Naked Sword Art

Chapter 525: 2nd Stage Dragon Perception

In less than a minute, Li Lian had already defeated 5000 beasts, which was more than a tenth of the horde. But her Qi was running thin, she was all out of [ Exploding Stars ], and her breath was becoming heavy.

"She’s weak, finish her!" One critically wounded Divine realm Song clan member shouted. But the others were in similar condition.

Suddenly a scoff sounded out. "So you’re the Li Family clan prodigy I heard about. I understand now why there was so much talk about you."

Li Lian looked around for the voice with hunter-like eyes. There wasn’t a single thought in her mind, just the tiger-like instinct to attack anything that came her way. This wasn’t the place to have a chat.

However, the moment she found the one speaking to her, she felt a crushing weight come onto her.

"This—"

Everyone felt it, even the men hidden in the hills. It was a feeling they had never felt before, but knew from its description. This overwhelming pressure that made every mortal thing bow to its presence.

Oppressive Might.

Suddenly, Li Lian fell to a knee. But her gaze shifted up to the sky to where the pressure was coming from.

The soldiers could just faintly feel the pressure.

"I can’t believe it."

"That’s a Heavenly realm cultivator."

"The rumors were true. No wonder why they’ve been so arrogant."

Li Lian forced herself back up onto her feet, but simply standing took everything she had.

"Oh, so you must be Li Lian," the Heavenly realm cultivator said in surprise. "I’ve heard a bit about you. You’ve made quite the name for yourself in the Black Paradise sect. Unfortunately, talented cultivators die all the time during a war. Your life ends today."

Li Lian scowled as her aura went ablaze.

"Her battlepower is still rising!"

The Divine realm Song Clansmen watched in shock.

Li Lian thinking about Xiao Fang and his victory against a Heavenly realm cultivator from the Heavenly Fate sect made her want to defeat this opponent even more. However, simply getting herself back up on her feet was one thing, but attempting to defend herself was another thing entirely.

Her 1st Stage Dragon Perception power roared, pushing its limits, but it still wasn’t enough.

Within her dantian, her Dragon Perception power stirred violently as if trying to forcefully make a breakthrough. She stood at the gate just before the 2nd stage of Dragon Perception, but no matter how hard she pushed, that gate wouldn’t open.

However, deep down she knew the truth, the 2nd stage was within her reach, but it would come at a price. No mortal should have the power to wield the 1st stage of Dragon Perception, much less the 2nd. So there would likely be irreparable damage done to her dantian if she attempted it.

However, since her life was on the line, there was only one clear path to take.

The smug look on the Heavenly Realm cultivator’s face disappeared when he felt Li Lian’s power continue to surge.

"You still believe you can put up a fight against me, child? Let me put that delusion to rest."

In the next moment, the Heavenly Realm cultivator thrusted his palm down with a terrifying power. Just the mere sound of it was unlike anything anyone had ever heard.

At the same moment, a pillar of flames erupted from Li Lian’s body, and with it the echo of a dragon roared, shaking the earth as if a heaven-shattering seal had been broken.

The pillar of flame didn’t just counter the Heavenly realm palm strike, it enveloped it. And pushed everyone back. Killing hundreds of charging beasts and even destroying the [ Demon Eye ] observing from the sky.

"Impossible!"

The flames struck the Heavenly realm cultivator with an inconceivable force, pushing him back, and leaving his robes and body badly injured.

His left arm was burned to a crisp. With one eye open, he looked down at Li Lian while trying to catch his breath. Wiping the blood from his lips, he readied himself for a follow up strike. He was unprepared the first time around, if he didn’t underestimate her, she never could’ve got him to such a state.

However, in the next moment, Li Lian collapsed. Falling again, but this time to her hands and knees as she coughed up blood and bled from her eyes, mouth, and ears.

The power of the 2nd stage of Dragon Perception was hers, but what she needed to do to acquire it was too heavy. It didn’t just damage her dantian, but also partially shattered her soul.

’This girl can’t be allowed to live,’ the Heavenly realm cultivator thought to himself.

Flying high above her once again, he held his arm up as he gathered his Heavenly Qi for a proper attack. Quickly, the Qi formed what looked like a large seal (chop/stamp).

"I let my guard down the first time. Trust me, I don’t intend to make that same mistake again."

Finally, he thrusted his hand down, sending the massive square seal down like a meteor. But then, a figure flashed in front of Li Lian, it was someone she knew.

That person was none other than her father, Li Huxin.

"General Hu, it’s good that you’re here. Now you can die with your daughter."

Li Huxin scoffed, then his Divine realm aura erupted.

"First, you looked down on my daughter. Now you look down on me."

What no one could see was that his soul burned much larger and brighter than anyone else Xiao Fang had ever encountered, significantly larger than that of even Li Roh.

"With my child behind me, do you believe death will find me easily?"

[ Lion Heart, Heaven-Shattering Guard ]

A magnificent shield manifested high in the sky. In the next instant, the descending seal slammed into it, unleashing a catastrophic shockwave that flattened trees and forced the charging beasts to their knees.

Li Huxin coughed up blood as the immense seal continued to press downward, its weight bearing heavily on him.

"You fool," a cold voice echoed. "Did you truly think you could stop me?"

The air pulsed with crushing waves of pressure, but through it all, Li Huxin remained standing, forcing himself to endure as he held back the attack.

Behind him, Li Lian could no longer feel the oppressive might. Not even the shockwaves reached her—Li Huxin had blocked it all.

Broken and bloodied, she lay on the ground and looked up at his broad back as he faced their enemy alone. A storm of emotions welled in her chest.

"...Father," she whispered through a ragged breath, "save me."