Chapter 839

Han Li nodded to Lord Ancestor Linghu, then turned to Zi Ling and said softly:

"Your cultivation is too low; you can't assist here and might lose your life. Leave now! Don't worry—now that we're holding this fiend off, he won't target you."

He and Zi Ling had some past connection, so he told her to leave first; otherwise, once the battle began, he couldn't protect her.

Zi Ling stared blankly for a moment, hesitated, then nodded obediently.

"If Han Dao friend says so, then I'll take my leave first. Han Brother, take care of yourself!" Zi Ling whispered. Then she glanced at the Southern Long Marquis below, studied Lord Ancestor Linghu's direction once more, and shot into the sky as a streak of brilliant rainbow light.

Below, the Southern Long Marquis either deemed Zi Ling's cultivation too shallow to bother with, or was already strained facing Han Li and the others; he coldly glanced at her retreating form, then turned his gaze back to Han Li.

Seeing the hostile gaze, Han Li's expression darkened as he raised one hand. Thick golden arcs flickered along his arm, followed by continuous thunderous roars.

His entire arm instantly blazed with blinding lightning.

Facing such a fearsome ancient devil, Han Li had no intention of testing the waters—he struck immediately with the Evil-Subduing Thunder, a technique specifically designed to counter demonic arts. Since acquiring it, this thunder had never failed him against demonic techniques.

Though this ancient devil was ferocious, Han Li still had some confidence in the Evil-Subduing Thunder.

Seeing the golden lightning arcs dancing on Han Li's arm, the Southern Long Marquis's eyelids twitched violently, his pupils contracting sharply.

"I recognize you. From the residual memories I absorbed from this body, your presence left a deep impression—though I recall no specific details, the original owner of this body feared you intensely. Now I see: his instinct was correct. Not only did you see through my ambush, but you can wield the Evil-Subduing Thunder that once made us suffer. Eliminating you will require real effort." The Southern Long Marquis stared at Han Li for a moment, then spoke coldly.

Han Li heard these words, a faint sneer curled his lips, his expression unchanged, but the golden arcs on his arm grew larger by a third. He flicked his sleeve, and a small blue shield shot out, spinning once before forming a blue haze that enveloped him.

Seeing Han Li step forward to directly confront the Southern Long Marquis, Lord Ancestor Linghu and the white-robed woman exchanged a swift, delighted glance.

Han Li's reputation was now considerable—second only to those of Nascent Soul late stage—and this gave the two renewed confidence.

Without delay, their lips moved slightly as they exchanged whispered instructions, then slowly moved apart to flank Han Li, preparing to assist from both sides.

Seeing Han Li utterly unmoved by words, his will unshakable, the Southern Long Marquis unconsciously frowned, then bared his teeth in a grotesque snarl. Without a word, he stomped his foot, his body shuddered, leaving a lingering afterimage as he vanished from his original spot.

Han Li's face remained calm, but his heart tightened—he raised his vigilance to the utmost. Yet when he swept his spiritual sense, he detected no trace of the enemy. Truly, an ancient devil—this concealment technique alone was enough to cripple ordinary cultivators.

Thinking this, Han Li remained composed, narrowed his eyes, and blue light flickered within them as he effortlessly activated the Clear-Ming Spiritual Eyes technique.

Suddenly he raised one hand, and the golden arcs on his arm shot out, forming a golden net that descended onto an empty patch of air.

Lightning crackled and thunder roared in a chaotic symphony.

A bizarre scene unfolded: where there had been nothing, a flash of black light appeared—and the Southern Long Marquis suddenly materialized there.

As soon as his form emerged, countless golden arcs rained down from above, causing him to blink in surprise.

But instantly his expression hardened; he shook his shoulders, and dozens of afterimages bloomed around him. When the lightning struck, all afterimages vanished—but his true body had vanished again, utterly without trace.

Han Li kept his lips tightly shut, blue light flickering in his eyes. He turned his head slightly to one side, then suddenly raised his other arm, aiming in the opposite direction.

With a crack of thunder, a thick golden arc shot from his palm, targeting an ordinary spot six or seven zhang away.

Just as the arc reached the spot, the Southern Long Marquis's figure materialized there—as if he had deliberately rushed into it. He could only watch helplessly as thunder roared and lightning struck straight at his face.

"The Southern Long Marquis was truly startled this time—one strike could be luck, but two in a row? This was no coincidence."

The opponent could truly see through his concealment.

This time, Han Li's timing was perfect. Seeing the golden arc hurtling toward him, the Southern Long Marquis had no time to evade—he clenched his teeth, opened his mouth, and spat out a ball of black-red demonic flame that collided head-on with the lightning.

With a soft *puff*, the flame and lightning flashed once, then vanished together like water and fire, turning into a wisp of green smoke.

"Huh!" This time, it was Han Li's expression that changed drastically.

This ancient devil could actually resist the Evil-Subduing Thunder! What kind of demonic flame was that black-red fire—how could it be so powerful?

Yet Han Li, ever observant, noticed: the instant the demonic flame vanished, the Southern Long Marquis's face paled slightly—though it returned to normal in an instant. Clearly, the black-red flame was no ordinary thing; it likely drew upon his essence or soul force.

Before Han Li could ponder how to exploit this, the Southern Long Marquis, having extinguished the lightning, lunged forward—his body stretched supple as boneless flesh, suddenly appearing right before Han Li.

He grinned wickedly at Han Li, and his fists, wrapped in demonic energy, slammed down with full force.

Han Li's expression didn't waver. He stepped half a pace back, and behind him, thunder cracked as a pair of silver-white wings emerged amid silver light.

Then, with a crack of thunder, Han Li vanished within the silver arcs, motionless.

Seeing this, the Southern Long Marquis paused, then sneered as he scanned the area.

"Thunder-Dashing Technique! You know quite a few tricks. Too bad. Heh…"

Amid mocking laughter, the Southern Long Marquis turned into a wisp of black mist and vanished into thin air.

From the Southern Long Marquis's charge, to Han Li unleashing the Evil-Subduing Thunder, to both vanishing—only a fleeting instant had passed.

Far away, Lord Ancestor Linghu and the white-robed woman, seeing the clash begin, had intended to immediately summon their treasures to assist Han Li—but the lightning and fire erupted too fast for them to intervene. Now both had vanished entirely, leaving Lord Ancestor Linghu and Lady Nangong staring at each other in stunned silence.

Immediately, they raised their guard and activated defensive treasures to shield their entire bodies, fearing the Southern Long Marquis might strike them while they were distracted.

After all, they lacked Han Li's abilities to pierce through his concealment.

Thunder cracked again—Han Li reappeared over twenty zhang from his original position. Yet simultaneously, black mist surged behind him—and the Southern Long Marquis materialized there as well.

A cruel smile curled his lips as he brought both fists down without mercy.

Han Li didn't turn around. His spiritual sense instantly sensed everything behind him—but he had no time to evade. He could only pour every ounce of his spiritual power into the blue shield, hoping to block the blow first.

He had just used a trap to teach the enemy a lesson—and now, so quickly, he himself was caught in the same trap. Shocked, he was also deeply puzzled.

Two thunderous *thuds* rang out—the same sensation Lord Ancestor Linghu had endured, Han Li now felt without difference.

The blue light shield trembled violently, hurling him backward; most of the magic power he had gathered was shattered by the twin blows.

The Thunder-Dashing Technique could no longer be activated.

The Southern Long Marquis roared with laughter, his body transforming into a whirlwind as he surged after Han Li's flying form, fists raised to crush him outright.

Han Li, hurtling through the air, had no control over his body—but his face showed neither fear nor triumph.

Having witnessed how the enemy dealt with Lord Ancestor Linghu, how could he have made no preparations? Though his spiritual power was too scattered to summon, he had other means that required no direct action to defeat his foe.

Though his body still felt numb and unresponsive, his hands had regained most of their mobility.

He grabbed a spirit beast pouch from his waist and hurled it straight at the Southern Long Marquis.

The Southern Long Marquis froze, still unsure what it was—when a buzzing sound erupted from the pouch, and thousands of golden Chrysanthemum Beetles surged out.

A golden cloud of insects formed instantly, rushing head-on toward the pursuing Southern Long Marquis.

Though the Southern Long Marquis didn't recognize the Chrysanthemum Beetles, the primordial, savage aura radiating from them—a relic of ancient times—sent a chill through him. He didn't dare delay: he thrust one hand toward the insect cloud and grasped the air.

A pale-gray-flamed Azure Phantom Claw materialized above the cloud, snatching down without mercy.

Most of the beetles couldn't dodge—they were seized in the claw's grip, and the gray flame surged up several chi, engulfing every remaining golden insect within its blaze. He sneered, then turned to resume chasing Han Li.

But at this moment, the white-robed woman seized her chance and launched her treasure mirror once more—a five-colored light pillar descended from the heavens, engulfing the Southern Long Marquis, while Lord Ancestor Linghu tapped the white haze circling above his head, and the ring instantly shot toward the Southern Long Marquis.

The Southern Long Marquis was furious, but his body shifted slightly, evading the five-colored light pillar.

Though the pillar was troublesome, as long as he wasn't trapped within it, it posed no real threat.

As for the flying ring—it was clearly a restraint treasure—but with his lightning-speed movement, how could it possibly catch him? He ignored it entirely.

The Southern Long Marquis weighed his options carefully: though Lord Ancestor Linghu had attacked, Han Li's Evil-Subduing Thunder remained the greatest threat—so he disregarded the others and pressed forward toward Han Li.

Yet within the light shield, Han Li wasn't idle—he slapped his waist pouch, and a dozen white orbs shot out, instantly transforming into a dozen white mechanical puppets, lining up in a row to block the Southern Long Marquis's path.

Each stood two zhang tall, with tiger heads and human bodies; they shook their arms, and ten claw-like blades, several cun long, flickered in and out of existence.

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