Chapter 579: Golden Divine Flame

Han Li's face was tense. He watched his opponent's every move without blinking, gripping the red and yellow wolf-head jade Ruyi tightly in his hand. At the same time, a silver light flashed behind him, and two silver-white wings materialized.

"The Eight Gates Golden Light Mirror! How could my opponent possess such a heaven-defying artifact?" Han Li couldn't help but offer a wry smile.

As soon as he recalled the artifact's origin, his immediate thought was that he absolutely could not withstand its power head-on. Only a madman would be foolish enough to directly challenge such a legendary treasure!

The "Eight Gates Golden Light Mirror" was a supreme magic treasure that had once vanquished a Star Palace Master. It accompanied a cultivator of profound skill who, for centuries, single-handedly shook the entire Chaotic Star Sea. This cultivator, renowned as the true number one cultivator in the Star Sea, had contended with the entire Star Palace without ever being at a disadvantage.

While his immense reputation primarily stemmed from the unparalleled cultivation of the "Heavenly Mirror Cultivator" across the entire Star Sea, the formidable power of his primary artifact, the "Eight Gates Golden Light Mirror," was equally well-known. It was even hailed as the Star Sea's foremost offensive artifact at the time. Countless cultivators met their end by this mirror, including five or six Nascent Soul stage cultivators. Such was the terror of this artifact!

Of course, Wen Tianren's eight mirrors were definitely not the original artifacts of the "Heavenly Mirror Cultivator," but merely crafted replicas. With Wen Tianren's current cultivation, it would be impossible for him to wield such an incredibly powerful artifact. He would likely be torn apart by its immense energy the moment he tried to absorb it. Had it been the genuine article, Han Li would have fled without hesitation, without even a thought of resistance.

Yet, even against this weakened replica, Han Li harbored no intention of a direct confrontation. The reputation of the Star Sea's foremost offensive artifact was simply too daunting. If pressed, he was ready to use the speed of his Wind-Thunder Wings to temporarily evade its assault. He had some confidence in the lightning-fast escape ability of his Wind-Thunder Wings. Thus, despite his inner tension, he showed no outward signs of panic.

On Wen Tianren's side, the golden light, after reflecting off the final golden mirror, coalesced into a head-sized golden orb. It hovered in the air before his chest, pulsating erratically as if poised to explode at any moment. Wen Tianren gestured at the orb without hesitation, and with a "whoosh," it promptly flew into his palm.

Holding the orb in one hand, Wen Tianren glanced at Han Li. As his gaze landed on the wings behind Han Li, a peculiar expression flickered across his face before vanishing. Meanwhile, Fairy Zi Ling, standing behind, looked from the golden horn on Wen Tianren's brow to the silver wings on Han Li's back. She felt her mouth go dry, her face etched with a complex expression. The fierce battle between these two had truly broadened her horizons; it was far beyond what ordinary cultivators could achieve. With both sides now unleashing their ultimate techniques, it was clear that this was a fight to the death. In the tense atmosphere, she couldn't help but hold her breath, watching silently. As for who she truly wished would emerge victorious, only she herself could know.

Wen Tianren made his move. He suddenly brought the golden orb in his hand across his chest, then gently clapped it with his other hand. As his palms met, the orb shattered, sending countless thumb-sized light spheres scattering outwards. Strangely, every single one flew precisely into the eight small mirrors. Instantly, the golden mirrors flared with light and trembled, each unleashing a golden beam the thickness of a bowl. These beams appeared before Han Li almost the instant they shot from the mirrors. Their incredible speed made Han Li's expression change.

Successive "thump" sounds followed. The outermost layer, dozens of sword lights formed by the Sword Shadow Splitting Light technique, instantly vanished upon contact with the beams. Even the main bodies of the Azure Bamboo Cloudswarm Swords, after being struck by the golden light, flashed green before being knocked away effortlessly, unable to block the beams even a fraction. The Five Elements Great Ring, positioned behind, briefly halted the assault with a flash of colorful light. However, it soon let out a mournful cry, its radiance flickering wildly, before shattering and collapsing inch by inch before Han Li's eyes, dissolving into countless particles.

Han Li's face showed alarm, and a pang of regret pierced his heart. This Five Elements Ring, while not very effective against high-level cultivators, was incredibly potent and useful against those of lower cultivation. It was truly a shame to lose it!

Witnessing these incredibly sharp golden beams pierce through the great ring and approach his final protective shield, Han Li sighed softly. With a rumble of thunder from behind, his Wind-Thunder Wings gave a slight flap, and he vanished from his spot. The eight light beams immediately pierced through the space where he had just been! The next moment, Han Li suddenly reappeared dozens of yards away in the high sky. Simultaneously, thunder rumbled again, and he vanished once more.

Wen Tianren was initially stunned, but then his expression changed as something clicked. With a flash of crimson fire beneath his feet, he shot backward with a "whoosh," instantly relocating to another nearby spot. The moment Wen Tianren vanished, Han Li coincidentally appeared in his previous position, a blue sword glow flashing in his hand, a hint of surprise on his face. Without hesitation, he then disappeared once more amidst the rumbling silver light.

This time, Wen Tianren did not flee. Instead, the golden horn between his eyebrows emitted another golden light, and the eight small mirrors simultaneously soared upwards, their surfaces facing downwards. As the golden light entered one mirror, all eight hummed softly, then unleashed countless golden beams that flooded the surroundings. Consequently, Han Li's figure appeared about ten yards behind Wen Tianren, and countless golden lights immediately coiled around him, trapping him firmly.

Han Li's expression drastically changed. He hastily activated his Wind-Thunder Wings, but his body, encased within the golden light, felt utterly frozen, unable to move even an inch. Without a second thought, Han Li waved his hands, sending two flying swords hurtling out to slash wildly at the surrounding golden light. The golden light, however, remained completely undisturbed. Han Li's heart sank. He quickly opened his mouth again, spitting out a finger-thick golden arc. The surrounding golden light flickered slightly, but remained unaffected.

At this point, the golden light intertwined with his protective red and yellow barrier. The barrier began to shake violently, appearing as if the golden light was about to pierce and infiltrate it. With a pale face, Han Li fiercely waved the Ruyi in his hand, channeling spiritual energy into it. The original yellow-red protective barrier immediately flared with light, its color then shifting. Moments later, it transformed into a dazzling silver. Instantly, the golden light could no longer advance in the slightest.

Wen Tianren showed no surprise at this. Instead, a grim expression flashed across his face. He formed a hand seal, and the eight small mirrors abruptly shot towards Han Li's head, radiating golden light as they transformed into eight golden flames hovering above him. A solemn expression settled on Wen Tianren's face. His hands continuously formed intricate seals, while a low incantation emanated from his lips. He then opened his mouth, spitting out several blobs of vital blood in succession. With each expulsion, his face grew visibly paler. By the time all eight blobs had been ejected into the golden flames, his face was utterly bloodless. Instantly, the eight golden flames blazed skyward, their power doubled.

"To perish under the legendary Golden Light Divine Flame, you can consider it a fitting end. With your current spiritual power, if you can survive in this Divine Flame for even a moment, that would be a remarkable feat," Wen Tianren stated chillingly, casting a sinister gaze at Han Li within the protective barrier. Without further hesitation, he pointed a finger at the sky, and the eight golden flames above Han Li's head immediately began to descend, one after another.

Han Li was instantly engulfed by the raging golden flames. Wen Tianren's form flickered, transforming into a streak of golden light that flew above the flames, where he sat down cross-legged. Then, he formed an incredibly strange hand seal. A faint, almost invisible golden thread shot from the golden horn between his brows, flying directly into the golden flames below and connecting with the golden light surrounding Han Li. Simultaneously, he slowly closed his eyes.

Inside the flames, Han Li, now calm, stared at the golden light enveloping him and the golden flames surrounding it, his expression grave. The moment the golden flames appeared, his spiritual energy began to drain from his body at five or six times the previous rate. Otherwise, the silver barrier would instantly destabilize and collapse. It seemed his opponent intended to use these golden flames to deplete his spiritual energy, then refine him into ash. If he hadn't taken the time while overseas to decipher how to strengthen the wolf-head Ruyi's protective barrier, he would have likely perished instantly. The power of this Golden Light Divine Flame also seemed extraordinary. While it couldn't compare to the Azure Frost Flame, let alone the Asura Sacred Flame, it was likely no weaker than the Extreme Yin Nether Corpse Fire. Han Li silently assessed the golden flames' potency.