But he was not resigned to dying!
He had refined a set of three flying daggers as his magic treasure. Ordinarily, he would only attack with two of them and would leave the third behind in his body.
This was because the third flying dagger had been refined using a secret technique. Although its attack power was average, it could automatically protect his body with far greater awareness than common magic techniques.
Moreover, he had spared no cost or effort when refining this treasure and it had just recently entered the sentient stage.
Even if he didn’t give a command, the treasure should’ve responded to the killing intent and automatically protected his body against the surprise attack!
‘Unless, the attacker...’ Hu Yue finally thought of something, using the last of his mortal strength to turn his head with slight reluctance and view everything that was happening behind him.
At that moment, a white blur was closely chasing after Jin Qing. Jin Qing continuously evaded it while engulfed by a silver radiance. He had released his own magic treasure and was ceaselessly bombarding the white blur with attacks as if he were greatly fearful of it.
As for Han Li and the others, they were trapped within a large expanse of black Qi. The fiery scroll painting in hand, Han Li shot countless fist sized flames from it, creating a huge ring of fire around them that continuously attacked the black Qi, keeping it at bay.
Shi Die and Crooked Soul closely stood behind Han Li.
Crooked Soul’s body was enveloped in blood light, and he continuously released purple flames from his hands, striking any black Qi that leaked past the ring of fire. At his side, Shi Die was grasping a white bead that radiated with light, preventing any of the black Qi that slipped past both abilities from approaching. Even then, she still revealed an expression of fear.
Hu Yue didn’t pay any attention to the black Qi and strenuously examined the white blur chasing after Jin Qing.
Sure enough, the white skeleton of the long dead cultivator was now surrounded in white fog and was pursuing Jin Qing with great speed. At this point, it couldn’t possibly be considered dead in the least.
Hu Yue smiled sadly.
He, a core formation cultivator, had met his end by a skeleton. What a ridiculous affair.
While Hue Yue was still mocking himself, he faded into eternal rest with a derisive smirk still at the corner of his mouth.
As Hu Yue breathed his last, Han Li continuously surveyed the situation with a sullen expression.
During the same moment that Hu Yue had fallen prey to the white skeleton, the nearby walls had suddenly released a wide expanse of cold-yin ghost fog, trapping them all at once.
Fortunately, Han Li had made slight preparations and had opened the painting scroll without hesitation, releasing countless flaming spirit birds from within.
These demonfire enveloped swallows were “Congealed Yang Birds”. Han Li had previously read a detailed introduction of them in an ancient record.
They were born from fire essence and particularly loved to consume Yin ghosts and malicious souls, earning a reputation of being the bane of Yin. However, this bird had long been extinct, and the scroll painting had only sealed a fraction of the spirit bird’s soul. As a result, it could only release avatars of the “Congealed Yang Birds”.
While these avatars appeared exactly the same as actual Congealed Yang Birds, their strength was incomparable to the original. Else, this black ghost fog would’ve been cleanly devoured rather than just being temporarily scattered.
Although Han Li was completely tangled up by this ghost fog, he wasn’t particularly worried. Both his Bamboo Cloudswarm Swords and his Gold Devouring Beetles could easily make short work of it.
What made him uneasy was the ghost mist’s master, who still had yet to reveal himself. As for the skeleton, it was clear at a glance that it wasn’t intelligent in the least; it was being controlled by someone else. However, the skeleton was quite strange. Since it was completely unscathed from the repeated pummeling of Jin Qing’s magic treasure, there must be some mystery behind it.
As Han Li thought this, ghostly wails suddenly broke out from around him.
This blood chilling voice was deafeningly sharp and belonged to neither man nor woman. Those who heard it would have their minds bewildered and both their blood and Qi in disarray.
Han Li’s heart trembled, and he reflexively spread out his spiritual sense to envelope the entire hall. At that same moment, he flicked his finger and sent out two small emerald swords from his body which began to slowly revolve around him.
Upon hearing the ghostly wail, Jin Qing appeared distraught from fear and furiously exclaimed, “What demon wishes to mystify himself and remains hidden?” Although his voice wasn’t loud, it resonated throughout the room. Unexpectedly, the ghostly wails stopped in response.
In addition, the next strike of his magic treasure completely shattered the skeleton.
Jin Qing was pleasantly surprised by the strange turn of events.
At that same time, the ghost mist closely surrounding Han Li and company quickly withdrew back into the walls around them.
Han Li was greatly surprised; he didn’t believe that Jin Qing’s furious roar had contained such power.
In the very next moment, Shi Die turned around and took this opportunity to madly rush towards the stairs. In the blink of an eye, she was already climbing up to the surface.
Han Li was expressionless upon seeing this, but Jin Qing was brimming with fury.
This woman would flee in the middle of battle? Although her magic power was lacking, the magic treasure pearl in her possession was clearly capable of restraining the ghost mist. Naturally, he couldn’t just let her run off! With that thought in mind, Jin Qing instantly opened his mouth to stop her.
But at that moment, another anomaly occurred!
Just as Shi Die reached the second step, the stone wall next to her suddenly flashed with green light. A terrifying, ten-fingered ghost claw rushed out without warning and pierced through her abdomen at a speed that almost couldn’t be seen.
Shi Die wretchedly screamed and did her utmost to brighten the pearl’s light in an attempt to escape.
However, the ghost hand didn’t fear the pearl in the slightest and emitted a black Qi instead, surrounding Shi Die with it in a mere moment.
The woman’s screams came to an abrupt stop. Once the black Qi withdrew, all that was left was a dried up corpse that was then thrown before Han Li and Crooked Soul.
After Han Li turned his head to look at the fleshless corpse, his face turned slightly green.
Jin Qing’s face had long turned pale, but he was now nervously glancing around with his white block stamp magic treasure in hand.
“Hehe! I need one more suitable corpse. Which of you three will sacrifice yourself as tribute?” An icy voice echoed throughout the hall with a tone of disdain.
Han Li’s eyes coldly glinted, and he spread out the scroll painting once more. With the entire nest of fire birds returned to the scroll painting, Han Li formed a dual handed incantation gesture with a solemn expression.
Woosh. A three-meter-wide Congealed Yang Bird flew out of the scroll painting while surrounded in brilliant flames. After flying once around Han Li’s head, it shot towards one of the hal’s stone pillars with wings spread wide.
BANG.
When the huge bird rammed into the stone pillar, it flashed with green light, and an eerie snake made from black Qi flew out and tangled with the fire bird.
With the bird spouting out broiling white essence fire and the eerie snake spraying ink-black cold Qi, a huge battle unfolded between them in the hall.
“Tch, tch! I didn’t expect there to be someone capable of utilizing the long extinct spirit controlling techniques. It seems I’ve underestimated you.” After this was said, a freakish shadow slowly walked out of the stone pillar.
Han Li and Jin Qing both gazed at it with rapt attention.
Not on
ly was the silhouette dark green, but it was also surrounded in sparkling green light, masking its true appearance. His body appeared to be wrapped with arm-thick bands of black fog, and his eyes were as scarlet as fresh blood.
After the freakish shadow swept his gaze past the three, Han Li and Jin Qing felt a chill run down their backs as if their minds and hearts had been laid bare. They couldn’t help but glance at each other before looking back at the shadow with horror.
The enemy had used only his gaze to exert such great pressure onto them. This clearly showed that this person’s cultivation far exceeded their own. Could this person be a Nascent Soul cultivator?
From the appearance of this freakish shadow, it seemed to resemble a ghost or demon more than a living person.
But if it really were a malicious spirit, then how had it preserved the entirety of its intelligence?
Chapter 426: Treachery
Jin Qing suppressed his fear and forced himself to ask, “Is your esteemed self man or ghost?”
The freakish shadow sinisterly smiled and teased, “Man? Ghost? You tell me!”
Jin Qing’s expression became extremely unsightly.
Han Li remained silent and quickly opened his scroll painting without warning.
Countless fire birds rushed out, flocking straight towards the freakish shadow. At the same moment, the previously summoned huge bird released a sharp cry and abandoned its fight with the eerie snake, shooting straight towards the freakish shadow as a scorching ball of white flame.
The freakish shadow snorted disdainfully and said, “Congealed Yang Birds? If they had their genuine bodies, this Senior might be slightly fearful. But to dare attempt to devour ghosts and exterminate devils with only their remnant souls?”
Having said that, the green shadow raised its hands and condensed black Qi around them in an instant.
Pu, pu. The black Qi transformed into two, horned ink pythons which shot towards the large flock of fire birds. With their bloodthirsty mouths wide open, each python swallowed several fire birds. Immediately after, they each burped a wisp of white smoke and were completely unharmed.
At that moment, the huge Congealed Yang Bird that had turned into a ball of white flame arrived in front of the snakes. However, it completely ignored them and shot straight towards the freakish shadow.
When the shadow saw this, its eyes flashed with red light, enriching their color. Although the shadow didn’t move, it faintly revealed a solemn expression. It was clear that the remnant souls of the Congealed Yang Bird wasn’t nearly as harmless as it had made them out to be.
Peng. The green shadow’s hands trembled, separating the horned pythons from its hands and allowing them to move on their own.
Then, while clenching its hands as hard as it could, otherworldly dark-green flames flourished from its grasp. Soon after, its body blurred and met the white fire sphere with a fierce punch.
As Han Li and Jin Qing watched on with shock, the white ball of flame was scattered by the strike and disappeared in an instant. A white crystal pearl suddenly appeared in the the green shadow’s grasp.
The shadow evilly grinned and swallowed it without hesitation, before turning its ice-cold gaze back to Han Li once more.
At that moment, the scroll painting in Han Li’s grasp set itself aflame, and he hurriedly tossed it away. It turned into ash in the blink of an eye. Once the scroll painting turned to ash, the fire birds that were still tangling with the ink snakes disappeared as well.
Han Li sucked in a deep breath.
Although he knew that the remnant souls of the Congealed Yang Birds weren’t the green shadow’s match, he didn’t anticipate that a treasure that specialized in subduing Yin ghosts would be blown away with a single blow. He had only sent them out to probe the opponent’s strength, and ended up not acquiring the slightest detail.
The only thing he was certain of was that the opponent wasn’t a mere ghost or demon!
Remaining calm, Han Li attentively gazed at the green shadow and inwardly assessed how great his odds of victory were if they were to fight.
“Not bad! I’m now very interested in your body. As for you two, get lost!” The green shadow slowly spoke while looking at Han Li. It seemed his last attack had provoked it.
Naturally, Crooked Soul didn’t move in the slightest, but when Jin Qing heard this, he grew distracted, and his expression incessantly changed.
Although he hadn’t personally engaged it yet, his opponent’s strength was deep and immeasurable. Even if he were to join hands with Han Li, Jin Qing reckoned that their odds of victory weren’t very high.
Now that the freakish shadow told him to leave, Jin Qing’s heart was wavering.
Having personally witnessed so many cultivators meet their tragic end on this very day, Jin Qing, who normally bragged about being guilt-free and clear-hearted, felt for the first time a desire to cherish life and live another day.
The green shadow snorted and swept its gaze past Jin Qing and Crooked Soul. It sinisterly said, “What? I give you two a chance for survival, and you two do not wish to take it? This Senior should’ve just saved himself the trouble and turned you two into corpses from the start!”
Having heard the freakish shadow’s words brimming with killing intent, Jin Qing’s face changed between red and white several times before eventually cupping his fist to Han Li and shamefully saying, “Brother Han, I do not wish to die here. I will have to let you down.”
Afterwards, he said no more and rushed toward the stone steps without looking back!
Han Li’s expression was calm and didn’t reveal any emotions of anger or disappointment. He merely gazed at Jin Qing as he departed with a faint, cold glare.
The green shadow’s red eyes revealed a trace of satisfaction.
Just as Jin Qing rushed past the shattered skeleton, an alarming change occurred.
The nearby fragments of the skeleton suddenly launched towards him like a barrage of arrows.
With furious alarm, Jin Qing surrounded himself in a layer of silver light in a flash. But without waiting for him to release his magic treasure or question the freakish shadow, the bone shards shined with white radiance and shot through his silver barrier as if it weren’t even there.
An instant later, Jin Qing’s body was utterly shredded and fell to the floor without uttering a single word.
Han Li expressionlessly looked at the corpse on the floor and lightly shook his head.
With a flip of his hand, a spirit beast pouch appeared in his hand. Simultaneously, his two flying swords in front of him trembled and faintly released a green radiance.
“Interesting! How come you aren’t asking me why I didn’t keep my promise?” the green shadow asked with a sneer.
“If your esteemed self doesn’t wish to talk, then there is no need to take the initiative to ask. I’d just be wasting my breath.” Han Li expressionlessly said.
“Not bad! Youngster, you are quite to my liking. If this were before I met great catastrophe, I might’ve taken you in as my disciple. But now, I will never take another disciple. I will be repaying my treacherous disciples by turning their bones to ash and refining their souls!” The green shadow was slightly surprised at Han Li’s response, but soon its voice once again grew icy.
Without a change of expression, Han Li waved his arm. Crooked Soul then walked to Han Li’s side with his body enveloped in blood light.
He didn’t plan on spouting rubbish, instead preparing to use a thunderous strike to defeat the enemy in a single blow. At the same time, additional blades of his Bamboo Cloudswarm Swords from within his body readied themselves to pounce with fervor.
After seeing Crooked Soul’s blood light, the shadow slightly trembled, and it smiled in great anger. “Divine Blood Light! Good, good! Are you disciples of Zenith Yin or Zenith Brilliance?”
Han Li slightly frowned.
“Zenith Yin? Could you talking about Grandmaster Zenith Yin of Zenith Yin Island?” Han Li indifferently asked. He
faintly felt as if he could unravel the mystery behind the Black Fiend School and Zenith Yin Island.
Upon hearing Han Li, the green shadow flew into a rage and loudly shouted, “Grandmaster Zenith Yin? Could it be that traitorous disciple dares to call himself grandmaster?”
Han Li was slightly stunned. This ghost was actually the master of Grandmaster Zenith Yin. How truly bizarre!
Just as Han Li was left flabbergasted by those words, a green light flashed from his body and a muffled noise came from behind him.
Han Li couldn’t help but turn around with alarm. However, there was absolutely nothing behind him.
“Not good!” In nearly an instant, Han Li understood that he had been tricked and hastily turned his head back, instinctively releasing seven flying swords to protect him.
As of current, controlling nine of his Bamboo Cloudswarm Swords was Han Li’s absolute limit.
During the instant he turned his head over, his nine flying swords released a single streak of swordlight. A faint golden arc of Divine Devilbane Lightning struck from the swordlight, rendering the incoming green ball of light nonexistent .
Han Li was drenched in cold sweat, as he had nearly just fallen to the enemy.
“Gold Lightning Bamboo! You refined your flying swords from Gold Lightning Bamboo!” At that moment, the green shadow spoke with incredulousness.
Han Li sneered and thought to mock the shadow, but he suddenly felt a strange fluctuation from up above him.
He leaned to the side out of reflex, but he still felt his chest tremble. An extremely familiar red radiance had pierced through him with chilling cold, creating a wound that bled profusely. Immediately after, a yellow streak of light fiercely struck at him.
Dang. A clear ring sounded out. Several of his flying swords flew out to block the yellow streak, the Immemorial Bowl.
A Record of a Mortal’s Journey to Immortality c1-2248 Page 232