“Go!” Han Li casually pointed towards the opposite side, and the blue firebird immediately spread its wings, transforming into a streak of blue light that shot forward.
Seeing this, the Golden Elder’s expression darkened, and he was instantly furious. The opponent hadn’t even summoned a single treasure, attacking with just a firebird—this was outright disrespect! Enraged, the Golden Elder instead laughed coldly. Without a word, his fingers flew through a series of hand seals, deciding to unleash his most powerful sword technique from the very start, aiming to settle the battle in a single strike.
The three golden arcs above his head emitted a clear, dragon-like hum before vanishing abruptly into thin air. In their place, a golden thread materialized before the Golden Elder. Though incredibly fine, it stretched several zhang long.
As golden light flickered, one thread after another surged forth. In the blink of an eye, hundreds of densely packed golden threads appeared, dazzlingly brilliant and resplendent.
“Transforming Swords into Threads!” Han Li’s eyes flashed with cold light, his face revealing surprise. Though the opponent was a sword cultivator, conjuring so many sword threads at once was truly astonishing. No wonder he was the Grand Elder of the Ancient Sword Sect—he was indeed extraordinary.
Below, the watching cultivators reacted with mixed expressions upon seeing the bearded elder unleash such a technique.
“Spring Thread Slash!”
“Experience trumps youth—he went straight for his signature move!”
“Brother Han seems too careless; he might suffer for it!” The three elders of the Hundred Crafts Academy couldn’t help but murmur among themselves.
The middle-aged cultivator accompanying the Golden Elder showed a hint of delight, while Lü Luo’s expression shifted slightly. The elder surnamed Cheng and the female cultivator Mingxin remained expressionless.
At this moment, the Golden Elder roared, sending a series of hand seals into the golden threads before him. A dazzling radiance erupted as the threads transformed into a massive golden net, surging forward to ensnare the incoming blue firebird.
The net spanned over ten zhang, while the firebird was barely half a chi long—an overkill by any measure. Yet, when the firebird plunged into the golden net, the scene that followed shocked everyone below.
The blue firebird exploded upon contact with the net, followed by flashes of light as a blue lotus bloomed amidst the flames. The lotus, still in bud form, spun rapidly within the net. Countless golden sword threads slashed at it, but they merely stirred ripples in the spiritual light surrounding the lotus, unable to penetrate even slightly.
Those familiar with the “Spring Thread Slash” were horrified. The Golden Elder, seeing this, was both shocked and furious. Without hesitation, he intensified his sword technique.
The golden threads shimmered, growing even finer and brighter, their edges sharp enough to slice into the blue spiritual light, shattering it into fragments as they pressed toward the lotus.
Then, the lotus began to bloom petal by petal. With a soft *puff*, a misty blue chill radiated from the petals, enveloping a twenty-zhang radius in a blinding glare.
The Golden Elder immediately lost all connection to his flying swords, unable to sense them at all. Alarmed, he focused his gaze ahead.
Moments later, his face twisted in dismay. The lotus had vanished, replaced by a massive block of blue ice. His three golden flying swords were sealed within, utterly immobilized.
Realizing the danger, the Golden Elder slapped his storage pouch, summoning a white jade pendant. But before he could activate it, a thunderous crack sounded behind him.
Startled, he instinctively tried to dodge sideways. Yet, in that instant, his protective spiritual light shattered like paper as a palm wreathed in blue flames pressed against his right shoulder. A chilling numbness spread through half his body, rendering it completely numb.
“Brother Jin, shall we conclude this match here?” Han Li’s cool voice echoed calmly from behind.
“Brother Han’s prowess is unmatched. This old man concedes defeat!” The Golden Elder, restrained in a single move, suppressed his frustration and admitted defeat outright.
“Brother Jin is too kind.” Han Li chuckled lightly, withdrawing his hand with a gentle pat that restored sensation to the elder’s shoulder.
Turning around, the Golden Elder saw Han Li standing calmly a few zhang away, a pair of silver wings now shimmering with arcs of lightning on his back.
The elder exhaled deeply. Han Li’s control over the icy flames was unnervingly precise. Rumor had it that his primary treasures were flying swords, and his cultivation wasn’t ice-attribute—how could a casually used technique be so formidable? It was hard to believe!
“Kid, you haven’t wasted my guidance. To wield the Dry Blue Iceflame to this extent—it’s a shame you don’t cultivate an ice-attribute technique,” the Great Divination Sage remarked teasingly in Han Li’s mind.
“Senior flatters me. The iceflame is potent, but not enough to make me switch my core cultivation,” Han Li replied indifferently. His silver wings dissipated silently as he reappeared beside the blue ice block.
With a flick of his sleeve, azure mist swept out, dissolving the ice back into a blue lotus. The lotus floated toward Han Li, vanishing into his forehead without a trace.
The three golden swords, now freed, buzzed weakly as they flew back to the Golden Elder. Though sealed for only a short time, their spiritual essence had suffered damage.
The elder’s expression remained grim as he swallowed the swords. Meanwhile, Han Li descended lightly onto the mountain peak.
From the iceflame sealing the swords to Han Li’s sudden appearance behind the Golden Elder, the battle had ended almost instantly, disappointing those hoping for a prolonged clash. Yet, it also deepened their awe of Han Li’s power—especially since he hadn’t even used a single offensive treasure, underscoring the vast gap between them.
As Han Li landed, the gathered cultivators, regardless of their earlier thoughts, hurried forward respectfully.
“Brother Han’s abilities are truly as legendary as rumored!”
“Congratulations! From today, the Falling Cloud Sect reigns supreme in Yunmeng Mountain!”
The Hundred Crafts Academy elders, though now at the bottom of the hierarchy, appeared unbothered, even enthusiastic.
The Ancient Sword Sect’s middle-aged cultivator forced a smile, though his discomfort was evident. Mingxin, after her initial shock, remained composed.
Elder Cheng and Lü Luo exchanged relieved glances. With this victory, the Falling Cloud Sect would dominate the other two sects for centuries.
As the group pressed Han Li about his techniques, he remained composed, offering only vague answers about the Dry Blue Iceflame and his silver wings. None dared press further.
Soon, the Golden Elder descended, his demeanor calm as if the duel had never happened. His composure earned Han Li’s silent admiration.
After redefining the three sects’ interests in Yunmeng Mountain, the elders exchanged cultivation insights and rare treasures. Han Li found little of interest in the trades but gleaned valuable experience from their discussions.
The gathering concluded smoothly by evening. Reflecting on the insights gained, Han Li mused that such pure cultivation exchanges were worth attending more often.
Before leaving, Han Li requested a tour of the Hundred Crafts Academy’s Earthfire Vein, surprising the Blazing Fire Elder, who agreed readily. Staring into the fathomless fire pool, Han Li fell into deep thought.
By dusk, Han Li and the others bid farewell, departing the academy.
The trio soared back to the Falling Cloud Sect, with Lü Luo eagerly discussing the acquisition of spirit stone mines and rare material sites—some formerly belonging to the Ancient Sword Sect and Hundred Crafts Academy, soon to be theirs.
Elder Cheng, though less exuberant, was equally pleased.
Han Li listened with a faint smile, uninterested in the details. Yet, as they neared the sect, Elder Cheng suddenly addressed him mid-flight:
“Junior Brother Han, this victory is all thanks to you. To be frank, elevating our sect to the top of Xi Country has been the dream of generations of elders. To achieve it in my lifetime brings me immense satisfaction. Brother Lü and I have discussed it—after my passing, I wish for you to take the mantle of Grand Elder. What do you say?”
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