Chapter 559: Bedbugs

Han Li's expression remained unchanged. With a flick of his sleeve, several patches of green light rolled out, intertwining and weaving before him, instantly forming a green barrier that shielded both him and Nuo Yifan.

In the next moment, a漫天 wind and sand swept in with an irresistible force. The green light screen was struck as if by ten thousand arrows, producing a continuous loud noise like rain beating on banana leaves, yet it remained as steady as a mountain.

The surrounding vast forests, left unprotected, were instantly engulfed by yellow wind and dust. Countless ancient towering trees were swept up by the wind and sand, then buried again. Within a radius of several thousand zhang, everything turned into a vast sea of sand in the blink of an eye.

Although the area where the insect and beast armies clashed was some distance from where the sand beast and the green fox fought, it was also invaded by this fierce wind and sand. The entire battlefield became extremely dark in an instant. Those with lower cultivation could not advance against the wind and sand, and even standing was difficult, causing the insect race's charge and assault to slow considerably.

For the beast army, which was already struggling to breathe under the pressure of the insect army, this was naturally a good thing. Especially the beast Golden Immortals, who breathed a great sigh of relief and took the opportunity to adjust their battle formation and reinforce their defenses. After all, this was the beast race's main battlefield, giving them a geographical advantage. Some tribes also brought out defensive measures and restrictions that they had not had time to deploy earlier due to the rapidly changing situation.

After a moment, the漫天 dust settled, and the world became clear again.

Seeing that their true spirit had killed a powerful enemy, the beast army's morale soared. Led by their respective clan leaders and generals, they let out loud howls and reorganized their offensive, charging at the insect army.

The beast race, which had been caught off guard by the insect race's fierce attack earlier, after a brief rally, fought with increasing ferocity. Although the insect race was powerful, they could not defeat the beast race for the time being.

In the center of the sea of sand, there was no trace of the sand beast. Only a huge six-tailed green fox remained, one bloody hand still gripping the pitch-black long staff, while the other hand held a sand crystal the size of a head.

Compared to the piece Han Li had obtained earlier, this one was several times higher in quality. Not only was it transparent and crystalline, but it also contained strands of golden threads, from which emanated waves of strong spiritual power fluctuations.

After Han Li waved his hand to dispel the green light screen in front of him, Nuo Yifan quickly descended and flew to the side of the six-tailed green fox, asking urgently:

"Lord Su Liu, are you alright?"

"I'm fine, how could anything happen to me..."

The green fox kept saying he was fine, but couldn't help spitting out a mouthful of blood with a "wow."

Nuo Yifan was startled. She circled around to his front and saw that the green armor on his chest was scorched black, with a large bloody hole in the middle, emitting wisps of white smoke that were slowly healing.

Han Li stood in the distance, tactfully not approaching.

In his mind, Gold Devourer was drooling with greed, negotiating with him to get the sand crystal from the green fox.

It had been staying in the Pixiu's belly all along. Although its body was special, the space inside the Pixiu seemed unusual, and not long ago it had finally flown out of its mouth.

"Don't even think about it. We are currently using the beast race's help to deal with the other Gold Devouring Immortal you mentioned. If we cause trouble now, we might be expelled by the beast race. Then we'll have to face the insect army on our own," Han Li transmitted his voice.

"Ah, speaking of that guy, its aura seems to be getting closer. I have to hide again. Little White, open your mouth!" Gold Devourer was startled and said hastily.

"Boss, you can enter my belly, but please don't eat my treasures again... I've worked hard to save these immortal artifacts over the years, and last time you ate a full thirty percent..." the Pixiu said hesitantly.

"Little White, why are you so stingy? It's just a few immortal artifacts. With Uncle around, what are you worried about?" Gold Devourer said discontentedly.

"Master, look..." the Pixiu said with a mournful face.

"Once we get through this, you won't be shortchanged. If we can't even get through this, there's no point talking about the future." Han Li's eyes flickered with blue light as he glanced in a certain direction and said indifferently.

...

"Safe and sound... no injuries, good." The green fox bent down to look at Nuo Yifan and nodded.

"Thanks to Senior Li and Lord Su Liu's protection..." Nuo Yifan said.

"You mean that human boy?" The green fox didn't put away the black long staff but just stuck it into the sand beside him. He turned his huge body to look at Han Li and said.

"Yes, including this time, Senior Li has saved me twice." Nuo Yifan nodded and emphasized.

"Twice? Little girl, you're not thinking of following human customs and offering yourself to him in marriage, are you?" The six-tailed green fox grinned, showing a hint of teasing.

"Lord Su Liu..." Nuo Yifan knew he was deliberately teasing her, so she spoke seriously.

"Humans are always cunning; sometimes even we fox clan can't match them. Don't get too involved with him." The green fox put away his joking expression and said seriously.

"I understand." Nuo Yifan nodded.

As they were speaking, the green fox's expression suddenly changed. He raised one hand, grabbed Nuo Yifan, and threw her heavily toward Han Li, shouting loudly in human language: "Take her and go quickly!"

Han Li seemed to have anticipated this. The moment the green fox Su Liu threw Nuo Yifan, he had already vanished from his spot.

The next instant, he appeared in midair, caught Nuo Yifan around the waist, and vanished again with another flash.

On this side, after tossing Noifan, the six-tailed cyan fox retracted its outstretched palm while simultaneously grabbing the black long rod and thrusting it heavily toward a certain spot in the void directly ahead.

This direction was exactly where Han Li had been looking earlier.

The star patterns on the black long rod blazed with light, and at the tip, a silver flash suddenly expanded into a brilliant starry sky spanning hundreds of zhang.

In front of the starry sky, there was nothing a moment before, but the next instant, a golden sun abruptly bloomed.

The colossal golden mass crashed forward like a meteor from beyond the heavens, slamming head-on into the starry light curtain spread by the black long rod, producing a deafening boom!

"Boom!"

The resplendent starry sky exploded violently. The seemingly invincible black long rod, before this golden light, became as fragile as a sorghum stalk, its body covered in cracks as it shattered.

Ten thousand starry glimmers ultimately could not rival a single ray of morning light, scattering abruptly across the sand sea and forest.

The six-tailed cyan fox let out a pained howl, its massive body flying backward like a torn sack, plowing a deep trench across the ground before crashing heavily into a cliff face.

"Rumble..."

Another collapse sounded as rolling dust and tumbling rocks poured down, burying half of the six-tailed cyan fox's body.

"Insect Spirit..."

Black blood oozed from the corner of its mouth, its gaze fixed on the golden mass as it ground out through clenched teeth.

Within the dazzling golden light, a golden beetle over a thousand zhang in size gradually became clear.

It hovered in midair, exuding an indescribable, terrifying aura.

Over a thousand li away, Han Li, racing toward the canyon, did not turn back but felt a chill in his heart. The newcomer was none other than the other Devouring Gold Beetle that Gold Boy had sensed earlier.

Though its appearance was nearly identical to Gold Boy's transformed form, its aura was terrifyingly powerful, almost comparable to the late-stage Taiyi realm.

Han Li inwardly groaned, but his figure showed no sign of stopping. Instead, cyan light flickered wildly around him, and his escape speed actually increased.

"Lord Insect Spirit!"

The insect race army, thrown into disarray by the increasingly fierce beast race army, erupted in wild cheers upon seeing the Devouring Gold Beetle, their own insect spirit, take action.

The various spirit insects driven by the insect race seemed inspired by some power, becoming more bloodthirsty and frenzied as they charged back at the beast race army. The battlefield descended into chaos, once again locked in a stalemate.

Nuo Qinglin had already returned to the battlefield. Startled by the appearance of the Devouring Gold Beetle, he quickly looked toward the six-tailed cyan fox, trying to find his daughter.

But when he traced Noifan's aura, he found that she had been sent back to the castle atop the valley mouth by Han Li.

"Hand it over..."

The golden beetle's wings trembled as it spoke indifferently, its voice like a great bell resonating across heaven and earth.

"Cough... Just as Father said, you really are an indestructible pest. Step on it once, and it comes back stronger. I just didn't expect you to have grown this strong since the last war..." The six-tailed cyan fox coughed up a mouthful of blood and sneered.

"I will only say this once..."

The golden beetle said coldly, then crossed its two forelimbs and slashed forward.

Two crystalline beams shot from its forelimbs, like two huge, paper-thin cicada wings, flickering through the void.

The six-tailed cyan fox, as if seeing a ghost, had already secretly gathered power in its six tails. It slammed them against the ground, its body soaring hundreds of zhang into the air, barely dodging the two crystalline slashes at the critical moment.

From a great distance, Han Li's eyes glowed with blue light as he observed this scene closely, his heart filled with shock.

He saw that the dust and light in the void, the moment those two crystalline beams passed, were split cleanly in half from the middle.

After the six-tailed cyan fox dodged, the cliff face behind it was struck by the crystalline beams.

The rock-covered cliff, like a piece of tofu, revealed a perfectly smooth crack at its center, sliced cleanly through.

The six-tailed cyan fox hovered high in the sky, looking utterly miserable, but it shouted loudly:

"Father, that pest is bullying me!"

As its voice fell, a dazzling starry radiance lit up in the void.

Another, even larger figure emerged from within.