Chapter 392: Burning Divine Power? Trying to Escape? Get Back Here!
Don't misunderstand Han Li wasn't some sadistic villain. He didn't take pleasure in torturing people. Even with Tang San, he only indulged in a bit of dark humor to mentally crush him before his death. He undoubtedly despised Yu Xiaogang, but he had never intended to personally kill him.
Ironically, this entire plan was something Yu Xiaogang himself had proposed when he sought them out.
Yes, that's right Yu Xiaogang personally requested it.
He was indeed a failure, but he was a well read failure. Long ago, he had learned about divine inheritance from Wuhun Hall's secret archives and had even overheard Bibi Dong's murmurs in her sleep.
He was well aware that, given his capabilities, he had no realistic way to avenge himself. His plan was to commit suicide in a way that would shake Bibi Dong emotionally. However, he wasn't sure if he would have the resolve when the moment came. So, he asked Han Li and Qian Renxue for a favor.
If he were to be involved, he wanted them to ensure he died at Bibi Dong's hands. And if that was too difficult, then he begged Qian Renxue to cut (dismember) him and throw his remains in front of Bibi Dong.
Han Li had always doubted the phrase "scholars have the darkest hearts." After all, back in his previous life, he had been an academically decent student himself, and he refused to accept such a claim.
But even he was left speechless by Yu Xiaogang's proposal. It reminded him of a meme from his past life about someone "raising a boss character just to defeat it."
In this world, Han Li had never attended any academy, having been privately tutored. That meant he could finally, and openly, declare: "Scholars really do have dark hearts." Especially considering that Yu Xiaogang had always been a petty man to begin with.
If Qian Renxue had actually gone through with his request… well, Han Li didn't even dare imagine what kind of spectacle that would have created. Particularly since Qian Renxue hadn't fully hardened her heart at the time.
Clearly, witnessing Yu Yuanzhen's death before his eyes had broken something inside Yu Xiaogang. His drive for revenge had become so extreme that he was willing to resort to anything.
But Qian Renxue was far stronger than him. His proposal was unnecessary.
Still, Han Li despised it when others schemed against his people. That's why he had grabbed the Death Spider Emperor's leg and stabbed it straight into Yu Xiaogang.
Since Yu Xiaogang wanted this, Han Li would make it happen. And while he was at it, he'd upgrade the script for even greater impact. No problem, right?
In any case, Han Li was simply waiting for Qian Renxue's grand finishing move.
Now that she had unleashed her combined attacks, and with his "good son" deliberately amplifying the spectacle across the continent, it fully matched the grandeur expected of a divine battle. That was all he needed.
Faith was born from admiration. The relationship between a deity and their believers required a certain level of distance to achieve maximum effect. The gradual decline in Ye LingLing's faith towards him was proof of this.
Not everything had to be seen to be believed. A little mystery, some gaps left for people to imagine and interpret, was far more effective. Even in another world, the principles of journalism still applied.
From Han Li's perspective, this absurd 20 year long drama was finally reaching its conclusion. It was time for the big payout.
Of course, the most dramatic part of this revenge saga was about to unfold.
Battles were merely the process the outcome was what truly mattered.
Qian Renxue had dominated her mother throughout the fight. Now, she had even summoned the power of the sun, pouring it down onto Bibi Dong. It was time for her to claim her victory.
"Don't be ridiculous. I won't fall here!"
Despite being overwhelmed by the crushing force of divine judgment, despite feeling her own power eroding, despite even her hair curling under the scorching divine flames Bibi Dong still spoke like the protagonist of a hot blooded manga.
Though, in truth, she had always been the villain.
Seeing Yu Xiaogang on the brink of death, the desperate Empress finally snapped. Well, perhaps "snapped" wasn't the right word this was more of a last ditch gamble.
Without anyone teaching her, she instinctively ignited all of her divine power. This was a god's ultimate life risking state a technique unused since the Dragon God War. The only reason Han Li knew about it was from Gu Yue's memories.
Gripping the Rakshasa Scythe tightly in her right hand, she gave it a vicious twist. The runic engravings on the weapon detached, slithering over her body like living creatures. As they spread, purple flames ignited across her form signs of her divine essence burning at full throttle.
Qian Renxue's eyes flickered with surprise.
Lifting her left hand, Bibi Dong hoisted her Forbidden Extinction Barrier higher. The shield of Rakshasa divine power forced the golden energy sphere away from her, sending it exploding in the sky. The resulting detonation ripped pitch black fractures across space itself.
Then, without hesitation, she formed a sphere of sinister purple energy, its surface writhing like tormented souls. She hurled it toward Qian Renxue. Even before reaching optimal range, the sphere detonated, scattering waves of spiritual energy toward her.
This was Rakshasa's Prison, a new divine ability Bibi Dong had acquired upon ascension.
It lacked direct offensive power most of her divine skills were more focused on spiritual manipulation, stirring emotions and drawing out malice.
Rakshasa's Prison was among them, a precursor technique that created a miniature world designed to trap enemies. It worked best when combined with follow up attacks. But right now, Bibi Dong had no time for complex strategies. She just needed to stall Qian Renxue for a moment.
The instant she cast the skill, she turned
And swung her Rakshasa Scythe straight at Han Li.
Unlike her previous battle with Qian Renxue, this was not close combat, nor a simple energy attack it was a refined technique for remotely controlling a divine weapon.
Of course, if she could kill Han Li in the process, all the better.
The moment she swung her scythe, the eight additional scythe like wings on her back detached from her body, spinning rapidly before merging into the Rakshasa Scythe.
Nine blades fused into one. Dark magical patterns reappeared along its surface, and as Bibi Dong swung the weapon, the scythe left her grasp, whirling through the air like a deadly, black purple spinning shuriken. Under her precise control, it twisted in an eerie trajectory, hurtling toward Han Li.
Now, one important note Han Li absolutely refused to touch Yu Xiaogang directly. Even when suppressing the poison in his body with divine power, he did so remotely, using a thread of divine energy to maintain the link.
So when Han Li saw Bibi Dong's Rakshasa Scythe flying toward him, he immediately predicted her move.
Oh? Playing with telekinetic weaponry? Fine, fine, fine. I accept your challenge.
But he didn't have a sword. And he wasn't about to waste his martial spirit on this. Luckily, he reacted quickly so Yu Xiaogang would have to take one for the team.
And so, as Bibi Dong's eyes widened in horror, Han Li stomped his foot against the ground, launching Yu Xiaogang into the air. Then, with a well placed kick, he sent him flying without severing the divine thread connecting them.
You control a scythe, I control Xiaogang. Seems fair, doesn't it?
Through this series of "clumsy yet effective" maneuvers, Yu Xiaogang was sent hurtling directly into the path of the incoming Rakshasa Scythe.
Bibi Dong coughed up another mouthful of blood.
Sure, she could remotely control her divine weapon but Han Li was downright ruthless, using Yu Xiaogang as a living shield.
Even though this was a fantasy world, the laws of energy conservation still applied.
More importantly, Bibi Dong was an incomplete god. Her control over the scythe depended on divine power rather than pure mental manipulation. The sheer kinetic force involved made sudden stops and directional shifts extremely difficult especially since she had only broken free from Qian Renxue's suppression by burning her divine power, meaning it was now circulating at an uncontrollably rapid rate.
Imagine slamming the brakes on a car going 120 miles per hour on the highway. That was her situation. If she were simply aiming at an enemy, or even at Han Li, she could afford some imprecision.
But the one in her scythe's path was Yu Xiaogang fragile, pitiful, utterly weak compared to the gods on this battlefield. A mere graze would severely injure him, and a direct hit would mean instant death.
This was her so called "white moonlight." How could she not tread carefully?
Yet that very hesitation deepened her injuries, as the backlash from forcibly controlling the scythe wounded her further.
The Rakshasa Scythe jerked to an abrupt halt mid air. Then, under Bibi Dong's desperate control, it spun toward the divine thread connecting Han Li to Yu Xiaogang. She hadn't forgotten her primary goal to rescue him. The scythe was still a short distance from Han Li, so cutting the thread was the priority.
It was a good plan on paper.
But only if Han Li cooperated.
Would he?
Of course not.
The moment he kicked Yu Xiaogang, Han Li pulled back his bow the artifact he had recently renamed "Fate," though he had yet to announce its new title to the world.
Casually drawing the bowstring, he began firing rapid shots not with overwhelming power, but with just enough force for Bibi Dong's scythe to struggle against them.
The whistling sound of arrows slicing through the air echoed.
Their target? Yu Xiaogang.
This forced Bibi Dong to abandon her plan of using the Rakshasa Scythe to extract him and flee. Now, she had no choice but to control her weapon defensively blocking each arrow while rushing toward Yu Xiaogang herself.
She wanted to escape.
But she couldn't.
Instead, she was being dragged into Han Li's rhythm, forced to remain in the fight.
Satisfied that he had achieved his goal, Han Li severed the divine thread linking him to Yu Xiaogang, leaving him to collapse on the ground.
Of course, he wasn't about to let Bibi Dong snatch him away with spider silk or divine tendrils.
Each time she tried to use a remote ability, Han Li fired another arrow interrupting her, destroying her attempts, forcing her to approach in person.
For the first time in a while, Han Li felt genuine excitement.
This was what he loved most forcing the opponent to fight exactly the way he wanted.
After all, wasn't this the very combat style he had demonstrated from the start?
If he couldn't enjoy himself as an archer, what was the point?
Melee combat was just a hobby archery was his true calling!
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