Stirrings Beyond the Seas—The Six Paths Heir

Chapter 580: Stirrings Beyond the Seas—The Six Paths Heir

After this incident, Han Li naturally knew that the latecomer was no ordinary cultivator. He had no desire to tangle further with the furtive white shadow, and with a single thought, he spurred the Gold Devourer Beetles that had formed the massive lance to easily dispatch it.

Only now could he fully focus on the newly arrived late Core Formation cultivator.

He glanced back at the valley below.

The formation was now completely surrounded by an impenetrable mass of pitch-black Yin energy. Yuan Yao’s Soul Reunion Art, he estimated, must have reached its critical moment. If someone were to interrupt it now, not only would Yan Li fail to be revived, but Yuan Yao herself would suffer severe backlash from the technique.

Han Li’s brow furrowed. He turned back and fell into brief contemplation.

Although he did not yet know who this youth was, the sheer power of his spiritual sense alone commanded respect.

That said, he felt no fear.

Confident in the power of his own treasures and techniques, he doubted any Core Formation cultivator posed a real threat to him.

He was weighing the option of taking the initiative to drive this man off.

After all, the fellow seemed somewhat troublesome. If he were to join forces with other cultivators, it could become a nuisance.

Just as Han Li hesitated, he suddenly felt a change. His expression shifted slightly, his eyes narrowed, and he rose abruptly.

The man had left the beast chariot with the stunningly beautiful young woman at his side. They were flying straight toward him.

Han Li’s face grew stern. With a lift of both hands, he released over a dozen giant ape puppets, leaving them behind as a precaution against any petty opportunists sneaking in during his absence.

Then, without a moment’s hesitation, he stomped a foot, transforming into a streak of azure light that shot into the sky, flying to meet the pair.

If cultivators of their level clashed nearby, it would likely affect Yuan Yao’s spellcasting in the valley. And since the opponent seemed no pushover, Han Li doubted he could kill him instantly. The only option was to intercept him far away.

The other party did not seem to be flying at full speed, so Han Li reached the outer edge of the island and met them in a matter of moments.

Since he had altered his appearance before acting as the guard, Han Li was not worried about being recognized as the owner of the Void Heaven Cauldron.

A hundred zhang apart, Han Li observed the man and woman coldly, his face expressionless.

After a brief appraisal, a flicker of surprise crossed his eyes.

The man was unremarkable, aside from the golden gleam between his brows, which suggested an unusual cultivation technique. The woman, however, was breathtakingly beautiful, almost to the point of inspiring a feeling of reverent distance. Han Li found himself giving her an extra glance.

Unexpectedly, a strange sense of familiarity came over him. Her clear, bright eyes in particular felt as though he had seen them somewhere before.

Yet he was certain this was his first time meeting this stunning girl.

If he had ever encountered such extraordinary beauty, he could not have failed to remember it.

The man and the girl were likewise sizing Han Li up.

“May I ask for your esteemed name, Fellow Daoist? Is that companion of yours in the valley the one performing that forbidden secret technique?” Wen Tianren asked, his hands clasped behind his back. A faint, enigmatic smile played on his lips as he spoke.

Han Li’s heart tensed again.

This man’s confident assertion of a celestial phenomenon as the technique’s source meant he was even more formidable than Han Li had imagined.

“My name is not important. Instead, I advise you two to turn back. Now that you know this celestial phenomenon is not a sign of a treasure manifesting, why trouble yourselves with this island?” Han Li said, his voice flat.

At this, the man’s expression darkened. A hint of coldness appeared in his gaze.

“I came here not for some celestial phenomenon, but for you, Fellow Daoist,” he said coolly.

“For me?” Han Li frowned. This was unexpected.

“Correct. Since you are unwilling to share your name, I will not press. However, I am familiar with the names of nearly every Core Formation cultivator of note among the various sects. Your face, on the other hand, is unfamiliar. It seems you must be a rogue cultivator. Very well, then. I will offer you and your companion in the valley two choices. One: join our alliance, serve as a Law Enforcement Envoy of my Divine Pigeon Hall, and take orders from me from this day forward. Two: I will personally see to it that you perish here and now.” Wen Tianren’s scholarly features hardened with killing intent as he spoke coldly.

“Take orders from you? Your alliance? You’re from the Rebellious Star Alliance?” Han Li was taken aback, then looked the man over again with puzzled suspicion.

“Young Master Wen is the esteemed disciple of the Six Paths Venerable Saint of the Rebellious Star Alliance. Pledging allegiance here and now would not be beneath your station, Fellow Daoist. With your level of cultivation, you are certain to be heavily favored within the alliance.” The stunning young woman beside him spoke suddenly, her tone neither warm nor cold, revealing the man’s identity.

“The Six Paths Heir?” Han Li’s expression shifted.

Though he had known the man’s origins were no ordinary matter, he had not expected this.

Seeing the surprise on Han Li’s face, Wen Tianren’s expression remained unchanged, but a hint of pride flashed in his eyes.

He enjoyed watching the expression of awe and trepidation that crossed the faces of unfamiliar cultivators upon hearing his identity. He saw no harm in using the prestige of the Six Paths Heir, after all, status was part of one’s personal strength.

But Wen Tianren’s pleasure was short-lived. Han Li’s expression soon turned into a cold sneer.

“So it’s the young master of the Rebellious Star Alliance. My apologies for not recognizing you. However, I have no intention of joining your alliance, nor do I wish to die here. Instead, I have another proposal. How about you hand your life over to me, Young Master Wen?” Han Li said in a taunting tone.

Given the man’s aggressive posture, Han Li knew this matter could not be resolved peacefully.

From the very beginning, he had sensed a faint murderous intent from this Six Paths Heir. Though he did not know the reason, he was certain that even if he agreed to submit, this young master would still kill him.

So Han Li tore off all pleasantries, offering no further good graces. Others might fear the massive power of the Rebellious Star Alliance, but he did not care.

As the holder of the Void Heaven Cauldron, he was already wanted by every major power anyway.

“Good. Very good.”

Wen Tianren laughed in cold fury, staring at Han Li as he spat out the words. The murderous glint in his eyes grew brighter.

But the moment the last “good” left his lips, he suddenly spat out a streak of blue light.

As soon as it was ejected, the blue light exploded with dazzling brilliance, then vanished with a whoosh.

Seeing this familiar sight, a grim look crossed Han Li’s face. Without a second thought, he waved a hand. The jade ruyi he had been holding in his palm flashed with light, and a two-colored barrier of yellow and red appeared around his body.

The next moment, the blue light materialized in front of Han Li. It shot straight into the barrier, producing a dull impact.

Han Li’s expression changed slightly as he and his barrier were blasted back several zhang.

Only then did he get a clear look at the blue light. It was a peculiar awl, only a few inches long, gleaming coldly, covered in runes, and emitting a strange crackling sound.

Without another thought, Han Li flicked his ten fingers. Ten azure sword beams shot out simultaneously, striking the blue light and sending the awl flying.

Then, without hesitation, he slapped his storage pouch. A clear, ringing sound echoed as five copper rings appeared in his hand, radiating five-colored mist. Han Li also shook his sleeve, releasing over twenty flying swords that surged forward in a wave, heading straight for the opponent.

Wen Tianren did not seem surprised that his initial strike had failed. Unhurriedly, he brought his hands together, and a small banner appeared between them.

The banner was about three to four inches long, gleaming with purple light and exuding dense spiritual power.

He then saw the swarm of flying swords charging at him. A flicker of genuine concern crossed his face. He let out a soft “Eh?” and no longer dared to be careless. He quickly shook the purple banner in his hand, and a vast cloud of purple mist surged forth, wrapping around him tightly and concealing his form.

Seeing this, a flicker of regret passed through Han Li’s eyes as he had been about to sacrifice his Five Elements Ring. But without hesitation, he willed the copper rings to merge into one, forming a massive ring that he used to shield his body. Only then did he rapidly form a hand seal and cast the “Split-Image Sword Technique” on the Azure Bamboo Cloudswarm Swords streaking through the air.

In an instant, the twenty-four azure flying swords trembled, transforming into ninety-six beams of azure light that streaked toward the purple cloud like a swarm of locusts.

The stunning young woman, who had already retreated over a hundred zhang away, saw this astonishing spectacle. Her face drained of color, and her expression was filled with shock. But beneath the disbelief, a complex, unreadable emotion flickered across her features.

The azure light swarmed around the purple cloud, dancing and weaving like countless green hornets. In the space of a few breaths, they pierced the cloud hundreds of times, but it was as if no one was inside. There was no reaction at all.

All those flying swords had passed straight through the cloud, striking nothing but empty air.

Han Li’s brow furrowed deeply, his expression growing even more grim.

Though he knew he could not defeat this man so easily, this Six Paths Heir was proving even more troublesome than he had anticipated.

With that thought, he made two rapid gestures toward the distant flying swords. The swords hummed, circled once above the purple cloud, then merged into two massive swords, each several zhang long. With the weight of a mountain, they came crashing down.

At the same time, Han Li slapped his spirit beast pouch.

(Author’s Note: Sorry, a bit late today. My condition hasn’t been great lately, and I still need to flesh out some details. I hope you can forgive me. But I’ll manage to get another chapter out before tomorrow morning. Hehe, no need to worry!)