Seeing the massive iceberg seemingly on the verge of collapse, Violet Spirit’s face turned pale, and she couldn’t help but glance at Han Li beside her.
Han Li stood calmly within the light barrier formed by the giant shield, showing no trace of panic. Seeing this, Violet Spirit felt reassured, realizing that he likely had other protective measures in place, which explained his composure.
To her surprise, Han Li did not deploy any additional treasures or techniques afterward. Despite the relentless bombardment of boulders and shockwaves, the blue iceberg remained unyielding, not a single crack appearing on its surface.
Only then did Violet Spirit realize with astonishment that this blue ice was no ordinary frozen construct—it seemed even harder than refined steel.
After what felt like an eternity, the terrifying shockwaves finally swept past them, vanishing into the distance with a thunderous roar that gradually faded into silence.
“What was that? How could such a thing exist in the Fallen Devil Valley?” Violet Spirit exhaled softly, dispersing the colorful mist before her and retrieving a silk handkerchief before turning to Han Li with a puzzled expression.
“I’m not sure,” Han Li murmured, his gaze flickering. “But the spiritual energy in the distance is chaotic. That shockwave was extraordinary—no ordinary being could have produced it. Could it be a spatial rift malfunction? Given its intensity, I doubt even the inner valley’s restrictions could fully contain it. Nascent Soul cultivators might survive, but if it reaches the outer valley, Core Formation cultivators will be in grave danger.”
Violet Spirit frowned, extending her spiritual sense forward. Though she detected slight anomalies in the spiritual energy, the distance was too great for her to discern further details.
“Something does feel off. Brother Han, do you intend to investigate?” she asked softly, her beautiful eyes blinking.
“Investigate? Why would I?” Han Li hesitated briefly before shaking his head. “Whether that shockwave was man-made or a natural occurrence, that place is no safe haven. While I am curious, I have no desire to court trouble. Let’s return the way we came—we’ve already achieved most of our objectives here. After this upheaval, the Ghost Spirit Sect will likely be too preoccupied to hunt for us. This is the perfect opportunity to leave.”
With that, he pointed a finger at the giant shield before him. The light barrier dissipated instantly, and the shield shrank rapidly before vanishing into his sleeve.
As for the iceberg, Han Li pressed a palm against its surface. A brilliant blue light erupted, and the iceberg shrank and melted away in moments, leaving behind a small cluster of blue flame identical to the one before. It merged seamlessly into his palm.
Violet Spirit’s eyes widened in astonishment.
Han Li examined his hand with satisfaction. This method of reabsorbing the ice flame was a technique he had recently grasped, inspired by insights gained within the illusionary realm. Though it was his first attempt, it felt as natural as if he had practiced it countless times—a fact that even surprised him.
This confirmed that his experiences in the illusion were not mere delusions but genuine glimpses into a higher realm of comprehension. With such foresight, his advancement to mid-Nascent Soul stage now seemed far more attainable.
A faint smile touched his lips as he turned to speak to Violet Spirit. But just then, two streaks of light—one yellow, one white—appeared in the distant sky, fleeing frantically toward them.
“Hmm?” Han Li’s spiritual sense swept over the approaching figures, and he let out a soft exclamation of surprise.
“What is it? Do you recognize them?” Violet Spirit also probed with her spiritual sense, confirming that both were Nascent Soul cultivators but nothing more.
“Indeed. And I have some… history with them,” Han Li replied, his expression turning peculiar as he stared into the distance.
The two figures were none other than Huang Feng Valley’s Elder Linghu and the Great Elder of the Masked Moon Sect—the cold-faced senior sister of Nangong Wan.
Han Li was stunned to see them here. He hadn’t noticed them entering the valley earlier, meaning they must have either disguised themselves or slipped in at the last moment.
Now, their faces were twisted with fear as they desperately urged their escape. Though nothing pursued them visibly, they acted as if something terrifying were hot on their heels, not daring to pause for even a moment.
Han Li found this bizarre. These two were no weaklings—Elder Linghu was a mid-Nascent Soul cultivator, and Nangong Wan’s senior sister wielded formidable techniques and treasures. For them to flee in such disarray was almost unbelievable.
Could their pursuer be the Mulan Divine Sage, that Zhong fellow?
The thought sent a chill down Han Li’s spine. His relationship with the Mulan shamans was beyond strained—he had repeatedly thwarted their plans and slain many of their high-ranking members. If he encountered Zhong, the man would undoubtedly attack without hesitation.
Not wasting another moment, Han Li blurred into motion, appearing beside Violet Spirit before the fleeing duo could spot them. Without waiting for her to speak, he formed a series of hand seals. A surge of spiritual light enveloped them, and a green mist descended, concealing their presence entirely.
Just as their figures vanished, the two streaks of light reached the mountain where Han Li had stood moments before.
Elder Linghu’s ashen face was now clearly visible. Suddenly, Han Li’s gaze sharpened, locking onto a spot about a hundred zhang behind them.
“Where do you think you’re running? Abandoning your comrades so easily? Tsk tsk, your cultivation is decent, and your souls are robust—perfect nourishment for this venerable one. Did you really think you could escape? No more accidents this time. Surrender quietly.”
The voice boomed with unrestrained arrogance, shaking the air for miles around.
At the spot Han Li was watching, a wisp of black light flickered into existence behind the two fleeing figures. It darted erratically, closing the distance with unnatural speed. Within moments, it was only fifty or sixty zhang away.
A shadowy figure gradually took shape within the black light. Though indistinct, Han Li strained to see more clearly. However, the black light seemed impervious to spiritual sense, revealing only a vague outline. Yet, the silhouette was unmistakable—Han Li’s heart lurched in shock.
“Marquis Nanlong? How is he here? And why does he look like this?”
This was the demonized “Marquis Nanlong.” Though Han Li didn’t know the man’s body had been possessed by a demonic soul, the overwhelming demonic aura and the fact that he dared to chase two Nascent Soul elders alone made it clear something was terribly wrong. Han Li wisely refrained from acting rashly.
As the black light closed to within thirty zhang, “Marquis Nanlong” let out a sinister chuckle. With a *puff*, the black light exploded, transforming into a dense cloud of demonic mist that swallowed him whole. In the next instant, he vanished.
Elder Linghu and the white-robed woman, who had been monitoring his movements, paled simultaneously. They halted mid-flight, each summoning a treasure—a black ancient mirror and a yellow jade ruyi—which expanded into protective barriers around them.
Then, mere zhang ahead, black mist erupted without warning. Marquis Nanlong’s figure emerged from within, his laughter dripping with malice.
“Resisting when you know you’re outmatched? How foolish.”
With a casual wave of his hand, an invisible force slammed into the white-robed woman’s mirror barrier, sending her flying backward. She barely stabilized herself after tumbling nearly ten zhang.
Elder Linghu’s face darkened further.
“What *are* you? Not only have you possessed Marquis Nanlong’s body, but you dare to devour cultivators’ souls and Nascent Souls? Do you truly believe you can take on every cultivator in this valley? There are dozens of Nascent Soul cultivators here—even you cannot escape death!”
“Dozens? Excellent!” Marquis Nanlong sneered. “I thought there were only a few of you humans here. With so many Nascent Souls to consume, perhaps I’ll delay retrieving my original body. Once I devour them all, my soul power should recover by seventy or eighty percent!”
With a deafening *boom*, the black mist exploded outward. A shadowy figure shot forth, leaving afterimages in its wake as it lunged straight for Elder Linghu.
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