Chapter 1258: Chapter 1256: Prelude to the Great Decisive Battle, Fierce Battlefield (Part 1)
He was not a Fake Sky Origin Realm expert, yet he surpassed one. His reaction speed, combat skills, and spiritual techniques were far superior to those of a Fake Sky Origin Realm expert.
Shi Xiaole’s display left the Outer Heaven Giant with an indescribable shock, which was identical to the one felt by the warriors from East Victory earlier.
"Soul-binding Ghost Hand!"
The white-clothed elder holding the Soul Summoning Banner had a sinister complexion mixed with a hint of wariness. After retreating tens of thousands of meters, he reached out with his left hand.
His hand resembled a skeleton covered in skin, unnaturally elongated, and as he clenched his fist, his fingers deeply embedded into the void itself.
The next moment!
An invisible claw shadow enveloped Shi Xiaole, as if even his spiritual power was shackled, leaving him unable to break free.
Every Fake Sky Origin Realm expert was not to be underestimated, and the killing move used by the white-clothed elder was clearly designed for spiritual power. In fact, he was the strongest in spiritual techniques among the ten Outer Heaven Giants.
Initially, there were five people besieging the Great Battles Emperor, but now only three remained. Among them, the swordsman with the chilling swordsmanship suddenly withdrew and, stirring up the snowy wind, launched an attack at Shi Xiaole at the exact moment he was hit!
At the same time.
The Outer Heaven Swordsman sent the Sect Leader of the Demon Exorcism Sect flying with a slash, then, pivoting on his left leg, he spun swiftly, sending a dark crimson blade light, resembling a blood sea, slashing toward Shi Xiaole.
Feeling threatened by Shi Xiaole, the two experts preferred to forsake others and prioritized eliminating Shi Xiaole first.
Boom boom boom!
The invisible claw shadow was struck three times in rapid succession, completely distorted and deformed, revealing a huge weakness, through which Shi Xiaole escaped like a beam of sword light.
In almost less than a thousandth of a blink of an eye, the cold Sword Qi collided with the bloody blade light, blowing up the void into oblivion.
"What, three spiritual techniques in rapid succession?"
The Outer Heaven Swordsman was astounded.
Shi Xiaole had already unleashed two spiritual techniques before, and now he followed with three more without any decrease in strength, signifying that not only was his spiritual quality high, but his reserves of spiritual power were also astonishing.
"Immediately abandon everyone else and kill this boy!"
The Outer Heaven Swordsman secretly transmitted his voice.
In Shi Xiaole, he felt as if he was witnessing the elegance of the Demon Ruler. With the swordsman’s age, he of course had never seen the Demon Ruler, but he had heard from his clan’s elders about that very person who hindered their domination over East Victory.
Swoosh swoosh swoosh.
In nearly an instant, all seven Outer Heaven Giants present launched an assault on Shi Xiaole at the center, madly unleashing all sorts of killing techniques and special moves without regard for their own lives.
"Hundred Scrolls God-killing Bind!"
The whip shadow burst into a long spear, and the Great Battles Emperor suddenly attacked the Outer Heaven Swordsman.
The other three giants, along with the severely wounded holder of the Demon Blade and the Flying Horse Emperor, hesitated for only a brief moment before joining forces to attack the back of the Outer Heaven Giants.
They were all smart enough to grasp the urgency of the situation – Shi Xiaole absolutely could not die at this moment, or they would be doomed, not to mention their plan to break the Array System would fall through.
"You fools, if this boy grows up, you’ll all have to live under his breath!"
The Outer Heaven Giant with an androgynous face coldly shouted as his killing scheme was thwarted.
"Who’s the fool to actually use such a clumsy attempt at sowing discord."
Wind Wave Ancestor retorted derisively.
"Humph!"
With no choice, both parties once again engaged in a chaotic battle.
Tethered by the other six, Shi Xiaole alone faced the white-clothed elder with the Soul Summoning Banner and the swordsman with the icy swordsmanship.
"Melt the Snow!"
The Ice Polar Sword Emperor flicked his wrist, and countless hexagonal ice crystals scattered in a fan-shaped assault on Shi Xiaole, turning the entire world into a blue, icy surface.
This layer of blue ice not only contained the power to freeze a person’s soul, but it also carried an unrivaled Sword Qi – those slightly lacking in strength would perish under a torture a hundred times more painful than lingering death.
This person’s strength was slightly greater than that of the Great Battles Emperor.
Caught between emotion and apathy, a furious surge of sword intent burst forth, and Shi Xiaole had no choice but to resort to "Emotional Heaven and Earth Sword 23".
Clang!
The blue ice surface cracked open with countless fissures, shattering to pieces, as large swathes of the main island’s mountains vanished into thin air, and the ground itself was shaved off a thick layer.
Retreating, Shi Xiaole’s body was also partially obliterated, blending with the ice crystals and scattering high into the air. In terms of head-on strength, he ultimately still fell short of the Ice Polar Sword Emperor.
"Dream of the Soul’s Entry!"
The white Soul Summoning Banner lit up with little flickers of ghostly fire, twinkling like fireflies in the night. The white-clothed elder frantically spurred his power, creating visible grey ripples charging towards Shi Xiaole.
Upon closer inspection, they were not grey ripples but countless ghostly figures entwined together, forming a ghostly tempest capable of tearing gods and splitting demons.
Without even looking, revolving around the axis of life-and-death martial arts, Shi Xiaole almost instantly unleashed the second "Emotional Heaven and Earth Sword 23", immediately followed by the third.
Thump!
Boom!
The ghostly tempest was first shattered, then a sword energy thrust through it, striking directly at the white-clothed elder.
The latter could not have anticipated that Shi Xiaole would still have the capability to launch consecutive strikes, and even though he needed to catch his breath, he was forced to shift a portion of the distance. Still, he was hit hard by the sword energy.
A scream of agony erupted as the white-robed elder’s body exploded into pieces, his expression one of sheer terror.
Even more horrifying was what followed: a stream of Sword Qi slashed across the sky, utilizing the aftershock’s cover to rapidly pierce forward. Even up to this point, no sound of it breaking through the air could be heard, for the sword was faster than the speed of sound.
This was the Heart Thunder One Sword, and it was Shi Xiaole’s killing move!
Three strikes in rapid succession.
Pfft.
Before the blood mist could even form, it was obliterated.
A bloody hole appeared at the throat of the white-robed elder, his mouth agape, and his pupils dilating as if he still hadn’t snapped back to reality.
What is happening to me? Why have I lost my strength? It hurts so much; I’m going to die—no, I can’t die...
The white-robed elder could never have dreamed that what was supposed to be a surefire trap to kill would instead claim his own life.
The ten Outer Heaven Giants, despite their overwhelming advantage, found four of their number slain in an instant. The remaining six watched as Shi Xiaole’s body rapidly recovered, their expressions souring to the extreme.
They vaguely knew their opponent had grasped the martial way of life and death, but they hadn’t anticipated it being so freakishly powerful.
"Outer Heaven Demons, it seems your plan has fallen through," sneered the Spirit Ink Emperor.
With Shi Xiaole’s prowess, handling two opponents at once was no problem. Their four legendary fighters, along with the masters of the Demon Blade and the Flying Horse Emperor, could easily suppress the remaining four. The advantage on the battlefield had swiftly returned to their side.
At this moment, despite their differing allegiances, even the Spirit Ink Emperor couldn’t help but admit his respect for Shi Xiaole. He would bet that when faced with an encirclement, Shi Xiaole’s ability to survive would even surpass that of the Great Battles Emperor.
"Fallen through? Not necessarily."
The Outer Heaven Swordsman’s eyes blazed with unrestrained fury and bloodlust, his gaze fixed on Shi Xiaole. If looks could kill, Shi Xiaole would have died ten thousand times over.
Giant-level figures, even from the Outer Heaven domain, stood as pillars, leaders of the major battlefields.
After all, there were too few at the Supreme Lord level of the Sky Origin Realm. Sixteen thousand years ago, the Outer Heaven domain had to pull forces from over a dozen other battlefields to gather a hundred Sky Origin Realm Supreme Lords for the battle at East Victory, where over half of them perished, and only now have they started to recover.
Furthermore, don’t forget that the masters of the Fake Sky Origin Realm are the reserve force for the Supreme Lords of the Sky Origin Realm. Of the four who just died, two had a solid chance of becoming Supreme Lords, their lives squandered so senselessly!
The Outer Heaven Swordsman could scarcely imagine how the likes of the Nine Heavens Ancestor would react upon hearing the news, fury undoubtedly, as he thought so, cold sweat beading his forehead.
"Kill this brat for me!" he bellowed.
Another bout of fierce fighting ensued.
The six remaining Outer Heaven Giants fought with everything they had, but Shi Xiaole was as slippery as an eel. When they attacked with all their might, he would retreat just as fiercely, and when they prepared to gather strength, he struck quickly, touching and leaving before they could react, refusing to rise to their provocation.
"Brat, I, the Blood Sea Blade Emperor, swear I will kill you, I will kill you!"
The Blood Sea Blade Emperor, in his dark red armor, ground his teeth in rage.
Yet he knew that if they continued to fight like this, they might take down one or two experts from East Victory, but they would undoubtedly not kill Shi Xiaole. Worse, they would deplete their strength first, resulting in even more deaths.
"I’m always ready for a challenge," Shi Xiaole said defiantly.
Among the four who had died, three were the murderers of Qin Elder and the Heavenly Destiny Divine Fortune Teller. Four more remained, and he was determined to avenge them with his own hands. But Shi Xiaole also understood that with his current strength, this was as far as he could go today.
"Let’s go!"
Seething with insuppressible regret and fury, the Blood Sea Blade Emperor turned back towards the Mystical Forest, while the other five gave Shi Xiaole one last look before leaving in succession.
Thus concluded a slaughter aimed at the giants of East Victory, ending not with a bang but a whimper.
The likes of Wind Wave Ancestor all breathed a sigh of relief. Had the fight continued, they couldn’t be sure of holding on. The experience had been fraught with peril.
Without prior agreement, everyone’s gaze converged on Shi Xiaole.
Some people seem born to create miracles, and undoubtedly, he was one of them. You could never predict his capabilities or guess his trump cards. Every time you thought he had reached his limit, it would turn out that it was your own perspective that was too narrow.
"Boss, let’s continue, the Array System is about to break," urged the Great Battles Emperor, unconsciously consulting with Shi Xiaole.
If previously he considered Shi Xiaole barely an equal, now he was forced to acknowledge him as a peer.
"The tough battle for the East Victory world is about to begin; we need to prepare ourselves," said Shi Xiaole gravely.
This statement drew everyone’s attention.
Indeed, once the Mystical Forest’s Array System broke, the Overlapping Land would be thoroughly connected with the East Victory world. The warriors of East Victory would surge forth without needing the Outer Heaven Demons to attack.
At that time, this place was sure to become the most terrifying slaughterhouse in the world. Who knew how many heroes would perish here, laid to rest in foreign soil?
Was this cycle destined to repeat as the spiritual energy of heaven and earth approached its peak and the martial civilization flourished once again, leading to another war of annihilation?
To wither amidst prosperity, to perish in splendor.
One day later.
An explosion of intensely hallucinogenic air came from within the Mystical Forest, and then it shattered with a thunderous crash.
On that day, the barrier between the East Victory world and the Overlapping Land was broken through.
