In no time at all, the Blood Raven City had been left nearly half empty. "Perfect—with these demonic forces providing cover, our risks will be significantly reduced. Yet something seems odd! Given the magnitude of this crisis, why has the city's master not yet appeared to take the lead? If he were actively stepping in to coordinate the defense, these demons wouldn't be in such disarray." The man with flowing hair furrowed his brows and murmured these thoughts with mild bewilderment. The magical beings varied in their cultivation levels, thus their speeds ranged from swift to slow. Without any unified leadership, the group soon became scattered and disordered. The streams of magical light and aura emitted by the various magical beings stretched for a hundred li in length, forming a continuous procession. The more advanced magical beings at the forefront, however, showed no signs of slowing down; instead, they formed their own distinct column and pressed forward steadily. The mid-level magical beings with slightly lower cultivation had no choice but to trail behind, watching as the higher-ranked ones gradually pulled farther away, eventually vanishing from sight. Han Li and his companions did not follow closely behind the elite magical beings, but instead quietly integrated themselves into the second group, advancing at a steady, unhurried pace. After a short while, a sudden roar and burst of sound erupted in the sky ahead. A vast expanse of purple clouds surged forward, revealing a large swarm of maggot ants. Within this purple ant cloud, clusters of black mist and thunderous flames roared incessantly—exactly the group of high-level magical beings who had arrived earlier. Step closer, and it becomes clear that the ant sea spans over a hundred mu in size. However, under the relentless magical attacks from the over a hundred high-tier magical beings, the magi-ants are swiftly turning into clumps of ash and falling from the sky, reducing the area by nearly half within moments. Seeing this, the rear magical beings erupt in joyful cries and immediately activate their magical devices to join the assault. Thus, within just a few breaths, the entire swarm of magi-ants is swept away. Many of the magical beings are visibly energized by this development, beginning to doubt whether the magi-ants truly live up to their reputation as fearsome as described. Yet, several more seasoned beings remain deeply concerned, and even after only a brief consultation, they promptly decide to continue advancing, taking flight once more. At that very moment, the previously clear sky suddenly darkens. A purple veil appears without any prior sign or warning, and then slowly descends toward the ground. This purple silk was indeed a vast sea of magical ants—countless in number, forming a multitude of larger ant swarms—almost filling the entire sky and staining the void beneath a soft lavender hue. The magical ants had concealed themselves at higher altitudes, temporarily holding the group in place with concentrated streams of smaller ant forces before swiftly completing their encirclement and revealing their fierce demeanor. Senior Hui and the man from the Lin family exchanged glances, then surged forward as two streaks of golden and black light, racing off in different directions. "Friend Han, I shall depart first," the young lady in feathered robes smiled warmly, her body radiating vibrant hues of five colors, transforming into a shimmering, five-colored phoenix phantom several dozen zhang tall, which gently enveloped her and carried her into the void, where she vanished. With their several magi-king-level strengths, their speed of flight naturally far surpassed that of ordinary high-ranking magical beings. Even before the ant sea above them fully descended, Han Li and the others had surged forward at an astonishing pace, continuing without any pause or hesitation. Meanwhile, the trailing magical beings were instantly engulfed by the purple clouds, their shouts and cries erupting once again. Han Li's own pale and silvery light thread had flown nearly three to four thousand miles ahead when it suddenly halted, his expression changing to one of concern. He glanced ahead and offered a faint, wry smile. A fresh cluster of purple clouds had now appeared in the sky tens of miles away, swiftly rolling toward them. "I didn't expect we'd have to make such a direct assault now. I hope we don't draw the attention of that ant queen." Han Li murmured a few words, then pressed a hand seal. With a gentle shake of his back wings, a surge of blue lightning balls the size of a fist erupted forth, bursting individually and instantly coalescing into a silver lightning array several zhang in size at his feet. As soon as he appeared, he cast a cold glance around, then swiftly shook his sleeves. Seventy-two small jade swords shot forth, forming a shimmering sword shield that enveloped his entire body with a single incantation. The thunder array finally gave a mournful cry before shattering and collapsing, and countless maggot-like creatures surged toward Han Li, rushing in with frantic intensity. Han Li remained expressionless, yet the sword shield on his body rippled with clear chimes, blossoming into a full-flowered jade lotus. Where the pale, cool light of the lotus passed, thousands of maggot creatures were instantly torn into pulp, unable to approach Han Li at all. Yet at this very moment, Han Li's expression darkened. He clearly sensed that, within this brief span, the spiritual energy he had entrusted to the flying swords had diminished significantly—seemingly drained by the maggot creatures as they were being slain, having forcibly absorbed it before their demise. Though these spiritual energies were but a mere fraction compared to those within the flying sword, their cumulative loss over time proved significant. Han Li's brow twitched, and without a word, he opened his mouth—immediately spewing out a sphere of silver flame. With a single flick, it expanded into a large silver phoenix, measuring a zhang in height, which then circled and danced around him. This was the Heavenly Spirit-Burning Flame he had nurtured within himself for years. The phoenix formed from this flame had already developed a touch of spirit—its body feathers trembled and emitted a clear, resonant call, and instantly, countless streaks of silver light shot out in all directions, vanishing into the anthill sea upon a brief flash. A series of explosive sounds erupted! Clusters of silver light burst forth across the anthill sea, transforming into surging waves of silver flame. The surrounding void was instantly enveloped in a wave of intense heat—any Siphon Ant touched by even the faintest glimmer of the silver flame instantly vaporized, as if it had simply vanished into thin air. The once-vast purple swarm of ants that had nearly filled the entire sky suddenly vacated a vast expanse several miles in size. Yet, when Han Li gently touched his hand and caused one by one the silver flames to retransform into countless fire plumes returning to the fire bird, his expression shifted again. He clearly sensed that the energy of the Spirit-Consuming Heavenly Fire had diminished during that single strike—despite its ability to effortlessly extinguish the magic-magi ants, it too could not escape being partially absorbed. With the formidable power of the Spirit-Consuming Heavenly Fire, Han Li naturally deeply resented such unexplained loss. As his face darkened, he swept his sleeve across the silver fire bird, and instantly a wave of jade mist surged forth. The fire bird cried out and then vanished in a flash of light within the void. In the brief moment of delay, the previously empty space around him had already been densely filled once more by the magic-magi ants, which now surged forward with renewed vigor, charging directly at Han Li. This time, Han Li didn't hesitate—he simply raised one hand and reached out into the void. Instantly, a grayish, hazy glow and a vibrant, five-colored cold flame surged forth from his body, then, in a single flicker, transformed into massive waves that rolled outwards in all directions. As the gray light flashed, the maggot ants trembled and turned into powdery fragments; upon the five-colored cold light flashing, thousands of ants were instantly crystallized by the icy, multicolored force, falling swiftly from the sky like cascading ice shards. Yet, when Han Li withdrew these two divine techniques, he shook his head again and sighed. Then, he stopped testing anything and instead focused all his energy into the seventy-two bamboo-hive sword breaths, which immediately rose into a brilliant, piercing green arc, spiraling slightly before charging straight ahead in one determined direction. Wherever the green swordlight passed, countless maggot ants fell to the ground, unable to impede Han Li's progress at all. His current speed of flight was not in the slightest bit slower than before!