Just as Han Li was preparing to engage with the ancient demon’s split soul, risking a test to see if the demon’s injuries had fully healed, the demon’s expression suddenly shifted, and it sharply glanced behind itself.
Han Li was momentarily stunned but soon sensed something as well. His brows lifted as he turned his gaze in the same direction.
Moments later, a flash of spiritual light appeared in the distant sky, followed by a streak of rainbow-like radiance that shot toward them at an astonishing speed, accompanied by faint rumbles of wind and thunder. The speed was so fast that even Han Li was startled.
Seeing the approaching cultivator, the ancient demon’s eyes flashed with malice, yet its fierce expression faded into indifference as it coldly observed the incoming figure.
Within mere moments, the rainbow streak covered the distance of twenty to thirty miles, materializing into a disheveled monk holding a crimson bowl in one hand and a jade-green staff in the other. The monk, his face covered in scars, glanced between Han Li and the demon, his eyes flickering with shock at their uncanny resemblance.
“Which of you just left the exchange meeting? I have urgent matters to discuss with one of you,” the monk asked with a forced smile, his eyes darting between them.
Han Li’s lips twitched slightly as he cast a sidelong glance at the monk but remained silent.
The monk was a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator, and both his cultivation and treasures seemed formidable—no wonder he dared to pursue alone. However, Han Li could easily guess his true intentions and had no interest in humoring him.
Meanwhile, the ancient demon had been staring at the sky since the monk’s arrival, completely ignoring him.
Infuriated by their dismissive attitudes, the monk suppressed his rage. Since advancing to the Nascent Soul stage, he had always been treated with respect due to his Blood Flame Bowl and Flood Dragon Staff. Never had he been so blatantly disregarded.
Assuming Han Li and the demon were allies, he knew fighting two at once would be risky. Though confident in his strength, victory was uncertain. Thus, he suppressed his anger, scheming how to eliminate them one by one.
Before he could devise a plan, three more streaks of light appeared in the distance, rapidly closing in.
The monk was stunned. He had relied on his unique movement technique to catch up so quickly, yet these newcomers were barely slower despite their numbers. His hopes of monopolizing any treasures were dashed, but at least he wouldn’t have to face two opponents alone.
With a sinister smirk, he glared at Han Li and the demon.
Sensing the monk’s hostility, the demon finally lowered its gaze, its face twisting with impatience.
“Annoying. I thought only this fool would interfere, but more fools seek death. Fine, I’ll send you first.”
With a cold declaration, black light flashed around the demon as it transformed into a dark streak, shooting straight toward the monk.
The monk cursed inwardly, flipping his bowl to release a crimson flame that formed a protective barrier. Simultaneously, his staff transformed into a jade-green flood dragon, lunging at the black streak.
Just as the flood dragon spat green mist and lashed out, the black streak vanished mid-flight.
The monk, experienced in battle, hastily cast several spells into the flames, amplifying them into a towering whirlwind of blue-red fire. He then reached for another defensive treasure.
But in that instant—
A pair of dark-purple arms shot out from the flames beside him, piercing through the fire barrier without hesitation.
The monk gasped, instinctively spewing golden mist that solidified into a shield. Yet, before he could dodge, the shield shattered like paper, and two gaping holes were torn through his Dantian. With a brutal pull, his body was ripped in half, organs and blood raining down.
A red Nascent Soul wailed, clutching a golden sword as it teleported twenty feet away. But before it could escape further—
A purple thread flashed behind it, piercing its skull. A shrill scream echoed as the Nascent Soul was dragged back into the flames.
The three approaching cultivators, now mere hundreds of feet away, witnessed the horror. Terrified, they immediately reversed course, fleeing faster than they had arrived.
These early-stage Nascent Soul cultivators had hoped to profit from the chaos, but seeing the infamous monk slain in seconds, his Nascent Soul captured, they abandoned all greed.
Han Li, witnessing the demon’s brutality, inhaled sharply, his expression darkening.
A chilling laugh erupted from the flames before they extinguished, revealing the demon’s transformed figure—half-human, half-monster. Its limbs had darkened and enlarged, and a long purple tongue protruded from its mouth, skewering the monk’s Nascent Soul. Its emotionless eyes locked onto Han Li.
Han Li narrowed his eyes, meeting its gaze without flinching.
“Han boy, you can’t linger. More cultivators will arrive soon. Escape now!” the Great Divination Sage warned urgently.
“I know. I wanted to gauge its power, but this isn’t the time. Let’s go.”
Han Li flicked his sleeve, recalling his golden swords before spitting several mouthfuls of blood. A thick crimson mist enveloped him.
“Leaving? Too late.” The demon’s eyes gleamed inhumanly as it retracted its tongue, swallowing the Nascent Soul whole before vanishing.
Ignoring it, Han Li formed a hand seal. With a thunderous crack, silver-white wings materialized on his back, and his figure blurred within the mist.
Yet, black light flashed before him—the demon reappeared, faster than before. It hadn’t used its full speed earlier.
Han Li’s calm shattered. “Not good!”
The demon grinned, its tongue lashing out to strike—
But a bone-chilling snarl echoed in its mind, a mental spike so sharp even its formidable spirit reeled in pain. The momentary distraction allowed Han Li to vanish in a blood-red streak, disappearing beyond the horizon.
The demon’s eyes widened. It scanned with its divine sense, locating Han Li a hundred miles away—only for him to vanish again beyond its range.
“Bloodshadow Escape? That’s the Ironwing Demon’s technique! How does a human know it? No… it’s slightly different…”
Muttering, the demon pondered until new streaks of light appeared in the distance—six or seven cultivators approaching.
A cruel smile twisted its lips.
“Perfect. The last batch of Nascent Souls was digested years ago. A fresh feast will hasten my recovery.”
Taking a deep breath, it exhaled thick black-purple demonic mist, concealing its form. With a series of roars, the mist churned, revealing a monstrous figure—two heads, four arms, and four cold, unfeeling eyes fixed on the incoming prey.
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