Chapter 168 Silver Dragon

The ground exploded. Fan Liwei had made his move. The gun was the king of all weapons, and attack was the strongest power – to destroy him.

The distance between them was only a dozen meters, a distance where victory or defeat could be decided in the blink of an eye. But in the 0.5 seconds that Fan Liwei attacked, he vanished without a trace. Tita and Aofei broke out in cold sweats, because this was a complete disappearance. His immense aura and sound were completely erased.

In a life-or-death moment like this, such a change would cause even the most skilled experts to feel fear. This was why Fan Liwei dared to challenge Li Hao to a pilot duel.

Strength was confidence!

Unlike Perkins, whose movements were traceable, Fan Liwei's superpower was a true disappearance, like a ghost. At this moment, one second felt like a year.

A voice seemed to echo from the depths of the underworld: "Bai Wu Liu Tian Yin Po Hun Qiang (Hundred Weapons Style Heaven Conceal Soul Piercing Spear)!"

A glimmer of silver light appeared behind Li Hao. The next moment, a long spear thrust out. Li Hao instantly performed a half-turn, using his back to deflect the fatal blow with his Tang blade at the last possible moment.

*Boom.*

He was sent flying more than ten meters, along with his blade. Fan Liwei appeared, instantly closing the distance. In mid-air, he released the spear, kicking out. The Silver Dragon Spear shot towards Li Hao's vitals.

Bai Wu Liu Long Cu Qiang (Hundred Weapons Style Dragon Kick Spear)!

Fan Liwei immediately unleashed his killing move, aiming to disrupt Li Hao’s rhythm and catch him off guard. With no room to dodge in mid-air, Li Hao could only forcefully gather his Qi and grip the Tang blade with both hands to withstand the ultimate spear attack.

He endured the full force of the terrifying impact, crashing into the wall.

The Silver Dragon Spear bounced back, and Fan Liwei immediately summoned it back to his hand. Still moving forward fluidly, he had no intention of ending it there. He smoothly retrieved the Silver Dragon Spear and launched another attack towards Li Hao. Just as he was about to pierce Li Hao with his spear, he suddenly saw Li Hao's eyes. In an instant, the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end. In the next moment, Fan Liwei, who had been in complete control, suddenly did a backflip, leaping more than ten meters away.

This scene left the four in the observation room dumbfounded. From their vantage point, they couldn't see what had happened. Fan Liwei, who had held an absolute advantage and was on the verge of victory, had suddenly scurried away like a frightened rabbit...

Li Hao had somehow managed to stand up. If A Youyou wasn’t present, he could have played around with his opponent. There were very few things that could pique his interest.

Fan Liwei gripped the Silver Dragon Spear tightly, his anger rising. Why? Why? Why?

What did a mere glance mean?

There was no danger. This was just Li Hao putting on a show. He was no longer the Fan Liwei of the past.

"Li Hao, I'm giving you a warning. You won't be so lucky next time!" Fan Liwei raised the Silver Dragon Spear, pointing it at Li Hao, forcefully suppressing the precognitive instincts honed through years of training.

Those outside couldn't see what had happened, but they could feel Fan Liwei's rapidly escalating Burning Will. Even through the energy shield, they could sense his formidable aura.

Except for Aofei, the other three believed that Fan Liwei's earlier vanishing ability was invincible. Unless the ability itself had limitations, such as duration or energy consumption, this kind of stealth or concealment, where aura and sound were completely suppressed, was insurmountable. Even if Li Hao possessed great abilities, he couldn't win if he couldn't hit his opponent.

Li Hao smiled and gripped his Tang blade again.

This time, both of them were more serious.

*Boom.*

Fan Liwei attacked, repeating the same move. His figure vanished from everyone's sight the instant he charged, along with his sound. Even Aofei and Tita, as observers with mental perception, couldn't detect anything in the training field. Facing such a terrifying opponent, losing sight and perception was like a blind man groping an elephant.

If anyone could counter him, it was Tita, to some extent. Although he disappeared from her sight, her ability allowed her to predict his movements. She successfully predicted that Fan Liwei was most likely to attack from the left, which was the reverse angle for a drawing-blade technique. And Li Hao would likely use a drawing-blade technique. This meant...

Li Hao was finished.

*Poof~*

*Boom.*

Li Hao's Tang blade was unsheathed. Immediately afterward, Fan Liwei's figure reappeared, blocking with his spear. He endured the full force of the attack. His hair flew wildly, his chest armor shattered, and he staggered backward.

Tita's mouth was agape. "Circular Drawing-Blade Slash???"

"What gibberish is that? It's the Crimson Undying Slash!" Aofei corrected.

Fan Liwei sensed danger. Li Hao had already arrived beside him. The Tang blade swung down, and the Silver Dragon Spear blocked.

*Boom.*

Fan Liwei's body lurched, and the ground beneath his feet cracked. A terrifying force crashed down on him, causing the flames around his body to roil violently. Just as he was about to counterattack, another heavy blow landed.

*Boom.*

Blood trickled from the corner of Fan Liwei's mouth. The next moment, Li Hao kicked out.

*Boom, crack.*

The once-mighty Fan Liwei became a mural, his body imprinted on the wall. In the next moment, he broke free from the wall. Suspended in the air, he violently convulsed his arms. His flames surged, and the destructive force within him was expelled.

"Li Hao, you're the first one to force me to use the Liu Xin Wu (Flowing Heart Martial Arts)!" Fan Liwei's voice echoed throughout the arena, clearly audible to those outside.

Even the lone wolf, Romero, and the others were itching to see the fight, but they couldn't. The entrance was completely blocked by the Eternal Squad. The Eternal members were also on edge. With their captain's strength and Burning Will, he was already a force to be reckoned with. Now his power was so great that his signature techniques were unstoppable.

The gold Zone continued to climb. As the flames surged, Fan Liwei's body was enveloped in tangible silver light. His formidable power completely overwhelmed the arena. Unlike Gallina's half-baked power boost, Fan Liwei had complete control, achieving the ultimate human potential.

Wielding his Silver Spear and hovering in the air, Fan Liwei looked as majestic as a war god. Li Hao chuckled silently and blurred into motion.

*Boom.*

The majestic war god crashed to earth. A figure dragged him down, slamming him into the ground. Accompanied by a thunderous roar, silver light erupted. It was Fan Liwei's counterattack, but Li Hao's fist directly shattered it. The force exploded with Fan Liwei's body as the epicenter. Immediately after, Li Hao kicked out, sending Fan Liwei spiraling away. Li Hao casually flung the Silver Dragon Spear, impaling Fan Liwei in the waist. Fan Liwei spun around his own spear before stabilizing himself.

Everyone was stunned. Su Yu nearly swallowed her tongue in shock. Had something gone wrong? Was Fan Liwei being too much of a gentleman?

"Fan Liwei, how did you win the championship? Zhao Qinglong and the others must be useless if they lost to you," Li Hao said helplessly, wondering if Fan Liwei had been like this before winning the championship, or if he had changed afterward.

To be honest, Li Hao felt that Fan Liwei was now inferior to Zhao Qinglong. It wasn't that Fan Liwei wasn't strong; his ability was good. But it felt like his mind wasn't working. What set the Awakened apart from others was their terrifying crisis perception and their ability to grasp an enemy's weaknesses. But the current Fan Liwei didn't seem like an Awakened anymore. He was filled with arrogance. Had the championship affected him that much?

Fan Liwei ground his teeth, his handsome face contorted. He had been careless and allowed himself to be ambushed. "Die!"

With a bang, Fan Liwei's combat abilities increased dramatically after entering the Flowing Heart Martial Arts state. He was truly domineering, unlike before.

Yin Long Bai Shi (Silver Dragon Hundred Styles)!

A storm of spear shadows chased after Li Hao, desperately trying to pierce him through. Li Hao constantly blocked and deflected the attacks. Suddenly, he performed a sliding-blade technique, penetrating the defenses of the Silver Dragon Spear and delivering a heart-piercing elbow strike.

Explode!

With a deafening roar, Fan Liwei was sent flying. But with another roar, he forcibly stopped his momentum. The next moment, he soared into the air, descending with a frenzied aura, unleashing his full power on Li Hao.

Yin Long Xiang Kong Po (Silver Dragon Sky Breaking Pierce)!

*Boom.*

The spear slammed into the ground, creating a thunderous roar as the ground shattered. Li Hao's Tang blade rested on Fan Liwei's neck. Fan Liwei turned his head, attempting to escape, and his body made high-speed shifts. But the Tang blade seemed glued in place. No matter how he moved, it remained on his neck. The Silver Dragon Spear suddenly swung, knocking away the Tang blade. Li Hao retaliated with a palm strike, sending Fan Liwei flying.

The four in the observation room were numb from what they were seeing. Was this really Fan Liwei?

It would have been more believable if the situation had been reversed. Tita knew that this was no longer a duel, but a one-sided beating. Was Li Hao holding back too much?

Suddenly, Tita rubbed her forehead. Why would such an unrealistic thought enter her mind?

"Fan Liwei, I'll give you one more chance, or the pizza will get cold," Li Hao said. He didn't really want to fight anymore. The current Fan Liwei didn't seem like a warrior anymore. He had lost the essence of the Awakened. Or maybe winning the championship really changed a person. He felt that even Zhao Qinglong could beat him now.

For a warrior, this was probably the greatest insult. His eyes had turned silver-red, and his aura was chaotic. His emotions were in turmoil. He was afraid of failure, worried about Arths's attitude, and ashamed of being beaten so badly as a champion…

Complex emotions filled his mind. Fan Liwei roared, forcefully raising the Silver Dragon Spear, suppressing all distractions and locking onto Li Hao. His teeth drew blood. For five years, even in the era of Busta and Maxis, he had been a powerful figure that no one could ignore. Why? Why? Why!!!

The terrifying Zone value continued to soar. The silver, needle-like flames radiated dazzling power. The Silver Dragon Spear pointed diagonally at the ground. He wanted to fight Li Hao to the death!

Only blood could wash away this shame!

Li Hao sheathed his Tang blade, a smile curving his lips, and slowly lowered his center of gravity.

A massive silver dragon phantom appeared behind Fan Liwei. The Flowing Heart Martial Arts Silver Dragon Soul Manifestation, this was the limit of the Golden Zone that humans could currently reach. It was also a combination of reality and illusion that only the most outstanding individuals could create, possessing a divinely chosen soul.

The roaring Silver Dragon illuminated the entire training arena. Beneath the Silver Dragon, no ability could be concealed. The silver light had begun to seep out. Everyone outside the arena felt the terrifying power. Was this truly the strength of the number one person in the Solar System? Most people thought so, but actually experiencing it was still shocking. This was the pressure from the Heavenly King, Fan Liwei. Li Hao had been completely suppressed, devoid of any aura.

"The battle is about to be decided. The Flowing Heart Martial Arts Silver Dragon Soul Manifestation. Fan Liwei is angry, hehe," Romero said. "Brother Li is sly. He wouldn't use this if he wasn't provoked."

"Yes, his aura is a bit manic," Busta frowned. "A little unstable."

"Hehe, facing Li Hao, it's hard to stay stable. Let's see if he can hurt Li Hao. If he doesn't get hurt at all, it won't be fun."

"Maybe it's a fifty-fifty chance," Ji Yuguang said with a smile. A mutual defeat was what everyone wanted to see.

Du Meila glanced at Ji Yuguang with a smile that wasn't a smile. "With your insight, you're just a waste."

Despite the joking, no one was absolutely certain. Facing the Flowing Heart Martial Arts Soul Manifestation state, which was the epitome of human physical ability, Fan Liwei had reached the pinnacle of human achievement. Anything could happen.

The four fortunate enough to witness the fight widened their eyes. Although Su Yu didn't understand much, she knew that Fan Liwei couldn't possibly lose in this situation. There was no way he could lose. She knew that the Soul Manifestation of the Flowing Heart Martial Arts was the strongest state, unparalleled!

Arths looked at Li Hao, who had no aura at all, and began to feel anxious. This had completely exceeded her realm of understanding. Instinctively, she felt that Li Hao's life energy was stronger, but…

Aofei and Tita were the happiest. This battle would be immensely helpful to them. Such experience was coveted by every top expert. Every move and stance of Fan Liwei and Li Hao, every detail and change, was within their grasp.

Fan Liwei's power had risen to a level that would terrify even top-tier warriors. At that moment, the Silver Dragon Soul Manifestation began to rotate around him, causing the silver flames to spin as well. Before long, Fan Liwei had turned into a dazzling silver spiral pillar of light, directly piercing through the ceiling.

Romero, Busta, Anlita, and the others outside looked on with grave expressions, feeling the terrifying power emanating from Fan Liwei. This wasn't just anger; he was fighting for his life. The supreme aura of the Flowing Heart Martial Arts dwarfed the immature version used by Gallina. This was the pinnacle of human physical power.

Those warriors who had been interested in challenging Fan Liwei, and even harbored hopes of victory, were now pale-faced. Under such power, they would be utterly defeated. This was the divine might of the Heavenly King.

The supreme number one active-duty fighter of the NUP.

With the roar of a dragon, the silver whirlwind, carrying earth-shattering power, charged towards Li Hao.

The terrifying force completely enveloped Li Hao. Under such power, even evasion became a luxury. The giant Silver Dragon, accompanied by countless dazzling meteors, spiraled down. The energy shield of the training arena crackled and exploded. Waves of energy rippled outward. Fan Liwei's power had completely overflowed. Everyone inside and outside the arena held their breath, and all the contempt and doubt vanished.

All that remained was awe.

The Supreme Silver Dragon Soul Manifestation – Galaxy Descending Meteor Spear!

At that moment, a strange smile appeared on Li Hao's face. The K23 Tang blade was finally unsheathed. In an instant, golden light erupted, and a tangible golden beam shot towards the sky, cleaving the heavens!

*Poof~*

Time seemed to freeze. The next moment...

*Boom~*

The skies thundered. Everyone's eyes and ears instantly lost their function. All that remained in their minds was a golden light.

No one knew how long had passed. When Aofei and the others regained their vision, Fan Liwei was lying on the ground with a deep gash on his chest. The Silver Dragon Spear had been snapped in two. He lay motionless on the ground, barely breathing, like a fish out of water, his eyes staring blankly at the ceiling.

*Rumble.*

The ceiling cracked, and rubble fell. One side of the giant mushroom-shaped structure had been completely opened, as if carved by divine craftsmanship.

Arths had rushed over from the observation room and was lunging toward Li Hao.

Li Hao stared blankly at A Youyou. W-Was this for real? Was she sure? Because he could already hear many footsteps approaching, almost instantly.

Seeing Li Hao's strange expression, A Youyou finally realized what was happening when she was only a meter away. She forcefully suppressed the urge to throw herself into Li Hao's arms. "Are you hurt?"

Seeing A Youyou's concern, Li Hao gave her a heart-warming smile. Just as he was about to speak, Fan Liwei vomited a meter-high spray of blood and passed out.

In that instant, when Fan Liwei, lying on the ground, saw Arths running toward him, hope ignited in his heart. If his failure could earn him Arths's love, then what did failure matter?

But what happened next was like a bolt from the blue.

One person was lying on the ground, covered in blood. The other was standing, without a hair out of place. Was it not obvious who was injured?

The unconscious Fan Liwei convulsed once in despair.

This situation startled even Li Hao. He had already turned over a new leaf and become a good person. He had controlled that strike well. It shouldn't have been this severe. How could this have happened???

At this time, everyone else rushed in. The Eternal members, the Tianjing Mech Martial Arts Academy members, but the first to arrive were the lone wolf Romero and the Wolf King Busta and others. They were faster and had pushed aside anyone who tried to stop them. Seeing this scene, Romero and the others immediately fell silent.

The indestructible arena was in a terrible state. The entire front wall was gone, and the ceiling had been blown apart. Most importantly, Fan Liwei, the arrogant and invincible Silver Dragon prodigy of the Hundred Weapons, was lying in a pool of blood. Next to him was the severed K23 Silver Dragon Spear. His life or death was unknown.

A chilling aura filled the arena. Lost and forgotten memories flooded their minds. Five years ago, this devil had mercilessly crushed them again and again. He was everyone's nightmare. He would use the methods his opponents dreaded most, leaving them doubting the world.

A feeling of listlessness.

At this moment, the Eternal members rushed to Fan Liwei's side, shouting for a doctor. Everyone glared at Li Hao, but their anger was mixed with more fear.

This was Fan Liwei, the top Soul Manifestation user of the Flowing Heart Martial Arts, the mainstay of the NUP. How could someone who was invincible at his level be beaten like this?

And the person in front of them only had slightly damaged clothing and was a little dirty.

The medical staff were busy providing emergency treatment, injecting resuscitation drugs and anxiously watching Fan Liwei. Fortunately, Fan Liwei slowly regained consciousness, but his eyes were blank.

For a moment, everyone was silent. Then Li Hao walked over. Everyone instinctively stepped aside. The Eternal members, who had been full of fighting spirit just moments ago, instinctively recoiled.

"Fan Liwei, your condition isn't right. This doesn't count. There's still time for the friendly exchange. I can give you another chance," Li Hao said, feeling that Fan Liwei still had potential and wanted to give him some leeway.

But these words left everyone speechless. Something was wrong. After what had just happened, he wanted to do it again?

Only the Awakened knew that Li the Devil was Li the Devil. Don't provoke him. Once you did, he would make you wish you were dead as long as you had a single breath left.

Seeming to sense the strange gazes around him, Li Hao felt he should explain. "Ahem, what I mean is, you're not seriously injured. You should recover quickly."

Then everyone's gazes became even stranger. He didn't consider this a serious injury?

What would be considered a serious injury?

Sometimes life was just this sad. You got beaten up, and the person who beat you up wasn't satisfied. What could you do?

"Okay," Fan Liwei said in a hoarse voice, filled with unwillingness, but his eyes no longer held the arrogance of an S-League champion.

The Eternal members and medical staff carried Fan Liwei away. From beginning to end, Fan Liwei didn't move again.

Anlita, Klein, and the others showed no surprise. This was what they had expected. "Brother Li is as impressive as ever. Congratulations."

"I won't have to pay for the damages, will I? It was all Fan Liwei's fault," Li Hao said embarrassedly.

"Brother Li is joking. Hailong has several backup training arenas. It won't affect the friendly exchange," Anlita said, not believing him at all. He was always saying trivial things to gloss over the important details, just like five years ago. "It's a pity we couldn't witness Brother Li's power in a single strike."

Everyone enviously looked at Tita and Aofei, who were still in shock. They had witnessed the entire fight, and the secrets within those strikes would greatly benefit them at their level.

Li Hao smiled. "Everyone, since you've come all the way to Hailong, don't just sit around. Our Tianjing Mech Martial Arts Academy has a weak foundation, but we're eager to learn. We should have more exchanges. I'll treat everyone to pizza. Later, we can find another place and start with the Wolf Martial Arts Academy."

If Li Hao had said this earlier, the Wolf Martial Arts Academy members would have spat in his face. But now, they were all on edge. Especially Romero, who hadn't expected Li Hao to target him after just fighting Fan Liwei.

He wasn't giving them a chance to live!

"I have other tasks later and may not be able to participate in the team training. But everyone is welcome to schedule sparring sessions with me," Li Hao added, perhaps worried that everyone would misunderstand. "Fan Liwei really isn't seriously injured."

Hearing this, everyone relaxed. Anlita smiled. "Brother Li is right. It's a friendly exchange, so what's the point of just sitting around? Alright, after pizza, we'll get things arranged."

No one objected. Clearly, Li Hao had regained control of the situation.

Li's rules were the rules.