Chapter 118: Shocking, A Peak Confrontation

Liu Zhenhua stood to the side, his eyes as bewildered as a young deer that had strayed into a misty forest. He was no expert in the realm of cultivation, and the extraordinary combat techniques unfolding before him left him completely lost, unable to grasp the logic behind them.

Li Chao, however, possessed a sharp gaze that seemed to pierce through every secret, observing the scene with keen insight.

The burly man brandished a massive hammer like an out-of-control mad bull, his every strike shaking the earth with astonishing force. His assault was like a summer storm, relentless and suffocating. Yet, in Li Chao’s eyes, this seemingly fierce attack had a fatal flaw: it lacked staying power, like a sudden thunderstorm that arrives with fury only to dissipate just as quickly.

Liang Meng’s earth-shattering blow not only ended the burly man’s life but also ignited a roaring fire within the hearts of Liu Zhenhua and his men. The morale of the group soared as if they had been injected with adrenaline, each man feeling imbued with boundless strength. This energy sent them surging forward like a tidal wave, beating Howard’s men into a steady retreat. The tide of battle turned as quickly as flipping a page.

Liang Meng exhaled softly, a confident smile blooming on his face. As he returned to the ranks, he instantly became the center of attention. Liu Zhenhua did not hesitate to give him a thumbs-up, praising him, "Master Liang is mighty! Your iron fists are invincible!"

Though Liang Meng waved his hand in a gesture of humility, the radiant flush on his face betrayed his inner pride and joy. After all, slaying such a formidable enemy was a significant achievement for him.

However, in the top-floor room of the villa, Howard’s expression darkened. He watched his men retreat, a sense of anxiety and unease creeping into his heart like a cat clawing at his nerves. He turned to Di Shitian and murmured, "Mr. Di, the opposing side is coming on strong. What do you think..." His voice carried a hint of a plea for help.

Di Shitian merely waved his hand slightly and rose slowly. With his sword in his right hand, he walked toward the floor-to-ceiling window, his posture signaling to the world that he was ready to intervene.

At that moment, the entire battlefield seemed to freeze, everyone holding their breath in anticipation of Di Shitian’s next move. Liu Zhenhua and his men, despite their high spirits, felt the immense pressure bearing down upon them. A far more intense battle was about to unfold, a grand spectacle that set hearts racing with a mix of anticipation and dread.

"As long as you withstand his initial onslaught, his energy will run out like sand through an hourglass," Li Chao said, his voice low and firm, as if delivering the final prophecy of the battle.

Song Wan, the seasoned fighter, clearly understood this as well. Agile as a crafty rabbit, he easily dodged a heavy hammer strike from the burly man. Then, with a swift shift in position, he closed the distance, turned, and delivered a heavy punch to the man's ribs.

"Thud!" The impact was like a booming drum, chilling the hearts of all who heard it. The burly man’s flesh rippled violently; he lost his balance and crashed to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.

But this was only the beginning. Liang Meng did not give his opponent a chance to breathe. He picked up the heavy hammer with one hand and, like the arrival of the Grim Reaper, brought it crashing down onto the man’s skull.

"Bang!" Another deafening sound echoed as the skull shattered like a watermelon. Flesh and brains mingled in a gruesome display that made onlookers want to retch.

This battle was not merely a contest of strength, but a clash of wits and courage. Through his experience and strategy, Liang Meng had successfully defeated the seemingly invincible burly man. Liu Zhenhua witnessed it all, gaining a profound understanding of the cruelty and complexity of the cultivation world.

Howard spoke with a trace of hesitation, whispering a reminder: "Mr. Di, the staircase is over here!"

But Di Shitian simply shook his head, a confident smile curling his lips: "Does a mere distance like this require a staircase?"

Before the words had even faded, Di Shitian tapped his toes lightly and soared into the air like a falcon, leaping directly down. Howard’s face paled in alarm; this was the third floor, a drop of nearly ten meters—the consequences of such a jump were unthinkable! He rushed to look over the edge, only to realize he had underestimated Di Shitian’s prowess.

Di Shitian did not simply fall; he employed a masterful technique, utilizing the air to propel himself, landing steadily on the ground after a few fluid movements. The sight was as shocking as a myth brought to life!

The combatants, previously locked in a desperate struggle, stopped in their tracks, their eyes fixed on Di Shitian. They were stunned by this world-defying leap, as if they were witnessing the descent of a true powerhouse. Di Shitian stood calmly in the center of the battlefield, an overwhelming aura radiating from him, as if he were the true master of this conflict.

...

Meanwhile, on the roof of an uninhabited villa a kilometer away, several mysterious figures silently observed the scene. Standing on that lonely roof were three men in identical black uniforms with golden dragon patterns embroidered on their hems.

The leader was a burly man with a thick beard, chewing on a toothpick and holding high-powered binoculars, his gaze as sharp as an eagle’s. When Di Shitian made his spectacular leap into the fray, the man’s brow twitched slightly, his low voice echoing in the night air: "That fellow has finally appeared!"

The two young men behind him looked nervous, clearly pessimistic about the situation. One of them asked, "Captain, should we intervene now?"

But the bearded man shook his head, a playful smile on his lips: "No rush! Let them fight for a while! We only need to control the situation and ensure this trouble doesn't spread elsewhere!"

The young man frowned and spoke again: "But the situation seems to be spiraling out of control! Many people have already died inside!"

The captain bit down on his toothpick and sighed, his tone conveying a hint of helplessness: "Disputes between ordinary people are for the law enforcement teams to handle; we have no authority to interfere!"

"Just keep an eye on those cultivators!"

...

The bearded man’s voice echoed in the night, and by now, Di Shitian was like a wild horse off its tether, slaughtering his way through the crowd. His sword light spilled forth like moonlight, cutting down five or six men standing in his path, leaving the ground slick with blood. Alone, with only a sword, he rampaged across the field; it seemed no one could stop him.

Although he was alone, the terrifying aura emanating from him hung over everyone like a dark cloud, leaving them breathless. Within a few minutes, dozens of men lay on the ground, their fierce fighting spirit instantly extinguished. Everyone’s eyes held a complex mixture of emotions: anger, pain, and, above all, fear. They had never seen such a terrifying powerhouse; he was like the Grim Reaper, invincible.

Several men dressed as mercenaries, clutching daggers, charged at Di Shitian together. They moved with discipline, forming a wall in the darkness as they attempted to block his path. But Di Shitian merely sneered, a slight flick of his wrist sending sword energy spraying everywhere, instantly felling them to the ground. He did not pause for a single step, moving forward like a walking god of war, unstoppable.

Two other skilled fighters attempted to flank him from both sides, but before they could even get close, their throats were slit by Di Shitian’s blade, and they collapsed on the spot. This scene caused the rest of Liu Zhenhua’s men to retreat in terror, no longer daring to oppose him.

By now, Di Shitian had completely seized control of the battlefield. Every move he made was like a kiss of death, striking fear into the hearts of all. Because of his arrival, the battle had become even more brutal and intense.

The smile had vanished from Liang Meng’s face, replaced by gravity and determination. He knew in his heart that Di Shitian was a formidable enemy, an unavoidable challenge. At this point, there was no choice but to fight.

"Do not be arrogant!" Liang Meng shouted, a faint glow emerging over his fists—a sign of his internal energy manifesting externally. The brass knuckles on his fingers radiated a sharp, piercing force as he smashed them toward Di Shitian. This strike was full of power, the result of Liang Meng’s utmost effort!

However, Di Shitian only shook his head with a sneer: "Your strength is decent, but before me, it is not worth looking at!"

As soon as he spoke, a cold light surged from the sword in his hand, slashing toward Liang Meng. The blade was like a bolt of silk, filled with such killing intent that it seemed as if it could sever everything!

Liang Meng felt a chill in his heart and instinctively raised his fists to block the sword beam. Yet, at the moment of contact, the brass knuckles he had spent so much money to forge were sliced clean through by the blade! Even his fingers were slashed by the energy, leaving bloody gashes. Had his fist technique not been unique, his fingers likely would have been severed entirely.

Failing in his strike, Liang Meng’s face changed dramatically; he knew he could no longer tangle with Di Shitian. He kicked off the ground, retreating to the side, attempting to escape this terrifying fight. But Di Shitian seemed to have anticipated his move. The sword followed the man, tracing a crescent-shaped arc through the air in hot pursuit!

This peak-level duel—a clash of sword and fist—was truly staggering. Everyone held their breath, watching the thrilling battle, fearing they might miss a single detail.

Liang Meng could not dodge in time and was struck in the lower abdomen by Di Shitian’s blade. He let out a miserable cry and tumbled into the distance like a kite with a broken string. Although this blow did not kill him, it was clear he could no longer fight.

Seeing that even Liang Meng was no match for Di Shitian, Zhou Laosan was terrified. He hurriedly pulled a pistol from his coat, intending to fire at Di Shitian. But his reaction was a step too slow. Di Shitian flicked his sword, and a cluster of white light, like an arrow, flew toward Zhou Laosan, piercing his arm. Blood sprayed, the pistol dropped to the ground, and Zhou Laosan collapsed in agony.

Seeing this, Liang Meng, lying not far away, widened his eyes in horror and gasped, "Proficient Realm! He is a Proficient Realm expert!"

A Yellow Realm expert could gather their aura on the surface of their skin to inflict injury. But to project energy several meters away—that was a feat only achievable in the Proficient Realm. Liang Meng had never imagined that Di Shitian had already reached this level!

Regret flooded his heart. Had he known the opponent had a Proficient Realm expert guarding them, he would have rather abandoned the territory in Huaxi City and fled to avoid this catastrophe. But it was too late for regrets.

Di Shitian’s dominant display had completely cowed the entire field. The men of Liu Zhenhua’s faction retreated one after another, daring not to face him again. Meanwhile, Howard’s side cheered in high spirits. Because of Di Shitian’s intervention, the tide of the battle had shifted entirely. Such a powerhouse was simply not someone an ordinary person could provoke!

His appearance was like a hurricane, sweeping across the battlefield and changing everything. Liu Zhenhua’s side, once full of vigor, now looked ashen, feeling that the situation was lost beyond recovery.

Seeing Di Shitian defeat Liang Meng and then wound Zhou Laosan, even the usually composed Liu Zhenhua lost his color. He never imagined that Howard could find a Proficient Realm helper! Such strength far exceeded his imagination. Now, he suspected that even Li Chao might not be a match for Di Shitian. As for the others, they trembled with fear, as if they had already seen their doom.

Di Shitian held his sword, looking coldly at Liu Zhenhua, his voice as frigid as a winter wind: "You schemed to wound my elder brother, and his injuries have yet to heal to this day. Now that I am here, I will first vent some of his anger, then clear the path for him! As for all of you—you can die now!"

...

On the roof of the distant villa, the bearded man with the binoculars narrowed his eyes. He understood that if this continued, Di Shitian would truly kill everyone.

"What is the Huaxi City law enforcement team doing?" he cursed, his voice filled with dissatisfaction and anger. "It’s come to this, and they still haven't shown themselves! Are they really going to let this guy kill everyone?"

After cursing, he gritted his teeth, having made a decision: "Forget it! We strike early!"

According to normal procedure, the law enforcement team should have moved first to control the situation, and his squad would only act if the cultivators refused to comply or attempted to retaliate. But it was clear they could wait no longer.

The bearded man and his two team members hurried downstairs. They knew they had to stop Di Shitian immediately, or the entire city of Huaxi might be turned upside down because of him, leading to unforeseen troubles.

But just as they set off, on the other side, Li Chao, who had been standing next to Liu Zhenhua, quietly stepped out. Seeing this, Liu Zhenhua’s heart tightened, and he hurriedly warned him, "Little Divine Doctor, he is a Proficient Realm expert; you are likely no match for him!"

Li Chao smiled confidently and said, "Whether I am a match or not, I will only know after I try!"

He was not being arrogant; he wanted to use this fight with Di Shitian to verify a theory of his own. Liang Meng had mentioned that the current cultivation levels were divided into Heaven, Earth, Proficient, and Yellow. But the cultivation method Li Chao practiced used entirely different names. Having just broken through the Body Forging stage and entered the Bone Tempering stage, he was eager to see how his current level measured up against a Proficient Realm expert.

Thus, Li Chao walked toward the center of the battlefield, intending to cross swords with Di Shitian.

Meanwhile, the bearded man and his team had reached the edge of the battlefield. They saw Di Shitian swinging his sword wantonly, leaving chaos in his wake. The captain frowned and shouted, "Everyone, listen up! Prepare to strike!"

But just as they were ready to move, Li Chao’s figure appeared in their line of sight. The captain was stunned, recognizing Li Chao, and muttered to himself, "Isn't that the Little Divine Doctor from Liu Zhenhua’s side? Why is he here too?"

Li Chao mused to himself that his four realms likely corresponded to the Heaven, Earth, Proficient, and Yellow stages, and that the Bone Tempering stage might just be another name for the Proficient Realm. To prove this, he decided to fight Di Shitian personally.

Di Shitian looked at the approaching Li Chao with a hint of surprise. He stood tall and said arrogantly, "You have some courage to come forward knowing I am in the Proficient Realm! For that, I will leave your corpse intact later!"

Li Chao chuckled, showing no weakness: "It is too early to say that! It is not certain who will die!"

Di Shitian shook his head slightly, a flash of disdain in his eyes: "Ignorant brat! Since you want to die, I will grant your wish!"

As soon as he finished speaking, he stepped forward, his sword bringing forth a flash of cold light, the killing intent surging like a tide. In his eyes, even Liang Meng had been defeated; this boy before him was certainly no match.

However, the next second left everyone stunned. A faint golden glow emanated from Li Chao’s body, and he suddenly side-stepped, actually dodging Di Shitian’s sword strike. He then surged forward, throwing a heavy punch toward Di Shitian’s face.

This punch contained all of Li Chao’s strength, and its speed was so fast that even Di Shitian was caught off guard. He hurriedly raised his sword to block, but with a loud "bang," the collision of sword and fist sent Di Shitian staggering back a step.

The onlookers widened their eyes. They could not believe that Li Chao could trade a blow with a Proficient Realm expert like Di Shitian without losing his footing.

Li Chao was secretly pleased. He knew his Bone Tempering stage likely did correspond to the Proficient Realm. This battle gave him more confidence and assurance.

Di Shitian’s brow lifted slightly; he quickly retreated three steps. Though uninjured, this was the first time he had been forced back since he started fighting!

How was this possible? Everyone around them was frozen, unable to believe that this seemingly unremarkable young man was so formidable.

Di Shitian’s face darkened. He never imagined he would suffer a setback against this boy due to his own carelessness. He squinted at Li Chao and sneered, "Young and talented, your strength is not bad! But you will die nonetheless!"

With those words, Di Shitian’s aura erupted; a white luster radiated from his skin, and he stood there like a drawn sword. He waved his arm, channeling his aura into his blade, and stepped forward to strike at Li Chao once more!

The sword stroke was like a rainbow, full of momentum, a world of difference from the previous one. Before the blade even arrived, the rolling wind had already engulfed Li Chao, making his clothes dance wildly. Li Chao felt an immense pressure descending from above, as if he were to be crushed into powder. Even the onlookers felt a sharp pain, as if countless invisible blades were slicing their skin. They retreated, not daring to stay near the center of the fight.

Li Chao knew clearly that for this strike, Di Shitian had used his full strength.