Arrogant and Overbearing

"Firmament Phantom Sword, First Form: Shadowless!"

Swish, swish, swish...

In an instant, a full sixty sword shadows covered the space before Qin Hao.

Bang! Bang! Bang!...

Sword shadow after sword shadow struck the long whip, sending out a series of dull thuds.

At the same time, a vast surge of power spread from Qin Hao.

The strength of a peak seventh-stage Body Tempering Realm cultivator erupted.

"Hmm?! What sword technique is that?"

Caught off guard, Lei Jiaojiao felt power surging toward her and could not help staggering backward.

The attack from her whip was shattered as well.

In that exchange, Lei Jiaojiao had actually come off worse.

"What? Qin Hao broke through?"

"That move of his is at least twice as powerful as it was two days ago!"

Chen Yuntian and Liu Xiao were even more shocked.

Two days ago, Qin Hao had clearly only been at the peak of the sixth stage of the Body Tempering Realm!

"That good-for-nothing reached the peak of the seventh stage in just two days. He must have eaten the Azure Origin Fruit!"

Yang Benhong flew into a rage.

He had still been looking for a chance to steal Qin Hao's Azure Origin Fruit.

"That guy actually forced Lei Jiaojiao back."

"Lei Jiaojiao underestimated him, but that kid has some skill!"

The many new disciples on the main road looked astonished.

Lei Jiaojiao had not used a martial technique and had certainly underestimated her opponent. Even so, she had placed thirty-eighth in the Myriad Forms City Genius Tournament!

Myriad Forms City was a major city, and each Genius Tournament recruited only the top hundred. Lei Jiaojiao's place in the top fifty was proof enough of her strength.

"You worthless cur, you filthy dog! You dare fight back? Just stand there and die!"

Lei Jiaojiao roared, furious and flustered.

"How ridiculous! Lei Jiaojiao, just because you want to kill me, I'm supposed to stand here and let you?"

Qin Hao sneered. "You really are full of yourself. What a bitch!"

"You're courting death!" Lei Jiaojiao's anger burned hotter. "You lot, what are you standing around for? Seize that filthy dog for me!"

"I'm going to whip him to death!"

"Yes, Second Young Miss!"

The people behind Lei Jiaojiao were furious too. They had followed her since their days in Myriad Forms City. If anything happened to her, they would bear the blame, and the Lei family would never spare them.

"Kid, get on your knees!"

Six people surrounded Qin Hao from both sides and behind. One of them shouted and struck at him with a palm.

A fierce wind howled, carrying a terrifying force.

The others attacked as well. Every one of them had a powerful aura, and even the weakest was at the peak of the seventh stage of the Body Tempering Realm. In terms of combat strength, even that person was somewhat stronger than Chen Yuntian.

These people are all so strong. Qin Hao really has no idea how to stay alive. Chen Yuntian watched coldly.

"Firmament Phantom Sword, Second Form: Phantom Sword!"

Qin Hao's expression did not change as he unleashed another sword technique.

Dense masses of sword shadows appeared at once.

Bang! Bang! Bang!...

In a flash, the sword shadows filled the space before Qin Hao and swept toward the six attackers.

The next moment, three dull impacts rang out. Hidden among the countless sword shadows, three true sword strikes hit the three people at the front.

Their faces changed drastically. A tremendous force surged into them, drawing muffled grunts as all three stumbled backward.

Disbelief showed on every face.

My Firmament Phantom Sword's second form only managed to drive back three of them!

Qin Hao's heart sank. These six were formidable indeed.

Yet when the onlookers saw this, they could not hide their shock.

He had held off six people alone and even forced three of them back?

"Kid, I didn't expect you to have some skill. Too bad you ran into the six of us!"

The three barely paused before charging at Qin Hao again.

"Ran into the six of you?"

Qin Hao's eyes flashed. "Then let me see just how strong the geniuses from other cities really are!"

As he spoke, an unyielding fighting spirit burst from him.

A swordsman pressed forward, never admitted defeat, and grew fiercer with every clash!

Qin Hao felt no fear. Instead, boundless fighting spirit blazed within him!

"This..."

Everyone was stunned by the sight.

Surrounded by six attackers, he could still summon such fighting spirit?

"Seven-Star Step!"

Qin Hao stopped defending passively. Using the Seven-Star Step, he took the initiative and attacked.

Bang, bang, bang...

In an instant, Qin Hao darted and twisted among the six, his right hand sweeping out a mass of sword shadows that struck from every direction.

Now and then, someone was driven back. Qin Hao himself was forced to retreat from time to time.

Even so, he showed no fear. The longer he fought, the more exhilarated he became.

Just then, an excited shout rang out.

"Filthy dog, die!"

Watching the six attack Qin Hao together, Lei Jiaojiao wore a twisted look of excitement.

"That'll teach you to block my path! That'll teach you to attack me!"

Lei Jiaojiao shouted as her long whip turned into a black blur. It cracked through the air with a sharp report, brimming with power.

More importantly, a red lotus seemed to bloom within her strike.

"That's the Lei family's high-grade Yellow Tier martial technique, Red Lotus Nine Whips!"

"That kid's going to lose!"

"He held off six people by himself. Even if he loses, he has nothing to be ashamed of!"

The crowd erupted.

Some of the new disciples recognized Lei Jiaojiao's strike as a high-grade Yellow Tier martial technique.

The later strikes of the Red Lotus Nine Whips were immensely powerful. Each was at least several times stronger than the one before it, and their power compounded.

If she reached the ninth whip, even a first-stage Meridian Opening Realm expert would likely have to treat it with caution.

What was more, Lei Jiaojiao's attack had come so suddenly that most people would not have had time to react.

He brought this on himself! Chen Yuntian looked on with disdain. To him, picking a fight with Lei Jiaojiao was no different from seeking death.

An ambush?!

Qin Hao's face darkened. Lei Jiaojiao had chosen this moment to strike from the side, and she had immediately used a martial technique. Even he felt threatened by the power of her whip.

"Firmament Phantom Sword, Third Form: Firmament!"

Without hesitation, Qin Hao shot backward to put distance between himself and the others. At the same time, he gripped his sword with both hands and slashed hard toward Lei Jiaojiao.

He did not use Sword Force in this strike.

Even so, it carried tremendous power!

"What? How is Qin Hao's sword strike even stronger than it was two days ago?"

Chen Yuntian was startled. During the Genius Tournament, he had lost to this very strike.

This time, Chen Yuntian felt its power even more clearly. As the sword fell, a chill gripped his heart.

But he could also sense that Lei Jiaojiao's whip carried still greater force!

So what if you've improved by leaps and bounds? You provoked Lei Jiaojiao and the Lei family. You won't even have a place to be buried! Chen Yuntian sneered.

The Red Lotus Nine Whips contained no "Force." Even so, the power of Lei Jiaojiao's strike was already comparable to some forms of "Force" that had only just been comprehended!

Boom!...

With a deafening collision, Qin Hao grunted and retreated dozens of steps, his expression shifting as blood churned inside him. He nearly spat out a mouthful.