The cultivator beside the Young Sect Master of the Ghost Spirit Sect received his orders and headed toward the disguised Li within the formation. However, he soon turned back with a serious expression to consult the Young Sect Master once more.
"Young Master, the two elders say that three cultivators are too far from the formation. Once it's activated, they won't be contained within its restrictions. They ask that you find a way to lure those three closer."
The Young Sect Master of the Ghost Spirit Sect showed a hint of surprise in his eyes and silently furrowed his brow.
This situation was somewhat beyond his expectations. The Yin Fire Grand Formation they had hastily set up already covered a considerable area, yet somehow three people were still outside its range. That was peculiar.
Thinking of this, the Ghost Spirit Sect's Young Master, Wang Chan, raised his head to gaze ahead. Sure enough, he spotted three people beyond the formation's reach.
Two of them were a male and female cultivator from the Moon Veil Sect, whispering intimately under a large tree at the northeast corner outside the formation, looking every bit like a couple trying to sneak away from the crowd for a private moment. The third was a plain-faced young man in yellow robes, standing there calmly observing everything on the mountain peak — none other than the perpetually cautious Han Li.
"It's these three," Wang Chan murmured to himself in thought.
After a brief pause, he whispered something to the Ghost Spirit Sect cultivator beside him. The subordinate nodded repeatedly in acknowledgment.
Then the Ghost Spirit Sect cultivator, now dressed in Yan family attire, walked out of the earthen platform and the mist. He stood not far from the formation and began shouting at the top of his lungs:
"All guests who have come to participate in the conference — come draw lots and register! Once we've counted everyone, the Treasure Conference will officially begin!"
This shout immediately drew the attention of the other cultivators, who began instinctively gathering closer to the formation. Even the pair of Moon Veil Sect disciples reluctantly walked over, stepping within the formation's restricted range.
Seeing this, the corners of Wang Chan's mouth curled upward beneath his mask. But when his gaze drifted to where Han Li stood on the west side, the faint smirk that had just appeared on his lips froze instantly.
Because Han Li, as far as his eyes could see, hadn't moved a single inch. He showed no intention whatsoever of stepping forward to draw lots or register. He even had his arms crossed over his chest, watching with apparent amusement as the cultivators gradually clustered together.
"Which sect is that man from?" Wang Chan asked coldly after a long pause.
"Judging by his attire, he should be a cultivator from Yellow Maple Valley," the Ghost Spirit Sect cultivator beside him replied cautiously, sensing the Young Master's displeasure.
"Tell the two elders to activate the formation. This Yellow Maple Valley disciple looks interesting — I wouldn't mind warming up my hands on him," Wang Chan said lightly. But within his eyes, a blood-red hue was faintly flowing, as if emanating a trace of bloody scent.
"Yes, Young Master!" The several Ghost Spirit Guards behind him shuddered involuntarily and answered respectfully.
...
From a distance, Han Li stood at the side of a rock, seemingly smiling as he watched the cultivators registering. But if anyone had looked closely, they would have noticed that the smile on his face was stiff and forced, with tiny beads of sweat forming on his forehead.
"That Yan family member is a Ghost Spirit Sect cultivator!" This realization had struck Han Li like a bolt from the blue just moments ago.
Originally, when the Ghost Spirit Sect members had appeared disguised as Yan family people, Han Li had harbored no suspicion whatsoever. He had even been about to walk over upon hearing their call to register.
But in that instant when the man had turned to wave at the other cultivators, Han Li had made a startling discovery — that Yan family member had ink-green fingernails half an inch long, identical to those of the yellow-haired Ghost Spirit Sect freak he had encountered before!
Han Li was stunned, and then a chill spread through him as if cold water had been poured over his head.
"People don't normally keep fingernails like that. Could this person be..."
After making this terrifying and incredible deduction in his heart, Han Li naturally refused to take another step forward.
While struggling to maintain the smile on his face, his eyes were already darting around, scanning the surroundings. But everything appeared perfectly normal — there was no sign of any ambush. Could those fingernails really just be a coincidence?
The moment this thought of coincidence surfaced, Han Li immediately rejected it himself! How could there be so many coincidences in this world? And even if it truly was a coincidence, he had no intention of taking such a risk — especially when that formation looked so wrong!
With this thought, Han Li hesitated no longer. He reached out his hand, and the Divine Wind Skiff immediately materialized in his palm. But before he could throw it...
"I didn't expect that someone so young would have such sharp eyes! You spotted the flaw so quickly and tried to slip away! Don't you want to save your..."
Han Li's heart sank. Without a moment's thought, he pushed off with his toes and shot backward, covering more than thirty feet in a single leap before halting. Then he slapped one hand against his body, and instantly a layer of red protective barrier enveloped him, while inside that barrier, a second layer of cyan light shield materialized close against his skin.
At that moment, a faint sound of surprise drifted from the air above — whether out of admiration for Han Li's swift reaction or astonishment at his ability to deploy two layers of defensive barriers simultaneously, it was unclear.
Hearing this sound and feeling slightly reassured, Han Li raised his head with a grave expression to look skyward.
There, several dozen feet in the air, a figure in green robes and wearing a silver mask stood atop a giant trident several yards long, riding the wind. The trident was entirely jade-green with a layer of black energy swirling around it, sending chills down one's spine.
At the sight of this, a wave of cold swept through Han Li, and he blurted out:
"The Young Sect Master of the Ghost Spirit Sect?"
"Heh heh! Looks like no introduction is needed — it's best that you recognize me! But now, do you walk into that formation willingly and live a little longer, or shall I rip your soul out right now?"
The blood-red glow in Wang Chan's eyes was far more intense than when he had been on the earthen platform. His eyes had turned more than halfway crimson, with a faint bestial quality lurking within. One glance from Han Li sent his heart churning — he had no idea what kind of terrifying secret technique the other was cultivating.
However, when Wang Chan mentioned something about "inside the formation," Han Li couldn't help but glance to the side. What his gaze met made his expression turn terribly dark.
At some point, an enormous black barrier of light had descended, covering everything within a hundred yards of the massive formation. Inside the barrier, dense black-red mist swirled, making it impossible to see anything within. The interior was eerily silent — not a single sound emerged, as though no one was there at all.
Scattered around the perimeter of the barrier stood eight cultivators in green robes, all staring intently at the black barrier, without so much as a glance toward their Young Sect Master.
It seemed these subordinates had absolute confidence in their Young Master!
Han Li swept his gaze over the scene and quickly pulled his focus back, not daring to let his attention wander any further.
Without question, this Ghost Spirit Sect Young Master, though only at mid-stage Foundation Establishment, was an absolutely terrifying opponent! A single moment of carelessness, and Han Li would remain here forever.
With this thought, Han Li extended one hand outward. A point of white light surged from his palm, then grew in the wind, instantly transforming into a white scaled shield that positioned itself before him. With his other hand, he tossed the Divine Wind Skiff behind him, where it hovered in the air seven or eight yards away.
Naturally, Han Li's plan was to mount the Divine Wind Skiff and flee immediately. Only an idiot would stay here and fight the Ghost Spirit Sect Young Master head-on!
Setting aside whether he could even defeat the Young Master of an entire sect, even if he somehow managed to drive this one away, there was still a whole host of helpers waiting behind him! He had no ability to fight off many with few, nor was he foolish enough to try!
So for Han Li, the best course was to hurry back to Yellow Maple Valley and report the collusion between the Ghost Spirit Sect and the Yan family. That would fulfill his duty. As for Dong Xuan'er and the others, he could only hope their master would come to rescue them personally.
Wang Chan saw Han Li's actions and burst into wild laughter, his cackling carrying a frantic undertone that made Han Li's blood run cold.
"Thinking of running? Where do you think you can go? Die for me!"
With that, the Ghost Spirit Sect Young Master suddenly spun in place on his trident. In the blink of an eye, a thick crimson mist erupted from his body, surging forth in a frenzy. It then coalesced into blood-colored clouds over thirty feet tall, rolling toward Han Li with menacing force.
Seeing this, Han Li dared not hesitate for another instant. He leaped onto the Divine Wind Skiff and poured all his spiritual energy into it. In the blink of an eye, man and skiff merged into a streak of white light and shot into the sky at tremendous speed.
"Ha ha ha! You fool, you don't know yet, do you? My Blood Spirit Technique's movement art is no ordinary speed — you can't escape!"
Wang Chan's maniacal laughter followed right on Han Li's heels.
Though he hadn't looked back, Han Li could clearly sense that the voice seemed to be growing closer and closer.
This fellow's movement technique really was faster than the Divine Wind Skiff at full speed! Han Li's face was turning a shade of pale green!