Netherworld Retrograde

Chapter 237: Chapter 111: Hated Earth, Li Yuanba!

Thud, thud, thud!

Li Yelai’s heart crazily pounded as all the strength he could muster concentrated in his arms.

His left elbow and palm pressed against the upper and lower jaws of Shattering Teeth, sacrificing his left hand in an attempt to jam Shattering Teeth’s bite. His right hand tightly gripped the jaw of Shattering Teeth.

The sharp fangs pierced through his Spiritual Barrier, armor, and palms, and his arm bones cried out in agony. Yet, he ignored the pain and desperately tried to pry open Shattering Teeth’s bite.

Because, right in front of him, Cheese’s neck was being pierced by the sharp fangs of Shattering Teeth. Once Shattering Teeth’s jaws snapped shut, it would be the end for Cheese.

He absolutely could not let Shattering Teeth continue to close its jaws; he had to pry them open and allow Cheese to escape.

However, no matter how hard he exerted himself, he could not withstand the terrifying biting force of Shattering Teeth.

The fangs slowly closed, seemingly about to crush both his arm and Cheese’s neck together.

The gap in strength was too great.

The Commander Bug was one of the elite among the Insect Swarm, far surpassing Li Yelai of the Third Awakening in strength.

Li Yelai struggled relentlessly, overwhelmed by fear and remorse as he watched Cheese about to be crushed.

She had once whispered softly in his ear, and at times spoke jokes with a goofy expression, one of his few good friends.

Yet now, because of his own reckless decision to leave the Commander Bug behind, she was about to be crushed right before his eyes.

No... Absolutely not!

Li Yelai’s eyes turned blood red, an endless desire for slaughter emerging.

He craved power like never before.

If only he were a bit stronger, just a bit stronger...

Whether it was the Blood God behind the Heart of Slaughter or Mr. Shadow waiting to make a deal with him... As long as they could give him power, he would not refuse any of it.

Thus, in that instant.

In the far reaches beyond the Void Realm, the Blood God, symbolizing bravery and glory, shifted his gaze somewhere.

Outside Li Yelai’s Soul Well, that enormous Black Shadow that cloaked the Void Star Sea extended its arm.

However, before They could respond, the first to answer Li Yelai’s call was his own Third Mask!

Since Li Yelai had slain the Tattooed Man in the underground branch of the Ember Church, he had obtained the Third Mask. However, he had not yet found the method to unlock this third mask.

He had theorized that connecting certain related aspects could unlock the mask’s ability.

Now, possibly struck by the Heavenly Thunder or his extreme pursuit of power,

His Third Mask finally unlocked.

In that moment, time slowed by a thousandfold, Li Yelai’s mind racing. He saw Iron Rain, who had been frozen mid-air as it rushed in to help, saw Huang Tu about to use his ability, saw the Captain-level elites rushing over.

He also saw the blood droplets falling from Cheese’s slender neck...

Then, a shattered image appeared before him: a middle-aged man in Ming Guang Armor told a tender-faced young general, ”Daddy promises you, after this battle, I’ll take you back to grandma’s. You won’t be scared of thunder anymore... Yuan Ba.”

The young general, clad in Golden Armor, slight and shorter in stature, held terrifying Drum Beating Golden Hammers.

Hearing these words, the young general’s face lit up with delight, then he nodded.

Riding a robust warhorse, he advanced alone, the warhorse neighing increasingly louder, uniquely charging into the formation!

As the Golden Armor General charged into the enemy ranks, swinging his enormous hammer, the sky suddenly changed! It was as if a giant made of gold stood towering on the battlefield, each swing of his hammer causing the earth to quake and tens of thousands of soldiers to be shaken to death!

The golden giant continued to strike, and hundreds of thousands of troops could not stand against him.

Not until roaring thunder struck the giant did the image finally disappear.

Li Yelai watched in shock at this scene. As an employee of an antique store, he had intensively studied the history of various dynasties.

Clearly, the scene just now did not represent any real historical figure.

Moreover, the young general holding the hammer likely embodied the Setting of Four Fierce Eight Hammers from lore.

Could a blank mask even craft and mimic legendary figures? Then mythological figures...

The hammer was an ancient weapon used by generals in warfare, bulky but handy during the age of cold weapons, favored by many, especially in legendary tales which commonly featured this setup.

Telling of Yue, Yang Liulang leading the troops, and others all spoke of the Four Fierce Eight Hammers.

Among the most well-known of these figures from the legends of the Tang were,

The fourth hammer, Liang Shitai of the Tempered Iron Oil-Press Hammer.

The third hammer, Qin Yong of the Human-faced Bronze Hammer.

The second hammer, Pei Yuanqing of the Eight-Edged Plum Blossom Silver Hammer.

And that first hammer...

Hating the sky without a handle, hating the earth without a ring!

The Drum Beating Golden Hammer, Li Yuanba!

Li Yelai’s Third Mask represented the True Martial Path, Li Yuanba of Hated Earth!

And perhaps because it was a legendary figure, the Third Mask did not bring any skill or memory to Li Yelai, but it did bring him extreme strength!

The raw power Li Yelai needed now!

Thus, as time resumed, a new mask emerged.

”Open for me!”

New strength surged into his body, Li Yelai exerted himself again with his arms, his body erupting with a golden light, and he actually tore apart the upper and lower jaws of Shattering Teeth.

The Commander Bug felt a tearing pain transmitting from its tail spike, utterly astonished, as Shattering Teeth’s biting force was sufficient to crush the special armor shell of a War Worm, let alone a Third Awakening human, even one on the True Martial Path. How did he tear it apart?