the sword beams hovering above his head began vanishing one by one in an eerie manner.
The water curtain erupted with blinding radiance. The seven silver beams trembled slightly before being reflected back along their original paths—only faster than before.
This unexpected turn not only caught Han Li off guard but also left the black-robed youth completely unprepared. His attention had been wholly captured by the sudden appearance of the beautiful woman beside Han Li. Moreover, Silvermoon’s muttered “counterfeit” had not escaped his ears, eliciting a flicker of surprise on his face.
A series of thunderous booms followed as the seven light pillars and their silver flood dragons were instantly engulfed and obliterated by the reflected silver beams.
Han Li stood dumbfounded. The seemingly formidable treasure had been destroyed so easily—it was almost unbelievable.
Silvermoon pursed her lips, a smug smile playing on her face. “Not only was it a counterfeit, but an unfinished one at that. It really gave me a scare,” she chuckled, patting her ample bosom.
“Unfinished? How do you know how to counter the Seven Dragon Pillars?” The black-robed youth’s expression darkened upon seeing his treasure destroyed. Hearing Silvermoon’s words, he barked sharply.
Though he had known the treasure he obtained was not the legendary genuine article, he had still believed it to be a potent replica. Now, hearing Silvermoon’s words, he found himself inclined to believe her.
Silvermoon ignored his question. Instead, she formed another hand seal and cast an incantation at the water curtain. With a flash of light, a pink mist shot forth, coalescing back into the pink pearl. Opening her red lips, she exhaled a shimmering light that enveloped the pearl and drew it back into her body.
“A demon core! Hah! So you’re a fox demon! But your cultivation is only at the seventh level—that’s odd. No matter. In the Great Jin, many cultivators would kill for a fox demon concubine. A shapeshifting fox demon is worth a fortune, comparable to the rarest spiritual treasures. This trip was not in vain.” The black-robed youth’s initial fury gave way to ecstasy as he scrutinized Silvermoon and the pearl with his spiritual sense.
“This humble servant would love to accompany the venerable immortal, but alas, Silvermoon already has a master. I fear I cannot comply with your wishes,” Silvermoon replied with a coy smile, covering her lips with her hand.
“A master? Your so-called master will soon be a corpse. Come with me willingly, and I’ll spare your life. Don’t be foolish! Serving me is far better than rotting in this backwater,” the youth sneered, his gaze raking over her greedily.
“Are you out of your mind? I, her master, am still very much alive, and you’re already eyeing my servant? Perhaps you should take a look around first,” Han Li, who had remained motionless until now, suddenly mocked.
“Look around? At these pathetic sword beams? I admit, forging so many flying swords as treasures is unexpected, but surely you know that a cultivator’s power lies in nurturing their core treasures with their own essence. Crafting so many swords is sheer idiocy. And these illusions? Utterly useless in a real battle. Even if I stood still, your sword beams couldn’t scratch me,” the youth scoffed, scanning the dense array of sword lights.
“You make a fair point. But before we continue, let me ask—are you a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator? If not, then prepare to die,” Han Li said with a strange expression, his eyes suddenly gleaming with killing intent. At the same time, he secretly activated the Great Geng Sword Array he had quietly prepared.
The black-robed youth was momentarily stunned by Han Li’s question, then sensed danger. Swiftly, he flipped his hand, summoning a pitch-black short axe. The axe’s surface bore faint inscriptions, and its handle was carved with a lifelike ghost face—clearly no ordinary treasure.
Meanwhile, the golden sword beams around them chimed in unison, their spiritual light flaring, but instead of attacking, they began vanishing one by one.
Alarmed, the youth unleashed his spiritual sense to locate the disappearing beams but found nothing. His heart sank. Without hesitation, he hurled the black axe into the air. With a flash of dark light, it swelled into a massive, razor-sharp weapon over twenty feet long.
The axe swung down viciously through the air, golden light erupting. A faint golden thread appeared, intersecting the axe’s path before vanishing instantly.
*Crack!* The axe split cleanly in two, tumbling from the sky.
“What—?” The youth’s arrogance evaporated, replaced by grim focus. He raised his hand again, sending a jade-green flying dagger streaking forth. It transformed into a ten-foot-long emerald arc—only to be sliced into six or seven pieces by unseen golden threads, scattering like fallen leaves.
“A sword array!” The youth gasped, recognizing the technique. Sword arrays were typically deployed by dozens, even hundreds of cultivators. That Han Li could single-handedly manifest such a formidable array left him speechless.
Seeing comprehension dawn on the youth’s face, Han Li gave him no time to strategize. With a hand seal, he linked his spiritual sense to every sword beam and activated the Great Geng Sword Array in full. Instantly, an eerie scene unfolded around the black-robed youth.
Countless golden threads, flickering ominously, materialized around him. They pulsed silently, erratically, yet inexorably closed in.
The youth’s face turned ashen. He slapped his storage pouch, producing a dozen white orbs veined with blood. Spinning rapidly, he hurled them in all directions.
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