Chapter 1386: Between Victory and Defeat

Han Li sensed the pervasive contradictory aura and a glimmer of understanding arose in his heart.

It was precisely the aura inherent in the Heavenly Dao itself—open and upright, yet cold and murderous, showing no mercy to any living being in the world.

Under the Vial Spirit's guidance, the seven-colored ribbon soared into the sky like a seven-colored dragon, churning into the dark green sea of clouds, then tumbling into the chaotic vortex.

Gu Huojin watched Han Li and the others' actions but did not intervene.

This was not because he was overly arrogant, but because, with the two vortices fiercely contending, he too had to fully activate the grand formation.

More importantly, he needed to hasten his absorption of the Chaotic Laws pervading heaven and earth. As long as he succeeded in advancing to become a Chaotic Ancestor, he would then become the embodiment of chaotic power, and the laws of heaven and earth would be toyed with in his palm, making him a true creator god.

At that time, no one and no power could defeat him, and Han Li and the others would become the best sacrifices for him to create a new world.

"Do you underestimate the power of chaos? Thinking a mere Vial of Time can turn the tables is nothing but a pipe dream," Gu Huojin sneered, taunting.

With that, he raised his hands, and as his wide sleeves fluttered, the chaotic vortex above his head swirled violently, drawing in dense dark green mist at a hundred times the previous speed.

After twisting, the chaotic vortex transformed into a blurry giant face.

Seeing this face emerge, the Reincarnation Palace Master frowned and shouted, "Gu Huojin is merging with the Dao. Once that face is complete, all is lost!"

Hearing this, the Demon Lord held nothing back. Demonic qi surged around him, his body rapidly expanded, and two huge curved horns grew from his head. His originally handsome face vanished, transforming into a colossal demonic creature tens of thousands of zhang tall.

With one step, the void beneath his feet violently trembled, and enormous silver ripples spread from his feet, extending tens of millions of li before gradually fading.

At the same time, the entire True Immortal Realm sensed it; all spaces trembled violently, as if welcoming the birth of an Ancestor who governed this law.

In this battle, following Han Li, the Demon Lord, who had remained at the peak of the Great Luo for endless ages, finally took that step and became an Ancestor.

In truth, like the Reincarnation Palace Master, he had long possessed all the qualifications to become an Ancestor. However, fearing Gu Huojin's jealousy on one hand and worrying about the erosion of the Heavenly Dao on the other, he had sealed himself off and never taken that step.

At this moment, he had nothing left to worry about.

Whether one becomes an Ancestor or not makes a world of difference in perceiving the laws of heaven and earth and the workings of the Heavenly Dao.

A flash of fervor passed through the Demon Lord's eyes. He raised his hands high and clapped them together.

The void around Gu Huojin twisted, and an invisible force of spatial pressure instantly squeezed toward him, attempting to sever his connection with the chaotic vortex.

With a thunderous crash, Gu Huojin's body instantly exploded into a cloud of gray dust.

But in the next moment, a gray light flickered, and his form coalesced again.

"I have already merged with the Dao for the most part. All your efforts are in vain," Gu Huojin laughed loudly.

At that moment, Han Li, who had been driving the Vial of Time with closed eyes, suddenly opened his eyes, grinned, and asked with a smile:

"In vain? I think not!"

As soon as the words fell, a dazzling seven-colored radiance appeared within the enormous chaotic vortex, transforming into a seven-colored dragon tens of millions of zhang in size, churning and stirring within the vortex.

On the dragon's head stood a blurry figure, arms crossed, exuding an air of assured victory—naturally, it was the Vial Spirit.

The dragon soared high into the sky, then abruptly turned its head, diving straight through the center of the chaotic vortex toward the dark green vortex below.

Once the dragon entered the dark green vortex, its body rapidly shrank, heading straight for the mouth of the Vial of Time.

Under its pull, the chaotic vortex was stretched into a gigantic funnel, and rolling chaotic cloud qi poured down, entering the dark green vortex and then flowing into the Vial of Time.

"No, no, impossible..." Gu Huojin cried out in disbelief.

He frantically formed hand seals, but could not stop the chaotic vortex from being absorbed by the vial. Instead, he himself was dragged along by the vortex, flying toward the vial's mouth.

In a fury, he slashed horizontally with one hand, sending a massive blade of chaotic light flying, severing himself from the vortex. But he could only watch helplessly as the chaotic vortex was completely sucked into the vial.

After absorbing the chaotic vortex, the vial began to flash with multicolored radiance, making the entire bottle appear thoroughly translucent. Through the bottle's body, one could even see a gray vortex coiling inside, still spinning rapidly.

Moreover, the Vial of Time did not revert to its original form but remained as huge as a tower, swaying left and right, trembling incessantly.

"Senior Vial Spirit, this vial..." Han Li frowned and asked telepathically.

"No time to explain now. I must help the Vial of Time suppress this chaotic power," the Vial Spirit's voice came through, sounding very anxious.

Han Li dared not ask further. Earlier, he had tried to refine the Vial of Time but ultimately failed.

However, he could not be blamed for that. The power within the Vial of Time was very close to the Heavenly Dao, and it could not be refined merely by having a high enough realm or strong enough power.

"Variable, variable, still that variable... I should have killed you first!" Gu Huojin, his body shrouded in chaotic mist, roared through gritted teeth.

At this moment, he had lost his initial calm composure.

His fierce killing intent had almost materialized, so much so that even the chaotic power could barely conceal it.

"If you want to kill me, feel free to try," Han Li said with a smile, one hand behind his back.

"Don't be careless. This fellow is now only one step away from becoming a Chaotic Ancestor. His laws are unaffected by the Heavenly Dao and can be fully unleashed. But you two must be wary of the Heavenly Dao's devouring," the Reincarnation Palace Master transmitted a warning.

As soon as he finished speaking, the void ahead collapsed entirely.

Gu Huojin seemed to merge into a gray haze. The chaotic mist around him spread outward like countless tentacles, devouring everything the void could touch.

"What's happening?" the Demon Lord asked in surprise.

"Without the chaotic vortex to provide law power, Gu Huojin has entered a berserk state. He will continuously draw power from the surrounding world. This entire void may be devoured by him," the Reincarnation Palace Master said.

"Fellow Daoist Shi, first seal off this space to block him from gaining more power as much as possible," Han Li called out.

Hearing this, the Demon Lord did not hesitate and immediately activated his law power to the fullest.

Silver light surged from behind him, transforming into two enormous silver wings that expanded outward into the void. In just over ten breaths, they enveloped an area of tens of millions of li.

When the two wings closed again, this region was completely isolated from the rest of the void.

"To completely seal this area, I must fully immerse myself in it, so I won't be able to participate in the battle," the Demon Lord said.

"Fellow Daoist Shi, just focus on sealing the space. Leave the fighting to us," Han Li said.

The Reincarnation Palace Master nodded in agreement.

"Very well."

With a shout, the Demon Lord's body flashed with silver light, and his figure began to blur.

His form gradually faded, merging bit by bit into the spatial barrier that separated heaven and earth. On the four sides of the barrier—east, south, west, and north—four humanoid statues emerged, each bearing the Demon Lord's likeness.

At the top and bottom of the barrier, two enormous silver runic arrays appeared. In the void between them, countless silver light feathers could be seen floating.

Each of these silver light feathers contained the true essence of spatial laws. Though they looked as light as a feather, they were as heavy as a thousand jun.

They drifted through the void like snowflakes, landing on the mist around Gu Huojin. Even the mist formed by chaotic law power was crushed and shattered by these silver light feathers, unable to hold its form.

Gu Huojin's figure reappeared, but his appearance had drastically changed. He no longer looked like the immortal, otherworldly being he once was. Most of his clothes were torn, his hair was disheveled, and he seemed completely demonically possessed.

His legs, which had been damaged by the Heavenly Dao's backlash, appeared to have healed. Now standing barefoot, his eyes swirled with chaotic vortices, his killing intent soared to the heavens, and his gaze was fixed intently on Han Li.

Han Li's heart tightened. With a single gesture, seventy-two Bamboo Cloudswarm Swords appeared in his palm, and he grasped them firmly.

The Reincarnation Palace Master glanced at him, then at Gu Huojin, took a deep breath, and formed hand seals. The Six Paths Reincarnation Disk behind him spun slowly.

A thousand years of enmity, ten thousand years of resentment—karmic retribution arrives in this very moment.

These life-and-death foes, whether they should be called one pair or two, had finally reached the moment of decisive battle.

"Victory or defeat hinges on this move. Let's go," the Reincarnation Palace Master thought, and his figure charged forward first.

The Six Paths Reincarnation Disk behind him flashed with light, and six reincarnation light pillars surged out from around him, shooting straight toward Gu Huojin.

Gu Huojin leaped forward, his body shrouded in chaotic mist, and vanished instantly.

In the next moment, his figure passed directly through the center of the six light pillars and appeared before the Reincarnation Palace Master.

"So fast!" Han Li's heart tightened.

Even under the suppression of the Demon Lord's spatial laws, Gu Huojin could still move at such speed—truly astonishing.

"Die," Gu Huojin muttered, reaching out a hand to grab the Reincarnation Palace Master's throat.

A strange light flashed in the Reincarnation Palace Master's eyes. His body had already begun to glow, and his form started to blur, about to dissipate on the spot.

But Gu Huojin let out a cold snort, and gray light instantly enveloped the Reincarnation Palace Master. The latter's already fading body solidified again, and a flash of blood appeared at his throat.

A tearing sound rang out!

Han Li's eyes trembled as he saw the Reincarnation Palace Master's entire neck torn off, his head separating and falling into the void below.

"Stop!" Han Li roared.

Without giving Han Li any chance to intervene, Gu Huojin kicked out, smashing the Reincarnation Palace Master's head.

As the head exploded, the Reincarnation Palace Master's aura completely vanished from heaven and earth.