"Intercepting Kill Style!"
Ju Hua gave a low shout, and three terrifying streaks of swordlight instantly met the Void-Return Fiendgod's six arms.
After a rumbling crash, a huge wound appeared on each of the Void-Return Fiendgod's six arms, while Ju Hua's nine Immortal Swords were flung away, powerless.
"Just relying on Immortal Swords, he actually blocked it?" In the distance, Qing Muling's face showed a trace of shock. But then, as if she had thought of something, she raised the white feather fan in her hand and swept it down hard.
Boom!
A gale swept through. The Void-Return Fiendgod waved his arms irritably, blocking the fierce winds.
The winds only irritated the Void-Return Fiendgod, but Ju Hua, standing not far away, made him furious! Ju Hua had met attack with attack and blocked him head-on. That meant his opponent had definitely been hiding his strength before.
The Void-Return Fiendgod was rich in battle experience. Of course he understood that although he had gained the upper hand in that clash, his opponent could still hold him off for quite a while.
"Cunning human! You waited until now to reveal your full strength!" the Void-Return Fiendgod roared, swinging his arms as he charged again.
Although the Void-Return Fiendgod knew that it would be difficult to defeat Ju Hua in a short time, he didn't want to give up just like that. He had to try.
Faced with the Void-Return Fiendgod's frenzied assault, Ju Hua didn't hesitate. He once more urged his Immortal Swords to meet it.
However, the Fiendgod was wrong about one thing: Ju Hua still wasn't using his full strength!
The fifth stance of the Great Sorrow Sword Art had already surpassed the level of a top Loose Immortal, but it was still far from that of a million-year Loose Immortal. In that last strike, Ju Hua hadn't used the Dao of the Sword fused with the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth. He had only used the pure Dao of the Sword to drive the stance.
That was precisely why Ju Hua had been at a disadvantage against the Void-Return Fiendgod. Otherwise, with the Zhuanshui Clan's grand formation strengthening him, Ju Hua should have been suppressing the Void-Return Fiendgod instead. How could he have been suppressed by his opponent?
Fuyun and Zhuanshui Pingqiu's escape had indeed slightly disrupted Ju Hua's plans, but he hadn't revealed all his strength. If he encountered danger in the future, he could still erupt with another burst of power!
Ju Hua's choice to reveal part of his strength had still served its purpose. Although he was no match for the Void-Return Fiendgod, he could hold him off for a short time.
All he needed was a little more time. Ancestor Tianyang would arrive soon, and when he did, the Fiendgods would have nowhere to run.
Facing the Void-Return Fiendgod's frenzied attacks, Ju Hua held his ground step by step. The Void-Return Fiendgod was stronger than him, but not by much. As long as Ju Hua didn't reveal any obvious openings, his opponent could do nothing to him in a short time.
The Void-Return Fiendgod also tried several times to ambush Ju Hua with his divine ability, Cave Profound Golden Light. But every attempt was blocked by the Litian Immortal Sword Ju Hua had already set outside the battlefield.
The Litian Immortal Sword was top-grade Immortal rank, and Ju Hua's realm was far higher than Immortal Fuyun's. Blocking a few streaks of Cave Profound Golden Light wasn't difficult.
The Void-Return Fiendgod attacked furiously for the time it took an incense stick to burn, yet Ju Hua remained as steady as a mountain. Suddenly, the Void-Return Fiendgod stopped attacking.
"The battle's only just begun. Why have you stopped? Keep going!" Ju Hua shouted.
"Human, just you wait. Sooner or later, I'll tear you apart alive!"
The Void-Return Fiendgod wasn't a fool. He wouldn't fall for Ju Hua's taunt. After leaving him with a threat and letting out a long howl, he turned without hesitation and raced toward Autumn Mountain Great Marsh.
Almost at the same time, a group of Primordial Spirit Fiendgods battling the Zhuanshui Clan's army reluctantly abandoned their opponents and swiftly followed the Void-Return Fiendgod.
"Don't pursue a cornered enemy!"
Ju Hua stood in the air, watching the Void-Return Fiendgod flee into the distance in an instant, and gave the order without hesitation.
"."
Naturally, no one disobeyed Ju Hua's order. Before, the Black Armor Profound Army had followed him purely because he was their commanding general. But after this battle, many of them were willing to obey him from the bottom of their hearts, out of admiration and gratitude.
Ju Hua, together with an ordinary squad of the Black Armor Profound Army, had held off a Void-Return Fiendgod. The Loose Immortals present, and even many Primordial Spirit Daoists, understood what that meant.
Perhaps before long, Ju Hua would reach the level of a million-year Loose Immortal. That was Celestial Immortal-level combat power!
Respect for the strong was something every cultivator in the Three Realms did instinctively.
Besides, with Ju Hua holding off the Void-Return Fiendgod, the other Black Armor Profound Army troops could fight the Primordial Spirit Fiendgods without worry. If Ju Hua had also turned and run, just like Immortal Fuyun and Zhuanshui Pingqiu, the fate of the Black Armor Profound Army could be imagined.
A hundred-man formation of the Black Armor Profound Army led by an ordinary Loose Immortal would be utterly crushed before a Void-Return Fiendgod. From that perspective, Ju Hua had stayed behind to hold off the Void-Return Fiendgod and had repaid them with a life-saving favor. It was no wonder some of them felt grateful to him!
After the Fiendgods left, Ju Hua had the army rest where it was. He himself went up into the air to wait for Ancestor Tianyang.
Less than half an incense stick later, Ju Hua saw a streak of golden light racing toward him from far away. The golden light had been a great distance off just a moment earlier, but in the next blink, it was right before him.
It was a young man with long, flowing hair and a face as fair as jade. But Ju Hua knew he was certainly not young, because he was one of the Zhuanshui Clan's Celestial Immortal ancestors—Ancestor Tianyang!
"Zhuanshui Juhua pays his respects to Ancestor!" Ju Hua bowed slightly.
"No need for formalities!" Ancestor Tianyang swept his spiritual sense over the area below and asked, "Have the Fiendgods retreated?"
"Yes, they've withdrawn," Ju Hua replied with a nod.
"Cunning, indeed!" Ancestor Tianyang furrowed his brows, then asked, "How many casualties did the army suffer?"
"Not many," Ju Hua answered truthfully.
"Oh? You actually stopped that Void-Return Fiendgod without a single casualty?" A trace of interest appeared on Ancestor Tianyang's face.
"Ancestor, please take a look." Ju Hua took out an Immortal Sword and demonstrated the stance.
"This is..." Although Ancestor Tianyang didn't cultivate the Dao of the Sword, he was knowledgeable. Somewhat surprised, he asked, "The Intercepting Kill Style from the Great Sorrow Sword Art?"
"Before the expedition, I was fortunate enough to have an insight and comprehend the Intercepting Kill Style," Ju Hua explained.
"Mm. Having mastered the fifth stance of the Great Sorrow Sword Art, and with the Zhuanshui Clan's grand formation strengthening you, it wouldn't be difficult to hold off a Void-Return Fiendgod for a short time." Ancestor Tianyang nodded thoughtfully. But then, as if he had remembered something, he suddenly sighed.
"It seems I've been away from the clan for too long. I didn't even know that such a powerful Loose Immortal as you had emerged from our clan."
Ju Hua: "..."