Chapter 1454: Test

After a peal of thunder, a thick silver arc instantly plunged into the enormous fireball.

Just as most people thought the silver arc would surely pierce the fireball, the lightning bolt flashed and vanished into the fireball's surface, disappearing without a trace, as if it had been swallowed whole.

Le Lan was startled as the fireball instantly appeared before her. Its power was astounding.

After a moment of hesitation, she shot backward slightly, her wings suddenly enveloping her. Immediately, layers of lightning light appeared out of nowhere. Within the lightning, a silver-white roc materialized, its entire body pulsating with silver arcs. Around its neck hung a strange necklace, from which dangled a golden gourd, several inches tall.

She finally decided to use her most proficient transformation technique to defeat her opponent.

As soon as the giant fireball saw the roc appear, it immediately stopped rolling. A rumbling sound emanated as the fireball suddenly deformed and transformed, also turning into a crimson firebird.

The firebird was several times larger than the roc. But the roc showed no fear. After a clear cry, its body suddenly expanded rapidly, becoming a size only slightly smaller than the firebird. Then, carrying countless lightning bolts, it fiercely charged towards its opponent.

The firebird, formed by Hong Sha, was even less afraid. With a surge of flames from its body, it raised a pair of sharp claws in the air, and fierce crimson claw-rays shot out.

As the two giant birds flapped their wings simultaneously, they almost covered half of the space within the energy barrier. Because of this, their battle became even more intense.

Blood and feathers occasionally fell from high above.

But a split second before they hit the ground, these things disintegrated and vanished without a trace.

To everyone's surprise, the roc that Le Lan transformed into, despite her initial Spirit General cultivation, did not fall into a disadvantage during the close-quarters combat. Instead, it seemed to grow stronger with each clash.

The electric arcs appearing on its claws and body gradually transformed from silver-white to light purple. Their power was far greater than that of silver lightning.

Han Li, with blue light flickering in his eyes, stared at the roc in the sky, a strange expression appearing at the corner of his mouth.

Others didn't notice, believing the roc in the air was activating some technique on its own to greatly increase the power of the silver arcs.

But through his spiritual eyes, he saw clearly that the so-called purple electric arcs were not spontaneously generated by the roc's body. Instead, threads of purple electrical power were constantly emitted from the small, inch-sized golden gourd on its neck. The moment these electrical threads came into contact with the silver arcs generated by the roc itself, they immediately merged and disappeared.

Because of this, the silver electric arcs protecting the roc gradually transformed from silver-white to light purple.

These purple electrical threads seemed to have a significant origin.

Hong Sha was greatly surprised to be consistently suppressed and felt extremely shocked and angry.

Although she didn't know how her opponent did it, it was clear some special method was used. Otherwise, purely in terms of cultivation, how could her opponent be her match?

Just then, several male voices reached her ears. The voices weren't loud, but upon hearing them, her heart skipped a beat. She immediately cast aside her last hesitation. With a flap of her wings, she also used the killer move she had prepared for the trial: a remarkably long feather shot out from the firebird's head.

With a "poof," the feather instantly transformed into another identical firebird. Then, it opened its mouth and immediately spewed out fireballs in rapid succession, before plunging into the battle, its body engulfed in greatly magnified flames.

The roc, which had only just gained a slight advantage, immediately showed signs of struggle under the pincer attack of two firebirds, constantly emitting enraged cries.

As flames and electric arcs intertwined and collided, the air within the barrier vibrated with a humming sound. The nearby air also subtly twisted and shimmered.

But this also made the situation of the silver roc battling the two firebirds somewhat blurry and unclear.

However, anyone could tell that the silver roc was in precarious danger, unable to sustain itself for much longer, and might fall gravely injured at any moment.

This time, Han Li merely watched silently for a moment. Suddenly, with a spread of his wings, after a startling thunderclap, he transformed into a blue-white electric arc and vanished from his spot.

Almost at the same moment, another dark shadow in a certain part of the crowd also flashed and silently disappeared from its spot.

With a "bang," a golden sword light, over ten zhang long, flashed out from the void and slashed down towards the battle entangled with flames and electric arcs.

Before the sword light even reached the battle, a faint white trace appeared out of thin air in front of it, emitting a shrill, piercing cry.

The moment the flames, electric arcs, and the white trace connected, they scattered and vanished as if made of mud.

The two firebirds and the silver roc in the battle only felt a flash of golden light, and an exceptionally sharp object was already above their heads, slicing down mercilessly.

They couldn't resist it at all.

The three birds, greatly alarmed, disregarded their fight, simultaneously withdrew their divine abilities, and shot backward.

The enormous sword light narrowly sliced through the space between them. A white trace remained in its place, and immediately, a massive surge of energy erupted from the white trace.

A strong gust of wind suddenly swept through the vicinity. A large amount of spiritual energy from heaven and earth converged towards the white trace, as if space itself had truly been sliced open.

The spectators outside were in an uproar. The roc, moreover, retracted its electric arcs and transformed back into a young woman, her face filled with surprise and doubt.

"You are no match for this woman; there's no need to continue fighting," a faint voice suddenly emanated from behind Le Lan, as if it were right next to her.

The silver-robed woman's expression changed. She hastily turned her head, only to see a young man in green quietly standing behind her.

It was Han Li! "Brother Han made that move just now!" Le Lan was somewhat stunned.

The power of that sword light made her think that a Spirit Marshal-level being had attacked.

At this moment, the terrifying sword light and the white trace it created had already dispersed and vanished. The gathered spiritual energy of heaven and earth had also dispersed again, and calm had been restored.

However, at this moment, Han Li did not answer the woman, but simply gazed intently across.

Le Lan paused and followed his gaze.

Only then did she notice that Hong Sha on the opposite side had also resumed her human form and retracted her clone. She was also looking this way with a faint, unreadable smile.

Behind this opponent, a young man in red had appeared at some unknown point. His face was grim and expressionless.

The young man was precisely Zhu Yinzi, and among the many Sacred Sons of the Chiroc Tribe on this trip, he was the one who made her most wary.

Le Lan couldn't help but feel a chill in her heart.

"Brother Han," Zhu Yinzi asked, after a twitch of his lips, "I heard you've been cultivating overseas and only recently returned to the Heavenly Roc Tribe. I'm a bit curious; may I ask Brother Han for some guidance?"

The sword strike Han Li made just now made his heart sink. He knew his previous conjecture was likely true, that the opponent's divine abilities were truly extraordinary. However, to gauge the depth of this formidable enemy, he still, as planned, calmly issued a challenge to Han Li.

Zhu Yinzi's reputation was not comparable to that of Hong Sha or Fu Lan.

The moment he appeared in the air, he was immediately recognized by many spectators. These people, upon hearing Zhu Yinzi issue a challenge to another person, after their initial surprise, immediately showed excitement! Such a clash between powerful peers was not something often seen. While one of them had long been famous and had a considerable reputation, the other was also a high-level Spirit General. It seemed they would get quite a show.

Hearing Zhu Yinzi's words, Le Lan frowned, and her expression became somewhat enlightened. It seemed she finally realized that the opponent's target had been "Senior Brother Han" behind her from the very beginning, and she had merely been bait.

"I have no interest in fighting with you," Han Li said with a light smile.

"Heh heh," the young man chuckled, "since you've already entered the forbidden zone, you don't get to choose. Brother Han, take this." He raised one hand, his seemingly ordinary palm flashing with red light and transforming into a crimson sharp claw. Its ten fingers were sharp and gleamed, as if carved from a red precious stone.

Han Li frowned. Before he could say anything more, the young man's crimson claw seemingly casually clawed at the air towards Han Li.

With several sharp, whistling sounds of air being torn, five crimson claw-rays shot out, flashing by in an instant. With a flash of red light, they suddenly disappeared.

Han Li's expression shifted. Suddenly, he also raised an arm before him, his five ink-black fingers spread open to block in front of him.

Immediately, over ten zhang in front of Han Li, the space violently vibrated. The five claw-rays flashed out once more.

The moment Han Li saw these five crimson rays, his expression changed. The crimson rays, originally only about a foot long, had now reappeared, having transformed into enormous beams over a zhang in length, and were continuously absorbing surrounding spiritual energy, rapidly expanding.

Before the claw-rays even approached, Han Li already felt an astonishing spiritual pressure rushing towards him. If a being with slightly lower cultivation was enveloped by these claw-rays, they might be overwhelmed in mind and body, unable to even twitch a finger.

Secretly surprised, the ink-black fingers Han Li held before him suddenly flashed with spiritual light. A small, obsidian-black mountain appeared out of thin air, and with just a flash, it instantly grew to over ten zhang in size.

The black mountain peak shielded Han Li behind it, protecting him completely and securely.

With several muffled "bangs" and a flash of red light, all five claw-rays struck the small mountain.

A scorching aura instantly spread around Han Li, making him feel as uncomfortable as if a hot furnace were assailing his face.

But the black mountain peak remained steady in place, seemingly without a single tremor.

"Oh?" Zhu Yinzi, on the opposite side, seeing this scene, was slightly moved.

Han Li swept his divine sense over the Nameless Magnetic Mountain in front of him. His expression, however, darkened.

With a "smack," he patted the small mountain with one palm.

Instantly, the mountain spun around, and the area that had just been struck turned to face Han Li.

One could see on the surface of the dark mountain, five claw marks about an inch deep, with slight signs of melting.

With a cold snort, his black palm pressed onto the mountain peak like lightning.

An incredible scene appeared. The small mountain glowed with a dark light; wherever the light passed, the claw marks and melted areas instantly reverted to their original state.

"Since Brother Zhu insists on some guidance, I suppose I have no choice but to spar a little," Han Li said. As soon as he finished speaking, his body swayed, and he suddenly appeared to one side of the small mountain.

Following this, his wings moved, and a green roc shadow suddenly appeared behind him.

Simultaneously, after several loud rumbling sounds, four green pillars of wind shot up into the sky around Han Li, emitting loud whistling sounds.