With the life-or-death battle with Han Long imminent, Wang Hao dared not slack off in the slightest and devoted himself wholeheartedly to cultivation. His main focus remained on External Training Golden Bell Shield and the Lightning Straight-Line Step, while occasionally engaging in group battles with the assassins from the Blood Wind Hall using a wooden sword.
Such low-intensity combat naturally wouldn't significantly improve the Ten Stances of Bloody Battle. Moreover, the Ten Stances of Bloody Battle have already reached their Peak Perfection, making it far more difficult to improve upon than before. Even if one had already thoroughly comprehended it using the Dao Comprehension Function, it wouldn't be something that could be accomplished in a short time.
In comparison, the External Training Golden Bell Shield and the Lightning Straight-Line Step progressed much faster.
Although the External Training Golden Bell Shield is still at its Peak Perfection, it has improved significantly. If the Peak Perfection level is divided into four stages—early, middle, late, and peak—then it is now at the middle stage.
And with a little more hard work or a specific opportunity, one can break through to the later stages.
As for the Lightning Straight-Line Step...
"Haven't we reached our limit yet?"
His figure suddenly shot forward more than four zhang away, Wang Hao frowned slightly.
According to the manual on the Lightning Straight-Line Step Technique, Entering the Hall and Inner Chamber the advanced stage, the Lightning Straight-Line Step can be cultivated to the point where each step is three zhang (approximately 10 meters). If one exceeds three zhang, one will advance to the stage of Complete Integration.
But even though he had already reached the point where each step covered four zhang, he still hadn't reached the level of Complete Integration mastery.
However, he was not surprised by this situation but rather pleased. Not reaching his limit meant that his limit was much greater than that of ordinary people, which was mainly due to his tall stature.
He was nine feet tall, more than two feet taller than the average person, and his stride was nearly twice as long as that of an average person.
The Lightning Straight-Line Step is clearly related to this point. According to this calculation, he should reach the limit of six zhang per step before he can be considered to have entered the Entering the Hall and Inner Chamber and then advance to the level of Complete Integration.
If one cultivates to a state of Transcendent Mastery skill, one will be able to cover at least twenty feet in a single step, which is quite terrifying.
I knew you were still cultivating!
Just then, a figure pushed open the courtyard gate and walked in, looking helplessly at Wang Hao, who was practicing the Lightning Straight-Line Step in the courtyard. The person who came was Zhao Dachui.
"To have mastered the Lightning Straight-Line Step to such a degree is truly unprecedented!"
Zhao Dachui's eyes twitched repeatedly as he glanced at the completely collapsed eastern wall of Wang Hao's courtyard.
Although he had never practiced the Lightning Straight-Line Step, he had seen some people use it. Although this movement technique emphasizes the explosive speed in a straight line, it is still quite graceful to use. When used by a master of internal energy, it is even more like Gui Mei.
But in Wang Hao's hands, it turned into a savage charge. It had speed, but it also made a lot of noise. The courtyard wall was smashed down by this guy.
Keep in mind that the wall was made of blue bricks and glutinous rice paste!
What an animal!
"Anyway, his challenge only said today, but didn't specify the Tokiomi!"
Stopping, Wang Hao picked up a towel from the side and wiped the sweat from his brow, smiling nonchalantly.
"We don't really care what Han Long thinks, but not only are all the hall masters here to watch the battle, but even the tower master is here. Are you just going to let them wait around doing nothing?"
Rolling his eyes, Zhao Dachui had long expected Wang Hao to say that.
"Are the people in the Blood Robe Tower really that idle? How come these old guys are always there for every battle I fight?"
Wang Hao was puzzled. In his imagination, the Blood Robe Tower, as the number one assassin organization in the world, should be very busy. How come these old guys were so leisurely?
Last time, that old guy Zhao Fengxue told him that he was exhausted from holding both the positions of elder and hall master. What a load of rubbish!
"Who knows! Maybe they're just bored out of their minds! But this time is different; a very important person is here."
Shrugging, Zhao Dachui also felt that those old guys were too idle, but he still solemnly revealed a piece of news.
"Is he Han Long's godfather?"
With a slight frown, Wang Hao immediately realized that the newcomer must be the person backing Han Long.
He had a detailed understanding of Han Long's background, and had even asked Zhao Dachui about it, so he knew that there was a big shot behind that guy.
That was Hou Shangxing, the chief executioner of the Eastern Depot, whose position was second only to the head of the Eastern Depot. Han Long was said to be his adopted son.
The person who adopted Han Long as his godson had no good intentions; he wanted to use Han Long to interfere in the affairs of the Blood Wind Hall and even the Blood Robe Tower, and even bring the Blood Robe Tower under his control.
He was an ambitious man, but in the capital, such ambitious people were very common, so it wasn't surprising.
How many people who climb to high positions are without ambition?
"That's the guy. You'd better win Pretty this time!"
Zhao Dachui's face showed disgust, clearly indicating that he also had no good feelings towards Hou Shangxing.
Don't you trust me to handle things?
Wearing a brocade robe, Wang Hao smiled, revealing a set of bright white teeth, brimming with confidence!
With his current strength, he can contend with Zhao Dachui, Early-Stage Super-First-Rate. Even if Han Long has some backup plan, he can still have Xiao Mengmeng activate the Dao Comprehension Function to enhance her combat power.
Therefore, we are certain to win this battle!
"You're Wang Hao? What an airs! You actually made me wait for you?"
As soon as Wang Hao arrived at the training ground, he was berated in Yin and Yang tone by a effeminate man sitting next to Lu Weilou on the high platform. This man should be Hou Shangxing Han Long's Hou Shangxing.
"Reporting to Commander Han, it was not my intention to do so. Rather, Han Long's challenge only stated 'today' but not the specific Tokiomi, so I assumed it was noon!"
Wang Hao replied neither humbly nor arrogantly, while also subtly retorting.
"What Han commander? My surname is Hou!"
Hou Shangxing's expression suddenly turned cold, believing that Wang Hao had deliberately made a mistake.
"What? Impossible! Aren't you Han Long's father? How come your surname is Hou? Oh! I know, judging from your age, you're about the same as Han Long, it's indeed impossible for you to have such an old son, so you're not his biological father, but his stepfather!"
Wang Hao was initially puzzled, but then seemed to understand something Satori.
"You..."
Hou Shangxing at Wang Hao's words that his face turned red, his eyes became bloodshot, and he exuded murderous intent.
Han Long, standing to the side, also had a cold and ferocious expression, his heart surging with murderous intent.
"Pfft!"
Zhao Fengxue couldn't help but laugh, then forced back her laughter and apologized, "Commander Hou, please don't be offended. That lad has only been in the Blood Robe Tower for a month, and he doesn't understand many things. Please don't be offended!"
Lu Weilou, standing to the side, was also suppressing a laugh, feeling even more delighted.
Hou Shangxing a lot of moves against their Blood Robe Tower over the past few years, which has long annoyed him. However, since they are under the control of the Eastern Depot, he can't resist them and can only endure it.
Now that Wang Hao, this hothead, has Hou Shangxing, it can be considered a good result.
"Hmph! I'm not so petty as to bother with a mere brat. Enough talk, let's start the battle! I have important business to attend to at the Eastern Depot after this."
Suppressing his anger and murderous intent, Hou Shangxing gave Han Long, who was standing behind him, a wink.
Han Long understood, nodded to himself, and then flashed to the center of the training ground.
Wang Hao turned his gaze to Han Long opposite him, but ignored Hou Shangxing.
After all, their positions were destined to be hostile, and the other party had made their hostility very obvious from the beginning, so he didn't mind to confront them head-on a few times.
With Zhao Fengxue, Lu Weilou, and Elder Chu protecting him, he has nothing to fear!
Compared to Hou Shangxing, Han Long in front of him was more worthy of his attention.
"You've reached the Super-First-Rate level?"
His expression suddenly turned serious. Through the perception of the True Spirit Sword Intent, he was certain that Han Long had definitely broken through to the Super-First-Rate realm, and not just the early stage like Zhao Dachui, but the mid-stage of the Mid-Stage Super-First-Rate realm.
This is really tricky!
Even though Han Long wasn't a genius martial artist like Zhao Dachui, and his swordsmanship wasn't as powerful as Zhao Dachui's Blood Wind Fast Sword, his actual cultivation level was undeniable, and his combat strength was definitely no weaker than Zhao Dachui's.
This is a formidable enemy!
"I have to thank you! If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have had this opportunity."
Han Long grinned maliciously, his chilling killing intent making no attempt to conceal it.
Although his murderous intent towards Wang Hao remained, his gratitude was also genuine.
He was very self-aware; at most, he could only reach the Peak Super-First-Rate in his lifetime, and the hope of breaking through to the Grandmaster Realm was extremely slim.
This time, with the combined efforts of four Grandmaster Realm experts helping him break through his bottleneck, his foundation is several times stronger than if he had broken through on his own. Even though his swordsmanship level has not yet broken through, his combat power is not bad.
Once his cultivation reaches the Peak Super-First-Rate and his swordsmanship reaches its zenith, becoming the number one person below the Grandmaster Realm will be no problem at all, and he will be able to reach that level even faster through his own cultivation.
It could be said that he turned misfortune into blessing; all he had to do was kill this kid in front of him, and his future would be bright.
Thinking of this, Han Long's killing intent towards Wang Hao intensified.
"Prepare to die!"
Without further ado, Han Long drew his long sword and thrust it at Wang Hao. Both his movement speed and the speed of his sword strike were extremely fast.
"Clang!"
Wang Hao raised his sword to meet the attack and accurately blocked the sword strike. However, when he saw the opponent's longsword, which had completely pierced the tip of the greatsword, his pupils couldn't help but shrink again.
This is a divine sword, a divine sword that has been folded and forged thirteen times, just one step away from reaching the level of Ten-Thousand-Refined True Steel.
If it weren't for the greatsword in my hand being thick enough, and the Ziwei Soft Sword hidden inside the blade, the blade would probably have been pierced through.
" The Revolving Wheel Sword! You even borrowed the Revolving Wheel Sword! You've got quite the generosity!"
Upon seeing the long, dark-skinned sword, Zhao Fengxue's pupils contracted, and she immediately glared angrily at Ye Qingqian.
The Revolving Wheel Sword was the personal sword of a reclusive master in the imperial palace. It was incomparably sharp. Among everyone present, only Ye Qingqian had some connection with that reclusive master, so it was clear that Ye Qingqian had borrowed the Revolving Wheel Sword.
He had long anticipated that Ye Qinggan and the others would help Han Long, but he hadn't expected them to invest so much.
It should be noted that the Revolving Wheel Sword was a divine sword a level above the two swords he carried, especially the tip, which was incomparably sharp. Once, a reclusive master even used it to pierce through a Shaolin Temple monk who had mastered the Vajra Indestructible Divine Art.
Now that Han Long has the Revolving Wheel Sword in his hand, his strength will at least double, which will put Wang Hao in danger.
Ye Qingqian and his three companions smiled without saying a word, appearing quite smug and sinister.
They loved seeing Zhao Fengxue so angry, and this was just an appetizer. Once that monstrous brat Wang Hao was killed by Han Long, Zhao Fengxue would be even angrier, and might even die of anger on the spot!
"Aren't you afraid that if Han Long loses, the Revolving Wheel Sword will be lost forever?"
Suppressing her anger, Zhao Fengxue narrowed her eyes and questioned him coldly.
"My son will not lose, and even if he does, do you dare to take the sword of the Wheel-Turning King?"
Before Ye Qingqian could speak, Hou Shangxing glanced contemptuously at Zhao Fengxue and Lu Weilou.
Wheel-Turning King is a Sword Dao who is Half-Step Great Grandmaster level. He is a great asset to the Da Ming royal family and is a member of the royal family himself, with a noble status.
He didn't believe Zhao Fengxue and his companions would dare to intercept Wheel-Turning King's sword, given the Blood Robe Tower's limited resources.
"Hmph! Then you'd better open your eyes wide and see if we dare to do it then!"
Lu Weilou was enraged at this moment, his eyes sweeping over Ye Qingqian, Fu Lin and the other two as if spitting fire.
He could accept the four men's covert assistance to Han Long, after all, Han Long was also one of their Blood Robe Tower members, so this was a family matter.
But it's different with Wheel-Turning King. Although Ye Qingqian has some connection with Wheel-Turning King, he would have to pay a considerable price to borrow Wheel-Turning King's sword.
It's obvious to anyone with their toes that this price was selling out the interests of the Blood Robe Tower, which crossed his bottom line.
Most importantly, Wheel-Turning King was an outsider, and involving external forces in internal strife was a major taboo in any power, so how could he not be furious?
Ye Qingqian, Fu Lin, and the other three were also quite embarrassed by Lu Weilou's glare, and turned their gazes to the side, not daring to meet Lu Weilou's eyes.
After all, they really went too far this time, but they had no other choice!
That kid's potential is just too strong, and he's too much of a threat. He's grown to this level in just one month. If he's given a few more years, he might be able to break through to the Grandmaster Realm.
Therefore, we must seize this opportunity to eliminate it, otherwise it will surely become a major problem in the future.