Upon hearing mentions of “Han Li” and “Tiannan,” the elderly Fu and Bai Yaoyi both showed a hint of surprise, casting puzzled glances at Han Li.
Han Li, however, merely stared at the five white figures in the distance, his expression dark and silent.
After all, he had personally slain a mid-Nascent Soul elder of the Yin Luo Sect and even seized one of their sect’s treasured artifacts, the Ghost Luo Banner. There was no possibility of reconciliation now. Moreover, he had originally intended to obtain the Soul-Sealing Curse’s counter-spell from the Yin Luo Sect—a technique known only to the sect leader and the Great Elder before him.
Thus, Han Li had already planned to target the Yin Luo Sect after this matter was settled.
Now that he had unexpectedly encountered them here, Han Li quickly considered the feasibility of a direct confrontation. Given that both were high-ranking figures in the Yin Luo Sect, opportunities to catch them alone were rare.
Though he had recently fought a Silver-Winged Nightfiend comparable to a late-Nascent Soul cultivator, the creature had lacked proper magic treasures and was restrained by seals, nearly allowing Han Li to kill it. Yet, Han Li had not exhausted all his means, holding back his humanoid puppet. Against this late-Nascent Soul demonic cultivator, he still believed he had a chance of victory.
Additionally, despite the infamous reputation of the Five Devils of One Heart, his Evil-Warding Divine Thunder remained supremely effective in suppressing demonic techniques.
As Han Li rapidly weighed the pros and cons, the central figure among the five white shadows suddenly formed a hand seal, its body flashing with gray light. A gray-robed cultivator emerged from the shadow, appearing so abruptly it seemed ghostly.
The gray-robed cultivator’s face was obscured by a faint gray mist, but his graying hair and attire marked him as an elderly man.
The true form of Elder Qian had separated from his possessed devil and revealed itself.
This sudden development alarmed not only Han Li but also Fu and Bai Yaoyi, who fixed their gazes on the elder, waiting to see his intentions.
Yet the elder did not speak. Instead, he slapped his waist, producing a pitch-black banner, which he lightly waved toward the trio.
Fu’s expression changed drastically, immediately gripping a treasure. Bai Yaoyi’s body radiated cold light, instantly enveloping her in protective spiritual energy. Han Li, however, merely raised an eyebrow, his expression growing even colder.
“Strange… very strange…” The banner flashed with black light but produced no further anomalies, prompting Elder Qian to mutter in apparent confusion.
“Brother Qian, what is the meaning of this? Drawing the Ghost Luo Banner—do you intend to fight? Are you trying to provoke a war between our sects?” Fu, though wary of Elder Qian, was emboldened by their numbers—three mid-Nascent Soul cultivators, especially Han Li, whose abilities were unfathomable.
“A sect war? I have no interest in that. I merely have unfinished business with Fellow Daoist Han. If the two of you leave now, I won’t trouble you,” Elder Qian replied calmly, his gaze sweeping over them.
“Your words align with my thoughts. I’ve long heard of the Five Devils of One Heart and would like to test their might!” Han Li chuckled, his tone light as if discussing a casual spar.
Fu and Bai Yaoyi exchanged glances at this exchange.
Elder Qian, too, seemed surprised, his icy gaze lingering on Han Li.
“Brother Qian, while I know there’s bad blood between you and Fellow Daoist Han, acting rashly here is unwise. Wouldn’t you rather explore this mountain first?” Fu frowned, attempting to mediate.
His concern wasn’t for Han Li’s sake but for their alliance in navigating the perilous Kunwu Mountain. Losing Han Li would leave him vulnerable to Elder Qian’s whims.
“I will explore this mountain, but Fellow Daoist Han has long been sought by our sect. I cannot let him go. Unless… Brother Fu wishes to interfere?” Elder Qian sneered.
“Outside this mountain, I wouldn’t meddle in your dispute. But here, the three of us must work together. I cannot allow you to act as you please,” Bai Yaoyi declared firmly after a moment’s hesitation.
Like Fu, she feared losing Han Li’s support in this dangerous place. More importantly, having witnessed Han Li’s prowess, she doubted he truly feared Elder Qian.
Faced with their unexpected defiance, the gray-robed elder’s eyes flashed with cold light, his gaze chilling to the bone.
Yet neither Fu nor Bai Yaoyi were ordinary cultivators. Though inwardly startled, they showed no outward fear.
“Fine. Out of respect for you two, I can postpone this matter. But a treasure of our sect remains in his possession. He must return it now. Otherwise, even at the cost of my vitality, I will fight all three of you,” Elder Qian said coldly.
“A treasure? You mean the Ghost Luo Banner?” Han Li scoffed.
“Precisely. After our fourth elder fell in Tiannan, that banner fell into your hands. Return it, and I’ll spare you—for now,” Elder Qian growled.
“Spare me? How generous. I’ll return it, but on one condition. Care to hear it?” Han Li tilted his head, a mocking smile playing on his lips.
“A condition? You killed our elder, stole our sect’s treasure, and dare dictate terms? Do you think I won’t kill you?” Elder Qian erupted in furious laughter. The five white shadows behind him surged forward, positioning themselves before him.
Tension spiked instantly.
Fu, listening in astonishment, wore a peculiar expression.
The disappearance of the Yin Luo Sect’s fourth elder was known among the Ten Great Demonic Sects, including the Nine Serenities Sect. But he never imagined the culprit was Han Li, who had also taken the Ghost Luo Banner. No wonder Elder Qian refused to let this go, even at an inopportune time.
As for Han Li concealing his origins—being from Tiannan rather than overseas—that was trivial in comparison.
“Return it? How simple. Do you know why your fourth elder came to Tiannan and targeted my companion? Do you think I’d hand it over so easily?” Han Li’s voice turned icy.
“I care not for why he went to Tiannan or how he died. But our sect’s treasure must be reclaimed. Our dignity is at stake,” Elder Qian snapped.
“So, you won’t even hear my condition?” Han Li’s pupils contracted, his gaze turning venomous.
“Conditions? If you were a great elder of the Ten Sects, perhaps. But a mere Tiannan cultivator? You’re unworthy!” Elder Qian threw his head back in laughter, his aura erupting with murderous intent as he merged into one of the white shadows.
The five shadows glowed with gray light, their previously lifeless eyes now burning with bloodlust, radiating danger.
“Damn it! I forgot—this old devil cultivates the ‘Heart-Severing Great Law.’ It thrives on impulsiveness. Our threats only provoked him!” Fu exclaimed in realization, regret flashing across his face.
Bai Yaoyi frowned, summoning an ice-crystal flying blade that circled above her.
Han Li remained calm, narrowing his eyes. His hidden hand gripped the Three Flames Fan, while the other rested on his storage pouch, his spiritual sense locking onto his puppet.
He had resolved to unleash his deadliest strikes the moment battle began, exploiting the distraction Fu and Bai Yaoyi provided to cripple Elder Qian.
Even if he couldn’t kill him outright, damaging his cultivation would pave the way for future confrontations.
Nangong Wan’s Soul-Sealing Curse weighed heavily on Han Li’s mind. Only by obtaining the true counter-spell could he rest easy—even if it meant exile from the Great Jin and eternal pursuit by the Yin Luo Sect.
As the five devil-children emitted eerie wails, their forms blurred into wisps of smoke, poised to lunge.
But then—
A deafening explosion erupted from the spot where the white shadows had emerged. A blinding silver light burst forth, followed by the whistling of nearly ten streaks of light shooting out.
The radiance dimmed, revealing a crowd of figures.
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