Chapter 1925: The Battle of Yitian (11)

The thirteen beetles let out a sharp hiss and immediately pounced toward the two crystal puppets.

The two puppets, however, violently shook their four arms and simultaneously shot backward at high speed.

Not only that, but the puppets’ four free hands suddenly raised toward the spirit insects, unleashing a burst of silver lightning arcs and a wave of yellow light. The silver arcs crackled and intertwined, erupting with astonishing thunderclaps, as if containing immense power.

Meanwhile, the yellow light seemed utterly unremarkable, silent and unassuming like flowing clouds.

The purple-striped beetles showed no intention of dodging these attacks. With a flutter of their wings, they split into two waves and plunged into the arcs and light. The silver arcs exploded with deafening thunder, shattering into fragments, their flashes of electricity leaving a scorching heat in the surrounding air.

Within the yellow light, densely packed runes eerily emerged, instantly enveloping the spirit insects and causing the light to flare brightly.

This yellow light seemed to possess some mysterious power as well.

However, these thirteen purple-striped beetles were the result of Han Li’s selection process, where tens of thousands of Gold Devouring Beetles had cannibalized each other to produce these potential kings. Their physical resilience and other abilities far surpassed what ordinary beings could imagine.

Whether battered by lightning or entangled by the runes within the yellow light, the beetles ignored the attacks entirely. After their purple stripes pulsed strangely, they abruptly pierced through the lightning and light. With another flash of purple, they vanished and reappeared right before the two puppets, baring their fangs as they viciously lunged forward.

The two crystal puppets, of course, lacked the emotions of living beings and felt no fear. Their crystal bodies shimmered as one suddenly produced two razor-thin, transparent blades, while the other conjured a seven-colored spear over two zhang long.

With a mere flick of these weapons, countless blade shadows and spear tips filled the air, instantly engulfing all thirteen spirit insects.

Amidst a chaotic clatter, the purple-striped beetles, though unharmed, were momentarily unable to close in on the puppets.

At this moment, Han Li, watching from a distance, frowned. The giant ape he had transformed into suddenly let out a long roar, and the previously deflected Magnetic Extreme Mountain, which had been flung high into the sky, vanished in a flash.

The next instant, space rippled above the two puppets as the black mountain eerily reappeared, spinning rapidly before releasing a wave of gray light downward.

The puppets showed no fear, continuing their relentless assault with their weapons. Instead, they raised their heads and spat two seven-colored beams upward.

With two muffled *pops*, the beams collided with the gray light, exploding upon impact. The multicolored lights clashed in midair, locked in a stalemate.

But then, a thunderous boom erupted behind the distant giant ape as a pair of crystalline lightning wings unfurled. In a flash, its massive body transformed into a bolt of lightning and vanished.

Almost simultaneously, space rippled behind the two crystal puppets, and the giant ape reappeared amidst crackling arcs. Its arms blurred slightly as it moved.

Two thunderous *booms* followed!

The puppets’ chests shuddered with seven-colored light as two furry, ice-cold fists suddenly emerged, radiating an eerie golden glow.

The giant ape had, with unimaginable speed, punched straight through the puppets’ bodies with its massive hands.

Despite possessing early-stage Body Integration-level strength, these puppets lacked true divine sense control and sentience. Against Han Li’s transformed form, once their protective seven-colored barrier was breached, their reactions proved pitifully inadequate.

Yet puppets were puppets. While ordinary beings would have been incapacitated by such injuries, the two crystal puppets merely trembled slightly before continuing their assault. Their three weapons abruptly reversed direction, sending a storm of light toward the giant ape behind them.

The ape’s eyes flashed coldly. With two dull thuds, silver flames erupted from its fists, engulfing the puppets.

It was none other than the previously unstoppable Spirit Devouring Heavenly Flame!

At the same time, the ape shot backward like an arrow, effortlessly evading the puppets’ counterattack. But what happened next stunned Han Li.

Despite the raging silver flames, the puppets showed no signs of melting. Their smooth, crystalline bodies bore only minor scorch marks, with no further damage.

Han Li was deeply astonished!

Yet even so, his intervention was no longer necessary.

Though the puppets could still retaliate, their movements had slowed significantly. With a shrill cry, the thirteen purple-striped beetles pounced, voraciously devouring them.

Despite the puppets unleashing every ability they had, the beetles clung stubbornly to their surfaces, impossible to shake off.

Strangely, while the crystal puppets could withstand the Spirit Devouring Heavenly Flame, they proved utterly defenseless against the purple-striped Gold Devouring Beetles. Within moments, the puppets let out two creaking groans before collapsing to the ground, writhing helplessly.

Soon after, the two human-sized puppets had been gnawed down to less than half their original forms, finally falling completely silent.

As the puppets were being devoured, Han Li formed a hand seal, reverting to his human form. He watched coldly from the side, saying nothing.

Only when not a single trace of the puppets remained did Han Li let out a low whistle and point at the spirit insects.

Having consumed the two puppets, the thirteen purple-striped beetles’ markings had grown even more vivid, and they seemed unusually excited. Under the influence of Han Li’s spell, they hesitated slightly, reluctant to return.

Han Li’s expression darkened, and his whistle grew deeper, infused with stronger spiritual power.

Finally, the beetles spread their wings and flew reluctantly back to Han Li, disappearing into his sleeves in flashes of light.

“It seems I can’t rely on these little ones too often in battle. I’ll need to refine them further upon returning,” Han Li muttered to himself with a sigh. His gaze then shifted toward a distant object.

A small purple cauldron hovered motionlessly in the air, emitting a faint black glow. Having lost its original master, it now lay utterly still.

A hint of delight flickered across Han Li’s lips as he raised a hand and beckoned toward the cauldron.

The cauldron’s earlier display of power had been extraordinary. Obtaining it would undoubtedly elevate his strength to new heights.

With a *whoosh*, the purple cauldron shot toward him as a streak of spiritual light, mere flashes away from landing in his palm.

But then—

A thunderclap split the sky as a bolt of purple lightning struck the cauldron.

With a muffled *bang*, the cauldron vanished without a trace within the purple lightning.

At the same time, a voice brimming with fury echoed through the void:

“Good, very good! Not only have you taken the Demon Sealing Lock, but you dare to covet my Violet Word Cauldron as well. It seems those two useless fools couldn’t handle you even with my treasures. No matter—I shall come personally to deal with you shortly. Soon, you will learn what it means to beg for death yet find no release!”

The voice carried an inexplicable, overwhelming force. Though not loud, its words crashed into Han Li’s ears like thunder.

Even with his formidable divine sense, Han Li felt his head spin violently, his body swaying unsteadily before he managed to steady himself. His face paled drastically.

“This is the divine sense of a Great Ascension cultivator! Could it be that the Blood Light Saint Ancestor’s avatar is projecting its will across space? No—even the most extraordinary avatar would only reach late-stage Body Integration at best. Its divine sense couldn’t possibly be this powerful. It must be the Saint Ancestor’s true body! But what does he mean by ‘coming personally’? Could his true form descend upon this realm? Otherwise, he should know that a mere avatar wouldn’t be enough to stop me.”

Han Li was both shocked and deeply unsettled by the unfamiliar divine sense.

But he knew one thing for certain—he could not stay here any longer. Escape was paramount.

Suppressing his turbulent thoughts, he recalled his spirit avatar and the Vajra Flesh body into his main form. With a stomp, he shot into the sky as a streak of azure light, swiftly darting away.

—

In a grand hall within a demon city not far from Sky Abyss City, a blood-robed youth with delicate features sat alone on a golden throne, chin resting on one hand as he pondered.

Suddenly, his brows twitched, and a look of confusion crossed his face.

“What is this sensation? It feels like…”

A few breaths later, his expression changed dramatically. He shot to his feet, disbelief written across his face.

“Could it be another avatar descending into this realm? But the resonance is too strong—it doesn’t feel like an avatar. More like… the true body is breaking through the barrier between realms. But how is that possible? Unless he’s using *that* technique!” The blood-robed youth gasped aloud.

—

Han Li remained motionless, his hands forming seals as the Annihilation Eye between his brows unleashed a continuous stream of black light, bombarding a head-sized crystal atop a distant platform.

Simultaneously, a golden, three-headed, six-armed dharma manifestation loomed behind him, its six arms hurling golden orbs of energy in a relentless barrage.

It was unclear how long he had been attacking, but the crystal had visibly dimmed, cracks beginning to spiderweb across its surface.

Then—

A crisp *crack* echoed as the crystal shattered into fragments. The Annihilation Eye’s beam pierced straight into its core.

A resonant hum filled the air as a ten-foot-wide white hole abruptly materialized.

Han Li’s eyes gleamed. Without hesitation, he withdrew his techniques and the dharma manifestation. With a long cry, he transformed into a streak of light and vanished into the hole.