An hour later, the black vortex above the hills had ceased its rotation.
A pitch-black sphere over thirty feet in diameter slowly emerged from the vortex, occasionally releasing waves of black radiance that cascaded down onto the towering banners flanking the formation below.
Through the power of the restrictions, the two massive banners channeled streams of pure energy into the core of the grand formation.
By now, the small formation atop the hill was entirely enveloped in black radiance.
Han Li and the two women were completely submerged within it, their figures obscured by the darkness, rendering the interior invisible.
Apart from the low hum of the formation’s operation, no other sounds could be heard in the vicinity.
As time passed, the colossal black sphere suspended high in the sky gradually shrank in size—a clear sign of the rapid dissipation of its concentrated yin energy.
Suddenly, a loud shout erupted from the formation below, causing the black radiance to tremble violently.
Then, with a *bang*, a fist-sized ball of green light burst through the black radiance, darting outward as if attempting to flee in a certain direction.
But with a cold snort, a golden sword light shot out from the black radiance, flashing past and instantly transforming into a blinding golden glow that engulfed the green light, shattering it completely.
The black radiance churned briefly before thinning, revealing the faint outlines of three seated figures within.
Simultaneously, the hum of the small formation ceased, pausing momentarily.
“Thank you both for your efforts. The first imprint has been removed. Let us proceed to the next,” came Han Li’s weary yet unmistakably excited voice from within the black radiance moments later.
“Brother Han, with so much yin energy poured into you, can your body truly endure it? Should we take a short rest before continuing?” a melodious female voice inquired with concern.
“Thank you for your kindness, Lady Yuan. But time is pressing—we must swiftly deal with the remaining three imprints. Delays may invite unforeseen troubles,” Han Li replied with a bitter chuckle.
“If Brother Han insists, my junior sister and I will refrain from further persuasion. But if you truly cannot endure, please let us know in advance,” Yan Li’s voice interjected solemnly.
“Understood. Let us proceed,” Han Li responded with a faint laugh, his tone resolute.
With a soft sigh from Yuan Yao, the black radiance within the formation surged once more, and the hum resumed.
Within the radiance, the indistinct figures of Yuan Yao and Yan Li resumed their spellcasting, sending dark beams of light into Han Li’s body…
—
At the same time Han Li expelled and destroyed the first imprint, tens of thousands of miles away, atop a towering mountain, a figure shrouded in green light stood upon a boulder, gazing in Han Li’s direction with a mix of shock and suspicion.
“How is this possible? My imprint was destroyed. Logically, only a cultivator at the Body Integration stage or higher could forcibly remove it. Could someone else be aiding him?”
The figure was tall and graceful, with delicate features—none other than Mu Qing.
For unknown reasons, she had separated from Liu Zu and the others, venturing alone in search of Han Li.
Along the way, she had activated the imprint she had placed within Han Li, forcing him to prioritize its destruction.
“This complicates matters. The imprint’s final destruction was undoubtedly in this direction, but the area is vast. Searching won’t be easy. I’ll have to rely on luck,” she murmured with a frown before transforming into a streak of green light and darting away.
—
Elsewhere, in a desolate plain strewn with bones, three figures and a puppet hovered in the air, locked in a tense standoff.
“Brother Liu Zu! Now that we’ve shaken off that Ephemera clansman and the two Nether Lightning Beasts, shouldn’t you share the River of Souls’ Nectar equally among us?” The speaker was a blood-robed man enveloped in crimson mist, perched atop the shoulder of the Violet Blood puppet.
“You ignored our calls earlier—were you planning to keep it all for yourself? Have you forgotten the oaths we swore before setting out, or the blood curses we placed on each other? If we activate those curses at the cost of our vitality, your cultivation will suffer greatly as well,” the white-haired beauty added coldly, surrounded by eight ghost kings.
The black-robed man with compound eyes—Liu Zu—remained silent for a moment before finally speaking in a measured tone:
“My intention was indeed to share the nectar equally. But unfortunately, the pool had already been recently tapped. What remains is barely enough for one person. How could I divide it further? Instead, I propose keeping the nectar for myself and compensating you both with other rare treasures. Would that suffice?”
“What treasures could possibly compare to the River of Souls’ Nectar? Unless you possess spirit medicines that aid in advancing to the Mahayana stage, nothing else holds value for cultivators of our level,” the white-haired beauty snapped furiously.
The blood-robed man’s eyes flickered, but he remained silent.
“Brother Di Xue, what do you think?” Liu Zu pressed, sensing hesitation.
If even one of them agreed, the other would be powerless to oppose—Liu Zu’s cultivation far surpassed either of theirs.
“Di Xue! You can’t seriously be considering this?” the white-haired beauty hissed.
“If the nectar truly amounts to only one portion, splitting it further would render it useless for both of us. If only one can benefit, what difference does it make who that is? Unless you believe you deserve it more, Sister Lan,” the blood-robed man replied darkly.
“Brother Di Xue speaks wisely. I share his view,” Liu Zu said with a smirk.
The white-haired beauty paused before retorting coldly, “How do we know he truly has only one portion? We didn’t witness it ourselves.”
“Precisely! That’s my hesitation as well. Brother Liu Zu, can you prove your claim?” The blood-robed man’s gaze sharpened as he scrutinized Liu Zu.
“The nectar’s effects diminish drastically after the first use. I’d be a fool to risk conflict over something so trivial. But perhaps you’re unaware of how the nectar is extracted.” Liu Zu sighed before producing a translucent, crystalline brick from his sleeve.
At its center pulsed a fist-sized globule of crimson liquid, exuding astonishing spiritual energy that quickly condensed into milky-white mist around it.
“This is a Refinement Crystal Brick, specially crafted by the Ephemera Clan to extract and store the nectar. Once placed in the underground pool, it fuses with the spiritual veins, making retrieval nearly impossible. Without a specific Ephemera talisman, even a Body Integration cultivator cannot extract the nectar without years of refining. Now, see for yourselves how much remains.”
“The spiritual energy matches that of the pool’s mist—it must be genuine. But to claim we can’t break it? That’s an exaggeration,” the blood-robed man said skeptically, his eyes gleaming with greed.
“Words alone won’t convince you. Here—I’ll place this brick above me. Each of you may strike it once from a distance. If you damage it, I’ll surrender the nectar. If not, it’s mine, and I’ll compensate you otherwise. Otherwise, activating your blood curses will harm us all equally—and may only benefit others lurking nearby.”
“Are you serious?” the white-haired beauty asked, intrigued.
“Why would I lie?” Liu Zu chuckled.
“Then it’s settled,” she agreed, confident in her abilities.
“If I fail to break it, I won’t ask for compensation—only that you accompany me to the Demon Tomb to retrieve two treasures,” the blood-robed man proposed after a moment’s thought.
“The Demon Tomb? Those extraterrestrial demons’ weapons have gained sentience and rival even supreme spiritual treasures. The miasma there is lethal. Didn’t you and Mu Qing fail last time?” Liu Zu frowned.
“With Han Li’s Divine Devilbane Lightning and your aid, success is certain. Mu Qing left abruptly—she may already be searching for him.”
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