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Chapter 391: The Celestial Maiden Plays Her Zither
🕑 Added 2024-11-26 04:49:24 +0000 UTC"Hm?"
Hun Tian Shengren's pupils contracted slightly as he sensed the growing power on Li Hao's sword. Could it be that he was drawing strength from the Heavenly Dao itself?
Just moments ago, Hun Tian Shengren had faintly detected traces of the Heavenly Dao emanating from Li Hao.
But this was a technique that only Supreme Saints could wield. His surprise quickly turned into a chilling hostility. Without hesitation, he mobilized the power of the Heavenly Dao, sealing off the surrounding space to block Li Hao's source of power.
This was precisely why Supreme Saints could easily suppress Three Tribulations Saints—by cutting off their connection to external forces.
However, Li Hao's manipulation of the heavens was astonishingly fast. As soon as the seal tightened, a fragment of the Heavenly Sovereign's will within him coldly snorted. A boundless force rippled outward, shattering the seal effortlessly.
All of this occurred in an instant. By the time Hun Tian Shengren reacted, Li Hao's sword light had already slashed out, obliterating the thunder radiance in the heavens. The ancient mountain's aura of the Great Dao, which had persisted for countless eons, scattered like a retreating tide, breaking the eternal stillness.
Boom!
The sword light cleaved through the void as though severing the threads of time. Within the radiance of this one strike, countless laws of origin and brilliant sword intent converged, culminating in the fabled Immortal's Finger.
A violent tremor erupted as the tyrannical force of the Extreme Saint Dao, backed by the heavens' power, was split apart. The dazzling light of Li Hao's strike overwhelmed Hun Tian Shengren, momentarily stripping all color from his vision.
The mountain's peak shook violently as cracks appeared in the void. Black streams of chaotic energy flowed out of the ruptured space. For a brief moment, Hun Tian Shengren froze. A sharp pain emanated from his horn—the hardest and sharpest part of his body.
He had been injured.
It was a minor wound, but for a being of his stature, it was an unthinkable event. His horn, comparable to the strongest weapons of the world, had been damaged!
Amid the chaotic destruction, Li Hao showed no intention of retreating. His body blazed with divine flames, his divine blood boiling. The bones of his Dao, fractured by the aftershocks of the Extreme Saint Dao, rapidly healed.
Though he had successfully parried Hun Tian Shengren's attack, the residual power of the impact left his body wounded.
Fortunately, with the power of the Heaven and Stars vein bolstering him, his regenerative ability was nearly godlike. Minor injuries healed in an instant, and even if his body were destroyed, he could regenerate within moments.
From the lowest point of exhaustion, his condition soared back to its peak in the span of a single breath.
The Second Sword!
Without pause, Li Hao drew upon every ounce of his strength and unleashed a second strike. This time, the full force of his Extreme Realms erupted, bolstered by the dual states of his Ultimate Realms.
Boom!
Hun Tian Shengren, startled by the ferocity of the attack, roared in fury. Raising his massive claw, he slashed outward, tearing through the sky itself and hurling the energy toward Li Hao with unmatched force.
Another deafening shockwave rang out as Li Hao's figure shot through the explosive aftermath. His body, battered and torn, regenerated instantly.
The Third Sword!
Li Hao, undeterred, swung his sword yet again, launching another relentless strike. His stamina seemed endless, his determination unbreakable.
"You deserve death!!"
Hun Tian Shengren roared with rage. A Supreme Saint of his stature was being forced to defend against this one man—this humiliation was intolerable.
Even more infuriating was that Li Hao's power seemed to genuinely rival his own.
This One Tribulation Saint was somehow commanding exaggerated amounts of heavenly power. Hun Tian Shengren realized he could not afford to let this become a battle of attrition. Li Hao's speed of replenishment was slightly faster than his own.
Abandoning his restraint, Hun Tian Shengren's massive form hurtled downward, like a colossal black beast. His razor-sharp horn aimed directly at Li Hao, ready to impale him.
With the Extreme Saint Dao field enveloping him, his momentum carried a terrifying might, enough to shatter the earth itself.
"Let's see how you plan to breach my defense with that pitiful Two-Tribulation Imperial Weapon!"
Hun Tian Shengren's claw swung down, aiming to crush Li Hao outright.
The brilliance of Li Hao's sword erupted again, striking against the massive claw. The force of the collision sent Hun Tian Shengren's claw recoiling, but just as he had claimed, the sword failed to pierce his armored carapace.
Even if his defense were breached, he possessed the ability to regenerate from a single drop of blood. Within moments, any wound would be healed.
As a saint sanctified in body and ascended to Supreme Saint, his physical form was akin to the mightiest Imperial Weapon, rivaling even a Six-Tribulation level artifact.
Weapons capable of harming him were exceedingly rare across the entire Land of the Saints.
Aside from the Origin Ancestor's weapons, only the poisons of the Medicinal Saint could pose a threat to him.
With a resounding boom, Hun Tian Shengren's massive claw struck down toward Li Hao. Anticipating the attack, Li Hao avoided being grabbed by countering with a rapid sword strike, using the recoil to propel himself away.
His swordsmanship was like blazing sunlight—ethereal yet lethally sharp. Successive strikes landed on the claw, but it felt as though he was slashing at divine iron. Not even a scratch appeared.
"Too hard," Li Hao muttered, his expression darkening.
This was nearly the full extent of his power, and though he could just barely hold his own against Hun Tian Shengren, it was evident that other Supreme Saints might have already sustained injuries. Yet fate had pitted him against one of the most formidable among them.
Among the ranks of Supreme Saints, Hun Tian Shengren stood near the top in terms of raw power and resilience.
"If this keeps up, the best I can hope for is a draw. Killing him is impossible," Li Hao thought grimly.
The treasures he had recently seized, which had propelled his Gongming Sword through tribulations, gave him a fighting chance. But compared to a Supreme Saint, his foundation was still far too shallow.
If he couldn't kill Hun Tian Shengren, there was no point in prolonging the fight. Worse, it might draw the attention of beings like Long Sheng or even the Origin Ancestor—a scenario he couldn't afford.
As he deliberated, Li Hao continued to fight while subtly retreating. Each sword strike was delivered with his full strength, the only way he could keep Hun Tian Shengren at bay.
"Trying to escape?"
Hun Tian Shengren pressed the attack relentlessly. His massive body moved with surprising agility, closing the distance between them. Li Hao was forced to use his sword strikes as a means of evasion, weaving through the ferocious onslaught.
Seeing through Li Hao's intentions, Hun Tian Shengren sneered. Though Li Hao's performance had repeatedly exceeded his expectations, his cultivation time was ultimately too brief. A mere Two-Tribulation Imperial Weapon was incapable of threatening him.
As a Supreme Saint, Hun Tian Shengren had access to the lion's share of cultivation resources and divine faith across the heavens—far more than any Three Tribulations Saint or ordinary Saint could dream of.
This was why half-saints struggled so much to compete for faith energy; the Supreme Saints monopolized the majority, leaving only scraps for the rest. Even fully-fledged Saints found themselves fighting over what little remained, let alone half-saints.
"Prison of the Heavens!"
Hun Tian Shengren suddenly raised his hand. His palm radiated the power of the Extreme Saint Dao, creating an immense gravitational pull that enveloped a thousand-mile radius. This technique, a divine ability of his sanctified body, manifested as a colossal, translucent hand in the void, slowly closing in to seize Li Hao.
Li Hao's expression shifted. If Hun Tian Shengren captured him, it would turn into a contest of pure physical strength—one he wasn't confident he could win.
"What I see is mine to shape; what I shape, I shall destroy!"
Sword marks flickered in Li Hao's eyes as his Sole Sword Dao seemed to evolve once more. Channeling this newfound clarity, he unleashed a devastating strike.
The essence of his Eternal Dao Domain merged with the profound meaning of the sword shadows in his gaze, culminating in a single, transcendent slash.
The massive, illusory hand in the void shattered abruptly, disintegrating without even a sound.
Li Hao seized the opportunity, darting through the crack in the black void, breaking free from the oppressive pull.
"Too slow," Li Hao muttered to himself, frustration flickering in his eyes.
Even at his current level of cultivation, his movement speed—while extraordinary—felt insufficient. There were still realms of improvement he had yet to reach.
"If only my movement technique could ascend to the Dao level. With the synergy of my body and the Extreme Realms, escaping would be a breeze."
As he pushed forward, Li Hao sensed the limitations of his speed. Although he was already monstrously fast, he couldn't shake the feeling that there was so much more potential to unlock.
"Hmph!"
Hun Tian Shengren's expression darkened as he watched Li Hao shatter his divine ability. Without missing a beat, he gave chase. While speed wasn't his strong suit, his mastery of the Extreme Saint Dao allowed him to surpass the majority of Three Tribulations Saints in sheer speed.
Within moments, Hun Tian Shengren had closed the gap, catching up to Li Hao once again.
Li Hao's figure blurred as he veered toward the peak of the ancient mountain, heading directly for the celestial shadow.
The celestial shadow, seated in serene meditation atop the mountain, seemed entirely unaffected by the unfolding chaos. Only as Li Hao approached did its eyes open, glimmering as though they pierced through the fabric of time, settling on this very moment in the future.
For a brief instant, the celestial shadow glanced at Li Hao with an unreadable expression. Then, its gaze shifted coldly to Hun Tian Shengren.
The shadow's lips moved, as if uttering a faint, mocking remark. With a casual motion, it raised its hand and released a beam of light.
The light streaked through the air toward Hun Tian Shengren, its brilliance diminishing as it traveled further from the celestial shadow. By the time it reached its target, its overwhelming power had waned significantly.
"Just a shadow, and it dares to try and suppress me?"
Hun Tian Shengren growled as he noticed the attack directed at him. Enraged, he charged forward, his massive horn aimed directly at the beam of light. With a thunderous impact, he dispersed the attack entirely.
Though his body emitted a faint wisp of smoke and a few hairline cracks appeared on his exterior, the damage was superficial. In mere moments, his injuries healed completely.
The celestial shadow unleashed its attack, but its figure gradually faded, dissipating atop the mountain.
Li Hao understood that this was only a remnant shadow etched into existence by the passage of time. What shocked him, however, was that this shadow seemed to possess a will of its own.
What kind of cultivation level would one need to achieve to leave behind such an extraordinary legacy?
Without looking back, Li Hao pressed forward. The celestial shadow's attack had momentarily forced Hun Tian Shengren to retreat, allowing Li Hao to create some distance.
He continued to use Void Return to traverse the spatial rifts, escaping the ancient mountain. In a flash, he traversed tens of thousands of miles through the passage and arrived at yet another ancient mountain.
This mountain, too, was wreathed in thunderfire, the air thick with tribulation energy. At its peak sat another celestial shadow in meditation, though its appearance differed from the previous one.
Li Hao raced straight to the summit.
The celestial shadow opened its eyes as if sensing Li Hao's approach. Its gaze seemed to pierce through illusion, locking onto him directly.
Soon, it detected Hun Tian Shengren in pursuit. The moment its eyes fell upon the Supreme Saint, a chilling coldness flickered within them.
The shadow raised its hand, just as the previous one had, and released an attack—a beam of light that resembled a divine spear, piercing toward Hun Tian Shengren with unstoppable momentum.
Hun Tian Shengren, enraged, charged straight into the attack without hesitation.
Li Hao couldn't help but wonder if these celestial shadows mistook Hun Tian Shengren for some kind of demon, focusing their attacks on him while leaving Li Hao untouched.
Without pausing, Li Hao pushed onward, his only thought to escape.
Over the course of his flight, Li Hao passed through seven more ancient mountains, each housing a celestial shadow at its peak. By leveraging the attacks of these shadows, he managed to keep Hun Tian Shengren at bay, widening the gap between them little by little.
Finally, as Li Hao approached yet another mountain, his gaze caught on something unusual.
This mountain was unlike the others. There was no thunderfire, no tribulation energy swirling around it. Instead, its slopes shimmered with golden-red clouds, as if painted with molten gold. The sight was breathtakingly beautiful, as though a divine hand had crafted it.
At the summit stood a magnificent palace surrounded by flowing waterfalls and sparkling spirit pools. A celestial maiden's shadow sat in a pavilion at the edge of a cliff, gently plucking the strings of a zither.
Around her, strands of Dao resonance swirled like vibrant, flowing colors, creating an ethereal and otherworldly scene.
The faint strains of the zither's melody reached Li Hao's ears, stopping him in his tracks. Even with his limited understanding of music, he could feel the profound beauty of the piece.
This was no ordinary melody; it was an unparalleled divine composition.
For a fleeting moment, Li Hao felt a strong yearning. If he could obtain this melody, he would gladly endure grievous injuries or even sacrifice years of his life.
"What a beautiful song…" he murmured, momentarily entranced.
The killing intent surging behind him snapped him back to reality. Li Hao's face darkened. This time, he chose not to lead Hun Tian Shengren to the summit, unwilling to disturb this timeless scene.
However, just as he turned, the celestial maiden shadow looked toward him with a faint, indifferent gaze. Her lips curved into a gentle smile, and she plucked a single string.
The note transformed into a wave of sound, sharp and lethal, forming a blade of energy that slashed toward Li Hao.
"This melody is called 'Nine Rivers of Sorrow'…"
An ancient, sorrowful voice echoed softly in Li Hao's mind, filled with unparalleled beauty.
The celestial maiden's shadow began to dissipate, her remaining presence fading into nothingness with the final note of the melody. The fragment of time she had left behind was now completely spent.
Li Hao stood frozen, a deep sense of regret welling up inside him.
Yet he silently etched the name of the melody into his heart.
Was this celestial maiden long gone? Or could they meet again someday?
Recollecting his thoughts, Li Hao felt the furious roars of Hun Tian Shengren closing in. Without looking back, he surged forward, unwilling to let the divine melody's final echoes go to waste.
As he approached another ancient mountain, Li Hao noticed something strange.
This mountain, too, lacked thunderfire. However, its slopes were shattered and scorched black, as though ravaged by a great battle.
At the summit, there was no celestial shadow. The ground was charred and lifeless.
Li Hao paused momentarily, but he didn't dare linger. He pressed onward, determined to escape.
Just as he was about to leave the mountain, something caught his eye—a faint glint reflecting light.
Turning his gaze, Li Hao saw a broken blade embedded in a scorched boulder.
What struck him as peculiar was that the blade was entirely free of dust, gleaming as though newly forged.
Li Hao extended his hand, and the broken blade flew into his grasp.
It emitted no aura of tribulation energy or Dao resonance. Yet its mere presence in this place suggested that it was likely a Dao Tribulation Imperial Weapon.
However, like his own Gongming Sword, it had been damaged, reduced to a fragment.
"Die!!"
Hun Tian Shengren's roar echoed from behind. His blood-red eyes burned with fury, a mix of his natural disposition and the anger stoked by Li Hao's defiance.
With a powerful beat of his wings, he charged forward like a massive kunpeng, his claws tearing through the void, aiming to rend Li Hao's body apart.
Hun Tian Shengren's intent was clear: once Li Hao's body was torn to pieces, the opportunity to devour him would arise during the brief interval of regeneration.
Li Hao's face turned grim. He hurled the broken blade toward Hun Tian Shengren, then followed with a swift sword slash.
The brilliance of the sword light surged, targeting Hun Tian Shengren's horn in an attempt to trade blows.
But just as the claws were about to strike, something unexpected happened.
Hun Tian Shengren's claw abruptly snapped, blood gushing from the wound!
Both Li Hao and Hun Tian Shengren froze in shock.
Hun Tian Shengren's pupils contracted as he stared at his severed claw, unable to believe what had just occurred.
Though the bleeding stopped quickly and the claw began to regenerate, he remained momentarily dazed.
Li Hao glanced at his own sword, wondering if it had landed a critical blow. His gaze shifted to the broken blade fragment, which now gleamed ominously. His heart pounded as he realized the truth.
Could this fragment be…?
Without hesitation, Li Hao burned his primordial spirit, summoning the broken blade back to his hand.
He swiftly imprinted his primordial spirit onto the fragment. This ensured that Hun Tian Shengren would struggle to wrest control of the weapon unless his primordial spirit was vastly superior—a feat unlikely given their comparable Extreme Realms.
"What is this thing?" Hun Tian Shengren muttered, his expression darkening as he focused on the fragment.
Li Hao, too, was awestruck. Though incomplete, the blade's sharpness was terrifying. It could very well belong to a top-tier Imperial Weapon, possibly one surpassing even a Dao Tribulation Imperial Weapon.
No wonder it had remained pristine for countless ages, immune even to the accumulation of dust. Its edge was unparalleled.
"Go!"
Li Hao unleashed the fragment, sending it hurtling toward Hun Tian Shengren to test its power.
Hun Tian Shengren roared in anger, activating his Extreme Saint Dao field for defense. Simultaneously, he reached behind his carapace and retrieved an Imperial Weapon.
Facing Li Hao, Hun Tian Shengren had initially refrained from using his Imperial Weapon, viewing it as beneath him. To do so now felt like a university scholar resorting to a calculator in a contest against a primary school student—victory, though assured, would be tainted with humiliation.
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