Chapter 1489: Insect Shadow

Han Li showed no expression on his face upon hearing this voice transmission, but inwardly, he was somewhat tempted.

However, before he could respond with his own transmission, his brows suddenly furrowed. He turned his head and spoke indifferently toward an empty space nearby, “Who’s sneaking around there?”

His words startled Yuan Yao and Yan Li, while the nearby high-level demonic creatures also stiffened before immediately glaring at the spot as if facing a formidable enemy.

“Haha, Fellow Daoist Han is truly remarkable. Jin’s concealment technique couldn’t deceive you after all.” A loud laugh echoed from the void, followed by a flash of golden light as a golden figure emerged—none other than Jin Ling, the golden-furred ape.

Though the ape laughed heartily, its gaze toward Han Li was icy cold.

Upon seeing the ape, Yuan Yao and Yan Li’s expressions changed. Having spent many years in the Abyssal Depths, they were well aware of this golden ape’s terrifying power. Even with their great confidence in Han Li, they absolutely did not believe he could contend with a peak Void Refinement-level existence.

With this ape and the dozen or so other high-level demonic creatures present, escaping was nothing more than a pipe dream.

“Congratulations, Brother Jin, for escaping danger safely! Han was separated from you in the mist and was quite worried. It seems my concerns were unnecessary. With Brother Jin’s cultivation, mere ghosts could never pose a threat,” Han Li said calmly, his eyes flickering.

“Though I have some means of self-preservation, they pale in comparison to Fellow Daoist Han’s. For a Spirit General like you to navigate the mist alone is truly admirable,” Jin Ling replied with a grin on its furry face.

“Han could never have managed this alone. I owe my escape to Fairy Yuan and Fellow Daoist Yan’s assistance,” Han Li shook his head.

“Even if the two fairies had a way to exit the mist, without Brother Han’s intervention, they likely wouldn’t have survived the horde of vengeful spirits,” Jin Ling remarked noncommittally.

Han Li smiled faintly and said no more, though his mind raced.

Though he was confident his abilities were no weaker than Jin Ling’s—and that he could even escape unscathed if the dozen high-level demonic creatures attacked—this confidence only applied when he was alone. If he had to protect Yuan Yao and Yan Li, his chances of success would drop below fifty percent. Such a risk wasn’t worth taking. Given the ever-changing and treacherous nature of the Netherworld River, it was better to wait for another opportunity.

In moments, Han Li made his decision and began casually chatting with Jin Ling.

Seeing that Han Li showed no signs of hostility, the golden ape relaxed and responded with a smile, as if the two were long-time friends.

As they spoke, a flash of green light appeared on the horizon—a streak of emerald radiance silently returning. Within the light was a slender figure: Mu Qing, riding atop golden flowers.

Han Li was momentarily startled but quickly recalled her teleportation-like movement technique and understood.

The green light flickered several times before stopping above Han Li and the others, revealing Mu Qing’s clear figure.

“Greetings, Master!” The golden ape immediately bowed respectfully.

“It’s fortunate that Elder Jin is unharmed,” Mu Qing said with visible relief upon seeing the ape.

“Thanks to the protective treasures you bestowed, Master, Jin Ling was able to survive the horde of ghosts. In the end, it was only with the help of Lord Six Legs and Lord Earth Blood that I escaped,” the ape replied respectfully.

“Hmm, the hurricane earlier was clearly Lord Six Legs’ doing. I never knew he was also skilled in wind-attribute techniques,” Mu Qing said slowly, her tone carrying an inexplicable nuance.

“Lord Six Legs’ abilities are indeed beyond expectations. But it was precisely because of this that we were able to eliminate the ghosts and puppets so easily,” Jin Ling said gravely.

“That’s true. In such a perilous place, the more techniques Lord Six Legs possesses, the better. Since I’ve already succeeded, the others shouldn’t take much longer,” Mu Qing nodded before glancing toward the horizon.

As if by coincidence, the moment she looked up, a flash of spiritual light appeared in the distance, followed by a billowing black cloud that roared toward them.

Moments later, the black cloud arrived like a shooting star, dissipating to reveal the white-haired beauty. Though she appeared unharmed, her aura was noticeably weaker than before, as if she had expended a great deal of energy.

She scanned the area and frowned.

“What? Lord Six Legs and Lord Earth Blood haven’t returned yet? With Six Legs’ power and Earth Blood’s assistance, how could they be slower than us?”

“I’m not sure. Perhaps they encountered some mishap. Sister Lan, where are your eight Ghost Kings? Didn’t they accompany you to hunt down that puppet?” Mu Qing asked curiously.

“The enemy self-destructed, severely injuring them. I’ve stored them in my Nether Cloud Pouch to recover. But if Lord Six Legs and the others truly run into trouble, with just the two of us left, obtaining the Netherworld River Divine Milk will be impossible,” the white-haired beauty explained, her expression troubled.

Mu Qing smiled faintly and was about to speak when a deafening explosion erupted from the direction Six Legs and the others had gone.

The sound was so immense that Mu Qing and the white-haired beauty exchanged startled glances.

“Could it be…?” the beauty muttered uncertainly.

Before she could finish, an ear-piercing screech erupted from the same direction.

The moment the sound reached Han Li’s ears, his vision darkened, and he plummeted from the sky.

“Damn it!”

Han Li immediately sealed his hearing and activated the Great Development Art within his body.

But to his shock, the screech seemed to bypass his sealed ears entirely, still piercing his consciousness. Though the Great Development Art was profound, it was forcibly interrupted mid-circulation, rendering it nearly ineffective.

Panicked, Han Li roared and unleashed a Soul-Piercing Spike on himself, momentarily freeing his mind from the screech’s influence and regaining control of his body.

With a quick incantation, arcs of golden lightning crackled across his body. He then clapped his hands together, unleashing a five-colored flame and a gray mist that formed a dual-layered barrier around him.

Under this protection, the screech’s impact lessened significantly, allowing Han Li to stabilize himself.

Glancing down, he saw Yuan Yao and Yan Li also plummeting, about to crash onto the jagged rocks below.

Without hesitation, Han Li reached out, and a gray mist transformed into countless crystalline threads that wrapped around the two women, pulling them back to his side. His barrier expanded to shield them as well, restoring some color to their pale faces and allowing them to float again.

Below, the dozen or so high-level demonic creatures had collapsed to the ground, writhing in agony as they clutched their ears. Despite their thick hides, they were utterly defenseless against the screech.

Han Li inhaled sharply and surveyed the others.

Jin Ling had already joined Mu Qing, standing atop golden flowers that shielded them from the screech. The white-haired beauty was enveloped in a swirling dark wind, seemingly unaffected.

However, all three were staring intently into the distance, where the screech grew louder and an unbelievable phenomenon appeared.

A colossal crimson insect silhouette emerged on the horizon, its massive form covering nearly half the sky. Its pitch-black compound eyes gleamed coldly as they swiveled, while its translucent wings fluttered like shimmering curtains. It resembled a gargantuan fly, magnified countless times.

The ear-splitting screech originated from its vibrating wings, which sent visible ripples through the air before vanishing—only to reappear as the torturous sound that reached Han Li.

At such a distance, the sound was already devastating. If one were closer, the mere fluttering of its wings could likely kill weaker cultivators outright.

But the insect wasn’t just flapping its wings—its compound eyes were also spewing countless thick crimson beams.

These beams crisscrossed in a dense web, covering the entire space below. Though Han Li couldn’t sense their power, the area beneath the beams had turned a fiery red, as if the very air had been ignited.

Beneath this crimson net, two figures desperately dodged the beams.

Though each was ten zhang tall, they appeared minuscule compared to the insect, making them easy to overlook at first glance.

Han Li’s eyes flashed with blue light, allowing him to see the two figures clearly.

One was the Purple Blood Puppet, now dozens of times smaller. The other, however, left Han Li utterly stunned.