Chapter 1456: Four Fiends Transforming Armor Technique

Han Li’s gaze swept over the man in the azure armor, and his heart sank.

This azure-armored man’s cultivation was unfathomably deep, certainly no less than that of the three elders of the Joint Council who had appeared. No wonder the three elders treated him with such deference.

Moreover, the azure armor on this man was truly peculiar. Its style seemed remarkably simple, its surface dull and ordinary, without any runes, formations, or similar patterns. However, when Han Li’s spiritual sense swept over the armor, he felt an unusually familiar sensation. After looking at it for a couple more times, his eyes suddenly widened, as if he had realized something incredible.

If his perception was not mistaken, this so-called “azure armor” was actually condensed from an extremely dense aura of malevolent energy. No wonder its aura felt so familiar.

Yet, despite having so much malevolent energy on his person, not only was his body unharmed, but he could even force it out of his body and transform it into a physical form.

This kind of divine ability was utterly inconceivable.

Startled, Han Li shifted his gaze and noticed the tens of thousands of Flying Spirit Race members suspended in the air behind the azure-armored man.

Each of them also wore various colorful battle armors.

Han Li’s blue eyes flickered as he scrutinized them, and his pupils involuntarily contracted.

The battle armors on these individuals were surprisingly identical to the one on the azure-armored man; they were also transformed from malevolent energy. However, due to variations in cultivation levels and the amount of malevolent energy, some armors were solidified like physical entities, while others were extremely blurry, appearing indistinct.

Looking at these armored warriors, each possessing an extraordinary amount of malevolent energy, Han Li was greatly astonished, and his mind raced.

Just then, the azure-armored man’s gaze swept over the crowd behind the three elders of the Joint Council, and he actually revealed a slight smile.

“Our clan’s trial only occurs once every three hundred years, so how could Jin be careless? However, the demonic beasts in the Earth Abyss have been restless recently. If we were to delay for another year or two, I, Jin, would never agree to this trial.”

“Haha, that’s why, after receiving Brother Tie’s message, we immediately moved the trial date forward. I assume the Dark Tide in the Earth Abyss hasn’t started yet, right?” the old man asked with a smile.

“Not yet. According to the reactions of the monitoring treasures, although the current dark energy is more dangerous than usual, there’s still at least a year until its formal eruption. However, the subterranean dark demonic beasts might leave their usual level, so I cannot guarantee that only Spirit General-level dark demonic beasts will be present in the first three layers of the trial. The chance of encountering high-tier Earth Abyss demonic beasts will certainly be much higher. But demon kings will not appear. As for the dangers, your Joint Council of Elders can weigh the pros and cons yourselves. If the losses are too great, don’t blame Jin for not having warned you,” the azure-armored man said calmly.

“As long as no demon kings appear, there will be no major problems, and the trial can proceed,” the white-haired man said without hesitation.

“I have no objection either. If we miss this opportunity, the trial period might not be held for at least a century due to internal strife, and many branches cannot wait that long,” the old woman said slowly, frowning.

The tattooed elder, however, pondered for a long time before sighing lightly and nodding.

Seeing that all three agreed, the azure-armored man let out a low chuckle and raised a single hand towards the sky.

A fist-sized azure light sphere shot out, and with a flash, it mysteriously appeared several hundred feet up in the air.

With an earth-shattering roar, the light sphere exploded, and a swirling azure halo surged outwards.

A dazzling azure sun, several feet in diameter, appeared in the sky, brilliant and eye-catching.

Upon seeing this, the armored Flying Spirit people behind immediately split into two rows, creating a path in the air.

Despite their varying cultivation levels, such a large group moved in perfect unison without a word, naturally creating an invisible pressure that surged into the sky.

Upon seeing this scene, the elders and others who accompanied them were relatively calm, their expressions slightly changing but quickly returning to normal. However, Saint Sons like Han Li, who were participating in the trial for the first time, stirred with commotion, most of them showing expressions of surprise.

The three elders at the forefront beckoned behind them and then flew forward together.

Immediately, the entire procession advanced again, slowly flying through the human wall in the sky.

Han Li sat on the giant bird, his eyes slightly narrowed as he observed the armored warriors on both sides.

He found that most of these armored warriors had indifferent expressions, neither speaking nor smiling. Occasionally, some individuals with curious glances were those with lower cultivation and younger ages.

However, this so-called lower cultivation still meant they were at least at the Core Formation stage.

There were countless armored warriors equivalent to Nascent Soul or Spirit Transformation levels, and even many at the Void Refinement Spirit Commander level.

Han Li muttered to himself.

The Earth Abyss guards stationed here were similar to the cultivators of their Human Race’s Heavenly Abyss City.

However, the number of guards here was far fewer than in Heavenly Abyss City, but their elite status was incomparable. Coupled with the fact that those stationed here frequently fought against demonic beasts emerging from the Earth Abyss, their combat experience was far superior to that of ordinary Flying Spirit Race members.

Moreover, judging by the scale of the buildings here, it was evident that not all Heavenly Abyss guards had flown out of their residences.

As Han Li pondered inwardly, the group passed through the human wall and arrived before a large area of empty pavilions below.

The Joint Council made arrangements, allowing all disciples to temporarily reside there to recover their spiritual energy and magic power, and then begin the trial the next morning in peak condition.

The Heavenly Peng Race and others all moved into the same pavilion.

Jin Yue and Elder Shi stayed on the first floor, while Han Li and the other two each had a separate floor, so they could meditate and rest undisturbed.

Han Li frowned when he saw this situation.

He had been overjoyed to be able to stay here for a night. But now, with Jin Yue and Elder Shi instructing them not to leave and guarding the first floor, his recent plans seemed to be somewhat complicated.

Han Li sat cross-legged on the bed, not entering meditation, his eyes flickering as he seemed to be thinking about something.

After an unknown period, he suddenly seemed to understand something, a wry smile appearing on his face. Then he stood up and went straight to the first floor.

When his figure appeared at the staircase on the first floor, Jin Yue and Elder Shi, who had been sitting in chairs with their eyes closed, simultaneously opened their eyes, a sharp glint flashing as they looked over.

Han Li’s heart tensed.

“Fellow Daoist Han, why are you here instead of resting properly? Is there something urgent?”

The young woman didn’t speak; it was Elder Shi who spoke first.

“This junior has something to do and wishes to go outside for a while,” Han Li said earnestly.

“What is it? And you need to go out now?” Jin Yue sounded slightly displeased.

With the trial imminent, she naturally hoped Han Li would quietly meditate and recuperate in the pavilion, not being distracted by other matters.

“It’s nothing really! It’s just that this junior found the cultivation method of the guards here, condensing malevolent energy into armor, to be very unique, and I wished to seek someone out to learn some of its mysteries,” Han Li chuckled, revealing his true intention frankly.

“Malevolent energy condensing into armor! Are you talking about the Four Fiends Armor Transformation Art? This cultivation method requires a vast amount of malevolent energy to be truly effective; otherwise, with too little, it has no power. Why are you asking about this cultivation method?” Jin Yue blurted out the name of the secret art, a hint of surprise on her face.

Elder Shi, beside her, also had a somewhat astonished expression.

Han Li smiled slightly upon hearing this, and with a single hand gesture, a golden light flashed on his body, and a profound and astonishing aura suddenly emerged. A dense malevolent energy surged out from deep within his body.

He actually forced out the malevolent energy he had refined with the Vajra Art from various parts of his body again.

Upon seeing this malevolent energy, both the young woman and Elder Shi were startled simultaneously.

“You possess such dense malevolent energy, no wonder you’re so interested in the Four Fiends Armor Transformation Art. Haha, but you don’t need to inquire about this art outside. This cultivation method isn’t a particularly secret art; I, this old man, am proficient in it. I can teach you the entire set of cultivation methods. With so much malevolent energy in your body, it might actually be useful in tomorrow’s trial,” Elder Shi laughed heartily, saying what Han Li had somewhat expected.

He had thought at the time that since so many ordinary Earth Abyss guards understood this secret art, Jin Yue and Elder Shi, as elders of the clan, probably knew this cultivation method as well.

Now, it seemed his prediction was correct.

“If Senior Shi is truly willing to impart this secret art, this junior will naturally be immensely grateful. But I wonder if this cultivation method is easy to comprehend, and if one night is enough time?” Han Li suppressed his inner joy and respectfully replied.

“Hehe, as long as Fellow Daoist Han can help Lei Lan and the other two pass the trial, that will be the greatest gratitude to this old man. Rest assured, this art is not complicated. With Fellow Daoist Han’s current cultivation, one night is enough to comprehend the first few layers. As for the final layers of the divine ability, they require too much malevolent energy, so you wouldn’t be able to perform them anyway,” Elder Shi waved his hand, speaking indifferently.

Han Li naturally nodded repeatedly.

Jin Yue, hearing this, also did not object, but rather closed her eyes again with a calm expression.

Then, Elder Shi took out a bamboo tube, as thick as a finger, from his sleeve. He held it silently for a moment, then tossed it over with a flick of his hand, saying:

“I have already infused this cultivation method into it. Take it back and comprehend it well.”

“Thank you, Senior!” Han Li thanked him, took the bamboo tube, and respectfully retreated to the staircase, then returned to his dwelling without further delay.

Sitting cross-legged on the bed, Han Li placed the bamboo tube against his forehead with one hand, closed his eyes, and let his spiritual sense permeate the tube.

Immediately, green ancient characters rapidly projected into Han Li’s mind.

Han Li’s expression remained motionless throughout.

After an unknown period, Han Li suddenly removed the bamboo tube from his forehead, and with a flash, put it into his storage bracelet, then his expression relaxed.

This set of cultivation methods was indeed as Elder Shi had said; it didn’t seem too complicated. One night was enough for him to condense a layer of “Fiend Armor.”

Thinking this, Han Li placed his hands on his knees and began to comprehend the entire set of cultivation methods.

During this process, his eyes remained closed, but a faint black malevolent energy began to emerge on his body. At times, the malevolent energy churned restlessly, and at other times, it remained still. Soon, it even began to rotate violently around him, transforming into a faint black wind that made Han Li’s figure appear indistinct and gradually blurry.