Chapter 1236: Breaking the Formation

A Mortal's Journey to Immortality

"Do you recognize me?" Han Li found it a bit strange. In the Scattered Star Seas, he knew several female cultivators, but besides Ling Yuling, he didn't seem to recall anyone else above the Nascent Soul stage.

"You're Han Li, aren't you? I saw you once in the Void Heavenly Hall back then. Later, I heard you obtained the Void Heavenly Cauldron. I didn't expect you to not only escape the pursuit of those old monsters but also to have advanced so much in cultivation." The female Nascent Soul said in a strange voice after a long moment.

"You... are you Lady Wen?" Hearing the mention of the Void Heavenly Hall and recognizing the familiar voice, a flash of realization struck Han Li, and he asked, somewhat uncertainly.

"I didn't expect it. Fellow Daoist still remembers this old woman." The female cultivator's Nascent Soul sighed deeply.

Hearing her frank admission, Han Li's face filled with surprise!

This female Nascent Soul was none other than Lady Wen, whom he had met once in the initial hall when he first ventured into the Void Heavenly Hall. Although her cultivation wasn't low back then, she had only gone to the Void Heavenly Hall to collect a few spiritual herbs and had voluntarily withdrawn halfway. But because she seemed to have a significant connection with Six Paths, he remembered her very clearly.

"If I recall correctly, Madam, you were Six Paths' dual cultivation partner, weren't you?" Han Li asked, surprised and doubtful.

"Dual cultivation partner? Have you ever seen someone imprison their partner's Nascent Soul in a magic treasure?" Lady Wen scoffed, sounding extremely resentful, yet still somewhat suspicious, as she asked, "However, Fellow Daoist Han! Was that old scoundrel Six Paths truly killed by you?"

Hearing Lady Wen's words, Han Li smiled faintly. Without a word, he lightly pointed his single hand towards a certain spot.

Lady Wen's Nascent Soul was startled, and followed his gaze.

It was then she noticed a massive block of chilling purple ice suspended in mid-air not far away. Within the ice, a partial corpse was strikingly preserved. It was precisely the half-body left by Six Paths Grand Sage. At the same time, the large green hand that had been firmly gripping the Nascent Soul, after a rapid flicker of spiritual light, vanished into thin air.

Lady Wen's Nascent Soul temporarily regained its freedom.

"It really is that old scoundrel! Good riddance! I didn't expect that despite all your machinations, you'd end up dying before me!" As soon as the Nascent Soul regained its ability to move, it swiftly flew over, circling the purple ice block several times. It then let out an extremely shrill laugh.

Han Li frowned. Although he didn't know the exact circumstances that had turned Six Paths and Lady Wen into bitter enemies, he had no interest in hearing more. His thoughts immediately turned to how he should deal with her.

The laughter from the Nascent Soul's mouth finally subsided. It then swept its gaze over, and seeing Han Li in a contemplative state, it spoke directly:

"Fellow Daoist Han, you don't need to trouble yourself. I have been imprisoned in this magic treasure for too long, and my Nascent Soul is already severely weakened, making it impossible to seize a new body and reincarnate. I must immediately dissipate my Nascent Soul to have a chance at reincarnation. Fellow Daoist Han, you've helped me avenge a great wrong, and I am truly grateful. However, with your current immense powers, there is nothing I can offer in return. I can only hope to repay your great kindness in my next life."

As soon as the Nascent Soul finished speaking, it suddenly slapped its own crown with a single hand.

A dazzling burst of red light erupted, completely enveloping the Nascent Soul from head to toe. Then, within the red light, the Nascent Soul shattered inch by inch! Finally, it vanished without a trace right before Han Li's eyes.

Han Li was stunned by this sight!

He hadn't expected Lady Wen to be so resolute. She self-dissolved without another word, not even exchanging a few more sentences with him. It seemed she had no desire to mention what had happened that led to such a tragic end.

However, he didn't need to guess; he could imagine it. There must have been a long, unspeakable secret between them. Otherwise, she wouldn't have self-dissolved so decisively, without the slightest hesitation.

Although he felt a bit annoyed, it was probably for the best that she self-dissolved this way. Otherwise, deciding how to deal with her would have been quite a headache for him.

Han Li shook his head and sighed softly. Only then did he raise his hand to draw the small green bottle from the air back into his grasp, placing it into his storage pouch.

Next, a golden electric arc shot from his hand, striking the purple ice block, causing the entire massive ice block to shatter. The old devil's remains then transformed into shimmering specks of light, disappearing along with the ice shards. Naturally, Han Li unceremoniously took possession of the storage pouch left by the old devil.

He swept his spiritual sense inside. Although there were a few treasures, they didn't impress him given his current discerning eye. However, some demonic cultivation techniques and ancient texts remained, which piqued Han Li's interest. Unfortunately, after a brief inspection, the Six Extremes True Devil Arts, which he was most interested in, were not among them.

After tidying everything up, Han Li waved his hand towards the humanoid puppet, and the puppet immediately headed straight for the bone banner in the distance. Meanwhile, the other "Han Li" flickered and eerily vanished into the air again.

Over by the bone banner, the five ghost heads had already devoured the three skull heads completely. Now, they were even consuming the bone banner itself, having eaten about seventy to eighty percent of it.

Han Li arrived and, seeing this scene, merely shook his head without saying anything.

Although this bone banner had a notable origin, its malevolent aura was too strong. It wasn't very suitable for him. Therefore, even though he had noticed the Five Devils' actions from the start, he hadn't made any attempt to stop them.

A moment later, the Five Devils finally gnawed the entire bone banner clean. The five ghost heads then let out strange wails, seemingly exceptionally joyful, and at the same time, their demonic aura seemed to intensify slightly.

Han Li quietly watched this scene, his expression unchanged. Once the Five Devils' strange cries subsided, he formed a hand seal with one hand and urged them forward.

Although the Five Devils seemed a bit reluctant, after experiencing the bitter consequences of defiance several times due to the restrictions, they no longer dared to resist. They flew over and obediently lay down beside Han Li.

Han Li did not linger there. Instead of immediately putting them away, he calmly transformed into a streak of green light and flew towards Heavenly Star City. The Five Devils immediately followed closely, accompanied by a demonic wind.

The battle between him and the old devil hadn't lasted very long; victory was decided in about the time it takes to eat a meal. If Heavenly Star City couldn't hold out and collapsed within such a short time, Han Li would definitely turn away in disgust and not bother to intervene further. This would indicate that Heavenly Star City was not worth his effort to assist at all!

Fortunately, things unfolded much as he had anticipated.

When Han Li returned with the Five Devils to the formation eye beside the Heaven-Sundering Wind-Fire Great Array, thousands of cultivators from Star Palace and the Anti-Star Alliance were spread across dozens of miles. They were locked in an intense, inseparable battle, with energy blasts flying everywhere.

To be precise, the Anti-Star Alliance seemed to have a slight upper hand.

Because the two so-called "Blue Clan's Twin Devils" were truly ferocious! Wherever their transformed blue demonic qi and pink fragrant mist passed, all Star Alliance cultivators were forced to retreat step by step. The old man surnamed Zhao and the large purple-robed man, who had originally been confronting the Twin Devils, were clearly far inferior in power and could only somewhat restrain them from the side, unable to truly harm them. As for the lower-level cultivators, upon encountering the blue qi and fragrant mist, they either shrieked in agony as their skin and flesh tore apart, or they simply plummeted as if drunk. As a result, the Twin Devils' demonic might became even more oppressive.

In such a chaotic scene, when Han Li quietly flew back, no one even noticed him.

Han Li first glanced at the massive wind-fire pillar, then his gaze fell upon the unusually eye-catching Blue Clan's Twin Devils. After a cold scoff, a fierce look appeared on his face.

Without a word, he pointed a finger at the Twin Devils. Immediately, the Five Ghosts beside him let out a low roar, then transformed into five streams of grayish-white qi that shot straight towards them. Next, Han Li unhesitatingly patted the spirit beast pouch at his waist, and a cloud of golden insects shot out. After a single swirl, it hovered above his head.

Han Li raised his hand and conjured a spell, letting out a low shout. The insect cloud began to hum loudly. With a "bang," it split into a dozen smaller golden clouds, scattering across the area. After Han Li finished casting his spell, his Wind-Lightning Wings behind him fluttered, and he vanished without a trace in a light breeze.

At the massive bronze pillar, although the Anti-Star Alliance's Nascent Soul cultivators had all engaged, several Core Formation cultivators remained stationed at the top of the pillar. This was to prevent Star Palace from launching a surprise attack to destroy the formation eye.

These few individuals stood on the pillar, whispering incessantly. Seeing the Anti-Star Alliance gradually gaining the upper hand, they couldn't help but show signs of joy on their faces.

One middle-aged cultivator, dressed as a scholar, turned his head, intending to say something to another cultivator. But as his gaze swept across the air behind him, his face instantly turned pale and bloodless. The cultivators nearby, naturally startled by the sight, also turned their heads to look.

Immediately, several exclamations of surprise escaped their lips.

Because just a dozen zhang behind the pillar, in mid-air, a young man was silently floating, his arms crossed, an enigmatic smile on his face. And this young man was clearly the grand cultivator from Star Palace who had previously left with their alliance leader. How could he appear here alone?

A chill ran down the spines of these Core Formation cultivators! But before they could decide whether to flee or loudly call for help from other Nascent Soul cultivators, Han Li's expression suddenly darkened. His fingers, hidden in his sleeve, abruptly flickered several times.

Immediately, several streaks of golden sword qi shot forth!

At this, the Core Formation cultivators, greatly alarmed, scattered their forms, attempting to transform into streaks of light and flee. However, after the dazzling golden light flashed several times, wherever the sword qi passed, these individuals were pierced through their bodies and died. Not a single one managed to escape.

Those who tried to resist by unleashing magic treasures found their treasures, too, were cut apart and exploded, proving utterly useless. The sword qi Han Li unleashed with his current Azure Bamboo Cloudswarm Swords was truly no less sharp than top-tier magic treasures. Even Nascent Soul cultivators would likely not dare to casually take it head-on, let alone mere Core Formation cultivators.

After cleanly slaying these Core Formation cultivators in one go, his expression remained unchanged. He merely cast a faint glance at the towering pillar before him, then suddenly flicked his sleeve, and a clear ringing sound emanated.

Dozens of small golden swords swam out from his sleeve, rapidly growing to several feet in length, then simultaneously converged in mid-air.

As golden light blazed forth, a colossal golden sword, several zhang long, impressively manifested itself above the bronze pillar.