Chapter 781: Heaven's Dao is Unbenevolent

Following the announcement by the Immortal Guard Commander, the final top-hundred spots for the Southern Region battle were settled. Immediately afterward, a golden list emerged in the sky, ten thousand zhang long, with golden names appearing on it—it was the top-hundred ranking of the Southern Region battle.

"This is the Top Hundred List. The ranking is not in any particular order. Next is the top-hundred contention, randomly selected by the laws of Heaven's Dao, dueling in pairs!"

The Immortal Guard Commander stood in front of the Top Hundred List, revealing his Dharma Form, a hundred zhang tall, looking extremely oppressive.

"In this top hundred, although there are quite a few disciples with 'water content' who only ranked among the top hundred because they were protected by others, opportunity and luck are also part of one's own strength. Being able to rank among the top hundred is also an arrangement of fate!"

Empress Yuan Zun looked at the ten Emperor's Platforms. Many disciples who failed to be selected showed unwillingness. In terms of strength alone, there must have been people among them capable of ranking among the top hundred, but unfortunately, their own luck was a bit worse.

And reaching their level of realm, they also value luck extremely highly. This is something they find difficult to completely control and comprehend.

The Primordial Origin City of Fate is shattered, the Great Dao has disappeared, and only Immortal Emperors can touch it.

"The contention for the top ten this time should be quite interesting."

Emperor Tianzhao said with a smile. He had already seen that besides the Imperial Clan and the two Supreme disciples, there were quite a few others who would fiercely contend for the top ten spots.

While they were talking, countless people in various Immortal Dynasties were also full of anticipation.

"Our Ten Thousand Mountain Sword Tower only has three people enter. Besides Junior Sister Qingying, there are only two others who barely managed to kill their way in by joining forces."

Elsewhere, in the Ten Thousand Mountain Sword Tower, many disciples had ugly expressions.

The top-hundred contention was more intense than they had imagined. Among the True Immortal Realm disciples, although they also had disciples with extremely strong combat power, the imperial clans of other Immortal Dynasties were too strong.

"Humph."

Tian Hongyi saw the woman standing on Li Hao's Emperor's Platform, his eyes gloomy.

"Damn it, Jin Zi Yin and the others only grabbed three spots."

On the other side, among the Yun Jin Imperial Clan, many imperial clansmen had gloomy expressions.

Although they fought each other, in this top-hundred contention, all five originally had hope, but after being driven off the Emperor's Platform by Li Hao, they went to contend for other Emperor's Platforms and only grabbed three spots.

"Today, we will conduct the first round of drawing lots for duels."

The Immortal Guard Commander swept his gaze and said loudly: "I invite the Supreme, please let the laws of Heaven's Dao draw lots!"

As his words fell, the eyes of the whole audience fell on the huge Dharma Form of the Tiangong Supreme.

The Tiangong Supreme had a peaceful expression, yet he seemed to sit in possession of heaven and earth, with ten thousand zhang of auspicious signs around him, making people look up in awe.

He raised his hand casually and pointed at the void above his head.

In an instant, ten thousand paths of misty divine clouds burst forth, the clouds and mist in the sky retreated, as if opening the Heavenly Gate, and a deep vortex appeared.

When that vortex emerged, a vast, majestic, and indescribable aura descended upon the entire mountain range, and even reflected through the boundary stones, descending and revealing itself to the entire Southern Region.

Countless people in the immortal cities all had a feeling of trembling fear, as if facing imperial majesty, or rather, a feeling ten thousand times greater than imperial majesty. Whether human or demon, including the ferocious beasts in the wilderness, at this moment, all involuntarily prostrated themselves on the ground.

In the clouds, the Chu Emperor and other emperors also put away their casual expressions, their eyes solemn as never before.

The laws of Heaven's Dao, which can be displayed casually, are only possible for Immortal Emperors. This is also the ultimate realm they dream of pursuing!

On the Emperor's Platform, Li Hao and other participating disciples, who were previously unique in temperament and stood proudly, all had their expressions change in shock at this moment. Many couldn't help but sit down or squat on the ground.

Only a very few people barely stood in place, but they couldn't keep calm in their eyes, revealing awe and fanaticism.

Li Hao had a solemn expression, looking directly at the vortex in the firmament. The aura revealed inside was somewhat similar to the Heavenly Venerable will he touched after reaching the extreme immortal transformation.

The Heavenly Dao embryo in his body was actually stirring at this moment, as if wanting to rush out of his body.

In the highest realm of the Dao Heart, it is the Heavenly Dao Emperor Heart. At this moment, a sentence suddenly appeared in Li Hao's mind.

Heaven's Dao is unbenevolent, treating all things as straw dogs.

When feeling this peaceful, majestic, and vast, deep aura, he suddenly had a deeper understanding of this sentence.

The "unbenevolent" here is not unrighteous; on the contrary, it is not partial!

Heaven's Dao treats all living things equally, all things are the same, impartial.

Equal benevolence is unbenevolence!

"The sea accepts all rivers, broad and vast heaven and earth; only by being unbenevolent can one accommodate all things, tolerate all things..."

Li Hao had an epiphany in his heart, as if enlightened, feeling that his Dao Heart seemed to have been washed and refined once.

Wind and rain, flowers and grass, all things in the world are diverse. If one is benevolent to flowers and grass, being unbenevolent to birds and beasts—so-called specialized benevolence is partiality, is selfishness!

"Heaven's Dao encompasses all things, only unbenevolent..."

Li Hao looked at the vortex, lost in thought.

He mastered the Nine-Order origin, but only five origins touched the Emperor's Path, fusing into the Sword Dao of the Five Absolute Immortal Emperors.

However, the fusion of the nine paths could not be achieved.

The Nine-Flower Immortal Seal earlier integrated the nine paths into the sword, but it was still partiality—eight paths as auxiliary, Sword Dao as the main.

This is not unbenevolence.

"All living things are the main, all living things are not the main..."

In Li Hao's mind, thoughts kept emerging, and changes quietly occurred in his body. The Nine-Order power quietly fused in his body.

While countless people in the Southern Region Qin Xianchao prostrated themselves before this Heavenly Dao aura, and the seven dynasty emperors in the clouds all had solemn expressions, no one noticed that the youth on the Emperor's Platform, with dazed eyes, had actually entered a state of epiphany at this moment.

At this time, from the vortex, golden lights suddenly descended. These golden lights converged and turned into the phantoms of Li Hao and other top-hundred contestants.

Afterward, these phantoms flew rapidly like moths, along some mysterious and disordered trajectory. Soon, they stood together in pairs.

Seeing this scene, the Chu Emperor, Emperor Tianzhao, and other emperors also had epiphanies, their eyes thoughtful.

For them, who had touched the Immortal Emperor realm with half a foot, being able to peek into the operation of the laws of Heaven's Dao was also an extremely rare opportunity.

However, just a few peeks, wanting to have an epiphany and step into the Emperor Realm, that was a bit wishful thinking.

The difficulty of this last step was even ten times that of re-cultivating from the Tongli Realm to the peak of the Immortal King Realm!

Once stepped into, it is the top of the True World, the ultimate existence of immortals and gods!

"The duel for the top fifty has been drawn. Everyone, please see your opponents clearly!"

The voice of the Immortal Guard Commander sounded. His previously indifferent eyes now looked toward the high sky, also with awe.

"Now, the Emperor's Platform is about to merge. Everyone, please exit for the time being."

The Immortal Guard Commander said to the contestants on the ten Emperor's Platforms.

Immediately afterward, Li Hao and the others felt a force coming from the Emperor's Platform, wanting to send them out of the Emperor's Platform.

The crowd did not resist and flew off the Emperor's Platform one after another.

When there was no one left on the Emperor's Platform, the ten Emperor's Platforms gathered in the void. The shape of these Emperor's Platforms, in the process of gathering, cleverly closed into a complete and huge Emperor's Platform!

This Emperor's Platform gathered the area of ten Emperor's Platforms, and the area was extremely large, like the size of an immortal city!

"Now, give everyone three sticks of incense to recuperate. You can take elixirs. After recuperation ends, from left to right, start going up to the platform for the duel!"

The Immortal Guard Commander said.

Hearing this, the group of contestants on the far left had their expressions change, and they quickly returned to their sects, taking out immortal god treasures to take.

Other injured people also hurried back to heal with treasures.

And more contestants recovered by their own strength.

Although most of them didn't have the Star Veins of the Heavens, they also mastered many extreme realm powers, including the immortality of the Undying Realm.

As long as they were given a chance to breathe, they could recover rapidly.

Therefore, this top-hundred battle ended without delay and continued to proceed with duels.

Only a few had severe injuries that even treasures couldn't heal, requiring sect powerhouses to take action to resolve them.

"When going up to the platform, we will check if there are any drug residues in the body. Everyone, do not take any elixirs that temporarily enhance immortal power, Primordial Spirit, etc."

The voice of the Immortal Guard Commander sounded.

Many participating disciples had long guessed this point, and no one overstepped.

At this time, other disciples returned to their sects one after another. Seeing this, Li Hao also led Lin Qingying, Gu Yan, and others back to the Great Da Da Meng Jiuyuan.

"Qingying!"

At this time, in the Ten Thousand Mountain Sword Tower, an elder rushed out, wanting to take Lin Qingying back.

Although Lin Qingying got the top-hundred spot under Li Hao's protection, no matter what, she came from their Ten Thousand Mountain Sword Tower. On that Top Hundred List, besides displaying their names, it also displayed the Qin Xianchao and sect they belonged to behind them.

If there was no sect, it was an imperial clan, and the imperial clan identity would be displayed.

This reflected into various immortal cities and was also a great promotion.

"Where are you going? Don't forget the cultivation the sect has given you."

That elder was dressed in silk, looking like a beautiful woman in her thirties or forties, and said to Lin Qingying.

Lin Qingying saw her master, her expression changed slightly, and she looked at Li Hao again.

Li Hao thought of Lin Qingying's words in the secret realm and didn't make things difficult for her, saying: "You go back first."

Lin Qingying wanted to speak but stopped, but seeing the smiling expression Li Hao threw, she knew Li Hao's intention and nodded immediately.

Seeing this, the elder's expression toward Li Hao also eased a bit, whispering: "Thank you for helping Qingying grab a top-hundred spot."

"No need to thank me."

Li Hao shook his head, said goodbye to Lin Qingying, and returned to the Great Da Da Meng Jiuyuan Sect.

The elder in silk looked at the youth's back, a trace of complexity appearing in her eyes. With Lin Qingying's combat power and aptitude, having been in the sect for a short time, being able to pass the first two trials was already impressive. It was almost impossible to rank among the top hundred, but she had managed to get in.

On the contrary, other disciples in the sect who had high hopes were eliminated, and only two rushed in.

"Qingying, what is your relationship with that youth?"

She asked in a low voice, seeing the emotions hidden in the disciple's eyes, but she already had some answers in her heart.

"Master, after this Southern Region battle ends, I will leave the sect. I will repay the kindness of the sect's cultivation in the future."

Lin Qingying shook her head and said to her master.

The woman in silk's expression changed immediately, shocked: "You want to leave the sect?"

Lin Qingying nodded slightly without explaining.

The woman in silk immediately guessed it had something to do with Li Hao. She sighed in her heart and said: "The Ten Thousand Mountain Sword Tower is a Heavenly Sect. I have long seen Tian Hongyi's feelings for you. Are you really not considering it?"

"Master."

Lin Qingying frowned and said: "I keep the teacher-student relationship of these years in my heart. Don't make things difficult for me."

The woman in silk heard this, her expression changed, and finally, she was silent.

"Good brat, you really have it!"

In the Great Da Da Meng Jiuyuan Sect, Li Hao had just returned when Li Tiemu excitedly grabbed Li Hao's shoulder and said with extreme surprise:

"Our Great Da Da Meng Jiuyuan, after ten thousand years of grievance, has finally raised its head today!"

For ten thousand years, since the Southern Region battle was held, although the Great Da Da Meng Jiuyuan sent disciples to participate every year, being able to stand out from the Yan Chu Qin Xianchao was already a very small minority. By the time they reached the Southern Region battle, they rarely even squeezed into the top hundred!

This time, originally Li Hao was the only one with hope of contending for the top ten, and at that time, it would bring glory to the sect.

But he didn't expect Li Hao to bring them a huge surprise in advance, bringing five other people from the sect into the top hundred as well.

Although Li Tiemu was in the Tiangong at this moment, he could already imagine that the name of the Great Da Da Meng Jiuyuan in the Yan Chu Qin Xianchao should have already resounded through nine thousand immortal cities!

After all, in the top hundred, the Great Da Da Meng Jiuyuan occupied six seats alone!

The entire Yan Chu, including the Imperial Clan, only had 18 people!

Besides the Great Da Da Meng Jiuyuan, other sects and the Imperial Clan only had 12 people in total!

Among the five major Heavenly Sects of the Yan Chu Qin Xianchao, some sects even had their disciples wiped out, and not one squeezed in!

Although the top disciples of those sects were in the Immortal Monarch Realm and would appear in the Immortal Monarch Realm battle later, at this moment, the name of the Great Da Da Meng Jiuyuan was unrivaled.

"Haotian, the sect really wants to thank you well this time."

The Great Da Da Meng Zhu looked at Li Hao, her eyes carrying a gentle smile.

Li Hao heard her words and quickly said: "What is the Sect Master saying? I did what I could; this is what I should do."

"How can you say 'should'? Although the sect has helped you, it is far less than your return to the sect."

The Great Da Da Meng Zhu said, knowing in her heart that Li Hao had only been in the sect for a few years. Although she was very willing to invest all the sect's top resources in Li Hao, the time was too short. Moreover, she wanted to give Li Hao some treasures in the Langya Painting Realm, but Li Hao refused, instead only discussing small matters of painting with her.

Li Hao smiled: "Kindness is not divided by size."

Hearing this, the Great Da Da Meng Zhu fell into silence for a while. A sentence "kindness is not divided by size" was enough to see the sincere heart of this youth before her.

"I said before, after your Southern Region battle ends, if you can pull out the sword in the Sword Abyss, I will give it to you."

After a brief silence, the Great Da Da Meng Zhu said in a low voice.

Seeing Li Hao seemed to want to refuse, she immediately said: "Don't push it away. That sword... you might not be able to pull it out. Moreover, that sword is also one of the nine Imperial Swords of the True World in the past, but the Imperial Soul is incomplete and covered in dust. It is also one of the three top treasures of my Great Da Da Meng Jiuyuan!"

Hearing her words, Li Hao opened his mouth slightly, feeling the persistence in the other's eyes, and he knew he couldn't refuse.

After all, now that he was famous in the Southern Region, the other party had said before that ancient demon spies would also watch this battle, so he might encounter some attacks in the future. Having a stronger weapon to protect himself, there was naturally no reason to refuse.

"Good."

Li Hao nodded and agreed.

The Great Da Da Meng Zhu breathed a sigh of relief, then looked at Gu Yan and the others beside her, saying: "Haotian helped you rank among the top hundred. Next, you must also work hard in your battles. I don't ask you to win, but you must do your best to show your own style and let the entire Southern Region see the light that belongs uniquely to you!"

"Hmm!"

Hearing the Great Da Da Meng Zhu's words, Yue Xi, Gu Yan, and the others all had light bursting from their eyes.

Indeed, they didn't ask to win, only that this battle would have no regrets!

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 782 =====