Under the steady, blue-glowing gaze of Han Li, the round, crystal-like orb flashed once with a white light—so sudden and brief that even with the Ming Qing Ling Miao divination powers, it remained utterly untraceable. Han Li's heart stirred with alarm, and he immediately expanded his awareness, fully enveloping the area within several zhang. He didn’t want to be approached unnoticed, struck from behind, and taken by surprise—though such an event was unlikely, it still demanded careful vigilance. Tilting his head slightly, Han Li glanced at Yuan Yao’s two sisters, now just a few steps away, then cast a glance toward the commotion further off, tightening his grip on the lightning orb in his hand. Despite having weathered countless storms and trials, he now felt his heart racing with genuine urgency. Han Li was well aware that once he manifested himself to rescue someone, he would have only one chance to act. Should that chance fail, the hall itself would become his final resting place, and all his centuries of dedicated cultivation would be lost. This very sense of life-or-death tension made his heart beat uncontrollably. At that moment, Mu Qing and the white-haired beauty from afar had already launched their attacks against the black magical array floating in the sky. The seven metallic automata summoned by the blood-robed figure stood in front of the two, serving as guards. The purple-blooded automaton, its six eyes subtly rotating, remained still beside them. The gray light spheres swelled and contracted erratically, while the emerald light beams struck silently and simultaneously at the center of the magical array. Observing this, the two human-shaped Thunder Beasts in the sky flashed with fierce glares, then gestured vigorously, urging the black light array in the air. A tremendous roar echoed, and a surge of black wind erupted from the center of the array. This storm was exceptionally fierce, cutting through with the force of a blade, and shimmering with crystalline light, carrying countless fine black, translucent sand particles within it. As soon as the wind and sand touched the beams and spheres, explosive sounds erupted, and various light clusters flickered continuously beneath the array. Soon, a pale greenish light halo emerged, momentarily halting the descent of the black array. The two forces thus became locked in a tense standoff. However, as the black wind continued to surge forth, the black sand particles grew thick and dense, pressing down on the pale green light halo, which began to hum and gradually sink. Mu Qing observed this, his expression briefly shifting with surprise, then gently waved his hand, and suddenly a small branch appeared in his grasp. This object is no longer than three feet, bearing several tender green branches, yet it radiates vibrant qi, showing no sign of wilting. When the branch is thrown upward, a sphere of green light blooms forth. In moments, the branch transforms into a small, lush tree, its leaves dense and shimmering, as if carved from jade. Mu Qing's face grows serious as he bows and recites several incantations. The trunk of the tree swells rapidly, the branches extending outward, then rotating smoothly, releasing countless leaf-shaped green shadows that drift into the air, joining the assault in dense numbers—its momentum astonishing. "What a magnificent feat of your mastery!" exclaims the white-haired woman from the clouds, her voice filled with wonder. "Hmph, Blue, you should have more to offer than this! I don't believe you possess only this much!" Mu Qing, however, lifts his head toward the sky, remaining completely unmoved and speaking with cold, unyielding composure. "Hehe..." A soft, melodic laugh drifted from the woman beneath the overcast sky, followed by the resonant roars of the eight Ghost Kings. Vast streams of阴 qi surged and coiled toward the center, where ghost figures flickered rapidly, and the sound of ghost wails suddenly intensified. But before she could ask anything, the elderly woman with white hair grew stern, shook her strange mallet sharply, and threw it into the air. As she raised both hands, she formed an odd hand seal. Instantly, the mallet spun downward, and the eight skeletal heads cried out simultaneously. Then, with a deep breath, a surge of阴 qi rolled out from her mouth, spewing eight streams of emerald flames that surged upward and swept across the sky. For a moment, the shadows and green hues piled upon one another, completely blocking the sky. The black light array, which seemed poised to break through, now pressed against the heavens, threatening to be drawn back and reversed. Yet the two冥 thunder beasts showed no urgency. They merely emitted a few sharp cries, expanded their forms slightly, and then raised all four of their great hands toward the sky. Following several thunderclaps, countless silver threads reappeared, flowing along the four arms and transforming into massive arcs of silver that shot out, vanishing instantly upon impact and merging into the black light array. At once, the light array roared with thunder, flashing wildly several times, its area expanding by half. The wind and sand surging forth multiplied severalfold. The black light array then surged back with overwhelming strength, pressing down once more. The white-haired woman and Mu Qing were both startled, hastily casting new spells. One opened her mouth, spitting out a clutch of pure blood; the other raised her head, emitting a furious, long-winded roar. Drawing upon every ounce of their inner power, they vigorously activated the celestial artifacts in the air. The jade tree and the strange hammer amplified the surge of jade shadows and flames, just barely holding the ground against the black light array. Yet the array continued to advance, inch by inch, steadily pressing down. The two women's faces grew pale. This seal proved astonishingly powerful—there was no way they could withstand it. Mu Qing took a deep breath, turned to the purple-blooded automaton standing beside her, and commanded, "Comrade Earth-Blood, act swiftly as well. Should this thing truly descend, the consequences will be serious." The blood-robed figure within the purple-blooded puppet said nothing, yet the seven metallic puppets that had previously stood in a line, guarding the two female figures, suddenly moved simultaneously, transforming into seven streaks of light and shooting upward toward the two yin-lei beasts in the sky. It seemed the earth-blood elder also clearly understood that although the black light array was formidable, its power would naturally diminish without the direct manipulation of the two beasts. These seven puppets need not engage the two beasts in direct combat; merely by slightly ensnaring them and distracting them would suffice. As the seven streaks of light approached the two humanoid yin-lei beasts, four pairs of solemn eyes swept over them, and the gestures in the two figures' hands instantly changed. Suddenly, a massive black hole appeared behind the two beasts, spanning ten zhang in diameter. The two yin-lei beasts swayed and instantly blurred, dividing into two distinct forms, each hovering on either side of the black hole. At the center, a thunderous roar erupted, and a dense, misty glow surged forth, sweeping across the beasts with lightning speed, engulfing all the puppets within. A startling scene unfolded. Seven puppet Wu Mangs lowered themselves and vanished in a flash of霞light. At the next moment, a flash of luminous light appeared at the edge of the black hole, and the seven puppets materialized. They were instantly enveloped by swirling霞light and pulled into the black hole, disappearing completely. Mu Qing and the others gasped in astonishment. The two Yin Lei beasts proudly emitted a few low calls, then clumsily waved their hands in gestures. The black hole blurred momentarily and then dissolved entirely. Suddenly, a fierce roar of rage erupted within the Purple Blood Puppet—the voice of the man in the blood robe. A flash of blood light appeared on the puppet’s shoulder, and the man’s spectral form reappeared. Clearly, the sudden disappearance of the seven puppets had deeply angered him. Without a word, he stroked his forehead with one hand, and a surge of blood energy surged forth, coalescing before him into a magnificent, glowing blood orb. He then flicked his arm, as if preparing to summon this orb to attack the Yin Lei beasts. But at that moment, Mu Qing suddenly turned her head toward a nearby spot, her voice sharp and commanding: "Who is there? Get out now!" Her movements were even faster than her words. As she shook her sleeve, dense streams of dark green hair shot out, breaking through the air, then vanished instantly, striking the empty space on the other side. A soft "Ah" of surprise followed, then a light "thud," as a cluster of green energy burst apart. "Shhhhh!" the sound intensified, and the green threads instantly pierced through the energy, yet found nothing. At the very next instant, a faint ripple of spatial disturbance emerged above Mu Qing, and a clear, round orb materialized. As soon as the orb appeared, it spun rapidly, emitting a brilliant white light so intense that everyone had to close their eyes and could no longer see. A crisp sound echoed through the air, and the orb's surface momentarily distorted, then blurred, revealing two figures at once—one pale white, the other a soft golden hue. The golden figure immediately raised her hand. A streak of silver arced forth, flashing once before arriving at the height of Mu Qing's head, then descending with a lightning speed as the light faded. The silver streak revealed itself to be a bright, mirror-like silver sickle—none other than the Five-Drake Sickle! The pale golden figure, naturally, was the golden-armored automaton. Though Mu Qing had been momentarily blinded by the brilliant light above, forcing her to close her eyes briefly, her consciousness had already extended out, fully aware of everything within several dozen zhang around her. Immediately, she remained composed, and with a sudden, decisive gesture, pointed both hands at the silver sickle in the air. Instantly, points of emerald light flickered around the sickle, and countless strands of green energy emerged, weaving and shimmering. Some spiraled upward, forming an impenetrable veil that completely enclosed the sickle, while others coalesced above her head, transforming into a delicate green silk scarf that shielded the space above. Mu Qing, surprisingly astute, had already silently arranged such a network of invisible spiritual filaments around her without her even realizing it. It was no surprise that the golden-armored puppet, even with the eerie powers of another ghostly being, immediately revealed itself the moment it drew near—ruining its surprise attack. Yet the power of the Five-Drum Slicer far exceeded Wood Qing's expectations. The silver blade merely rolled with a flash of cold light, and the silken strands it encased were instantly severed into countless fragments. The slicer made no pause, and with a brief flash of green light, it cut straight through the green silk scarf.