Volume 3 - Chapter 416: One Sword to Sweep Away All Evil, Only the Bright Moon Illuminates the Rivers and Mountains (Part 4)
Li Hao naturally understood the hatred simmering in the hearts of these demons. Yet seeing how none of them dared step forward under the mockery of the clan elders, he knew—it was over. None of them would take the stage.
Since they lacked the courage… he would give them an opportunity.
Just like they had given the humans an “opportunity” earlier.
“Those who have already fought—I’ll allow you to step up again.”
Li Hao's gaze remained steady and composed as he enunciated each word.
The moment his words rang out, the expressions of the purple-robed man and his cohort changed. Their eyes burned with fury.
Utter humiliation. This was what they had said before—and now, Li Hao had thrown it back at them.
They had made that offer to kill Su Muqing and Lin Zhexuan. For Li Hao to now say the same… was to lay bare his murderous intent toward them.
How dare a mere human say this? How could he?
The purple-robed man’s face grew darker, his eyes fixed on Li Hao. Yet none of them answered.
To fight again was pointless. Besides the black-veiled woman, none of the remaining two were likely to match Li Hao—and facing him meant likely death.
Even the black-veiled woman… though her body had fully recovered in this short time, Li Hao’s sword strikes contained soul-shattering force. Her Primordial Spirit was already riddled with wounds. If she fought again, her strength would be greatly diminished—she might not win.
“You…”
The black-veiled woman clenched her teeth, glaring at Li Hao. She felt his words were aimed directly at her—a deliberate insult.
Her eyes blazed with fury, but she didn’t act impulsively. Instead, she memorized his face.
The others, after a brief moment of stunned silence, erupted in cheers. It was cathartic—every bit of earlier humiliation had now been returned in full.
Li Hao looked up at the black warship again. Seeing they still didn’t move, he furrowed his brow, inhaled deeply, and said:
“Still too afraid? Then I’ll give you another concession. Everyone may come at once—except for the black-veiled woman.”
Those words stunned everyone—not just the purple-robed men, but also Su Zhenyuan and the others, who had just been basking in triumph. Cold sweat broke out across their backs as they stared at Li Hao in shock.
“Haotian, this isn’t something to joke about!”
Su Zhenyuan’s voice rang in Li Hao’s mind—delivered through divine transmission before the arena’s barrier was reformed.
But Li Hao didn’t respond. His gaze never wavered from the purple-robed man.
That man, as if fearing Li Hao would change his mind, immediately responded after a brief stupor and a flash of delight. “Fine. You said it. No backing out now!”
He shouted the last part loudly, afraid that Su Zhenyuan or the others would interfere.
Their expressions twisted in dismay. Jiang Qiuyu also sent a voice transmission:
“Child, don’t be reckless. These are the top demon prodigies. If they work together…”
Li Hao said nothing. He continued to stare at the purple-robed man and said:
“I won’t go back on my word. But I have my own condition. If I win—and they all lose—then every single war captive must be returned. In addition, I want one hundred demon royal cities. Do you agree?”
At those words, Su Zhenyuan and the others jolted in realization. Now they understood Li Hao’s true aim—to retrieve all the war captives.
Jiang Xuming had lost. Su Wanqing, Lin Zhexuan, even Su Muqing had lost. Out of nearly eight rounds, they had only claimed a single victory!
Even if the remaining demons surrendered, they could only get back a dozen captives. Six or seven would still remain behind enemy lines.
Compared to the value of twenty war captives, a hundred demon cities was nothing. Each one of those prodigies was worth more than a hundred cities—perhaps even more.
If even one of them reached the peak of the Immortal King Realm, no number of cities could buy them back!
Though training such talents required untold resources and treasures, the reward far outweighed the cost.
“Haha! Of course I agree!”
The purple-robed man laughed. A hundred cities meant nothing to the vast demon domains.
As for the captives… painful though it might be, if it bought them a chance to kill Li Hao, it would be worth it.
Even if all twenty were thrown away, it paled in comparison to eliminating this threat.
“Su Zhenyuan, he said it himself. Don’t blame me. You’d better be able to afford the loss!”
The purple-robed man turned and barked at Su Zhenyuan and the others.
They sent more urgent messages to Li Hao—but got no reply. Finally, three words returned:
“Trust in me.”
Only that.
Three simple words, yet they calmed their hearts. Brimming with confidence, they reassured rather than boasted.
Su Zhenyuan, Jiang Qiuyu, and the others exchanged looks. Though their eyes remained clouded with worry, the die was cast. There was no turning back.
“If it fails, just surrender.”
Su Zhenyuan still urged caution. If Li Hao yielded, he would risk everything to save him.
Li Hao nodded.
Seeing the elders go silent, the purple-robed man’s grin widened. But it quickly turned icy. He looked toward the remaining demon prodigies aboard the black warship and ordered coldly:
“Time for you to act. Eighteen against one. If any of you dares surrender… don’t even dream of returning alive!”
It was a death command.
He was forcing them to go all-out. Even if they had to burn their souls or use suicide-level techniques—they had to kill that boy!
Better to die in battle and be remembered as heroes of the demon race than to surrender and bring disgrace upon their clans.
The eighteen demon prodigies’ faces hardened. They understood the stakes. One on one, none could beat Li Hao—but together, surely he would fall.
“Go!”
The purple-robed man barked.
Eighteen figures flew out at once, descending upon the Dao Arena.
Everyone took the field—except the black-veiled woman and the fallen Redbeard.
The black-veiled woman frowned deeply. This youth wasn’t reckless. He had defeated her, formed the Dao Source Immortal Seal—he clearly wasn’t someone who acted without thought.
If he dared make this wager, he must have cards left unplayed. He must have greater strength yet revealed!
And by excluding her from the fight, he was clearly calculating his limits. She and Li Hao were too evenly matched. If she joined the others, he would surely die—even with heaven-defying power.
“This arrogant brat… he doesn’t know that, besides you, even someone like Meng Qing wields hidden powers. Caught off guard, even you might fall to them.”
The purple-robed man’s eyes shimmered with murderous intent. His fists clenched tight.
So long as they could kill Li Hao—destroy this peerless talent bearing the Dao Source Immortal Seal—this exchange would be the greatest of victories.
“Haotian…”
Su Zhenyuan and the others watched the arena’s barrier slowly close, their eyes filled with complicated emotion.
They had gathered extensive intelligence. They knew this youth wasn’t of the Northern Region.
Yet he was doing this… for the sake of the Northern Region’s humans.
“Eighteen against one?”
“Isn’t that shameless bullying? Can he really withstand it?”
“Heaven help him… please, let him win!”
“I’ll give up five hundred years of my life if the heavens will just protect him!”
In the thirty-six thousand immortal cities, countless voices whispered prayers. Hearts pounded.
They all saw clearly—this youth was fighting to bring every captive home.
But how bitter the odds…
Among the remaining demons—even without the black-veiled woman—there were certainly others like Redbeard. Together… they would be terrifying.
Within the Dao Arena, the cold wind howled and swept across the stones.
Li Hao’s Primordial Spirit still burned, though weaker now than before.
“You think you’ll win them all back? Keep dreaming!”
“Die! I’ll tear that Dao Source Immortal Seal from your bones and devour it!”
Eighteen demon prodigies, including the nightmare-wielding Meng Qing, glared at Li Hao with venomous hatred.
He had humiliated the demons. They wanted nothing more than to flay him, eat him alive, pick his bones clean.
Thunder split the heavens. The battle had begun.
The flashing lightning illuminated Li Hao’s face—his expression regal, arrogant, and deadly. He stood alone, defiant against all.
Only he knew—his goal wasn’t merely to reclaim the captives.
He wanted to leave none of them alive.
Let these demons who had come to shame humanity reap the bitter fruit they sowed.
Buzz…
Comments
Post a Comment