“The Mountain Giant Ape!” Even though it was Han Li’s first time seeing this legendary true spirit, he immediately confirmed its identity in his heart.
After all, only this true spirit bore such peculiar markings on its chest.
This demonic ape truly possessed the bloodline of the Mountain Giant Ape—otherwise, it would never have been able to manifest this Dharma Form.
Han Li stared at the purple silhouette within the sword formation, his eyes flashing with fervor. The Mountain Giant Ape was one of the transformations in the “Twelve Transformations of the Awakening.”
If he could obtain the true spirit blood of this ape, not only would he immediately gain a new divine transformation, but the power of his other transformations would also increase significantly.
With this thought in mind, Han Li’s resolve to slay this Saint-rank demonic ape grew even stronger. However, ordinary techniques would clearly be ineffective against this demon.
After a brief hesitation, Han Li took a deep breath and suddenly flicked his sleeve, allowing an unremarkable ring to drop into his palm—the spirit beast ring filled with Gold Devouring Beetles!
He actually intended to use this ultimate weapon against the demonic ape’s spirit.
Releasing too many Gold Devouring Beetles at once would indeed severely deplete his spiritual sense, but if he could end the battle swiftly, it would still serve as his trump card.
With Han Li’s current spiritual sense strength after advancing to the Void Refinement stage, he could control a hundred Gold Devouring Beetles for the duration of an incense stick’s burning.
But if the number of beetles doubled, the control duration would shrink to a quarter of the original time.
Without the support of the Spring Dawn Sword Formation, Han Li might not have dared to act rashly. However, now that the demon was trapped within the formation, its mobility was greatly restricted—making it the perfect battlefield for the Gold Devouring Beetles.
According to Han Li’s calculations, given the ferocity of mature Gold Devouring Beetles, releasing a hundred of them would be enough to eliminate the enemy within the time it took an incense stick to burn.
His only hesitation was that after exhausting his spiritual sense, most of his divine abilities would weaken. If he encountered another powerful enemy on his way back, it would be extremely dangerous.
But this thought only flickered through Han Li’s mind for an instant!
For him, dealing with the immediate threat was the top priority. Everything else could be set aside for now.
However, before Han Li could summon the spirit beast ring from his sleeve, the blood-colored demonic ape in the sword formation suddenly let out a low roar, its chanting ceasing as it spat out a cloud of bloody mist that vanished into the crimson broken blade in a flash.
The blade spun rapidly, and the black demonic energy surging from it began to churn violently.
A loud hum filled the air as specks of black light emerged around the broken blade, spreading throughout the sword formation.
Han Li was momentarily stunned, sensing something amiss with the surrounding spiritual energy. He turned his head to look around, and his expression changed in shock!
The lifeless demonic energy in the passageway was now seething, with waves of black radiance flying out and surging toward the sword formation.
The Spring Dawn Sword Formation had become like a massive vortex, drawing in all the black radiance.
However, when the black radiance reached the formation, it was blocked by the cyan barrier, forming dense clusters of black orbs that could not penetrate inside.
“True Devil Qi!” Han Li recognized the nature of the black radiance at a glance, his pupils contracting violently.
But at that moment, a deafening explosion erupted from the sword formation, shaking the entire passageway as if it were collapsing.
A terrifying spiritual pressure erupted from the formation, causing even the nearby barrier to tremble.
Startled, Han Li immediately refocused his gaze on the center of the sword formation.
A bizarre scene unfolded before his eyes.
The entire sword formation was now filled with countless runes of varying sizes, each pulsing with faint black light, expanding and contracting rhythmically.
At the center of these runes, the blood-colored broken blade hovered motionlessly.
The missing upper half of the blade had somehow been restored, and three unknown golden ancient characters now shimmered along its crimson length.
Han Li narrowed his eyes in horror as he realized that the flashing black runes in the sword formation were synchronized with the blade’s pulsations—as if they were all under its control!
A sinister laugh escaped the demonic ape’s mouth as it suddenly formed a hand seal.
Though its body remained still, the purple Mountain Giant Ape phantom above it stretched out a massive hand, pulling the blood-colored broken blade into its grasp.
With a seemingly casual flick, something unbelievable happened!
The golden ancient characters on the blade’s surface writhed as if alive, emitting a clear chime as they radiated brilliant light!
Han Li felt the spiritual energy within the sword formation grow chaotic as the black runes surged toward the blade like moths to a flame.
Simultaneously, the blade released rings of black radiance, and all the runes that touched them vanished without a trace, as if swallowed by the sea. The blade itself darkened slightly.
Once all the densely packed runes had been absorbed, the black radiance dissipated silently, and the chime abruptly ceased.
The blade, now pitch-black, was lightly swung by the giant ape, its three golden characters glowing even more mysteriously.
But Han Li’s pupils constricted violently. He suddenly clutched his other arm, his face paling as he stared fixedly at the demonic blade in the ape’s hand.
“An Artifact of Heaven! Impossible. If you possessed such a treasure capable of defying the laws of heaven and earth, how could you be severely wounded here?” Han Li uttered each word as if in agony.
“How do you know it’s an Artifact of Heaven?” The demonic ape’s expression twisted with fury, its voice turning vicious as purple light flickered in its eyes, as if it were ready to devour Han Li whole.
But Han Li had no intention of answering.
The spot on his arm where he had pressed was now burning with intense heat—the very place where the Artifact of Heaven sword was sealed.
This reaction had erupted without warning the moment the Mountain Giant Ape had grasped and swung the demonic blade.
Han Li could clearly sense that the Artifact of Heaven sword, which had been peacefully sealed within his arm, was now stirring violently, as if provoked by the demonic blade in the ape’s hand.
It was this realization that had prompted Han Li to blurt out the blade’s true nature.
Now that the demonic ape had not denied it, Han Li’s heart sank.
Not only was most of his spiritual power being used to suppress the Artifact of Heaven sword in his arm, but even if he unleashed the Gold Devouring Beetles, he had no confidence they would be effective against an opponent wielding an Artifact of Heaven.
The consequences of his last use of an Artifact of Heaven were still fresh in his mind, and he had no desire to repeat that experience.
After all, this place was teeming with demonic beasts. Losing his spiritual power here would be tantamount to suicide.
Yet, he also hadn’t forgotten the devastating power he had unleashed with the Artifact of Heaven sword.
If the demonic ape’s broken blade possessed even half that power, Han Li would be utterly incapable of resisting a single strike.
No matter how profound the Spring Dawn Sword Formation was, how could it contend with the power of heavenly laws?
Seeing that Han Li had no intention of answering, the demonic ape grew furious and immediately urged its Dharma Form into action.
The Mountain Giant Ape phantom raised the demonic blade, pointing it directly at Han Li.
Han Li’s eye twitched, and cold sweat drenched his back.
With the Artifact of Heaven’s ability to rend space, escape was nothing but a delusion.
His options now seemed limited to either surrendering to death or unleashing the Artifact of Heaven sword sealed in his arm.
Neither outcome was acceptable to him.
But as the demonic ape’s Dharma Form raised the black-glowing broken blade, Han Li had no time to consider other options.
“Wait. If the opponent has lost its physical body and its cultivation is only on par with mine, how can it wield an Artifact of Heaven? It’s not the ape itself controlling the blade—could it be…?” In his desperation, a flash of insight struck Han Li.
At that moment, the demonic ape’s face twisted with malice as the purple Dharma Form began to slowly lower the blade.
Panicked, Han Li gritted his teeth and suddenly yanked at his arm.
With a muffled tear, a pale yellow wooden stick appeared in his hand—the Heavenly Fruit!
Without hesitation, Han Li flicked his wrist and tossed the Heavenly Fruit into the air.
A golden flash later, the Holy Devil Dharma Form reappeared, one of its golden arms snatching the Heavenly Fruit midair. The other arms formed seals, and the three-headed, six-armed Dharma Form blazed with golden light.
All the golden radiance surged into the Heavenly Fruit like flowing water, causing it to glow brilliantly. The dark green patterns on its surface turned vividly emerald.
Han Li’s face lit up with joy.
But then, a muffled thud came from the sword formation.
A wave of black energy surged from the demonic blade. At first, it seemed insignificant, but after traveling a dozen feet, it swelled into a towering black tide, rushing toward Han Li with terrifying momentum.
In an instant, the black tide crashed into the cyan barrier.
The barrier trembled violently, and countless green lotuses emerged once more, appearing endless.
But then, something unbelievable happened.
The black tide swept over the lotuses, reducing them all to dust, regardless of size.
With another flash, the cyan barrier was torn apart as if it were paper.
Suddenly, countless five-colored specks of light appeared in the surroundings, all rushing toward the Heavenly Fruit like moths to a flame.
Han Li’s eye twitched. He had no time to observe further—he immediately activated his technique.
With a sharp hiss, a foot-long, misty green blade extended from one end of the Heavenly Fruit.
The blade was dazzlingly bright, its surface mirror-smooth, but at its center were inscribed five emerald-green runes, their cold light shimmering ominously.
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