Chapter 635: General Hao Tian vs. True Immortal

"Lord General Hao Tian, we will fully cooperate with you to slay the Ancient Demon; do as you please. We hope you can forgive our past mistakes!"

The Mingschool Sage hurriedly spoke to Li Hao, his expression earnest.

"That's right—the heavens are collapsing because of our earlier errors. We beg Lord General Hao Tian to grant us a chance to make amends."

The other Sages also spoke up in turn.

"This is a True Immortal-level Ancient Demon—a true immortal deity. I am merely a Level-One Sage. Why do you think I have any chance?"

Li Hao glanced around, then fell silent for a moment before speaking.

All the Sages froze, their expressions turning complex. The Mohist Sage said bitterly, "Lord General Hao Tian, you are now the only one among us with any hope. If you refuse to risk it, we will respect your choice. You're right—this is a True Immortal-level Ancient Demon. The gap is too vast. Even if we all charge to our deaths, we might not even shake it. If you have no confidence, you may leave to seek safety and preserve the last spark."

Hearing this, several Sages opened their mouths but held back, finally falling silent.

Li Hao sighed inwardly. He no longer had the heart to blame them for their earlier blunders; the past was past, and dwelling on it was pointless. This True Immortal-level Ancient Demon had arrived, and no one in the heavens could stand against it.

"I can only try my best."

Li Hao said.

If it were the Ancient Demon's commander, he would turn and flee without hesitation. But this True Immortal-level Ancient Demon—he had cooked it before, dissected its body. If he seized the right opportunity, there might still be a sliver of a chance to kill it.

Though the hope was slim, if he retreated now, the heavens behind him and the mortal world would become a hellfire.

Moreover, the Seeing Yuanzu and the Divine King couldn't hold out much longer. This True Immortal had chased after them; his Primordial Spirit's power might not be enough to fully conceal the Sacred Ground—his only chance was to buy time for the Sacred Ground to flee and reach the Divine Sun.

Hearing Li Hao's words, the Sages' faces lit up with relief. The Law Sage fixed his gaze on Li Hao and asked, "Lord General Hao Tian, what are your odds?"

"One percent."

Li Hao replied honestly.

At this, the Sages' expressions changed slightly, their eyes filled with sorrow—but they knew: this was a True Immortal-level Ancient Demon. Even a one percent chance was extraordinarily rare.

"Lord General Hao Tian's willingness to risk his life alongside us fills us with shame."

One Sage's face was heavy with grief; Li Hao's magnanimity made him feel even more ashamed and regretful for his past actions.

The other Sages also wore bitter expressions, deeply awed by Li Hao.

Had it been them, they likely would not have had such courage, nor would they have forgiven.

"In times of crisis, heroes emerge. Lord General Hao Tian, tell us how to assist you—even if we must charge to our deaths to shield you, we will not flinch."

The Mingschool Sage said earnestly to Li Hao.

Li Hao nodded, then suddenly his expression changed as he turned toward the Ancient Palace.

He faintly sensed a presence there had locked onto this patch of void.

The True Immortal-level Ancient Demon must have already slain the Seeing Yuanzu and the Divine King. Though they had cultivated the Divine Realm, before a True Immortal, they were no different from newborn infants.

Li Hao took a deep breath and immediately manifested his avatar, rushing toward the Sacred Ground.

At the same time, he looked at the Sages. With their cooperation, this battle would be the strongest gathering the heavens had ever seen.

If they still could not resist, the heavens would sink into darkness, leaving only desperate flight.

"The Ancient Demon has noticed us. Prepare for battle."

Li Hao said grimly, "I will lead the assault. You others act as you see fit—just support me."

"It's coming?"

Hearing Li Hao's words, the Sages' faces paled, their hearts trembling as they stared toward the Ancient Palace.

"Leave the battle strategy to the Military Sage. Tell us what we must do."

The Mohist Supreme Sage turned to the Military Sage.

Beside the Military Sage stood the Primordial Sage; both came from Yunxia Realm. After Li Hao destroyed the Void Sacred Ground, Yunxia Realm now held only the Primordial Sacred Ground and the Military Sacred Ground.

The Military Sage was a small old man in a buff-colored tunic, his expression utterly calm. Knowing time was critical, he spoke swiftly: "Gentlemen, the Ancient Demon's black mist is vast and corrupts the Primordial Spirit. The True Immortal-level Ancient Demon's ability will be even stronger! Even if we all attack together, we'll be swiftly erased—pointless. We must channel all our power through Lord General Hao Tian. There's no time to prepare a complex array, but I've spent years refining a Sacred Array. I only ask if you're willing to cooperate."

"Just say it!"

The Mingschool Sage urged urgently.

"It's the Hundred-and-Eight Sages' Heavenly Array. It requires 108 Sages to form. This array can combine thirty percent of each Sage's power and focus it into a single individual!"

The Military Sage's words stunned them.

The Sages stared at him in shock and disbelief.

Such a battle array? Though he said only thirty percent, combining thirty percent from over a hundred Sages—how terrifying would that be? Even a hundred Level-One Sages forming this array could likely match or even overpower the Seeing Yuanzu and Divine King! They had never heard of such a formation.

"Do you have confidence? Why have you never mentioned this array before?"

One Sage asked.

"I've refined it over a thousand times. Only two failures."

The Military Sage said gravely, "This battle array is forbidden by the heavens—no one here would have heard of it. Otherwise, it would be a taboo technique. I don't want to end up like the Divine King."

Hearing this, the Sages' expressions shifted. Indeed, such a terrifying array—if anyone controlled it, they would dominate the heavens. If this array were exposed, not only would gathering a hundred Sages be impossible, but any leak during its formation would bring immediate suppression by the Supreme Sages.

"Quickly form the array!"

The Yin-Yang School Supreme Sage urged urgently.

The Military Sage nodded and immediately began setting up the array.

Li Hao hadn't expected such a secret weapon—clearly, every Sage in the heavens had their own trump card.

The Sages moved swiftly. As the Military Sage arranged the formation, the Mohist Supreme Sage selected 108 Sages, ranked by cultivation level from highest to lowest.

As the Sages took their positions within the array, a golden light array rose into the void, its focal point locked onto Li Hao. The power of the 108 Sages flowed like golden divine rainbows toward him.

Li Hao immediately felt waves of Sacred Dao power surging into his own Sacred Dao. In his spiritual mind, projections of the Sages appeared, standing in their array positions, transmitting their power like radiant beams.

This array didn't just transfer their power—it also transferred their Sacred Dao, as if mirrored and channeled through.

Li Hao instantly felt his Soul-Continuation power surging rapidly upward.

He had cultivated the Heavenly Soul-Continuation, capable of condensing the soul 360 times. He had already shattered that limit, crossing the Ultimate Boundary. Now, he surged even further beyond it.

Li Hao thought of the Li Clan's Soul-Shattering Technique—inheritance of the True Dragon, ancestral spirits condensing the soul. They could break the original limit again.

But their Soul-Continuation was only at the Four Foundations level; ancestral inheritance could only condense the soul 80 times. Even breaking past 80 to reach the Dao-Understanding level, it still only reached a hundred or so.

Now, this Military Sage's array achieved the same effect—but differently: it was the Sages themselves breaking Li Hao's limit, condensing the soul through Sacred Dao.

As the array activated, Li Hao's aura grew stronger and stronger.

At the same time, Li Hao sensed the presence from the Ancient Palace becoming clearer, rushing toward them at incredible speed.

"Be careful—he's coming!"

Li Hao warned, his expression grim, ready for battle.

Hearing Li Hao's words, the Sages tightened their hearts, all turning toward the Ancient Palace.

…

Meanwhile, Li Hao's avatar had arrived at the Sacred Ground.

"Lord General Hao Tian, is this your avatar?"

As soon as the avatar returned, the Medical Sage and Sword Master rushed out of the Sacred Ground, anxious.

"Yes. The situation is dire. A True Immortal-level Ancient Demon infiltrated through an unexpected method—beyond my expectations. We must evacuate immediately."

The avatar spoke rapidly: "Immediately notify the Nine Continents Immortal Isles—explain the situation clearly. They must evacuate at once. Also, send someone to the mortal realm and bring the people of the Nineteen States of Emperor Da Yu. The Sacred Ground may not hold them all—see if the Nine Continents Immortal Isles have room."

He spoke quickly, laying out the situation.

Hearing the avatar's words, the Medical Sage and Sword Master were horrified. A True Immortal-level Ancient Demon had descended?

This world had no immortals. Now, a True Immortal-level Ancient Demon had arrived—like a tiger among sheep.

"Where is your true body?"

Feng Bo Ping teleported in, asking urgently.

The avatar replied gravely: "The Seeing Yuanzu and Divine King are dead. My true body, with the Sages, is preparing to fight the True Immortal-level Ancient Demon to the death. If we win, the heavens are safe. If we lose, you flee—preserve the last spark."

Hearing this, the group paled.

"Lord General Hao Tian, that's a True Immortal-level Ancient Demon. Do you have any chance?"

Huang Tian Sage arrived, speaking quickly.

"No chance. Only a fight. Otherwise, the Sacred Ground is too vast. My Primordial Spirit can cover it and hide it—but the area is too large. I can only guarantee evasion from second-rank Ancient Demons. For a True Immortal-level Ancient Demon, I have no such assurance." Li Hao said.

At this moment, many Half-Sages inside the Sacred Ground had heard their conversation and rushed over, looking up anxiously.

Hearing Li Hao's words, Mi Tian Sage and the Medical Sage fell silent. They knew Li Hao was risking himself to buy them time to flee.

"If you hid alone, the True Immortal-level Ancient Demon couldn't find you, right?"

The Sword Master stared at Li Hao.

Earlier, Li Hao had waited outside the Immortal Gate for twelve years—he didn't believe Li Hao had no way to evade a True Immortal-level Ancient Demon. The avatar said nothing. If alone, he could indeed hide—even use the Heavenly Space to bring some people. But the Heavenly Space's area was limited; compared to the Sacred Ground, it could shelter too few.

Feng Bo Ping fell silent. He understood Li Hao—he would never abandon his friends.

"In the mortal realm, I followed you. Now, I'll follow you again!"

Feng Bo Ping said, then moved to act.

But the avatar reached out and grabbed his arm, saying gravely: "Feng Lao, I have no confidence in this battle. Please look after my friends."

Among the crowd, Ji Yu Ji Xuanshen and others rushed forward. The news of Li Hao's departure had spread through the Sacred Ground, causing unease. Now, hearing Li Hao's words, Ji Yu Ji Xuanshen and the others widened their eyes, their eyes reddening.

They were roughly Li Hao's age—or even older. Yet now they could only watch this former rival, now friend, charge to the front, fighting for their chance to live.

"If I have no chance, I must go even more."

Feng Bo Ping struggled to break free, but found the avatar's strength immense—he was stunned.

"Stay and keep Grandpa company. He already lost one fishing partner—don't lose another."

The avatar's gaze swept the crowd, landing on Li Mu, who stood among them, visibly anxious.

Li Mu had reached Dao-Understanding. Though Li Hao spoke softly, he heard it—and his eyes instantly reddened.

His heart felt like it was being cut apart, yet he couldn't speak. Only when charging into battle did he realize how utterly powerless he was! Feng Bo Ping felt his throat tighten, his voice hoarse: "Don't talk nonsense. You cannot die—I won't allow it!"

Li Hao's avatar felt a flicker of amusement and sorrow, saying, "Old Feng, take care of them for me."

He then turned to Mi Tian Huntian Shengren and Yi Huntian Shengren and said, "Contact the Nine Continents Xiandao as quickly as possible. We will prepare for a full-scale counterattack—this avatar will dissipate."

"With the utmost speed!"

He instructed.

Mi Tian Huntian Shengren nodded silently. Though he had known Li Hao only briefly, they had become chess companions; moreover, Li Hao had helped him refine elixirs. He held great admiration for this young successor—but now, all he felt was sorrow.

Among the crowd, the Li family stood frozen, staring at the scene. He He Jianlan, Li Li Wushuang, Li Li Yuanzhao, and others were already weeping.

They had never imagined that after just meeting Li Hao, they would have to part again—and perhaps forever.

"Hao'er, why must your life be so bitter?" He He Jianlan, tears streaming down her face, grieved for the boy in the sky.

"Why must you bear such a burden?"

Hearing her whispered lament, Li Li Tiangang and Ji Ji Qingqing beside her trembled, their fingers clenching involuntarily.

Behind them, Li Ping'an stared blankly at the boy under the gaze of all, lost in thought.

Li Hao's avatar swiftly gave his final instructions, then his expression hardened. He spoke low and grave: "I must now give my full attention to battle. All of you—evacuate as quickly as you can. Do not waste the time my comrades and I have bought!"

With that, his figure slowly faded away.

"Hao Tian!"

"Hao Ge!"

Seeing Li Hao's avatar vanish like smoke and dust, many cried out in anguish.

Mi Tian Huntian Shengren and Yi Huntian Shengren were the first to regain composure. One immediately set off, while the other activated the Sacred Ground, drawing it closer to the Nine Continents Xiandao.

Feng Bo Ping stood stunned for a moment, recalling Li Hao's words. His gaze grew complex. He gave a brief order, then tore open a rift and entered the mortal realm to evacuate the people of Emperor Da Yu.

…

At the same time, in the void fifty million li beyond the ancient palace.

Li Hao and the Huntian Shengren waited here. In the void, apart from the 108 Huntian Shengren within Li Hao's battle formation, all others had hidden within rifts in the void.

ZHOO! With a howling wind, a terrifying pressure surged forward. Soon, a figure in the void rapidly teleported, closing the distance at a speed visible to the naked eye.

When the ancient demon's form came within clear sight, Li Hao severed his transformation power. His expression turned grim as he locked eyes with the foe.

His aura continuously rose, building, the power of the ultimate realm churning within him.

He entered the Divine Power state, his body radiating golden divine light. Then he achieved Ultimate Transformation: his hair turned silver-gray. The tearing of his body, healed tenfold by Divine Power, showed no visible change. His consciousness merged with heaven and earth—he became one with this realm!

"Here it comes!"

The Huntian Shengren tensed, faces grim, staring at the ancient demon who had appeared within the Immortal Gate.

Its presence here meant Seeing Yuanzu and the Divine King had perished.

Two former supreme Huntian Shengren who had once terrified the heavens—now fallen in an instant. A deep sorrow filled all who witnessed it.

"No True Immortals? Only a group of Huntian Shengren?"

The True Immortal-level ancient demon looked down upon Li Hao and the others, its eyes filled with cruel killing intent. It fixed its gaze on Li Hao. Compared to the faint flickers of the other Huntian Shengren, this boy's Primordial Spirit aura and presence blazed like the moon—far more terrifying than the two ants it had slain before.

But fortunately, no True Immortal was here. For it, this was not the worst scenario.

Had a True Immortal been present—even if it did not fear one—if that True Immortal wielded relics left by the Immortal Emperor, it would have been somewhat wary.

The void fell into brief silence.

They sized each other up. Li Hao did not strike first. He had no confidence in victory, so he sought to prolong the battle as much as possible.

But the silence lasted only an instant. Next, the ancient demon's eyes glowed crimson. No more words. To such ants, it had no patience. It would crush them all, then scour their souls to learn the truth of this world.

Alas, the two ants it had slain earlier were not their true bodies—they had no soul essence, and vanished upon death, denying it any chance to search.

With a low roar, the ancient demon swept its claws across Li Hao and the others, intending to crush them all.

What appeared a simple strike, to the Huntian Shengren's eyes, revealed claws severing the heavens, tearing and shredding countless Dao currents in the void, carrying an unstoppable, terrifying force.

Is this the power of a True Immortal?

The Dao currents they could never erase or destroy now crumbled and shattered.

A single strike had already made the Huntian Shengren's fading hope and resolve feel like a candle flickering in a storm.

Yet Li Hao's eyes blazed with blinding light. He unleashed every ounce of his power—no more concealment, no more restraint.

Immortal energy surged from within him, merging with the heavenly forces drawn in by his Ultimate Transformation. Around his body, a tangible storm of wind and vortex formed.

The Eternal Dao Domain manifested. Rifts opened in the void beside Li Hao. Eight broken Immortal weapons shimmered into view. Guided by his Primordial Spirit, they darted swiftly through the gaps in the demon's claws.

ZHOO! ZHOO! ZHOO! ZHOO! ZHOO! ZHOO! ZHOO! ZHOO! As the void was sliced open, the crushing wind pressure between the claws was torn apart by the broken Immortal weapons, striking directly at the demon's vulnerable flank—seeking an entry point to rip open its hide and dismantle its body.

Even as the broken Immortal weapons pierced through, the demon's claw came crashing down upon Li Hao's head.

He roared, channeling every last bit of his strength. In his palm appeared a title of merit—he raised his hand and slashed with an ultimate strike.

The posture was "Immortal Pointing the Way," but the power was not that of guidance—it was the fury of an Immortal's wrathful slash!

Countless thunderbolts surged through the void. Heaven and earth itself seemed to roar in furious wrath.

That single sword stroke shook the heavens, drawing all power within ten thousand li like a tidal wave, concentrating it into the blade's light as it slammed into the claw.

A terrifying sound erupted. Heaven and earth thundered.

Irregular cracks split the void. The blade's light covered the entire claw, forcing it upward. The shockwave stunned the Huntian Shengren hiding in the rifts around them—they stared in disbelief at the boy shimmering with silver lightning. Was this Li Hao's true power?!

As the blade held back the claw, the eight broken Immortal swords, under Li Hao's Primordial Spirit control, struck the demon's flank at blinding speed. But they scraped against its hide with a grating, ear-splitting screech—like blades hacking into a wooden post, stuck and resisted.

Li Hao's face darkened. He had hoped the eight broken Immortal swords, acting in unison, could instantly destroy its body.

But his Primordial Spirit was split among eight blades, his control over them divided eightfold—each weakened. They could not pierce deep into its flesh.

At the same time, the ancient demon was stunned. It had been wounded. As a True Immortal, it had been injured by a mere Huntian Shengren—utterly absurd.

It let out a furious roar, unleashing its true True Immortal aura. Immortal energy surged, blasting the eight broken Immortal swords from its body. The backlash shook Li Hao's Primordial Spirit violently.

The 108 Huntian Shengren bound in his formation all trembled. Though they bore only a fraction of the backlash, they still felt dizzy and disoriented.

Seeing the ancient demon's Immortal energy, Li Hao's gaze grew grave. His bones cracked audibly. Behind him, the Celestial Star Meridians appeared. Glowing stars gathered and circled around him, casting brilliant starlight upon his body, pouring forth endless Celestial Star Power.

Seeing this, the Huntian Shengren were stunned once more.

But Li Hao's transformation was not done. His body swelled—Fating Fating Xiangdi manifested. From human size, he rapidly grew to thousands of zhang, then ten thousand zhang. His size now neared that of the ancient demon.

Simultaneously, Li Hao's Heavenly Manifestation appeared behind him.

This manifestation was slightly larger than his Fating Fating Xiangdi, but the difference was no longer vast.

Yet strangely, surrounding Li Hao's manifestation were dozens of Huntian Shengren manifestations—each only half his size, yet numbering over a hundred, filling the entire sky! "Is that… my manifestation?"

The Huntian Shengren in the formation were horrified to discover their own manifestations had been reflected by Li Hao, encircling his.

Li Hao noticed this too—it was unexpected. Even more astonishing: as he activated his Heavenly Manifestation, the Huntian Shengren's manifestations emerged alongside it, amplifying his power immeasurably.

"Could this be the path to the Final Realm?"

Li Hao's eyes flashed, but he had no time to ponder further. He drew a deep breath and unleashed his final trump card: the nascent Heavenly Dao forged by the Three Huntian Shengren's unity.

As the power of this nascent Heavenly Dao radiated forth, the ancient demon before him visibly stiffened.

Li Hao recalled the eight broken immortal swords, summoning only the sharpest one, pouring all his strength into it; the blade's light surged violently, slicing through a crescent moon arc in an instant and embedding itself into the ancient demon's flank, too fast for even the primordial spirits of the sages to catch.

Li Hao recalled the eight broken Immortal swords, summoning only the sharpest one. He poured every last ounce of his strength into it. The blade's light exploded, slicing through the air like a crescent moon—vanishing into the demon's flank so swiftly that even the Huntian Shengren's Primordial Spirits could not track it.

(End of Chapter)