As Qing Wen was hesitating on what action to take, Han Li had finished casting his technique.
“Giant Sword Technique.”
Han Li said those words with an ice-cold tone.
Soon after, the magic tools that were spiralling above Qing Wen released a blinding radiance.
In that tri-colored radiance, the gold, black, and red streaks had intertwined, forming a huge sword of light that spanned over thirty meters in midair.
This “Giant Sword Technique” was something he had learned from the Azure Essence Sword Technique written compilation, the golden page. This was also the only sword controlling technique that he could use with his Foundation Establishment cultivation. Naturally, its might was beyond ordinary.
Although Qing Wen and Senior Martial Brother Wang were locked in combat with their magic tools, they both revealed expressions of astonishment. Even an idiot could tell just how immensely powerful Han Li’s technique was.
Qing Wen inwardly complained without end, immediately abandoning the two golden rings. Instead, he hurriedly searched himself and took out a shiny brass mirror.
At this moment, Han Li pointed at the huge sword of light with an ice-cold expression.
The huge sword fiercely chopped down from the sky without sound. The crushing blow was about to break through barrier and man with astonishing grandeur.
Upon seeing this, Senior Martial Brother Wang had forgotten to take advantage of Qing Wen’s moment of distraction to destroy his golden rings. Instead, he was mesmerized while staring at the huge sword’s heaven stunning might.
His entire mind was occupied with the thoughts of whether or not he would be able to withstand such a strike.
As the target of the attack, Daoist Priest Qing Wen’s expression grew extremely solemn, and he hastily tossed the brass mirror above him.
The brass mirror quickly flew out of the light barrier and flashed, producing a yellow cloud about three meters wide above him. In the blink of an eye, it solidified into a huge shield that continuously revolved above him.
Han Li’s complexion sunk as he formed an incantation gesture with his hand. The huge sword of light thunderously roared and chopped down with even more astonishing might, reaching the brass shield in an instant.
Along with the sound of an immense explosion, the shield released an immense yellow radiance. But underneath the huge sword’s fierce blow, it was only able to endure for a short moment before releasing a wail as it broke into pieces.
With nothing left to stop the sword of light, it chopped down on the azure prism barrier, causing it to groan underneath the huge sword’s immense pressure.
Seeing the huge sword’s astonishing might, Qing Wen’s expression finally became panicked.
His hands flickered with azure light before he quickly pressed them against opposite sides of the prism barrier. He then did his utmost to pour spiritual power into the Azurewood True Barrier in an attempt to strengthen its defensive power.
The three-colored light released by the huge sword strained the azure light barrier underneath it, causing the barrier to produce a crackle. With Qing Wen’s desperate assistance, the Azurewood True Barrier managed to withstand the might of the light sword’s downward chop.
In the following moment, Han Li expedited his magic techniques. He wished to use the huge sword to forcefully break through the light barrier and kill him as revenge for his previous betrayal. On the other side, Qing Wen was madly pouring Spiritual Power into the light barrier in an attempt to exhaust the sword’s strength and save his life.
At this moment, Senior Martial Brother Wang finally came to his senses and quickly destroyed the two golden rings with ease. He then commanded his three streaks of light to strike Qing Wen in a relentless charge, clearly understanding that Han Li was stuck in a deadlock with Qing Wen.
So long as he provided even the slightest assistance, he would be the final straw that would tip the scales and overwhelm the enemy, easily killing this formidable opponent. With this, he would be entitled to a significant share of this Blood Servant’s treasure when the time came.
With that thought, the fire in his heart became even more fervent.
But as Senior Martial Brother Wang was dreaming, Qing Wen’s complexion greatly changed, and a streak of yellow light shot toward Qing Wen at the speed of lightning. In the following instant, he had disappeared from his original location, allowing Han Li’s tri-colored sword of light to strike at the ground and create a large hole three meters deep.
Senior Martial Brother Wang’s three streaks of green light naturally missed its target, causing him to glance in the direction of the yellow streak of light with alarm and anger.
As expected, Daoist Priest Qing Wen’s light barrier appeared nearly a hundred meters away. A yellow-clothed youth with a lazy appearance stood by his side. He looked at Senior Martial Brother Wang and said with complete calm, “This person had previously saved my life. Could your esteemed self not kill him off so lightly?”
After he said this, he chuckled and continued, looking at Han Li with a smile, “Brother Han, I truly didn’t think that we’d one day meet again. Wu Jiuzhi pays his respects.”
The unperturbed youth was that young cultivator Wu Jiuzhi who had attempted to pickpocket Han Li that previous year at the Great South Meeting. However, at this moment, his body was faintly emitting a strange yellow light and his cultivation had reached the early Foundation Establishment stage. [1]
“Jiuzhi, this person walks an entirely different path from us. Why must you speak so much? Since you’ve come, all four of us can now fight.” Daoist Priest Qing Wen retracted his previously thrilled expression and couldn’t help but resentfully look at Han Li.
When Wu Jiuzhi heard this, he sighed and didn’t speak any further with Han Li.
When Qing Wen saw this, he suddenly made two long whistles followed by a short whistle.
When Tie Luo and the Ice Demon heard this, they revealed pleasant surprise. They immediately leapt out of the Yellow Maple Valley’s joint attack and flew toward Qing Wen and Wu Jiuzhi.
“What going on? Another one has appeared! This is going to be troublesome.”
When Liu Jing saw the sudden appearance of Wu Jiuzhi, he immediately understood the battle’s circumstances had shifted and couldn’t help but wrinkle his brow.
Now that four of these truly unordinary Blood Servants had gathered together, it was clear to Liu Jing that the situation had become more difficult to deal with. In the previous battle against the two Blood Servants with his group of five, they weren't able to even injure one of them. Even with their advantage of numbers, they had only been able to gain the upper hand.
With that thought, Liu Jing prudently called out for Han Li and Senior Martial Brother Wang to stand beside them.
As Han Li looked at Wu Jiuzhi who had just appeared, he felt an indescribable feeling in his heart. During that year, he had quite a favorable impression of that strange, spirited youth. However, gods make fools of men and now the two had no choice but to fight to the death.
“Demon Transformation.”
Qing Wen and the other Blood Servants realized that by relying on ordinary means, they would be unable to win against Han Li’s group, as they were outnumbered nearly two to one.
Following Qing Wen’s cold declaration, their bodies all released a blood-red radiance. They then transformed into four cocoons of blood-red light, and began their demon transformation, intending to eliminate Han Li’s group in a single move.
[1]. Han Li met Wu Jiuzhi at the Great South Meeting. At the time, he had attempted to pickpocket him.
Chapter 320: Broken Cocoon
When the Yellow Maple Valley cultivators saw this, they were reminded of what Han Li had told them about the Blood Servants’ Demonic Transformation. They all knew that during their transformation, the Blood Servants would become easy, stationary targets. Thus, they launched magic tools and techniques, assaulting the four cocoons of light without restraint.
Naturally, they wouldn’t let go of an opportunity like this to subdue the enemy.
Unfortunately, as Han Li had said, the light spheres were incredibly hard. Despite the violent storm of attacks, the cocoons remained intact. They didn’t appear to be even slightly damaged, causing the faces of the Yellow Maple Valley cultivators to become unsightly.
“Everyone, if you have any last resorts, use them! Do not hold back! If you don’t use them now, we will be in dire straits when they emerge from their cocoons!”
With that said, Liu Jing immediately withdrew his magic tools and solemnly took out a golden talisman, pressing it between his two hands. He started muttering a mysterious incantation, causing the talisman to radiate with inceasingly dazzling golden light.
Although Han Li didn’t know what grade that talisman was, he grew alarmed upon seeing it. Since Liu Jing, a mid Foundation Establishment cultivator, required an incantation to activate it, it meant that this talisman was no common item.
When the others saw this, they looked at each other and then revealed their hidden capabilities.
The most eye-catching among them were Song Meng and Chen Qiaoqian’s Senior Martial Sister. They both took out an inscribed treasure talisman and then immediately sat down to activate them. Blue and grey radiance emitted from their treasure talismans, causing those who looked on to feel envious.
Treasure talismans aren’t easy to acquire for Foundation Establishment cultivators, even with the backing of a large clan. Only those who were looked upon with great affection by their seniors would be granted them. Otherwise, with merely their own wealth and status, how could they possibly acquire such a treasure?
The others were unwilling to be outdone and made a display of their own. They either strenuously used impressive magic techniques or brought out wondrous magic tools for their attacks. Brilliance immediately filled the sky as their magic tools and techniques were chaotically flourished.
Han Li used neither his talisman treasures nor his astonishingly powerful “Giant Sword Technique”. Instead, he chose to use his most energy-efficient method. With a wave of his hands, several heavy objects fell to the ground in front of him, four of his puppet beasts.
The puppet beasts opened their ice-cold eyes and their bloodthirsty maws, fiercely shooting out several beams of light in a well practiced manner. Han Li stood behind them, taking advantage of the situation to restore the magic power used during the previous fight.
As he had yet to encounter that Black Fiend School Master, he wasn’t willing to use the entirety of his strength and prematurely exhaust his magic power.
Han Li intended to preserve his magic power in preparation for any contingencies in the upcoming battle. He had a few more hidden cards, but he wouldn’t reveal them until the time came.
The appearance of the puppet beasts had somewhat surprised the others, but they immediately went back to focusing on their own matters.
After all, the techniques one used and the magic arts one cultivated were one’s own secrets; nobody would be so tactless as to ask about them.
Those who knew the origin of the “Puppet Technique” would believe that Han Li had acquired it from Li Huayuan. As a Core Formation cultivator, it wasn’t difficult to imagine that he had killed several Thousand Bamboo School cultivators and acquired a few of their school’s magic arts along the way!
Thus, the others only felt at most great curiosity toward Han Li’s puppet beasts.
At this moment, Liu Jing’s golden talisman finished activating. Trembling lightly, it transformed into a streak of golden light before flying toward the blood-red light cocoons.
An explosion rang out as a burst of golden light created a snowstorm of luminous floating specks that filled the entire sky. The dazzling scene was as fantastical as a dream.
However, this beautiful marvel concealed an extremely sorrowful desire to kill. During this dazzling scene, Liu Jing formed an incantation gesture, causing the luminous specks in the sky to undergo a strange transformation. Gradually shrinking and expanding, they finally assumed shape of small golden swords. Although the swords were only an inch long, each one possessed a threateningly cold and incomparably incisive air.
“Thousand Blades Technique.”
Liu Jing said softly, revealing the name of his metal attribute magic technique.
Everyone who saw this scene, aside from the two who were focusing on activating their treasure talismans, was left stunned.
Metal attribute magic techniques were the rarest among the five elements, most commonly taking the form of defensive auxiliary magic techniques such as the “Golden Armor Technique” or the “Iron Skin Technique”. Liu Jing’s offensive metal attribute area magic technique exceeded expectations, leaving Han Li and the others dumbfounded. They all slowed their actions, wanting to witness the entirety of this marvelous spell.
Thousands of shining, sharp golden swords were suspended above the cocoons of light, emitting a frightening pressure.
Liu Jing then chanted the activation incantation, causing the small golden swords to hail down and stab into the spheres of blood-red light.
Pupu. Everyone heard a series of muffled stabs as the golden lights entered the blood-red spheres. Brilliance scattered in every direction like a dense storm of fireworks.
Under the other’s attacks, the light cocoons had displayed no change. But under this fierce attack, the cocoons began to gradually swell as if knowing the fearsomeness of this attack and responded by taking the initiative to reinforce the blood-red light as increasingly intense waves of light swords struck down.
When Liu Jing saw this, he felt neither joy nor worry. Since his attacks pressured the light cocoons to change, they were shown to be effective. So long as he increased the power of his attacks, he would be able to break through the blood-red light.
But at this moment, more than half of the small swords had already fallen and the light cocoons still appeared as red as they were at the start, looking as if they had handled the attacks with ease.
“Senior Martial Brother Liu, allow me to lend a hand!”
Song Meng shouted loudly.
The grey talisman in his hand transformed into a meter-long, gray spear that emitted a strange grey Qi.
“Let’s get rid of the Blood Servant on the left first; do not scatter our attacks.” Seeing that Song Meng had condensed the true form of his treasure talisman, Liu Jing said this with unsuppressed joy.
Soon after, he pointed at the small swords that had yet to fall.
Suddenly, the gold swords started falling in a dense barrage toward the cocoon of leftmost blood servant, the Ice Demon.
Following the rumbling sounds of impact, the cocoon of blood-red light seemed to have shriveled significantly.
Having seen this, the others joined in, using magic techniques and magic tools in a simultaneous attack. Song Meng followed with his grey spear, causing it to release a sharp chilling wail as it shot forth.
As the “Thousand Blades Techniques” and the others’ instantaneous attacks whittled away at the remaining thin layer of the previously invulnerable blood cocoon, the silhouette within could vaguely be seen.
The grey spear was able to finally penetrate the cocoon, causing a furious, deafening roar to echo in everyone’s ears. Two sharp, white crystal claws suddenly emerged from the blood-red light, immediately tearing away at the remaining shreds of the blood cocoon with ferocity and revealing the true appearance of the silhouette within.
It was a half demon-transformed, white monster.
At first glance, this person appeared to be an incomparably beautiful and refined youth. However, two small white horns protruded from the top of his head and a foot-long pure white tail sprouted out from behind him, each covered with faintly sparkling, white scales. In addition to his two extremely sharp claws, his entire body exhibited layers upon layers of demonic properties.
Two bowl-sized bloody holes were present on his shoulders. The flesh around them continuously squirme
d and contracted, causing onlookers to feel their blood run cold. But in the blink of an eye, the bloody holes completely healed.
“You’re all courting death!” The half-transformed Ice Demon yelled fiercely. Clearly, he had retained enough of his mind to be able to speak.
Although he didn’t finish his demon transformation, he believed that with the demonic characteristics of his current body, he would be able to buy time for his companions to finish their transformations.
The complexions of Liu Jing and the others, who had yet to see the demonic transformation, paled after seeing this frightening appearance. Although they had previously heard Han Li mention the strange appearance of the Blood Servants’ demonform, they became extremely shocked and apprehensive upon seeing it with their own eyes.
Suddenly, several beams of white light struck the Ice Demon’s bare body and immediately sent it tumbling, causing it to appear quite battered.
Unwilling to hear the enemy’s rubbish, Han Li had immediately ordered his puppet beasts to attack.
When the others saw this, they came to their senses and madly resumed their barrage of attacks.
However, the Ice Demon that fell to the floor released a cold mist from its entire body. As the mist spread, he disappeared from his original location.
This left the others shocked, hastily looking in every direction.
According to their previous experiences, when such a scene occurred, the opponent had used an evasion technique and quickly escaped. However, such a technique wouldn’t have allowed them to flee far.
Not a single person could be seen near the three remaining light cocoons. The ordinary Black Fiend School Sect disciples had long fled as they weren’t foolish enough to remain.
When Han Li saw this, his heart trembled as he suddenly thought of something. He hastily patted his storage pouch, taking out his white scale shield and tortoise shell magic tools. He hurriedly had them revolve around his body as he loudly yelled, “Everyone, be careful! He concealed himself!”
Just as Han Li said this, a woman’s miserable shriek could be heard, causing everyone to hastily look in the direction of the scream in alarm.
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