Chapter 202

Han Li had just commanded the seven subsidiary blades to engage the silver sword when he immediately sensed the opponent's overwhelming strength.

The giant merely wielded this one massive sword artifact, and it instantly crushed all the golden blades; the golden net formed by the seven golden rays collapsed under the silver sword's brutal charge, unable to restrain it even slightly. Under the assault of the silver blade's light, the golden blades' radiance rapidly dimmed—clear signs of imminent destruction. It was only a matter of time before they met the same fate as the girl's silk scarf!

But none of this surprised Han Li, who had already witnessed the silver sword's power. His "Jin Fu Zi Mu Blades" were merely average among top-tier artifacts; their inferiority to the opponent's sword was expected, nothing extraordinary. Thus, Han Li pointed at the aerial battle, attempting to split off two of the entangled golden blades and launch them toward the giant to probe his defenses—see if any opening existed. After all, if a man was dead, no matter how powerful his artifact, what use was it?

Under Han Li's control, the two golden rays turned sharply toward the barefoot giant—when suddenly, the giant's massive sword blazed with brilliant silver light, spinning rapidly around its hilt, transforming in an instant into a colossal silver disc. Countless threads of suction erupted from its center, rendering every nearby golden blade as if weighed down by a thousand jin, utterly immobilized. The two blades attempting to flee were, of course, no exception.

Witnessing this, Han Li was left speechless with shock. When he regained his composure and glanced sharply at the giant, he saw the man was forming an odd hand seal, his hands darting like a spinning wheel.

Han Li had no time to think—he slapped his storage bag, and a blue flying dagger and a golden flying disc shot out in haste. Neither paused near him; both shot directly toward the giant.

Though his hands were occupied, the barefoot giant of the Giant Sword Sect clearly saw Han Li's move. He sneered, suddenly altered his hand seal, and freed one hand to point twice, from afar, at the incoming dagger and disc.

Instantly, Han Li felt his connection to the two artifacts severed. "Swoosh! Swoosh!"—the two top-tier artifacts, despite being over twenty feet away, were yanked through the air by the silver disc and forcibly sucked into its center.

"Puff! Puff!" As soon as they entered, the rapidly spinning silver sword churned them into its vortex. They could not hold out for even a moment before exploding into fragments like fireworks, scattering like a beautiful, extraordinary meteor shower of artifact debris.

Han Li's mouth was now dry as dust. He never imagined the opponent's cultivation method and silver sword were so extraordinary—not only had his "Jin Fu Zi Mu Blades" been trapped, but even the two top-tier artifacts, barely launched, had been utterly annihilated without effect. This truly startled him.

"Boom!" Another explosion rang out. Han Li was shocked, his face paling as he stared again. Indeed, of the original seven Jin Fu Blades, only six remained. From the center of the silver disc, a dazzling golden star shower now emerged—the disc, under the giant's control, had begun systematically seizing and destroying the golden blades.

If the destruction of the top-tier artifacts had merely startled Han Li, the loss of a single golden blade now made him ache in his heart. These were top-tier artifacts! And since they were a set, each lost blade significantly reduced their combined power.

Grief-stricken, Han Li no longer hesitated. He flipped his right hand, and the small mirror he had taken from the Many Treasures Maiden appeared in his palm. He rapidly infused it with spiritual energy, then aimed it upward. A pale green glow erupted from the mirror's surface, instantly forcing the silver sword's disc back into its original sword form, trapping both the sword and the remaining golden blades within the green light, freezing them motionless in midair.

The barefoot giant's previously triumphant, feverish gaze vanished the moment he saw Han Li's mirror. His expression changed drastically as he cried out in shock:

"Qing Ning Mirror! How did this come into your hands? Isn't this one of the Protecting Artifacts of the Moon Twin Sisters? Did you kill one of them?"

After speaking, the giant stared at Han Li with disbelief, as if he had committed some unforgivable, heaven-defying crime—making Han Li's skin crawl.

From the giant's tone, Han Li sensed that possessing this top-tier artifact had drawn him into grave trouble. He paused his attack, curious to hear more.

"What do you mean? I didn't kill her. I took this from the man who did—Feng Yue! Is there something wrong with that?" Han Li frowned, his expression grim.

"Heh, you'd better explain all this to the grandmother of the Moon Twin Sisters! See how a Core Formation cultivator, an Elder of the Moon Sect, listens to the excuses of a mere Qi Refining disciple!" The barefoot giant sneered mockingly.

Han Li's heart sank. If what the giant said was true, this matter could never be explained. He had no proof to show he hadn't killed her—only the woman's artifact now rested in his possession. Thus, the Moon Sect Elder would surely not let this "murderer" go unpunished.

"This is a real mess!" The thought of a Core Formation expert constantly hunting his life made Han Li's mouth bitter and his chest so choked with rage he nearly wanted to vomit blood.

In truth, he was utterly wronged! He hadn't killed her—he'd even avenged her by killing Feng Yue! Yet now he faced being hunted by a Core Formation cultivator. There was no justice here.

After all, to a Core Formation expert, killing a Qi Refining disciple was no different than crushing an ant—why would they bother listening to his defense? And his own sect, Huang Feng Valley, surely wouldn't risk angering a Moon Sect Elder over an unknown junior disciple like him.

The more Han Li thought, the darker his future seemed, the worse the consequences loomed. Would he have to flee immediately after leaving the forbidden zone, vanish his identity, and escape to a foreign land? He truly couldn't decide.

The giant clearly saw Han Li's gloomy expression and burst into a mocking laugh.

Just as the giant's laughter grew louder and Han Li's expression grew darker, a timid voice came from the side.

"If we all keep quiet and don't tell anyone, won't that be enough?"

The green-clad girl, having listened clearly, hesitantly interjected.

"Keep quiet?"

Both Han Li and the giant involuntarily froze, then exchanged a strange glance—and suddenly fell silent.

The girl's next words were swallowed by the odd silence between them. She could only stare with wide, dark eyes, rolling them nervously, too afraid to speak.

In the silence, Han Li suddenly clasped his hands behind his back and began slowly pacing nearby, swaying as he walked. The giant, meanwhile, fixed his gaze unwaveringly on Han Li's every movement, his brow solemn.

This tense silence, which made hearts beat faster, lasted a full cup of tea—until the barefoot giant, his expression grave, finally broke it.

"Never thought we'd be reminded by a little girl! It's true what they say: those involved are confused, those watching see clearly. Now, you intend to kill us all to silence us!"

"Correct. If there were another way, I truly wouldn't wish to kill you, Brother. Your sword-controlling technique is utterly miraculous! I genuinely admired it." Han Li sighed, finally stopping his pacing, and faced the giant helplessly.

"So you don't believe in an oath sworn under a deadly curse?" The giant fell silent again for a moment, then his eyes suddenly blazed with sharp light as he pressed forward aggressively.

"Correct. I only trust the dead to keep secrets." Han Li's face darkened, his voice cold and piercing.

"Fine! Then no more words—let us settle this here and now!" The barefoot giant raised his brows, his spirit surging with boldness.

"Settle this? No—you're already dead." Han Li smiled strangely, shaking his head softly after hearing the giant's words.

"Bullshit! Do you think trapping my Silver Radiance Sword means you've won this fight? You haven't even seen half my abilities!" The giant roared in fury, raised his arm, and suddenly silver blade-light flashed in his hand—identical to the sword in the air.

"You haven't noticed that we're now within ten zhang of each other!" Han Li gazed at the giant with an odd expression, sighing. Then his figure blurred—and vanished into thin air.

"As long as you're within ten zhang and haven't activated any defensive spell, your life and death rest entirely in my hands!" Han Li's voice still echoed in the void. As he suddenly appeared right behind the panicked giant, the final word left his lips.

"And you, now, are already dead." Han Li slowly retracted the silk thread he had just flicked, murmuring softly.

The giant stared blankly ahead, motionless. A thin red line suddenly appeared on his neck—then his head rolled cleanly off his shoulders, truly and utterly dead.

Han Li turned, gazing at the giant's severed body. A flicker of pity passed through him. The giant's strength was certainly no less than Feng Yue's—but he had been careless, allowing Han Li to close the distance so dangerously. His death was not unjust.

"Are you going to kill me too, to silence me?"

Han Li suddenly heard a weak voice, filled with suspicion, caution, and fear.

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