Chapter 2430: Ancient Tree Ancestral Spirit

The Green Spirit tribesmen were instantly reduced to ashes amidst a deafening roar. In the blink of an eye, nearly a thousand aliens were reduced to just a few dozen.

Seeing this, the remaining Green Spirit tribesmen were naturally terrified, realizing that the enemies on the giant ark were far beyond their ability to handle. They immediately turned and fled in a desperate rush.

Han Li watched the scene dispassionately, without any intention of giving chase. Just as he was about to turn and re-enter the ark's cabin, a sudden whoosh sounded from the horizon behind him, and three dazzling streaks of light shot towards them like meteors from afar.

Han Li narrowed his eyes, remaining still on the ark as he gazed into the distance.

Moments later, the three streaks of light converged, revealing three powerful Green Spirit cultivators: one woman and two men. Upon seeing the numerous casualties among their tribe's elite, all three were filled with a mix of shock and rage. Although they had anticipated the opponent's immense power and knew their tribesmen couldn't stop them, the extent of the casualties, even with the assistance of the Green Sea's power, was still far beyond their expectations. After all, only a short period, about the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, had passed between their brief discussion and their swift pursuit.

When the three Green Spirit cultivators focused their gaze on Han Li, they exchanged surprised glances, each seeing a hint of dismay in the others' eyes.

"A Grand Ascension cultivator! It's truly a human Grand Ascension cultivator!"

Han Li, for his part, merely gave the trio a casual glance, instantly recognizing them as mid to late Integration-stage cultivators, and thus not worth his concern.

"A human Grand Ascension cultivator has actually appeared," one of the Green Spirit cultivators began, taking a deep breath and speaking with a hint of indignation. "May I know your esteemed name, Senior? With your cultivation, don't you think it's somewhat beneath you to be so harsh on mere juniors?"

"Bullying the small?" Han Li replied noncommittally. "They dared to obstruct my path. If I didn't deal with a few, I'd probably be laughed at by other fellow cultivators of my rank. As for my name, you have no need to know it."

"Are you from the outside world?" the burly man asked, his expression changing as he picked up on something in Han Li's words.

"What does it matter if I am, or if I am not?" Han Li said with an air of indifference.

"If you truly are from the outside world," the slender-faced man said, a cold glint in his eyes, "then for the sake of the myriad races in the Small Spirit Realm, the three of us may have no choice but to ensure you remain in the Green Sea for now."

"Just three Integration-stage cultivators," Han Li chuckled, a faint smile playing on his lips. "And you dare utter such grand boasts in my presence? Is it because of that ancient tree ancestral spirit you can possess?"

"You know about the Ancient Tree Ancestral Spirit," the burly man said thoughtfully, his pupils contracting. "It seems you didn't stumble into this realm by accident." Han Li merely chuckled, offering no further reply.

"Fellow Daoists," the Green Spirit woman stated, a sharp glint in her eyes, "it seems words are useless. We must summon the ancestral spirits to possess us. For the future of our clan, we must capture this individual, no matter the cost. And with three against one, our chances of success are clearly higher."

The other two men nodded in agreement. Based on their past battle records, the three held an almost superstitious belief in the power of the Ancient Tree Ancestral Spirit. They were quite confident, even when facing a Grand Ascension existence, a cultivation level never before seen in the Small Spirit Realm.

The trio then simultaneously raised their left arms. The long sleeves covering them ripped apart, revealing vivid, lifelike ancient tree markings on each of their forearms. The three ancient tree markings were distinct: one depicted a lush, verdant tree with dense, flourishing foliage; another showed a tall, straight tree, glowing with silver light, its branches sharp as swords. The third tree was a riot of color, incredibly brilliant, with its branches adorned by strange, variegated flowers of all sizes.

"Ancestral Spirits, manifest!"

With their other hands, the three Green Spirit cultivators simultaneously formed a hand seal and let out a low cry. Immediately, misty green light swirled around their arms, and a foot-tall ethereal tree illusion materialized from each. The elemental energy in the dense forest below suddenly stirred. Countless green tendrils shot out from various trees, surging like a tide towards the ethereal tree illusions on the Green Spirit cultivators' arms. In a flash, the green light around the three ethereal trees pulsed furiously, expanding rapidly in rings until they became towering colossal trees, over a hundred zhang tall.

The three Green Spirit cultivators vanished from their original positions.

On the main trunks of the three colossal trees, after a brief distortion, a face appeared on each. Upon closer inspection, the features on the three faces were unmistakably those of the two men and one woman from the Green Spirit tribe who had vanished.

"So these are the Ancient Tree Ancestral Spirits? Fascinating, truly fascinating. And such pure wood spiritual energy!"

Han Li sensed the powerful auras emanating from the three colossal trees, and a hint of surprise flickered across his face.

At this point, the three colossal trees blurred and twisted, then transformed into three giants, each with a distinct appearance. One giant had long, green, shoulder-length hair, wore green wooden armor, and had empty hands. Another giant was somewhat slender, with a pair of brilliant, glowing wings on its back and a misty green greatsword in its hand. The third, and largest, giant was clad in a silver armored cloak covered with barbs, and wielded a silver great hammer in each hand.

As soon as the three giants fully materialized, the cloaked giant immediately spoke with a humming voice: "If you are willing to surrender now, it's not too late. We merely wish for you to remain here for a few days to clarify the location of the entrance and exit to this realm, after which you may depart. Otherwise, once the possessed ancestral spirits engage, we cannot control their actions. If, by any chance, you perish by their hands, it will be too late for regrets."

"What grand words," Han Li scoffed. "Do not speak of merely relying on external forces; even true Grand Ascension cultivators are nothing in my eyes. However, this possession secret art is quite interesting. Once I apprehend you, I will certainly study it thoroughly."

"Why waste words with him!" the slender giant roared angrily. "The human race has always been our Green Spirit clan's enemy. Since he considers himself a Grand Ascension existence and dares to look down on us, then let him witness the terror of the Ancient Tree Ancestral Spirits!"

The moment these words left its mouth, the three giants stopped speaking. Taking massive strides, they advanced directly towards the Ink Spirit Ark.

Han Li, standing at the ark's zenith, observed the giants approaching with thunderous steps across the void. He chuckled and flicked his sleeve. With a clap of thunder, a silver electric arc shot from his sleeve. As the light faded, a young Daoist priest with an impassive face materialized beside him.

"Brother Crab," Han Li instructed, "your cultivation method perfectly counters these three Ancient Tree Ancestral Spirits. I'll leave them to you alone. It would be best if you could capture one alive for me."

"Wood-attribute experts! Excellent. I alone am sufficient," Daoist Crab said, glancing at the three distant giants and giving a slight nod. He then stamped his foot.

A "boom" resonated.

Surrounded by countless silver arcs, the Daoist charged towards the three giants. Mid-flight, he expanded against the wind, transforming into a golden colossal crab, several acres in size. The colossal crab merely extended its two front limbs into the void, then abruptly opened its mouth. A silver lightning pillar shot forth and, with a flash, appeared directly before the slender giant. Above the tall giant and the cloaked giant, spatial ripples appeared, and two colossal pincer illusions descended amidst a swirl of silver arcs.

The three giants, formed from the Ancient Tree Ancestral Spirits, were naturally startled. They had never anticipated that an entity summoned by their opponent would act with such decisive force, especially one wielding lightning-attribute divine abilities, which they feared most. Instantly, they stiffened and deployed their respective divine abilities to defend.

The tall giant moved its arm, and the two silver great hammers in its hands instantly conjured countless hammer shadows, slamming them towards the descending colossal pincer illusion. Meanwhile, the cloaked giant formed a hand seal with both hands, and a spiritual light flashed across its green wooden armor. Suddenly, countless gigantic vines materialized. They intertwined and shimmered, consolidating into a massive net that swept towards the colossal pincer above its head. As for the slender giant, facing the silver lightning pillar already upon it, it grimly brought the great blade in its hand across its body. Immediately, the great blade's surface distorted, transforming into a misty green colossal shield, its surface inscribed with countless spiritual runes. It squarely blocked the incoming attack.

Earth-shattering, continuous roars erupted from the giants' positions, as vast silver arcs emerged, transforming into exploding spheres of electric light. At that moment, the colossal golden crab let out a low roar, and countless silver lightning runes suddenly floated from its hard shell. They swiftly converged, forming a gigantic lightning array. The lightning array merely spun once, then, with a roar, vanished into the void.

The next moment, the space above the three giants violently fluctuated, and the massive lightning array emerged amidst countless electric arcs. The golden colossal crab's form flickered, then silently appeared above the array. With a roll, it merged into the array and disappeared from sight.

With a rumbling sound, the massive lightning array slowly descended.

Immediately, furious roars erupted from the three giants below, and surges of violent energy burst forth. However, upon contact with the massive lightning array, they were all torn to shreds by even more terrifying lightning power. The next moment, the lightning array transformed into a thundercloud, completely engulfing the three giants. For a time, thunderclaps roared within, accompanied by the giants' pained growls. Clusters of radiant light could be vaguely seen continuously exploding inside.

Han Li witnessed all this, smiled faintly, and unhesitatingly turned to walk towards the ark's cabin. Given Daoist Crab's divine abilities, which even the three great Demon Realm progenitors held in some apprehension, how could a mere three pseudo-Grand Ascension cultivators possibly endure long in his hands? Moreover, considering the suppressing effect of their cultivation methods, Han Li had only observed the beginning of the battle before confidently returning to the ark's cabin.

Sure enough, after about the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, footsteps sounded outside the ark's main cabin. Daoist Crab walked in, his expression unchanged. Han Li, who had been silently comprehending a magical formula on a chair in the hall, immediately looked up and asked with a smile:

"Did you kill them all, fellow Daoist?"

"Of course not," Daoist Crab replied indifferently. "Didn't Brother Han ask me to leave one alive?" With a flick of his sleeve, a small silver bottle flew out.

With a single gesture, Han Li drew the small bottle into his palm. His spiritual sense penetrated the bottle's walls, revealing a shriveled, several-inch-tall nascent soul within. Its appearance was clearly that of the slender-faced Green Spirit man. Han Li nodded, a satisfied expression on his face. Without asking about the fate of the other two Green Spirit cultivators, he merely made a gesture, and with a flash of spiritual light, the small bottle disappeared into his storage bracelet.

Outside, the Ink Spirit Ark trembled once, then shot forward again.

This time, no one from the Green Spirit tribe dared to appear and obstruct the ark's passage.