In the instant that Han Li stepped into the altar-like hall, the ground beneath his feet suddenly exploded, creating a massive crater.
Countless pieces of rubble hurtled toward him, each of which emitted a sharp screeching sound. At the same time, a sharp saber projection shot forth from the crater, hurtling toward his feet at an incredible speed.
This turn of events had occurred without any prior warning, but Han Li reacted extremely quickly. In the instant that the ground had exploded, he had already drifted back to evade the oncoming rubble.
The saber projection didn't even manage to touch the hem of his robes.
"Whoosh!" A black shadow emerged from the hole.
This was a black ape that was around 10 feet tall, and it wore a suit of bright silver armor that was shimmering with light. It appeared to be quite an extraordinary item, but it was a pity that it was mostly in tatters, and it was wielding a white scimitar that was around seven feet in length.
"A Scaled Beast?
No, it's a puppet. "Han Li appraised the black ape with a hint of surprise in his eyes.
This black ape was covered in black fur, and its eyes were like copper bells that were shimmering with cold light. It had fangs protruding from its mouth, and there was even saliva dripping from its mouth. It appeared to be no different from a real living being, but Han Li could tell at a glance that this wasn't a Scaled Beast, but a puppet instead.
The feeling that this black ape gave him was quite similar to that of Daoist Xie.
Han Li then turned his attention to the white scimitar.
The scimitar didn't show any signs of decay, and there were a series of shimmering star patterns on its mercury-like blade.
Bursts of sharp saber Qi erupted from the scimitar, causing the surrounding air to tremor incessantly.
Before Han Li had a chance to take a closer look, the black ape stomped its foot and pounced toward him as a black streak.
At the same time, the star patterns on the white scimitar suddenly lit up, and a glacial saber projection that was several tens of feet in length erupted from the scimitar, hurtling toward Han Li's neck.
Han Li turned a blind eye to this glacial saber projection, and his body suddenly swayed left and right, transforming into four or five identical figures that pounced in different directions.
The black ape let loose a low roar and swung its arm through the air. The scimitar in its hand twirled, forming a circle that encompassed all of the humanoid figures that Han Li had transformed into. Immediately thereafter, the scimitar slashed down viciously.
However, the figures were like phantoms, and as soon as the glacial saber projection touched them, they were immediately reduced to nothingness.
The black ape was stunned to see this.
At this moment, Han Li's figure appeared out of thin air in front of the black ape, and he struck out with his left hand like a blade, slicing off the black ape's wrist with lightning speed.
"Puchi!" The black ape's wrist was as fragile as tofu in Han Li's hands, and was easily sliced off.
The black ape issued a shrill scream. Then, its other arm struck out like lightning, and a fist as big as a human head pounded toward Han Li's head.
However, Han Li's movements were much faster than the ape's. He turned his other hand over, and grabbed the white scimitar in his hand. Then, his arm trembled and became fuzzy, and the white scimitar turned into a white afterimage as it streaked across the black ape's body.
The two figures crossed each other, and the black ape's body was split into two halves with a "Puchi!" sound.
The two halves of its body fell to the ground, and rolled a few times. Then, it stopped moving.
A silvery liquid gushed out of the black ape's body; it looked like real blood. The ape's internal organs were intact, and it looked no different from a living creature. However, its internal organs were made of a blood-colored jade stone, and looked quite peculiar.
Han Li glanced at the black ape's broken body, and withdrew his gaze. Then, he looked at the shiny scimitar in his hand, and a trace of happiness flashed across his face.
He exerted a bit of force in his hand that was holding the scimitar, and operated the Art of Hell-Suppressing Heavenly Fiend. Suddenly, a snow-white blade-light soared from the blade of the scimitar, and it seemed as if a snake was swallowing and spitting its tongue. The surrounding air trembled and vibrated as it surged.
Shi Mu waved his arm, and the shiny scimitar transformed into several blade-shadows. They seemed as if white snakes were spiraling around Shi Mu's body.
The blade-shadows streaked across the nearby walls, and left deep marks in their wake. The hard walls seemed as fragile as tofu in front of the scimitar.
Han Li soon stopped his attempts, and a trace of disappointment flashed across his eyes.
This scimitar seemed to possess extraordinary power, but it wasn't a Star Artifact. So, it couldn't enhance one's physical strength like the Star Shield. Therefore, it could only be regarded as a semi-Star Artifact at best.
However, this scimitar could still be regarded as an extremely precious weapon in the current situation.
Han Li carried the scimitar on his back, and continued to restrain his aura. Then, he moved forward.
There was a long passageway behind the sacrificial altar's door. The walls on both sides were built with dark grey stones, and they were emitting wisps of Yin Qi.
The passageway was quite spacious. It was only three to four feet wide, and only two to three feet tall. Moreover, the lighting here was extremely dim, and he could only see about a hundred feet in front and behind him. It gave him an extremely stifling feeling as he walked inside.
Han Li frowned slightly. He stared ahead for a few moments, and then continued to move forward.
However, he was extremely careful as he walked. He was afraid that another puppet or something else would jump out from the ground or the walls under his feet.
Fortunately, his worries didn't come to pass. After walking for the time it took to eat a meal, no more attacks appeared. Instead, an exit that emitted a faint white light appeared in front of him.
Han Li's spirits rose, and he immediately sped up his pace, and stepped into the exit.
His eyes lit up, and a square-shaped hall appeared in front of him.
This hall had an area of several thousand feet, and the ceiling was inlaid with white fluorite stones. They emitted a bright white light, and the hall was brightly illuminated.
The hall wasn't empty; it was filled with stone statues of various sizes.
Some of these stone statues were lying down, and some were standing. Their facial expressions were also different; some were full of excitement, and some were full of pain. However, their facial expressions weren't the same. Moreover, they were all vivid and lifelike; they looked extremely strange.
Han Li exposed a look of astonishment as he saw this scene.
Suddenly, a spot of white light appeared in his field of vision. Then, this spot of light quickly became brighter and brighter. It seemed as if a star had fallen from the sky, and was heading towards his face with unstoppable force. Its speed was inconceivable.
Han Li's expression changed drastically upon seeing this, and his body swayed as he hurriedly retreated in an extremely rapid manner.
Meanwhile, his arm moved, and the scimitar on his back appeared in his hand out of thin air. Then, he revolved it around his head, and resisted the white light.
"Clang!" a loud explosion was heard!
A huge force burst out from the white light, and Han Li's arm that was holding the scimitar trembled violently.
He was already retreating rapidly, and this time, he retreated even faster. He almost lost control of his body, and he only managed to stabilize himself after being sent flying for over a dozen steps.
However, the white light was also sent flying by him. It spun and shot back.
Han Li finally saw the body of the white light clearly. It was a thin white sword that was shaped like a spirit snake. There were specks of starlight on its surface, and it seemed to be a decent star weapon.
Immediately after, a figure flashed out from behind a stone statue, and he reached out to catch the thin snake-shaped sword. It was Feng Wuchen.
"I wanted to pierce through your head and give you a quick death. I didn't expect you to be so smart." Feng Wuchen looked at Han Li and licked his lips. He didn't hide the murderous intent in his eyes at all.
"Feng Wuchen, I didn't expect us to be fated. Or should I say, enemies are bound to meet on a narrow road?" Han Li squinted his eyes and said.
Feng Wuchen's strength seemed to be much stronger than when they fought in the arena earlier. Could he have had a fortuitous encounter in the Big Ruins?
"Hehe, enemies are bound to meet on a narrow road. Well said!
There were too many people in the Shuraba earlier, and I didn't use my full strength. Coupled with a moment of carelessness, you managed to take advantage of me.
Now that there's no one else here, I want you to beg for death! "Viciousness flashed in Feng Wuchen's eyes. He seemed to be extremely confident in himself.
"Although we had a small dispute previously, we were both serving different masters.
There are people from the Puppet City in the Big Ruins now, and you and I belong to the same Xuan City. Why do we have to fight pointless now? "Han Li was slightly relieved when he heard that, and he said slowly.
"Why? You want to beg for mercy?
It's too late!
That day on the Xuandou Arena, you embarrassed me in front of my godfather and everyone. No matter how you beg, you can forget about leaving this place alive today. "
A hint of deep-seated hatred flashed in Feng Wuchen's eyes. A white light flashed in his other hand, and a thin snake-shaped sword appeared.
"In that case, you must fight?" Han Li sighed and said plainly.
Feng Wuchen let out a sinister laugh. He could not be bothered to speak anymore and took a step forward.
His figure suddenly became indistinct, and in the next moment, he crossed the dozens of feet between the two of them and appeared in front of Han Li out of thin air.
The moment he raised the two snake-shaped swords in his hands, they stabbed into Han Li's chest.
From the moment Feng Wuchen's figure disappeared to the moment the swords stabbed into Han Li's chest, there was no time at all. The speed was almost twice as fast as during the battle on the Xuandou Arena.
Meanwhile, Han Li stood there motionlessly, as though he could not react at all.
Feng Wuchen was initially a little uneasy, but when he saw this, he was instantly relieved. His gaze moved away from the tips of the swords and looked at Han Li's face.
He wanted to see this person's expression of despair and shock to wash away the humiliation from before.
However, when Feng Wuchen raised his head, he saw a pair of cold and calm eyes.
For some reason, Feng Wuchen's heart skipped a beat. Then, he heard a "bang", and the two swords in his hands had already been knocked away by a terrifying force.
His arms trembled, and the webbing between his thumb and index finger heated up. The two swords almost flew out of his hands.
Feng Wuchen was shocked. He took a few steps, and his body suddenly turned into a blurry shadow. He instantly flew back a few hundred feet, his face full of shock.
"Since you insist on fighting, I don't mind fulfilling your wish," Han Li looked at Feng Wuchen and said plainly.
With that, white light flashed on his body, and one mystic acupoint after another appeared. All 237 mystic acupoints shone brightly and shot out beams of dazzling starlight.
The air within a few hundred feet around Han Li exploded, and there was a shrill sound that sounded like a tsunami. An unimaginably immense pressure erupted from his body and spread in all directions.
Rumble!
The entire hall shook continuously, and the stone statues in the hall buzzed and swayed.
"How is this possible? How can you have such strength!?"
Feng Wuchen looked at the over two hundred mystic acupoints on Han Li's body in disbelief and exclaimed.