The next day.
At noon, the scorching sun hung high in the sky.
The rumbling sound of war drums echoed as the Mulan Dharma Idol army, a vast, dark mass, approached from afar, arriving before the great formation that was once enveloped in a sea of mist but had now dissipated.
Compared to yesterday, the mighty Dharma Idol army now included a colossal beast, over thirty zhang tall and twenty zhang long.
It was very eye-catching.
The giant beast resembled a massive rhinoceros, with a brilliant blue horn about a zhang long on its forehead, and its body was covered in shiny black battle armor, adorned with various shimmering runic patterns.
With each step, blue strange clouds would lift its feet, preventing it from being too cumbersome and slow.
Seated atop the giant beast was a beautiful young woman who appeared to be in her twenties, dressed in dark green, with a delicate face and cold glints occasionally flashing in her eyes, subtly emanating Evil Qi.
Yesterday's tall, thin Dharma Idol and Kuyao followed on either side of the giant beast, showing utmost respect to the young woman atop it.
Evidently, her status was far above theirs.
The tall, thin Dharma Idol looked ahead and frowned, saying, "Master Le, this is not quite the same as what was discussed yesterday. Originally, the plan was to suddenly withdraw the great formation during battle, catching them off guard, but now..."
"Although the mist has dissipated, the ground Restrictions still exist, giving an unsettling feeling."
"Fellow Daoist Gu also hasn't contacted us. I wonder if something went wrong, if it was only half successful, or if we were discovered and this current situation is a trap set by the other side."
The green-clad woman raised her willow-like eyebrows and said, "Speculation is useless. Let some Dharma Idols go and investigate, then we will know."
"Yes."
The tall, thin Dharma Idol immediately arranged for a team of a hundred Dharma Idols, led by a Core Formation Dharma Idol, to enter the great formation for reconnaissance.
They quickly turned into black dots, entering the area where the sea of mist had once been, but the journey was smooth, and nothing unusual happened.
So, these individuals, each holding a Magical Artifact, boldly flew towards the peak of the mountain.
Seeing them safely reach the mountaintop, the tall, thin Dharma Idol finally breathed a sigh of relief and said with a smile, "It seems Fellow Daoist Gu was indeed successful."
"Presumably, they suffered internal damage and have already abandoned this area."
His voice carried a hint of surprise, "They left in such a hurry; there must be many things they didn't have time to take with them."
The tall, thin Dharma Idol was about to give the order for the others to follow, but the green-clad woman raised her hand, stopping him.
"Don't rush. Let's wait a bit longer."
"I always feel something is strange. Whether it succeeds or not, it's always better to be cautious."
The Cultivators who had previously reached the mountaintop began searching through the pavilions there. Once they found something, they would joyfully put it into their Storage Pouch.
According to the Mulan people's regulations, except for warehouses and treasure vaults, all other items, once discovered, belonged to the discoverer.
The Dharma Idols still waiting in place immediately began to stir, their eyes fixed on the mountaintop, full of envy.
After a long wait, the green-clad woman suddenly spoke: "Send another hundred-person team to destroy the remaining Restrictions. Until the Restrictions are eliminated, I will not let anyone else enter."
"Yes, everything will be as Master Le says."
The two immediately arranged for trusted Disciples from their respective tribes to go.
However, just a moment later, strange noises came from various parts of the mountaintop. The mountain trembled slightly, and the Dharma Idols on it turned pale, scattering like startled birds.
On the mountain peak, various colored Aura appeared.
The surrounding mist, which had previously dissipated, now surged out, violently churning and obscuring the sky.
With Huanglong Mountain as the center, the vast surrounding area once again transformed into a sea of mist.
The tall, thin Dharma Idol and Kuyao's expressions immediately changed, turning somewhat ashen, for within were a hundred Disciples from their respective tribes.
The green-clad woman was unconcerned, her eyebrows not even twitching. She calmly said, "It truly is a trap."
"It's just a pity for Fellow Daoist Gu. I suppose he either died or has already escaped from here. If he were to continue lurking, he might have been able to play a greater role in the future."
"Everyone, prepare to attack the great formation. This time, we must take this place!"
"Yes, Master Le."
"What about the male Cultivator who killed Mister Tian Ku yesterday...?"
The tall, thin Dharma Idol hesitated, saying, after witnessing Han Li's methods, he felt there was a high probability he was not his opponent and might be easily killed.
He genuinely did not want to encounter Han Li.
"That person, if I'm not mistaken, should be the Cultivator who eliminated Master Mu of the Tianfeng Tribe not long ago."
"Besides mastering Wind-Fire Escape, he also possesses a terrifying cold flame, and coupled with the golden Divine Thunder he displayed yesterday, his Divine Abilities are truly formidable. One careless mistake and you'll fall into his Dao."
"Here, besides me, no one else should be able to deal with him. My Gentle Wind Art's speed is definitely not slower than his Wind-Fire Escape, so engaging with him is not an issue."
The tall, thin Dharma Idol and Kuyao exchanged glances, then simultaneously bowed and said, "Then we shall trouble Master Le to take action."
The green-clad woman nodded.
"It's a pity my Fire Spirit was killed by some Spirit Beast from who knows where. Otherwise, if I used the Fire Spirit Essence today, it would be enough to cause powerful destructive force to the great formation Restrictions here."
Seeing Kuyao mention this, the green-clad woman fell into deep thought.
The only variable in this war was that Spirit Beast. It didn't look wild, and if it was manipulated by someone, then they had to be on guard.
Within the Dharma Idol army, the rumbling sound of war drums echoed, shaking the heavens and earth.
After Han Li and the others eliminated the Dharma Idols within the great formation, they gathered together, their Divine Sense remotely sensing the situation outside. Seeing the scale of the Dharma Idol army and the colossal beast, both of the other two, besides Han Li, showed hesitation.
The bald-browed man said, "The woman atop that giant beast was not seen yesterday. Judging by her appearance, she is the one in charge of the Mulan army attacking us."
"Fellow Daoist Han, your Divine Abilities are extraordinary, why not...?"
Han Li smiled slightly. After observing from afar with his Divine Sense, he vaguely discovered that the woman should be a Nascent Soul Middle Stage Cultivator.
"As long as it's not a Mulan Divine Master, I don't think it's a big problem."
"And even if he comes, with Senior Brother Li here, he should take action."
As Han Li thought of this, he hesitated, because he hadn't found him, so he wasn't sure if Li Feiyu was still here. Perhaps he had already left after Crimson Crow departed yesterday.
Outside the great formation, flames soared into the sky.
Six red banners, each a zhang long, floated in the air, lined up in a row. Boundless crimson flames surged out from the red banners, an unending stream.
The crimson flames incinerated the great formation, and many Restrictions were reduced to nothingness.
"Charge!" Kuyao roared with laughter.
Large numbers of Dharma Idols, holding Magical Artifacts, rushed into the sea of mist.
Han Li floated somewhere within the sea of mist, standing on a Green Bamboo Bee Cloud Sword. He had already donned the insect armor refined from the three-colored Gold Devouring Bugs, and above his head, there was a golden insect cloud, silently hovering.
The flying insects within were all ferocious and malevolent, their eyes gleaming with murderous intent, as if they wanted to devour people.
"Yinyue."
"Master, I'm here."
Han Li took out a purple net and a flower basket ancient treasure, handed them to her, and said, "I'll give you this purple yue net and the flower basket ancient treasure. You should conceal yourself in the shadows and act when the timing is right."
"That female Cultivator is not to be underestimated. Unless you are confident or it's an emergency, you must not act rashly."
Yinyue put away the two Magic Treasures, smiled, and then a yellow light shone, and she instantly vanished from Han Li's sight.
Han Li's Divine Sense remained locked on the green-clad woman. Although her Divine Sense was also powerful, almost comparable to a Nascent Soul Late Stage Cultivator, she still couldn't shake him off.
The green-clad woman had originally intended to go straight to the core of the great formation, but given the current situation, she first had to deal with the owner of the Divine Sense that was locking onto her.
Both of them were intentionally searching for the other, and it wasn't long before they were less than a hundred zhang apart in the sea of mist.
After a slight hesitation, the green-clad woman took out a fist-sized green round bead from her Storage Pouch. She tossed it up, then cast a spell upon it.
Immediately, the round bead glowed with a green treasure light, and countless green threads shot out, instantly clearing the mist within a hundred-zhang radius.
The green-clad woman looked over, only to see Han Li standing on a Green Bamboo Bee Cloud Sword dozens of zhang ahead, observing her with an expressionless face.
Upon seeing this, a cold glint flashed in the woman's eyes. Her gaze shifted, and suddenly she looked at the golden insect cloud above Han Li's head. After a closer look, her expression changed drastically.
"Gold Devouring Bugs?!"
"You actually still have Gold Devouring Bugs!"
She exhaled lightly, blinked, and the icy coldness in her eyes intensified by three points.
Then, she slapped her Storage Pouch, and a small yellow cauldron, glowing with yellow light, appeared in her hand.
Han Li frowned at this. He sensed that the small cauldron seemed to be made of some kind of spiritual wood, and remembering the Gold Devouring Bugs' weakness, he had some conjectures in his mind.
At this moment, the green-clad woman said, "This Master once dealt with a Tuotuo Cultivator who also commanded Gold Devouring Bugs, so I specifically sought out this Yellow Spirit Cauldron."
"Even Tuotuo people command Gold Devouring Bugs?"
The green-clad woman chuckled twice, "Your Excellency wouldn't know, but Gold Devouring Bugs are the Sacred Insects of the Tuotuo people. They spent countless years cultivating dozens of mature Gold Devouring Bugs."
"Historically, only the most outstanding Cultivators among the Tuotuo people were qualified to inherit them."
"Since these insects matured, we don't know how many people have been devoured by them."
"No wonder the young lady showed such hatred when she saw my Gold Devouring Bugs, but what does that have to do with me?"
"Hmph, anyone who possesses Gold Devouring Bugs deserves to die!"
The green-clad woman manipulated the small cauldron. After spinning in the air, a large area of yellow light flew out from the cauldron, sweeping towards the insect cloud.
Han Li naturally wouldn't let the green-clad woman succeed. With murderous intent in his eyes, he pointed at the insect cloud in the air.
Immediately, a buzzing sound came from the insect cloud, and then it scattered, dividing into countless small groups, dispersing into the sea of mist.
The green-clad woman knew Han Li's plan and immediately launched an attack.
She threw the white silk Magic Treasure on her body. With a flash of white light, the silk Magic Treasure suddenly transformed into a large snow-white vulture, its wings spread several zhang wide, its eyes crimson, and its talons black.
It swooped towards Han Li with extreme speed. A sharp sound erupted, and before it even descended, it had already arrived in front of Han Li.
Facing its sharp talons, Han Li raised one hand, and more than ten faint golden arcs of lightning burst forth from his palm.
...
Li Feiyu arrived above the sea of mist.
The great formation had the effect of affecting Divine Sense, so even he couldn't see the full picture.
Han Li's Divine Ability methods were superior to Master Le's on the opposite side. Even if his magic power was inferior, with Yinyue's assistance, defeating her would not be a problem.
After waiting for a long time, Li Feiyu smiled and muttered to himself, "He's here."
Knowing the plot was indeed a major advantage!
The Mulan Divine Master had not yet flown into the sea of mist when a voice suddenly reached his ears.
This startled him, and he immediately stopped, his vast Divine Sense spreading out to sweep the surroundings.
Li Feiyu appeared directly, his figure tall and upright, his expression calm, a smile playing on his lips, half-smiling, his black robes fluttering in the wind.
"Nascent Soul Middle Stage?"
"You are Li Feiyu?!"
Li Feiyu rubbed his nose, "I didn't expect the Mulan Divine Master to actually know me. It seems there are indeed many Mulan spies in my Heavenly South."
"You all have basic information on some top Cultivators, don't you?"
The Mulan Divine Master did not admit it. His expression was extremely solemn. If the intelligence was correct, Li Feiyu was currently the number one Cultivator in Heavenly South, possessing the strength to suppress a Nascent Soul Late Stage Cultivator.
One-on-one, if he couldn't escape, he might even be killed by him.
He considered himself no worse than any of the three Great Cultivators of Heavenly South, but facing this legendary, miraculous Li Feiyu, he had to act cautiously.
"A Great Cultivator has appeared in Heavenly South! All Mulan forces, retreat quickly!"
The Mulan Divine Master spoke, his voice like rumbling thunder, spreading throughout the entire sea of mist.
Everyone on the Mulan side's expressions changed, while the Heavenly South Cultivators' faces lit up with joy, and their attacks became even more ferocious.
The green-clad woman frowned, fighting as she retreated.
"A Great Cultivator?" Han Li's expression shifted. Did Senior Brother Li leave, and a Great Cultivator arrive?
Or were they already considering Senior Brother Li a Great Cultivator?
Han Li chuckled self-deprecatingly, silently thinking, "With Senior Brother Li's combat power, if he's not classified as a Great Cultivator, that would truly be a joke."
Under the current circumstances, unless there was a special reason, a Great Cultivator would not personally enter the fray.
So Han Li believed it must be Li Feiyu, without a doubt!
"I've heard that the Mulan Divine Master's spirit arts are special. Having the good fortune to meet you today, why not have a practice match?"
Looking at the smile on Li Feiyu's face, silver light flowed in the Mulan Divine Master's palm. The next instant, his figure suddenly vanished, reappearing behind Li Feiyu.
A huge silver hand slammed towards his back.
"Geomagnetic Unbounded, Repel!"
A faint voice suddenly rang out.
A terrifying repulsive force burst from Li Feiyu's body, spewing outwards in a spherical shape with him as the center.
Suddenly subjected to this burst of repulsive force, the Mulan Divine Master's silver giant palm was forced back a few feet, the silver light violently trembling, showing signs of collapsing.
Then, a layer of solid Profound Yellow Qi appeared on Li Feiyu's body, transforming into Profound Yellow Armor, clinging tightly to his physique.
The silver light suddenly intensified, and the Mulan Divine Master's silver giant palm solidified again. Under his push, it approached Li Feiyu.
Li Feiyu turned, retreating his body, and raised his palm. Immediately, hundreds of golden Sword Qi condensed above it, soaring into the sky.
Under his wave, the Sword Qi rapidly fell towards the Mulan Divine Master's silver giant palm.
The golden Sword Qi was endless and inherently powerful. Although it was only at the Nascent Soul Middle Stage level, it successfully blocked the Mulan Divine Master's silver giant palm.
The Mulan Divine Master's mind moved, and the silver giant palm suddenly split into another one, bypassing the golden Sword Qi and heading towards Li Feiyu.
Li Feiyu smiled. His other palm opened, and dozens of dark green Azure Wood True Lightning met the other giant palm.