Chapter 173: Severing Heaven and Earth (Bonus Chapter for 2025 Moon Ticket)

Li Hao chased after them beyond Tianmen Pass, the three demonic kings having fled a hundred li away and vanished into the distance.

Li Hao rushed to Song Song Qiumo's side and saw her azure robe drenched in blood—deep claw marks gouged into her shoulder blades, her breath weak, her face pale, yet she was already staunching the bleeding and stabilizing her wounds, seemingly no immediate threat to her life.

"What happened to you?"

Seeing Li Hao stride toward her like a divine or demonic entity, Song Song Qiumo was startled, barely steadying her breath, and hurriedly asked: "Is this some secret technique?"

Though she asked, she had never seen any secret technique capable of producing such a transformation.

Moreover, the aura radiating from Li Hao now even pressed upon her, as if the entire sky above would collapse at his slightest movement.

Seeing Song Song Qiumo unharmed, Li Hao's fury and killing intent eased slightly; her words reminded him—he hastily reined in his power, stopping the flow of celestial qi from drawing upon heaven and earth.

But easy to say, hard to do: his former body had been continuously cracking and deteriorating; now, with all his strength focused on severing the influx of heavenly power, his pores had already ruptured, his body like an open floodgate, unable to close.

Li Hao crouched down, teeth clenched so hard they trembled, his eyes blood-red—he knew if he couldn't control it, he would be utterly disintegrated, dissolved into the wind of this world.

He did not want to die!

Yet pain of tearing and shattering surged from every part of his body.

The boundless heavenly power sought to crush his bones, pulverize his flesh, grind his five viscera and six bowels, every drop of blood and muscle, until he merged with heaven and earth.

"Aaaahhh!!"

Li Hao roared like a beast, his vocal cords torn, his voice a blood-curdling wail.

Song Song Qiumo sensed his condition was dangerously abnormal—she, pale and weak, showed alarm and cried out: "How can I help you?"

But Li Hao could no longer speak.

Seeing this, Song Song Qiumo could only attempt to channel her own power into a soft curtain of water, surrounding Li Hao, trying to heal and slow his body's disintegration.

Yet when this healing water touched Li Hao's body, his disintegration accelerated.

He was in an extreme state of saturation—the more power he absorbed, the faster his body perished.

At that moment, Feng Master Feng Bo Ping dragged himself over, saw the scene, froze for a moment, then realized: "Quick! Sever this realm's connection to heaven and earth!"

Song Song Qiumo reacted swiftly—seeing her power only worsened Li Hao's agony, she immediately withdrew it.

As she withdrew, she was horrified to realize part of her power had been brutally absorbed by Li Hao.

At Feng Master Feng Bo Ping's shout, she instantly steadied her mind, drew a deep breath, redirected the healing energy meant for herself, and joined Feng Master Feng Bo Ping to form a sealing barrier, imprisoning Li Hao within.

But to their shock, though the barrier slowed Li Hao's disintegration, it trembled and swayed—slowly crumbling—even their own barrier energy was being absorbed by Li Hao!

This stunned them—this was their own power, being stolen?!

Even demons and monsters weren't this terrifying—unless they were great demons beyond the Four Foundations, treating them like ghosts devouring mortals, draining them dry.

And Li Hao's behavior now was exactly like that.

While they were stunned, Li Hao gritted his teeth, struggling to control his body—the barrier forged by Feng Master Feng Bo Ping and Song Song Qiumo had worked, briefly severing the flow of heavenly power.

Though energy still flowed into his body, it was no longer as violent as before.

Li Hao growled, suppressing his body, suppressing the rogue celestial qi, converting the absorbed power and dispersing it elsewhere.

Such rapid circulation was only possible because his body had opened enough major meridians—plus the Yin-Yang meridians—that he could barely divert part of the vast heavenly power outward; the remainder no longer ravaged his body as severely.

Amid this excruciating tearing pain, Li Hao tried to calm both his body and mind.

Only then could he activate the "Conceal Brilliance and Nurture Obscurity" trait, allowing his body to slowly heal.

This was a regenerative power rivaling the Immortal Realm.

But with dual agony tearing at his flesh and soul, the peace he sought felt impossibly distant, vanishingly faint—he clenched his teeth, shut his eyes in pain, fists clenched, body curled like a shrimp on the ground.

He felt the wind across heaven and earth, wishing that gentle breeze could carry away his pain.

But the wind merely brushed past—taking nothing, leaving nothing.

Would he die like this? Li Hao wondered.

He thought of the courtyard bathed in starlight, of the countless faces lining the path as he left that glorious divine general's mansion.

He thought of the white fox, of Ren Ren Qianqian, of Old Feng, who had just thrown himself before him, his chest pierced by a fist-sized hole, and of Song Song Qiumo, pale and frail.

Hot blood dripped from his face like sweat.

Li Hao breathed slowly, recalling the stillness he had felt atop the snow-capped mountain when he first comprehended heaven and earth.

He knew resisting and redirecting alone wouldn't suffice—he needed to guide and transmit this power outward.

Like a snowflake in heaven's wind—blown up when the wind stirred, falling when it ceased. His breath shifted from deep to rapid, then gradually from rapid to slow.

His hunched body slowly relaxed, until he sat on the ground.

His swollen body, stretched to four or five meters, slowly shrank back.

But as his bones and flesh contracted to their original form, his skin remained torn and ragged, drenched in blood—he looked like a living corpse of blood.

Song Song Qiumo stared at this horrific sight in silence, her slender hand pressed into the snow, fingers tightening inch by inch.

In her clear, stream-like eyes, deep anger and killing intent slowly seeped in.

Feng Master Feng Bo Ping, seeing Li Hao's condition stabilize, exhaled slightly—their joint barrier had now collapsed, riddled with holes.

Heavenly energy still poured toward Li Hao, but around his body, most of it swirled like a hurricane before veering away, only a fraction entering.

On the face of the boy, drenched in blood and torn flesh, the initial agony had faded—now a faint calm emerged.

Feng Master Feng Bo Ping did not relax—he felt tears welling in his eyes, a single old tear rolling down.

Had this boy not left that noble, radiant mansion, how could he have faced such peril? Why must a child his age confront demonic kings at this border?

He didn't know—if those in that mansion saw this scene, how many would truly grieve for this boy?

Heavenly energy surged, whipping up snow and withered leaves buried beneath, forming a hurricane-like vortex swirling around Li Hao.

Sitting at the storm's center, Li Hao's face grew serene and peaceful; though his torn flesh still bled, the bleeding gradually ceased.

The "Conceal Brilliance and Nurture Obscurity" trait activated—in this hell of agony, Li Hao achieved inner stillness and release.

His breath grew smooth, steady, and long.

The surface of his torn flesh seemed to scab over.

Beneath him, the snow was dyed crimson.

How long?

Li Hao slowly opened his eyes—he saw Old Feng and Song Song Qiumo watching him with urgent concern; he smiled faintly: "I'm fine."

"You're nearly dead and you say you're fine?!"

Feng Master Feng Bo Ping clenched his teeth, wanting to strike Li Hao's head hard—but held back; his tense body finally relaxed, and he plopped down beside him.

Song Song Qiumo gazed deeply at Li Hao, silent.

Li Hao raised his hand, dispersing the swirling heavenly energy—he had now controlled the rogue celestial qi, and his body no longer drew upon external power.

The chaotic energy around them settled like autumn leaves in the wind.

"I've burdened you both."

Li Hao looked at them—both were severely wounded, battered beyond recognition.

"Don't waste words. Once we heal, we go find them ourselves!"

Old Feng grinned slightly, now relaxed—he flipped his sleeve, pulled out vials and bottles, dumped their contents, and picked through them, shoving pills into his mouth.

These medicines were extremely precious, but not instantly effective—their potency still needed time to spread.

Yet after battle, they could restore strength within one or two days.

"Right," Song Song Qiumo also took her healing medicine, murmuring in agreement.

Li Hao nodded—today's debt would not go unpaid.

"Little rat."

Feng Master Feng Bo Ping tossed medicine toward Li Hao, but Li Hao didn't take it—only shook his head slightly; he was immune to such medicines, their effects useless—he could only rely on himself.

Fortunately, the "Conceal Brilliance and Nurture Obscurity" trait surpassed these drugs—if he could enter the Immortal Realm of Undying, combined with this trait, Li Hao believed his self-healing would reach unimaginable heights.

Feng Master Feng Bo Ping was about to speak when suddenly, a piercing whistle tore through the air from afar.

All three looked up—their faces turned ashen: the three fleeing demonic kings had returned! "Looks like you're all in bad shape, hah!"

The Wanshan Demon King led the charge, eyes blazing with cruel joy.

Seeing their state, Li Hao—blood-soaked, as if skinned alive—was the worst.

The other two looked like candles in the wind, still not recovered.

(End of Chapter)