Chapter 1152: Ambush

**Volume Six: Transcendent Spirit Treasures**

The surroundings were silent, with no one in sight, as if it were a vacuum. The shouting cultivator was instantly enraged. He let out a cold snort, formed a hand seal, and was about to cast a spell to force the other party out.

But just then, a faint buzzing sound emanated from all directions, growing louder and louder as if rapidly approaching.

Immediately, these cultivators felt a chill in their hearts and widened their eyes, looking intently.

Moments later, specks of golden light appeared in the darkness, each enveloping a golden beetle. They grew in number, becoming dense and numerous, completely surrounding the group.

At this, the masked cultivators stirred restlessly.

Even the two leading cultivators were secretly astonished.

The cultivator who had previously attacked a similar spirit insect knew well how troublesome these creatures were. Now, facing so many of them, dealing with them would be no easy feat.

Thus, the face hidden beneath the cloak instantly darkened, and his spiritual sense continuously swept in all directions, trying to find the cultivator controlling these spirit insects.

But no matter how repeatedly he searched, the opponent's traces were completely invisible, making it impossible to detect anything unusual.

This made his heart sink!

This indicated that either the opponent possessed a rare treasure or secret art to conceal their presence, or their cultivation and abilities were far superior to theirs. In either case, it seemed to bode ill!

“Since you've used these insects to trap us, you owe us an explanation. Still refusing to show yourself, are you truly a coward, fellow Daoist?” The other masked cultivator, who had summoned a jade hammer, let out a sharp cry. His treasure vibrated, and green light flashed incessantly.

“Heh heh, it's easy to see me. I'll be there shortly. Fellow Daoist Miaocheng, I came specifically for you this time. Why wouldn't I meet you?” Suddenly, a cold laugh echoed from the darkness. Then, a man's faint voice resounded from all directions simultaneously.

Listening to his voice, he seemed to be still very far away.

“Surname Han? Who are you, fellow Daoist? When did this humble Daoist ever offend you?” Upon hearing the man's voice, the masked cultivator trembled. With a raised hand, he tore off his cloak, revealing a seemingly young face, dressed in Daoist robes, with an expression full of surprise and doubt.

It was none other than True Person Miaocheng, after his possession!

The cultivator who had summoned white threads also tore off his cloak. It was the yellow-robed elder who had accompanied Miaocheng during the day, now looking gloomy and constantly peering into the distant darkness.

As for the few cultivators behind them, they were naturally disciples of these two Nascent Soul cultivators.

It was unclear why these people had left Emerald Spirit Island in the dead of night, and in such a secretive manner.

In response to Miaocheng's question, only a burst of wild laughter came from all directions from the unknown man, which then abruptly ceased.

This made the group exchange bewildered glances.

“Fellow Daoist Miaocheng, is this person your enemy?” the yellow-robed elder asked the Daoist with a frown.

After all, listening to the opponent's words, it seemed he had come specifically to seek revenge on True Person Miaocheng, which made the elder somewhat hesitant.

“I'm not sure. I don't recall any enemies with the surname Han.” Miaocheng replied impassively, tilting the whisk in his hand. But inwardly, he was extremely perplexed, unable to recall ever having such a formidable adversary.

“Regardless of this person's origin, since they dared to show up uninvited, it seems they mean us harm. Fellow Daoist, please be careful.” The yellow-robed elder seemed wary of the mysterious cultivator who had yet to appear. After a moment's hesitation, he offered a warning.

“This humble Daoist naturally knows that. However, this person is clearly also a Nascent Soul cultivator. How could I not remember such a high-level enemy? Surname Han…” True Person Miaocheng mumbled a few words, falling into momentary thought.

And just as he was lost in thought, a whooshing sound suddenly pierced the night. Immediately, a dazzling green rainbow shot forth from the horizon. After a few flashes, it appeared within the swarm of insects.

The escape light faded, revealing a young man in green robes.

The man surveyed Miaocheng and the others, then let out a few cold laughs:

“Indeed, it wasn't a waste for me to spend so long waiting here. You few truly intend to go to Emerald Spirit Island. Will you voluntarily hand over your spirit stones, or shall I take them myself?”

The young man looked completely nonchalant, treating Miaocheng and the yellow-robed elder, both early-stage Nascent Soul cultivators, as if they were nothing.

However, the expressions of the two changed drastically, and a trace of fear appeared in their eyes.

Neither of them could discern the depth of the opponent's cultivation, but judging by the faintly terrifying spiritual pressure emanating from him, his cultivation was definitely far superior to theirs, most likely that of a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator. Moreover, the moment he spoke, he revealed the secret of their journey, which further terrified the two of them.

“Fellow Daoist, this old man is Huang Kun of Departing Dragon Island! What do you mean by 'high-grade spirit stones'? Could it be that you've listened to rumors and misunderstood us?” The yellow-robed elder was also cunning and shrewd. Seeing that the opponent was difficult to contend with, he immediately plastered a smile on his face and said most politely: “Misunderstanding?”

“Heh heh, I personally overheard your spiritual messages. How can that be false? Blame yourselves for finding Miaocheng, and even more so for me coincidentally encountering you. Miaocheng, do you still recognize me, Han?” The young man first spoke with noncommittal mockery. Then, his gaze shifted to True Person Miaocheng, and his expression turned icy cold.

He was naturally Han Li, who had used the Art of Spiritual Sense Transformation to locate Miaocheng and the others with the help of his Gold Devouring Beetles, then pursued them.

Upon hearing the opponent's impolite words, the yellow-robed elder's smile froze on his face.

“You... you are Han Li! You actually formed a Nascent Soul!” As Han Li responded to the yellow-robed elder, True Person Miaocheng, feeling a sense of familiarity with the other's face, a flash of insight in his mind brought back memories of past events. He finally recognized Han Li, his face filled with an incredulous expression, as if he had seen a ghost in broad daylight.

“Brother Miaocheng, you know this person? What exactly is his background?” The yellow-robed elder's heart was a mix of shock and anger. Seeing that Miaocheng seemed to recognize the opponent, he asked with a solemn expression.

Since the opponent left no room for negotiation, a battle was unavoidable, and they couldn't escape. It would naturally be best to first figure out the opponent's background. Although the opponent was a mid-stage cultivator, with the two of them, early-stage cultivators, cooperating, they didn't need to fear him too much.

At this moment, Han Li floated in the air, arms crossed, sneering at them.

“Fellow Daoist Huang, this is the person who obtained the Heavenvoid Cauldron back then. I didn't expect that after all these years, he would have actually formed a Nascent Soul,” True Person Miaocheng said, his expression uncertain.

“What? He's the one who was pursued by the Alliance's extermination order. I thought he looked somewhat familiar. But wasn't he just a Core Formation junior back then? How is it that after only these few years, he's advanced to the mid-stage Nascent Soul realm?” The yellow-robed elder lost his voice in astonishment upon hearing this.

“This humble Daoist doesn't know either. But since the Heavenvoid Cauldron is renowned as the Star Sea's foremost secret treasure, perhaps there are unimaginable spiritual pills or miraculous medicines within it that allowed his cultivation to advance so rapidly. No one has ever opened this cauldron, so it's not impossible.” True Person Miaocheng said, a flash of greed in his eyes, making a guess.

“If that's truly the case, then we are in deep trouble. His cultivation is already so terrifying, and with the Heavenvoid Cauldron in hand, I fear even the two of us together won't be able to defeat him.” The yellow-robed elder stared at Han Li with extreme vigilance, but suddenly transmitted a message to Miaocheng using a spiritual voice transmission.

“I naturally know that. But even if we truly can't fight him, if we want to escape, can he really stop us?” True Person Miaocheng's mouth twitched, but he then revealed a confident, sinister smile.

As for those few Core Formation disciples, if a real crisis arrived, they naturally wouldn't care about them.

“That's true,” the yellow-robed elder paused upon hearing this, then let out a wry laugh.

“Hmph, have you finished your discussion? Done talking? I'll send you two on your way now. If you want to escape, dream on!” Han Li, standing opposite them, moved his expression and spoke with a cold sneer.

“Oh no, we forgot, can he hear our spiritual voice transmissions?” The yellow-robed elder's face changed.

True Person Miaocheng was also startled upon hearing this, but just then, a thunderous sound erupted from behind Han Li opposite them. His Wind-Lightning Wings appeared, and with a flicker of his figure, he vanished into thin air amidst a clap of thunder.

“Be careful! His magic treasure is strange; he can use Lightning Evasion! I once saw Han Li use the Wind-Lightning Wings.” Miaocheng hastily warned the yellow-robed elder, while simultaneously flipping his other hand, causing a fiery red shield to appear before him. With a slight shake, it transformed into a fiery red light barrier, protecting his entire body.

On the other side, the yellow-robed elder formed a hand seal with both hands. The nearby white threads suddenly whistled loudly through the air, intertwining and shooting forth to form a dense silk net, enveloping himself within it.

Just as the two finished casting their spells, about ten zhang away in front of them, a silver light flashed, and Han Li's figure emerged.

Seeing their defenses, a sneer appeared on his face. He didn't release any treasures. He simply raised both arms, and with a whooshing sound, a layer of purple flames emerged from his body. Then, with a flicker of his figure, Han Li transformed into a massive fireball and directly lunged towards the yellow-robed elder.

Upon seeing Han Li's ferocity, the elder's heart trembled. Without time to think further, he let out a low roar. The direction of the white threads before him suddenly changed, all shooting towards the fireball opposite him, as if to pierce Han Li within the purple flames, creating a thousand holes.

True Person Miaocheng on the other side also showed a fierce glint in his eyes upon seeing this. With a pointing gesture, the jade hammer before him radiated dazzling light. The verdant rainbow it transformed into emitted a thunderous roar, then slammed straight towards Han Li.

Han Li, however, ignored both attacks. Without dodging, he plunged directly into the dense threads of light, his face in the purple flames showing a faint, mocking expression.