Chapter Fifty-Two: Battle

Sidestepping the blade light slashed by Liu Kuang, Li Liao furrowed his brows.

Through his spiritual sense, Li Liao could perceive the fluctuations in Liu Kuang's aura, confirming that Liu Kuang had consumed an Explosive Essence Pill. He was certain Liu Kuang possessed only the cultivation of a consummate martial artist, without concealing any further strength.

In Li Liao’s estimation, someone like Liu Kuang—merely a martial artist, even after taking the Explosive Essence Pill and wielding a spiritual weapon to unleash blade lights—would remain insignificant before him. Yet, as Liu Kuang frantically sent out those blade lights, Li Liao began to feel a sense of helplessness.

Though the blade lights could not harm him, their chaotic and unpredictable trajectory made it impossible to discern any pattern. Thus, he dared not charge forward recklessly and could only dodge nearby, which left him feeling stifled. To think that a mere martial artist could block his advance.

Li Liao did not dare, or rather, did not wish to meet those blade lights head-on.

As for the Desolate Blade in Liu Kuang’s hand, Li Liao’s experience could not determine its precise grade, but he could surmise it was a high-level spiritual weapon.

Li Liao’s knowledge of spiritual weapons was limited, but as a formation master, he understood the basics. Common spiritual weapons were inscribed with two types of arrays: one to enhance the weapon’s power, and one to reduce the wielder’s energy consumption.

For instance, the refining energy array enhanced the blade lights Liu Kuang unleashed, making them more condensed and powerful. This was one such array.

As for the arrays reducing the user's energy expenditure, simply put, when such an array was inscribed, the cultivator needed only to input a portion of their energy to unleash the weapon’s full might—while in a drawn-out fight, anyone holding such a weapon could last much longer.

Li Liao reasoned that although Liu Kuang’s energy had been greatly amplified by the Explosive Essence Pill, after continuously slashing out blade lights for the time it takes half a stick of incense to burn, his reserves should be nearly depleted.

Yet Liu Kuang was still wielding his blade, and looked as if he could persist for some time yet. Perhaps the pill's effects exceeded Li Liao’s expectations, but more likely, the blade itself was providing assistance—meaning it bore an array to reduce the wielder’s energy expenditure.

Li Liao’s eyes blazed with desire. He had never imagined such a spiritual weapon would appear in the southern borderlands, and of such high grade, no less—right before his eyes. If he could obtain it, wouldn’t the position of Sect Master of Bayang Sect fall effortlessly into his hands?

Though he longed to seize Liu Kuang’s weapon, Li Liao dared not act rashly. If he were to meet those blade lights head-on, even if he escaped unscathed, the density and force of those attacks would require at least twice the energy to withstand than what Liu Kuang was expending.

Such consumption was far too great, so Li Liao refrained from brute force. If he forcibly endured two blade lights and tried to break through with brute strength, the barrage would surely focus entirely on him, rather than scattering. Even if he reached Liu Kuang, the drain on his energy core would be terrifying.

Ultimately, what frustrated Li Liao the most was that Liu Pan had earlier destroyed his spiritual imprint on the Broad-Bladed Saber.

If the imprint had remained, he could have controlled the saber remotely to ambush Liu Kuang from behind and end him with a single strike.

Even without resorting to a sneak attack, he could have used the saber to fly and dodge in the air, vastly expanding his maneuvering space, no longer confined to a narrow line near the ground. In moments, he could have closed the distance and finished Liu Kuang with a single blow.

Unfortunately, the imprint on the saber was gone, and the weapon itself lost; he could not even launch blade lights to match Liu Kuang’s, let alone pit fist shadows against the barrage—a foolish notion.

Blocked by Liu Kuang’s blade lights, Li Liao endured his frustration for some time but eventually dismissed it. Though Liu Kuang could restrict his movement, with the meager energy left in his core, he could not hold out for long. All Li Liao had to do was wait; soon, Liu Kuang’s energy would be exhausted, and the Desolate Blade would be his for the taking.

Li Liao was patient, but Liu Kuang grew anxious. His energy drained rapidly, a hollow sensation spreading through his body—his hand gripping the blade grew weak, and his strikes slowed.

Is it still not done? Glancing at Liu Pan, who leaned beneath a tree, Liu Kuang’s eyes flashed, and he swung the Desolate Blade with renewed ferocity. But only moments later, his arm faltered, the blade drooped to the ground, and he gasped for breath, sweat soaking his clothes.

Li Liao, of course, noticed the change. When Liu Kuang’s strikes slowed, Li Liao knew he could not hold out. As expected, after a final burst, Liu Kuang stopped, and the energy fluctuations around him vanished—he was spent.

The instant Liu Kuang ceased, Li Liao lunged forward at full speed, desire for the blade burning in his eyes. Once the Desolate Blade was in his hands...

Li Liao’s hopes were high, but reality cares little for human wishes.

When he was less than seven meters from Liu Kuang, Liu Kuang’s eyes suddenly flashed. Both hands gripped the blade, pouring the last of his energy into it, and without warning, he slashed at Li Liao.

The sudden attack startled Li Liao—not because Liu Kuang was incapable of moving, but because he believed Liu Kuang lacked the reaction time, given his own speed.

Indeed, Liu Kuang did not rely on reflexes. Rather, it was cold calculation. From observing Li Liao’s earlier battles, Liu Kuang had gauged his speed and thus estimated how long it would take him to reach after he stopped swinging.

Knowing he could not react once Li Liao charged, Liu Kuang gambled: half a breath after stopping, he swung again without thinking.

His timing proved correct. As he struck, Li Liao was about seven meters away—just the right instant for Li Liao to arrive and “collide” with the blade.

Yet, while Liu Kuang’s estimation was sound, reality was not so easily bent—because the gap between them was immense.

If his opponent had been a mere martial apprentice, even a consummate one, this sudden strike would have finished them. But Li Liao was a martial master with awakened spiritual sense.

The instant his sense swept over Liu Kuang’s renewed motion, Li Liao was startled but not panicked. A cold gleam flashed in his eyes; with a thought, he gathered all his energy, his left hand blazing with golden light as he punched straight at the incoming blade.

A spatter of blood.

At the moment fist met blade, powerful force exploded outward. The Desolate Blade bit into Li Liao’s fist, but only managed to sink an inch before it was stopped dead.

Clearly, even though Liu Kuang wielded a spiritual weapon, the difference in cultivation was simply too great.

Li Liao’s eyes flickered, then blazed with greed. He hadn't expected even after mobilizing so much energy, that blade could still wound him. Yet, being wounded meant the saber’s power exceeded his expectations. And now that it was almost his, how could he not be excited?

He kicked Liu Kuang in the chest, sending both man and blade flying until they crashed against a tree.

With Liu Kuang knocked aside, Li Liao breathed a sigh of relief. But at that very instant, an overwhelming sense of oppression surged from beside him.

Li Liao’s face changed drastically. Without hesitation, he spun and, with his injured left fist, met the oncoming threat.

Two muffled crashes rang out in succession; two figures flew sideways, each slamming into a tree before crashing to the ground.

Blood sprayed from Liu Pan’s mouth, but relief shone in his eyes. He sat up abruptly, gasping for breath, and fixed his gaze on Hu Lang amid the crowd.

The onlookers were deathly silent. Hu Lang was dazed, unable to comprehend what had just occurred.

In truth, aside from Liu Kuang, Li Liao, and the spirit within the Desolate Blade, no one present knew what had happened.

Hu Lang stared blankly at the panting Liu Kuang, then at Li Liao, who lay on the ground with half his body collapsed and convulsing. Finally, his gaze landed on Liu Pan.

Staring at Liu Pan, Hu Lang suddenly shuddered, realizing Liu Pan was staring fixedly at him.

What did it mean?

Hu Lang was confused, but then saw Liu Pan nod at him.

After a brief hesitation, Hu Lang dashed toward Liu Pan.