Amidst the silver flames, a faint, indistinct gray thread writhed incessantly, yet no matter how it struggled, it couldn’t escape the confines of his palm.
“This is…” Silvermoon gasped in shock upon seeing it.
“This is Filthy Yin Qi. Though it appears alive, its true form is intangible and invisible, capable of infiltrating flesh and the unseen. It’s one of the most sinister weapons against enemies. Even a Body Integration cultivator would typically fail to detect it, only realizing its presence after it accumulates and erupts within their body,” Han Li explained calmly.
“What? Such a thing exists? Then I must already be…” Silvermoon paled, hastily scanning her body with her spiritual sense.
“Rest easy. Since I’m aware of its existence, how could I let it near us? I’ve already isolated it with my spiritual power,” Han Li chuckled.
“That’s a relief! You gave me quite a scare, Brother Han. You must have deliberately kept this from me,” Silvermoon said, finally calming down, though she couldn’t help shooting him a coquettish glare.
Han Li’s gaze lingered briefly on Silvermoon’s enchanting face. Though his mind was long trained to remain unmoved by external distractions, a flicker of emotion still surfaced before he quickly averted his eyes.
“I didn’t withhold this intentionally. While this substance is sinister, its true danger lies in its invisibility. Now that it’s been exposed, it poses no further threat. With spiritual power shielding you, even a Void Refining cultivator could easily block it.”
“If it’s that easy to handle, then I’m at ease,” Silvermoon said cheerfully, immediately releasing her own spiritual power.
“If this thing is so formidable, then passing through this maze should lead us to the treasure vault of Ancestor Qiling. The previous two so-called treasure chambers held only trinkets, barely enough to deceive ordinary demons. They’re hardly worth our attention,” Silvermoon mused playfully, her eyes glinting.
“If it were an ordinary Sacred Ancestor of the demon realm, their methods might indeed be limited. But Ancestor Qiling was once a figure nearly on par with the Progenitor. Beyond this maze, he must have left even deadlier traps,” Han Li replied after a moment’s thought.
“Deadlier traps? What could they be? Probably some advanced restriction arrays,” Silvermoon said with a smirk.
“Perhaps,” Han Li replied noncommittally.
As they spoke, they swiftly dispatched another wave of illusory beasts conjured by the maze.
Ahead, the dense forest of pillars finally gave way to a bright clearing, revealing a towering vermilion gate dozens of feet high, its surface etched with dark demonic runes, exuding an air of immense weight.
Han Li’s spiritual sense swept over the gate, and a flash of blue light flickered in his pupils. “Fire Essence Crystal? This gate is forged from such material. It seems Ancestor Qiling’s wealth surpasses my expectations,” he remarked before flicking a finger toward the gate.
With a *whoosh*, a silver flame shot from his fingertip and vanished into the gate.
The silent gate erupted with a *boom*, spewing crimson flames that instantly transformed it into a blazing inferno. Yet, the tightly shut doors began to creak open with a thunderous rumble.
A wave of scorching heat surged forth, forcing Silvermoon—standing dozens of feet away—to stagger back, her protective spiritual light flaring wildly as she barely avoided the searing blast.
Beyond the gate lay a world of raging flames, a sea of fire so intense that even Silvermoon, a Body Integration cultivator, dared not let it touch her skin, resorting to her full power to shield herself.
Han Li frowned slightly but stood his ground, unmoved. With his mastery of the Devouring Spirit Flame, such heat was trivial.
Yet, faint ripples of restriction energy flickered within the fire, hinting at deeper dangers.
Without hesitation, Han Li formed a hand seal and spat out a silver fireball, which swelled into a massive silver firebird. With a piercing cry, the bird plunged into the flames, parting the fiery waves to carve a path wide enough for them to follow.
“Silvermoon, now’s the time!” Han Li called, vanishing and reappearing on the newly forged path.
Silvermoon smiled and followed gracefully.
Thus, they traversed the sea of fire, the parted flames revealing fist-sized crimson crystals embedded in the ground, each spewing tendrils of scarlet fire.
Flying a dozen feet above the ground, they soon reached the heart of the inferno.
A deafening *boom* erupted as the ground beneath the silver firebird shattered, and a thick, crystalline blade slashed upward, cleaving the bird in two.
Yet, the firebird—a manifestation of Han Li’s semi-sentient true flame—was no ordinary creature. Its severed halves twisted and merged back seamlessly.
With a furious dive, the bird unleashed a barrage of silver feathers, transforming into countless streaks of light that rained down upon the crystal-laden ground.
The ensuing explosions reduced the area to rubble, the crimson arm wielding the blade riddled with holes, on the verge of collapse.
But another fist burst from nearby crystals, smashing into the firebird and scattering its form into countless silver embers.
Han Li halted mid-air, narrowing his eyes. Silvermoon’s expression flickered with surprise.
The sea of fire churned violently as the ground trembled, and a towering humanoid puppet clad in crimson armor emerged, wielding the crystalline blade. Flames coiled around its body, and a crimson crystal was embedded in its forehead.
“A Demon Crystal Puppet!” Han Li exclaimed in surprise.
Though its form differed from others he’d seen, its aura was unmistakable—yet far more formidable than any he’d encountered.
“A Demon Crystal Puppet?” Silvermoon arched a brow, glancing at Han Li.
“A unique puppet art of the demon realm. I studied it briefly during my time there. But this one nears the peak of late-Body Integration, far surpassing any I’ve seen,” Han Li explained swiftly.
The colossal puppet lunged, its blade descending like lightning, a bone-chilling cold preceding its strike.
Han Li raised a finger, effortlessly halting the blade mid-air. The cold aura washed over him harmlessly.
Unfazed, the puppet spat a milky-white beam while its other arm summoned a crimson hand wreathed in scorching runes, bearing down on Han Li.
Han Li flicked his sleeve, a gray mist swallowing the beam whole. His jade-like hand then struck out, meeting the crimson hand with a casual slap.
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