Turning Coats Overseas

Chapter 458: Stirring Winds Overseas—Turning Coats

Without needing to ask, this little creature was undoubtedly the incarnation of the Nine-Bend Spirit Ginseng.

Han Li stared at the white rabbit, his excitement barely contained.

With the Great Derivative Art operating at full capacity, the spiritual light emanating from the creature before him was blindingly brilliant.

A true marvel born of heaven and earth itself!

Han Li marveled inwardly, yet he did not relax his vigilance in the slightest. A spell formula had long been prepared in his hand, his gaze locked unwaveringly on the white rabbit.

Below, the rabbit circled outside the formation for a moment, its fiery red eyes sweeping several times over the jade box.

Clearly, it was not satisfied with merely sniffing the air from its current position. The creature seemed to be scheming something.

Seeing the rabbit so intelligent, Han Li grew even more cautious, a hint of tension flashing across his expression.

After all, the Nine-Bend Spirit Ginseng was most renowned for its escape arts. One moment of carelessness, and all his efforts would be for naught.

The little creature completed a circuit around the perimeter of the formation, its long ears twitching incessantly. It seemed to have detected the anomaly in the surrounding spiritual energy, as it hesitated to step into the array.

A flicker of anxiety crossed Han Li’s mind.

He began to suspect that the spirit ginseng’s incarnation had seen through the trap and would not enter the formation. He considered whether he should forcibly activate the golden net and attempt to capture it immediately.

But if he did, his chances of success would be pitifully slim.

While Han Li was caught in indecision, a streak of white light flashed. The rabbit, a few quick leaps, disappeared into a patch of wild grass.

Seeing this from his perch in the tree, Han Li was momentarily stunned.

But just as he was recovering from his shock, another patch of grass flickered with white. The rabbit, moving with a speed that left afterimages, shot out from the grass and darted straight for the jade box. It lowered its head, snatched the contents within its mouth, and without a moment’s hesitation, turned to flee back the way it came.

Han Li was momentarily taken aback by the creature’s chain of actions.

But he snapped back to his senses instantly. There was no way he would let it escape after such a petty trick.

A beam of yellow light shot down from the tree like an arrow, striking the path the rabbit would have to take to leap back. The impact startled the little creature mid-air. Its body twisted violently, arcing in a curve to fling itself in a different direction.

But by then, it was too late.

A square, yellow light barrier rose up around the area, sealing it tightly shut.

The rabbit slammed into the barrier and was rebounded.

It tumbled several times across the ground before shaking its head and scrambling back to its feet, its eyes now filled with panic.

In the next instant, its body flickered with white light. It transformed into a cluster of faint seven-colored light, the size of a fist, and immediately tried to burrow into the ground.

But the yellow barrier flashed again. The light cluster only penetrated a few inches into the earth before a surge of yellow energy repelled it back to the surface.

Now truly panicked, the seven-colored light bundle began darting wildly within the barrier, like a headless fly, crashing against the walls in every direction, only to be blocked each time without fail.

It was at that moment that a beam of golden light shot down from the tree, instantly enveloping the light cluster just as it leaped into the air once more, catching it completely off guard.

A human figure flickered, and Han Li appeared on the ground.

The golden light flew directly into his hand—it was the very golden silk net the Profound Bone Saint had given him.

Within the net, the rabbit reappeared in its original form, struggling frantically. Its form flickered, growing faint and then solid, expanding and then shrinking, but all to no avail.

The golden net followed its body’s every change, expanding and contracting in turn, holding it fast.

Seeing this, a pleased smile appeared on Han Li’s face.

He brought the net closer, gave the white rabbit a brief inspection, and then unceremoniously tucked the net into his waistband. He sat down cross-legged at the center of the formation, showing no intention of deactivating the array.

Han Li now intended to wait quietly for the Profound Bone Saint to finish excavating the actual body of the Nine-Bend Spirit Ginseng and return to meet him.

Before that, however, he solemnly retrieved the ancient treasure he had acquired—a basket-like artifact—from his storage pouch and placed it before him.

In one breath, he then released the Gold Devourer Beetles from two of his spirit beast pouches, letting them hover above his head in an unsteady cloud of gold and silver brilliance. Only then did he close his eyes to rest, his expression calm.

With all these arrangements, Han Li hoped the Profound Bone Saint would take the hint. It would be best if they didn’t have a falling out, and he straightforwardly handed over the spirit ginseng.

He was well aware that only by letting the other party know his strength was not to be trifled with could their alliance possibly continue.

Of course, if the man truly harbored murderous intent, Han Li would not hesitate to strike first.

As for the Nine-Bend Spirit Ginseng, regardless of whether it was truly as effective for Nascent Soul formation as the legends claimed, Han Li was determined to get his hands on it.

The renown of this spiritual object was simply too great. He believed that even if it were useless for condensing a Nascent Soul, it must certainly have other miraculous effects.

With this thought, Han Li involuntarily opened his eyes and glanced at the white rabbit, the incarnation of the Nine-Bend Spirit Ginseng, tucked at his waist.

What he saw stunned him.

The little creature had completely lost its earlier vigor. It was utterly wilted, appearing listless and weak.

Han Li’s heart stirred. He knew that the ginseng’s main body must have already been unearthed by the Profound Bone Saint; otherwise, it wouldn’t have become like this so suddenly.

Instantly, Han Li’s gaze fixed on the high sky beyond the treeline.

Half a meal’s time later, the Profound Bone Saint, in his transformed state of a Yin Cloud, finally flew into view. He halted directly over the magical formation, coming to a stop.

But he did not disperse the Yin Cloud. He simply floated in the air, silent.

Han Li rose to his feet, his expression impassive, staring straight at the Yin Cloud, making no move to speak either.

After a long while, the Profound Bone Saint’s icy voice drifted down from the cloud.

“What is the meaning of this bristling show of force?” The Profound Bone Saint’s voice was cold enough to freeze bone.

“No special meaning. It’s just that this junior’s cultivation is shallow, and I am truly afraid that Senior might suddenly turn on me.” Han Li’s tone was calm.

“Hmph! You are far too suspicious! If I did not intend to give you the spiritual object, why would I travel so far to bring you here? Don’t forget, I still need your help to deal with my traitorous disciple!” the Profound Bone Saint said, seeming to barely suppress his anger.

“Senior, have you not heard the saying, ‘Circumstances change’? Perhaps when Senior first entered the Void Heaven Palace, you indeed required my assistance. But now that you have found other helpers, I am no longer so certain.” Han Li’s gaze was sharp as he stared at the Profound Bone Saint.

“What are you implying?” The Profound Bone Saint’s voice grew even colder, a hint of surprise leaking through.

“Senior, there is no need to pretend ignorance any longer. Bring that other gentleman out. I saw his transformed form searching for the spirit ginseng earlier. There is no need to continue hiding!” Han Li said, frowning slightly, a note of impatience in his voice.

At these words, the Profound Bone Saint fell silent within the Yin Cloud. But soon, a strange man’s deep, resonant voice emerged from the cloud.

“Kid, how did you detect me? I simply refuse to believe you can see through my transformation technique!” The voice asked without the least bit of courtesy.

“This junior has no interest in answering questions from someone I do not know. I will ask Senior Profound Bone once more: do you truly wish to fight me until both sides are weakened, and let Extreme Yin reap the benefits?” Han Li said, a sneer on his face.

“Both sides weakened? You overestimate yourself! Though killing you might cost some effort, that price is one I, old man, can still pay.” As he finished speaking, a yellow beam of light shot out from the Yin Cloud without warning, striking the formation’s barrier.

The barrier’s color instantly shifted, from yellow to a fiery red. The center of the array became scorching hot, like a great furnace.

Seeing this, Han Li’s expression did not change. He simply let out a soft sigh and raised a single hand, tossing a cyan-colored spell formula onto the barrier.

The barrier’s colors flickered between yellow and red a few times before returning to its original hue. The searing heat from moments ago seemed like nothing but a dream.

“Heh! What did you do to my formation flags?” a startled voice rang out from the cloud.

“Do to them? It is you who has done something to them, is it not?” Han Li did not seem inclined to answer.

“Hmph! Very well. That golden silk ball of mine, you seem to be using it quite well,” the Profound Bone Saint said, his tone shifting abruptly to cold mockery.

“What? Did you…?”

Han Li’s expression changed drastically! As if recalling something, he immediately reached for the golden net at his waist, intending to tear it off and fling it far away.

But even as the Profound Bone Saint’s voice faded, the golden net flickered, turning a pitch-black color.

In the next instant, it dissolved into a plume of exquisitely fine black mist, which shot out and spread over Han Li’s entire body, ensnaring him within its coils before tightening instantly.

The rabbit within the net was cast aside without a second thought. The little creature lay motionless, seemingly fallen into a coma.

Caught off guard by this sudden entrapment, even Han Li’s usual composure cracked. The color on his face changed.

“Kid, how does it feel to be bound by the Yin Soul Thread? Can you stir a single shred of your mana now?” The Profound Bone Saint’s triumphant laughter echoed from the Yin Cloud above.

Hearing this, Han Li’s heart chilled as he hurriedly tried to channel his magical power. But the next second, his face turned ashen.