Chapter 163: Desperate Measures, Deadly Strike
As Du Yuejiao’s sword thrust towards Huang Facai’s back, Shi Hao leaped into the air, his own sword aimed at Huang Facai.
Channeling the Three Origins Flowing Pearl Technique and the True Water Technique, he gathered the falling rain, forming a swirling vortex of water around his blade as he attacked.
His timing was perfect. Huang Facai, having just shattered Shi Hao’s divine form, was momentarily vulnerable, his energy depleted.
Du Yuejiao, seizing this opportunity, unleashed a swift and precise strike with her Silver Fiend Sword, a flash of light aiming for his heart.
Their coordinated attack, one from the front, one from behind, was flawless.
Although Shi Hao was weaker than Huang Facai, having also reached the mid-ranks, his Three Origins Flowing Pearl Technique, manipulating the surrounding rain droplets, each one now an extension of his sword, made him a formidable opponent.
Huang Facai, however, focused his energy inwards, his hands clasped together, his back arching, a dark shadow enveloping him.
This was the “Absolute Defense,” one of the “Three Extremes” techniques of his master, Cui Qiang, the Four Extremes Nether Inversion, a top general of Hong Chui, the Thunderclap.
Unlike his senior brother, however, he had only mastered three of the four extremes.
Du Yuejiao’s sword struck his back with a thud, like a hammer against stone.
She was thrown backwards, her internal energy disrupted, a mouthful of blood spraying from her lips.
Although she had struck him, it felt as if she herself had been hit.
Fortunately, she had used a sword. A direct palm or finger strike would have poisoned her.
Huang Facai pushed outwards with both palms, the dark energy that had been protecting him now surging forward, deflecting Shi Hao’s rain-infused sword attack.
His palms, radiating a powerful force, continued towards Shi Hao.
This was his “Absolute Palm”!
Shi Hao, mid-air, changed his technique.
He had spent a “year” practicing swordsmanship in the Celestial Realm.
His skill was far greater than before.
His sword light pierced through Huang Facai’s palm force, striking his wrist.
But Shi Hao didn’t celebrate… The strike had been too easy.
A flash of light, and Huang Facai’s sleeve ripped, revealing metal bracers beneath.
His hands were protected.
A successful strike, yet also a failure. A dangerous moment.
As Shi Hao’s sword was deflected, Huang Facai struck his chest with his palm.
“Brother Shi!” Du Yuejiao cried out, her voice filled with fear.
Suddenly, Huang Facai snorted, his palm strike shifting, and with a thud, a small, dark shape was knocked away.
It was a dragonfly… a live dragonfly, flying through the rain.
A flash of blood, and the dragonfly exploded mid-air, its tiny body spraying blood.
At the same time, a figure emerged from the shadows, joining Shi Hao in attacking Huang Facai.
It was Yan Zhuxia, the Wu Zhu of Wu Village.
She had been waiting for the right opportunity, a chance to severely injure Huang Facai.
But seeing Shi Hao’s precarious situation, she couldn’t wait any longer.
She was also sixth-rank, weaker than Huang Facai.
She wielded a willow leaf saber, her movements accompanied by a swarm of tiny, buzzing insects, some visible, others hidden, their stings deadly.
As Shi Hao and Yan Zhuxia attacked simultaneously, Huang Facai unleashed his full power.
A black aura, like a swirling mass of shadows, erupted from him, repelling the insects.
The man with the saber, his movements precise and deadly, charged forward, leaving a trail of corpses in his wake.
Yan Zhuxia was forced to disengage and intercept him.
Shi Hao, facing Huang Facai alone, was once again in danger.
He retreated, using the True Water, Profound Wind, and Immortal Ice Techniques, combined with the Three Origins Flowing Pearl Technique, to defend himself.
Sometimes, the rain itself seemed to transform into swords, icy shards swirling around him. Sometimes, he would leap into the air, a gust of wind carrying him away.
Huang Facai’s attacks were relentless and powerful, but he couldn’t land a decisive blow.
This surprised him… This kid is good.
He was only sixth-rank now. What would happen when he reached the fifth rank?
Huang Facai unleashed his full power, his killing intent clear, determined to eliminate this threat.
Du Yuejiao, worried about Shi Hao, couldn’t help him.
The tall, thin man with the staff and the fleshy growth, having defeated his opponents, was now attacking her.
She had to defend herself, using all her skill to hold him back.
He was also a sixth-rank expert, his cultivation higher than hers.
Although her recent dual cultivation had greatly enhanced her strength, the difference in their ranks was significant.
She could only retreat, dodging and weaving, trying to avoid his attacks, her only goal to prevent him from joining the fight against Shi Hao.
The man with the staff was growing increasingly frustrated. He couldn’t believe he was being held back by a girl.
His pride wounded, he intensified his attacks, his staff a blur, waves of force pressing down on her.
Du Yuejiao gritted her teeth, her footwork precise, her sword light like the moon, her movements like a retreating dragon, her blade, however, always facing her opponent, refusing to yield.
She couldn’t let him go.
If he joined the fight against Shi Hao, he would die.
The battle reached a stalemate.
Zhao Xuanding and Xiang Gu were evenly matched, as were Yan Zhuxia and the saber-wielding man.
All four were sixth-rank experts. As long as one side was determined to avoid a decisive confrontation, the other couldn’t achieve a quick victory.
Shi Hao and Du Yuejiao, however, were both facing stronger opponents, their situations precarious.
Thanks to Shi Hao’s unique techniques and his exceptional swordsmanship, and Du Yuejiao’s Daoist training and newly acquired demonic skills, their unorthodox styles had allowed them to hold their own so far.
But Huang Facai was growing impatient.
He had arrived just as the Hanyang Gang’s attack was faltering, the Nine Villages gaining the upper hand.
He had to kill this young man quickly.
He unleashed a powerful attack, a wave of force that shattered Shi Hao’s defenses.
Shi Hao grunted and was thrown backwards, crashing through a wall, the debris raining down on him.
Huang Facai’s attack, although powerful, had also momentarily depleted his energy. He couldn’t immediately pursue. He shouted, “Now!”
A figure swooped down from the sky, his saber flashing, aimed at the young man lying on the ground.
It was Yu He, one of the Hanyang Three Fiends.
Using his Earth Flying Star ability, he had been circling above, waiting for an opportunity.
Shi Chongyun was doomed.
But as Shi Hao rolled on the ground, covered in dirt and debris, his internal energy disrupted, he drew his sword, his gaze fixed on Yu He, and also shouted, “Now!”
Yu He froze.
A sword pierced his back, its tip emerging from his chest.
The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.
Yu He’s eyes widened, staring at the iron chain wrapped around him and the sword protruding from his chest.
Beside Shi Hao, a hunched figure emerged from the rubble, one end of the chain in his hand. It was Hou Bomin.
And behind Yu He stood Xu Xiaoyan, holding the scabbard of the Plain Sword in her left hand, the blade in her right.
She placed her foot on Yu He’s back, leaped into the air, and landed gracefully.
Yu He’s body collapsed into the mud, his eyes still open in death.
Huang Facai narrowed his eyes.
Yan Zhuxia’s intervention had been somewhat expected.
But he hadn’t anticipated Shi Chongyun having other allies.
Yue Ya’er’s arrival, with her reinforcements, had misled him.
Without their help, Shi Hao wouldn’t have been able to have Yan Zhuxia, Xiang Gu, Yuejiao, Xiaoyan, and Hou Bomin assisting him.
Hou Bomin was a supernatural ability user, his power the Constraining Rope.
And Xu Xiaoyan possessed the Night Wanderer Talisman.
Their combined attack had been perfectly timed.
Yu He, intending to ambush Shi Hao, had been ambushed himself.
Huang Facai snorted, no longer willing to wait. He lunged forward, a wave of black demonic energy swirling around him.
“Go help Yuejiao!” Shi Hao shouted, jumping to his feet, his sword flashing.
He channeled the Three Origins Flowing Pearl Technique and the Profound Wind Technique, unleashing a powerful gust of wind.
Xu Xiaoyan, her figure a blur, moved across the ground, her sword aimed at the staff-wielding man.
Du Yuejiao’s situation was dire.
Although facing overwhelming odds, she fought silently, her face grim, not wanting to distract Shi Hao with her own struggles.
She was a proud woman.
A whirlwind of staff shadows, each strike carrying immense force, threatened to engulf her.
Desperate, but resolute, she fought back, her sword flashing, hoping to hold out for as long as possible.
A sword, like a ray of moonlight, pierced through the darkness, and the staff shadows receded.
With a clang, the staff-wielding man blocked Xu Xiaoyan’s attack.
The pressure on Du Yuejiao eased. She had narrowly escaped death.
She gasped for breath, her heart pounding.
She wanted to look back at Shi Hao, but she couldn’t afford to be distracted.
She shifted her footing, adjusted her grip, and unleashed three swift sword strikes, joining Xu Xiaoyan in attacking the staff wielder.
Shi Hao and Hou Bomin, however, were once again in danger.
Huang Facai’s body pulsed, and with a series of explosions, his large figure shrunk, becoming smaller and more compact.
This was the “Life Severance” technique, the most powerful and dangerous of his Three Extremes.
Using this technique would also injure him internally, requiring days of recovery before he could fight again, or risk permanent damage.
It was his most powerful, most desperate, killing move, capable of annihilating all before him.
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