Chapter 1085: Fatality

Proofreader: Papatonks

Hu~

Three-headed Crow’s azure flame above its forehead flickered wildly like candlelight, its eyes, however, were cold and icy, focused solely on the Invincible Sword who stood across from it.

Picking up on its thirst for his death, Baili Yutian grinned, holding his sword in both hands fully intent to match it with his own lust for battle, “Come, fowl beast, try my second attack of the Three Sundering Sword Strikes!” 

“How dare you!”

Three-headed Crow shuddered, shrieking, “A wretched human dares challenge my authority? You have a death wish!” 

Three-headed Crow shook and the azure flame on its forehead expanded in size, like an explosion, before shrinking back to cover the crow.

Hu~

With a mighty cry, the crow had turned into an azure firebird. Judging from the pressure increase, it had to be ten times as strong at least.

It left the audience gasping and wide eyed.

Ouyang Changqing and the Sword Kings were equally shocked. The crow was strong enough as it was, yet here it went going even further in displaying its complete superiority over them. The Invincible Sword barely fought back against it the first time, which meant now he would fall short.

Ouyang Changqing and the rest’s faces shone with hope, while the Sword Kings sank in the pits of despair, high strung and worried.

[Patriarch…]

Baili Yutian stared at the huge bird of fire, eyes calm and gesturing, “Come, fowl beast!”

“Pretentious fool!”

Three-headed Crow squinted in anger, shouting as it flapped its wings to rush Baili Yutian, “Human, bear witness to a king’s might, Earth-crushing Claw!”

Whoosh!

As it dived to attack, two claws formed from azure flame, bearing down on Baili Yutian. The air warped as it traveled, giving the illusion that space itself was melting.

The azure claws of fire arrived in an instant, the blistering heat twisting the robe on Baili Yutian, about to burst into flames. Not even the Yuan Qi protecting the best in the world could fend off this deadly fire and its effect.

The Sword Kings were frantic, “What fire is that? Why can’t Patriarch fend off the heat? Once it explodes, then Patriarch…”

A heavy frown set in, their minds filled with disastrous scenarios. 

Ouyang Changqing clenched his fists hard, beyond thrilled. 

[The old monster is done in at last, ha-ha-ha…]

Zhuo Fan and the old timers remained silent.

“Second sword of the Three Sundering Sword Strikes, Obliterate!

As the fire claws neared, Baili Yutian’s eyes shone and gripped his sword with conviction.

Following his shout, the sword slashed forward with all the might his aged, yet fit, body had to offer.

Whoosh!

Unlike with the previous flashy and spectacular strike, Baili Yutian released a thin sword energy this time. Despite its dull and flat appearance, this sword energy felt to have contained even more power than the last. It was also made evident from Baili Yutian huffing for breath at the exertion. 

All looked curious, how could such a plain sword energy take so much out of him.

It was made apparent soon enough.

The sword wave clashed with the flaming claws, with everyone expecting to see nothing more than a blip where the small attack hit the claws, of no effect.

What followed instead was endless explosions as violent lightning ran rampant from within the flaming claws, swallowing them from the inside.

This was just the start. All watched in stunned silence as the tiny sword energy shot in and out of the fire claws, leaving behind a streak of lightning that consumed the skies. Not even the azure flame stood a chance against the ever encroaching purple.

As the lightning grew, the huge flaming claws were swallowed in it, while the sword energy shot through them and for the Three-headed Crow. 

[How is this possible?]

Three-headed Crow’s eyes widened from shock. As the purple sword wave came head on, it raised its own fire claw to grab for it.

Rumble~

On contact, the tiny sword wave exploded in a glorious fashion, unleashing a thunderstorm like no other, singeing the crow’s body as it struck and swallowed it.

The startling and frightening explosions that followed only amplified the dread felt from seeing lightning engulf the skies and the humongous crow along with them.

The others stared blankly, incredulous how so much destruction could be packed into something so tiny.

[Why did that old guy’s attack look so plain yet so devastating? Did the 9th level spiritual beast fall for it?]

Zhuo Fan mused and nodded in realization, “So that’s why it’s called Obliterate. All power is focused on one spot followed by a violent release that can submerge and destroy everything.”

(StarReader: He analyzed the individual characters that make up the word. First means bury, cover, submerge etc., while the second means exterminate, destroy, etc.)

“Yes, the Sundering Sword is essentially a tool for pure destruction. The Invincible Sword’s insights are worlds beyond ours.”

Ouyang Lingtian sighed, “Seeing that focused destructive force only proves it, needing an amazing talent to control such wild power. The Invincible Sword is worthy of his name, the peak practitioner.”

The other two nodded with utter calm, despite this meaning that the Invincible Sword won and would spell doom to them all. They had broken off from the mortal affairs, gleaning into the world’s nature.

Whoosh~

A black shadow streaked across the endless lightning above as Three-headed Crow used its powerful bulk to fly out. It had lost its majestic air from before, however, now looking worse for wear.

The only azure flame remaining burning was the feeble mote on the forehead. Even its plumage was singed, stripping away more of a 9th level imperial beast’s prestige.

All of this was caused by one man, the strongest human.

Three-headed Crow felt its entire honor had been dragged through the mud. Its eyes burned with hatred for the old guy, screeching, “Rotten human, you have slighted me for the last time. Now you die!”

Three-headed Crow shot for the Invincible Sword. Its speed belied its now worse state, filled with power and vigor.

Humans had spiritual beasts beaten when it came to smarts, but their bodies were leagues above. It had suffered an affront to his dignity with the Invincible Sword landing two strikes on it, but at the end of it all, the damage it suffered was only skin deep.

The Invincible Sword, instead, was the one who neared exhaustion from those attacks, panting.

This was a gap between spiritual beasts and humans. The spiritual beasts’ bodies were just too damn tough.

Sword Kings knew this too and cried out, “Patriarch…”

Whoosh~

Baili Yutian’s wave cut them off.

Taking deep breaths, he forced himself, although with a pale face and weakened body, to stand tall. He even smiled in excitement, “I have roamed the world undefeated with these three strikes, only ever forced to use the first. Never has the chance presented itself, or required, the use of all three. It’s because no one could take them on. This time, ha-ha-ha, I’m relishing the fact I can use them all. Truly a joy, ha-ha-ha…

“Three-headed Crow, thank you for fulfilling my life-long wish and allowing me to fight with all I have.” 

Baili Yutian held his sword, his eyes sharp as he gave an effusive smile, “Third sword of the Three Sundering Sword Strikes, Fatality!”