Chapter 1865: Sparring (Part 2)

The black-robed man appeared in his original spot, wrapped in a cluster of golden light. At first glance, he seemed unharmed, but upon closer inspection, several inconspicuous bloodstains—each about the size of a thumb—had appeared on one cuff of his black robe, barely noticeable.

Yet the cultivators present here were at least Nascent Soul-level or above—how could they possibly overlook the bloodstains on the black-robed man's sleeve?

Immediately, a low murmur of whispered conversation rose from the crowd below.

Many faces showed expressions of surprise and astonishment.

The two early-stage Body Integration cultivators from the Feng family exchanged glances, their expressions turning grim.

In contrast, Xiao Feng Xianzi and Elder Xiao couldn't help but reveal looks of delight.

Han Li in midair did not strike again; he simply stood upon the green small mountain beneath his feet, gazing calmly at his opponent below.

However, the faint green light flickering intermittently on the small mountain could at any moment condense into countless sword qi, sweeping downward once more.

"This isn't Yuan Magnetic Divine Light—it must be Taiyi Azure Light! Colorless and formless, incredibly sharp—my protective treasure couldn't fully block it. Indeed, the rumors were true: it's terrifyingly powerful."

The black-robed man suddenly raised one arm; a green hand shot out from his sleeve, its surface mottled with bloodstains, clearly pierced by numerous tiny holes from sword qi.

"Daoist Hui, your divine ability is equally extraordinary—able to withstand Taiyi Azure Light with your fleshly body. I suspect the toughness of your palm rivals that of ordinary defensive spirit treasures." Han Li gazed at the black-robed man's green hand, then smiled faintly.

"Hehe, this palm of mine is merely slightly special. But since it's already revealed, I suppose I must resort to some hidden techniques to truly give Daoist Han a few pointers." The black-robed man let out a cold laugh; the few blood holes on his palm flashed with spiritual light and then vanished strangely.

At the same time, the man inhaled deeply, and a layer of black aura flashed across his body. Instantly, countless black markings appeared on his skin.

These markings wandered unpredictably across his body, covering limbs, face, and entire form, seeming almost alive.

From afar, the man appeared to have transformed into a demonic being, his aura suddenly becoming profoundly strange.

Seeing this, Han Li also revealed a hint of interest, and with one hand, he made a grasping motion in the void—suddenly, a brilliant silver short ruler appeared in his palm.

But just then, the Long family elder outside the light barrier suddenly flashed his gaze and spoke:

"Elder Hui, I helped you cultivate this divine ability not for use in a mere sparring match. This Daoist Han is no weakling—you may not easily defeat him. Let me personally test him." Elder Hui, please step down for now.

As his words fell, the Long family ancestor's feet thundered—he transformed into a silver arc of lightning, shooting forth. In a flash, he ignored the massive light barrier and appeared beside the black-robed man.

The black-robed man, whose face had just shown a hint of ferocity, suddenly changed expression—but upon meeting the Long family ancestor's emotionless gaze, his heart jolted, and he reluctantly nodded:

"Elder Long, don't worry—I have my own sense of proportion. But since you also seem interested in stepping onto the platform, then I shall let Daoist Han have his way."

After speaking, the black-robed man immediately clenched his hand in a seal, withdrew his cultivation method, and the black markings covering his body gradually faded from dark to light, finally vanishing into nothingness on his skin.

Then, after giving Han Li one last deep look, the black-robed man transformed into a stream of black qi and flew out of the light barrier.

"Elder Long, are you really going to strike personally? I'm truly honored!" Han Li saw the Long family ancestor's gaze sweep toward him, and instead of showing fear, he lightly laughed and asked.

"I, Long Moumou, am already at late-stage Body Integration, while you've only just entered this stage. Don't say I'm bullying the weak—if you can withstand three of my moves, I'll immediately jump down and admit defeat." The Long family ancestor stood with hands behind his back, but when he spoke, his voice was unusually clear and cold.

"Three moves! Good—then I, Han, shall truly give it a try." Han Li heard this, paused briefly, then curled the corner of his mouth to reveal a smile.

The other cultivators below, hearing the exchange above, immediately stirred into a commotion.

Earlier, Han Li had displayed power comparable to a mid-stage cultivator, drawing many sideways glances. Now, upon hearing that the Long family elder—a late-stage great cultivator—had agreed to a three-move duel, they couldn't help but grow excited.

For these ordinary disciples of the True Spirit clans, this True Spirit Grand Ceremony truly opened their eyes—being able to witness the divine powers of a late-stage Body Integration cultivator made the trip worthwhile.

After all, in past ceremonies, whenever the True Spirit clans encountered the Long family, they would voluntarily forfeit—naturally, no one had ever seen the Long family's foremost True Spirit cultivator make a move.

"First Move!"

The Long family ancestor clearly had no intention of exchanging words with Han Li. After a low shout, with one hand behind his back, he suddenly reached forward from behind.

With a "puchi" sound, half the sky darkened, and the surrounding heavenly and earthly qi surged violently—condensing directly above Han Li's head into a giant golden hand several zhang tall, its surface covered in swirling five-colored runes, from which Buddhist chants echoed, as it lunged to seize Han Li.

Before the giant hand descended, Han Li felt the nearby air tighten, becoming as hard as refined steel, rendering him completely immobile.

Han Li's pupils flashed with light—suddenly, the void above his head trembled, and a dark, strange small mountain emerged.

A dim, grayish light aura rolled downward; Han Li felt his body loosen, and he immediately regained freedom. He then raised a crystal-clear jade-like palm and lightly struck it upward.

Five-colored flames blazed, bursting from his five fingertips, then condensed into a crystal-like five-colored giant hand, which he thrust forward to meet the attack.

With a "boom," the golden claw collided with the five-colored hand.

After a brief stalemate, the golden claw flashed with golden light and ruthlessly crushed the five-colored hand into fragments.

Seeing this, Han Li did not show panic—instead, his mouth twitched slightly, then he suddenly extended a finger and pointed it into the void.

The fragments of the five-colored hand merely flashed with crystalline light before transforming into five-colored cold flames, which wrapped around the golden claw.

In the next instant, the descent of the golden claw stalled, its surface flashed with spiritual light, and it was sealed within a large block of five-colored cold ice, hanging motionless in midair.

Seeing this, the Long family ancestor's eyes twitched, but he then shouted sternly:

"Second Move!"

As his words fell, he slapped his head with one hand—immediately, a dragon's roar shot into the heavens.

Then, with a flash of spiritual light, a golden dragon phantom flew out from his heavenly gate, circled once in midair, and then suddenly swung its head and tail, thrusting into his own body.

In the next moment, golden light blazed across the Long family ancestor's body—golden scales appeared on his cheeks and limbs, and a golden horn several cun high sprouted from his head.

He had instantly transformed into a half-dragon demonic state; his feet twitched slightly, and with a thunderclap, he vanished from his original spot in a flash.

Han Li nearly simultaneously heard a thunderclap above his head—the Long family ancestor's figure suddenly appeared there, raised his arm, his scale-covered golden hand spread its five fingers, and slowly reached downward to grab.

With a muffled "boom," an inhuman force descended from above, pressing down.

Han Li's pupils contracted slightly—he felt that, though the hand seemed small, it appeared to have instantly enveloped the entire Wanling Terrace, leaving him nowhere to dodge.

And if that crushing force truly descended, even with his incredibly strong physical body, he absolutely could not withstand it head-on.

With this thought, Han Li hardly thought before his divine sense stirred—the black mountain peak above his head trembled, then surged forward with mighty force to meet the palm, while golden light flashed—a golden shadow burst from his back, rising to several zhang in height, forming a three-headed, six-armed golden phantom, fierce and terrifying in appearance.

At this moment, a tremendous roar echoed from the sky!

The instant the black mountain peak and golden palm made contact, it was as if they had struck a colossal object—shuddering, the black mountain was hurled sideways.

The golden palm remained utterly unaffected and continued its downward grab toward Han Li.

Seeing this, Han Li's face darkened—the Venerable Sage Demon Image behind him suddenly raised all six arms, and six fists rained down like a violent storm upon the high heavens.

A flash of silver light—Han Li's own silver ruler in hand swung, and a silver-colored ruler-shadow several zhang long followed the fist-shadow, slashing upward into the void.

Instantly, the next moment, explosions rang out continuously in the air—the golden fist-shadow and silver ruler-shadow's power completely submerged the space above his head.

Han Li's silver ruler-shadow retracted, and then the silver ruler continuously transformed and reappeared.

From one to ten, then ten to a hundred, from a hundred to a thousand...

In an instant, thousands upon thousands of silver 'colored' short rods surged wildly from Han Li's hands, forming a silver stream that shot straight into the sky and swirled wildly away.

Seeing Han Li unleash such a terrifying divine ability, the people outside the light barrier were mostly stunned, gaping in disbelief, while a smaller number drew in cold breaths in shock.

But just then, a cold snort echoed from the void above Han Li, coming from the Long Family Patriarch, followed immediately by a thunderous roar like the earth shaking and mountains trembling.

Under the impact of an immense, terrifying power, the golden 'colored' fist shadows and countless silver 'colored' short rods all collapsed and vanished in disarray.

A golden 'colored' hand flashed into existence just a few zhang above Han Li's head and immediately grabbed downward without hesitation.

But at that moment, the nearby void fluctuated, and a green 'colored' fist shot out, striking the golden 'colored' palm with lightning speed.

The seemingly unstoppable golden 'colored' palm was actually flung open by a single blow from the green 'colored' fist.

Taking advantage of the opening, Han Li's shoulder shifted, his body blurred and vanished from its original spot, reappearing not more than ten zhang away, and he lifted his gaze toward the owner of the golden 'colored' fist.

His gaze was calm and still like water!

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