Breaking the Cocoon

Chapter 324: Breaking the Cocoon

The moment Liu Jing and the other Yellow Maple Valley cultivators saw this, having already learned from Han Li about the demonic transformation these blood servants were capable of, they knew exactly what was coming. Without hesitation, magical tools and spells smashed down toward the four light cocoons. They understood that while the enemy was still transforming inside, the cocoons were perfect stationary targets. There was no reason to let such an opportunity slip by.

Unfortunately, as Han Li had said, these light spheres were extraordinarily tough. After a storm of concentrated attacks, they remained completely unharmed, standing firmly in place as if nothing had happened.

Liu Jing’s expression turned grim.

“Don’t hold back! Use everything you’ve got! If we wait until they finish transforming, we’re in trouble!” Liu Jing barked with resolute severity.

As he spoke, he withdrew his magical tool and solemnly produced a golden talisman, holding it between two fingers. His lips began to move in an incantation, and under the mysterious chant, the golden talisman gradually emitted a blinding light.

Han Li’s heart stirred with caution. He had no idea what grade this talisman was, but the fact that Liu Jing, a mid-Foundation Establishment cultivator, needed to use a chant to activate it meant it was no ordinary item.

The others exchanged glances, then each began to reveal their own trump cards.

The most eye-catching among them were Chen Qiaojian’s senior sister and Song Meng. Each produced a Talisman Treasure bearing the image of a magical treasure and immediately sat down to focus their energy. Clusters of blue and gray light radiated from the talismans, drawing envious looks from the others.

A Talisman Treasure was not something every Foundation Establishment cultivator could easily possess. Having one was proof that the owner either had a powerful family backing them or was deeply favored by a sect elder. Otherwise, gathering the resources to acquire one on their own was nearly impossible.

The others, though envious, refused to be outdone. Some unleashed powerful spells, others activated even more exquisite magical tools, launching the next wave of attacks. Light flashed across the battlefield as tools danced in the air.

Han Li, however, did not use his Talisman Treasure or the devastating “Giant Sword Technique” from before. Instead, he opted for the most mana-efficient method. With a light wave of his hands, several heavy thuds sounded as four beast puppets materialized before him.

The puppets opened their cold, lifeless eyes and spread their massive jaws wide. Beams of light, like long white streamers, shot forth with savage force. Han Li stood behind them, using the moment to recover the mana he had expended in the previous battle.

He had not even seen the Black Fiend Leader yet. There was no way he was going to reveal everything and drain his mana this early.

Conserving mana for any contingency—that was the strategy Han Li had settled on before this battle began. If his mana ran out, no amount of skill or tricks would be of any use.

The appearance of the beast puppets drew a moment of surprised glances from his fellow disciples, but they quickly returned to their own tasks.

After all, what techniques one cultivated and what arts one practiced were personal secrets. No one would be tactless enough to pry.

Those who knew a little about the origins of the Puppet Daoist technique naturally assumed Han Li had obtained it from Li Huayuan. It was hardly strange for a Core Formation cultivator like Li Huayuan to have killed a few Thousand Bamboo School cultivators and acquired some of their cultivation methods.

Thus, the others were merely curious about Han Li’s beast puppets.

At that moment, Liu Jing’s golden talisman was successfully activated. After a slight tremor, it transformed into a beam of golden light that flew to hover above the blood-colored cocoons.

Then—puff. A sound like a burst of air followed as the golden light exploded into a rain of countless tiny sparks that drifted down like a dream, dazzling and surreal.

But beneath this beautiful, strange spectacle lurked a deadly killing intent. As Liu Jing’s fingers danced through a rapid series of gestures, the countless light specks began to warp. They shrank and stretched, taking the shape of tiny golden swords. Each was no more than an inch long, but they radiated a biting chill and razor-sharp edge.

“Thousand Swords Art.”

Liu Jing finally uttered the name of this metal-element technique.

This scene stunned the others, except for the two who were still channeling their Talisman Treasures.

Metal-element spells were among the rarest of the five elemental techniques, and most of them were support spells like “Golden Armor Art” or “Metal Skin Technique.” For Liu Jing to possess a golden talisman that was not only an offensive metal-element spell but also a mid-grade or higher mass-attack technique—how could this not shock Han Li and the others? Their movements slowed slightly as they watched, curious to see what wonders this spell would reveal.

Thousands of golden swords now hung menacingly above the cocoons, their presence awe-inspiring.

But as Liu Jing activated the incantation, the golden swords fell like hail, stabbing straight down at the blood-colored light spheres below.

Then came a series of dull thuds, one after another. Golden light and blood light intertwined, sparks flying like a fireworks display.

The cocoons, which had seemed unaffected by the earlier attacks, finally began to show a reaction under this ferocious assault. The blood light surged wildly, as if it recognized the threat. It thickened of its own accord, colliding even more violently with the relentless stream of golden swords.

Seeing this, Liu Jing felt a flicker of hope instead of panic. If the cocoon was being forced to react, it meant his attack was actually working. If he could just intensify the assault, the blood light would eventually break.

But by now, more than half of the golden swords had already fallen, and the cocoon’s blood glow remained as bright as ever, seemingly unfazed.

“Senior Brother Liu, let me help you!”

Song Meng’s shout rang out.

His gray Talisman Treasure had already transformed into a several-foot-long gray spear, its surface wreathed in eerie gray mist.

“Focus on killing that blood servant on the far left first! Don’t spread the attack!” Liu Jing said, his spirits lifting at the sight of Song Meng’s Talisman Treasure taking form.

He pointed at the remaining swords.

All the golden swords immediately converged, flying straight at the cocoon of the white demon known as “Ice Fiend,” stabbing down in a concentrated barrage.

A rumbling roar echoed as everyone stared intently. The blood light around that cocoon seemed to have visibly thinned.

Seeing that the tactic was effective, Han Li and the others launched their spells, magical tools, and beast puppet attacks at the same time. Song Meng’s gray spear let out a piercing shriek as it followed close behind.

Before Han Li’s eyes, the once-invincible blood cocoon was worn down to a thin layer by the Thousand Swords Art and the combined assault. The figure inside was now faintly visible.

Finally, the gray spear pierced straight through.

A roar of fury and shock followed, so loud it made everyone’s ears ring. Then, two crystalline white claws suddenly tore through the blood light, slashing wildly. In a furious frenzy, they shredded the last of the blood glow, revealing the figure within.

A half-transformed monster—pure white.

At first glance, the creature had a distinctly handsome, pure-looking face—clearly a young man. But two small white horns bulged from his forehead, and a foot-long tail covered in gleaming white scales had sprouted from his lower back. His hands had become razor-sharp claws, and layers of semi-transparent white demonic patterns covered his body.

On his shoulder was a gaping, bowl-sized wound, blood pouring out. The flesh around it was writhing and contracting, a sickening sight. In just moments, the wound had already begun to close.

“You’re all dead!” growled the Ice Fiend, who had only completed half of his transformation. He still retained enough of his mind to glare viciously at the group.

To him, even an incomplete demonic transformation was enough. With the natural resilience of his demonic body, he could easily hold them off until his companions emerged from their cocoons.

Liu Jing and the others, who had never seen a demonic transformation before, paled at the terrifying sight. Although Han Li had warned them about the grotesque appearance of the transformed blood servants, seeing it in person was still a shock. An uneasy tension settled over them.

Several streaks of white light shot across the space, striking the Ice Fiend squarely on his bare chest. The impact knocked him flat, sending him tumbling back in a humiliating sprawl.

It was Han Li, who had no interest in listening to the enemy’s threats. He had ordered his beast puppets to attack.

The others snapped out of their daze. The attacks that had stalled resumed their assault with renewed ferocity.

But the fallen Ice Fiend emitted a puff of icy mist. When the mist cleared, he had vanished without a trace.

Panic flickered through the group as they searched frantically.

From their experience, such disappearances usually meant the enemy had used some kind of escape technique to flee in an instant—though never too far.

But there was no sign of anyone. The three other cocoons were still faintly glowing, but otherwise empty. The ordinary Black Fiend disciples had long since fled.

Han Li’s heart tightened. A thought struck him. In a flash, he slapped his storage pouch. The White Phosphorus Shield and the Tortoise Shell Artifact flew out together, spinning rapidly around him as he shouted:

“Everyone be careful! He’s gone into stealth!”

No sooner had the words left his mouth than a woman’s scream rang out.

Everyone spun toward the sound in horror.

Chen Qiaojian’s senior sister, who had been sitting on the ground channeling her Talisman Treasure, was lying on her back. A gaping hole had been torn through her chest—as if a hand had plunged straight in and crushed her heart.

She lay in a pool of blood, her pretty face twisted in agony, her limbs twitching spasmodically. Her eyes were wide with disbelief and terror. Then, a trace of unwillingness flashed across them before her pupils went still. She was dead.

(Since the climax is approaching, Wang Yu needs to carefully plan the details. Therefore, he will not rush to write the next chapter this evening. Tomorrow, the story will continue with exciting content, as it should be! Those book friends who usually wait for the subscription update at night, please do not wait tonight. Get some rest early. Health is important!)

(End of this chapter)