The Sacred Leaves Family's Wishes for Peace-Chapter 440 - 558: Escaping Death

Chapter 558: Escaping Death

Fourteen retainers had entered the battlefield together.

In the blink of an eye, only Fang Hao remained.

The reason the Great Sage Realm Fang Hao was still alive was not because of luck, nor because of superior strength—but because he possessed a damaged Emperor Weapon that had blocked the fatal blows for him.

In the Tianyuan Realm, Emperor Weapons were even rarer than Emperor Realm cultivators themselves.

Among hegemon-level forces, most possessed two Great Emperors at most—yet even they often had only a single Emperor Weapon passed down through generations. Such artifacts were the true foundations of a faction.

Thus, even a damaged Emperor Weapon was incomparably precious.

Only heaven-favored figures like those of the Fang clan—true Children of Destiny—could obtain such an object through extraordinary karmic coincidences.

As for the fallen retainers, even though many of them were Saint King Realm peak experts, and some were only a step away from the Quasi-Emperor Realm, owning an Emperor Weapon was nothing more than a delusional dream.

Under the siege of so many powerful experts, their deaths had been inevitable.

When Xiang Kuang and the others saw the Emperor Weapon hovering above Fang Hao’s head, effortlessly blocking all incoming attacks, their expressions froze.

Shock, disbelief, and naked greed flooded their faces.

"Th-this... he actually has an Emperor Weapon?!"

"Could he be the successor of some hegemon-level force?"

"That’s impossible! No faction would be so generous as to give something even Quasi-Emperors don’t possess to a mere Great Sage!"

"Why waste words? Seize the Emperor Weapon first!"

In an instant, everyone’s gaze burned with unrestrained desire. To be precise, they were no longer looking at Fang Hao himself, but at the Emperor Weapon above him.

An Emperor Weapon.

Even in its damaged state, it was an object that could drive cultivators mad.

Forget Saint Kings—if even a Great Emperor were to see it, they would still be tempted to risk everything to seize it.

The only reason Xiang Kuang and Liu Lian did not immediately slaughter everyone else present to monopolize the treasure was simple: they lacked the strength.

Fang Hao could clearly sense the greed and killing intent radiating from them. Yet, despite being trapped within a sealed formation and facing more than twenty Saint King Realm experts, his expression remained eerily calm.

He simply raised his hand and took out a jade token.

The moment that token appeared, Xiang Kuang’s pupils shrank violently.

"Not good! Stop him!"

"Don’t let him escape!"

They surged forward in unison, erupting with full speed.

But no matter how fast they were, they were still slower than the activation of the teleportation token in Fang Hao’s hand.

This token had been purchased by Fang Hao at an enormous cost from the Immortal Realm, after the Fang clan had suffered repeated sieges by Emperor Realm enemies. It could bypass most formations and restrictions—and even ignore certain Emperor Realm Law Domains.

The one Fang Chen had previously given to Fang Ting was of the same type.

But Fang Hao’s was superior.

Faster activation. Longer teleport range.

"Whoosh!"

In less than a breath, Fang Hao’s figure vanished.

The furious attacks of Xiang Kuang and the others crashed down upon the island instead. The already shattered, barren landmass was instantly pulverized and sunk into the sea.

"Damn it!!"

"That brat still had such a trump card!"

"Chase him! It was a random teleport! He was heavily injured—there’s still a chance!"

At Xiang Kuang’s command, the group scattered without hesitation, shooting off in all directions at extreme speed.

They all understood one thing perfectly.

This was the best chance to monopolize an Emperor Weapon.

Fang Hao, meanwhile, was truly fortunate.

The random teleportation had sent him in the direction he needed to go.

He could have chosen to immediately use the dual-realm gate and return to the Immortal Realm, disappearing completely. That would have been the safest option.

But to make everything appear genuine, to sell the illusion perfectly, he chose to endure his severe injuries and fly toward the city controlled by the Sky Vault Commerce Guild.

Half an hour later—

"Chi!!"

A sharp sword qi tore through the air from behind him, the icy sword intent freezing space itself.

"Bang!"

Fang Hao instantly activated a shield artifact. The sword qi was blocked—but the shield shattered on impact, reduced to fragments.

"Where do you think you’re running?!"

A piercing shout echoed, accompanied by crushing pressure. Sword qi poured down like a torrential storm.

Fang Hao activated a secret art to forcibly raise his cultivation, then employed a supreme movement technique he had obtained from the Immortal Realm.

For a brief time, his speed rivaled that of a Saint King.

The pursuer could not catch up, only attack continuously in an attempt to kill him mid-flight.

Fang Hao did not even turn his head.

He calmly took out a Five Elements Divine Talisman.

A similar talisman had once appeared at the Seven Kings City stone gambling event and was later won by Fang Ying, who passed it to Fang Luo and the others.

A streak of light flashed.

The talisman activated, forming a Five Elements barrier around Fang Hao.

This shield could block all attacks below the Emperor Realm and last for the duration of an incense stick.

"Clang! Clang! Clang!"

Sword qi struck the barrier repeatedly, producing metallic sounds, yet not even a scratch appeared.

"What kind of shell is this?!"

The black-clad Saint King cursed in fury—but he did not give up.

That was an Emperor Weapon!

"I refuse to believe you can block ten swords, a hundred swords, ten thousand swords!"

He poured all his true essence into his blade, unleashing overwhelming sword intent that flooded the surrounding ten thousand li.

The sounds of impact rang endlessly.

Fang Hao’s speed not only failed to slow—it increased.

Soon, the familiar outline of a massive city appeared on the horizon.

As long as he entered it, he would be safe.

Even Emperor Realm experts dared not make a move within a city controlled by the Sky Vault Commerce Guild.

"Die already!!!"

The black-clad Saint King roared desperately, attacking with ever greater ferocity.

But it was useless.

Just before the Five Elements shield dissipated, Fang Hao crossed the city boundary.

The pursuer stopped, teeth clenched, eyes bloodshot with rage and unwillingness.

Chasing further meant certain death.

Thus, he could only retreat.

To have the object you desire within reach—yet be utterly unable to obtain it—

There were few torments more unbearable than that.