Long Dong, who seemed to effortlessly annihilate the two green shadows, silently flicked the blood sword in his hand.
Instantly, the sword dissolved, transforming into a stream of deep crimson essence blood that vanished along the palm gripping it.
He exhaled heavily, his face first flushing red before turning deathly pale, as if he had lost too much blood.
Quickly retrieving a scarlet medicine bottle from his storage bracelet, he swallowed a crimson pill. Not daring to linger, Long Dong immediately summoned a streak of light and shot into the distance.
Elsewhere in the desert, a white-robed maiden stood gracefully atop a sand dune. A few yards away lay four cold corpses.
The bodies bore no visible wounds, yet they lay motionless, devoid of all vitality.
The girl caressed a milky-white, long-necked jade bottle with one hand, a mysterious smile playing on her lips. Suddenly, she transformed into a golden streak and soared into the sky, vanishing without a trace after a few flashes.
Tens of thousands of miles away, a green-white lightning arc flickered in and out of existence as it streaked across the sky. Behind it, a mass of black mist floated, seemingly slow yet somehow keeping pace, impossible to shake off.
The two raced across hundreds of miles in an instant. Suddenly, the black mist trembled and disappeared, only to reappear moments later a short distance ahead, continuing its relentless pursuit.
The green-white lightning arc responded in kind, stretching into a white thread and instantly widening the gap once more.
Thus, the chase continued.
Within the green-white lightning arc, a winged figure occasionally flickered into view—Han Li.
His brows were tightly furrowed, his expression grim.
Not long ago, he had noticed the old Taoist within the black mist closing in. Immediately, he pushed his Wind Lightning Wings and Gale Nine Transformations to their limits, maximizing his speed.
Yet the black mist, of unknown origin, not only matched his pace but also possessed teleportation abilities.
Despite the vast distance covered, Han Li couldn’t widen the gap.
Though the desert was expansive, it was frequented by foreign races. If this chase continued, attracting more of them would only invite greater trouble.
As for the Blood Shadow Escape technique, which severely drained his vitality, he had used it recently and was reluctant to employ it again unless absolutely necessary. The desert was fraught with dangers, and he still needed to enter the “One-Line Sky” soon—he couldn’t afford to weaken himself further.
It seemed his only option was to confront the Shadow Clan pursuer.
The fact that this being could possess a mid-stage Void Refinement cultivator suggested it held significant status among the Shadow Clan, likely a Red Shadow equivalent to the Void Refinement level.
Facing such a high-ranking entity, Han Li might have hesitated if it were another race. But against the Shadow Clan, he was confident. He had mastered several techniques specifically designed to counter them.
Moreover, since joining Tianyuan City, he had cultivated new treasures and techniques, none of which he had yet fully tested. Their true power remained unknown, but they were undoubtedly formidable—perfect for testing on this Red Shadow.
His mind racing, Han Li halted abruptly after another teleportation, his wings fluttering as he came to a standstill.
The black mist, hurtling forward, closed the distance to within a hundred yards, showing no signs of stopping as it surged toward him.
This was no surprise.
The Shadow Clan’s signature ability was forcibly devouring the souls and essence of other races, seizing control of their bodies and inheriting most of their abilities.
But Han Li had no intention of letting it get close. Without a word, he rubbed his hands together and thrust them outward.
A deafening thunderclap erupted as a golden arc as thick as a bowl shot from his palms, striking toward the black mist with unexpected speed.
A faint exclamation sounded as the black mist flickered and vanished into the void.
Han Li snorted coldly. A blood-red fissure split his brow, revealing the Annihilation Eye, which shot forth a black thread that likewise disappeared.
A thunderous explosion followed as space trembled violently dozens of yards away. The old Taoist reappeared, enveloped in black mist, his expression one of shock.
“Annihilation Eye! You’ve actually cultivated this technique!”
Han Li’s lips twitched, but he remained silent. With a mental command, the golden arc curved sharply, reappearing behind the Taoist and striking down with brutal force.
The Taoist barely had time to react when Han Li’s eyes flashed blue, and he uttered a sharp command.
Though the sound was soft, it struck the Taoist’s ears like a colossal bell. His mind seared with pain, his body freezing momentarily.
The golden lightning struck the black mist, sending countless tendrils of golden light dancing through it, causing the mist to churn violently.
A pained, monstrous croak erupted from within the mist as it coalesced beneath the Taoist’s feet, forming a two-headed beast—snake-headed and frog-bodied—its four crimson eyes glaring at Han Li with fury.
Han Li was momentarily stunned.
The black mist protecting the Taoist was actually a monstrous creature—something he hadn’t anticipated.
“Good, very good! For a mere Divine Transformation cultivator to shake my spirit, your technique is quite intriguing. Why not try it again?” The Taoist, having withstood the lightning strike, steadied himself, his gaze icy.
Han Li frowned. The beast beneath the Taoist had absorbed the full force of the lightning. Otherwise, given the Shadow Clan’s vulnerability to thunder, such a direct hit from the Evil-Suppressing Divine Lightning should have left visible damage.
As for repeating the Soul-Shaking Thorn attack, that would be foolish. Such techniques only worked when unexpected. Against an opponent with stronger spiritual power, it would be ineffective.
Without wasting words, Han Li raised a pitch-black palm and pressed it toward the Taoist.
The air above the Taoist rippled as a small black mountain materialized.
With a spin, the mountain expanded to a hundred yards in height, its base radiating gray light as rings of gray energy cascaded downward.
The Taoist’s expression darkened. With a flick of his sleeve, a translucent half-foot dagger appeared in his hand.
A single slash sent a blinding blade aura upward.
A sharp tearing sound followed as the blade aura clashed with the gray rings, dispersing them before striking the mountain’s base.
A resonant, bell-like boom echoed.
The mountain remained unmoved, while the blade aura shattered.
Before the Taoist could react, Han Li’s other hand—pale as jade—extended, five skeletal rings appearing on his fingers.
Five enormous skulls materialized around the Taoist, each spewing a torrent of freezing flames that merged into a five-colored inferno, engulfing him instantly.
The Taoist’s smug expression vanished as the flames touched him. Crimson light erupted from his body, countless sword beams slashing outward to form a massive red lotus.
The lotus spun, dispersing the five-colored flames harmlessly.
Han Li’s expression darkened. With a hand seal, the five skulls roared and swelled in size, lunging at the lotus.
Sharp whistles sounded as five blade auras shot from the lotus, bisecting the skulls in flashes of light.
The lotus then exploded, scattering the five-colored flames and revealing the unharmed Taoist.
The skulls wailed as they reformed, their cries now tinged with fear.
Han Li exhaled slowly and gestured toward the distant mountain.
With a thunderous rumble, the mountain plummeted downward.
Yet the Taoist remained unfazed. A light tap of his foot sent the twin snake heads of his mount spewing thick red tongues that struck the descending mountain.
A deafening crash echoed as the mountain was knocked aside.
Han Li’s pupils contracted. The “red tongues” were actually the beast’s forked tongues, capable of such force that they could repel the Magnetic Divine Mountain.
With a grimace, Han Li clenched his fists. The black mountain and skulls vanished.
His hands returned to their normal hue.
“Tch, boy. You’ve got quite the arsenal, but with your level of cultivation, challenging me is delusional. Since you’re out of tricks, hand over your body.”
The Taoist seemed impatient. Without visible movement, the twin snake heads of his mount shrieked.
An invisible wave rippled outward, covering miles in an instant.
Multicolored lights flickered as countless monstrous apparitions materialized—some as large as hills, others mere yards tall—all grotesque and reeking of bloodlust, encircling Han Li with malevolent intent.
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