Slaughter

Through the darkness, a small vessel sliced through the wind and waves. In the distance, a massive ship was ablaze with lights. Screams. Despairing sobs. Yet all of it was drowned out by wanton, uproarious laughter. Aboard the great vessel, bloodthirsty pirates were indulging in their revelry. The blades and swords in their hands were still dripping with fresh blood, while the ship’s hold echoed with the ceaseless wailing of women. The men had been slaughtered. The young women were dragged aboard to be violated for sport. The elderly, weak, and young were all killed—save for a select few children taken to join the pirates. Immersed in this slaughter from infancy, they would be molded into bloodthirsty cutthroats. The pirates had no use for older children; they took only toddlers too young to remember. Inside the ship, several massive throne-like chairs sat within a spacious cabin. Sea Shark kicked his legs up onto the table, a murderous grin in his eyes as he watched his men ruthlessly torment the wailing women. His smile only grew broader. Beside him, two trembling women were massaging his legs, their muffled sobs stifled in their throats. Sea Shark wore an expression of supreme satisfaction. This voyage had certainly not been in vain. Of course, slaughtering a small town was not his true objective. He let out a booming laugh that instantly suppressed every other sound in the room: "Pace yourselves, boys! We’ll reach Nandu shortly. That’s the real paradise! Don't go getting weak in the knees before we even get there!" "Don't you worry, Third Master! Our brothers’ golden spears never droop! Hahaha!" *Thwack!* The words had barely left the man's mouth when a golden arrow pierced straight through him, killing him on the spot! The entire cabin instantly fell dead silent. Terrified, another pirate hastily chimed in, "Third Master, please calm your wrath! That bastard had shit for brains! You did well to kill him!" The golden arrow had come directly from Sea Shark. *Golden spears never droop...* The moment the words "golden spear" were spoken, Sea Shark had flown into an uncontrollable rage. To dare mention a "golden spear" in his presence, and to use it as praise—that fool was practically begging for death! Sea Shark let out a cruel sneer. "Drag him out and throw him into the sea! If you don't know how to speak, keep your damn mouths shut!" No one dared utter a word. Before long, the laughter and merrymaking resumed. It was just one blind fool getting killed; to them, death was as routine as breathing. Sea Shark kicked away the two women massaging his legs. The young women slammed hard against the cabin bulkhead, vomiting blood repeatedly. Despair and emptiness filled their eyes; clearly, neither had long to live. Indifferent, Sea Shark stood up, paying no further mind to the debauchery within the cabin. He stepped out onto the deck. At this moment, several supernaturals were stationed there, scanning the surroundings. "Third Master!" A Three Suns cultivator quickly approached and whispered, "We’ll reach Nandu soon. However, Hou Xiaochen’s group has likely just arrived at the North Sea ferry crossing. Should we wait a bit longer—until they've completely crossed the North Sea—before we strike?" Sea Shark sneered. "We’re doing it precisely while they haven’t left! If they truly make it into the Central Region, it would take ages for news of Nandu’s destruction to reach them. Striking now is ideal. Even if they find out, so what? The North Sea is vast—dare they chase us into the North Sea? I want Golden Spear and his lot to suffer! I want to show them that I can slaughter their Silver Moon savages right under their noses! "If Hou Xiaochen dares enter the North Sea with that measly force of his... whether they make it out alive is another question entirely. He's already behind schedule to report for duty to the Night Patrollers. People have long been dissatisfied with him, just waiting for a chance to strike!" At this moment, Sea Shark did not appear foolish in the slightest; on the contrary, his reasoning was clear and sharp. Indeed, now was the perfect time for vengeance. Once their targets crossed the North Sea and entered the Central Region, it would no longer be fun. Striking now would leave them tormented, agonizing over whether to pursue Sea Shark into the North Sea for revenge. That would be far more entertaining. If they actually dared to come, the Martial Guard Army’s intrusion into the North Sea would never be ignored by the Eight Great Pirates. When that happened, an even greater vengeance could be exacted! Every pirate in the North Sea would mobilize to encircle and slaughter them, for Hou Xiaochen was a figure they all feared. That was precisely the outcome Sea Shark hoped to see! He wanted nothing more than for Hou Xiaochen’s group to receive the news immediately, lose their heads in a fit of rage, and plunge headlong into the North Sea. When that happened, could White Shark or the other pirate lords simply sit by and do nothing? "Third Master is wise!" The Three Suns pirate hastily flattered him. Sea Shark sneered, "Wise, my ass! Save that crap! Killing a few more Silver Moon savages later will do more good than your brown-nosing!" "Of course!" The surrounding pirates promptly echoed in agreement. Sea Shark grinned once more. "Silver Moon may be poor, but Nandu certainly isn't. Two years ago, I entered the Moon Sea specifically for Nandu. While cultivation resources are scarce there, valuable goods abound! Once we pull off this haul, we can recruit more men and buy more arms!" Pirates were never truly short on cultivation resources. However, certain everyday goods were exceedingly scarce at sea and commanded far higher value—things like armor, weapons, grain, and vegetables. Such living essentials were outrageously expensive out on the water. Great pirate bands had ways to plunder or trade for them in secret. Smaller pirate crews, on the other hand, did not dare raid the mainland recklessly, and plundering merchant ships did not always meet their needs. Yet acquiring cultivation resources from the sea was relatively easy, so they were often willing to pay exorbitant prices to buy daily supplies from the larger pirate factions. The surrounding pirates showered him with flattery once more. A satisfied smile appeared in Sea Shark’s eyes. The White Shark Pirates numbered over ten thousand. Not all were supernaturals—some were martial masters or ordinary people with special skills—yet supernaturals made up the majority. Among the three pirate commanders, he was ranked third, and his faction was the weakest, commanding only five to six hundred supernaturals. The supreme leader, White Shark, controlled the elite core: a staggering three thousand supernaturals! Thus, no matter how covetous or envious Sea Shark felt, he dared not harbor treasonous thoughts. Two years ago, he had sought to sack Nandu to expand his forces, only to suffer a crushing blow that cost him over a hundred supernaturals and left him gravely injured. Fortunately, he had backers. Over the past two years, not only had he avoided falling behind, but his supernatural ranks had been replenished, leaving him with even more men than before. Thoughts flickered through Sea Shark’s mind. Suddenly, he seemed to catch a fleeting glimpse of a dark shadow in the distance. He looked again, but saw nothing. Turning to the Three Suns cultivator beside him, he asked, "Did you see anything?" "Nothing. Calm seas and gentle winds. The merchant ships along our route have all been destroyed. We'll be at Nandu in no time!" *** At the exact same time. Less than five thousand meters from the massive vessel, the Giant Kun Divine Vessel came to a halt. By now, Li Hao had spotted it. He saw a cluster of light. To be visible from such a distance, the figure was clearly a Rising Light cultivator. Looking closely... there appeared to be only this single Rising Light expert. The other fainter clusters of light were blurred, making it difficult to determine the exact number of Three Suns supernaturals. This Rising Light aura appeared to be only at the mid-stage. Li Hao observed for a moment, feeling considerably relieved. A single mid-stage Rising Light cultivator meant the difficulty had decreased significantly. "Do you see it?" Li Hao asked through his armor's communication channel. The squad leaders quickly replied, "We see it!" Ahead, the massive ship was ablaze with lanterns. Pirates generally preferred to keep a low profile, routinely extinguishing all lights under the cover of night. The White Shark Pirates, however, were formidable and notoriously arrogant. Believing themselves the absolute rulers of these waters, they acted without restraint, keeping their vessel brilliantly illuminated. "We will close in and find an opportunity to board directly! Fight in squads—do not scatter! If your formation is broken... dive into the sea and sink to the bottom! As long as you hold out for a while, I will come find you once I deal with their leader. The black armor will allow you to survive beneath the surface for some time!" Fifty against five hundred—a tenfold disparity. Li Hao had fully prepared for the squads to be broken. However, the martial masters possessed formidable defense. If broken apart, they could dive into the sea, where their black armor would protect them. So long as they were not scattered across a thousand li, Li Hao would be able to find them. "Understood!" the squad leaders replied one after another. Li Hao took a deep breath and steered the small vessel closer. In the darkness, the vessel advanced like a hunter stalking its prey, darting across the ocean. The surging waves masked the faint sound of its movement. A squad of black-armored warriors stood at the bow, filled with a mixture of tension and anticipation. Fortunately, they had already fought numerous battles across Silver Moon, encircling and slaughtering supernaturals from the Three Great Organizations. Had this been their first engagement, facing a force ten times their number, they would hardly have remained this calm. A small sword appeared in Li Hao’s hand. By now, it was no longer small, having grown to the size of an ordinary longsword. As it absorbed energy, more of its seal seemed to have unraveled. The closer they got, the colder Li Hao’s gaze became. He saw... scenes he wished he had not witnessed. Numerous corpses hung from the great ship, swaying in the wind. Faint screams and mournful wails drifted over across the waves. The reek of blood was carried along on the breeze. Li Hao flared his nostrils slightly. His heart was calm, yet in that calm, he genuinely could not comprehend... *What is the point?* *Why slaughter ordinary people?* *Just to satisfy your lust for killing?* He had not interacted with supernaturals or martial masters for very long. Perhaps they simply lacked the opportunity, or perhaps he had not witnessed it, but among the supernaturals and martial masters Li Hao had encountered, none would deliberately slaughter ordinary folk. Not even the Three Great Organizations had done so! Of course, it was said that the Three Great Organizations committed such atrocities in the Central Region and other lands—otherwise, they would never have been branded evil supernatural organizations. But in Silver Moon, Li Hao had never seen them raze an entire city or town. Thus, although he had heard others mention it before, Li Hao had never paid it much heed. Yet now... he saw those corpses swaying in the wind with his own eyes. The wails and screams echoed ceaselessly. He even watched as a corpse was casually tossed over the cabin rail. *Are these bastards madmen? Beasts?* *Ordinary people have so little to do with our world. Whether you hold yourselves high above them or look down upon the masses, why must you slaughter them?* To this moment, Li Hao still could not fathom it! *Even if you are an elephant, why bother crushing ants?* *No one provoked you... If you demand wealth, they give wealth; if you demand people, they give people. Must you slaughter them all... just to prove your strength?* The small vessel continued to close the distance. Nearer and nearer it drew. The longsword in Li Hao’s hand was already raised. By now, he could clearly see the supernaturals upon the deck, as well as the position of the largest light cluster. It was a fierce, heavily bearded man, bearing a passing resemblance to Southern Fist—except Southern Fist was never so cruel. One thousand meters... five hundred meters... The small boat drew closer. On the deck of the large ship, Sea Shark furrowed his brow slightly, sensing that he was being watched. He glanced around, but saw only surging waves. Yet in the back of his mind... he felt a sensation reminiscent of two years ago. Back then, Golden Spear and his men had also been martial masters. They, too, had approached in utter silence, just like this. Of course, Li Hao and his men wore black armor that concealed their auras, making them even stealthier. Sea Shark turned to the man beside him again. "Do you see anything?" A golden light flashed in the man’s eyes as he scanned the surroundings. When his gaze fell toward Li Hao’s direction, he vaguely caught sight of something, though it remained indistinct in the darkness. Just as he leaned forward to inspect it more closely... The next instant, there was no longer any need to look. With less than five hundred meters remaining, the small vessel suddenly accelerated. With a deafening boom, it cleaved through the waves and arrived beneath the great ship in an instant. Its speed was terrifying! Sea Shark’s expression changed. When he caught sight of the winged vessel, he was initially stunned, recognizing it immediately. That shock quickly turned into fury and bewilderment. *The Martial Guard Army?* *How is that possible!* Hou Xiaochen had led the Martial Guard Army away under the watchful eyes of countless spies. There was no way he could have pulled off a deception or slipped away unnoticed. So why was a vessel belonging to the Martial Guard Army appearing right here? At that very moment, a figure clad in black armor leaped into the air. It was Li Hao, having disguised his silver armor as black; in the dark of night, he had no desire to stand out. Treading on empty air, he cleaved down at the deck with his sword! Sea Shark snapped back to his senses. A massive broadsword materialized in his grip. With a mixture of confusion and madness in his eyes, he let out a furious roar and slashed upward! *Boom!* Saber and sword clashed instantly, releasing a tremendous shockwave! A massive crater blew open in the deck. Saber qi and sword qi tore through the air, accompanied by endless squelches as several supernaturals in the vicinity were instantly shredded. A few Three Suns cultivators scrambled back in panic, sustaining injuries from the stray blades of energy! Sea Shark soared into the air, a cruel sneer spreading across his face. "You’re not Golden Spear... A swordsman? Impressive strength. Looks like I’ve struck gold!" In that instant, he seemed to deduce the truth, his expression turning vicious and ruthless. "A sword-wielding martial master, from the Martial Guard Army, appearing in the Moon Sea at this exact moment... Li Hao, isn't it? I hadn't even come looking for you, yet you delivered yourself right to my doorstep!" Indeed, he realized who his opponent was. The swordsman, Li Hao. After his previous battle, people had dubbed him the Demon Sword. Sea Shark knew Li Hao had been left behind to guard White Moon City. He had never expected this brat to dare venture out—much less take the initiative to attack him. *Are you courting death?* Li Hao’s sword strike had been powerful, but that was all. At most, it was comparable to the Rising Light level. His progress had been fast, but so what? "Hahaha! It seems even the heavens are on my side!" Sea Shark bounded into the air and charged toward Li Hao, unleashing a slash. A thunderous roar shook the sky as a radiant golden blade of light manifested. He was a metal-element powerhouse, overwhelmingly proficient in offensive arts. The instant he flew into the sky, dozens of black-armored figures leaped upward, landing on the cleared deck below. Liu Long barked an order: "Kill! Leave none alive!" Over fifty black-armored warriors swiftly formed ranks and charged forward. In the blink of an eye, they clashed violently with the pirates pouring out onto the deck. Several Three Suns powerhouses emerged, but Liu Long let out a roar and swung his battleaxe, water waves stacking upon each other with a resounding boom. A Three Suns pirate who had just been wounded by Li Hao’s sword qi failed to react in time. Unable to gauge their strength since all the attackers looked identical, he was caught completely off guard as Liu Long’s axe cleaved off half his head. "Kill!" Liu Long charged toward the remaining Three Suns cultivators, his black armor gleaming as thunderous clashes erupted below. The five small battle arrays quickly took shape, engaging the surging hordes of pirates in bloody combat. The pirates were all bloodthirsty, ruthless killers. Seeing their commander take to the sky and suppress the enemy leader, they showed no fear. *How many people did they even bring?* They didn't seem all that powerful either. Judging by their destructive force, they were at most around the early Solar Flare level. The pirates still had five Three Suns cultivators—and even with one dead, the remaining four were more than enough to deal with this rabble. *** High in midair. Li Hao thrust his sword forward in silence. *Boom!* Blades of light illuminated the sky! Sea Shark was fiercely violent, sweeping his broadsword in a vicious arc. With a resounding crash, Li Hao was thrown backward once again. "Brat, you’re still too wet behind the ears! Trying to play the hero?" Sea Shark laughed maniacally. "Bringing mere dozens of martial masters... knowing we were here, instead of fleeing, you actually dared to attack... It seems the Silver Moon savages aren't all cowards like Hou Xiaochen!" Li Hao frowned slightly. *He's strong!* Just now, Li Hao had merged four forces, holding back only the Blood Saber Art. His combat prowess was by no means weak, and he had made further progress over the past few days. Yet he was being thoroughly suppressed by this man. This man's murderous intent, slaughterous aura, and sheer brutality completely eclipsed Xu Feng's! A mid-stage Rising Light cultivator of the metal element who specialized in offense, hardened by countless massacres... This man was considerably stronger than Xu Feng. Black Panther was nowhere to be seen. Having caught a scent of something, it had vanished. Li Hao glanced into the distance. Faintly, he seemed to spot another cluster of light, but it was too far away to discern clearly. It might just be a coastal lighthouse; he could not tell whether it was another pirate or a beacon. Pushed back by the bearded pirate’s slash, Li Hao’s gaze turned grim. Mid-stage Rising Light... He had slain two mid-stage Rising Light cultivators before, but the man before him was significantly stronger than the previous two. Was this the true power of a supernatural who had fought his way up through genuine slaughter? His sword struck out once more! This time, Li Hao unleashed the Blood Saber Art, fusing spirit, qi, and vitality into a single thrust. A resonant drone tore through the air, fracturing the space around it as dark radiance erupted, shattering the waves below! Sea Shark slashed out again with his broadsword. *Boom!* This clash was different from the last. Sea Shark’s expression shifted slightly as he staggered backward several paces. Li Hao, too, was jolted back by the immense recoil. "Huh..." Sea Shark looked at him with an odd expression before suddenly bursting into laughter. "Is this that Blood Saber Art Yuan Shuo made a name for himself with?" Clearly, Yuan Shuo’s techniques were no longer a secret. The Blood Saber Art was widely known. "Didn't they say using this technique means certain death? You master and disciple are certainly reckless, using it so casually... Could it be... tied to that Li Family Divine Sword? Or perhaps you're using it without care because you hold the Zhang Family Divine Saber?" Sea Shark grinned cruelly. "Good stuff. If I used it, wouldn't I be able to match late-stage Rising Light—or even battle a peak Rising Light? Such a treasure is wasted on you!" Though Li Hao had grown somewhat stronger, in Sea Shark’s eyes, the Blood Saber Art could never last. Not to mention, they were fighting over the open sea. Since this brat had chosen to fight here, there was nowhere to run. Once his Three Suns subordinates finished off the intruders on the ship, they could come assist him. Of course, he did not believe it would come to that. He could suppress Li Hao on his own. His broadsword flashed, executing dozens of slashes in the blink of an eye. The surging waves shattered as blades of light filled the sky, instantly outlining Li Hao’s silhouette in the dark. The longsword cleaved through the air, striking the broadsword with a sharp clang. Yet the broadsword remained entirely undamaged, which was astonishing. This blade appeared to be an Origin God Armament. However, it exhibited no armament spirit. The body of the weapon itself was forged of exceptional quality; though the current Starry Sky Sword was virtually indestructible, it had failed to pierce this blade. "A fine sword... Is this the Li Family Divine Sword? But my blade is no slouch either. It's a treasure retrieved from an undersea ruin, far sturdier than ordinary Origin God Armaments! Hahaha!" Sea Shark laughed wildly, unleashing slash after slash to keep Li Hao pinned down. Even with the Blood Saber Art ignited and four forces merged—using the sea waves to his advantage—Li Hao struggled to match him, remaining locked in an even struggle where he was slightly outmatched. This made Li Hao frown repeatedly. *Are pirates... all this formidable?* He felt this man was far more terrifying than the experts on the Divine Master Roll. Right at that moment, an enraged roar echoed from the distance, followed by a thunderous crash. Liu Long had erupted in fury, sending a Three Suns cultivator flying with an axe strike. Overwhelmed with rage, he bellowed, "Kill them all! Slaughter these beasts!" Out of the corner of his eye, Li Hao glanced toward the ship. Part of the cabin had been shattered open, exposing a heap of corpses. Some of those bodies appeared to have been sliced open. Sea Shark glanced over as well, chuckling darkly. "Is that the son of Silver Spear? He's not half bad! Why get so angry? It's just squashing a few ants. They say you are what you eat—when supernatural power grows too strong, the five viscera weaken. Word has it that eating human hearts can replenish the vitality of the organs, working even better than your so-called Five Animals Breathing Technique..." Li Hao froze. Staring at him, he spoke for the first time: "You... kill people to eat them?" "No, no, no, why would we eat whole people?" *Boom!* Sea Shark swung his blade again, laughing heartily. "We don't eat people, just their internal organs! I hear martial masters have even sturdier organs—they must taste far more invigorating. Besides, they replenish internal organ vitality. We all know that once supernatural cultivation reaches its pinnacle, the organs are prone to rupture. Eating your organs circumvents that drawback... Hahaha, I'm teaching you this for free! Shouldn't you consider me qualified to be your master?" Li Hao was utterly shocked! It was the first time he had ever heard such a theory: eating human organs to strengthen one’s own... It struck his soul with immense revulsion! He had thought these men killed out of perversion and madness... Yet now, Sea Shark was telling him they killed ordinary people simply to harvest their organs and strengthen themselves... The psychological shock made it impossible for Li Hao to maintain his composure. An overwhelming, soaring fury erupted within his chest. *Are these people... no, are these beasts even human?* *They eat human flesh!* "Die!" With an enraged roar, Li Hao thrust his sword forward. Sword qi pierced the heavens as a phantom tiger erupted like an exploding volcano. *Boom!* A deafening crash sent Sea Shark stumbling back once more. Yet Li Hao did not retreat in the slightest. Absorbing the entire recoil, he closed the distance instantly, unleashing a frantic flurry of strikes, slashing again and again! "Hahaha!" Sea Shark was not alarmed; rather, he was overjoyed. This was precisely the outcome he wanted! Once a martial master lost his composure, how could he hope to match him? A first burst of courage, a second of decline, and a third of exhaustion! As a pirate steeped in slaughter, he knew exactly how to trigger these people's sensitive nerves. Sure enough, a greenhorn martial master like Li Hao couldn't hold back. *Boom! Boom! Boom!* Sea Shark shifted his focus to defense, allowing Li Hao’s tempestuous strikes to rain down upon him. Sea Shark retreated steadily, but his energy expenditure was minimal. Li Hao, on the other hand, began panting slightly, relying on his robust internal organ vitality to maintain the assault! A single burst of courage! Strike after strike, slash after relentless slash... Li Hao had lost count of how many strikes he had unleashed, yet Sea Shark’s defense remained airtight. Blood stained Sea Shark's body where the sword qi had sliced into his flesh, yet his ferocity only grew. The more blood he shed, the more savage he became! *Is that all you've got?* *Against an ordinary mid-stage Rising Light, this might have been enough. But I fought my way through rivers of blood to reach mid-stage Rising Light!* *Li Hao is just a tender fledgeling. Does he really think he can pierce my defense?* Murderous intent pooled in Li Hao’s eyes. Seeing how difficult this man was to bring down, he gritted his teeth and glanced into the distance... That cluster of light was real. It was no lighthouse; a powerful combatant was approaching. *Damn it!* Without hesitation, Li Hao made his move. Because spirit intent was exceedingly difficult to elevate, his four-force fusion had hit a bottleneck, unable to progress further unless he comprehended a fifth force. That, however, was impossible right now. Originally, he had planned to wait until all five forces were fused before consuming his treasure, but now... he abandoned that notion. He wanted nothing more than to butcher this beast immediately! In an instant, a lotus petal materialized. Li Hao shoved it straight into his mouth. The Heavenly Gold Lotus. Hong Yitang had once warned him to consume it only after fusing five forces; otherwise, strengthening a single force risked weakening the others, disrupting the harmony of the five forces and potentially hindering his ability to comprehend the rest. At this moment, Li Hao did not care. The Heavenly Gold Lotus petal dissolved upon entering his stomach, transforming into a cool current. In the blink of an eye, a unique surge of power flooded his five viscera. Within his organs, the four forces manifested, each seeming eager to absorb this energy, brimming with longing. Without hesitation, Li Hao channeled the entire stream of power directly into the golden origin point. Gold force, erupt! A stronger gold force would grant explosive burst power. That instant, shattering burst, paired with the Nine-Fold Forging Force, would exponentially multiply his offensive might. The energy fused within a breath. The golden origin point greedily absorbed the power. In the blink of an eye, the origin point expanded, thrashing violently. The formidable supernatural lock that had bound it, rendering it almost immobile, began to shudder. Li Hao felt it clearly: his gold sword force had grown significantly stronger! And it was still rising. A single petal of the Heavenly Gold Lotus had provoked fierce conflict among Rising Light transformation-stage great demons who guarded it relentlessly. Its efficacy was undeniably potent. "Die!" In a split second, Li Hao unleashed his sword! *Boom!* The longsword struck. At the moment of impact, an overwhelming burst of power—far surpassing anything prior—detonated violently with an explosive discharge of inner force. Sea Shark was still attempting to defend. *Bang!* This time, the colossal explosive power jolted Sea Shark violently. His arm abruptly ruptured, sending torn flesh and blood splattering across the air. Sea Shark was stunned, deeply shaken. *How did he suddenly become so much stronger?* Rich in combat experience, he immediately abandoned defense upon seeing this, lunging toward Li Hao. His broadsword tore through the air, but Li Hao did not bother defending either, maintaining a ferocious offense! Shadowless Sword! Strike after strike—over a hundred strikes unleashed in rapid succession! Li Hao drove his sword forward with brutal momentum, forcing the opponent’s broadsword downward with a deafening crash. At that exact instant, Li Hao opened his mouth and unleashed a ferocious tiger roar! *"Roar!"* The roar reverberated into the pirate's soul. Sea Shark froze momentarily, blood trickling from his ears as his senses wavered. In that fraction of a second, Li Hao exhaled a dark blade of sword qi. *Bang!* The dark sword qi shattered Sea Shark’s facial defenses. Sea Shark’s expression twisted as he jerked his head aside. With a squelch, one of his ears was sheared off and pulverized. Madness flashed in Sea Shark’s eyes. "You little bastard, you’re even more irritating than that prick Golden Spear!" His ear was gone! Li Hao paid him no heed, unleashing his sword once more, erupting with relentless bursts to completely suppress his foe. The sudden surge in gold sword force caused a slight imbalance in the four-force fusion, yet the synthesis held, and its power was undeniably greater! Sweeping his sword across, Li Hao abruptly reached out with his left hand and seized the pirate's broadsword! The blade vibrated violently, unleashing razor-sharp saber qi that surged into Li Hao. The silver armor deflected the vast majority of the damage, yet the palm beneath the gauntlet still suffered lacerations, blood flowing freely. Li Hao ignored the pain. The longsword in his right hand contracted slightly as he drove it straight toward the pirate's chest! Sea Shark had originally been gripping his blade with both hands. Seeing this, he roared furiously, tightening his right hand on the hilt while driving his left fist forward. Metal-element energy erupted in a blinding flash of light, smashing straight into the shortened sword in Li Hao’s right hand! At that precise instant, the hand holding the sword suddenly halted for a fraction of a second. With a thunderous boom, the hand holding the sword was shattered by the fist strike. Even Sea Shark was taken aback. *So fragile?* A shattered hand was one thing, but had that sword—allegedly the Li Family Divine Sword—been shattered as well? Just as doubt crept into his mind, his face drained of color. At that very moment, a third arm seemed to sprout from Li Hao’s chest as his right hand formed a claw, lunging downward in an instant! Sea Shark panicked and roared, releasing a wave of metal-element supernatural power around his groin to sever anything nearby. Li Hao ignored it completely, driving his claw forward! *Crack!* The metal-element barrier was ripped to shreds, along with something else that was pulverized beneath his grip. The power bursting forth at that moment was none other than the gold sword force! "Aaaagh!" Sea Shark, who had not even blinked when his ear was sheared off, let out an agonized, bloodcurdling shriek. The supernatural power coursing through his body suddenly faltered, his eyes filled with unfathomable agony and venomous hatred! *Li Hao... you bastard!* *What kind of martial art is this?* *A third arm...* Li Hao’s expression remained glacial. Striking while his enemy was crippled, his arms twisted like serpents, coiling around Sea Shark’s arms in the blink of an eye. The broadsword remained trapped between them, vibrating violently and scraping against Li Hao’s armor. Li Hao paid it no heed, driving his knee upward with a resounding crash that folded Sea Shark into an arch. Agony tore through Sea Shark, making him feel as though his internal organs had been pulverized by that single knee strike. Yet he was a hardened killer; with a feral roar, he lashed out with a kick of his own! *Boom!* In the span of a breath, their duel had shifted from armed combat to brutal, close-quarters grappling. Supernatural power flared again as metal energy flashed, exploded, and fractured, leaving faint scorch marks on Li Hao’s silver armor. With his arms wrapped tightly around the pirate, Li Hao let out a furious roar and snapped one of Sea Shark’s arms with a sickening crunch. The two struck at each other with unbridled madness! A phantom tiger materialized, its roar echoing across the mountains. Sea Shark froze once more, blood leaking from all seven facial orifices! Seizing the opportunity, Li Hao dragged him downward! *Boom!* The two plunged directly into the ocean. Beneath the waves, Sea Shark roared, kicking repeatedly and pounding against Li Hao’s armor with resounding thuds. Yet Li Hao relentlessly dragged him deeper into the depths. The silver armor was fully capable of underwater combat. As they sank deeper, Sea Shark felt the crushing pressure of the ocean water stifling his metal-element power, diminishing the strength of his bursts. Li Hao seized the opening to drive another knee strike upward! Nine-fold water waves stacked upon one another. *Boom!* Another deafening rumble erupted. Water waves unleashed terrifying explosive power beneath the surface. This knee strike pulverized Sea Shark’s knee on impact. When their knees collided, the stacked water waves exploded; Sea Shark’s knee shattered completely, leaving his leg dangling uselessly as crimson blood dyed the surrounding water. Li Hao continued dragging him deeper. Sea Shark thrashed frantically! Only now did he realize that Li Hao’s combat prowess had not diminished in the slightest. He, on the other hand... because his ability was purely metal-element, found his strength severely crippled deep beneath the sea. Already grievously wounded, having his strength constrained completely overturned the tides of battle. The deeper they dove, the greater his terror grew! Li Hao gave him no quarter, keeping his arms locked around him in a death grip. Sea Shark tried to roar, but could make no sound underwater. Driven by desperate fury, he slammed his head hard against Li Hao’s skull! Seeing this, Li Hao slammed his head forward in return! *You think your skull is harder than mine?* *Besides, I'm wearing silver armor.* *Bang!* Their heads collided. Sea Shark’s vision blurred, nearly knocking him unconscious. He had used this vicious tactic on countless enemies in the past; when it came to ruthlessness, pirates bowed to no one. Yet this time, he had suffered a devastating loss. Blood poured from his cracked skull! Opposite him, Li Hao pressed his advantage, slamming his forehead into Sea Shark’s face again—once, twice, thrice... Blood stained the surrounding waters crimson! Using Sea Shark’s dazed state, Li Hao flexed his arms and wrenched violently, tearing one of the pirate's arms clean off. He quickly locked onto the remaining arm, executing the Bear Combat Art with full force to channel all his strength into his upper limbs. *Boom!* The sea exploded around them. Putting every ounce of his might into the pull, Li Hao ripped the other arm away completely! Blood dyed the water a deep red. Both arms had been severed. The agonizing pain jolted Sea Shark awake, leaving him utterly debilitated. He stared at Li Hao, his eyes filled with despair and disbelief... *Am I truly going to die at this man's hands?* At that moment, the armor over Li Hao’s hand vanished. He drove his claw straight forward! With a squelch, the strike tore through Sea Shark’s fragile defenses, plunging into his chest. Li Hao ripped free a beating heart! The armor over Li Hao’s face retracted, revealing his features. Young, yet terribly cold. A wave of spirit intent rippled outward: "So... your heart is red too!" "Since you love eating them so much, eat your fill!" He drove his hand into the pirate's abdomen once more! Whatever he grabbed, he shoved violently into Sea Shark’s mouth. Despair and lifelessness filled Sea Shark’s eyes, along with lingering unwillingness... At this moment, Li Hao was terrifyingly ruthless. Terror and despair consumed Sea Shark... Li Hao was forcing him to devour his own flesh, and even now, he had not yet perished. That look of terror soon vanished. Li Hao gouged out both of his eyes with his bare fingers! He shoved them straight into Sea Shark's mouth as well. Only when those eyes were gone did Li Hao’s gaze soften slightly, the madness and chill receding from his expression. He threw a punch—*bang!*—completely shattering what remained of the pirate's head! Reaching out, he snatched the sinking broadsword and storage ring. Li Hao glanced upward and swam swiftly in a specific direction, choosing not to fly into the air. He had spotted a massive cluster of light. Incredibly powerful! Likely a late-stage Rising Light cultivator. He trusted that Liu Long and the Demon Hunt Corps could handle the battle on the ship; even if they struggled, they would not be routed so quickly. He needed to eliminate this second powerhouse. This person was undoubtedly one of the pirates! The faint scent of blood accompanying that light cluster as it closed in left no room for doubt. It would be a miracle if he wasn't a pirate. Disgusting scum, all of them. Li Hao gritted his teeth. Once he slaughtered this one, he would wipe out every last pirate sooner or later. He had no idea where Black Panther had gone, yet he was confident the hound was lurking nearby, searching for an opening. Black Panther could ambush and kill a mid-stage Rising Light cultivator, and could potentially do the same to a late-stage one... Right now, Li Hao could only hope Black Panther would be smart about it. *** At the same time. A masked man was flying swiftly toward the battlefield. He had been tailing Sea Shark all along, staying several dozen li away to avoid detection. Just moments ago, fighting had erupted here. Worried something had gone awry, he had rushed over immediately. From a distance, he could already hear the sounds of slaughter. Meanwhile, Sea Shark and another figure seemed to have plunged into the depths of the sea, vanishing from view. The masked man frowned. *The Martial Guard Army?* *Black armor?* The intruder appeared evenly matched with Sea Shark. At this point, he could not afford to be careless. Sea Shark was a formidable vanguard; he could not be allowed to die here, even if it broke no promise of victory. Just then, beneath the surface of the sea, a black hound floated quietly in the water. Its dark eyes observed the masked man for a moment, its nose twitching faintly. It had caught Li Hao’s scent. Li Hao was closing in. Black Panther sensed that this newcomer was exceedingly strong... and reeked of blood. A true slaughterer. It didn't know whether Li Hao understood how to coordinate a kill. Black Panther only knew that if it struck first... Li Hao might not be able to finish the job. Therefore, Li Hao had to make the first move, and only then could Black Panther ambush him... *Does Li Hao understand that?* Black Panther felt anxious, unsure if the human grasped the plan. After all, Li Hao sometimes seemed rather dim-witted. Just as Black Panther was pondering this, a radiant beam of sword light erupted from the sea! "Courting death!" *Boom!* The masked man slapped downward. With a deafening boom, the sea shattered, revealing a black-armored figure. It was Li Hao, bursting forth with an ambush strike. Though caught off guard, the masked man reacted in time, swatting Li Hao back beneath the waves with a palm strike. Water-element supernatural energy surged, splitting the surface of the sea. The masked man looked down coldly at Li Hao plunging into the water. "A swordsman? Martial Guard Army? Li Hao? Perfect..." As he spoke, a thought struck him. "You killed Sea Shark?" Otherwise, Sea Shark would never have vanished! Li Hao offered no reply. With a furious roar, he thrust his sword upward! This time, it was neither silent nor subtle. It was overwhelmingly loud, accompanied by a thunderous roar as seawater erupted in all directions. Waves surged from every side—and riding atop those churning waves, a black hound tumbled smoothly toward the target. Though they had never coordinated in advance, Li Hao had swiftly adapted his approach. The longsword illuminated the heavens, its resonant hum echoing across the sea! "The one who kills you is Li Hao!" Li Hao roared, and his blade tore through the sky. Behind the mask, the man sneered. *You, kill me?* *Let's see who dies first!* He thrust out another palm strike, unleashing roaring water dragons that coiled through the waves, hurtling toward Li Hao. *Li Hao, the only one dying here is you!* At that exact instant, a faint premonition of danger gripped him. Before he could pinpoint its source, Li Hao bellowed once more, his sword sweeping out to shatter every water dragon in its path. Dazzling blood qi erupted from the blade as it lunged toward him! The masked man barked a cold laugh and unleashed his water energy once more! Yet behind him, a black hound suddenly emerged. A paw struck out, detonating nine folds of force laced with terrifying blood qi and inner force... *Squelch!* The claw punched straight through his back, shattering his defenses instantly. Most of the masked man’s power had been concentrated on Li Hao, leaving his rear guard vulnerable; the strike bored clean through his back, piercing straight through his heart! The sudden attack left the masked man in utter disbelief... *Where did so many powerhouses come from?* With his supernatural energy dissipating, Li Hao’s sword arrived. With a wet stab, the blade drove straight through his palm, through his arm, and plunged into his throat, pinning hand and neck together! Behind him, Black Panther clamped its jaws down on his neck. With a crisp snap, his cervical vertebrae broke completely! The masked man’s head lolled forward... Even in death, he could not comprehend. *What was that... behind me?* *It didn't feel human!* Li Hao twisted his sword. With a sickening crunch, the severed head tumbled into the water with a splash! Killing this late-stage expert had proven far simpler—largely because Black Panther’s ambush had been timed to perfection, piercing the man's heart in a single blow. Li Hao looked at Black Panther. The hound hastily scooped up a mouthful of seawater with an expression of deep disgust, rinsing its mouth before glancing cautiously at Li Hao... *I don't eat humans! Don't look at me like that!* *I'm a dog! I have to bite people to be effective!* Li Hao collected the storage ring and shattered the corpse with a punch. Finding no Origin God Armament, he frowned slightly. Saying nothing more, he flew swiftly toward the great ship in the distance. Not a single one of these bastards could be allowed to live! "Black Panther, patrol the perimeter. If anyone tries to flee... kill them all! Once they're dead, head over to where that man just came from and keep watch. There might be more of them..." "Woof! Woof!" Black Panther barked twice and plunged into the sea, vanishing from sight. Its sense of smell was extraordinarily keen; none would escape its tracking.