Chapter 1468: Ice Evil Demon King

To be frank, this leopard-qilin beast only possessed the strength of a Nascent Soul stage cultivator. After its capture, it was rarely released to face enemies. However, since following Han Li, this beast had never lacked various rare elixirs. Over the years, its cultivation had significantly increased; it was now at the peak of Level 10 demonic beasts. One more step, and it could break through its bottleneck to become a Deity Transformation stage existence.

Normally, most beasts, upon reaching Level 8 demonic beast status, could undergo heavenly tribulation, transform into human form, and fully awaken their intelligence.

However, some mutated spirit beasts and beasts with special bloodlines were exceptions. Some would undergo transformation at later stages, while others might never be able to transform throughout their lives. Correspondingly, once these beasts advanced and transformed, their intelligence and divine abilities far surpassed those of beasts at the same level, making it even possible for them to defeat higher-level natural enemies.

The leopard-qilin beast was originally a rare beast inheriting the qilin bloodline. This particular one, by chance, had undergone further mutation. Whether it would have another chance to transform in the future was known only to Heaven.

However, it now seemed that the Ice Fiend Qi within these Ice Fiend creatures was the opportunity for this beast to break through its Deity Transformation bottleneck.

Han Li didn't need to think much; he quickly understood what the beast was about to face. He couldn't help but smile wryly. If this beast were to break through its bottleneck at any other time, it would naturally be a highly desirable event. But now, making a breakthrough suddenly in this trial was really not a good time. Who knew if the abnormal phenomena accompanying its advancement would cause significant trouble?

Although Lei Lan and the others didn't know the leopard-qilin beast's current situation, they could clearly see the white light on the small beast's body growing brighter and its aura becoming stronger. This naturally caused another surprise. At this moment, Han Li's group had already ventured deep into the Ice Fiend Land, having covered nearly half of the area by their reckoning.

After the leopard-qilin beast devoured another mid-level Ice Fiend, it lay quietly on Han Li's shoulder, eyes slightly squinted, appearing somewhat lazy. However, the white light on its body did not dim at all; instead, it circulated erratically, drawing unusual attention.

At this point, the group flew past a stretch of ice mountains. Ahead, an unusually long canyon appeared. Gusts of black wind swept through it, almost completely obscuring the sky. Yet, the canyon itself was eerily quiet. Faced with this strange sight, Han Li and the others showed no surprise.

They had encountered similar situations several times on their journey before. Without hesitation, the group controlled their escape light and flew into the canyon.

The canyon was not too wide, spanning three to four hundred zhang, but it was a thousand zhang deep. Coupled with the ceaseless black wind howling overhead, those flying through it naturally felt an inexplicable sense of oppression.

Fortunately, Han Li and the others were not ordinary individuals. They were naturally unperturbed by these strange phenomena, appearing unusually calm within their escape light. Suddenly, a low growl. Han Li's expression shifted, and he couldn't help but turn his head to look.

He saw the leopard-qilin beast, which had been lying on his shoulder, suddenly stand up with a "whoosh" and a "puch!", its eyes wide open, fur bristling, as if facing a formidable enemy. Han Li was startled!

Previously, this beast had not reacted this way when encountering so many Ice Fiend creatures. Why was it acting like this now? Could it be... In an instant, he immediately recalled something, and his escape light involuntarily paused.

Lei Lan and Qin Xiao, who followed Han Li, also stopped their advance, scanning him with questioning glances. Han Li said nothing, merely looking ahead with a faint blue light in his eyes. Before anyone could ask, he suddenly waved a single palm towards the empty space ahead.

A golden light shot out from his palm, directly striking deep into the canyon, an unknown distance away.

After a huge roar, the golden light flashed and vanished in the darkness, splitting open a section of ice at the canyon's bottom, revealing a long, narrow, massive ice crevice.

A pained shriek erupted from underground. Immediately, a large amount of black mist surged out from the ice crevice, instantly coalescing into a black fog ball ten zhang in diameter. "An Ice Fiend King! It's an Ice Fiend Demon King! There's actually such a creature here!" Bai Bi exclaimed involuntarily. Lei Lan and Qin Xiao were also immediately startled upon hearing this.

Just then, the enormous fog ball spun in mid-air. Countless ice shards lifted from the ground, encasing the fog ball in a crystalline shell from all directions. Black light burst forth!

A black ice phoenix, twenty zhang in size, emerged. Its entire body was crystalline and jet-black, and its eyes glowed with an eerie black light, staring intently at Han Li.

No, it should be said it was staring at the small beast on Han Li's shoulder, revealing an eerie expression as if it had encountered a mortal enemy.

Seeing this, the leopard-qilin beast continued its low growls, but a look of eagerness appeared in its emerald eyes. Han Li's eyebrow twitched slightly, and he pondered for a moment.

Suddenly, he reached back and grabbed the small beast from his shoulder into his hand. Then, to everyone's astonishment, he exerted force with his arm and threw the small beast high into the air above his head.

Then, Han Li flapped the wings on his back, and with a clap of thunder, transformed into a greenish-white electric arc and vanished.

The next moment, thunder rumbled above the ice phoenix's head, and Han Li eerily reappeared. But with a slight flicker of his shoulder, he reappeared in a series of afterimages, positioned beneath the ice phoenix's massive body. The ice phoenix was startled for a moment, then let out a furious shriek. One giant claw shot out, as if to crush this "ant" that it considered a serious threat. Both black giant claws were about a zhang in size, and as they descended, they immediately enveloped Han Li's figure beneath them.

But Han Li ignored the giant claws. With a slight blur, dense black and white fist shadows appeared, barraging upwards like a storm. Continuous "thump-thump" sounds rang out as black and white lights burst forth within the giant claws. A bizarre scene unfolded!

After the explosive sounds, both giant claws made a crisp sound like shattering porcelain, then splintered inch by inch, vanishing in the blink of an eye.

The black ice phoenix let out an earth-shattering shriek. It opened its mouth, and a torrent of dark, bone-chilling wind surged out, reaching Han Li's head instantly, intending to sweep him away.

But Han Li's eyes flashed, and just as the black wind reached him, he vanished with the wind.

The ice phoenix was stunned, and couldn't help but look around, trying to find its opponent.

But at this moment, a gust of wind swept across the black phoenix's back, and a figure silently materialized above it.

With a swift movement, the figure ghost-like stepped onto the ice phoenix's back. Two black and white fists flashed, striking the ice phoenix's back with a fierce wind. "Boom!" With two loud crashes, black and white halos rippled across the ice phoenix's back, encompassing its entire form.

Without any reaction, the ice phoenix's massive body, just like its giant claws before, developed cracks. Then, with a "crack!", it shattered inch by inch, turning into sparkling ice fragments that rained down.

A large mass of black mist reappeared in the void, but it was formless now, glowing with an eerie black light. With a "whoosh", a small silhouette flashed, plunging into the black mist, its four limbs wrapping around it as it greedily devoured it, excited snorts emanating from its nose. It was precisely the small beast Han Li had thrown high up earlier!

After landing, and seeing Han Li shatter the black mist's ice phoenix form, the beast naturally wouldn't give up this great tonic! It immediately pounced with delight, frantically tearing at the mist.

Since the black mist was what the so-called Ice Fiend Demon King transformed into, it was naturally unwilling to be swallowed whole by the small beast like this. Not only did fierce black tentacles extend from its body, wildly attacking, but also many black ice shards rose from the ground, flying towards it again, attempting to coalesce into another body. However, these black tentacles were shattered by a subsequent claw strike from the small beast before they even reached the leopard-qilin beast.

As for the black ice shards, with a flick of Han Li's sleeve, they were struck by countless thumb-sized silver sparks that flashed, and promptly turned into clear water, falling to the ground. From Han Li's initial strike to shattering the black ice phoenix, only a few breaths had passed.

Even though Lei Lan and the others had seen Han Li take action before, they were still greatly startled by his lightning-fast methods, and their expressions varied.

The black mist churned erratically, fluctuating in size as the small beast devoured it, but it was all in vain. The small beast clung to it with all four paws, as if rooted, not moving an inch. In an instant, nearly half of the vast black mist was consumed in one go.

Then the small beast let out a low growl from its mouth, and after its body's white light flickered wildly a few times, it leaped down from the black mist and lay motionless on the ground.

Han Li's expression subtly changed. Without a word, he flipped his hand, revealing a white jade bottle. He tossed it towards the remaining black mist, murmuring incantations.

The jade bottle spun around, its mouth inverted, and a stream of green glow sprayed out from within.

The glowing mist swirled, and the remnant mist instantly transformed into a wisp of black Qi, which was forcibly sucked into the jade bottle.

Seeing this, Bai Bi and Lei Lan, who were nearby, couldn't help but show a hint of envy on their faces.

Although this so-called Ice Fiend Demon King bore the title of "Demon King," its actual divine abilities were ordinary; a typical Deity Transformation stage being could easily handle it. However, this demonic creature was extremely rare, and the Ice Fiend Qi it embodied was exceptionally pure. It was highly useful for alchemy, artifact refining, and even cultivating certain secret techniques and divine abilities. It was far beyond what ordinary Ice Fiend creatures could offer.

But since Han Li was the one who had dispersed this demonic creature, even if they had thoughts, they dared not voice them. A moment later, the Ice Fiend Qi was completely absorbed by the jade bottle. Han Li beckoned, and the jade bottle immediately transformed into a white light, disappearing into his sleeve. At this point, his gaze shifted, falling with a hint of concern upon the small beast on the ground. The leopard-qilin beast was currently curled up, the white light on its body flickering erratically, and its eyes half-closed. Through their spiritual connection, Han Li clearly sensed the small beast's mixed feelings of excitement, fear, and anxiety.

With a soft sigh, he slowly descended from the air, landing beside the small beast and half-crouching.

He raised a hand and gently rubbed the small beast's head, then softly stroked its unusually soft fur with his palm. With a thought, he transmitted his calming presence to it.

The leopard-qilin beast extended its small pink tongue, and licked the back of Han Li's hand. Its unease finally began to subside.