Chapter 1471: Blood Puppet

A Record of a Mortal's Journey to Immortality

Han Li watched the colossal demon approach, his expression utterly calm. He intended to unleash the Great Metal Sword Formation without hesitation the moment it stepped into range, eliminating both demons at once.

Just then, a red light flashed on the distant horizon, accompanied by a sharp whistle.

Three clusters of bloody light then emerged from the darkness, transforming into three streaks of crimson rainbow that shot towards them.

Upon seeing this, the dwarf's face paled. He tapped the wooden demon's head with his staff again, then turned to gaze at the blood-red streaks, a look of uncertainty and alarm on his face. With a few "thump-thump" sounds, the Jade Wood Demon's steps faltered, and it stopped precisely at the edge of the Great Metal Sword Formation.

Han Li frowned, but seeing the new development, he disregarded it and looked towards the distant sky. Bai Bi and the other two also grew uneasy, unsure what new demonic creatures were appearing.

The three blood-red streaks moved with strange speed, reaching the nearby sky like lightning. Their light then converged, revealing three small, blood-red figures, about a foot tall.

Each figure had delicate, clear features, making their age impossible to discern. They wore unique red battle armor, densely covered with lead-colored runes, and their skin was a vibrant, almost dripping red, exuding a nauseatingly bloody scent.

Three pairs of emotionless eyes simultaneously swept downwards, finally settling on Han Li with an unusual glint.

Han Li's pupils contracted, feeling a chilling sensation surge from his back and spread throughout his body, as if he had been fixated by three venomous snakes. "Blood Puppets! They are clones of Lord Earthblood!" The dwarf's face immediately turned pale as he recognized the figures, his eyes filled with awe. "Blood Puppets? Earthblood?" Han Li's thoughts raced, but he had no recollection of these names, which he found somewhat peculiar.

The three small figures scrutinized Han Li for a moment. Suddenly, a fierce glint flashed in their eyes. They simultaneously opened their mouths, and three pillars of bloody light shot out, reaching Han Li in a flash.

Although Han Li had been on guard, he was still greatly alarmed and angered by the sudden attack, which had shown no prior indication.

Without hesitation, he raised an arm, and a grayish mist appeared before him. At the same time, black energy billowed from his body, and an ancient, dark battle armor solidified on him. "Thud," "thud," "thud"—three muffled thuds sounded.

He didn't know what kind of divine ability these three blood pillars were, but his Primordial Magnetic Divine Light, which countered the five elements, could only make the light pillars flicker a few times before being pierced through, striking the malevolent armor that had appeared on Han Li.

After a tremor of bloody light, the three blood pillars weakened slightly, then instantly opened three bowl-sized holes in the malevolent armor, striking Han Li squarely in the chest.

Lei Lan and the others nearby turned ashen, but the next scene left them dumbfounded.

A thunderous roar suddenly erupted from Han Li's chest. With a loud boom, the bloody light pillars intertwined with a swath of golden and silver electric arcs, then vanished without a trace. This attack had actually been blocked by Han Li's Thunder Robe.

Even so, Han Li was greatly startled. His face abruptly darkened. After a cold snort, the malevolent armor, which had been pierced with three large holes, emitted wisps of black energy and instantly restored itself. Had this armor not dispersed the attack power of the three blood pillars, the Thunder Robe likely wouldn't have been able to withstand them.

Seeing their attack fail, the three Blood Puppets showed no expression. A bloody light flashed behind them, and pairs of blood-red wings appeared. With a single flap, the figures vanished into thin air.

Han Li's heart tightened. Before he could react, the surrounding space rippled, and the three small figures reappeared in a flash.

They shook their hands, and two blood-red long blades appeared in each. They slashed at Han Li through the air, and three streaks of bloody blade energy, like crimson crescent moons, flew towards him. They completely ignored Lei Lan and the others nearby.

These Blood Puppets contained a trace of blood-sensing divine consciousness, naturally allowing them to discern that only Han Li posed a threat. Once he was eliminated, the others would be easy targets. Han Li let out an enraged roar, his dual wings fluttering behind him, and he instantly vanished amidst a clap of thunder.

The next moment, a bluish-white electric arc flashed high in the air, over twenty yards from his original position, and Han Li's figure reappeared.

However, almost simultaneously, bloody light flashed in three directions, and the three small figures appeared alongside him. They performed the same action, but their six blood blades transformed into countless streaks of bloody light, directly engulfing Han Li.

Han Li's face was as grim as water. A golden light flashed across his body, and a layer of shimmering golden scales appeared on his skin. At the same time, he let out a loud shout, and his black and white palms struck out, blurring into a chaotic swirl of intertwined black and white palm shadows.

"Clang, clang"—several sharp, metallic clangs resounded. As the six blood blades struck the palm shadows, an irresistible force surged forth, causing them to emit a mournful wail and shatter. The three puppets were also violently pushed back by the immense force from their weapons, sent flying several yards away.

After their bodies flickered erratically with bloody light, the three Blood Puppets finally regained their balance. When they looked up again, they were startled. The space before them was empty; Han Li was gone. In that instant, Han Li had teleported away once more, returning to the spirit carriage. Seeing that the three small figures had finally located him by looking down, a cold smile appeared on Han Li's face. He quickly formed hand seals and began to chant.

A clear hum echoed loudly in the nearby void, and golden threads began to appear, flickering into existence from all directions, converging to surround the three Blood Puppets in the center.

It was Han Li activating the Great Metal Sword Formation, which he had long ago set up in ambush.

The power of the sword formation had naturally increased significantly with Han Li's great progress in cultivation. The previously slow sword threads instantly surged towards the center upon appearance. While still not truly swift, their speed was considerably faster than before.

Seeing this, the three Blood Puppets' eyes flickered with bloody light. Their blood-red wings then moved, and they mysteriously vanished into the air.

It seemed they intended to use a secret technique to escape directly from the sword formation. But given the profound mystery of the Great Metal Sword Formation, how could it let them escape so easily? A humming sound emanated from three points in the void at the edge of the sword formation, and hundreds of golden threads simultaneously flashed and cut into the void.

Immediately, bloody light appeared, and the three small figures were forced to reveal themselves. As the golden threads converged, the three puppets were instantly sliced into countless fragments, appearing as if they had been utterly destroyed.

Lei Lan and the others, as well as the distant dwarf, had long been gaping in astonishment.

However, the dwarf quickly came to his senses. Using some unknown method, the wooden demon beneath him slowly retreated backward, the entire process completely silent.

As a native of the Abyss, he knew full well the terrifying power of the Blood Puppets. If even the three of them combined couldn't contend with the owner of the small beast before him, how could he dare to covet the Leopard-Scale Beast any longer? But just then, a bizarre scene unfolded within the sword formation.

The Blood Puppet fragments, which looked like sawdust, suddenly transformed into droplets of blood amidst a flash of bloody light. They then converged on their own, merging into three head-sized blood spheres that exuded a thick, bloody stench.

The blood spheres then spun, and shapes resembling limbs, heads, and bodies began to appear on their surfaces, indicating that the three Blood Puppets were about to fully restore themselves.

Witnessing this, Han Li was not surprised; instead, a strange expression appeared on his face. He lightly pointed into the sword formation.

With a "whoosh," a silver firebird flashed out from the void within the sword formation. But it immediately "poofed" and burst apart. Three bowl-sized silver flames appeared near the three blood spheres in a flash. After a few muffled thuds, the silver flames struck the blood spheres solidly.

As the silver flames blazed, they enveloped the blood spheres. Upon contact with the silver flames, the surfaces immediately emitted a burnt smell, and shrill screams emanated from within. The three silver flames then crashed around within the sword formation like headless flies. Han Li watched all of this with an expressionless face, secretly astonished.

He knew the power of his Spirit-Devouring Heavenly Fire best; against enemies, even a trace would instantly turn them to ash. Yet, these three Blood Puppets were somehow still holding on.

However, the Spirit-Devouring Heavenly Fire was truly overbearing. Before long, the screams from the three blood spheres gradually subsided and vanished without a trace. The blood spheres ultimately turned to ash within the silver flames. This time, the three Blood Puppets truly ceased to exist.

Han Li waved his hand from a distance, and the three silver flames instantly merged into one, reforming into a silver firebird that flew back and disappeared into his sleeve. Immediately, however, his expression shifted as if he sensed something, and he suddenly turned his head to look in another direction.

He saw that the colossal Jade Wood Demon had, at some unknown point, retreated hundreds of yards away. The dwarf, seeing Han Li's gaze fall upon him, felt his heart sink. Without thinking, he abruptly let out a whistle.

The previously silent wooden demon suddenly flashed with green light all over, then bolted wildly back the way it had come, without any further attempts at concealment. Given the demon's enormous size, it vanished into the darkness in just a few strides. "Trying to run!" Han Li muttered to himself. He opened his mouth, and a small cauldron, enveloped in green light, shot out. It was the Profound Heavenly Cauldron! But at that very moment, a weak beast roar suddenly came from beneath the spirit carriage.

Hearing this, Han Li's heart brightened. He glanced briefly in the direction the wooden demon had disappeared, then after a slight hesitation, he opened his mouth and reabsorbed the small cauldron. His figure then blurred slightly and he strangely vanished from the spirit carriage. Moments later, he reappeared like a phantom on the ground below, standing beside the white light. The fragrance emanating from the white light was now incredibly faint.

Through the subtle mental connection, Han Li knew that the Leopard-Scale Beast was about to complete its advancement, and it would be best to lend it a final helping hand.

He took a deep breath, extended a hand, and plunged it into the white light, placing it on the small beast's body within. Simultaneously, a surge of pure spiritual energy poured into the beast. Han Li's body glowed with vibrant green light, and his expression grew solemn.

On the spirit carriage, Lei Lan and Bai Bi, along with the third person, simultaneously let out long breaths. After exchanging glances, their expressions visibly relaxed.