Everyone who witnessed this moment was left speechless, doubting their own eyes.
Initially, the crowd believed the gray light was merely veering toward the Seven Celestial Sect, possibly indicating that the dwarf had decided to deal with the weaker disciples first before confronting the more formidable gray-clad man. But then, the impossible happened. The gray light, which had seemed so mighty, was effortlessly captured by a seemingly ordinary disciple. This was an utterly astonishing feat!
For those present from the Seven Celestial Sect—including King Zhenchao and the gray-clad man—the sudden turn of events was nothing short of miraculous. Their joy was overwhelming. King Zhenchao, in particular, felt a surge of relief and excitement. He was thankful for having allowed Han Li to join the fight. He now realized that Han Li was the key to the survival of the Seven Celestial Sect, and their future rested in his hands.
Li Feiyu, who knew Han Li to be a bit unusual, was now stunned beyond words. He had always known his friend to be somewhat different, but never did he expect him to casually intercept a weapon belonging to a legendary sword immortal. It was as though he were dreaming, his mind still trying to catch up to the enormity of what had just happened.
Meanwhile, the expressions of Zhang Xiu'er, Elder Li, and Jia Tianlong were a mixture of shock, awe, and confusion. Everyone's gaze was fixed on Han Li, their emotions ranging from fear to curiosity, to sheer amazement.
Han Li, however, appeared completely unruffled by the attention. He continued to hold the gray light—now controlled in his hands—with an easy smile, as though the astonished gazes around him meant little to him. Beneath his composed exterior, however, Han Li was far from calm. He was feeling inwardly conflicted and a little frustrated.
Truth be told, Han Li hadn't intended to make a move yet. He had planned to wait for the dwarf to let his guard down and retract the golden shield before launching a surprise attack. At that point, he would slip behind the dwarf, using a small "Fireball" spell to finish him off.
But then, the gray light had tempted him. He couldn't resist. His hand had moved involuntarily, and before he realized it, he had used his "Control Object Technique" to seize the treasure. The ease with which he had done it was far beyond his expectations. The gray light had been so simple to manipulate that it almost felt like a child's play.
With just a little effort, Han Li had extended his spiritual force, removed the dwarf's connection to the gray light, and effortlessly claimed control of it. It had felt almost like coaxing a child to walk—stumbling and uncoordinated, but still obedient to his will. The gray light now rested in his hands, its brilliance dimming as he examined it carefully.
At first, Han Li had been somewhat disappointed. The gray light wasn't a flying sword or some sort of magical weapon as he had initially hoped. Instead, it was just a talisman—albeit an unusual one—engraved with a small gray sword, its intricate design so lifelike that it seemed ready to strike at any moment. Even without any magical energy being poured into it, the talisman glowed faintly, exuding an icy cold aura.
"Not a flying sword, but still..." Han Li thought to himself, quietly tucking the talisman into his robes. While it wasn't what he had initially imagined, it was still a potent artifact—one that could serve him well in the future.
Han Li carefully considered his next move. While he had successfully obtained the talisman, he knew that the dwarf, sensing his loss, would be on edge. The situation had taken an unexpected turn, and Han Li wasn't eager to reveal too much of his hand just yet. He had no desire to reveal that his mastery over "Control Object" was still new and untested. He was uncertain about the true capabilities of the talisman, and it would be unwise to rely on it in front of the dwarf, who could still have surprises of his own.
Meanwhile, the Golden Light Taoist was watching with barely contained rage. His eyes were fixed on Han Li, the one who had taken his precious talisman so effortlessly. He could sense the enormous gap in spiritual power between them and knew that he wasn't a match for the young man. His hands twitched, but he dared not approach, fearing the consequences of trying to challenge Han Li directly.
Han Li, sensing the dwarf's hesitation, felt a surge of confidence. His outward calm was a deliberate mask—he knew that projecting confidence would make the difference in the confrontation. He decided to press his advantage, using his "Wind Movement Technique" to appear before the dwarf in an instant. His movements were swift, almost ghostly.
The Golden Light Taoist, already on edge, took several steps back when Han Li appeared before him. He was now clearly intimidated, his previous arrogance replaced by fear. "What do you want?" he stammered. "I haven't touched any of your family's resources or harmed your people. I've only been collecting some mundane gold. I mean no harm to your family. Please, spare me!"
Han Li, hearing the dwarf's words, couldn't help but smile inwardly. The dwarf had mistaken him for a member of a rival cultivation family. This misunderstanding worked to his advantage, and Han Li's confidence grew. He decided to play along with the dwarf's misconception.
In a calm, measured tone, Han Li responded, "I am curious, fellow cultivator, as to who you are. Why are you meddling in the mundane world and disrupting the local order? This puts my family in a difficult position." His voice was filled with feigned mystery and authority.
The dwarf, hearing Han Li's gentle tone, seemed to relax. He quickly began thinking of a way to defuse the situation. "I am a disciple of the Ye family from Qin Ye Ridge. I only stopped by here because I have some old ties with the leader of the Wild Wolf Gang. I never intended to offend your family. Please, forgive me. If I have disturbed you, I will make amends. What family do you belong to? I'll pay my respects when I return."
The dwarf, now seemingly at ease, nervously waited for Han Li's response, thinking that the young man might let him go after hearing his plea.
But Han Li merely smiled, his mind already plotting how best to exploit this newfound advantage.