Chapter 769: Shocking

Beside Wangxin Hall, several staircases led to the mountaintop.

At this moment, Li Hao arrived at a set of stairs along a winding path.

Others were also climbing here, though few in number; some sat motionless on the steps, eyes closed, faces serene as if on pilgrimage—just like those he had encountered earlier.

Li Hao guessed they lacked sufficient Dao heart, which is why the Mountain of Questioning Dao had trapped them in this state.

This also meant they would remain here until the trial ended—or until someone dragged them away.

As Li Hao ascended the stairs, waves of Daoic thought flowed into his mind, but they were faint, barely affecting him at all.

"To reach the summit, there are three Dao pavilions, and at the peak, one final trial—four in total!"

At this moment, the Commander of the Immortal Guards, seeing the crowd gathering to storm the summit, loudly explained.

"Four trials?"

Those who had rushed from Wangxin Hall looked toward the unreachable summit, but saw only golden mist shrouding the peak.

Li Hao understood, and silently continued up the stairs.

Not long after, he reached the first Dao pavilion.

As soon as he arrived, a Daoic manifestation appeared in the air, radiating an ancient, weathered aura.

Then, the manifestation raised its hand, gathering dark energy into a long rod.

Seeing the rod, Li Hao instantly understood—and, surprised, couldn't help but smile wryly.

He hadn't expected the Daoic manifestations on the Mountain of Questioning Dao to manifest as fishing rods—of all things—when only the Fire Dao had appeared earlier, and the rest were his personal hobbies.

Could it be that the Daoic manifestations reflected the climber's own preferences?

Li Hao suspected, but only speculated aloud: "Fishing? Then what are we fishing for?"

"Ten thousand li away lies an Immortal Lake, where dwells a Xuanming Dragon Immortal. Let's see who catches it first."

The Daoic manifestation stared at Li Hao and said: "Of course, you may also choose to defeat me directly by force—that counts too."

Li Hao shook his head. Time was still ample; the trial had barely begun, and reaching the summit was more than enough. He said: "Let's try fishing first."

"Fine."

The Daoic manifestation, upon his agreement, immediately cast its line—a black ink thread shot out, flying hundreds of meters before vanishing into the void, as if the void itself were a lake swallowing it whole.

"Spatial primordial force. Interesting."

Seeing the manifestation wield spatial primordial power, Li Hao smiled. The manifestation had said he could instead settle this by combat—clearly, its fighting ability was no slouch.

He raised his hand, condensing Immortal energy into threads, and cast them out similarly—into the void, where they vanished.

Simultaneously, he stepped into the pavilion and sat down leisurely.

Seeing this, the Immortal Courts of the Southern Region erupted again, filled with uproar.

Everyone felt their eyes bulge—they had never seen anything so outrageous.

Others came to the Mountain of Questioning Dao to fight their Daoic manifestations fiercely; Li Hao, meanwhile, aside from the Fire Dao manifestation, faced nothing but chess games, paintings, and now—fishing!

As if he were on vacation here.

"Fishing? Why is his Daoic manifestation dueling him in fishing?"

"Can fishing even lead to Dao? How many years has he spent fishing?!"

"Aren't his soul years only ninety-six? Could soul years be faked? Or did I just imagine this?!"

Countless onlookers stared blankly, unable to believe it.

Outside the Mountain of Questioning Dao, high in the sky.

The Seven Ancient Immortal Court Emperors, including Chu Di, stared in slight shock.

This boy's chess and painting had already surprised them, barely acceptable—but now fishing?

And the manifestation's appearance proved this boy had reached profound mastery in these arts—already at the level of Dao entry.

"What kind of life does he lead daily?"

Jiang Di suddenly asked.

No one answered. Even Chu Di and the others, who had witnessed countless grand scenes, now looked astonished.

"When he cast his line, I sensed great Dao power—spatial primordial force, and at a high level. Why didn't his spatial Dao manifestation appear?"

Emperor Tianzhao Di asked, puzzled and curious.

"The Daoic manifestations on the Mountain of Questioning Dao appear randomly, unless the climber cultivates only one Dao—like the man who already reached the summit, who cultivates only Water Dao and ascended effortlessly, now seated atop the peak."

The Dao Realm incarnations of Mount Wenda Mountain are random, unless the climber cultivates only one Great Dao, like the previous person who reached the summit—only cultivating the Water Dao, he crossed effortlessly and now sits atop the mountain.

Her gaze swept toward a snow-cloaked youth seated calmly atop the summit, his eyes fixed on the golden clouds above, as if seeking an even higher challenge.

If Li Hao saw this youth, he would recognize him as Helian Boya Biya Xuejian.

As they spoke, elders and sect masters from the various Immortal Courts below were also murmuring among themselves.

"What's that brat doing again? Just smash his Daoic manifestation and be done with it!"

Li Li Tiemu couldn't help stomping his foot, laughing and exasperated.

Da Meng Zhu also seemed dazed. Li Hao's mastery of Painting Dao required immense devotion; his Chess Dao skill was already high, and now he was pulling out fishing? It was beyond her expectations.

"Don't rush. He's dueling because he's confident."

Da Meng Zhu fixed her gaze on him and told Li Li Tiemu.

Li Li Tiemu noticed Li Hao's calm demeanor—he clearly had confidence in reaching the summit. He had seen Li Hao's Nine Resonances of Eternal Dao Heart in the Tower of Questioning the Soul, and knew Li Hao's Dao heart was eternal—he would reach the summit without fail, as long as no accident occurred.

"I hope so. This kid always gives me heart palpitations. Can't he just be normal?"

Li Li Tiemu muttered, recalling Li Hao's performance on the Emperor's Jianshan—while others fought to climb, this brat sat at the bottom playing chess, only ascending on the final day with a single sword slash that cleaved the Ancestral Dragon and reached the peak.

At this moment, on the Mountain of Questioning Dao, Master Yue Xi and Gu Yan and others sprinted up the stairs, arriving at the first Dao pavilion.

As soon as they arrived, they saw Li Hao seated inside the pavilion.

All of them froze, then hurried to his side.

"Hao Tian, what are you doing?"

Master Yue Xi couldn't help asking.

"Fishing."

Li Hao nodded toward his manifestation beside him.

Their gazes fell on the Daoic manifestation beside Li Hao—standing inside the pavilion, holding a fishing rod, the two seated so close they could strike each other with a single motion, yet neither showed any intent to attack.

They were stunned—never before had they seen someone coexisting peacefully with their own Daoic manifestation.

"Fishing? Your Daoic manifestation is dueling you in fishing?"

Gu Yan and Master Yue Xi both looked utterly baffled—how could fishing lead to Dao?

At that moment, their own Daoic manifestations began to coalesce.

Gu Yan's was the Sword Dao manifestation—it appeared instantly, condensing a sword in its palm and bowing to Gu Yan.

Master Yue Xi's manifestation was peculiar—it radiated calamity energy, emitting a strange, foul odor, while the ground beneath its feet crackled with lightning, fire, and magma.

Seeing their manifestations, both grimaced, forgot to speak further to Li Hao, and immediately engaged their manifestations in battle.

At this moment, more people arrived.

Soon, they all saw the lone boy seated in the pavilion, and outside, Gu Yan, Master Yue Xi, and others battling their manifestations.

Soon, they all saw the young boy sitting alone in the Dao Pavilion, as well as Gu Yan, Master Yue Xi, and others sparring with the Dao Realm incarnations outside the pavilion.

Yin Jingcheng and Meng Huaiyue arrived as well. Seeing Li Hao inside the pavilion, Yin Jingcheng froze—he had expected a fierce battle between the boy and his manifestation, not this.

Meng Huaiyue was equally puzzled, barely understanding: "He… he's fishing? I've seen my grandfather do this before…"

"Why isn't his Daoic manifestation attacking him?"

Yin Jingcheng's eyes widened in disbelief—he had never seen someone sitting peacefully beside their Daoic manifestation.

Others who saw this strange scene were equally shocked, murmuring among themselves.

"His Daoic manifestation didn't attack him!"

"Are they dueling? What are they competing in?"

"Is that fishing? I sensed spatial primordial force!"

"Could his Daoic manifestation be fishing?"

Many were stunned, unable to believe it—they had seen all kinds of Daoic manifestations, but never anything like this.

At this moment, their own Daoic manifestations also appeared, launching attacks.

Soon, the area erupted in thundering Immortal arts, descending into chaotic combat.

Yet the shockwaves of Immortal arts did not reach the pavilion—the pavilion itself seemed imbued with a force immune to such disturbances.

Moreover, Li Hao within the pavilion had extended his Eternal Dao Domain, shielding himself from all external Immortal arts.

He sat alone in the pavilion, fishing ten thousand li away.

In his spare moments, his gaze swept over the others locked in battle.

Watching them fight their manifestations fiercely, he found it quite pleasing to behold—though he wished he had a plate of melon seeds on hand.

As time passed, many who arrived later soon defeated their Daoic manifestations.

Only a few remained locked in stalemates.

Master Yue Xi and Gu Yan both overcame their manifestations, though they took a little longer than Li Hao.

After defeating their manifestations and finally relaxing, they turned to see Li Hao inside the pavilion, still calm, still fishing. They stared in shock.

"Younger brother, haven't you finished yet?"

Master Yue Xi hurried over, glanced at Li Hao's manifestation, and only breathed easier when she saw it wasn't attacking her.

After all, this was Li Hao's Daoic manifestation—if it truly attacked, she'd have to fight with all her strength.

This was ultimately Li Hao's Dao realm avatar; if it truly attacked her, she would have to respond with all her strength.

"That thing is cunning—it hasn't bitten yet."

Li Hao said.

"You're really fishing?"

Master Yue Xi stared, her face filled with shock.

Li Hao nodded with a smile.

Gu Yan blinked, his gaze following Li Hao's fishing line, then slowly narrowed as he said, "What are you fishing for? There's a ripple of spatial origin there."

"A dragon immortal nine ten-thousand li away," Li Hao said.

Gu Yan froze. Nine ten-thousand li away? Clearly, moving immortal energy that far from this spot meant the level of spatial origin was not low.

He took a deep breath, sensing Li Hao was shrouded in mist. Since meeting him atop Emperor Jianshan, he'd noticed this once unremarkable fellow sect brother was always veiled in an unfathomable haze.

At this moment, others had also finished their trials and noticed Li Hao still sitting there fishing. Some were astonished; others sneered.

"What's with that guy?"

The green-robed girl and her sect brothers, who had followed, had all defeated their own Dao-Aspect incarnations—but apart from the young man, the rest had struggled terribly.

The green-robed woman had also expended great effort to defeat her Dao-Aspect incarnation. Now seeing Li Hao still fishing, she froze.

"Hmph. Just showing off."

The young man glanced over and sneered.

Not far away, Yin Jingcheng and Meng Huaiyue had also defeated their Dao-Aspect incarnations. Hearing the murmurs around them, Meng Huaiyue looked at Li Hao, then suddenly narrowed her eyes and whispered:

"He arrived late earlier—could it be… he was doing the same thing at the mountain's base?"

Hearing her words, Yin Jingcheng froze, as if struck in the chest. His face darkened slightly, turning grim.

"If you can't reach the summit, no matter your excuse beforehand, it's all wasted!"

After a long silence, he said coldly.

"Let's go. Climb the mountain first, then see how far we can push ourselves."

At this moment, after others finished their Dao-Aspect incarnations, they continued toward the mountain's summit steps.

The green-robed woman and others glanced at Li Hao, then prepared to challenge the next Dao Pavilion—though they might not reach the summit, they could at least test their limits.

Seeing everyone ready to leave, Yin Jingcheng said to Meng Huaiyue, "Come on, let's challenge the summit too!"

Meng Huaiyue's gaze remained fixed on Li Hao, as if she wanted to say something—but in the end, she said nothing, merely nodded slightly. Just as she stepped forward to follow Yin Jingcheng, a surge of power erupted from the Dao Pavilion.

Li Hao's Dao-Aspect incarnation suddenly sharpened its gaze, revealing a blade-like brilliance, and murmured, "Mine's hooked!"

As he spoke, he yanked hard, reeling in the line and lifting the rod.

"Mine too."

At the same moment, Li Hao's line jerked—he felt the other end had already entangled the Xuanming Dragon Immortal.

He chuckled softly, his eyes instantly blazing with divine light. His body, already at the peak of Divine Blood, combined with his Ancestral Immortal form, erupted into a colossal force, channeling through his immortal energy.

"Rise!"

As he murmured, hundreds of meters ahead of him and his Dao-Aspect incarnation, where the line vanished into empty space, ripples suddenly erupted!

The ripples spread wildly, radiating overwhelming power. Many who had been climbing halted, turning back in shock.

Yin Jingcheng, Meng Huaiyue, the green-robed girl, and others all froze, staring toward the Dao Pavilion.

At that moment, Li Hao and his Dao-Aspect incarnation both exerted force. The Dao-Aspect incarnation's body radiated terrifying might, revealing his ultimate limit—as if ready to overturn the pavilion, his black hair whipped wildly.

"Hurry!"

He roared, his eyes commanding like a general issuing orders.

On the other side, Li Hao's fishing line turned golden, blazing with radiant divine aura. The ripples in empty space rippled like a lake's surface—then, the void split open.

Roar!

A furious bellow rang out, followed instantly by another equally furious roar!

The void collapsed, and two massive dragon heads were dragged out—Li Hao and his Dao-Aspect incarnation each pulled forth a dragon!

The dragons' roars shook the Dao Pavilion—and echoed across Questioning Mountain.

Two dragons, one large, one small. The one the Dao-Aspect incarnation had caught was smaller, only one-third the size of the other, yet still ferocious—a True Immortal at peak.

But the Xuanming Dragon Immortal Li Hao pulled forth radiated the aura of an Immortal Lord!

Though only Immortal Lord First Layer, it was using cosmic laws to suppress Li Hao's line, trying to break free.

But Li Hao's line was refined with immortal energy, infused with the power of the Nine Sequences—its laws could not immediately destroy it.

As the two dragon bodies were dragged out, like fish suddenly yanked from water, they were flung into midair.

Their massive forms swept over the heads of all present, casting shadows that blotted out vision. In an instant, countless eyes widened in shock and terror.

Like those in the pavilion, countless others across the Southern Region, watching this scene, were left speechless with awe.

Two dragons, dragged from nine ten-thousand li away, onto Questioning Mountain!

The boy in the Dao Pavilion now stood, his youthful figure radiating peerless brilliance. He casually twirled the fishing line, his movements effortless, exuding an otherworldly, transcendent aura.

"Where… where is this?!"

The Xuanming Dragon Immortal Li Hao had caught, its body covered in black scales with purple scales on its head, shifted from furious rage to sheer terror.

It sensed an overwhelming pressure here, and felt countless eyes upon it—filling it with dread.

When it looked closer, it saw only humans—some even Immortal Lords!

Outnumbered and surrounded, it was clearly in peril.

"I lost."

In the pavilion, the Dao-Aspect incarnation glanced at his catch and sighed to Li Hao.

As he spoke, he reeled in his line: "I give mine to you too."

"Then thank you."

Li Hao smiled.

The Dao-Aspect incarnation acknowledged defeat and vanished on the spot.

Li Hao's gaze settled on the two Xuanming Dragon Immortals. He sensed their auras were nearly identical—they were related by blood. He said, "If you don't want to die, come to me. When we leave here, I'll release you. My sect master's pond is short of two little fish."

The smaller Xuanming Dragon Immortal glanced at Li Hao, trembling, too afraid to speak.

The Xuanming Dragon Immortal Li Hao had fished up now saw him—and instantly recognized the line's aura as belonging to this boy.

It felt grief and fury—how had it been dragged to this hellish place, by a mere True Immortal brat?

"Is this Questioning Mountain?"

Suddenly, it realized where it was.

Looking again at the sea of human eyes watching it, it trembled violently.

"Spare… spare us! I've never killed, never harmed a human! Please, spare my life and my child's!"

It shifted form, becoming a beautiful woman, bowing deeply in empty space before Li Hao.

Li Hao laughed. "Funny—I don't like killing either. Behave, and I'll release you later."

As he spoke, he raised his hand and tore open a rift in space, gesturing for them to enter.

The woman saw the mountain of ancient demon corpses piled within the rift and nearly fainted, tears welling in her eyes as she stammered:

"I—I never killed anyone! What will it take to let us go?!"

Li Hao sighed wearily. "If you keep wasting my time, don't blame me if I really act."

The woman, tearful, studied Li Hao closely—in her eyes, the boy was a god of slaughter radiating endless malevolence.

But now she was a fish on the chopping block, powerless. She led her child obediently into the rift, mumbling prayers and pleas the whole way.

Li Hao sealed the rift, clapped his hands, and saw everyone staring at him in stunned silence.

He didn't care. He said to Master Yue Xi and Gu Yan, "Let's go!"

As he spoke, he continued climbing the steps upward.

Only after Li Hao leapt away several steps did the crowd snap out of their shock—and erupted in uproar.

Those who had mocked Li Hao now stared wide-eyed, faces filled with disbelief.

A mere True Immortal had fished up an Immortal Lord dragon!

And that dragon was begging for mercy—utterly unbelievable.

"My god, what did I just see?!"

"He… he fished up a dragon! An Immortal Lord dragon!"

"He's a True Immortal—how can a True Immortal catch an Immortal Lord?!"

"My god—is this the standard of Southern Region prodigies? Is this the true power of the Dao Fire List's ninth-ranked?!"

Across the Southern Region's immortal dynasties, countless people erupted in shock.

They screamed in disbelief.

A True Immortal terrifying an Immortal Lord into begging—this was beyond heaven's norms!

Though a few, like the ancient god boy in the True Immortal Realm, had shown extraordinary power before, they'd only defeated True Immortal ancient demons—not faced an Immortal Lord directly, as this was.

In the Yan Chu Qin Xianchao, the nine thousand cities of Yan Chu erupted in chaos.

Earlier, in the Ancient Immortal Realm, they'd seen Li Hao defeat an Immortal Lord against the odds, trampling the royal clan—but back then, no restrictions were imposed, and they'd assumed he'd used divine weapons or treasures secretly.

Now, before countless eyes, he'd dragged an Immortal Lord dragon here—uncontested, unbroken!

This was insane!

"No wonder—he revealed a fishing incarnation!"

"This is outrageous! He fished up an Immortal Lord dragon—across who knows how many ten-thousand li!"

Countless voices buzzed, awestruck beyond measure.

Outside Mount Wenda Mountain, the elders and sect leaders of various immortal dynasties and heavenly sects gathered here were also greatly shocked, their expressions turning solemn.

Without doubt, that boy is undoubtedly a formidable contender in this True Immortal Realm group, and his brilliance has already emerged.

"From ninety thousand li away, he reeled in a Dragon Clan member of the Immortal Lord realm—this kid is truly extraordinary."

High in the sky, Jiang Di chuckled, stroking his beard.

The Original Empress's eyes sparkled brightly, like a clear sky after spring rain, as if capable of reflecting the soul, and she smiled gently:

"I'm truly curious about what kind of life he leads daily—painting, playing chess, fishing, yet excelling in all of them."

"It seems the True Immortal group's performance this time has been quite impressive."

Jin Di smiled faintly, but his gaze swept toward the Sky Sovereign.

The Sky Sovereign's expression remained calm, as if nothing could move him, and he said nothing.

At this moment, within Mount Wenda Mountain.

After Li Hao left, the others began to debate fiercely.

The girl in the green dress and others stared in shock, then their faces darkened.

Without doubt, that boy's strength is terrifying—he pulled in a Dragon Clan member of the Immortal Lord realm against all odds; if he climbs to the top and secures a spot, he will be a fearsome opponent in the coming battles.

And our actions just now have already offended such a powerful enemy.

"Damn."

Coming to her senses, the girl in the green dress frowned, clenching her fingers.

On the other side, Yin Jingcheng stared blankly, then fell silent, head bowed, saying nothing.

Meng Huaiyue watched the boy's retreating figure, and suddenly, she seemed to understand why her master had shown him special care and admiration.