Han Li pushed Shadowless Escape to its limit, his figure all but dissolving into a barely visible wisp of blue smoke as he raced among the jagged rocks and withered trees of the Blood-Colored Forbidden Land. Far behind him, the Blood-Eyed Demon Ape's roars grew increasingly deafening. The savagery and oppressive might within them left low-level demonic beasts for dozens of miles around as silent as cicadas in winter, sending them fleeing in utter chaos.
A Core Formation Stage demonic beast... truly terrifying. Han Li's heart tightened, and he dared not pause for even a moment. He spread his spiritual sense to its fullest extent, avoiding several groups of cultivators who were likewise fleeing in panic, and chose only remote, treacherous paths.
Only after fleeing nearly a hundred miles in one stretch did those heart-chilling roars gradually fade into the distance. Han Li found a narrow crevice concealed by vines and set up the Profound Yin Aura-Hiding Formation before finally allowing himself a slight sigh of relief. Examining himself inwardly, he found his Foundation Establishment Middle Stage spiritual power surging through him, far more robust and condensed than it had been in the early stage. Yet before a Core Formation Stage being, it was still no more than a firefly's glow beside the radiant moon.
My strength... still isn't enough! Han Li clenched his fists, urgency flashing through his eyes. He had to find the Profound Yin True Fiend Vein mentioned in Mo Yuan's Remnant Map as soon as possible and use its pure fiendish energy to raise the Profound Fiend Asura Art to a higher level. Only then would he have the strength to gain a foothold in the forbidden land's core region!
He took out the ancient jade slip and immersed his spiritual sense in it once more. The terrain depicted on the remnant map was obscure and difficult to decipher, differing greatly from the forbidden land's present landscape. He could only estimate his bearings from enduring landmarks such as Blood-Weeping Gorge and Fallen Demon Cliff.
According to the map, the Profound Yin True Fiend Vein may lie near Ghost Soul Ravine in the northwest of the forbidden land... Han Li's gaze flickered as he settled on his next destination. Ghost Soul Ravine was a notoriously dangerous place within the forbidden land, said to teem with countless wandering souls and Vengeful Ghosts, its fiendish energy soaring into the heavens. That matched the description of the Profound Yin True Fiend Vein perfectly.
After resting briefly until he had recovered to his peak condition, Han Li set out again. He became even more cautious. Not only did he conceal his aura, but he also released the newly refined Ironbone Wolf Puppet and sent it several miles ahead to scout the way. Though the wolf puppet had little fighting strength, he was fearless in the face of death and mentally linked to Han Li, allowing him to provide advance warning of most dangers.
Thus, he lay low by day and traveled by night, slipping cautiously through the land for three days. Along the way, he gave a wide berth to several areas where spiritual powers were violently clashing-clearly other cultivators fighting to the death over treasures or opportunities. He also encountered several groups of ferocious demonic beasts unique to the forbidden land. With his Foundation Establishment Middle Stage cultivation and uncanny movement techniques, he fought or fled as needed, escaping every scare unharmed.
At dusk that day, following the information relayed by the wolf puppet, Han Li reached the edge of an enormous rift shrouded in gray mist. Its depths were unfathomable, chilling winds howled through it, and waves of ghostly wailing rose from below, enough to make one's hair stand on end. This was Ghost Soul Ravine!
The gray mist at the ravine's mouth was no ordinary water vapor, but a mixture of dense Yin Fiend Qi, lingering souls, and resentment that would not disperse. It could not only erode spiritual power but also disturb the mind. Ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators who remained here too long would likely lose control of their minds, becoming assimilated by the fiendish energy or reduced to madmen who knew only slaughter.
Such pure Yin Fiend Qi! Rather than alarmed, Han Li was delighted. The Profound Fiend Asura Art began circulating on its own, and the profound fiend true core in his dantian trembled faintly, conveying a sense of longing. What was a deathtrap for others was a cultivation haven for him!
He did not recklessly venture deeper, instead carefully investigating the edge of the ravine's mouth. Based on the remnant map's clues and subtle differences in the flow of fiendish energy, he deduced that the entrance to the Profound Yin True Fiend Vein might be hidden beneath a cliff face on the eastern side, where great heaps of dry bones had accumulated.
He directed the wolf puppet to approach the cliff face cautiously. Sure enough, behind the piled bones, he discovered a narrow opening barely wide enough for one person to pass through. Inside was utter darkness, emanating fluctuations of fiendish energy even purer and colder than those outside!
This is it! Han Li's heart steadied. Rather than entering at once, he patiently concealed himself nearby and observed the area for an entire day. Only after confirming that there were no traces of others or powerful demonic beasts dwelling there did he slip silently into the cave under cover of night.
The entrance was narrow at first, but after he had traveled a little over ten zhang, the passage suddenly opened into a vast underground cavern. Countless stalactites glittering with eerie blue phosphorescence hung from its ceiling, bathing the interior in an uncanny light. A thick layer of black crystal covered the walls and floor: Yin Fiend Stone, formed from condensed Yin Fiend Qi! At the cavern's center flowed a winding, dark-silver "stream" barely a foot wide. It contained no spring water, but pure profound yin true fiend energy so concentrated that it had become liquid! Wisps of fiendish energy rose from the stream like living creatures, lowering the entire cavern's temperature to freezing.
The Profound Yin True Fiend Vein! Wild joy blazed in Han Li's eyes! The purity of the fiendish energy here far exceeded his imagination. It was enough to support his cultivation to the Foundation Establishment Late Stage, or even beyond!
Forcing down his excitement, he first set up his strongest Profound Yin Aura-Hiding Formation at the entrance, then layered several warning restrictions over it. Only afterward did he approach the stream of fiendish energy and sit cross-legged on a massive piece of yin fiend stone.
The moment he sat down, the vast, pure fiendish energy seemed to find an outlet and surged madly into his body! The Profound Fiend Asura Art began circulating on its own at an unprecedented speed. Like drought-parched earth meeting sweet rain, the profound fiend true core in his dantian greedily devoured this energy of the same origin, visibly growing denser and larger!
Han Li dared not neglect a thing. He firmly guarded his mind and devoted himself fully to guiding and refining the energy. The Spirit-Nurturing Stone at his chest released cool currents that protected his sea of consciousness, resisting the corrosive influence of the cold, deathly stillness contained within the fiendish energy.
Time flew by as he cultivated. Han Li's cultivation rose steadily, and his control over profound fiend power grew ever more precise. He estimated that after several months of secluded cultivation here, he might be able to attempt a breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment Late Stage!
Yet on the seventh day of his absorbed cultivation, an abrupt change occurred!
Through their mental link, he sensed that he had suddenly lost contact with the Ironbone Wolf Puppet scouting outside the cave! Immediately afterward, the warning restrictions at the entrance sent back violent fluctuations!
Someone's here! And they're extremely powerful-they destroyed the wolf puppet in an instant!
Han Li abruptly opened his eyes, a flash of fiendish energy passing through them. He swiftly concealed his entire aura and melted into the shadows in the cavern's deepest recesses. The Shadow Blade slid into his palm, while pseudo core flame danced at his fingertips.
A moment later, an icy laugh came from the entrance. "Tsk, tsk. Who would have thought this Ghost Soul Ravine, where not even a bird would stop to shit, concealed such a treasure trove? The Profound Yin True Fiend Vein... this opportunity was destined for me, Gui Li!"
Before his words had faded, a cultivator in a deathly white robe walked slowly into the cavern. His face was withered, his eye sockets deeply sunken. An eerie ghostly aura surrounded him, and his spiritual power fluctuations had unmistakably reached the peak of the Foundation Establishment Late Stage! More chilling still were the two refined corpses following behind him, their bodies covered in green hair, their black fingernails long and pointed. Their savage auras rivaled those of Foundation Establishment Middle Stage cultivators!
Someone from the Ghost King Sect! Han Li's heart sank. The Ghost King Sect was another major demonic sect of the Heavenly South, specializing in commanding corpses and refining souls, with bizarre and vicious cultivation arts. This man's cultivation was formidable, and with two powerful refined corpses accompanying him, he would be extremely difficult to deal with.
After entering the cavern, the cultivator calling himself Gui Li greedily inhaled a breath of pure fiendish energy, an intoxicated expression spreading across his face. Immediately afterward, however, his sinister gaze swept toward the shadows where Han Li was hiding, and his lips curled into a cruel smile.
"You little rat, hiding your head but leaving your tail exposed. Did you think you could hide from me? A mere Foundation Establishment Middle Stage cultivator dares occupy such a treasure trove? Get out here and die! Perhaps I'll be generous enough to leave you an intact corpse!"
Before his words had faded, one of the green-haired refined corpses beside him let out a low growl and turned into a streak of green light, lunging straight at Han Li's hiding place! Its sharp black claws slashed viciously downward, trailing a foul-smelling wind!
Danger descended in an instant!
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