227 Chapter 226: The Sharpest Spear against the Sturdiest Shield (1/2)
I merely bit my lip as I helplessly watched the vast amounts of qi flow into Jiang Jun Hao's Heavenly Spear.
I had, of course, heard about the Heavenly Way Sect's ultimate technique. It was well known throughout the Great Zhou Empire, with the sect leader of the Heavenly Way Sect using it to destroy countless demonic sects.
Normally, it was designated as an anti-army attack, with enough power to obliterate an entire company of soldiers when it landed in their midst. Not only that, it was an unavoidable, unescapable technique. I wasn't sure how it actually worked – not being a disciple of Heavenly Way Sect, who like all others kept the true nature and mechanisms of their strongest techniques a closely guarded secret – but apparently it tracked down and homed in on the target, pursuing relentlessly until the designated target had been completely destroyed.
There was no way I could dodge or escape it. I could only block it.
”Be honored, for very few people of our generation has the change to witness it! And none have survived thus far!”
Jiang Jun Hao was gloating as he held his Heavenly Spear up, continuing to draw more of his qi into it. As counterintuitive as it was, I knew that even if I tried to run now, it was too late. Even if I was out of sight, the moment he threw his spear, it would home in on me and hunt me down.
That being the case, there was only one thing left to do. I sheathed both my swords and returned them to my storage device and recalled all of the mobile turrets into my floating Snow Aegis.
Jiang Jun Hao didn't care what I was doing. He was focusing everything into his attack. He backed away to almost a hundred meters, skillfully weaving through the crowd of battling martial artists. He then sprinted forward, only to jump high up once he had covered about fifty meters. Surging high up toward the heavens, he seemed to spiral about, lifting his Heavenly Spear as high and as far back as he could.
”Heaven Destroying…”
Arching his back, almost as if he was transforming his whole body into a tightly drawn bow, he pulled his Heavenly Spear as far back as possible, the muscles in his arm growing taut. Then like a tightly loaded spring, he hurled the spear forward as hard as he could.
”…Divine Spear Strike!!!!”
The Heavenly Spear disappeared into a golden streak as he threw it, flashing into a blinding projectile at it sped toward me like a colossal thunderbolt. Its path buffeted the battling martial artists with massive shockwaves and sonic booms, knocking down both allies and enemies alike from the sheer force of it.
”What the hell?!”
”That Jiang Jun Hao is actually using Heaven Destroying Divine Spear Strike?!”
”Who is his opponent, to have forced him to use his ultimate technique?!”
”Everyone, get out of the way! If you want to live, get away!”
Screams and shouts filled the plaza as the martial artists scattered, particularly those in our generation.
Unfortunately, it was useless for me to evade. There was only one move left for me. To block this terrifying blow with all my might!
For a moment, I closed my eyes. To many, it seemed almost as if I had given up and resigned myself to my fate.
But then I raised my hand and had Snow Aegis hover in front of me. Gathering all of my Heaven and Earth qi, I infused my Spirit Shield with my qi.
”Snow Aegis!”
With a yell, I constructed six formidable qi barriers in front of me.
And not a moment too soon. A millisecond later, Jiang Jun Hao's Heavenly Spear struck the first layer of qi, furiously drilling into it.
For a moment, I dared to believe that I had successfully blocked it. And then Jiang Jun Hao's Heavenly Spear shattered the first layer almost instantly. It struck the second layer forcibly, drilling mercilessly. The second barrier held – for a few seconds – before it blew up into transparent shards of azure-tinged qi, falling into fragments.
”Kuh!”
I staggered back, almost unable to withstand the blow. The Heavenly Spear crashed against the third layer, and once again it broke before long, unable to endure the vicious onslaught.
Then the fourth held. For about half a minute longer than the rest before it finally crumbled before the incredible might of the Heavenly Spear.
”Bastard…”
Having landed a few dozen meters away, Jiang Jun Hao scowled. He straightened up and watched in disbelief as I fought to withstand his ultimate technique, his eyes narrowed. Gritting his teeth, he cursed under his breath.
Jiang Jun Hao had originally expected my defense to crumble instantly, and his Heavenly Spear to utterly obliterate me within a second, or ten seconds at most. Yet here I was, holding off his strongest strike for almost a minute. Even though my defenses were slowly but surely disintegrating away, it was a fact that I had staved off my inevitable defeat for a period of time that had exceeded everyone's imaginations.
It wasn't just Jiang Jun Hao. All the other martial artists were slowly drawn toward the amazing spectacle, their eyes riveted on my colossal battle to withstand Jiang Jun Hao's ultimate technique. Our enemies were stunned while my fellow comrades and allies in Nine-Tailed Fox Sect were daring to hope that I could make it.
This was no longer just a fight between me and Jiang Jun Hao. We had both become symbols of the younger generations of Nine-Tailed Fox Sect and the Martial Arts Alliance, and the outcome of this showdown would certainly have a significant effect on our morale.
I couldn't afford to lose!
Bang!
Despite that, my fifth layer shattered pathetically, and Jiang Jun Hao's Heavely Spear drilled onto my sixth and final layer. It crashed violently against my barrier, rotating rapidly in an effort to penetrate my last defense.
There was no way I was going to give up here! Everyone was depending on me here! This would no longer be just my loss if I fell here!
”NUOOOOOOOOOH!”
With a roar, I poured every vestige of my qi into Snow Aegis through my right arm, and staked everything on soliditfying Snow Aegis's defense. The final protective screen flared up brightly as more of my azure qi reinforced it.
However, Jiang Jun Hao's Heavenly Spear also glowed mercilessly and tyrannically. The next moment, both Snow Aegis and I, as well as my opponent's Spirit Treasure Weapon, were engulfed in an enormous explosion that blossomed upward like a mushroom cloud, consuming the plaza and sending all the younger martial artists flying and hurtling from the sheer force.
”What the hell?!”
”AAAAAAAAAAH!”
”What power!”
”UGH!”
”Fei Wu!” Tang Qi Hong screamed, even though she had conjured a defensive Spirit Shield of her own to protect herself, Lian Rou and several of the other inner sect disciples.
”No way!” Tong Xue gasped a few distance away, even as he was being buffeted by the incredible shockwaves.
”Heh…I can't believe the younger generation is capable of unleashing such destructive power.” Tian Yu Di chuckled above as he clashed against Shen Tian Yi and Long Shen, knocking away the first guy's spear and crushing the second opponent's gargantuan green dragon with a gigantic fist made out of qi. ”Times have really changed in a millennium.”
”Don't underestimate the kids,” Shen Tian Yi growled. ”They represent the hope of our future!”
”Yes…I have seen that firsthand.” Tian Yu Di glanced at the explosion that had enveloped me. ”My grand disciple is no pushover.”
”But he has been killed by Young Master Jiang.” Shen Tian Yi couldn't conceal the slight smugness and pride in his voice.
”I wonder about that.” Tian Yu Di grinned coldly before he darted away from Long Shen's blazing sword and deflected Shen Tian Yi's spear with his bare hand.
As the mushroom cloud abated, a single golden streak blurred through the air. It returned to a waiting Jiang Jun Hao, who reached out and grabbed it, twirling it easily before planting it on the ground. His scowl deepened when he noticed the countless cracks that had spread over his precious Heavenly Spear, and how the golden glow that used to suffuse it had dimmed drastically. Another hit and it would shatter.
”What the hell was that Spirit Shield!?” he swore under his breath, and turned his disbelieving eyes toward the dissipating conflagration
I was on my knees, clutching my right arm. Blood dripped down my face and body, dozens of cuts having appeared all over me. Gritting my teeth, it was all I could do to keep myself from passing out, but the injuries I had suffered were no joke.
Snow Aegis had disappeared, having reverted to the tiny storage device I usually carried around when not using it in battle. Like Jiang Jun Hao's Heavenly Spear, its glow and qi had diminished and my glasses brought out worrying statistics and numbers. Even if I didn't understand the numbers, I knew enough to comprehend that it had suffered incredible damage and was in urgent need of repair. I wouldn't be able to use it in the next few days until I fixed it.
”Amazing…” I praised Jiang Jun Hao. ”I didn't think anyone from our generation would be able to penetrate Snow Aegis's defenses. I had designed it to be impervious to all projectile attacks, and yet you were able to overcome its mystic barriers with just a single strike from your ultimate attack. In terms of raw attack power, you are truly stronger than perhaps even Bai Ning Xue and Zhu Jiao.
”Who the fuck are you?!” Jiang Jun Hao demanded, astonished that I had survived. Despite my grevious injuries, I had directly received his most powerful attack, an ultimate technique that was known to be the bane of many demonic martial aritsts, and emerged with my life preserved.
”Just a member of the Blood Blades from Nine-Tailed Fox Sect.” I shrugged indifferently. ”You should already be aware of my identity.”
”Bullshit!” Jiang Jun Hao snapped. ”I have never heard of anyone from Nine-tailed Fox Sect possessing a Spirit Shield durable enough to counter a Spirit Treasure Weapon passed down for generations in Heavenly Way Sect!”
”Well, now you have,” I pointed out dryly. ”You can update your information now. And as you can see, this is the result.”
I shook my head wryly as I raised both my hands in mock surrender.
”You smashed my Snow Aegis, after I have expended the majority of my qi to withstand that attack, and one of my arms are rendered almost useless in the process. Ah…that was the greatest protection that I possessed.” I then smiled. ”But at least I took out your precious Heavenly Spear in the bargain, so it's worth it.”
”Worth it?!” Jiang Jun Hao roared. ”Bloody fucking bastard! I will kill you!”
He charged forward with his diminished Heavenly Spear. Even though it was vastly reduced in power, it still had enough strength to kill me with a clean hit, more so especially now that I was heavily wounded.