Chapter 86: The Demon-Subduing Sword Dance and the Colossal Power That Holds Up the Heavens

A shadow covered an area spanning several yards, leaving Han Chong with nowhere to hide. If he were struck by it, his body would surely be obliterated without a trace. Han Chong’s heart trembled. He had anticipated that the Iron Shark Demon Commander might be lurking nearby, but never imagined that the fiend would descend from the sky.

In a flash of thought, he abruptly guided his sword downward as well. The Iron Shark, concealed among the clouds, grinned wickedly. He had been waiting for precisely this moment, hidden above. The youth below was the one who had inflicted the gravest injury upon the Ten-Faced Heavenly Ghost; swift in reaction, yet, in the demon’s eyes, foolhardy. Instead of fleeing in any direction, the boy plunged straight toward the ground. The demon imagined that, when the youth hit the earth, his mere physical impact would shatter him beyond recognition, leaving not even fragments of bone.

Five yards, three, one—just as the Iron Shark bared his teeth in anticipation, he saw the youth below reach the ground and vanish into it. “Damn it!” With a thunderous crash, the Iron Shark smashed the rocky ground, gouging a massive pit, the earth trembling several times before settling, and howling in pain. Falling from over ten yards high, even with demonic power to cushion the impact, the force was tremendous. Though it didn’t injure him, his bones ached fiercely; yet the humiliation of being tricked angered him far more.

Han Chong fared no better. Though he managed to burrow more than two yards into the earth ahead of time, the fiend’s impact was overwhelming. The shock left him dizzy and nauseated, his bones and flesh compressed to the point of breaking, and he involuntarily continued descending.

By chance, he landed directly above the Heavenly Sword. He could only heal himself as he clung to its hilt, regaining a modicum of clarity, blood seeping from his skin and sliding down the sword’s handle. Strangely, the blood vanished into the sword itself, and a vision of a warrior dancing with a blade surged into his mind, sending a jolt through his body and filling him with awe.

Ordinary swordplay would not impress him, but the vision showed a fighter wielding an enormous sword, over a yard long—far larger than his own body. Yet in the warrior’s hands, the sword was as light as a feather, moving so swiftly it was nearly invisible. The power must be unimaginable! With each thrust, the air itself ripped, mountains fell, rivers were cut asunder—its might unmatched.

Han Chong was wholly immersed in this sword dance, as if a hundred years had passed, before suddenly awakening—though only ten breaths had truly elapsed. Unconsciously, his hands gripped the giant sword’s hilt, and he heaved upward. The ground within the mountain cracked, but the sword remained upright and immovable. Even uprooting a massive tree would be easier, for the sword shifted but an inch!

Such a heavy sword—at least five thousand pounds! It was hard to fathom what strength the swordsman in the vision possessed; surely his realm was beyond Heavenly Transformation.

Yet if Han Chong were to contend with the Iron Shark and the Ten-Faced Heavenly Ghost, he would have little hope without this sword. He delved into the secrets of the Earth Fiend Technique, searching for a method. He found one: “Great Strength”—a power that granted limitless might, a force to hold up the heavens, expending energy with every breath.

Upon choosing it, he felt no discomfort, but the giant sword grew lighter as the energy in his core dwindled, until it was as light as ordinary iron.

Lifting the Heavenly Sword, Han Chong stomped his feet, and soared upward like a hawk. Earth and stone parted like tofu as he pierced through, unimpeded! With several thrusts, he broke through ten yards of earth, creating a tunnel.

Meanwhile, chaos reigned within the manor. Over a hundred swordsmen lay dead or wounded in a ring; even Old Mister Mi stood blood-soaked, leaning on his sword, gazing at the towering forms of the Ten-Faced Heavenly Ghost and the Iron Shark Demon Commander, despair filling his eyes, his face resolute.

Just as the Iron Shark Demon Commander prepared to devour him, the crowd saw a massive, pitch-black sword burst up from the ground. Beneath it stood a figure in white, dragging the giant blade with a thunderous roar.

The Heavenly Sword!

The Mi family swordsmen were astounded. In their memories, the Heavenly Sword was a treasure suppressing evil, the foundation of the Heavenly Sword Manor. For decades, countless people had coveted it, but the sword was as heavy as a mountain, and not one had managed to lift it even a fraction.

Yet this Young Hero Han wielded it single-handedly, overturning their understanding. Even Old Mister Mi was dumbfounded. With his Heavenly Transformation physique, he knew full well the sword’s weight—only a martial artist in the Heavenly Extreme realm could hope to control it.

Never had he imagined this youth could wield it as if it were nothing. It was uncanny, yet a sliver of hope stirred in his once hopeless heart. Could it be that this youth might, with this sword, injure the Ten-Faced Heavenly Ghost?

“You brat, you’re still alive!” The Iron Shark Demon Commander gnashed his teeth in fury. He had been tricked by this youth and had meant to dig him out, but not only had the boy survived the impact, he now held a giant sword—utterly infuriating!

“Hmph!” Han Chong held nothing but contempt for the fiend’s sneak attack.

The fiend’s strength ranked among the top Demon Commanders, only a shade weaker than Little Grey. Attacking a mortal manor, then resorting to underhanded tactics, revealed his despicable nature.

Without a word, Han Chong stamped his foot and raised the Heavenly Sword, bringing it down upon the fiend’s head!

Before the sword even fell, a powerful, terrifying aura like storm clouds pressed down, chilling the Iron Shark’s heart. He wondered why the youth’s swordplay was so fearsome.

But as a leading Demon Commander, with the Heavenly Ghost watching, he could not retreat.

The giant sword descended; the Iron Shark spun and lashed its tail, the fin harder than steel, armored, able to smash a small mountain to pieces.

Han Chong narrowed his eyes, increasing his strength by another third. Sword and tail met with a metallic clang—crack!

“Ah!” A shrill scream erupted as the Iron Shark Demon Commander writhed in agony, its tail nearly half severed, blue blood gushing like a fountain—a pitiful sight.

The swordsmen grimaced, stunned. Such power—this sword could destroy heaven and earth!

Han Chong retreated three steps, then surged upward again, leaping several yards into the air, gripping the sword with both hands, and slashed down at the rolling Iron Shark.

But the Ten-Faced Heavenly Ghost, who had been watching, finally acted. Three heads spewed forth columns of black ghostly energy, while six ghostly arms wielded heavy weapons, raining blows upon Han Chong like a storm.

Han Chong frowned. Clearly, this Ten-Faced Heavenly Ghost possessed high intelligence—not merely a summoned creature.

With no alternative, he abandoned the Iron Shark. The fiend was already gravely wounded, his power diminished, and was no longer a major threat.

Mounting the Clear Sword, Han Chong charged at the Ten-Faced Heavenly Ghost.

Clangs and thuds rang out as Han Chong, wielding the Heavenly Sword, clashed directly with the six heavy weapons.

From afar, the onlookers watched in awe. Han Chong, a mere man wielding a giant sword, forced the mountainous, six-armed ghost into repeated retreat—like a miracle!