Unrest Overseas, Sudden Trouble

Upon entering the house, Yun Tianxiao saw a man seated low in the middle of the room, a gleaming object in his hands as if he were fiddling with something.

Surprised, he glanced around but did not see the woman called Yun Qin. He paused in bewilderment, then immediately grew alert, his caution surging.

“Who might you be, and where is that girl Yun Qin?” he asked, staring at the man, his voice slow while the magic treasure within him stirred, ready to spring forth.

“Hehe! Brother Yun, have you forgotten me so quickly after such a short time?” The man chuckled lightly, lifting his head to meet his gaze.

“You?” Yun Tianxiao’s expression shifted sharply as he recognized the man’s face. Without a second thought, he moved, ready to transform into a streak of escaping light.

“Too late.” The man’s voice was calm as a multicolored cloud suddenly rose from his hand.

A flash of light occurred, and several five-colored copper rings appeared around Yun Tianxiao. The rings hummed softly and tightened simultaneously.

Yun Tianxiao cried out and fell to the ground.

In panic, he tried to release his magic treasure, but it lay motionless within him, sealed like a dead thing.

“Senior Miaohe, save me!” Yun Tianxiao, pale with terror, disregarded all pretense and shrieked in desperation.

He only managed that single cry. The man opposite him opened his mouth, and a cyan rainbow shot forth. After a single arc, it severed his head cleanly.

Without the slightest hesitation, the man reached out with one hand, and the storage pouch on the corpse flew into his grasp. The five-colored copper rings and the cyan light then retracted, returning to his side.

This entire sequence was completed in a flash, like thunder and lightning.

But almost the moment Han Li’s hand closed around the storage pouch, a deafening explosion came from one side.

The wall of the stone room suddenly shattered. Amidst a cloud of dust, True Man Miaohe appeared, his daoist robe fluttering.

The old daoist’s expression was grim as he looked at the headless corpse on the ground. He then raised his head to glance at Han Li, a flash of killing intent in his eyes as he spat out:

“Courting death.”

With a flick of his finger, a blindingly hot white light shot toward Han Li, vanishing in an instant.

Han Li’s pupils contracted, and a chill ran through him.

The five-colored copper rings in his hand swelled rapidly, merging the five elements into a massive, multicolored barrier that shielded him.

At the same time, his hand flipped, and a red-and-yellow jade ruyi appeared in his grasp.

This was Han Li’s first time facing an attack from a Nascent Soul cultivator head-on since his cultivation had greatly advanced, and he naturally harbored a desire to test the waters. So, although his face appeared composed, his heart was pounding with uncertainty.

A dull thump rang out as the white light struck the five-colored cloud.

Han Li felt as if he had been hit by a heavy hammer. His body was sent flying backward, crashing violently into the stone wall behind him in a dizzying whirl.

“Oh?”

Amidst Han Li’s daze, an exclamation of surprise came from the other side.

Before him, the white light flared again. Han Li sucked in a cold breath and fiercely waved the jade ruyi.

A red-and-yellow light shield formed within the five-colored barrier.

Another heavy strike. This time, it was noticeably better than the last. He stumbled back a few steps before stabilizing himself.

Han Li’s heart settled considerably. A thought crossed his mind, and a pair of silver-white wings unfurled behind him.

With a thunderous roar, he vanished from his spot and appeared in another corner of the room, narrowly dodging the white light’s next attack.

Now, Han Li could see the true form of the white light—it was a brilliant white, jade-green little hammer.

The oval hammer head was covered in runes, only the size of a palm, radiating astonishing spiritual power.

Upon missing his strike, True Man Miaohe’s expression shifted slightly.

He beckoned with his hand, and the little hammer shot back, disappearing into his wide sleeve.

“Unexpected, for a Core Formation cultivator to possess so many ancient treasures. What is your name?” Miaohe asked, a trace of surprise in his eyes.

Han Li pressed his lips together and was just about to speak when the door was pushed open, and Madam Fan walked in, a hint of excitement on her face.

“Senior Miaohe! This Senior Li is a helper I specially invited to deal with the traitor Yun Tianxiao. Please rest assured, Elder, whatever terms this man agreed to, I am willing to offer double the compensation.” Madam Fan performed a curtsy for True Man Miaohe and spoke with unusual respect.

Hearing this, Miaohe’s brow furrowed slightly. His gaze swept over the corpse on the ground, and his face flickered with uncertainty.

Han Li remained silent, standing still. But seeing Miaohe’s expression, Madam Fan grew tense.

“Very well. Since this is an internal matter of the Sublime Sound Sect, this old Daoist will not interfere further. Sect Master Fan, do not forget the words you just spoke.” Miaohe finally appeared to relent.

“Please rest assured, Elder. This humble one would never dare to go back on her word!” Madam Fan, her heart returning to her throat, immediately assured him with a charming smile.

The old daoist nodded, but then looked at Han Li, a flicker of doubt appearing on his face.

“This Fellow Daoist Li, where have you cultivated before? Your face is very unfamiliar to me.” He paused for a moment, then suddenly asked.

“Junior…” Han Li’s heart tightened. He thought for a moment and was about to speak to allay the man’s suspicions. But as soon as he uttered two words, a flash of green light passed over his face, and his expression changed dramatically.

The Wind Spirit Restriction wrapped in golden threads within his body had suddenly erupted violently.

By the ferocity and intensity of the flare-up, the human-form Beast-Rending Wind Beast Feng Xi was clearly nearby.

Startled and furious, Han Li poured all ten percent of his magical power into suppressing the backlash of the Wind Spirit Restriction, just barely containing it.

Even so, he broke out in a cold sweat.

Just as Han Li, having weathered this crisis, breathed a sigh of relief, he met Miaohe’s astonished gaze, which was mixed with a hint of pleasantly surprised, strange expression.

Han Li was taken aback at first, then a thought flashed through his mind. His face turning pale, he touched his own features. As expected, the Shape-Shifting Art had failed, and his original appearance had been restored.

“Han Li?” True Man Miaohe’s face twisted with ferocity as he called out Han Li’s name.

Han Li’s countenance turned green, and he inwardly cursed his misfortune.

Without a second thought, silver light flickered from the wings on his back. With a roar of thunder, his figure vanished from the spot.

At the same time, the old daoist flicked his wide sleeve, transforming into a streak of white light and disappearing as well.

In the room, only a dazed Madam Fan remained, her expression complex.

High above Twin Peaks Island, a patch of silver light flickered, and Han Li’s figure suddenly appeared there.

The next moment, a streak of white light shot up from the island, flying straight toward him with incredible speed.

Han Li’s expression darkened. He poured his Evil-Repelling Divine Lightning into the Wind Lightning Wings. Amidst a series of thunderclaps, he vanished instantly, reappearing over a hundred zhang away. Then he vanished, then reappeared again.

In the blink of an eye, Han Li’s figure had become a small black dot in the distance.

Seeing this, the True Man Miaohe within the white light was somewhat alarmed.

Almost without thinking, he concluded that the wings on Han Li’s back must have come from the Void Heaven Cauldron, and his heart grew even more feverish with desire.

With a low shout, he transformed into a dazzling rainbow.

A tearing sound of extreme speed filled the air as the rainbow, also turning into a point of light, gave chase to Han Li in the distance.

In an instant, the two points of light—one white, one black—disappeared from sight one after the other.

Leading the way, Han Li used the Evil-Repelling Divine Lightning to drive the Wind Lightning Wings. Their speed was so astonishing that it left True Man Miaohe far behind.

At this speed, Han Li would soon be able to completely shake off the old daoist. But at that moment, the Wind Spirit Restriction within him began to flare up with increasing frequency.

It erupted roughly once every meal’s time.

This forced Han Li to stop constantly and use his spiritual power to suppress the backlash.

With each delay, True Man Miaohe found an opportunity, locking onto Han Li with his spiritual sense and pursuing him doggedly.

But what worried Han Li the most was not this. It was that as the Wind Spirit Restriction worsened, it was a clear sign that the Beast-Rending Wind Beast, Feng Xi, was drawing nearer.

This set Han Li on edge.

With no other choice, Han Li hardened his heart and flew toward the island where the teleportation array was being constructed.

He now hoped that under Madam Fan’s orders, the array on this island had truly been completed in a short time.

If he could reach this island before Miaohe and Feng Xi caught up to him, he would have a chance to escape their pursuit.

Although the Wind Lightning Wings were terrifyingly fast, they consumed a significant amount of Evil-Repelling Divine Lightning.

Therefore, after once again leaving Miaohe in the dust, Han Li put away his wings and switched to his blood-colored cloak.

Wreathed in a ball of blood light, he shot toward the small island.

(I’m a bit tired tonight. This will be the only chapter for the evening. Hehe! You all and I should get to bed early. I’ll write the next chapter tomorrow!)