Chapter 840: Li Hao's Dao Source Immortal Seal (Combined)

Cold wind swept through the void, and outside Suzhou City, silence descended.

The ancestral elders of each clan, including those from the Jiang, Su, and Lin families, all stared with complex expressions, speechless.

Blame Lin Zhe? His realm was higher than his, and he wielded the legendary Dao Source Immortal Seal—he was already monstrous enough. Yet that black-veiled woman was even more terrifying.

But the cost of this defeat was unbearable!

Without Lin Zhe, who could stand against her? If humanity lost this first challenge, the morale of the demonic realms would surge beyond measure, while ours would collapse into ruin—perhaps never recovering, with many humans even seeking to flee the Northern Region. When word spread, the army's spirit would shatter entirely.

Everyone's hearts clenched, contracted, filled with unbearable agony, yet powerless—only a crushing sense of despair remained.

Countless immortal civilians across the thirty-six thousand immortal cities fell utterly silent at those three words; countless faces turned ashen, blanketed in despair.

Lin Jinrou slightly opened her mouth, her eyes vacant. The invincible brother who had always been like a god to her since childhood had lost.

He actually… bowed his head and surrendered.

Su Muqing stared blankly at the scene. She understood Lin Zhe—he had given everything. Except burning his Primordial Spirit or taking a soul-damaging elixir, he had pushed himself to his absolute limit.

But she was even stronger—unbelievably so.

A sudden sorrow rose in her heart. She cursed her own helplessness. If she hadn't lost earlier, if she had held out to face the black-veiled woman herself, she would have burned her true blood—even at the cost of her life—to cripple the enemy. That might have given Lin Zhe the opening to defeat her, even slay this demonic prodigy, then sweep aside the rest of the demonic prodigies and claim victory in this duel.

That would have saved countless lives of the Northern Region's humans—its impact would have been immense.

Amid a spreading atmosphere of grief and despair, within the arena, Lin Zhe gazed deeply at the black-veiled demoness and asked:

"What's your name?"

"Hei Ji."

The black-veiled woman's eyes were cold. Though she hadn't killed Lin Zhe, this battle had earned his recognition as a human prodigy.

Lin Zhe nodded. "I'll remember you. Next time we fight, it won't end like this."

He felt his harsh words were undignified. Though he truly meant them, he still deemed them unbecoming. He turned and left the arena, returning to the Lin family.

Seeing the expressions of the Lin family, Lin Zhe immediately thought of Su Muqing and turned toward the Su clan.

There he saw Su Muqing's eyes filled with sorrow, heavy with grief.

Their gazes met. Su Muqing's sorrow slightly receded, replaced by a comforting smile.

Though she knew her smile looked terrible, she understood Lin Zhe had done all he could. She herself was a defeated fighter—how could she blame him?

Lin Zhe's heart warmed slightly. He gave her an apologetic look, then scanned the crowd—seeing the complex, despairing eyes of the ancestral elders and other great clans—and felt a bitter pang.

Had he won this battle, his name would have echoed across the Northern Region, known to all humans and demons.

But… he truly had given everything.

Except burning his Primordial Spirit or taking a soul-damaging elixir, he had used his utmost strength.

Only the enemy was stronger—even more willing to sacrifice. To kill him, to prevent him from surrendering, she had burned her own Primordial Spirit.

"Sorry, Grandfather."

Lin Zhe turned to Lin Daogong, bowed slightly, and lowered his head in apology. "Grandson is incapable."

Lin Daogong had never expected Lin Zhe to lose. His eyes were filled with complexity, age, and loneliness. He replied with a bitter expression:

"Your first defeat—has your Dao heart been damaged?"

Lin Zhe lifted his head, his gaze calm. "No. Though this is my first loss, losing to a Dao Source Immortal Seal isn't shameful. But when I refine the Chaotic Law, I will catch up!"

If the pinnacle of the True Immortal Realm is the Nine Flowers, Nine Orders Immortal Seal, then the pinnacle of the Immortal Lord Realm is the Chaotic Law!

The Laws mastered in the Immortal Lord Realm are forged from the primordial Dao. The Nine Flowers, Nine Orders Immortal Seal gives birth to all laws of the world, thus enabling mastery of the primordial Laws of all ten thousand paths.

But true killing Laws require only one—only one technique!

Therefore, the merging and transformation of Laws is the dividing line between strength and weakness in the Immortal Lord Realm.

Take the black-veiled demoness Hei Ji: her Eternal Night Law and Ultimate Darkness Law were formed by fusing the primordial Laws of space, earth, and darkness—surpassing single Laws in power, even exceeding five primordial Laws besides space and time, and the Form Control primordial Law.

Moreover, her mastery reached the seventh layer of the Primordial Layer—identical to the layer of Lin Zhe's transformed Law.

With both transformed Laws at the seventh layer, only Su Muqing's seventh-layer Time Primordial Law could resist and suppress them. But Su Muqing's Primordial Spirit lagged behind theirs. The enemy could strike first on the Primordial Spirit level—just as the demonic prodigy's nightmare ability had created an opportunity to kill Su Muqing.

As for the Chaotic Law, it is the fusion of all ten thousand paths—the legendary strongest Law.

It can suppress Time, Space, Nine Orders, and all other transformed or merged Laws!

Hearing Lin Zhe's words, Lin Daogong's sorrowful heart found slight comfort. Though they lost this battle, at least Su Muqing and Lin Zhe still lived. These two top human prodigies remained—both destined to reach the Half-Emperor realm. Whether they could become Emperors depended on further fortune.

Such talent only grants a glimpse of the Emperor threshold. Countless peerless prodigies in the world can't even reach that threshold.

"Good that your Dao heart is unharmed. Good that you're still alive."

Lin Daogong offered a bitter consolation.

Lin Zhe nodded slightly. His Dao heart was exceptionally strong—reaching Eternal Third Stage, Nine Rings of Dao Resonance—unlikely to be easily damaged.

Though he felt deep regret over this defeat, he knew that for the greater future, his survival mattered more.

"Everyone, we lost this battle. But as long as we live, hope remains. We'll return and kill them again!"

Lin Zhe saw the ashen faces around him and spoke loudly.

He meant to inspire them. Even he had lost—this generation was surely doomed. But at least there was still a future.

Only the Lin family's expressions softened. The ancestral elders of other clans looked even more grim.

"Lin Zhe, your gap with that demoness wasn't that wide! Why didn't you fight to the death?!"

"Exactly! Everyone else gave their lives. You didn't even burn your Primordial Spirit or use an elixir. Do you think your Lin family has none? If you lack them, I'll give you mine!"

"You lost. Who else can stand against her? Everyone hoped you'd win—but you…"

The ancestral elders of each clan were furious. They had all prepared to send their top prodigies to die in battle.

But the first three demonic opponents were vastly stronger than their prodigies. Sending them out meant instant annihilation—no damage inflicted, pure suicide. That's why no one spoke up.

Had there been even a chance to fight to the death, they would have whipped their own prodigies into a frenzy!

Even if it meant total destruction of their Primordial Spirits, they would have done it without hesitation!

Before coming, they had used domain artifacts to preserve a fragment of their clan's prodigies' Primordial Spirits, allowing rebirth within the family—and they would honor them as clan heroes, elevating their parents' status and lavishing them with cultivation resources in the next life.

Hearing these angry accusations and questions, Lin Zhe frowned slightly. The Lin family's faces turned pale, then erupted in furious glares toward the ancestral elders, united in righteous anger.

Lin Daogong's expression shifted. He knew Lin Zhe hadn't truly given everything by not burning his Primordial Spirit. But he also knew that even if Lin Zhe had burned his Primordial Spirit, it would have been a gamble—only a slim chance if the demoness hesitated to sacrifice her own foundation.

Yet the demoness had burned her Primordial Spirit first to kill Lin Zhe. Clearly, even if Lin Zhe exhausted everything, victory was still unlikely.

Before he could explain, Lin Zhe spoke. His face darkened, voice icy:

"Burning your Primordial Spirit, taking elixirs—you speak so lightly!"

"If I burn my Primordial Spirit, won't she burn hers? Doesn't she have demonic elixirs?"

He glared coldly at these Immortal Kings of the great clans, showing no fear or courtesy:

"If you're truly angry, then cultivate your own children into pillars of strength—not blame me for not giving my all!"

"You—!"

"You're too audacious! All the resources are in your Lin family's hands. We'd love to give you those treasures and forbidden zones—but which one isn't already seized by you?"

"Lin Zhe, how can you say this? Even if she matched you in burning your Primordial Spirit and taking elixirs, you'd both be injured. At least she wouldn't win so easily!"

The earlier words, though infuriating, the ancestral elders could barely accept. But Lin Zhe's final rebuke turned them into enraged cats, all exploding in fury.

"What treasures from sacred mountains and holy sites hasn't your Lin family seized? Yet the Jiang and Su families burned their Primordial Spirits to the brink—while you, calm and detached, surrendered so easily!"

"You preserve yourself so carefully—how will you ever shoulder the burden of humanity when danger comes?"

The accusations grew louder.

Lin Daogong's expression changed. He realized Lin Zhe had spoken too harshly—especially after his surrender, with humanity's defeat now hopeless and morale shattered.

"I was acting for the greater good—and you call me a coward?!"

Hearing the accusations, Lin Zhe's face darkened. He clenched his fists in shock and anger.

Lin Daogong stepped forward, blocking Lin Zhe from speaking further. His Half-Emperor aura surged, enveloping heaven and earth. The faint Emperor power within it made the ancestral elders' faces change—they stared at him, shocked and furious.

"Everyone, Zhe is preserving the future—not out of cowardice. Jiang Xuming, a prodigy like him, has already perished. Do you truly want to watch Zhe die too? Yes, dying honorably is noble—but what then? What will you fight with in the future?"

Lin Daogong's gaze was deep, his voice heavy.

Hearing his words, the ancestral elders' expressions shifted. They had expected arrogance—but this quiet, humble explanation calmed much of their anger.

After all, he was a Half-Emperor, and the Lin family still had a sleeping Emperor. If they truly wished to settle this with fists, why bother being so courteous?

And remembering the tragic death of Jiang Xuming—such a prodigy, lost so young—was deeply painful.

Silence and stillness returned to the air.

"Tsk tsk tsk…"

The purple-robed middle-aged man clapped his hands. Under the pressure of despair, they had nearly turned on each other, blaming like dogs biting dogs.

He had thought their earlier unified cheers showed great unity among humans.

Though he'd enjoyed the spectacle, his mood wasn't pleasant.

Neither Su Muqing nor Lin Zhe had been killed. Their battle had revealed them as terrifyingly potent beings—future threats beyond measure.

"They're right, boy of the Lin family. With your talent, how could you surrender so easily? If you'd gone all out, Hei Ji might not have followed suit—she might even have let you win. After all, she's a Dao Source Immortal Seal. Why would she truly risk her life for a boy like you?"

The purple-robed man smiled, stoking the fire.

Lin Zhe's eyes turned cold as he fixed him with a glare—but said nothing.

The other ancestral elders weren't fools. Though his words struck home, thinking it themselves was fine—but hearing it from a demon made his intent glaringly obvious. They all turned furious glares toward him.

Seeing his provocation failed, the purple-robed man raised an eyebrow, his mood souring further. He sneered:

"Stop glaring at me. Now—who's next to step forward and die?"

Hearing his words, the ancestral elders' fury vanished, replaced by grim expressions.

Not just them—Su Zhenyuan and Jiang Qiuyu also wore dark, gloomy faces. Lin Zhe had lost. Who could fight now?

They had all prepared to sacrifice everything to win. But now—even with total sacrifice—the gap remained. They would still lose.

Like forcing a mortal to fly—he simply cannot.

The scene fell silent; the young geniuses of each clan clenched their fists, faces twisted with humiliation and fury, yet the black-veiled woman in the arena was far beyond their reach—even if they launched desperate suicide attacks, they could not harm or threaten her.

"I never thought something like this would actually happen..."

Su Zhenyuan transmitted his voice, but it was bitterly hollow.

Jiang Qiuyu's face was filled with sorrow; Lin Zhexuan had lost. They had considered this possibility before—extremely unlikely, yet even with a one-in-ten-thousand chance, they had prepared a second strategy.

After all, as the pillars of humanity, how could they place all their eggs in a single basket during strategic planning?

But choosing the second strategy meant that Jiang Xuming's death... had truly been in vain, utterly meaningless!

If there was any meaning at all, it was merely to let the world know that a human genius named Jiang Xuming once existed.

How long his name would be remembered—whether for a hundred or a thousand years—remained unknown.

"Fill the remaining slots with death warriors."

Lin Daogong glanced at Jiang Qiuyu, his eyes filled with regret, and whispered, ""

Su Zhenyuan gave a slight nod; seeing Jiang Qiuyu remain silent, he took it as her tacit consent.

Since victory was impossible, they might as well send anyone to be slaughtered by the demons—this would at least preserve the combat strength of the other geniuses.

The demon's overwhelming power forced them to abandon this first-ever Dueling Tournament and surrender Xiancheng.

After all, they couldn't lose both the wife and the soldiers.

As Su Zhenyuan made his decision, the purple-robed middle-aged man, seeing no movement from the human side, seemed to guess what had happened. He raised his hand and tore open the dimensional barrier, drawing out a series of figures and lining them up.

These figures were bound by power seals, entwined with chains, their hair disheveled, some drenched in blood.

"Brother Zhe!"

"Brother Feng!"

"Lan Jin!"

Seeing these figures, the previously silent crowd erupted in shocked cries.

Though their hair was wild and many bore scars across their faces, they still recognized their identities.

These were human geniuses from thousands of years ago—some from ten thousand years past—and they were also the top prodigies of their respective clans!

They had cultivated to great heights, been sent to the border battlefields to command immortal armies against demons, and had been captured as prisoners of war.

They were precisely the prisoners designated for exchange after the Dueling Tournament's planning.

Now, the purple-robed man revealed all these prisoners before the crowd.

"These are the prisoners you requested to exchange. Win one battle, and you gain not only a royal city from our demon territories, but also one of these genius prisoners!"

The purple-robed man scanned the crowd, his eyes filled with mockery and cold amusement, and said:

"Now, it seems none of you dare to step forward. How disappointing. Is this the extent of your human geniuses? Can you only win one out of twenty battles?"

He spoke with exaggerated expression, yet every word was like a blade piercing their hearts.

Of twenty battles, aside from the one won by Su Muqing, it now appeared they could win only one.

Lin Zhexuan had fallen. The black-veiled demon woman still sat in the arena—who could defeat her?

The rest could only surrender.

They had anticipated defeat, but never imagined it would be this catastrophic—nineteen to one. They hadn't dared dream of such a loss!

"What? Are you planning to give up? These are your human geniuses, your heroic soldiers who fought on the border. I've brought them right to your doorstep, offering them to you—yet you lack the strength to win them back?!"

The purple-robed man's words pierced their hearts, plunging the entire Gusu Emperor Star into deathly silence. Tens of thousands across the thirty-six thousand immortal cities clenched their fists, breathed heavily, their veins swelling as if doubled in thickness—furious, yet speechless, left only with rage and sorrow.

Human frontier geniuses and prisoners had been delivered to their very doorstep, yet they lacked the strength to reclaim them—how bitterly ironic!

If they couldn't even recover these genius prisoners, how could they ever hope to rescue ordinary ones? To be captured was to be dead.

Many in the crowd wore expressions of despair. They had once lived in darkness, aware of the demons surrounding the northern frontier, yet they had always believed hope still shone above them—supported by the great clans, by hidden forces they knew nothing of!

But now, the demons had come to their gates, parading their former geniuses before them—and could they only watch helplessly and surrender?

Was this not proof that they had exhausted all their tricks?

They felt their hope shatter, leaving only despair and grief. Many already longed to flee the northern frontier—even though it was the land where many had been born.

"Truly... disappointing."

The purple-robed man saw the furious, bloodshot eyes before him, and his smile widened further.

Anger was good—better still if it spiraled out of control.

"Aside from this Lin boy, is there truly no one else who can fight? Is this your northern frontier's top human genius?"

The purple-robed man taunted.

The ancestral elders of every clan clenched their fists, their qi swirling like suppressed storms, ready to erupt.

But they could not speak—because the northern frontier truly had no one left.

Su Zhenyuan, Jiang Qiuyu, Lin Daogong, and others wore grim faces; they saw among the prisoners their own children, their former clan prodigies.

So close!

Yet...

Fists clenched, bones cracking, Su Zhenyuan stared at two figures—Su HanShuang and Su WenYue, the elder brother and sister of Su Muqing and Su Wanqing. They too were peerless geniuses, sent to the border, now covered in wounds and bound by chains.

The demons, too, saw Su Zhenyuan—their long-lost father—and their eyes softened with serene smiles.

Then, they slightly opened their mouths. Though silenced by power seals and cosmic laws, their lips moved silently:

"Father, we're fine."

"Father, don't fall for his tricks."

Seeing their children's lip movements, Su Zhenyuan felt his heart clench, bleed—his eyes grew faintly red.

He thought again of his question to his wife in the Minghuang Palace: Was he a worthy father?

Was he?

In this moment, he felt deeply that he was unworthy—he had failed as a father!

"My children..." he gritted his teeth, yearning to break the rules and snatch them back—but he knew the demons would not dare this unless the Great Demon Emperor himself watched closely, ready to strike.

Then it would be a clash of Emperor-level powers. The Jiang, Su, and Lin clans all had such strength—but he knew better: their Ancestors slept. If forcibly awakened, the damage would be immense, and it would grant the demons a chance to probe humanity's very foundations.

Thus, though his heart surged with a million waves, his reason held firm, telling him what choice he must make.

The choice was agonizing—but reason was terrifyingly clear.

This was the agony of being humanity's backbone: loyal to the great clan, you betrayed the small clan; loyal to the small clan, you betrayed the great clan—no perfect solution.

Aside from Su HanShuang and Su WenYue, other clan geniuses among the prisoners seized this rare chance to speak to their kin, expressing longing, some urging their families not to worry, not to sacrifice for them, bidding final farewells.

Of the twenty, not one pleaded for their clan's help to save them.

This scene plunged the air outside Gusu City into profound sorrow; many eyes grew wet.

"Brother Hanshuang! Sister Wenyue!"

Su Muqing, Su Wanqing, and the other women also had tear-filled eyes, fists clenched.

The elder brothers and sisters they had looked up to since childhood—now disheveled, scarred, yet smiling serenely—filled them with unbearable heartache and pain.

"Lin Yeqiu."

Beside them, Lin Zhexuan and others stared at the Lin clan's prisoner-genius, their gazes complex.

He was the Lin clan's famed genius from eight thousand years ago—second only to Lin Zhexuan today—now riddled with holes, his prison robes soaked in blood, chains piercing his flesh, special materials and laws suppressing his inner power.

Lin Yeqiu's hair hung loose; his gaze swept over the many Lin clan geniuses below, filled with quiet pride.

On the frontier, he had heard of the Lin clan's birth of a prodigy unseen in ten thousand years—and had celebrated by drinking himself blind with the entire camp, later taking Immortal Hangover Pills.

He looked at his father, Lin Daogong, who had not had time to say goodbye—his face weary and pale—and forced a smile.

"At least I got one last chance to see you, old man..."

His lips moved silently: "You won't blame me for never having fulfilled my filial duties at your feet, will you?"

"Old man, you'll never get the chance to whip me again."

He smiled, but his eyes slowly reddened, tears streaming down:

"Old man, your son is powerless—I can't burden you anymore... Old man, everything you once said... was right..."

Lin Daogong watched Lin Yeqiu's lips move, reading each silent farewell—his heart felt as if sliced by knives, his entire body trembling with icy pain from head to toe.

His most beloved child—always calling him "old man," that insolent brat...

His eyes grew wet and red; he tried to speak, but his throat was dry, his voice trembling and hoarse:

"I was wrong. I shouldn't have sent you to the frontier so young. You never once disappointed me—not once!"

His trembling words reached Lin Yeqiu, whose body shuddered. His tear-filled eyes could no longer hold back—tears and snot streamed down his face, his appearance utterly disheveled. No one could imagine he had once been a peerless, ethereally beautiful genius.

"Father... I am unworthy..."

Lin Yeqiu, sorrowful, no longer called him "old man"—he called him father.

Among the other prisoners, Jiang clan geniuses also bid final farewells to Jiang Qiuyu.

All had seen the events outside through the purple-robed man's dimensional barrier—they knew this was their last goodbye.

Though sorrowful, they felt gratitude: at least they had this chance to speak their final words, to say what they had never dared voice.

The purple-robed man watched this scene, his face darkening. He could read their lips perfectly—he had intended for these prisoners to beg their families for rescue. Yet not one pleaded.

These damned fools... his eyes flashed with cruelty—but now was not yet the time to torture them to death.

"Hmph!"

The purple-robed man suddenly raised his hand; a wave of power surged, blades of force slicing across the prisoners' bodies, interrupting their farewells.

Wounds erupted across Su HanShuang, Lin Yeqiu, and others—clothing torn to rags, blood soaking their bodies.

The female prisoners, like Su WenYue, suffered worse: their garments were slashed away, leaving them naked before countless staring eyes.

"You!"

Su Zhenyuan's blood boiled; his eyes nearly spewed fire—he instantly moved, unleashing a surge of power.

At this moment, his reason was finally replaced by rage, and he launched an attack directly at the purple-robed middle-aged man.

The purple-robed middle-aged man seemed to have anticipated it; he sneered and unleashed his aura, blocking Su Zhenyuan's assault.

Su Zhenyuan roared in fury, unleashing the pressure of a half-Imperial Monarch, a vast force surging forth to coalesce into two immortal shields that stood before Su Hanshuang and Su Wen Yue.

The purple-robed middle-aged man seized the opportunity to strike with a black claw mark, brimming with devastating annihilation power, tearing a chunk of flesh from the inner side of Su Zhenyuan's arm.

Su Zhenyuan stepped forward, ready to attack again, when the golden-eyed man beside him likewise released his aura and coldly said:

"What, planning to break the rules?"

Su Zhenyuan clenched his teeth, forcing himself to endure, and looked at his children shielded by the immortal barriers—his heart eased slightly.

"Heh, getting flustered already? We have countless methods of interrogation—this is nothing."

The purple-robed middle-aged man chuckled lightly, showing no concern as he continued provoking Su Zhenyuan and the others.

Yet, observing their expressions, he saw Jiang Qiuyu and Lin Daogong also nearing loss of control; he smiled faintly:

"Don't say we're not giving you a chance—we brought them here. If you lack the ability to redeem them, don't blame us. But I might consider giving you another opportunity."

His eyes gleamed with mischief and a cold, buried killing intent as he added, "I permit those who lost to re-enter the arena. This Lin boy is your strongest, right? Even if he underperformed just now, we'll grant him another chance to fight!"

He smiled faintly and said, "As long as you win, the stakes still stand."

Hearing this, Lin Zhe's expression changed slightly—he hadn't expected the target to shift back to him.

Fight again? Impossible. The outcome would be the same.

Moreover, this move by the opponent was meant to provoke them with prisoners, and now this statement clearly aimed to use the rematch to let the Black Princess kill him!

His intent was obvious.

Upon hearing this, the eyes of the ancestral elders from various clans fell upon Lin Zhe, filled with anger yet also complexity.

Earlier, they had indeed been furious that he hadn't burned his Primordial Spirit and surrendered so easily—but this purple-robed man's actions and intentions were far too transparent!

Though filled with grief and righteous fury, they were beings who had lived for tens of thousands of years; they wouldn't be entirely ruled by emotion. The enemy clearly intended to target human prodigies, to eliminate threats like Lin Zhe!

Thus, this time, they did not speak or urge Lin Zhe to fight again.

They could argue among themselves, but if the demons sought to manipulate them, they must stand united.

Precisely because of this, the human race of the Northern Region had managed to endure for so many years without being swallowed by the demons.

"I've already surrendered—I won't fight again. If you have the ability, send her to challenge me a thousand years from now!"

Lin Zhe said coldly.

The purple-robed middle-aged man sneered—a thousand years from now would have its own plans; he would never allow the man to live that long.

"Scared to fight again after being terrified just now?"

The purple-robed middle-aged man said calmly, "If you win, one match counts as ten—you can redeem ten of them. Do you dare fight?"

Hearing this, the atmosphere shifted slightly.

One match to redeem ten?

Though they understood the purple-robed man's intent, they couldn't help feeling tempted.

Lin Zhe's face darkened. This placed him squarely in the spotlight—if he retreated, even some present might understand, but could the countless ordinary Immortal civilians of the 36, 00 Immortal Cities understand?

He looked up at Lin Daogong. If he refused himself, his reputation would plummet; but if someone else intervened to explain the stakes, the damage to him would be greatly reduced.

Yet Lin Daogong's emotions were equally complex.

His most beloved, most cherished child stood right before him—how could he possibly say the words urging Lin Zhe to refuse?

'Father, don't let him agree—don't let him agree under any circumstances…'

Lin Yeqiu spoke urgently, but no sound came out—only his lips moved, forming the words.

Lin Daogong's heart churned; he dared not even meet Lin Zhe's gaze, his fists clenched tight.

"Why aren't you speaking? Is Lin Zhe truly too afraid to fight?"

"One match for ten people—even if you exhaust yourself, you must fight!"

"Is there truly no way to win?"

In the 36, 00 Immortal Cities, countless people grew anxious. Though they knew Lin Zhe was vital, those twenty prisoner prodigies were all famed former prodigies—redeeming ten would surely offset one Lin Zhe, wouldn't it?

Lin Zhe's face remained dark, and he remained silent.

Beside him, prodigies from the Su, Jiang, and other clans also stared at him. Though they knew it was the purple-robed man's scheme, seeing the top contender of their own realm fail to respond to such relentless provocation, they couldn't help feeling disappointed.

Su Muqing stepped before Lin Zhe and whispered:

"Do you really have no confidence?"

Lin Zhe's heart trembled slightly—he hadn't expected Su Muqing, who had grown up beside him since childhood, to ask him such a difficult question.

His expression grew grim as he muttered, "His trick is so obvious—can't you see it?"

Su Muqing clearly saw it; she whispered, "But… if you win, you can rescue them all—every single one!"

Lin Zhe felt a pounding headache. His defeat, now thrust into the spotlight, stirred anger within him; his tone grew impatient: "I know that—but can't you see the strength of that demon girl? To win, I'd have to risk my life—and even then, I'd only have half a chance!"

Su Muqing understood this perfectly—and precisely because she did, she felt something indescribable: disappointment, sorrow, reluctance to pressure him, yet also unwillingness to see him sacrifice himself… yet something within her seemed to slowly grow silent.

Su Muqing naturally understood this, and precisely because she understood, she felt something indescribable—disappointment, anguish, or perhaps an unwillingness to pressure the other, or to see them truly risk their life… but in the end, something seemed to slowly grow silent.

Her lips moved slightly, but she said nothing. She wanted to say: half a chance was enough to give everything—after all, the stakes were too immense.

She looked up, gazing at the many prisoners on the black warship—especially Su Hanshuang and Su Wen Yue.

Especially Sister Wen Yue—when she was young, the woman had held her, often brought her food, and walked with her in the courtyard…

As she gazed upward, Su Wen Yue looked down and saw the little sister she had known since childhood. Though they shared only a father, Su Wen Yue had always loved her dearly.

Seeing the expression in Su Muqing's eyes, Su Wen Yue shook her head slightly, silently saying: 'Don't be foolish—these demons are deliberately luring you to your death.'

Seeing the expression in Su Muqing's eyes, Su Wenyue shook her head slightly at her, silently saying: "Don't be foolish—this demon is deliberately luring you to your death."

Su Muqing's eyes flickered; she stared at her, and her gaze gradually hardened.

Finally, she drew a deep breath, stepped forward, and said: "You said anyone who lost before can fight again, right? Then I will!"

She passed Lin Zhe, her face set with unwavering resolve, radiating an aura of certain death.

Hearing Su Muqing's words, everyone was stunned. Su Zhenyuan reacted first, shouting in horror: "What are you saying? Get back!"

Upon hearing Su Muqing's words, everyone was stunned. Su Zhenyuan was the first to react, fearfully barking: "What are you talking about? Step back!"

Lin Zhe also snapped to attention, grabbing Su Muqing's arm to pull her back—but she broke free.

"Even if you consume a divine pill and burn your Primordial Spirit, you won't be her match—the gap is too great! Don't be reckless!"

"Even if you take a divine elixir and burn your Primordial Spirit, you still won't be her match—your gap is too vast. Don't be reckless, okay?!"

Su Muqing pressed her lips together but said nothing, only: "I want to try."

"Risk your life to try?"

Lin Zhe's anger surged; he shouted furiously.

From childhood to now, this was the first time he had ever scolded Su Muqing so fiercely—and the first time he thought her utterly unreasonable, childish.

Su Muqing said nothing. She wasn't completely reckless—she truly intended to risk her life, and she believed she had a chance to win!

Only she knew: within her lay another power, hidden, growing stronger as her realm advanced, and increasingly perceptible.

But she dared not touch that power.

She didn't know what would happen—but she had a gut feeling: if she unleashed it, she might… die.

Since childhood, her intuition had saved her from countless dangers; she trusted it deeply.

But now… she felt she must try. Even if she died, if she could rescue Sister Wen Yue, free the other prisoners, slay this demon's Supreme Dao Source prodigy, and eliminate other demons, human morale would soar, demon morale would shatter… and if her life could buy all this, what did it matter?!

But now… she felt she had to try. Even if she died, if it could win back Sister Wenyue, rescue the many war captives, slay one of the enemy's Dao Source Seal super prodigies, and exterminate the other demons, human morale would surge, while the demon realm's morale would be shattered… all these benefits—for one life to trade, what did it matter?!

The purple-robed middle-aged man, hearing Su Muqing, raised an eyebrow slightly, his eyes flickering as he smiled faintly: "If you wish to fight, then by all means."

Though his main target was Lin Zhe, this Lin boy stubbornly refused to fight—no provocation worked. Now, settling for second best, killing Su Muqing would do.

"If you want to come, you may."

Su Zhenyuan's figure blurred, blocking Su Muqing's path, shocked and furious: "What are you doing? You're far weaker than Zhe—he couldn't even defeat her even after burning his Primordial Spirit, let alone you!"

Lin Zhe also rushed forward, seeing she ignored him, his anger flaring: "Listen to your father—step back!"

Su Muqing looked up at her father and said firmly: "Father, I wouldn't step forward without confidence. I still have a hidden card—I'm certain that if I use it, I will win this battle!"

Her tone was serious, unwavering.

Lin Zhe also rushed to Su Muqing's side; seeing she hadn't listened to him, he felt a surge of anger and said:

He knew Su Muqing well—she never acted without reason. This meant she truly had a hidden card he didn't know about.

But if she had such a card, why hadn't she used it before? Unless… it demanded a terrible cost.

"What's the cost?"

He asked, eyes sharp.

Su Muqing looked at him—but said nothing.

Su Zhenyuan's heart slammed hard—he understood. She intended to sacrifice herself… to win this duel?

His breath grew ragged, his chest constricted; for a moment, he couldn't speak.

His damned reason raced through possibilities: if she won, how much benefit this would bring to humanity—but the cost was losing Su Muqing!

He clenched his teeth, eyes red. As a father—even with the cultivation of a half-Imperial Monarch—he found himself utterly paralyzed.

If he refused… but Su Hanshuang and Su Wen Yue up there were his children too!

The mighty, towering frame of this human pillar trembled slightly, as if standing alone in the frost of winter's coldest moon.

His damned reason instantly envisioned countless possibilities—how much benefit humanity would gain if Su Muqing truly won, yet... the cost was losing Su Muqing!

He clenched his teeth, eyes reddening; as a father, even with cultivation nearing the Imperial Monarch realm, he found himself utterly unable to choose.

If he refused... but Su Hanshuang and Su Wen Yue on that list were also his children!

The mighty frame of this pillar of humanity now trembled slightly, as if standing in the frost of winter's moon.

Beside him, Lin Zhe also froze, gazing at Su Muqing's calm and resolute face, and suddenly fell silent.

Since childhood, he knew her nature—she had not lied.

But…

He stood rooted, as if shrouded in shadow, his expression unreadable, unresponsive.

Su Muqing looked at the two men blocking her path, both standing like stone statues. She glanced at her father, at his face twisted with complexity and grief, and her gaze softened slightly.

Though her father's reaction answered her question, she did not blame him.

Her eyes turned to the young man beside her, his face lowered, unable to meet hers—she understood his answer too.

A flicker of disappointment crossed her eyes, but vanished instantly.

"Father, I am glad to be your daughter. If there is a next life, I hope to be reborn into the Su family."

Su Muqing whispered softly, stepping past Su Zhenyuan's massive frame, walking forward.

Her voice continued low: "Zhexuan brother, thank you for accompanying me since childhood. I've kept every flower you gave me. My courtyard is called Zhexian Garden—using your 'zhe.' You know what my heart means…"

Lin Zhexuan's body trembled slightly, as if shaken.

"Believe me—I will bring them all back!"

Su Muqing lifted her head, smiling, her gaze hardening like unyielding stone.

Her slender, delicate frame passed between the two men who had shielded her since childhood, walking toward the demonic ancestor's sacred ground.

With resolve, and a profound, lonely, tragic weight.

But soon, her steps halted.

For she saw in shock a figure walking ahead of her, stepping into the demonic ancestor's sacred ground, standing within it.

It was… Li Hao.

He had not pulled or blocked her—but had preceded her, entering the demonic ancestor's sacred ground.

Then, the boy's voice, calm and flat, carried a quiet, unshakable certainty from within the sacred ground:

"I will fight this battle."

Just as before, yet now with an unprecedented calm—and finality.

Not only Su Muqing froze; everyone else stood stunned. Su Zhenyuan, Lin Zhexuan, Jiang Qiuyu, Lin Daogong, and the ancestral elders of every clan—all stared in disbelief at the boy within the sacred ground.

Who dared step forward to face the black-veiled demoness who had defeated Lin Zhexuan?

If it were Su Muqing, willing to sacrifice everything, perhaps there might be a sliver of chance—but who was this person?

"Are you mad?!"

After her shock, Su Muqing snapped back, lunging toward the demonic ancestor's sacred ground, uttering the very words Lin Zhexuan had spoken when he tried to stop her.

On the other side, Su Wanqing also reacted, rushing to the edge of the sacred ground, frantic:

"Hao Tian, come out! You'll die!"

Her words reached Su Muqing as she passed by, causing the latter's body to tremble slightly.

Soon, Su Muqing rushed into the sacred ground, arriving beside Li Hao.

"Get out!"

Su Muqing grabbed Li Hao's arm, shouting angrily, trying to shove him out.

But a surge of immortal energy erupted, rendering her powerless to move him.

Su Muqing was stunned, frozen.

Then she saw Li Hao turn his head—those eyes, once despised and reviled by her, now fixed upon her face.

In them lay calm, and deep, buried emotion—yet no lust, no greed.

For the first time, Su Muqing realized: these eyes were beautiful—strikingly so.

How had she ever thought them ugly?

A thought surfaced in her mind, but vanished instantly—there was no time for reflection.

Yet before she could speak again, her words died on her lips.

For the boy radiated a vast, overwhelming power—like an endless geyser erupting from the ocean's abyss.

As this immortal energy surged forth, an immortal seal emerged—rising from the deep like a submerged island…

Slowly, it appeared from the flesh of the boy's forehead.

One after another, primordial phenomena manifested: Time, Space, Form, Control, Five… Nine Sequences of Primordial Origins…

Yet the immortal seal bore no exquisite nine primordial flowers—only a seamless whole, the Nine Sequences unified as one.

It was the Dao Source Immortal Seal!!!

At that moment, Su Muqing froze.

Her hand, gripping Li Hao's arm, stiffened. Her red lips parted, her face filled with shock, disbelief.

Far away, Su Zhenyuan, who had just reacted and moved to pull Li Hao out, halted—his eyes filled with awe and dread.

Besides him, everyone else saw the brilliant light blazing from the boy's forehead, growing fiercer, peerless, as if illuminating the entire sky and earth of Gusu City.

Countless gazes sank into stunned silence.