Chapter 455: Reverse Face

Without a doubt, this little creature was the manifestation of the Nine-Bend Spirit Ginseng.

Han Li stared excitedly at the white rabbit. With the Great Development Art fully active, the pure spiritual energy emanating from the white rabbit was dazzlingly astonishing in his eyes. Truly a marvel born of heaven and earth!

Despite his inner awe, Han Li remained completely focused. He had already prepared a hand seal and kept his eyes fixed on the white rabbit.

The rabbit below sniffed around outside the formation for a while, its two fiery red eyes circling the jade box several times. Clearly, it wasn't content with just sniffing and seemed to be contemplating something mischievous.

Seeing the rabbit's intelligence, Han Li grew even more cautious, a hint of tension in his expression. After all, the Nine-Bend Spirit Ginseng was renowned for its escape techniques. A single slip could mean all his efforts were in vain.

After circling the great formation, the little creature's long ears twitched constantly, seemingly sensing the unusual spiritual energy nearby, and it hesitated to enter the formation. Han Li grew anxious! He thought the spirit ginseng's manifestation had seen through the trap and wouldn't enter the formation. He couldn't help but wonder if he should immediately unleash the golden net to forcibly capture it. However, his chances of success would be pitifully small if he did so.

As Han Li hesitated, the white rabbit's figure flashed, and after a few leaps, it vanished into the tall grass nearby. Seeing this from the tree, Han Li was stunned.

But just as Han Li was momentarily dazed, a white blur flashed in another patch of grass. The white rabbit, moving with incredible speed, leaving a streak of afterimages, darted from the grass to the jade box. It lowered its head, snatched the item from the box, and without hesitation, turned to bolt away.

Although Han Li was somewhat bewildered by the creature's series of actions, he quickly regained his composure. How could he let it escape after such a simple trick? Immediately, a yellow light, like an arrow, shot down from the tree, landing precisely on the path the white rabbit intended to take. Startled, the creature twisted violently in mid-air, drawing an arc as it veered off in another direction.

But by then, it was too late. A square yellow light barrier suddenly rose around the area, sealing it off completely.

The white rabbit crashed into the light wall and bounced back. After rolling several times on the ground, it shook its small head and stood up again, its eyes filled with panic. However, a flash of white light enveloped it, and it suddenly transformed into a fist-sized, multicolored ball of light, immediately burrowing underground.

But after a flicker of yellow light, the ball of light had only burrowed a few inches into the earth before a yellow glow pushed it back out. This time, it was truly desperate. The multicolored light ball darted wildly within the light barrier like a trapped fly, but each attempt was intercepted. At that very moment, a golden light shot down from the tree, effortlessly enveloping the light ball as it leapt into the air again.

Then, with a flicker, Han Li appeared on the ground. The golden light flew directly into his hand; it was the golden silk net that Xuan Bone had given him. The white rabbit reappeared in the net, struggling desperately. Its form blurred and solidified, growing larger and shrinking smaller, but none of it helped. The golden net adapted to its changing size, expanding and contracting, firmly restraining it.

Seeing this, Han Li smiled with satisfaction. He brought the golden net closer, observed the white rabbit briefly, then unceremoniously tucked the net onto his waist. He then sat down cross-legged at the center of the large formation, showing no intention of deactivating it. Han Li now intended to wait for Xuan Bone to unearth the main body of the Nine-Bend Spirit Ginseng before rejoining him.

Before that, however, he solemnly took out the ancient flower basket treasure he had acquired from his storage pouch and placed it before him. Then, he released the Gold Devouring Beetles from both spirit beast pouches, allowing them to circle above his head, forming a vast, shimmering cloud of golden and silver light. Only then did he calmly close his eyes to meditate.

Han Li hoped that these preparations would make Reverend Xuan Bone understand his position. It would be best if they didn't fall out, and he simply handed over the spirit ginseng. Han Li knew very well that only by demonstrating his considerable strength could their alliance continue. Of course, if the other party harbored any murderous intent, he wouldn't hesitate to strike first. As for the Nine-Bend Spirit Ginseng, regardless of whether it was truly effective for forming a Nascent Soul, he was determined to obtain it. After all, this spirit item was too famous; even if it wasn't useful for forming a Nascent Soul, it surely had other miraculous effects.

Thinking of this, Han Li unconsciously opened his eyes and glanced at the white rabbit, the manifestation of the Nine-Bend Spirit Ginseng, tucked at his waist. The sight that met his eyes stunned him. The little creature had lost all its previous vigor, completely withered and listless. Han Li's heart stirred; he knew that Xuan Bone must have already unearthed the item's main body, or it wouldn't have transformed so dramatically. Instantly, Han Li looked up at the sky beyond the forest.

After about the time it takes to eat a meal, the ominous cloud that Reverend Xuan Bone had transformed into finally flew over. It stopped only when it reached the sky above the formation. But he didn't disperse the cloud, remaining suspended in silence. Han Li, expressionless, stood up and stared directly at the ominous cloud, showing no intention of speaking either.

After a long while, Xuan Bone's cold voice emanated from the cloud. "What is the meaning of your posture, treating me like a formidable foe?" Xuan Bone's voice was bone-chilling.

"No particular meaning. It's merely that my cultivation is shallow, and I genuinely fear that Senior might suddenly turn hostile and attack," Han Li replied calmly.

"Hmph! Aren't you being overly suspicious? If I didn't intend to give you the spirit item, why would I have brought you all the way here? Don't forget, I still need your help against that rebellious disciple!" Xuan Bone seemed to be suppressing his anger as he spoke.

"Senior, are you unaware of the saying, 'Circumstances change'? Perhaps when Senior first entered the Skyreach Palace, you truly needed my assistance. But now that Senior has another helper, I'm not so sure," Han Li said, his gaze as sharp as blades, radiating cold light as he stared at the other party.

"What do you mean by that?" Xuan Bone's voice grew colder, subtly betraying a hint of surprise.

"Senior needn't pretend ignorance anymore. Please summon the other person. I witnessed him transforming to search for the spirit ginseng just now. There's no need to hide anymore!" Han Li frowned slightly, speaking with some impatience.

Hearing this, Xuan Bone in the ominous cloud fell silent. But shortly after, a deep voice of an unfamiliar man echoed from the cloud.

"Boy, how did you discover me? I don't believe you can see through my shapeshifting technique!" the voice's owner asked brusquely.

"I have no interest in answering questions from strangers. I'm merely asking Reverend Xuan Bone again: do you truly wish for us to fight to a mutual destruction, only to benefit Jiyin?" Han Li said with a sarcastic expression.

"Mutual destruction! You think too highly of yourself! While killing you might take some effort, it's a price this old man can afford." As soon as he finished speaking, a yellow light suddenly shot out from the ominous cloud, striking directly onto the formation's protective barrier. The barrier's color abruptly changed from yellow to fiery red, and the center of the formation instantly became intensely hot, like a massive oven.

Seeing this, Han Li's expression remained unchanged. He merely let out a soft sigh, raised one hand, and cast a green spell onto the barrier. Immediately, the yellow and red hues cycled back and forth several times before returning to the original color. The searing heat from moments before seemed like a mere illusion.

"Oh! What have you done to my formation flags?" A voice of surprise came from the cloud.

"Done anything? If anything, it's you who's done something!" Han Li had no intention of answering.

"Hmph! Very good. That golden silk net of mine, you've been using it quite well, haven't you?" Xuan Bone said coldly, changing the subject.

"What? Are you...?" Han Li's expression changed drastically! As if remembering something, he immediately wanted to remove the golden silk net from his waist and throw it far away. But as Xuan Bone's words faded, the golden net flashed, turning ink-black. Then it transformed into a wisp of incredibly fine black mist that rapidly climbed around Han Li's body, enveloping him and instantly tightening. The rabbit, previously in the net, was unceremoniously discarded to the side, where it lay motionless, seemingly unconscious.

Suddenly trapped like this, even Han Li, calm as he usually was, saw his expression change abruptly!

"Boy, how does the Soul Sealing Silk taste? Can you still use even a trace of your magical power now?" Reverend Xuan Bone's triumphant laughter echoed from the ominous cloud above.

Upon hearing this, Han Li's heart tightened. He immediately tried to circulate his magical power, but his face turned ashen shortly after.