Activating a True Treasure was far more difficult than using an ordinary Talisman Treasure, which was why Liu Jing had asked his fellow disciples to protect him. He had no intention of ending up like that unfortunate junior sister. Only after releasing a yellow ring-shaped magical instrument to circle around him did he feel secure enough to sit cross-legged and begin channeling spiritual power into the fiery bird True Treasure.
The crimson talisman in Liu Jing’s palm began to glow with an increasingly intense red light. The fiery bird depicted on it danced with growing agility and liveliness, as if it might leap off the talisman at any moment. It seemed that the moment the bird took form and flew out would mark the successful activation.
Though Han Li was locked in combat with the Ice Demon on the ground, he understood that his fellow disciples were preparing another method of attack. This put his mind at ease. His greatest fear had been that they would flee out of cowardice, leaving him alone to face the Black Fiend Cult Leader with no hope of obtaining what he sought.
With his concerns alleviated, Han Li could now focus entirely on his current opponent. Utilizing the Misty Step technique at his mid-Foundation Establishment level still placed a significant strain on his body, and he knew he couldn’t sustain such high-speed combat for long. He needed to risk everything in one decisive strike. As this thought crossed his mind, one hand brandished his silver sword while his body flickered incessantly, pressuring the Ice Demon relentlessly. With his other hand, he quietly hooked an object from his storage pouch with his finger and tightly wrapped it around his ring finger.
Once this was done, a flash of killing intent gleamed in his eyes. He brought his hands together, gripping the sword with both hands in a wide, open stance, and suddenly launched an extremely fierce overhead strike. The speed and ferocity of this blow far surpassed any of his previous attacks, causing the Ice Demon’s heart to clench in alarm. It hastily raised its crystalline ice claws in a cross-block while simultaneously leaping backward.
With a light *clang*, the Ice Demon let out a cold laugh, using the force of the blow to accelerate its backward flight, quickly putting distance between itself and Han Li. But a trace of mockery appeared on Han Li’s face.
Just as the Ice Demon sensed that something was wrong, Han Li released one hand from his sword and abruptly pulled back.
As a result, the Ice Demon’s backward momentum inexplicably halted. Then, against its will, it shot toward Han Li. By now, Han Li had resumed his two-handed grip on the sword, adopting a slashing posture, his expression utterly cold and detached.
The Ice Demon, horrified, struggled desperately, but it was too late. In the blink of an eye, it was right in front of Han Li. Han Li gave a slight tremble with his silver sword, and countless dense silver gleams flashed and vanished. The two figures passed each other in an instant, then reappeared under the moonlight. Han Li stood holding his sword, while the Ice Demon crashed heavily to the ground.
This scene was clearly witnessed by Song Meng and the others observing from above, and they grew tense with apprehension.
The Ice Demon staggered to its feet, glared at Han Li’s back, and let out a fierce grin. It was about to say something when its expression suddenly froze.
A series of crisp cracking sounds rang out. The Ice Demon’s transparent, ice-like body developed countless fine cracks. In moments, the cracks multiplied and lengthened, and the Ice Demon shattered into a pile of glittering ice fragments on the ground.
Amid the crystalline debris, a complete, sharp claw protruded halfway, its razor-sharp tip still emanating a chilling cold. Only this claw had withstood Han Li’s rapid slashes completely unharmed.
Han Li coldly glanced at the shattered Ice Demon, then looked up at the three increasingly dazzling blood-red cocoons, his brows furrowing tightly.
Without a word, he waved his hand and pulled, and the ice claw flew straight toward him.
Only under the reflection of the moonlight could one faintly see a transparent thread tightly connecting Han Li to the claw—this was the fatal reason for the Ice Demon’s death.
During their exchange, Han Li had stealthily manipulated the transparent thread on his ring finger to entangle the Ice Demon’s claw. Unfortunately, while the demon’s ice-transformed body had become transparent and hardened, it had also lost its sensitive tactile perception, allowing Han Li to easily succeed and claim its life.
Han Li lowered his head to examine the ice claw closely. After a moment of hesitation, he casually tossed it aside.
Though he knew that any material capable of withstanding strikes from a silver sword refined with “Silver Essence” would be exceptional for crafting artifacts, the thought that it had once been a human hand made his skin crawl. He couldn’t overcome his aversion and decided against keeping it.
He walked over to the Ice Demon’s remains and haphazardly sifted through the ice fragments with his silver sword, eventually hooking out a storage pouch. After a brief inspection, he carefully stored it away. Then, without a word, he flew upward to see what his fellow disciples were up to. The three Blood Servants were on the verge of emerging.
Unbeknownst to Han Li, at the very moment the Ice Demon perished, in a secret chamber beneath a rockery, a pale, middle-aged man with closed eyes suddenly opened blood-red pupils and murmured to himself, “The Ice Demon is dead? Good, saves me the trouble of dealing with it later.”
Having said this, he calmly closed his eyes again.
Lying horizontally before him was a emaciated skeleton, so gaunt it seemed to have not an ounce of flesh left, only skin stretched over bones. Judging by its attire, it appeared to be a cultivator from the Yellow Maple Valley.
…
As Han Li ascended on his artifact, before he could even speak, Song Meng and the others hurriedly gathered around him, their faces filled with awe and admiration, their words tinged with a trace of reverence. The dual cultivation partner of “Senior Sister Xue Hong” had red-rimmed eyes and an expression of immense gratitude.
Han Li offered a modest reply, then pointed curiously at the intensely glowing talisman in Liu Jing’s hand and asked about it.
One of them promptly explained the concept of a “True Treasure” to Han Li, delighting and reassuring him greatly.
Of course, Han Li had heard of True Treasures before, but he never expected Senior Brother Liu to possess one, let alone be willing to use it. Under normal circumstances, such treasures were life-saving measures reserved for dire emergencies.
Han Li and Liu Jing had different life experiences, so Han Li couldn’t fully grasp Liu Jing’s complex mindset or his apprehensions.
To Han Li, how others viewed him was irrelevant—as long as it didn’t affect his interests, it cost him nothing. Of course, if he could leave a favorable impression on others without much effort, he was happy to do so. But to maintain such an impression at the cost of using a treasure like a “True Treasure”? He would never be foolish enough to do such a thing.
Nevertheless, Liu Jing’s actions moved Han Li somewhat, even making him question if his previous beliefs were mistaken. Could there truly be “good people” in this world who would sacrifice themselves to eradicate evil?
Just as Han Li was feeling a twinge of guilt, a furious roar erupted from below, filled with bloodthirst and killing intent.
Han Li and the others were startled and quickly looked down.
One of the three blood-red cocoons had begun to swell and distort continuously, as if the Blood Servant inside was about to emerge at any moment.
Han Li’s heart sank. It seemed they would have to battle the other Blood Servants first to buy some time for Senior Brother Liu!
As he was about to take action, a calm voice sounded from behind the group.
“Senior brothers, please step aside. Allow me to eliminate these three demons.”
The voice brought looks of joy to everyone’s faces. Han Li quickly turned to look.
Liu Jing was smiling at them, a small, exquisite red bird flitting back and forth incessantly on his palm—utterly adorable. The intense heat that had surrounded them earlier had vanished without a trace.
“Is that the true form of the True Treasure?” Han Li asked in amazement, staring at the red bird.
“Thank you all for protecting me!”
Liu Jing rose slowly and floated gently to stand before Han Li and the others. Then, to their astonishment, he blew lightly on the bird in his hand. The fiery red bird let out a clear cry and flew off his palm, darting swiftly downward.
At that moment, the transforming cocoon below emitted a dull *thump* and split open of its own accord. Out stepped a demon enveloped in green light, its form strikingly similar to the semi-demonized Ice Demon, though its color was a deep cyan.
The demon’s face was unmistakably that of Priest Qing Wen, but now it was contorted with madness, as if he had lost his sanity.
He roared twice, looked up, and spotted the lightly fluttering red bird. His body froze abruptly, the madness on his face receding, replaced by an expression of extreme terror.
Panicked, he glanced around frantically, then suddenly glowed with intense green light and shot into the air, attempting to flee.
But at that very moment, the red bird emitted a sharp *crack* and expanded violently, transforming into a giant flame bird about ten feet in size. With a flap of its wings, it seemed to teleport, appearing suddenly behind the demonized Qing Wen from dozens of feet away, and lightly pecked with its sharp red beak.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage