Atimov, a mid-stage saint-level warrior, released his full aura in a battle that had become his most challenging yet. Despite his initial underestimation of Ye Han, he hadn't expected such an astounding display of combat prowess, especially Ye Han's final strike that even his full-force attack couldn't penetrate, leaving him seriously injured.
Ye Han matched Atimov's intensity, emitting an immense pressure that silenced the onlookers in awe. They were deeply shaken by Ye Han's strength, who still held his own against the full might of a mid-stage saint-level warrior.
Their auras soared to terrifying heights, reigniting the battle. Frustrated by his previous setbacks, Atimov unleashed his massive saint-level fighting spirit, creating protective red barriers around himself. He then rapidly advanced towards Ye Han with overwhelming fighting energy.
Explosions echoed as Ye Han dodged continuously, depleting his energy. Unable to counterattack, he relied solely on his Speed Profundity to evade Atimov's assaults.
Atimov closed the gap to just a meter away from Ye Han, his fiery palm slicing through the air with a ferocious blow. Ye Han narrowly dodged, countering with his sword. The clash sent waves of fighting energy dispersing in all directions. Atimov, unfazed, smiled coldly, as Ye Han's sword energy could no longer harm him.
Atimov then grabbed Ye Han's sword, intending to disarm him. A surge of force transmitted from the sword shook Ye Han, sending him flying backward. "Die now," Atimov declared, launching a searing attack at Ye Han, who was still in midair.
Ye Han took the full brunt of the attack, coughing up dark red blood.
"Full-force attack, I refuse to believe it can't break through," West Cedo's voice resounded, infuriating Ye Han. He quickly glanced in West Cedo's direction, spotting him leading the Knights of the Light Church towards Xiaoya's location. The nearly invisible protective formation around Xiaoya was difficult to discern, causing West Cedo to crash into it.
Enraged, West Cedo ordered his knights to attack the formation. Though it didn't break immediately, the foundation of the formation began to weaken under the onslaught of several ninth-order knights.
"Seeking death," Ye Han roared, slamming his hands on the ground and rocketing towards them, a regular longsword materializing in his hands.
"You can't even protect yourself, let alone others," Atimov sneered, appearing in front of Ye Han and kicking him fiercely.
Ye Han, like a bullet, flew backward, leaving a trail of blood in the air. Stopping himself with his sword, he glared at Atimov with murderous intent. His fighting spirit soared as energy from around him rapidly converged into his body, infusing into the sword.
The sword's aura intensified, with overpowering sword energy and momentum. "Baeris, kill them," Ye Han commanded. He shot forward, swinging his sword mercilessly.
"This move is useless against me now," Atimov declared confidently, wielding the sword he had taken from Ye Han. Ripples of space emanated from it, spreading in all directions.
Atimov unleashed his most powerful technique, "Ten Thousand Sword Annihilation," sending a multitude of sword illusions hurtling towards Ye Han from all directions.
In response, Ye Han, with a loud cry of "Heaven and Earth Sword Master," wielded his ordinary longsword as if it were the sword of heaven and earth itself. The sword moved gently, seemingly without energy or momentum, yet its stroke was powerful enough to stir the heavens and the earth.
Those not in the midst of battle could not comprehend the might of Ye Han's sword. Atimov, struck with terror, watched the approaching sword without moving. The saint-level experts understood the true power of Ye Han's strike and started positioning themselves around the sky, readying their fighting and magical energies.
Saint-level warriors do not differentiate between swordsmen and magicians, so they are collectively known as saint-level warriors without distinction.
In an instant, Ye Han's mightiest strike was unleashed. His sword, infused with the essence of heaven and earth, erupted with an unstoppable force that surged through his sword and exploded outward.
A colossal boom followed the brief sound of slicing air. The sword, which merged with the world, collided with Atimov's thousands of flaming swords. The moment the energies met, Atimov's mind blanked, losing control of his power, causing a massive explosion.
Screams rang out from hundreds of meters away as the blast pushed everyone back. Some eighth-order and lower individuals were flung away or killed outright. The forest was utterly devastated, and even the twenty-plus saint-level warriors in the sky were taken aback by the formidable sword technique.
Baeris, following Ye Han's command, swiftly attacked the Light Church's knights near Xiaoya's protective formation. However, West Cedo, cunning as he was, quickly retreated with his men upon seeing the saint-level dragon approach.
Ye Han's sword technique, having shattered Atimov's attack, struck him directly. The explosion and Atimov's scream echoed as he was sent flying like a broken kite. His protective aura shattered, and he fell to the ground, lifeless.
Meanwhile, the saint-level warriors in the sky exerted their combined aura against Ye Han. Having already unleashed two powerful attacks, especially the last one being overextended, Ye Han's body was on the brink of collapse. His energy meridians were nearly ruptured, and his undead core dimmed.
The immense pressure from the combined aura of twelve saint-level warriors was unimaginable. Ye Han's already battered body further fractured under this pressure, leaving him immobilized and vomiting blood.
"You," Ye Han uttered, his eyes filled with murderous intent towards the more than twenty figures in the sky, all belonging to powers that had come to Myatt City to hunt him down.
"You must die," declared one of the saint-level warriors floating above Ye Han.
Enduring the excruciating pain and soul-deep trembling, Ye Han stood up, facing the overwhelming aura of twelve saint-level warriors. His eyes, sharp as swords, glared fiercely at the more than twenty saint-level warriors in the sky.
"You seek to kill me today," Ye Han stated.
"Indeed," the figure in the sky confirmed resolutely. He then instructed the other eleven saint-level warriors who hadn't yet released their full power to act quickly, as time was running short.
The warriors below nodded in unison, their bodies emanating bright light. The twelve warriors in the sky released their full power, and before Ye Han could react, a gigantic, multicolored barrier enveloped everyone in the sky and on the ground, including Xiaoya.
"You aren't afraid," Ye Han abruptly stopped speaking, realizing their bold actions today spoke volumes. The barrier expelled all energy within and sealed off all space, disconnecting Ye Han's soul power from his refuge, leaving him without escape.
The remaining saint-level warriors also unleashed their full energy, which began to converge in the air. Oswald then produced a skull-sized crystal ball, startling Ye Han. He had seen such a device before; it was used to capture souls.
An enormous mass of energy, combining various attributes, slowly gathered in the air, growing brighter and larger like a second sun, its blinding light making it hard to look directly at it.
"Suddenly, Ye Han yelled, "Xiaoya, get inside!" Surprisingly, Xiaoya, who possessed no cultivation, walked out of Ye Han's protective formation towards him, unaffected by the aura of the twelve saint-level warriors. Her clear, tear-streaked face moved Ye Han profoundly, as she stood by his side in the midst of danger.