After a scream, the snake monster's Nascent Soul dissolved into a wisp of green smoke and dissipated into nothingness.
Truth be told, the Spirit Binding Technique was a vicious and sinister ancient secret art of the demonic path, and was naturally countered to death by the Exorcism Divine Lightning. The creature hadn't even had a chance to use its teleportation technique before vanishing without a trace.
The thick-browed giant in the distance stood with his mouth gaping wide, unable to close it for a long time.
The elderly man surnamed Ma maintained a relatively calm expression, but the shock in his eyes went without saying.
Seeing the two so shaken, Han Li had long anticipated their reaction and showed no unusual expression. Instead, he reached out and drew the storage bag and the blue flying trident that had fallen to the ground toward him with one hand. After scanning them briefly with his spiritual sense, he suddenly tossed both items to the thick-browed man.
"Although we've killed him, his magic treasure and the items in the storage bag should be returned to the Spirit Mastery Sect completely untouched. That way, the Spirit Mastery Sect will have even less grounds for complaint," Han Li said, looking at the two of them and speaking slowly.
"Brother Han speaks wisely. We'll do as you say!" Perhaps Han Li's display of instantly killing the Spirit Binding snake monster had left the thick-browed giant still reeling from shock, for he showed not a hint of objection and subconsciously agreed immediately.
The old man's lips moved several times, but he too said nothing in opposition. With an awkward expression flickering across his face, he put away the ruler-shaped magic treasure.
Han Li had initially destroyed that black-robed figure, which could still be attributed to the opponent's carelessness and a bit of lucky fortune. But now, having destroyed a Spirit Binding creature whose cultivation rivaled that of a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator with his bare hands, the impact on the two was far too great.
The two nearly simultaneously came to the same guess — could this newly elevated elder of the Falling Cloud Sect actually possess magical powers no less formidable than those of a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator?
Once this thought surfaced, it was no wonder the two had reacted so uncharacteristically.
"Now that the matter is resolved, I'll go back and rest. When the spellswords come again, feel free to summon me," Han Li said with his expression unchanged, his voice calm.
"By all means, go ahead, Brother Han. I'll naturally keep watch here with Daoist Ma," the thick-browed giant's words carried an unmistakable note of reverence.
Han Li smiled at this, cupped his fist in a salute, turned, and walked toward the hall's exit.
Having used the Pure Blue Ice Flame and the Exorcism Divine Lightning to kill the Spirit Binding snake monster just now, Han Li had been left with no other choice. He knew full well that without his intervention, the thick-browed giant and the old man would have had great difficulty stopping the creature once it broke free. After all, the creature's cultivation after Spirit Binding was far too high — if it had escaped, the consequences would have been catastrophic.
Moreover, since condensing his Nascent Soul, there was truly no need for him to continue concealing all of his abilities.
His situation now was entirely different from when he had been in the Sea of Chaos Stars.
Back then, his cultivation had been low and he'd been in unfamiliar territory, so naturally he'd hidden his strength to avoid attracting dangerous attention and inviting his own destruction.
But now, with his Nascent Soul formed, he had ascended to the ranks of this realm's high-level cultivators. Aside from a scant handful of individuals, no one else could pose a serious threat to him. This concern had naturally diminished greatly.
Furthermore, given the current situation with the spellsword army's invasion, even if he wanted to continue hiding his abilities, it would be impossible.
At the very least, after the treasure hunt in the Mulan Grasslands, the Ghost Spirit Sect and Marquis Nanlong should already know his strength was far from ordinary. In that case, it was better to openly display part of his strength ahead of time. This way, he could also deter some petty troublemakers.
If others at his level were to mistakenly think his abilities were weak and easy to bully, it would only invite unnecessary trouble.
Of course, the few life-saving trump cards he possessed — those Han Li would still not readily reveal in front of others.
As Han Li pondered these things, he sensed the strange sensation of the "Purple Gauze Extreme Fire" enveloping his Nascent Soul.
Just now, because he'd been facing the Spirit Binding creature, he had unleashed the full power of the Pure Blue Ice Flame within, managing to instantaneously freeze the demon. Now that the fire had returned and reverted to the Purple Gauze Extreme Fire, it felt somewhat unstable. It seemed that wielding such a powerful demonic flame was indeed related to a certain level of cultivation.
A faint self-deprecating smile appeared on his face as Han Li walked slowly toward the small building.
"Brother Lu, the two of us truly misjudged him. This Daoist Han's abilities are unfathomable — his strength is far beyond ours," the elderly man surnamed Ma said with a bitter smile after Han Li left the hall and his figure gradually receded.
"Indeed. Although his cultivation is only at the early stage of Nascent Soul, that golden lightning arc and the unknown blue flame alone would probably make even a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator retreat three paces upon encountering them," the thick-browed giant said, a trace of envy flashing across his face.
"But this is a good thing for us. With such a powerful fellow daoist, those invading spellswords outside might not be something to fear after all," the elderly man said with a smile.
"Well said. But while that blue ice flame rings no bells whatsoever, that golden lightning arc seems vaguely familiar somehow — I just can't place it. Brother Ma, does it ring any bells for you?" The thick-browed giant nodded slightly, then furrowed his brow again.
"No. It's the first time I've ever seen a golden lightning arc. What kind of cultivation technique could possibly produce something so formidable? It even managed to trap a nearly intangible Nascent Soul, preventing it from teleporting away," the elderly man muttered, and as he recalled the scene just moments ago, a faint chill crept into his heart.
"Never mind. Whatever great ability Daoist Han cultivates, it's a good thing for us. Let's discuss tomorrow's matters instead!" The thick-browed giant frowned slightly, seemingly unwilling to dwell on the subject further, and gently steered the conversation away.
"Tomorrow's matters? What do you mean, Brother Lu?" The old man started, looking somewhat puzzled.
"Since the Mulan people sent a spy to sabotage the grand formation, we might as well turn their own scheme against them," the giant said, a cold glint flashing in his eyes as his voice turned sly.
"Brother Lu, you mean..." The elderly man surnamed Ma immediately understood, a look of dawning comprehension crossing his face.