The Endless Promise

83. Newcomers

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Back at the Arena, Lord Mo was learning a few important lessons under Lord Huo's heavy hand.

Despite the staggering difference in their levels, Lord Mo poured his all into the fight, but it was like hurling eggs at a rock, as Lord Huo hadn't moved a single muscle, yet his sword moved on its own, easily blocking or deflecting all Lord Mo's most powerful attacks.

'Is this the difference in our levels?!' Lord Mo thought with some dismay. But he wasn't done...

His own pride made him fight Lord Huo with his own strength, but as that wasn't working, he suddenly pulled out a talisman which moved to hover before him.

'If I can't reach the height, I will climb over all to get there!' The talisman suddenly expanded into a large, house-sized, and the force surrounding shook their entire surrounding.

Then the talisman zipped towards Lord Huo.

"Hmm?" Lord Huo finally moved- or rather, his eyelids finally moved, widening slightly, but again, his sword did the work, blocking the talisman in a powerlock.

"Oh? You've gotten your hands on something interesting." Lord Huo observed, and Lord Mo smirked.

"Hmph! How do you like it?" The talisman was one of the gifts from the immortals, and if it met its target, it was powerful enough to destroy three entire cities!

But...

"Nonsense." Lord Huo's sword spun and trails of bright orange light emanated from it, moving to surround the talisman, which shrunk and exploded under the sudden pressure, nearly destroying the Arena.

Lord Mo was pushed back by the blast, but Lord Huo remained safe within a shield.

"Borrowed strength remains borrowed strength, and something like this is only frightening if it hits." Lord Huo calmly stated.

'I can't lose here!' Lord Mo thought, and brought out another immortal level talisman.

But Lord Huo instantly saw through his intent.

"I can't let you activate any of those strange talismans within the city." Lord Huo spoke, and faster than a blink, he finally moved, effortlessly seizing the talisman before Lord Mo could do anything.

However, Lord Mo had a back up plan and he instantly activated a hidden trap, leaping away as Lord Huo was locked within a cylindrical seal with strange, man-eating flowers.

But then...

"Hmph. You're actually looking away during a fight?" Lord Huo's voice came from behind Lord Mo, and he swivelled in shock to find Lord Huo untouched, as his afterimage vanished from within the trap!

Lord Huo had merely toyed with him before now, but after that trap, Lord Huo sent a merciless arc of qi at him, which flung him right through the Arena's barrier and into a nearby building.

Before Lord Mo could recover, the next attack hit him, and he found himself hurtled far across Yue City, towards the forest.

He rose to his knees, hacking worrying amounts of blood, and Lord Huo appeared before him.

"Remain kneeling and surrender yourself!" Lord Huo reprimanded. "The Wulin won't go easy on you, but I can at least make arrangements for your family!"

"It's too late! There's no turning back for me now!" Lord Mo performed a shaky hand seal, and a black pulsing pill surrounded by red flames appeared.

Lord Huo's eyes narrowed at the pill. "Eight-core demon pill?! Greedy...! How dirty have you gotten your hands?!!"

But Lord Mo laughed. "Heh! If I swallow this, I will attain impossible power!" He was now beyond reason. "I will lose a few levels of my cultivation, but I don't care! I'll make today your yearly death anniversary!" He swallowed the pill without thought, and roared in pain as unbelievable power surged through him, tearing his sleeves and making his muscles bulge.