Chapter 475: Strange Ancient Treasure

No need to ask! This square passage leads directly to the exquisite illusion. Armed with the Great Divination Art and the Brahma Bead bracelet temporarily loaned by Ji Yin, he was certain passing this trial would be effortless.

With this thought, Han Li shifted his attention from the passage to carefully examining the two ancient treasures he held. Unless he first understood their capabilities, he wouldn't be able to utilize them effectively when needed.

First, a flash of blood-red light, and the cloak vanished from his grasp, leaving behind only the five copper rings linked in a chain. Each of these five copper rings was roughly the thickness of a human arm, intricately etched with mysterious runes that gave them an exceptionally enigmatic appearance.

Han Li picked up one ring with a single hand and, with a slight flick of his wrist, saw the rings shimmer with shifting iridescent light, accompanied by the faint sound of a phoenix's cry. Han Li's eyes gleamed as he lowered his head in thought for a moment before slowly channeling spiritual energy through his five fingers into the copper rings. He didn't blink, his face etched with intense concentration.

A flash of iridescent light, and the five copper rings in his hand abruptly vanished. Han Li was startled, but then, as if recalling something, he sharply looked up. There, just above his head, the five copper rings hovered, flickering in and out of sight like phantoms, an unsettling sight.

Han Li frowned, then raised a hand to unleash a green magic incantation. The copper rings immediately spun rapidly before abruptly striking the adjacent stone wall. With a few dull thuds, the wall flashed white but remained unscathed, while the five copper rings rebounded far away. It appeared these copper rings were not designed for direct offense.

Han Li's expression remained unchanged. He beckoned with one hand, causing the rings to fly back above his head, then, without hesitation, he expelled a mouthful of vital energy onto them. The copper rings abruptly swelled, instantly transforming into five colossal copper hoops, wreathed in blinding light and swirling runes, making them impossible to look at directly.

If ring-type artifacts aren't for direct attack, they are typically used for ensnaring or defending. Han Li certainly had some experience with this. Gazing at the now imposing giant rings, Han Li tilted his head and slowly uttered the word 'Haste'. As the word escaped his lips, the colossal rings descended with a whoosh, overlapping to encase Han Li within their confines. Then the giant rings began to spin in mid-air, picking up speed. They blurred into a five-colored light barrier, completely shielding Han Li within.

A faint smile touched Han Li's lips. It seemed these copper rings indeed possessed defensive capabilities. Their true effectiveness, however, could only be ascertained when facing an adversary. With that thought, Han Li flicked a finger, sending an incantation toward the light barrier. Instantly, the light barrier shattered, reverting to the form of the colossal rings. But after a violent tremor, the copper rings flashed brightly and vanished from his side once more.

This time, Han Li calmly extended a palm, and after a flash of five-colored light, the five palm-sized copper rings dutifully reappeared in his hand. Han Li calmly observed the copper rings, a pensive look in his eyes, as if deep in thought.

A short while later, Han Li chanted an obscure incantation. The five copper rings eerily vanished from his hand, only to reappear the next instant around his limbs and neck, where they suddenly flared with light and contracted tightly. Han Li lost his balance, collapsing stiffly like a wooden log. Fortunately, he had anticipated this. A swift mental command was sent, and the copper rings immediately loosened their grip.

Once Han Li regained his footing, he rubbed his neck, which still felt uncomfortable from the constriction. His eyes sparkled with barely concealed excitement. This ancient treasure was perfectly suited for ambushing others; it was truly impossible to defend against. Even with his formidable divine sense, he only registered the anomaly at the precise moment the copper rings ensnared him, leaving no time for any reaction. Han Li was confident that even late Core Formation or Nascent Soul stage cultivators, if caught off guard, could very well fall victim to his surprise attack. Of course, the duration for which these five copper rings could hold an opponent remained uncertain. Even so, the artifact's capabilities far surpassed his initial expectations, filling him with quiet delight.

Satisfied, Han Li placed the copper rings into his storage pouch, then retrieved the dark red cloak. Testing this ancient treasure would, naturally, be much simpler. Han Li immediately put it on, then channeled some magical power into it. The cloak flared with intense blood-red light, and a burning sensation spread across Han Li's body as spiritual energy uncontrollably surged into the garment.

Han Li was greatly alarmed and hastily cut off the flow of magical power. The cloak's radiance immediately dimmed, returning to its normal state. Han Li paused, took off the cloak, and re-examined it, his brows tightly furrowed. A moment later, he donned the artifact once more, cautiously channeling spiritual energy into it. The same uncontrolled surge of magical power occurred again, but with his guard up, Han Li remained calm. Instead, he narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing the strange effects the cloak had on him.

At this moment, dozens of feathers on the cloak's outer layer simultaneously transmuted into long, blood-red quills, and the entire garment became shrouded in a thick, sanguine glow. After observing for a moment, Han Li slowly floated upwards with a wave of his hands. He glanced left and right, then abruptly vanished from sight.

Yet, the very next moment, a muffled crash resounded. A burst of blood-red light erupted from the stone wall on his right, and then Han Li's figure was sent hurtling backward, staggering a few times before nearly tumbling to the ground. His face was etched with profound shock! He hadn't even used his full strength; he'd merely attempted the most basic levitation technique. Yet, he had instantly, almost teleporting, crashed into the wall. This left Han Li utterly stunned!

Han Li, still in disbelief, attempted several other evasion techniques. Each time, without exception, after a flash, he was left dizzy and disoriented from colliding with a wall, utterly unable to control his trajectory. It was as if, once he wore this artifact, he was locked into a single astonishing speed, unable to slow down in the slightest. Han Li stood rooted, his face a mask of astonishment.

This cloak was truly bizarre! In terms of speed alone, it was undeniably a top-tier life-saving ancient treasure. Han Li was convinced that with such speed, even a Nascent Soul cultivator pursuing him would be unable to catch up for a significant period, allowing him to escape using this artifact. However, the cloak also had considerable drawbacks. Beyond the astonishingly high spiritual energy consumption required for its use, the garment's uncontrollable nature, akin to a wild horse running amok, filled Han Li with regret. Evidently, this cloak was a flawed top-tier ancient treasure; otherwise, it wouldn't have been found in the outer hall. Nevertheless, the artifact appeared to be highly useful when making a desperate escape.

With mixed emotions, Han Li put away the cloak. After a few bitter smiles, he sat cross-legged on the ground and began to cultivate his qi with closed eyes. In that short span, the ancient treasure had consumed a considerable amount of his magical power. He certainly wouldn't leave the stone chamber in such a state.

Han Li rested for the better part of a day. Once he felt his depleted magical power was sufficiently replenished, Han Li opened his eyes, glanced at the square passage, and stood up with a solemn expression. He touched the Brahma Bead bracelet on his wrist, then circulated the Great Divination Art through his body before slowly entering the passage.

Upon entering, Han Li realized the square passage was quite short. After rounding a sharp corner, he emerged from the passage. His vision brightened to reveal an open-air corridor, exquisitely grand and meticulously crafted. It stretched endlessly as far as the eye could see, its true length unknown. Beyond the corridor, white clouds drifted, accompanied by waves of immortal music. Faintly visible were glimpses of jade pavilions and terraces, conjuring an image of a celestial paradise.

Upon witnessing this scene, a cold smile touched Han Li's lips, and he strode onto the corridor without hesitation. The moment he stepped onto it, Han Li channeled his magical power, and just as others had described, this stage also prohibited the use of flight. He could only proceed on foot, step by step.

Han Li paid no mind to this, instead casting a profound gaze beyond the corridor. The lingering immortal music seemed to grow clearer the deeper he ventured into the corridor. With an impassive expression, Han Li listened intently to the so-called immortal music for a while. Not long after, a hint of mockery involuntarily surfaced on his face. Then, after a soft 'tsk-tsk', he slowly proceeded forward with his hands clasped behind his back.

Han Li walked without the slightest trace of haste, as if leisurely strolling through his own garden. Yet, the immortal music beyond the corridor grew increasingly distinct, becoming even more beautiful and pleasing to the ear, compelling listeners to pause and linger. Simultaneously, graceful white cranes began to appear amidst the clouds outside, raising their necks at the sound and dancing gracefully, irresistibly drawing the eye.