Chapter 1435: Tianpeng Holy Son and Kunpeng True Blood

“Black Nether Mist!” Han Li's mind suddenly lit up, and he finally realized why it felt familiar.

The black mist seeping from the surface of the stone pagoda was precisely the eerie, musty air from the sea of mist on the peninsula where he resided. However, the mist emanating from here was extremely thin, as if it were tightly constrained by something.

Han Li was somewhat surprised, but since this place was considered a forbidden area by the Heavenly Roc people, he naturally wouldn't intentionally stir up trouble. Immediately, he followed suit, veering his escape light to bypass the area.

However, as Han Li passed by the gigantic pagoda, about a hundred feet away, a shudder-inducing aura suddenly erupted from within the tower, shooting skyward. A chill ran down his spine, and his body stiffened with a jolt.

This was...

Han Li halted his escape light, turned his head, and fixed his gaze intently on the gigantic pagoda. He saw that the Black Nether Mist emanating from the distant pagoda had, at some unknown point, turned into a thick, inky blackness. Although the symbols on the pagoda's surface flickered with various spiritual lights, they couldn't prevent the black mist from surging outwards. Fortunately, a seven-colored light barrier emanating from the pagoda's top contained all the black mist within a certain range around the stone tower. However, in just a few moments, the black mist filled all the space within the light barrier, causing the seven-colored barrier to tremble and shake, appearing as if it could rupture at any moment.

Other Heavenly Roc people passing nearby were also dumbfounded. They all stopped in mid-air, gazing at the strange phenomena occurring at the Spirit Sealing Pagoda. Han Li felt his pair of feathered wings suddenly tremble and become extremely hot, causing a burning, stinging sensation on his back. Han Li's expression drastically changed.

Just then, an exceptionally high-pitched cry erupted from within the pagoda. Upon hearing this cry, hundreds of Heavenly Roc people nearby closed their eyes and began falling from the sky. Although Han Li wasn't as severely affected, he felt a momentary lapse in his spiritual sense upon hearing the sound. Simultaneously, his hot feathered wings instantly lost their efficacy, and his body swayed. Fortunately, he didn't truly rely on these Wind-Thunder Wings for flight. A flash of green light enveloped his body, and he quickly regained his balance. However, his gaze towards the gigantic pagoda was now filled with dread.

With a deafening boom, the crystal at the top of the gigantic pagoda radiated intensely, and the seven-colored light barrier flared brilliantly. At the same time, waves of obscure, profound incantations emanated from the pagoda, as if hundreds of people were chanting spells simultaneously. Instantly, a spiritual light flashed over the bodies of the falling Heavenly Roc people, and a layer of seven-colored light shields appeared over them, causing them to float back up.

But immediately, another piercing shriek echoed from the pagoda. After a surge of black mist within, a colossal bird silhouette, hundreds of feet large, appeared in the sky above. This ethereal figure was faintly black all over, and as its wings unfurled, it enveloped half of the stone pagoda. After another long cry, all the black mist surged by more than twofold, and the surrounding seven-colored light barrier immediately twisted violently, the aura truly astonishing.

This time, the other Heavenly Roc people were protected by the seven-colored light barrier and only swayed slightly, remaining unharmed. However, filled with trepidation, they naturally scattered and fled in all directions. Han Li had initially intended to fly away immediately like the other Heavenly Roc people, but the moment the colossal bird silhouette appeared, his wings trembled, and a similar silhouette of a large green bird also emerged behind him. It too raised its head and emitted a clear cry, seeming to resonate with the black bird.

At the same time, the surrounding air tightened, and he felt his body sink, unable to move even an inch. Han Li was greatly alarmed. With a burst of golden light, immense power surged from his limbs as he tried to break free. However, his heart immediately sank as he realized that no matter how much he pushed the immense power within him, the surrounding air felt like cast steel, preventing him from moving even a small finger.

As Han Li's thoughts raced, wondering whether to summon his True Devil Form to forcefully break the restraints, the incantations from the stone pagoda suddenly changed, becoming twice as loud and clear. Within the chants, a faint rumble of wind and thunder could be heard. Following this, strange runes floated and appeared in the void near the gigantic pagoda, all drifting towards the black bird silhouette. Simultaneously, the large crystal at the top of the pagoda exploded with a thunderous sound. A seven-colored sun slowly rose, suddenly emitting ten thousand rays of light that enveloped the entire bird silhouette.

Under the dual restrictions of the runes and the seven-colored light, the colossal bird silhouette finally let out a strange, helpless cry and dispersed. On the other side, the silhouette of the large green bird behind Han Li also vanished in a flash. The pressure around him eased, and he regained his freedom. However, his heart was filled with apprehension and uncertainty.

Aside from size, the silhouette that had appeared on the stone pagoda was identical to the green bird silhouette behind him. Both were in the legendary form of a Kun Peng. Could a Kun Peng really be sealed within this pagoda? But how could that be possible?

Han Li pondered in shock, wanting desperately to flee immediately, but after glancing ahead, he let out a bitter laugh and ultimately remained rooted to the spot. This was because more than a dozen groups of spiritual light had already flown out from the gigantic pagoda, and after a few flashes, they were only a few dozen feet away from him. At this distance, the Heavenly Roc people within the spiritual light could clearly see him. If he were to escape now, it would only make him appear guilty.

Considering this, Han Li could only stay and wait to see their intentions. He quickly scanned the approaching spiritual lights and saw that two of them were late Soul Transformation stage cultivators, while the rest were at the early to mid-Soul Transformation stage. Feeling apprehensive, Han Li dared not make any sudden moves that might provoke a misunderstanding. He simply remained suspended motionless in the air.

With several whooshing sounds, the dozen or so individuals, flapping their wings, instantly arrived before Han Li, surrounding him completely. A dozen gazes all landed on him. At the forefront were two elderly-looking Heavenly Roc people: one had a pair of white wings on his back, while the other had light golden wings. One had a kind and benevolent appearance, while the other had a stern and dignified look. However, both, like the others, stared intently at Han Li the moment they arrived, their eyes flickering with unusual light.

Although Han Li wasn't truly afraid of these Heavenly Roc people, their demeanor made him uneasy. He managed a strained smile and asked: "Sirs, is there something you need, surrounding me like this?"

"May I ask your esteemed name, brother? Your face is quite unfamiliar. Are you a clansman who has recently entered the Holy City?" To Han Li's surprise, the elder with the snow-white wings spoke with unexpected courtesy.

"My surname is Han. I've been cultivating overseas and only just entered the city today," Han Li replied, his mind racing. He didn't see the need to use any falsehoods, as the other party hadn't yet shown any ill intent.

"Overseas? Entered the city today!" Han Li's answer startled the two leading elders, but after exchanging glances, their eyes revealed great delight.

"Good, very good. Regardless of where Brother Han comes from, being able to draw out the Kun Peng spirit from the pagoda indicates that your Heavenly Roc aura is sufficiently abundant. You are eligible to receive our clan's 'Sacred Son' title and inherit the true blood of the Kun Peng," the other elder stated solemnly.

"Kun Peng True Blood!" Han Li was truly stunned. If it were before, he wouldn't have understood much about such things, but now that he had true dragon and phoenix blood stored in his storage bracelet, he naturally understood the rarity of such treasures perfectly. For such a good fortune to come knocking on his door, Han Li was naturally somewhat dumbfounded.

However, a second thought made Han Li feel uneasy. He wasn't a true Heavenly Roc, so how could he genuinely become their so-called Sacred Son? A thorough investigation would likely expose him immediately. At that point, let alone inheriting any true blood, he would first be jointly attacked and killed by countless enraged Heavenly Roc clansmen.

"You two must be mistaken," Han Li said with a few dry laughs, shaking his head repeatedly in denial. "My origins are utterly ordinary; how could I be qualified to inherit true blood? And I wasn't the one who triggered the anomaly in this pagoda."

"Why be so modest, Brother Han?" the elder with the golden wings said with a chuckle, completely disregarding Han Li's explanations. "We all clearly saw the manifestation of the True Spirit on your body from within the pagoda; there's absolutely no mistake. Brother Han, please come with us to meet the elders. Becoming a Sacred Son of our clan is a grand event for our people."

Han Li groaned inwardly. His gaze swept around, seeing that the other Heavenly Roc people all looked excited, clearly having confirmed his identity.

"I am indeed no Sacred Son, even if you don't believe me. But I have important matters to attend to, so I'll take my leave first." Han Li's heart hardened. He quickly uttered a couple of lines of explanation, and his form blurred, transforming into a faint phantom that ghosted out from between the two Heavenly Roc people. His wings moved, and he was about to use his divine ability to flee far away. But just then, a faint spiritual voice transmission from a woman reached his ear.

"Wait, outsider! Do you truly intend to leave like this? If you go, you must leave those wings on your back with our Heavenly Roc clan." The voice was not loud, and it was gentle and pleasing to the ear, but when Han Li heard it, it struck his spiritual sense like a clap of thunder, and his expression instantly turned exceedingly grim.

Just as this voice transmission appeared, the surrounding space suddenly rippled. Several feet above Han Li's head, a slender figure silently shimmered out of the void. It was a young woman in a white robe with golden feathered wings on her back. Han Li focused his gaze, and immediately gasped. This seemingly ordinary-looking young woman had a faint, shimmering glow constantly shifting across her face, and her aura was contained, making it impossible for Han Li to discern her cultivation level. She was actually a being at the mid-Body Integration stage or above.

Han Li's eyelids twitched violently! "Greetings, Great Elder!" The Soul Transformation stage Heavenly Roc people, upon seeing the young woman, all showed extreme reverence and bowed deeply in salute.

This woman was actually the Great Elder of the Heavenly Roc clan! Han Li felt a bitter taste in his mouth. "Leave this person to me," the young woman calmly instructed. "You all return to the pagoda to reinforce the seal and appease the Kun Peng Sacred Spirit again."

"As you command!" Clearly, the young woman held immense authority in the eyes of these Heavenly Roc people. Without a moment's hesitation, they flapped their wings and flew back towards the gigantic pagoda.

The young woman's gaze then shifted and finally landed on Han Li.