“Since I am you and you are me, why should I obey you after gaining self-awareness? Moreover, in the Sacred Realm, incidents of split souls rebelling and devouring their originals are hardly rare. When you released me to act independently, you should have been prepared for this.” The ancient demon with a demonic head and human body spoke with chilling calmness.
“Indeed, I had some foresight. However, I never expected that after breaking free from my control, you would lead human cultivators to seize my sealed body first. To break the seal, you even resorted to the Body Disintegration and Transformation Art to reconstruct the body. Do you not realize that while this method forcibly breaks the seal, it severely damages the body’s vitality, costing at least a third of its cultivation? Do you understand the implications?” The demonic soul’s two heads turned cold simultaneously, its expression murderous.
“Hmph! Your body? I was originally part of your primordial spirit—what’s wrong with me occupying it? Even if the body loses a third of its cultivation, as long as I devour you and avoid those cowardly turtles in the human realm, this world will be mine to dominate. Once I reopen the ancient passage between the Sacred Realm and the human realm, I’ll have rendered great service to the Sacred Ancestors. Who knows? I might even become one of them. What’s the loss of a bit of cultivation then?” The demon-headed ancient demon sneered disdainfully.
Hearing this, the two-headed, four-armed demonic soul knew further words were futile. Once the second demonic soul it had cultivated began to rebel, only one of them could survive—the other’s consciousness would inevitably be erased.
Back then, had it not been trapped with no way for its main primordial spirit to escape the restriction, it would never have risked releasing a split soul that never returned. Now, though it had broken free, the split soul had indeed gone rogue.
Still, while the other had seized the demonic body—far superior to the temporary demonized vessel it had found—it had been the main soul and had placed certain restrictions on the split soul. Though unsure how many had been broken, in a fight, the outcome was far from certain.
With this in mind, one of the demonic soul’s heads suddenly turned to glance at the surrounding cultivators and coldly declared, “We’ll settle who devours whom later. First, let’s feast on these cultivators’ Nascent Souls to replenish ourselves, then find a secluded spot to determine dominance. I won’t let these humans play the fisherman. Any objections?”
“None at all. The remaining restrictions in me are nearly refined anyway. Even if you didn’t act, I could slaughter them all alone.” The demon-headed ancient demon replied calmly, its eyes suddenly flashing with a sinister purple-red glow as they fully opened.
“Heh, don’t boast too soon. Some of these cultivators are quite troublesome,” the demonic soul sneered, its gaze involuntarily flickering toward Han Li.
The demon-headed ancient demon licked its purple tongue dismissively, its face showing no concern.
Meanwhile, the cultivators were stunned when the two-headed, four-armed ancient demon appeared. Hearing the demons’ candid exchange, they realized the two were originally a main soul and its split, now locked in a struggle for dominance.
Linghu the Venerable and the silver-haired elder secretly rejoiced, hoping the demons would fight first, allowing them to profit from the chaos. But to their dismay, the demons abruptly decided to join forces against them, leaving them pale-faced.
“Wei Daoyou, I’ll trouble you to hold off the enemy. Let Linghu Daoyou and the other assist you. I and the others will deal with the other demon. For now, survival comes first.” Han Li calmly instructed Wei Wuyi.
“I’ll try. But with its restrictions loosened, I’m not sure how long I can last while injured,” Wei Wuyi replied with a bitter smile, understanding Han Li’s intent to stall. More cultivators were en route—the longer they delayed, the better.
Linghu the Venerable and the white-robed woman showed no resistance to Han Li’s orders. In the cultivation world, strength commanded respect, and Han Li’s plan was sound.
The demons, however, gave no time for discussion. Before Han Li could coordinate with the silver-haired elder, they struck.
The demon-headed ancient demon spun, its demonic light flaring, darkening the sky as black-purple radiance surged outward, dyeing the surroundings in eerie hues.
The demonic soul above made no move to evade. Instead, its two heads wore eerie smiles before it vanished into the light.
Seeing this, the cultivators knew battle had begun. Whatever their earlier plans, they had no choice but to fight.
Wei Wuyi’s body glowed green as he disappeared into the toxic mist. The previously calm fog churned violently, spawning over a dozen emerald poison flood dragons that lunged skyward, momentarily holding back the encroaching demonic light.
Linghu and the white-robed woman exchanged a glance before shooting toward Wei Wuyi as streaks of light. The woman raised her violet mirror, unleashing a thick five-colored beam that pierced the demonic curtain, allowing her to pass unimpeded.
Linghu, having lost his ancient treasure ring, summoned a jade ruyi to shield himself before hurling a green seal as a crashing emerald cloud against the black light, its momentum impressive.
In their minds, even injured, Wei Wuyi—a Great Cultivator who had dominated the South for centuries—was more reliable than Han Li. The demonic soul’s stealth was too unpredictable; under Wei Wuyi’s toxic mist, facing the other demon seemed safer.
They vanished into the green fog, which Wei Wuyi parted to admit them.
Han Li paid them no further mind, glancing instead at Elder Cheng’s group—only to pause in surprise.
Caught off guard, the trio and their puppets had been enveloped by the demonic light. Yet, as seasoned Nascent Soul cultivators, they swiftly formed a defensive formation, layering five or six protective barriers. The two ghost puppets spewed thick gray-white Yin Qi, obscuring the group.
Meanwhile, the silver-haired elder’s voice reached Han Li: “Junior Brother Han, this demon is formidable. Staying together would be safer.”
Han Li smiled wryly. These three had clearly survived without the route map for a reason. He needn’t worry about “Senior Brother Cheng.”
Yet their tight formation, while secure, restricted movement—unsuited to Han Li’s solo style.
As he pondered, the demonic curtain loomed overhead.
Frowning, Han Li enveloped himself in cyan light before firing a dozen sword beams that shredded the black-purple veil effortlessly.
Surprised, he scanned the surroundings and sighed. Though the light above had dispersed, the demonic curtain now enclosed him completely, spanning miles in a breathtaking display.
As the curtain reformed overhead, Han Li summoned the Blue Light Shield, adding another layer before letting the darkness swallow him.
His eyes flickered. Though unharmed, his barriers were slowly losing spiritual power—the demonic light was draining them.
Angered, Han Li clenched his fists, unleashing golden lightning that crackled across his barriers, repelling the encroaching light.
With the drain halted, he directed the Heavenly Corpse Puppet and other constructs to encircle him. The giant tortoises conjured massive ice spikes on their backs.
All this took but moments.
Han Li’s eyes gleamed blue as he activated his Clear Sight Art—only to stiffen at what he saw.
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