Chapter 1096: I Lost

Proofreader: Papatonks

“Ahhh!”

Heaven Sealing Sea Ao shouted in rage and pain, twisting and jerking from every attack. He flayed his tower-sized claws around in a futile attempt at ending his torment and squashing the bite-sized interloper. But the meal just wouldn’t stay put, having also learned to bite back and hard at every chance it got. The end result was mounting wounds, tons of blood loss and excruciating pain for the overlord of the sea.

Zhuo Fan cackled all the while, his eyes savage and sadistic each time his blade sunk into Sea Ao’s flesh.

“A-ha-ha-ha….”

The Invincible Sword and the Sword Kings blinked constantly, trying to get some sense of this absurd development. Baili Yuyun’s face twitched as he strained to ask, “W-what’s he doing? Is it me or is he torturing the monster?”

“It’s all real. I never once took the kid to pull something like this!” 

The Invincible Sword was just as dumbstruck, looking dazed, “What happened to me?”

“Patriarch, the monster blew its nose and encased you in ice.”

“And then, what happened after?”

“We got frozen too and don’t know.” Baili Yufeng looked on stiffly as he gave automatic and flat replies. He forgot all about decorum while Baili Yutian lost his customary pride, reduced to giving an unconscious nod and forgetting about chiding the junior’s lack of respect.

That’s what this so-called fight did to all of them. Sea Ao’s humongous body that was riddled with wounds entered his vision, he felt he was still in a dream.

[I couldn’t even touch this monster and now someone is toying with him?]

[How did the kid do it?]

Baili Yutian’s brow shook and sighed along with his Sword Kings.

[Regardless of how, the strength must be absurd. The kid was being honest when he said he could wipe out the five Sword Kings back then.]

In the case of him having the same powerful tool, he wouldn’t admit it either. This was a true trump card. If it could cripple the likes of Sea Ao, then who in this world could withstand it?

I was a dreaded existence, yet humiliated to such a degree.

[Thank heavens we have yet to reach a point of no return with him…] 

The Sword Kings sweated buckets and the Invincible Sword squinted as his jaw set in defiance.

Boom!

The powerful shockwave spread everywhere and picked the four off their feet, flinging them all over the place.

They slammed into the ice hard a thousand meters away, heavily bleeding and looking much worse for wear.

Looking back at the main event, they found the source. Sea Ao wanted to squash Zhuo Fan and this had resulted in them suffering for it.

Zhuo Fan made a quick escape out of the attack’s reach, popping on the beast’s head and using the flaming sword, “Ha-ha-ha, senior Sea Ao, with this strike, I give you my blessings!”

Bam!

“Ah!”

The black thunderflame flashed across the head and made blood spurt out of it. Heaven Sealing Sea Ao howled once more, in anger and pain, but mostly futility. A sacred beast like him couldn’t do anything against some lousy brat?

He waved his claws again, trying everything to slap Zhuo Fan out of the air, but all he got was laughter for his efforts as the bug used these chances to dodge and slash twice more. 

Sea Ao unleashed twisters with every wave, shaking the world around him, but what gave the greatest horror was the constant cackle of Zhuo Fan from within the winds. Like a devil from hell, he clawed his way out to toy with his prey while flaying it alive. 

The Sword Kings gulped hard, their hearts running wild as they made sure to dodge an errant ice block blown their way while keeping their eyes on Zhuo Fan. What was most prevalent was the terror in their eyes. 

[Why didn’t anyone tell us this kid is a freak of nature? The monster is like a child compared to his sadistic streaks. Is he the devil?]

“Patriarch, we’d better run before we get caught up in that kid and sea demon’s battle.” Looking behind, he saw the thick black fog filled with holes from the searing heat wave. Baili Yuyun perked up and urged Baili Yutian.

Baili Yutian cursed, “Humph, are you in that much of a rush to flee for your life, you weakling? In all my long years roaming the world, I’ve not once feared another’s fight!”

“You’re right, Patriarch. No man in the five lands can stop Patriarch, but these two are anything but humans. Better to be safe than sorry, sir…”

Baili Yuyun was hopeful as he shook all over while pleading. He knew Patriarch was not one to listen, but this was not the time to throw a hissy fit. They were all sporting deep wounds and they might very well meet their end from Sea Ao’s stray attack.

[Patriarch, let’s just go, please!]

Baili Yuyun was sweating all over.

Baili Yutian turned from him to the battle between man and beast and sighed, “We’re leaving!”

“Great, Patriarch!”

The trio cheered.

Ding!

Baili Yutian paused, looking at his hand to find the purple Sundering Sword shaking while pointing at the Sea Ao with hunger.

Invincible Sword’s had a pained gaze, “Sundering Sword, you want to fight, don’t you?”

Ding!

Sundering Sword gave a jerk in response.

“I’m afraid we can’t. That fight isn’t one we can meddle in. That is the world of the strong, a world I have yet to even enter.”

Baili Yutian sighed, sapped of strength while tightening his grip on the sword, “The moment I held you in my hand, I vowed to the heavens to take you to the summit. You made the right choice accepting me. Over the following millennia, I never stepped back against any that faced me. I’m sorry, but now I understand that I’ve yet to take you to the peak. I am truly weak. But rest assured, my promise hasn’t changed. The day will come when I will take you into such a peak fight. For now, we must withdraw as we don’t qualify to join it.”

Ding!

The sword was restless still, though it soon quietened. 

It had now forgotten its mission of killing the sacred beasts. Even with one before it, wounded as it was, the Sundering Sword still gave up. 

It had long since become one with this human expert. The Invincible Sword’s wish was the sword’s. It wanted to challenge a sacred beast while being held and not go take one down by itself.

The Invincible Sword smiled, “Thank you.”

He flew out of the mist, with the Sword Kings behind him. But not before he gave Zhuo Fan one last look, shouting, “Zhuo Fan don’t you die on me! I will one day rise to the top and for that I need that ticket in Devil Mountain!” 

Baili Yutian then vanished in the fog.

Zhuo Fan shook and smirked. He Shifted out of another claw and popped next to Qiao’er, “Stop, I lost!”

Sea Ao, in the middle of his craze, jerked to a stop. He turned a confused eye on Zhuo Fan.

[What’s with him? Why give up? I might be strong and look tough but he has dominated the fight all this time. Why then..]