Chapter 1858: The Challenge from the Lao Family

**Volume Ten: War in the Demon Realm**

Old Ancestor Long withdrew his palm, a hint of surprise on his face as he looked at the green arm that had suddenly emerged from the void.

As space rippled, a figure with emerald-green skin flickered out of the void. It stood approximately two *zhang* tall, its body shimmering with purple light. Its face was remarkably similar to Han Li's, and green light swirled in its eyes.

Han Li gestured with one hand, and the green figure flickered, strangely appearing by his side.

"Your second avatar, excellent," Old Ancestor Long said, narrowing his eyes. "Fellow Daoist Han, you certainly haven't disappointed me. Now, take my third move!" He sneered, then raised an arm and surprisingly lunged to grab Han Li again.

Although the movement seemed identical to before, its momentum was completely different from the previous two times. Just as the golden arm extended halfway, a rumbling hum emanated from the nearby void, and countless five-colored specks of light suddenly appeared on the Myriad Spirit Platform.

The next moment, these light specks, transformed from spiritual qi, frantically converged towards Old Ancestor Long's arm, flickering as they poured into it. The arm, covered in golden dragon scales, instantly became crystal clear and bright, emitting a layer of five-colored spiritual light. It gradually became dazzling, like a blazing sun, impossible to look at directly. At the same time, an incredibly powerful and unfamiliar spiritual pressure also emanated from the arm.

This arm, radiating five-colored light, surprisingly seemed to become an independent entity at that moment. Its aura was even several times stronger than Old Ancestor Long himself, a late-stage Integration cultivator.

Upon seeing the astonishing momentum of his opponent's grab, Han Li's expression finally changed slightly. As the palm in front of the right arm distorted and blurred, about to fully descend, Han Li's thoughts raced. He suddenly cupped his hands slightly and spoke with a light chuckle:

"Fellow Daoist, your magical power is extraordinary. I admit my inferiority. There's no need for me to take your third move; I concede this match."

No sooner had he finished speaking, Han Li didn't wait for Old Ancestor Long opposite him to show a surprised expression, or for his outstretched arm to even slightly pause or react. His body flashed with green light, and he transformed into a green rainbow, shooting directly out of the light barrier. With a flash, the thick barrier was torn open by the green rainbow as if it were mere paper!

Han Li immediately shot outside the Myriad Spirit Platform, and his escape light circled before he landed among a group of cultivators from the Gu family. As for the strange green figure, it truly followed him like a shadow, and with a flicker of its form, landed behind him. The surrounding Gu family cultivators naturally instinctively retreated a few steps, continuously observing him with curious glances.

Han Li, however, glanced at it indifferently and performed a hand seal with one hand. Purple light flashed on the green figure's body, and its form surprisingly rapidly shrank amidst the flickering spiritual light, eventually transforming into a ball of purple light that instantly vanished into Han Li's sleeve.

Fairy Xiaofeng and Elder Xiao, who were nearby, watched Han Li's actions with rather strange and complex expressions. It was no wonder these two had such expressions. A newly advanced early-stage Integration cultivator dared to directly confront a late-stage cultivator and displayed divine abilities no less than those of a mid-stage cultivator. Yet, at the very moment of the agreed last move, he suddenly jumped down and conceded. No matter how one looked at it, it was truly a bit abnormal.

However, awed by the astonishing strength Han Li had just displayed, they naturally dared not ask anything and could only exchange a bitter smile. Although they felt greatly helpless inwardly, the slightest worry they originally had had now completely vanished. In their eyes, the strength Han Li had just revealed was no less than that of their Ye family's Grand Elder, "Fairy Tianli," and vaguely seemed even superior. This way, maintaining the Gu family's position among the five great True Spirit families would absolutely be no problem.

"Heh heh, interesting!" Old Ancestor Long in the light barrier finally reacted. He looked at Han Li outside the barrier and murmured to himself, not angry but rather smiling. Following that, five-colored spiritual light flowed on his arm, and spiritual qi once again surged out from it, vanishing into the void. At the same time, the golden dragon scales on his body also began to recede little by little, undoing his semi-demonic transformation.

"Let's abandon this plan for now!" the man wearing the bronze mask among the Feng family members suddenly said indifferently.

"Brother, what do you mean by that?" the richly dressed man asked with a frown. "Even if this person isn't an ordinary early-stage Integration cultivator, at most he's about as strong as that woman Tianli. If you and I join forces, would we still be afraid of him?"

"Hmph, similar to Tianli?" the masked man replied coldly, his eyes flashing. "Second Brother, I think you should wipe your eyes and look more carefully. Putting other things aside, this person's second avatar is no small matter. That ability to directly send Old Monster Long's attack flying with a single punch? At least, you and I couldn't do it. Furthermore, this person showed no fear at all when facing Old Monster Long. He definitely has more powerful techniques he hasn't revealed. Even if you and I join forces, we would likely find it very difficult to easily defeat him. I don't want the Feng family to offend someone with such unfathomable strength."

"But what about the Lao family?" the richly dressed man still hesitated greatly. "We've already received benefits from them."

"What we agreed to initially," the masked man replied grimly, "was merely to do our best to weaken Fairy Tianli's strength. Since the Gu family isn't sending that woman now but has replaced her with someone else, isn't it perfectly normal for us to change our minds? At worst, we'll return what we received. Does the Lao family dare to say anything more? Later, when we truly go on stage to compete with him, we only need to use ordinary methods."

"Since Elder Brother has made a decision," the richly dressed man sighed and agreed, "then this younger brother will follow suit. It's just a bit of a pity; I originally thought this time we could push the Gu family out of the five great families. It seems we'll have to wait for the next time!" His tone, however, sounded quite unwilling.

"The Demonic Tribulation will descend soon," the masked man said with a chuckle, surprisingly open-minded. "By the next True Spirit Grand Ceremony, who knows how many families will have vanished. Why should you and I think too far ahead?"

This time, the richly dressed man could only give a bitter smile and say no more.

At this moment, a group of cultivators from the Lao family nearby, with several leading elders surrounding their only early-stage Integration cultivator, were whispering and arguing about something within a barrier. Although their conversation couldn't be heard, it was clear that everyone's expressions were extremely grim. As for the Lao family's Integration cultivator, a middle-aged scholar in white robes, he also frowned deeply. Clearly, the strength Han Li had just displayed on the Myriad Spirit Platform had caused this family, the one most likely to displace the Gu family and enter the ranks of the five great families, to suddenly feel a bit flustered.

"Next," Old Ancestor Long announced calmly from the stage, "the Feng family and the Gu family, who each lost a match, will compete for fourth and fifth place. Fellow Daoist Han, Fellow Daoist Feng, do you wish to come on stage and spar?"

Upon hearing this, the two Integration cultivators of the Feng family immediately swept their gazes towards the Gu family's side. Fairy Xiaofeng and Elder Xiao also couldn't help but turn their heads to look at Han Li.

"No need to compete; I concede this round!" Han Li said with a slight curve of his lips, unexpectedly conceding without hesitation, much to everyone else's surprise.

A commotion immediately broke out among the surrounding crowd.

"Senior Han, this round..." Fairy Xiaofeng immediately felt restless and quickly inquired.

"The Feng family also has two Integration cultivators, and they are skilled in joint techniques," Han Li said indifferently, glancing at the woman. "I don't have much confidence in defeating them. Naturally, I should conserve my strength and save it for the upcoming challenges. As long as the Gu family can remain among the five great families, I presume it won't be considered a breach of our agreement, Fellow Daoist."

"Senior, of course, you haven't breached the agreement," Fairy Xiaofeng said, her expression changing twice before she finally nodded, acknowledging Han Li's intention. "It's just that for every rank higher among the five great families, the benefits received greatly increase. It is I, your junior, who was a bit greedy."

At this moment, Old Ancestor Long on the stage naturally announced the result, and then called upon the remaining three families for another round of draws and matchups. This time, the Long family drew a bye.

The Ye family and the Lin family competed first. The Ye family's representative was naturally the feather-robed maiden, while the Lin family's representative was the long-haired man wearing a silver circlet. The two seemed to have a long-standing grievance, thus, as soon as they reached the stage, they immediately unleashed their divine abilities one after another. For a time, they fought fiercely, causing the sky and earth to dim. Just from the momentum, it seemed even more astonishing than Old Ancestor Long and Han Li's exchange.

Although both were mid-stage Integration cultivators, the feather-robed maiden's strength was clearly a notch higher than the long-haired man's. Even though the man continuously unleashed several newly cultivated divine abilities, he was ultimately forced out of the light barrier by the maiden and could only return to his seat, conceding with a grim face.

However, next, when the Ye family faced the Long family, the feather-robed maiden knew she was no match for Old Ancestor Long and straightforwardly conceded. As for the Feng family, they also wisely chose not to challenge the top three families.

Thus, the ranking of the five great families was almost identical to the previous session, with the Gu family still at the last position. However, due to the strength Han Li had just displayed, the Gu family cultivators did not show much worry on their faces.

But when Old Ancestor Long announced that open challenges for other families would begin, the white-robed scholar from the Lao family, ranked just below the Gu family, slowly stood up and said in a deep voice:

"I, Lao Ai, representing the Lao family, wish to challenge the Ye family. I hope Fellow Daoist Han would grant me some guidance!"

No sooner had he finished speaking, white light flashed on the scholar's body, and he appeared inside the light barrier, looking as if he was calmly waiting for Han Li to step onto the stage.

Seeing this situation, Han Li smiled faintly. Without speaking, and after a similar flash of green light, he appeared opposite the scholar.

Lao Ai's expression was solemn. After uttering the word "Please," he flipped his hands. In one hand, a black ruler suddenly appeared. In his other hand, golden light flashed, and a brilliant golden brush emerged, several feet long, its tip emitting extremely vibrant five-colored spiritual light.

The ruler waved slightly, and under a flash of spiritual light, dozens of unknown black spiritual flowers instantly appeared in front of him, completely shielding his body. As for the golden brush in his other hand, under continuous strokes in the void, huge five-colored demonic butterflies appeared one by one out of thin air.

Copyright belongs to the original author, Wang Yu. *A Record of a Mortal's Journey to Immortality* only represents the author's personal views and has no relation to the stance of this website.