Chapter 1449

After an unknown amount of time had passed, the effeminate youth felt his head split with pain, then woke up with a start.

As soon as he opened his eyes, Fang Yi sprang to his feet in high alert, and to either side were the black-armored sturdy man and Han Li, who seemed to have just awakened as well.

"What happened! I remember now—Old Fish the thief didn't give us any treasure at the end, but instead used the Lightning-Attracting Pearl to ambush us." The youth immediately recalled what had happened before he lost consciousness, and couldn't help but become extremely shocked and angry.

After the black-armored sturdy man shook his still somewhat dazed head, he immediately sat cross-legged and began carefully inspecting his internal condition with his spiritual sense.

After a moment, he finally let out a breath:

"Good, I only suffered some injury to my vital energy, nothing serious."

Han Li, however, lowered his head and remained silent, though his eyes kept flashing, as if he were also pondering the current situation.

"Do you two know what happened afterward?" The effeminate youth swept his gaze over Han Li and the sturdy man, then asked.

"I don't know—I was struck by that five-colored lightning and immediately had my Primordial Spirit shaken, so I know nothing of what happened to me." The sturdy man gave a bitter laugh.

"Han Brother, I recall you seemed to have seen through Old Fish's trap back then and didn't fall for it by going to receive the Lightning-Attracting Pearl." The youth suddenly turned to Han Li and asked.

"How could I, a mere Flying Spirit Lieutenant, possibly escape unscathed! Although I avoided the five-colored heavenly lightning, I was then ambushed by that lightning beast using its electrical power. I passed out just like the two of you." Han Li sighed and said.

"Ambushed by the lightning beast? That makes sense—this beast was implanted with a crystal core by Old Fish, so it can indeed be temporarily 'controlled' by him to manipulate the lightning beast's body." Hearing this, the effeminate youth believed it somewhat.

"It's strange—if this old thief has turned against us, why would he still leave us unharmed here?" The black-armored sturdy man began to ponder this peculiar matter.

"What's so strange about it! Most likely, this old thief, upon seeing his great achievement completed, suddenly became unwilling to give us what was promised. I thought it odd at the time—just subduing a spirit beast, yet he used such a rare item in exchange. It seems he originally intended to renege on the debt. Too bad his Wanlei Workshop, which is quite renowned in the Holy City, would do such a thing." The effeminate youth's face suddenly changed as he began to curse loudly.

"If he only wanted to keep those treasures, there would indeed be no need to kill us. But during the time we were unconscious, he must have already fled." Han Li nodded and said.

Upon hearing Han Li's words, the sturdy man seemed to reflect and clearly accepted this explanation.

"We can't let this old thief get away like that. Let's go to his residence now—even if he really fled, we might still find some clues." The youth's eyes flashed with cold light as he spoke unwillingly.

The black-armored sturdy man hesitated slightly, then agreed. Han Li's eyes flashed, but he shook his head:

"My cultivation is low—I consider it fortunate to have saved my life this time. I don't wish to pursue this matter further. I'll bid farewell to the two seniors here."

Upon hearing Han Li's words, both the sturdy man and the youth were stunned, and couldn't help but exchange a glance.

"Han Brother, Old Fish has toyed with us like this, and you can truly bear this anger. I see your thunderous divine powers are extraordinary—you must also have a significant background. Even if this old thief's cultivation far surpasses ours, when he previously cast the spell to extract the lightning beast's essence, he clearly suffered great vital energy loss. If we join forces, he need not be feared. If that truly fails, we three could also go to several elders to file a complaint. Even if he has some cultivation, would he dare to oppose the clan elders?" The youth urged, gritting his teeth.

"The clan elders—no need to alarm them. We can handle this matter ourselves." The black-armored sturdy man's face changed slightly as he said this.

"Forget it. I still have other matters to attend to in the Holy City, and my appearance here this time was merely opportunistic. Since the situation has now changed, I'd rather not dwell too much on this affair. Two seniors, I bid you farewell." Han Li calmly shook his head, clasped his fists toward the two, then flicked his wings behind him and suddenly soared into the sky, turning into a cluster of green light as he flew away.

"He doesn't know what's good for him. As long as we find Old Fish, the two of us together are more than enough to deal with him." The effeminate youth watched Han Li's departing escape light, his face darkening, then turned to the sturdy man and said.

"Heh heh, just a mere Flying Spirit Lieutenant—having one more or one less makes no difference. But Old Fish actually dared to break his promise, so he likely still has some tricks up his sleeve, and our chances really aren't that great." The black-armored sturdy man began to worry.

"How would we know we can't stop the old thief unless we investigate ourselves?" The effeminate youth kept shaking his head.

"That also makes some sense. Let's go." The black-armored sturdy man gave a few hums and said.

Immediately, the two of them, ignoring Han Li's distant figure, linked arms and fled straight to the shop owner's residence.

At this time, Han Li, however, swaggered back to the guesthouse, acting as if he had already put this matter behind him.

During the remaining days, Han Li sat in meditation in the guesthouse without interruption, continuously taking medicinal pills, consolidating his late Soul Transformation realm, while also painstakingly comprehending the "Great Peng Transformation" of the Awakening of Insects Technique.

He strived to master this transformation divine ability to perfection as soon as possible, so it could be used in actual combat.

Time passed like this, bit by bit, and two months flashed by in the blink of an eye.

On this day, Han Li sat cross-legged on the bed, with streams of azure light flowing unpredictably across his body, when suddenly his expression stirred and he opened his eyes.

Almost at the same time, a clear voice came from outside, drifting in slowly.

"I am Bai Bi, sent by the Grand Elder to welcome you, Senior, to the appointment."

Han Li narrowed his eyes slightly, then immediately returned to normal.

With a movement of his body, he ghostlike descended from the bed to the floor beneath it.

Since cultivating the Awakening of Insects Technique's "Peng Transformation," he felt his body becoming increasingly light and agile, his movements surpassing before.

He pushed open the room door, Han Li walked out of the bedroom and headed straight for the hall.

Sure enough, when he appeared in the hall, there was a yellow-clothed youth standing there with his hands clasped behind his back.

This youth did not look particularly handsome, but his eyebrows were clear and his eyes bright. Upon seeing Han Li emerge, he gently asked:

"Are you Han Han Qianbei? I, Bai Bi, have been specially sent by the Grand Elder to request your departure." Although the youth only had early Soul Transformation cultivation, his every movement was exceptionally graceful, and in just a few words, he gave people a feeling like basking in a spring breeze.

"Bai Bi? Judging by your extraordinary bearing, you wouldn't happen to be one of the two Holy Sons, would you?" Han Li glanced at the youth, then suddenly chuckled lightly.

"Junior feels ashamed, unworthy of the elders' kindness, and is indeed the existing Holy Son of the clan. As for matters concerning Brother Han, I have actually learned a bit or two from the elder members of the family long ago. I have not yet thanked Brother Han for his kindness—otherwise, my close relatives would truly be in danger of life." Bai Bi smiled, clasped his fists, and said.

"Elder sister? You mean…?" Han Li revealed a look of surprise.

"My uncle Bai Lei, my younger aunt Bai Ning." The youth laughed.

"You are the nephew of Elder Bai Lei." Han Li's gaze swept over the youth's golden, radiant wings behind him, and a strange expression appeared on his face.

"Han Han Qianbei need not find it strange. I am the one who, after reaching adulthood, awakened the true Kun-Peng Holy Bloodline dormant in my body, causing my wings to become like this." Seeing Han Li's doubt, Bai Bi explained with a smile.

"Ah, I see—it seems your fortune is not small either." Han Li gave a light chuckle.

Immediately, he followed this Holy Son of the Great Peng Clan and left his residence.

After several hours, Han Li appeared in a magnificent hall built of ancient white stone. The hall was solemn and dignified, with a white stone table resembling an offering table placed in the center, and five stone chairs arranged on each side.

At this moment, besides Jin Yue, Chi Xu Elder, and the beautiful 'woman', there was additionally a tall, slender man in black robes sitting on one of the stone chairs.

The man emanated a faint black aura from his entire body, his face obscured and impossible to see clearly, but behind him was a pair of jet-black, lustrous wings—indeed, a pair of black wings.

On the stone table lay a box as red as fire, with numerous strange green 'leaves' pasted across it in a crisscross pattern, emitting a green light utterly different from the color of the wooden box.

Han Li had already been standing before the four, while Bai Bi had already taken his place to one side.

The atmosphere in the hall was exceptionally solemn, but everyone remained silent, as if waiting for someone.

And that newly appeared black-robed person carefully examined Han Li from head to toe, appearing quite interested.

After a while, suddenly footsteps came from outside the hall—a woman with white wings on her back, wearing a silver robe, entered the hall with a light and agile aura.

This woman had a face as white as jade, eyes like autumn waters, and her body was spotless.

"Lei Lan, you seem to have come late." Jin Yue looked at this woman, frowned slightly, and asked.

"Reporting to the Great Elder, I was temporarily contemplating some cultivation methods when I suddenly gained some insight, which delayed me. I hope the Elders will excuse me." The woman bowed slightly toward Jin Yue and the others, her voice somewhat hoarse.

"Since you gained some understanding from contemplating the cultivation methods, then it's fine." Upon hearing the woman's words, Jin Yue's expression softened.

The woman expressed her thanks and also stepped aside.

"The reason I summoned you here, you should already know. This Abyssal Trial concerns the life and death of our tribe, so no matter what, one of you two must pass the trial and inherit the position of our tribe's Holy Lord. However, we have received news that the Chìróng and other branches hostile to our Tian Peng tribe absolutely do not wish for our tribe to escape this calamity, and they will likely have those participating in the trial secretly attack you two. Since your time as Holy Sons has been too short, if another tribe's Holy Son interferes, this trial will surely be a one-way trip. For this, I have invited Fellow Daoist Han to join our Tian Peng tribe as a temporary third Holy Son to assist you." The girl looked at Han Li and the three others, speaking slowly, her pleasant voice echoing softly in the hall.

Bai Bi and the woman who had just entered the hall heard this and both glanced at Han Li.

The youth's gaze was warm and affable, while the silver-fir woman's eyes were clear as water.

Han Li then gave a faint smile!

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