Chapter 1725: Surrounded

Li Changsheng and the others were startled, thinking, "Master Jian has hidden his strength so well; could he also be an Earth Immortal?"

However, they quickly dismissed this thought, as they did not sense the unique pressure wielded by an Earth Immortal.

As Sect Masters, they quickly understood the true nature of what was happening: Master Jian was either using a secret technique from his sect or borrowing the power of a divine artifact to temporarily project a Buddha phantom, akin to a Primordial Spirit, enabling him to participate in Earth Immortal-level combat for a short time.

However, Master Jian's pale and haggard face revealed that using this technique came at a heavy cost. Furthermore, it only granted him the ability to participate, as his actual combat power was still no match for a true Earth Immortal.

As expected, while the Buddha phantom was immensely powerful to the others, when it clashed with Zhao Hao's Primordial Spirit, it was knocked staggering by a single palm strike, trembling and swaying, almost disintegrating on the spot.

Fortunately, Prince Qi arrived in time. He took the lead in intercepting Zhao Hao, while the Buddha phantom assisted from the side, finally stabilizing the battle, albeit precariously.

The several figures fought fiercely in the clouds, evenly matched, and for a time, no clear victor could be determined.

On the platform below, Li Changsheng and the others suddenly had an idea and all turned their gaze towards Zhao Hao's physical body in the center.

Although they were not Earth Immortals, as Sect Masters with profound heritage in the Daoist tradition, they knew that after a Primordial Spirit leaves the body, the physical body becomes very vulnerable. Once the body is destroyed, unless one has achieved True Immortal status, no matter how powerful the Primordial Spirit, it would simply vanish into thin air.

Normally, an Earth Immortal would never fear this; once their Primordial Spirit emerged, it would be overwhelmingly powerful, leaving enemies no chance to approach their physical body.

But now it was different. Zhao Hao's Primordial Spirit was currently engaged in the clouds with Prince Qi and Master Jian, unable to disengage. Below, the guards and Embroidered Uniform Envoys were locked in fierce combat, while Zhuxie Chixin and Eunuch Wen were both dead. There was no one guarding his physical body.

At this thought, Li Changsheng could no longer hold back. His figure transformed into a streak of light, and he lunged directly towards Zhao Hao's physical body.

The Longevity Sword in his hand created countless sword shadows, reaching Zhao Hao's side almost in the blink of an eye.

An Earth Immortal's body was indeed extremely resilient, but Li Changsheng was confident that without a Primordial Spirit residing within it, no matter how tough the physical body, it could not withstand his Longevity Sword.

Just as his long sword was about to pierce Zhao Hao's brow, Zhao Hao, who had been lying with closed eyes, suddenly opened them and gazed sharply at him.

Li Changsheng's hair stood on end. He didn't have time to ponder why Zhao Hao's Primordial Spirit was still fighting Prince Qi and the others in the clouds, or why his physical body below still possessed consciousness. His first reaction was to retreat rapidly, while simultaneously unleashing his lifelong ultimate techniques, leaving behind a series of defensive formations in front of him.

But it was too late. Zhao Hao raised a finger and precisely clamped Li Changsheng's sword blade amidst the countless sword shadows. Then, with his other hand, he gently pointed forward. The defensive formations shattered layer by layer as if made of paper, until his finger pointed directly at Li Changsheng's chest.

Li Changsheng instantly felt as if struck by lightning. His entire body arced in a parabola, crashing heavily onto the ground dozens of yards away.

Xuan Bajing and Guan Chouhai, who had been about to rush over to destroy Zhao Hao's physical body, instantly stopped in their tracks and quickly retreated far back. Cold sweat poured down each of them, realizing that if they had rushed forward first, they would probably have suffered the same fate as Li Changsheng.

Thinking of the Emperor's power, the two men, who usually held themselves in high regard, now felt a flicker of despair. They unconsciously continued to retreat, both entertaining the thought of abandoning the fight. They figured that while Zhao Hao and Prince Qi hadn't yet decided the victor, they should make their escape first to at least save their lives.

Just then, Li Changsheng propped himself up with his hands on the ground, shakily pushing his upper body off the ground. A trace of blood hung from the corner of his mouth, and his face was withered and pale. But he paid no mind to these injuries; instead, he strained with all his might and shouted, "He's only being controlled by a Yin Spirit now! He doesn't have his full strength! Don't be afraid, everyone!"

Masters possess five realms, each corresponding to the cultivation of the Heroic Soul, Essence Soul, Central Soul, Strength Soul, and Qi Soul respectively.

Beyond these, cultivating the Spiritual Wisdom Soul in the center of the brow allows one to form a domain, thus becoming a Grandmaster.

The next realm involves cultivating the Celestial Rush Soul at the top of the head, which allows one to cultivate an out-of-body Yin Spirit. At this stage, the Yin Spirit is still relatively weak, able to leave the main body only for a short while, and fears things like intense sunlight.

Only after cultivating the Life Soul does the Yin Spirit become powerful, immune to intense sunlight, and capable of attaching itself to objects, enabling divine abilities such as using flying swords to take heads from vast distances.

However, a Yin Spirit has no physical form and cannot directly interact with the material world; it needs to borrow the aid of others or objects to exert influence.

Only later, by cultivating the Earth Soul and manifesting a Yang Spirit, does one reach the Earth Immortal realm. A Yang Spirit is completely different from a Yin Spirit: a Yang Spirit has a physical form and is almost indistinguishable from a living person.

Above that is the cultivation of the Celestial Soul, leading to the higher-level Primordial Spirit. Zhao Hao's current state was precisely that of an out-of-body Primordial Spirit.

The several Grandmasters in the field were all top experts of considerable renown in the martial world; naturally, all of them had cultivated Yin Spirits. If Zhao Hao only had a Yin Spirit in his body at this moment, they actually wouldn't be afraid.

Guan Chouhai and Xuan Bajing were startled upon hearing this. If it was indeed only a Yin Spirit, then although the Emperor, relying on the physical body of an Earth Immortal and its powerful vital energy, would be much stronger than an ordinary Grandmaster who had cultivated a Yin Spirit, he wouldn't be completely invincible.

However, they did not believe him so easily, fearing that Li Changsheng, having suffered heavy injuries and unable to escape himself, was unwilling to see them escape freely and was trying to trick them into their deaths.

Li Changsheng saw their eyes darting about and instantly guessed their thoughts. He couldn't help but curse angrily, "Just think with your toes! If he were at full strength right now, after taking one strike from him, how could I still be alive?"

Guan Chouhai and Xuan Bajing exchanged glances, both acknowledging the validity of his reasoning. After all, at this level of cultivation, Zhao Hao wouldn't possibly hold back.

However, Xuan Bajing still had some reservations: "Um... he still has a Yang Spirit, doesn't he?"

The hallmark of advancing to Earth Immortal is cultivating a Yang Spirit, and what Zhao Hao had just sent soaring into the sky was clearly a more powerful Primordial Spirit.

If his Yang Spirit was still inside his body and hadn't made a move, then for the few of them to go there would simply be suicide.

Li Changsheng frowned. "I don't know why," he said, "but I didn't seem to sense his Yang Spirit just now. It's likely that Prince Qi and Master Jian have tied it up, leaving him no time to split his focus."

If Zu An were here, he would immediately realize that Zhao Hao's Yang Spirit had most likely been destroyed by him in Xiquanqiu. But these individuals were unaware of the true circumstances and could only guess that Prince Qi and the others had tied it up.

After all, Prince Qi was also an Earth Immortal and was now fully engaged, unable even to leave a Yin Spirit behind in his physical body. Coupled with the Buddha phantom conjured by Master Jian, Zhao Hao's main focus was clearly on dealing with them.

Li Changsheng continued, "The incident happened so suddenly just now, and I didn't fully grasp the situation, becoming too timid. If I had fought him head-on from the start, I wouldn't have been defeated so quickly. You still have a chance."

Seeing that the two were still hesitant, he couldn't help but fly into a rage. "What time is it now, and you're still dithering here!" he roared. "Once this plan fails, you will all die without a burial place afterwards! You might as well take a gamble now!"

Guan Chouhai and Xuan Bajing were, after all, ambitious figures of their generation. After their initial panic, they had now regained their composure. They knew there was indeed a chance to escape at this moment, but that would mean living like rats in a sewer for the rest of their lives, constantly hiding and always being hunted by government officials.

Whether it was Lihentian or Kunlun Xu, both were destined for ruin, and they would become the eternal sinners of their respective sects.

Now was the only chance to defeat Zhao Hao!

So the two exchanged glances and simultaneously launched their attacks towards Zhao Hao.

Countless Vajra Bracelets flew from Guan Chouhai's hands, aiming straight for Zhao Hao's head.

Xuan Bajing, meanwhile, sent eight swords flying simultaneously, attacking Zhao Hao's vital points from all directions.

Zhao Hao's eyes turned cold, and he simultaneously manifested two identical figures, each moving to meet an attacker.

Guan Chouhai and Xuan Bajing's pupils suddenly contracted because they discovered that the figure before them looked exactly like themselves!

What surprised them even more was that the figures opposite them were wielding identical weapons: one had twin Vajra Bracelets on its wrists, and the other had eight flying swords swirling around it.