Chapter 1247

But something completely unexpected happened to the monk.

Although the ten threads of fire didn't pierce the golden phantom, they suddenly flashed with red light, instantly transforming into thick, robust red fire chains. These chains coiled around the golden phantom with lightning speed, binding it tightly.

Seeing this, the monk was first stunned, then instinctively raised his hand and flicked it towards the air.

A streak of white sword light shot out from his fingertip, striking fiercely at the fire chains.

After a crisp, pleasant sound, the red glow and white light briefly intertwined. The white light was actually deflected, only managing to carve a pea-sized nick on the thick fire chains, unable to cut them completely.

At this, the silver-robed monk's expression darkened.

Seeing the tri-colored firebird and purple fire wave approaching one after another, he instinctively stomped his foot on the white lotus beneath him. At the same time, he let out a long cry like a dragon's roar, and solemnly spread his arms outwards.

As if sensing the monk's anxiety, the giant golden phantom suddenly radiated intense golden light. Its enormous body swelled by more than half, reaching a height of seven or eight *zhang*, appearing as if it would instantly break free from the fire chains.

But then, something else caused the monk's heart to sink.

As the Vajra phantom grew in size, the fire chains also expanded accordingly, showing no signs of strain.

The monk formed another hand seal, and the Vajra phantom, enveloped in spiritual light, suddenly shrank by about half. The fire chains similarly shrank and thinned, clinging stubbornly to the phantom like maggots to bone, impossible to shake off.

At this point, the silver-robed monk's expression truly changed drastically.

Seeing the tri-colored firebird truly flying nearby, he momentarily disregarded the phantom above him and hastily tossed the jade bottle in his hand into the air.

The silver bottle spun once, then its mouth pointed directly at the pouncing firebird. As intense silver light flared, muffled sounds of prohibition emanated from the bottle. Immediately, large streams of seven-colored Buddhist light erupted from the bottle's mouth, sweeping directly towards the oncoming tri-colored firebird.

The firebird, meanwhile, spewed tri-colored flames from its mouth and spread its wings, attempting to break through the Buddhist light and fly directly towards the silver-robed monk's head.

As soon as the two made contact, the Buddhist light curtain suddenly flowed and expanded. The seven-colored spiritual light continuously rotated, enveloping the firebird and drawing it back into the bottle with a single sweep. The entire process was remarkably easy, as if the bottle were truly the bane of the tri-colored firebird!

Seeing this, the silver-robed monk finally relaxed his expression, but then immediately pointed at the silver bottle in the air again.

The treasure trembled and once again spewed forth large streams of Buddhist light. This time, its target was the surging purple fire wave that followed closely behind the firebird.

It seemed he intended to use this treasure to likewise draw the Violet Netherflame into the bottle.

But just then, a faint 'Explode!' was uttered from the opposite side. The small silver bottle, originally suspended before him, suddenly shook violently. Its surface became uneven, and amidst the frantic flashing of silver light, a muffled thunder-like roar faintly emanated from within the bottle, growing steadily louder.

“Not good!”

The silver-robed monk first scanned the silver bottle with his divine sense in astonishment, then discovered something shocking, causing him to cry out involuntarily. Immediately after, the eminent monk of the Thunder Sound Sect vanished with a flash on the white lotus beneath his feet.

Only a slowly rotating, several-foot-wide lotus remained in the void, along with the Vajra phantom confined above.

And at the same time the monk performed his escape, the small silver bottle, amidst flashing spiritual light, emitted an earth-shattering roar and completely burst open.

A tri-colored halo emerged in the void where the silver bottle had vanished!

As the tri-colored runes circulated slightly, the halo's volume instantly swelled several times, engulfing both the white lotus and the Vajra phantom in the air.

The golden phantom, encircled by layers of fire chains, was completely unable to move or dodge. Thus, although the phantom resisted briefly within the tri-colored flames, it still collapsed and dissolved like foam with a soft *pffft*, turning into nothing. As for the white lotus, it fared even worse; the moment it was enveloped by the tri-colored flames, it immediately vaporized.

More than thirty *zhang* away, in another spot, a white light flashed, and the silver-robed monk's figure reappeared. But the instant the Vajra phantom was destroyed, his face suddenly turned several shades paler. He opened his mouth and actually spat out a small mouthful of vital blood, and at the same time, his light golden skin dimmed considerably, appearing as if he had suffered significant loss of vitality.

The Vajra phantom was, unexpectedly, deeply connected to his mind, spirit, and vital blood, much like a natal artifact!

Han Li, however, activated a hand seal expressionlessly. The surging purple fire wave behind him immediately changed direction, transforming into a purple fire python over ten *zhang* long, holding a white pearl in its mouth, and lunged towards the fleeing silver-robed monk.

Before it even reached the monk, a chilling wind suddenly rose nearby, and the temperature dropped to an extreme, giving a strange sensation as if the surrounding space itself was about to freeze.

A white light flashed beneath the silver-robed monk's feet, and another lotus, identical to the previous one, materialized out of thin air. His feet didn't move, but after several flashes on the lotus, he instantly retreated more than ten *zhang*, simultaneously letting out a bitter laugh:

“Stop! There’s no need to continue the contest. Fellow Daoist Han is indeed incredibly powerful; this old monk admits defeat!”

The silver-robed monk, having just formally engaged Han Li for a moment, actually took the initiative to concede. At the same time, he stared at the spot in the air where the silver bottle had been destroyed, his face filled with regret.

That silver bottle was a top-tier Buddhist treasure he had acquired with great difficulty back then. To have it destroyed in a mere sparring match truly frustrated him. How could he dare continue fighting?

Moreover, although neither side seemed to have used their full power, Han Li's abilities were clearly superior. Having suffered a loss of vitality, the monk naturally had no desire to continue the battle.

Upon hearing this, Han Li’s eyes flickered a few times, then he smiled and waved a hand towards the distance.

The purple fire python immediately solidified, then rolled into a ball of purple flames and vanished. Only the white orb remained, hovering and spinning in the air. Then, at Han Li's mental command, both this treasure and the fire chains, which had reverted to their original thread-like forms, shot back towards him.

The two treasures flashed a few more times before disappearing into Han Li's body.

Han Li clasped his hands towards the monk opposite him, peaceably saying, “Thank you for letting me win,” and then slowly descended.

At the entrance of the hall, Han Li was naturally met with expressions of awe.

Although they were all powerful cultivators, Han Li had only just seriously made his move, yet he had so easily injured Master Yuanzhi. It was likely that everyone below, including Master Can Ku, was completely taken by surprise.

Even the youthful-looking Monk Yanzhu, upon meeting Han Li's gaze, couldn't help but show a hint of unease, losing his previous composure.

“The contest between you two fellow Daoists has truly been an eye-opener for this humble one. I sincerely hope that I, Can, will one day be able to advance to such a realm! Since Fellow Daoist Han has won, this Pavilion Master will, of course, keep his word. I will now send someone to retrieve the secret technique for refining spatial rings.” Although the silver-robed monk was defeated by Han Li, the Pavilion Master of the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion was all smiles, showing no hint of dejection. Instead, without waiting for Han Li to speak, he proactively brought up the matter as a gesture of goodwill.

“Then I shall trouble Pavilion Master Can,” Han Li replied with a faint smile.

Can Ku repeatedly said, “Of course,” then immediately took out a token from his person and handed it to a Core Formation cultivator beside him, giving a few careful instructions.

The person immediately held the token with both hands and swiftly departed, shooting straight towards the ground below.

Aside from the Heavenly Mechanism Hall suspended in mid-air, there were naturally many other exquisitely grand buildings and pavilions on the ground below, with faint signs of people moving about. However, these individuals seemed to have been instructed long ago, as even during the intense battle between Han Li and the silver-robed monk, no one below dared to show themselves.

The person who flew away with the token vanished into a pavilion below in the blink of an eye.

Only then did Han Li withdraw his gaze. Just at that moment, the silver-robed monk, after briefly recuperating in the air, also descended from the sky. He took out a white medicine bottle from his sleeve, poured out a fiery red pill, and swallowed it.

“Master Yuanzhi, are you alright?” Han Li asked naturally, greeting him.

“I’m fine, just need to rest for a few months after taking this pill. However, Fellow Daoist Han, that feather fan in your hand isn't an ordinary treasure, is it? My Arhat Golden Body, I daresay, wouldn’t suffer much even if a top-tier magic treasure struck it. Yet, it couldn't withstand even a light strike from that fan. It seems that if it’s not a true Spirit Treasure, it must be a replica of one. With that fan in hand, I doubt many in the Human Realm would dare to directly face one of your attacks.” Master Yuanzhi, seeing Han Li looking at him, smiled indifferently, seemingly unconcerned about being injured by Han Li, and instead asked with a natural expression.

“Master indeed has sharp eyes. This treasure of mine is indeed a replica of a Spirit Treasure,” Han Li replied with a chuckle, unconcerned.

Monk Yuanzhi, upon hearing this, actually showed a hint of a smile on his usually indifferent face. Just as he was about to speak, Can Ku beside him interjected.

“Fellow Daoists, perhaps we can discuss things in more detail inside the hall. Also, I just happened to acquire a bottle of ancient spiritual wine called 'Jinlongyin.' It is said that a single sip can equal a month’s arduous cultivation for ordinary cultivators, but most importantly, its taste is utterly indescribable. Why don't you all join me for a taste?” The plump old man said, rubbing his hands together with a cheerful smile.

At this moment, Can Ku resembled a hospitable old farmer, no longer appearing like the master of a pavilion.

“Jinlongyin? This humble monk has indeed heard of this spiritual wine. I heard it’s brewed from several rare fruits now extinct in the Human Realm, and it’s said to have an incomparable aroma and flavor, far surpassing modern spiritual wines. Heh heh, Fellow Daoist, don’t be surprised. Although this old monk belongs to the Buddhist sect, I still find it hard to resist a good drink. Back then, Fellow Daoist Can Ku used dozens of jars of ancient spiritual wine to entice this old monk into becoming a guest elder. However, Fellow Daoist Han, please don’t mistake this old monk for a wine-and-meat Buddhist. This humble monk still adheres to the other precepts.” Yuanzhi was delighted to hear this, then seeing Han Li’s slightly surprised gaze, he half-jokingly said, his tone remarkably friendly!

Han Li’s heart stirred upon hearing this, but he merely smiled without speaking.

The group then re-entered the main hall.