Chapter 419: Forbidden Combat

Han Li's pupils contracted slightly upon hearing the exchange between Bear Mountain and the Cold Flame Ancestor.

Ever since arriving in the Immortal Realm, due to possessing the Vial of the Heaven's Gourd, his cultivation progress remained closely tied to elixirs. Whenever he had the opportunity, he would peruse various texts related to alchemy, especially during his time at the Candle Dragon Sect, where he became well-versed in many esoteric texts. It was then that he had heard of the Beast Fetal Profound Origin Pill.

As its name suggested, this pill was a precious elixir refined primarily from the placentas of rare celestial beasts or beast eggs containing pure bloodlines. Such beasts were often gifted with extraordinary talents and immense physical strength. After consuming this pill, one could integrate the beast's bloodline power into oneself, not only greatly enhancing the cultivator's physical strength but also granting a certain probability of acquiring the beast's innate divine abilities.

If materials from celestial beasts that inherently possessed law power were used, the resulting Beast Fetal Profound Origin Pill might also contain law power. After consumption, it could allow cultivators to gain insights into those laws, much like Dao Pills.

However, refining this pill was extremely difficult, no less so than Dao Pills, and the auxiliary materials were also exceedingly rare. Hence, it rarely appeared in the world. He never expected that the pockmarked old man actually possessed one, and this Beast Fetal Profound Origin Pill was extraordinary, containing law power—truly remarkable.

Bear Mountain's lips moved as he briefly explained the Beast Fetal Profound Origin Pill to the Cold Flame Ancestor and Han Li. Upon hearing this, the Cold Flame Ancestor's expression changed.

Boom!

Dazzling black light radiated from the pockmarked old man. His originally pale face instantly recovered and turned crimson, as if about to drip blood.

At the same time, muffled cracking sounds came from within the pockmarked old man's body. Thick blue veins bulged on his exposed skin, such as his neck and arms.

As the black light surged, his body rapidly expanded, more than doubling in size in the blink of an eye. A thick layer of black scales emerged on his skin, gleaming with metallic luster, appearing indestructible. Fine scales also appeared on his ten fingers, which grew sharp black claws.

In an instant, the pockmarked old man transformed into a half-human, half-dragon form.

Not only that, but the muscles on his forehead and back writhed as if something was about to grow out.

But at that moment, the surging black light on the pockmarked old man suddenly subsided, and the writhing muscles stopped, returning to normal.

The black light then dissipated, revealing the pockmarked old man's robust figure.

A trace of admiration flickered in Han Li's eyes. This Beast Fetal Profound Origin Pill was indeed wondrous, comparable to his own true spirit bloodline transformations.

His transformations had been cultivated through immense hardship, yet the pockmarked old man had achieved it with just one pill.

Han Li glanced at the pockmarked old man once more, then turned and continued ascending toward the mountain peak.

The Cold Flame Ancestor and Bear Mountain immediately snapped to attention and hurriedly followed.

The pockmarked old man let out a light breath. A sharp gust of wind, almost tangible, shot from his mouth and struck the steps with a loud noise.

He lowered his head to look at his body and sighed.

Having taken the Beast Fetal Profound Origin Pill in haste, it was indeed impossible to fully utilize its effects; most of the medicinal power was wasted.

But this was enough for now.

A glint flashed in the pockmarked old man's eyes, and he took a step forward.

With a muffled boom!

The old man actually stepped directly onto two steps at once, striding forward to catch up with Han Li and the others, moving extremely fast.

Although Han Li and the others did not look back, they were constantly aware of the situation behind them. With a start, they desperately accelerated their climbing speed.

But after the pockmarked old man's transformation, his speed far surpassed theirs.

The distance between them rapidly closed. In just a short while, only a hundred or so steps remained between them.

At this rate, they would be caught up within less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.

Bear Mountain's expression darkened. He muttered incantations, and the golden light on his body surged again. The golden giant he had transformed into grew even larger.

The hair on the golden giant's head rapidly disappeared amid the flickering golden light, leaving a bald head, and a golden monk's robe appeared on his body.

In a few breaths, Bear Mountain had transformed into a being resembling a golden arhat.

The golden arhat took a large step forward. With a boom, he also stepped onto two steps at once, quickly heading toward the mountain peak at a speed no less than that of the pockmarked old man.

Surprise flickered in Han Li's eyes. The star power on his body surged as he fully activated the Great Cycle Star Element Art.

A series of crackling sounds came from within his body. His frame expanded considerably, and eighteen points of starlight appeared on his lower abdomen.

As his sinews and bones trembled, a vast power radiated outward, causing ripples in the surrounding air.

Han Li lightly tapped his foot, and his entire body drifted lightly to the next step, floating upward without touching the ground, his speed no slower than Bear Mountain's.

The two suddenly accelerated, quickly surpassing the Cold Flame Ancestor and leaving him behind.

Seeing this, the Cold Flame Ancestor let out a low shout, formed hand seals, and also fully activated the Great Cycle Star Element Art. The starlight on his body intensified again, eighteen clusters of starlight appeared on his lower abdomen, and his body also enlarged somewhat.

However, the Cold Flame Ancestor's transformation was far inferior to Han Li's in both momentum and aura.

He stomped heavily on the steps, increasing his speed somewhat.

But compared to Han Li, Bear Mountain, and the pockmarked old man, he was still slower.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

A series of heavy footsteps came from behind, as the pockmarked old man gradually caught up.

The Cold Flame Ancestor grew anxious. He waved his hands, producing four or five talismans of various colors, and slapped them all onto his body.

Several beams of light flashed and then merged into his body.

The starlight on Cold Flame Ancestor's body immediately thickened, and his speed increased slightly, barely keeping pace with Han Li and the others ahead.

The group chased each other, and soon there were only a hundred or so steps left to the summit.

At this point, the steps became steeper, and the gravity restriction above suddenly increased greatly, far exceeding the previous incremental rise.

The speed of the group slowed down one after another.

Han Li and Bear Mountain were fine; though their pace slowed, they still advanced steadily.

Cold Flame Ancestor, however, seemed to be in a bad state.

Having climbed with all his strength earlier, his physical power was greatly depleted, and the starlight on his body had dimmed considerably. He was now somewhat out of breath, and the talisman light on his body flickered on and off, threatening to extinguish at any moment.

But the pockmarked old man was not much better off; the black scales on his body had receded noticeably, his complexion looked pale, and his steps were somewhat unsteady.

"Damn it!" The pockmarked old man's expression grew increasingly grim, and he couldn't help but roar inwardly.

He had just taken the Beast Fetus Profound Origin Pill, and the bloodline power within had not yet fully merged with his own; he was barely maintaining his transformation.

The black light on the old man flickered suddenly, and the black scales on his body receded further, forcing him to stop.

Seeing the pockmarked old man's condition, Cold Flame Ancestor was overjoyed.

He paused his steps, stopping on a step as well, and took out a blue, shimmering pill from which a strong starlight power emanated.

Without a word, he swallowed the pill and circulated the Great Cycle Star Origin Art to refine the medicinal power, causing the starlight on his body to brighten considerably.

He let out a light breath and continued to step forward.

A cold glint suddenly flashed in the pockmarked old man's eyes. He abruptly raised both hands and flicked his ten fingers.

Chi chi chi!

Ten slender black threads shot out from his fingertips, flickered, and disappeared.

The next moment, the void behind Cold Flame Ancestor shimmered, and the ten black threads materialized out of thin air, stabbing toward his back like lightning.

But at that moment, a loud "hum" sounded from the silver steps, and a layer of bright yellow light emerged, instantly enveloping the black threads with a massive gravitational force.

As a result, most of the ten black threads deviated from their course, but three still stabbed toward Cold Flame Ancestor's body.

Sensing the situation behind him, Cold Flame Ancestor's expression changed drastically. He let out a roar and dodged to the side.

With a "puchi" sound, blood spurted out!

Though he tried his best to dodge, he still failed to evade completely. The three black threads directly broke through his protective light shield and pierced his body.

Once the black threads entered his body, they immediately exploded.

Bang bang bang!

Three bloody holes were blasted open on Cold Flame Ancestor's body, and blood gushed out.

He let out a miserable cry and fell to his knees with a thud.

Han Li and Bear Mountain heard the noise and turned to look.

The pockmarked old man was stunned, as if he hadn't expected to succeed so easily.

"Haha..." A triumphant, sinister smile appeared on his face.

But just as he laughed twice, a sudden change occurred. A loud boom suddenly rang out in the void above his head.

Before he could react, a thick, water-barrel-sized purple-red lightning bolt materialized out of thin air, emitting a terrifying aura fluctuation, and crashed down onto him.

A dazzling thunder light instantly engulfed the pockmarked old man's body, and a blood-curdling scream came from within, then abruptly ceased.

Amid the dazzling thunder light, a cracking sound was heard. The pockmarked old man's body was shattered into pieces and exploded, and a small figure seemed to fly out from within, but it too dissipated in the lightning.

Witnessing this series of dramatic changes, Han Li was momentarily stunned, standing there with his mouth agape.

But inwardly, he was relieved at the pockmarked old man's fall.

"Hmph! To dare to make a move here is simply reckless!" Bear Mountain sneered, then paid no further attention and turned to continue upward.

Han Li looked at Bear Mountain's back, raising an eyebrow. Clearly, there was some kind of prohibition against fighting here.

He did not move immediately but looked at Cold Flame Ancestor, who had fallen to the ground.

Cold Flame Ancestor's face was deathly pale, but seeing the pockmarked old man's fall, his expression also relaxed.

He tremblingly took out a blood-red pill and swallowed it. A dense blood light appeared on his body, and the three wounds healed at a visible rate. He barely managed to stand up.

Han Li's gaze flickered. Cold Flame Ancestor's injuries were not fully healed; only the surface had recovered. It would likely take some time for him to continue climbing the steps.

The others from Ghost Cry Sect were still far behind, and it would take them a long time to climb up, which should be enough for Cold Flame Ancestor to recover.

Han Li turned to continue forward.

Just then, a soft sound came from below.

His body stiffened, and he looked toward the source of the sound, his expression changing.