Chapter 554: Silver Moon Swordsmen (I)

Chapter 554: Silver Moon Swordsmen (I)

Although Li Hao fought while Light Sword recovered from her wounds, he cowered completely within the defensive circle. His moves were slow and weak. How was he supposed to stand against their enemies?

Li Hao didn’t care. This was a display of trust—trust that Hong Yitang would endure. The young man wouldn’t be getting away if the defenses broke. However, his attacks really were listless. In that case, he could go even weaker since he wasn’t hurting anyone!

His sword strokes were as if fluttering willow leaves. He immersed himself in the process, growing bolder as he did so. He even rushed out a few times and startled his opponents by slashing his sword down, but ultimately discovered that his blow couldn’t even break the defenses of a mid Nova.

“He’s used the Incantation of the Blade of Blood!” Xu Zhen snorted after kicking Li Hao back. “It’s wearing off and he’s suffering from the backlash. He’s much weaker as a result—it’s left him with real strength around initial Nova!”

Li Hao was demonstrating the decline that occurred after using the Incantation; Xu Zhen was well familiar with it. It was Hong Yitang who was truly strong and blocking their attacks. However, the man didn’t have room to counterattack. He could only passively defend and await death.

Xu Zhen’s words made everyone brighten. That weak?

Initial Nova... was easily taken care of in their eyes. Many focused on Li Hao instead, waiting for the young man’s next charge out. When he did, all sorts of supernatural abilities exploded around the perimeter, throwing a bloody Li Hao back with a roar.

He didn’t care about his injuries, he had eyes only for the sword in his hand! He rushed out again, his durable body giving him more opportunities to fight. One stroke followed the previous. His Weeping Willow Sword technique grew more practiced, but he still wasn’t able to manifest his sword aura!

“Li Hao!” Hong Yitang grunted, his defensive circle shaking noticeably. Li Hao rushed forward again, but a cloaked powerhouse sank their hand into his arm and ripped out a large chunk of flesh!

His attacker was focused on the longsword and had tried to grab it before, but suffered a gash to his hand for his attempt. This time, the cloaked man chose to rip into Li Hao’s arm instead. The sword would come with the limb!

As substantial as Li Hao’s body was, he could not withstand the other’s attack. His skin ripped readily, but the young man’s sword drifted through the air and pierced his attacker in return. It was repelled by a surge of mysterious power, so overwhelming that Li Hao spat out a mouthful of blood. He quickly backed away and just barely managed to retreat.

His attacker wanted to follow up, but Earthturner Sword’s weapon sent him flying back!

Hong Yitang’s face began to pale. He was confined to a defensive position, Light Sword was digesting the Water of Life, Li Hao was practicing his technique, and he... was a damned babysitter. He had to keep his wits about him so that the enemy wouldn’t take advantage of an opening to break through. He was incredibly heart weary. If he’d known this would be the situation, he would’ve just ambushed all of these guys by himself. These two would be the death of him!

Li Hao had fully immersed himself in practice and deployed ever softening moves. He swayed unpredictably like dancing tree branches. When his longsword was rebuffed with another clang and someone’s foot connected with him again, he spat out blood and returned to the defensive circle.

As he did so, he flicked a glance at Xu Zhen out of the corner of his eye and smiled. Having fun, are you? I’ll make you the first target practice in a moment! You’ll be the first recipient of the Five Elements Sword!

The man knew what Li Hao was doing, but it really was going to be the death of him!

A little tree seemed to take root in Li Hao’s liver and sprout leaves. It was a willow branch stuck in the dirt. As it extended in growth, locks appeared like roots—not to confine the little tree in place, but to entwine around its roots and reach throughout the liver.

There were strange things living in all of the five organs now. There was a ferocious tiger in the heart, a wave of water in the kidneys, a mountain in the spleen, a dot of a golden sun in the lungs, and now a growing tree in his liver.

The little tree was the weakest, the other four were noticeably stronger as they’d been fed the Goldensky Lotus or Mind Fruits. This tree was the weakest as it’d just been born.

Li Hao coughed gently, summoning a seed of the Goldensky Lotus into his hand. Hong Yitang had given it to him, along with a petal. He’d already consumed the petal, but kept the seed for future use. If the petal could enhance the aura, then what of the seed?

He didn’t know, but he wanted to try. It might have good effects as well. If possible, he wanted to strengthen the willow tree. If the five auras were out of balance, that would create problems when trying to meld them together.

The golden lotus seed immediately vanished when he placed it in his mouth. A surge of refreshing energy far stronger than the petal refreshed Li Hao’s mind. The seed had a similar effect, and it seemed much stronger!

He conducted the strength into his liver, whereupon the tree shot upward like it’d been fertilized.

Boom!

Hong Yitang’s heart pounded fiercely—audibly—as the power of fire seeped out. Li Hao jerked awake with alarm and looked at the man. Hong Yitang’s face was on fire; one of his locks seemed to have snapped all the way through.

The increased strength enlarged his defensive circle, but the power seemed difficult to endure. His heart seemed to be burning. This was a condition that hadn’t appeared when he faced Hou Xiaochen and the others in Battle Heaven.

Light Sword’s eyes fluttered, but Hong Yitang roared, “Continue recovering, don’t waste the Water of Life!”

She plainly sensed danger and felt Hong Yitang’s resignation. If the situation continued, he would follow in her steps. However, Hong Yitang was also well aware that Light Sword was still recovering. If she made a move, she would quickly undo all of her earlier work. Not only would the droplet of water be wasted, but Li Hao might not be able to save her either.

They only needed a while longer for the Water of Life to completely permeate her body and close her wounds. Only then could she act.

Light Sword’s eyelids fluttered a moment longer before calming down. Earthturner Sword seemed to bestow an immense feeling of security upon everyone. Even Li Hao could focus solely on his cultivation because he knew the man was there. He was a jolt of confidence!