Chapter 686: One Step to the Summit! (12,000 Requests for Monthly Votes)

The Emperor's Jianshan was originally a place of profound purity; to test his disciples, Yun Yun Wumian had captured several outsider races and dumped them on the Emperor's Jianshan as "obstacles." Finding spirit folk wasn't hard, but finding exactly one hundred spirit folk at the fifth layer of True Immortal Realm took time, so he seized an entire spirit tribe outright.

Using his immortal realm domain, he suppressed them to the fifth layer of True Immortal Realm—making things far simpler.

Yet now, the spirit tribe's elder, at the seventh layer of Immortal Lord Realm, sat across from a mere junior disciple of Xue Jian Yuan, leaving him genuinely surprised.

Meanwhile, Gu Yan had already entered the Emperor's Jianshan.

He did not pause upon entering; guided by inner instinct, he flew straight toward the central zone.

As he neared the central zone, he saw numerous spirit folk figures soaring from the dense forest, standing with piercing, icy gazes fixed on him.

Gu Yan's face remained expressionless as he slowly drew his Li Tianyuan Sect-issue sword from the void.

Bang!

With a crisp sound, the black stone fell, striking the board with clarity.

"Capture!"

Li Hao murmured.

This move, executed while the spirit elder was unprepared, shattered his formation and carved out a breach.

If the elder wished to repair it, he'd need another move—but Li Hao would not grant him that chance.

"Hmm?"

The spirit elder's eyes flicked up, glancing at Li Hao, then narrowed as he placed another stone.

As both sides continued placing stones, Li Hao's offensive gradually penetrated deeper into the elder's formation, aiming to dismantle it entirely.

"The youth is formidable…"

The spirit elder sighed softly.

Li Hao smiled, lifted a stone, and placed it down.

Puff.

Blood splattered as Gu Yan, sword in hand, walked toward the central zone's teleportation array.

Behind him lay nearly a hundred spirit folk figures, grievously wounded and scattered across the ground—some with torn robes, others with broken limbs.

Gu Yan's robes were merely slightly soiled.

As he stepped into the teleportation array, the second layer revealed fifty True Immortal Realm sixth-layer demon races!

"Demon races" is a general term; within it lie countless varieties—ox demons, dragon demons, cat demons, and more.

Each demon race possessed unique abilities; being surrounded by such a multitude tested one's comprehensive adaptability.

At this moment, few disciples remained on the second layer, meaning each had to face more demons.

Gu Yan did not choose a detour; he pressed forward with his sword toward the central zone.

Snap!

The black stone struck the formation's core, seizing its dominant position—the white-stone elder's chance to recover was now negligible.

Yet the spirit elder refused to surrender, pressing forward with white stones step by step.

Beside them, the middle-aged spirit folk crossed his arms, watching silently and sighing faintly.

As the battle on the board intensified, Li Hao's pace slowed—but the advantage he had built earlier ultimately allowed him to break the elder's formation.

With one final stone sealing the outcome, Li Hao exhaled softly.

The spirit elder's gaze lifted from the board to Li Hao, a faint smile touching his lips.

"At your age, to possess such skill in go is exceedingly rare."

The spirit elder praised.

Li Hao bowed humbly: "Not at all, Elder, your skill is profound—I am far beneath you."

The spirit elder smiled slightly, offering no false modesty: "I've lived too long; even if I didn't wish to understand, some things inevitably seep in."

He glanced again at the board: "Now, it's my turn, yes?"

Li Hao nodded.

The spirit elder plucked a black stone from the box, held it suspended between his fingers for a moment, then suddenly placed it elsewhere on the board.

Bang!

A sharp impact struck, hurling Gu Yan backward through the air.

He now stood on the third layer of the Emperor's Jianshan.

Here were twenty True Immortal Realm seventh-layer demon races—twelve of them now surrounded him.

These demons were clearly not true seventh-layer True Immortals; their cultivation had been suppressed to this level, making them even more terrifying than ordinary seventh-layer demons.

"Xue Jian Yuan demon? Hmph! Though I cannot kill you, shattering your Dao heart counts as revenge. We are not tools to be used at your human whim!"

One demon growled, his heavenly manifestation behind him a colossal violet serpent, its scales forged like molten lava, radiating overwhelming might.

"Crush him!"

The other demons roared in unison.

Unlike the spirit folk, they had no patience—they'd been dragged here for no reason and now sought to vent their rage on these disciples.

As the demons unleashed their immortal energy, radiating ferocious aura, Gu Yan's expression grew grim. He wiped a trickle of blood from his lips; deep in his eyes, a black flame shaped like a sword ignited.

Dao Origin of the Sword—Slice!

A jet-black sword qi slashed forth, embodying the third layer of Sword Dao Origin, instantly cleaving the foremost demon in two, tearing his massive body apart.

The youth, sword in hand, surged forward like a awakened black dragon.

"Hmm?"

Li Hao's expression changed as he saw the spirit elder's move.

The position of that stone…

"The youth is formidable—but still lacks experience…"

The spirit elder chuckled; though Li Hao had shattered his earlier formation, this single stone reversed the tide, forming a counter-encirclement!

A trap within a trap.

Li Hao now understood: the elder's every move had been a subtle setup for another board—his own piercing blade was now trapped inside.

The blade's tip was immobilized, rendered dead.

But fortunately, the hilt remained outside, allowing him to continue maneuvering.

Seeing Li Hao struggle, the spirit elder smiled, slowly narrowing the space of his moves.

Li Hao frowned, deep in thought, each stone placed with great difficulty.

Beside them, the middle-aged spirit folk watched calmly—he saw clearly that Li Hao was now a cornered beast, with no escape.

After all, this boy was already far below his master's skill; having been lured into the trap, escaping now was nearly impossible.

As more stones were placed, sweat began to bead on Li Hao's forehead. He extended his hilt to gain ground—but it only cost him more; he could no longer defend any other territory. If he abandoned it, the elder's momentum would be complete, and he'd be swallowed whole.

Bang!

Two crimson claws descended from above, crushing with boundless might—immortal energy fused with primordial Dao resonance overwhelmed the swordlight, slamming the youth down onto the mountain peak below.

The mountain shattered; the youth was hurled into the rock like a meteor, then flung back out.

Nearby, two other demons revealed their colossal true forms, preparing to pursue.

But a figure suddenly appeared in the void, blocking them, then turned to gaze at the nearly lifeless youth.

The youth had unleashed the power of the Ancient Immortal Bloodline—but still lost. Yet to have ascended through the Emperor's Jianshan's third layer and fought so long in the fourth, despite being only at True Immortal Realm third layer, was already astonishing.

"Child, return."

The elder in the void lifted the youth from the rubble, infused him with strength to revive him, then spoke softly.

Though gravely wounded, Gu Yan understood what had happened. His eyes flickered with struggle, then settled into silence—yet his gaze grew sharper.

He had fought his way out from the twelve demons of the third layer; in the fourth layer, he had reached his limit.

He no longer resisted. He bowed slightly to the elder, then turned and left the Emperor's Jianshan.

"You lost."

The spirit elder spoke as he placed his final stone.

Li Hao stared at the board, the black and white stones clearly arranged. He fell silent, then nodded:

"Thank you for the lesson, Elder."

"Lesson? Not quite. Watch two more games between us—see if you can discover where you lost."

The spirit elder smiled lightly.

He held great fondness for the boy, but would not guide him in cultivation; in the way of go, however, he was happy to offer insight.

Li Hao nodded and rose to yield his seat.

Beside him, A Ling glanced at Li Hao. Though he had ignored her earlier, she felt no dislike toward this boy.

Perhaps it was his clear, handsome features and sincere eyes—or perhaps it was his focused demeanor, as pure as a child's heart—that moved her. She whispered to him:

"Don't be discouraged. To play so long with Grandpa means you're already very strong."

Li Hao looked at her, as if seeing her for the first time—her beauty briefly brightened his eyes. He smiled and nodded.

Meanwhile, on the fourth layer of the Emperor's Jianshan.

Master Yue Xi, dressed in luxurious robes, could no longer withstand the combined assault of three True Immortal Realm eighth-layer demons and cried for help.

As the Elder teleported in and removed her from the Emperor's Jianshan, only resentment remained in her heart.

In this battle, she had poured out every strength, every secret technique, every hidden card—yet still lost.

Just three True Immortal Realm eighth-layer demons had overwhelmed her.

After leaving the Emperor's Jianshan, Master Yue Xi saw her fourth senior brother, Xu Li Jianming, waiting atop a hill.

A sense of comfort suddenly rose within her. She landed beside him and asked: "Senior brother, you didn't climb higher?"

Xu Li Jianming had just finished adjusting his qi and healing his wounds; seeing this fiercely competitive little junior sister, he gave a wry smile and said, "I can't match those guys—the Ancient Demon Clan truly has few equals at the same realm."

"You fought the Ancient Demons?"

Master Yue Xi, aware that this fourth senior brother was at the True Immortal Realm's seventh layer, asked curiously, "Are you at the fifth or sixth layer?"

"Sixth."

Xu Li Jianming sighed.

A flicker of envy appeared in Master Yue Xi's eyes; she was already close to the seventh layer. "You've still got two years—don't give up, Senior Brother."

"Mm."

Xu Li Jianming nodded, then spotted a figure flying toward them through the void, and grinned: "Our little junior brother's here too."

Master Yue Xi blinked, turned her head, and saw Gu Yan approaching in black robes.

But his robes were stained with blood and torn—clearly he had just endured a fierce battle.

Master Yue Xi stared at him but said nothing.

Xu Li Jianming, ever blunt, asked: "Little junior brother, what layer are you at?"

Gu Yan glanced at him. Perhaps because he had just suffered defeat, his usual coldness softened slightly. "Fourth."

"Whoa, you two are both at the fourth?"

Xu Li Jianming chuckled. "Not bad. Too bad the time's so short—if you two pushed harder, you might actually have a shot at the top."

Gu Yan asked, "What about you, Senior Brother? What layer?"

"Sixth."

Gu Yan's eyes flickered slightly, but he said nothing.

Master Yue Xi suddenly asked, "At the fourth layer, how many beast tribes did you face?"

"Six."

Gu Yan said.

Master Yue Xi's expression changed; she had been defeated after facing only three.

Her fingers tightened slightly inside her sleeves, and she said nothing more.

Gu Yan didn't ask her. If he faced six, then this senior sister had faced at most four.

Still, he wasn't measuring himself against her.

"Third senior sister and fifth junior sister haven't come out yet—oh, and Seventh."

Xu Li Jianming gazed toward the Emperor Jianshan and said, "Senior Brother One must've reached the summit long ago. If I made it to the sixth layer, Second Senior Brother must've climbed up already—I just wonder if Jiang Shijie can pass."

Wei Wei Hongye was at the True Immortal Realm's eighth layer; fighting the Ancestral Dragon at the ninth layer, victory was uncertain.

Master Yue Xi suddenly remembered Li Hao—the guy who joined the sect with her. He still hadn't emerged?

Her expression shifted slightly; she stared at the Emperor Jianshan, her fingers clenching tighter.

Moments later, two figures flew out—Wei Wei Hongye and Mu Rong Murong Qingwu.

They emerged nearly together. Seeing the three waiting here—Lu Lu Wuchen and Ji Ji Qingxuan were absent, which they expected—but they noticed one more person was missing.

"Huh?"

Both were surprised.

Xu Li Jianming, seeing them return, looked disappointed. "Jiang Shijie, you didn't pass?"

"That Ancestral Dragon is formidable. Originally, I and Little Fifth planned to team up, but Elder Zhou Shen Qingyun, who guarded that level, said only one could challenge at a time. We both lost."

Wei Wei Hongye sighed.

Xu Li Jianming looked at Mu Rong Murong Qingwu and sighed, "Fifth Junior Sister, no wonder they call you the Heavenly Sword Star—you entered after me, yet you've already passed me."

"Who's to blame if you don't work hard?"

Mu Rong Murong Qingwu smiled faintly, then asked about Master Yue Xi and Gu Yan's progress.

Gu Yan hadn't expected this lively girl to reach the seventh layer; his expression changed slightly. Recalling their earlier duel challenge, his gaze sharpened. He walked aside, sat cross-legged, and focused on absorbing the swordlight he had just sensed.

"One more's still missing—Seventh, right? He hasn't come out yet."

Wei Wei Hongye asked in surprise.

Xu Li Jianming looked puzzled. "Could he be in trouble inside?"

"We didn't see him at the seventh layer—he must be stuck lower down, perhaps in a bind."

Mu Rong Murong Qingwu didn't dwell on it; she had little memory of Seventh, but she remembered the Wandering Race and the innate Sword Immortal Body vividly.

"Maybe."

Wei Wei Hongye nodded, then said, "Don't idle around—we've only two years. Push harder."

None of them spoke further; each retreated to cultivate.

At this time, the Emperor Jianshan gradually fell quiet.

Though disciples still challenged each layer, their numbers dwindled—many had already discovered their limits.

There was no shortcut to the summit. Even if you banded together early on, you'd still have to queue up and face each challenge alone at the end.

At the summit, nine figures stood.

"Senior Brother."

Lu Lu Wuchen reached the summit and saw Ji Ji Qingxuan sipping tea before the thatched hut. He stepped forward to greet him.

Ji Ji Qingxuan nodded slightly. Master Yuan, Yun Yun Wumian, sat alone on a distant cliff beside the hut—no one dared disturb him. All gathered near the tea table before the hut.

"Not bad. Was it easy?"

Ji Ji Qingxuan patted Lu Lu Wuchen's shoulder and smiled lightly.

Though Lu Lu Wuchen was usually quiet, he now showed a rare, slightly embarrassed smile. "That Ancestral Dragon was tough—his dragon body is too dominant. My sword barely pierced through."

"The Ancestral Dragon Clan is born with the Ancestral Dragon Body—its dominance is natural. It ranks just below the Ten Celestial Bodies."

Ji Ji Qingxuan nodded, glancing toward the outside of Emperor Jianshan. "Our little junior brother, the innate Sword Immortal Body, has reached the fourth layer—excellent results. I hope he pushes harder. If he seizes this chance to earn an Emperor Sword slot, it'll greatly shorten the gap between him and us."

Lu Lu Wuchen froze, his gaze sweeping outward. When he saw the black-robed boy meditating on the hillside, his eyes held a trace of awe.

He, too, now felt the pressure of someone closing in.

Looking back at Senior Brother, Lu Lu Wuchen saw no trace of envy on his face—and his respect deepened. He said:

"Senior Brother, how's the situation on the border?"

Ji Ji Qingxuan shook his head slightly, his brow heavy. "The Ancient Demon Clan is brutal. Over the years, all sects have refined techniques focused on the Primordial Spirit—just enough to resist them. But in direct combat, we're still at a disadvantage."

Lu Lu Wuchen fell silent. "When I reach the Immortal Lord Realm, I want to test myself there too."

Ji Ji Qingxuan glanced at him, smiling. "Don't rush. For now, I'll shoulder these duties. What our race lacks isn't soldiers—it's a true top-tier leader who can guide humanity to rise."

As he spoke, his gaze settled on the outside of the Emperor Jianshan. "Perhaps… the hope lies among them."

Lu Lu Wuchen froze. Suddenly, he felt Senior Brother's figure had grown immeasurably majestic. He nodded silently, saying nothing more.

Time flowed quietly.

Several days passed.

Xu Li Jianming awoke from cultivation and glanced around—but still saw no sign of Li Hao. His heart sank. He immediately pulled out his sword talisman.

Disciples of the same sect could sense each other's sword talismans.

He used it to locate Li Hao's.

Li Hao had given his sword talisman to Xi Yan for easy access to various places, but by the time she became familiar with them, she had already returned it to him.

Now, the talisman's location was right here—on the Emperor Jianshan. But Xu Li Jianming was stunned: the talisman remained fixed at the first layer.

Xu Li Jianming was bewildered. After all this time, was his little junior brother still stuck at the first layer?

Half a month passed.

Master Yue Xi awoke from meditation and challenged the Emperor Jianshan again.

Other disciples also began challenging one after another. After their initial attempts revealed their limits, many now treated the Emperor Jianshan as a training ground to hone their sword skills.

After all, elders intervened promptly if danger arose—such a perfect training ground was rare.

Moreover, the mountain's internal qi was abundant—an ideal place for cultivation.

This time, the challenge was harder. Fewer disciples helped share the burden; she had to face more beast tribes alone.

But Master Yue Xi, as a prodigy, felt no dread—she even resented how others had taken away the beasts, preventing her from testing herself properly.

This time, she fought her way to the fourth layer, battling five True Immortal Realm eighth-layer beast demons. After a grueling struggle, she barely won.

Time flew.

Half a year later.

Wei Wei Hongye, Gu Yan, Mu Rong Murong Qingwu, and others challenged in turn.

Wei Wei Hongye and Mu Rong Murong Qingwu still fell—defeated by the Ancestral Dragon at the seventh layer.

But Gu Yan suddenly surged to the fifth layer!

Facing three True Immortal Realm sixth-layer Ancient Demons at the fifth layer, he defeated them all, charging straight to the sixth layer before finally being defeated.

His leap in power stunned the others. They realized: Gu Yan's Primordial Spirit must have shattered its limit and formed Primordial Spirit meridians—otherwise, he wouldn't have handled the Ancient Demons so easily.

In these six months, two other disciples of senior elders also reached the seventh layer and ascended to the summit, earning slots to contemplate the Emperor Sword.

And on the first layer of the Emperor Jianshan.

Far from the central zone, beside a cliff valley, Li Hao played Go with the Spirit Elder.

In their battles, Li Hao occasionally won.

The Spirit Elder's Go skill rivaled Wang Lao's, but his style differed—and he showed no mercy on the board. Every win Li Hao achieved was barely lucky, exploiting the elder's oversight.

"Kid, aren't you going to challenge?"

After a game ended, the Spirit Elder looked at Li Hao and chuckled.

Over these six months of casual games, they had grown somewhat close and familiar; he found this unconventional disciple of Sword Abyss intriguing—while others scrambled to cross over, he remained in the tranquil flow.

"There's still plenty of time, no rush, no rush."

Li Hao chuckled.

It's rare to find an opponent stronger than myself—how could I afford to miss this?

This is a rare cultivation opportunity; normally, finding such a sparring partner is nearly impossible.

The elder of the Spirit Clan chuckled in silence but said no more; his people had been captured and brought here, and he held no fondness for Sword Abyss. Though the boy didn't disgust him, true closeness still felt distant.

Li Hao gathered the pieces, yielded his seat to the middle-aged Spirit, and sat aside to review the reasons for his recent defeat.

Over these past six months, his chess experience had grown substantially; if he could attain the Twelve-Level Chess Heart here, it would be perfect.

Before he knew it, another half-year had passed.

A year had passed since the Emperor Sword challenge began; Emperor Jianshan had grown quiet, as many disciples were out cultivating in the wild.

Only after making breakthroughs or progress would they return to Emperor Jianshan to test their skills in actual combat.

On the seventh level of Emperor Jianshan, Li Li Tiemu and the old woman came to accompany Zhou Shen Qingyun.

They took turns guarding this level's Ancestral Dragon battle, for only they possessed the strength to intervene swiftly and rescue disciples from the Ancestral Dragon's grasp.

"Your disciple will reach this level soon—born with a True Sword Immortal Body, truly astonishing!"

Zhou Shen Qingyun couldn't help but sigh.

All three gazed from the sea of clouds before them down to the hill below, where the black-clad youth stood.

"In barely a year, he's held his own against an ancient demon of True Immortal Realm eighth stage. He's even advanced the Severing Wilderness Art to its third level. Had his own cultivation not been stuck at True Immortal Realm fourth stage—with such a vast gap in immortal energy—he could already defeat ordinary True Immortal ninth stage."

The old woman's voice carried awe; the Severing Wilderness Art was among Sword Abyss's top sword techniques, and the boy had not only been chosen by it but had mastered it.

"At True Immortal Realm fourth stage, he already carries the aura of a near-unbeatable prodigy. The Ancient Immortal bloodline is among the rare few that rival the Imperial Clan's lineage—no exaggeration."

Zhou Shen Qingyun said.

Li Li Tiemu smiled, but worry lingered in his eyes.

Time is too short—yes, what they lack most isn't cultivation resources, but time!

Cultivation resources can be compensated by major powers; he had secretly given Gu Yan fifty thousand immortal stones to help him reach True Immortal Realm fourth stage within a year.

Currently, Gu Yan lacks neither immortal stones nor immortal pills; combined with the high concentration of immortal energy here, he still has a chance to push into True Immortal Realm fifth stage within this year!

Such a rapid advancement is terrifying—when his immortal energy doubles, challenging the Ancestral Dragon may no longer be impossible.

But it's still too risky; no one can guarantee victory. Seeing Li Li Tiemu's unease, the old woman shook her head: "You're insatiable. Wei Hongye has already reached the summit, and Murong Qingwu has strong potential—aren't you satisfied yet?"

Li Li Tiemu gave a faint, bitter smile. "But Wei Hongye is nearly three thousand years into her soul lifespan. For this Southern Region War, we can't rely solely on her to lead the charge. Though her talent is high, she's still too weak to elevate our sect's ranking."

"So you're betting on the Sword Immortal Body. That's reasonable—if the three-year deadline holds, he'll likely secure a spot."

Zhou Shen Qingyun nodded, then suddenly shifted his gaze. "But such talent hasn't escaped the Lord of the Abyss's notice. If he truly can't make it in time, making an exception for him isn't out of the question—privileges exist precisely for prodigies."

Li Li Tiemu nodded slightly; he'd already entertained this thought—if the boy truly missed the cutoff, he'd beg the Lord of the Abyss personally, even if it meant losing face.

"That girl from the Yanghuo Clan won't make it—she's still struggling on the fifth level. Her primordial spirit is insufficient, and cultivating the primordial spirit isn't something achieved overnight."

The old woman said.

Li Li Tiemu nodded; he'd observed Master Yue Xi as well. Aside from Gu Yan, her talent was terrifyingly rare—she simply had bad luck this time.

"By the way, what about that boy with Nine Resonances of Dao Heart?"

"He's on the first level."

Mentioning Li Hao, Li Li Tiemu couldn't help but grimace. Though his focus was mainly on Gu Yan, he'd kept an eye on Li Hao and Master Yue Xi—and Li Hao, on the first level of Emperor Jianshan, did nothing but sit and play chess with the Spirits.

!. read

He deeply admired Li Hao's social skills, yet the boy's laziness left him speechless.

After all, the boy had Nine Resonances of Dao Heart—his inner state was flawless. Forcing him to act differently might shatter his Dao Heart entirely.

"First level?"

Zhou Shen Qingyun and the old woman stared, stunned, at Li Li Tiemu.

"He doesn't seem to be aiming for a spot. Maybe he realized from the start he couldn't compete and gave up early. I don't know whether to call him optimistic or just lazy."

Li Li Tiemu sighed helplessly.

Zhou Shen Qingyun and the old woman exchanged glances, speechless.

Time passed.

In the blink of an eye, two years were nearly over, and the Emperor Jianshan trial neared its end.

In this final month, many disciples who had been in seclusion awoke and rushed to Emperor Jianshan, fiercely battling one another to hone their combat experience.

"Look! Miss Qing has reached the summit!"

"Finally! Ha! Miss Qing spent a year challenging the Ancestral Dragon on the seventh level—and she's won!"

"Who'd have thought? In the last month, Miss Qing secured a spot—remarkable!"

On a certain peak, many disciples cheered.

Murong Murong Qingwu glanced over; she knew Miss Qing—a True Immortal Realm eighth stage cultivator. Her reaching the summit wasn't surprising.

She drew a deep breath, drew her sword, and soared toward Emperor Jianshan.

Beside her, Master Yue Xi suddenly rose as well, heading toward Emperor Jianshan.

Xu Li Jianming watched their figures and sighed softly; he too was challenging the Ancestral Dragon, but his battle earlier this month had left him feeling hopeless.

"Training with you lot is torture."

Xu Li Jianming groaned. In less than two years, Master Yue Xi had surged to the sixth level, and the Sword Immortal Body disciple was even more astonishing—he too was now challenging the Ancestral Dragon.

In less than two years, this new junior had caught up to him. His emotions were tangled, a storm of bitterness and awe.

As more disciples reached the summit, others, spurred by envy, rushed toward Emperor Jianshan.

The frenzy of ascent began anew.

Sixth level.

Master Yue Xi fought fiercely against the True Immortal Realm eighth stage ancient demon, her eyes wild, her strikes ruthless, abandoning all defense.

"You're asking for death!"

The ancient demon, enraged, struck back savagely, determined to kill her before the Sword Abyss elders could intervene.

Master Yue Xi slashed desperately, her immortal energy surging; silver-white marks of chaos bloomed on her forehead—the mark of her clan.

Only a month remained, and she hadn't even faced the Ancestral Dragon. If she failed to secure an Emperor Sword spot now, she'd never get another chance.

Kill!

Master Yue Xi unleashed every ounce of her strength.

As more disciples challenged, another figure ascended the summit of Emperor Jianshan, sparking a wave of astonishment among the disciples.

"It's Brother Sun—he's defeated the Ancestral Dragon too!"

"Bravo for Qinghe Academy!"

"Wait—another one?"

At the summit, a breathtakingly beautiful figure flew forth, her hair disheveled. She gathered her strands behind her ears, turned her head, and gazed back—this world's scenery felt vast indeed.

"Murong Qingwu."

A figure flew toward her—it was Wei Wei Hongye.

Seeing Murong Murong Qingwu had also reached the summit, her face lit up with joy.

"Senior sister."

Murong Murong Qingwu smiled warmly.

Her ascent stirred uproar beyond the mountain; many disciples recognized her identity.

On the hill below, the black-clad Gu Yan opened his eyes and glanced toward the summit.

Recalling their prior challenge, a spark ignited in his gaze as he slowly rose.

……

Seventh level of Emperor Jianshan.

Gu Yan stood once more before the Ancestral Dragon, gazing at its towering form, his eyes filled with unprecedented resolve.

Silver threads of immortal energy surged across his body; his ancient Immortal bloodline awoke. His sword art had reached the fourth level of origin—a realm only Immortal Lords could attain—and he had mastered it while still at True Immortal Realm third stage!

Now, at the peak of True Immortal Realm fourth stage, nearing fifth, he challenged the Ancestral Dragon again.

"Boy, you are no match for me."

The Ancestral Dragon's voice was low, impatient: "Stop wasting your effort!"

His reply was a brilliant flash of swordlight.

Boom!

As the earth-shattering battle erupted, Li Li Tiemu, Zhou Shen Qingyun, and the old woman appeared silently beside them, watching.

Li Li Tiemu's expression was grave, tense—this battle was critical for Gu Yan. Only days remained; another failure would make success nearly impossible.

Amid the furious tide of sword energy, the Ancestral Dragon unleashed divine power, roaring deafeningly, shattering the sword waves and clashing with the boy.

Soon, the Ancestral Dragon's overwhelming might and ferocious physique once again suppressed the boy.

Yet, amid the chaos of the sword tide, a weathered, surging sword intent suddenly revived.

Under extreme pressure, the boy's roar pierced the heavens, accompanied by an ancient, primordial sword qi that sheared off countless scales from the Ancestral Dragon's body.

Li Li Tiemu, Zhou Shen Qingyun, and the old woman all widened their eyes in shock.

"Ancient Immortal bloodline awakened? Is this the Sword Immortal Body reaching godhood?!"

They were stunned by the boy's transformation—never had they imagined his bloodline could erupt with even greater power in desperation.

And the tide of battle shifted.

Several minutes later.

A figure in black climbed to the summit.

This sight drew the attention of many disciples outside Emperor Jianshan, triggering a burst of shocked exclamations.

Many disciples were already familiar with the black-clad youth; word had spread that he was a prodigy born with a Heavenly Sword Body.

But he had only just entered the sect, and his cultivation base was merely True Immortal Realm Fourth Layer—how could he have reached the summit?!

"My god, am I seeing right? Is that guy Gu Yan?"

"It's him—he defeated the Ancestral Dragon at True Immortal Realm Fourth Layer? How is that possible?!"

"This is insane—I'm at True Immortal Realm Eighth Layer and still can't break his flesh. What makes him so special?"

Some disciples from the Heaven Courtyard were also stunned, their faces filled with horror.

At the summit of Emperor Jianshan, Ji Ji Qingxuan, Wei Wei Hongye, and others froze upon seeing the climbing youth, then showed signs of surprise.

"You made it up here too?"

Murong Murong Qingwu, seeing her junior disciple catch up to her, blinked in surprise, then fixed her gaze on him.

Gu Yan's robes were torn, as if he had endured a brutal battle, yet his expression remained calm, his immortal energy feeling light and ancient. He merely nodded slightly to Ji Ji Qingxuan, then lifted his eyes to scan the surroundings, searching for the Lord of the Abyss.

"Truly a prodigy."

Wei Wei Hongye, seeing the junior disciple's haughty demeanor, felt nothing but helplessness—and a touch of awe.

He had only just entered the sect, yet already caught up with us old-timers who've trained for years. His talent is beyond comparison.

Behind the thatched hut, on the lone cliff, Yun Yun Wumian was also watching the boy.

For two years, he had observed every challenge the boy undertook—his progress was terrifying.

Such intelligence stirred in him a flicker of admiration for talent.

If the boy had failed this time, he had even considered making an exception for him—but he never expected the brat to be this worthy.

At this moment.

On the sixth level of Emperor Jianshan, Master Yue Xi had been defeated.

Her expression was gloomy; the gap in Primordial Spirit made her struggle desperately against the Ancient Demon, constantly suppressed.

Now back on the hill, she heard the surrounding exclamations and froze.

She looked around but saw no trace of her junior disciple's figure.

"He…"

Xu Li Jianming replied with a complex expression: "The junior disciple has already reached the summit."

Master Yue Xi felt her mind ring like a struck bell—reached the summit?

Her junior disciple, who entered after her, had already reached the summit?!

She hadn't even passed the sixth level!

In an instant, her fingers clenched tightly, blood seeping out unnoticed.

Her foot, just touching the ground, turned abruptly, and she rushed back toward Emperor Jianshan.

Xu Li Jianming had no attention left for her; his own mind was in turmoil. To be so effortlessly surpassed by a new junior disciple filled him with deep shame.

As the Emperor Jianshan challenge neared its end, the competition grew fiercer.

Master Yue Xi launched several more attempts, fighting desperately—but still crushed by the Ancient Demon on the sixth level.

In the blink of an eye, the final day arrived.

Li Li Tiemu's voice echoed from the summit: Today is the final trial.

This final announcement roused all disciples from their cultivation; either they rushed to challenge Emperor Jianshan, or gathered on the hill to watch others climb.

Master Yue Xi stood on the sixth level, hearing the voice that reverberated across the entire mountain. Her blood seemed to ignite, her heart pounding violently—it was the final day.

If she missed this chance, the gap between her and that junior disciple would widen beyond repair; she would never catch up, not even touch his shadow!

This cannot continue. It must not continue!

I must win. I must ascend!

I must climb up!!

A light blazed in Master Yue Xi's eyes—unaware to herself, some power within her bloodline began to subtly radiate.

The Yin Huo Clan brings calamity—not without cause.

The core force behind this calamity is the stirring of the Dao's primordial source.

At this moment, a thread of the Dao's primordial source surged into her. She did not notice it; only one voice echoed repeatedly in her mind: I must win. I must climb up!!

She unleashed all her power, slashing with her sword. That single strike condensed a thread of the Dao's primordial authority, wrapped in the aura of calamity. The Ancient Demon, poised to strike ruthlessly, shrank its pupils and hastily dodged.

Master Yue Xi's hair flew wildly; her tall body seemed to transform into a spectral form. Her sword strikes accelerated, accelerated, until she split the Ancient Demon's Primordial Spirit open!

…

First level of Emperor Jianshan.

Li Li Tiemu's voice rang from the summit.

Li Hao, immersed in his chess game, ignored it—until his sleeve was gently tugged. Only then did he turn, puzzled.

"It's the final day. Finish this game, and you must leave."

Said the spirit clan woman, A Ling.

Li Hao paused, suddenly realizing how quickly time had passed.

He looked at the spirit clan elder across from him, who stroked his beard and smiled: "Young man, the path of chess is long. We have fate. If we meet again someday, let us play once more."

Li Hao came to his senses. A trace of regret filled his heart. "Thank you, Elder, for your companionship these two years."

The spirit clan elder blinked, then burst into hearty laughter: "I should thank you—for showing me that humans can be this fascinating."

Li Hao smiled. Though he had not yet grasped the Twelve-Level Chess Heart, his understanding of chess had advanced considerably, and his experience was fully accumulated. He only needed to awaken the chess realm's inner insight to enter the Twelve-Level Chess Realm!

After a while.

The final game ended.

Li Hao lost.

Li Hao rose, bowed slightly, and said: "Your humble disciple takes his leave."

"This is a token from my spirit clan—a Spirit Talisman. Carry it. Should you ever need aid within spirit clan lands, we will treat you as one of our own, and you may seek our simple assistance."

The spirit clan elder sliced through the void with his finger and withdrew a glowing immortal talisman, its surface shimmering with faint spirit light, and handed it to Li Hao.

Li Hao blinked, reached out to accept it, then paused, reached into the chess box, and plucked two pieces. Using the Qiankun Diagram's property, he infused them with his own power.

"These bear my mark, Elder. Take them. Should we meet again, I can trace the mark to find you."

Hearing this, the spirit clan elder froze, then roared with laughter.

According to the boy's words, this was essentially a tracking device—who in their right mind would carry such a thing? Yet this boy offered it as a farewell gift, with utter sincerity.

He chuckled: "Fine. I'll take it."

Li Hao nodded, then bid them farewell once more.

Seeing the direction Li Hao departed, the spirit clan elder called out: "You're heading to the second level?"

"Mm. To see the summit."

Li Hao turned and smiled, then bid them farewell again—before vanishing with Gui Xu teleportation.

Hearing Li Hao's words, the three who had just been smiling at his innocent charm all froze.

To… see the summit?

Meanwhile, Li Hao, having bid farewell to the spirit clan elder and the others, used spatial primordial source combined with Gui Xu teleportation to head straight toward the central zone.

No disciples were here—only spirit clan patrols guarded the central zone.

Li Hao arrived silently, slipping through the spirit clan guards unnoticed. Only when he stepped into the teleportation array did the guards notice him—but all they saw was the boy's retreating back as he vanished.

When the teleportation ended, Li Hao stood before the second level of Emperor Jianshan.

The teleportation destination seemed random. He followed the inner guidance toward the central zone.

Upon arriving, numerous demonic clans emerged.

"A human?"

"Kill him!"

Various demonic clans revealed their true forms—massive, grotesque, lunging at Li Hao.

Li Hao's long robe fluttered, his hair dancing in the wind, his speed unslowed. He pressed his fingers together into a sword and slashed casually.

The heavens and void seemed severed, cracking like glass.

As the demonic clans neared the edge of the rift, they felt the terrifying power of the void fracture and halted, staring in horror at the youth who had cut through their ranks.

His solitary, unmatched figure was etched into their pupils.

Third level. Fourth level…

Until he reached the fifth level.

When Li Hao teleported out, he immediately sensed the familiar aura of the Ancient Demons.

He glanced around curiously, released his own aura, then flew toward the next teleportation point.

Soon, near the teleportation point, three Ancient Demons of True Immortal Realm Sixth Layer emerged from the void.

"True Immortal Realm Third Layer?"

Sensing Li Hao's aura, the three demons were astonished—few beings at True Immortal Realm Third Layer reached this far.

They recognized his Heaven Courtyard robes, and their eyes darkened with malice. They knew that once the trial ended, so did their lives. The Lord of the Abyss might spare other races—but for the Ancient Demon Clan, there would be no mercy.

If they could drag one down with them before dying, it would be worth it.

The three Ancient Demons exchanged glances, their intentions aligned—they would kill this human swiftly, before he could even cry for help!

Li Hao, seeing the three ancient demons, his eyes glowed faintly as he licked his lips.

Whoosh!

In that fleeting moment of collision, the void froze—as if bound by the primal Dao of space alone—causing the three ancient demons to pause slightly; then, the sword qi Li Hao flicked forth pierced their bodies instantly.

Li Hao knew the ancient demons' bodily structure intimately; as he sliced through them in an instant, his Primordial Spirit surged forth in tandem.

In that instant, not even a cry was uttered—the three ancient demons perished.

Li Hao had slain True Immortal ancient demons even when he was a Saint, and now that he had become a True Immortal, mastering countless Immortal arts, it was effortless.

As the three ancient demons vanished in an instant, Li Hao raised his hand and summoned their corpses into the Heaven-Earth space—they were delicious ingredients.

Then, Li Hao stepped into the sixth layer…

Long after Li Hao disappeared, another disciple arrived at the fifth layer, cautiously making his way to the teleportation array—only to find no trace of the ancient demons.

The disciple, startled yet secretly delighted, immediately slipped into the teleportation array.

When he reached the sixth layer, the area had shrunk even further; the teleportation array to the seventh layer lay not far ahead. The disciple crept forward, yet discovered the ancient demon of the sixth layer did not emerge to attack him.

Meanwhile, on the seventh layer—Emperor Jianshan.

The Ancestral Dragon gazed at the young man drifting toward him, noting the boy's casual, unhurried demeanor, and his eyes flickered slightly.

This boy had not concealed his aura—he was at the third level of True Immortal, the lowest cultivation base anyone had stood before it so far.

Yet he wore the attire of a disciple from the Heavenly Academy, clearly a prodigy.

"Hmph! Just sent off a fourth-level True Immortal, and now a third? Do you think anyone can pass through here?!"

The Ancestral Dragon grew angry, glancing around and seeing that the three old men had escorted the little girl away—now there was no one watching.

No one guarding this boy, yet he walked right up to me—pure suicide!

"Die!"

Two years imprisoned here, used as a tool—the Ancestral Dragon had long simmered with rage.

Now, it unleashed its colossal Ancestral Dragon body and lunged at Li Hao.

Compared to the Ancestral Dragon's immense form, Li Hao looked like a speck of dust suspended in the heavens.

The gale that swept across his face, the terrifying Dragon aura descending—Li Hao lifted his head slightly, his expression one of quiet curiosity.

This is the Ancestral Dragon?

Whoosh!

Facing the colossal dragon claw descending from the clouds, Li Hao drew forth the True Treasure longsword issued to Heavenly Academy disciples.

Whoosh!

He raised his hand, as if idly swinging a single slash.

But this slash was one of the Ten Immortal Arts—Qing Tian!

One Sword—Qing Tian!

Simultaneously, faintly on his forehead, the mark of the Nine-Flower Immortal Seal glimmered, then vanished instantly.

The descending dragon claw and the vast Dragon qi reversed abruptly—the entire sky boiled, clouds shattered violently, the shockwave spreading across ten thousand miles, as if the entire world fell silent!

Only after the sword's momentum passed did the cut appear, splitting open the Ancestral Dragon's body.

"The Ancestral Dragon's body… is nothing special."

A clear, youthful voice carried a smile.

The massive dragon body plummeted; the boy's peerless form glided serenely through the sword wound in the falling carcass, leaving behind a trail of flying black hair as he walked toward the teleportation array leading to the summit.

BOOM! The entire seventh layer of Emperor Jianshan shook violently, dust swirling, obscuring the Ancestral Dragon's stunned, terrified dragon eyes.

The boy's figure had already vanished into the teleportation array.

At the summit of Emperor Jianshan.

Before the thatched hut, all disciples who had climbed to the summit waited—some paced back and forth, others appeared to gaze at the distant sea of clouds, yet inwardly trembled with excitement.

The Emperor Jianshan trial was about to end, meaning the Imperial Sword insight slots would be distributed soon.

Among the crowd, Ji Ji Qingxuan, Wei Wei Hongye, and others gathered together, their expressions anxious.

Here, Li Li Tiemu held a tall woman in his arms—her noble, radiant face now pale, her robes torn—this was Master Yue Xi.

"Is little sister alright?"

Wei Wei Hongye's face was filled with worry; from her master, Old Master Li, she had learned that this little sister had forcibly breached all seven layers of Emperor Jianshan—she was truly astonished—but seeing Master Yue Xi now unconscious, her face was heavy with concern.

Li Li Tiemu shook his head slightly; he had witnessed his disciple's battle with the Ancestral Dragon—it had nearly reached the point of self-immolation.

Had it not been for the awakening of the Yanghuo bloodline's power, causing the Ancestral Dragon to hesitate and avoid injury, she could never have passed the seventh layer.

"Let Master Yuan take a look later."

Li Li Tiemu said.

At this moment, ripples appeared in the Void Immortal Path above the mountain summit—signs of teleportation.

Sensing this, everyone turned to look.

(End of Chapter)