“Oh! That’s perfect if there’s such a place. Let’s go. If we run into my enemies later, don’t engage in prolonged combat—just shake them off quickly.” Han Li nodded, storing away the puppet.
The two then activated their escape lights and shot toward the palace gate.
Given their cultivation levels, they reached the edge of the Arctic Divine Light in an instant. The flight-restriction formation reactivated, forcing them to descend and rely on body-lightening techniques to conserve energy.
Han Li scanned the area beyond the Arctic Divine Light with his spiritual sense and found no guards. This delighted him but also left him puzzled.
Calling out to Gui Ling, he stepped out of the Arctic Divine Light, holding the Yuan Gang Shield in one hand and the Three Flames Fan in the other, his expression unreadable.
After a cautious sweep of his surroundings confirmed no ambush, Han Li slowly exited the Kunwu Hall.
The outside remained eerily quiet, but the sight before him made his expression shift.
The vast plaza outside was littered with craters and shattered stones, as if a fierce battle had taken place. The scale of destruction suggested more than just two or three combatants.
Gui Ling emerged behind him and was equally stunned by the scene.
“What happened? Did those people turn on each other?” she muttered in confusion.
“Not necessarily. They might have clashed with the first wave of cultivators. Though we don’t know their origins, anyone capable of independently breaking Kunwu Mountain’s seal must be formidable,” Han Li replied calmly.
“That’s true. When the first group dismantled the mountain’s restrictions, I observed from afar. There were six or seven of them, and at least two had cultivation levels no weaker than mine,” Gui Ling sighed.
“Oh? Do you remember what they looked like?” Han Li’s curiosity was piqued. He had only seen one square-faced middle-aged man from the first group, who had managed to hold his own against Qian Laomo with just one treasure. Clearly, this faction was extraordinary.
“Those two were too powerful for me to approach closely. I only dared to scan them briefly with my spiritual sense,” Gui Ling shook her head.
Han Li felt a pang of disappointment. He had hoped to confirm whether the ancient demon had infiltrated the first group and to reclaim those two flying swords.
Now that he had Gui Ling and the humanoid puppet, he was confident enough to confront them directly, no longer needing to flee as before.
“Let’s go. Given their cultivation levels, defeating their opponents might not be difficult, but completely annihilating them would be another matter. They’ve likely chased each other elsewhere,” Han Li mused, his eyes flickering.
Though he spoke casually, he knew something unusual must have occurred. Otherwise, the Yin Luo Sect and the Tianlan Grassland cultivators—who had pursued him relentlessly—wouldn’t have left so easily.
Had the first wave of cultivators been so powerful as to force everyone to retreat?
But that didn’t make sense. If they had the upper hand, why wouldn’t they guard the palace gate to seize treasures?
His thoughts raced, but he couldn’t piece together an answer. Shaking his head, he decided to let it go.
Whatever had happened, he had achieved his goals. Now, he just needed to escape this maelstrom safely.
As for the two flying swords in the ancient demon’s possession, he could devise another plan later.
Having weighed the pros and cons, Han Li made his decision.
“Let’s go, Fellow Daoist Gui. Lead me to that hidden place you mentioned. We needn’t concern ourselves with the others. Who knows how many more cultivators will flood in here in a few days?” Han Li sneered, floating down from the stone platform.
Gui Ling forced a bitter smile and followed.
Along the way, signs of battle were everywhere—sword marks, charred wood, and other remnants of conflict.
The cultivators had clearly fought their way out.
“This is…”
Ahead, a massive chasm suddenly appeared. Han Li stepped forward, examining it with a frown.
The trench, over a hundred zhang long and thirty zhang deep, had been carved by a single strike from a blade-like treasure, splitting the entire stone staircase in two. The sheer power was staggering.
Even with his Greatsword Technique, Han Li doubted he could replicate such destruction.
“It seems these cultivators fought with deadly intent, unleashing such devastating techniques. The battle must have been far fiercer than expected,” Yin Yue’s voice echoed in his mind.
“Perhaps. But what does that have to do with me?” Han Li replied indifferently before lightly tapping the ground and floating over the chasm.
Gui Ling followed closely.
The moment his feet touched the ground, Han Li’s expression shifted. He turned sharply toward a large boulder nearby, his eyes glinting coldly.
“Which fellow Daoist is hiding there? Show yourself!” he barked.
A wisp of black mist shot out from behind the boulder, carrying what appeared to be an infantile figure—an Nascent Soul.
“Hmm?”
Han Li was surprised but had no intention of letting it escape. Given that every faction in this mountain seemed hostile, there was no need for courtesy.
With a thunderous crackle, he vanished, reappearing in front of the black mist in a flash of silver lightning.
Hovering mid-air, he raised a hand and pressed forward.
A massive azure hand materialized, reaching down to seize the Nascent Soul.
The Nascent Soul panicked, its black mist swelling as it attempted to teleport away.
But its injuries from earlier battles had weakened it severely, delaying its escape.
Han Li, having dealt with countless Nascent Souls, was well-versed in trapping them.
As the Nascent Soul began its teleportation, Han Li smirked.
Golden arcs erupted from the azure hand’s fingers, forming a net that enveloped the area just as the Nascent Soul blurred into motion—only to collide headfirst into the Divine Devilbane Lightning.
A deafening explosion scattered the black mist, leaving the Nascent Soul wobbling precariously.
The azure hand seized it effortlessly and returned to Han Li.
After a brief inspection, Han Li smiled coldly at the terrified Nascent Soul before descending in a streak of azure light.
The hand followed, depositing the Nascent Soul beside him.
“It’s him?” Gui Ling’s eyes widened slightly in recognition.
Though lacking a body, the Nascent Soul’s features unmistakably belonged to one of the black-robed elders from the Yin Luo Sect. Somehow, he had been reduced to this state and hidden behind the boulder.
“Fellow Daoist Han, what do you intend? I bear you no grudge and played no part in your pursuit!” the Nascent Soul pleaded in a trembling voice once the hand loosened slightly.
“Relax. When did I say I’d harm you?” Han Li replied coolly. “I merely wish to know what happened outside. Who were you and the Tianlan Grassland cultivators fighting? Why did you abandon the palace gate? And did you see the two women and the Silver-winged Nightfiends who exited the hall?”
The Nascent Soul, relieved by Han Li’s calm demeanor, hurriedly answered, “Shortly after you entered, the Ye Family cultivators arrived, led by their Grand Elder. They attacked us on sight. Under Fellow Daoist Xu’s command, we barely held our ground. But then, the Demon-Subduing Pagoda suddenly trembled, and half the mountain collapsed around it, as if the entire structure had sunk into the earth. And—”
Here, the Nascent Soul hesitated, but a sharp look from Han Li prompted it to continue, “—a radiant light erupted from the pagoda, accompanied by deafening Buddhist chants. Someone shouted ‘Heavenconnecting Spiritual Treasure,’ and everyone, including the two women from the Hua Xian Sect and the Silver-winged Nightfiends, rushed toward it. I stayed behind to inform the Grand Elder.”
“A Heavenconnecting Spiritual Treasure? Truly?” Han Li’s eyes widened.
“I can’t confirm it, but the phenomenon was unlike any ordinary treasure. And with Fellow Daoist Xu and the Ye Family Grand Elder—both late-stage cultivators—rushing over, it’s likely genuine. As for my body… it was destroyed by that bastard Four Scattered Realms. He ambushed me with a blood-red blade that drained my essence in an instant. Had I not abandoned my body and teleported, even my Nascent Soul would’ve been consumed.”
“What kind of blade could do that?” Han Li frowned skeptically.
“I’ve never seen its like. But in shape and power, it resembled the legendary Demon Dragon Blade—though if it were truly that artifact, I’d never have escaped.”
“The Demon Dragon Blade?!” Han Li’s face paled.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage