Chapter 1036: Blood Demon Pearl

After being damaged, the gigantic skeleton, an ancient spirit treasure, merely trembled slightly, and the holes on its frame seamlessly mended as if new. What would be a fatal attack for ordinary cultivators had no effect whatsoever on this demonic being.

Han Li frowned. It seemed that unless Old Devil Qian was killed first, this Five-Child Conjoined Devil would be extremely difficult to destroy.

The giant skeleton appeared to move slowly, but a few large strides covered a significant distance, bringing it before Gui Ling. A flash of bloody light emanated from its empty eye sockets. Its two bony hands grasped at the air in front of itself, and two ribs directly flew out from its body, transforming into two ten-foot-long white blades, which it then seized. After a brief flourish, streaks of demonic flame appeared.

Seeing this, the giant formed by Gui Ling let out a cold snort, strode forward two steps, and savagely brought down the enormous axe in its hand. Silver light flashed, followed by a resounding crash. The giant skeleton waved its two hands, and the bone blades it held instantly surged in size several times over. Unwilling to show weakness, it crossed them to meet the attack, firmly parrying the giant axe above its head. This demonic being also seemed to possess immense strength.

Gui Ling was not surprised that the giant axe had been parried. A strange light flashed in its eyes, and it let out a low roar: "Tiger Devour!"

A ripple of silver light spread. A massive beast head suddenly materialized on the axe's surface, resembling a one-horned white tiger. The beast opened its gaping maw. Half of its body shot out like lightning, and it actually bit off the giant skeleton's head in one gulp. Swiftly, it swallowed the head whole and immediately retracted. This silver giant axe was not only a fearsome weapon but also possessed its own weapon spirit.

This sight stunned Han Li. Even Old Devil Qian, who had transformed into a blood shadow nearby, was taken aback. The giant formed by Gui Ling, however, showed no hesitation. The enormous axe in its hand spun rapidly like a wheel, completely enveloping the headless skeleton in a large mass of cold light.

Cracking sounds resounded! Relying on the axe's sharpness and its own boundless strength, the giant instantly chopped the colossal skeleton into countless pieces, scattering shattered bones across the ground. As the giant axe ceased its movement, Gui Ling opened its mouth and spewed out a stream of yellow demonic flames, covering the scattered bone fragments on the ground, intending to completely annihilate the Five-Child Conjoined Devil.

However, Old Devil Qian, startled at first, quickly regained his composure from afar. Seeing Gui Ling use demonic fire to refine the demonic being, which was inextricably linked to his life, Old Devil Qian silently formed a hand seal and urged his demonic arts. Amidst the fiercely burning yellow demonic flames, a cold wind suddenly swept through, causing the flames to diminish in intensity. Five strands of crystalline black threads emerged within the yellow demonic flames, then shot out. They exploded several tens of yards away. Five wisps of grayish-white mist shot up from the ground and then dispersed, revealing five pristine white skeletons that swayed into reappearance at that spot.

"Formless Demonic Transformation! I can't believe you've managed to cultivate even this kind of divine ability for your subsidiary demonic avatars! Aren't you afraid of a backlash someday?" Gui Ling was genuinely surprised, roaring out the question.

"Backlash? As long as I act cautiously, how could I give them such an opportunity?" Old Devil Qian said nonchalantly, yet with a flicker of his spiritual sense, he urged his demonic arts even more fiercely. In a flash, the five human skeletons rushed together, re-forming into the gigantic skeleton. Then, with a movement of its two hands, it immediately conjured two bone blades and fiercely lunged towards Gui Ling.

This time, Gui Ling did not activate the beast attack on the giant axe but instead wielded the enormous blade and engaged in battle with its opponent. A large mass of cold light and two slightly smaller masses of white qi intensely collided between the two gigantic figures, creating deafening roars. The entire hall trembled continuously from the immense sound, appearing as though it could collapse at any moment.

Han Li squinted, observing everything. Although Gui Ling had recovered its magical power and transformed back into its giant form, the residual Arctic Primeval Light nearby seemed unable to cause it any harm. However, it was clear that neither its Gigantification Art nor its blood-red battle armor could withstand the Arctic Primeval Light for as long as the giant skeleton. This battle needed a quick resolution.

As he pondered this, Han Li's gaze swept towards the distant blood shadow. A sharp glint flashed in his eyes as he secretly manipulated the Yang Ring above his head, causing it to tremble slightly. From behind the blood shadow, several silver chains shot out silently, like venomous snakes.

Old Devil Qian was also contemplating how to counter Han Li's and Gui Ling's combined assault. Perhaps it was his overconfidence in his immortal body, or perhaps his divine sense was severely suppressed by the Arctic Primeval Light. It was only when the silver chains were nearly upon him that he suddenly became aware of them and hastily shifted his body, attempting to evade. But silver light flashed abruptly, and seven or eight silver chains, caught him by surprise, piercing through the Old Devil's blood-shadow body.

The Old Devil was startled at first, but after glancing down at the silver chains piercing through his body, a cold sneer appeared on his face. To him, such minor injuries were nothing to worry about; recovery was merely a thought away. However, Old Devil Qian immediately realized something was wrong. These silver chains, after piercing him, did not vanish. Instead, they solidified as if substantial, adhering to his body and shimmering with faint silver light. The Old Devil's expression changed.

"Too late!" Han Li stated calmly. The silver chains immediately coiled around the blood shadow like venomous snakes, binding it tightly. With a slight tightening, they forcibly tore the blood shadow into seven or eight pieces. The Old Devil, both shocked and enraged, transformed his shattered body into a mist of blood, which shot to one side and then began to coalesce, preparing to reform.

In the blink of an eye, the silver chains immediately followed like shadows. The same scene unfolded on the still-unformed blood shadow. Like tearing paper scraps, they once again forcibly tore Old Devil Qian's demonic body into numerous pieces, giving him no time to coalesce. This happened five or six times in a row, and the blood mist was noticeably thinner than before.

"You're asking for death!" a furious roar erupted from within the blood mist. Old Devil Qian clearly realized the grim situation. In this Arctic Primeval Light, no matter how fast he tried to escape as a blood mist, Han Li could instantly conjure silver chains around him, leaving him with no means of evasion. Instantly, the blood mist ceased its attempts to coalesce into a form and instead abruptly gathered towards its center. After a flash of blood-red light, a fist-sized blood-colored pearl materialized in the blink of an eye.

The pearl was a vivid blood-red, shimmering with an eerie crimson glow. A nauseatingly pungent scent of blood emanated from it, making it clear at first glance that this was no ordinary treasure.

"Blood Devil Pearl!" Han Li exclaimed, his mouth twitching slightly upon seeing the pearl.

"Do you truly believe I'm a fool?! Come, little life!" The Old Devil's voice actually emanated from the blood pearl, which then transformed into a streak of blood-red light and shot directly towards Han Li. It was an enraged, desperate charge.

Han Li took a deep breath. Without daring to delay, he raised a hand and cast several incantations towards the Yang Ring above his head. Instantly, more than ten silver chains materialized in the Blood Devil Pearl's path, flashing with light as they struck the pearl. A buzzing sound emanated from the pearl, and amidst a flash of green light, the silver chains were effortlessly repelled. Han Li's face showed no expression. With one hand, he turned his palm, and a ball of golden lightning instantly appeared in his grasp. His other hand, hidden within his wide sleeve, tightly gripped the handle of the Three Flames Fan.

The Old Devil had already hidden his Nascent Soul and True Spirit within the Blood Devil Pearl. To kill him, it seemed necessary to destroy this pearl. The Blood Devil Pearl was a widely renowned item in the demonic path. As a treasure that could harbor a Nascent Soul and True Spirit, it was almost like a second physical body, and few demonic cultivators had ever successfully refined one. It was said that to refine this treasure, one needed to collect the essence blood of over a hundred different spirit beasts, as well as cultivate certain special demonic arts to fully master it. Furthermore, the specific method for refining this pearl was rumored to have been lost long ago. Yet, unexpectedly, it had fallen into the hands of the Yinluo Sect, and the Old Devil had already refined it.

However, this was also his opportunity. As soon as the pearl approached, he would spare no expense in using a large amount of Evil-Dispelling Divine Thunder to trap it, then strike it by surprise with the Three Flames Fan. Regardless of what divine abilities this pearl possessed, it would be impossible for it to remain completely unharmed under the power of the treasured fan.

Just as Han Li finalized his strategy and prepared to deliver a head-on blow to the Old Devil, the streaking blood-red light suddenly paused mid-flight. A foot-tall blood flame erupted from the pearl, and with a flash, it vanished into thin air from its spot. Han Li's heart tightened. He hastily extended his spiritual sense in all directions, fearing that the Old Devil would use an escape art to approach him unnoticed.

But the next moment, Han Li was somewhat stunned. Because when the Blood Devil Pearl reappeared, enveloped in flames, it was not somewhere near Han Li, but instead far away, in front of the Arctic Primeval Light restriction. Then, Old Devil Qian's wild laughter echoed from that direction.

"Boy, do you truly think I'm a fool?! Why would I, Qian, engage in such a foolish battle with two high-level cultivators here? Once I'm outside and have gathered my forces, I'll properly entertain you two!" Before his voice faded, the Blood Devil Pearl plunged headfirst into the dense, shimmering silver threads that resembled surging waves. The seemingly incredibly dense Primeval Light, under the burning blood-red flames emanating from the pearl, melted and dispersed, apparently unable to restrain it any longer.

It was then that Han Li came to his senses, but it was clearly too late to pursue. Although greatly surprised, strangely, no hint of panic appeared on his face. Instead, he expressionlessly turned to look at the Five-Child Conjoined Devil, which was still battling Gui Ling. The giant skeleton's bone blades were still being wielded with continuous shrieks, showing no sign of retreating along with Old Devil Qian.

Han Li's expression shifted. Then, a thunderous roar erupted behind him, and a pair of feathered wings materialized. With a flash of silver light, his body vanished from its spot, only to suddenly reappear in front of the Arctic Primeval Light on the other side. He coldly stared in the direction of the Old Devil's escape, and with a raised hand, the Three Flames Fan appeared in his grasp. After a slight hesitation, Han Li opened his mouth again, and a mass of green light, enveloping something, was also spat out. Vaguely visible within was a fist-sized cauldron, which was none other than the Void Heaven Cauldron.

Just as Han Li completed these preparations, a loud bang suddenly echoed from within the Arctic Primeval Light, followed by faint curses from Old Devil Qian. The Arctic Primeval Light swayed violently, and a streak of blood-red light and a ball of silver light shot out from within, one after the other. The one in front was indeed the Blood Devil Pearl, enveloped in blood flames, though at this moment, the blood flames appeared to have diminished by more than half. The light mass behind it, however, emitted a dazzling silver glow, making it impossible to discern clearly, but a vague human-like silhouette seemed to be shifting within it.