Chapter 18: The Battle Is Not Over

Su Hao instinctively quickened his pace toward the source of the chaotic and fierce sounds of battle. With each step, it felt as if he were pressing heavily upon the taut string of his own heart, causing his heartbeat to race ever faster, and a growing tension to spread deep within him.

Now, with his strength having risen significantly, he was eager to test his abilities in real combat.

After all, based on the experience gained from his last mission, he felt confident that killing the evil cultivators before him would be as easy as slicing through melons and cutting vegetables.

Yet, as he advanced, Su Hao keenly sensed something amiss.

He slightly turned his head and quickly glanced at the two disciples walking beside him—a young man and a young woman. Upon hearing the unsettling sounds of battle, rather than stepping forward, their faces instantly filled with fear, and they involuntarily recoiled.

“Senior Brother Qingming,” the female disciple’s voice trembled noticeably as she spoke, “there’s definitely a fierce battle ahead. Judging by the noise, quite a few are involved. It’s better we avoid it. Those evil cultivators use all manner of strange and unpredictable tactics; they’re not worth provoking. The farther we stay from here, the better.”

Hearing this, Su Hao’s footsteps came to an immediate halt. He fixed his gaze firmly on the two righteous sect disciples and spoke in a steady, serious tone:

“You two, retreat and find a hidden place to hide. I will go forward to investigate and see who exactly is locked in this endless conflict.”

No sooner had he finished speaking than Su Hao’s figure suddenly flickered, shooting forward like an arrow released from a bow toward the direction of the battle sounds.

His steps were light and swift, and in the blink of an eye, he arrived at the chaotic battlefield’s edge.

The moment he reached the fringes, a tense and hostile scene came into view.

Two female cultivators were surrounded at the core by six or seven evil cultivators, trapped like wild beasts, their situation dire.

The evil cultivators wore ferocious expressions, their eyes filled with greed and cruelty as if staring at prey already within their grasp. Occasionally, eerie laughter escaped their lips.

Their weapons gleamed coldly under the sunlight as they relentlessly swung them, attempting to break through the female cultivators’ defensive circle to capture them alive.

Though the two women were clearly struggling, they stubbornly gritted their teeth, gripping their weapons tightly, eyes scanning warily, ever ready to fend off the relentless barrage of attacks falling like raindrops.

Su Hao’s gaze sharpened instantly, locking onto a conspicuous large man among the evil cultivators.

The man was burly, clad in a gray robe, wearing a red hat askew on his head, exuding an arrogant air.

His cultivation had reached the peak of the Foundation Establishment stage. At this moment, he was commanding his comrades in a coordinated attack while muttering incantations and making strange hand gestures, seemingly casting an evil technique to bolster their offensive.

Without hesitation, Su Hao’s figure flashed like a shadow, dashing fiercely toward the large man.

In the blink of an eye, he was at the man’s side. His long sword drew in an instant, slicing horizontally toward the man’s neck accompanied by the sharp sound of wind cutting through the air.

The strike was like a blade breaking through bamboo—fierce and unstoppable. The sword was enveloped in a powerful spiritual energy that radiated brilliant light, resembling a silver dragon surging through the sea, carrying an overwhelming aura of a guaranteed fatal blow. The rushing wind seemed to cheer on this lethal strike.

However, the large man was not so easily bested. Seemingly aware of the attack in advance, at the very moment the sword neared his neck, he suddenly ducked with lightning speed, tucking his neck almost against his shoulder, narrowly evading the deadly blade.

Simultaneously, he pushed off forcefully with both feet, sliding backwards several feet, instantly creating distance between himself and Su Hao.

The arrogance on the large man’s face instantly turned to shock and vigilance. His eyes locked tightly onto Su Hao, veins bulging on his forehead, clearly not expecting such a formidable opponent to appear suddenly. He roared angrily:

“Who dares to ruin my business, you reckless fool!”

Though Su Hao’s strike had missed, he did not pause. Using the momentum of his forward rush, he moved again like a phantom to close in.

His left hand, unbeknownst to others, had quietly grasped a blood blade that shimmered coldly under the sun, like a venomous snake flicking its tongue, stabbing viciously at the large man’s waist.

This thrust was swift and fierce, targeting a weak spot in the man’s defense. If it landed, it would severely injure him and cripple his fighting ability.

The large man was alarmed by the sudden attack, shouting loudly as he twisted his body to the side with all his might.

The blood blade grazed his waist, narrowly missing the vital spot but slicing through his garments, leaving a deep bloodstain. Fresh blood oozed out, staining the cloth crimson.

He gasped in pain but gritted his teeth to endure it, raising his heavy broadsword high to strike down fiercely at Su Hao.

The broadsword was infused with mighty spiritual energy and gleamed coldly, as if capable of slicing through the void itself. It whipped up a gale, roaring down toward Su Hao’s head. The dry grass beneath was uprooted by the force, dust billowing wildly. The power was terrifying, as if it could crush Su Hao completely beneath its blow.

Su Hao’s eyes narrowed, fully aware of the attack’s lethality and unwilling to meet it head-on.

He swiftly tapped the ground with both feet, his body drifting backward lightly like a feather, skillfully evading the heavy strike.

The broadsword slammed into the earth with a tremendous roar, carving a deep furrow in the ground as stones scattered and dust swirled, blurring the air.

Taking advantage of the dust cover, Su Hao steadied his breathing and posture, searching once more for an opening to attack. Quietly, he felt grateful to have dodged that fatal blow and held a newfound respect for the large man’s strength.

Infuriated by the missed strike, the large man charged again, wielding his broadsword wildly.

Each step he took shook the ground like an earthquake. Swinging his broadsword in wide arcs, he unleashed a dazzling array of blade light, as if weaving an impenetrable net to seal off all of Su Hao’s escape routes. His ferocity surged like a tidal wave, wave after wave, allowing no respite.

Su Hao frowned but kept his composure.

With a forceful stomp, he leapt high, spinning gracefully in mid-air like a nimble bird, deftly evading the dense blade light.

Then, stabilizing his posture, he raised his sword again. Spiritual energy gathered at its tip, transforming into a brilliant sword light that streaked like a meteor toward the large man’s back.

This strike concentrated all of Su Hao’s power and focus, swift as lightning, determined to strike while the man’s strength waned and before he could recover, delivering a heavy blow to severely injure him.

Sensing the danger behind him, the large man tried to dodge but it was too late.

At the critical moment, he forcefully twisted his body and used his broadsword to block the fierce thrust.

A loud clang echoed as sword met blade, sparks flying wildly, resembling a dazzling yet perilous fireworks display.

Su Hao used the momentum to spin in mid-air and land steadily on the ground.

The large man staggered back several steps from the powerful impact, his hands tingling painfully, his tiger’s mouth aching. His gaze now held more caution and a flicker of fear toward Su Hao.

After a brief pause to catch their breath, the two charged at each other again, launching a new round of even fiercer and more perilous combat.

The large man initiated the attack, shouting as he pushed off the ground, charging like a cannonball. His broadsword slashed horizontally toward Su Hao’s waist at incredible speed. The wind whistled sharply around the blade, like a whisper of death, radiating a deadly aura. Any hit would cleave Su Hao in two instantly.

Su Hao’s gaze was as sharp as a hawk’s. Facing the sweeping attack, he sidestepped like a ghost, narrowly avoiding the blade. The cold wind from the sword grazed his cheek, causing a sharp sting as if the blade had lightly scraped his skin—a perilous escape.

At the same time, his blood blade struck out again, slicing toward the large man’s arm. He aimed to disable it while the enemy’s strength was depleted and before it could recover, rendering him incapable of further attacks.

The blood blade cut through the air with a faint hiss, like a hidden venomous snake darting toward the large man’s right arm. Its cold, gleaming tip sent chills down the spine.

The large man reacted swiftly, pulling his arm back sharply but was still cut. A deep wound appeared, blood spurting out and flowing down his arm, dripping onto the ground and staining the earth crimson.

He cried out in pain, his face paling, but gritted his teeth and endured, hatred blazing in his heart. He continued wielding the broadsword madly, each strike fueled by fierce rage and cruelty. The blade light seemed to tear the very space around them, his offense growing even more ferocious.

Each of Su Hao’s evasions was a dance at the edge of life and death—one misstep would mean bloodshed.

Using his agile footwork, Su Hao weaved through the blinding blade and sword flashes, sometimes blocking with his long sword, sometimes counterattacking with the blood blade. The air around them churned in chaos, dust flying, sword qi and blade energy crisscrossing and sparking. The battle intensified with every moment, fraught with mortal danger, as though a single blink could bring death.

At this moment, Su Hao spotted a fleeting opening—the large man exposed a gap on his right side after a heavy swing.

His eyes turned cold, knowing this rare chance must not be missed.

Without hesitation, he seized the moment. His sword shot out like lightning, piercing precisely toward the man’s right ribs.

The strike was swift and precise, without any flourish, condensing all of Su Hao’s spiritual power and concentration, aiming to end this perilous duel once and for all.

The large man sensed the danger and tried to dodge but was slowed by his prior injury and exertion.

Despite struggling to twist his body, he could not fully evade. The sword pierced his right side, blood bursting forth like a blooming crimson flower, staining Su Hao’s clothes.

The large man froze violently, pain and disbelief etched on his face. His broadsword clattered to the ground as his strength seemed to drain with his blood. He slowly collapsed backward and finally fell lifeless.

Only then did Su Hao exhale deeply. That fierce battle had been fraught with peril; a single misstep could have meant his own downfall.

[Side Quest: Completion increased by 1 point, Cosmic Purification Stones gained: 3, total completion: 1 point.]

A cold, mechanical voice suddenly echoed in Su Hao’s mind.

Yet, the battle was far from over.