Chapter 777

Meanwhile, on Li Hao's side, Lin Lin Qingying, Master Yue Xi, Gu Yan, and others gathered around, their expressions grim.

Clearly, they had all realized Yunjin Qin Xianchao's intentions—now everyone else had been expelled from the Emperor's Platform, leaving only their two factions.

"You're Hao Tian?"

From among the Yunjin Imperial Clan, a young man with deer antlers looked down at Li Hao.

His features were extraordinarily beautiful, rare in this world; the antlers atop his head emitted a soft green glow, radiating a vibrant life force.

The other members of the Yunjin imperial clan bore crimson fish scales on their cheeks, their faces eerie; some had double pupils, exuding an air of supreme condescension—none were ordinary.

Li Hao had previously noticed similar traits among other immortal dynasty royal families; though all were royal, their temperaments and bloodlines seemed distinct. Later, he asked the Master of Great Dream and learned that some chaotic beings or rare bloodlines allied with immortal dynasties, using their reincarnation opportunities to tap into the dynasty's ancestral reserves—all from the maternal side, powerful elders with extraordinary status within the royal clan.

"How so?"

Li Hao's expression remained calm as he met the young man's gaze directly.

"I am Jin Zi Yin of the Yunjin Qin Xianchao, and also the Tianlu Clan, ranked twenty-third among the Hundred Tribes of the True Realm!"

Jin Zi Yin, antlers towering, looked down at Li Hao, his strikingly beautiful face cold as he said: "I've reserved a spot for you specifically—considering you're ninth on the Dao Fire List and the youngest among the soul-lifespan holders—would you join us and share this Emperor's Platform?"

Hearing this, Gu Yan and the others internally nodded—they'd suspected it.

When they saw the other side had exactly nine members, they'd guessed the invitation might come for Li Hao.

After all, given Li Hao's prior performance, directly clashing with him would be unwise—unless there was prior enmity.

But if Li Hao accepted, all six of them would have to withdraw.

"Young Master Hao Tian, don't worry about us—our sect only needs you to enter the Top Hundred."

A disciple from Qin Yuan said.

Master Yue Xi and Gu Yan remained silent; even if Li Hao accepted, they still wished to test themselves against the Yunjin Qin Xianchao, to see if they truly had the strength to stay.

After all, this was a Top Hundred slot—they wanted to earn it through their own merit.

"No thanks."

Li Hao shook his head; the apology was directed at Jin Zi Yin, and he said calmly: "We have three slots. Three of you may stay—you may decide among yourselves who."

Upon hearing Li Hao's words, Gu Yan and Master Yue Xi and the others' expressions shifted slightly—they looked at Li Hao. His refusal surprised them, yet somehow felt inevitable; their eyes held deeper complexity.

Lin Lin Qingying said nothing, only silently tightened her grip on her sword. She had always known how Li Hao would choose—the boy who, in the Ten Thousand Realms, faced the Heavenly Sages alone would never bow to anyone.

"Your attempt to sow discord is crude."

A young royal with crimson scales on his face spoke coldly.

Li Hao shook his head. "This isn't sowing discord. It's a declaration."

"Arrogant!"

Another Yunjin royal princess, wielding a long halberd, sneered with icy eyes: "With your strength, protecting your sect's people might be understandable if it were one or two slots—but do you really think you can claim seven? Do these scraps even deserve a Top Hundred spot?"

Hearing the princess's words, Gu Yan and the others' faces darkened, grim and displeased.

"How about this—we duel. Loser leaves, winner stays. Only the strong deserve to reach the end!"

At that moment, Gu Yan stepped forward, his face frosty.

As the Ancient Sword Immortal Body, the supreme sword cultivator physique, he had his own dignity.

"Hmph. Do you even deserve to fight us? Fine—let you see your true level!"

The Yunjin princess's eyes flashed with killing intent. She turned to the nearby royals: "Watch over me—I'll deal with him."

As she spoke, golden divine light erupted from her halberd; her entire body radiated an imposing aura as a golden phantom emerged behind her—resembling an ancient immortal deity.

"Ancient God Clan bloodline!"

Seeing this, others' gazes sharpened.

Among the competitors, the most prominent Ancient God Clan member was Shen Tian Wuji.

Yet no one expected this Yunjin princess to also carry Ancient God blood—though it seemed impure.

"Young Master Hao Tian, I'll claim my own slot!"

Gu Yan stepped forward. His challenge was not only to defend his dignity, but also to spare Li Hao from facing all nine alone.

4

For the first time, he called Li Hao "Senior Brother."

Originally, joining Great Dream Nine Abyss had been merely a temporary stop—he hadn't regarded the sect, or Li Hao, or Master Yue Xi, or anyone else as anything more than dust he'd soon outpace.

But now, in this moment, something within him had taken root in this sect.

Seeing Gu Yan had already charged, Li Hao made no move to stop him—he'd send Gu Yan into the Top Hundred regardless of defeat. Seven would be seven.

Boom!

A clear, brilliant swordlight suddenly blazed, forming a colossal blade that clashed with the golden halberd in midair, exploding with thunderous force.

"Huh? Ancient Sword Immortal Body?"

Someone from the Yunjin royal clan, seeing Gu Yan's transformation, showed surprise.

Now, Gu Yan's silver hair streamed wildly; his entire being radiated an otherworldly, transcendent aura. A silver sword scar marked his forehead, like a split pupil, radiating piercing, icy sharpness.

"Gu Yan, junior brother?"

Master Yue Xi and the others had never seen him like this—they were stunned.

At this moment, Gu Yan radiated terrifying swordmaster pressure; within his body, it seemed a sheathed treasure sword lay buried—as if his very spine had been forged from blades!

"Is this kid finally going to reveal himself?"

On the mountain peak, Old Li watched, his expression shifting slightly, a trace of worry in his eyes.

He still remembered vividly the day he brought the boy back—he knew the youth carried a fate of vengeance.

Now revealing his identity here would surely alert his enemies.

"Ancient Sword Immortal Body? This rare top-tier sword cultivator physique hasn't been lost after all."

"Such fierce sword intent—is this truly the strongest sword cultivator physique in the world?"

"I heard the Ancient Sword Immortal Clan vanished long ago—yet here they are again!"

"This year's Southern Region Tournament truly has prodigies galore—just the Emperor's Platform battle for the Top Hundred already holds so many."

The mountains buzzed with murmurs; countless spectators watching were thrilled.

On the Emperor's Platform.

With the collision, Gu Yan's body was thrown back—but in the span of a single breath, he surged upward again, his phantom fully revealed: a towering, sky-piercing colossal sword!

This was its true form.

To make the sword his body, his heart, even his spirit!

The Ancient Sword Immortal Body was a supreme physique born solely for sword cultivation.

"Indestructible Sword Dao!"

Gu Yan's eyes blazed with unprecedented light as he stared at the Yunjin princess. Slowly, a silver-white longsword grew from his palm—seemingly an extension of his own bones, radiating tangible sword Dao sharpness!

"Huh?"

The Yunjin princess's eyes narrowed in seriousness—the Ancient Sword Immortal Clan had once ranked among the top ten of the Hundred Tribes!

Though the Ancient God Clan now stood among the top ten, her own bloodline was impure—her mother was a noble of the Ancient God Clan, but her current incarnation's blood mixed with that of the Yun Emperor.

Fortunately, the Yun Emperor's bloodline was terrifyingly potent.

"You've forced me to go serious—impressive."

The Yunjin princess's gaze turned icy; her halberd erupted in golden rainbow light, a golden array materializing before her, pouring forth immense immortal energy and a trace of Ancient God power.

She charged forward with her halberd, her figure like a streak of light piercing the starry river—a top-tier immortal technique of movement.

Boom!

The halberd slashed down, splitting the void; the aura of spatial primordial essence emerged from its tip.

Simultaneously, Gu Yan's swordlight roared upward, condensed to its peak, colliding with the golden halberd—tiny cracks appeared in the Emperor's Platform's space.

The shockwave swept over Li Hao and the others, making their hair fly.

"Spatial primordial essence?"

Li Hao's eyes narrowed slightly—he noticed not the princess, but that this junior brother had also mastered spatial primordial essence, reaching its third-layer apex!

Combined with his fourth-layer peak sword Dao, the power he unleashed was already formidable—no less than many prodigies Li Hao had previously defeated.

"Huh?"

On another Emperor's Platform, silence reigned.

7

A white-robed figure sat, undisturbed, the platform maintaining exactly ten slots—no more, no less.

All ten were disciples of the Heavenly Palace; others who tried to approach were effortlessly repelled by the white-robed youth's flicked sword shadows—no one dared challenge this hardest of bones.

Suddenly, the white-robed youth opened his eyes, seeing the sky-piercing sword phantom on the nearby platform, his gaze narrowing slightly.

A fellow clansman.

He was surprised—he hadn't expected to meet one here.

Yet that sword intent, though sharp, was still immature.

"Seems like your clansman."

Beside him, the green-robed girl opened her eyes, glanced at the platform, and said calmly.

Xue Jian Xin nodded slightly, then turned his gaze away. "The sword aura is decent, but his foundation is too shallow."

"Of course not compared to you."

The green-robed girl's lips curved into a rare, faint smile—like ice melting, dazzling.

The Ancient Sword Immortal Body wasn't unique—but she knew this senior brother of hers, even among Ancient Sword Immortal Bodies, was an absolute genius.

This, their master had said outright.

Meanwhile, on the Emperor's Platform, Gu Yan and the Jin Dynasty's imperial princess were already locked in fierce combat.

Gu Yan's sword art was ferocious and piercing, its power overwhelming, yet the Jin imperial princess's strength was no less formidable; besides the ancient divine power within her halberd, her mastery of immortal techniques was endless, and her movement far surpassed Gu Yan's—soon they were locked in a stalemate, locked in relentless battle.

The other Jin royal family members, witnessing this, all showed surprise in their eyes—they had not expected someone by Li Hao's side to be such a formidable opponent; judging solely by this combat power, he truly deserved a place among the top hundred.

But facing them, with limited slots, elimination would inevitably grow even more brutal.

"Divine Path—Eternal Fall!"

Suddenly, the Jin imperial princess raised her hand, and a third ancient divine eye opened on her forehead; behind her, the golden divine manifestation instantly raised both hands, gathering the surrounding celestial forces to coalesce into a golden halberd.

With her furious cry, she brought it crashing down upon Gu Yan.

Gu Yan's pupils shrank—he felt the power within her manifestation, his expression shifting—but the next instant, he clenched his teeth, his eyes blazing with unyielding resolve.

"Nothing can destroy my sword path—nothing!!"

He roared, charging forward like a furious lion for the first time, wielding a solid silver-white longsword that erupted with terrifying sword intent; his entire body transformed into a streak of silver light, sword and man as one, hurtling toward the golden halberd.

Boom!

A violent explosion rang out—the golden great halberd in the manifestation shattered; a streak of silver sword light pierced through, thin and fragile against the golden divine radiance, yet it pierced straight through the manifestation.

"You!"

The ancient divine eye on the Jin imperial princess's forehead bled blood; she stared at Gu Yan in shock and fury—the death rule of the Emperor's Platform, previously suppressing her body, now broke free; her facial flesh rotted and peeled away, her once exquisite beauty now decaying like putrid meat.

The sword light formed by Gu Yan spun rapidly, turning back toward the Jin imperial princess.

To kill.

The Jin imperial princess, while suppressing the Emperor's Platform's rule, swiftly dodged and flickered away—her movement was lightning-fast, aided by spatial primordial essence and the Extreme Void Realm, effortlessly evading Gu Yan.

In direct confrontation, she could not match this youth—but her movement was more than enough to keep Gu Yan from touching her.

Gu Yan's own flesh was peeling away, his appearance grotesque; he pushed his speed to the limit, yet still could not catch her.

Time was too short—he had devoted himself to sword art with supreme talent, but he had not yet had the chance to deeply comprehend movement techniques.

Watching the two circle endlessly on the Emperor's Platform—the Jin imperial princess constantly evading, Gu Yan relentlessly chasing but never reaching her—Li Hao knew this battle had reached a stalemate.

"No need to waste more energy—this round ends in a draw!"

Jin Jin Zi Yin, the one with antlers, spoke up upon seeing this.

The Emperor's Platform's rule constantly affected them—they naturally had no desire to waste time on these two.

"How do you count a draw?"

Li Hao countered.

"Hmph, in a true battle, his movement is insufficient—he'd lose eventually!"

Jin Jin Zi Yin sneered.

Li Hao raised an eyebrow, instantly understanding his meaning—they still intended to drive them away, refusing to yield even the second slot.

After all, if they yielded the second slot, one of the other four would be eliminated, and their temporary alliance would instantly collapse.

"If this kind of contest is meaningless, then there's no need to continue."

Li Hao said.

Jin Jin Zi Yin, seeing Li Hao understood his intent, grew even colder. "You truly intend to stand with them against us? His strength might fare better elsewhere—staying here, there aren't enough slots for him!"

"If you say so, then you may go elsewhere to test your luck too—I can only keep three here."

Li Hao looked at the other four beside Jin Jin Zi Yin. "There are three slots—any of you willing to stay?"

The four, surprised by Li Hao's invitation, seemed to sense his intent; some remained calm, others smirked faintly:

"These words are meaningless—we joined forces, and we won't split because of you. You lack the qualification to secure six slots."

"Then if that's how it is, you all leave now!"

As Li Hao spoke, his eyes suddenly flared with icy, piercing light—a vast, nearly terrifying torrent of immortal power erupted from his entire body.