Chapter 392: Fairy Playing the Zither

"Hmm?"

Sensing the imposing power emanating from Li Hao's sword, the Honed Sky Saint was somewhat startled. His pupils constricted slightly. Was this borrowing the power of the Heavenly Dao?

He had just faintly sensed the aura of the Heavenly Dao from Li Hao.

But this was a method only Saints Supreme possessed… The shock in his eyes abruptly turned chilling. He instantly mobilized the power of the Heavenly Dao to seal off the surrounding天地 (tiāndì - Heavens and Earth, contextually here: space).

This way, he could cut off Li Hao's power source. This was also the reason why Saints Supreme could easily斩杀 (zhǎnshā - slay, behead, kill) Three-Disaster Saints.

But Li Hao's Heavenly Passage (天地搬运 - Tiāndì Bānyùn, lit. Heavens and Earth Transportation, likely a movement/space manipulation technique) was incredibly fast. Sensing the封锁 (fēngsuǒ - blockade, seal), the wisp of Heavenly Venerate will he had fused with coldly snorted. A boundless aura seemed to emanate, effortlessly shattering the sealing power.

All of this happened in an instant. Li Hao's sword light had already violently slashed out. The lightning in the sky dissipated, and the Great Dao laws that originally encircled the ancient mountain all retreated and vanished, completely breaking the scene that had persisted here for countless years.

Bang!

The sword light ripped through the void, seeming to sever time itself. Countless Law origins and dazzling sword intent were all condensed on this immortal's finger (referring to the sword strike).

Intense tremors and booming sounds erupted. The violent Extremity Force Saint Path, carrying the momentum of天地 (tiāndì - Heavens and Earth, contextually here: cosmos), was also cleaved open. The blinding light made everything in the Honed Sky Saint's eyes pale.

The void above the ancient mountain peak exploded like shattering glass, revealing chaotic black light from the tear. The Honed Sky Saint was somewhat dazed. A slight pain coming from the horn on his head made him realize that he had actually been injured!

That was his hardest part, also the sharpest point, yet it was wounded.

In the turbulent flow of destruction, Li Hao's figure did not flee, but instead rapidly approached.

His entire body seemed to ignite with divine flames, his divine blood boiling, his Dao bones constantly healing amidst shattering. Although this one sword strike had blocked the Honed Sky Saint's attack, the shockwave of the Extremity Force Saint Path had injured his body.

Fortunately, his healing speed now meant that minor injuries healed almost instantly. Even if his physical body was destroyed, he could rapidly regenerate, seemingly truly不死不灭 (bù sǐ bù miè - imperishable and indestructible, immortal and eternal).

With the boost from the Myriad Stars Meridian, his state, having plummeted to rock bottom, climbed back to its peak in just a breath.

Second sword!

Li Hao poured all his strength into it, once again slashing out a second sword. All extreme states were revealed, including the two Final Realm (终境 - zhōngjìng, likely a higher state of cultivation/understanding) states that were also mobilized.

Bang!

Startled, the Honed Sky Saint angrily swung a claw. It seemed to tear a piece from the firmament, lashing out at Li Hao with overwhelming momentum.

Another terrifying tremor erupted. Li Hao's figure pierced through the shockwave's impact, his body lacerated and bleeding, but healing in an instant.

Third sword!

Li Hao seemed tireless, continuing to swing his sword and attack.

"You deserve death!!"

The Honed Sky Saint roared in rage. He, a dignified Saint Supreme, was actually being forced into a defensive position by Li Hao, an absolute humiliation.

But what was terrifying was that Li Hao's power could actually contend with him!

Just a mere One-Disaster cultivator, yet he could mobilize such exaggerated power of天地 (tiāndì - Heavens and Earth, contextually here: cosmos). The Honed Sky Saint stopped directly clashing and消耗 (xiāohào - consume, expend, wear down) power with Li Hao. His power replenishment speed was faintly slower than Li Hao's.

His enormous body directly dove down, like a pitch-black beast, his sharp horn aimed to撞 (zhuàng - bump into, collide, ram) directly at Li Hao.

The Extremity Force Saint Path domain enveloped everything, he stirred up terrifying power, seeming to be able to tear apart the earth.

"A mere Two-Tribulation Emperor Weapon, see how you break my defenses!"

The Honed Sky Saint's eyes were filled with killing intent, as he directly lashed out a claw to抓 (zhuā - grab, seize, arrest) and control Li Hao.

Brilliant sword light erupted, forcing his claws to recoil in shock, but as the Honed Sky Saint said, although Merit (功名 - Gōngmíng, likely the name of Li Hao's sword) was sharp, it could not even crack his carapace.

Not to mention truly breaking it, even if it did crack, he also possessed滴血重生 (dī xuè chóngshēng - rebirth from a drop of blood), and would heal in the blink of an eye.

Having achieved Sainthood through physical body cultivation and reaching the Supreme Saint realm, his own physical body was the most formidable Emperor Weapon, comparable to a Six-Tribulation Emperor Weapon.

Weapons capable of injuring him in the entire Saints' Land were few and far between.

Apart from the Source Ancestor, there was only the Poison Saint's poison.

With a bang, the Honed Sky Saint's claw slammed into Li Hao's body. Li Hao avoided being grabbed, and at the moment of contact, quickly used his sword to hack, rebounding his body away.

His sword momentum was like blazing sun fire, ethereal yet sharp. He consecutively slashed at the claws, but it felt like chopping at divine iron, not even scratching the surface.

"Too hard."

Li Hao's expression sank. This was his near full-power burst, yet he only managed to barely contend with the opponent. If it were another Saint Supreme, he might even have a chance to injure them, but he unfortunately encountered the Honed Sky Saint.

Among the many Saints Supreme, this opponent belonged to the stronger kind.

"Continuing to fight like this will at most be a draw, unable to kill the opponent."

The Heavenly Treasures he plundered earlier had allowed Merit to continuously advance through tribulations and improve, but compared to these Saints Supreme, its foundation was ultimately too shallow.

If he couldn't kill him, there was no need to prolong the battle. Otherwise, attracting the Dragon Saint and the Source Ancestor might not be a good thing.

While pondering, Li Hao fought and retreated, every sword strike was an all-out effort, only then could he contend with the Honed Sky Saint.

"Want to leave?"

The Honed Sky Saint relentlessly pressed his attack, his enormous body extremely agile, while Li Hao could only rely on attacks to evade.

Seeing Li Hao's intention, the Honed Sky Saint sneered. Although Li Hao had shocked him time and time again, exceeding his expectations, ultimately, his cultivation time was too short. A Two-Tribulation Emperor Weapon could not pose a threat to him.

Saints Supreme, as the apex powers of the Heavens, basically controlled eighty percent of the Heavens' cultivation resources and incense offerings. The rest was fought over by those old Three-Disaster Saints, and other Saints.

This was also why it was difficult for Half-Saints to compete for incense offerings. The vast majority of incense offerings were in the hands of Saints Supreme, and even Saints were fighting for them, let alone easily handing them over to Half-Saints.

"Prison of Heaven!" (囚天狱 - Qiú Tiānyù)

The Honed Sky Saint suddenly raised his hand. The Extremity Force Saint Path domain in his palm emitted a strong suction force, enveloping tens of thousands of miles, unleashing a physical divine ability.

In the void, a虚化 (xūhuà - virtualized, illusory) giant hand appeared, slowly clenching, wanting to seize Li Hao.

Li Hao's expression slightly changed. If he was captured by the Honed Sky Saint, it would be a pure strength contest, and he might not win.

"Only what I see, is what I think. Only what I think, is what I break!"

Sword marks appeared in Li Hao's eyes. The Sole Self Sword Path (唯我剑道 - Wéi Wǒ Jiàndào) at this moment seemed to subtly improve again. He violently slashed out.

The Eternal Dao Domain (永恒道域 - Yǒnghéng Dàoyù) and the sword intent of Extreme Meaning in the Eyes (眼影极义 - Yǎnyǐng Jíyì, likely a sword technique related to his eyes) simultaneously converged, unleashed in the slash.

The vague giant hand in the void abruptly裂开 (lièkāi - split open, crack open), but no explosion sounded.

Li Hao pierced through that pitch-black裂痕 (lièhén - crack, fissure), breaking free.

"Unfortunately, body techniques are too slow. If my body technique could reach Dao-Sacrifice level, even just body technique combined with extreme states would be enough to help me escape!"

Li Hao continuously flew forward, but felt his speed was too slow. Even though his cultivation speed was already fast enough, ridiculously fast, there were still many things he could improve upon.

"Hmph!"

Seeing Li Hao actually break his divine ability, the Honed Sky Saint's expression turned cold, and he chased after him again. Although he cultivated the Extremity Force Saint Path, breaking all laws with force, body technique was not his strong suit, but it still surpassed the vast majority of Three-Disaster Saints.

In the blink of an eye, the Honed Sky Saint caught up to Li Hao again.

Li Hao's figure flickered, rushing towards the immortal deity phantom at the ancient mountain peak.

The immortal deity phantom still sat upright, seemingly unaffected. Only when Li Hao flew closer did it slowly open its eyes. Its gaze seemed to penetrate time,凝视 (níngshì - gaze fixedly, stare at) the present moment in the future.

Then, the immortal deity phantom's expression actually subtly focused on Li Hao for a glance, and then landed on the Honed Sky Saint behind him.

Its gaze turned cold, seeming to lightly sneer something, and then raised a hand and waved.

A beam of light flew out from its hand, but the further it flew from its body, the faster the light's power dissipated.

"Just a phantom, yet you dare to try and镇压 (zhènyā - suppress, put down) me?"

The Honed Sky Saint sensed that the attack was aimed at him and grew angry. Roaring, he charged forward, directly ramming into the attack, actually shattering the attack directly. Only slight smoke emanated from his body, with tiny cracks appearing, which healed in the blink of an eye.

After the immortal deity unleashed its attack, its figure gradually faded and disappeared from the mountain peak.

Li Hao knew that this was only a phantom imprinted in time, but what was terrifying was that this phantom actually possessed independent consciousness.

To what extent of cultivation did one have to reach to have such ability?

Li Hao didn't look back, continuing forward, using the immortal deity phantom's attack just now to create some distance between himself and the Honed Sky Saint.

He consecutively used Return to Ruin Teleportation (归墟瞬移 - Guī Xū Shùnyí) and pierced through space rifts, escaping this ancient mountain, teleporting tens of thousands of miles in the passageway to another ancient mountain.

This ancient mountain was also enveloped in lightning fire,劫力 (jiélì - tribulation power), and at the peak, there was also an immortal deity phantom sitting in meditation, but its appearance was different from before.

Li Hao directly rushed to the mountain peak. The immortal deity phantom opened its eyes. Seeing Li Hao, its gaze seemed to penetrate the illusion, focusing on him.

Soon, it sensed the Honed Sky Saint chasing from behind. Seeing the Honed Sky Saint, a cold intent instantly emerged in its eyes.

Then, it raised its hand, like the previous immortal deity phantom, and also unleashed an attack, like a spear light, piercing out.

The Honed Sky Saint roared in rage, fearlessly charging straight over.

Li Hao didn't know if these immortal deities considered the Honed Sky Saint a demon, hence they avoided him and only attacked the Honed Sky Saint.

He didn't look back, continuing to狂奔 (kuángbēn - run wildly, gallop) forward.

Behind the passageway were still ancient mountains. Li Hao consecutively passed through seven ancient mountains, using the immortal deity phantoms on them to barely widen the distance with the Honed Sky Saint a little.

"Hmm?"

When he rushed to another ancient mountain, Li Hao saw that this ancient mountain was actually not enveloped in lightning fire, only crimson-gold clouds, like dipped in gold powder and painted on, beautiful to the extreme.

At the peak were jade palaces and pavilions, immortal waterfalls and spirit pools. A female immortal deity phantom was sitting in a pavilion by the cliff, gently playing the zither (琴 - qín, a type of Chinese stringed instrument).

Dao rhythms surrounded her like flowing彩带 (cǎidài - colored ribbons), breathtakingly beautiful.

Li Hao heard the faint zither music, and was somewhat stunned. With his attainment in the Dao of Sound, he could sense that this was a world-shocking divine melody.

He even had an impulse, if he could obtain this piece, he would be willing even if it meant being severely injured and losing lifespan!

"What a beautiful melody…"

Li Hao briefly lost himself. The killing intent from behind assaulted him, bringing him back to his senses. His expression slightly changed. This time he didn't lead the Honed Sky Saint towards the mountain peak, unwilling for this scene in time to dissipate.

However, as he turned around, the woman playing the zither on the mountain peak actually glanced at him indifferently, her lips slightly curving into a smile, and then gently flicked out a sound wave, transforming into a terrifying blade, vertically slashing over.

"This melody is Nine Rivers Lament…"

An ancient thought, extremely gentle and beautiful, surfaced in Li Hao's mind.

Then Li Hao saw the woman playing the zither on the mountain peak, her figure gradually dissipating. The fragment of time she left behind had been exhausted with that sound wave blade, completely vanishing.

Li Hao was stunned, instantly feeling an indescribable sense of regret.

But in his heart, he silently memorized the name of this melody.

He didn't know if this woman was deceased, or if they would ever meet again.

Li Hao withdrew his thoughts, sensing the angry roar from behind. He didn't look back, continuing to rush forward, not wanting to let down this絕唱 (juéchàng - swan song, unparalleled masterpiece) of a melody.

When he arrived at another ancient mountain, Li Hao saw that it was also devoid of lightning fire, but the mountain body was shattered and scorched black, as if it had suffered some kind of great battle.

There was no immortal deity phantom at the peak, the ground was scorched black, devoid of life.

Li Hao was slightly stunned, not daring to stop, continuing to run forward.

But just as he was about to rush out of the ancient mountain, Li Hao saw something reflecting light. His eyes looked over, and he couldn't help but narrow them slightly.

It was a broken blade, diagonally inserted into a scorched black rock.

But strangely, there was no dust on the broken blade, it looked brand new.

Li Hao raised a hand and beckoned. The broken blade swiftly broke through the air and flew over, landing in his hand.

Li Hao sensed that there was no tribulation power aura on it, nor Dao rhythm enveloping it.

But being able to appear here, it was likely a Dao-Tribulation Emperor Weapon, just like the original Merit, it was broken and became fragments.

"Die!!"

The Honed Sky Saint's low roar came from behind. His eyes were bloodshot, partly naturally so, and partly due to anger.

As he flapped his wings, his figure howled like a鲲鹏 (kūnpéng - a mythical giant bird), his sharp claws tearing the void, wanting to directly tear Li Hao's physical body to shreds.

Once he tore it apart, the process of重生 (chóngshēng - rebirth, regenerate) would be his chance to devour Li Hao.

Li Hao's expression slightly changed. He flung out the fragment in his hand, and then swung his sword to slash.

The sword light suddenly became extremely intense, slashing towards the opponent's horn, wanting to trade injury for injury. But in the next moment, Li Hao saw the opponent's claw abruptly break off, blood spurting out!

This sudden scene stunned Li Hao, and the Honed Sky Saint was also stunned, his pupils constricting, staring in shock at his broken claw.

The blood quickly stopped and rapidly regenerated, but he was still somewhat懵 (měng - muddled, confused, bewildered).

Li Hao didn't even bother checking if his sword strike had hit, his gaze scanned the broken spot, seeing a bright reflection, he just felt his heart thump fiercely. Could it be...

He hurriedly burned his primordial spirit, and primordial spirit power rapidly extended, pulling back the sharp edge of that fragmented Emperor Weapon.

Then, he almost instinctively, imprinted his primordial spirit mark on this fragment. In this way, it would be extremely difficult for the Honed Sky Saint to seize and control this fragment, unless his primordial spirit strength exceeded his by several times, then he could directly erase his primordial spirit mark and control another's Emperor Weapon.

But obviously, in terms of primordial spirit, although the Honed Sky Saint was a Saint Supreme, the gap with Li Hao was not that large, both were at the extreme realm.

"What is this thing?"

The Honed Sky Saint's expression changed, his gaze also landing on that fragment, realizing it wasn't a complete Emperor Weapon, but that made it even more exaggerated.

Li Hao also realized at this moment that although this fragment was incomplete, it was terrifyingly sharp, possibly a top-tier Emperor Weapon, even, surpassing Dao-Tribulation Emperor Weapons!

No wonder after countless years, it was still so bright, not even dust could settle on it, terrifyingly sharp.

"Go!"

Li Hao manipulated the fragment, rapidly attacking the Honed Sky Saint, wanting to test its sharpness.

The Honed Sky Saint was shocked and enraged, the Extremity Force Saint Path domain enveloped everything, and at the same time, he raised a hand and pulled out an Emperor Weapon from the carapace on his back.

Facing Li Hao, he originally didn't plan to use an Emperor Weapon, it was too humiliating, like a university student competing in math with a primary school student, and in the end, the university student pulled out a calculator.

Winning would also be humiliating.

(End of Chapter)