The trapping formation in the Inheritance Hall activated abruptly. Its flowing formation patterns darted about like living creatures, separating Han Li and Zi Ling into two isolated areas.
Dark-red remnant-soul totems emerged from the floor beneath Han Li, seeping foul-smelling ghostly energy. On Zi Ling's side, countless poisoned bone spikes suddenly descended from the vaulted ceiling, their tips gleaming with eerie green phosphorescence. It was clearly a killing formation aimed at cultivators' divine souls.
"Han Li!" Zi Ling cried. The Star-Illusion Maze Formation flags at her waist unfurled instantly, wrapping her in pale-purple illusory mist. The bone spikes hissed as they pierced the mist, their poison corroding the flags' spiritual power. Her face visibly paled.
Han Li swept the area with his spiritual sense and saw the bone spikes around Zi Ling grow sharply denser. The formation patterns were also guiding their poison into the sea of consciousness behind her brow-it was a variant of the Soul-Locking Thorn. Once her sea of consciousness was corroded, she would lose all her cultivation at best; at worst, her soul would scatter into oblivion.
His pupils contracted. Without further hesitation, the spiritual power of the Azure Water True Art surged out of his body like a river bursting its banks.
"Star-Illusion Two-Yi Formation, rise!"
Han Li held two fingers together like a sword. Twelve formation flags shot from his waist, weaving a vast net spanning a hundred feet before him. Half the net was silvery white like stellar tracks, while the other half was deep blue like rippling water. Where the two principles merged, a gentle yet tenacious radiance erupted, shattering the remnant-soul totems trapping him.
"Break!" He stepped forward, appearing at the edge of Zi Ling's area as though he had teleported. By now, the bone spikes had forced her into a