Li Hao and Hong Yitang swiftly retreated. In the air, seven plant spirits covered the earth and sky. The mental strength churned through the vicinityâjust 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 wasnât ready to pin his hopes on the little tree.
âThe heir of the Sword Sovereign?â
âHe is... so weak. How is he worthy of being the heir?â
âDonât say that, itâs been endless millennia since the Sword Sovereign disappeared. One hundred thousand years have elapsed since New Martial, havenât there?â
âJust about, almost...â
âWho knows how many generations itâs been? There is no bloodline to speak of. Itâs amazing that any heritage has been passed on.â 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 strengthâand perhaps not even thatâit 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 treeâs voice sounded in his ear. âLet me, but I have a favor to ask... Their core origin is very suited for my nourishment after they are dead. I donât want the mysterious power stones, can you give me all of their core origin instead?â
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 wouldnât 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.
âAlright!â 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!
âWho are you?!â shrieks rang out. The little tree didnât 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 Haoâs quartet also stepped back with shock! Qian Wanhao couldnât believe his eyes!
âHow... is this possible...â
The plant spirits of Silver Moon couldnât possibly awaken! Silver Moonâs plant spirits were very strong and werenât 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 didnât possess a plant spirit replica.
It wouldnât be too powerful even if he did. The plant spirits wouldnât sever too much of their core origin since theyâd 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 treeâs branches had entwined around the rose. The latter shook with fury and unwillingness to accept its fate!
âYou are not a plant of New Martial, how dare you kill my replica! When I fully reawaken...â Its mental ripples shifted violently. It could tell that the opponent wasnât 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. âWhat a bold latter day descendant. You just set foot into Apex, but you dare sever half of your core origin...â
âYour death is guaranteed once our main bodies sense that youâve destroyed our replicas!â The other plant spirits erupted with formidable strength. Several great daos intertwined in the void with daunting momentum!
âWhat a bunch of weeds,â came the little treeâs mental ripples. âHow dare the likes of you dismiss me?â
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.
âThe imperial palace?!â
BOOM!
The image descended with finality, crushing the bush out of existence.
âAn envoy of the imperial palace... No... thatâs impossible! The imperial palace has vanished and there is none in Silver Moon...â A plant spirit gibbered with fear! How was there an imperial palace here?!
The master of the imperial palace wasnât a regular emperorâit 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 Kingâs. 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...
âThe imperial palace always exists! My kind safeguards the palace!â the little tree declared brusquely. Who did these weeds think they were patronizing?! So what if their main bodies awoke? It couldnât 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 wasnât 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!
âWhat are you standing around for, Qian Wanhao?? Attack! Kill them! Help us!!â roared a big tree shadow.
This finally jerked the rest out of their reverie. They stared at Li Haoâs quartetâin fact, both sides had been stunned by the plant spirits and forgotten to attack each other. Now that they met each otherâs eyes, Qian Wanhao shouted, âKill them! Use everything weâve got or donât think of making it out alive!â
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 whoâd 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 Haoâs trump card now. A scarlet shadow slowly floated upward in her body and a certain presence strengthened inexorably. Orange Moonâs face drained of color and she furiously swallowed Water of Life. A disquieting shadow appeared on her faceâsomewhat maniacal, somewhat calm.
Li Hao, itâs 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 Moonâs face as numerous faces flashed through the darkness. He even... saw his parentsâ faces!
Li Hao closed his eyes. There was only madness in them when he opened his eyes again!
Ying Hongyue! Iâm going to kill you!
âDIE!!â A sword pierced through the firmament, vaporizing the Celestial powerhouse that was in front of him. âMartial Uncle Hong, help me hold off the others! Iâm going to kill her!â
His presence raged out of control! A character spontaneously formedââmetalââand 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 âwaterâ, âfireâ, âmetalâ, and âexterminateâ 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.
âAh Hao, my best friend!â