Chapter 832

Within the realm of the Go board and the Dao domain, Li Hao closed his eyes, immersed in it, feeling the fusion of his Primordial Spirit and his Immortal Body, playing a grand game of Go!

This game used the Primordial Spirit and Immortal Body as black and white stones, battling and strategizing against each other!

The insights of the Twelve Levels of Go, as Li Hao placed his stones and arranged his formation, merged into the game—black and white stones entwined in combat, each move embodying the ultimate truths of Go, tightly interwoven with no flaws or gaps, capable of transforming into one another, every step a lethal trap, yet each also a path to survival.

Black and white reversed, life and death inverted, just as the true soul of the Primordial Spirit and the fleshly Immortal Body could also harmonize their power and transform into each other.

The Primordial Spirit is the Immortal Body; the Immortal Body is the Primordial Spirit.

Li Hao faintly sensed he was forging a new Immortal Body, walking a path never before tread.

Perhaps others—prodigies or Immortal Emperors—had once stepped upon this path, but now he too walked this rare road of the mortal world; when this game finally ended and settled, perhaps it would be the moment he truly opened a supreme Dao.

Time passed, and within Li Hao's entire Immortal Body, golden Primordial Spirit light was embedded, each pore seemingly irrigated with divine nectar, concealing pure divine radiance.

Each palm contained power capable of piercing through mountain peaks; when his five fingers converged, they could grip and pierce through empty space!

He had consumed the corpse of an ancient demon, and his Primordial Spirit's golden bones now numbered nearly nine hundred; even in pure Primordial Spirit strength, he could rival the peak of an Immortal Lord's realm.

Now, as this Primordial Spirit power fused with his fleshly Immortal Body, his entire strength surged endlessly, as if without limit—his former Immortal Body, built upon his Immortal Lord First Layer cultivation, could barely withstand attacks from an Immortal Lord Fifth Layer, but now it had climbed to Seventh, Eighth…

Li Hao felt that upon complete fusion, even if he remained only at Immortal Lord First Layer, he could withstand the killing blows of an Immortal Lord Full Realm!

At that time, his Immortal Body would no longer be one of the Ten Immortal Bodies of the True Realm.

"Perhaps, it should now be called… the Heaven-Earth Immortal Body!"

Li Hao slowly opened his eyes; the fusion of his body continued, this game unfinished—each move was a mutual replenishment between Primordial Spirit and Immortal Body, demanding immense energy.

Had he not reached the Twelve Levels of Go, he could never have possessed the skill to construct this Heaven-Earth Immortal Body.

Beyond the transformation of his Immortal Body, Li Hao sensed his internal Immortal Force had shattered its liquid limit, undergoing a strange metamorphosis—Immortal Force now contained divine radiance, infused with Primordial Spirit power!

Thus, every attack and killing technique he formed from Immortal Force now seemed to carry pure Primordial Spirit strikes!

Yaozhidao ， Jibianshizhenxianjingdexianshen ， Yejibendouzhangwobusibumiejijing ， Kedixuechongsheng 。

Roushenhexianquposui ， Yenengzhuanyanyuhe ， Zhiyaoxianlibuku 。

Danyuanshenquebuxing 。

Xiaohaohuosunshangzhongchuang ， Douxuyaoxiandanliaoyu ， Huoshikaozishendiaoyangxiulianhuifu 。

Nengliaoyuyuanshendexiandan ， Yedoujiqiangguixique ， Shigedashilidunjidebaowu ， Zaidazhanzhongbibukeque ， Shizhongyaozhanlvewuzi 。

Rujin ， Zaichijiuzuozhanxia ， Lihaodegongjizhongfudaiyuanshenliliang ， Gentabosha ， Yuanshenhuibuduanshouchuang ， Jibianroushennengwushucizaisheng ， Yuanshenyekangbuzhu ！

Erqie ， Zheyuanshenliliangyunhanzailihaodexianquzhong ， Tazishenbushouyingxiang ， Meiyouxiaohao 。

「 Xianli ， Juranhainengrongrubiedeliliang ……」

Lihaoyouxiejingqi 。

Taquebuzhidao ， Xianlidapoyetaijixian ， Huirongrubiedeshuxingliliang ， Youxiedajiazuhuojueshixuemaidaoti ， Xianlizhonghuiyunhanteshuzhili ， Zheyeshidaxuemaiheqiangzugenxunchangxianshenhuafenkaidezhongyaoyuanyinzhiyi 。

Suizhushierduanqidaodailaideganwuquandouxishou ， Yihuangyanguoqubangeyue 。

Zhebangeyue ， Lihaoduiqidaodelijieyouzhibiantisheng ， Chunaohaizhongzengjiazhuduoqipuqidaoganwu ， Shijian 、 Kongjian 、 Shengsidengdadaobenyuanganwu ， Yedoubeilihaoxishou 。

Tadeshijianbenyuanpanshengdaowuzhongdianfeng 。

Kongjianbenyuantongyangdaposizhong ， Tishengdaowuzhongdianfeng 。

Yimenqidao ， Jingjiangzheliangdazhigaojiuxu ， Doushuangshuangtishengjiejinliangzhongjingjie ， Lihaodouyouxiefenbuqing ， Wandaojintou ， Jiujingqidaogengqiang ， Haishijiuxuweifeng 。

Zaishikongbenyuantishengdaowuzhongdianfengshi ， Jiashangroushendaobenyuanliuzhongjingjie ， Lihaoganjuezijidedaoyuanxianyin ， Sihufashengxiexubianhua ， Nengrongnaheningliangengduoxianli 。

Suirantahaishixianjunjingyizhong ， Dantineixianlichengzaideliang ， Queshitongjingyihuaxianyindeshangwanbei ！

Meicuo ， Zhebianshidingjiangenzuiruodechaju 。

Yaozhidao ， Xianyinmeiduoyihua ， Rongnadexianlibiankefanbei 。

Jiuhuaxianyinjishi 256 Beixianli ， Jiuhuajiuxuzezaizhejichushang ， Tishengwubei ， Dadao 1280 Bei ！

Erdaoyuanguiyi ， Zeshijiuhuajiuxudeshibei ， Yejiushitongjingyihuaxianyindewanbeililiang ！

Buguo ， Nengxiulianchengxianjunjing ， Yexianshaozhiyouyihuaxianyin ， Zhishaoyedoushilianghuadaosanhua ， Tianjiaozeyouliuqihua ， Dingjiantianjiaobufajiuhua 。

Xianqianlihaonengyijianzhanbaisanshisiweitongjing ， Chujianshuwai ， Yeshizishenxianliguoyuhunhoupangbo ， Jinshililiangbianchedinianya 。

Danshixianli ， Tayijingpimeizuiruodexianjunjingqibazhongjingjie ， Rujinxianlininglianweiyetai ， Zaizengshubei ， Nenggenzuiruodexianjunjingyuanmanpimei ！

Dangran ， Daduoxunchangxianjunjingyuanman ， Doushisansihuaxianyin ， Zhechajuhuibeishousuo 。

Zhurusumuqingdengdazutianjiao ， Yenengpimeizuiruodexianjunjingyuanman ， Danzhenzhengtamensuozaoyudeduishou ， Yefeifanren ， Yincizhinengnishayiliangzhongjingjie 。

Erlihaogenzhexiedazutianjiaoxiangbi ， Yezhinengpimeiliuqizhongjingjieeryi 。

Danlihaoganjue ， Ruozishendetiandixianquninglianwancheng ， Keyingzhanqibazhongdingjiantianjiao ！

「 Nanyu ， Shimiaoyixianjunjingqizhong ， Wendingxianjunwudi ， Rujindewo ， Haibujita ……」

Lihaoxiangdaonanyu ， Xiangdaonashaonvjuejingzhongposuideshenzi ， Xianwangbuchu ， Nashaonvyiranquanwudi ， Huanshinanyuwuduishou 。

Rujin ， Tayiranhaitingliuzaiduifangdejiaobuhoumian 。

Lihaotaitou ， Muguangwangxiangnamenfeijinbidedianmen ， Yanshenmanmanbianderouhe 。

Tabuzaiduoxiang ， Taishouquchuyikuaishenmu ， Naqixiaodaodiaoke 。

Yibiandiaoke ， Tayibianfenshen ， Zaitineigoujiantiandixianqu ， Zhunquedeshuo ， Shiyitineideyuanshenhexuerouweizi ， Zaitineiduiyi 。

Tongshi ， Tahaifenchubufenxinshensikao ， Zheshierduanqidaoxinjing ， Gaiqianrudaonatiaodadaozhong 。

Shixianqianrudaojiandaozhong ， Haishiyudaozhong ？

Ruoshiyudao ， Zishendezhuduoxianshu ， Dounengdedaofeiyuetisheng ， Xianjunjingdedingjianxianfa ， Zhipayenengyiyanjikeshoulu ， Shaojiayanlian ， Jikezhangwodaoyuanman 。

Bijing ， Yudaoliuzhongjingjie ， Duiyingdebianshixianjunjingdingjian 。

Erqianrujiandaodehua ， Namezijidejiandaopohuailihuixunsubaozeng 。

「 Bugouyong ， Shierduanxinjingbugouyong ……」

Lihaoyaotou ， Yudao ， Jiandao ， Shenfadeng ， Doushijinque ， Renheyizhongtishengdaoshierduan ， Tadeshilidouhuifeiyuetisheng 。

Shierduanshenfa ， Zhipasumuqingzhedengjingjiedetianjiao ， Lianchupengdaozijidounan 。

Zailihaosisuoshi ， Yidaofengminghuranhuaposufushangkong 。

Jinjiezhuzhijianyidaochimanghuapozhangkong ， Huxiaoerguo 。

Lihaotaitou ， Youxieyihuo 。

Pengdiyisheng ， Douran ， Qianfangdedianmenmengdituikai ， Yidaoshenyingcongzhongtachu ， Sudujikuai ， Yincizaitachutingxiashi ， Hunshendexianqunfeiyang ， Kanshangquqishilingli 。

Sumuqingcongbiguanzhongchulai ， Wangzhunahuaguodechimang ， Yanshenbiandeningzhong ， Chuyoudashi ， Fouzefuqinbuhuiyongzhuquetongming 。

Sou ！

Tameiyouyu ， Shenyingyihuang ， Bianchaominghuangdianganqu 。

Lihaojiandaosumuqingchuxian ， Muguangdunshizhuanyi ， Dengkandaosumuqingningzhongdeshenseshi ， Likeyishidaoyoushenmejinjiqingkuang 。

Sumuqingshenyinggangxiaoshi ， Lihaoyexunsudongshen ， Zaiyuandixiaoshi ， Gensuierqu 。

Sumuqingchajuedaolihaogenlai ， Xinqingyouxiefanzao ， Dancishitayemeixinsiquganlihao 。

Henkuai ， Errenyiqianyihoulaidaosujiaminghuangdianzhong 。

Weiexuanhededadianyili ， Zaisufuqitafangxiangshangkong ， Yidaodaoliuguangtongyanghualai 。

Henkuai ， Zhuduosujiahexinzidijielaidaominghuangdianzhong 。

Lihaokandaosuwanqing 、 Suwanxueyezai ， Chucizhiwai ， Suqiyu ， Haiyoulingwaiqibaweisujiaqingnianjunjie ， Yedoudaochang ， Zhiyouliangweishizhenxianjing ， Qiyudoushixianjunjing ， Qixineilianershensui 。

「 Fashengshenmeshile ， Fuqinzhemejihuhuanwomen ？」

Yourenyiwendao 。

Qitarenjiemianseningzhong ， Suwanqingkandaolihaoyezai ， Fajueyiduanshirimeijian ， Zheshaoniandeqizhisihuyousuobianhua ， Rangtachanshengyizhongyapogandecuojue 。

Suwanxueyekandaolelihao ， Meitouzhouqi ， Zhengyaokaikou ， Minghuangdianneichuanlaisuzhenyuandeshengyin ：

「 Doujinlaiba 。」

Suwanxuehuadaozuibian ， Zhinengshouzhu ， Ruoshizuneidashi ， Fuqinziranhuirangzhewairenliuzaiyuanwai ， Yelunbudaotacaoxin 。

Lihaojiansumuqingjinrudadian ， Dangjiyegenzhujinru 。

「 Nishishui ？」

Pangbian ， Youqingniangenlihaosuweimoumian ， Bujinyiwendao 。

Lihaomeishuohua ， Qitarenkanleyan ， Yedouziguxianqudianzhongmianjianfuqin 。

Naqingnianjianlihaomeiliziji ， Bujinweiweiliezui ， Juedezherendanzizhenda ， Danyouxiangxiangcirennenglaizheli ， Duobanyeyouxieyuanyin ， Dangjilenghengyisheng ， Kuaisurudian 。

Minghuangdianzhong ， Suzhenyuangaozuoqianfang ， Suqingmeizuozaiqishence ， Meiyandelianshanglongzhaoyicengbaochou 。

「 Fuqin ， Shenmeshizhemejiqie ， Haierhaizaibiguanne 。」

Yourenlikeshuodao 。

Tamendoushisujiatianjiao ， Bushizaixiulian ， Jiushizaixiuliandelushang ， Kemeiyouxiangsumuqingzheyangdexianqingyazhi ， Haiyouhuadaodengqitaxihao 。

Suqingmeiweiweibaileyiyannashuohuadeshaonian ， Shiyiqibudewuli 。

Suzhenyuanmuguanghuanshiyiquan ， Ziranzhuyidaorenqunzhongdelihao ， Tayanmouweiweishandonglexia ， Quemeiyouyitai ， Huanhuandao ：

「 Gangshoudaobianguanxiaoxi ， Beiyuyaomo ， Chunchunyudong ， Yinianqianyaoyunabianjubandeyaoshenzhizhan ， Nimenkeyoutingshuo ？」

「 Yaoshenzhizhan ？ Zhebushibeiyuyaomomeiqiannianjuxingyicidebeiyuyaomoshenzixuanbama ， Tingshuonaxiayaoshenzhizhandekuishouminge ， Nengciyuyaoshendixintadewudaojihui ， Diandingdiji ！」

Yiweiqingnianlikehuiyingdao 。

「 Zhegenwomenyoushenmeguanxi ？」 Lingyirenyihuodao 。

Suzhenyuanwangzhuqitachenzhuqidezinv ， Yanshenmanmanbiandeyinchen ， Dao ：

「 Beiyuyaomogenwodengdiduiyiyoushuwannian ， Ciciyaoshenzhizhangangjieshu ， Tamenbianrangnaxiacizhanqianershideyaomo ， Qianwangworenzulingdi ， Meimingqiyueshijiaoliuqiecuo ， Danshizequeshilaitanworenzudiyun ！」

「 Laiworenzutiaozhan ？」

Suqiyuzhengzhu ， Yanmouzhongdunshishanguoyimofenglilengguang 。

「 Zheyaomotaichangkuangle ， Ganlaiworenzudipan ， Jiubupasiwuquanshima ？！」

"Come then! I was just bored from my seclusion. Fighting other family prodigies always held me back from using my killing techniques—perfect chance to test them on these demons."

"Father summoned us here to send us into battle? We beg for nothing more!"

Inside the hall, everyone except those startled and furious wore fierce battle-lust and murderous intent on their faces.

Having grown up in the Northern Region, especially as members of the Su family—one of the Northern Region's top human clans—they had seen how hard life was for humans there, and their hatred for demons ran deep in their souls.

Li Hao saw that Su Wanqing, usually so gentle, now wore a cold expression, her eyes filled entirely with killing intent.

Demons… Li Hao couldn't help but recall the scenes of demons wreaking havoc among mortals, and then remember his own arrival in the Northern Region, the plight of humans he'd witnessed among the frontier's Star Warriors—trapped like prisoners, sold like pigs and dogs, reduced to servants or meat for demons.

Seeing his children so fired up, Su Zhenyuan's gloomy eyes flickered with a touch of satisfaction.

He shook his head slightly and waved his hand.

"This so-called sparring is in truth a game of strategy between demons and our human race—the stakes are high: for every loss, we surrender a King-level Immortal City; for every win, the demons must return a King-level Demon City and one of our captured Immortal Lords."

At these words, the hall fell silent; everyone exchanged uneasy glances.

Such high stakes?

Their faces paled. If they fought and died in sparring, they'd only sacrifice themselves—honorable even in death!

But with these stakes, defeat means the fate of an entire King-level Immortal City!

A King-level Immortal City shelters countless Immortal civilians—no one dares claim they could bear such a sin!

"Do these demons truly have so much confidence?"

Su Wanxue frowned, her frost-like face showing deep thought.

Li Hao's eyes flickered slightly—he immediately realized this was a grand clan-level game of strategy.

And from Su Zhenyuan's tone, it seemed humanity had no choice but to accept…

A King-level Demon City, plus one captured human Immortal Lord—if only one… then that prisoner's identity must be extraordinary, likely chosen from a list designated by our own side!

And yet the demons agreed. Beyond their confidence, their true intent must run deeper…

Li Hao's gaze swept toward Su Muqing—suddenly, his eyes narrowed slightly, growing darker.

Indeed, after Su Wanxue spoke, Su Zhenyuan nodded: "Correct. The border wars have cost both sides dearly, but overall, humanity has suffered more. These demons are powerful, yet they fear our Great Emperor—worried that if we're cornered, we'll fight to the death. So they devised this plan…"

Hearing their father's words, Su Wanxue and the others fell silent.

Over these years, the border had seen constant warfare; all had heard rumors. Others buried themselves in seclusion, striving to strengthen their combat power, hoping to contribute on the battlefield soon.

"These beasts truly think we're weak? If they dare come, even if I burn my Primordial Spirit, I'll make them pay!"

A young man clenched his fists, his eyes blazing with killing intent.

Su Wanqing and the others glanced at him—they knew why he hated demons so deeply: his aunt had taken up arms to avenge her father after giving birth to him, and died on the border.

Tens of thousands of years of warfare had piled up countless rivers of blood and hatred across generations.

The border battlefield held not only piles of white bones, but also generations of killing intent, hatred, and unbreakable blood feuds!

"Lord."

Suddenly, Li Hao spoke. He bowed slightly to Su Zhenyuan before saying:

"The demons' stakes are far greater than ours—there's clearly no chance to refuse. And as for these King-level Immortal Cities as collateral… in my humble opinion, they're merely a facade. It seems the demons claim they're merely probing our strength and gathering food, but in truth, they aim to sever our roots!"

"This so-called sparring—they'll strike with lethal intent in actual combat. Their goal: eliminate our human prodigies!"

His clear voice echoed through the hall, his gaze fixed on Su Zhenyuan, seeking confirmation.

Su Zhenyuan's eyes subtly contracted as he looked at the boy in the hall—what the boy said… was nearly all correct.

As head of the Su family of the Northern Region, how could he not see the demons' true intent?

But… the border situation left us no choice.

In the hall, Su Wanxue and the others hadn't yet processed why Li Hao had the audacity to speak in this family meeting—when his words stunned them.

The King-level Immortal City is just a facade? Their real goal is to kill us?!

"You—you're talking nonsense!"

The young man who had earlier asked who Li Hao was cried out in shock and anger.

Su Muqing was also stunned—but she didn't immediately rebuke Li Hao for overstepping. His words struck her with sudden cold dread.

Though she disliked Li Hao, she had to admit: this possibility he raised wasn't without merit!

Su Wanxue's expression changed slightly as she looked toward Su Zhenyuan.

Su Zhenyuan gazed deeply at Li Hao before saying: "Correct. This is the demons' true face. For tens of thousands of years, they've played their moves step by step. Now they control the board and hold the advantage—but they fear our Great Emperor emerging from desperation, fighting to the death. So they've devised this 'cornered beast' strategy: slowly draining our strength until our descendants are utterly worn down, powerless to resist!"

"This battle is merely the first round!"

His gaze sharpened. "It's a ten-thousand-year strategy. Every thousand years, another so-called sparring may occur!"

"Though the Immortal civilians of a King-level City are vital, their loss pales beside the death of a supreme prodigy."

"Because a prodigy may one day become a top Immortal King—or even have the potential to challenge the Emperor!"

"If our race produces even one young Emperor, how many King-level Immortal Cities could he save? He could easily reclaim entire King-level star systems—and force the demons to cede vast stretches of the Northern Region's starry lands!"

"Thus, our most precious treasure is none other than you."

His gaze swept across Su Muqing and the others in the hall.

Prodigies are humanity's ultimate weapons—this is why great clans spare no cost to cultivate them.

One prodigy rising to the highest realm brings countless benefits.

Hearing Su Zhenyuan's words, everyone in the hall was stunned into silence.

Su Wanqing looked at Li Hao, wondering how he'd deduced all this. Had her father not spoken, she'd never have imagined the demons' true aim: to use the sparring to slaughter our prodigies and sever our future's lifeline!

"Father, if we've seen through their intent… do we avoid battle—or fight to the death?"

A calm-faced young man asked quietly.

He was Su Jia's second son, Su Jingcheng.

His elder brother had died; now he was the eldest. His question carried ambiguity—but to ask it at all took courage!

After all, others might misinterpret it as cowardice.

But he alone knew: if the demons dared issue this challenge, they must have prepared thoroughly. Someone would die in this battle. He himself feared nothing—he'd gladly follow his elder brother's path, fighting until heaven and earth trembled, bodies shattered!

But what of his younger brothers and sisters behind him?

Hearing Su Jingcheng's words, the young man who'd declared he'd burn his Primordial Spirit to fight paled, staring at him in shock and anger.

Su Wanqing and Su Wanxue and the others' eyes flickered—they understood their second brother's meaning, and turned their gazes upward to their father.

Su Zhenyuan looked at his children, seeing their questioning eyes. Only one pair remained calm and clear—as if they'd already found the answer.

That was the outsider boy.

A strange feeling stirred in his heart. He then recalled: perhaps this boy suits the role of a strategist. He'd just uncovered the demons' intent—his reasoning was unsurprising.

"Avoiding battle? Impossible."

Su Zhenyuan shook his head slowly. "After deliberation among our Gejia, we've decided: we must not avoid this battle—we must commit fully, sending our Gejia ' top prodigies to fight the demons to the death!"

"This first round must be won—no room for defeat!"

"If we lose, the demons will return every thousand years. The consequences will be endless—we'll be trapped between advance and retreat. So even if they're fully prepared, even if you may perish… you must fight!"

Hearing his words, everyone in the hall froze, blood both chilling and surging.

Only fight?

No retreat?

If it were only our own lives at stake, we'd fear nothing!

But behind us stands humanity—entire King-level Immortal Cities… even countless others!

"Father, I will win—I swear it!"

Suddenly, a clear voice rang out—Su Muqing. Her eyes sharpened, icy, blazing with unyielding killing intent!

Beside her, Li Hao saw the girl's gaze—the resolve and determination deep in her eyes—and for a moment, he was dazed.

As if the surroundings shifted—the hall vanished—he was back on the Southern Region's battlefield, countless spectators cheering on the mountains, Immortal Kings watching, Supreme Beings gazing down.

Identical eyes—filled with resolve… Li Hao stood frozen, a warm current surging from his heart, as if time had returned to that moment—and never left.

"Father, I'll fight too—even if I die, I'll take at least one with me, make them pay dearly!"

Another young man said.

"Father, I request to join the battle!"

"Father…"

The Su family's sons and daughters—including Su Wanxue and Su Wanqing—all spoke up, their eyes blazing with fierce killing intent and resolve.

Su Zhenyuan saw their unwavering gazes, feeling boundless pride—and boundless sorrow.

"Good, good, good! My Su family's bloodline… has no cowards!"

Su Zhenyuan smiled warmly, affection in his eyes, and said slowly:

"This grand plan concerns humanity's future. The demons will arrive in three years. At that time, all our top human clans will gather on Gusu Emperor Star. You have three years to prepare."

"Three years—fleeting as a blink. Demand anything from the family."

He paused, then added slowly: "Originally, all Immortal Lords could participate. But after deliberation, we've limited entry to those under a thousand years of soul lifespan—so we don't risk losing all our prodigies at once, cutting off our own future."

"Jingcheng, you and the others—you've surpassed a thousand years of soul lifespan. Watch this battle closely. Don't slacken!"

"Muqing, you others—train hard. Whatever you need, take it from the family's secret vault."

Hearing this, Su Jingcheng and the others whose soul lifespan exceeded a thousand years paled—they hadn't expected to be barred from fighting.

"Three years…"

Su Muqing lowered her eyes, fingers clenched. She immediately bowed to her father and turned to leave.

Li Hao watched the girl's departing back—and felt, in this moment, she truly bore the shadow of that figure.

★￠O

He followed suit and left Minghuang Palace.

The others also took their leave; Su Wanqing and Su Wanxue exchanged a glance, both sensing the gravity in each other's eyes, then returned to their respective courtyards to enter seclusion.

"Father, what can we do?"

Seeing all his younger siblings depart, Su Jingcheng and several others with lifespans exceeding the norm remained in the hall, turning to look at Su Zhenyuan.

Su Zhenyuan looked at them, sensing the sorrow in their eyes at being unable to take the field, yet his gaze remained calm as he spoke in a low voice:

"For this battle, we must prepare for the worst. You… stay home and cultivate with all your might—you must strive harder than ever before!"

"Though each world will send its top prodigies, their strengths vary. If we fail to intimidate the demons this time, the future consequences will be endless. You must go to the border battlefields and deter the demons—make them know that our human race still has top prodigies yet to reveal themselves!"

Hearing his words, Su Jingcheng and the others froze, suddenly understanding their father's intentions.

Great clans never put all their eggs in one basket—you are the second basket.

Whether there is a third or fourth basket is beyond your concern; knowing would serve no purpose.

"Understood, Father."

Su Jingcheng clenched his fists. When his elder brother died horribly on the border, only half his corpse was returned, his primordial spirit extinguished, unable even to reincarnate. That year, snow blanketed his head; that year's grief was etched into his soul.

"I will never let Father down!"

The other four also spoke, their eyes filled with resolve.

After they withdrew, Su Zhenyuan leaned back gently against his chair, and in an instant, he seemed to have aged years.

"Qingmei, do you think I've been a worthy father?"

Long moments passed before Su Zhenyuan spoke slowly.

Su Qingmei's heart trembled; she gently took her husband's rough, broad hand in her soft, delicate one, her eyes also clouded with sorrow—those were her children; if they were sacrificed, her pain would only deepen.

Yet just now, she had forced herself to say not a word.

She knew this was the mandate of being born into the Su family, the duty of marrying into the Su family.

"Yes, of course you have. You've done all you could."

Su Qingmei bit her lip. This man, towering and mighty, who had made countless demons tremble on the border battlefields, was now questioning himself—her heart ached as if pierced by a knife.

"Done all I could…"

Su Zhenyuan smiled faintly, a hint of self-derision on his face. "If I had truly done all I could, I would have stepped forward with the other foot… But I am powerless. Thirty thousand years… I still cannot cross that threshold. Otherwise, why would I need to send them into peril?"

Su Qingmei's eyes brimmed with pity; she stroked his face with both hands, pressing her body against him, hoping to give this man even a little warmth and comfort. She spoke bitterly:

"Crossing that threshold isn't so simple. Countless people are stopped by that half-step. What's thirty thousand years? Many cannot cross even after a hundred thousand."

She spoke not to comfort him, but to state a fact.

Her husband was already extraordinary—he had once been Su family's most brilliant prodigy, surpassing even Su Muqing in talent, no less!

Or rather, the Su Zhenyuan of that time was precisely the current Lin family's Imperial Heir!

Yet even with such peerless talent, he could only glimpse the threshold of that ultimate existence.

Stepping one foot across was already a stroke of fortune; truly treading beyond required another great destiny—not something talent or effort could achieve.

Thinking of this, Su Qingmei thought of the Lin family's Imperial Heir, then immediately recalled Su Muqing, and then that boy.

Just now in the hall, that boy had pierced the demons' deceitful intent—she had found him unexpectedly impressive. But… no amount of wit or strategy means anything before absolute power.

"Husband, why not arrange for Muqing to marry the Lin family's heir as soon as possible? Let them produce an heir within three years—that would at least secure a lineage."

Su Qingmei suddenly said.

Su Zhenyuan paused slightly, his eyes flickering, but he said nothing.

"Are you worried about that boy?"

Su Qingmei asked.

Su Zhenyuan shook his head slightly. "What time is this for sentimental thoughts? It has nothing to do with Li Hao. The issue is that in three years, Muqing must face a Shengsi duel with the demons. Bearing an heir now would harm her cultivation. With her realm, I trust she won't suffer."

Su Qingmei thought it over—indeed, that was true.

Even for a prodigy like Su Muqing, bearing a great bloodline would drain her own essence.

And over these three years, it would be better to focus on pushing forward. Others might fall, but she believed Su Muqing and the Lin family's heir were humanity's ultimate safeguard—they would not fail.