Chapter 171: Becoming Immortal (Combined Chapter)

Boom!

At close range, sword and claw clashed instantly.

Vast heavenly and earthly power surged forth along the blade's edge, like a breach torn open, rushing forward in a torrent.

The inevitable Dao rhythm was severed by the Long Xiao Sword. The black-robed man had assumed a mere Tianren cultivator's strike could not resist—would be crushed like dry grass—but at the moment of contact, the boundless force from the blade nearly shattered his focus.

A destructive shockwave rippled outward; Li Hao and the black-robed man were both thrown back, but as Li Hao retreated, he manipulated the dark threads to yank the hook deeper into the man's ribs, tearing in further with each pull.

The black-robed man winced from the pain in his chest, raised his hand, and slashed downward with his palm edge—sharp as a blade—severing the dark threads.

But as he cut them, the hooked pull ripped out a large chunk of flesh, causing him to hiss in pain and rage.

As a Demon King, he had been wounded by a mere Tianren human in a single glance—unthinkable! "Die!!"

The black-robed man lunged in fury, pointing a finger straight at Li Hao to strike him down.

Nine Abyss Shattering Cloud Finger! Under the guidance of Dao rhythm, this finger strike was certain to land, radiating terrifying demonic might—as if crushing all wind and snow into silence.

Li Hao's expression turned grave; dark threads extended outward, weaving a hidden layout around him.

Simultaneously, he unleashed the power of his Yin-Yang Meridians, drawing heavenly and earthly energy into his body, then using his major meridians as a spinning vortex to gather surrounding forces, concentrating them all onto the blade!

The dragon soul sealed within the Long Xiao Sword drank greedily of this power, its dragon aura rising from the blade—a condensed, true dragon coiled around Li Hao's sword-wielding arm, amplifying terrifying true dragon power.

Li Hao felt his heart contract, pounding violently, even throbbing—he knew that devastating finger was locked onto his heart.

The enemy meant to kill him in one blow!

Whoosh! He stepped forward, slashing with furious swordlight.

Immortal Dao: Taiji Qiankun Sword!

Before the blade, Yin and Yang evolved like a phantom array, roaring forward with the sword's edge.

BOOM!!

A cataclysmic explosion erupted, scattering air like white ribbons in all directions; deep finger-shaped craters sank into the earth behind Li Hao.

Yet Li Hao did not retreat a single step—his black hair flew wildly, the Yin-Yang array before him shattered under rapid rotation, grinding away most of the colossal finger force. He stepped forward again, slashing the dimmed illusion with a furious strike, utterly destroying the finger! High above, the black-robed man's vital energy trembled, his fury turning to shock.

As a Demon King, beneath the Four Standing Realm, someone had blocked his attack—and not even a Three Imperishable, merely a Tianren! He felt shock, fear, and dread—this human monster, if allowed to grow, might become the second True Person in the Emperor Da Yu Divine Dynasty!

If so, he could not imagine where any demon or monster could ever dwell again around the Emperor Da Yu Divine Dynasty!

"Divine Speed!"

Coldness filled the black-robed man's eyes; his killing intent surged wildly. He unleashed his martial will and struck again with his finger.

The second finger descended, as powerful and terrifying as before, stirring boundless energy from the surroundings.

Li Hao recognized the same technique—slightly surprised, yet secretly elated—this meant the previous attack was likely the enemy's strongest killing move.

In fact, during this brief exchange, Li Hao had already sensed that this Four Standing Realm Demon King, though powerful, was not as invincible as he'd imagined.

Half a month ago, he might not have withstood it—but now, with the power of heaven and earth, he could fight! This thrilled Li Hao; without hesitation, he swung his sword again.

Same sword technique—the Yin-Yang phantom reappeared.

But as his blade slashed halfway, the finger arrived faster than before.

Li Hao's pupils contracted slightly; in this critical instant, the dark threads he'd laid earlier to restrain the enemy snapped into motion, yanking his body backward.

Leveraging his own strength, he pulled away like a puppet on strings, rapidly increasing distance.

Meanwhile, his sword technique was fully formed.

Boom! Another violent collision shook the entire camp.

The black-robed man's expression shifted; enraged, he pressed down again with his hand.

He refused to believe a mere human could possess such vast energy, unleashing such terrifying sword techniques in succession.

Under consecutive Nine Abyss Shattering Cloud Fingers, aided by Divine Speed martial will, Li Hao could only dodge within the camp—but each dodge created space, and each space he used to strike back with a sword slash.

His internal energy was endless; one immortal breath remained constant, connecting with heavenly and earthly power—he would not tire for a long time, equivalent to half a Non-Decay state, yet its duration was permanent.

After seven or eight consecutive fingers, the original camp and its fence courtyard had been shattered by the battle.

But Li Hao had no time to care—he focused all his mind on the fight before him.

The black-robed man grew angrier with each strike, more astonished—each time he unleashed his strongest attack, he felt fatigue, nearly forcing out his Non-Decay state, yet this human boy was still jumping around?! Finally, seeing he could not kill Li Hao, the black-robed man abandoned all shame. Facing this Tianren human, he unleashed his true power—Non-Decay energy surged. His depleted strength rapidly restored, his spirit brimmed, his eyes blazed with terrifying light, and he roared as he charged.

Boom! He slammed down a palm print, and within it, another Nine Abyss Shattering Cloud Finger pressed down.

Simultaneously, he spat out a black demonic wind, within which countless blades whirled.

With power continuously gathering, his killing techniques exploded together.

Li Hao's face changed; he shifted his sword technique, tilting his barely balanced internal energy.

"Immortal Dao: Reincarnation!!"

Li Hao slashed again; the blade's light curved like a crescent, then expanded into a full moon, surging forward.

The black demonic wind instantly vanished; the massive palm print shattered upon contact with the sword arc—but the arc flickered with lightning, as if unable to bear the strain.

The finger piercing through the palm then shattered the sword arc entirely, yet the finger itself was also torn apart; multiple forces erupted outward, flipping over distant camp tents.

Li Hao's vital energy stirred slightly, but he quickly suppressed it, spinning to strike with a second sword slash.

The black-robed man's pupils contracted; his face paled in horror.

Still alive? This brat had been holding back?!

He felt blood rush to his skull, nearly exploding with rage; his eyes turned blood-red and savage, his body gradually demonicizing—his hands became talons, emitting piercing shrieks.

The same attacks came again and again; black feathers surfaced across his skin, his demonic transformation deepening with every strike.

Both sides unleashed brutal techniques in succession, shaking the earth and sky, their power overwhelming.

Yet both seemed locked in stalemate—neither could overcome the other.

In Non-Decay state, the black-robed man revealed his true form: a massive black bird, yet with several golden-laced long feathers along its back—evidence of its thin, ancient demonic royal bloodline.

It roared, flapping its wings, darkening heaven and earth; torrents of demonic energy descended like black clouds, from which extended a colossal finger.

Li Hao stomped the ground and shot upward, wielding the power of Immortal Dao Reincarnation, charging toward that world-ending finger.

His body plunged into the demonic mist, cleaved through it, shattered the finger—but spat out a mouthful of blood.

Under Reincarnation Sword Art, his immortal energy was draining—he was barely holding on through sheer physical resilience.

The black bird Demon King's attack had been broken; he was furious. His Non-Decay state was not long-lasting.

Once it faded, he would be even more depleted than before.

This filled him with rage and unbearable shame—could a Demon King, mighty as he was, be slain by a mere Tianren brat?!

Boom!!

As both sides gathered strength for another colossal clash, suddenly, a gray shadow shot from the horizon and slammed violently into the side of the camp.

Li Hao turned—dust rose from a deep crater, and a gray-robed figure crawled out, looking utterly broken; his robes torn, his emaciated chest pierced by a massive, gaping wound!

It was Wind Elder! Li Hao's pupils shrank to pinpricks; his blood seemed to freeze instantly.

But then, as if a flame ignited in his chest, burning, tearing at his very soul! "Wind Elder!!"

He screamed, a distorted roar, and charged forward.

Feng Bo Ping rose painfully from the crater, spitting blood, his face ashen. Hearing Li Hao's cry, he turned—and saw the demon king in its true form. His heart trembled—had this boy forced a Demon King into its true body? "Run!!"

He snapped back to reality, saw Li Hao rushing toward him, and shouted urgently.

But Li Hao did not stop. As he reached Wind Elder's side, two vast, overwhelming demonic auras descended upon him.

He turned—two demonic figures raced across the sky. One revealed its true form: a massive lion covered in golden fur, its limbs armored with scales.

The other wore a dark silver robe, its chest embroidered with exquisite patterns, tall and handsome, appearing as a young man.

His palm was stained with blood; he toyed with a rib bone.

"Old man, you're quick to react—managed to dodge," the silver-robed youth chuckled, but his eyes held icy killing intent.

Li Hao's face darkened—another Demon King?! Besides the Dragon Lord, this Wanshan Demon King had summoned another! Seeing the wounded Feng Bo Ping and Li Hao, the lion-shaped Wanshan Demon King stepped from the void, and seeing Li Hao's expression, let out a cruel, triumphant laugh:

"To guard against any hidden experts, I had him lie in wait. But now it seems your earlier bravado was just empty posturing!"

"As for strategy, you think you can match me? Don't worry—I won't kill you easily. I'll melt your primordial spirit, imprison you in the Death River, where you'll beg for death and never get it!"

A chill surged through Li Hao—this ancient demon was too cautious.

He'd guessed the enemy was suspicious and steady, but not this level of caution.

Earlier, having the Dragon Lord appear was clearly meant to deceive them, making them believe only three were present.

His dark threads had been destroyed by the Wanshan Demon King's group; during battle, he'd retracted part of them to bolster his own strength, failing to detect this hidden one.

Four!

To kill a single Tianren, they'd sent so many Demon Kings—nothing like the clichéd villains in novels who emerge one by one for the hero to defeat and level up.

This ten-thousand-year-old demon struck with lethal intent, offering no hope, no escape—just like when he was a six-year-old child, targeted by demons with a Zhou Tian assassin. This time, the gap and danger far surpassed that.

"You run—I'll hold them off!"

Feng Bo Ping grabbed Li Hao, stepping in front of him. His aged face, once ruddy, now pale, but his gaze was as sharp as blades, fixed on the enemy:

"That Demon King ambushed me—I barely dodged. There can't be a fifth one nearby!"

Li Hao stared at the old man's withered body before him—the fist-sized wound in his abdomen had pierced through his ribs, tearing his ragged robe to shreds.

Just a little higher, and it would have been his heart! Li Hao felt his blood trembling, his temples throbbing, a pain and madness rising within him.

"Fight together!"

Li Hao clenched his fists, eyes locked on the three Demon Kings above, a desire to destroy everything burning inside him.

"I can defy fate, turn despair into survival—don't worry about me, you go first!"

Feng Bo Ping didn't turn back, speaking urgently, voice firm and unyielding.

Li Hao bit his lip until it bled, his heart bleeding—his grip tightened on his sword: "Wind Elder, don't you remember? Five or six years ago, you said—if you ever got a chance to defy fate, you'd give it to me!"

Back then, he was seen by others as a waste.

Wind Elder had spoken those words casually while fishing—but Li Hao remembered them.

But Master Feng seemed to have forgotten.

Hearing Li Hao's words, Master Feng's body trembled, as if stunned, then suddenly erupted with a force like a gale, engulfing Li Hao and hurling him backward.

"Just avenge me—go!!"

Feng Feng Bo Ping shouted at Li Hao for the first time.

"Hah. No one gets away. You think you can run?!"

The Mountain Demon King sneered, gave a glance to his companion Gao Brother, and felt a flicker of surprise—after all this time, Gao Brother still hadn't dealt with this brat. Though he'd told Gao Brother not to kill him, to capture him alive so he could slowly torture the damned human brat to death.

But Gao Brother seemed to have gotten a bit too carried away.

The Black Bird Demon King said nothing, only felt shame and fury; as Li Hao flew away, he immediately unleashed his divine speed to chase after him.

Feng Feng Bo Ping's withered, ancient body tilted his head back and roared, his flesh swelling as if inflating—yet from the gaping wound in his abdomen, more blood oozed and squeezed out, staining his tattered robes crimson.

He leapt into the air, aiming to intercept.

But the Mountain Demon King and the silver-robed youth seized the opportunity and struck together.

Far away, Li Hao waved his hand, dispersing the wind force; seeing Master Feng's aged body standing alone before the three Demon Kings, his eyes cracked with rage as he let out a mournful, piercing roar to the heavens.

At that moment, all the immortal energy within him was released.

Li Hao shattered the shackles and restrictions on his body, desperately drawing in the power of heaven and earth.

When he attained the Land Immortal realm, he borrowed heaven and earth's power; feeling that vast, immense might, he had also faintly sensed that if he overextended his borrowing, his own body would merge into heaven and earth.

The more his body merged with heaven and earth, the deeper his integration, the stronger the power he could draw!

But then his body would dissolve, fully merging with heaven and earth, utterly losing his self, becoming merely a force within the cosmos.

He might dissolve into mountains and rivers, beasts and birds—even a single snowflake.

Merging with heaven and earth—this was the taboo Li Hao dared not cross, the fatal limit of the Land Immortal realm. Yet now, he stepped across it.

His body absorbed the power of heaven and earth to an extreme degree; every muscle and tendon shattered, his energy surged violently! A furious force, like a hurricane, roared toward Li Hao.

In heaven and earth, wind and clouds darkened; all things fell into deathly silence.

A vast, overwhelming pressure suddenly descended upon the entire battlefield! At that moment, the three Demon Kings attacking Feng Feng Bo Ping all froze, lifting their heads in shock.

Feng Feng Bo Ping also paused, turning to look.

He saw the energy of heaven and earth surging like a tide, rapidly converging upon the frenzied boy.

The boy's jet-black hair stood on end, his eyes glowed like bleeding wounds, radiating terrifying light; his body swelled, as if an ancient god or demon had awakened.

"Aaaaaaah!!!"

Li Hao let out a roar that shook the entire Tianmen Pass—pain, fury, madness!

He raised his sword; at that moment, Long Xiao Sword, saturated with heaven and earth's might, fully awakened its true sword aura.

The divine blade erupted in blinding, ten-thousand-zhang radiance; all the power of heaven and earth converged into its blade, condensed and compressed—then, as the boy stepped forward, a vast sword aura slashed outward: "Heaven and Earth's Cycle!"

The terrifying sword aura formed a vortex that seemed ready to devour all, like a black hole, sweeping outward.

The surrounding space twisted, rushing toward the three Demon Kings.

Behind the vortex, Long Xiao's sword spirit flew out, transforming into a brilliant true dragon that lunged and bit down on the Black Bird Demon King, instantly coiling around his body.

"Shatter!"

The Black Bird Demon King panicked, struggling desperately—but his bloodline instinctively trembled with reverence and dread toward the dragon coiled upon him.

He roared in fury, watching the sword-shadow black hole devouring him, feeling the shadow of death closing in.

"Nie Brother, help me!!"

Ignoring his dignity as a Demon King, he screamed desperately.

The Mountain Demon King didn't need to be told—he had already stepped forward. Shocked by the boy's terrifying might, his body didn't halt; he roared and slammed out several palm prints, overlapping like a demonic hand, striking toward the sword-shadow.

Boom! Heaven and earth exploded—the sword-shadow cycle roared; the demonic hand carried terrifying power, but its palm was ground down, until it finally shattered.

The Mountain Demon King felt his blood surge backward, his eyes wide with horror.

The sword-shadow vortex, shaken by the demonic hand, rippled and began to unravel—then suddenly split apart on its own, transforming into countless sword shadows, shooting out like flying dragons.

Boom! Boom! Boom! In an instant, the Black Bird Demon King was drenched in countless sword qi.

These sword qi rained down like drops, piercing his wings with countless tiny wounds—but the damage was minor.

Yet one nearly invisible sword qi slipped through a tear in his wing, piercing into the Black Bird Demon King's body—his pupils instantly contracted.

He felt as if every bone in his body had been violently ripped out—he could no longer summon strength.

His power, his soul, his will—all rapidly faded and died.

What… was this? He couldn't believe it, eyes bulging.

Then his massive body dropped straight down, crashing heavily to the ground.

His bird eyes still held disbelief, but their glow rapidly dimmed; his life force withered away—he was dead. This sight froze the Mountain Demon King, who had just caught his breath, and the silver-robed youth, who had been about to strike.

Then they both widened their eyes in horror, staring at the Black Bird Demon King, dead on the ground in an instant.

He was dead?!! The most terrifying aspect of that sword technique had been fully blocked by the Mountain Demon King, shattered into fragments—only residual sword rain remained.

They could feel the sword qi carried little lethal force—yet even so… it had killed him?! The Mountain Demon King and the silver-robed youth turned sharply, staring at the approaching boy.

His towering, godlike body, cracked and shattered as if collapsing, radiated an aura of unspeakable terror.

They felt as if the boy carried the entire heaven and earth, pressing down upon them.

He was only a Heaven-Earth realm cultivator—how could he possess such power?! They couldn't comprehend it; everything before them was too bizarre.

At that moment, Li Hao raised his hand and roared, slashing out his second sword.

This sword's power surpassed the last—like the gates of hell opening, the sword-shadow surged like a dragon toward the Mountain Demon King.

The Mountain Demon King's face changed instantly—how could such power and attack be used twice?! He couldn't imagine what secret art could elevate a Heaven-Earth cultivator to this level.

Enraged, he roared again and slammed out another demonic hand, striking the cycle sword-shadow.

The sword-shadow shattered, then, together with Long Xiao's sword spirit, surged toward the Mountain Demon King.

The Mountain Demon King's intuition screamed—death's chill crept over his hair; his heart froze with terror; he violently contracted his body and turned to flee.

"Go!"

He refused to meet the strange sword rain head-on—he chose to retreat.

The Black Bird Demon King's death had been too bizarre; seeing the same scene unfold, his scalp prickled.

Though he felt no great power from those sword rains, precisely because of that, it was terrifying! Beside him, the silver-robed youth also paled, and without hesitation, swiftly withdrew.

The sword-shadow cycle pursued—but their escape speed was too fast; Li Hao could only break apart the cycle sword-shadow, releasing countless sword lights in all directions.

Though their speed increased, it still wasn't enough—they couldn't catch up.

In an instant, the two great demons had fled beyond Tianmen Pass.

At the same time, a violent tremor echoed from afar—the place where the Dragon Lord fought Song Song Qiumo.

Li Hao saw that before leaving, the two great demons had casually ambushed Song Song Qiumo, severely wounding her; the Dragon Lord was still stunned, but the Mountain Demon King had already called for retreat.

(End of Chapter)