Chapter 772: Incredible (IV)

Li Hao and Hong Yitang swiftly retreated. In the air, seven plant spirits covered the earth and sky. The mental strength churned through the vicinity—just their presences alone were sufficient to force those beneath Arcanus to their knees.

The young man watched with a grave look. These were seven premier Arcanus, truly elite powerhouses. Each of them felt stronger than him, but he was no ordinary four element Arcanus. Were ancient plant spirits with only a little bit of core origin really this strong? Could the little tree truly take them all by itself?

Even Li Hao found his confidence faltering in this moment. He was just hesitant, not afraid. He wondered if he should try coalescing his fifth element. The young man wasn’t ready to pin his hopes on the little tree.

“The heir of the Sword Sovereign?”

“He is... so weak. How is he worthy of being the heir?”

“Don’t say that, it’s been endless millennia since the Sword Sovereign disappeared. One hundred thousand years have elapsed since New Martial, haven’t there?”

“Just about, almost...”

“Who knows how many generations it’s been? There is no bloodline to speak of. It’s amazing that any heritage has been passed on.” The plant spirits chattered leisurely to each other, as if there was nothing to worry about.

Indeed, there was nothing to worry about since they were invincible in this era. Even if their replicas only commanded one tenth of their strength—and perhaps not even that—it was sufficient to eliminate the human and his group.

The young man watched, unfazed. He was just about to test their strength when the little tree’s voice sounded in his ear. “Let me, but I have a favor to ask... Their core origin is very suited for my nourishment after they are dead. I don’t want the mysterious power stones, can you give me all of their core origin instead?”

That was seven plant replicas! The little tree was trembling from excitement. Its decision had proven to be correct! Sending half of its core origin with Li Hao had been the right choice to make. The human was such a troublemaker, but he created the perfect trouble. The little tree wouldn’t be a match for a single one of them if they were on plant spirit territory, to say nothing of all seven.

But here, there were only the core origin replicas of the seven plant spirits. There was very little core origin in these replicas, whereas the little tree had sunk half of its core origin in its replica. As they said, only when one went through the pain of investment was there a harvest.

“Alright!” Li Hao agreed without even thinking about it.

A little tree abruptly appeared in the air as soon as he agreed. It grew with the wind, resembling a willow tree, but also a poplar tree. It enlarged with the breeze, causing the seven conversing plant spirits to jerk with astonishment.

Thousands of branches stabbed into the void as a domineering presence rose!

BOOM!

“Who are you?!” shrieks rang out. The little tree didn’t answer and continued to send its branches through the air.

BAM!

Enormous explosions shook the world. Blood streamed out of the seven orifices of the weaklings that were present to round out the expedition numbers. They emitted ghastly screams before their heads exploded!

Li Hao’s quartet also stepped back with shock! Qian Wanhao couldn’t believe his eyes!

“How... is this possible...”

The plant spirits of Silver Moon couldn’t possibly awaken! Silver Moon’s plant spirits were very strong and weren’t the only ones that needed energy in the province. The ruins required significant quantities as well, which resulted in the plant spirits not absorbing enough in the first awakening. Therefore, the nine ministries had guessed that there was a ninety-nine percent chance that Li Hao didn’t possess a plant spirit replica.

It wouldn’t be too powerful even if he did. The plant spirits wouldn’t sever too much of their core origin since they’d just awoken. But... somehow... this moment showed a different reality. It was clear to see that the seven plant spirits in the air were somewhat intangible and illusory, but the little tree was more solid.

Another loud explosion sounded as Qian Wanhao grappled with his shock. The little tree’s branches had entwined around the rose. The latter shook with fury and unwillingness to accept its fate!

“You are not a plant of New Martial, how dare you kill my replica! When I fully reawaken...” Its mental ripples shifted violently. It could tell that the opponent wasn’t from New Martial, it was too inexperienced!

This was a plant spirit from a later age, one exceedingly bold as it might have severed a significant portion of its core origin for its replica! It would be either crippled or dead if it lost this replica. How did Li Hao have such an equally crazed plant spirit by its side? Could plant spirits be such lunatics as well?!

The little tree did respond, it crushed the rose shadow out of existence with a dull roar!

There was suddenly one less plant spirit.

The bush of bristles and thorns shook with shock. “What a bold latter day descendant. You just set foot into Apex, but you dare sever half of your core origin...”

“Your death is guaranteed once our main bodies sense that you’ve destroyed our replicas!” The other plant spirits erupted with formidable strength. Several great daos intertwined in the void with daunting momentum!

“What a bunch of weeds,” came the little tree’s mental ripples. “How dare the likes of you dismiss me?”

An image of a palace shaped like a cat manifested in the air! It was just a shadow, but it drew immediate, stark fear from the plant spirits.

“The imperial palace?!”

BOOM!

The image descended with finality, crushing the bush out of existence.

“An envoy of the imperial palace... No... that’s impossible! The imperial palace has vanished and there is none in Silver Moon...” A plant spirit gibbered with fear! How was there an imperial palace here?!

The master of the imperial palace wasn’t a regular emperor—it was one simply referred to as the Imperial Majesty, not so-and-so emperor or so-and-so highness. There was only one Imperial Majesty!

That one was one who could not be described because it was said that its powers of perception exceeded that of the ancient Human King’s. Anyone who mentioned its name would be sensed. It was so terrifying that it could snuff out your soul from countless spacetimes away!

No one dared mention its name, it was an existence more horrifying than the Eternal Sword Sovereign...

“The imperial palace always exists! My kind safeguards the palace!” the little tree declared brusquely. Who did these weeds think they were patronizing?! So what if their main bodies awoke? It couldn’t stand up to them, but they would first need to have a chance to tell their main bodies what had happened!

BOOM!

The imperial palace suppressed the area! Its presence was so immense that it was suffocating. The barest corner of the imperial palace that was on display was just a projection, a manifestation of core origin. All the same, it was unfathomably strong.

KABOOM!

Another plant spirit exploded. The survivors howled with indignity and countless branches shot through the void, aimed at the little tree. They would all die if this continued!

The little tree had portioned out so much core origin that its replica was second to only Apexes. It was further more horrifying since it was armed with a projection of the imperial palace! At the same time, the little tree wasn’t strong, so it was a bit of a stretch for it to be manipulating this corner of the palace.

In that case, the attackers stood a chance!

“What are you standing around for, Qian Wanhao?? Attack! Kill them! Help us!!” roared a big tree shadow.

This finally jerked the rest out of their reverie. They stared at Li Hao’s quartet—in fact, both sides had been stunned by the plant spirits and forgotten to attack each other. Now that they met each other’s eyes, Qian Wanhao shouted, “Kill them! Use everything we’ve got or don’t think of making it out alive!”

Orange Moon was likewise stunned in the crowd. So this was the case! This was why Li Hao was so confident! He had a replica of a plant spirit who’d severed a great portion of its core origin. It wielded the strength of a six, seven element Arcanus!

Five elements were the peak of Arcanus. When one reached six elements, that made one a core origin cultivator in the ancient civilization, one who set foot on the path of core origin dao. Seven elements absolutely rivaled an Apex.

I see!

Orange Moon understood. She knew Li Hao’s trump card now. A scarlet shadow slowly floated upward in her body and a certain presence strengthened inexorably. Orange Moon’s face drained of color and she furiously swallowed Water of Life. A disquieting shadow appeared on her face—somewhat maniacal, somewhat calm.

Li Hao, it’s your doom today!

Li Hao was about to attack anew when he suddenly stopped and looked at Orange Moon. His expression stilled, then slowly transformed to fury and rage!

Was that... Zhang Yuan?

Was it?

No... there was more than one face there! A black shadow was changing over Orange Moon’s face as numerous faces flashed through the darkness. He even... saw his parents’ faces!

Li Hao closed his eyes. There was only madness in them when he opened his eyes again!

Ying Hongyue! I’m going to kill you!

“DIE!!” A sword pierced through the firmament, vaporizing the Celestial powerhouse that was in front of him. “Martial Uncle Hong, help me hold off the others! I’m going to kill her!”

His presence raged out of control! A character spontaneously formed—‘metal’—and erupted with power!

RUMBLE!!

Li Hao swallowed a dozen drops of Water of Life. He took more when it proved not enough!

A large quantity of Water of Life surged into his body. It continued to break, but he could maintain it for now. The four characters of ‘water’, ‘fire’, ‘metal’, and ‘exterminate’ floated to the fore. The power of five elements flared as Li Hao stalked toward Orange Moon with sword in hand.

Her face gradually solidified into a person, a familiar face.

“Ah Hao, my best friend!”