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Chapter 419: One Step to Heaven, One Step to Hell (IV)

Hong Yitang’s sword!

What a pity that he couldn’t experience it for himself. Otherwise, the young man might comprehend something different from the greatest swordsman of the era—assuming he didn’t die in the attempt. Li Hao didn’t dare consider Sky Sword. Who knew what level that personage was at? And, he might be weaker than Hong Yitang.

Li Hao soon returned to where the Demon Hunters were waiting. Liu Long was standing guard outside and heaved a sigh of relief to see the young man come back.

“I thought you were dragged into a fight with the others,” he said worriedly. “The entire mountain went quiet earlier before sounds of battle broke out. Did the three great organizations clash with the monster spirits?”

“Yep!”

“How did it turn out?”

Everyone looked worriedly at their leader. So the battle was over? What was the outcome?

“The three great organizations suffered a complete defeat!” Li Hao exhaled ponderously. “Seventeen Solars and two Novas are dead. Half Mountain, the Revolution King, and what should be a water Nova from Red Moon are dead...”

Jaws dropped and sharp intakes of breath could be heard. They were all dead? That was horrifying!

“All dead?” Liu Long swallowed hard. “Then... what about those major monster spirits?”

“They’re fine.”

“That’s terrifying!” Liu Long fought to regain calm. “Thank goodness they didn’t discover us. Otherwise... But we should go. Ah, I thought you’d made a move because there was also a sword aura on the scene. Wasn’t it you? Or are there formidable martial masters among the three great organizations?”

They were quite far from the battle site, but oscillations from Hong Yitang’s sword intent had still traveled over. Li Hao swept a glance at Hong Qing—he couldn’t see her face since it was obscured by the visor. However, he could still sense some admiration. The young man didn’t know what to say.

“It wasn’t me,” he offered after a moment. “There was another swordsman, but... he died!”

Li Hao couldn’t be bothered telling Hong Yitang’s daughter anything if the man himself didn’t say anything.

“That’s a pity...” Liu Long sighed. “But it’s good that another powerhouse of the three great organizations is dead. That swordsman must’ve been very strong. Our weapons shook when his sword intent traveled to us!”

“Yeah, he was so strong!” Hong Qing piped up. “My sword kept shaking, it was terrifying! Thank goodness he’s dead, or my sword would’ve flown away if it continued!”

Thank goodness he’s dead... You should repeat those words to your father when you have a chance.

“That’s right, it’s a well deserved death!” Li Hao laughed. “Hong Qing, tell your father about this the next time you see him. Say that a powerful swordsman appeared on this trip, he might know this person.”

“Oh?” Hong Qing blinked. Should she tell father? What could he do even if he knew this swordsman? The swordsman was already dead.

“Let’s go while the major monster spirits are quaking from the battle that just ended. We’ll follow the original plan and proceed along our path!”

They were to head east to Rift Canyon. It was no longer viable to retrace their steps. There were four major monster spirits behind and they might run into Hong Yitang and He Yong. That would be quite an awkward encounter.

Li Hao felt that there wouldn’t be any powerful existences ahead after this battle. They just needed to follow the fringes of the first mountain. If the team did run into stronger entities... then he bowed to fate.

The Demon Hunters made quick time. Li Hao turned his gaze to the golden lotus petal and seed in his storage ring. The little sword was longer than before, making for a more comfortable heft in the hand. That battle once more appeared in his mind’s eye—not just the moves from Hong Yitang and the others, but also how the monster spirits had fought. The golden eagle, ferocious tiger, and giant ape mapped to the Five Styles. He’d witnessed some of the true five auras this time!

But they seem to be connected to teacher... Were they his study subjects back in the day?

If that was the case, should he prepare a coffin for his teacher if Yuan Shuo ever wanted to visit Ash Mountain again? He had too many enemies lying around! Additionally, his teacher had indeed fallen behind the other thirty-six heroes.

Even with Yuan Shuo fully summoning his spirits, Li Hao felt that he would be hard pressed to match the Hong Yitang of today. It was difficult to say if Yuan Shuo went against He Yong. Southern Fist possessed limited strength if he didn’t break his supernatural lock—he looked to be a mid Nova.

His teacher with three spirits summoned was invincible among Solars. If all five were... He Yong might not stand on the same level if his supernatural locks remained intact. Not to mention, that was also an option for his teacher as well.

Teacher can catch up to Southern Fist, but Earthturner Sword will be hard!

Yuan Shuo might have to break through past Summoner of Spirit to match Hong Yitang. Various thoughts flashed through Li Hao’s mind as he began to understand why these powerful martial masters all played dead. Any fight that put their lives on the line could be one that ended their future. It would seem that this also applied to Hou Xiaochen and the others.

If the organs are weak, so are the supernatural locks. Those are huge problems. In the best case scenario, their locks break. In the worst, their organs give out...

Li Hao shook his head and put these thoughts out of his mind. He was far from reaching this step and these limitations wouldn’t have much of an impact on him when he did. Just watch me enhance my organs to the point of ten thousand cubes each! I’ll scare the bejeezus out of you guys!

......

The Demon Hunters swiftly departed the area, not daring to linger for too long. There was no rush to absorb their stores of mysterious power. It was already September 21. There was only one week until the Battle Heaven ruins opened again.

......

At the same time. Rift Canyon.

Regardless of whether or not the ruins would actually be opening, people thronged the valley as the countdown continued. There was yet to be an accord among all parties present—the three great organizations and provincial authorities were only a small part of the representatives onsite. They were outnumbered by powerhouses from the other nineteen northern provinces and some that’d made the trip from the central region.

The entrance to the ruins was sealed off by a cohort of Night Watchers and military. Although they weren’t that strong, no disputes arose. Hou Xiaochen was present. No one dared cause trouble so long as he was alive or on the scene.

As numerous people took stock of the situation, massive booms ripped through the air! A group of newcomers fled toward the valley. They wore ghostly masks—Red Moon! It was a decently sized group as there were several Solars in the lead. However, they were fleeing for their lives in an absolute panic.

The supernaturals milling around the valley quickly gave way. Although many of them had secretly acted against Red Moon, the three great organizations were still domineering on the surface. No one dared directly oppose them, so they immediately moved themselves out of the group’s trajectory when a group of Red Moon powerhouses barreled toward the valley.

Another party was in hot pursuit—many of them wore black armor. One of them looked to be an elder in his fifties. He didn’t wear armor and wielded a spear, stabbing it forward!

The spear whistled through the air, prompting multiple Solars of the fleeing Red Moon contingent to turn back for a counterblow. Their mysterious power erupted, but was instantly pierced through by the spear. An initial Solar vomited blood as he was nailed to the ground.

“Golden Spear!” shouted one of the surviving Solars. “You are stronger than Solar, yet still attack us! Are you not afraid of Red Moon erupting in complete hostility and general slaughter??”

Soldiers fought soldiers, generals fought generals. This was the unspoken rule. Otherwise, powerhouses on both sides would cause an uncontrollable bloodbath and far too many dead.

Eyes widened when the crowd heard the moniker of Golden Spear. This was the leader of the Three Spears of Silver Moon! He was the strongest martial master known to the public and greater than Solar. He was likely the foremost expert among the modern day martial world!

Hong Yitang and He Yong were not part of this conversation and Sky Blade had crossed over to the supernatural. Apart from close friends knowing that Tyrant Blade was still alive, everyone else thought he was dead. Yuan Shuo had only killed a peak Solar thus far; he was yet to fight a Nova in direct combat.

Golden Spear had exchanged blows with Blue Moon yesterday. Both retreated from the clash, but to emerge unscathed after encountering a Nova made Golden Spear the undisputed first among the martial world.

Since Yuan Shuo was yet to fight a Nova, his strength was impossible to determine.

Golden Spear, Yuan Shuo, Li Hao...

The names of these three martial masters were known throughout Skystar Dynasty and deterred all those who heard it. They were martial masters beyond the conventional meaning of Dominator and had truly set foot into the next level.

The group further understood the circumstances when they heard it was Golden Spear pursuing the Red Moon contingent. No wonder the Solars were running so fast. Their pursuers were the Silver Moon Guard!

“Who says I’m stronger than Solar?” Golden Spear retorted coolly. “Not to mention, you guys are the more shameless ones when it comes to breaking the rules. Who can tell me where Tidal Wave and Half Mountain have gone?”

Who broke the rules first? In that case, how dare you mention the rules!

“Kill!” Golden Spear roared.

“Kill!” Martial masters behind him charged forward. They were indomitable when equipped with black armor. This unit was stronger than the Demon Hunters as there were numerous half step Dominators. They bore down on their enemy with undeniable momentum, following their leader in smashing through the Solar blockade and killing Red Moon supernaturals.

Wang Qing, disciple of Berserk Blade, and Kong Youyun, daughter of Kong Jie, took on the Solars by themselves! This group was Golden Spear’s bodyguards—just eighty of them—and extremely mighty.

There were twenty half step Dominators among the eighty, the rest were late Sunderers. All of them wore black armor, making them true elites compared to Li Hao’s Demon Hunters. Even Solars had to retreat when facing their joint offensive.

Boom!

Explosions rang out as Solars fought bitterly for their lives. A clap of thunder exploded near Golden Spear. The man roared and stabbed with his spear!

Kaboom!