Volume 2 - Chapter 7: Defeating the Undying
Two Heaven and Man Realm great demons, though injured and fleeing for their lives, were still unable to escape Li Hao’s sword.
Once again, Blossoms on the Other Shore emerged, spreading petals across the path.
The sword energy instantly tore through the body of the Purple-Eyed Mad Bull Demon, ripping it apart.
Following this, the sword energy arced as if making a turn, cleaving the head of the Azure-Scaled Viper.
The two great demons died on the spot.
Although they were also at the Heaven and Man Realm, they were no match for Li Hao, not even for a single exchange.
Li Hao turned his gaze toward Li Hongzhuang, intending to provide reinforcements. Compared to the time when he had just stepped into the Heaven and Man Realm, his strength had advanced significantly.
Over the past few days, he had integrated numerous techniques into his Dao of All Things, forming the embryonic framework of a new system of techniques.
But at this moment, another great demon charged out from the group of monsters.
At the same time, demon beasts rampaged across the camp, tearing through many tents.
Some demons headed straight toward the cemetery.
Li Hao glanced at Li Hongzhuang. Surrounded by three Undying Stage great demons, she was still holding her ground. The power of her supreme techniques made the three demons wary, unwilling to face her attacks head-on.
Judging from her appearance, she seemed capable of holding on for a while longer.
...
Li Hao no longer hesitated, nor did he have any reason to conceal his strength. He unleashed his Heavenly Avatar.
In an instant, a golden avatar a hundred zhang tall manifested, resembling a god descending to the mortal world.
Even Li Hongzhuang, locked in an intense battle with the three great demons, was shaken by the overwhelming aura. When she turned to look, her face showed astonishment.
Such an immense divine soul indicated a Fourth Pillar Realm existence.
Yet the form of the divine soul was unmistakably that of the young man from earlier.
Li Hongzhuang’s eyes reflected her shock. She could not fathom what kind of soul-refining technique Li Hao had cultivated to condense his divine soul to such a terrifying degree.
At this moment, Li Hao’s Heavenly Avatar stood towering within the camp. Raising one palm, he brought it down upon the swarm of demons, instantly annihilating a large number of them.
Against such a horde, it was most suitable to use the Boundless Sea Sword Technique, a wide-area attack technique.
Alternatively, the Falling Snow Sword Technique could also cover a large area effectively.
However, both were techniques from the Li Family, and Li Hao had promised never to use them again.
Instead, he manipulated his avatar to execute a self-created technique, born from his fusion of techniques into his Dao of All Things.
By combining the Falling Snow Sword Technique, the Yin-Yang Dividing Sword, and the Meteor Concept, he had developed a new sword art: the Blizzard Sword Technique.
Two high-grade sword techniques merged with one of nature’s elements, rain, to form a new supreme technique.
Li Hao, learning from all things in heaven and earth, viewed rain as one such element. Its concept complemented the Falling Snow Sword Technique, while the Yin-Yang Dividing Sword added the interplay of illusion and reality, making the killing strikes within the blizzard utterly unpredictable.
Regrettably, Li Hao lacked a divine sword at the moment, significantly diminishing the technique’s power.
Yet it was more than enough to exterminate these lesser demons.
The temperature in the area plummeted, cold air spread, snowflakes seemed to float in the air, and dew-like raindrops formed.
The raindrops and snowflakes were swept into a storm, engulfing the horde of demons.
Any demon that touched the edge of the blizzard was immediately torn apart, their bodies shredded and pulled into the storm, where they were utterly destroyed.
What appeared to be snowflakes and wind blades was actually a vortex formed by countless threads of sword energy.
Li Hao took a deep breath, his energy channels surging. He swung his sword three consecutive times.
Three blizzards whirled through the camp, slaughtering a large number of demons. Meanwhile, with every step and palm strike of his Heavenly Avatar, more demons were crushed. Even demons at the Fifteen Li Realm that attempted to attack the avatar were easily obliterated with a single palm strike.
Li Hao stood in the camp like an invincible war god, manipulating sword energy to decimate the demons.
Although more demons charged forward relentlessly, their numbers only added to the death toll. Blood flowed in rivers, and severed limbs flew in all directions.
Li Hao held a battered longsword, standing tall and unmoving.
He lamented in his heart. Among the first six stages of cultivation, only in the Spiritual Wandering Realm had he reached the peak, condensing his Heavenly Avatar.
For the other realms, he had yet to touch their limits.
Once he fully opened all his energy channels, he might reach the peak of the Zhoutian Realm. He wondered what wonders awaited him at that point and whether the same applied to the other realms.
“Divine Might!”
As more demons charged toward the cemetery, Li Hao’s gaze turned cold. With a burst of fury, he unleashed the power of the Bao Xiang Stage, Divine Might.
The Heaven and Man Realm consisted of three stages: Unity, Bao Xiang, and Grandmaster.
The Unity Stage was merely a starting point, where cultivators unified their techniques.
Next came the Bao Xiang Stage, where the divine soul grew strong and manifested as an avatar. This stage granted Divine Might, capable of deterring thousands with a single roar.
Finally, the Grandmaster Stage, where one became an army-slaying powerhouse. While not as agile as the Undying Stage, a Grandmaster could hold their own for some time even against overwhelming odds.
After recent breakthroughs, Li Hao had advanced from the Unity Stage to the Grandmaster Stage, achieving unrivaled might.
Standing amidst the camp, he appeared as a divine general who could shake the heavens, using his Heavenly Avatar to continuously obliterate the demons. At the same time, he condensed his Divine Might to suppress the demons near the cemetery.
His Divine Might then coalesced into a sword, much like the Divine Power Blade Li Tiangang had used against him in the past.
Of course, the Divine Might wielded by the Undying Stage far exceeded that of a Grandmaster.
The strength of Divine Might depended on the cultivator’s divine soul.
Among those of the same stage, Li Hao’s Divine Might was unparalleled. As he roared, countless demons trembled in fear. Their previously relentless charge was forcefully halted.
Li Hao pushed forward, slaughtering every demon that dared to invade the camp.
The Blizzard Sword Technique rampaged through the camp, consuming the lives of these demons with every passing moment.
Though he stood alone, the synergy of his Heavenly Avatar and sword energy created the aura of an invincible warrior, instilling fear into the rear ranks of the demon horde. Even the bravest among them hesitated, retreating with terror etched into their hearts.
“Damn it!”
In the distance, the Flying Peng Bird, one of the three great demons surrounding Li Hongzhuang, witnessed the devastating losses among its forces. It screeched in rage, its eyes bloodshot with fury.
“What are you looking at?” Li Hongzhuang seized the opening, slashing her sword toward it.
The Flying Peng Bird dodged hastily but still suffered a deep wound on its wing. Furious and panicked, it turned to the Chi Tiger Lord and said, “Hold her off for now. I’ll go finish off that wretched boy!”
The Chi Tiger Lord hesitated for a moment before nodding. “Be quick!”
The Flying Peng Bird took off with a sharp cry. “Three breaths!”
Within three breaths, it vowed to shred Li Hao to pieces.
Li Hao continued mowing down demons in the camp when he suddenly sensed the rapid approach of a fierce presence. Turning, he saw the massive black bird bearing down on him.
Far from alarmed, he smiled faintly. “This will ease the pressure on Li Hongzhuang.”
“I wonder how my current strength compares to that of an Undying Stage being?”
Without paying further attention to the surrounding demons, Li Hao turned to face the Flying Peng Bird. His Heavenly Avatar followed his lead, towering over the oncoming threat.
“Die!!”
The Flying Peng Bird screeched, unleashing a ferocious attack as beams of black light shot out like bolts of lightning.
Li Hao’s gaze sharpened as he took a step forward, preparing to unleash one of his own techniques.
By combining the Half-Step Invincible Fist, the Severing River Sword Technique, and the Meteor Concept, he had developed his signature move: Wrathful Star.
With each step, his internal energy surged and compressed rapidly, reaching a peak within moments.
The Seven Stars Ignition trait activated, doubling the power of his techniques!
Paired with the explosive force of the Yin-Yang Double Burst, his raw physical power surged to an astonishing thirty-five million jin.
The deadly fusion of his sword technique, the amplifications of his fist art, and the colossal strength of his Heavenly Avatar culminated in a strike of unparalleled force.
Li Hao’s punch tore through the air, dimming the night sky as its brilliance pierced the heavens. The devastating momentum twisted the surrounding air into spirals, and the sheer power of the blow illuminated the Flying Peng Bird’s eyes with terror.
“This... This is impossible!”
The Flying Peng Bird shrieked in disbelief, clawing desperately as it unleashed black lightning bolts. But the devastating power of Li Hao’s fist obliterated them all.
In an instant, the massive bird was engulfed by the punch. Its enormous body was struck by the fist of the Heavenly Avatar, flung violently backward. It howled in agony as its chest caved in, feathers scattered, and blood spilled.
With a resounding crash, the Flying Peng Bird landed in the battlefield where Li Hongzhuang was fighting. Its body, now coated in blood and dirt, lay in a wretched heap.
The Chi Tiger Lord and Six-Tusked Stabbing Boar froze, their eyes wide with horror. The sudden appearance of their comrade’s mangled body nearly cost them their lives as Li Hongzhuang almost struck a fatal blow.
Both demons leaped back, glaring in the direction of the youth.
Moments ago, the Flying Peng Bird had vowed to return within three breaths. It had done so—but not in triumph.
Instead, it had been beaten back in a single breath.
The two great demons stared in disbelief at the distant young man. How could someone at the Heaven and Man Realm unleash such devastating power, capable of sending an Undying Stage being flying with one strike?
Li Hongzhuang, though unable to capitalize on the opportunity, glanced at the fallen bird and then at Li Hao. Her eyes flickered with astonishment. Could that devastating strike truly have come from him?
The Flying Peng Bird struggled to its feet, vomiting blood and fragments of its internal organs.
Its eyes, filled with terror and rage, locked onto Li Hao. The memory of that strike—the sheer sensation of impending death—sent shivers through its body.
“Retreat!”
It no longer dared to stay. Among the demon race, survival always took precedence. Fighting these humans to the death was meaningless, especially when their numbers were unknown.
Today’s assault had been intended as a probing attack. Killing Li Hongzhuang would have been a bonus.
But that boy was too dangerous, too unnatural.
With a loud screech, the Flying Peng Bird soared into the sky, beating its wings furiously to flee.
The Chi Tiger Lord and Six-Tusked Stabbing Boar exchanged glances, their expressions grim. With their comrade gone, they were now at a disadvantage. If the battle dragged on, they would surely fall to Li Hongzhuang.
Wasting no time, they turned and fled as well.
They had assaulted this encampment many times before, retreating whenever they failed to breach it.
Li Hongzhuang pursued briefly but was quickly intercepted by the remaining demons. Though these lesser creatures posed no threat, they slowed her down significantly.
“You stay here—I’ll go after them,” Li Hao’s voice suddenly sounded behind her.
Startled, Li Hongzhuang turned to see Li Hao rushing past her, taking to the skies in pursuit of the two great demons.
Li Hongzhuang froze, her expression shifting dramatically.