Chapter 1717: Thunder Peng Puppet

A Record of a Mortal's Journey to Immortality

With a flash of golden light, the Gold-Devouring Beetles charged forward, oblivious to the shimmering aura ahead. The next moment, they clashed and tore into thousands of silver flying insects. Though their numbers were only one-tenth that of the silver insects, the Gold-Devouring Beetles were several times larger. Moreover, their physical resilience and devouring capabilities far surpassed those of their opponents.

Whether the silver insects furiously clawed or bit fiercely with their fangs at the golden beetles' carapaces, they left not even a scratch. In contrast, the golden beetles tore their opponents into several pieces with just a few bites, quickly devouring them. Despite several silver insects attacking a single Gold-Devouring Beetle simultaneously, most of the silver insects vanished in a flash.

The remaining silver tide insects finally lost courage and turned to flee again, but under the shroud of the Primordial Magnetic Divine Light, they could not truly escape. They were all caught by the Gold-Devouring Beetles and devoured one by one. Just as it came down to the last silver insect, it suddenly flashed with light and exploded on its own.

With a flicker of silver light, a faint, almost invisible phantom shot out from within, attempting to quietly escape. A normal being would likely not have detected the phantom's peculiar movement. But high above, a blue light flashed in Han Li's eyes, and he unhesitatingly extended a palm downwards. As his jade-white fingers spread, a stream of five-colored cold flames shot down, swiftly enveloping the phantom that had fled more than ten zhang away, barely trapping it.

The phantom's form trembled, revealing its true shape, but it remained utterly immobile within the cold flames. It was, in fact, a faint silver shadow with a human face and an insect body, struggling desperately in the cold flames, its appearance exceptionally ferocious. Upon seeing this, Han Li's expression suddenly darkened, and he subtly bent his five fingers. Immediately, the cold flames below transformed into countless five-colored threads of light, all shooting towards the center. The immobile human-faced insect shadow was instantly enwrapped by the threads of light. As these threads tightened with force, emitting a brilliant glow, they forcibly sliced the enshrouded insect shadow into countless fragments.

Only then did Han Li relax his expression, waving a single hand. The five-colored threads of light flickered and dispersed. He then quickly gestured towards the swarm of Gold-Devouring Beetles below. Immediately, the golden beetles once again transformed into hundreds of golden flowers, shooting towards him. After a few flickers, they disappeared into his sleeve. Han Li then made a grabbing motion downwards with one hand, and the black mountain peak rapidly shrank and flew into it. Only then did he let out a soft breath.

From releasing the Gold-Devouring Beetles to them devouring all the fierce insects and then being instantly recalled, it was all done in an instant. Therefore, even though a considerable number of Gold-Devouring Beetles were released this time, the mental energy consumed was minimal, causing little impact on Han Li. Of course, at the same time he released the Gold-Devouring Beetles, he had already made a decision. If they couldn't eliminate these flying insects quickly, he would naturally recall them without hesitation, ensuring his mental energy wasn't overly depleted. Otherwise, the gains would not have outweighed the losses.

However, just as he had anticipated, the Gold-Devouring Beetles proved to be the best weapon against these fierce insects, eradicating them completely in the blink of an eye. Had he used other treasures, he wouldn't have been so confident in achieving such a clean and swift result. After glancing at the direction where the two types of fierce insects had battled, Han Li's body flashed with green light, transforming into a green rainbow that soared away. After a few flashes, he vanished into the distant horizon.

Almost simultaneously, tens of thousands of li away, at the center of the silver tide, a giant insect, whose size far exceeded that of ordinary silver insects, suddenly raised its perpetually lowered head and glanced in Han Li's direction. Beneath the faint silver light, an aged male face was clearly visible on the silver insect's head. His brows were tightly furrowed, and a hint of surprise and doubt appeared on his face. The male face gazed at Han Li's direction for a moment, then shifted its gaze to the very front of the silver tide. Several li away, a dense tide of silver flying insects was intertwined with surging green mist, seemingly locked in a stalemate.

After a moment of hesitation, the human-faced silver insect finally let out a long, sharp cry. Immediately, nearby silver insects surged madly towards the source of the cry. In a flash, a giant silver insect, continuously growing in size, coalesced with this insect at its center. After a short while, all the silver flying insects within a li radius were swept up, and a behemoth over a hundred zhang long materialized in that space. The giant insect flapped its wings, instantly generating two howling hurricanes beneath it. Its massive body then rose into the air, flying straight towards the front.

Although Han Li didn't know the exact origin of the strange nascent soul he had annihilated, he naturally understood that its appearance was no trivial matter. Therefore, upon leaving the original spot, he immediately changed direction several times while flying and used a Grand Unity Purifying Talisman to conceal himself for a period before truly feeling safe enough to continue his journey. Although only Han Li remained alone now, he believed that even if he encountered an early stage Body Integration cultivator, he would have the power to contend, thus feeling little fear. The light of his escape technique followed a newly chosen route, continuing its flight towards the other end of the Guanghan Realm.

Two months later, above a vast desert in the Guanghan Realm, where yellow sandstorms raged everywhere, flashes of light suddenly appeared. Three unusually bizarre azure chariots, accompanied by streaks of azure lightning, shot forth from the distance. After just a few flashes, these three azure chariots swiftly arrived nearby, and then suddenly came to a neat halt over a hundred zhang above the sandstorm. Only then could their true appearance be clearly seen.

The three chariots were ancient in style but adorned with exquisite patterns. As azure light flickered, azure runes of varying sizes constantly shimmered on their surfaces. At the front of each chariot were two monstrous buffalo-like beasts, covered in azure scales. Their massive eyes were blood-red, and wisps of azure smoke constantly billowed from their nostrils. After the azure smoke dispersed, the temperature in the surrounding space immediately rose, giving off an unusual scorching sensation.

On each of the three chariots stood two short figures and a tall puppet, also tightly encased in azure armor. These puppets were two zhang tall, with sabers at their waists and two shimmering silver short spears on their backs. Each held reins directly connected to the buffalo-like beasts, and their eyes, visible through their azure masks, gleamed with an eerie red light. As for the short figures on the chariots, they were also clad in armor, each carrying a massive, cold-shimmering Dharmic Wheel on their backs. Their faces were covered in gray spots, and their fangs protruded from their mouths, giving them an exceptionally hideous appearance.

Currently, the six short figures on the chariots remained here, scanning the sandstorm below from their elevated position, occasionally whispering amongst themselves. A moment later, after what seemed to be the conclusion of their discussion, one of them raised a hand, and an ancient bronze mirror suddenly appeared, which he then threw down into the sandstorm. Amidst the howling sandstorm, the bronze mirror spun, and a ring of azure light emanated from its surface, rapidly spreading in all directions. The seemingly violent sandstorm below, after being swept by the azure light, immediately calmed, revealing an exceptionally clear scene. In the image, a vast expanse of ruined palace structures clearly emerged, stretching as far as the eye could see.

Upon seeing this sight, the short foreign figures in the air immediately showed great delight. They called out to each other, ready to urge their chariots forward and descend. But just then, from another direction on the horizon, came the rumbling sound of thunder. Following a mighty clap of thunder, an azure lightning ball suddenly appeared on the horizon. Then, the lightning ball shot out, and after a few muffled thunderous roars, an azure light flashed in the sky, spanning several hundred zhang in an instant, arriving near the three chariots.

The six short foreign figures were startled, but they immediately discerned what was within the azure light. It was a gigantic bird puppet, over twenty zhang long, with a golden body, silver head, and azure feathers. From its appearance, it was precisely the equally renowned Lightning Roc! However, what was surprising was that the puppet was heavily scarred, most of its feathers were missing, and one of its two claws was gone. Even so, the dazzling layer of azure lightning arcs on its surface still struck fear into onlookers, daring no one to underestimate it in the slightest. Naturally, the six short foreign figures were also greatly alarmed.

Immediately, one of them let out a long cry, and the three chariots whistled, transforming into three streaks of azure light that flew directly towards the enormous puppet. Before truly engaging with the Lightning Roc, the three tall azure-armored puppets simultaneously flicked the reins in their hands. The six buffalo-like monsters simultaneously let out a roar, opening their mouths wide and spewing forth streams of azure flames, which transformed into a rolling sea of fire.

Almost at the same time, the six short foreign figures let out a low cry, and with a shake of their heads, the silver Dharmic Wheels on their backs simultaneously shot forth. Propelled by their magic arts, these treasures suddenly expanded dramatically, transforming into six dazzling full moons that shot directly towards the Lightning Roc puppet from the sky, seemingly indestructible.

Seeing this, the Lightning Roc puppet's silver eyes flashed, and the azure arcs on its body brightened, expanding by more than double. Its only intact giant claw then lashed out into the air. A phantom of a gigantic azure claw, large enough to blot out the sky, suddenly appeared high above and swept towards the three bronze chariots. The puppet completely ignored the silver full moons descending upon it and the surging sea of azure flames. This startled the six short foreign figures, making them somewhat flustered.

The six had always been accustomed to working together, their coordination exceptionally skilled. Amidst the startled and enraged cry of one of them, they hastily changed their magic arts and repeatedly pointed into the air. Immediately, the six full moons hummed and converged beneath the azure giant claw, instantly merging into a colossal disk, over ten zhang in diameter, which struck upwards without showing any weakness.

With a thunderous 'boom'! The phantom giant claw and the disk collided, erupting in dazzling flashes of azure and silver light. At this moment, the azure flames swept over, engulfing the Lightning Roc puppet and intertwining with its protective lightning arcs, from which came constant low rumbling sounds of thunder.