At almost the same moment, streaks of light flashed across the sky as Cao Ji and Fei Xiaoxi each rode a radiant rainbow, appearing in a few blinks before returning to the giant tree in the valley.
“Brother Han, the spirit tree has sounded an alarm. It seems someone is approaching the mountain range. Could it be the avatar of a Demon Saint?” The burly Wood Clan man emerged as his light dimmed and immediately asked urgently.
“Although the Demon Clan has dispatched quite a few avatars of Demon Saints, they are insignificant when spread across the entire grand formation. I believe it’s more likely to be ordinary Demon Venerables,” Fei Xiaoxi said coldly as she appeared beside Han Li in a flash.
“Whether it’s an avatar of a Demon Saint or not, we can find out by utilizing the power of the formation’s core,” Han Li replied indifferently, forming a hand seal with one hand and sending a streak of azure light toward the giant tree.
A hum arose!
The giant tree trembled slightly, and the formation below activated instantly, shooting over a dozen beams of light from all directions. These beams converged in front of Han Li and the others, forming a hazy azure sphere in a flash.
Han Li flicked his fingers rapidly, sending over a dozen different-colored incantations into the sphere while uttering the word “Condense.”
In an instant, the sphere, which was several feet in diameter, spun swiftly and transformed into a crystalline azure orb.
Its surface was smooth as a mirror but composed of dozens of prismatic facets, each displaying scenes from the edges of the mountain range.
Han Li raised an eyebrow and exhaled a wisp of extremely pure vital energy, which vanished into the orb in a flash. He then lightly tapped it with a finger.
Immediately, the facets on the orb’s surface blurred as countless images flashed by at dizzying speeds, too fast for the naked eye to discern.
However, the three were no ordinary people. Not only did Han Li narrow his eyes to scan the images on each facet, but Cao Ji and Fei Xiaoxi also stared unblinkingly at the orb.
After just a few breaths, Han Li suddenly let out a low shout and flicked his sleeve toward the orb.
The orb paused and gradually ceased its rotation.
At the same time, all other images on the orb vanished rapidly, leaving only one facet that expanded wildly, covering the entire surface in an instant.
The scene reflected on the orb showed the sky above a forest at the edge of the mountain range, where seven demons hovered—three at the Body Integration stage and four at the Void Refinement stage.
These seven demons had evidently triggered a nearby restriction, and were being bombarded by thousands of illusory lightning arcs.
However, one tall, green-faced demon with fangs held a foot-long bronze mirror in his hand, from which pitch-black beams shot forth. Wherever these beams passed, fierce winds surged, and the lightning arcs dissolved instantly, neutralizing most of the attacks effortlessly.
The remaining arcs posed little threat to the others, who easily blocked them with a few demonic artifacts.
“Three Demon Venerables—two at mid-Body Integration and one at late-Body Integration. The other four are only at the Void Refinement stage, but their auras are extremely peculiar, unlike ordinary demons,” Fei Xiaoxi remarked coldly.
“Those four Void Refinement demons look identical and use the same demonic techniques—they must be of the same race and skilled in joint combat. The three Demon Venerables likely possess extraordinary treasures as well; otherwise, they would have been obliterated by the restrictions on their way here,” the Wood Clan man added cautiously.
“Oh? What do you two suggest we do about these demons? Ordinary restrictions probably won’t hold them,” Han Li asked with a faint smile, his tone neutral.
“If this weren’t the formation’s core but just an ordinary part of the array, activating the most powerful restrictions could kill Body Integration-stage Demon Venerables. However, the core is currently storing energy for the entire formation, so our options are limited. We may have to intervene personally,” the Wood Clan man said after some thought.
“If the three of us act together, we can handle the three Demon Venerables. The four Void Refinement demons can be left to the others. Don’t I have over a dozen Void Refinement subordinates?” Fei Xiaoxi said expressionlessly.
“Those four Void Refinement demons are all at the peak of late-Void Refinement, and their combined abilities are unknown. Our subordinates are only average Void Refinement cultivators—they likely can’t hold them off,” Cao Ji shook his head.
“It doesn’t matter if they can’t. We still have the restrictions to assist. Though the most powerful ones can’t be activated, some lesser ones will still be useful. With the formation’s help, can’t they at least delay the enemies?” Fei Xiaoxi said confidently.
“If the restrictions assist, that changes things. Brother Han, what do you think?” The Wood Clan man pondered and then agreed.
“Even with the formation’s aid, I doubt our subordinates can handle those four Void Refinement demons. Unless I’m mistaken, those four are originally one—likely a single demon split into four. If they recombine, their power will be extraordinary. It’s better for Fairy Fei to deal with them personally. The formation core must also be guarded to prevent other demons from ambushing us. Brother Cao Ji should stay here to oversee the core. As for the three Demon Venerables, I’ll handle them alone,” Han Li said calmly after a moment’s thought.
“What? Brother Han, you can’t be serious! Though those three Demon Venerables are weaker than you, their combined strength is formidable!” The Wood Clan man exclaimed in shock.
Fei Xiaoxi studied Han Li, her expression equally doubtful.
“Rest assured, I wouldn’t say this if I weren’t confident. Brother Xie, show yourself,” Han Li said with a faint smile, calling out to the empty space beside him.
As soon as he spoke, the air beside Han Li rippled, and a white figure silently appeared, radiating an aura no weaker than Han Li’s.
It was Xie Daoren!
“Late-Body Integration?”
“Isn’t this the one who’s always by Brother Han’s side…?”
Cao Ji and Fei Xiaoxi were stunned upon sensing Xie Daoren’s powerful aura and recognizing him.
“If Brother Xie and I join forces, do you two still see a problem?” Han Li chuckled nonchalantly.
“Of course not! So the seniors had secretly arranged for additional support. With Brother Xie’s help, success is assured,” the Wood Clan man said quickly, clasping his fists with a smile.
“If Brother Han and Brother Xie are acting together, I have no objections either,” Fei Xiaoxi said, exhaling deeply with a slightly odd expression. Clearly, the two non-human Body Integration cultivators assumed Xie Daoren was another ally secretly arranged by the allied forces’ higher-ups.
Xie Daoren, since his appearance, stood calmly beside Han Li without uttering a word.
Han Li offered no explanation either, his gaze shifting back to the images on the orb. The seven demons, led by the green-faced, fanged Demon Venerable, had already cleared the nearby lightning arcs and were slowly advancing toward the mountain range’s center.
“Brother Cao, activate the ‘Inverted Five Peaks Restriction’ immediately to isolate these demons. As planned, let’s move out,” Han Li ordered without hesitation.
“Understood! Brother Han, go ahead. I’ll activate the restriction now!” The Wood Clan man grinned broadly, agreeing at once. With a flicker, he appeared before the giant tree in the formation, closing his eyes, forming hand seals, and chanting incantations.
The hundred or so Wood Clan members seated around the formation also began glowing with spiritual light, assisting with their own seals.
“Let’s go!”
At Han Li’s command, the three shot into the sky as streaks of light, each transforming into a long rainbow streaking toward the demons.
Almost simultaneously, over a dozen streaks of light several feet long soared from nearby mountaintops, following the three rainbows into the distance.
These were the dozen-plus Void Refinement guards who had received Han Li’s message.
…
The seven demons rode black winds as they advanced slowly through the mountain range.
The green-faced, fanged Demon Venerable had not put away his bronze mirror but held it before his chest as he flew at the forefront, occasionally waving it around.
The mirror seemed to possess the mystical ability to detect restrictions.
“Watch out, everyone!”
Suddenly, as the mirror pointed toward a certain direction in the void, it erupted with blinding silver light. The green-faced Demon Venerable cried out in alarm.
The other demons’ expressions changed as demonic energy surged around them, and they hastily summoned their artifacts.
But before they could act, the forest below erupted with green light, revealing a massive formation nearly a mile in diameter. From it burst a flood of five-colored radiance.
“Bad news!”
“Scatter!”
Amid the shouts, the demons were engulfed by the radiance, followed by countless azure runes that swarmed around all seven.
“Break!”
“Four Symbols as One!”
Within the radiance, the green-faced Demon Venerable raised his mirror high, and a black beam shot forth.
Meanwhile, the four identical Void Refinement demons roared in unison, their bodies erupting with blinding crimson light.
A thunderous boom echoed.
The black beam pierced through the radiance in a flash, followed by a stumbling figure—the green-faced, fanged Demon Venerable!
But as the formation below emitted a chant, the other demons vanished instantly from their spots.
Only the green-faced demon remained, standing alone.
“Teleportation!” The demon scanned the collapsing segments of the formation below and let out a furious roar.
“Indeed. I didn’t expect you to be well-versed in formations. It seems your arrival here wasn’t solely due to that treasure of yours.”
A calm male voice drifted from afar as a streak of azure light shot across the horizon.
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