Star Gate-Chapter 1110: Killing Earthflare (II)

Li Hao lit more acupoints on his body instead of responding to Earthflare. His presence built with increasing ferocity.

The Red Moon powerhouse paused to look solemnly at his young opponent, contemplating if he should slip and accidentally kill Li Hao. There was enormous threat from the young man. Judging from the way that his aura was building, the eruption of force when he was finished would be immense.

Li Hao had lit all of the acupoints in his body; they formed a sword-shaped meridian circulation in his body. Stellaris wafted a formidable presence and Zhang An’s eyes widened nearby. He tensed, ready to leap into action. Li Hao was about to erupt with his full strength. The young man probably wouldn’t be able to hit the enemy, but he would be weakened after his move. They needed to be on guard against Earthflare taking advantage of the opening.

Earthflare raised an eyebrow and took a small step backward according to his habits. He disappeared on the spot. Was Li Hao about to erupt with accumulated energy?

I’ll just avoid it!

Li Hao howled and flared his aura; sword intent built to an extreme. He slashed his weapon at a spot that was completely empty. He’d been waiting so long for this moment!

If Earthflare dodged his blow or didn’t reappear on that spot, then Li Hao would’ve suffered a dismal loss since he’d deleted his strength for this move. The young man’s eyes narrowed coldly. The man was going to be here. He had to here! Earthflare would be here!

He must!

The sword seemed to slice through heaven and earth! Li Hao was as if the Sword Sovereign in this moment! His move was soundless, but it was incredibly fierce.

Zhang An blinked at the young man’s astonishing move, Li Hao had sent it in the wrong direction! His opponent wasn’t there!

Stunned amazement appeared on the dean’s face in the next second. Not only that, but Earthflare materialized out of the void with his jaw dropped. Even he himself didn’t know where he would be in the next second, he didn’t follow a predetermined set of techniques. How did Li Hao know?

Could the young man predict the future?

Absolutely not!

Was he the god of prophecy among the divine spirits?

The thought had just formed in Earthflare’s mind when a sword blotted out everything else in sight. An unparalleled stroke slashed down on him. There was no time for Earthflare to jump elsewhere and he didn’t have the capacity to consider anything else. It was beyond shocking that the young man happened to deliver his blow at precisely where Earthflare would re-materialize.

He punched out with a roar!

Bam!

The sword descended!

Everything happened in the blink of an eye. Sword light erupted and destroyed everything in front of it. Strength drained out of Li Hao’s body and he plummeted toward the ground.

Longsword shattered fist; Earthflare’s expression changed drastically as he summoned more power from his body. However, he fully fell within the range of Li Hao’s stroke. It was difficult for him to react even though he was a Saint with a formidable body and immense strength!

Bam bam bam!

Explosions sounded in quick succession as both of Earthflare’s fists disintegrated. Energy detonated in the air; an immense universe seemed to be bearing down on the combatants.

Bam bam bam!

Sword light crushed everything in sight, furthering the scene of obliteration as it crept up Earthflare’s arms.

“Break!” howled the man.

BOOM!

Immense Red Moon power lashed out from his body and crashed against the sword light. The void seemed to be breaking apart. Earthflare was too bewildered and amazed for words. This wasn’t Li Hao’s strength. As strong as the young man was, his cultivation was at most on the Saint level. What Earthflare was more astonished about was how Li Hao had delivered his blow to the correct spot. Was it a coincidence, or did the young man have other abilities up his sleeve?

If he did, why hadn’t he displayed them before?

A massive explosion blasted through the air. Earthflare stood bathed in blood while half of his body lay in shreds. His face had drained of color, but he shouted angrily. Strength surged out and extinguished all of the sword light!

His presence was as weak as could be. Shock still colored his eyes; he sneered coldly. His half broken form disappeared as he rushed Li Hao.

Earthflare knew... he’d always known that Li Hao bringing Zhang An and wanting to spar was always a smokescreen. The young man wanted to kill him!

He just hadn’t thought that Li Hao would actually be able to hit him in the last possible second. This outcome was so much worse than what Earthflare anticipated. At the same time, it was impossible for Li Hao to kill a Saint in peak condition with this stroke alone!

Zhang An immediately manifested, a stunned look in his eyes. Li Hao hadn’t been able to kill Earthflare, but he’d gravely damaged a Saint’s body with that blow. It was incredible! If the young man could bring another blow to bear, he might actually be able to kill a Saint!

How unbelievable was this??

“Suppress!” shouted Zhang An. The broken book of dao reappeared to suppress the world. The void seemed to freeze over and pin Earthflare in place.

Li Hao crashed to the ground not too far away, shaking the earth when he landed. He wasn’t the slightest bit nervous and stared at Earthflare. One stroke, one stroke powered by his full force and catching a wholly unsuspecting target off guard had resulted in success. And yet, he hadn’t been able to kill a Saint!

He’d only grievously injured the other.

That could only indicate one point, that it was a difference in strength and life force. It wasn’t any problem that Li Hao had to rectify or a lack in reaction speed. It purely meant that he lacked offensive power.

His blow at full force and the initial formation of sword dao ability had shattered only half of his opponent’s body. Although Li Hao expected this outcome, he was still a bit disappointed. Saints... were really too strong.

He might not be able to kill Earthflare even with a second stroke. He needed three strokes to be sure.

Indeed, at least three. Two strokes to obliterate the physical body and one blow to eradicate mental strength. As for core origin dao, after the cultivator’s body and mental strength was no more, they would have no ability to strike back even if core origin dao was still present in the world.

Three blows...

Li Hao assessed his capabilities and felt that he could deliver one blow at full strength. The second might be feasible if he forced his dao meridians open and flooded his body with energy. He would be able to bring a second stroke to bear before his body crumbled away.

But a third stroke?

He needed at least three strokes to kill a Saint.

Li Hao’s mind flew rapidly through various possibilities. Perhaps the Saints of the ancient cities wouldn’t have recovered as much as Earthflare. The guardian plant spirits may have just revitalized and wouldn’t be as strong as Earthflare. Two strokes, or even one might be enough to end them.

But to guarantee a Saint’s death... he would have to put three sword strokes on the table.

Li Hao didn’t even bother watching Zhang An and Earthflare fight. If Zhang An couldn’t take care of a single battered Saint, then the half step Empyrean King was completely full of hot air. To the young man, Earthflare was just a practice target. No one could leave the ruins until the other was dead.

How do I collect enough strength for a third blow?

The first two were fine enough, he just didn’t want to exert himself a second time. If he forced some dao meridians open, he would be able to deliver a blow stronger than when he last forced all of his dao meridians open.

The third blow... the Hao Cosmos!

That was a feasible idea. Li Hao flung out Stellaris and shattered the void, summoning the dao universe to this part of the world. Could he summon power from the sword dao sector and strike through the air?

I don’t know! It’s worth a try.

Why not give it a go since Zhang An was here?

“Sword dao, converge on me!” the young man declared. Within the Hao Cosmos, the ‘sword’ character immediately collected energy from all sides, like it was extracting energy from the great dao. An immense surge of strength emanated from the Hao Cosmos and crept down through Stellaris.

Li Hao leapt into the air and closed his hand around his sword. Stellaris was trembling so violently that it was difficult for him to control the scattering sword dao energy.

But all he had to do was deploy it! frёeweɓηovel.coɱ

Off to the side, Zhang An had immobilized his opponent.

“Li Hao, Zhang An, you oath breakers! I helped your people improve, but you repay gratitude with hatred...” Despairing, Earthflare howled once more and detonated his physical body. The explosion blew Zhang An back a step and further shredded the tattered book of dao.

Powerful mental strength sought to flee from the premises. It was tinged with red and headed in Li Hao’s direction.

The sight infuriated Zhang An and he snorted, transforming the book of dao into a large blade that crashed down in Earthflare’s direction. Did that broken Saint still wish to turn the tables?

Li Hao roared as well, answered by a tiger roar from Stellaris. He swung the sword; the ‘dao’ character stabilized the emanating sword dao power.

BOOM!

The world split apart!

Earthflare’s mental strength shook as the blow headed straight for him. “How is this... how can you...” he gabbled with fear.

BOOM!

The sword descended amid a loud explosion and curses. A ponderous surge of mental strength immediately detonated!

Blood flowed from the young man’s orifices and the ferocious tiger limped away. Stellaris also seemed to dim. It dropped back into Li Hao’s hand.

His mind was exhausted, but he remained looking at the massive ball of energy that was still exploding. Everything was going up in smoke; Earthflare was no more. However, there was no sign of a core origin dao avenue.

Earthflare didn’t seem to be a core origin cultivator, but a bonafide Red Moon cultivator.

He was dead!

A Saint was dead in such a simple way.

Even Zhang An was surprised and glanced at Li Hao. The young man had been able to marshal his strength for a second blow! He’d been stunned enough by the first, but the second... was astounding.

“I’ll head outside first with the supernatural character. Senior can leave later...” Li Hao transmitted before vanishing.

Zhang An frowned, not having had a chance to say anything.