Chapter 83: Nangong Li's Mystical Abilities and Qiu Han's Arrogant Power

Not far from Qiu Han’s side, a swirl of black mist appeared. Within the fog, a shadowy figure emerged—it was a middle-aged man of about forty. As soon as he appeared, an aura of unassailable authority naturally radiated from him. His features were identical to those of Nangong Li, whom Qiu Han had seen within the Celestial Compass’s space.

Within the space of the Celestial Compass, Nangong Li’s remnant soul sat with eyes closed, looking considerably weaker than before. By Qiu Han’s side, the other Nangong Li, shrouded in black mist, fixed his gaze on the approaching horde of demon beasts in the distance, then turned to Qiu Han and said, “Qiu Han, I told you before—I will grant you a great fortune. This time, if you can comprehend the essence of spiritual consciousness transformation, then during this moment of advancement, how far your cultivation and spiritual sense grow will depend entirely on you!”

Qiu Han remained motionless with eyes shut. He heard Nangong Li’s words, but his heart was now free from all other thoughts—his entire mind was focused on the remaining incantation. Thanks to his previous insights, he encountered almost no obstacles. The method for transforming spiritual sense into spirit was mastered almost as soon as he heard the final lines.

Within his dantian, a world-shaking transformation was underway. The previously egg-sized orb of spiritual power had now grown to the size of a child’s fist, its density several times what it had been. Countless crystalline points of spiritual energy floated above it, and vast torrents of heavenly energy, drawn by his breakthrough, poured into his body.

Nearly a hundred demon beasts, attracted by the surging spiritual aura, had arrived—some even of the second rank. Upon seeing Qiu Han, they charged at him with tremendous speed. Witnessing this, Nangong Li in the black mist roared, “You mere second-rank beasts dare to seek your doom here? Begone! Begone! Begone!”

With a surge of black mist and a single thunderous word, the heavens and earth changed color. The demon beasts halted abruptly, frozen in place, not daring to advance another step.

With a single command, the horde was gripped by terror—not one dared defy him.

Half an hour later, the orb of spiritual power in Qiu Han’s dantian had grown to the size of an adult’s fist. He was only a half-step away from the initial stage of Foundation Establishment. At the very core of the orb, a thin fissure remained—if this gap was filled, his cultivation would truly enter the Foundation Establishment stage!

At the same time, the strength of his spiritual sense had broken through to the middle stage of Foundation Establishment, while his cultivation continued its advance. The surrounding spiritual energy was gradually dispersing, fading from the area—this signaled one of two possibilities: either Qiu Han was on the verge of successfully breaking through, or he was about to fall short and fail at the final moment.

Nangong Li’s shadowy figure in the black mist watched Qiu Han with concern, his attention focused entirely on the young man’s condition. Just then, a thunderous roar echoed from the distant sky, and before long a massive, jade-green lizard-like demon beast—several dozen feet long—charged toward them.

As it entered within a hundred feet, the monstrous pressure of a third-rank demon beast swept over the field, forcing the lesser beasts to prostrate themselves in terror. The arrival of this creature made Nangong Li’s expression grow even more grim.

“A third-rank beast... Qiu Han is at his most critical moment—he must not be disturbed. So be it! Even if I must slumber for another ten thousand years, I will protect him!”

Nangong Li stepped into the air, positioning himself ten feet above Qiu Han, and sent a message into Qiu Han’s mind: “Cease transforming your spiritual sense—absorb all the remaining spiritual energy here and charge into the Foundation Establishment realm. I will hold off these beasts!”

The third-rank demon beast, using some unknown method, compelled the hundred lesser beasts to charge Qiu Han once more, then advanced itself, swinging its enormous tail back and forth as it moved toward Nangong Li.

“Wretched creature—how dare you!”

Nangong Li’s shadow flickered, the black mist dispersing and coalescing into a monstrous, ambiguous visage—part human, part beast, neither wholly one nor the other. Opening its gaping maw, it swallowed toward all the demon beasts present.

“Demonic Art: Heaven-Devouring Technique!”

The gigantic phantasmal head, formed of black mist, was terrifying to behold. With a single bite, it devoured every demon beast present—including the third-rank monster. The black mist then churned violently, filling the area, and soon agonized wails rang out from within, lasting the length of an incense stick. As the mist faded, Nangong Li’s shadow reappeared, but now it was dangerously unstable, seeming ready to vanish at any instant.

No demon beast remained in the clearing; only heaps of bones lay scattered on the ground. The bones varied in shape and size, but all were clearly the remains of the beasts. The power Nangong Li had just displayed had consumed every beast, regardless of strength, leaving not a scrap of flesh—only desiccated skeletons.

And this was Nangong Li in his current state—bereft of body and nascent soul, his cultivation gone, only a remnant spirit remaining—yet his might was still overwhelming. Nearly a hundred demon beasts, including the third rank, perished in an instant, their bodies utterly erased. Had he used this technique at the height of his power, its strength would be beyond imagination.

Within Qiu Han’s dantian, the last fissure in the orb of spiritual power finally closed. A mighty pressure, belonging only to a Foundation Establishment cultivator, radiated from his body.

He had succeeded—he had stepped into the Foundation Establishment stage!

Qiu Han had finally advanced, and his spiritual sense had reached the peak of the middle Foundation Establishment stage. Suddenly, he stood up, opened his eyes, which shone with clarity and vigor, and his long hair, draped over his shoulders, floated weightlessly behind him. The spiritual energy that had surged from all directions in response to his advancement now began to dissipate, and soon, the world would return to its former state.

“The advancement has stopped—only the initial stage of Foundation Establishment? Not enough!” Sensing the transformation in his body, Qiu Han stared at the sky above, then suddenly looked up and shouted, “Did I say you could leave? Get back here!”

With his powerful spiritual sense, now at the peak of the middle Foundation Establishment stage, he released it without reservation, enshrouding the heavens, and then yanked it back. Instantly, the sky changed again, and massive amounts of spiritual energy gathered in the air before him.

Qiu Han sat down cross-legged once more. The Devouring Spirit, Focusing Soul, and Severing Heaven technique was unleashed again, and spiritual energy rushed into his body through his mouth and nose, flowing into his dantian. His cultivation, which had just stabilized, began to surge anew.

Foundation Establishment initial stage, peak of the initial stage!

His spiritual sense soared once again—peak of the middle stage, then late Foundation Establishment!

“Is this all there is? Still not enough—more!”