Volume 2 - Chapter 33: Transformation into Immortal - Part 1
Boom!
At close range, the sword and claw clashed in an instant.
The vast force of heaven and earth flowed along the blade of the sword, cutting open a rift that surged forward like a torrential tide.
The Dao Rhythms that were destined to hit their mark were severed by the Dragon Sky Sword. The black-robed man had assumed that a mere strike from a cultivator at the Heaven and Man Realm would be incapable of resistance and would crumble effortlessly. Yet, at the moment of contact, the immense power surging from the blade almost caused him to lose focus.
A destructive impact rippled outward, forcing both Li Hao and the black-robed man to retreat. However, as Li Hao withdrew, he manipulated the hidden line to pull the barbed fishhook deeper into the man’s ribcage. The more it pulled, the deeper it pierced.
The black-robed man clutched his chest in pain and swung his hand, slicing down with the edge of his palm like a blade, severing the hidden line.
Yet, as the line was cut, the fishhook tore out a large chunk of flesh. He inhaled sharply at the sharp pain, his expression twisting with fury.
As a Demon King, to be wounded in such a brief exchange by a mere Heaven and Man Realm human was utterly inconceivable!
“Die!!”
In a fit of rage, the black-robed man pointed at Li Hao, unleashing a deadly strike.
Nine Abysses Shattering Clouds Finger!
Guided by the pull of Dao Rhythms, the strike was destined to hit its target, carrying a terrifying demonic might that seemed to suppress the wind and snow into silence.
Li Hao’s expression turned grave as hidden lines extended outward, spreading and laying out a formation around him.
At the same time, he unleashed the power of his Yin-Yang Dual Meridians. Immortal energy drew in the force of heaven and earth into his body, channeling it through his Grand Meridian, which spun like a gyroscope, pulling all nearby power into the blade of his sword.
The Dragon Soul sealed within the Dragon Sky Sword drank this energy as though it had long awaited a downpour after a drought. A dragon's aura emanated from the blade as the condensed form of a true dragon coiled around Li Hao’s arm, bolstering it with terrifying true dragon power.
Li Hao felt his heart constrict and beat violently, almost to the point of pain. He knew that the deadly finger strike was locked onto his heart.
The enemy intended to deliver a killing blow!
Whoosh!
Stepping forward, he swung his sword in a fury.
Immortal Dao: Tai Chi Qian Kun Sword!
Before the blade, Yin and Yang seemed to converge and evolve, forming a phantom array that whistled forward along the edge of the sword.
Boom!!
The explosion sounded like the heavens collapsing and the earth shattering. A burst of energy swept outward, scattering strands of air like radiant white ribbons. Behind Li Hao, the ground sank into a crater shaped like a fingerprint.
Yet, Li Hao’s body did not retreat an inch. His long black hair flew wildly as the Yin-Yang Array before his sword spun rapidly, breaking apart the immense finger force, grinding it down by more than half. Taking another step forward, he slashed through the dissipating phantom, utterly shattering the attack!
High above, the black-robed man’s blood surged violently. The anger in his eyes gave way to shock.
As a Demon King, someone below the Fourth Pillar Realm had withstood his assault. What’s more, the opponent wasn’t even among the Three Immortals but merely a cultivator at the Heaven and Man Realm!
Shock quickly gave way to fear and dread. This kind of monstrous human, if allowed to grow, could very well become the second True Person of the Great Yu Divine Dynasty!
If that were to happen, he couldn’t imagine any space left for demons or devils to survive near the Great Yu Divine Dynasty!
“Swift Death!”
A chilling intent spread through the black-robed man’s eyes as his murderous aura surged. He invoked his martial will and once again struck with a deadly finger.
The second finger descended with the same overwhelming power, drawing in the endless force of the surrounding world.
Seeing the same technique again, Li Hao was somewhat surprised. At the same time, a trace of astonishment and delight flickered in his heart. This suggested that the earlier attack might have been the enemy’s most powerful killing move.
During the brief clash, Li Hao had already discerned that while this Fourth Pillar Realm Demon King’s strength was formidable, it was not as invincible as he had imagined.
Had this been half a month earlier, he might not have been able to withstand it. But now, by borrowing the power of heaven and earth, he could fight back!
This realization filled Li Hao with excitement. Without hesitation, he swung his sword again.
The same sword move, with Yin and Yang phantoms materializing once more.
But just as his blade cleaved halfway through the air, the finger strike arrived, faster than before.
Li Hao’s pupils contracted. In this critical moment, he quickly activated the hidden lines he had previously laid out for a chance to entangle his opponent. The lines pulled him away like a marionette, helping him avoid the fatal strike while channeling his strength.
Simultaneously, his sword’s momentum reached its peak.
Boom!
Another powerful collision rocked the area, causing the entire camp to tremble.
The black-robed man’s expression shifted, his fury mounting. He raised his hand again, pressing downward with relentless pressure.
He refused to believe that a mere human could possess such vast energy reserves to unleash these devastating sword techniques consecutively.
Amid the continuous attacks of the Nine Abysses Shattering Clouds Finger, augmented by his martial will, Li Hao could only dodge across the camp. But each time he created distance, he counterattacked with a strike of his sword.
The breath within his body flowed steadily, his immortal energy inexhaustible, drawing upon the power of heaven and earth. Short of exhaustion, he seemed to be in a perpetual state of vitality, akin to a semi-undying state, though its duration was effectively limitless.
After seven or eight consecutive finger strikes, the camp, along with its surrounding fences, had been destroyed in the battle's aftermath.
However, Li Hao had no time to spare on the wreckage. His focus was entirely consumed by the fight at hand.
The black-robed man’s frustration grew with every exchange. Despite unleashing his strongest moves repeatedly, he began to feel fatigue creeping in, while this human youth still fought energetically, evading and retaliating as if tireless.
Finally, as the realization that Li Hao remained unscathed sank in, the black-robed man’s patience snapped. Throwing aside all concerns for dignity, he decided to unleash his true strength, entering his Undying State.
With the emergence of this power, his previously waning energy surged back to life. His spirit became sharp and full, his eyes gleaming with a frightening light. Roaring in rage, he charged at Li Hao with newfound vigor.
Boom!
He raised his hand, delivering a massive palm strike. Within the palm strike, a Nine Abysses Shattering Clouds Finger followed closely behind.
At the same time, he opened his mouth and exhaled a whirlwind of black demonic wind, filled with countless razor-sharp blades.
With an unending torrent of power converging around him, he unleashed multiple devastating attacks simultaneously.
Li Hao’s expression shifted dramatically. Adjusting his sword stance, he channeled all his remaining strength, causing his body’s delicate energy balance to tilt dangerously.
“Immortal Dao: Reincarnation!”
Li Hao struck again, his sword light curving into an arc that resembled a crescent moon. The glowing arc rapidly advanced toward the oncoming onslaught.
The black demonic wind was instantly obliterated. The massive palm imprint collided with the crescent arc, shattering into pieces. However, the crescent arc began to flicker with lightning, its power barely holding.
The finger strike following the palm imprint pierced through the crescent arc, completely dispersing it, but it too was broken apart in the aftermath. The successive waves of force from their clash swept outward, flipping over the distant camp’s tents.
Li Hao felt the blood within his body churn, but he quickly suppressed it. Without a moment’s hesitation, he reversed his grip and unleashed another ferocious slash.
The black-robed man’s pupils constricted, his expression turning to one of disbelief.
Still alive?
This brat had been holding back earlier?!
The realization made the Demon King’s blood rush to his head in fury. His eyes turned bloodshot, and his aura grew increasingly savage. His body began to shift, undergoing partial demonization. His hands morphed into sharp claws as he emitted a piercing screech.
As the battle intensified, the Demon King’s transformation deepened. Black feathers appeared on his skin, and his strikes became fiercer.
Both sides unleashed their deadliest techniques without reservation, shaking the earth and causing the heavens to tremble. Despite the ferocity of their attacks, they appeared to be evenly matched, locked in a stalemate where neither could gain the upper hand.
In his Undying State, the black-robed man revealed his true form, transforming into a massive black bird. Golden streaks ran along a few of his feathers, hinting at the faint trace of an ancient Demon King bloodline within him.
The black bird let out a roar, flapping its wings to summon massive clouds of demonic energy. The demonic clouds darkened the skies, from which emerged a colossal black finger, reaching down with apocalyptic might.
Li Hao stomped the ground and shot into the sky, carrying the power of the Immortal Dao: Reincarnation to clash head-on with the massive finger.
His body cut through the black fog, slicing apart the clouds and shattering the giant finger, though he spat out a mouthful of blood in the process.
The Immortal energy conversion within his body began to falter, unable to keep pace. Only his exceptionally robust physique allowed him to hold on.
Meanwhile, the black bird Demon King’s rage was palpable. The Undying State had a limited duration, and as its power waned, he would become even weaker than before.
This thought filled him with shame and indignation. A Demon King of his caliber—was he truly about to be reverse-slain by a mere Heaven and Man Realm human?!
Boom!!
As both sides prepared for a final decisive clash, a sudden gray shadow streaked across the sky, crashing violently into the camp.
Li Hao turned his head and saw, amidst the rising dust, a gray-robed figure clambering out of a deep crater. The figure appeared disheveled, his robes torn and his gaunt chest marred by a gaping wound.
It was Feng Lao!
Li Hao’s pupils contracted to pinpoints, his entire body growing cold as though his blood had frozen solid.
But then, as if a blazing inferno ignited within him, an overwhelming rage surged from the depths of his heart, threatening to consume his very soul.
“Feng Lao!!”
He let out a distorted roar and rushed forward.
Feng Boping staggered to his feet, coughing up blood. His face was pale and ashen, a stark contrast to his usual vitality. Hearing Li Hao’s cry, he turned his head and noticed the transformed black bird Demon King in the distance.
His heart trembled slightly. This Demon King had been forced into his true form by Li Hao?
“Run!!”
Pulling his thoughts together, Feng Boping bellowed urgently as he saw Li Hao approaching.
But Li Hao didn’t stop. Just as he reached Feng Lao, two overwhelming waves of demonic energy descended upon them.
Turning his head, Li Hao saw two demonic figures flying in from the horizon.
One was a giant lion covered in golden fur, with limbs armored in scales.
The other wore a dark silver robe adorned with intricate patterns on the chest. He was tall and handsome, with an air of youth about him.
Bloodstained his hand, and he held a rib bone, toying with it idly.
“Old man, your reflexes were decent enough to dodge,” the silver-robed youth said with a cold smile, though his eyes gleamed with murderous intent.
Li Hao’s face turned pale. Yet another Demon King!
In addition to the Dragon Lord, it seemed the Myriad Mountains Demon King had invited yet another ally!
As Li Hao glanced between the heavily injured Feng Boping and the approaching enemies, the Myriad Mountains Demon King, now in his lion form, stepped out from the void. Noticing Li Hao's grim expression, the lion let out a sinister and triumphant laugh.
“To guard against the possibility of another expert in your camp, I specifically called him to watch from the sidelines. But now, it seems your earlier boasts were nothing but bluster!”
The lion's laughter grew louder, its tone mocking and overbearing. “You thought you could outscheme me? Don’t be afraid. I won’t let you die so easily. I’ll refine your soul and imprison you in the River of Death, where you’ll beg for death but never attain it!”
A chill spread through Li Hao’s heart as he faced the immense pressure of the lion’s presence. This old Demon King was frighteningly cautious, as he had anticipated nearly every move.
The earlier appearance of the Dragon Lord had likely been a ploy to mislead them into thinking there were only three enemies. Secretly, this fourth Demon King had been hiding, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
Four Demon Kings!
All of this effort just to kill a single Heaven and Man Realm cultivator. The absurdity of it felt overwhelming, but it was clear this wasn’t some storybook scenario where enemies conveniently fought one by one, allowing the protagonist to level up gradually.
This was real life, and the old Demon King was ruthless, leaving no room for hope or survival.
It reminded Li Hao of his childhood when he was only six years old. Even then, demons had sent assassins at the Zhoutian Realm to kill him. The current situation was far more dangerous, with a far greater disparity in power.
“Go! I’ll hold them off!”
Feng Boping placed himself in front of Li Hao, his frail frame shielding him. His once ruddy face was now pale, but his gaze was sharp and resolute, like a blade fixed firmly on the approaching enemies.
“That silver-robed Demon King ambushed me,” Feng Boping said quickly, his voice urgent. “Fortunately, I managed to avoid a fatal blow. There’s no way a fifth Demon King is hiding nearby. Go now, while you still can!”
Li Hao stared at Feng Boping’s hunched figure, his chest pierced by a fist-sized hole, ribs exposed, and tattered robes hanging limply from his back.
If the strike had been aimed just a bit higher, it would have pierced Feng Boping’s heart.
Blood roared in Li Hao’s ears, and his fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white. He felt a surge of fury and helplessness that left him on the verge of madness.
“Let’s face them together!”
Li Hao tightened his grip on his sword, glaring at the three Demon Kings hovering in the air. A destructive urge to obliterate everything in his path surged through his veins.
“I can reverse fate and find hope in despair. Don’t worry about me; you need to leave!”
Feng Boping didn’t look back, his voice stern and unyielding.
Li Hao bit his lip until blood seeped out. His heart ached as if being torn apart. Tightening his grip on his weapon, he replied, “Feng Lao, don’t you remember? Five or six years ago, you told me something. You said if you ever had the chance to reverse fate, you’d use it on me.”
At that time, he had been regarded as nothing more than a failure in everyone’s eyes.
It was just a casual remark Feng Lao had made while fishing, but Li Hao had never forgotten it.