Chapter 1642: Human-faced Vulture

As for Xianxian, she remained enveloped in a golden light, though now eight palm-sized bronze mirrors were circling her body, flying up and down outside the light.

The backs of these mirrors featured ancient patterns, while their surfaces gleamed with a chilling light, their purpose unknown.

Besides the treasures they had revealed, both individuals held other objects in their hands that were not yet displayed.

It was clear they were aware of the dangers within the mist and had prepared thoroughly.

Even Han Li, with one hand tucked into his sleeve, held several green lightning orbs, ready to unleash an attack if he encountered a powerful enemy.

The surrounding mist was a hazy white, distinctly different from ordinary demonic energy, yet significantly less dangerous than the deep black mist below.

At least there was no immediate concern of being demonized.

However, Han Li's spiritual vision was severely restricted here, with a range of only half a mile.

Thus, despite his calm demeanor, Han Li remained cautious. While scanning the surroundings, his spiritual sense enveloped an area of several tens of feet to prevent any stealthy demonic beasts from approaching undetected.

Since entering the thin mist, the trio had instinctively ceased talking, walking silently with their heads down.

For them, the best outcome was to pass through this area without disturbing any potentially lurking demonic beasts.

After flying for half an hour, the faint mist still enveloped the area ahead, with no sign of them exiting soon.

Han Li remained composed.

Xianxian, however, showed a hint of anxiety, and Yue Zong’s expression turned grim. He glanced at the strange insect in his box with increasing frequency.

After Han Li had flown a bit further, sudden, sharp chirping sounds emanated from behind them.

He paused, his escape light momentarily halting as he turned to look back.

The insect box in Yue Zong’s hand was now emitting a dazzling silver light. The strange insect had suddenly raised its upper body, its head shaking wildly, and letting out peculiar chirps.

Not only were the silver spots on the insect’s surface gleaming brightly, but the ghost-face image imprinted on its head had also turned a vivid blood-red, as if dripping with fresh blood.

"Not good!" Yue Zong exclaimed, his face changing drastically. "High-level demons have appeared within ten miles and are flying towards us at an extremely fast speed!"

"Tell me the direction," Han Li asked calmly, displaying extraordinary composure.

"From the southwest… the number… altogether five!" Yue Zong stammered after listening to a few more chirps from the insect.

"Five? That’s a bit tricky. I wonder what kind of high-level demons they are," Han Li muttered, his gaze sweeping towards the southwest.

Suddenly, he flicked his sleeve, and after a clear hum, seventy-two small green swords shot out. He then chanted an incantation, quickly pointing at the flying swords.

The small swords trembled and then eerily vanished.

Following this, green lotus flowers appeared in the surrounding void. With a blur, one became two, two became four, and four became eight.

Points of green light began to shimmer in the high sky!

As these green lotuses spun, their forms rapidly expanded to about ten feet in size. They then linked together to form a layered green light barrier, completely obscuring the nearby sky.

An area of one hundred feet in radius was enveloped by the light barrier.

This was Han Li's great divine ability, the Spring Dawn Sword Formation!

Only with this sword formation could Han Li be confident in trapping several high-level demonic beasts at once.

Otherwise, even if he had confidence in annihilating these demonic beasts, he couldn’t guarantee the safety of the Crystal Clan woman or Yue Zong. Should there be any oversight, allowing one or two high-level demonic beasts to slip through, the two would face dire consequences.

Since both were indispensable for this journey, Han Li naturally employed the most secure method.

"A sword formation!"

Xianxian, with her remarkable knowledge, was stunned at first glance, then her face lit up with joy.

Yue Zong also showed a look of pleasant surprise, clearly aware of the sword formation’s immense power.

Han Li, expressionless, waved his sleeve towards the sky.

After a swath of green mist rolled out, the light barrier in the sky blurred slightly, then silently became transparent, eventually vanishing as if the anomaly had never existed.

Upon witnessing the miraculous nature of the Spring Dawn Sword Formation, Xianxian and Yue Zong immediately gained more confidence in Han Li.

They exchanged glances, then instinctively moved closer to Han Li, hovering behind him.

Han Li did not look back, but he could clearly sense that they were still about twenty feet away, wisely keeping a respectful distance.

Just then, a few grating "gugu" cries suddenly came from the direction Han Li had been watching.

Upon hearing them, Han Li felt a surge of irritation, and his focus immediately scattered.

He was startled, but thankfully, the Grand Evolution Arts automatically flowed within him the next moment. A refreshing sensation washed over his mind, and his concentration returned to normal.

Yue Zong and Xianxian, who were behind him, reacted differently to the cries.

Yue Zong’s eyes became unusually unfocused, and an unusual flush appeared on his face. His hands instinctively clenched and unclenched, as if he were disoriented.

Xianxian, however, merely had a flash of green light across her face before she appeared completely unfazed.

Nonetheless, she was remarkably astute. Upon noticing the unusual nature of the cries, she glanced at Yue Zong's face, her expression darkening. After a brief deliberation, she suddenly raised a single hand without a word.

A talisman, which she had already concealed in her palm, shot out. It flashed and instantly transformed into a swirling mass of white, frigid air.

"Ah!"

Yue Zong was startled. His reaction was significantly slower than usual due to his compromised state of mind, and Xianxian's action was unexpected.

He was instantly enveloped by the frigid air.

As a result, Yue Zong felt an icy chill spread from his head to his feet. The earlier surge of irritation vanished without a trace.

"Thank you for your assistance, Immortal Maiden!" Yue Zong, having recovered, naturally understood his strange condition moments before. He immediately cupped his fist and thanked the Crystal Clan woman.

"It's nothing. Brother Yue should be more careful," Xianxian smiled sweetly, saying little more.

However, Yue Zong felt a bit strange. His cultivation was far superior to that of Immortal Maiden Xian, yet he had been unknowingly afflicted. How was she unharmed? Did she carry some rare treasure capable of calming the soul and purifying the mind?

Ignoring Yue Zong's inner musings, the thin mist in the southwest churned violently, and several black shadows, about ten feet in size, appeared menacingly.

After just a few flashes, they suddenly burst out of the mist amidst their strange cries, revealing their true forms to the trio.

They were bald, vulture-like demonic birds, but their faces were those of women. Where eyes should have been, there were four emerald green eyes arranged vertically.

This made what would have been a rather delicate bald female face appear exceptionally ferocious.

Among the five demonic birds, four had black and white feathers and seemed to be at the early Void Refinement stage. The remaining one had pure white feathers and the strongest aura, having already reached the late Void Refinement stage.

"Roar! So it's Spirit Realm humans! Excellent! The last time I ate a Spirit Realm human was hundreds of years ago!" The most powerful demonic bird, upon clearly seeing Han Li and the others, uttered incoherent human speech, its voice exceptionally rough and unpleasant.

Han Li showed no unusual expression at her words, simply standing still and coldly staring at the leading demonic bird without speaking.

However, this late Void Refinement demonic bird seemed highly intelligent. She did not immediately rush forward with her four subordinates. Instead, she hovered in the distance, gently flapping her wings, her four peculiar demonic eyes constantly scanning Han Li and the others, assessing their respective strengths.

Seeing this, Han Li's brow furrowed slightly, then lifted. He suddenly raised a single hand.

Five orbs shot out, transforming into fist-sized green lights with a flicker. After a few strange flashes, they instantly appeared before the five demonic birds.

The demonic birds were somewhat surprised, but at a cry from the leading bird, they scattered to the sides, not intending to meet the attack head-on, easily dodging them.

After all, both demonic and spiritual birds generally possess far greater movement and escape speed than land beasts.

But upon seeing this, Han Li’s lips curled into a cold smile. He suddenly formed a hand seal.

After the five green lights missed their targets, their direction changed. They suddenly shot simultaneously towards the empty space between the five demonic birds.

As a result, with several "rumbling" sounds, the five masses of green light simultaneously exploded upon impact.

Thunder roared, and countless green electric arcs flashed with an eerie light, instantly spreading over an area of an acre, enveloping the unprepared demonic birds in their power.

The electric arcs mercilessly struck the five demonic birds, and the flashing green lightning engulfed them all.

Yue Zong, behind Han Li, showed a look of great joy, his mouth moving as if to say something.

But at that moment, a cry suddenly emanated from within the lightning, followed by several "puffs," as five milky-white beams of light—four thin and one thick—shot out from the lightning.

These light beams wildly swept through the lightning, and the seemingly powerful green lightning was instantly extinguished.

Moments later, the thunder ceased, and the five demonic birds burst out from the remnants of green light. After a quick circle, they all let out grating cries.

No wonder these demonic birds were so enraged.

At this moment, except for the leading demonic bird, which looked relatively better with only one wing slightly scorched, the others were covered in scars and emitted a burnt smell.

Although they had blocked the previous attack, Han Li’s lightning orbs were equivalent to the full power of a Void Refinement-level entity. With several exploding simultaneously and catching them off guard, it was impossible for them to be completely unharmed.

Immediately, the four scorched demonic birds, their faces filled with fury, let out several cries and fiercely lunged at Han Li.

They wished to tear Han Li, the perpetrator, into countless fragments and swallow him whole in the next instant.