Chapter 794: The Supreme Chess Game

Li Hao was slightly stunned, suspecting he had misheard. He had expected the other party to make other demands, perhaps even forcing him to hand over the inheritance of the Imperial Palace or lead them to the Pseudo-Realm of Tianyang.

But he never expected that the other party's demand would be to take him as a disciple.

He felt a bit suspicious, gazing at this Supreme Being, feeling unable to fathom the other party's intentions.

At the same time, he suddenly thought of another situation.

Since the Celestial Emperor Tianyang had defected back then, and the charges were so grave, why was the Pseudo-Realm of Tianyang still preserved?

If one were to say that the pseudo-realm was buried in a place where Ancient Demons resided and they were unwilling to expend the energy to set foot there, that could barely be considered a plausible excuse.

But after he met Chi Ying, the fact that she led the Tiangong generals to the Pseudo-Realm of Tianyang to slay demons was enough to prove that she had the ability to open a path to the Ancient Demon battlefield!

One must know that Chi Ying was merely at the Immortal Monarch Realm and could not be considered a high-level existence. With the power of the Tiangong, let alone dispatching a few top-tier Immortal Monarchs, even sending a few Immortal Kings to take action would be an effortless task!

And in the region surrounding the Pseudo-Realm of Tianyang, an Immortal King would be enough to sweep through everything.

Moreover, if it were said that they previously did not know it was the Pseudo-Realm of Tianyang, Chi Ying had set foot there later; this situation should have been reported to the Tiangong long ago, yet the Tiangong still had not dealt with that place.

Such strangeness—the saying goes that when things are abnormal, there must be a demon. However, Li Hao possessed too little intelligence, leaving him only confused. Yet, he suddenly thought of other possibilities.

This line of reasoning stemmed from the fact that he himself was an angler.

Perhaps this Supreme Being had known about the Pseudo-Realm of Tianyang all along.

Since the Celestial Emperor Tianyang's sins were grave and were now publicly acknowledged by them with conclusive evidence, the preservation of the Pseudo-Realm of Tianyang became something terrifying to contemplate.

Perhaps it was a lure.

And that lure was used to fish for others.

As the other party said, many great clans were implicated because of the Celestial Emperor Tianyang's affair back then, and numerous factions were dragged into it, eventually disappearing, being executed, or having their clans wiped out.

But, were they really cleaned out completely?

Perhaps not. Therefore, the Pseudo-Realm of Tianyang became a lure.

If those great clans found the Pseudo-Realm of Tianyang, went there to take root, and secretly developed, perhaps they would then face the Tiangong's extermination...

Thinking of this, Li Hao suddenly broke into a cold sweat.

He himself was both an angler and a chess player. At this moment, he increasingly felt that the Pseudo-Realm of Tianyang was a lure—a massive lure.

Using a Heavenly Dao pseudo-realm as a lure, and at the same time, as a chess piece.

It was a trap!

The more Li Hao thought about it, the more he felt this was the case. This was not him letting his imagination run wild or scaring himself; rather, the various anomalies and contradictions made him harbor such suspicions.

He himself was an eleventh-grade chess player, transcendent and immortal, possessing the ability to lay out a board, as well as the ability to perceive and break a trap.

It was just that he was currently deep within the trap, and this trap was immense; he felt that he might have become a chess piece!

Since the Pseudo-Realm of Tianyang was a lure, and the Supreme Being had just said that Chi Ying had reported the situation to the Tiangong, then this Supreme Being had known their identities all along.

Yet the other party had not sought him out... Now, due to various reasons, he had come to the Southern Region Battle, and he had come before this Supreme Being.

Everything seemed to have fallen into place naturally, but Li Hao suddenly felt that there was a black hand pushing from behind.

The reason he came to the Southern Region Battle was the Great Dream Jiuyuan Sect, but Li Hao believed it was definitely not the guidance of the Great Dream Lord. On the contrary... Li Hao swept his gaze toward the Chu Emperor.

As the emperor of an Ancient Qin Xianchao, could the other party not guess his identity?

He had previously displayed the Azure Heaven Sword Art in the Ancient Immortal Realm. When he defeated Chu Tianzheng, it was in full view of everyone; would the other party not make the connection?

Yet the other party did not mention this matter at all, instead offering his children in marriage to him, seemingly wanting to pull him into the Yan-Chu Imperial Clan to serve Yan-Chu.

Li Hao thought of two possibilities.

One was that this Chu Emperor was indeed numb and had not made the connection to that distant past.

The other was that it was intentional.

But if it were the second, what was the reason?

If the other party wanted to execute him, it would be a matter of a single finger.

Or was it that the other party intended to send him to the Supreme Being to curry favor?

This possibility seemed low. As an Qin Xianchao Emperor, an existence at the peak of the Immortal King Realm, or even a half-step Immortal Monarch who had already stepped half a foot into the Celestial Emperor Realm, why would he need to be so servile to curry favor?

Li Hao's eyes flickered; he could not think of a reason. Unless only one possibility remained: that the other party was intentionally sacrificing him to distance himself from the Celestial Emperor Tianyang.

But after one hundred thousand years, was there a need to be so deliberate?

The more Li Hao thought, the deeper his contemplation became, and he became lost in thought.

"What are you thinking about?"

At this moment, a cold voice rang out. Ming Yue frowned and said to Li Hao, "My Master is speaking to you; did you not hear? How rude. Standing before you is the Southern Region Supreme Being, the Emperor of all Immortals and Gods!"

Li Hao came back to his senses. Hearing her words, he looked at the others. At this moment, looking at these Ancient Qin Xianchao Emperors again, Li Hao suddenly read something else in their obscure and difficult-to-understand faces: pity? Regret?

Li Hao felt a chill in his heart. It seemed these emperors had long since seen through his identity and also seen that he was deep within a trap.

It was just that he had previously been in the trap without knowing it, a chess piece unaware of being one.

Now, he barely knew that he was placed in a grand trap. The players of this game: one side was the Tiangong Supreme Being, the other side was unclear, but it could be the Chu Emperor, or perhaps more than just the Chu Emperor.

He took a deep breath and said to the Tiangong Supreme Being, "These immortal arts are powerful; why must they be abolished? Immortal arts are not guilty, just as blades and swords are not guilty."

"Presumptuous! How are you speaking to Master?"

Ming Yue said angrily.

Li Hao ignored her, only gazing at the Tiangong Supreme Being. But just by touching his eyes, he felt his mind grow dizzy, with a sensation of falling. He had to hurriedly turn his gaze away, yet his heart felt an indescribable bitterness.

"The world does not lack such immortal arts; there are other immortal arts sufficient to replace them."

The Tiangong Supreme Being did not answer Li Hao, but instead said, "If you can pass the test and enter my sect, I will naturally pass on stronger immortal arts to you. Are you willing?"

Hearing his words, countless eyes gathered on Li Hao.

In the distant starry sky, Wang Shanhe, who was rushing to catch the sun and stars, also changed his expression; the Heavenly Emperor was actually openly snatching the disciple of a lord.

He could not help but show a bit of nervousness in his eyes. After all, the Celestial Emperor had already fallen, while the Heavenly Emperor before him was alive. Comparing the two, how to choose was self-evident.

In another place, a figure in cyan-blue clothing was galloping rapidly through the starry sky. Her figure carried a seven-colored hazy light. She narrowed her eyes and glanced at the scene being projected, only slightly pursing her lips before accelerating.

She could peer into the past and future and had long known what the youth was about to face, and had long seen this scene, so she was not surprised.

In the Ask-Heart Pagoda City.

On the hillside, Old Man Han picked up his wine pot, took a sip, and watched the youth in the clouds quietly, waiting for the other party's answer.

The corners of his mouth curled up slightly, his eyes faint, carrying a bit of self-mockery.

Kid, I'm afraid we'll have to part ways from now on...

He thought of the things he had given away; he had been willful for once. Once he entered that person's sect, the other party would inevitably find out that this kid's Dao Heart was far from just an Eternal Dao Heart, and would also see his handiwork. By then, they would likely come to visit again.

A cold sneer appeared at the corner of his mouth. If they came again, then he would just fight again.

In the Yan-Chu territory, within the nine thousand immortal cities.

Standing in some hidden places of each immortal city, figures with sorrowful expressions all clenched their fists, their faces filled with grief and fury, but they were helpless and could only face it.

Such humiliation, they had already seen many times and had already endured many times.

Now, it was nothing more than enduring one more time.

Endure, endure, endure... They had endured for one hundred thousand years; how could they not endure it now?

Many people bit their teeth until they shattered, their fists clenched until they bled, but in the end, they could still only endure.

While the gaze of the entire Southern Region was focused on Li Hao, Li Hao stood on the clouds. At this moment, he did not have much feeling, only narrowing his eyes slightly and saying:

"If I say I am unwilling, what will happen?"

Hearing his words, the mountaintop was in an uproar in an instant.

Countless people thought Li Hao would agree without hesitation, abandoning the darkness for the light. Moreover, compared to the fallen Celestial Emperor, the Supreme Being before them was alive; even with one's toes, one would know how to choose.

But Li Hao was actually hesitant, which made people feel it was inconceivable.

In the starry sky, Wang Shanhe, who was constantly chasing, froze. Immediately, his eye sockets were like weeping blood, slightly moist.

Even if Li Hao was eventually forced by the majesty of the Tiangong Supreme Being to enter his sect, having this one counter-question was worth all those games they had played in front of the thatched cottage!

Another cyan-blue figure galloping in the starry sky remained indifferent. She had long seen the youth's answer; she had even seen everything about the other party from birth until now, and had watched it countless times.

Perhaps the other party's impression of her was ordinary, but she was already incomparably familiar with the youth, even as familiar as a relative.

In the Yan-Chu nine thousand immortal cities, the numerous figures with sorrowful expressions were all bitter. Someone had tears in their eyes and muttered to themselves:

"Good, good, good. It's been one hundred thousand years, and there is someone who dares to counter-question him. He is worthy of being the disciple chosen by the Lord!"

"Poor child, only a hundred years of soul life; this kind of thing shouldn't have dragged you into it. Those three IOUs, others don't believe them, but we believe!"

"Child, don't be foolish."

The anger in their hearts that had been so stifled they couldn't breathe seemed to suddenly receive great comfort from the youth's soft counter-question, to the point that many people were moved to tears, shifting from anger to sympathy and love for the youth.

In the clouds, the expressions of Jian Xin and Ming Yue both froze slightly, and then their faces became somewhat gloomy.

The Tiangong Supreme Being's expression remained calm, carrying the majesty of looking down on all living beings, his voice neither hurried nor slow:

"If you are unwilling, I will also spare your life to fight for the Southern Region. After all, our human race is currently too lacking in talent."

Hearing his words, countless people came back to their senses, shouting that the Supreme Being was infinitely merciful.

Li Hao breathed a sigh of relief, but he knew things were not that simple. He asked, "If that is the case, this junior thanks the Supreme Being for his kindness, but I already have a Master. Regardless of who I enter the sect under, as long as I see Ancient Demons, as long as Ancient Demons break the prohibitions, if there is a place where I am needed, I am willing to fight!"

His words were sonorous and powerful, and also came from his heart.

Besides the fact that Ancient Demon flesh could strengthen the Primordial Spirit, the scenes of Ancient Demons sweeping through the Pseudo-Realm of Tianyang back then were still fresh in his memory, and he did not want such tragedies to spread across the world.

If a great catastrophe were truly coming, he would naturally not retreat. After all, when the nest is overturned, no egg remains intact.

Hearing Li Hao's refusal, countless people were in an uproar. Facing the Supreme Being's invitation to take him as a disciple, Li Hao was actually unwilling!

One must know, this was the status of a personal disciple, how noble! He could walk sideways through the entire Southern Region!

Simply put, Jian Xin and Ming Yue, in any immortal dynasty in the Southern Region, once something happened to them, the entire immortal dynasty would have to give the Tiangong an explanation!

"He actually..."

Numerous participating disciples were also a bit dazed at this moment, their eyes filled with shock.

Among them, including the Immortal Monarchs of various immortal dynasties, such as Chu Tianhuang, Bo Ya Xuejian, and the Immortal Monarchs of other great clans, were all stunned.

They came here to participate in the war, and besides seeking fame and competing with peers of the same realm, it was also to enter the sect of a strong person.

And now, this greatest opportunity was placed before Li Hao, yet Li Hao actually refused.

This was an opportunity countless people longed for!

"He, he, he, what is he thinking?"

Chu Yueli was a bit dazed. Previously, hearing that the Tiangong Supreme Being wanted to take Li Hao as a disciple, she was full of joy and excitement. If her husband were a disciple of the Tiangong Supreme Being, with the same status as Jian Xin, then her status in the Yan-Chu Imperial Clan would climb to surpass all other imperial clans. Even those monstrous older brothers and sisters, she would not fear in the future.

No matter how many factions the other party had in the court, they would not be a match for her husband alone.

But, Li Hao actually refused?

After she reacted, she was instantly so angry that her face turned livid, wishing she could rush up and loudly question him.

While the whole scene was shocked and discussing, the Tiangong Supreme Being remained calm and said:

"Although I can spare your life, you carry too many things on your body that you shouldn't have. The disciple brand on you must also be erased. In other words, I will retain part of your memories and find another reincarnation body for you. Are you willing?"

Li Hao's expression changed slightly. He knew it wouldn't be that simple. Find another reincarnation body?

Wasn't this equivalent to still wanting to kill him?

Moreover, only retaining part of the memories, then would the reincarnated him still be him?

As a Supreme Being, he was actually speaking so ruthlessly. Li Hao's expression was gloomy; this was equivalent to not giving him a choice.

And regarding the Tiangong Supreme Being's words, countless people present did not feel surprised. After all, Li Hao's identity—if they did nothing and let him go, then if there were human traitors in the future who defected to the Ancient Demons, how should they be dealt with? How could they convince the masses?

"So that's it, I have no choice."

Li Hao said, "What is the test for entering the sect?"

The Tiangong Supreme Being said calmly, "Very simple. Hold out for three moves in Jian Xin's hands, and that counts as passing."

Hearing his words, the gazes of everyone present turned to Jian Xin.

Jian Xin was also slightly stunned, and then his eyes became cold and sharp.

In his mind, the sound transmission from his junior sister Ming Yue suddenly appeared: "Senior Brother, please be sure to go all out. I don't want to be in the same sect as this kind of guy."

"Rest assured, I don't want to either."

Jian Xin responded via sound transmission.

Ming Yue secretly breathed a sigh of relief, a cold sneer appearing in her eyes as she looked at Li Hao.

If he were defeated and unable to enter the sect, then the other party's end would definitely not be good.

With such a terrible attitude toward Master and repeated defiance, she wished she could personally defeat Li Hao, or even kill him.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 795 =====