Chapter 789

"This round determines the top twenty-five. Congratulations to you twenty-five, but don't celebrate too soon."

The Immortal Guard Commander's gaze blazed as he swept over Li Hao and the other twenty-five victors.

"Those in the losing group each have the right to challenge one contestant. If you win, you replace them. Each contestant may accept only two challenges—this is a chance given to the losing group!"

Upon hearing this, the losing group fell silent, then their eyes lit up.

The victors were taken aback; some frowned, their expressions darkening, while most remained calm, treating it as merely a slight waste of time.

"The losing group still has a chance? Good—this is fair!"

"Perfect! I just faced that Emperor Clan member—I had no chance. That guy is practically guaranteed a top-three spot. Even if I make top ten, I'd still lose to him."

"This top hundred format hasn't changed from before."

Aside from the excited disciples of the losing group, all the Heavenly Sects exhaled in relief—this part was unchanged from the past.

"So it seems I still have a chance."

Hearing this, Gui Gui Lingyue's eyes flashed with light as she scanned the figures of the victors.

At this moment, the twenty-five victors cast golden shadows above the Emperor's Platform.

She could not possibly challenge Li Hao again—his victory had been absolute, with no luck or mistake involved. She was no match for him in the short term.

Aside from Li Hao, few others among them gave her pause.

"Excellent, Miss! You still have a chance to seize a top-five spot!"

Beside her, the Gui clan elder exclaimed in delight—this southern region's rules were surprisingly fair.

Other disappointed losers also began scanning the victors for potential targets.

Gu Yan was no exception—he was pleasantly surprised by this unexpected opportunity.

His gaze swept across the top twenty-five, searching.

On the other side, the green-robed girl who had lost also selected from the top twenty-five, deliberately avoiding Master Yue Xi, the one who had defeated her.

After just three incense sticks had burned, the Immortal Guard Commander stepped into the air and said: "Who will make the first challenge?"

For a moment, the mountaintop fell silent; the losing group paused in hesitation.

"I will."

Soon, someone stepped forward. The rules allowed each victor to accept only two challenges—if a weakling was challenged twice and won, he could still advance.

Thus, the earlier the challenge, the better.

"It's the Taikun Clan—they'll surely make top ten. Who's the unlucky one they'll pick?"

"Oh no! He's pointing at Chi Yu Xuan Yu of our Chijiang Qin Xianchao's imperial family!"

"He's not exactly a soft target—he's imperial royalty, and from the Yu Xuan Yang Clan, ranked among the top fifty of the hundred clans."

"The Taikun Clan is one of the top ten great clans—why would they really pick a soft target? Winning like that would be shameful."

The crowd buzzed with discussion, but within the Chijiang Qin Xianchao, curses erupted—yet no one could do anything.

Chi Yu Xuan Yu, standing among the imperial family, was strikingly handsome and tall, but now his face was as dark as a soot-covered pot.

He had seen the opponent's earlier performance—he knew he was unlikely to win.

"Damn it. Do they think I'm neither soft nor strong?"

Furious, Chi Yu Xuan Yu still stepped onto the Emperor's Platform.

Soon after both entered, the battle erupted instantly.

The fight was fierce. Though Chi Yu Xuan Yu knew he couldn't win, being publicly challenged was unbearable—he sacrificed his bloodline's foundation to unleash a secret technique.

But the Taikun youth's killing move was brutally overwhelming; his immortal body was invincible. In the end, he crushed Chi Yu Xuan Yu with raw power and took his place.

With the first comeback from the losing group, Gui Gui Lingyue moved—she too avoided the weakest targets, choosing instead a prodigy ranked thirtieth from a major clan.

Her battle was faster: Gui Jiang Yingyue's movement closed the distance instantly, slapping the opponent's primordial spirit out of his body, then tearing it apart with her own. Just as she was about to finish, the opponent begged for surrender—whereupon the Immortal Guard Commander intervened in time to save him.

Seeing how fierce the losing group was, many victors grew grim-faced. Only a few remained calm; Shen Lin Wujing of the Ancient God Clan even looked eager, as if hoping someone would challenge him.

Soon, other losing group members began their challenges—but not all possessed Gui Gui Lingyue's top-ten caliber. Many victors successfully defended their positions.

Time passed.

As more losers fell, the remaining challengers grew increasingly cautious.

Li Hao noticed the losing group's gazes sweeping over his golden shadow, then immediately passing over it—he knew no one would challenge him. He felt relieved, pulled out the pastries he'd bought earlier, and ate them calmly beside Da Da Meng Zhu, offering him a few pieces.

Li Lao smelled the aroma and came over, asking Li Hao for some. Li Hao told him to trade wine for it.

Li Lao protested: why should he have to trade wine?

"She's the Sect Master. Are you?" Li Hao's single sentence silenced him.

Feeling Da Da Meng Zhu's gaze upon him, Li Li Tiemu had no choice but to submit—though inwardly he seethed: this brat was brazenly opportunistic!

Soon, Gu Yan selected his opponent.

Da Da Meng Zhu had suggested a weak victor among the top twenty-five, but Gu Yan refused—he chose the Sword Heart instead.

Seeing Gu Yan's choice, the entire crowd erupted in shock; countless eyes turned toward the bold youth.

So far, the Sword Heart, as the Supreme Master's direct disciple, was widely regarded as a top contender for the championship.

"So bold! Is this guy trying to die?"

"Heaven! He doesn't even plan to win?"

"He's throwing away such a rare chance—what's he thinking?"

Everyone stared at Gu Yan in disbelief.

Li Hao glanced at Gu Yan, saw the stubbornness in his eyes, and understood his intent.

It was the mindset of a chess player: when facing a supreme opponent, even at the cost of one's life, one must play one game.

If he passed up this chance, he might never get another.

Even if he advanced to the top twenty-five, he might never face such an opponent.

"Gu Yan, why choose him?"

Li Lao panicked—this was such a rare opportunity, and he'd wasted it outright.

"Even if I advance to the top twenty-five, my strength is already at its limit."

Gu Yan shook his head slightly. If it were top ten, he might still fight for it—but he had no chance of entering the top ten. The twenty-fifth rank meant nothing to him.

"Rather than barely advance and then lose..."

He didn't finish—he leapt onto the Emperor's Platform.

Old Li Li Tiemu froze, speechless.

Da Da Meng Zhu, surprised, watched the boy's back and smiled faintly: "With such conviction, perhaps he will one day carve out his own destiny. This is good. Temporary rankings are fleeting—he has already given his all for the sect. Now he must fight for himself!"

Hearing this, others changed their minds—they now saw Gu Yan's courage to challenge the Sword Heart as truly admirable.

Hearing his words, the others changed their minds, thinking it was rare and admirable that Gu Yan had the courage to challenge Jianxin.

In Wanshan Sword Tower, many disciples sneered.

On the other side, the Sword Heart was surprised to be chosen. He had been lounging with arms crossed, eyes closed, but now slowly opened them. When he saw his challenger's face, his eyes flickered—he understood the boy's intent.

On the other side, Jianxin was surprised to be chosen; he had been crossing his arms and meditating, but now slowly opened his eyes. When he saw the challenger's appearance, his gaze flickered slightly—he understood what the other was thinking.

Beside him, Mingyue smiled slightly.

"Teaching him one sword won't hurt."

The Sword Heart's expression remained calm. In a flicker, he appeared on the Emperor's Platform.

The sealing barrier closed.

"That kid actually challenged the Sword Heart? Doesn't he know the Sword Heart is a prodigy our clan hasn't seen in ten thousand years?"

Far away, atop Jianfeng, the Gu Jianxian Clan had gathered on the mountaintop. Seeing this, someone cursed aloud.

"Challenging the Sword Heart? How presumptuous! Does he think mastering the Sword Immortal's true intent lets him match the Sword Heart?"

"The Sword Heart mastered the Sword Immortal's true intent at a hundred years old, became the Supreme Master's disciple, and will one day lead our clan to dominate the world—how dare he challenge him?!"

"Jianxin attained the true meaning of the Sword Immortal at a hundred years old, became a disciple of the Supreme Master, and is destined to lead our clan to dominate the world—how dare he challenge him?!"

The clan members all scolded him, sneering at the boy who had left the clan.

On the Emperor's Platform, silence reigned.

Gu Yan and the Sword Heart gazed at each other, both sensing the shared bloodline's aura.

"I've been away from the clan for a long time, training under my master. We haven't met in years—who are you from?"

The Sword Heart regarded the fellow clansman calmly.

Gu Yan's eyes grew cold: "No need to care. This battle is about sword, nothing else."

The Sword Heart raised an eyebrow, then slowly gathered immortal energy in his palm, forming a blade: "You've just awakened the Sword Immortal's true intent—you have the potential to become a top prodigy. For the sake of our kinship, I'll teach you one sword."

"Let me see how sharp the strongest sword of our clan truly is!"

Gu Yan narrowed his eyes, his gaze more determined than ever. He had heard of this clan prodigy since childhood—the pride of the entire clan, including his parents, grandfather, and even the clan chief.

He wanted to see how far he still lagged behind their ideal.

The Sword Heart said nothing. He was naturally aloof, not a talkative man—even meeting a clansman from afar stirred no ripples in his heart.

"This sword—No Frost!"

The blade in his palm released a chilling white frost; the temperature on the Emperor's Platform plummeted instantly, as if about to freeze solid.

Gu Yan unleashed his full power—he knew only total effort granted him the right to witness it.

His ultimate strength and the Sword Immortal's true intent merged into his blade.

At the peak of his state, he stared at the clan prodigy before him, feeling the piercing sword intent rushing toward him like a sword peak piercing heaven—so intense, even with his own Sword Immortal's true intent, his heart contracted under the pressure.

The power of the Ultimate Realm and the true essence of the Sword Immortal were fully infused into his sword.

At the peak of his state, he gazed at the clan's prodigies before him, feeling their piercing sword intent surging toward him like a sword peak piercing the heavens; the overwhelming pressure made his heart contract, even though he possessed the true essence of the Sword Immortal.

In a daze, he seemed to see the tallest sword peak of his clan standing before him.

Then, it descended slowly.

Frost spread, all things withered, as if in a cycle of rebirth.

That sword's speed was neither fast nor slow, yet in Gu Yan's eyes,

it seemed to twist space and time, pulling forth countless afterimages.

For a moment, he forgot to act, frozen in place.

Only when the blade neared his skull, the intense threat of death jolted his Primordial Spirit, did he snap back to awareness—and in an instant, he burned his divine blood, unleashing his utmost power.

With a crash, his sword qi had barely formed before it shattered beneath the blade's might, like thin shards of ice.

Then his body was flung backward, slamming hard against the Emperor's Platform, his entire body numb, his Primordial Spirit seemingly frozen, losing all sense of pain.

His mind rang hollow, his vision filled only with that blade slicing into his line of sight.

Long moments passed before he vaguely regained his senses, realizing he was still alive—his chest bore a terrifying wound, cold qi spreading through it.

Without doubt, in this clash of blades, he had lost—and lost utterly.

Outside the Emperor's Platform, many from the Victors' Group had grown grim.

That blade was terrifying; most of them knew they could not block it.

Beyond them, many among the Immortal Lord competitors also paled slightly.

"Such powerful sword Dao!"

Someone whispered—this blade, they felt, could threaten them.

"Water Dao fifth level, Sword Dao fifth level…"

Bo Ya Xue's eyes narrowed slightly; her previously calm expression shattered completely.

His fingers tightened around the True Immortal youth before him—same major realm, yet the opponent's mastery of Water Dao and Sword Dao matched his own!

Fifth level!

In the True Immortal realm, this was nearly impossible to achieve!

Reaching Origin fourth level was already astonishing, bordering on a prodigy,

but fifth level? That was a monster among prodigies!

"Is this what the Supreme's direct disciple can do? And this isn't even his full strength!"

Chu Chu Tianhuang's gaze grew heavy; the youth before them had made the entire Immortal Lord Group One feel threatened.

Though the opponent may not yet have the power to defeat them, once he broke through and entered the Immortal Lord realm, the major realm advantage would vanish—and victory would no longer be certain!

"Fifth-level Sword Dao…"

Li Hao's expression turned grave; this was the strongest Sword Dao he had ever seen in his own realm.

His own Sword Dao had only reached fourth level.

After all, his Sword Dao had reached the eleventh segment—that was the absolute limit.

Only if he shattered the twelfth segment would his Sword Dao leap to Origin sixth level!

And he could even use the point system to ascend to Immortal Lord!

But right now, in his own realm, the opponent's strength had already exceeded the norm—surpassing what a True Immortal should be capable of!

"Such a powerful sword!"

Far away, Shen Tian Wuji's eyes gleamed with battle lust; the opponent's previous strikes had been clean and direct, revealing profound sword intent—but none matched the terror of this one.

"Is that the Supreme of the Southern Region's direct disciple? Miss, if you meet him, do not fight him head-on!"

The ghost elder whispered, his expression darkening.

Gui Gui Lingyue stared long at Xue Jian Xin—this single, simple strike by the youth had made every victor in the arena feel their hairs stand on end; even she could only attempt to engage him with her Primordial Spirit.

"It seems the battle between him and the Imperial Clan will be quite spectacular."

Beside her, Gui Gui Lingshuang murmured.

After all, this was only the True Immortal group—if he crossed into the Immortal Lord realm, she herself would very much like to test her strength against him.