Chapter 806: Reversing the Domain

This short distance could be closed in an instant, but a thick domain force enveloped them, forcing the Yinhai Clan members to halt.

"Hm?"

Everyone turned to look and saw an elderly man with white hair standing beside Li Hao, his aged face filled with rage and killing intent.

"Another Immortal King? And his realm isn't low!"

"Where did this ally come from? The prodigies really do have so many powerful backers!"

"Of course they do—prodigies are not to be trifled with; they carry treasures and are guarded by strong ones, unlike us, mere withered branches and rotten grass."

Countless people stared in astonishment at this scene, murmuring among themselves.

But Li Hao himself was momentarily stunned.

The elderly face was extremely familiar, yet the expression was utterly alien to him.

The newcomer was Wang Lao.

Li Hao had never expected Wang Lao to appear at this critical moment.

"Fifth Realm of Immortal King?"

The Yinhai Clan members' expressions changed slightly, their gazes turning solemn and grave. One realm in Immortal King status meant a vast gulf—fifth realm was among the top-tier strength even among the top fifty clans of the Hundred Clans, nearing the level of a clan leader.

Nearby, the Dream Clan members had not anticipated Li Hao had reinforcements; sensing Wang Shanhe's aura, their eyes lit up with relief.

The Wind Spirit Clan members, however, grew grim, though they did not retreat—only worried that the boy might have other allies beyond this man.

"Wang Lao."

Li Hao's eyes flickered with joy, but he quickly realized their dire situation and said: "You coming here will drag you into trouble."

Hearing Li Hao's words, Wang Shanhe's heart trembled; the killing intent in his eyes was drowned by waves of emotion. He looked down at Li Hao, his gaze brimming with tenderness, and said:

"I saw it all, foolish child. It was we who dragged you into this. With your talent, even other Supreme Beings would have fought to take you in. And now, at this very moment, you still refuse to call for me—do you want me to regret this for the rest of my life?"

By the end, his throat tightened with a tremor.

As an Immortal King, since that great war so long ago, when countless souls stormed out of the Emperor's Palace like moths into flame and perished, his robes had been soaked in tears.

For ten thousand years, he had never felt such heartache again—as if a nail had pierced his chest, spreading cracks like spiderwebs across his entire body, even his soles trembling with spasms of pain.

"I was simply not careful enough."

Li Hao shook his head.

Wang Shanhe clenched his molars slightly, knowing this was no time for further words. He took a deep breath, stepped in front of Li Hao, and swept his gaze across the Yinhai Clan members, then turned to the Wind Spirit Clan.

He seemed determined to etch every face into his memory.

Then he lifted his head, fixing his gaze on the towering silhouette within the misty heavens—the supreme heavenly dao pressure and imperial might radiating from it, blinding and searing like the sun to mortals.

His eyes burned with blood-tears, yet did not waver, locked onto the face he had once looked up to in reverence.

"Celestial Emperor, surely you remember how Tian Yang was treated back then?"

He nearly bit his teeth together, speaking each word with fierce intensity to this supreme being of the True Realm.

At that moment, countless people across the Southern Region froze, holding their breath.

To stare directly at a Supreme Being and question one—that sent shivers through countless hearts.

The ancient title, long vanished from time, echoed once more after ten thousand years.

Celestial Emperor… Above the mist, the seven imperial emperors all stirred in their eyes, distant memories rising in their minds. They looked at the white-haired old man and suddenly felt his face and figure were strangely familiar.

"Celestial Emperor?"

"That… was the Supreme Being's former title?"

"After countless eons, someone still remembers the old name of the Supreme Being—could he be an old acquaintance?"

Across the Southern Region, countless people whispered in astonishment; some elder survivors' eyes flickered with age-worn sorrow.

Jian Xin and Ming Yue, seeing this Immortal King's impudence, both wore angry expressions. Even though he was an Immortal King, as disciples of the Supreme Being, they had seen countless Immortal Kings—even Immortal Kings of seventh or eighth realm bowed respectfully before them.

"How dare you be disrespectful!"

Ming Yue snapped.

Jian Xin remained silent, his eyes sweeping toward Li Hao.

Wang Shanhe glanced at them, recognized them as the Supreme Being's disciples—mere girls—and dismissed them with a single look, his gaze fixed unblinkingly on the Supreme Being, staring into those twin eyes like sun and moon hanging in the heavens.

Their locked gazes, heavy with imperial might, crushed him as if into the depths of the ocean, waves surging endlessly, crushing pressure squeezing every bone in his body into trembling.

This was imperial might—a single glance sufficient to crush even the strongest Immortal Kings.

But Wang Shanhe did not retreat. His heart burned with fury, and he sought only one answer.

"The events of the past are settled. Tian Yang strayed from the path. Are you one of his surviving accomplices?"

The Supreme Being's eyes, deep as the starry void, remained calm and indifferent, his voice devoid of any emotion.

That was the answer… Hearing it, Wang Shanhe felt as if a sledgehammer had struck his heart. His eyes widened, veins bulging, and he took a step forward.

That single small step bore pressure greater than ninety thousand mountains crashing down upon him.

"Strayed from the path? If fighting the ancient demons until your soul shattered and body perished, your imperial heart broken—counts as straying, then the ninety trillion Immortal Armies of the Fusu Immortal Dynasty were all straying too!"

He spread his arms wide, his eye sockets cracking under the unbearable pressure of imperial might, every bone in his body cracking audibly.

His voice, choked with blood and grief, echoed word by word across the entire Southern Region:

"Tian Yang slew one Demon Emperor, wounded another, and crushed the endless Demon Seas—yet the legacy left to him by posterity is guilt?!!"

His roar, aimed at the heavens, shattered the silence like thundering metal through ten thousand years of stillness—every murmur vanished into utter stillness.

Above the mist, the seven imperial emperors lowered their eyes, gazing at the old man with disheveled, snow-white hair flying wildly. Light obscured their faces, revealing no expression.

"Slew a Demon Emperor? Is he speaking of that Sinful Immortal Emperor?"

"Impossible—wasn't he said to have fled?"

"The past is the past—who knows the truth? Perhaps he fled and was forced to fight the ancient demons."

"Your great-grandfather might know something, but he's long since perished."

Ten thousand years was too distant. Only a few surviving elders remembered fragments, and those entangled in that event had long vanished.

Amid the murmurs of doubt from the immortal cities of various dynasties, certain cities of the Yan Chu Immortal Dynasty—where figures had been tense and heartbroken over Li Hao's dire plight—now stared wide-eyed, unable to believe what they saw in Wang Shanhe's back.

Though time had blurred too much—including memory—this moment, something buried deep in their souls surged forth like a sail breaking through the sea. "That… is Wang Shanhe!"

"It's him—he was already an Immortal King back then. He didn't die—he's still alive!"

"The legacy must be guarded by him—is he the child's guardian?"

"Of course—Tian Yang never abandoned the Southern Region, never abandoned everyone. He slew the Demon Emperor… that Demon Emperor was truly slain by Tian Yang!"

Across hidden alleys, by the Willow River, atop lonely peaks, countless people either laughed foolishly, wept bitterly, or pounded their chests, eyes bloodshot.

"The events of the past caused too much slaughter; many fugitives were buried."

The Supreme Being's towering form spoke with cold indifference: "Given the child's extraordinary talent, I intended to guide him onto the righteous path. But now, you remnants grow restless again?"

Hearing these words, Wang Shanhe widened his eyes, staring at him in disbelief.

He could not imagine that someone once so close to Immortal Emperor Tian Yang could utter such words.

That accusation, that slander—should have been the first thing he defended Tian Yang against, standing against the crowd… He stared into those heartless eyes, and suddenly, his heart jolted—he understood.

He realized it all. A chill swept over his entire body, and a fury beyond description surged from his core.

"Was it you… who judged that crime?"

Wang Shanhe clenched his fists, trembling with rage. "Tian Yang Immortal Emperor entrusted the entire Southern Region to you—yet you…"

"Silence."

The Supreme Being spoke softly.

Wang Shanhe's hand shot up instantly, golden immortal energy blazing from his palm as he slapped himself hard across the face—his neck bones snapped, blood trickled from his lips.

But as an Immortal King, his cervical vertebrae healed swiftly. He stared at the Supreme Being in shock and rage, wanting to speak again—but found he could not utter a sound.

He instantly understood: this was no misunderstanding. It had all been orchestrated by the other.

So this was it… He awoke to the truth—but it was already too late.

Yet he could not comprehend: what could possibly entice a Supreme Being, the pinnacle of the True Realm, to betray Tian Yang Immortal Emperor?

To monopolize dominance over the Southern Region?

But Tian Yang Immortal Emperor was already dead. The Supreme Being lived—so the Southern Region had only one Supreme Being. Why defame Tian Yang?

He did not know. He could not understand. Once, the bond between the two had been a celebrated tale—the Twin Emperors of the Southern Region, whose presence deterred other regions from provocation.

The Supreme Being had once even stormed the Forbidden Zones for Tian Yang, fighting to the death against other realms' Immortal Emperors. Now… after ten thousand years, how had everything become so alien?

"Wang Lao."

Li Hao grabbed Wang Lao's arm and shook his head slightly.

It seemed Wang Lao did not realize he was trapped in this scheme—this was a game where the other side held the pieces.

The other side… Li Hao scanned the seven imperial emperors in the mist, his gaze settling on Emperor Chu—was he the other side?

Or was it more than that?

But for him, thinking about it now was irrelevant.

Wang Shanhe looked down at Li Hao, saw his calm expression, and his eyes instantly reddened. This child seemed to see further than he did.

He had raced through stars and moonlight to arrive in time—but it seemed he could not save him.

"Child, yield. Become his disciple. Tian Yang will not blame you."

Wang Lao whispered the words into Li Hao's mind.

He could not speak aloud, but could still transmit thoughts.

Li Hao shook his head slightly. "I won't become his disciple—not because I fear blame, but because it's useless. If death is certain, why not meet it with fire, on my own terms?"

Looking into the boy's clear, bright eyes, Wang Lao felt his heart clench. Such a prodigy—destined to become one of the True Realm's greatest—had already accepted death.

He looked up at the Supreme Being, his fury now transformed into seething hatred.

The opponent's "remnants"—could they be those old friends of yore?

"Child, today I reverse the realm to send you out. The Luo Emperor will meet you. The Emperor's Palace… should withstand his one strike!"

Wang Shanhe sent a mental message, his eyes already brimming with killing intent.

After countless eons, he finally found a successor like Li Hao. Though Li Hao is still only a formal disciple, given the talent he displayed in the Southern Region War, when he meets the Luo Emperor again, he will surely become a direct disciple.

With such a direct disciple as his heir, Lord Tianyang's legacy will endure, and in time, his tainted name will be cleansed.

Li Hao's gaze shifted slightly—he wondered if this was too insane. If it failed, the Emperor's Palace would be destroyed, the lineage utterly erased, and that once-heroic Immortal Emperor would forever bear the stigma, drowned in the river of history.

"So you're a remnant. Then killing you counts as righteous retribution!"

At this moment, the Yinhai Clan members came to their senses, their eyes flashing with killing intent. Their leader, an Immortal King, said:

"In the past, we never got the chance to strike at those traitorous remnants. Today, we can finally lend a hand to the Southern Region!"

As they spoke, over a dozen figures erupted with blinding radiance, their realms unfolding, as if splitting the void into countless worlds.

Terrifying cosmic energies spread outward, clashing and crowding—mere leakage of their aura left countless people atop the mountain gasping for breath; even the Immortal Jun disciples competing felt crushing pressure, their faces turning pale.

Wang Lao's face was icy, yet his gaze was grave. He drew a deep breath and turned his eyes toward the members of the Dream Clan.

Seeing the familiar clan markings of the Dream Clan, a flicker of relief passed through his eyes. He then spoke urgently through mental transmission:

"All of you, I will reverse the realm to secure a chance for Li Hao's survival. I beg your aid!"

Hearing Wang Shanhe's words, the Dream Clan members all paled. This meant he would sacrifice himself—there would be no chance even for reincarnation.

But it was too late to turn back. They knew his decision could not be undone by mere words. And given the current situation, even reversing the realm might not be enough to escape!

After all, beneath the gaze of the Supreme One, no one knew whether that Supreme One would disregard dignity and order the Tiangong forces to act.

"The Dream Clan will give our all!"

The old woman, clutching the withered vine divine staff, replied.

Upon receiving her response, Wang Shanhe exhaled softly. Then, all his primordial cosmic sources coalesced, forming countless immortal laws that stretched across his realm like celestial chains!

Within the realm, the aura surged like a roaring storm. Countless mountains shattered; abandoned ancient cities turned to dust—each city bearing the form of the old capitals of the Fusu Immortal Dynasty.

As the realm's mountains and rivers crumbled, the entire realm became a chaotic torrent, radiating terrifying pressure that surged ever higher.

The Yinhai Clan members swiftly joined forces, their realms shifting to form a strange realm array.

This pressure had already begun to crack the mountain range below.

(End of Chapter)