Chapter 978: Mission Complete

Han Li saw "Little Zi" in danger, and his pupils abruptly contracted.

The 475 acupoints on his body all blazed with starlight, and his form instantly transformed into a white phantom as he lunged forward with all his might, barely reaching Little Zi's side before the black war blade descended, throwing a punch at the black war blade.

But at that moment, the black war blade's downward trajectory suddenly veered, bypassing Han Li's fist in an instant and slashing toward his neck.

At the same time, the ancient beast phantom on the blade blazed with light, letting out a low beastly roar, and shot forth from the blade, opening its gaping maw to bite at Han Li's head, which was right next to it.

A heavy, mountain-like pressure surged over, weighing down Han Li's mind, and the light of the acupoints on his body dimmed.

Han Li took a deep breath, and his other fist lashed out like lightning, striking at the black war blade, while a dazzling golden light suddenly erupted from his body. A phantom of a golden giant ape emerged behind him, pouncing toward the black ancient beast phantom.

Two loud booms resounded!

Three colors of light—gold, white, and black—burst forth.

The entire cavern trembled violently, and the tremendous commotion caused Sha Xin and E Kuai to look over at the same time.

The three-colored light intertwined, not dissipating for a moment, forming a three-colored mass that churned and roiled.

A figure shot backward, crashing heavily into the nearby cave wall. It was Shi Zhanfeng.

The black war blade in his hand was broken in half, the black patterns on his body had dimmed considerably, blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, and his eyes were filled with shock and disbelief as he turned and dashed toward the cave entrance.

"Don't flee!"

With a whoosh, Han Li's figure flew out from the exploding light, his face full of anger. His form flickered, turning into a white phantom as he chased after Shi Zhanfeng, catching up in the blink of an eye and throwing a punch.

Dazzling white light burst from his fist, like a blazing white sun. The void within dozens of zhang around trembled violently, and the entire space seemed to be pressed down by Han Li's fist as it bore down on Shi Zhanfeng.

Shi Zhanfeng was greatly alarmed. Starlight blazed from his entire body, and the black patterns on his surface also flared brightly, once again forming a black crystalline membrane.

At the same time, he spread his hands, and a gray shield flew out from his sleeve, shimmering with the light of over thirty star acupoints.

With a whoosh, the gray shield instantly expanded tenfold, blocking in front of him.

The moment Shi Zhanfeng's defenses were up, Han Li's fist came crashing down.

With a tearing sound, the gray shield shattered like paper upon contact with Han Li's fist.

Shi Zhanfeng broke out in a cold sweat. He raised both hands, about to do something.

Suddenly, a sharp pain stabbed through his mind, as if pierced by an awl. He let out a muffled groan, and his entire body stiffened.

In that instant when Shi Zhanfeng froze, the white fist slammed into his chest.

The layer of black crystalline membrane on Shi Zhanfeng's body briefly resisted Han Li's fist before immediately collapsing.

With a splat, Han Li's fist once again pierced through Shi Zhanfeng's chest, blasting a huge bloody hole, and blood gushed out like a torrent.

The next moment, Shi Zhanfeng's body was sent flying, like a falling meteor, crashing heavily onto the ground near the entrance of the underground space.

With a thunderous boom, the ground was smashed into a large pit. The surrounding earth, churned by the immense force, undulated like water waves, sending countless fragments of rock and dust flying.

Shi Zhanfeng coughed up blood profusely, and several cracks appeared on his body, as if it were about to split apart. Large amounts of blood gushed out from them.

The black patterns on his body flickered a few times, rapidly dimming, and soon disappeared completely.

"My Black King bloodline... this is the finest true spirit bloodline power. How could it be..." Shi Zhanfeng, now mortally wounded, looked at his smooth arm, his eyes still filled with disbelief.

Han Li's gaze was icy cold. He was about to pursue and deliver a fatal blow.

At that moment, a beam of white light shot out from the passage entrance, tracing a cold white arc through the void.

With a splat, the white light pierced through Shi Zhanfeng's head. It was a white bone spear, pinning his body firmly to the ground.

Shi Zhanfeng's face showed a look of shock, and the light in his eyes quickly faded, becoming completely dull.

Such a sudden turn of events caused everyone else in the cave to look over.

A cold smile curled at the corner of Sha Xin's mouth.

E Kuai's heart sank. Regardless, Shi Zhanfeng was his man, and now that he was killed, the newcomer was likely an enemy, not a friend. With only Liuhua Furen left under his command, he was isolated and weak.

With this thought, he grew anxious. The white light from the acupoints on his body suddenly brightened twofold, like burning white flames, while the black sword light of the Manlong Sword in his hand also blazed, slashing down at the tiger-shaped puppet ahead. Wherever it passed, the void shattered, like a ferocious black dragon swooping down from the sky.

Seeing this, Sha Xin flicked his finger.

The tiger-shaped puppet's entire body blazed with golden light, its body swelling considerably, and it opened its mouth to spit out.

Countless golden blades shot out from its mouth, forming a vast golden storm. Wherever it passed, the void trembled, sweeping toward E Kuai.

E Kuai snorted coldly. The black light of the Manlong Sword intensified, slashing directly into the golden storm.

With a tearing sound, the golden storm was split in two. The Manlong Sword slowed slightly but still struck the tiger-shaped puppet like lightning.

With a loud bang, the tiger-shaped puppet was cleaved through the air, and a gap immediately appeared in the combined attack formation of the Four Symbols War Puppets.

Sha Xin was greatly alarmed and hastily urged the other three puppets to respond.

But after E Kuai sent the tiger-shaped puppet flying, his movements not only showed no sign of weakening, but became even more vigorous and spirited, the white light on his body growing even brighter, and the Manlong Sword in his hand transformed into three thick black sword shadows that struck the other three puppets.

Although the power of these three sword shadows could not compare to the heaven-splitting strike just now, they still knocked the other three puppets back a step.

E Kuai's form turned into a white streak shooting forward, seemingly about to break out of the battle formation.

But at that moment, a silver figure moved sideways from the side, blocking E Kuai's path—it was a silver giant ape puppet over twenty meters tall, which collided heavily with E Kuai's form.

This change came abruptly, and E Kuai had not anticipated it, but he immediately raised a hand and swung the Manlong Sword in a horizontal slash.

A flash of black sword light, and with a "hiss," the silver giant ape puppet was cut in two, but his momentum was also checked.

Seeing this, Sha Xin was overjoyed and moved his ten fingers rapidly.

The four puppets immediately reorganized their formation and once again leaped to block E Kuai.

Amid flashes of golden light, a dragon tail, a tiger claw, and a golden bird beak shot out like lightning, all striking E Kuai at the same time.

E Kuai roared in fury, the Manlong Sword in his hand turning into a circle of black sword light to protect his entire body, but he was sent flying backward.

A figure darted in from the side and landed on the tiger-shaped puppet—it was Kun Yu, who had been knocked away earlier.

His chest had a large hole pierced through it, with a metallic gleam at the wound, but no blood flowed out, and he seemed perfectly fine.

"City Lord, you are injured. It is too taxing for one person to control the four Four Symbols War Puppets. Leave this tiger-shaped war puppet to me," Kun Yu said.

Sha Xin nodded at this, moved a finger, withdrew his control over the tiger-shaped puppet, and yielded it to Kun Yu.

Although E Kuai was sent flying, he was not injured. After steadying himself, he immediately attacked again.

But with Kun Yu's assistance, the power of the Four Symbols War Puppets greatly increased, once again firmly blocking E Kuai.

……

On the other side, Shi Chuankong lay on the ground unable to move, but his gaze turned to Shi Zhanfeng's corpse, a complex look in his eyes.

Madam Liuhua looked at the white bone spear, a slight gleam in her eyes.

"Who is it? Come out!"

Han Li looked toward the entrance and shouted angrily, a fierce killing intent bursting forth from him.

"Hehe, it's me. Fellow Daoist Li, please don't emit such strong killing intent; this little woman can't bear it." A woman in white walked in, giggling—it was Gu Qianxun.

"You? How did you get here?" Han Li frowned.

"I just stumbled upon this place by chance; I wasn't following Fellow Daoist Li. In fact, I must thank Fellow Daoist Li for helping me complete my task," Gu Qianxun said with a charming smile, as if guessing what Han Li was thinking.

Han Li gave a light snort but did not reprimand her.

It was just as well that Gu Qianxun had killed Shi Zhanfeng; after all, Shi Zhanfeng was the Great Prince of Yeyang Dynasty, and killing him would have endless consequences.

"Xun'er!" Madam Liuhua saw Gu Qianxun and her face lit up with joy as she quickly rushed over.

Seeing this, Han Li's form flickered and vanished, reappearing beside Shi Chuankong in the next instant. A bright white light gathered on his hand as he patted Shi Chuankong.

"Stop!" Madam Liuhua cried out in alarm at the sight, halting her steps and turning back, but it was too late.

A layer of white light rippled over Shi Chuankong's body, flickering, and then several muffled cracking sounds came from within him. He immediately regained his freedom and leaped up.

"Thank you, Fellow Daoist Li, for saving me again," Shi Chuankong said, cupping his hands in thanks.

Han Li waved his hand dismissively.

Seeing this, Madam Liuhua stopped a hundred meters away, a look of chagrin on her face, but a glint of cunning flashed in her eyes.

Han Li glanced thoughtfully at Madam Liuhua, then ignored the others and looked inside.

The exploding three-colored light mass had now completely dissipated, and Xiao Zi's figure emerged from within.

But at this moment, she was no longer urging the puppet to attack; she stood there somewhat dazedly, a hint of vitality in her eyes, no longer as indifferent as before.

Han Li's heart stirred at this sight.

Just then, the heart in his bosom suddenly began to beat violently. With a "whoosh," it flew out of his bosom on its own, turning into a blood shadow that flew toward Gu Qianxun.

Han Li's expression changed, and he immediately gave chase.

Shi Chuankong, seeing this, followed closely behind Han Li.

Gu Qianxun saw the heart flying toward her, her pretty face changed, and her thoughts raced. She dodged to the side, not touching the heart.

An unexpected scene occurred!

The blood light transformed from the heart paid no attention to Gu Qianxun; with a flicker, it plunged into Shi Zhanfeng's corpse in the large pit.