Chapter 2003: Anger

A Record of a Mortal's Journey to Immortality - Volume 10: Battle of the Demonic Realm

The man, around forty years old, had a square, imposing face. Holding a thick white jade book in one hand, his expression was calm. He was none other than Venerable Azure Dragon, who had once fought against the demonic army alongside Han Li.

“You should know very well, Senior, that using force instead of my willingness won't get you what you want. Besides, don't you care about the opinions of the other seniors in the city?” Ice Phoenix stared at Venerable Azure Dragon and spoke slowly.

“If you had said that a few days ago, I might have been somewhat apprehensive. But now, I have cultivated a new divine ability that can make you willingly cooperate. As for the other fellow cultivators in Tianyuan City, you don't need to count on them. I officially joined Tianyuan City yesterday and became one of its elders. Can't they discern the relative importance between me and a cultivator who has already fallen?” By this point, Venerable Azure Dragon no longer needed to pretend or use empty words, stating directly and coldly.

Ice Phoenix's expression changed upon hearing this. After a light sigh, she suddenly raised a jade bowl and swiftly drew it in front of her.

White light flashed, and a blurry white spatial rift appeared.

Her figure blurred, and she vanished into it like a phantom.

Ice Phoenix's series of actions were as swift as lightning, so much so that Xiao Hong and the other nearby cultivators couldn't react in time.

By the time they angrily tried to make a move, the blurry white rift flickered and strangely closed up.

Seeing this, Venerable Azure Dragon's expression remained unchanged. He merely gave the jade book in his hand a light shake towards the void.

A silver light flashed, and an ancient silver character shot out from the jade book. It transformed into a small, head-sized form and instantly struck where the spatial rift had vanished.

With a 'boom', the void there, after the silver character exploded, twisted and blurred as if it were a water surface, then shattered inch by inch.

After a muffled groan, Ice Phoenix's delicate body stumbled out of the void. She barely managed to stabilize herself after staggering back a few steps, and then raised her head again.

At this moment, although her expression remained cold, her face was undeniably pale.

“Hmph, if you can escape from me, I'll say my name backward. Alright, will you obediently let these fellow cultivators seal your magic power, or shall I do it myself?” Venerable Azure Dragon swept his gaze over Ice Phoenix and said proudly.

Xiao Hong and the others instantly swished, tightly encircling Ice Phoenix from all sides.

Ice Phoenix stood still in her spot, but her heart sank.

“Oh, I wonder how Fellow Daoist Azure Dragon's name is pronounced backward. Why don't you personally demonstrate it for Han here?”

Just as Xiao Hong was about to step forward and act, a cold male voice suddenly echoed through the hall!

The woman's face immediately turned deathly pale.

At the same time, an earth-shattering 'boom' resounded.

The heavily sealed door, which had previously glowed with a faint spiritual light and was protected by strong restrictions, suddenly burst open from the outside in!

As the door splintered and flew apart, a violent aura surged in from outside!

The two Void Refinement cultivators blocking the front were struck by this terrifying aura, as if violently hit by a massive beast. Their bodies flew up like sandbags and crashed heavily against the opposite wall.

Coincidentally, this wall was also imbued with restrictions, making it as hard as fine steel.

These two human cultivators were not dual cultivators of both body and magic. With blood streaming from their heads, they collapsed to the ground without even a groan, unable to move.

That single impact had even stunned their Nascent Souls within their bodies.

The other cultivators, seeing this scene, trembled in their hearts and instantly darted away from the vicinity of the door like rabbits.

The instant Venerable Azure Dragon heard those words, his expression also changed drastically.

As for Ice Phoenix, she was overcome with a mix of surprise and joy. She quickly turned around, and her beautiful eyes gazed towards the door.

Just then, the terrifying aura outside the door receded, and a young man in a green robe calmly walked in.

Who else could it be but Han Li!

“Brother Han, you've finally returned.” Although Ice Phoenix was usually exceptionally cold, she could barely conceal her excitement at this moment, and her face flushed as she blurted out.

“Yes, though I encountered some trouble, I managed to turn danger into safety and am now well.” Han Li's gaze swept over Ice Phoenix's face, and he said with a slight smile.

“That Brother Han could escape from the Demonic Saint Ancestor is truly a joyous and congratulatory matter. I and the other fellow cultivators must certainly hold a banquet to calm Fellow Daoist Han's nerves and cleanse him of dust.” Venerable Azure Dragon was, after all, a Mid-Integration stage cultivator. After a moment of inner panic, he immediately regained his composure and said with a forced smile on his face.

Han Li, however, completely ignored Venerable Azure Dragon. Instead, he narrowed his eyes, and his gaze, as sharp as blades, swept over the few people, including Xiao Hong. He then uttered two cold "Very goods!" devoid of any emotion.

Aside from the two cultivators who had already fainted on the ground, all the Void Refinement stage cultivators, including Xiao Hong, instantly turned deathly pale.

Even those among them who had never met Han Li before naturally knew the identity of the newcomer at this moment, and the terror in their hearts was profound.

The main reason they were swayed and bribed by Venerable Azure Dragon was naturally because he had thumped his chest and guaranteed that Han Li had already perished. Otherwise, even if they were given more courage, they would never dare to interfere in such matters.

Now, Han Li, an Integration stage cultivator, was not only alive but had appeared here, perfectly cornering them. They had no room for sophistry or excuses; their fate was easily imagined.

“Senior Han, congratulations on your return to the city. My master is…”

A burly man with a seemingly rough appearance was just about to say something, cupping his fists, but Han Li's expression darkened, and he abruptly flicked his sleeve towards the man without a word.

With a loud 'bang', the burly man felt a burning sensation in his chest, and like the previous two, his body flew outwards. After crashing heavily against the wall, he spat out a mouthful of vital blood and collapsed, unable to get up.

The other startled cultivators quickly looked over, only to see that the front of the burly man's robe had already turned to dust, revealing a smooth, silvery-white battle armor beneath.

The armor appeared completely unharmed, but the next moment, a crisp cracking sound was heard!

The entire battle armor actually shattered inch by inch and fell off the burly man in a pile of fragments.

Han Li's seemingly casual strike not only heavily wounded the burly man but also destroyed his precious armor.

This outcome made the few who still held a glimmer of hope gasp in cold air. Their bodies turned cold, and they could no longer utter a single word of 'no'.

Seeing this, Venerable Azure Dragon's facial muscles involuntarily twitched twice. Recalling how Han Li had single-handedly fought several Integration stage cultivators that day, he likewise couldn't muster the courage to speak any harsh words. He could only clear his throat and say with an artificial smile:

“Brother Han, why such anger? The person you just injured is Elder Gu's beloved disciple in the city. If you strike so heavily, I'm afraid it will be difficult to explain to Elder Gu!”

“Explain? What is there to explain? If Elder Gu thinks I struck too heavily, he is welcome to come find me. It is you, however, who should give me an explanation.” Han Li sneered, then turned his head and spoke in a stern, impolite tone.

“*Cough*, this turn of events was not my intention. I originally thought Fellow Daoist Han had perished, which is why I wished to invite Fellow Daoist Ice Phoenix back. Since Brother Han is fine, I will personally visit to apologize another day.” Venerable Azure Dragon displayed a demeanor of being able to pick up and put down matters easily. He didn't try to argue verbally but instead subtly conceded.

“Apologize at my door? How could Han possibly bear such a gesture! That day, I risked going to Yitian City to assist you. Now, I've merely returned a few days late, and you've done such a thing. If Han doesn't make a statement, how can I show my face before everyone in the city!” Han Li stared at Venerable Azure Dragon, speaking each word menacingly.

“Things have come to this! What exactly does Fellow Daoist Han want? Does he intend to fight me?” Being spoken to like this by Han Li, Venerable Azure Dragon couldn't help but feel enraged and humiliated, and his tone immediately hardened.

“Since Fellow Daoist Azure Dragon has put it that way, I will respectfully comply. Since you dared to intrude so boldly, I presume you're confident in your formidable divine abilities. Han will have no choice but to test your limits a little.” Han Li chuckled lightly and, surprisingly, immediately accepted the challenge without hesitation.

Venerable Azure Dragon's expression immediately became extremely grim.

Han Li, however, had no intention of speaking further nonsense. He flicked both sleeves, and a clear ringing sound emanated from within. Following a flash of green light, countless dense green flying swords surged forth.

At the same time, golden light flashed around his body, and an even more astonishing spiritual pressure surged out from him, pressing directly towards Venerable Azure Dragon opposite.

When Xiao Hong and the others saw that the two Integration stage cultivators were actually about to fight right here, they were naturally extremely horrified. However, with the example of the previous three cultivators, they dared not simply flee. They could only brace themselves and retreat to the edges of the hall, making way.

Although they knew that a slight retreat would be meaningless in a battle between Integration stage cultivators, it at least provided them with a modicum of comfort.

Han Li seemed to pay no attention to the actions of the others. His gaze on Venerable Azure Dragon turned cold, and he was about to activate his sword art.

At this critical moment, a white rainbow suddenly flashed in from outside the door and entered the hall. After swirling like a divine dragon in the air, it steadily landed on the ground between Han Li and Venerable Azure Dragon.

Amidst the flashing white light, a figure appeared and immediately said with a chuckle:

“Are you two Fellow Daoists really planning to fight here and demolish Elder Bai's place?! Please give me some face and cease your conflict. How about letting me mediate a bit?”

The figure had a face full of wrinkles, a bald, shining head, and wore a golden kasaya. His expression was exceptionally amiable. It was none other than Zen Master Jinyue!