The supers advanced.
With so many supers vanishing—including a substantial number of Three Sols—the panicked rogue cultivators no longer dared to act alone on a whim.
Money mattered, but their lives mattered more.
Rogue cultivators drifted with the tide. They held no lofty ambitions, aiming only to reap some easy benefits.
Yet now, before gaining any rewards, countless people had already perished.
In truth, several rogue cultivators wished they could simply leave, but the outsiders had announced earlier that the ruins would only open after three days. Since the ruins remained sealed, their only choices were to retreat outside the ancient city entirely or stay with the main group.
Fortune favored the bold; a faction of rogue cultivators still wanted to enter the inner city to snatch some spoils.
Bolstered by the presence of so many Rising Lights, the crowd swallowed their apprehension, fear, and lingering anticipation, falling back in line behind the main force.
...
Up on the city wall.
Li Hao watched the supers make their move.
These people were no longer scattered; they congregated once more, seemingly more unified than during their first foray. Having suffered consecutive setbacks, they had finally realized that banding together offered the best chance of survival.
There were many Rising Lights...
Just among those Li Hao could spot, Red Moon retained three, Yama had three, and Feitian had three, totaling nine Rising Lights from their groups alone.
The Silver Moon official faction was even more formidable: Golden Spear, Hou Xiaochen, Chief Steward Yu, Kong Jie, Qi Gang, Hu Qingfeng... each possessing terrifying strength.
In the rogue cultivator camp, there was Xu Feng, Yuan Xingwu from the Heavenly Star Army, and three other lone Rising Lights...
Counting the slain Yellow Moon and potential martial masters concealing their true strength, the force assembled within Battle Heaven City was genuinely frightening.
Those possessing Rising Light-level strength likely exceeded twenty individuals.
Had two not perished at Mount Cang and so many Three Sols not died along the way, the concentration of powerhouses gathered for this expedition to the Battle Heaven City ruins would have surpassed the census numbers for the entire nineteen northern provinces.
...
Li Hao turned his gaze to his own side. Even if the three silver commanders fully revived and grew stronger, they might still struggle to match figures like Hou Xiaochen.
Southern Fist and Hong Yitang were powerful, but they were hopelessly outnumbered.
He glanced back toward the inner city... Unless the golden warrior stepped forward, he could not conceive of any way they might prevail.
Though three thousand black armors were formidable, the rogue cultivators were numerous, and a host of Three Sols remained.
It was a doomed situation!
Of course, they could retreat into the city to lure the enemy deep into their territory, adopting guerrilla warfare inside the ancient houses just as they had done in the outer city.
Li Hao pondered how victory could be snatched.
Yet right now, the three silver commanders beside him stood as calm as statues, appearing as lifeless as the dead!
A moment later, beneath the city gate, the three thousand black armors assembled once more.
They formed a surging black torrent.
They had suffered minor losses earlier, but the numbers were small and hardly affected the overall formation.
War inevitably came with casualties.
These commanders had weathered countless battles; a minor tremor like this could not shake them in the slightest.
While Li Hao was lost in thought, the three commanders exchanged glances, communicating through a channel that excluded him. Perhaps in their eyes, Li Hao was far too raw, and they saw no need to share their deliberations.
A few moments later, the three silvers appeared to finalize their strategy.
In the next instant, the Seventh Regiment Commander raised his greatsword high!
Without a single sound, three thousand black armors raised their spears and blades in unison!
A suffocating, imposing order blanketed the ranks!
At that moment, the commander's voice resounded through Li Hao's silver armor—a voice carrying chilling detachment and unquestionable authority, ringing directly in the minds of every armored soldier.
"Battle Heaven! Slay the enemy! Silent for countless eons, the Battle Heaven Army has been forgotten. Never forget: we are the army that battles the heavens, bestowed with our name by the Sovereign himself! We once swept across all creation. Even as garrison troops, we shall carve out the renown of the Battle Heaven Army!"
"How dare these petty scoundrels challenge our might!"
"Kill!"
The thunderous roar echoed through their minds.
Li Hao froze slightly. In the next instant, the three silver figures leapt into the sky with greatswords brandished, and the black torrent of three thousand charged outward!
Thump! Thump! Thump!
The ground quaked under their march like the beat of war drums.
The suffocating killing intent left even Li Hao struggling for breath.
The three silvers had not hesitated for a moment. They seized the initiative, determined to annihilate the enemy beyond the walls.
In the distance, a wave of asphyxiating pressure struck the supers, making them far more nervous than during their first advance. The experts of the Three Great Organizations turned grim. It was almost beyond belief that the Battle Heaven Army, dead for so many years, could still project such combat power and majesty.
"Fight, fight, fight!"
"The heavens can be shattered, the earth can be destroyed, and even the vault of heaven can be severed!"
The resounding battle cry reverberated continuously in Li Hao's mind.
In an instant, the three thousand black armors surged forward, plowing into the enemy ranks in the blink of an eye. These were true warriors, nothing like the static garrison soldiers Li Hao had imagined.
The garrison troops of Battle Heaven City were seasoned veterans.
The more dire the situation, the clearer they understood that fleeing or fearing battle only invited swifter death. They had to tear open a breach, throw the enemy formation into disarray, terrify their foes, and shatter their morale. Even if the enemy were stronger, they would still crumble.
Boom!
The two sides collided, and countless supernatural energies detonated at once. Within the crowd, Green Moon and several others bellowed, "Kill them! Earth users, bind them! Wind users, blast them back! Water users, freeze them...!"
More than one person barked commands; multiple powerhouses directed the chaos simultaneously.
It could not be helped. This was not a disciplined supernatural brigade, but a messy coalition of rogue cultivators and the Three Great Organizations.
At this moment, the rogue cultivators harbored only one thought: regardless of who called the shots, strike first and think later.
Booming collisions instantly erupted.
Violent explosions rang out endlessly.
Screams of agony and wails of terror joined the cacophony. Powerhouses at the Rising Light tier locked onto the three silver commanders without delay. Experts from the Three Great Organizations surged toward them, and Equality King's voice rang out through mental transmission: "There is one more on the city wall! Leave that one to Silver Moon!"
Hou Xiaochen looked toward the motionless silver warrior atop the wall, feeling a peculiar sensation. *Could that motionless one... be Li Hao?*
*Left to us?*
Meanwhile, Li Hao remained still. When the Seventh Regiment Commander departed, he had instructed Li Hao to watch, observe, and only join the fray when needed.
So, he watched in silence.
Beside him, Hong Yitang and Southern Fist had not moved either, quietly observing the battlefield.
They watched the armies clash. Bang, bang! One black-armored warrior after another was struck, overturned, or blasted into the air. Some were even smashed apart by a single palm strike from a powerhouse. With Rising Lights among the enemy, these experts possessed the might to directly breach the black armor!
The shattered armor exposed dry white bones within, which instantly crumbled to ash, erasing the final traces left behind by the Battle Heaven soldiers in this world.
Yet the black armors pressed forward relentlessly, paying no heed to their losses.
In eras past, they had campaigned across the world, unmatched in slaughter. What formidable enemy had they not faced, what foe had they not seen? Why would they fear such opponents?
The three silvers swiftly engaged the Rising Light experts.
Thunderous explosions rang out continuously.
Within moments, the three silvers were encircled by the Three Great Organizations' powerhouses. The sturdy silver armor granted them extraordinary defense, but they were long dead, their current power capped at the peak Three Sols level.
Boom!
A silver commander was sent flying by a palm strike from Green Moon, leaving a clear handprint pressed into the silver breastplate.
And that was merely the opening move.
The supers were powerful after all, their individual strength surpassing these ancient soldiers. One black armor after another was swiftly destroyed. Some bronze-armored warriors were even blasted to pieces, taking several supers down with them in the detonations!
Certain bronze armors appeared to intentionally detonate their plates, instantly obliterating large clusters of surrounding supers.
...
Up on the city wall.
Li Hao watched the two forces violently collide. He drew breath after breath...
At this moment, he could almost see the faces of these soldiers—solemn, resolute faces. They had once been living people, and after being dead for so many years, they still guarded this city.
Turning toward the two martial masters, he whispered, "You two martial uncles told me to be reckless and that having you both behind me gave me the backing I needed... In that case, I won't hold back!"
Hong Yitang glanced at him and felt compelled to add, "Uh... don't go picking someone too terrifying..."
Those words did not sound reassuring in the least.
Li Hao said nothing. His silver armor instantly disguised itself into black armor, and he leapt from the city wall, plunging directly into the melee. In the distance, Green Moon roared, "That silver warrior has touched down...!"
Hou Xiaochen gave a slight nod, stepped into the air, and flew straight toward Li Hao.
Seeing this, Hong Yitang exchanged a glance with Southern Fist and sent a mental message: *"I made that fellow a promise... I can't break my word! Leave this side to me. It's the perfect chance to settle the match we left unfinished all those years ago... You go keep an eye on Li Hao!"*
Southern Fist chuckled, dropped into the ground, and vanished.
Hong Yitang drew a soft breath. In the next instant, he soared into the sky. Typically, bronze armors could not fly, yet he walked across the empty air, blanketing the surroundings in a colossal wave of sword intent!
In an instant, several Rising Lights within the crowd turned their eyes toward him.
Hou Xiaochen also looked toward Hong Yitang, his gaze flickering slightly. A surging wave of earth-shattering sword intent crashed toward him, unsheathing a blade in a sweeping slash!
Boom!
A long spear materialized in Hou Xiaochen's grip. He thrust forward, the heavens shaking and the earth splitting as if the very sky had cracked open!
Boom!
A massive collision reverberated across heaven and earth. In an instant, all the black armors beneath their feet were blown backward. Every super beneath Three Sols was detonated on the spot, while Three Sols powerhouses were grievously wounded, retreating in sheer terror.
In the distance, Green Moon's expression shifted drastically. At that moment, they finally realized how Yellow Moon had died!
A powerhouse!
A terrifying powerhouse clad in bronze armor—perhaps... a golden warrior in disguise.
The Earth-Overturning Sword possessed no small fame.
However, he had not fought publicly in many years. While many could recognize his sword, the supers were not among them. Green Moon had been a martial master in her youth, famously known as the Green Peacock.
Yet feeling this sword intent now, she found it vaguely familiar, though she could not place whose it was. Given that the opponent came from Battle Heaven City, she did not immediately associate him with the Earth-Overturning Sword.
Hou Xiaochen spoke with an even tone. "This person is exceptionally formidable. My Silver Moon official faction can only manage to take on this one... You all have no objections, I presume?"
No one spoke.
Even Green Moon and her peers could find nothing to say. This bronze-armored figure was likely a golden warrior in disguise, feeling even more terrifying than the revived silvers. What else could they possibly say?
Beneath the two fighters, black armors and supers alike beat a hasty retreat.
It was too terrifying!
Hong Yitang's face was concealed behind his visor. In the next moment, his sword swept out like a rolling wave, binding the space between heaven and earth into a barrier. His blade fell. Boom!
Another deafening blast shook the battlefield. That single slash struck the Fire Phoenix Spear with such force that a phoenix armament spirit manifested from its shaft.
"Hou Xiaochen, I really don't care for that expression of yours where you act like everything is under your control... Don't smile at me next time. It really... makes me uncomfortable!"
A wave of force rippled outward, and the Earth-Overturning Sword resonated in all directions. Within a hundred meters, the world transformed into a living hell. The earth overturned, and even the indestructible ground appeared to split apart!
Between heaven and earth, only a single sword remained!
In the distance, Chief Steward Yu and the others blanched. He was too strong!
Yet... that was still not enough!
At that exact moment, an even more terrifying aura surged skyward. In an instant, the Earth-Overturning Sword unsealed the power of his five visceral organs. Before Hou Xiaochen's astonished eyes, heaven and earth inverted, suppressing the God-Splitting spear intent to its absolute limit!
The greatsword spanned the sky, sweeping Kong Jie, Golden Spear, Mad Saber, Chief Steward Yu, Qi Gang, Hu Qingfeng, and the others into its domain in the blink of an eye!
All of them were entrapped within a single boundary!
That sword intent grew stronger and stronger!
It reached an appalling, terrifying magnitude!
Hou Xiaochen's expression changed slightly, his mental intent fluctuating as he looked at him. *"What are you doing?"*
*Have you lost your mind?*
He had only stepped forward for a spar, not a duel to the death.
"What am I doing? Slaying you!"
Hong Yitang laughed. "To a Silver Moon martial master, a spar is a battle to the death! You've lived in comfortable retirement so long that your head has gone soft. I said Silver Moon's official faction is mine to handle, so I'll handle all of you! Hou Xiaochen, Kong Jie, come at me together!"
With those words, his sword fell like the firmament crashing down!
Hou Xiaochen thrust his spear, while Kong Jie's expression shifted slightly. At this moment, Kong Jie felt as though countless Hong Yitangs were attacking at once. This fellow was utterly mad!
Yet... who was afraid?
Golden Spear roared, thrusting his spear forward!
Chief Steward Yu's gaze turned frosty as he drove a palm strike outward!
Then let them fight!
The martial masters unleashed their techniques one after another. Qi Gang, ranked on the Divine Master Roll, bellowed as a golden sword materialized before him, only for the sword intent to shatter it in the blink of an eye. With a resounding explosion, Qi Gang stared in utter disbelief at his weapon, destroyed in an instant.
In the next moment, he let out a furious roar and produced a specialized black sword—no longer condensed from supernatural energy, but an Origin God Armament!
These powerhouses attacked simultaneously, lunging toward the Earth-Overturning Sword.
They surged toward this lunatic who had unsealed the full combat power of his five visceral organs without hesitation!
Though Hou Xiaochen and Kong Jie were puzzled, they guessed this fellow must possess a means to suppress the backlash. Casting their questions aside, one wielded his spear and the other his fists, both displaying shocking might. The strength they unleashed in this instant surpassed even that of the golden eagle back at Mount Cang.
In the distance, members of the Three Great Organizations watched in stunned bewilderment!
All this just to deal with a single bronze armor... They had known the bronze armor was strong, but the combat power these people unleashed in an instant far exceeded anything they could have imagined. Green Moon felt nothing but relief... Thank goodness those official fools were the ones tangling with that terrifying swordsman.
Was that truly a dead man?
That single sword felt like heaven and earth itself. When it struck, the world inverted, and no one dared stand firm in its path. Even with so many Silver Moon official powerhouses assembled, their way was barred by that solitary figure and his blade.
Beneath his bronze visor, a faint smile played across Hong Yitang's lips.
Neither Hou Xiaochen nor Kong Jie was weaker than him.
Yet... so what?
They did not dare unseal their organs!
In that case, do not blame me for showing no mercy. I have long wanted to take you down a peg, Hou Xiaochen. You truly take yourself for a god, daring to covet my black armors! Last time I stayed in White Moon City for days, you didn't even bother to grant me an audience.
Boom!
The sword swept across the sky, strike following strike like the weight of the earth crashing down. Everyone could clearly see each strike of that colossal power, but... none could block it!
Even Hou Xiaochen and Kong Jie frowned, continually thrusting their spear and fists.
Golden Spear and the others erupted with power, bellowing in fury.
Their staggering combat might shook every observer to their core. Golden Spear and Chief Steward Yu were unleashing tremendous strength, rattling even the watching Rising Lights.
What proved even more horrifying was that under this solitary opponent's pressure, these figures were being steadily driven backward.
Qi Gang, a mid Rising Light expert on the Divine Master Roll wielding an Origin God Armament, was pushed back repeatedly just from being caught at the fringes. His face flushed red, his eyes filled with shock.
Meanwhile, Hu Qingfeng, an early Rising Light, was coughing up blood under the relentless sword strikes!
On a battlefield like this, an early Rising Light appeared pitifully frail.
Hu Qingfeng felt nothing but sheer terror!
Too strong!
Not only was this swordsman terrifying, but the people around him were far beyond his imagination. He had known Hou Xiaochen was powerful, but he had never imagined Kong Jie was monstrously strong as well; the aura exploding from Kong Jie's fists felt as if it could tear him apart.
Why did the Silver Moon official faction harbor so many hidden powerhouses?
...
While the clash raged in the sky, Li Hao lunged forward with his sword on the ground. At this moment, he refused to look or think—he gave no thought to how powerful Hou Xiaochen was, nor how strong Hong Yitang was...
He had only one thought: charge and slay the enemy!
His sword slashed out, severing several supers at the waist. One of them shrieked in terror, "This is that silver warrior...!"
*Squelch!*
A blade thrust followed, cutting the man in half as blood sprayed through the air.
Surrounding Li Hao were the black armors charging with him. They quickly formed a screen to block the gathering supers, roaring silently and fighting with savage abandon. With Li Hao as their spearhead, they punched straight through the supers' defensive lines.
As someone screamed the alarm, several Three Sols among the rogue cultivators converged on the position. More than that, several Rising Lights in the distance grew restless, tearing through the nearby black armors as they bore down on him!
Xu Feng spotted Li Hao, his eyes gleaming as he charged forward.
The elderly man behind him frowned slightly, stepping up to follow.
Before he could catch up, his eyes shifted, looking toward a spot nearby where a black-armored soldier appeared to be watching him.
The old man halted, sending a mental message: *"Young Master, observe first. Do not act rashly!"*
"Understood!" Xu Feng gave a perfunctory reply, rapidly pushing his way toward Li Hao.
The old man looked at the black armor not far away, exhaled softly, and transmitted, *"What do you want?"*
*"I don't want anything. Just stay right where you are and don't move!"*
Southern Fist's voice resonated in his mind. *"That young master of yours isn't weak—mid Rising Light, even listed on that so-called Divine Master Roll... He has quite a name in the Central Region. Naturally, I won't bother him! But you, you stay right here. Don't you dare twitch! If you move, don't blame me for getting rough... Granted, I might not be able to finish you off, but if you dare intervene, once Yuan Shuo returns and learns you bullied his disciple, my surname isn't He if he doesn't beat you to death!"*
He admitted that he might not be able to finish him off!
In this moment, the formidable Southern Fist had actually spoken such words.
The old man fell silent.
Southern Fist ignored him further, having delivered his warning, but added another transmission: *"Furthermore, the rules of the martial forest apply to you just the same, and to your young master as well! Li Hao is far weaker than him, so I can save Li Hao once... but you cannot! If your master gets killed, then he's dead... Understand?"*
The old man replied through mental transmission: *"He Yong, I only returned home to see Silver Moon..."*
*"I have no patience for your nonsense! If you insist, I'll merely step in to delay you, just for show... and wait for Yuan Shuo to return to see if he can beat you to death!"*
"..."
The old man was left speechless.
Yuan Shuo!
A martial master possessing only the strength of a peak Three Sols—someone who was, in their eyes, terribly weak...
Yet a man like He Yong was claiming that while he could not kill him, he would wait for Yuan Shuo to return and do the job.
Such words would invite scorn from anyone else, yet the old man did not treat them as an idle boast. He seemed to waver. Even though Xu Feng was only seeking out a Three Sols-level opponent like Li Hao, the old man wondered if something might go wrong... and what he should do if it did.
If disaster struck and he intervened... would it provoke Yuan Shuo's wrath and fury?
If that madman learned someone had interfered in his disciple's battle, he would go berserk, and he would definitely settle the score. Without a doubt!
The old man took a deep breath, said nothing more, and stepped aside.
Seeing this, Southern Fist let out a soft laugh, casually shattered a super with a fist, and transmitted once more: *"I know a bit about your past... but don't forget, you're still a martial master. You're acting terribly petty!"*
With that, he flickered and vanished from the spot.
He needed to keep an eye on Li Hao. Among everyone present, the only one he truly feared was this old man; as for the rest of the heavyweights, Hong Yitang was naturally holding them at bay.
The old man watched him leave, then glanced at Xu Feng in the distance. Xu Feng was currently closing in on Li Hao, seemingly intent on studying or capturing this silver warrior.
...
*Slash!*
Li Hao cut down a Three Sols with a single stroke, suddenly sensing a gaze fixed upon him. He looked over to find the very fellow who had interrupted his comprehension earlier.
Xu Feng!
A mid Rising Light expert, ranked on some roll, exceptionally powerful—someone Li Hao could definitely not match right now.
He ignored Xu Feng. He could not fight this man right now... Engaging him would only result in a beating, or even death. Li Hao wanted to find an early Rising Light to test himself against.
Among the rogue cultivators, besides this fellow and Yuan Xingwu, there were three other Rising Light combatants.
One was at the mid tier, and two were at the early tier.
His target was one of those two.
Yet while he did not seek out this opponent, the opponent sought him out. Just as Li Hao began another charge, Xu Feng suddenly flickered into view directly before him.
A mid Rising Light barred his path.
Beneath his armor, Li Hao's face darkened.
At peak Three Sols, he was likely far from a match for this opponent... This was trouble!
If he had grasped the fourth force, there might still be hope.
Yet he had only gathered three forces so far.
*Where was Southern Fist?*
*Why wasn't he stepping in to block him? He promised I could be reckless!*
Right at that moment, Southern Fist's voice sounded in his ear: *"Give it a shot! What are you afraid of? He's just a young master from a great clan, a divine master favored by heaven who advanced quickly, reaching mid Rising Light in a few short years. He didn't climb through martial arts. I'd say your strength can match an early Rising Light... As for this one, even if you can't beat him, treat it as a test to see just how formidable a super on the Divine Master Roll really is."*
Li Hao cursed under his breath!
*Damn it!*
Easy for him to say! This was a mid Rising Light—was Southern Fist joking with him?
Earlier he had suggested finding an early-tier opponent to take a risk, but was this taking a risk?
This was courting death!
*"Go on, fight him! If you truly can't handle him... I will step in!"*
Li Hao drew a deep breath, grit his teeth, and cursed furiously in his heart.
In the next instant, he cast all hesitation aside.
*Fine!*
*I boarded this pirate ship... What choice do I have?*
In an instant, three streams of sword momentum merged seamlessly.
Opposite him, Xu Feng had originally intended only to test how strong this silver warrior was and whether it would enter the so-called revived state. But now... he froze slightly, surprised. *This... looks like force!*
*A silver warrior knows force?*
*And sword momentum, no less.*
*There truly are plenty of swordsmen in this Battle Heaven Army.*
Li Hao fused his three sword momentums, pondered for an instant, and grit his teeth, detonating the Blood Blade Technique. Crimson vitality surged outward, causing Xu Feng to frown instantly. *This... feels somewhat familiar. What is this now?*
With three momentums merged and the Blood Blade Technique activated, Li Hao hesitated no longer and slashed forward!
Boom!
The strike proved exceptionally fierce. Xu Feng's eyes shifted, and with a wave of his hand, an icy power swept forward. With a tremendous crash, the sword slammed into a colossal block of ice.
The ice was remarkably sturdy; Li Hao's strike shattered it, but the rebound force sent a violent tremor through his body.
"Intriguing!"
Xu Feng looked at Li Hao. "Why do I get the feeling... that you're alive?"
*Could this be a living person?*
*Was that even possible?*
He appeared entirely at ease, waving his hand to manifest countless ice arrows that shot toward Li Hao in an instant, a faint smile on his lips. How fascinating—this silver warrior differed from the other three.
*Could it truly be a living person?*
If so... it seemed unbelievable. Was it an ancient survivor, or could contemporary people also become part of the ruins?
Boom, boom, boom!
Countless ice arrows detonated against Li Hao's body. Li Hao could not retreat in time; the opponent was remarkably fast, and the ice arrows materialized instantaneously without any pause, far more powerful than the supers he had faced before.
Without a word, Li Hao stomped against the ground and soared upward, delivering another slash!
This time, the sword made no sound—the Shadowless Sword Art.
*Buzz!*
Only when the sword pierced the ice did a sonic boom erupt, leaving Xu Feng even more astonished!
Right at that moment, three powerful auras erupted in the distance!
The Seventh Regiment Commander's voice echoed in Li Hao's mind: *"We are about to fully revive. Twelfth Regiment Commander, if we fail to crush the encroaching enemy, and if you survive... guard Battle Heaven City!"*
Li Hao froze. Boom!
At that instant, Xu Feng threw a punch—a frost-laden strike that instantly encased Li Hao in solid ice. Li Hao's inner force detonated, blasting the ice apart with a loud crash, yet the bone-chilling cold still seeped through.
This fellow was a frost-attribute expert, an offshoot of the water element.
Li Hao could no longer afford to hold back. Looking at Xu Feng, he grit his teeth as the sword in his hand shifted into the Starry Sky Sword. Silver armor allowed the user to employ their own weapon, which would be covered by the armor's standard issue weapon overlay; from the outside, it still appeared to be a standard-issue greatsword.
Yet its effects were completely different.
Li Hao stopped thinking and stopped watching.
His sword struck swiftly, his three momentums detonating—a tiger's roar, the mantle of the earth, and the explosive force of the metal sword momentum!
Xu Feng shifted slightly, vanishing from his spot. Yet Li Hao stepped forward, closing the distance instantly, his blade thrusting forward wrapped in murderous intent!
*Crack!*
With a crisp snap, the ice barrier before Xu Feng shattered instantly. This caught him off guard—it had broken far too quickly. Unable to evade in time, he took a sword thrust to the chest, producing a dull, heavy clang.
A mirror materialized over his chest.
A heart-protecting mirror!
Xu Feng glanced at Li Hao, then at the mirror, his expression changing slightly. He quickly looked at the sword in Li Hao's hand; it was so sharp that a tiny scratch had been carved into his mirror.
Not only that, the mirror originally possessed an armament spirit, yet no matter how he commanded it, the spirit refused to emerge.
The mirror had relied entirely on its physical resilience to withstand the sword.
*What was going on?*
This silver warrior was not weak. Xu Feng gauged him to possess strength roughly on par with an early Rising Light—even if slightly weaker, the gap was marginal. Against him, the warrior should still fall short.
Yet just now, his supernatural technique, the Ice Shield, had been shattered in an instant!
That was utterly bizarre.
And what was that tiger roar?
Frowning slightly, he found it increasingly strange. In the distance, Yuan Xingwu also frowned and glanced toward Li Hao with confusion. In that brief instant, he too had heard a tiger's roar.
That tiger roar... he had heard it many times before, though it sounded slightly different from his master's.
Yet within the martial forest, a tiger roar carrying such majesty could generally only come from the Five Animals Art.
Yuan Xingwu turned his head and spotted Xu Feng, his expression shifting slightly. Xu Feng was formidable, a figure on the Divine Master Roll whom he naturally recognized. He then looked at Li Hao, who struck again, his sword illuminating the sky as three sword momentums fused to unleash a brilliant radiance—a combat style entirely distinct from the three silver commanders!
"Three sword momentums... a tiger roar... crimson vitality... Blood Blade Technique..."
Incredulity surfaced in Yuan Xingwu's eyes!
Yes, in this moment, he could not help but think of one person, recalling the details he had read in the dossiers: Li Hao!
The junior brother he had never met.
*It's Li Hao!*
*This silver warrior is Li Hao in disguise.*
He found it impossible to believe. How could this be?
Meanwhile, Li Hao unleashed strike after strike, no longer caring whether his identity was exposed. He used not only his sword, but also the Five Animals Art, leaping and weaving with astonishing agility—at times like a fierce tiger, at times like an ape.
Those movements were unmistakable; anyone familiar with Yuan Shuo would instantly recognize this person as a disciple of the Five Animals Sect!
Not just Yuan Xingwu—in the distance, Hu Dingfang, who had not been ensnared by the Earth-Overturning Sword, looked over and experienced a shift in expression. *Li Hao!*
He had actually infiltrated Battle Heaven City and become a silver warrior.
Furthermore... Li Hao was currently locked in combat with a mid Rising Light expert. It was almost beyond belief!
...
Yet Li Hao paid no heed to anyone.
His sole focus was bringing forth his water momentum!
As long as the water momentum emerged, locking it in place would present no difficulty. His visceral organs were exceptionally robust; by locking the momentum to nourish his spirit, he could instantly secure the fourth force. Fusing four momentums alongside the Blood Blade Technique, he might truly possess a chance to contend with this opponent!
Li Hao ceased clashing head-on; recklessness did not mean throwing his life away.
He began fighting an evasive battle, his blood vitality surging. At this point, Xu Feng realized something as well, his voice turning cold: "You are no ancient warrior... Those moves... closely resemble the Five Animals Sect from Silver Moon rumors! You are... Li Hao!"
It seemed inconceivable. Li Hao?
A fellow who had practiced martial arts for barely a few years actually possessed Rising Light strength.
What kind of fortuitous encounter had he obtained?
Li Hao offered no reply. So what if he was recognized? He would just treat them all as dead men!
Slashing outward with his sword, Li Hao plunged into darkness. What was a mid Rising Light to him?
Boom!
Frost locked down the area. A surging wave of supernatural power swept out, freezing the entire space where Li Hao stood. Xu Feng said coldly, "I thought you were an ancient silver warrior and worried about the so-called revival... Now it seems you only gained this strength by using the Blood Blade Technique. It appears... you have no way to undergo any revival!"
With that, he held back no longer, curious to uncover how Li Hao had become a silver warrior in the first place.
In an instant, frost sealed the surroundings as frigid air seeped inward.
Li Hao, concealed in the dark, was forced out into the open.
The moment his figure appeared, a fist struck—a frost-covered strike!
With a sharp crack, Li Hao tried to retreat, but his path was sealed by ice. He stomped his foot, shattering the ice as the earth's momentum surged, but that split-second delay allowed the fist to strike home!
Boom!
Li Hao felt a terrifying shockwave tear through his armor. Had his five visceral organs and physical body not been exceptionally robust, that single blow would have shattered an ordinary Three Sols to death!
He truly lived up to his reputation as a renowned genius of the Central Region.
Xu Feng threw another punch, surprised to see Li Hao still standing. In the next moment, he drove his fists forward repeatedly, his freezing power utterly overwhelming.
His onslaught left Li Hao virtually incapable of retaliating.
However, supported by his robust organs, immense blood vitality, and the silver armor, Li Hao recovered swiftly even as he was continuously battered. Sword energy replenished his reserves and mended his wounds.
Gradually shaking off the numbness of the freezing cold, Li Hao's eyes flickered.
*This fellow... can't seem to kill me!*
Indeed, he couldn't help recalling his battle against Liu Long. As long as the enemy could not kill him and he held sufficient sword energy, he could wear the man down to death!
In the next instant, Li Hao swung his sword in a sweeping counterattack!
The razor-sharp Starry Sky Sword cut through everything in its path, forcing Xu Feng to evade. That evasion gave Li Hao an opening; stepping forward, he leapt into the air, spinning into a roundhouse kick as the Nine-Fold Forging Force detonated instantly!
This time, casting aside all reservations, he held only one thought: unleash his peak strength. Even if he could not kill this fellow, he would drain his supernatural energy dry!
Supernatural energy was not infinite; replenishing it required time.
Boom!
Li Hao launched kick after kick at him. His legs were coated in ice, only to shatter the frost instantly. Slashing his blade to force Xu Feng back, he pressed the offensive with sword, fists, and kicks.
The unyielding style of a martial master was displayed to its absolute limits.
The more Xu Feng fought, the angrier he grew.
*Does this person not feel pain?*
He had transmitted shockwaves through the armor multiple times. Could this armor be so formidable that it absorbed the entirety of his force?
He could not understand it!
If so, this armor was an incomparable treasure!
Nearby, Southern Fist grinned. In the next moment, he threw a punch, sending an approaching Rising Light stumbling backward. That Rising Light's expression changed, and he fled immediately.
Disbelief filled his eyes. *Damn it, why are there so many powerhouses among these black armors?*
He was a Rising Light after all, yet a single punch from this black armor had injured him. It was terrifying!
Having repelled a Rising Light, Southern Fist glanced toward the other skirmishes. The three silver commanders appeared to be reviving, their auras and strength climbing steadily. The Seventh Regiment Commander swung his greatsword, completely disintegrating a peak Three Sols from Red Moon with a single strike.
Green Moon and her companions blanched.
The revived silvers were shockingly powerful, vaguely pressing toward the breakthrough phase of Rising Light.
"Defend!" someone roared. "Their revival time is limited! They will dissipate soon—do not clash head-on!"
As for retreating... they likely had no way to pull back now. Their only option was defensive containment, wearing the silvers down until they perished. That was why they had not feared the revival in the first place.
According to their previous encounter, these silvers could only sustain their combat strength for a very short duration.
"All Three Sols and above, reinforce the front... form a collective defense...!"
Another shout rang out, stirring fresh chaos across the battlefield!
At this moment, several bronze armors also appeared to revive, instantly reaching Three Sols combat power and cutting down the supers before them in the blink of an eye. The two surging human tides collided, and agonized shrieks filled the air!
...
Meanwhile, Li Hao ignored everything else, consumed by a single thought: *I'll wear you down to death, you bastard!*
Boom, boom, boom!
Fists, kicks, and even tiger roars were unleashed.
"Roar!"
The savage bellow rattled the surrounding supers, causing blood to leak from their facial orifices as they scrambled back in haste. It even left Xu Feng feeling dizzy. *Why is this fellow so durable?*
*Is he immortal?*
The slaughter raged on.
Casualties mounted, and the number of ruined black armors steadily grew.
...
At that very moment.
Inside the city.
Above the city lord's estate, the golden warrior floated in the air holding the Black Tortoise Seal, gazing toward the distant eastern gate before looking up at the old tortoise.
The old tortoise remained silent, its gaze fixed in the same direction.
After a long silence, a mental ripple drifted forth: *"Would it not... be a form of release?"*
Yes, was it not a release?
In truth, it was not that they could not be saved or stopped... but being imprisoned inside armor for tens of millions of years was an agonizing existence!
It was the cruellest torment!
Without memories, without souls, possessing only an indelible obsession. Reviving them at the final moment so they could recall their past—was that not a gift and a release?
At that moment, a ripple emerged from the golden armor: *"Yet... we... are willing!"*
Willing to remain on guard!
Willing to continue protecting this city!
The old tortoise seemed touched by an emotional tremor. After a moment, a mental ripple spread: *"Go, then!"*
"Understood!"
A resolute acknowledgment rang out. In the next instant, the golden warrior shot forward like an arrow, carrying killing intent concentrated to the absolute extreme!
*We are willing—willing to endure this loneliness and this pain.*
*The so-called release... is not so important.*
To guard this city was the oath sworn upon joining the Battle Heaven Army. Today, they fought not for humanity, but merely to guard this empty city. Even so, they embraced it gladly!
The golden warrior rapidly closed in on the eastern gate.
Suspended in the air, the old tortoise revealed emotions it ought not to have felt... *Are you truly willing to continue enduring such agony?*
It had intended to grant them complete release; the torment of time was simply too cruel.
*Does the Battle Heaven Army truly refuse to fade away?*
Chapter 155