Chapter 759: Severing the Chain

After about the time it takes an incense stick to burn, when Han Li and the other two had gradually begun to grow accustomed to the pain brought by the cyan lightning, they discovered that the black baleful qi seeping out of their acupoints was no longer as dense as at the beginning, and its speed had also slowed down significantly.

Seeing this, Hu San and Shi Chuankong couldn't help but secretly breathe a sigh of relief.

Han Li, however, was not pleased but worried, and his expression turned somewhat grave.

This was not a sign that the baleful qi within him was about to be cleansed, but rather that the effect of the cyan lightning pool in washing away the baleful qi had weakened.

“That's about it. Each lightning pool is different, and the degree of baleful qi removal varies. It seems this cyan lightning pool can only help you to this extent. Continuing further would only cause more physical damage without any effect.” Old Ancestor Liuqi's voice rang out at the right moment.

“Senior, didn't you say earlier that we could complete the baleful qi cleansing in this cyan lightning pool?” Han Li asked with a frown.

“Who would have thought that you two minor Golden Immortals would contain so much baleful qi? I'm afraid you've left countless souls under your blades on your path of cultivation.” Old Ancestor Liuqi curled his lips and said.

Knowing that what he said was true, Han Li leaped up, intending to fly out.

However, as soon as he rose, the lightning beneath him followed closely, like a net of thunder and lightning covering his body, entangling him tightly and yanking him back into the lightning pool.

Hu San and Shi Chuankong tried briefly and found the same, though they seemed to fare slightly better than Han Li.

Since the baleful qi on their bodies had not been completely cleansed, the lightning in the pool naturally continued to attack them by instinct, preventing them from escaping.

With a thought, Han Li rapidly reversed the Wheel of Truth within him, shooting out like a golden bolt of lightning. Meanwhile, Shi Chuankong also used spatial secret techniques to escape.

Hu San, due to his relatively weaker physical body, was the most injured among the three. Relying on his Taiyi Jade Immortal cultivation, he was the last to break free.

After landing, the three staggered and then sat down cross-legged.

Hu San was charred black all over, with cracked blood marks everywhere on his body, but his face was full of joyful smiles.

He flipped his hand and took out a fragrant Taiyi-grade elixir, tossing it into his mouth and swallowing it.

As the medicinal power spread, white vapor rose from the blood marks on his body, healing at a visible rate.

On the other side, Shi Chuankong's expression was calm, but joy also shone in his eyes. He too took out an elixir and swallowed it, and a large amount of black mist surged around him, enveloping him entirely.

Han Li's clothes were tattered, and the blood-red color on his skin had not faded for a long time. Ti Hun came forward to ask, but he only shook his head, indicating that he was fine.

He did not immediately take any elixir but instead closed his eyes and regulated his breathing for a moment. He carefully reviewed the fifth layer of the Spirit Refining Technique, realizing that he had indeed broken through the previous bottleneck. With diligent practice, it would not be long before he achieved great success.

Afterward, he also took several elixirs and silently began to absorb their medicinal power.

But after only half an incense stick's time, Han Li and the others were awakened from their meditation by Old Ancestor Liuqi.

“It's not that I'm unwilling to let you continue recovering, but time is pressing. You have trespassed into the Nine Nether Clan's forbidden grounds. Although Yin Chengquan might be tied up with the Three Domain Alliance meeting, it's hard to guarantee that he won't send others. By then, it will be difficult for you to continue the baleful qi cleansing.” Old Ancestor Liuqi's gaze swept over the three as he spoke.

“Indeed, though there has been no movement yet, we don't have much time left.” Han Li nodded and said.

“Since San Sheng is already at the Taiyi realm, it's fine. But the remaining baleful qi in both of you is lodged deeper in your immortal apertures. Only by entering a more powerful purple lightning pool can it possibly be washed away. That will also take considerable effort, so you should hurry and continue.” Old Ancestor Liuqi's gaze fell on Han Li as he spoke.

“Not so fast. According to our previous agreement, after the baleful qi is removed, we are to help you escape. Although the baleful qi is not yet fully cleansed, we should first sever one of your chains to show our sincerity.” Han Li naturally understood the hidden meaning in his eyes and said.

“In that case, I'll trouble you.” Old Ancestor Liuqi's eyes showed a hint of satisfaction as he nodded and said.

Shi Chuankong had no objection to this, and Hu San was even more delighted.

“Do we just need the four of us to fully activate the blood saber?” Han Li flipped his hand, and an ancient long saber appeared in his palm. He asked.

Old Ancestor Liuqi's gaze swept over the long saber in Han Li's hand, and a barely noticeable strange glint flashed in his eyes.

“Activating a third-grade immortal artifact to its full power requires an enormous amount of immortal spiritual power. I hope you won't hold back. If one strike fails to sever the chain, it could easily trigger a backlash from the Thunder Chain. Not only would I suffer great pain, but you could also be severely injured.” Old Ancestor Liuqi said gravely.

“This junior will do his utmost.” Hu San cupped his hands and said.

“Rest assured, senior. Our interests are aligned; this junior won't be foolish.” Shi Chuankong also spoke.

Han Li said nothing but turned back and nodded at Ti Hun.

After a brief moment of adjusting their breathing, Han Li held the long saber and stood at the forefront, while the other three stood behind him.

“Fellow Daoist Shi...” He raised the Heavenly Fox Blood-Transforming Saber, changing to a two-handed grip. Instead of activating it immediately, he attempted to contact Shi Qinghou through his mind.

After waiting for a moment, Shi Qinghou still seemed to be in a deep slumber, with no response at all.

"Fellow Daoist Shi, I know you must have some connection with this Ancestor Liuqi, but regardless, at this critical juncture, I hope you can lend me a hand." Han Li communicated through his spiritual connection.

Still, there was utter silence, with no response whatsoever.

Han Li frowned, then said no more. He gripped the Heavenly Fox Blood-Transforming Blade tightly, light flaring from his body as his immortal spiritual power began to flow continuously through his meridians into the long blade in his hands.

A red light flashed on the blade, and all the patterns began to glow. A blood-bane aura spread from the blade.

Seeing this, Hu San and the others each raised a palm and pushed it into the void. Their immortal spiritual power surged out, merging into Han Li's body and, through his hands, into the Heavenly Fox Blood-Transforming Blade.

"Hum..."

A faint trembling sound emanated from the blade. The long sword in Han Li's hands trembled incessantly, shaking out layers upon layers of blood-red blade shadows, stacked as if there were thousands upon thousands.

The aura released from the blade also rose steadily, quickly reaching an unprecedented level.

Han Li's brow was tightly furrowed, and his heart couldn't help but tremble. He felt as if his own blood energy was also affected by the blade's aura, giving him a strange sensation of boiling blood.

"This blade has a unique aura; it seems to have the effect of stimulating blood energy, greatly increasing the user's combat power. You need not worry; just go all out," Ancestor Liuqi reminded them at this moment.

Han Li secretly checked and found no abnormality in his body, then began to pour his immortal spiritual power into the blade with full force.

As immortal spiritual power continuously converged, the blood light on the blade grew brighter. The eyes of the two fox heads at the guard also lit up with a blood-red glow, and the overall feel of the blade underwent a complete transformation.

Han Li's eyes focused, and he let out a fierce shout. He stepped forward and swung the blade down.

In an instant, countless enormous blood-red blade lights burst forth from the void in layers, one after another, slashing down onto the cyan chains.

"Clang, clang, clang..."

One after another, sharp metallic clashing sounds rang out. The cyan chains vibrated violently, and the runes inscribed on them blazed with cyan light, like a blazing sun exploding!

"Boom rumble"

The cyan lightning pool instantly erupted. All the lightning surged up, forming a gigantic spherical electric light that shot along the cyan chains straight toward Ancestor Liuqi.

However, when the spherical electric light reached the spot where the blood-red blade lights fell, it was intercepted by the blade lights. The cyan and red lights clashed fiercely, locked in a stalemate.

"Quick, sever it!" Ancestor Liuqi roared.

Han Li and the others felt a violent tremor throughout their bodies. Their immortal spiritual power seemed to go out of control, surging out wildly and continuously pouring into the Heavenly Fox Blood-Transforming Blade.

The blood light on the blade surged again, and the condensed blood-red blade shadow seemed to gain immense weight, cutting into the spherical lightning inch by inch.

The expressions of Han Li and the others changed, and a hint of fear rose in their hearts. If this continued, before the chain was severed, their immortal spiritual power would likely be drained first.

Just then, the fox head on the Heavenly Fox Blood-Transforming Blade flashed with light. A massive blood-red fox shadow suddenly appeared, flickered once in the void, and then plunged downward in a pouncing motion, merging into the blood-red blade shadow.

The blood-red blade shadow immediately let out a whistling cry, as if solidifying from illusion into a blood-red crystal blade, and slashed down.

With a loud "Boom!"

The spherical lightning suddenly exploded. Countless cyan electric lights burst outward like two dazzling fireworks, and a blood-red light flashed through the middle. The cyan chain below snapped with a sound.

"Clatter..."

A sound of chains falling to the ground rang out. The cyan electric light retreated back into the lightning pool and merged into it.

"It's done!" Hu San exclaimed with joy.

Han Li, however, frowned as he withdrew the long blade and examined it carefully. He was puzzled as to why Shi Qinghou had chosen to help at the last moment.

Shi Chuankong, on the other hand, had a somber gaze and remained silent, clearly harboring resentment over the sudden draining of his immortal spiritual power earlier.

"What's wrong, master?" Ti Hun approached Han Li and asked softly.

"Nothing. How is your injury recovery? Were you affected just now?" Han Li put away the Heavenly Fox Blood-Transforming Blade and asked.

"No..." Ti Hun shook her head.

"Haha! Good, good!"

Ancestor Liuqi raised his head, no longer in the lazy prostrate posture. He looked at the section of cyan chain that had slipped off his body and let out bursts of hearty laughter, causing the entire great hall to tremble slightly.

"Thank you all. Replenish your immortal spiritual power as soon as possible and continue the purification of the baleful aura..." After laughing for a moment, he spoke slowly.