Chapter 770: The Duel on the Peak

On Mount Wen Dao.

After Li Hao left the Dao Pavilion, he climbed rapidly.

Along the way, he encountered some who had previously gathered in the Dao Pavilion and had left early.

Seeing Li Hao arrive, those people were somewhat surprised, but they paid him no mind and continued their own climbs. However, many along the way had stopped at the steps, hands pressed together, their faces looking like pilgrims.

Li Hao's footsteps were light, and he soon arrived at the next Dao Pavilion.

Just as he reached this place, while countless people were speculating what kind of Dao Realm incarnation Li Hao would face this time, his Dao Realm incarnation manifested outside the pavilion.

The moment it appeared, the Dao Realm incarnation radiated a dense aura of the Water Dao origin. It raised a hand and unleashed a Water Dao immortal technique at Li Hao; the surroundings became like a sudden downpour, carrying bone-chilling cold and frost.

Seeing it was a Water Dao incarnation, Li Hao's actions were crisp and decisive. The opponent was only unleashing a Level Three Water Dao realm, not yet Level Four.

And he, in the Five Origins City, had consumed the Origin Divine Fruit of the Divine Tree, with all nine sequences reaching Level Four.

"Solidify!"

With a wave of his hand, Li Hao froze the incoming wind and rain in an instant. Then, with a flick of his wrist, the solidified downpour transformed into an ice wall, pushing horizontally toward the Water Dao incarnation.

The Water Dao incarnation was about to retaliate, but the ice wall suddenly shattered. The ice shards transformed into countless sharp swords flying at high speed, instantly piercing its body, and it dissipated on the spot.

Everything happened and ended in a flash. Li Hao withdrew his palm, didn't look back, and continued up the steps again.

This fleeting battle was reflected across the various immortal dynasties of the Southern Region, leaving countless people dumbfounded.

Previously, during the Fire Dao incarnation, they had seen Li Hao defeat it easily, but that was still in the lower section of the mountainside. Now, however, they were above the mountainside, near the summit, where the strength of the Dao Realm incarnation was even more formidable.

"So strong! He actually masters both Water and Fire Daos!"

"And neither realm is low."

"This is not strange. After all, he is a top-tier heaven's pride expert capable of coming to the Southern Region Battle. Some even master Time and Space."

"Is this his speed when facing combat incarnations? If he were like the others, all facing combat incarnations, he would probably have reached the summit by now, right?"

The crowd discussed it fervently, all witnessing the terror of this youth.

Previously, fishing up that Immortal Monarch Realm Xuanming Dragon Immortal in adversity was enough to show that Li Hao was qualified to rank among the top tier of the many True Immortal heaven's pride experts.

After all, although other heaven's pride experts were strong, only a small cluster could reach the level of adversity.

"That youth is enough to rival that Ancient God clan. I estimate that later in the battle,

there will be a fierce struggle!"

In a certain immortal dynasty, an Immortal King Realm powerhouse sat on the peak, stroking his beard as he spoke to his disciple.

"Good!"

Outside Mount Wen Dao, Li Tiemu clenched his fists in excitement, cheering and shouting for Li Hao.

A smile also appeared on the face of the Great Dream Master. At such speed, Li Hao's hope of reaching the summit was extremely high.

"So fast!"

Outside the Dao Pavilion, others saw Li Hao resolve the Dao Realm incarnation at lightning speed and were somewhat shocked.

This youth had previously sat alone in the lower Dao Pavilion, yet now, at this higher position, he had instead defeated the Dao Realm incarnation at lightning speed. It was incredible.

Li Hao ignored the surprised gazes around him. Having resolved the Water Dao incarnation, he quickly continued climbing along the steps.

And this time, the number of people on the steps had clearly plummeted. There were only sparse individuals, kneeling on the steps like sculptures, falling into another state as if on a pilgrimage.

Not long after Li Hao left, Yue Xi, Gu Yan, and others followed. The green-skirted girl and the others also rushed over. They looked around, but didn't see Li Hao's figure, and couldn't help but be stunned.

When someone asked, the person next to them who had barely resolved the Dao Realm incarnation answered with heavy panting, informing them that Li Hao had already gone up the mountain.

"Is this his true climbing speed?"

Gu Yan couldn't help but look up toward the summit. Afterward, his gaze became sharp, and he continued climbing along the steps.

Soon, a Dao Realm incarnation appeared, and he immediately unleashed his sword technique, fighting fiercely.

The green-skirted girl and others heard the news about Li Hao, their expressions were all solemn, and they also tried again to continue climbing and challenging.

On the other side, not long after, Li Hao arrived at the next Dao Pavilion.

This was the third Dao Pavilion.

Crossing this pavilion, he would be only one step away from the summit.

At this moment, a manifestation appeared outside the Dao Pavilion.

Li Hao looked quietly and saw this Dao Realm incarnation, its whole body radiating a biting temperament, a sword slowly condensing in its hand.

A Sword Dao incarnation!

"Please."

The Dao Realm incarnation raised its hand, its whole body radiating terrifying sword intent.

Li Hao's gaze narrowed; this sword intent was likely close to the level of a Level Four origin.

His sword technique was at the eleventh stage, and the interface only gave him the comprehension of a Level Three Sword Dao origin. Li Hao estimated that once he reached the twelfth stage, it should raise the Sword Dao origin to Level Six.

One stage corresponded to three levels.

Nowadays, although his Sword Dao origin was Level Three, by mastering the power of the nine sequences, plus his own unique 'Only I' Sword Dao, which included the power of the nine sequences, his Sword Dao, despite only being at the Level Three origin realm, had a true power that far exceeded this.

"Please."

Li Hao raised his hand, his palm condensing a silver-white sword Qi from immortal power.

He gripped the sword Qi, looking straight at the incarnation.

*Whoosh! *

The Sword Dao incarnation suddenly raised its sword light, countless sword shadows appearing, presenting like rain, then rapidly shrinking into one!

As that stroke was swung, it seemed to squeeze the air in the entire void until nothing remained; only the biting sword intent connected heaven and earth.

But at this moment, Li Hao also raised the sword in his hand. The ancient Sword Dao immortal technique bloomed with dazzling light from his hand at this moment.

"Blue Sky!"

With a *whoosh*, the sword light instantly became brilliant to the extreme, like a star bursting, illuminating the eyes of countless people.

One sword stroke swept across, with the nine sequences as the core, containing terrifying power. Almost without obstruction, and unstoppable, it shattered the sword Qi of that Sword Dao incarnation, then severed its body as well!

"Good sword..."

The body of the Sword Dao incarnation slowly dissipated, leaving only two words behind.

The sword Qi in Li Hao's hand dissipated, and the aura of his whole body also shrank from the previous sharpness, returning to normal in a blink.

It was just like a hunter who had just revealed scarlet fangs, only to retract them the next moment, revealing an innocent appearance.

He looked at the five figures in the nearby Dao Pavilion with eyes tightly closed. Among these five, one figure had a familiar face; it was precisely the Imperial Princess who had pestered him earlier, Chu Yuli.

At this moment, the latter's eyes were tightly closed, also trapped in that state of pilgrimage and Dao-seeking, seemingly unaware of external objects.

The other four were the same.

They were all in the Immortal Monarch Realm, but coming here, just being able to defeat the Dao Realm incarnation was not enough; their Dao hearts also needed to withstand the test of Mount Wen Dao.

Clearly, their Dao hearts were insufficient, unable to continue walking toward a higher position.

Li Hao withdrew his gaze, ignored them, turned around, and stepped out along the steps. The summit was close at hand, with only a few hundred steps left.

"So strong! He is about to reach the summit!"

"This is near the summit, the incarnation of the final Dao Pavilion, yet it was defeated by him in one move!"

"That sword stroke seems to be some kind of ancient immortal technique, too terrifying!"

"As long as he passes one more trial, he will truly be able to reach the summit!"

Countless people saw Li Hao climbing and couldn't help but hold their breath. By now, no one doubted that this youth could reach the summit.

After all, with these three Dao Pavilions, this youth had given them a huge shock.

Whether it was fishing up the Dragon clan of the Immortal Monarch Realm, or twice consecutively instantly crushing the Dao Realm incarnation, he had revealed extraordinary power.

"That sword stroke just now, wasn't it 'Blue Sky'?"

Outside Mount Wen Dao, high in the sky, Emperor Jiang was slightly startled.

The other few Emperors had slight changes in their gazes, looking toward the Sky Supreme.

"The immortal technique of the past, not being buried, is also a good thing."

The Sky Supreme said calmly, "Such top-tier True Immortal immortal techniques will always be privately kept by some and passed down through the world."

The seven Emperors were rarely silent, not responding to these words.

On Mount Wen Dao, Li Hao stepped on the steps, walking step by step.

The closer he got to the summit, the more he felt a chill. This chill was not the cold of ice and snow, but from inside to outside, as if radiating from the depths of the soul.

It was just that this chill gradually increased as he climbed the steps. Li Hao estimated that he could fully withstand this short distance.

When he arrived at the place with only five steps left, Li Hao seemed to see before his eyes

extremely faint snowflakes drifting down. A sense of simplicity and desolation suddenly surged into his heart, as if someone were softly asking in the depths of his heart: What is Dao? What is life?

Li Hao did not know. He only knew that what he felt and experienced at this moment was life, and the path he stepped forward on was his own Dao.

With a heart focused on nothing else, the Dao heart is eternal.

Li Hao knew that this was the influence of Mount Wen Dao on himself. Near the summit, he also felt for the first time the test of Mount Wen Dao on the Dao heart, besides the Dao Realm incarnation.

There were not many steps left, and Li Hao did not stop, walking straight up.

At this moment, on the summit of Mount Wen Dao, outside a towering and ancient palace, dozens of figures sat here.

"Someone has come up."

Someone whispered.

Others turned to look, feeling quite surprised. They were the first batch to reach the summit. Being able to reach the summit meant that their climbing speed along the way had been extremely fast, far ahead of others.

Soon, they saw the face of the youth walking up the steps.

"It's him."

In the crowd, Chu Tianhuang and Boya Xuejian were both stunned, and then smiles of relief appeared on their faces.

They were not surprised that Li Hao could reach the summit; on the contrary, they had felt some regret and disappointment earlier when they didn't see Li Hao's figure.

"Though late, he arrived; he didn't disappoint me."

Chu Tianhuang chuckled, a few smiles appearing on his aged face, while brilliant divine light faintly bloomed in his eyes.

"It's the True Immortal Realm, another True Immortal Realm kid has come. I wonder if he can pass the final test."

Others saw Li Hao's cultivation, their expressions turning slightly cold.

"That kid, I thought he wouldn't be able to come up. Hmph, he came really slowly."

Shen Wuji sat under the eaves, glimpsing Li Hao, his brows slightly raised, but he let out a cold snort. Clearly, he was disappointed by Li Hao's slow climbing speed. He had previously thought this was a guy worth fighting, but didn't expect his Dao heart to be low.

"It's this guy."

In the crowd, some also recognized Li Hao as the one who had purchased the Great Dao origin from Li Hao on the Heavenly Dao Bridge earlier.

Their gazes were solemn. They had remembered this youth from the previous soul-longevity measurement, but didn't expect to see the other party here on the summit of Mount Wen Dao.

Undoubtedly, this youth was absolutely a top-tier heaven's pride expert, worth noting.

While everyone was sizing up Li Hao, Li Hao stepped over the final step, his gaze sweeping across, and he also saw many figures with unique temperaments under a large palace on the steps at the end ahead.

Seeing the number was as many as twenty or thirty, Li Hao was somewhat surprised, not expecting so many people on the summit.

But soon he realized that this Mount Wen Dao test selected one thousand heaven's pride experts, yet fewer than fifty could reach the summit. This proportion was already very small.

After all, those gathered here were all top-tier monstrous talents selected from various immortal dynasties in the Southern Region.

Li Hao saw some familiar faces; some nodded at him with goodwill, while others looked on coldly.

At the railing of an eave, he saw the white-clothed, otherworldly Di Linchen, who revealed a smile at him.

Li Hao also nodded in greeting. At this moment, a Dao Realm incarnation manifested before his eyes, pitch-black as ink.

Li Hao looked at this final Dao Realm incarnation, and soon felt the familiar feeling from the other party.

"We meet again."

The Dao Realm incarnation said softly to Li Hao, then waved its hand, condensing a chessboard in front of it, and said to Li Hao:

"How about another game?"

Li Hao remembered saying at the foot of the mountain that if he could reach the summit, he would like to play another game of chess.

He didn't expect that on this summit, it would truly be a Chess Dao incarnation. This clearly wasn't a coincidence.

"No problem."

Li Hao nodded and sat down on the ground immediately.

The Chess Dao incarnation smiled slightly, condensing a chess box. On this summit of Mount Wen

Dao, it engaged in a second match with Li Hao.

"What kind of incarnation is that?"

"Playing chess?"

"What is he doing?"

The crowd at the palace saw this scene and were all slightly surprised, clearly not expecting the test when reaching the summit to be so strange.

They hadn't seen Li Hao's previous Dao Realm incarnations, so they all felt it was novel and full of doubt.

But the people outside Mount Wen Dao had watched Li Hao climb all the way, and seeing this Chess Dao incarnation manifest again, they immediately let out an uproar.

However, this time no one mocked him. The three Dao Pavilions he had consecutively crossed had already let them see Li Hao's extraordinary strength. At this moment, this game of chess, on the contrary, was like dew after rain, giving them a feeling that was both familiar and interesting.

"It's actually Chess Dao again. This Dao Realm incarnation lost at the foot of the mountain, and it actually manifested again at the summit."

"I didn't expect that on the summit of Mount Wen Dao, I could see a Chess Dao duel. This should be the first time this has happened in one hundred thousand years, right?"

"I don't know who will win this time. By the way, how do you determine the winner in this Chess Dao?"

"I don't understand it either; I have to find someone who knows chess to ask."

The crowd discussed it fervently, looking at the focused youth, many feeling it was novel.

"I didn't expect that finally reaching the summit would actually be decided by Chess Dao. Haha, it's truly the first time I've seen it."

Emperor Tianzhao laughed.

"If it were a battle, it would probably be over very quickly. This test for reaching the summit, compared to the final Dao Pavilion earlier, is at most a double test. With the power of that sword stroke of his earlier, without even using the Immortal Seal power, reaching the summit was inevitable."

The Red Emperor said.

Her scarlet imperial robe was draped over her body, but the exposed arms and thighs were as white as congealed fat, radiating a holy aura.

"Others are all fighting hard with real swords and guns, but he is good; he is truly leisurely."

The Origin Empress also couldn't help but laugh and shake her head, sighing.

Such a scene, in all the many sessions of the Southern Region Battle they had seen, was also the first time they had witnessed it. ===== CHAPTER 771 =====