Han Li did not retrieve the Tiansha Magician's corpse or the array of puppets. Upon seeing this, Ling Xu, the elder master, and the white-robed woman who had come behind him, were initially startled, yet gradually reassured. While these puppets were not formidable individually, when skillfully coordinated and deployed in numbers, even ordinary Yuanjing cultivators would have to temporarily retreat. Nevertheless, though somewhat at ease, Ling Xu felt a renewed sense of envy, and the white-robed woman murmured to herself, growing increasingly impressed by Han Li's seemingly boundless capabilities and profound depth. Within less than ten miles, Han Li swiftly flew to the vicinity of the battle and halted at a distance of over a hundred paces, observing the scene clearly and in detail. So close now, he realized that the described black-purple luminescence was actually formed by countless black magical streams, resembling writhing tendrils, dancing dynamically within the vibrant magenta glow. The source of these black magical streams was a magical creature located at the center of the magenta radiance. This monster has a single horn on its forehead, a fierce and grotesque appearance, resembling the one that fled earlier, which had two heads and four arms. Yet its body is ordinary, like that of a common person, even its skin is exceptionally translucent, as if carved from fine jade. At this moment, the monster appears expressionless, its eyes slightly closed, as though only just waking. Remarkably, though its lips are tightly sealed, it periodically emits thunderous roars from within—suggesting great fury. Yet its face remains utterly still and impassive. Its two arms, meanwhile, mechanically hurl clusters of dark, ink-black fire balls downward, their movements stiff and sluggish. Though these black fire balls appear unremarkable, once they strike the green clouds below, they burst into violent explosions, sending out black waves that spread up to fifteen zhang wide, scattering the surrounding green clouds in all directions. However, Wei Wuyi's toxic clouds are no ordinary affair; after a few rolls and counterattacks, they swiftly extinguish these black flames. At the same time, the dense mist was transformed into countless green giant serpents that surged upward, lunging and biting at the aerial creature, striving to break through the sky and directly attack the magical entity within the magical glow. The green mist, the strange luminescence, and the black magical flames intertwined and flashed, occasionally sending out thunderous roars in the air. "Something's wrong—this creature seems still half-asleep, or perhaps it's bound by some restriction. This is a golden opportunity," said the elder Ling Xu, who approached and stopped near Han Li. Upon seeing the aerial creature, his expression first changed, then brightened with excitement. "If this were so easily vanquishable, Friend Wei would have already launched an attack and need not have remained hidden within the toxic clouds, struggling to hold on. Clearly, there's something more going on. However, judging by the strength of the magical aura, this creature clearly has a deep connection with the one that escaped earlier—and is far more powerful." Han Li shook his head casually while speaking, his gaze and awareness constantly scanning the surrounding area. He was somewhat puzzled as to why the magically transformed "Nanlong Marquis" who had arrived first earlier was now completely absent. But upon glancing, he immediately spotted a group of elderly silver-haired elders nearby. These elders had already been stunned by the scene unfolding before them, and their expressions of surprise deepened even further upon seeing the arrival of Han Li and the others. When he saw Han Li, the Cheng-named elder was both startled and delighted. Yet, for some reason he could not quite explain, he only offered a polite, distant nod and smile, without moving closer. Han Li, seeing this, sighed inwardly and could only send a message ahead: "Master Cheng, how did you end up involved here? This monster is extremely dangerous—perhaps even beyond the capabilities of Wei Wuyaya, the fellow below. Moreover, there should be another monster with two heads and four arms nearby, no less formidable than the one currently on stage." "Wait—Wei Wuyaya is below, and there's another such creature! Master Han knows this so clearly—does that mean you've already engaged in combat?" The silver-haired elder was startled, his lips moving as he transmitted his words. "I've briefly tested the other beast. Though I haven't pinpointed its true strength, it should be at least on par with a late Yuan-Ying stage cultivator. With my two companions, we barely managed to hold our ground. These beasts are capable of devouring cultivators' Yuan-Ying essences, move swiftly, and excel at concealing their presence. Brother, be cautious! If we do have to engage them, it would be wiser for all of us to act together—then we'll be more secure." Han Li quickly outlined the formidable nature of the ancient beast, offering several warnings. "Understood. I'll discuss this with my two companions here." Upon hearing Han Li's serious tone, the silver-haired elder felt his heart sink and promptly agreed. Then, he turned to the Tianjing True-Man and the unfamiliar elder, speaking a few words to them, relaying Han Li's message. The Tianjing True-Man had already recognized Han Li, and upon seeing the twenty or thirty tiger and turtle spirit puppets accompanying him, his face was filled with astonishment. At this moment, he smiled warmly at Han Li, gesturing with his eyes, while conversing with the silver-haired elder. Upon hearing Han Li's name, the elder, who was a quiet, secluded Yuan-Enlightened master with little involvement in worldly affairs, glanced at Han Li with a look of surprise. Though Han Li had grown quite renowned recently, and was also the younger brother of the elder's close friend, the elder naturally felt curious. Yet on the surface, he only gave Han Li a gentle nod. As for Ling Fu and the white-robed woman, though both were well-known figures, they had no close ties with the others on the opposite side, so although they knew Han Li was speaking, they allowed him to continue communicating with the three on the other side. Facing such a formidable magical creature, it was clearly better to work together as a group. At that very moment, a voice from the green clouds came through—low, even slightly hoarse. "Is this Han, the friend of the way? It's truly wonderful that all of you arrived just in time." This demon is an ancient evil mage from the prehistoric era who once invaded our human realm and has long been our adversaries as cultivators. Unexpectedly, a single one of these ancient mages has been released from its seal within the Valley of Falling Demons, accidentally freed by the efforts of the returning King Sect's master and his companions. The King Sect's master and his senior Daoist friend, Wang Tian, both perished in the spatial fissure explosion when the demon broke free from its seal. I managed to survive through sheer effort, though I am now severely drained and unable to hold it off for long. Fortunately, a small portion of the ancient seals imposed by the early cultivators still remains within the demon's body, and it is currently using its inner demonic fire to gradually dissolve these restrictions. My fellow Daoists must act swiftly to stop it. Otherwise, once this demon fully restores its original magical prowess, not a single being in the Valley of Falling Demons will be able to stand against it—each of you will surely fall victim to its deadly attacks as well. Wei Wuyi's voice was urgent and anxious, as though he himself had sustained serious injuries. As soon as he finished speaking, a surge of agitation rippled through the green mist Han Li listened, his mind suddenly clear, yet he silently groaned inside. He had thought coming here would merely be to assist Wei Wuyi—how quickly things had turned, and now they were being asked to take the lead! This was going to be a serious problem. The old master Ling Fu and the silver-haired elder, along with the others, exchanged puzzled glances, unsure of what to do. Even Wei Wuyi, such a senior cultivator, wasn't holding his own against this monster—how much less could they manage? Yet if they were to simply scatter and retreat, Wei Wuyi would surely use his sense of duty to keep them from doing so. Once the news of a retreat without battle leaked out, they would never be able to establish themselves in the southern realm of cultivation. After all, in the world of cultivators, it was common practice to retreat when the situation looked dire. "My friends, there is no need to worry," said Han Li. "I have personally surveyed the situation with my divine awareness. As long as you can hold this monster for a short while, reinforcements will arrive shortly. Moreover, not long ago, I sent a message to the Mu Lan cultivators. If the Mu Lan people wish Noticing the awkwardness of Han Li and the others, Wei Wuya slowed his voice and finally delivered a positive update. Upon hearing this, all the cultivators—including Han Li—exhaled in relief. Though it wasn't certain they could defeat this monster outright, holding it off for a while seemed achievable. Yet the monstrous entity, with a human body floating amidst dark magical aura, appeared to have understood their words. Its half-closed eyes subtly trembled, a flash of cold light passing through. At the same time, the flame in its hands stilled, and it slowly raised its head to survey the surroundings. As its eyes swept across the scene, waves of deep purple and black magical glimmers flickered continuously. The onlookers instantly felt a wave of chill rise from their backs, as though they were being watched by a natural predator, their hearts suddenly tightening. Only Han Li, who had cultivated the Daxian Decision, possessed such a strong awareness that, though he felt uneasy upon being gazed upon, his pupils slightly contracted and his eyes briefly flashed blue in a brief, steady exchange. If he truly intends to avoid confrontation, he might later carry lingering doubts, and when facing this demon, he would likely hesitate. The ancient demon, half-ghost, half-human, was evidently surprised by Han Li's demeanor. After scanning the room with an icy gaze, he returned his attention to Han Li. Han Li merely gazed at the demon with half-closed eyes, silent. Originally standing beside Han Li, Lufu the elder and the white-robed woman instinctively stepped back a few paces under the weight of the ancient demon's spiritual presence, clearly feeling the pressure. The others, observing this, exchanged glances and immediately adopted a more cautious stance. At that moment, the demon raised his hand, and black flames flickered, forming a black fireball that rapidly expanded until it reached the size of a human head. Then, with a swift arm motion, the fireball vanished instantly. Han Li was first startled, then grew puzzled. For the black fireball had not targeted him or his companions, but instead materialized suddenly in an unoccupied spot above the demon, before bursting into flames. Within a range of over ten zhang, the entire area was enveloped in black magical flames. As Han Li was astonished, a figure flickered beneath the flames, revealing a monstrous being with two heads and four arms. The four arms, glowing with purple light, moved in unison, and the black flames instantly condensed, reforming into a black fireball within the palm of one of the arms. Then, as that arm moved, the front head of the creature opened its mouth and swallowed the black fireball whole, lifting its head to gaze coldly upon the magical entity below—its humanoid form.