Within the side hall, the star chart's flowing radiance had yet to fade; upon the plaza, killing intent surged like a sudden, raging tide! Eight Blackwater Battle Puppets charged forward, their enormous halberds tearing through the water, their murderous intent locked on Han Li and Yuan Yao! Behind them, Lei Wanhe, Elder Azure Flood Dragon, Old Devil Xuan Gu, and the other formidable enemies came bursting through the water, their blazing gazes fixed on the Soul-Cleansing Lotus and the pair!
Wolves ahead, tigers behind-they were trapped in a deathly predicament!
"Fellow Daoist Li! Things have come to this—we can only find a sliver of hope by joining forces!" Yuan Yao cried, a flicker of resolve crossing her beautiful eyes. She formed hand seals, and the fragment of the Water Essence Token blazed with blue light, forming a solid curtain of water around her. At the same time, a set of forty-nine "Illusory Wave Blades," each as thin as a cicada's wing, flew from her sleeve. They darted and circled like swimming fish, meeting the two War Puppets at the forefront! "I'll try to hold off the War Puppets. Hurry and take the Soul-Cleansing Lotus! It requires a special spell to collect—any delay could bring complications!"
Before she had finished speaking, the Illusory Wave Blades crashed head-on into the War Puppets' enormous halberds! Clang, clang, clang! The ringing of metal resounded underwater. Agile and cunning, the Illusory Wave Blades targeted the gaps in their joints, actually managing to entangle the two War Puppets for the moment! But the War Puppets possessed boundless strength, and their formation linked them together. The blades' light rapidly dimmed; clearly, they could not hold out much longer!
A cold gleam flashed through Han Li's eyes. He knew that hesitation now meant death! Though Yuan Yao could