Chapter 1148

"Hehe, even if Brother Tang is willing to stop, we will never stop before obtaining the spirit stones. WWW. feiazw. COM also has additional information about spirit stones, but I personally obtained this through soul-searching the cultivator who discovered these spirit stones—don't even dream of slipping past." The fat man said with a cold sneer, the flesh on his body trembling and shaking continuously.

"So Guardian Li was secretly harmed by you all." The thin old elder was first startled, then flew into a rage, shaking the green mirror in his hand, instantly several thick light pillars shot straight at the opponent.

"What, Daoist Tang won't deny the spirit stone matter?" The fat man let out a burst of mockery, tapped the round bowl before him, and instantly this treasure sprayed out vast yellow radiance, sucking in those light pillars one by one.

"Even if this is true, what can be done about it? Who doesn't know that top-grade spirit stones have miraculous effects for breaking through bottlenecks? Why would we hand them over to you demon cultivators? And you so recklessly attack our peak—aren't you afraid the Star Palace people will sit back and reap the benefits?" The thin old elder's angry 'color' faded, and he quickly calmed down.

"Star Palace? You think our sea clan only acts against your Nixing Alliance alone? Let me tell you plainly: this time our sea clan has dispatched all its elites—not only must we obtain the top-grade spirit stones, but we will also reclaim all the spirit mines on the entire island. The outer seas have always been our sea clan's domain; you human cultivators dreaming of dividing this island's spirit stones is pure fantasy. Earlier, we merely hadn't gathered all our forces, so we temporarily dealt with you hypocritically." The fat man raised his bulky neck, revealing a strange expression.

Upon hearing this, the Tang-surnamed old man's face 'color' changed dramatically.

And as if to confirm the fat man's words, suddenly from the distant horizon beyond the stone peak came a howling sound, followed by another surge of blue 'color' demon mist rolling forth from there, the mist churning with demon shadows layered thickly, as if countless demon beasts lay hidden within.

"Haha, it seems the human side of the Star Palace has already been dealt with. Indeed, first concentrating force to eliminate one side is the correct idea—now you all are 'inserted' wings and cannot fly." Seeing this, the fat man burst into wild laughter, but the spirit light before his round bowl blazed fiercely, and in an instant vast yellow radiance surged out madly from the bowl, directly enveloping the old man below. The two golden rings on his arms also flashed 'shot' out, transforming into layers of illusions, wildly striking downward.

Seeing reinforcements arrive, this demon cultivator instead intensified his attack, appearing determined not to let the opponent escape easily.

The thin old elder naturally felt both shock and anger, but for a time truly could not shake off the opponent.

Likewise, the remaining several battle groups were the same—all shape-shifting demon beasts spared no demon power in launching a storm-like assault, various 'color' spirit lights intertwining and flashing, with rumbling sounds rising loudly.

Nixing Alliance Nascent Soul cultivators, for a time truly unable to shake off their opponents, quickly fled this place.

Another stream of demon mist rushed forward like wind and lightning, and in the blink of an eye one could already clearly see the ferocious appearances of some demon beasts within.

This time, even the dullest cultivator of the Nixing Alliance knew things were dire. Resultingly, no one knows who shouted loudly, "Withdraw!"

Instantly, the lower-level cultivators below scattered in all directions, shooting outward; the Nascent Soul old monsters in the air also began seeking opportunities to escape one by one. Some parried while slowly retreating toward the edge of the stone peak; others desperately launched attacks, madly clashing with the opposing demon beasts in hopes of temporarily repelling them to break through; still others relied on secret escape techniques, calmly sparring with their opponents while their eyes continuously scanned the surroundings for something……

Upon hearing the words "top-grade spirit stones," Han Li below, who had originally intended to flee immediately, had that thought vanish instantly.

Although he had never personally seen the legendary top-tier spirit stones, the rumors about their miraculous effects were naturally known to him in perfect clarity from countless classics.

Not to mention this spirit stone is the unique item required to lay down several ancient formations heard of in the human realm; even just its ability to assist in breaking through cultivation bottlenecks would make all cultivators unable to resist its allure.

After all, this assistance is effective from Golden Core to Soul Transformation alike, though the effect diminishes somewhat the further along one goes. But even so, for current human realm cultivators, top-grade spirit stones remain something devisable yet unattainable.

Now that this vein has been excavated to yield such a piece, it's no wonder the Nixing Alliance immediately contracted its forces, while the demon beasts hesitated not to rush thousands of miles to assault, simultaneously attacking the two cultivator factions on the island. They likely reason that since a first top-grade spirit stone has appeared, the vein might possibly contain a second, even a third.

Han Li drew a deep breath, and in the blink of an eye had guessed the situation roughly seven or eight out of ten.

Since such a rare treasure has appeared before him, he naturally will not let it slip easily; his calm, clear eyes began to jump with strands of indescribable flame.

However, who exactly holds this top-grade spirit stone—that is indeed a troublesome problem.

Logically, such a treasure should naturally be kept by the one with the highest cultivation and authority—namely the thin old elder. But it's also possible that the thin old elder employed a "hide the sky, cross the sea" stratagem, deliberately placing the spirit stone on some inconspicuous low-level cultivator to smuggle it out amid the chaos.

In that case, even if his divine powers were great, he could not possibly, under the watchful eyes of demon cultivators, strike and capture all Nixing Alliance cultivators in one net.

Han Li furrowed his brow slightly, but after a brief contemplation, he immediately relaxed.

The intelligence of these shape-shifting demon beasts is certainly not inferior to that of human cultivators; they surely have already considered this problem. Even if I do not act, the attacking demon beasts will not let any Nixing Alliance cultivator escape. When the spirit stone finally appears, I will simply snatch it in one grab. With my abilities, who among the demon beasts and cultivators here could block me even slightly?

Having made up his mind, Han Li concealed his presence before the pavilion, coldly observing the battle in the sky.

Sure enough, as he expected, from the distant demon mist suddenly rushed out two or three hundred demon beasts of various forms, raising various 'color' demon qi to madly chase the fleeing low-level cultivators.

Among them, third- and fourth-level beasts were most numerous, but also a dozen or so fifth-level or higher high-level demon beasts. And each cultivator was pursued by several demon beasts of similar rank.

Under such forces, those cultivators wishing to escape from the island would truly find it nearly impossible.

The blue 'color' demon mist instantly reached the skies above the stone peak, merging with the original mist. An extremely powerful demon qi surged heavenward, then a cluster of gold 'color' light flame shot forth from within.

After the light flashed, a gold-helmeted, gold-armored demon cultivator appeared in midair.

This demon had a serpentine dragon head and human body, one hand holding a gold 'color' long spear, while the spear bore flashing silver arcs winding about, faintly a slender electric snake wandering unpredictably along the spear shaft—clearly not an ordinary treasure. As for that gold 'color' armor, it was composed of pieces of gold scales, each surface bearing faintly visible minute symbols, emitting a strange demon qi.

Upon this demon's appearance, a pair of serpentine eyes shot out piercing light, and an immensely powerful divine sense instantly enveloped the entire stone peak.

The Nascent Soul cultivators below, still locked in combat with the shape-shifting demon beasts, all simultaneously felt their hearts sink.

"Golden Serpent King! Impossible—how dare you violate the agreement and act personally?" The thin old elder, upon seeing this demon cultivator, had his face turn deathly pale in an instant, unable to believe his own ears as he shouted loudly.

This serpent-demon cultivator was actually a tenth-level great completion demon beast.

"Why should I not act? If you want this king to continue honoring the agreement, you humans must also possess such ability. You haven't produced a Soul Transformation cultivator in three thousand years, and now this concerns top-tier spirit stones—so the old agreement may as well be annulled." The serpent head showed no expression, but spoke human words, icy and abnormal.

At that very moment, from the demon mist another two demon cultivators shot forth: one with a head full of red hair and wide mouth with fangs, the other wearing black robes, green-faced, tall in stature, and appearing somewhat familiar.

"Eh, isn't this the turtle demon that was with the Poison Serpent back then?"

The hidden Han Li below, upon seeing that golden serpent dragon, first shuddered, but upon seeing the black-robed, green-faced demon cultivator, he was again startled, surprise appearing on his face. Then he recalled the Feng Xi who had once nearly pursued him to heaven having no door and earth having no path.

He instantly darkened his face 'color', hastily sweeping his gaze into the demon mist, yet saw no further demon cultivators shooting forth from within.

Han Li furrowed his brow, yet did not rashly release his divine sense or employ spiritual vision to search for something.

After all, the divine sense of a tenth-level great completion demon beast is no trifle; although he managed under the opponent's divine sense cover to avoid detection, if he himself released his divine sense outward, it would undoubtedly expose his position.

However, since this "Golden Serpent King" has appeared, it seems the Nixing Alliance cultivators are surely doomed to suffer more loss than gain. Yet, that turtle demon actually joining forces with this demon—could there be some connection between this serpent demon and the Poison Serpent of years past?

Han Li coldly thought to himself.

Upon hearing the Golden Serpent King's words, the cultivators on the stone peak all showed startled and panicked 'color' on their faces, and the thin old elder in the air felt his heart sink straight downward.

But as a mid-Nascent Soul cultivator, he naturally would not simply resign himself to this fate; suddenly he let out a mournful, piercing cry from his throat, the blue 'color' flying sword that had been wondrously turning in the demon mist suddenly emitted a blinding white light, then with a booming explosion it shattered directly.

This flying sword was no small ancient treasure; under the Tang-surnamed elder's forced self-detonation, its power far exceeded ordinary cultivators' imagination—a massive ball of silver-white 'color' light appeared out of thin air above the stone peak, flashing brightly, dispersing the blue mist spat out by the fat man entirely, and the illusions formed by the two golden rings were likewise instantly shattered like dry weeds before a flame.

The fat man was greatly startled, hastily pushing his round bowl to the extreme, vast yellow霞 instantly condensing into a light curtain shielding himself, while his body was forced to shoot backward.

Seizing this opportunity, the thin old elder flipped his palm, and suddenly a purple 'color' silk scarf appeared in his hand; without hesitation he cast it before him.

The scarf instantly turned into a mass of purple light enveloping the elder, then with a flick it transformed into a purple rainbow piercing through the air and shooting forth.

Its escape speed was such that in the blink of an eye it had already shot over twenty zhang away.

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