Chapter 145 - 122: All-Out Battle

Chapter 145: Chapter 122: All-Out Battle

But Zhao Zuo believed that even after experiencing so much cruelty, one should not lose their principles, nor forget their identity and responsibilities.

The silver blade cut through the air. Sunlight glinted off the sword’s edge, casting a blinding glare into Zhao Zuo’s eyes. He blinked instinctively, and Lin Hao seized the opening, leaving another wound on Zhao Zuo’s body.

Wounded, Zhao Zuo immediately pulled back to regulate his ragged breathing.

HUFF...

But Lin Hao gave him no time to recover, pouncing on him again like a mad dog. His blade, like a deboning knife, struck relentlessly from cunning and lethal angles.

In the heat of battle, the image of Zhao Qingmeng would occasionally flash before Lin Hao’s eyes. He was plagued by guilt toward his sister, and it was this guilt that prevented his Sword Moves from reaching Perfection.

’The Gentleman’s Sword must be righteous and true, never straying from one’s original intentions.’

Zhao Zuo gave his all to defending and counterattacking, all while looking for a chance to activate the Sky-Breaking Saber at his waist. It wasn’t that he was holding back; Lin Hao’s assault was simply too relentless, leaving him no opening to divert his focus and control the Sky-Breaking Saber.

They clashed for several hundred more moves. Both of their breathing grew ragged as they stumbled apart.

Zhao Zuo finally decided to play his trump card and began to infuse his Mana into the Soul-Shaking Bell. But before he could fully activate it, Lin Hao charged forward with his sword and interrupted him.

He could only continue to defend while preparing the Soul-Shaking Bell’s attack.

Silver and black light intertwined, forming a dense web that quickly dissipated into the air. Their speed constantly increased, leaving behind a series of faint, illusory afterimages.

Zhao Zuo swung his long saber, using the One Slash technique in rapid succession.

The fight between them would only be decided when one of them fell for good.

SWOOSH!

The Sky-Breaking Saber flew from his waist, shooting straight for Lin Hao’s chest. The intensity of their exchange had lessened for a moment, and Zhao Zuo had found his chance to activate the Sky-Breaking Saber.

It closed the three-meter distance in an instant, but a Golden Light Barrier had already appeared around Lin Hao. The Sky-Breaking Saber took only a fraction of a second to break through the defense of three layers of Vajra Talismans, but Lin Hao had already used that brief moment to sidestep the attack.

For the first time, the ever-victorious Sky-Breaking Saber missed its mark.

The Golden Light then faded into specks and vanished. Lin Hao attacked again.

Zhao Zuo had already used up eighty percent of his Mana. His only remaining trump card was the Soul-Shaking Bell, which he had been repeatedly interrupted from using.

But there was simply no time to use it. After all, activating an Upper-Grade Magical Artifact required too much Mana.

Interrupted! Interrupted! And interrupted again!

Both of them were repeatedly wounded, yet neither retreated a single step.

Lin Hao had given up on survival and chosen to fight to the death. The anger and resentment in his eyes had vanished, as if he had come to terms with something and found release.

’So all these years... my sister was the one sacrificing everything to protect me.’

Zhao Zuo had lost track of how many times he had swung his saber. He’d forgotten how many times he’d attacked and defended. The only sensation left was the aching soreness in his arms.

Lin Hao, across from him, was in an even worse state. He had run out of Healing Pills, the bones in his left arm were completely shattered, and his body was covered in new burn marks.

Zhao Zuo had miscalculated. He had underestimated Lin Hao’s combat strength and overestimated his own.

’But... the scales of victory still tipped in my favor.’

PSTCH.

At some point, Shen Yunjiao had finished off her own opponent and had sneak-attacked Lin Hao, finishing him as well.

Defeating the mastermind of their entire world didn’t bring Zhao Zuo much joy. Instead, he felt a faint sense of dejection and sorrow. The complacency born from becoming one of the Inner Sect Disciples vanished in an instant.

’Perhaps... in those last few dozen exchanges, Lin Hao found his former self again.’

...

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