Chapter 539

Several patches of companion-ghost grass he had long set his sights on flew straight into the jade box, roots and all, along with the mud.

A soft "clack" echoed.

Han Li swiftly snapped the jade box shut, a hint of delight crossing his face.

Acquiring the companion-ghost grass so easily was truly unexpected.

But this place couldn't be lingered in! Han Li turned to leave, about to flee the area, when a faint voice sounded behind him.

"You've been lingering here so long just for these few plants? Human cultivators are truly strange!" It was the voice of a stranger, a man.

Han Li's expression changed drastically, his face turning grim.

Yet he forced himself to calm down. With a flick of his body, he turned around, his face dark and cold.

Before him stood a green-robed demonic cultivator, gazing at him with curious eyes.

Seeing the demon's face clearly, Han Li felt a bitter taste in his mouth.

The demon wore a silver crown, barefoot in hemp sandals; apart from his tiny green eyes and a horned, pointed nose, the rest of him was indistinguishable from a human man.

Han Li's eyelids twitched violently.

A demonic beast this close to fully assuming human form—how could it possibly be an eighth-level beast? Could it be one of the legendary ninth- or tenth-level demons?

Han Li's body froze. Though he already gripped the Five Elements Ring and a spirit beast bag, he dared not make a single move.

"You noticed me long ago," Han Li said, his voice dry and unpleasant.

Yet the demon cultivator, upon hearing this, stirred slightly, then chuckled softly.

"Indeed, I noticed you the very day you arrived. At first, I thought you were just a passing human cultivator, so I paid no mind. But then, over the following days, you never left the nearby rocks. That piqued my interest." The green-robed demon narrowed his eyes, revealing a row of snow-white teeth.

For some reason, Han Li felt the demon's teeth were unnaturally sharp, faintly glinting with a chilling, terrifying light.

"Xing Feng? So this demon truly is the adult Wind-Splitter." Han Li's heart sank further.

"If so, why didn't you act sooner?" Han Li forced a smile and asked.

"I wanted to meet you sooner, but I had just completed the second stage of my transformation and was stabilizing my form—far too fragile to venture out. Now that I've fully solidified my body, I was just about to leave. Yet you came to my den yourself. That truly surprised me." The Wind-Splitter smiled with an eerie expression.

"Second stage of transformation? So you've just entered the ninth level?" Han Li's face paled; the hand clutching the Five Elements Ring began to sweat coldly.

"Ninth level? That's your human classification for our demonic kind, isn't it? Yes, our second stage of transformation corresponds to your ninth-level demonic beasts." The demon, whose true form was an adult Wind-Splitter, blinked casually.

Hearing the demon's frank admission, Han Li fell silent. After a moment, he let out a bitter, twisted smile.

If it had been an eighth-level beast, he might have had a sliver of hope. But facing a ninth-level demonic cultivator, he had all but abandoned any thought of escape.

It seemed his death was now unavoidable.

Thinking this, Han Li said no more. Suddenly, he spat out a dozen streaks of blue-green light, which circled around him.

Then he raised one hand, preparing to summon his spirit beast bag.

But in that instant, the demon moved.

Han Li's vision blurred; his hand grew light—the spirit beast bag had been snatched from him.

His dozen guardian swords, though sentient, darted before him to block—but the demon's speed was too swift. Before the swords could strike, he had already returned to his original position.

Han Li, stunned, turned ashen.

How had he forgotten? The Wind-Splitter was famed for its speed among high-level demonic beasts.

And at such close range, a ninth-level Wind-Splitter's speed was nearly equivalent to teleportation. How could he possibly harm it?

In an instant, a flood of chaotic thoughts surged through his mind.

A strange flush rose on Han Li's ashen face.

He pressed one hand against his storage bag, and a shimmering golden silk ball appeared in his palm.

Han Li swiftly raised his hand and swallowed the ball whole, then stared coldly at the green-robed demon, saying nothing.

He had decided: before death, he would detonate the Dry Blue Pearl inside his dantian with the Evil-Repelling Divine Thunder.

Even if he couldn't take the demon down with him, he would surely inflict grave injury.

The Wind-Splitter, seeing Han Li's strange act, showed a flicker of surprise—but then merely shrugged and smiled.

"Heh! Why the rush, friend? I never said I meant you harm!" He tossed the spirit beast bag idly in his hand, grinning strangely.

"What do you mean? Aren't demonic beasts exterminating human cultivators right now?" Han Li frowned, his voice icy.

He didn't want to be toyed with on the brink of death.

"The war against your humans is being waged only by the nearby sea tribes. I, Feng, answer to no one. I merely like this phosphorescent pool and have settled here temporarily." The Wind-Splitter sneered, shaking his head.

Han Li froze.

He suddenly recalled: the Wind-Splitter was a demonic beast between sea creature and demonic bird—it wasn't truly a sea demon. And from the demon's tone, he wasn't even a local cultivator.

Could it be he truly had no intention of killing him? Han Li's expression shifted uncertainly.

After a moment, Han Li gestured, recalling all his swords into his body, his expression relaxing slightly.

Since his swords were useless against this foe, he might as well be straightforward. If the demon deceived him, he could always detonate the Dry Blue Pearl.

Seeing Han Li retract his treasures, the Wind-Splitter showed satisfaction.

"I like dealing with clever humans. Here, take this back." Without even glancing into the spirit beast bag, he tossed it to Han Li.

Han Li caught it, his heart growing a little more at ease.

"Would you care to visit my true lair? This is the first time I've ever invited a human cultivator." The demon fixed Han Li with a gaze that delivered a sentence far beyond his expectations.

Though the Wind-Splitter spoke politely, Han Li dared not refuse—he could only force a bitter nod.

Seeing Han Li agree, the Wind-Splitter showed a touch of delight.

Without another word, he raised his hand, and a green light ball appeared in his palm. Instantly, it expanded, engulfing Han Li as well.

A flicker of surprise crossed Han Li's face, but he made no resistance. In an instant, the green light flashed, pulling him beside the Wind-Splitter.

With a splash, the light ball plunged both of them into the pool, sinking straight downward.

Because the ball emitted a faint green glow, Han Li could still see the underwater world around him.

Whether due to the strange nature of the pool's water, Han Li saw no other fish except a kind of white, palm-sized creature.

There were no shrimp, seaweed, or any other aquatic life.

Seeing Han Li's obvious curiosity toward the pool's depths, the Wind-Splitter smiled faintly but said nothing.

After about the time of a meal, the light sphere halted its descent, gave a gentle tremor, then shot sideways.

In an instant, a massive black stone gate appeared before them. White light flickered across its surface—clearly sealed with barriers.

"Here we are—this is my humble abode. Don't laugh," the Wind-Splitter said, pointing to the gate with unusual courtesy.

Han Li forced a smile but said nothing.

As the light sphere struck the gate, it opened automatically.

Instantly, the sphere passed through a white curtain, depositing them into a dry corridor.

The corridor shimmered with five-colored light; its stone walls were inlaid with pearls the size of dragon's eyes, glowing in harmony, as bright as daylight.

"After you," the Wind-Splitter said, pleased to see Han Li's astonishment.

These pearls weren't ordinary—they were gathered by the demon from deep-sea depths, harvested from spirit clams that had lived over a thousand years. Each possessed rare abilities to repel water and fire.

Han Li glanced ahead at the corridor, inwardly dreading to enter—but under the gaze of the ninth-level demonic beast, he forced himself to step forward first.

The green-robed Wind-Splitter followed calmly behind.

The corridor wasn't long; soon, Han Li reached a lavish hall decorated with colorful coral.

At its center stood a pure, crystalline jade table, with several chairs carved from the same exquisite jade. In each corner stood an ancient, incense-burning tripod, each holding a black candle, as thick as a finger, emitting a faint, sweet fragrance.

WM