Chapter 2246: A Battle of Powerhouses

With a dull “thud,” a golden fist shattered the white wind blade into nothingness.

The giant ape transformed from Han Li blurred into position before Crab Daoist, slowly retracting its massive fist.

The Mother of the Silkworms paused slightly at the sight.

That wind blade may have seemed ordinary, but it was actually condensed from her immense, invisible force.

Not only could ordinary high-grade flying swords or daggers not withstand it, even most spiritual treasures would be utterly powerless against it.

“I underestimated you. It seems your physical body is quite formidable. Among the group of demons I trapped with my magic, there was one who transformed into a form quite similar to yours. Could it be that you cultivate the same technique?” The Mother of the Silkworms spoke slowly, cold light flickering in her eyes.

She paid no attention to Crab Daoist or Baohua, focusing entirely on Han Li.

“Ah, you must be referring to the Sacred Ancestor Nirvana. While my Vajra Devilish Arts differ somewhat, they do share some origins with his cultivation method. Moreover, I’ll be honest with you—though I possess many treasures and master numerous divine abilities, my true trump card happens to be this very body.” Han Li spoke indifferently, and as his giant ape form suddenly formed hand seals with all six arms, golden light erupted from his body. Countless purple-gold scales surged forth, while intricate silver spirit patterns densely swirled across his skin.

In an instant, behind the giant ape, illusory forms of a golden dragon, a colorful phoenix, a thunder roc, and a blue luan flashed into existence before merging back into the ape’s body.

The ape’s body abruptly expanded, transforming amidst swirling runes into a towering, thousand-zhang-tall demonic deity.

The purple-gold scales on its body, interlaced with countless silver spirit patterns, suddenly solidified into a suit of armor engraved with exquisite silver motifs, encasing its entire form. The ferocious killing intent radiating from it was enough to make one tremble!

At the same time, within Han Li’s dantian, a miniature figure identical to him sat cross-legged, solemnly forming a single-handed seal. A layer of silver flames blazed fiercely around it, faintly exuding an unfathomable aura.

Han Li’s Nascent Soul had actually ignited its origin flame, heedless of the cost to its true essence.

The immediate effect was a doubling of his mana and physical strength, but the consequences afterward would be severe, and he certainly couldn’t sustain it for long.

Seeing this, the Mother of the Silkworms’ central head finally lost its look of disdain.

“The Sacred Body of the Demon Race’s Nirvana? No, it’s not just that… Hmm! This—this is the Hundred Meridians Treasure Refinement Art! How do you know the secret techniques of the Hundred Refinements Mountain from the Immortal Realm? I see—you must have obtained the cultivation method of that traitor who fled the lower realm from the Hundred Refinements Mountain. Heh, even so, do you really think some half-learned techniques, practiced without guidance from a true immortal of the Hundred Refinements Sect, can stand against me?” The Mother of the Silkworms exclaimed in surprise, but after her female head’s eyes flickered, she regained her composure and sneered once more.

The next moment, countless gold and silver runes appeared on her jade-like crystalline body, and she too began to expand rapidly.

In the blink of an eye, she had grown to a size rivaling the giant ape opposite her.

The two colossal beings now occupied opposite ends of the abyssal trench, their terrifying auras clashing across the distance.

“Is that so? Whether I can match your True Extreme Body, I’ll have to test it to find out,” Han Li snorted coldly. The three heads of his ape form suddenly flashed with golden light, each now covered by a silver visor, leaving only six gleaming eyes exposed. With a roar, three differently colored orbs flew out from his body, each containing a lifelike miniature mountain.

The three mountains spun rapidly before colliding with a thunderous crash, merging into a single hazy, massive orb.

The golden-armored ape reached into the orb with one massive hand and withdrew a towering black-green staff.

The staff was not only incredibly thick but also engraved with countless five-colored spirit patterns, radiating a dazzling brilliance and weighing unimaginably heavy.

Gripping the staff, the ape’s six cold eyes swept over the Mother of the Silkworms before its arm blurred into motion, striking like a hurricane.

Before the staff even landed, the air erupted with a piercing shriek, and a thick white scar split the void as an indescribable pressure crushed downward.

If Han Li’s previous third-stage Nirvana transformation had already made his physical strength rival legendary true spirits, then now, with his origin flame ignited, the power within him could truly rend the heavens and split the earth barehanded.

Thus, with just a casual swing, the ape’s staff tore open a massive rift in space.

Below, the Mother of the Silkworms narrowed her eyes, ignoring the descending force. Instead, two ink-black, scissor-like limbs crossed and rose to meet the staff head-on.

A thunderous explosion erupted as a seven-colored halo burst into existence.

The entire abyssal trench trembled, and suffocating shockwaves radiated outward in all directions.

Yet, the colossal forms of the ape and the Mother of the Silkworms remained unshaken.

As the light faded, it became clear that the black-green staff and the two black limbs were locked in a deadlock midair, neither able to overpower the other.

The first exchange had ended in a stalemate.

Though inwardly shocked, Han Li’s ape form roared again, all six arms moving in unison.

The staff blurred, transforming into countless afterimages that swept toward the Mother of the Silkworms from all directions.

Her expression darkened, and without a word, her limbs blurred as countless phantom limbs materialized around her, clashing violently with the incoming staff shadows.

The two titans abandoned all magical techniques, engaging in pure physical combat.

Deafening thunder and howling winds erupted underwater, the void itself distorting as countless fine white scars appeared in the turbulence. Towering waves surged endlessly.

Under the clash of these two behemoths, the abyssal trench seemed on the verge of collapse, resembling a scene of apocalyptic destruction.

With a sharp crack, the Mother of the Silkworms was caught off guard, the black-green staff slamming into her jade-like back. The terrifying force sent her flying over a hundred zhang away.

But in the next instant, she roared furiously, her body blurring as she shot back like an arrow, closing the distance instantly. A dozen razor-sharp limbs lashed out, unleashing a storm of white wind blades.

Each blade carried immense force, and at such close range, even the golden-armored ape had to frantically parry with its staff.

Two jade-white fists suddenly emerged from the void amidst the wind blades, striking the ape’s chest with devastating force.

Purple-gold light flashed as the armor dented inward, and the ape was sent tumbling backward through the air, only barely regaining its footing after several somersaults.

Seizing the moment, the Mother of the Silkworms sneered, her cicada wings fluttering as she closed in like a ghost. A dozen black limbs transformed into deadly hooks, slashing at the ape’s body from all angles.

Simultaneously, a humanoid arm shot out, aiming to gouge the ape’s central pair of eyes.

Given the Mother of the Silkworms’ physical might, if these attacks landed, even Han Li’s transformed ape would suffer grievous injuries.

But Han Li seemed prepared. The moment he steadied himself, he swung his staff horizontally, transforming it back into three towering mountains that shielded his entire body.

Shrill screeches filled the air as the Mother of the Silkworms’ limbs left deep gashes across the mountains’ surfaces.

Yet her humanoid arm, thwarted, suddenly thickened with a crack, elongating unnaturally to bypass the mountains, its fingers stabbing toward the ape’s eyes.

The sharp wind pressure arrived in an instant.

Caught off guard, the golden-armored ape had no time to dodge. Forced to react, it channeled mana frantically, causing silver runes to surge across its visor as it shut its eyes tightly.

Thud! Thud!

The Mother of the Silkworms’ fingers pierced through the runes, striking the ape’s eyelids like spikes.

Even braced for impact, the ape felt as if struck by a sledgehammer, its vision darkening as stars exploded before its eyes.

Excruciating pain erupted, but the ape responded with a booming laugh. The three mountains vanished abruptly, while the silver patterns on its armor blazed brilliantly, detaching and embedding themselves into the Mother of the Silkworms’ body.

Startled, she barely had time to react before a thick silver chain materialized, binding her tightly.