Chapter 848: Demonic Shadow Emerges

Upon seeing the enormous ice mountain seemingly on the verge of collapse, Zi Ling's face turned pale, and she instinctively glanced at Han Li.

Han Li, standing calmly as ever within the light shield created by the giant shield, showed no hint of panic.

Observing this, Zi Ling felt much more at ease, realizing Han Li likely possessed other defensive measures, explaining his composure.

To Zi Ling's surprise, Han Li did not deploy any further magic treasures or abilities. Though the blue ice mountain swayed violently under the impact of boulders and energy surges, it proved exceptionally resilient, ultimately showing no cracks whatsoever.

Delighted and surprised, Zi Ling then understood that this blue ice was not merely condensed from ordinary cold air; it appeared to be even harder than refined steel.

After a full fifteen minutes, the astonishing energy surge finally swept past them, vanishing into the distance behind Han Li and Zi Ling. The thunderous roar also subsided, becoming utterly silent as the white line on the horizon disappeared.

"What exactly was that? How can something like this exist in Demonfall Valley?" Zi Ling let out a soft breath, transformed the colorful glow before her back into a silk handkerchief, and tucked it away. Then, puzzled, she turned to Han Li and asked.

"I'm not sure," Han Li mumbled, his eyes flickering. "However, the spiritual energy in the distance feels off, very chaotic. And this energy surge is truly astonishing—not something ordinary people could generate. Could it be an issue with a spatial rift somewhere? But given how ferocious this surge is, I doubt the inner valley's restrictions could block it. Nascent Soul cultivators might be okay; most of them would likely be able to protect themselves. But if it reaches the outer valley, those Core Formation cultivators would be in serious trouble."

Hearing Han Li's words, Zi Ling frowned deeply. She also extended her divine sense forward, sensing a slight abnormality in the spiritual energy. However, the location was too distant for her divine sense to perceive any further details.

"Something is definitely off. Brother Han, are you planning to go investigate?" Zi Ling asked softly, blinking her beautiful eyes.

"Go there? Why would I go there?" Han Li slowly replied, making a decision after a moment's hesitation. "Regardless of whether this energy surge was man-made or a spontaneous eruption, that place is not good. While I am somewhat curious, I have no desire to seek trouble. Let's just return the way we came! Most of our objectives for entering the valley have already been achieved. Moreover, after this shocking event, the Ghost Spirit Sect will likely be too preoccupied to search for us. It's a perfect opportunity to escape."

He then extended a finger and pointed at the giant shield before him. Instantly, the light shield surrounding him rapidly dissipated and vanished. The shield itself quickly shrank to mere inches and was tucked into his sleeve.

As for the ice mountain before them, Han Li gently pressed his palm against its icy surface. A brilliant blue light erupted, and the ice mountain instantly shrank and melted away.

Moments later, a small cluster of blue flame, identical to its previous form, merged into his palm.

Zi Ling's bright eyes flashed with surprise at this sight. Han Li, meanwhile, raised his palm, examined it, and displayed a hint of satisfaction.

This technique of reabsorbing the ice flame into his body was something he had just grasped, based on an insight gained from the illusion. Despite being his first attempt, he executed it with surprising ease and familiarity, as if he had practiced it numerous times. Even Han Li himself was somewhat taken aback.

This indicated that his experience in the illusion was not a mere fanciful delusion but a genuine comprehension of a higher-level Heavenly Dao. With this prior insight into a higher realm, his advancement to the Mid-Nascent Soul stage now seemed highly promising.

Han Li smiled faintly, then turned to say something more to Zi Ling. However, just then, a light flickered on the horizon behind them, followed by two streaks of escaping light, one after the other, shooting towards them.

One yellow and one white, they darted towards them, swaying and trembling as if fleeing for their lives.

"Oh!" Han Li exclaimed softly in surprise after a quick scan with his divine sense.

"What is it, Brother Han? Do you recognize those two?" Zi Ling asked, having also probed with her divine sense. She could only ascertain that the individuals behind the two streaks of light were Nascent Soul cultivators, nothing more.

"Of course, I do," Han Li said indifferently, a slight frown on his brow as he stared strangely into the distance. "I have a bit of a past with them."

The two figures in the distant fleeing light were Old Ancestor Linghu of Huangfeng Valley, characterized by his sallow complexion and yellow robes, and beside him, a pale-faced, ice-cold woman in white, who was none other than the Grand Elder of Moon-Shrouding Sect, Nangong Wan's senior sister.

Han Li was somewhat astonished that these two had also come to Demonfall Valley.

He hadn't seen them enter the valley earlier. It seemed they had either used disguises to blend in or intentionally waited until the very last moment to infiltrate.

The two now bore expressions of terror, desperately urging their escape lights as they fled. Despite there being no one visibly behind them, they behaved as though some terrifying entity was relentlessly pursuing them, not daring to stop for a single moment.

Han Li found this extremely odd. These two were by no means weak!

Old Ancestor Linghu was a Mid-Nascent Soul cultivator, and Nangong Wan's senior sister possessed exceptionally potent cultivation techniques and magic treasures. For two such individuals, even when working together, to be fleeing in such a disheveled manner was truly unbelievable!

Could it be Mulan Sorcerers pursuing them, perhaps even the Divine Master Zhong?

The thought sent a chill down Han Li's spine.

His relationship with the Mulan Sorcerers was notoriously hostile. He had thwarted their plans multiple times, and many high-level Mulan Sorcerers had perished by his hand. If he were to encounter the Divine Master Zhong, he would likely be attacked without mercy.

With this thought, Han Li no longer dared to hesitate. He swiftly swayed his body, and before the two distant figures noticed their presence, he instantly appeared beside Zi Ling.

Before she could voice her surprise, Han Li formed hand seals, and spiritual light flashed around him. A swath of green mist suddenly appeared above their heads, gently descending to envelop them.

Han Li and Zi Ling's figures faded within the green light, instantly vanishing without a trace, becoming completely concealed.

At that very moment, the two distant streaks of light had just barely approached the mountain where Han Li was located.

Han Li could now faintly discern Old Ancestor Linghu's ashen face. Suddenly, Han Li's eyes flickered, narrowing slightly as he fixed his gaze on a spot about a hundred zhang behind the two.

"Where are you two trying to go? What, abandoning your companions? Tsk tsk. Your cultivation is quite good, and your primordial spirits are exceptionally condensed. You'll make excellent nourishment for me. How could I possibly let you escape? There will be no more surprises this time. You two should just surrender yourselves obediently."

The mad laughter was utterly unrestrained, showing no hint of holding back. After just a few short sentences, the nearby sky buzzed, and cultivators within a radius of several miles could hear it clearly.

Then, at the point Han Li was observing, just behind the two streaks of light, a black gleam suddenly flashed, and a wisp of dark light eerily emerged.

Upon its appearance, this dark light became erratic, flickering in and out of view. Yet, with each flicker, it mysteriously shortened the distance to the escaping lights ahead. After a brief moment, the dark light was only fifty to sixty zhang away from Old Ancestor Linghu and the other figure.

At this moment, a figure vaguely materialized within the dark light. Though extremely blurry, Han Li immediately focused his gaze.

However, Han Li could not identify the cultivation method or secret art behind this dark light. Even with his cultivation, his divine sense couldn't penetrate it; he could only vaguely discern a general outline from the outside. Yet, this person's figure was quite familiar to Han Li. With a sudden thought, he recognized the individual. Han Li was greatly astonished!

"Marquis Nanlong? How is he here, and why has he become like this?" Han Li was filled with immense shock and doubt.

This person was none other than the demonized "Marquis Nanlong."

Although Han Li was unaware that the individual's body had been possessed by a demonic soul and was no longer the original Marquis Nanlong, the overwhelming demonic energy emanating from him, and the fact that he alone dared to pursue Old Ancestor Linghu and the Grand Elder of Moon-Shrouding Sect, naturally indicated something was amiss. Han Li did not act rashly.

At this moment, "Marquis Nanlong," riding the dark light, saw that he was only about thirty zhang away from the two figures ahead. He let out a sinister chuckle, and with a "poof," the dark light directly burst open.

A mass of pitch-black demonic energy materialized out of thin air, instantly enveloping him. Then, as dark light flashed wildly, "Marquis Nanlong" vanished instantly within the black energy.

Old Ancestor Linghu and the woman in white were constantly monitoring "Marquis Nanlong's" movements. The moment they witnessed his eerie disappearance, their faces paled significantly. Simultaneously and without a word, they stopped their escape lights. Each raised a hand: a dark ancient mirror and a yellow jade ruyi simultaneously shot forth, each transforming into a ball of spiritual light that enveloped and protected them.

Not far in front of them, a black light flashed, and pitch-black demonic energy erupted without warning, instantly spreading over ten zhang wide. Marquis Nanlong's figure then flickered and swayed within the black energy.

"You clearly know you're no match for me, yet you insist on resisting. How utterly foolish!" Marquis Nanlong sneered from within the black energy, seemingly waving his hand casually.

A tremendous "bang" echoed. It was as if an invisible giant hand had struck the light shield formed by the white-clad woman's precious mirror. Instantly, she and her mirror were sent hurtling back seven or eight zhang, only barely managing to steady themselves, still swaying precariously.

Old Ancestor Linghu's already ashen face now looked even worse.

"What exactly are you?" Old Ancestor Linghu suddenly roared, his voice sharp. "Not only have you possessed Fellow Daoist Nanlong's body, but you also dare to devour the primordial spirits and Nascent Souls of our cultivators! Do you truly believe you can be a match for all the cultivators who have entered this valley? There are dozens of cultivators at or above the Nascent Soul stage who have entered Demonfall Valley this time. No matter how powerful you are, you will not escape death!"

"Dozens? Hehehe! Excellent!" Marquis Nanlong sneered grimly, showing no fear. "I originally thought there were only a few human cultivators in the valley. Now there are so many Nascent Souls for me to devour! In that case, I'm not in a hurry to retrieve my true body. As long as I devour all these Nascent Souls, my soul power should recover by seventy or eighty percent, wouldn't it?"

Following that, a tremendous "boom" resounded. The black energy instantly burst apart into fragments. Then, a dark figure, leaving a series of afterimages, shot out from the black energy, charging directly at Old Ancestor Linghu.