Chapter 817: Ancient Marriage Pact

Li Hao's gaze swept across, and he saw the splendor here surpassing that of the previous star, the Royal Star, by a hundredfold.

The heavens were filled with golden phoenix feathers and true dragons soaring, stirring clouds of auspicious radiance. On the ground, palaces shimmered in gold and jade, more magnificent than imperial courts by tenfold; even a roadside shop stood as grand as a palace, its shelves lined with immortal treasures emitting colorful divine glows, while the melodies of zithers and the ring of swords blended in harmony—utterly opulent.

"Is this the Imperial Star?"

Li Hao's heart trembled, and thinking of the Su family, he silently asked the Black Tortoise Emperor Soul:

"Does this Imperial Star have an Immortal Emperor?"

"Yes."

The Black Tortoise Emperor Soul seemed to sense Li Hao's unease and said: "But the Immortal Emperor sleeps half the time and will not fully awaken unless it is a matter of great consequence. The Supreme Being you saw earlier was merely an avatar. Even my master, Dao Source Immortal Emperor, is but a reflection—not his true body descended. Otherwise, the true world there would collapse, and you could not withstand it."

"An avatar?"

Li Hao's pupils contracted slightly. The Supreme Being he had seen earlier had been too majestic to gaze upon, towering over all, and a single wisp of his aura had crushed every king present into silence. And this was only an avatar?!

He suddenly understood why the Immortal Emperor stood supreme, the ultimate existence in the True World—no wonder all races revered him.

Leaving the teleportation array, Li Hao entered the city before him and inquired about the Su family's location.

Fortunately, the human language here was the same as that of the Southern Region, differing only in accent.

Hearing Li Hao's accent, they assumed he was a native from some remote star on the northern frontier, casting him slightly odd glances—until they sensed his cultivation aura, then softened their expressions and pointed him the way.

"The Su family resides in Gusu City. You must teleport there from here."

"Gusu City?"

Li Hao's heart stirred. The Imperial Star was named Gusu, and so was the city—could the Su family have an Immortal Emperor ancestor?

"I've heard they do, but I don't know the current situation. I've been in the Original True World too long. Also, since an Immortal Emperor sleeps here, I too will sink into semi-sleep. I'll manifest when you're in danger—otherwise, you must find your own way."

The Black Tortoise Emperor Soul transmitted his voice.

Li Hao heard his voice gradually fade, and he made no complaint, silently thanking him in his heart before pulling out immortal stones and entering a roadside tavern.

The tavern was gilded and splendid as an imperial palace; the immortals and gods entering and leaving were all radiant as glass, adorned with countless immortal treasures—every one rich or noble.

Li Hao found someone within and inquired about the Gusu Imperial Star.

The tavern keeper sensed Li Hao's Immortal Lord realm aura and did not look down on him, patiently giving him a brief account.

The Gusu Imperial Star was vast, filled with many forbidden zones. Above certain cities and mountain ranges, flight was strictly prohibited—those mountains were privately monopolized spiritual veins of great clans, barred to outsiders. Some cities held special taboos: no one was allowed to cross them, for they enshrined ancient Emperor statues or King steles; any immortal or god flying above them was considered sacrilege!

These were the local rules of the Gusu Imperial Star, and all must abide by them.

After a brief explanation, upon learning Li Hao sought the Su family, he informed him of the teleportation city.

The Gusu Imperial Star's area was larger than all the Celestial Realms combined—less than one-tenth the size of the thirty-three minor worlds added together.

Leaving the tavern, Li Hao headed for the teleportation point. Thinking of the dying words of that beautiful, shattered face, his heart grew impatient.

Soon, after three consecutive teleports through three immortal cities, Li Hao arrived at Gusu City.

The city before him was even more majestic. The ground seemed paved with golden bricks; from the sky drifted elegant zither melodies, imbued with the simple rhythm of the Dao. Those who lived here and listened from childhood, if they had even a shred of wisdom, could easily comprehend the Dao.

In the mortal world, reaching the Realm of Hearing the Dao required extraordinary talent and a thousand years—yet here, even youths of twenty could attain it effortlessly.

The Su family resided at the very center of Gusu City, in its most prosperous and splendid district.

A vast imperial mansion stood within the city, its grounds larger than an entire mortal dynasty, filled with countless halls, dragons and phoenixes resting in pools, exuding supreme nobility.

Before the mansion, patrols of Immortal Lords stood like guards, their cold eyes scanning the crowds.

Immortals and gods passing by quickened their steps under those icy gazes, holding their breaths, afraid of stirring even a speck of dust before the mansion.

"Did you hear? The Su family is arranging a marriage with the Lin family—the True Destiny Empress and the Lin family's True Destiny Emperor Son will unite. Can you imagine how powerful their offspring's bloodline will be?"

"What can we do? Our human race in the Northern Region relies entirely on a few great clans to survive—otherwise, we'd already be pigs and dogs. Now that demons and monsters grow strong, we must band together for safety."

"I heard Su Muqing and that Emperor Son have been childhood companions since youth—this union is truly heaven's will."

"I've long heard the True Destiny Empress is breathtakingly beautiful. I traveled ten thousand miles just to glimpse her face."

"Of course! Ten years ago, I once caught a distant glimpse of Miss Su. Every time I close my eyes, she appears—unforgettable."

Outside the mansion, many gathered, whispering, occasionally glancing furtively toward the mansion but daring not to extend their spiritual sense.

As Li Hao passed, he paid slight attention to their talk and realized these people had come to wait—just to catch a glimpse of Miss Su when she stepped out.

He felt a faint amusement—immortals and gods could be so superficial. Yet, the closer he drew to the mansion, the heavier the pressure in his chest—this Su family was truly a great clan of the Northern Region; their status likely surpassed even that of the Yan-Chu imperial house in the Southern Region!

Outside the mansion, voices murmured distantly; before its gates, silence reigned—no one dared approach.

Thus, the boy's slow approach immediately drew many glances—the Immortal Lord patrols all turned their eyes toward him.

Seeing his plain attire, their gazes sharpened even further.

"Who are you? What is your purpose?"

An Immortal Lord descended before Li Hao, speaking calmly—not coldly aggressive. After all, the Su family was a great clan; visitors were often nobles, and appearances could deceive.

Thinking of Ying Xiaoxiao's words—"Northern Region's Su family…"—Li Hao took a deep breath, feeling an inexplicable tension in his chest.

From his space of heaven and earth, he retrieved the ancient scroll. The Black Tortoise Emperor Soul had said this was a gift from Dao Source Immortal Emperor; carrying it to the Su family would grant him what he sought—the Immortal Emperor must have foreseen what he needed.

He held out the ancient scroll to the Immortal Lord guard and said:

"I am Hao Tian. I come to pay respects to the Su family. Kindly present this to the head of the Su household."

The Immortal Lord guard raised an eyebrow, sensing a faint thread of Dao rhythm from the scroll, and deeper still, an aura that even he found alarming. His heart tightened—he realized this boy was no ordinary person. He accepted the scroll and said:

"Please follow me to the Reception Hall and wait."

He gestured for Li Hao to proceed.

Li Hao followed him through the mansion gates, and as he stepped inside, he felt as if entering a celestial realm—the ambient immortal energy suddenly thickened tenfold. Though the Gusu Imperial Star's immortal energy was already dense, like Yan-Chu's imperial capital, the mansion's energy was akin to a sacred ground of supreme immortals; it flowed through his pores, and here, even without cultivation, his base would slowly rise.

Soon, following the rainbow-like pathways within the mansion, Li Hao arrived at the Reception Hall to wait.

The Immortal Lord guard carried the ancient scroll deep into the Su mansion, to a towering, ancient, solemn, and magnificent hall.

Through layers of transmission and reports, the scroll finally reached that ancient hall, respectfully presented before a noble lady.

Her attire was extravagantly luxurious, each hem adorned with pearls of immortal treasures. Her skin was snow-white, her face one-third pure, one-third noble, one-third the authority of long-standing supremacy—no one could resist such beauty.

Seeing the ancient scroll, her eyebrows lifted slightly, sensing a faint, hidden imperial aura emanating from it.

This startled her—this object had once been held by an Immortal Emperor.

And what could be more precious than something held by an Immortal Emperor?

She set aside the immortal nectar beside her, picked up the scroll, and slowly unrolled it.

Golden light burst forth from the scroll. As it opened, ancient characters emerged, radiating a vast, primordial Daoic essence—the writer was no ordinary being.

When she saw the two characters on the far right, her furrowed brow changed color, her fingers trembled slightly, nearly dropping the scroll.

Things that could shock her were exceedingly rare—even if an Immortal King died before her eyes, she would not blink. Yet now, merely those two characters caused her to pale.

Her eyes scanned line by line. When she saw the floating, coiling dragon-and-phoenix seal beneath, emitting soft, joyful, auspicious tones, her heart plunged into an icy abyss—no joy, only cold dread.

How could this happen now?

Her eyes trembled slightly, eyelashes fluttering in the light. The two maids beside her exchanged glances, each reading shock and alarm in the other's eyes.

What could possibly cause the Lady to lose her composure like this?

After a long silence, she closed the scroll, fixed her gaze on the messenger, and said sharply:

"Who delivered this scroll? What did he look like? How many were with him?"

The messenger was not the first Immortal Lord guard who had met Li Hao, but as the Lady's personal guard, he had already gathered all details—now he bowed low, as if he had witnessed it himself:

"According to the gate guards, only one person came—a youth, dressed plainly, his soul lifespan unilluminated, age unknown. He came alone, his cultivation realm at Immortal Lord First Stage."

"Immortal Lord First Stage…"

Hearing this, the Lady's eyebrows lifted slightly. A mere Immortal Lord First Stage dared come here, clutching this ancient marriage contract left by their ancestors?

She fell silent for a moment, then said: "Bring him to the Jingwei Hall."

"Yes."

…

In the Reception Hall, Li Hao soon saw the Immortal Lord guard return, his demeanor now far more respectful—he bowed deeply and gestured:

"Your Excellency, please follow me. The Lady has ordered you to wait in the Jingwei Hall."

Li Hao exhaled in relief—so the Black Tortoise Emperor Soul's words were true. Dao Source Immortal Emperor had truly guided him all the way.

He silently thanked him again, rose, bowed slightly, and followed the guard out of the hall, along the rainbow-immortal path toward another grander, more splendid hall.

Soon, Li Hao arrived at this hall.

The maids at the entrance respectfully ushered him in and served him tea.

Li Hao sat upon a luxurious throne carved from ten-thousand-year divine wood, his eyes scanning the surroundings. The tea beside him exhaled a fragrant mist, soothing his spirit.

But his thoughts were not on the tea—he wondered if he would soon meet the other reincarnation Ying Xiaoxiao had spoken of.

Yet Ying Xiaoxiao had said the reincarnation had not yet awakened—what did that mean?

Was she not yet born? Or was she like Ying Xiaoxiao's earlier life, unaware of her past memories?

As Li Hao pondered, several figures slowly approached outside the door. Leading them was naturally the noble lady. Now her gaze was cold. When her maids tried to announce her arrival, she raised a hand to stop them, stepping soundlessly to the threshold.