Chapter 696: Great Master

Upon hearing this, none of the others showed any sign of panic.

It seemed everyone understood that the cultivators only dared to trap them with restrictions, which indicated there weren't many high-level cultivators present. Otherwise, they would have swarmed them long ago.

However, they couldn't afford to be trapped for too long. Once the Mulan reinforcements arrived, they would be in real trouble!

Therefore, the old woman and the others emitted multicolored glows, openly unleashing their divine abilities to attack the surrounding restrictions.

Han Li elegantly flicked his hand, and three streaks of green light shot out. They rapidly expanded against the wind, transforming into three dazzling green rainbows that swept towards the yellow sand nearby.

A ripple-like fluctuation suddenly appeared under their combined attacks.

Then, a yellow light flashed, and the restriction, attacked by everyone, tore apart like thin paper.

Seeing how easily they succeeded, the others were somewhat stunned. However, Han Li's expression remained unchanged. He transformed into a streak of light and shot out through the gap.

How much power could a hastily set up restriction possess? It was normal for it to be broken with a single strike from them; there was nothing to hesitate about.

Seeing Han Li's decisive action, the other old monsters, after a moment of surprise, immediately understood and also fled out in close pursuit.

Upon exiting, although the sand still flew everywhere, the oppressive feeling experienced within the restriction was noticeably absent. This caused Han Li to slightly relax. He swept his divine sense around, intending to discern their direction before proceeding.

But just then, Han Li's expression shifted, and his eyes suddenly narrowed. He stared motionlessly at a specific spot in the yellow sand, hovering in the air.

At this moment, faint blue light flickered in his pupils, making him appear somewhat eerie. His face, however, remained calm and serene, betraying no hint of his thoughts.

“Fellow Daoist Han, what are you doing here?” asked Marquis Nanlong, who had caught up from behind. Seeing Han Li staring motionlessly, he, too, swept his divine sense in that direction, but found nothing unusual. He couldn't help but ask curiously.

“Nothing much,” Han Li replied, turning his head. His expression was as usual. “I’m just figuring out which direction we should take.”

“In these cursed sandstorms, divine sense is unreliable. How can you discern anything with just your eyes? I have a Star-Fixing Plate, an extraordinary treasure, perfectly suited for situations like this,” Marquis Nanlong said dismissively. With a single hand, he reached to his waist and pulled out a flat, round, pale red jade plate.

Marquis Nanlong held the treasure in one hand, while forming an incantation with the other. Obscure chanting emanated from his lips. As he spread his incantation-forming fingers, a golden light shot from his palm, striking a flowing rune on the plate's surface.

A peculiar golden-red light erupted from the plate.

Han Li's heart stirred, and he cast a few more glances at the treasure.

He saw golden specks on the plate, forming a strange pattern. It mysteriously incorporated celestial phenomena like stars, the sun, and the moon, appearing exceptionally unusual.

Han Li was engrossed, and the white-robed elder and the others also gathered around, their faces showing curiosity.

Marquis Nanlong paid them no mind. He simply concentrated on observing the plate's pattern. Moments later, he flipped his hand, and the treasure vanished, but he spoke briefly:

“Follow me!”

With that, Marquis Nanlong transformed into a golden light and shot diagonally away.

The old woman, the cold-faced cultivator, and the others followed without a word. Clearly, they placed considerable trust in the judgment of this Nascent Soul mid-stage cultivator.

Wang Tiangu's body shimmered with black light. He once again enveloped Wang Chan and Yan Ruyan, and followed with a streak of light.

However, as he passed Han Li, the Ghost Spirit Sect elder subtly glanced at him, then walked by as if nothing had happened.

Han Li's lips curved slightly, and he looked back with a faint, unreadable smile.

He vaguely saw Wang Chan in the black light, head bowed, not daring to look in his direction, appearing unusually docile. Yan Ruyan, the beautiful woman, however, had her eyes flicker, her calm gaze lingering on Han Li for a moment before she turned her head.

Han Li, seeing that he was about to be left behind, merely smiled nonchalantly. A green light flashed around him, and he was about to fly away.

Before departing, he instinctively looked once more in the direction he had been staring. After a strange expression flashed across his face, he suddenly let out a cold chuckle and shot through the air.

In a flash, Han Li's figure vanished without a trace in the sandstorm.

The area immediately became exceptionally quiet.

However, only a moment later, a dazzling yellow light flared where Han Li had been looking. A dark, gaping hole appeared without any warning, and from it, a glossy black demonic insect crawled out.

This demonic insect was astonishingly massive, about six zhang long and four zhang wide, with a flattened, round body.

Even more terrifying, its triangular head featured over a dozen eerie yellow compound eyes, several slender antennae, and a pair of enormous, sharp fangs that gleamed coldly, looking truly menacing. On its back were four transparent, delicate wings, constantly fluttering softly.

And atop this fearsome demonic insect stood three figures of varying heights: one was enveloped in dazzling white light, making it impossible to look directly at them; another was shrouded in a peculiar emerald mist, their form appearing indistinct; the last was covered in flickering pale blue electrical arcs, resembling a god of thunder descending.

“Grand Master, are we just letting them leave? Isn't that unwise?” the figure enveloped in white light asked, looking in the direction where Han Li and the other cultivators had disappeared, a hint of worry in their voice.

“Hmph! If we didn't let them leave, could a mere illusion formation truly trap them? Don't forget, most of these individuals are old Nascent Soul stage cultivators, on the same level as me. Even the two weakest are late Core Formation cultivators. For our Yellow Sand Tribe alone to hold them back would be a foolish delusion!” the figure in the green mist said with a cold snort, their voice chilling, clearly in a foul mood.

“But how will we explain this to Master Mu of the Sky Wind Tribe? He personally sent a message, asking us to use every possible means to trap this group of cultivators. This time, the vanguard tribes are all under his temporary command. And Master Mu has already gone to contact the Grand Masters of the other tribes. Why don't we activate our tribe's sacred artifact, the 'Demonic Dust Banner'? Even if it can't severely wound these Nascent Soul cultivators, it could at least trap them for a moment,” the figure in white light persisted, still suggesting.

“Nonsense! Are those thirty-six Demonic Dust Banners to be used so carelessly? Our Yellow Sand Tribe ancestors have taught us for generations that those sacred banners must never be used lightly, except in times of tribal extinction. Furthermore, with the divine abilities of these cultivators, even if we did manage to trap them for a short while, what if we suffered a backlash and a few banners were damaged? How would we cope? Without our clan's sacred artifacts, how could we maintain our position among the ten major tribes of the allied army? We might even be coveted by smaller tribes, and facing tribal extinction wouldn't be impossible,” the figure in the green mist roared in anger, reprimanding them without reservation.

“This disciple was reckless. Thank you for the reminder, Grand Master!” The cultivator in white light quickly apologized, cold sweat on their face.

“Given that you only recently became a Master, I'll let it slide. But don't let it happen again! In any case, it's not like we didn't act; it's just that these individuals' divine abilities are too powerful. We simply couldn't trap them. That Grand Master Mu, he certainly has a good idea. He wants our Yellow Sand Tribe to expend resources and effort to help him trap the enemy. Then, after both sides are wounded, he and the others will come to pick up the spoils. He'll naturally claim the lion's share of the credit and spoils. Otherwise, the Sky Wind Tribe also possesses their own clan-suppressing treasures, so why don't they use them to block the enemy? I think he harbors ill intentions and is using this opportunity to retaliate against our Yellow Sand Tribe!” the 'Grand Master' in the green mist said chillingly, clearly having a very poor impression of Master Mu.

“Master Mu probably does intend this. After all, our two tribes have never been very amicable. But now we are merely an allied army, not truly subordinate to each other, so there's no need to take seriously something that would greatly diminish our strength to benefit others. Moreover, with the Sky Wind Tribe's treasure, the 'Wind Chariot,' and its terrifying speed, they might not be unable to catch up to these individuals. Heh heh, it's hard to say who will emerge victorious then! However, as long as they can delay these people until the main force arrives, it will naturally be a great victory,” the Mulan cultivator, enveloped in electrical arcs, calmly analyzed.

“While that Wind Chariot's speed is astonishing, if they wait to gather enough manpower before setting off, it might be too late,” the 'Grand Master' in the green mist disagreed.

“Whether they catch up or not, those cultivators have little to do with us now. What I'm puzzled by is that the young man who first broke through the formation seemed to have discovered us hiding in the Sumeru spatial rift. This is quite peculiar! My 'Sumeru Insect' is one of the ancient famous mystical insects. Although its combat power isn't strong, it naturally possesses the divine ability to temporarily tear open spatial rifts, making it highly adept at hiding in place. Though it's still a larva, its ability to tear space and time is extremely limited. Yet, two Nascent Soul mid-stage cultivators on their side didn't detect the Sumeru spatial rift, while a Nascent Soul early-stage cultivator did. It seems that young man is no ordinary person; either he cultivates some special secret art, or he possesses an incredibly powerful investigative treasure!” the 'Grand Master' muttered to himself after a moment of thought, a hint of surprise and doubt still lingering on his face.