Chapter 691: Star Official

Han Li swept his gaze over the scene and immediately flew toward Su Liu, who was locked in combat with Hu San.

Although Hot Immortal was not particularly powerful, his golden ancient mirror could slow down all attacks, making it an excellent defensive tool. With Hot Immortal's assistance, Bi She仙子 could at least hold her ground for a short time.

On the other side, Hu San's situation was dire. Suppressed by the lightning released by Su Liu, he was mostly on the defensive, looking extremely狼狈.

Seeing Han Li flying toward him, Su Liu opened his mouth and spat out a mass of five-colored lightning. The lightning spun around and transformed into an ancient five-colored small tripod.

The small tripod flashed with lightning all over, and a shower of five-colored lightning threads shot out from its top. Spinning once, they turned into a five-colored lightning net that flew toward Han Li.

But at that moment, the golden lightning on Han Li, who had already flown nearby, suddenly flared up. With a thunderous roar, his figure vanished, causing the five-colored lightning net to catch nothing.

The next moment, lightning flashed behind Chi Rong, and Han Li's figure materialized out of nowhere. He raised his hand and waved.

Nine Azure Bamboo Cloudswarm Swords shot out from his hand, transforming in a flash into nine enormous green sword shadows that slashed down toward Chi Rong's head.

Chi Rong was greatly startled. He let out a low roar, and a brilliant red light burst from his body. Countless red runes surged out from within him, wildly interweaving and flashing above his head.

In an instant, a massive red shield coalesced into form.

Then the nine sword shadows struck it, producing a thunderous boom.

The red shield trembled violently as red light and green radiance intertwined and flashed, temporarily blocking the nine sword shadows.

However, this red shield was a secret technique he had hastily executed, and cracks had already appeared on it, threatening to shatter at any moment.

Chi Rong's figure flickered as he attempted to flee to the side.

But at that moment, the temporal domain before him suddenly flickered, and a golden net materialized—a net formed from temporal law crystals—which instantly ensnared Chi Rong's body.

Strands of powerful temporal law emanated from these law crystals, intertwining together, and Chi Rong's body was firmly immobilized, unable to move.

A cold glint flashed in Han Li's eyes. He struck out with his palm, and a brilliant golden light radiated from his hand.

Instantly, a golden light flashed above Chi Rong, and a house-sized golden palm shadow materialized out of thin air, slamming down fiercely.

With a dull thud!

Chi Rong's body exploded, but no blood splattered. Instead, it turned into clusters of red flames that shot outward.

At that moment, the sound of ancient incantations echoed in the void, and the red flames converged in the distance.

With a flash of fire, Chi Rong's body coalesced again, though his face had turned noticeably paler.

The exchange between Han Li and Chi Rong was as fast as lightning. Hot Immortal and Bi She仙子, who had been dazzled by the spectacle, only now reacted and flew over to stand beside Han Li.

“You are no ordinary Golden Immortal, able to kill Gongshu Jiu across realms. In the past ten thousand years, you are the first opponent to excite me a little,” Chi Rong said, his face full of murderous intent, staring at Han Li word by word.

Han Li paid no heed to Chi Rong's words. He formed a hand seal and waved his hand.

The nine Azure Bamboo Cloudswarm Swords shook and transformed into nine green giant swords, with golden arcs of lightning appearing on their blades.

Amidst the rumbling thunder, they shot out again, flying toward Chi Rong.

The net formed from temporal law crystals flickered once and vanished into the temporal domain, seemingly concealing itself again.

Seeing this, Hot Immortal and Bi She仙子 also made their moves.

The former chanted incantations and fiercely waved his banana fire fan. With a thunderous roar, another nine-tailed fire phoenix shot out, swiftly pouncing toward Chi Rong.

Bi She仙子 also formed hand seals, and a brilliant blue light radiated from her body. Behind her, the blue giant serpent phantom appeared once more.

The giant serpent phantom opened its mouth wide and spat out a mass of blue mist. Rolling and condensing, it turned into four or five blue mist serpents that lunged at Chi Rong from another direction.

The combined might of the three was earth-shattering. Moreover, with the temporal domain amplifying their strengths and diminishing Chi Rong's, their coordination was seamless, leaving no openings.

Though Chi Rong was powerful, he dared not take the trio's attacks head-on. He retreated backward while raising his hand and waving it.

A ball of white light shot out from his hand—a small white pouch—which collided with one of Han Li's Azure Bamboo Cloudswarm Swords.

With a “pop,” the small white pouch shattered and burst.

Countless rice-sized dark red insects emerged, numbering tens of thousands, forming a dark red insect cloud that buzzed loudly.

Tiny red flames burned on the insects' bodies, giving them a rather peculiar appearance.

The trio's attacks then struck the insect cloud heavily, scattering it.

Then, these insects, like willow catkins in the wind, swiftly and agilely flew in all directions, with almost none of them killed by the trio's attacks.

“Not good, these are...” Hot Immortal's expression suddenly changed upon seeing these insects, and he abruptly halted.

Han Li and Bi She仙子 were slightly startled by this and also stopped abruptly, though their attacks did not cease.

A red light flashed in Chi Rong's hand, and a dark red short flute appeared. He did not put it to his lips but waved it in the air and tapped a few holes on the flute with his fingers.

A primitive and desolate flute sound then rose leisurely. The dark red insects flying in all directions seemed to receive an order and abruptly flew in all directions, bypassing the trio's attacks and swarming toward Han Li and the others.

Seeing this, Han Li's expression darkened, and green light flickered on his body. Bi She仙子 also raised her hands.

“Fellow Daoist Li, Bi She仙子, these insects are Fire-Year Fireflies, capable of burning one's lifespan and extremely dangerous. We must not let them get close. I'll deal with them!” Hot Immortal suddenly spoke.

As he spoke, a red light flashed in his hand, and a dark red zither appeared. His fingers rapidly plucked the strings.

The zither's notes rang out, like the roar of dragons and tigers, swift as wind and thunder, their clanging sound shaking the heart and lungs.

Upon hearing the zither music, the Fire-Year Fireflies all stopped their forward flight, spinning in place as if drunk.

“The Canghai Dragon's Roar! How do you know this tune?” Chi Rong abruptly halted his fleeing figure, looking at Hot Immortal with great surprise.

His halt allowed the trio's attacks to catch up with him.

But Chi Rong was not flustered. He grabbed at the void with one hand, and with a flash of red light, the red bell appeared before him, ringing rapidly and densely like rain.

Everything around the bell suddenly became extremely sluggish. The attacks of Han Li and the others also slowed down considerably, though they continued to advance.

Chi Rong chanted incantations, and flames flickered on his body. Then he merged into the flame domain and vanished.

The moment his figure disappeared, the trio's attacks finally struck the red bell.

The bell shattered upon impact, and the anomaly in the flow of time around it disappeared.

At that moment, a red light flashed to the side and behind Han Li and the others, and Chi Rong's figure emerged, his eyes fixed on Hot Immortal.

“You...” Hot Immortal turned and looked at Chi Rong, a look of surprise on his face.

“Are you Senior Brother Huo Yanzi?” Chi Rong quickly scanned Hot Immortal twice, and a hint of pleasant surprise appeared on his face.

Witnessing this, Han Li's eyes showed a stunned expression, and he halted his movement to pounce again.

Bi She仙子 also frowned and stopped her actions.

At that moment, an exasperated voice came from afar.

“Hey, you three, don't just focus on yourselves!”

Hearing this, Han Li turned his head to look. He saw Hu San being forced back step by step by Su Liu, with almost no room left.

He raised an eyebrow, formed hand seals, and waved.

The next moment, a golden light flashed in the void above Su Liu, and a golden net materialized, descending rapidly.

Before the net landed, a powerful temporal law erupted and enveloped the area.

Although Su Liu had been fighting Hu San, he had also been closely watching the battle between Han Li and the others. Having already seen the power of the golden net, he formed a hand seal and pointed. The five-colored small tripod beside him shot upward.

With a soft “puff,” a shower of five-colored lightning threads shot out from the tripod again, forming a lightning net that met the golden net.

The two nets collided. The lightning net and the five-colored small tripod were instantly immobilized, unable to move, but the golden net was also blocked for a moment.

A brilliant lightning light burst from Su Liu's body, turning him into a five-colored arc of lightning that shot to the side, appearing dozens of zhang away in a blur.

Hu San quickly flew backward, putting distance between them.

“Fellow Daoist Su Liu, hold for a moment. I have something to ask them,” Chi Rong called out.

Su Liu's eyes flickered at the words. He glanced at the golden net, a hint of wariness in his eyes, but ultimately did not attack again.

“Master once said that I have a senior brother above me. Since you are able to subdue Master's Fire-Year Fireflies, you must be Senior Brother Huo Yanzi,” Chi Rong said, his eyes fixed intently on Hot Immortal.

“The master you speak of is...” Hot Immortal's expression changed, and he asked in disbelief.

“Our master's honored name is Qi Mozi,” Chi Rong said, bowing slightly toward the void.

“Master... is Master still alive?” Hot Immortal's body trembled at these words, and his voice quivered slightly.

Hearing this, Han Li recalled the various things he had seen in the ruins and had already formed a guess. He looked at Hot Immortal with a strange glint in his eyes.

“What kind of talk is this, Senior Brother? With Master's vast supernatural powers, how could he fall so easily?” Chi Rong frowned slightly, somewhat displeased.

“Excellent, excellent... Master is still alive...” Hot Immortal's eyes grew hot, and he murmured.

Su Liu watched this scene, frowning deeply, a contemplative expression on his face.

“When the sect suffered disaster and millennia of foundation were destroyed in an instant, it was truly a blessing amidst misfortune that Master was able to preserve his life. I wonder where he is now?” Hot Immortal suppressed the joy in his heart and asked.

Hearing this, a strange expression appeared on Chi Rong's face, as if he were choosing his words. After a long silence, he spoke:

“Master is currently serving in the Heavenly Court, as one of the most esteemed Star Officials.”