Chapter 1010: Killing Intent Arises

Upon hearing words like "Han Li" and "Tiannan," the old man surnamed Fu and Bai Yaoyi both showed a hint of surprise, looking at Han Li with a perplexed gaze. Han Li, however, simply stared silently at the five white figures in the distance, his expression gloomy.

He had personally killed a Mid-Nascent Soul elder of the Yin Luo Sect and even taken one of their sect's treasured Ghost Luo Banners. Therefore, any talk of reconciliation was out of the question. Moreover, he had originally intended to obtain the method to break the Soul Sealing Curse from the Yin Luo Sect, a method known only to their Sect Master and the Grand Elder present.

Because of this, Han Li had already planned to deal with the Yin Luo Sect after completing his current task. Thus, when he unexpectedly encountered them here, Han Li, caught off guard, secretly began to consider the possibility of a direct confrontation. After all, both individuals held high positions of power within the Yin Luo Sect, and opportunities to find them alone were rare.

He had recently battled a Silver-Winged Yaksha, an entity comparable to a Late-Nascent Soul cultivator. Although the monster lacked suitable magical treasures and was bound by restrictions, which was why he nearly killed it, Han Li believed he hadn't fully utilized all his methods. He still had the humanoid puppet, which he hadn't deployed, giving him confidence in defeating the Late-Nascent Soul demonic cultivator before him. Furthermore, even though the opponent's Five Sons Conjoined Devil technique was renowned, his Evil-Suppressing Divine Thunder was incredibly effective in counteracting demonic arts.

As thoughts raced through Han Li's mind, weighing the advantages and disadvantages, the central figure among the five white shadows in the distance suddenly formed a hand seal. With a flash of gray light around him, a cultivator clad in a gray robe shimmered out from the white shadow, appearing so bizarrely that he seemed almost ghostly. A faint gray mist obscured the gray-robed cultivator's face, making it impossible to discern his features. However, his slightly grizzled topknot and attire clearly indicated he was an old man. Grand Elder Gan's true form had actually detached from the Devil Son and manifested directly.

At this, not only Han Li but also the old man surnamed Fu and Bai Yaoyi became highly vigilant. They stared unblinkingly at the old devil, eager to see what the Yin Luo Sect's Grand Elder intended to do. However, the old man did not speak. Instead, he slapped his waist with one hand, and a small, ink-black banner appeared in his grasp. He then gently waved it towards Han Li and his companions.

The old man's expression changed drastically. He immediately clutched a treasured artifact with one hand. A dazzling cold light erupted around Bai Yaoyi, instantly enveloping her in protective spiritual light. Han Li, on the other hand, merely raised an eyebrow. He made no other moves, but his expression grew increasingly cold.

"Strange, very strange..." The small banner had merely flashed with black light, yet nothing unusual occurred. This caused Grand Elder Gan to mutter to himself, appearing somewhat puzzled.

"Brother Gan, what is the meaning of this? Bringing out the Ghost Luo Banner? Do you intend to fight? Are you trying to incite a war between our two sects?" Although the old man surnamed Fu was extremely wary of Grand Elder Gan, they had three Mid-Nascent Soul cultivators on their side, and Han Li's divine abilities were unfathomable, so they were not overly afraid of the opponent.

"A war between sects? I have no interest in that. I merely have some old business to settle with Fellow Daoist Han. If the two of you are not involved and are willing to leave now, I will certainly not make things difficult for you," Grand Elder Gan said calmly after sweeping his gaze across the three.

"Fellow Daoist Gan's words suit me perfectly. I have long heard of the renowned Five Sons Conjoined Devil, and I was just thinking of having a sparring match with you!" Han Li chuckled, surprisingly agreeing with a lighthearted demeanor.

Hearing their exchange, the old man surnamed Fu and Bai Yaoyi exchanged glances. Grand Elder Gan was also somewhat surprised, his cold gaze circling Han Li several times.

"Well... Brother Gan! Although I know Fellow Daoist Han has some grievances with your sect, it might be inappropriate to hastily engage in a fight here. Shouldn't Brother Gan first explore this mountain?" The old man surnamed Fu urged, his brows furrowed. This wasn't because he genuinely wanted to protect Han Li. It was simply that Kunwu Mountain appeared extremely perilous, and having a capable ally was a rare advantage. He certainly didn't want any unexpected conflicts. Furthermore, only by securing Han Li's cooperation could he avoid being isolated and vulnerable, and not fear Grand Elder Gan suddenly turning hostile.

"Of course, I will explore this mountain. However, Fellow Daoist Han is also someone our sect has been seeking for a long time, and I cannot simply let him go. I will first settle this matter with Fellow Daoist Han. What, Brother Fu, do you intend to interfere?" Grand Elder Gan sneered.

"Outside this mountain, I will not concern myself with the grievances between Brother Gan and Fellow Daoist Han. But here, the three of us still need to explore this mountain together, so I'm afraid we cannot let Brother Gan have his way," Bai Yaoyi said resolutely after a moment of thoughtful consideration. For her, losing Han Li, a significant reinforcement, and putting herself in danger on this mountain was equally frightening. Most importantly, both she and the old man surnamed Fu had witnessed the formidable power of Han Li's divine abilities and did not believe Han Li would truly be afraid of Grand Elder Gan. Otherwise, whether she would have spoken those words would be debatable.

Faced with the unexpected firmness of the old man surnamed Fu and Bai Yaoyi, the gray-robed figure's eyes flashed with cold light. His gaze seemed capable of freezing one's very soul. However, neither the old man surnamed Fu nor Bai Yaoyi were ordinary cultivators. Although secretly alarmed, neither showed the slightest hint of fear on their faces.

"Very well, for the sake of you two fellow daoists, I can temporarily put this matter aside. However, a precious artifact of my sect was lost and is now in this person's possession. It must be returned to me now. Otherwise, even if it means expending a great deal of my vital essence today, I will have to fight the three of you," Grand Elder Gan said indifferently, his cold gaze receding.

"An artifact? Are you referring to the Ghost Luo Banner?" Han Li chuckled, speaking unceremoniously.

"Precisely that artifact. Our Fourth Elder perished in Tiannan back then, and that banner should have fallen into your hands, Fellow Daoist. As long as you return it now, I can temporarily spare you," Grand Elder Gan said in a deep voice.

"Spare me? Fellow Daoist, you speak with quite a strong tone. I can return the Ghost Luo Banner to you, but I have a condition. I wonder if Brother Gan is willing to listen?" After a moment of silence, Han Li suddenly looked up at the sky, a hint of a sneer playing on his lips.

"A condition? You killed our Fourth Elder, took our sect's inherited treasure, and now you dare to propose conditions to me! Do you truly think I wouldn't dare take your life?" Grand Elder Gan laughed furiously. The five white figures behind him shimmered, drifting forward simultaneously to stand in front of him. The atmosphere instantly grew tense.

The old man surnamed Fu, standing nearby, was greatly surprised, a strange expression on his face. As one of the ten great demonic sects, the Nine Nether Sect was naturally aware of the Yin Luo Sect's Fourth Elder mysteriously disappearing. But the old man never imagined that this well-known demonic cultivator in the demonic path had actually died at Han Li's hands, and that even the Yin Luo Sect's famous Ghost Luo Banner had fallen into someone else's possession. No wonder Grand Elder Gan, despite knowing it wasn't the optimal time for a fight, was unwilling to easily let go of Fellow Daoist Han. As for Han Li concealing his true origin as a Tiannan cultivator rather than an overseas cultivator, that was hardly worth mentioning.

"Hmph! 'Return it to your esteemed sect,' Brother Gan says so casually. I wonder why your sect's Fourth Elder inexplicably traveled to our Tiannan and secretly attacked my dao companion? Do you think I would simply hand over this banner?" Han Li's expression darkened, and he spoke abruptly with a grim tone.

"I don't care, nor am I interested in knowing why the Fourth Elder went to Tiannan or how he met his end at your hands. But our sect's inherited treasure, I must retrieve it. Otherwise, where would the Yin Luo Sect's honor be?" the old devil stated emphatically.

"So, Fellow Daoist Gan has no intention of listening to my conditions at all!" Han Li's pupils contracted, revealing an extremely gloomy gaze.

"Haha, conditions? If you were a Grand Elder of one of the Ten Great Sects, perhaps I would listen to what you have to say. But you, a mere Tiannan cultivator, are you even worthy of discussing conditions with me?" Grand Elder Gan threw his head back and laughed wildly, a terrifying aura suddenly erupting from him. Then, with a flicker, he vanished into one of the white shadows. The five white figures instantly flared with gray light. Their ten previously lifeless eyes instantly revealed a bloodthirsty fervor, becoming extremely dangerous.

"Damn it! I almost forgot. This old devil cultivates 'Defying Emotion and Severing Heaven.' This cultivation method emphasizes acting according to one's whims. Our threatening words just now had the opposite effect and provoked him," the old man surnamed Fu suddenly remembered something upon seeing Grand Elder Gan's enraged state, and spoke with regret.

Bai Yaoyi's delicate brows furrowed slightly at his words. Without further thought, she raised a hand, and an ice crystal flying dagger shot into the air, then transformed into a white streak that hovered above her head. Han Li, meanwhile, narrowed his eyes, his expression unchanged. One hand, hidden in his sleeve, moved slightly, and the Three Flames Fan strangely appeared in his grasp. His other hand quietly pressed against his storage bag, and his spiritual sense instantly locked onto the humanoid puppet.

He had decided that the moment a fight began, while the old devil was partially distracted by the old man and Bai Yaoyi, he would immediately unleash all his trump cards, aiming to severely wound the opponent in an instant. Even if he couldn't take the opponent's life on the spot, he would ensure their cultivation was damaged, thereby creating favorable conditions for his next attempt against the Yin Luo Sect's Grand Elder. After all, Nangong Wan's Soul Sealing Curse was something Han Li could never forget. Only by obtaining the true method to break the curse could he find peace. Even if it meant being unable to gain a foothold in the Great Jin or being pursued by Yin Luo Sect cultivators day and night, he would not hesitate.

At that moment, the five Devil Sons simultaneously let out strange wailing sounds. Their forms instantly became incredibly faint. From a distance, the white figures resembled five wisps of light smoke gently swaying. Then, elongating, they prepared to fiercely pounce down.

But just then, from the spot on the light screen where the white figures had emerged, a thunderous explosion suddenly erupted. A massive, blinding burst of silver light flared forth, dazzling and brilliant. Before Han Li and the others could understand what was happening, continuous whooshing sounds emanated from the silver light. Nearly ten streaks of various colored escape lights shot out in quick succession. After a single hover, the escape lights dimmed, revealing numerous figures in the vicinity.