Chapter 783

"To risk one's life for a woman—I've overestimated him," the black-robed figure muttered again, glancing toward a spot not far away.

A crude, extraordinarily simple teleportation array made the black-robed figure's eyes flicker.

When this person sensed Han Li was now only dozens of li away, he suddenly rose and strode toward the teleportation array.

Moments later, he vanished in a flash of white light.

Han Li likewise sensed the black-robed man's presence and had been cautiously flying toward this location. Suddenly, the man's presence vanished entirely from his spiritual sense—he froze in shock.

"Could he have used a concealment technique to hide nearby, waiting to ambush me?" Han Li's heart tightened. Naturally, he increased his vigilance tenfold.

"This is…"

But when he cautiously approached the summit of Tianzhu Mountain and saw the conspicuously obvious small teleportation array, his expression changed. His gaze shifted instantly to a newly erected blue stone slab beside the array. Carved into it with a sharp blade were four inch-sized characters, crystal clear.

"Time expired, no waiting."

After whispering these four words, Han Li's face darkened. He cursed the man inwardly for his cunning.

Although his expertise in arrays allowed him to instantly recognize that this crude teleportation array could not transport someone far, even so—if it sent him to some pre-set ambush site, wouldn't that be walking straight into a trap?

Worse still, once he teleported, he had no idea whether the silver-haired elder and others could still find him?

But the stone tablet's message clearly indicated the man did not wish to meet him now—and offered him no chance to negotiate.

If he delayed too long, the man might simply decide to leave for good. That would be a serious problem.

He dared not gamble whether the man would truly do so.

After all, he had slain the companion of the Yinluo Sect's Sect Master. If this man were indeed the Demon Sect Master himself, such a move would not be impossible.

It seemed that if he wished to find a way to lift the Soul-Sealing Spell, he had no choice but to risk it.

Han Li's expression shifted between dark and light for a long while before finally making his decision.

He first swept his spiritual sense across the surrounding area, confirming no other demonic cultivators lurked nearby, then pulled out a transmission talisman and whispered a few words. He flicked his hand, and it shot away as a streak of red light toward the direction he had come from.

Then Han Li did not hesitate. He removed a spirit beast pouch from his waist and launched it into the air. Three-colored Golden Insects surged forth, forming a three-colored battle armor over Han Li's body.

He flicked his sleeve, and a blue miniature shield shot forward, blocking his front. His other hand flipped, and a white flash appeared—a silk-like brocade handkerchief materialized in his grasp.

Han Li glanced down at the brocade handkerchief, a strange light flickering in his eyes.

This brocade handkerchief was precisely the protective treasure Nangong Wan had once gifted him.

Han Li gently traced his finger over the smooth surface of the brocade, standing motionless in silence.

But after a short while, Han Li raised his hand and layered several protective barriers over himself. He shifted his body and stepped into the teleportation array.

He took a deep breath, then raised his hand and cast a spell onto one corner of the array.

White light blazed forth. Han Li vanished from within the array without a trace.

Thousands of li from Tianzhu Mountain, in a certain lake, on a nameless islet at its center, white spiritual light flared at one spot—and Han Li's figure materialized.

Almost the instant he emerged, ignoring the discomfort from teleportation, he instantly activated the blue shield before him. The shield instantly swelled, shielding most of his body.

Yet Han Li felt no attack. Only then did he relax slightly and glance around.

"Don't worry. To deal with a mere Nascent Soul cultivator at the early stage, I wouldn't resort to ambush. Though I've heard you're no ordinary early-stage cultivator," came an unfamiliar voice from not far across from Han Li.

At this voice, Han Li's heart stirred.

This was certainly not the Yinluo Sect Master's voice. Could it truly be another demonic cultivator behind this? Han Li's eyes flickered with surprise as he turned toward the source.

There stood a black-robed young man, around twenty years old, arms folded behind his back, expressionless, gazing at him from over thirty zhang away.

Although Han Li had never seen the Yinluo Sect Master's true face, neither his physique nor his voice matched the black-robed man who had fought the Hehuan Old Devil during the border battle.

"Hmph! If you won't ambush, then why use such a trick to place the Soul-Sealing Spell on my companion?" Han Li swept his gaze over the man and found he could not discern the man's cultivation base. His eyes narrowed slightly. His vigilance remained unrelaxed, yet his voice dripped with cold mockery.

At this moment, everything around him came into view.

This was the edge of a swamp, littered with muddy pools, intensely damp. Not far off lay a patch of short trees, with the faint sound of lake waves drifting in.

Han Li frowned, then relaxed. He sensed abnormal spiritual fluctuations everywhere—clearly, some kind of restriction array had been set.

Though he suspected it wasn't an overly powerful array, being teleported here meant he had lost all terrain advantage.

"Hehe! Without such a trick, would Han Daoist have come here so willingly? Though I possess minor abilities, I'm not so arrogant as to challenge your entire sect." The young man remained calm, speaking slowly.

"You're not the Yinluo Sect Master?" Han Li stared at him, suddenly shifting his tone.

"Why? Do I resemble the Sect Master in any way?" The black-robed youth chuckled softly.

"No, but you slipped into my Luoyun Sect easily, injured someone, and left unharmed. I truly didn't know the Sect had a cultivator like you. I wonder why you didn't appear during the great battle." Han Li sounded puzzled, yet as if speaking to himself.

"Though I'd very much like to explain to you, Han Daoist, I didn't lure you here merely to introduce myself. Do you have the Golden Thunder Bamboo magic treasure?"

Upon hearing this, Han Li glared coldly at the youth, saying nothing.

"Cough! Han Daoist, if you're trying to stall for time, you'll be disappointed. The teleportation array I set up is specially crafted—it can only be used twice. Once used twice, the array on the other end will automatically destroy itself. They won't find this place in less than half a day. I believe half a day is more than enough to settle matters between us." The black-robed youth spoke with complete confidence.

"Hmph! If you want to know whether the Golden Thunder Bamboo is on me, shouldn't you first tell me how to lift the Soul-Sealing Spell?" Han Li's eyes flashed with cold light, but his tone softened slightly.

"The method to lift the Soul-Sealing Spell is in this jade slip. But first, show me the Golden Thunder Bamboo. Unlike the Sect Master, I only want the Golden Thunder Bamboo. Your vengeance for your companion's death has nothing to do with me—I have no interest in meddling." The youth's smile vanished. He flipped his palm, and a black jade slip appeared.

Then the youth gazed at Han Li with deep meaning.

"Of course. Though the Golden Thunder Bamboo is important, I value my companion even more." Han Li raised his eyebrows and spoke without hesitation.

He brought his two hands together before his chest, then gently pulled them apart. A crack of thunder echoed, and a small green arrow appeared in his grasp, flickering with faint golden arcs.

Han Li pinched the arrow between two fingers and glanced at the youth with an expressionless face.

Seeing this, the youth's eyes flashed with greed, then he paused briefly before suddenly flicking his wrist.

Instantly, the black jade slip floated slowly toward Han Li, moving with unnatural slowness, as if tethered by invisible threads.

Han Li first blinked in surprise, then understood the youth's intent. He said nothing. Likewise, he tossed his small arrow forward—it drifted toward the youth as slowly as an ox-drawn cart.

Though both manipulated their objects, their eyes never left each other's faces, not blinking.

When the two objects passed each other, both Han Li and the youth silently exhaled. Their expressions eased slightly.

Both seized the approaching object at nearly the same moment and examined it closely.

But after a brief inspection, both faces twisted into bitter smiles.

"Is this your Golden Thunder Bamboo magic treasure?" The black-robed youth sneered, crushing the green arrow between his palms. Silver-white flames erupted—and the arrow instantly turned to ash.

"I've never heard that the most basic Five Elements cultivation method can remove the Soul-Sealing Spell." Han Li's face remained blank as blue fire rose in his hand. The jade slip instantly froze, then shattered into glowing specks, vanishing without a trace.

"Hmph! It seems we both distrust each other. But no matter. I'll ask you one final time: will you hand over the Golden Thunder Bamboo? If you give me this treasure, I'll turn and leave immediately—and leave behind the cure for your companion. Otherwise, after I kill you, I'll still find this treasure. It's not an ancient treasure—you'll surely carry it with you." The black-robed youth's expression turned grim. A faint aura of murderous intent radiated from him; his face twisted with menace.

"Funny. Your thinking is quite similar to mine. Since you cast the Soul-Sealing Spell, the method to lift it must be in your mind. When I kill you, I can extract it directly from your Primordial Spirit." Han Li exhaled softly, his voice icy.

"Soul-search me? In the past few centuries, you're the first person to speak to me like this. I'll leave you a whole corpse." The black-robed youth laughed bitterly with rage, raising his hand and casting several spells into the surroundings.

A rumbling echoed nearby. Seven blinding white pillars of light shot skyward. Simultaneously, dragon roars rang out. On each pillar, a silver-white dragon emerged, lifting its head in unison to roar.

"Bad! It's the Seven Dragon Stakes! Master, quickly move!" Before Han Li could even identify the nature of the seven pillars, Yin Yue's terrified voice rang in his ear—she sounded utterly frightened.

WM