Volume 2 - Chapter 65: Commanding the Tide of Demonic Beasts - Part 1
"Roar!!"
As the roar of demonic beasts echoed, the oncoming demonic tide loomed closer like a dark cloud, covering the horizon and filling the defensive pass.
On the city walls, the deputy general of the Blood Fiend Army commanded, "Activate the array!"
On the walls of Cangya City, golden light shimmered as the protective array activated, enveloping the city.
"So many battle flags!"
Within the demonic tide, four Three Immortals Realm great demons caught sight of the numerous Haotian Battle Flags planted atop the city walls, their expressions subtly shifting.
"However, at such a close range, if those flags unleash their power, won’t they also be caught in the attack?"
"But we don’t know if the formation attack from those flags targets only demonic beasts."
The four Three Immortals Realm great demons appeared grim. Although they had anticipated such a scene, they had not expected the number of battle flags to be this overwhelming.
"Break through the city first. Let the lesser demons destroy the battle flags, and we’ll retreat!"
Having already devised a countermeasure, they hesitated only briefly before sounding the charge horn.
At once, the horde of demonic beasts behind them surged forward in response, charging toward the city covered by golden light.
But suddenly, a dragon's roar echoed from afar.
The sound seemed to come from dozens of miles away, traveling swiftly across the land.
The four Three Immortals Realm great demons looked up simultaneously, as did the many soldiers on the city walls. All raised their heads to see a streak of golden sword light flying from within the city, soaring overhead like a brilliant meteor.
"It’s a sword!"
"It’s the Dragon Sky Sword!"
The expressions of the Three Immortals Realm great demons drastically changed, recognizing this world-renowned sword.
Since falling into the hands of Li Hao, the sword's reputation had grown even more fearsome. Across five thousand miles beyond the pass, it had already carved out an infamous legend!
As the great demons caught sight of the Dragon Sky Sword, it pierced through the array with a whistle. Its blade shimmered with the divine will of Li Hao, carrying his aura. With Li Hao himself holding the command token for the array, the flying sword passed through the protective barrier without hindrance.
Swoosh!
The demonic soul within the Dragon Sky Sword activated, unleashing a sky-shaking roar that echoed for a hundred miles beyond the pass!
Then, like a true dragon plunging into the sea, the sword unleashed a torrential wave of sword energy. In an instant, the blade splintered like cracked ice, radiating countless rain-like sword rays to form a terrifying sword tide!
One sword stood supreme, dominating the sky!
...
The overwhelming sword tide swept forward like an ocean wave, crushing into the fifty-thousand-strong army of demonic beasts.
The Dragon Sky Sword, surrounded by divine radiance, tore through the demonic tide with incredible speed. Like golden lightning, it wove through the hordes, leaving trails of golden arcs in its wake.
Wherever it passed, demonic beasts were pierced through. The weaker ones were shredded into pieces by the energy blades emanating from the sword aura, unable even to scream before their deaths.
The sword tide collided fiercely with the advancing demonic tide, and in an instant, the frontmost ranks of the demonic beasts were skewered, their blood spraying in all directions. Their demonic auras disintegrated, leaving them riddled with wounds.
This harrowing scene left the soldiers on the city walls utterly stunned.
Most of these warriors of the Haotian Army had come from various states to reinforce Li Hao, only to witness him once battered and bloodied under the assault of several demonic kings. The memory of that pitiful sight lingered in their minds.
They still remembered the time not long ago, when Li Hao single-handedly subdued the world by pointing his finger across Dayue City and along the Dragon River's edge.
But now, the power unleashed by the Dragon Sky Sword left them speechless with shock.
One sword obliterated fifty thousand demonic beasts!
Among them were dozens of Heaven and Man Realm demons. These foes were not bound by the rules of grandmaster combat or restricted to fighting one-on-one—they could attack in unison!
And yet, they were slaughtered effortlessly, unable to resist at all.
...
Within the city, descendants of various noble families had climbed nearby towers for a better view. Others summoned their divine souls to observe the battle from the skies above.
When they beheld the boundless sword tide beyond the array and the Dragon Sky Sword weaving through the demonic tide, they were rendered speechless in awe.
"That sword belongs to the young major general, doesn’t it?"
"It’s his sword! I recognize it—it’s the Dragon Sky Sword!"
"The greatest sword in the world—it’s that sword!"
Among the younger generation of noble families, many were knowledgeable about famous swords, having seen illustrations of their designs.
What defined a famous sword was not only its name but also its widely recognized form and appearance!
...
Amid the city’s collective gaze, the Dragon Sky Sword continued its onslaught, unleashing countless sword tides to annihilate the demonic army.
This ferocious and awe-inspiring spectacle seemed less like a demonic tide assaulting a city and more like the sword itself mercilessly slaughtering demons in a one-sided massacre.
Blood flowed like rivers. The countless howling demonic beasts resisted in vain, their bodies pierced like fragile paper under the Dragon Sky Sword, which faced no resistance.
As the Dragon Sky Sword plunged deeper into the demonic tide, it soon turned its blade toward the four Three Immortals Realm great demons.
...
In a small courtyard...
Li Hao gently placed a chess piece on the board.
When the demonic tide reached the city’s outskirts, he had already detected the presence of four Three Immortals Realm auras, two of which had been deliberately concealed. These hidden auras had eluded the city’s scouts, clearly an intentional ploy by the great demons.
The interplay of light and dark resembled the moves on his chessboard, black and white pieces clashing.
Aside from these Three Immortals Realm great demons, there were no signs of a demonic king—perhaps one lay hidden even deeper.
But it didn’t matter. All that was needed was to annihilate the entire demonic tide.
Against absolute power, shallow schemes were meaningless.
"Eat!"
Li Hao surrounded a black piece with four white ones, lifting the black stone from the board. This was a claw extended by Xu Zhouyuan's black strategy to seize more territory, but it was severed by Li Hao’s encirclement.
...
Boom!
The Dragon Sky Sword suddenly pierced through the void, hurtling toward one of the Three Immortals Realm great demons.
"Curse you!!"
The demon roared in terror, its soul practically leaving its body. The might of this divine sword was far too overwhelming. Could it be that the young major general hadn’t gone to Tianji Tower but had stayed here in the city? Or was this merely his clone controlling the sword?
Bellowing furiously, the demon revealed its true form—a massive wild bull. With its horns aimed at the sword, it charged forward.
Its entire body surged with demonic energy, forming the massive shadow of a standing bull demon behind it. This shadow contained a trace of ancient demonic king bloodline, faint but potent.
The bull demon’s crimson eyes gleamed malevolently as it extended a massive hand to grab the Dragon Sky Sword.
But in response, the Dragon Sky Sword released an even stronger burst of sword energy, roaring like a dragon. In a flash, it dodged the bull demon’s horns and aimed straight for its head.
Thud!
A dull cracking sound rang out.
The demon’s skull shattered.
The golden light of the Dragon Sky Sword disappeared into its target’s head. The demon’s pupils contracted as its body froze in place.
Within two seconds, the radiant sword light split apart from within its body, shattering it into countless fragments. The demon’s body, riddled with cracks, exploded like brittle porcelain, scattering blood and flesh in every direction.
Its divine soul attempted to flee from the remains of its body, but it was grievously injured. Screaming, the soul raced toward the horizon, burning itself to gain speed.
Yet the Dragon Sky Sword was faster. It caught up in an instant, slicing through the fleeing soul.
The soul was reduced to glowing embers, twitching in midair before disintegrating entirely.
The Dragon Sky Sword then turned its sights to the other three great demons, its aura becoming even more ferocious.
"Damn it! What kind of power is this?!"
"Run!"
The remaining three Three Immortals Realm demons were stricken with terror.
One of them tried to escape, but the sword pursued swiftly, tearing through its defenses and unleashing a towering blade of sword energy that split the demon’s body in half from the heavens.
The soldiers on the city walls clenched their fists, their blood boiling as they witnessed the scene.
As the Dragon Sky Sword dispatched one great demon, its cascading sword energy—shaped like a dragon formed of countless blades—chased down another. The remaining two demons scrambled in opposite directions, abandoning the horde of demonic beasts in a desperate bid to save their own lives.
The demon being chased by the sword energy dragon roared in defiance, forming colossal handprints with its demonic energy to counter the attack.
But as soon as the handprints clashed with the sword energy, they shattered. The scattered sword energy struck the demon’s body like countless needles, ripping it apart.
"Aaaah!!"
The demon screamed, its true form barely beginning to materialize before a surge of sword energy struck it down.
"How... how could this be..."
Its eyes filled with despair as its body collapsed, shredded beyond recognition by the relentless onslaught of sword energy.
Meanwhile, the Dragon Sky Sword itself had reached the last great demon, slicing through its burning soul and bloodline with unparalleled might. Despite its desperate struggle, the demon was cleaved into countless fragments, its body disintegrating into nothingness.
...
As the Dragon Sky Sword returned to the horde of demonic beasts, its sword tide descended like a relentless storm. None of the fifty-thousand-strong demonic tide escaped.
In less than half an incense stick’s time, the tide, including the four Three Immortals Realm great demons, was annihilated.
The battlefield outside the city was a hellscape of blood and corpses.
Amidst the countless lifeless bodies of demons, the Dragon Sky Sword streaked through the sky in a golden arc, pausing momentarily before returning to the protective array. It soared straight toward the heart of the city, back to the small courtyard where its master awaited.
Countless people looked up, their gazes following the sword as its golden glow dimmed and it disappeared into the courtyard.
They all knew who resided there.
From start to finish, the young general had not appeared. He had only sent forth a single flying sword—and that alone had wiped out the entire demonic tide, including four Three Immortals Realm great demons!
That youth... was only fifteen years old!
Compared to his earlier feat at Dayue City, this was an even more terrifying display of power.
The city was momentarily silent. Then, a thunderous cheer erupted.
On the city walls, countless soldiers embraced in excitement. A battle that had loomed with dread had been resolved before it even began, without the need for their involvement.
The might of one youth had obliterated the entire demonic tide!
"Major General Haotian!!"
Someone in the crowd led the cry.
The soldiers raised their arms and cheered, their voices reverberating through the city.
Some soldiers excitedly grabbed the Haotian Battle Flags from the walls, waving them proudly as they shouted.
Within the city, nobles, merchants, and common folk alike heard the cheers from all directions.
At that moment, one name resounded in everyone’s mind.
Haotian!