Chapter 344: 惊疑

Under Han Li's bated breath, the giant mantis, after flying for several miles, suddenly shot straight towards Han Li's hiding place.

Han Li's face immediately turned ashen!

With a chilling expression, he gripped the "Blood Spirit Drill" in his hand and began to infuse it with spiritual power, making the item slightly warm.

Staring expressionlessly at the approaching demonic beast, Han Li decided to release his magic tool only when the creature was much closer. This was the only way to increase his chances of injuring or killing it.

Naturally, this approach would multiply the danger, but at this moment, Han Li could not afford to care.

Fifty zhang, forty zhang, thirty zhang...

Han Li's heart pounded violently. He took a deep breath, ready to flick his wrist and unleash the Blood Spirit Drill.

However, a scene that left Han Li dumbfounded unfolded.

When the mantis demon beast was twenty zhang above Han Li's head, it suddenly veered off, changing direction and swooping down towards another spot not far from Han Li. After one or two miserable roars from a beast, the giant mantis, holding a huge wild boar in its forelimbs, ascended from the forest once more and flew away without hesitation along the path it had come from.

Only after the demon beast's silhouette gradually vanished from sight did Han Li let out a long sigh of relief and plop down onto the ground, completely disregarding the decorum of an immortal cultivator.

The situation just now...

If he hadn't planned to attack only at close range, he might have ended up as the demon beast's meal, just like that wild boar.

His survival this time was incredibly fortunate!

Han Li secretly congratulated himself. For the first time, he felt his luck wasn't bad at all.

After calming himself slightly, Han Li recalled the culprit behind all this: the Spirit Control Sect cultivator who had taken over Qu Hun's body. His anger flared uncontrollably.

It was clear that the "message slip" in the cave was a trap set by his adversary.

Despite all his caution, he was no match for the opponent's cunning and had been thoroughly framed, almost losing his life.

"Good, very good! I'm not dead now. You'll see what's coming!" Han Li, enraged like never before, muttered spitefully to himself as he rested.

In his mind, "Qu Hun" had been bound by three "Spirit Calming Talismans." It was impossible for him to break free with his current cultivation, so Han Li knew he could easily take the opponent's life once he returned.

As soon as he felt his physical strength and spiritual power return, Han Li immediately flew using his magic tool, heading back towards his original location.

However, this time he dared not fly boldly at high altitudes. Instead, he flew cautiously at a low altitude, just a dozen zhang above the ground, fearing he might attract the demon beast's attention again.

On his way back, the cool night breeze extinguished much of Han Li's fierce anger, clearing his mind considerably. He began to re-examine the entire interaction he had with "Qu Hun."

After a brief contemplation of the Spirit Control Sect cultivator's words and actions, and the terrifying nature of the mantis demon beast, Han Li grew suspicious of his original Foundation Establishment stage cultivation level.

A formidable insect-type demon beast appearing just over a hundred li from Jiayuan City certainly couldn't be wild.

Considering his identity as a Spirit Control Sect cultivator, the giant mantis was very likely his tamed spirit beast.

Han Li found it hard to imagine that such a terrifying spirit beast could be tamed by a Foundation Establishment stage cultivator. In his opinion, this mantis spirit beast alone could certainly contend with three or four late-Foundation Establishment cultivators; it was ridiculously powerful.

"Could it be that 'Qu Hun's' original identity wasn't just a Foundation Establishment cultivator, but a Core Formation cultivator...?" he couldn't help but speculate.

Han Li was startled by his own conjecture!

As he approached the original small hill, he couldn't help but stop, hovering in the low sky, lost in thought.

How could a Core Formation cultivator end up in such a miserable state, with his body destroyed and soul separated? Even if unable to defeat another Core Formation cultivator, one should still be able to escape. Unless he encountered one of the Nascent Soul stage old monsters from Yue State?

However, the Nascent Soul cultivators of the Seven Sects had long since ceased to concern themselves with worldly affairs, and it seemed two or three of them weren't even in Yue State. Han Li hadn't even heard of any Nascent Soul level cultivators participating in the recent clashes between the Demonic Dao and the Seven Sects.

This made it hard for him to imagine the earth-shattering, world-overturning chaos that would ensue if these individuals were to act.

Nevertheless, Han Li had often secretly criticized these cultivators for their practice of idly watching lower-level cultivators fight while they themselves observed with cold detachment. He wondered what schemes cultivators of such high caliber on both sides were truly engaged in.

"Could it really be such a coincidence that this likely Core Formation cultivator encountered one of those old monsters?" Han Li speculated.

If the individual who had taken over Qu Hun's body truly was a Core Formation cultivator, then his knowledge of so many secrets regarding the Demonic Dao invasion, and his possession of such a powerful spirit beast as the mantis demon, would make perfect sense.

After some deliberation, Han Li had to admit that there was a 60-70% chance that "Qu Hun" was indeed a Core Formation cultivator, which made cold sweat break out and left him with a strange expression.

He felt a mix of fear and a hint of excitement...

"Is he perhaps playing the pig to eat the tiger? Deliberately feigning such low cultivation to toy with me?" Han Li desperately pondered the likelihood of this worst-case scenario.

"No, he's definitely not deliberately showing weakness!" Han Li mulled it over a bit longer and finally arrived at a firm conclusion.

Apart from everything else, it was undeniable that the opponent had only taken over Qu Hun's body a few years ago. This meant his profound cultivation had naturally been lost, just as he had previously claimed.

Even if his nascent soul remained, allowing him to cultivate without bottleneck restrictions, his current cultivation level was indeed what one would expect under such circumstances.

Furthermore, Han Li could tell at a glance that the opponent also couldn't control the mantis spirit beast anymore. Otherwise, why would he not keep such a powerful bodyguard close by?

He knew that his adversary was at his weakest, lacking strong protection, which was why he had been forced to lure Han Li into the cave, hoping the out-of-control giant mantis would kill him.

Han Li's mind was incredibly astute. With just a brief re-examination of the entire sequence of events, he grasped most of the truth, and his courage immediately swelled.

This wasn't Han Li trying to take advantage of someone's misfortune, but rather his clear understanding that he had already forged a deep enmity with this Spirit Control Sect cultivator.

If the opponent managed to escape his grasp, he would undoubtedly be torn to shreds once his Core Formation strength recovered.

Therefore, he absolutely could not let this individual leave here alive.

Aware of the grave implications, Han Li no longer hesitated, urging the magic tool under his feet to fly straight towards the small hill.

Han Li reached the hilltop in an instant and immediately saw "Qu Hun" obediently remaining in place, the talismans on his body still perfectly intact.

Han Li was overjoyed and, reassured, landed a dozen zhang away from the opponent, grasping a magic tool in each hand simultaneously.

Seeing Han Li descend from the sky, "Qu Hun's" face revealed a look of shock; it seemed he hadn't expected Han Li to survive at all.

He forced a smile and his lips moved as if to say something.

However, Han Li merely took a few steps forward, then unceremoniously raised his hand, sending two streaks of black light whistling straight towards him.

Since he intended to kill completely, Han Li had no desire to exchange idle words with someone about to die.

Seeing the Black Dragon Claw surge menacingly towards him, "Qu Hun's" face changed drastically.

Just as Han Li expected the opponent to be torn to shreds, "Qu Hun" swayed and leaped several zhang to the side, evading the attack path.

"What are you doing? Have you forgotten the poisonous oath you swore?" the Spirit Control Sect cultivator demanded furiously.

Clearly, he hadn't expected such a fierce attack the moment Han Li appeared.

Han Li acted as if he hadn't heard "Qu Hun's" words, simply staring intently at the three Spirit Calming Talismans on his body, almost disbelieving his own eyes.

"The talismans aren't removed, so how can he move?" Han Li was filled with suspicion.

However, this was no time for questions or entanglement. Han Li scoffed, then without another word, pointed at the Black Dragon Claw. The magic tool immediately expanded several times in size, transforming into two thick streaks of black light that flashed and darted towards the opponent.

He was determined to annihilate every last wisp of the Core Formation cultivator's nascent soul, even if it meant sacrificing Qu Hun's walking corpse.

"Qu Hun" seemed to perceive Han Li's relentless intent. As the Black Dragon Claw bore down fiercely, he abruptly opened his mouth in desperation, and a green light shot forth, actually blocking the full force of the Black Dragon Claw's attack.