https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-152-Sealing-Off-the-Heavens-and-Earth/13450183/
Chapter 153: For Him (Part 2)
Chapter 153: For Him (Part 2)
Seeing the three Demon Kings counterattack, Li Hao's heart sank to the bottom of his stomach.
"Didn't expect us to come back, did you?"
The Myriad Mountains Demon King bared his teeth in a grin, his eyes particularly fierce. He had guessed that Li Hao's strange stance was some kind of Secret Art, which was why he had decisively retreated.
However, no matter what Secret Art it was, such an exaggerated power boost could not last long.
Thus, once the energy here had calmed down, he turned back to launch a surprise attack, determined to devour these three and avenge his brothers and son!
"I haven't tasted Qilin Meat yet, fellow Daoist."
The Dragon Lord looked at Song Qiumo, a smile on his face, but it was a chilling one.
Song Qiumo and Feng Boping's faces turned grim, but they immediately stood up, their auras surging, displaying a defiant stance as they shielded Li Hao behind them.
But at this moment, they were already at the end of their rope, with little strength left.
Song Qiumo's expression was complicated. She was also in the Fate Reversal Realm, but she had already used her chance to reverse her fate. Otherwise, she could have used her strength to slightly restrain these three Demon Kings.
"It's just a show of strength, kill!"
The Silver-robed Youth took the lead, about to attack, but suddenly, a vast and overwhelming aura swept over.
Behind Song Qiumo and Feng Boping, the young man's blood-soaked figure began to crack again, his bones cracking like shattered glass. His barely healed, cracked body slowly began to swell once more.
Feeling this aura, Feng Boping and Song Qiumo turned their heads in shock, only to see Li Hao's crimson eyes, blood rolling down, his body continuously cracking and splattering blood.
"Li Hao..." Feng Boping gasped.
Li Hao took a slow step forward, the previously dormant Immortal Qi once again stirred, drawing on the Power of Heaven and Earth.
Despite his body on the verge of collapse, he lifted his head and stared defiantly at the three Demon Kings in the sky, his voice cold:
"You didn't think my Secret Art could only be used once, did you?"
The Myriad Mountains Demon King and the other two were shocked, and the Silver-robed Youth stopped in his tracks. He looked at the young man whose body seemed about to disintegrate, sensing the terrifying force of collapse within him. He dared not act rashly.
The Black Bird Demon King had died inexplicably, and he still hadn't figured out the cause.
The longer one lives, the more one values life. Faced with this unheard-of and bizarre situation, he chose to proceed with caution.
"Just a show of strength, hmph!"
The Myriad Mountains Demon King sneered, though he was inwardly angry and had the urge to retreat, he feigned disdain. He suddenly raised his hand and unleashed a massive Demon Palm, which descended with a wave of Demonic Qi like a cloud, aiming to destroy everything within hundreds of meters.
Li Hao's Dragon Dawn Sword burst into a sharp cry, and he swung it with force, slicing through the air.
The Dragon Soul soared, colliding with the Demon Palm and tearing it apart. Countless scales from the Dragon Soul shot out, transforming into countless Sword Qi.
The Myriad Mountains Demon King's expression changed slightly, and he quickly struck again, blocking the Sword Qi with another Demon Palm while rapidly retreating:
"Boy, you wait and see!"
The Silver-robed Youth quickly followed him, leaving. Only the Dragon Lord felt a bit puzzled. Although he sensed that Li Hao's current burst of power was extremely formidable, comparable to the peak of the Dao Mind Realm, there seemed to be no reason to fear.
However, since the Myriad Mountains Demon King had chosen to retreat, he saw no reason to stay.
"Looks like it will have to wait until next time."
The Dragon Lord felt a pang of regret, glanced at Song Qiumo, and turned to quickly flee.
The three great Demon Kings came and went swiftly.
In the blink of an eye, the sky cleared, and the Demonic Aura dissipated.
Li Hao spat out a mouthful of blood, hurriedly closing his pores and sealing his entire body, once again cutting off the connection to the heavens and earth.
But this time was more difficult. Old Feng and Song Qiumo also stepped in, squeezing out some of their remaining strength to create a barrier for Li Hao.
Fortunately, this confrontation was not as intense. After half an incense stick's time, Li Hao managed to control his crumbling body. However, this second collapse was more severe than the first, with the flesh on his body already peeling off and dissolving into the heavens and earth.
If it happened again, he would be left with nothing but a skeleton.
His organs would be exposed.
The caution and cunning of these Demon Kings were beyond what ordinary people could match.
Li Hao endured the excruciating pain, striving to maintain his composure as he slowly entered the state of Hiding One's Light, halting the spread of his injuries.
"We need to leave quickly, they will definitely come back!"
Seeing that Li Hao's aura had stabilized and he was temporarily out of danger, Feng Boping immediately urged them to act.
Song Qiumo nodded slightly. Although she didn't know how Li Hao could still use this bizarre Secret Art, it was clear that another confrontation would be too much for him to handle.
They had to leave now.
Li Hao didn't refuse. He knew that staying here would be futile and would only lead to their demise at Heavenly Gate Pass.
The agreement they had made might not be kept.
Thinking of this, his calm heart began to waver, almost breaking the state of Hiding One's Light.
However, just as the three of them were retreating into the pass, the ground suddenly began to tremble.
When Li Hao had entered the Transcend to Immortality state earlier, he had set up numerous Hidden Threads beyond the pass, but he no longer had the strength to maintain them. Now, they could only rely on their physical senses to detect the ground's vibrations.
"It's the Demon Tide!"
Feng Boping was the first to investigate. He withdrew his finger from the ground, his face paling as he said, "It's a hundred miles away, but it's moving fast. It will be here in a minute!"
Song Qiumo supported Li Hao's blood-soaked body, her fingers touching the torn and sticky flesh, which made her feel a mix of unease and compassion. Her eyes filled with hatred as she immediately said:
"Let's go now!"
She was about to fly Li Hao to another location when, suddenly, three figures appeared in front of them, blocking their path. It was the three Demon Kings who had left earlier.
"It seems this Secret Art takes a great toll on the user", Myriad Mountains Demon King observed, noting Li Hao's even more miserable condition. He realized that this Secret Art severely damaged the body and would likely be unusable more than a few times, which put his mind at ease.
"Didn't expect the next encounter to come so soon", Dragon Lord said with a smile, his tone tinged with mockery.
Feng Boping's face darkened. He transmitted a message to Song Qiumo, "You take Li Hao and go first. I'll hold them off."
"You..." Song Qiumo looked at him, her face changing as she seemed to understand what he was about to do.
Li Hao's expression was grim. He saw the three Demon Kings' plan to trap them here, using the Demon Tide to exhaust their strength before finishing them off.
Cruel, cunning, and utterly despairing.
Perhaps his only option was to fully unleash his power, holding nothing back, and enter the final moment of Transcend to Immortality.
At that moment, his body would merge with the heavens, leaving only a sliver of consciousness, but it would also be his strongest instant!
Maybe then, his power could overwhelm the three Demon Kings, giving Old Feng and the others a chance to escape.
With this thought, Li Hao took a deep breath and looked at Old Feng, who had stepped in front of him, and said slowly:
"Go, I'll stay."
Feng Boping said solemnly, "Li Hao, you have a bright future. Listen to me this time."
Li Hao forced a smile, "It was my responsibility, and I've involved you in this. Listen to me this time."
As he spoke, he prepared to release Immortal Qi and channel the Power of Heaven and Earth.
But just then, the ground began to tremble again, growing stronger.
More Demons?
Li Hao and the others exchanged worried glances, realizing the vibrations were coming from the direction of Dragon Pass Road.
The three Demon Kings also tensed and turned to look.
As the ground shook, shouts of battle gradually grew louder, moving from a distant murmur to a thunderous roar that swept through the entire Heavenly Gate Pass!
"Kill! Kill!!"
"Master Hao, we're here!!"
"It's the Demons, faster!!"
A group of figures galloped toward them, dressed in various styles from the Nineteen Provinces.
Above them, the Fifteen Li Realm and Heavenly Masters were also flying in, and among them were two Three Eternities Realm cultivators.
However, when these two Three Eternities Realm cultivators saw the three Demon Kings in front of Li Hao, their angry expressions froze in shock, unsure whether to advance or retreat.
They had expected a Demon King attack, but not three!
The other riders could only see the forms of three Demon Kings, but they couldn't detect the strength of these Demon Kings' auras, given the vast disparity in realms.
As the horses galloped, a large number of figures poured into the pass and raced into the camp.
Seeing the dilapidated state of the camp, with debris scattered everywhere, the crowd that had rushed over was stunned. They hadn't expected the Beyond the Pass region to be so devastated!
"Grandmaster Hao, we're here!"
Numerous Tianren Realm figures flew over. When they saw Li Hao, with his skin torn and bloodied, looking like a man of blood, they were all shocked and horrified.
Previously, on the Dragon River Discussion Platform, this young man had pointed his finger and suppressed the Grandmasters of the world, his brilliance unparalleled, and now, he had become so pitiful.
"These three Demons are..."
Someone detected the auras of the three Demon Kings, which were extremely unusual, evoking a sense of heart-pounding fear, and couldn't help but conjure up a terrifying thought.
Could it be that the one who forced Li Hao into such a dire situation was a Great Demon King?!
"We're too late."
In the crowd, Bai Chunhai stepped forward, and beside him was another Great Grandmaster, Lin Qingfeng.
After parting ways in Daiyue City, they had learned of Li Hao's slaying of the Wanshan Little Demon King and guessed that Li Hao might face retaliation from the Wanshan Little Demon King. Therefore, they kept a close eye on this young man who had saved their lives.
At the same time, they had gathered detailed information from various sources about the battle in Qingzhou City and Li Hao's agreement to defend Heavenly Gate Pass.
Thus, many people rushed over, forming groups in Liangzhou, hoping to contribute their strength at Heavenly Gate Pass.
This was both a way to serve the country and defend the border pass, and to help Li Hao repay the favor of saving their lives.
Coincidentally, recently, news had spread that the Myriad Mountains Demon King was planning to attack Heavenly Gate Pass. So they gathered forces in nearby cities and rushed over.
Now, it seemed they had arrived just in time.
Seeing these galloping figures, Li Hao's face changed slightly, and he immediately said, "This isn't a place for you. Leave quickly!"
"Are these three Demon Kings?"
Lin Qingfeng had already detected the restrained yet terrifying auras of the three Myriad Mountains Demon Kings, and his eyes flickered with a mix of surprise and concern, thinking that if he had known this beforehand, he might have been more cautious, but now that they were already there, it was too late to turn back.
They were here.
Backing down now would be embarrassing.
Moreover, looking at the two figures beside Li Hao, one of whom he recognized as the Demon King from Tan Palace Academy, he wasn't unfamiliar.
Many of them had graduated from Tan Palace Academy in the past.
He wasn't unfamiliar with this Demon King.
As for the other, though he didn't recognize him, he seemed to be a Fourth Establishment Realm powerhouse. With this, there was a chance they could fight.
"Young Master Hao, we'll hold back the Demon Tide. You go first!"
A Grandmaster stepped forward. He had nearly been surrounded and killed by Demons during the city's defense but was saved by Li Hao's Dragon Dawn Sword, which pierced through seven Demons in one stroke.
He knew that Li Hao might not remember him, as it was just a casual act, but he had never forgotten the favor.
As a Grandmaster, though he feared death, he wasn't a coward.
"For a thousand years, the Great Yu Divine Dynasty's strongest young Grandmaster must not die here. Grandmaster Hao, you go first!"
"Brothers, isn't this the perfect opportunity to build our legacy?"
"Let's stand up to the storms of this Frontier!"
"I want to leave my name on Heavenly Gate Pass!"
In the crowd, many people shouted passionately.
Some, however, hesitated and quietly moved to the edge of the crowd, harboring mixed emotions, ready to find an opportunity to leave.
As the crowd gathered, several signal flares shot into the sky, turning into purple smoke that ascended. This was the most urgent city defense distress signal!
The beacons rose, and all who saw them rushed to aid!
One call, and a thousand responses!
The Myriad Mountains Demon King's face changed slightly, and he quickly looked behind the crowd. He didn't care much about these ragtag forces, but he was worried that the Li Family might be among them.
After all, this human brat in front of him had the Divine General Manor backing him up.
Such a monstrous individual, it was highly unlikely that the elder generation of the Li Family wouldn’t secretly follow and protect him.
Meanwhile, the Demon Tide outside the checkpoint had already surged over, filled with demons from the Myriad Mountains Domain, all under the command of the Myriad Mountains Demon King.
As for the Dragon Lord, he had only come himself and did not dispatch a large army to prepare for battle.
Seeing the demons beyond the checkpoint, the people who had rushed to this place quickly drew their weapons, ready to fight. However, they suddenly realized something was amiss—where was the city that should have been here?
There was no city, no array, only an empty camp!
Everyone immediately sensed something, feeling a mix of shock and the grim reality of a bloody battle.
It turned out that Defendborder Pass was this bitter!
And such bitterness, this young man who had amazed all of Dayu, was enduring alone, silently bearing the burden.
One person guarding a lonely city, one person holding the Heavenly Pass!
Some who had been hesitant and ready to retreat now felt a sense of shame. As martial artists, their blood ran hot.
Standing on the border of their nation, they suddenly felt the hardships and bloodshed their ancestors had endured in establishing this territory!
The bloodline passed down through the millennia seemed to be wearing them now.
Today, they were the ones defending this place.
"Charge!!"
Many Grandmasters led the charge, without a city or array, they themselves were the city, they themselves were the array!
Roars filled the sky as young heroes, who had come to chase glory and leave a legacy, also plunged into the Demon Tide, fighting without a second thought.
"Grandmaster Hao, we’re going too."
Bai Chunhai gave Li Hao a slight bow and then turned resolutely, rushing toward the battlefield at the checkpoint.
Lin Qingfeng nodded slightly at Li Hao, then flew away on his sword, which let out a gentle hum as it tore through the void.
"I never thought there would come a day when I could serve the dynasty."
Zhou Haitang smiled at Li Hao and then turned, charging toward the battlefield.
He had come alone, without his disciples or daughter, having foreseen the dangers of this reinforcement and ensuring his daughter and wife were safe.
A man without attachments, what fear of blood and tears?
"Grandmaster Hao, you have protected the heroic souls of the Zhao Family. We have nothing to repay you, but we wish to use our strength to carve out a bloody path for you!"
"The heroic souls of the Feng Family, protected by you, the Feng Family may be small, but we are eternally grateful!"
"My Grandfather’s heroic soul sent me to join the army, and these demons have come at the perfect time!"
"The Yan Family is deeply indebted to you, and we are willing to contribute to the defense of Heavenly Gate Pass!"
In the crowd, besides the Grandmasters saved by Li Hao from Daiyue City, there were many other Grandmasters from the Fifteen Li Realm.
Though they had never met Li Hao, they had all rushed from afar because Li Hao had defended Daiyue City, preserving its three Martial Temples and the many heroic souls within.
These heroic souls came from various noble families and sects, some of whose descendants had fallen, but hearing the news, they had also rushed to contribute their humble strength!
Additionally, among the crowd were the commander and deputy commander of Daiyue City, leading reinforcements!
This formed the grand and overwhelming momentum, a vast sea of people.
Feng Boping and Song Qiumo’s auras remained locked on the three Demon Kings, but seeing the many figures coming to meet Li Hao, they couldn’t help but feel a mix of sighs and complexity.
These people had come for this young man, willing to fight and die alongside him!
When this young man stepped out of the most illustrious and noble Divine General Manor in the darkest of times, many students had come to bid him farewell.
Now, as this young man sat alone at the snowy Border Pass, countless people were willing to rush to his aid, ready to fight and die for him.
Perhaps, this was the natural charisma that this young man possessed.
"They're just a bunch of worthless trash!"
The Myriad Mountains Demon King’s eyes were dark. He had planned to use the Demon Tide to pin down Li Hao and his companions, wearing them down. If they were to cut through the Demon Tide, they would surely expose a weakness, allowing him to strike.
Ideally, the Demon Tide would completely drain Li Hao’s mysterious state.
But now, his demons were being held back beyond the checkpoint, unable to get close to this young man.
"Just a slap."
Dragon Lord spoke softly, raising his hand to strike the many figures of Beyond the Pass who were battling the Demons.
But as his palm rose, he sensed a killing intent locking onto him. It was Feng Boping and Song Qiumo from below.
Though the two were at the end of their strength, they still maintained their combat readiness.
If Dragon Lord made a move, they would seize the opportunity to launch a devastating attack!
Dragon Lord's brows furrowed slightly as he detected their killing intent. Despite their dire situation, they were even more formidable, unpredictable, and potentially capable of unleashing a desperate, irreversible attack that could drag everyone down with them.
They had cultivated for ten thousand years, experiencing countless battles. Their extensive experience and broad knowledge made them cautious and prudent.
After all, if they were gravely injured, even if they managed to eliminate Li Hao and his companions, they could be overwhelmed by others.
The three Demon Kings, though temporarily allied, were not of one mind. They all harbored similar concerns, which was why they had not chosen to engage in a bloody battle with Li Hao and his group. Without such reservations, they would have already launched a full-scale assault.
The roar of battle from Beyond the Pass was deafening, but here, the three Demon Kings and Li Hao's group were locked in a stalemate, with no one making a move.
Their auras were locked onto each other, waiting for a gap or an opportunity.
If the Demons from Beyond the Pass were to reach Li Hao and his companions, it would be the moment for the three Demon Kings to attack.
But the battle continued, and neither side made a move.
Compared to the intense fighting at Beyond the Pass, it seemed unusually quiet here.
The battle raged on, and the number of reinforcements from the Grandmasters was not small. After all, when the Grandmaster Discussion was convened, more than half of the Grandmasters had gathered.
However, the number of Grandmasters under Myriad Mountains Demon King's command was fewer. The main force was led by a few Three Eternities Realm Great Demons, causing the Grandmasters to fall one after another, suffering defeat at Beyond the Pass.
Myriad Mountains Demon King narrowed his eyes, seeing his army gaining the upper hand, and a slight smile curved his lips.
But at that moment, the sound of galloping hooves came from outside Dragon Pass Road.
Myriad Mountains Demon King's face darkened as he looked up and saw another reinforcement force approaching. A grand banner was gradually becoming clear on Dragon Pass Road, fluttering in the wind.
It was a regular army coming to the rescue!
Myriad Mountains Demon King's expression turned grim. After all, this was the border of the Great Yu Divine Dynasty, and it was not surprising that the army would come to their aid. However, he did not expect the reinforcements to arrive so quickly.
The earlier signal fires would attract more nearby reinforcements, and the longer they delayed, the more disadvantageous it would become.
"Shall we give it a try?"
The Silver-robed Youth glanced at Myriad Mountains Demon King and frowned.
His words implied that Myriad Mountains Demon King should make the first move to test Li Hao's strange attack.
If Myriad Mountains Demon King did not act, neither he nor Dragon Lord would charge in, as they were not willing to risk their own lives.
Myriad Mountains Demon King's face was grim. The death of Brother Gao still haunted him, feeling like he had been killed by a single green bean, dying without any clear reason.
But he also knew that if he did not break the deadlock, the longer they delayed, the more he would have to retreat.
He had hurriedly gathered his forces to prevent the enemy from catching their breath.
After all, with Brother Gao's death, their strength had already diminished. If the human side recovered, there would be no chance for revenge!
"I'll go!"
Thinking of his deceased child, Myriad Mountains Demon King's eyes flashed with a fierce light. He roared and broke the stalemate.
His body swelled, releasing an overwhelming demonic aura, revealing his true form. He then slammed his palm down with immense force.
Feng Boping and Song Qiumo both changed color. In their current state, they could not withstand such a blow, and if they made a move, the other two Demon Kings would seize the opportunity to attack them.
Li Hao took a deep breath and invoked the Sacred Heart Amulet bestowed by the emperor.
The talisman absorbed a bit of his power, quickly activating the runes, emitting a brilliant divine light. It transformed into a radiant sun, rising before Li Hao and enveloping the three of them, blocking the massive demonic hand that covered hundreds of meters.
(End of Chapter)
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