Book 2 Chapter 85: Fighting Spirit - Martial God

Chapter 85: Fighting Spirit An aura filled with brutality emanated from the two-headed spirit beast. Its four eyes, spread across the two heads, glimmered with a faint red hue, as if the blood splattered on it had congealed directly in its eyes, creating a chilling sight. At this moment, He Yiming was feeling this sense of fear. Since achieving mastery in martial arts, he had accumulated quite a bit of experience in fighting innate level opponents. Yet never had he felt such terror as he did now. Indeed, it was a terror that seemed to originate from an undefeatable strength within this spirit beast. Although he had moments ago hacked the beast to a bloodied state, it did not signify that his strength far surpassed its own. In truth, apart from its ability to maneuver freely in mid-air and its diamond-hard body, the beast hadn’t revealed any other significant skills. The unknown is the most terrifying... He Yiming took a deep breath as his heart calmed completely, allowing him to hear his own heartbeat—a powerful, drum-like sound. He exuded an aura that seemed poised to dominate everything, and his eyes reflected a fierce determination. Gripping the end of the mighty blade's handle with his right hand, he slowly lifted it. This massive blade, nearly four meters long and weighing three hundred and sixty pounds, was effortlessly raised with one hand, its shining edge pointing toward the beast's neck, releasing an overwhelming energy. The two-headed beast's eyes seemed to contract, sensing an incomprehensible strength from this human—an unyielding spirit as formidable as mountains, one that even its fierce aura seemed unable to suppress. It roared in anger, lowered its heads, and charged forward. This time, it moved faster than before, reaching He Yiming almost instantaneously. A wry smile appeared on He Yiming's lips as his body became elusive. What had seemed invincible and unyielding transformed into an illusory presence, as if he had vanished entirely. His body left countless afterimages in the space around them, a testament to his mastery of wind force—a speed attainable only through deep understanding of wind's essence. The boots on his feet had long torn apart from the speed, and it seemed as though a force beneath his feet was propelling him around the spirit beast at an unparalleled speed. His feet, barely touching the ground, seemed to tread the air itself. This was merely an illusion created by his extreme speed. His true energy revolved around him in tight patterns, invoking mystical effects with the power of the wind, propelling him beyond the human speed limit. In the face of such incredible speed, the two-headed beast appeared frustrated, its two heads stretching wide to bite at empty air. Its four eyes were filled with an anxious gleam, its ferocity seeming helpless. He Yiming swung his massive blade continuously as he moved, landing strikes on the beast though unable to leverage the blade's full power. Nonetheless, each strike inflicted pain, causing the beast to howl in fury. Gradually, an odd feeling emerged within He Yiming. Despite having sensed lethal danger from the beast earlier, it didn’t seem that formidable upon engagement. Was his initial fear misplaced? A subtle worry crept into his heart. Though each strike was merciless, he held back his strongest energy. Why did he hesitate to unleash his strongest technique? Guided by some mysterious sense, it was a choice he instinctively made. He seemed willing to spend more time wearing down the beast rather than revealing his ultimate move prematurely. As they fought for an hour, He Yiming's swordplay grew more intense, forming a massive sphere of light that enveloped the beast. Its body was marked with fine cuts from which blood slowly seeped, hinting at imminent demise. Suddenly, the beast faltered and collapsed to the ground. He Yiming's eyes lit up. After an hour of combat, even for an innate-level warrior like him, fatigue was setting in. Innate warriors may be powerful, but fundamentally they are human. Their formidable energy is not inexhaustible. This protracted battle had been a significant burden. Now, victory seemed within reach, and He Yiming allowed himself a brief respite. His giant blade transformed into a bolt of lightning, striking downward in wrath. At that moment of his relaxation, the seemingly exhausted beast suddenly raised its head. Though fatigue was evident in its eyes, they now shone with an unprecedented brilliance. Its two mouths opened wide, harboring a terrifying power that sent chills through He Yiming. His heart leaped into his throat. From the brink of relaxation, he plunged into crisis, as if on a rollercoaster plummeting from its peak—an exhilarating rush that took his breath away. He finally understood his fear: the beast’s real weapon was its breath attack. Throughout the hour-long duel, it avoided using this breath, preferring to rely on tooth and claw, leaving the impression it couldn't launch a breath attack. Only now, sensing He Yiming's relaxation, did it reveal its fatal fangs. A fierce wind and intense fire converged upon He Yiming, the breath attack closing their distance in a heartbeat. It was the beast's most potent power, wind and fire tearing through space with unforgiving force. With resolve distilled in his gaze, He Yiming's spirit reached its zenith. In this life-or-death crisis, the scene around him seemed to change, echoing an experience of looking out over vast heights. He sensed the endless mountain rains, the winds brushing over peaks and through mists... His giant blade suddenly glowed—a green blade radiance erupted, slicing toward the fierce flames. The slash cut through the heart of the flames, disseminating an aura that split the intense fireball. The beast’s fiery breath was utterly torn apart by that single stroke. Countless embers scattered in the sky, their formidable firepower now rendered inconsequential to both He Yiming and the beast. He Yiming released the weapon, letting the imposing blade float free for the first time in battle. His form lifted, becoming akin to wind itself, merging into its essence. The wind breath engulfed him, lifting him like a fallen leaf or rippling lake. He merged with the gentle, green winds, becoming one with them. Finally, the wind dissipated, leaving He Yiming a hundred meters away. The two-headed beast stared blankly at He Yiming. Having unleashed its breath, its spirit waned, as if deprived of food, drink, and rest for ten days and nights, it seemed ready to collapse. Yet, its eyes remained fixed on He Yiming, grappling with disbelief at how he escaped from an apparent death—a feat beyond comprehension. Fear flitting through its gaze, it spun and, driven by sheer desperation, fled into the inner valley, vanishing in moments. He Yiming's face was pallid. Despite earlier holding back reserve strength, he hadn’t anticipated the beast’s patience. The battle left him aware of its cunning restraint. He was suddenly overcome with a strong urge to curse. This spirit beast was craftier than any human! If it weren't for his two enlightening realizations, which had granted him extraordinary insight and control over wind, clouds, rain, and mist, he would have perished from the fireball or been sliced to pieces by the blue wind. For a moment, he felt cold all over, as if all his strength had drained from his body. It was his first time facing death this closely, and even he had felt there was no escaping it. Although he narrowly survived unscathed, the deep-seated fear left him momentarily bereft of courage. Fortunate for him, the spirit beast was even more shocked than He Yiming. Its first reaction was to retreat to the inner valley rather than continue its assault. Had it attacked again recklessly, He Yiming feared he would have truly met his end. Watching the fleeing beast, He Yiming's initial thought was to run, to escape as far and fast as possible. He took a few steps forward but then paused, his gaze falling upon the giant blade lying silently on the ground. He Yiming's steps halted as his once-scattered eyes began to refocus. Looking at the blade, he was reminded of his grandfather, He Wude. The old man's hands shook the saber, producing a resonant clang. "Yiming, from now on, this blade is yours." "Yiming, forty years ago, I came to Taicang County alone with this blade. With this heavy weapon, I laid the foundation for the He family's estate over decades. I've decided that this blade will be passed down to the most outstanding descendant of the He family, to witness our family's glory." He looked up, smiling. "With this blade, I founded the He family. Yiming, can you expand and guard our legacy with it?" Images flickered in his mind, then shifted to Yuan Lixun's gentle, fragile presence. "Young master, my mother always taught me and my brother that everyone has their own responsibilities in life. These duties vary in size. Those with greater abilities bear more, those with less, bear less. As long as you do what you can, that is... enough." Unconsciously, He Yiming found himself by the giant blade. Slowly bending down, he grasped it once more, and his previously distracted gaze solidified. His features were sharply defined, resolving into an expression of determination. His eyes shone brightly, piercing forward as if trying to pierce through an unknown barrier, fixating silently towards the direction of the inner valley. "Grandfather, I will not disgrace this blade." The promises of the past flashed like lightning across his mind. Wielding the blade, he marched forward, crossing the weathered rocky barrier between the outer and inner valleys, venturing into this mysterious gorge. ※※※※ The scenery of the inner valley shifted dramatically. It was twice the size of the outer region, featuring a deep pool of hundreds of square meters near the center. Upon entering the inner valley, He Yiming realized his Eavesdropper's Art had suddenly lost its effectiveness. Here, his hearing was unusually impaired, worse than that of a regular person. His gaze fell onto the pond, prompting a slight shock. There lay a massive white stone, its size comparable to two or three people, entirely snow-white, its composition unknown. Astonishingly, it floated half a meter above the pond, weightless as if a mere breeze could shift it. A peculiar light emitted from the stone, a milky white glow. Reflected by the pond's ripples, it cast a dreamlike vision upon the viewer. The two-headed spirit beast was crouched beside the pond, enveloped by the white stone's luminescence. He Yiming noticed that the beast's skin, previously slashed open by his blade, was healing at a visible pace, nearly fully restored in moments. Moreover, the spirit beast’s vigor seemed to revive significantly. Although not entirely back to its pinnacle state, there was an undeniable contrast to its earlier exhaustion. He Yiming instantly understood that the luminous stone not only healed external wounds but also rapidly restored the beast's vitality. Previously, upon entering the valley, facing such circumstances might have caused him hesitation. But now, his gaze remained steadfast, his steps resolute. He moved with natural confidence, lifting his massive blade high. The spirit beast's eyes sharpened. Its two mouths opened wide, spewing fire and wind at lightning speed. He Yiming met them with a sweeping slash of his blade, cleaving the flames and wind apart. Yet, the force caused him to stagger back several steps. The spirit beast opened its mouth anew, unleashing torrents of fire and wind as if free of cost, forming a formidable wall of elements in the air. A chill ran through He Yiming's heart, acknowledging how formidable the beast had become under the white glow. His caution grew, realizing he could no longer afford direct clashes. Navigating the fiery gale deftly, he maneuvered through the danger, but advancing on the beast was impossible. Suddenly, the pond's surface rippled, and a figure emerged from the water, grasping the floating stone and dragging it downwards. This unexpected turn stunned both He Yiming and the beast. He Yiming's sharp gaze identified the figure as Yuan Lixun. How she had hidden in the pond and resurfaced now was a mystery. Seeing the stone sinking into the water, the spirit beast erupted in fury. Its head swiveled, sending azure beams towards Yuan Lixun, striking her as she fell alongside the stone with a splash. He Yiming's relentless movement ceased abruptly, his mind blanking. As the dazzling white stone submerged, a sinking feeling gripped his heart. It felt as if something precious was ripped from within him, something unforgettable. Instinctively, his internal energy began to circulate: the water-based Ripple Art, the wood-based Withered Wood Art, the fire-based Flame Art, and the earth-based Earth Strength Art, finally transforming into the metal-based Hunyuan Energy. These arts, once of the earthly realm, had evolved post-ascending to innate levels, now transcending the ordinary category. At that moment, the cycling innate power of the five elements burst forth. The giant blade in his grasp radiated a cascade of golden light...