"Such a thing actually exists? Though I may not be particularly talented, I would like to give it a try. But before doing so, I would like to attempt the Soul Searching Technique first. Fellow Daoist Spirit King, you don't object, do you?" Han Li rubbed his chin, looked the handsome young man within the ice peak up and down, then chuckled lightly.
The Spirit King was stunned upon hearing this. His gaze flickered for a long while before he spoke with a hint of gloom: "If Fellow Daoist truly has the ability to slay this creature immediately, that would rid me of a great menace, which would naturally be a wonderful thing. However, if it involves the Soul Searching Technique, unless your spiritual sense is truly far more powerful than his, there is absolutely no chance of success."
"Oh? And what if I insist on trying?" Han Li frowned slightly and said flatly.
This time, the Spirit King's expression truly changed dramatically.
"Very well. If Fellow Daoist Han truly believes he possesses such extraordinary powers, this old man naturally will not stand in your way. But regardless, this immortal was personally subdued by this king. If Fellow Daoist insists on forcing the issue, shouldn't you at least give this old man some acceptable explanation?" After releasing a light breath, the Spirit King's face finally took on a murderous edge.
"What kind of explanation does Fellow Daoist Ling desire?" Han Li's expression remained completely unchanged.
"I have heard that the outside world is already spreading rumors that Brother Han is the foremost Mahayana cultivator in the Spirit Realm. I, Ling, have lived rather long and consider myself to possess some notable abilities. As long as Fellow Daoist can receive three of my strikes without dodging or evading, this old man would have no qualms about handing this immortal over to you entirely." The Spirit King finally dropped all pretense of courtesy.
"Haha, Brother Ling has said so much, but these words suit my fancy best. We cultivators should naturally follow the rule of the strong prevailing over the weak. If I cannot withstand even two of your strikes, I will turn around and leave immediately, never to trouble you again." Han Li laughed rather than showing anger.
"In that case, Fellow Daoist, follow me to another location. Our battle should not affect the seal here." The Spirit King spoke without any sign of backing down.
"Naturally, I shall leave the arrangements to Fellow Daoist Ling." Han Li nodded, his expression noncommittal.
Seeing this, the Spirit King flicked his sleeve and transformed into a long arc of extreme cold, shooting toward the exit.
Han Li swayed his body, transforming into a faint phantom, and followed closely behind.
After the time it took to drink a cup of tea, every Spirit Race guard on Spirit-Taming Mountain suddenly felt two muffled booms echoing faintly from somewhere deep within the mountain, strong enough to make the entire sacred mountain tremble slightly.
The Spirit Race members stared at each other in alarm.
They knew this must have something to do with Han Li, who had just entered, but they could only imagine what had transpired inside.
Without the Spirit King's personal orders, they naturally did not dare to go investigate.
……
In a great hall deep within Spirit-Taming Mountain, the barrier of light that had originally enveloped the entire hall now shattered into countless points of white light.
On opposite sides of the hall, Han Li and the old man faced each other from a distance, their expressions utterly different.
Han Li's expression was calm, his hands clasped behind his back, not a single sign of disturbance about him.
Across from him, the Spirit King's aura was noticeably even more powerful than before. Behind him floated a pale silver Buddhist figure covered in demonic eyes, but his expression was extremely unsightly. A ring of crystalline short blades had been planted in the ground around him, completely enclosing him within.
And suspended in the void between them was a pitch-black great blade over ten zhang long. The tip had vanished without a trace, and the cut surface was smooth as a mirror, as if something had sheared clean through it with a single forceful stroke.
"You've already made two moves, Fellow Daoist. Now you may deliver your final strike," Han Li said unhurriedly.
"Forget it. The last move is unnecessary. Fellow Daoist Han's abilities are truly even more terrifying than the rumors suggest. Even if this old man struck once more, it would only be inviting humiliation." The Spirit King's expression suddenly relaxed, and a bitter smile appeared on his face.
Then he swept his great sleeve and formed a seal with one hand.
The pitch-black great blade, the crystalline short blades, and the silver Buddhist figure behind him all vanished in a flash as he stored them away.
"Heh heh, Brother Ling is being too modest. You didn't use your true trump card abilities just now, did you? Otherwise, there's no way I could have received the first two strikes so easily." Han Li chuckled.
"I do indeed have several life-saving techniques at my disposal, but then again, Fellow Daoist hasn't truly shown his real abilities either. Regardless, this time I am thoroughly convinced. The True Immortal I have suppressed shall be yours to deal with as you see fit. I have only one condition: if Fellow Daoist truly has the ability to slay this immortal, you must do so in my presence. Otherwise, I cannot rest easy." The Spirit King said with a grave expression.
"That is absolutely no problem. I have recently refined a treasure that may prove particularly useful for this purpose." Han Li agreed readily and added with meaningful depth.
Though the Spirit King was somewhat puzzled by those words, seeing that the other had agreed to his condition, he felt a measure of joy and thought no more of it. He gave a gesture and led Han Li out of the hall.
……
Half a month later, the restrictions on Spirit-Taming Mountain suddenly parted, and a streak of cyan light shot out from within. After a single flash, it dove into the massive black vessel that had been hovering in the sky nearby.
Moments later, the great black vessel rumbled and flew off into the distance.