Limit

Qin Hao's figure moved rapidly, constantly closing in on the Ox-Ghost at high speed. But advancing was far harder than he had imagined. The closer he got to the Ox-Ghost, the more difficult each step forward became.

And as he advanced, Qin Hao had to be careful not to get hit again. Under the dual pressure in his mind and on his body, Qin Hao was greatly affected as well.

No matter how much of a genius Qin Hao was, in truth, he was still only a youth not yet nineteen. Even in his previous life, he had only been in his twenties, and his life experience was far from rich. When facing difficult circumstances, even if he wanted to persevere in his heart, his body still hesitated a little.

Especially this injury—it had affected Qin Hao as well. The earlier frostbite, combined with the impact of the Ox-Ghost's punch, was something Qin Hao had never experienced before. Even his constant extreme-style training had mostly been him challenging himself, and it had come with a certain guarantee. He knew he had Meteor Tear as a safety net. There was danger, but he would not lose his life.

The situation he faced now was different. If the Ox-Ghost's attack landed on him again, he might reach his limit, or even be seriously injured on the spot. In this environment, serious injury meant death would follow, and the Ox-Ghost would not leave him any chance to recover. Even Meteor Tear would find it hard to complete his recovery in an instant.

With these misgivings in his heart, Qin Hao's speed slowed, and he grew even more cautious in his responses. When the heart was troubled, even one's strength could not be fully brought out.

This can't go on. Qin Hao gradually realized his own problem, and he also knew it was an issue that had always existed within him. But some problems could not be solved just because one was aware of them. Only after enough experience would change occur.

I'm someone who's already died once. What is there left to worry about? What is there to be afraid of? Even if I truly face a Planetary level opponent, I must have the courage to draw my blade. Otherwise, how can I venture into that vast starry sky? How can I forge ahead through the rapids in my future growth? Qin Hao kept thinking in his heart, and his entire soul seemed to undergo a transformation at that moment.

See True Nature of Mind. Only now have I truly begun to cultivate my heart.

Now, let me go crazy for once.

As he thought this, Qin Hao had already begun moving. His speed grew even faster, the fifth layer of the Nine Heavens Thunder Blade's Force Generation driven to its fullest. As his speed surged, Qin Hao no longer merely dodged, but began attacking the Ox-Ghost again and again.

Although each slash dealt limited damage to the Ox-Ghost, under his rapid attacks, the wounds on the Ox-Ghost's body kept increasing, and blood continuously flowed out, forming a small pool on the ground.

"It's not over yet." After dodging the Ox-Ghost's swinging fist, Qin Hao leaped directly onto its arm, thrust his long blade into it, and sprinted swiftly. In an instant, he carved a wound ten meters long across the Ox-Ghost's arm.

"Ah, oh!" A pained howl rang out. The Ox-Ghost's agonized and furious voice shook the surrounding air, and its other hand swiftly attacked Qin Hao, as if swatting a fly—fast and forceful.

Looking at the incoming punch, Qin Hao did not choose to dodge. Holding Extreme Shadow, he slashed out at the same time. The instant they collided, one of the Ox-Ghost's fingers was severed by Qin Hao. At the same time, Qin Hao's figure rapidly plummeted, and after adjusting his posture midair, he landed steadily on the ground.

"Pfft." In the collision, Qin Hao had also been injured, and he spat out a mouthful of blood. However, Qin Hao did not care in the slightest. The instant he landed, he disappeared from where he stood.

When he appeared again, he was already behind the Ox-Ghost. His long blade slashed directly toward the Ox-Ghost's Achilles tendon. It cut through the skin and sliced the Achilles tendon halfway through, exposing the white tendon beneath.

"Damn it, how is this possible? How could this brat possibly be a match for the Ox-Ghost?" In the Observation Room, Yanagawa Masami watched Qin Hao and the Ox-Ghost fighting below, his eyes filled with disbelief.

"This brat absolutely cannot be allowed to live. Let the Ox-Ghost wear him down first." Yanagawa Masami smiled sinisterly.

"My lord, this is bad. Personnel from the Huaxia Military have entered the warning zone. The number detected has already exceeded ten thousand!" Just as Yanagawa Masami was waiting for the result of the battle between Qin Hao and the Ox-Ghost, a voice sounded beside his ear.

"Bastards. Evacuate immediately. Don't bother with anyone else. Abandon the base and leave at once. Activate Base Self-Destruct Mode." After Yanagawa Masami finished speaking, he quickly left the Observation Room.

Qin Hao, who was fully focused on the battle, did not notice Yanagawa Masami leaving. Instead, he placed all his attention on the Ox-Ghost.

As the battle continued, Qin Hao gradually found his own rhythm. Although the fight was urgent, what it brought Qin Hao more than anything was excitement.

At this moment, Qin Hao was completely immersed in battle, and his entire being had become utterly excited. Every man had hot blood in his heart, a hot-bloodedness for battle. Qin Hao had always killed plenty and fought plenty, but he had never once truly become excited.

Now, he was completely excited.

The excited Qin Hao seemed to have been half released from all restraints. He completely forgot the pain in his body, his adrenaline soaring, and his battle with the Ox-Ghost became even more unpredictable.

The blade in his hand changed constantly—sometimes heavy, sometimes nimble. One could even see traces of sword techniques, spear techniques, and other weapons within his Blade Technique. The Secret Manuals he had spent several months reading in Hong's Study were released continuously in Qin Hao's mind at this moment, every move and stance blending into his attacks.

Under the intense battle, the wounds on the Ox-Ghost's body kept increasing. Its Achilles tendon was completely severed by Qin Hao, its mobility dropped, its body was covered in cuts, and there was even a wound at its throat.

However, while the Ox-Ghost was being injured constantly, Qin Hao's condition was not good either. When colliding with the Ox-Ghost, he continuously dissipated the force, but the powerful impact gradually pushed Qin Hao's body to its limit. Even Qin Hao's internal organs had developed many cracks.

Yet Qin Hao, now completely immersed in battle, seemed unable to sense the changes in his body, focusing all his attention on the fight.

"Startling Thunder!"

"Like a Dream, Like an Illusion!"

"Rainbow Piercing the Sun!"

With every slash, Qin Hao's position shifted once. When the final slash came down, the long blade seemed to transform into a rainbow, erupting with ultimate power as it swept once more across the wound at the Ox-Ghost's throat, following the cut and slicing its throat open.

"Hrk, hrk, hrk..." The Ox-Ghost instinctively clutched its throat, wanting to breathe. Although it had suffered a fatal wound, the Ox-Ghost did not immediately lose its life. A Monster with Planetary level power had vitality far beyond imagination.

Feeling its life slipping away, the Ox-Ghost went completely mad at that moment and swiftly swung its fists toward Qin Hao.

At this moment, Qin Hao and the Ox-Ghost were in extremely similar states. The Ox-Ghost was about to lose its life, while Qin Hao had also already reached his limit. The slash just now had nearly consumed all of his strength.

However, facing the Ox-Ghost's attacks, Qin Hao did not sit and wait for death. The long blade in his hand continuously blocked the attacks. Under repeated impacts, the injuries on his body became even more severe.

"Ah!" With a furious roar, Qin Hao, in a state where his body had reached its limit, suddenly exerted his strength and charged at the Ox-Ghost again. Ignoring any of the Ox-Ghost's attacks, he leaped up once more, and his blade once again swept across the Ox-Ghost's throat.

The Ox-Ghost collapsed in response, and Qin Hao also landed on the ground. Immediately afterward, a wave of exhaustion swept over his body, and he even felt his own vitality draining away.

I really overdid it this time. Exhaustion of both body and mind struck him at once. However, just as Qin Hao felt his vitality draining away, a warm current erupted rapidly from the position of his heart, swiftly sweeping through his entire body.