Chapter 1447: Inducing the Thunder Pearl

Flying about a hundred zhang from the dark clouds above, the shopkeeper suddenly stopped. With a solemn expression, he opened his mouth and spat out a mouthful of vital blood. He quickly pointed his fingers at the vital blood several times. Instantly, the blood transformed into several enormous blood talismans, which shot towards the five-colored electric arc. In a flash, all the blood talismans vanished into the five-colored electric arc. Immediately, the electric arc emitted a tremendous roar. All the dark clouds dissipated within the five-colored lightning, and the colossal five-colored electric arc twisted and coiled in the air, revealing its true, ferocious form without a doubt.

Seeing the immense power of this lightning, the shopkeeper swallowed hard, then gritted his teeth and spat out several more mouthfuls of vital blood. These also transformed into blood talismans and merged into the five-colored heavenly lightning.

Having lost so much vital blood, the gaunt man's already pale face became completely drained of color. However, his almost desperate action was not in vain.

After so many blood talismans flashed into it, the five-colored heavenly lightning finally quieted down significantly. Not only did the roaring diminish, but the lightning also became softer. The electric arc became riddled with faint, eerie red threads, appearing and disappearing. The shopkeeper was overjoyed. He muttered an incantation, and with a sudden flap of his wings towards the sky, countless red threads burst forth from them with 'puffs.' These threads instantly pierced the five-colored electric arc, connecting with the existing red threads on its surface, completely enveloping the heavenly lightning. The shopkeeper formed hand seals, his body radiating dazzling white light, as one spell after another flew into the air.

With a low hum within the red threads, the five-colored heavenly lightning coiled and contracted, quickly transforming into a colossal lightning ball, about a zhang in diameter. Its surface was covered with a network of red threads, and five-colored flames flickered erratically. Upon seeing this, the gaunt man was instantly ecstatic. He beckoned the lightning ball with one hand. Astonishingly, this terrifying five-colored lightning ball obediently descended. Han Li and the others, witnessing this, were all flabbergasted.

The shopkeeper didn't give Han Li and the others a chance to ask questions. His figure blurred, and he abruptly vanished from his spot.

The next moment, as spatial fluctuations appeared on the ground, the gaunt man mysteriously reappeared beside the Thunder Beast. He swiftly raised both hands towards the sky, and two thick beams of light immediately shot out, plunging into the colossal lightning ball, which was now only dozens of zhang above the ground. The heavenly lightning instantly floated suspended in mid-air.

At such close range, Han Li and the other two clearly sensed the terrifying power contained within the five-colored lightning ball, and their expressions all changed dramatically.

Fortunately, the gaunt man immediately cast a spell to halt the lightning ball high up. Otherwise, the three of them might have stopped and fled instantly, regardless of anything else. They certainly wouldn't put their lives in someone else's hands.

The shopkeeper had no time to consider Han Li's and the other two's silent thoughts. Once he controlled the five-colored lightning ball, he suddenly let out a loud shout.

As the lightning ball spun, the red threads on its surface instantly parted, forming a small opening. After a low rumble of thunder, a thin five-colored electric arc shot out, aiming directly at the Thunder Beast below.

The moment the five-colored lightning ball appeared, the Thunder Beast seemed to sense something was terribly wrong. It roared frantically, even managing to partially break free from the black chains on its body and sit up. However, before it could make any further move, the five-colored electric arc struck its crown with a crack of thunder. Without even a whimper, the Thunder Beast stiffened and collapsed back to the ground.

The shopkeeper was ecstatic. While continuously directing the five-colored lightning ball above his head to unleash electric arcs one after another, he simultaneously cast a spell, causing the emerald green wooden plaque hovering above the Thunder Beast's head to once again emit green threads.

This time, aided by the five-colored electric arcs and the lightning power of Han Li and the other two, the miniature ethereal form of the Thunder Beast was once again, to its furious astonishment, pulled out of its body and slowly drifted towards the wooden plaque.

Even though the Thunder Beast's spirit struggled desperately, most of its lightning power was firmly bound by the five black daggers, and its physical body was suppressed by the five-colored heavenly lightning and Han Li's group. It could no longer resist, being drawn inch by inch towards the emerald green wooden plaque.

The green plaque flashed with an emerald glow. After a silent, furious roar, the Thunder Beast's spirit, enveloped in green threads, was absorbed into the wooden plaque. The gaunt man quickly formed hand seals, his fingers twisting continuously, sending spell after spell towards the wooden plaque. In an instant, the plaque flashed with multicolored light, completely sealing the spirit within. The man was overjoyed and beckoned with his hand, and the green plaque immediately transformed into a ball of spiritual light, drawn into his palm.

“Haha, it's finally done!” The shopkeeper burst into joyous laughter.

Han Li's eyes flashed. The thunderous sound in his hand subsided, and the golden arc vanished.

“What is the meaning of this? Brother Yu, weren't you planning to subdue this beast? Is it done already?” The effeminate youth stopped his cultivation art. He glanced at the motionless Thunder Beast's body on the ground, then at the green plaque in the shopkeeper's hand, his brow furrowing.

This was precisely what Han Li and the burly man also wanted to ask.

“Heh heh, once I've obtained this beast's spirit, subduing it will be a simple matter. The three of you won't need to intervene further.” The gaunt man carefully placed the green plaque into a jade box, laughing heartily with a radiant, satisfied expression.

Han Li and the other two exchanged glances. Sensing something amiss, they remained silent, a hint of wariness appearing on each of their faces.

“Don't worry, all three of you. Since you've helped me succeed, I won't go back on my word regarding your promised reward. Please catch these.” The shopkeeper chuckled, then shook his sleeve. A wave of white mist swept out, and the three wooden boxes that had appeared earlier flew directly towards Han Li and the other two. Although the effeminate youth and the black-armored burly man had doubts just moments ago, seeing the objects they had long yearned for suddenly appear, they were naturally overjoyed. Without thinking further, they eagerly reached out to grab their respective wooden boxes.

However, the moment Han Li saw this, a dazzling blue light flashed in his eyes. His body spun quickly, and a silver-gold robe suddenly flew out from him, instantly enveloping the incoming wooden box. Then, he pushed off the ground with his feet, shooting backward.

Seeing Han Li's action, the effeminate youth, who had just grabbed the wooden box, froze for a moment. But he quickly reacted, mentally crying out, "Not good!" and tried to throw the object in his hand away again. It was already too late.

A flash of white light appeared within the wooden box, and it vanished as if turning into sand, revealing a thumb-sized, crystalline bead.

“Lightning Lure Bead!”

The youth cried out in alarm, trying to flick the bead away with a pinch of his fingers.

But with a clap of thunder, the spherical bead burst open, and a dazzling white light emerged.

The five-colored lightning ball, which still retained a small portion of its volume in the air, transformed into three electric arcs the moment the white light appeared, striking down from above.

Their speed was astonishing; in a mere flash, they struck their respective targets.

With three deafening 'booms,' the youth and the burly man, who encountered the same situation, were instantly enveloped by the intertwining lightning of five-colored electric arcs and white light. As the two powers merged into one, the lightning dissipated, and both individuals collapsed to the ground, turning into green smoke, their fates unknown.

As for Han Li, the moment the Lightning Lure Bead enveloped by his lightning robe burst, the white light was eerily absorbed by the robe, which then flashed and expelled it. The five-colored electric arc descending from the sky veered off course, striking the ground about a zhang away. The entire ground shook. Where the five-colored electric arc struck, a large patch of land silently transformed into a black hole several zhang in diameter, appearing out of nowhere. This electric arc had actually pierced straight through the second-floor ground with a single strike.

Han Li, meanwhile, had precisely shot backward to the edge of this hole. He stabilized his figure and expressionlessly looked towards the gaunt man not far away. “Hm?” The man's smile vanished, and he let out a slightly surprised sound. But then his lips twitched, revealing a hint of mockery.

Suddenly, without warning, Han Li's form blurred, and he instantly transformed into a blue-white electric arc, vanishing into thin air as his wings seemed to shimmer.

Almost simultaneously, two green, sharp claws swept through the spot where Han Li had just stood. At the tips of their fingers, several inches of crimson lightning flickered. It was astonishingly the physical body of the Thunder Beast, which had originally been bound by black chains. It had moved at some unknown point, quietly sneaking behind Han Li to launch a surprise attack, completely unnoticed. However, at this moment, the Thunder Beast's eyes were dark and gleaming, full of intelligence, completely different from before.

The shopkeeper saw that the Thunder Beast's attack had failed and showed a surprised expression. But then his eyes shifted, his figure blurred, and he silently shot backward and away.

But just then, a clap of thunder sounded above the man's head. Han Li's figure instantly reappeared amidst blue-white lightning, and without a word, he shook his sleeve towards several nearby copper pillars. Several dazzling golden lights flashed, instantly cutting these pillars into seven or eight pieces. The entire restriction was unexpectedly broken by Han Li in a single move. The shopkeeper's figure stiffened, and he immediately stopped retreating, his face grim as he looked over. Han Li, arms crossed, floated silently in mid-air.

Just then, thunder rumbled behind him. The Thunder Beast appeared behind Han Li amidst flashing four-colored electric arcs, its face expressionless, forming a pincer attack with the shopkeeper.

“I don't care what your intentions are—whether you truly want to subdue this Thunder Beast or are only interested in its spirit. Just give me what I want. As for what happened here, I'll pretend I saw nothing.” Han Li finally spoke.“You, a mere Flying Spirit General, think you're qualified to negotiate with me?” the gaunt man said grimly.

“If you were at your peak, I might indeed have little confidence. But you just continuously cast spells, expending vital blood. Now, if you have even a fraction of your cultivation remaining, that's impressive. Do you really think an immature spiritual beast can truly stop me?” Han Li said nonchalantly, then suddenly swept his hand over his wrist. Immediately, a black light shot out, spiraled, and transformed into a small monkey, appearing on the ground.

Next, the small monkey pounded its chest with both hands. Its body instantly swelled dramatically, transforming in the blink of an eye into a towering giant demon, tens of zhang tall, with a ferocious face, glaring menacingly at the Thunder Beast behind it.

At the same time, Han Li's entire body glowed with golden light. Seventy-two small golden swords shot out from him, circling around his body, while behind him appeared the golden, radiant True Devil Dharmakaya of the Brahma Saint, with three heads and six arms. He then simultaneously flipped both hands. One was as black as ink, with a small, ink-black mountain appearing in its palm. The other was as white as jade, yet five miniature skull heads fluttered up and down around its hand. Han Li's wings on his back then lightly flapped again. One was wreathed in blue light, the other iridescent with five colors. On either side of the golden Dharmakaya, the ethereal forms of a green evil bird and a five-colored heavenly phoenix also appeared. With these three Dharmakayas manifesting simultaneously, their aura was majestic, and spiritual energy soared to the heavens, making them almost impossible to look at directly.