Chapter 75

As the beads rolled back and were re-swallowed by Shangguan Xiu, his remaining left hand slapped the storage bag, and immediately, a series of flying swords, banners, and various magical treasures flew out, all collapsing and exploding in front of him. The fragments, with Shangguan Xiu's single hand raised, shimmered with intense light and coalesced into a sea of magical treasure fragments.

From a distance, the sunlight glinted, creating a dazzling glow, as if it were a vast ocean, surging around and rushing straight toward Meng Hao.

This was the River Sea, the famous technique of the River Sea Ancestor from years ago, which he had modified into several levels. The lowest first level could be performed by a Ninth Layer Qi Condensation cultivator.

Although any Foundation Establishment cultivator, even a Broken Boulder Foundation Establishment, could make this seemingly impressive River Sea collapse with a flick of their sleeve, among Qi Condensation cultivators, this technique was already extremely powerful.

For this reason, it was quite difficult to perform. Not only did one need to be at the peak of the Ninth Layer Qi Condensation, but also required a substantial amount of spiritual energy. In the entire River Sea Market, only Shangguan Xiu could perform this technique at the Qi Condensation stage.

At this moment, he wanted a quick victory, not only for Meng Hao's treasure but also to return to the River Sea Market to detoxify. He used his strongest technique, and the endless fragments of magical treasures rushed toward Meng Hao. Just as they were about to reach him, Meng Hao took a deep breath, raised his right hand, and slapped his storage bag.

Immediately, flying swords shot out, ten, fifty, a hundred, until exactly three hundred flying swords were shining and rotating. Meng Hao raised both hands and pushed forward forcefully.

With this push, the three hundred flying swords formed a rain of swords in the air, which, according to Meng Hao's thoughts, directly coalesced into an ancient Ying Dragon. Almost instantly, Meng Hao stepped forward, spread his arms, and two golden-threaded wooden swords hovered outside his hands. He moved like a rainbow, instantly rushing into the rain of swords.

As if becoming the soul of the flying sword Ying Dragon, the rain of swords roared toward the River Sea.

The thunderous sound was earth-shattering. The fragments of magical treasures in the River Sea rushed forward, and the sounds of impact echoed. Meng Hao's flying swords continuously shattered and collapsed, but for every ten that shattered, he would take out ten more.

His current limit was controlling three hundred flying swords, but his storage bag contained over seven hundred flying swords. This was the result of his various fortunes over the past year, especially during his breakthrough to the Ninth Layer Qi Condensation, which was intensified by the fierce battle with Ding Xin.

Seeing this, Shangguan Xiu's expression changed slightly, and he formed a seal with his left hand, causing more magical treasures to fly out from his storage bag.

The flying swords around Meng Hao whistled, continuously colliding with the River Sea. The sounds of impact spread everywhere, but the power of the River Sea was incredibly strong. After advancing for a short distance, Meng Hao found it difficult to proceed. His eyes flickered, and his body suddenly spun. This movement caused the surrounding flying swords to instantly revolve around him, forming a vortex. Meng Hao's figure paused in the center, but the vortex of flying swords around him spun faster and faster.

From a distance, it looked like a high-speed spinning drill, rushing through the River Sea. The fragments of magical treasures in the River Sea were continuously destroyed, but the spinning three hundred flying swords, after a few breaths, forcefully broke through!

Shangguan Xiu's expression changed again. Meng Hao's cultivation and the number of magical treasures surprised him, but what surprised him most was Meng Hao's combat experience. This ability to adapt and react quickly, as if he was born for battle, made Shangguan Xiu's heart tremble.

As the thunderous sound spread, the rain of swords around Meng Hao rushed through the River Sea, then suddenly expanded. Meng Hao leaped forward, pointing both hands forward. Immediately, the two golden-threaded wooden swords whistled sharply, rushing toward Shangguan Xiu, whose face was pale and filled with fear.

"Meng Hao!" Shangguan Xiu rapidly retreated, his face pale and his expression filled with terror. In stark contrast, Meng Hao, once he started, almost never spoke. At this moment, he was even more silent. As Shangguan Xiu's words echoed, Meng Hao's speed increased, and the two wooden swords were about to pierce Shangguan Xiu's forehead and chest.

Shangguan Xiu was extremely frustrated. Today, he had the upper hand, but he was poisoned. The moment the poison entered his body, he was destined to lose. The poison in his body could not be resolved, making him unable to fully exert his cultivation. He always had to leave some to suppress it, causing him to retreat step by step.

In a flash, Shangguan Xiu slapped his chest, spitting out blood as the bead reappeared and blocked the two wooden swords. However, the light curtain trembled and was about to break, pushing Shangguan Xiu back.

"Meng Hao, let's call it a day. The three major sects are searching for you. Our battle has already made a lot of noise, and they can come at any time. Today, I won't harm the people of the three counties. Let's end our grudge here!" Shangguan Xiu saw the light curtain about to break and quickly spoke.

Meng Hao remained silent, his internal spiritual energy suddenly expanding, making the two wooden swords flash with golden light. The sword tips had already penetrated the light curtain, making Shangguan Xiu's heart race and his eyes narrow. He suddenly roared and pointed his left hand toward the mountain below.

"Since you insist, I will destroy the people of the three counties first!"

"Xiao Hu!" Meng Hao spoke his second sentence since the start of the battle.

As soon as his words echoed, a blood-red light flashed below the mountain, and a blood ball the size of a head appeared, rapidly expanding and about to explode. A figure quickly approached, thin and weak, it was Xiao Hu. He gritted his teeth, raised his hands, and pressed a bead forward.

Immediately, the bead flew out, heading straight for the blood ball, quickly circling it and forming a seal that isolated it from the outside, stopping the blood ball from expanding.

"Meng Hao, I can only hold for an incense stick's time!" Xiao Hu said, spitting out blood and immediately sitting cross-legged.

Seeing this, Shangguan Xiu's expression changed again, but he had no time to use other techniques. With a loud bang, the light curtain broke, and the bead collapsed. The two wooden swords rushed forward, with Meng Hao following, his killing intent overwhelming.

Shangguan Xiu spat out blood, and the poison in his body could no longer be suppressed, fully erupting. He barely maintained his consciousness and instinctively retreated, a bitter smile on his face.

"Heaven does not help me... Meng Hao, I will not lose this battle, but you... I will cut off all your bloodlines in this life!" Shangguan Xiu's bitter smile carried intense unwillingness and helplessness, but not despair. The unwillingness and helplessness on his face seemed to be even heavier than despair.

As he spoke, he raised his left hand and slapped his storage bag, not even looking at the incoming wooden swords. He took out a pill, and the moment it appeared, the surrounding spiritual energy suddenly became dense. The fragrance of the pill spread, and Shangguan Xiu, with a bitter smile, swallowed it.

The moment Meng Hao saw the pill, his eyes narrowed. He recognized the amber-colored pill as a Foundation Establishment Pill, and it had a mark, indicating it was the Foundation Establishment Pill he had sold to the River Sea Market.

"I, Shangguan Xiu, condensed Qi at the age of seven, reached the Sixth Layer at thirty, and the Ninth Layer at thirty-nine. I am now ninety-nine years old..." Shangguan Xiu did not look at Meng Hao but at the sky, muttering to himself. At this moment, his aura suddenly soared, but his body could not move until the Foundation Establishment Pill was fully absorbed.

Even with this vulnerability, his current aura was already beyond the Ninth Layer Qi Condensation, ascending toward Foundation Establishment. The two wooden swords, just seven inches away from his body, could not penetrate at all.

Meng Hao's expression changed. He clearly felt the other's aura growing stronger, and he was undergoing Foundation Establishment on this Green Mountain. Not only did Meng Hao's expression change, but Xiao Hu below the mountain also turned pale.

"Fifty years ago, I could have undergone Foundation Establishment, but I had grand ambitions and was unwilling to have any flaws. I planned and prepared for fifty years, intending to make my Foundation Establishment earth-shattering, surpassing perfection, and becoming flawless. But today..."

"But today, I am heavily poisoned, and if I do not undergo Foundation Establishment, I will surely die. I prepared for fifty years, and the final step... was ruined by you!"

"Meng Hao, do you think how deep my hatred for you is?" Shangguan Xiu lowered his head, looking at Meng Hao. He did not grit his teeth or roar, but his calm words carried a hatred far more intense than any deep-seated grudge.

Meng Hao's heart raced, the shadow of death spreading over his body, but he did not retreat. His eyes flickered, and he remembered the changes after he had taken the Foundation Establishment Pill, which left him immobile for two months.

"I absorb slowly at the Eighth Layer Qi Condensation, so it took me two months. If Shangguan Xiu, as he claims, reached the peak of the Ninth Layer Qi Condensation fifty years ago, his absorption speed must be much faster than mine. But no matter what, this is a method!" Meng Hao's eyes flickered, and in an instant, he raised his right hand, took out several Platform Ascension Pills, and swallowed them. His internal spiritual energy roared, and he pointed his hands remotely at the two wooden swords.

With a loud bang, the two wooden swords trembled, emitting a sharp sword intent, rushing toward Shangguan Xiu. They approached bit by bit but stopped three inches away. This was Meng Hao's limit; his spiritual energy was not enough to make the two wooden swords exert their true power.

"Overestimating yourself, I could have undergone Foundation Establishment fifty years ago. Now, with my deep cultivation, it will only take me half an hour to absorb the Foundation Establishment Pill. You can try various methods, but in half an hour, no matter where you run, you will die." Shangguan Xiu spoke coldly, his hatred for Meng Hao making him imagine hundreds of ways to torture him.