The Long Family Patriarch withdrew his palm, a trace of surprise flashing across his face as he stared at the green arm that had suddenly emerged from the void.
With a ripple in space, a figure with emerald-green skin materialized out of thin air.
Standing nearly twenty feet tall, its body shimmered with purple light, and its features bore an uncanny resemblance to Han Li, with eyes that glowed with a shifting green radiance.
Han Li gestured slightly, and the green figure flickered before appearing eerily by his side.
“A second avatar—impressive. Fellow Daoist Han has indeed not disappointed me. Now, let us proceed with my third strike!”
The Long Family Patriarch narrowed his eyes, murmuring to himself before letting out a cold laugh. He raised an arm and reached out toward Han Li once more.
Though the motion seemed identical to before, the sheer force behind it was incomparable to the previous two strikes.
Before the golden arm had even fully extended, a thunderous roar erupted from the surrounding void, and countless motes of five-colored light suddenly manifested across the Ten Thousand Spirits Platform.
In the next instant, these motes of heaven and earth spiritual energy surged madly toward the Long Family Patriarch’s arm, pouring into it in a dazzling display.
The arm, covered in golden dragon scales, instantly became translucent and radiant, shimmering with a five-colored spiritual light so intense it was nearly blinding, like a blazing sun.
Simultaneously, an overwhelming and unfamiliar spiritual pressure erupted from the limb.
The five-colored arm now seemed to exist as an independent entity, its aura even surpassing that of the Long Family Patriarch himself—a late-stage Body Integration cultivator.
Seeing the terrifying might behind this strike, Han Li’s expression finally flickered with a hint of alarm.
As the distorted, blurry palm at the end of the golden arm prepared to close in, Han Li’s thoughts raced. Suddenly, he clasped his hands slightly and chuckled.
“Fellow Daoist’s divine might is beyond compare. Han admits defeat—there is no need for a third strike. I concede this match.”
No sooner had he spoken than Han Li, without waiting for the Long Family Patriarch’s reaction, flashed with azure light and transformed into a streak of green radiance, shooting straight out of the barrier.
With a single flicker, the thick barrier shattered like paper under the force of the green light.
Han Li emerged outside the Ten Thousand Spirits Platform, his escape light circling once before landing among the Gu Family cultivators.
The eerie green figure followed like a shadow, landing silently behind him.
The nearby Gu Family cultivators instinctively stepped back, eyeing the figure with curiosity.
Han Li, however, merely glanced at it indifferently before forming a hand seal.
Purple light flared around the green figure, its body rapidly shrinking until it transformed into a ball of violet radiance that vanished into Han Li’s sleeve.
Xiaofeng the Fairy and Elder Xiao watched Han Li’s actions with complex expressions.
Their reactions were understandable. A newly advanced early-stage Body Integration cultivator had dared to challenge a late-stage expert, displaying power comparable to a mid-stage cultivator—only to abruptly concede at the final moment.
By all accounts, this was far from normal.
Yet, awed by Han Li’s earlier display of strength, they dared not question him, exchanging only a bitter glance.
Though inwardly frustrated, their earlier worries had now completely dissipated.
In their eyes, Han Li’s power was no less than that of the Tianli Fairy, the Gu Family’s Supreme Elder—perhaps even surpassing it.
With this, securing the Gu Family’s position among the Five Great True Spirit Families was assured.
“Heh, quite interesting!” The Long Family Patriarch inside the barrier finally reacted, staring at Han Li outside and chuckling rather than fuming.
The five-colored radiance around his arm swirled before dissipating into the void, and the golden dragon scales on his body gradually faded as he reverted from his semi-demonized form.
“We should abandon our plans for now,” the bronze-masked man from the Feng Family suddenly spoke in a calm tone.
“Brother, what do you mean? Even if this man isn’t an ordinary early-stage Body Integration cultivator, at best he’s on par with that Tianli woman. With the two of us working together, why should we fear him?” the lavishly dressed man frowned.
“Hmph, on par with Tianli? Second Brother, you truly need to sharpen your vision. That second avatar alone is extraordinary—it repelled the Long old monster’s strike with a single punch, something neither of us could do. Moreover, Han Li showed no fear facing the Long Family Patriarch, meaning he likely has even deadlier techniques in reserve. Even if we joined forces, defeating him wouldn’t be easy. I have no desire to provoke someone of such unfathomable strength.” The masked man’s eyes glinted coldly.
“But what about the Lao Family? We’ve already accepted their payment,” the lavishly dressed man hesitated.
“Our agreement was only to weaken Tianli’s influence. Since the Gu Family’s representative isn’t her but someone else, changing our stance is perfectly reasonable. At worst, we return their gifts. Do you think the Lao Family would dare protest? When we face Han Li later, we’ll hold back and use only ordinary techniques.”
“Since you’ve decided, I’ll follow your lead. Still, it’s a shame—we were so close to pushing the Gu Family out of the Five Great Families. Now we’ll have to wait for the next opportunity.” The lavishly dressed man sighed reluctantly.
“The demonic calamity approaches. Who knows how many families will survive until the next True Spirit Ceremony? There’s no point thinking too far ahead.” The masked man chuckled dismissively.
This time, the lavishly dressed man could only force a bitter smile and remain silent.
Nearby, the Lao Family cultivators huddled around their sole early-stage Body Integration elder—a middle-aged scholar in white robes—arguing in hushed tones within their barrier.
Though their words were inaudible, their expressions were visibly grim.
The Lao Family’s elder, the white-robed scholar, frowned deeply.
Han Li’s display of power had clearly thrown this family—the most likely candidate to replace the Gu Family—into disarray.
“Next, the Feng and Gu Families, having each lost once, will compete for fourth and fifth place. Fellow Daoists Han and Feng, will you take the stage?” the Long Family Patriarch announced calmly.
At this, the two Feng Family Body Integration cultivators immediately turned their gazes toward the Gu Family.
Xiaofeng the Fairy and Elder Xiao also looked to Han Li.
“No need for a match. I concede this round.” To everyone’s surprise, Han Li smirked and surrendered without hesitation.
Murmurs of astonishment spread through the crowd.
“Senior Han, this match—” Xiaofeng the Fairy couldn’t remain seated, hastily speaking up.
“The Feng Family has two Body Integration cultivators skilled in joint techniques. I have little confidence in defeating them, so it’s wiser to conserve my strength for future challenges. As long as the Gu Family retains its place among the Five Great Families, I believe I’ve fulfilled our agreement.” Han Li replied coolly.
“You’ve certainly honored our agreement. It’s just that each higher rank among the Five Great Families brings greater benefits. I was being greedy.” After a conflicted pause, Xiaofeng the Fairy nodded in reluctant acceptance.
The Long Family Patriarch promptly declared the result before calling the remaining three families to draw lots again.
This time, the Long Family drew a bye.
The Ye and Lin Families faced off first.
The Ye Family’s representative was the feathered-robed maiden, while the Lin Family sent the silver-ringed, loose-haired man.
The two seemed to have prior grievances, as they immediately unleashed a flurry of techniques upon entering the stage, their battle so intense it eclipsed even the clash between the Long Family Patriarch and Han Li in sheer spectacle.
Though both were mid-stage Body Integration cultivators, the maiden clearly held the upper hand. Despite the man unveiling several newly mastered techniques, he was ultimately forced out of the barrier, his face dark with defeat as he returned to his seat.
Next, when the Ye Family faced the Long Family, the maiden wisely conceded without a fight, knowing she stood no chance against the Long Family Patriarch.
The Feng Family, too, prudently refrained from challenging the top three families.
Thus, the rankings of the Five Great Families remained unchanged from the previous ceremony, with the Gu Family still in last place.
However, given Han Li’s earlier display, the Gu Family cultivators showed no signs of concern.
But when the Long Family Patriarch announced the open challenge phase, the white-robed scholar from the Lao Family—ranked just below the Gu Family—stood and declared solemnly:
“I, Lao Ai of the Lao Family, challenge the Gu Family. I hope Fellow Daoist Han will honor me with a match.”
With a flash of white light, he appeared inside the barrier, awaiting Han Li.
Han Li smiled faintly and, without a word, vanished in a green shimmer, reappearing opposite Lao Ai.
The scholar’s expression was grave. Uttering a single “Begin,” he flipped both hands.
In one, a black ruler appeared; in the other, a golden brush nearly three feet long, its tip glowing with dazzling five-colored light.
With a swing of the ruler, dozens of mysterious black spiritual flowers materialized, shielding him completely.
Meanwhile, the golden brush danced through the air, conjuring enormous, multicolored spirit butterflies into existence.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage