"Clang!"
"Clang!"
Qi Zhao and Liu Mengyao drew their weapons together, standing in front of Zhang Hao.
Cao Jun glared at Qi Zhao and Liu Mengyao with some anger, asking, "You two, do you also want to rebel?"
Qi Zhao said to Cao Jun solemnly, "Sect Leader, Zhang Hao is my friend, Qi Zhao. I know his character well. He is absolutely not a spy for the Heavenly Demon Sect. Please investigate clearly, Sect Leader."
"That's right, Mengyao can also guarantee that Zhang Hao is absolutely not a spy for the Heavenly Demon Sect," Liu Mengyao said with great determination.
"Good... good..."
Anger flared in Cao Jun's heart, and a vast pressure erupted from his body. The terrifying pressure made both Qi Zhao and Liu Mengyao feel a mountain-like burden. They couldn't help but retreat several steps, their expressions pale.
Zhang Hao suddenly stepped forward, grabbed Cao Jun and Qi Zhao by the shoulders, pushed their bodies aside, and faced the terrifying pressure himself.
Although Zhang Hao's cultivation was far inferior to Cao Jun, the Half-Step Martial Emperor, he was not someone who could be intimidated by mere pressure.
Seeing that Zhang Hao remained unfazed under his pressure, Cao Jun felt a great loss of Face. He suddenly struck down with a palm.
"Go to hell, kid!"
Under this palm, sand and stones flew, obscuring the sky and sun.
This palm strike came too quickly. Even if Tu Zhan wanted to rescue him, it was too late.
"Zhang Hao!"
"Zhang Hao!"
Tu Zhan and Liu Mengyao cried out in alarm.
With a loud "Boom!"
After the smoke and dust cleared, the figure of a youth appeared. It was Zhang Hao, but at this moment, he held an umbrella in his hand. This umbrella was the Tianluo Umbrella. A pseudo-Divine Artifact! Although only a pseudo-Divine Artifact, it was at least somewhat related to Divine Artifacts. Its power was formidable.
Zhang Hao naturally knew that the gap between himself and Cao Jun was too great. Therefore, he quickly took out the Tianluo Umbrella. At the critical moment, it blocked Cao Jun's palm strike.
The Tianluo Umbrella provides ten seconds of absolute defense. However, it also has a cooldown period and cannot be used continuously.
"What? Unharmed?"
Cao Jun discovered that Zhang Hao was completely safe under his attack as a Half-Step Martial Emperor. His old Face immediately turned pale, and he was about to strike again.
But at this moment, how could Tu Zhan allow him to strike again? His body flickered, blocking Cao Jun's path.
"Old man, Esteemed One sees you intend to oppose Esteemed One to the end. Don't forget, Esteemed One is the Sect Leader!" Cao Jun was somewhat enraged out of shame.
"Hahaha... Don't always threaten Esteemed One with your position as Sect Leader. Don't forget how you obtained this position as Sect Leader?" Tu Zhan looked at Cao Jun and said coldly.
The Disciples around who heard this immediately understood a bit. It seemed that there was some story behind how Cao Jun became the Sect Leader, perhaps involving some unsavory means. No wonder Tu Zhan and Cao Jun had always been outwardly friendly but inwardly at odds, with constant private conflicts.
"Damn it, old man, defying the Sect Leader is an unforgivable crime. Today, since the Supreme Elder is in seclusion healing, Esteemed One will clean up the sect on his behalf," Cao Jun roared.
"Hmph, come on, your Great Sun Divine Art is said to have reached the eighth level. Esteemed Elder also wants to experience it," Tu Zhan said with a cold voice.
"Heh heh, you'll know soon enough."
Although Cao Jun was blocked by Tu Zhan, he would not forget Zhang Hao, this Disciple who dared to defy him. Therefore, Cao Jun ordered the ten Elders of the Law Enforcement Hall beside him, "Go, regardless of life or death!"
"Yes!" The ten Elders shouted in unison.
Tu Zhan and Cao Jun, two great Half-Step Martial Emperors, began fighting in the sky. These were Half-Step Martial Emperors! The strongest individuals in the Hao Xian Sect, besides the Supreme Elder, who was a true Martial Emperor.
Of course, one must also include the Deputy Sect Leader Wen Guangyuan, who had suddenly and strangely disappeared earlier. These were the three Half-Step Martial Emperors who served as the pillars of the Hao Xian Sect. But now, the Supreme Elder was severely injured and in seclusion, the Deputy Sect Leader had mysteriously disappeared, and the Grand Elder and the Sect Leader were fighting amongst themselves. At this moment, the Hao Xian Sect was on the verge of collapse.
The Inner Disciples of the Hao Xian Sect were currently very conflicted about which side to stand on. Logically, they should stand with the Sect Leader no matter what. After all, in the Hao Xian Sect, Cao Jun was the true Sect Leader. However, in terms of prestige and status in the hearts of the Inner Disciples, Tu Zhan was undoubtedly superior. After all, Cao Yang, as the Fu Zi, had been tyrannical in the Hao Xian Sect, inadvertently lowering the score for Cao Jun, the Sect Leader.
Ultimately, quite a few Inner Disciples decided to remain neutral at this moment. Of course, there were still some supporters of Cao Jun who firmly stood by his side.
Seeing the ten Elders charging towards him, Zhang Hao was now at Wu Zong Fifth Heaven, so he naturally wouldn't fear these so-called ten Elders of the Law Enforcement Hall.
"Boom!"
The first Elder of the Law Enforcement Hall slashed down at Zhang Hao with a saber.
Martial Grandmaster (7th level)?
Zhang Hao's Physical Body was currently at Martial Grandmaster (3rd level), and combined with his Qi cultivation strength, he naturally didn't fear the opponent. He activated the defensive power of the Silver Wall Battle Body. Without dodging or evading, he met the attack head-on.
"Boom!"
Two forces collided in the void. Zhang Hao shattered the power of that saber strike with a punch.
"Wu Zong Fifth Heaven!"
The Martial Warriors present were greatly shocked. From the aura Zhang Hao revealed, the Inner Disciples present could now sense his cultivation.
Previously, he had been using the Gathering Breath Art, which prevented the Martial Warriors present from seeing through his cultivation. But now that Zhang Hao had unleashed his power, his cultivation was fully exposed.
"Too terrifying. How long has he been in the Inner Sect? At most, less than half a year, right? He's already at Wu Zong Fifth Heaven?" An Inner Disciple who had been in the Inner Sect for over a year and was still at Martial Grandmaster First Level felt very bitter.
"Yeah, damn it, I've been in the Inner Sect for two years and only just advanced to Martial Grandmaster (2nd level). This is already considered a Genius. Holy crap, how did this guy advance to Wu Zong Fifth Heaven in less than half a year after entering the Inner Sect? It's a blatant slap in the Face! They say he's also a Cultivator," another Martial Warrior at Martial Grandmaster (2nd level) said with extreme frustration.
The most shocked person present was Qi Zhao. He naturally knew that Zhang Hao had definitely advanced to Wu Zong Fifth Heaven within six months. After all, they had exchanged blows during the Outer Gate Competition, and Zhang Hao felt like he had the strength of a Martial King Peak. In other words, he broke through five levels in six months. This was simply defying the heavens. One must know that many Martial Grandmasters with average Aptitude might not even be able to advance to Wu Zong Fifth Heaven in their entire lives. This meant that Zhang Hao had walked the path that many Martial Grandmasters walk in a lifetime, in just six months.
Qi Zhao was somewhat unsettled. He had just advanced to Martial Grandmaster and felt quite good about himself. Now he felt that these past six months had been completely wasted.
"Damn it, how can he be so strong?" Cao Yang's Face was somewhat gloomy.
Cao Yang called over a follower beside him and whispered something to him. The follower nodded and then left.
