Chapter 842

A flash of light appeared on the distant horizon, where a vast expanse of black and purple radiance materialized in the high sky, swirling and flickering incessantly, obscuring half the heavens. Below it, a green cloud several mu in size, lush and dripping with vitality, rose slowly, spinning gently beneath the strange radiance, and as the green cloud and the strange light interwove, a thunderous roar echoed forth.

The mighty roar had originated from that very spot.

The black and purple radiance exuded a demonic aura as violent and overwhelming as a raging storm. All three of them recognized this aura intimately—it was identical to the aura emitted by the Southern Dragon Marquis just after he had transformed into his two-headed, four-armed form. Yet it was nowhere near as terrifying as the demonic energy now hovering in the air. Merely sensing it from afar felt as if it could suffocate them.

What startled the Ancestor Ancestor Linghu was that the black-purple radiance and the green cloud were rapidly moving toward their position, seemingly about to draw near.

"Poisonous Corpse Cloud! That's the mist created by Wei Dao's poison arts—any ordinary cultivator who touches it dies instantly. I've seen Wei Dao use it once before." The white-robed woman's face lit up as she saw the green mist.

Upon hearing this, Han Li and Ancestor Ancestor Linghu exchanged a strange glance, each reading deep dread in the other's eyes.

Though the green cloud was imposing, it was clearly suppressed beneath the black-purple radiance. What demonic creature was battling Wei Wei Wuyan? It seemed even a Nascent Soul late-stage cultivator couldn't match it. Yet such overwhelming energy could not possibly belong to the Southern Dragon Marquis who had just fled.

The white-robed woman was no fool; seeing Han Li and Ancestor Ancestor Linghu's expressions, she immediately grasped the truth, her face darkening.

"We should—"

As the woman hesitated, about to suggest something, a cold spiritual sense swept over all three of them. Her voice cut off abruptly.

Han Li's heart tightened; Ancestor Ancestor Linghu's face grew even more grim.

"Now the thing over there has locked onto all three of us. If we don't leave now, we won't be able to escape. The demonic creature that attacked us earlier has also gone over there. If it joins forces with Wei Dao, even if Wei Dao's cultivation is deep, he won't last long. Do you two intend to aid Wei Dao—or do you plan to split up now, wait for Wei Dao's death, then be hunted down one by one by these demons, each to your own fate?" After a moment of silence, Han Li spoke coldly, his expression unreadable.

He had just probed with his spiritual sense beneath the black-purple radiance—the spiritual energy fluctuations within were astonishing. His spiritual sense couldn't approach even a fraction of an inch. His heart sank slightly. It meant both cultivators in the battle were far beyond his own level.

Ancestor Ancestor Linghu and the white-robed woman stared at each other, speechless.

If possible, these two had just barely escaped with their lives—they had no desire to fight again with the same demonic creature. But as Han Li said, once Wei Wei Wuyan failed to hold it off, they had no confidence they could escape from the valley's depths. After all, they were now deep within the valley's core.

Moreover, if Wei Wei Wuyan survived and learned they had abandoned him, as cultivators of the Nine Kingdoms Alliance, their future troubles would be immense. Both were senior elders of their respective sects—this could bring great disaster upon the Moonshadow Sect and the Huang Feng Valley.

Yet neither was willing to sacrifice their lives for a battle with zero chance of success. Both wore expressions of deep hesitation.

Han Li silently sneered, his hands clasped behind his back as he gazed at the approaching black-purple radiance on the horizon, saying nothing more.

"Among the three of us, Wei Dao possesses the greatest prowess. What do you intend to do?" Ancestor Ancestor Linghu frowned, sighed in frustration, and suddenly turned to Han Li.

"Me? Heh…" Han Li did not answer immediately, smiling without speaking.

Seeing this, Ancestor Ancestor Linghu let out a bitter laugh, silently cursing Han Li as a sly little fox.

Otherwise, if Han Li had suggested they flee immediately, he and the woman could later blame Han Li for the decision when Wei Wei Wuyan demanded an accounting.

Just as Ancestor Ancestor Linghu felt awkward, Han Li suddenly let out a soft exclamation.

"Huh! Other cultivators have arrived nearby. But that's not surprising—such a commotion must have drawn cultivators from thousands of li around."

Ancestor Ancestor Linghu and the white-robed woman were startled, following Han Li's gaze urgently.

Indeed, on one side of the distant battle, faint spiritual lights flickered—a group of cultivators was flying toward the strange radiance and green cloud.

"How are they here? Why are they going to such a dangerous place?" Han Li had just carefully scanned them with his spiritual sense, and his heart jolted.

The group flying toward the battle consisted of three cultivators—he unexpectedly recognized two of them.

One was the True Person Jingtian, who had once traded with him, still accompanied by two demonic puppet ghosts. But now both were covered in wounds; one puppet had lost an arm, as if it had endured great hardship.

The other was the silver-haired elder of the Luoyun Sect—his senior brother Cheng.

The third was an unfamiliar elder who had entered the valley with the Cheng elder. The other elderly cultivator who should have been with them was nowhere to be seen—presumably met with some misfortune.

After recognizing them, Han Li's face darkened.

These few must have been drawn here by the fierce battle, perhaps even mistaking it for a struggle over some rare treasure. If they knew there was no treasure here—only a demon that devoured Nascent Souls—they would have fled far away long ago.

The distance was too great; even if Han Li had tried to warn them with a voice-transmitting technique, it was already too late. In moments, they drew near the battle. Wei Wei Wuyan, no doubt, was delighted to have a few sacrificial pawns to ease his burden. But the silver-haired elder and his companions were now in grave danger.

He didn't care what happened to others. But this "Senior Brother Cheng" had treated him well in the Luoyun Sect. He always repaid kindness and vengeance in kind—he couldn't stand by and watch this man die before his eyes. He would have to go himself.

Han Li sighed inwardly.

His original plan had not been to flee immediately, but neither had he intended to rush headlong into the battle between the ancient demon and Wei Wei Wuyan. He had planned to sneak closer quietly, observe the details of their struggle, then decide.

If Wei Wei Wuyan was merely at a slight disadvantage, he would naturally intervene to distract the demon spirit that had just arrived. As a human cultivator, he didn't want to see the ancient demon roam the valley unchecked, devouring Nascent Souls.

But if Wei Wei Wuyan was completely overwhelmed, on the verge of collapse, he wouldn't throw his own life away—he'd flee immediately to save himself. This would simply be the fate of the cultivators trapped in the valley. Against an opponent who had defeated a Nascent Soul late-stage cultivator, he had no power to turn the tide—just surviving was enough.

But now, with the silver-haired elder's group charging recklessly into the battle, Han Li's expression shifted several times before he gritted his teeth and joined them.

If things became too dangerous, he could always use Blood Shadow Dash to escape. But when activating this secret technique, he must time his direction precisely—lest he teleport straight into a spatial rift. The danger remained substantial.

Unless absolutely desperate, Han Li still wouldn't use this technique.

After carefully weighing everything, Han Li suddenly turned and coldly addressed Ancestor Ancestor Linghu and the white-robed woman:

"Since other Daoists have come to assist, we cannot stand idly by while this demon devours cultivators' Nascent Souls. Whether you two go or not, I'm going first. But you two are now so close to the battle—Wei Dao must have already sensed your presence. You'll have a hard time explaining yourselves to him afterward."

With seven parts warning and three parts threat, Han Li stomped his foot and shot into the sky as a streak of blue light, heading straight for the battle.

Ancestor Ancestor Linghu and the white-robed woman stood frozen, stunned into silence after hearing Han Li's words.

In that brief delay, the black-purple radiance and green cloud clashed even more fiercely, now only ten li away. If Wei Wei Wuyan chose to, a mere sweep of his spiritual sense would reveal their hiding place.

Han Li's words were not entirely bluff.

"Let's go. Han Dao is right. As human cultivators, it is our duty to exterminate demons and defend the Dao." Ancestor Ancestor Linghu's lips twitched, then he gave a bitter smile to the white-robed woman.

The woman's face was grim; she understood the stakes all too well, and could only nod helplessly.

At least with so many cultivators joining, even the most powerful demon should be able to hold its own.

With a glimmer of hope, the two transformed into two streaks of brilliant light and flew forward, gritting their teeth.

They did not know that a hundred li behind them, the Grand Elder Dongmen Tu of the Ling Yuling Sect was flying toward them with three green-robed cultivators.

Of the original five Spirit Infants transformed into Nascent Souls, only three remained—the other two must have perished in spatial rifts or forbidden arrays.

Yet his face showed no trace of sorrow; instead, he glanced excitedly toward the distant horizon, where the spiritual energy fluctuations were extraordinarily intense. Even from a hundred li away, he sensed them clearly. It must be cultivators fighting over a treasure—he naturally intended to go see, hoping to profit from the chaos.

Three hundred li in another direction, the Zhong Elder of the Ghost Spirit Sect was also leading a group of disciples toward the battle, his face grim beyond measure.

Although they had a route map to enter the Fallen Demon Valley, two of his disciples had met with misfortune, their bodies and souls annihilated in mobile spatial rifts.

His primary goal—this painstakingly sought spiritual tree, its Lingzhu fruit—had been plucked by someone ahead of him. No matter how disciplined he was, he nearly exploded with rage.

These fruits were the key to his advancement to Nascent Soul late-stage. The marks of the harvest were still fresh, and the Lingzhu fruit must be processed into medicine immediately—so the thief couldn't have fled far.

He had immediately led his disciples to search the surrounding area. But after so many days, they found nothing.

Just as he was preparing to lead his disciples back along the original route, despondent, a powerful shockwave suddenly surged toward them, nearly wiping out his entire group. Fortunately, he carried a top-grade ancient defensive treasure, allowing him to barely escape unscathed.

Then, from afar, came such an astonishing surge of spiritual energy—it triggered a thought: the thief who stole the Lingzhu fruit. He could no longer contain himself and immediately led his disciples flying toward the disturbance.

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