Han Li flicked one sleeve in a seemingly casual gesture, then pointed a finger downward into empty space.
With a soft *pop*!
The Azure Rope instantly condensed into fine, thread-like filaments before tightening sharply.
The massive turtle-beast burst apart, its flesh scattering into countless fragments that rained down.
At that moment, ripples spread across the lake surface, and a crystal-clear white alms bowl silently materialized, spinning before enlarging to an area of several acres.
Every scrap of flesh from the beast, without missing a piece, fell directly into the bowl.
Han Li made a simple beckoning motion with one hand.
The white bowl flashed with light and shot straight toward him, shrinking back to its original size mid-flight.
He reached out with an open hand, and the bowl settled neatly into his palm.
He sent his spiritual sense into it with unhurried composure, and after a moment, an expression of deep satisfaction appeared on his face.
As expected, given the beast's enormous true form, even though the concentration of True Blood of the Xuanwu wasn't particularly high, once refined, it would be more than sufficient for cultivating the Insects Awakening Technique.
Han Li flipped his palm, and the jade bowl vanished into his storage bracelet. He then swept his gaze over the stalk of golden spiritual grass, pondered for a moment, and finally raised his hand to pluck it directly from the air.
This herb wasn't of much use to him, but it was exceedingly precious to certain strange beasts—otherwise, it wouldn't have attracted every powerful creature in the vicinity to fight over it so brutally.
If he encountered the right buyer, it could serve as a fine trade item.
Han Li released a stream of silver flame, incinerating all the remaining beast corpses on the lake surface to ash. Shimmering spiritual light wreathed his body, and he seemed poised to depart.
But just then, a low, humming buzz sounded from his person.
Han Li was first startled, but then the corner of his mouth curved upward in a slight smile. He turned his hand over, and a white crystal ball the size of a hen's egg appeared in his palm.
Hazy light swirled across the ball's surface. Looking closely, one could see tiny, rice-grain-sized points of light flickering within the glow.
Han Li stared at the crystal ball for a few moments, then stamped his foot. He transformed into a streak of azure light that tore through the sky and vanished.
He was heading in an entirely different direction than before.
Almost at the same instant, several million li away over a desolate wasteland, a blinding beam of white light was fleeing across the high sky at an inconceivable speed.
More than a dozen li behind the white light, earth-shaking rumbles thundered as a vast expanse of blue-green misty sea rolled forward, covering nearly the entire horizon. Its speed was no slower than the white light, perhaps even a hair faster.
The two pursued one another, crossing ten thousand li in the blink of an eye.
Soon, the distance between them shrank to within ten li.
At that point, a low, sinister chuckle emanated from within the blue-green mist. The mist at the forefront churned violently, then suddenly condensed, taking shape into the phantom images of a giant emerald scorpion and a pale-blue giant toad.
The scorpion phantom merely swept its massive hooked tail backward, and a pillar of dark-green light shot forth.
The blue toad phantom opened its wide mouth, and the heavens and earth within a radius of several li instantly dimmed. The space ahead constricted suddenly, as if bound by a mysterious power, causing the white light's speed to plummet by more than half.
In that instant, the dark-green light pillar flashed and arrived soundlessly behind the white light, about to strike it violently.
However, at that very moment, an angry shout erupted from within the white light. Countless five-colored runes surged forth, and after a violent tremor, the light broke free from the spatial constraint.
A thunderclap rang out in the clear sky!
A scarlet arc of lightning sprang from the white light and struck the dark-green pillar head-on.
The seemingly insignificant blow, however, emitted a muffled boom and shattered the pillar of light completely.
Simultaneously, several urgent incantations sounded from within the white light, which trembled violently before vanishing from its spot.
An instant later, spatial ripples appeared a dozen li away, and the cluster of white light reformed.
Only now could its contents be clearly seen.
Within the white light was the figure of an old man. In one hand, he held a small white flag; in the other, a deep-red hammer.
It was none other than Mo Jianli, the Mahayana cultivator of the human race.
However, at this moment, half of Mo Jianli's body was entwined with strands of unknown green energy, while the other half was covered by a layer of eerie blue frost. A look of gravity shadowed his face. He glanced back at the misty sea behind him only once before unhesitatingly urging his light forward again, fleeing with the speed of the wind.
Behind him, the phantom images of the giant scorpion and toad flickered and dissipated, but the blue-green mist continued to roll relentlessly in pursuit.
Thus, the chase persisted. At nearly regular intervals, the mist behind would close in on Mo Jianli in his beam of white light. Each time, he was forced to urgently activate the two wondrous treasures in his hands, unleashing red lightning to barely repel the phantom attacks from within the mist and regain some distance.
This desperate pursuit and entanglement had already continued for a day and a night.