<h4>Chapter 1408: The Dark Horse Race</h4>


    In the final moment before the strike, in what seemed like nothing more than a sh but which Li Feng had nned out well in advance, Li Feng created an illusion of himself in the path of the halberd.


    He had seen Yang Ze and Sun Xiaowu use this tactic many times over, and from their usual spars, after having to guard against their illusions and avatars once and again, Li Feng learned a few tricks for himself.


    The spectators were still in an uproar over what had happened. The halberd''s swing was too rapid; anyone else would surely have been killed on the spot. This was what was frightening about the ninth Immortal King, who was able tounch such blows in a sh.


    And yet, in that same sh of time, Li Feng had both managed to respond to that attack and counterattack. None of the spectators thought they would have been able to do as well, and they couldn''t help but be deeply impressed.


    Li Feng had attempted to behead the ninth Immortal King, but it had failed. The ninth Immortal King snapped his fingers. The blood that had dripped from his body formed humanoid lifeforms held together by divine light, whose bones and tendons were reinforced by the arcane substance. Each was exceptionally strong.


    "You''ll have to pay for making me bleed." The ninth Immortal King swung his halberd around him, forcing Li Feng to retreat as the silverblood entities struck at him.


    "[Birth of the Holy Dragon]!" Li Feng yelled out. He pulled out a de from which light began to gather. As he struck, dozens of dragons fell from the skies like meteors, sweeping them away.


    The ninth Immortal King reoriented his head, which had almost been beheaded from its body, in proper position. Silver blood gleamed and scabbed over as the wound quickly healed.


    "It looks like I underestimated you."


    The ninth Immortal King struck again, fast as lightning. The halberd shone in zing light. A phoenix unfurled its wings from around the halberd in a burst of bright me, red as blood.


    The phoenix soared up and looked down from high above.


    "[Birth of the Holy Dragon: Arclight sh]!"


    Li Feng lifted his sword high above his head. A silvery-white dragon emerged from behind him, merged with the sword, and sent a beam of light piercing the skies. Li Feng struck, and the sword sh morphed into a dragon.


    A dragon''s roar resounded through the air, shing against the phoenix in an explosion of light that spread throughout the arena.


    Just then, Li Feng attacked at full force.


    "[Birth of the Holy Dragon]!"


    Dozens of sword shes emanated from Li Feng, each with a starry splendor reminiscent of the Milky Way. The stars in the night sky shone brightly as a gxy seemed to unfold around Li Feng.


    The starlight was so splendid that it would make any spectator dizzy.


    Bolstered by divine radiance, the ninth Immortal King swung his halberd in a tight arc, raising it like a shield. It gave off silver and red light in a brilliant re, like a phoenix''s rebirth.


    The blow was apanied by a phoenix''s shrill cry, a spiritual attack whose might could be felt even by the spectators. They sucked in a deep breath.


    The sh of metal against metal rang incessant. Starlight burst. The phoenix cried. The skies were dyed red, and stardust fell from the skies.


    "[Birth of the Holy Dragon]!"


    Li Feng cut forward. The overflowing sword energy materialized in the form of a light dragon that seemed like it could part the very sea.


    The ninth Immortal King blocked the attack with the haft of his halberd, moving so quickly it was beyond what an ordinary hunter could handle.


    The spectators'' ears buzzed as space distorted and lightning seemed to sh from the heavens— but it was only a sh between the two cultivators, with sparks from their weapons grinding against each other, and thunder from the impact.


    Everyone was shocked that there was an unknown cultivator who could go head to head with the sessor of the Hall of Immortals, and who even seemed to be on par with him.


    Li Feng swung his de once again.


    "[The Boundless de: Cloudstep]!"


    Li Feng soared into the air, propelling himself upward with every cloud he stepped on. He sent his light-imbued sword arcing through the air.


    The ninth Immortal King swung his halberd, apanied by the cry of a phoenix. He was encapsted by the outline of a phoenix as divine light red from him. He shot forward.


    The spectators watched on with bated breath.


    Neitherbatant spoke. From the very beginning, they had met each other weapon for weapon. There was no need for words. The blistering pace enraptured the spectators.


    The continuous sh was almost impossible to bear; the spectators felt as though their eardrums were close to bursting. Radiant light emanated from the ninth Immortal King, apanied by frightening mist that seemed like chaotic energy.


    The sh between Li Feng and the ninth Immortal King was like a heavenly tribtion.


    Li Feng himself was shocked by the strength of the opponent he had encountered. His arms were sore and numb, but he believed that his opponent was suffering just as much as he was. The runes in his opponent''s eyes were shing in deep surprise.


    A spectator remarked, "The ninth Immortal King is truly fearsome. As long as the sessors of the strongest ns remain in seclusion, who would be able to fight against him? But his opponent''s no trifling matter, either. Just who is he?"


    "I''ve never seen that race before."


    "It sounds like the rumored dark horse race."


    "Their original form is that of a horse?"


    "No—they''re being referred to as the hunters of the strong."


    Zhang Lie was speechless. What nonsense was this?


    "You''re very strong," the ninth Immortal King murmured. His ck hair draped around his shoulders, and his whole body was shielded with divine runes. He looked like an immortal descending from the heavens, invincible and withoutpare.


    He defended against Li Feng''s strongest attacks with ease, even despite the shock in his eyes. He was calm and collected, as though everything was within his control.


    "But you are not stronger than me," the ninth Immortal King asserted, then struck again.


    With another ear-splitting sh, Li Feng''s arms went numb, and the p of skin between thumb and forefinger began to bleed. Li Feng sucked in a deep breath. This was a difficult opponent indeed.


    He stared at the opponent''s palms, wanting to see if he too were bleeding. However, the ninth Immortal King''s flesh was shielded by divine runes, and he couldn''t see a thing.


    Regardless, Li Feng believed that it was indeed the case.


    "Amazing. He''s held on for a few dozen blows against the ninth Immortal King by now!" a spectator called out. It was clear just how highly the Immortal King was valued among peers of his generation. Any who could even survive such a sh against him had to be strong themselves.


    The sh of metal continued to ring out as the fight continued intensely.


    "[Birth of the Holy Dragon: Realm of Heaven]!"


    Li Feng raised his sword high into the air. Light-attuned gic energy gathered around it, invoking the stars. Holy hymns echoed around him, and the concentrated energy manifested as outspread wings to his back.


    He seemed to be right beside his opponent, but simultaneously a world apart—in a dimension beyond. Spatial maniption!


    A hundred dragons wrapped around Li Feng''s sword, and his light-attuned gic energy was formingplicated patterns around him. Light swirled around him, as though manifesting in the form of illusions, as he swung his de down.