Han Li's originally calm face immediately showed a hint of surprise.
"What is it? Fellow Daoist Gui, did you discover something down there?" The Holy Maiden of Tianlan,
"Nothing much. It's just that those two fellow daoists from the Hua Xian Sect seem to be looking for a way out down below as well." Han Li's expression returned to its usual calm in an instant as he said indifferently.
"Oh, is that so!" The woman's eyes rippled with a subtle glance, and a half-smile appeared at the corner of her lips. She clearly didn't believe a word Han Li said.
But Han Li wore a blank expression, clearly unwilling to say more.
The others, though equally alarmed and suspicious, were about to join forces and had no desire to stir up further trouble.
The group immediately began discussing how to proceed.
They were all experienced fighters, and after a brief discussion within the soundproof barrier, they quickly arrived at a concrete plan. Without delay, spiritual light flickered from the bodies of several others as they disappeared silently into the fierce winds, setting their actions in motion.
Han Li nodded at Gui Ling, and she once again burrowed underground.
As for Silver Moon, upon his command, she transformed back into a small fox and flew into his sleeve.
Han Li looked toward the black teleportation formation, stroked his chin, then patted the storage pouch at his waist with one hand. With a flash of silver light, a faint silver figure materialized before him.
It was the humanoid puppet.
He gently waved one hand.
The puppet's glow shifted, instantly transforming into an unremarkable yellow light. Then its eyes blazed with purple radiance, and its body vanished into thin air as though it had never been there at all.
This battle was no small matter. To prepare for any eventuality, Han Li could no longer afford to hold anything back.
Only with this puppet watching his flank could he fight with peace of mind.
Moreover, given the puppet's previously demonstrated skill at concealment, the Ancient Demon would likely be unable to detect it. As for the black-robed woman, Han Li had never encountered a demon of the Yuansha Holy Ancestor's caliber, and he had little confidence in his ability to evade her spiritual perception.
With one hand he gripped the Three Flame Fan, with the other he formed a seal, and the Wind Thunder Wings materialized behind his back.
With a flash of silver, Han Li also vanished from where he stood.
In another corner of the space, above the black teleportation formation, the two-headed Ancient Demon hovered in midair with its four arms crossed, while below, a set of formation flags emanating gray light shrouded the area.
One of the demon's heads stared intently toward the palace with a grave expression, while the other's eyes constantly swept the surroundings, vigilantly watching for threats.
Its four demon claws respectively gripped a pair of purple rings, a long azure halberd, and a crimson treasure shaped like a fire brick.
Although the fierce winds whipped up by the
Suddenly, a strange light flashed in the demon's eyes as a tremendous boom echoed from the distance. In the center of the space, a golden blade energy surged skyward, cleaving through the thick clouds wherever it passed. The spectacle was terrifyingly impressive—even the howling winds seemed to falter for a moment.
The brow furrowed slightly on one of the Ancient Demon's heads, a hint of hesitation crossing its face. It seemed to want to rush over and lend support, yet was beset by misgivings.
But it quickly relaxed.
After the dazzling blade light flashed in the distance, a massive pillar of wind swept out in turn. The pillar was over ten zhang wide, like a black wind dragon. Wherever it passed, it even swallowed the lightning in the air, and the sheer turbulence caused the surrounding space to hum and warp as though it might tear this realm apart.
Seeing this, the Ancient Demon's expression relaxed. But the other head, without the slightest warning, suddenly glared and swung one massive hand forward.
A beam of red light shot through the air, vanishing in a flash before transforming into a colossal brick several zhang wide that smashed downward.
Before it even hit the ground, crimson flames spiraled around it, and several fire pythons with bared fangs and unsheathed claws materialized, their momentum menacing.
"Hmph! I didn't expect you to be so alert!" A cold snort came from within the fierce wind, and two figures materialized.
One of them casually raised a hand, and a blue streak shot forth, transforming into a jade umbrella about a zhang wide that rose to meet the attack in midair.
A series of rumbling explosions rang out. This jade umbrella turned out to be an ancient treasure of the cold attribute, and amid a wash of azure cold energy, it caught the falling fire brick.
Blue light and crimson flame surged back and forth between the two treasures. Though the fire pythons lunged and tore relentlessly, their ferocity extraordinary, the opposing elemental attributes meant they couldn't harm the jade umbrella at all.
The two figures stood their ground, gazing coldly up at the Ancient Demon in the air. They were none other than the young man surnamed Xu and Lin Yinping.