Chapter 62: The Li Family Members

“Heaven’s Execution!”

With those two words softly spoken, Kou Zizhong’s voice barely a whisper, a cold gleam flashed deep within Lin Hao’s eyes. Suddenly, he stepped forward, bringing his blade down upon the effeminate man before him with a ferocious slash.

A shrill hum, both chilling and endless, rang out. Heaven’s Execution seemed to resonate with an insatiable hunger for melody, its aura exuding boundless savagery. In a sudden, merciless arc, the blade descended upon the man.

A sickening sound of flesh and blood being torn filled the air. An unprecedentedly intense brilliance flickered in Lin Hao’s eyes as he finished off his adversary in one swift motion.

Though described at length, all of this transpired in the blink of an eye.

Having finished, Lin Hao quickly collected the man’s command token, turned, and sped away into the distance. The commotion here would surely draw opportunists seeking to profit from chaos. For Lin Hao, now was not the time to reveal himself.

With this in mind, he ran swiftly through the forested mountains, pondering the true nature of this secret realm. Its establishment was strange indeed—hundreds had entered, and if the sole purpose was to vie for command tokens, it felt unsatisfyingly shallow. Could such a grand sect as Qingluo truly have fallen so low?

He had not gone far when a powerful sense of mortal peril suddenly gripped his heart. His pupils contracted sharply, and a tidal wave of dread surged within him.

Ahead, a razor-sharp golden flying sword was streaking straight toward him.

The sword’s presence radiated an intent as if it could pierce the heavens and command all creation. Lin Hao’s eyes widened with terror, blood vessels crawling across his vision as a cold, merciless light emerged. In the instant that an immense azure spiritual force coalesced around him, it formed a sturdy cauldron, which he sent crashing into the oncoming sword.

A thunderous boom resounded—the cauldron shattered instantly!

Though the sword was momentarily halted, it shot forward the next instant, piercing Lin Hao’s arm and pinning him ruthlessly to the ground.

A figure appeared in the sky—a youth in immaculate white stepped lightly through the air, approaching with measured grace. He had sword-like brows and star-bright eyes, with a predatory gleam reminiscent of a wolf’s. His presence was both handsome and gentle, yet carried an undeniable nobility, marking him as someone extraordinary.

“Who are you?” Lin Hao’s voice was hoarse, his gaze more solemn than ever as he faced the approaching youth. But the young man only looked at him with contempt, shaking his head as he spoke in a cool, indifferent tone:

“So the woman from the Bai clan favors someone like you? I thought she would choose a peerless prodigy, but you’re nothing but a disappointment.”

As he finished, the youth’s eyes shone with a profound light. With a casual wave, the sword embedded in Lin Hao’s shoulder quivered, wrenched itself free, and flew back into the young man’s hand.

“Stepping through the air, seventh level of Spirit Condensation.”

Lin Hao struggled to his feet, staring coldly at the youth as he landed. His eyes brimmed with an icy light, voice calm yet heavy with resolve.

“No matter. I’ll send this ant to his death.”

The youth remained utterly unmoved by Lin Hao’s murderous intent. He collected himself, a deep, chilling light flickering in his eyes, and with another wave, sent the golden sword slashing toward Lin Hao once more.

“Courting death!”

Sensing the killing intent radiating from the sword, Lin Hao’s heart leapt with alarm and rage at the youth’s tyrannical arrogance—it was simply intolerable!

“Soldiers, to arms!”

As the sword neared, Lin Hao’s eyes blazed red, his roar echoing with unrestrained killing intent. A brilliant white light surged around him as the world’s spiritual energies rushed to gather, forming a terrifying aura about his form—a killing intent so dense it was palpable.

With a single step, invoking the Sovereign’s Art of Battle, Lin Hao clenched his fist and struck at the golden sword.

A deafening crash erupted. Lin Hao’s pupils contracted as he spat a mouthful of blood, his body wracked with turmoil. Ignoring the agony within, he pressed forward, closing the gap in a flash to deliver a vicious punch at the young man’s face.

“Seeking death!”

Unfazed, the young man’s face turned cold as he stepped forward, right fist clenched, knees bent, launching a straight punch.

“Divine Shock, Soldiers in Formation!”

As he intoned the words, an awe-inspiring aura burst from his body, transforming into a blade of celestial armament, its edge tearing through the air toward Lin Hao.

“Heaven’s Execution!”

Sensing the terrifying force gathering around the youth, Lin Hao did not retreat. Madness and ruthlessness filled his gaze as he advanced in a flash, trading blows with wild abandon. With his other hand, he summoned Heaven’s Execution and hurled it at the youth’s chest.

A cataclysmic explosion shook the heavens. Lin Hao’s pupils contracted sharply as blood streamed from his seven orifices, his body battered by the storm unleashed by their clash. The shockwave swept outward, shattering the surrounding forest in a display of overwhelming force.

“What?!”

The young man’s eyes widened in disbelief amid the clash. He had not expected Lin Hao to possess such a fearsome secret weapon.

Another wet, tearing sound—blood spurted from the youth’s mouth as he was sent hurtling backwards like a cannonball.

A furious roar shattered the sky as a golden light erupted from the flying sword, now under the youth’s control, shooting straight toward Lin Hao’s chest.

“Heaven’s Execution!”

Refusing to be outdone, Lin Hao’s eyes filled with terror as he ducked low, a cold aura surging around him. In an instant, Heaven’s Execution appeared in his grasp, transforming into a fearsome silver-white spear a full ten feet long, its surface crawling with sinister blood-red patterns and exuding an aura of supreme savagery.

“Break!”

As the golden sword hurtled toward him, Lin Hao’s eyes were shot through with blood. His voice hoarse, he struck out with the spear in a decisive thrust.

A piercing hum ripped through the air as the two weapons clashed. The golden sword trembled violently, fractures racing across its surface.

A tremendous explosion followed as the sword shattered, the ensuing storm hurling Lin Hao backwards several steps. Blood spewed from his mouth as the surrounding forest was flattened, crushed as if by the hand of a titan.

“Not good!”

Lin Hao’s heart lurched with dread as a sudden vision of Bai Li beset by enemies flashed through his mind. Ignoring his wounds, eyes wild with blood, he sped away toward the place his heart sensed she was.

“I’d like to see how many tricks you have left,” muttered the youth, slowly rising to his feet. As spiritual energy mended the wound on his chest, his gaze turned glacial. He stepped into the air, following Lin Hao’s trail.

Soon, Lin Hao had crossed countless mountains and forests, searching without pause. The unease in his heart would not abate, and he pressed on relentlessly.

At last, he arrived at the foot of a towering black mountain. There, a dozen men had surrounded a woman in a white dress, their faces drawn with grave intent.

The woman was strikingly beautiful, her presence both chilling and fierce. Though wounded, the coldness in her eyes was undiminished—if pressed, she would surely take several of her attackers with her in a final stand.

“Dare to lay a hand on my woman!”

Seeing Bai Li encircled, Lin Hao’s eyes burned with icy fury, a ruthless aura swirling around him. Heaven’s Execution, now a spear, danced in his grasp as he closed the distance in a flash. With a guttural cry, he drove the spear through a man’s throat.

Without hesitation, as blood splattered, he struck again, dispatching another foe with lightning speed.

The others, startled by the sudden loss of their comrades, began to retreat in panic.

Lin Hao wasted no time, his gaze colder than ever as he swept over them. He hurried to Bai Li’s side, supporting her gently as he asked with deep concern, “Are you all right?”

“I’m fine,” she replied, shaking her head as the coldness in her eyes faded. Sitting cross-legged, she caught her breath, her voice trembling with chill. “The Li clan set a trap for you. Are you hurt?”

“These men are his followers. He wants the secret art I possess—the one for changing fate.”

“It’s over now.”

Hearing this, Lin Hao shook his head, soothing Bai Li’s shoulder and pinching her delicate cheek. His voice was gentle yet firm: “With me here, no one can hurt you.”

He rose, a murderous light in his eyes, a chill radiating from his body as white light shimmered about him. He scanned the crowd with a cold gaze and pronounced, “Those who harm my wife must pay for it with their lives.”

Without further warning, Lin Hao’s eyes blazed with bloodlust as he called softly upon Heaven’s Execution. In a single stride, he closed on the nearest man, spear whirling in his hands as he struck with deadly force.

“What?!”

The man’s pupils contracted in terror as Lin Hao attacked, dread surging within him.

“Azure Compass!”

Desperate, and feeling the killing intent emanating from Heaven’s Execution, the man’s eyes filled with blood. With a wild cry, a strange blue compass appeared on his chest, shining with an eerie light. With a gesture, he hurled it at Lin Hao.

“Die!”

Sensing the compass’s sinister power, Lin Hao’s eyes sharpened, but instead of retreating, his spear shot forward even faster.

With a thunderous crash, the compass shattered, its eerie energy dissipating. Lin Hao’s spear pierced the man’s throat.

He wasted no time—eyes glinting with bloodthirst, lips curling into a smile, he stepped forward again and struck at the next closest foe.

All of this took place in the blink of an eye. From Lin Hao’s decisive first strike, to his ruthless dispatch of two men, everything unfolded in a heartbeat.

Seeing this, the remaining dozen or so turned ashen-faced, convinced of Lin Hao’s terrifying power—especially the might of his spear, which seemed invincible.

Sensing the chill radiating from Lin Hao, no one dared linger. They prepared to flee, but just then, a figure in white appeared in the distant sky, striding through the air.

Behind him, thousands of demonic beasts and dozens of disciples trailed in his wake.

“I swear upon my name—should anyone slay this man, the Li clan shall offer their protection for your entire lifetime!”