Chapter 1065: Forbidden Magic

Ling held a giant silver axe, from which a phantom image of a tiger monster emerged, spewing yellow mist that could barely withstand the black energy. Meanwhile, Lin Yinping gathered with the Rhinoceros Peacock possessed by the young man surnamed Xu. Under the protection of its five-colored spiritual light, they could also barely defend themselves.

Han Li merely glanced at these individuals before his brow furrowed as he looked at the Eight Spirit Ruler and the Black Wind Banner in the air.

These two spirit treasures, one temporarily demonized and the other unowned, were unable to exert their true power. However, this meant that between the approximately ten-foot-wide silver lotus and the dragon-like dark python, black winds raged and silver runes fluttered, creating a perfectly matched struggle.

Despite Han Li's surging desire, these two spirit treasures, located so conspicuously high in the air, were simply out of reach. Not to mention the giant wolf, the incarnation of the Ancient Devil Grand Ancestor, even the others would never idly watch him take the spirit treasures.

Ever since the Ancient Devil Grand Ancestor broke free, Han Li realized its divine abilities were beyond his resistance. He immediately planned to flee far away from this dangerous place. However, these areas were all enclosed spaces, leaving him with no immediate escape route.

As a result, Han Li could only grit his teeth, doing his best to avoid being truly drawn into the fierce battle.

Therefore, although he noticed that the Evil-Warding Thunder was quite effective against the unusually dark, ink-like demonic energy, he merely used it to protect his entire body, absolutely unwilling to foolishly charge forward with all his might and draw attention to himself.

If the Ancient Devil Grand Ancestor were to notice him and specifically target him, he would be in deep trouble.

Besides, if this avatar of the Ancient Devil Grand Ancestor truly broke free, the Great Jin cultivation world would be the first to suffer. He had no intention of taking risks on behalf of the Great Jin cultivators.

Han Li thought to himself, his spiritual sense quietly spreading out to probe the altar.

The result was as expected. As soon as his spiritual sense swept over the altar's surface, it was bounced back by an inexplicable restriction, unable to penetrate even an inch into the altar.

Han Li secretly sighed. He subconsciously swept his spiritual consciousness downwards beneath the altar, and couldn't help but be slightly stunned.

A hundred feet deep beneath the altar, he actually sensed a golden sphere about a foot in diameter. It was precisely the group of Gold Devouring Beetles he had secretly released earlier.

These spirit insects had also made it to the ninth level.

When he had released these spirit insects, it was to search for weak points in the spatial barrier of the eighth level, hoping to exploit them. But due to the appearance of the black teleportation formation, he had lost contact with them. Now it seemed they had also been teleported to the ninth level at the moment the space shattered.

Perhaps because these Gold Devouring Beetles were originally underground in the eighth level, when they were teleported, they quietly ended up beneath the altar on the ninth level, unnoticed by others.

Han Li looked at the massive stone pillars flickering erratically around the giant altar. His mind stirred, and after a brief hesitation, he quietly issued a command to the Gold Devouring Beetles.

Instantly, the golden sphere flashed, then disintegrated, transforming back into thousands of Gold Devouring Beetles that scattered in all directions.

As for the Ten-Thousand-Year Corpse Bear and "Hua Tianqi" on the surface, they clearly didn't want the stalemate to continue. From time to time, some individuals would charge at the distant giant stone pillars, striking them fiercely, hoping to destroy the formation. However, apart from the Corpse Bear's blood blade, which could occasionally leave one or two shallow nicks on the pillars, other attacks struck the pillars without causing any damage.

Even "Hua Tianqi's" seemingly formidable milky-white fist only managed to make the stone pillars tremble slightly.

It was unknown what material these stone pillars were made of, but they were incredibly hard.

Of course, if the Corpse Bear or Hua Tianqi (possessed by Concubine Long Meng) had enough time to slowly deal with a specific pillar, it wouldn't be impossible to destroy it.

But the key was that whenever someone showed an intention to retreat, the giant wolf immediately unleashed several blasts of black energy without hesitation. The demonic energy surged, engulfing those moving away from the altar, forcing them to turn back in alarm and confront the demonic energy with all their might.

They couldn't truly withdraw!

Han Li casually dealt with the demonic energy's attacks, while his eyes rapidly darted around, seemingly searching for an escape route.

At this moment, under Xuan Qingzi's cover, the Seven Marvelous Master had already deployed five emerald-green rings into mid-air.

The scholar continuously chanted incantations. With subtle flicks of his ten fingers, spell after spell struck the rings. The five rings emitted strange, fluctuating hums, while spiritual light flickered and they trembled slightly.

After the giant wolf spewed large streams of black energy, entangling the newly appeared people in the air, it had originally retracted its gaze, redirecting it to "Hua Tianqi" and the Ten-Thousand-Year Corpse Bear near the altar.

In the devil's eyes, these two were the true formidable enemies.

"Hua Tianqi" was obvious; Concubine Long Meng had been contending with this devil for the silver wolf body for so many years that they knew each other intimately, naturally making them extremely wary.

As for the suddenly appearing Corpse Bear, which had secretly ambushed it, although its magic power was only at the late Nascent Soul stage, the blood blade in its hand was extremely formidable. Not only was it unafraid of the demonic energy, but it even seemed to have a restraining effect on it.

If not for the significant disparity in cultivation between this Corpse Bear and the devil possessing the silver wolf body, it was highly possible that it could break through the demonic energy with its own demonic power alone.

How could this avatar of the Yuan Sha Grand Ancestor not pay extra attention to it?

In fact, had it not suddenly displayed a great divine ability in the eighth-level palace, unexpectedly gaining control of the Dragon Transformation Seal from that human, which controlled the ninth-level altar formation, it would not have appeared on this ninth level at all. Instead, it would have long considered escaping the Demon Suppressing Pagoda before its demonic energy was depleted.

Now that it had activated the altar's seal, though not yet fully successful—only a slight crack had opened—as long as its four feet remained on the altar, it would receive a continuous supply of pure demonic energy to replenish its body. Not only did it overpower numerous cultivators, gaining the upper hand, but its previously depleted demonic essence was also slowly recovering.

Consequently, the devil became even more reluctant to take risks. It simply played it cool, steadily, waiting for the seal to fully open.

However, when the green light in the air began to exert its power, the wolf suddenly sensed a terrifying spiritual energy that felt familiar from the past. It couldn't help but look up in alarm.

"Demon-Sealing Ring!"

As soon as the giant wolf clearly saw the five emerald rings, terror flashed in its eyes. The black wolf simultaneously let out an earth-shattering roar. With a wide open mouth, a dark glow shimmered within, seemingly about to unleash something else.

But just then, the Seven Marvelous Master in the air had completed his spell. With a single finger pointing at one of the emerald rings, he solemnly uttered the word "Seal."

The sound was not loud, but the emerald ring immediately burst forth with dazzling light, flickering and disappearing into thin air.

The next moment, a chime sounded above the giant wolf's head. A stream of emerald energy flashed out of thin air, then twisted eerily around the black wolf's neck, instantly reforming into a giant ring.

Runes emerged on the surface of the giant ring, which rapidly constricted.

The demonic energy that the wolf was about to spew out was immediately blocked, and it let out a painful wail.

In a panic, one of its wolf claws reached back to grab the ring. A cold glint flashed on its claw, as if it intended to crush the ring.

However, the emerald light flared, and after a muffled grunt, the claw was bounced back. As the ring tightened further, the giant wolf's wails were stifled, leaving only low whimpers. Its eyes were filled with unbearable pain.

Witnessing this scene, the humans and demons near the altar rejoiced. They immediately unleashed their divine abilities, launching fierce attacks against the demonic energy.

Indeed, because the giant wolf couldn't attend to it, the uncontrolled demonic energy's power greatly diminished and was quickly shattered and dispersed by them. The Corpse Bear and Hua Tianqi hurriedly rushed towards the center.

As the Silver-Winged Yaksha and the Lion-Beast also tried to approach, they suddenly received several telepathic messages from the Corpse Bear. After exchanging a glance, they surprisingly turned and shot towards the surrounding stone pillars.

Before even reaching the stone pillars, they simultaneously unleashed misty Evil Soul Silk and golden sound waves, targeting one specific pillar and attacking it together.

Xuan Qingzi and the Seven Marvelous Master in the air were overjoyed at this sight. The old Daoist immediately channeled all his magic power into his sword, then fiercely slashed at the demonic energy in front of him.

A massive sword light shot out, and wherever it struck, a clear path appeared ahead.

At the same time, under the scholar's continuous points, the other four emerald rings also flashed and disappeared, reappearing on the giant wolf's four limbs.

As the four rings glowed and simultaneously tightened, the giant wolf could no longer stand on the altar. With a thud, it crashed to the ground, unable to rise.

Seeing this, Han Li blinked, and an ancient treasure he had obtained in the Void Heaven Temple back then, the "Five Element Rings," suddenly came to mind.

Apart from the difference in power, the Demon-Sealing Rings that the Marvelous Master used to easily bind the giant wolf looked remarkably similar to the Five Element Rings. Could it be that the Five Element Rings from back then were merely imitations of these Demon-Sealing Rings?

Just then, Xuan Qingzi suddenly roared in shock and anger:

"Fellow Bear, how dare you?!"

Following this, the old Daoist swung the treasured sword in his hand, transforming into a yellow rainbow that shot directly above the demonic energy. The middle-aged scholar beside him, disregarding the giant wolf on the altar, also turned into a cloud of gray mist, blurring and vanishing into thin air from his spot.

It was then that Han Li realized: "Hua Tianqi" and the white-furred Corpse Bear, after rushing into the demonic energy, suddenly transformed into a white and a green giant hand, respectively, grabbing at the dark python formed by the Black Wind Banner and the silver lotus in the air.

Madam Mu, however, was tightly entangled by her junior sister, unable to move even an inch.

Witnessing this scene, Han Li pursed his lips, his brow furrowing, but his body remained still. On the other side, however, two streaks of escape light shot out with whooshing sounds.

It was precisely Lin Yinping and the Rhinoceros Peacock possessed by the young man surnamed Xu, shooting through the air, their targets also the two spirit treasures.

As for Ling, the demon, she glanced sideways at Han Li, hesitated briefly, and then did not join the struggle.

Spiritual light erupted chaotically in the air, various roars intertwining and flashing incessantly. The humans and demons who had just been cooperating against the ancient devil now, in the blink of an eye, were fiercely fighting each other over the two spirit treasures.

Han Li's gaze, however, fell upon the altar. After a few glances at the giant wolf, which seemed tightly bound by the Demon-Sealing Rings, his expression suddenly darkened. With a flick of his sleeve, dozens of small golden swords shot out from his sleeve with a buzzing sound.