Chapter 1389: Battle of the Wood Spirit

Suddenly, his expression changed dramatically, revealing an incredulous look.

“It’s actually him! Given his speed and the strength of his divine sense, once locked on, escape is impossible. The Taiyi Transformation Talisman likely won’t work against him either. But his aura is much weaker than before—it seems he’s also severely injured. Back then, Qing Yuanzi, with his Void Refinement cultivation, used the Great Geng Sword Formation to fight a Body Integration cultivator. Though my cultivation isn’t as high, against someone whose power has dropped so much, if I prepare in advance, I might be able to trap him. Besides, I still have other trump cards—it’s not like I have no chance at all.” Han Li’s thoughts raced, and he felt a pang of regret for parting ways with Ye Chu and the other woman so quickly. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be facing this crisis now.

But Han Li was no ordinary man. Once he made his decision, he didn’t hesitate. A flash of cyan light enveloped him, and his escape light shot downward.

After a few flickers, he abruptly appeared atop a small hill.

Without a word, he flicked his sleeve, and seventy-two golden flying swords shot out. With a series of hand seals, they transformed into hundreds of golden sword lights, scattering and vanishing into concealment.

He had set up the Great Geng Sword Formation here once again.

Next, Han Li touched the back of his head, and a vast gray radiance surged skyward. As the light dispersed, it formed a hazy gray barrier around him. At the same time, he flicked his other sleeve, and five white skeletal skulls materialized before him. With a breath, five types of extreme cold flames appeared, merging outside the gray radiance into a swirling five-colored blaze.

Standing within, Han Li formed hand seals, and the flames condensed into a thick five-colored ring, spinning rapidly around him.

Almost simultaneously, thunder rumbled behind him as a pair of cyan-white feathered wings unfurled.

After completing these preparations, Han Li clasped his hands behind his back, his expression grave as he stared fixedly at the distant sky.

In just moments, a flash of spiritual light appeared in the distance—a silver sphere streaking through the air toward him. After a few flickers, it hovered above the hill where Han Li stood.

The light dimmed, revealing a figure shrouded in green mist, wearing a pale silver belt.

It was none other than the high-ranking Silver-rank Wood Spirit from the Blackleaf Forest.

Han Li’s pupils contracted as he scrutinized the figure over a dozen times.

Outwardly, this Silver-rank Wood Spirit appeared unchanged from their encounter in the Blackleaf Forest, but its spiritual pressure had diminished by more than half, clearly indicating severe injuries.

Han Li exhaled slowly, his tension easing slightly.

Had his initial sensing been wrong and the Wood Spirit remained unharmed, he would have fled without hesitation, not lingering for even a moment.

Yet, it wasn’t surprising that this Silver-rank Wood Spirit was heavily injured.

Han Li had witnessed the terrifying power of Ye Ying’s transformed Heavenly Phoenix form, a force far surpassing this high-ranking Wood Spirit. The Wood Spirit must have engaged in a fierce battle with her before ending up in this state.

But for it to stubbornly pursue him despite its injuries was unexpected.

Abandoning Ye Ying and the other woman to target him instead likely meant it had learned its lesson and dared not chase them further. Now, it sought to make up for its losses by capturing him.

In an instant, Han Li pieced together the Wood Spirit’s motives, feeling a surge of frustration.

The Silver-rank Wood Spirit’s emerald eyes swept over Han Li, and without a word, it suddenly threw a punch from a distance.

A piercing shriek tore through the air as an immense force silently slammed into Han Li’s defenses.

The five-colored ring trembled violently, and the gray barrier distorted. Han Li staggered back several steps, his face flashing with cyan light multiple times before he steadied himself.

His expression darkened.

That single strike had carried the force of tens of thousands of pounds. Only someone with his monstrous physical strength could withstand it—an ordinary cultivator, even at the Void Refinement stage, would have been severely injured if caught off guard.

The Silver-rank Wood Spirit was indeed more fearsome than the legends suggested.

“Hmm?”

A surprised sound escaped the green figure in the distance, seemingly taken aback that Han Li had withstood its attack so easily. Realizing Han Li wasn’t as weak as expected, it snorted coldly and took a step forward.

Bathed in silver light, the Wood Spirit flickered like a phantom, closing the distance to within ten zhang of Han Li. At the same time, a bizarre green wooden armor materialized on its body, its surface shimmering with silver light as countless sharp spikes of varying lengths sprouted forth, transforming the once-placid Wood Spirit into a nightmarish sight.

Han Li’s pupils shrank. With a flick of his wings, he vanished in a streak of cyan-white lightning, reappearing thirty zhang away. Already, his hands were forming seals, and his lips moved in silent incantations.

The Wood Spirit didn’t hesitate. It took another step, its form blurring as it charged again.

But with a soft “sizzle,” as it advanced another ten zhang, seven or eight gleaming golden threads materialized without warning, slashing toward it.

Startled, the Wood Spirit instinctively lashed out with five green rays from its fingers.

A series of dull thuds followed as the green rays clashed with the golden threads, their energies locked in a stalemate.

The Wood Spirit’s eyes flashed with surprise. Its other hand spread wide, releasing five more green rays to join the assault.

Yet at that moment, golden light flickered all around as countless golden threads emerged, appearing inches from the Wood Spirit’s body. With a weave, they threatened to slice it into pieces.

The threads moved with such speed that the Wood Spirit, still uncertain of their nature, dared not risk direct contact. Its body twisted, and another identical green figure appeared seven or eight zhang away.

The golden threads sliced through the original figure, reducing it to countless fragments that dissipated—revealing it to be nothing more than an afterimage.

Now, the Silver-rank Wood Spirit realized that these golden threads weren’t just in front of it—they were emerging from all directions, slowly closing in with a chilling gleam.

“A sword formation!” The Wood Spirit’s voice rang out in astonishment.

Without pause, it pressed its palms together, conjuring a blinding silver light between them. As it pulled them apart, countless silver rays erupted in a deafening explosion, colliding with the dense web of golden threads.

A thunderous roar filled the air as gold and silver intertwined, erupting into bursts of dazzling light.

These silver rays, some unknown technique of the Wood Spirit, shattered the golden threads inch by inch, as if their power surpassed even that of the sword formation.

Seizing the opportunity, the Wood Spirit transformed into a green streak, attempting to escape the formation.

True to its Silver-rank status, it reappeared fifty or sixty zhang away in an instant, on the verge of breaking free.

But just then, a thunderclap sounded. Han Li, wreathed in cyan-white lightning, materialized from the void. Without hesitation, he struck out with his fists—one black, one white—their trajectories erratic yet carrying terrifying force.

The Wood Spirit, unable to react in time, continued its charge, but its arms lashed out, ten green rays intertwining into a storm of claw-like strikes.

Two earth-shaking explosions followed as fist and claw collided. The force sent both figures reeling backward.

By the time the Wood Spirit steadied itself, furious and alarmed, the golden threads had already reformed, surging toward it once more.

Forced back to its original position, the Wood Spirit’s eyes darkened with malice.

A growing sense of unease settled over it—perhaps pursuing this human cultivator had been a mistake.

As it feared, no matter what formidable techniques it unleashed afterward, each time it breached the sword formation, Han Li’s relentless attacks with his treasures and fists drove it back.

And with each momentary delay, the shattered threads would regenerate, restoring the formation’s power.

Given Han Li’s physical strength and monstrous power, even the Wood Spirit’s innate resilience couldn’t shake him off in a single clash to escape the formation.

Of course, this was only possible because the Wood Spirit was severely injured, its power halved. At full strength, it could have sacrificed some vitality to unleash unique secret arts, rendering Han Li’s efforts futile.

But for now, the Great Geng Sword Formation had the high-ranking Wood Spirit firmly trapped.

Within the formation, the countless golden threads were nearly fully closed.

The Wood Spirit’s eyes flickered as it sensed its dire predicament. Suddenly, it stood motionless at the formation’s center. The silver light on its wooden armor pulsed, and all its spikes began to emit a low hum, vibrating faintly.

Han Li’s heart raced. He channeled more spiritual power, hastening the sword formation’s assault.

At that moment, the Wood Spirit threw back its head and let out a piercing howl. Its armor trembled, and the silver spikes shot outward like endless volleys of arrows.

Silver light filled the formation, accompanied by the relentless sound of slicing air and deafening explosions as gold and silver clashed.

Han Li gasped at the sight.

But it wasn’t over. As the Wood Spirit continued releasing spikes, its body suddenly swelled, turning a vivid emerald green. Behind it, the phantom of an ancient tree, ten zhang tall, materialized. Its dense branches and leaves sprouted wildly, expanding in all directions.