Star Gate

Chapter 518: To Slay (III)

“Don’t they say that you’re doomed to die if you use the Incantation of the Blade of Blood? You and your teacher have some balls to use it like that. Or perhaps... it has something to do with the sword of the Lis? Maybe Yuan Shuo’s able to use it without a care because he has the blade of the Zhangs?” Sea Shark leered. “What a nice treasure. If it’s in my hands, I can use it against late Novas or even peak Novas! What a sweet little thing wasted in your hands!”

Although Li Hao had become stronger than he just was, the Incantation wouldn’t last long in Sea Shark’s estimation. Not to mention, they were on the sea. Since the young man had chosen to fight here, he wouldn’t be getting away. Sea Shark could also wait to be reinforced by his Solars when they disposed of the guy that’d attacked them.

Of course, he didn’t feel that that would be necessary. He could take care of Li Hao. His blade flashed through the air as it hacked a dozen times in the blink of an eye. It shattered the waves and illuminated the dark void with blade light.

Li Hao’s figure in the shadows was instantly revealed. His longsword cut through the air and stabbed into the blade. Incredulously, the pirate’s weapon remained perfectly intact. It seemed to be an origin weapon, but didn’t present a weapon soul. The blade itself was made of such fine material that although Stellaris was indestructible, it wasn’t able to pierce through the blade!

“Nice sword, is it the divine one of the Lis? But my blade isn’t bad either, it’s a treasure from a sea ruin and much stronger than regular origin weapons, hahaha!!” Sea Shark roared with laughter and hacked again and again, keeping Li Hao on the back foot.

The young man had erupted with the Incantation of the Blade of Blood, melded four auras together, and was aided by the waves. And yet, he still found it difficult to match his opponent. They were just barely on par with each other, and he was a bit weaker.

This made Li Hao frown ferociously. Were all pirates this strong? They seemed much stronger than the heavyweights on that bullshit Divine Masters Ranking!

A furious roar rang in the distance as Liu Long erupted with a boom. He sent a Solar flying with a strike from his ax and yelled, “Kill them all! They’re animals!”

Li Hao flicked a glance out of the corner of his eye, finding the ship’s hold to be in a shattered state and numerous bodies visible from it. Some of them seemed to have been cut into.

Sea Shark cackled when he followed the young man’s gaze. “Is that Silver Spear’s son? He’s not bad! What’s he so angry about? We just killed a few ants. Apparently, you feed whatever you eat. Supernaturals are strong, but their organs are too weak. It’s said that eating some hearts will help supernaturals replenish the energy of their five organs. The effects are much better than your Breathing Method of the Five Styles...”

Li Hao blinked with incomprehension, speaking for the first time. “You guys... kill people... to eat them?”

“No no no, why would we eat them?”

Boom!

Sea Shark smashed his blade over with another roar of laughter. “We don’t eat people, just some organs. Apparently ones from martial masters are even more effective for the five organs because they’re stronger. We know that supernaturals easily have damaged organs when they cultivate to an extreme. Eating your organs will help us avoid some of the pitfalls. Heh, I count as your master after teaching you for free, don’t I?”

Li Hao’s jaw dropped! It was his first time hearing of such a theory. Eating organs to strengthen organs... This was an enormous blow to his mind and soul!

He’d thought that these people killed because they were perverts and crazy, but now Sea Shark told him that they killed for their victims’ organs, so that this delicacy could be used to strengthen their own...

The impact to his soul made it difficult to regain his calm. Rage boiled out of his heart and shot straight for the heavens. These people... no, these animals! How were they still human?? They ate people!

“DIE!” Li Hao charged with his sword. Sword qi raced to the heavens as a ferocious tiger leaping like an erupting volcano. BOOM!

Sea Shark was forced back by the flare of strength, but Li Hao didn’t stumble backward. He suffered all of the reverberation and instantly appeared next to the other. He slashed stroke after stroke in a maddened frenzy!

“Hahaha!” Sea Shark was delighted rather than dismayed. This was precisely the effect he wanted. How could a martial master rival him when their inner peace was disturbed? They would erupt with full power, then quickly decline from exhaustion!

As a pirate who’d killed more than he could count, Sea Shark knew how precisely to step on people’s trigger points. As he anticipated, the fresh-faced Li Hao couldn’t resist reacting.

Rumble!

Sea Shark focused on defense to weather Li Hao’s barrage of fury. He continuously backed away as the sword came down in a wrathful bombardment, yet didn’t consume too much in stamina. It was Li Hao who began breathing heavily, but continued to strike with his strong organs as a foundation!

To press on without letting up! Stroke after stroke after stroke...

Li Hao himself didn’t know how many sword strokes he delivered, but Sea Shark’s defenses were airtight. Although the pirate was splattered with blood from wounds inflicted by sword qi, he was as ferocious as ever. The more blood flowed, the crueler the glint in his eyes became!

Was this it?? It might be enough against ordinary mid Novas, but he was a mid Nova forged through blood! Li Hao was just a baby martial master, how did he think he would break Sea Shark’s defenses?!

Killing intent gathered in Li Hao’s eyes; he clenched his teeth while considering the opponent that was proving tough to kill. He looked into the distance—that ball of light seemed to be a real ball of light, not a lighthouse. Another powerhouse was drawing close.

Damn it!

There was no time to hesitate. His four auras were yet to be fortified to a significant basis because mind intent was difficult to enhance. It was only possible if he grasped a fifth aura, a requirement that was impossible at the moment.

He had certain plans in mind after he manifested all five auras, but that was out of the question now. He needed to kill this animal as quickly as possible!

A lotus flower petal appeared in his hand. He stuffed it in his mouth—the Goldensky Lotus. Hong Yitang had told him to eat it after he commanded give auras, that straightening one aura might lead to an imbalance with the others. If the circumstances were serious enough, he wouldn’t be able to comprehend any other auras.

However, the young man didn’t care at the moment. The lotus flower petal transformed into a clear current in his body and a peculiar power melded into his five organs. The four auras materialized in his organs, they all seemed to highly desire this power.

Li Hao didn’t hesitate to direct all of it to the golden dot. The metal aura flared with might! It would erupt with greater power after growing stronger; the spontaneous eruption of force would propel his momentary strength to new levels when paired with the Nine Forged Force.

The golden dot greedily absorbed the surge of power. It grew bigger and began struggling. His supernatural locks were so formidable that they’d nearly immobilized the dot, but now they shook again. Li Hao could clearly sense that the metal sword aura was much stronger than before, and it continued to increase!

One petal from the Goldensky Lotus had elicited protection from Nova monster spirits on the cusp of their metamorphosis. It was plain to see from that how wondrous the effects must be.

“Die!” Li Hao struck with his sword!

Bam!

An incredible force erupted at the point of contact. It was far stronger than before and exploded with internal force. Sea Shark was still on the defensive, but was shaken by this last explosion. His arm split open and some flesh and blood splattered the deck.

The man was surprised and shocked. How had Li Hao suddenly grown stronger?? Given his wealth of experience, he immediately shifted to offense and charged the young man. His blade cut through the air, but Li Hao continued his attack and didn’t raise his sword to defend himself!

The Ghost Shadow Sword!

Stroke followed stroke once more as he struck viciously, suppressing the pirate’s blade with a loud collision! A tiger howl emitted from Li Hao’s mouth!

“Roar!” The cry shook the heart. Sea Shark blinked as his ear drums bled and he lost focus for a split second. It was then that Li Hao spat out a mouthful of dark sword qi.

Bam!

The dark sword qi shattered the pirate’s facial defenses. Eyes widening, he tilted his head so that only one of his ears was obliterated.

“You mewling brat, you’re more annoying than that bastard Golden Spear!” A crazy light danced in Sea Shark’s eyes. His ear was gone!

Li Hao ignored him and struck again, continuously erupting to keep the other suppressed. The newly enhanced metal sword aura was so strong that it caused the four auras to be off balance, but they could still be melded in a combination stronger than before!

Li Hao suddenly reached out with his left hand and grabbed the blade. The blade shook violently; incomparably keen blade qi shot at Li Hao. The silver armor blocked most of it, but some cuts still lacerated the hand beneath the armor. Blood flowed freely from it.

The young man didn’t care. His sword abruptly shrank as he stabbed it at his opponent’s chest!

Sea Shark had been wielding his weapon with both hands. He roared with fury and maintained a tight grip with his right hand, balling his left hand into a fist and erupting with metal attribute power. Resplendent radiance flared as he smashed his hand down on Li Hao’s sword!

Li Hao’s right hand stuttered for a split second before the punch decimated the hand and sword. Sea Shark blinked with astonishment. Was it that fragile? It wasn’t surprising that the hand was gone, but that sword of the Lis was also dust?

As skepticism began to creep in, he suddenly went slack-jawed with dismay. A third hand seemed to grow out of Li Hao’s chest and it reached downward, grabbing with fingers curved as a claw!

Sea Shark shouted and exploded with mysterious power from his crotch. Metal energy cut in all four directions, but Li Hao’s hand continued unabated.

A definite crunch sounded! Metal energy was crushed as... was... something else. The momentary burst of strength that Li Hao had brought to bear was the metal sword aura!

“AHH!!” Sea Shark hadn’t blinked twice when he lost his ear, but now he wailed with unintelligible anguish. Not only that, but the mysterious power flowing through his body slackened. Unending pain and resentment appeared in his eyes!

Damn it... Li Hao! What kind of martial technique is that third hand...