Chapter 660 - 654: Battle the Saint Child

Shen Haoran and Long Aotian rushed back to the Cyan Dragon Race. Shen Haoran had chosen to start there for two reasons: his friendship with Long Aotian, and the fact that Changmao was waiting for him. By now, Changmao would have fully memorized the changing states of the Hundred-Refinement Soul-devouring Array’s Array Base, which would make destroying it much easier for Shen Haoran.

Upon returning to the Cyan Dragon Race, Changmao immediately shot forward, transforming into a black streak of light that flew into Shen Haoran’s body. At the same time, a voice spoke rapidly in his mind, ’I’ve figured out the changing patterns of the Hundred-Refinement Soul-devouring Array’s Array Base. But there’s a layer of Demonic Qi guarding it, which is a bit of a problem!’

Hearing this, Shen Haoran nodded, his expression unchanging. ’The Demonic Qi is the least of my worries,’ he thought. ’With two Heaven and Earth Spirits in my body, dealing with that kind of cold, sinister energy is simple. The real trouble is the Saint Child following us!’

"Brother Shen, the Saint Child followed us!" Long Aotian whispered into Shen Haoran’s ear, glancing behind them. The Saint Child of Holy Light City, leading five Spirit Emperor Powerhouses, was rapidly closing in. They moved with incredible speed, and in the blink of an eye, they shot past Shen Haoran and Long Aotian to block their path.

After the Saint Child blocked Shen Haoran and Long Aotian, Wu Daotian, Yan Jue, and the rest of their group, who had been following close behind, also arrived. They took their places at Shen Haoran’s side, their cold gazes fixed on the Saint Child, killing intent surging in their eyes.

"I admire your courage. You are all rare talents, and I have no desire to kill you," the Saint Child said lightly, looking down on Shen Haoran’s group with a condescending air. "How about it? I’ll give you one last chance. Are you interested in joining us?"

"You want us to join you? Not until you’re dead! In your dreams!" the hot-tempered Yan Jue immediately cursed. The others remained silent, but it was clear from their expressions that they had no interest in the Saint Child’s proposal.

"Very well. I have given you your chance. Since this is your decision, I will have to offer your fresh blood as a sacrifice to our lord!" The Saint Child’s face twisted into a ferocious snarl. The five black-robed figures behind him sprang into action, darting swiftly toward Shen Haoran and his companions.

"One each. The Saint Child is mine. Any objections?" Shen Haoran asked in a low voice, watching the approaching black-robed men.

"Alright. But are you sure you can handle the Saint Child?" Long Aotian and the others nodded. As elites among the younger generation of the Demon Race, their strength was not just for show. Long Aotian, Yan Jue, and Bai Shaohong had all reached the Peak of Tier Eight Spirit Aspect. Combined with their Divine Beast Bloodlines, they were more than capable of contending with a Spirit Emperor Powerhouse. Tian Ruyi and Wu Daotian were no slouches either. Even if they couldn’t defeat a Spirit Emperor Powerhouse, they could certainly buy some time. But Shen Haoran’s declaration that he would take on the Saint Child was what truly surprised them. After all, Shen Haoran was only at the Tier Three Spirit Aspect, whereas the Saint Child was a Tier Seven Spirit Emperor!

"One hundred percent certain!" Shen Haoran declared, taking a sharp step forward as a formidable aura erupted from his body. He fully revealed his Tier Three Spirit Aspect cultivation, his gaze fixed on the distant Saint Child, a wildly arrogant smile spreading across his face.

Sensing Shen Haoran’s aura, Long Aotian and the others exchanged no more words. After giving his retreating back one last, deep look, their bodies flickered as they moved to intercept the nameless black-robed attackers.

None of the five black-robed men went for Shen Haoran. On the battlefield, he and the Saint Child faced each other from a distance. Their gazes collided in mid-air, creating invisible sparks.

"I must admit, I’m surprised. I never expected you would choose to challenge me," the Saint Child said with a smile, slowly approaching Shen Haoran. He stopped barely an arm’s length away, close enough to reach out and touch him.

"There’s nothing to be surprised about. Anyone who targets me ultimately dies by my hand. If you knew me, you’d know that it’s my principle," Shen Haoran replied, his gaze unwavering as he stared straight at the Saint Child, a faint smile playing on his lips.

"Hmph. Anyone who provokes me also dies by my hand. That is my principle as well!" the Saint Child sneered. A terrifying aura erupted from his body like an awakening dragon, and the powerful gust of energy sent Shen Haoran’s robes whipping and snapping.

However, this aura had no effect on Shen Haoran whatsoever. He continued to smile, his gaze locked on the Saint Child before him. The two stood as still as statues, completely motionless.

BOOM—

At the same instant, a muffled boom echoed out. As if by silent agreement, they both threw their fists forward like lightning. The two attacks slammed into each other, and a visible ripple of Powerful Qi shot outward. The immense recoil sent both men flying backward.

Both men forcibly arrested their backward momentum in mid-air. In the next instant, they charged each other with even greater speed. The two figures crashed together like meteorites, and then they began to attack each other in a frenzy.

As the Saint Child attacked, a monstrous tide of Demonic Qi enveloped his body. A sinister, cold aura continuously tried to invade Shen Haoran’s body. Furthermore, whenever Shen Haoran’s attacks landed on the Demonic Qi, most of their force was nullified. The Saint Child, on the other hand, was empowered by the Demonic Qi, his strength surging as he unleashed a crushing assault on Shen Haoran.

Even so, the Saint Child failed to gain any real advantage. Hidden within Shen Haoran’s flurry of punches and kicks was a razor-sharp Sword Qi. This Sword Qi, forged from the power of his two Heaven and Earth Spirits—Fire Spirit Black Obsidian and Earth Spirit Profound Nether—sliced through the Saint Child’s Demonic Qi as if it were tofu. Faced with Sword Qi born from two Heaven and Earth Spirits, even the Saint Child had to proceed with caution.

In the blink of an eye, they exchanged hundreds of blows. The aftershocks from their fight obliterated all the buildings below. Even the earth itself couldn’t withstand their power, and it began to crack and splinter.

BOOM!

With a world-shaking boom, the two exchanged another punch. A formidable wave of Powerful Qi radiated out from them as the epicenter, destroying everything in its path. The ground instantly caved in by several meters, sending rubble flying and kicking up a thick cloud of dust.

THUD—

Two figures shot out from the cloud of dust. Both Shen Haoran and the Saint Child fell back, putting some distance between them.

Both men were panting heavily, a trickle of blood leaking from the corners of their mouths. Their robes were in tatters. Shen Haoran’s body was covered in several purplish bruises from fists and feet, faint wisps of black energy clinging to them. The Saint Child, for his part, was in no better condition. His face, arms, and legs were crisscrossed with fine sword marks. A gash across his chest was so deep that bone was visible, and the blood flowing from it had stained his robes crimson.

The Saint Child lightly brushed a hand over one of his wounds, then extended a scarlet tongue to lick the blood from his fingers. His eyes turned crimson, and his expression slowly twisted into one of madness.

"You are the first person to ever push me this far. Next, I will let you properly witness my true strength!" A morbid flush appeared on the Saint Child’s face. As he spoke, his lips curled into an eerie smile. In the next instant, his figure flickered and vanished on the spot.

’Crap!’ The moment the Saint Child vanished, Shen Haoran’s pupils constricted. His body instinctively leaned back. In the next instant, the Saint Child’s fist abruptly appeared, punching straight through the afterimage Shen Haoran had left behind...