Nine Heavens Martial Emperor

By burning his Lifebound True Blood again, Proud Moon erupted with an incomparably terrifying power.

The cyan greatsword, wielding the might of the heavens, sliced right through Lin Hao’s True Self Divine Soul.

Blood from the True Self Divine Soul splattered across the heavens.

At this, a smile finally appeared on Proud Moon’s pale face.

However, Proud Moon dared not be the slightest bit careless. The cyan greatsword pivoted and once again slashed toward the True Self Divine Soul.

Although that last strike had sliced open Lin Hao’s Divine Soul, it hadn’t harmed the True Self Divine Soul’s most vital part—the brain.

The cyan greatsword was fast, but the True Self Divine Soul still managed to react in that instant.

Thus, the cyan greatsword had sliced down from the True Self Divine Soul’s left shoulder.

Lin Hao’s Divine Soul was simply too terrifying. Proud Moon felt a sense of danger, knowing he hadn’t torn it to shreds.

In truth, it was just as he had suspected.

As the cyan greatsword pivoted, the True Self Divine Soul, with only most of its body left, still possessed an unimaginable life force.

Moreover, the wounded part of the True Self Divine Soul’s body was enveloped in a hazy mist of energy, and its muscles seemed to be regenerating!

This was what made a Divine Soul so terrifying.

As long as it had enough energy, rebuilding and regenerating muscle was not an issue.

How could Proud Moon possibly let the Divine Soul re-form a complete body? The cyan greatsword vibrated, sending out terrifying ripples.

The shockwave from the ripples sent the True Self Divine Soul flying.

The True Self Divine Soul had suffered a grievous blow, and with part of its power diverted to regeneration, its strength was greatly diminished.

The True Self Divine Soul was sent flying, but the cyan greatsword, manifested from Proud Moon’s Divine Soul and Lifebound True Blood, teleported after it and slashed down again.

This time, however, the True Self Divine Soul was prepared and teleported away.

Unfortunately, this was a spiritual sword fueled by Proud Moon burning his Lifebound True Blood. Lin Hao’s Divine Soul was already injured. Although it dodged the killing blow, it was wounded once more.

Proud Moon had completely turned the tables.

However, no one applauded him in celebration.

Instead, it was Lin Hao’s performance that moved the many Heaven-Breaking Pavilion Martial Artists watching from the shadows.

Forcing a wielder of a Royal Physique to burn their Lifebound True Blood—Lin Hao’s prowess was beyond imagination.

The fact that his True Self Divine Soul could so effortlessly contend with the Divine Soul of a Royal Physique made many Spirit Transformation Realm experts feel ashamed of their own inferiority.

"If Lin Hao’s Divine Soul can just hold on for the time it takes an incense stick to burn, Proud Moon is finished," Sun Yingrui said from the shadows, his eyes burning with intensity.

Proud Moon was already a spent force. Burning Lifebound True Blood is a process of overdrafting one’s life potential. He can’t hold on for much longer.

"Crippling a Royal Physique practitioner right after joining the Heaven-Breaking Pavilion... This guy’s a real menace," Hua Jianzhong also remarked.

Though his words sounded critical, he wore a smile. Clearly, a ’menace’ like Lin Hao was to his liking.

"’Strange. For a young prodigy with as much potential as Lin Hao, shouldn’t the elders be fighting over him by now? Why haven’t we seen a single one?’ Sun Yingrui, struck by the thought, sent a private voice transmission to Hua Jianzhong."

Hua Jianzhong was stunned for a moment before shaking his head. He couldn’t understand it either.

If the two of them knew Lin Hao had rejected all the elders, one could only wonder how they would react.

What the two also didn’t know was that, at this very moment in the Elder Hall of the Heaven-Breaking Pavilion, all the elders were wearing miserable expressions.

Lin Hao and Proud Moon’s battle had caused such a huge commotion that they were naturally aware of it. Moreover, at their level of cultivation, they could see the fight with perfect clarity, even from within the Elder Hall.

Lin Hao’s current performance was making the group of elders regret their actions. They regretted having let Lin Hao walk away just now.

One had to remember, Lin Hao’s cultivation had only just entered the Seventh Layer of Soul Gathering Realm. Such a level was considered rock bottom in the Heaven-Breaking Pavilion’s middle courtyard.

Proud Moon, on the other hand, was a Royal Physique practitioner who had cultivated in the Heaven-Breaking Pavilion since childhood. His foundation was incomparably firm, and he had long since reached the Peak of the Seventh Layer of Soul Gathering Realm, with one foot already in the Eighth Layer. He was the undisputed number one disciple of the middle courtyard.

But now, Lin Hao had pushed the number one person of the Heaven-Breaking Pavilion’s middle courtyard to this extent. The crucial point was that the elders had seen Lin Hao fight on the Ancient Road and knew he still had many hidden cards he had yet to play.

Facing a Royal Physique practitioner who was using his Lifebound True Blood, Lin Hao was still holding back. That was the most frightening thing of all.

Fifth Elder Liu Bo came to his senses, then quietly slipped out of the Elder Hall.

He was going back to his residence to see what bargaining chips he might have that could tempt Lin Hao.

The other elders shared the Fifth Elder’s thoughts. In no time, the Elder Hall was completely deserted.

And then, elders who had lived for over a thousand years began to rummage through their chests and cabinets.

While they were searching for bargaining chips, Lin Hao’s Divine Soul was on the verge of being annihilated.

The cyan greatsword was both blindingly fast and terrifying to the extreme. The True Self Divine Soul not only failed in its attempt to restore its body but instead suffered even more damage and trauma.

Under the assault of the cyan greatsword, blood continuously spattered from the True Self Divine Soul’s body.

At that moment, the True Self Divine Soul was like a lone boat in a raging storm—not only was it tiny and helpless, but it was also in danger of being annihilated at any second.

However, despite taking heavy hits, it escaped from beneath the greatsword time and time again.

After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the greatsword began to shrink, and Proud Moon’s body started to tremble uncontrollably.

He had reached his limit and was on the verge of complete exhaustion.

The True Self Divine Soul in the heavens flickered in and out of existence, likewise in danger of perishing at any moment.

Lin Hao stood motionless, his expression also somewhat pale.

With his True Self Divine Soul grievously wounded, he was suffering as well. He had just intentionally transferred most of the pressure onto the soul.

"The disciples of the Heaven-Breaking Pavilion are truly remarkable," Lin Hao couldn’t help but exclaim as he looked at Proud Moon.

Although Lin Hao hadn’t used his other methods, he was deeply shaken that Proud Moon could inflict such grievous wounds on his Divine Soul.

After all, since traversing the final part of the Ancient Road, Lin Hao’s physical body had been reforged. Although his cultivation realm remained the same, he had been fundamentally changed, becoming far stronger than before.

If he had used his Divine Soul like this back then, even Young Master Moon would have long been defeated.

But Proud Moon had managed to grievously injure him, which just went to show how formidable he was.

"I will not lose!" Proud Moon suddenly roared, and his body immediately dissipated into thin air.

However, the cyan greatsword in the heavens did not disappear.

Not only did it not disappear, it grew even more dazzling.

"’Essence, Qi, Spirit, Intent, and Will... Proud Moon is sacrificing everything that makes a Martial Artist!’ Sun Yingrui cried out in horror from the void."

Hua Jianzhong was even more direct, charging straight toward Lin Hao.

Essence, Qi, Spirit, Intent, and Will—these are the five spirits of a Martial Artist. When the five spirits become one, they produce a Great Divine Technique.

Never mind that Lin Hao was only at the Seventh Layer of Soul Gathering Realm; even if he were at the Soul Gathering Realm Peak, both his physical body and his Divine Soul would be turned to ash before these five Divine Techniques.

The moment he deployed the five Divine Techniques, Proud Moon had already ensured he could never appear in the mortal world again. If Lin Hao’s life was taken as well, it would be a tremendous loss for the Heaven-Breaking Pavilion.

Hua Jianzhong was fast, but it was already too late...