Chapter 527: Extracting Soul and Taking the Elixir

After more than two years of continuous cultivation with the green liquid, the Soul Nurturing Wood had finally taken shape. Like the Sky-thunder Bamboo, this wood would cease to grow after ten thousand years. Even if the green liquid was dripped onto it, not a single bit of spiritual energy could be added.

Han Li naturally wouldn't leave this wood unused. So, he carved this foot-long Soul Nurturing Wood into more than a dozen thumb-sized, jet-black round beads, strung them together with a golden thread, and hung them around his neck. This wood didn't require elaborate refining; simply wearing it close to the body would provide the optimal benefit of nourishing the spirit and strengthening the soul.

After settling everything in his cave abode, Han Li left alone three days later, quietly flying out of the mist sea. Since he possessed the Rainbow Silk Grass, Han Li had no intention of getting involved in the Abyss. Not only were there demonic beasts of rank eight or higher, but cultivators were also sure to gather there, making it unsuitable for him to use the green liquid to set up formations and eliminate beasts.

With the Rainbow Silk Grass as a means to lure demonic beasts, any sea area was the same to him. Therefore, all he needed to do now was find a place with a coral island. With this thought, Han Li checked his bearings and immediately flew west. In the blink of an eye, he vanished without a trace.

A month later, Han Li stopped over a patch of fiery red coral reefs. He had passed several coral islands earlier, but fearing troubles if he stayed too close to his cave abode, Han Li had ignored them and continued flying until he reached this spot. Although this place couldn't yet be called a coral island, it was more than sufficient for transplanting the Rainbow Silk Grass.

Han Li decided to begin his first battle of eliminating demonic beasts and acquiring their cores right here. He had already set up four magic formations around this coral reef, creating an impenetrable barrier, before carefully transplanting the Rainbow Silk Grass to the center of the formation. To attract a rank-six demonic beast, the Rainbow Silk Grass basically needed to be cultivated to a four-hundred-year maturity. This meant he would need nearly a month to attract the desired demonic beast.

However, he wouldn't be idle during this initial period. The first three times the Rainbow Silk Grass unfurled its leaves, it would naturally attract some lower-ranked demonic beasts, allowing him to practice. Although the cores of rank-five demonic beasts held little value for his alchemy now, they were still quite valuable for exchanging for high-grade spirit stones. Han Li naturally wouldn't let such an opportunity pass.

As expected, before the fourth cultivation, three or four rank-five demonic beasts came seeking it. Han Li effortlessly unleashed several Azure Bamboo Cloudswarm Swords, easily slaying them. Gazing at the Rainbow Silk Grass, which had unfurled three leaves, Han Li exhaled lightly and gently inverted the small bottle in his hand over the grass. A drop of glistening emerald-green liquid fell onto it. Carefully putting away the small bottle, Han Li sat directly beside the grass, closing his eyes to meditate and restore his energy.

On the third day, the Rainbow Silk Grass unfurled its fourth leaf, emitting a strong aura that lured demonic beasts. Han Li, who had remained still for these two days, had also fully recuperated. While slaying rank-five demonic beasts was now effortless for him, and rank-six demonic beasts should also be manageable, entering the deep sea alone, it was better to be cautious.

This lure grass was not infallible. There had been previous instances where three-hundred-year-old Rainbow Silk Grass had mistakenly lured rank-six or even rank-seven demonic beasts, almost costing him his life and forcing him to abandon his formations and flee. Han Li certainly didn't want to die here due to a moment of carelessness.

After another half day passed, Han Li, who was sitting cross-legged next to the Rainbow Silk Grass, stirred slightly. He then opened his eyes and stared coldly at the distant sea surface. A moment later, black clouds suddenly gathered over the distant sea, accompanied by wind and rain. A massive vortex, about ten zhang wide, inexplicably appeared, from which a low rumbling sound faintly emanated.

Han Li's expression remained calm, but with a flicker of his body, he transformed into a green beam and flew into mid-air, observing everything below with a hint of chill. Several muffled thuds came from the vortex, followed by a mass of black energy enclosing a demonic beast that shot out. This demonic beast was not large, only a few zhang in size. However, it constantly let out agitated low roars in the direction of the Rainbow Silk Grass.

Seeing this, Han Li breathed a sigh of relief. Although the black energy obscured its true form, judging by the spiritual energy emanating from the black energy, it was indeed only a rank-six demonic beast. This was ideal for him; there should be no danger! So Han Li remained still in the air, gazing unmoving at the demonic beast below.

In just this short time, the demonic beast within the black energy had been driven somewhat mad by the aura emanating from the Rainbow Silk Grass. Finally, with a mighty roar, it violently lunged towards the coral reef. Accompanying it were massive waves, over ten zhang high, that it stirred up. Having witnessed the monstrous waves caused by the rank-seven giant turtle during its tribulation, such commotion naturally held no sway in Han Li's eyes.

As the black energy approached within dozens of zhang of the coral reef, a cold smirk flickered across Han Li's face. With a flip of his hand, a palm-sized emerald-green formation plate appeared. Then, a flash of green light appeared on his palm, and Han Li struck the formation plate without hesitation. Dazzling yellow light immediately erupted from the plate. The next moment, more than a dozen yellow light pillars simultaneously shot out from the sea, followed by a shimmering yellow light barrier that immediately intercepted the black energy passing through, trapping it within.

The demonic beast in the black energy was clearly startled! But immediately, two enormous steel-blue pincers shot out from the black energy, violently smashing against the yellow barrier. With a loud "boom," the entire yellow light barrier began to sway precariously, appearing as if it could not withstand many more blows. However, for Han Li, this level of restraint on the demonic beast was already sufficient.

The Five-Element Ring ancient treasure, which he had already prepared, was summoned amidst a clear hum, and it quickly vanished. A low hum emanated from above the black energy. Then, five-colored radiance suddenly appeared, instantly plunging into the black energy and vanishing without a trace.

A terrified, strange roar echoed out, and the dense black energy immediately dispersed completely, revealing the demonic beast within. A three-to-four-zhang long azure giant shrimp appeared there, with six emerald-green eyes on its sides, currently radiating a look of panic. It was currently tightly bound by five copper rings, utterly unable to move, like a zongzi (a traditional Chinese sticky rice dumpling).

At this moment, two dazzling green rays shot from the sky. After crisscrossing around it, the giant shrimp was instantly sliced into several pieces, and green liquid sprayed everywhere. The five-colored copper rings trembled slightly, vanished once more within the radiance, and the next moment returned to Han Li's hand.

A faint smile appeared on Han Li's face as he shook the formation plate in his hand. The yellow light flashed and immediately disappeared. Simultaneously, the light barrier below silently vanished. Han Li put away the Five-Element Ring from his hand, and with a flip of his wrist, he produced a pitch-black round bowl.

Holding the bowl with both hands, Han Li gently floated down, landing precisely beside the giant shrimp's corpse. Han Li's eyes flashed with a cold light as he glanced at the giant shrimp's head. Without hesitation, he extended a finger and began to chant. White light began to glow at his fingertip, and as the incantation continued, the white light gradually became dazzling.

Suddenly, Han Li let out a cold snort. Several thin, silk-like white threads shot out from the white light at his fingertip, piercing into the giant shrimp's head. Then his finger trembled slightly, and a fist-sized ball of green light, constrained by the white threads, was pulled out from within the giant shrimp's head, drawing it towards the Soul Gathering Bowl in Han Li's hand. This green light seemed to realize its peril, struggling desperately mid-way, but it was still slowly pulled closer, to no avail.

When it was about a foot away from the Soul Gathering Bowl, the ball of green light was engulfed by a burst of black light that automatically shot out from the bowl, then with a "whoosh," it was drawn inside. Seeing this, a faint smile appeared on Han Li's face. Only then did he take a few steps forward and, after searching within the giant shrimp's corpse for a moment, he pulled out a light blue spherical core. Compared to a rank-five demonic core, this rank-six demonic core was not only a circle larger but also semi-transparent and faintly radiating light, appearing extraordinarily beautiful.

After a few glances, Han Li put the core into his storage pouch. He then eyed the giant shrimp's corpse again, as if something occurred to him. Suddenly, he raised one hand, and two streaks of green light flashed across. The two massive shrimp claws were cleanly severed. Without hesitation, Han Li waved his hand, and both claws were collected. Then, a small fireball flew out, reducing the remaining carcass of the giant shrimp to ashes.

Only then did Han Li unhurriedly fly back to the vicinity of the Rainbow Silk Grass and sit down cross-legged again. He believed it was impossible for this sea area to have only one rank-six demonic beast. Now, all he had to do was quietly wait for the next one! Han Li mused to himself.