Chapter 849: Acquaintances of the Southern Region, Opening the Chaotic Dao
Li Hao had previously heard of the Chaotic Principle while at the Su family; mastering it, even as an Immortal Lord, made one virtually indistinguishable from an Immortal King to other Immortal Lords—difficult to resist, with a vast gulf between them.
Yet, compared to a true Immortal King, there remained a considerable gap, for the realm and the principle represented a qualitative leap!
“You’ve just joined; you should meet your senior brothers and sisters.”
After explaining cultivation to Li Hao, Dao Yuan Immortal Emperor raised his hand and lightly tapped the void, where an extraordinary imperial fluctuation emerged, like a drop of water sinking into a tranquil lake.
With a soft pop, six vortices slowly materialized in the void.
Soon, three of the vortices changed first, their backs revealing blurred silhouettes that gradually sharpened until their forms became clear—like projections, or incarnations descending.
“Disciples pay homage to Master.”
The three figures emerged from the vortices and immediately bowed to Dao Yuan Immortal Emperor on the dais, their demeanor respectful.
“I’ve taken on a new junior brother; get to know him—he’ll need your care going forward.”
Dao Yuan Immortal Emperor said casually.
The three turned their gazes toward Li Hao in the hall, their eyes immediately flickering with surprise.
They were all Pretender Emperors; one glance revealed Li Hao’s soul aura had only just surpassed a century in age.
Yet his cultivation realm was already Immortal Lord Third Layer!
Another prodigy… Their expressions shifted slightly, then quickly returned to calm.
As disciples of the Master, none were ordinary—only the degree of talent varied, yet even the lesser among them remained among the pinnacle of worldly geniuses.
Having reached Pretender Emperor, they long ago grew indifferent to talent; even with heavenly potential, if one failed to awaken to the Emperor realm and carve their own imperial path, they would ultimately remain trapped in mortal dust.
“Hao Tian greets Senior Brothers and Sister.”
Li Hao marveled inwardly, studying the three senior disciples—two men and one woman—all like Su Zhenyuan, their aura restrained and profound.
Pretender Emperor… Just one step away from stepping into the Immortal Emperor realm, the ultimate pinnacle of this world.
“I’m your eldest senior brother, Gu Mofan!”
The lead youth had a cold expression, a golden mark etched on his forehead, exuding extraordinary nobility, his entire being suffused with divine aura—as if a true deity had descended.
Yet before Li Hao, his demeanor was gentle, devoid of any Pretender Emperor arrogance or pride, strikingly approachable.
“Gu…?” Li Hao’s mind stirred, recalling Gu Yan and that young God Clan youth.
“Correct. I’m from the God Clan. I entered Master’s door sixty thousand years ago and still maintain a fragment body cultivating and contemplating in the Original True Realm.”
Gu Mofan, sensing Li Hao’s thoughts, said: “If you ever visit the God Clan, mention my name or notify me— they’ll treat you with the utmost respect.”
Li Hao knew the God Clan had Great Emperors residing within, likely more than one—after all, they were among the top ten clans of the True Realm.
“Greetings, Senior Brother.” He bowed his head.
“I’m your second senior brother, Di Wushe!”
Beside him, a youth with silver-white hair spoke to Li Hao with cool detachment.
His entire being radiated innate imperial might—like a sovereign standing in the void. If Gu Mofan was a deity, this second senior brother, Di Wushe, was an Immortal Emperor among gods—his aura even more unique, more striking, exuding an air of supreme dominion over all realms, unconstrained by time or space.
Li Hao was shaken; in the True Realm, many surnames overlapped, but the surname Di was singular.
Only the Di Clan, perched atop the hundred clans of the True Realm, dared bear the surname Di!
He was of the same clan as Di Lichen… Li Hao thought of Di Lichen—surely he’d already arrived in the Original True Realm? Where was he now?
Then he recalled the Immortal Lord Pretender Prince who had blocked him—Di Jiming—and his eyes flickered slightly.
“If you encounter the Di Clan, simply name me. Though I’m no longer a Di Prince, they’ll still remember my name.”
Di Wushe spoke calmly.
Li Hao nodded. Though he had clashed with Di Jiming, it didn’t prevent him from being friends with Di Lichen, nor from being a fellow disciple with Di Wushe before him.
In great clans, people were complex—each matter stood on its own.
“I’m your third senior sister, Zhan Qinghuang!”
Beside them, the woman clad in crimson battle robes, adorned with silver-white embroidery, smiled warmly at Li Hao.
Her figure was graceful, like a fairy born of flame—every frown and smile held a soul-stealing allure.
“Like them, if you meet the Zhan Tian Clan, name me—they’ll treat you well, and prevent any foolish fools from provoking you.”
“Zhan…?”
Li Hao was stunned: God Clan, Di Clan, now a Zhan Tian Clan—all top-ten clans of the True Realm, each with a Great Emperor in residence.
To recruit such prodigies from these great clans as personal disciples—his Master’s connections and status must be terrifyingly high.
“Little Brother, what clan are you from? In the True Realm, I’ve never heard of a family bearing the surname Hao.”
Gu Mofan asked curiously.
Li Hao now understood: the Master had arranged this meeting to prevent future conflicts arising from their respective backgrounds.
Beyond personal cultivation, connections mattered immensely—Li Hao had already witnessed the power of influence.
“I have no family. I’m not from a great clan—I only have a few close friends.”
Li Hao said.
Upon hearing this, Gu Mofan and the others narrowed their eyes—no family?
Not born of a great clan meant no great bloodline, no ancestral foundation—yet he had reached this realm solely through his own efforts and now joined the Master’s door?
The three felt a deeper appreciation for Li Hao’s talent.
At that moment, the other three vortices also revealed their figures.
Two men and one woman—the woman, over ninety years old, had a delicate face, wore snow-silver robes, her hair silver-gray, her earrings crystalline, her entire bearing radiating extraordinary nobility. Though female, her brows carried an aura of supreme dominion—as if commanding heaven and earth to bow.
Li Hao’s gaze sharpened—this must be the Master’s sixth senior sister, yet this aura… was she also from an Emperor Clan?
“This is our little brother.”
Zhan Qinghuang, as the three appeared, smiled lightly and introduced him, showing no trace of arrogance.
“Little brother?”
All three turned their gazes to Li Hao, surprised, then immediately smiled warmly and nodded to him.
“Hao Tian greets Senior Brothers and Sisters.”
Li Hao bowed again.
“I’m your fourth senior brother, Lei Jingfeng.” The speaker was a middle-aged man, his face kind.
“I’m your fifth senior brother, Long Qingge. As you see, I’m of the Ancestral Dragon Clan. Though not human, the Master did not disdain me and agreed to teach me.”
Fifth senior brother Long Qingge appeared youthful, speaking with a childlike tone, his eyes sharp yet pure, as if untouched by the world, yet radiating overwhelming dragon might.
“Ancestral Dragon Clan…” Li Hao’s eyes flickered—he knew this was also a top-ten clan of the True Realm, ruling the Eastern Region, equivalent to Tiangong in the Southern Region.
“I’m your sixth senior sister, Di Lingshu.”
The snow-silver robed woman beside her nodded gently to Li Hao—her beauty was exquisite, her eyes intelligent and lively, yet still exuding nobility and ethereal immortality.
Li Hao inwardly confirmed: another Emperor Clan. Of the Master’s six disciples, all except himself came from immense backgrounds.
His feelings toward Dao Yuan Immortal Emperor grew more complex—he possessed talent, yet currently offered no aid to his Master.
Meanwhile, each of these disciples, upon joining, brought their great clans’ goodwill and closeness toward Dao Yuan Immortal Emperor.
“Little Brother, what clan are you from?”
Lei Jingfeng asked gently.
Third senior sister Zhan Qinghuang answered for Li Hao, stating he had no family and relied solely on himself.
Hearing this, Lei Jingfeng and the other two stared at Li Hao in astonishment—without family cultivation, even the highest talent could easily be buried; cultivation demanded resources. No matter how brilliant your talent, without a proper environment, your brilliance would fade, and you’d vanish into obscurity.
Yet Li Hao had broken through, had joined the Master’s door—this meant he had competed with the top prodigies of great clans and emerged victorious!
“You all came empty-handed?”
At that moment, Dao Yuan Immortal Emperor spoke, his gaze drifting casually over them.
Hearing this, Gu Mofan and the others snapped to attention, immediately raising their hands and retrieving treasures from their realms.
“Little Brother, this is the Severed Fate Core. As long as the threat isn’t from a Pretender Emperor, it can save your life and sever pursuit from Immortal Kings.”
Gu Mofan flipped his palm, and a black, walnut-like object flew toward Li Hao, radiating thick, terrifying realm energy.
Li Hao froze—this… was this too valuable?
“This will ensure your safe growth to Immortal King,” Gu Mofan smiled.
“This, Senior Brother, it’s too precious—I have nothing to give you in return.”
Li Hao hastily waved his hands.
“Take it. You’re the youngest—why would we take anything from you? Save your repayment for when you’ve cultivated further.”
Gu Mofan smiled.
Li Hao still tried to refuse, but Dao Yuan Immortal Emperor said: “Take it. This is the sentiment of fellow disciples. If you wish to repay them, cultivate diligently—reach Pretender Emperor as soon as possible. Then I won’t worry.”
Li Hao understood the Master’s intent at once—his heart swelled with emotion and complexity; he had nothing to offer in return, only by growing swiftly could he ever earn the right to repay his Master.
He no longer refused, accepting the gift and clenching it tightly.
“This is an Emperor’s Might Stone from my Di Clan. Wear it, and you’ll be immune to Emperor aura pressure—Immortal King pressure won’t even touch you. No one can shake your spirit.”
Di Wushe also presented a treasure, speaking calmly to Li Hao.
“Thank you, Second Senior Brother!”
Li Hao accepted it.
“This is the blood of a Heavenly Phoenix slain by one of my Zhan Clan’s Ancestors. It can refine your Immortal body, bringing it to perfection. If already perfected, you may save it for Immortal King— it will purify your realm.”
Zhan Qinghuang said, handing Li Hao a crimson vial, radiating divine aura, with phoenix shadows circling it, singing in rebirth.
“Thank you, Third Senior Sister!”
Li Hao felt the vial burn in his hands as he accepted it.
Then Lei Jingfeng and Fifth Senior Brother Long Qingge each presented gifts: a piece of Chaotic Thunder Wood, aiding in comprehending Chaotic Thunder Dao, and a fragment of Ancestral Dragon Scale, capable of resisting realm attacks—requiring only spiritual force to activate, not Immortal energy; the scale acted as a shield, and if used properly, even an Immortal King could not harm Li Hao in the slightest.
Li Hao thanked them and accepted it; the Chaotic Thunder Wood could be used for carving.
This Ancestral Dragon Scale, with his control, truly holds immense practical value.
“I originally intended to give you the Emperor’s Might Stone…”
Di Lingshu said to Li Hao: “Since Second Senior Brother gave you something, and I arrived in haste with no preparation, and since you’re also at the Immortal Lord realm and about to contemplate the Chaotic Dao, I’ll give you a passage of my own insights into the Chaotic Dao heart scripture…”
As she spoke, she suddenly realized her master could also grant this to Li Hao, so she added: “You’re permitted to teach it to others.”
If meant solely for Li Hao’s personal use, its value would be modest—but if teachable to others, it becomes a treasure capable of founding a sect.
Li Hao thanked her and accepted it.
In the blink of an eye, he now held six rare treasures, the most useful of which was the Severed Fate Core from his Senior Brother, equivalent to a second life for an Immortal Lord.
“Lingshu, how is your comprehension of the Chaotic Dao? Any progress?”
Dao Yuan Immortal Emperor asked.
Di Lingshu looked at her master and instantly transformed from the noble, dignified woman into someone more lively and obedient: “Master, I’m currently refining my third Chaotic Dao!”
“Little Sixth Sister… no, Sixth Sister, you’ve progressed this fast?”
Nearby, Lei Jingfeng exclaimed in shock.
Long Qingge quickly lowered her head and counted on her fingers: “? This pace is a hundred years faster than mine!”
“Also a hundred years faster than mine,” Lei Jingfeng chuckled bitterly.
“Not bad—I’m a hundred years slower than you.”
Second Senior Brother Di Wushe spoke calmly, yet a hint of quiet pride lingered in his brows.
After all, they were before their master.
Thus, the gap between him and Fourth and Fifth was a full two hundred years.
“Sixty years slower than me, but still quite impressive,” Gu Mofan smiled reassuringly.
“About the same as me.”
Zhan Qinghuang clicked her tongue, glancing at this sixth sister of the Di Clan—her master’s disciple, indeed all top-tier, with little difference among them except Di Wushe.
Hearing Di Wushe’s words, Di Lingshu’s small pride vanished instantly; she was stunned. After her Senior Brother and Third Sister finished speaking, the faint pride she’d just felt collapsed completely, leaving her with a sense of frustration:
“Senior Brother, you’re faster than me too?”
Gu Mofan, hearing this, was speechless: “Do you think Senior Brother is foolish?”
Beside him, Lei Jingfeng and Long Qingge: “…”
So they were the bottom?
They exchanged glances, suddenly sensing a quiet camaraderie in their eyes.
“Hehehe…”
Zhan Qinghuang covered her mouth and laughed: “Senior Brother, Sixth Sister must think you’ve been in the sect for sixty thousand years and still haven’t forged your own Emperor Path, and assumes Master picked poorly when he took his first disciple!”
She voiced Di Lingshu’s unspoken thought; Di Lingshu’s cheeks flushed crimson with embarrassment: “Third Sister, I didn’t mean… Senior Brother, I didn’t…”
“It’s truly my fault—I’ve failed to forge my Emperor Path for so long; I’m useless. Otherwise, I could’ve truly lightened Master’s burden.”
Gu Mofan, of course, wasn’t angry—only helplessly amused.
Lighten the burden? Li Hao’s heart stirred; he looked at his master.
The man sat calmly before the chessboard, untouched by all worldly matters.
Yet in the Ancient Demon War, Immortal Emperors fell; to Li Hao, they were supreme, invincible, beyond all hardship.
But even they must have their own pressures, their own struggles.
He pressed his lips slightly, suddenly eager to advance quickly—to shoulder burdens like Senior Brother.
“Senior Brother, you’re being too harsh—if you’re useless, then so are we.”
Di Wushe shook his head slightly; as the second direct disciple, only he knew how extraordinary Gu Mofan truly was.
He spoke calmly to Di Lingshu: “Forging an Emperor Path isn’t so simple. I entered the sect thirty thousand years ago, reached the peak of Immortal King in just six thousand years—from Immortal Lord First Layer! Then, in another four thousand years, I entered the Pretender Emperor realm and gained insight into Emperor Intent—yet for the past twenty thousand years…”
He said quietly: “I have no clue. No solution at all!”
“That door is sealed shut. Countless prodigies across the world have shattered themselves against that supreme threshold—it’s not as simple as you imagine.”
“Exactly.”
Nearby, Zhan Qinghuang, also a Pretender Emperor, deeply understood the difficulty of forging an Emperor Path and sighed:
“Even geniuses, rare in ten thousand years, are merely granted the privilege to glimpse that threshold. Whether they enter depends on further fortune—beneath the Emperor realm, all are ants!”
Di Lingshu gasped. She held immense admiration for her clanmate Di Wushe, aware of his glorious battlefield record; she’d assumed he was nearly at the Emperor realm after thirty thousand years—yet now she learned he had no path forward.
The atmosphere in the hall grew heavy and oppressive.
Long Qingge suddenly turned to Li Hao: “Little Brother, whether we two are bottom-ranked depends on your performance.”
“Uh.”
Li Hao froze, then recalled their earlier calculations of cultivation time; he scratched his head: “I’ll give it a try.”
“Little Brother has only a hundred years of soul lifespan and is already an Immortal Lord—his comprehension must be extraordinary. You two are definitely bottom-ranked.”
Zhan Qinghuang chuckled behind her hand.
Hearing this, Di Lingshu and the others stared at Li Hao in shock; they weren’t Pretender Emperors and couldn’t see his soul lifespan at a glance—unless they used forbidden powers, which would be rude.
“Only a hundred years of soul lifespan?”
Lei Jingfeng and Long Qingge exchanged glances, both seeing shock in each other’s eyes—so they were definitely bottom?
Di Lingshu was stunned too: a hundred years of soul lifespan, Immortal Lord Third Layer?
This cultivation speed was unheard of—even the most prodigious talents in the Di Clan barely reached this level.
But due to such extreme talent, he was targeted by an Ancient Demon Emperor, assassinated before he could grow.
Though the Di Clan protected him well, who could guard against an Ancient Demon Emperor as an assassin?
Afterward, the Di Clan tightened protection for their top prodigies—no such incidents occurred again.
Or perhaps the three Di Clan Emperors, enraged, emerged and turned the Ancient Demon Emperor’s territory into a forbidden zone—their terrifying aura had taken effect.
“Contemplating the Chaotic Dao differs from single-path cultivation.”
Di Wushe spoke calmly: “Some prodigies from true realms struggle here, like fish out of water, progressing slowly—yet some broadly learned individuals, previously unremarkable, rise swiftly here. The Chaotic Dao tests not just talent, but vast accumulation!”
“Before coming here, you needn’t study widely—just master one thing to perfection to become a top prodigy.”
“But before the Chaotic Dao, you need breadth—you need comprehensive advancement!”
Hearing this, Lei Jingfeng and Long Qingge regained some confidence and nodded:
“Exactly.”
Zhan Qinghuang didn’t deny it, only glanced at Di Wushe: “You’re just saying this because you were not only gifted, but also learned and deeply cultured, aren’t you?”
Di Wushe coughed lightly and said calmly: “Sister, you’re overthinking.”
“Wushe’s talent is the highest among us—now we’ll see if Little Brother can surpass him.”
Gu Mofan said, gazing at Li Hao with encouragement and expectation.
Li Hao felt his warmth and his heart softened; he smiled and nodded firmly: “I’ll work hard!”
Dao Yuan Immortal Emperor glanced at Di Lingshu: “Lingshu, did you hear? You need to speed up—or in less than a thousand years, Hao Tian will catch up to you and surpass you. That would be embarrassing.”
Di Lingshu froze, shaking her head vigorously: “Impossible. Absolutely impossible.”
She realized this might discourage Li Hao, but her nature was blunt—she meant no harm and didn’t fear misunderstanding.
“Even if Little Brother is gifted and comprehends the Chaotic Dao faster than me, I’m already refining my third Chaotic Law. Even three thousand years won’t let him catch me—only after ten thousand years…”
She said seriously; she wouldn’t stand still—her progress was swift.
Had she not known Li Hao’s hundred-year soul lifespan, she wouldn’t have added “after ten thousand years”—in her view, once ahead, no one could overtake her.
Since childhood, she’d always raced ahead and surpassed those who started before her.
And now, with a three-hundred-year head start, could someone still catch up? Impossible!
Three hundred years passed in a blink for ordinary Immortals, but for top-tier cultivators, it was enough to create an unbridgeable gap.
Gu Mofan and Di Wushe said nothing, exchanging glances—they knew their master never spoke lightly. Though casual, his words implied Li Hao’s talent was even more terrifying than they’d seen, perhaps with immense hidden depth.
“Then let’s wait and see.”
Dao Yuan Immortal Emperor smiled without speaking.
Seeing her master’s expression, Di Lingshu felt a pang of Weiqu and anger, like a kitten with its tail stepped on.
Her talent was known to her master—how could he doubt her so?
Or was he overestimating this little brother?
“How about this—I make a wager with Little Brother?”
Di Lingshu’s eyes flickered to Li Hao beside her; her lips curved, her expression stubborn and proud, yet open and honest:
“Little Brother, I spent three years in the Original True Realm to comprehend my first Chaotic Star—how long will you need?”
She used delicate phrasing: “spent,” “only”—but only those in the Original True Realm knew that comprehending one Chaotic Star in three years was an astonishing talent!
Though lagging behind Di Wushe, Di Lingshu was still extraordinary—how many Di Wushe were there?
He was top-tier even among the Di Clan; only one prodigy in the past hundred thousand years had surpassed him—before his premature death.
“Senior Sister’s talent is peerless—I’m nowhere near it.”
Li Hao waved his hand; he had no competitive intent—he saw she wasn’t truly challenging him, merely trying to prove herself before her master.
“Are you afraid or just disdainful?”
Di Lingshu, seeing Li Hao wave him off, grew annoyed.
Li Hao fell silent, unsure what to say.
“Little Brother, just accept it. For the wager, how about a piece of Immortal Stone?”
Gu Mofan smiled lightly.
Di Lingshu’s expression remained unchanged, her gaze fixed on Li Hao.
Seeing this, Li Hao understood his senior brother’s intent and nodded: “Fine.”
To them, a fairy stone was no more than a wild weed by the roadside, easily plucked.
He had already earned over a million fairy stones on the Bridge of Heavenly Dao—just one stone, he could easily afford to lose.
Seeing Li Hao agree, Di Lingshu nodded and turned to Dao Yuan Immortal Emperor: “Master, I’ve made a wager with my junior brother—it’s not bullying him.”
Dao Yuan Immortal Emperor smiled faintly and said: “You’ve all met. Aren’t you busy? It’s time to return to your own places.”
Gu Mofan and Di Wushe exchanged glances at their master and immediately sensed that smile was like that of an old fox—they knew him well. Those few words were clearly goading Sixth Sister and subtly pushing the junior brother.
They had no objections. After all, they themselves had once competed fiercely under their master’s similar “provocation.”
Only after a duel did they truly respect each other—and their bond as fellow disciples grew stronger.
“I have matters to attend to—I’ll take my leave first.”
Di Wushe bowed to their master, then glanced at Li Hao before leaving: “Junior brother, do your best—I’m betting on you to win.”
Li Hao was taken aback and hurriedly said: “Thank you, Second Senior Brother.”
“Junior Brother Hao Tian, I’m betting on you too.”
Gu Mofan bade farewell to their master and added the same to Li Hao.
“Me too.”
Zhan Qinghuang wore the same look of a spectator eager for drama.
After speaking, the three smiled lightly at Di Lingshu—who had turned pale with rage—and vanished from the hall.
“Sister, don’t be angry. Qingge and I both believe you won’t be surpassed!”
Lei Jingfeng and Long Qingge exchanged glances and spoke to Di Lingshu.
But Di Lingshu’s expression didn’t soften. Even her senior brothers didn’t believe in her—and even her own clanmate Di Wushe doubted her. She hadn’t taken the wager seriously before, but now she truly did.
“Junior brother, we mean no disrespect. Come on, let’s go.”
Lei Jingfeng smiled at Li Hao and waved goodbye.
Li Hao knew they didn’t look down on him and waved back.
Di Lingshu looked at Li Hao and said: “Then chase me!”
With that, her figure flickered, she bid farewell to Dao Yuan Immortal Emperor, and vanished in an instant.
The grand hall was instantly empty except for Li Hao, Dao Yuan Immortal Emperor, and the Xuan Gui Emperor Soul beside them.
“Get ready and prepare to depart. Give your senior sister some pressure—competing and chasing each other will help you both grow faster.”
Dao Yuan Immortal Emperor said with a smile.
Li Hao thought of Shi Miao and hesitated: “Master, may I stay here a little longer?”
“Hmm?”
Dao Yuan Immortal Emperor looked at him, puzzled.
But soon, his eyes brightened: “You’re waiting for her?”
Li Hao nodded.
Dao Yuan Immortal Emperor’s gaze flickered slightly. He recalled how that girl had crossed endless rivers of time, risking everything for this lifetime, and sighed inwardly:
“As you wish.”
Li Hao quickly thanked him.
Dao Yuan Immortal Emperor said to the Xuan Gui Emperor Soul: “Stay with him. Wait until he breaks through and becomes a King before you speak further. During this time, help him settle into his residence on the mountain.”
The Xuan Gui Emperor Soul agreed and immediately led Li Hao away.
“First, I’ll take you to build your dwelling. Make whatever palace you like—these are all the halls of your senior brothers. If you want to find them, activate their avatars inside.”
Xuan Gui Emperor Soul pointed to the magnificent halls beside the grand hall.
Li Hao nodded, stepped beside the halls, and his thoughts surged—he raised his hand and released the primordial source of earth and wood.
The ground trembled slightly, and soon, a simple bamboo-fenced courtyard coalesced.
Xuan Gui Emperor Soul blinked in surprise: “That’s it?”
“It’s enough.”
Li Hao gazed at the courtyard and felt as if he had returned home. He pushed open the gate: “Though heaven and earth are vast, one needs only three feet to stand. That’s enough.”
Xuan Gui Emperor Soul said nothing. Some preferred grandeur and luxury; others, solemn simplicity. Li Hao’s preference for plainness was not unusual.
After the residence was built, Xuan Gui Emperor Soul took Li Hao to tour the summit’s cultivation grounds and explained the rules of Jidaoshan.
The rules were simple—few restrictions. After all, Li Hao was a direct disciple; the only requirements were respect for the master and no harm to fellow disciples.
The higher one climbs, the fewer rules bind.
After familiarizing himself with the summit, Li Hao stood at the edge and gazed down. Near the summit, though few in number, hundreds of figures were present—all radiating the aura of Immortal Kings, with only a handful of Immortal Lords!
“Are these all outer disciples?”
Li Hao was stunned.
Xuan Gui Emperor Soul said: “All except your direct disciples are outer disciples. They merely differ in how long they’ve been under their masters. All must call you Senior Brother.”
Li Hao fell silent. Now he finally understood how Jian Xin and Ming Yue must have felt during the Southern Region Tournament.
As a direct disciple of the Supreme, Immortal Kings were commonplace.
As they spoke, a sudden Emperor aura erupted from the grand hall, engulfing all of Jidaoshan.
The phantom image of their master, Dao Yuan Immortal Emperor, appeared like a cosmic manifestation, embracing the entire Jidaoshan as if his hands could encircle it entirely.
“Today, Jidaoshan gains its seventh direct disciple—Heaven and Earth rejoice!”
As he spoke, the phantom raised his hand. Clouds gathered, coalescing into Li Hao’s likeness—his aura, his essence, identical, as if painted from mist.
Li Hao was awestruck. His master’s painting art must be extraordinary!
The sudden announcement jolted countless disciples from their cultivation. Seeing Dao Yuan Immortal Emperor’s phantom, they all hurriedly knelt and bowed.
“Seventh direct disciple?”
“Only a few centuries passed—another direct disciple?!”
“It’s him—the one who just arrived!”
“He truly has great status! The Emperor Weapon guided him—he really is a direct disciple!”
Countless disciples looked up, staring at the mist-formed image of Li Hao, awestruck. They all memorized his face—henceforth, they must bow and call him Senior Brother, never dare to be disrespectful!
On Jidaoshan, Dao Yuan Immortal Emperor was rarely seen. Direct disciples were effectively its heavens.
The Immortal Kings near the summit also froze, silently memorizing Li Hao’s appearance.
Suddenly, primordial manifestations of countless Dao sources on Jidaoshan stirred. Chaotic energy spread. Thunder rumbled through heaven and earth—as if the cosmos itself resonated!
Dao Yuan Immortal Emperor’s words, “Heaven and Earth rejoice,” truly seemed to make heaven and earth cheer for Li Hao!
Many disciples watched, eyes filled with envy.
Li Hao, witnessing this spectacle, was deeply shaken—this was his first true sense of the extraordinary status of becoming a disciple of an Immortal Emperor.
“I’ve sent your appearance and aura to Chaos and Primordial. They’ll inform their own direct disciples. Avoid lethal combat—sparring is fine, but killing each other is unnecessary. If you have an irreconcilable mortal feud, challenge them to the Emperor Arena.”
Dao Yuan Immortal Emperor’s voice echoed in Li Hao’s mind.
“Thank you, Master.”
Li Hao replied gratefully.
Moments later, Dao Yuan Immortal Emperor’s phantom faded from Jidaoshan—but Li Hao’s mist-formed image remained suspended high above the mountain, visible to all disciples below.
Throughout the mountain’s many halls, whispers and murmurs spread.
Li Hao lowered his gaze, steadied his thoughts. He didn’t care for fame—he was moved by his master’s intention.
He stopped wandering and returned to his courtyard, beginning his carving practice.
“What are you doing?”
Xuan Gui Emperor Soul, watching Li Hao’s actions, was puzzled.
“Carving.”
“I know that. I mean—why carve? Why not cultivate?”
Xuan Gui Emperor Soul asked, confused.
Li Hao said: “All things can be cultivated—with intent.”
Xuan Gui Emperor Soul thought. The words were true—but all things have levels. Cultivating through carving? That would be painfully slow.
Still, this was Jidaoshan. The master hadn’t objected—so why should he? And someone like Li Hao, a prodigy, deserved guidance only from the master himself.
It immediately retreated into its source-shell and settled in for a comfortable nap.
The courtyard grew quiet.
Besides carving, Li Hao continued his usual habit: cooking the ancient demon corpse.
The ancient demon corpse was inferior to the ancient demon blood essence, but blood essence was rare. Cooking the corpse to enhance his Primordial Spirit was already lightning-fast.
“Carving, cooking, chess, painting…”
All four arts were now at Level Twelve.
Reach Level Thirteen, and he could break through and become a King!
But the experience bar ahead was still extremely long. Still, now that he was beside Dao Yuan Immortal Emperor, carving gave him a clear target.
Even the Xuan Gui Emperor Soul beside him provided ample experience for Li Hao’s painting and carving.
And the black giant tortoise beneath the immortal mountain—a quasi-Emperor—was another rich source of experience.
Li Hao thought he should speak with his master soon—ask him to serve as a model for carving and painting. Do it a few times, and he’d surely fill that experience bar quickly!
At that point, one need only contemplate the heart-mind; yet contemplating the heart-mind may come with a flash of insight at any moment—if no such insight arrives, even a thousand years of suffering may yield no realization.
Regardless, first fill up the experience bar.
Immediately, Li Hao began using carving and painting arts to depict the Xuan Turtle Emperor Soul, then located the black giant turtle.
Time flew by; months passed.
Li Hao completed painting and carving the black giant turtle, and accumulated enough repetition that further attempts yielded little additional experience.
After months of carving and painting, Li Hao learned that this black giant turtle was known as Yuan Ming Laozu.
“Yuan Ming Laozu, I’m returning to the mountain tomorrow. When I find something delicious, I’ll bring it back to you.”
Li Hao said to the black giant turtle.
Before him lay a pile of carved “Yuan Ming Laozu” figures and painted portraits.
“Leaving so soon?”
Yuan Ming Laozu transmitted his voice—deep, resonant, and imbued with a simple, earnest quality.
After months of companionship—from initial reluctant tolerance to being won over by Li Hao’s delicacies—it felt strangely reluctant to see the boy depart.
“I’m right on your back. I can come visit anytime. If you crave anything to eat, just tell me.”
Li Hao stood, brushed off the dust, and grinned.
Yuan Ming Laozu thought it made sense, and so made no further attempt to dissuade him—but carefully preserved and stored all the carvings and paintings Li Hao had left behind.
After so many years of cultivation, this was the first time anyone had painted him. The feeling was... peculiar.
It wasn’t that Yuan Ming Laozu had never encountered painters—many prodigies came to the Primitive True Realm, and some were like Li Hao—but none dared approach him upon seeing his colossal, imposing form.
…
Years flowed by, day after day.
Before long, nearly a year had passed.
In the grand hall atop the mountain, Li Hao played chess with his master, Dao Yuan Immortal Emperor.
Dao Yuan Immortal Emperor’s chess skill was extraordinary; Li Hao found that even with his own twelve-tier chess mastery, he was vastly inferior—he would be crushed within moments, his territory overrun, his key positions sealed off by just a few stones.
The key issue: despite losing so many times, he still couldn’t figure out how he lost.
In painting and chess, Li Hao felt his master surpassed him in both.
The Immortal Emperor—the ultimate existence in the True Realm—possesses eternal life, and his spiritual sense far exceeds that of an Immortal King. An Immortal King can conceive a hundred thoughts in an instant; an Immortal Emperor conceives ten thousand, a hundred thousand. His thoughts are swifter, sharper; he learns anything in the blink of an eye.
“Lost again.”
Li Hao saw where his master’s finger landed, his eye twitching—he had silently prayed, please don’t play there, and yet here it was: his own naïveté exposed!
Even he could see this move was fatal—how could his master not? Unless he was deliberately letting him win.
Dao Yuan Immortal Emperor smiled, casually picked up the tea beside him—it was brewed by Li Hao. Li Hao had planted two tea trees in his courtyard, cultivated with the primordial essence of wood Dao and irrigated with immortal energy. Though not an ultimate tea variety, under Li Hao’s refined brewing art, it was sweet, fragrant, and left a lingering aftertaste.
“Nearly a year has passed. Are you still planning to wait?”
Dao Yuan Immortal Emperor asked casually, smiling.
Li Hao, dejected, picked up the fallen pieces and returned them to their respective boxes without hesitation:
“I’ll wait. She’ll come.”
Dao Yuan Immortal Emperor nodded slightly; he did not doubt the girl would keep her promise—after all, she had crossed one hundred thousand years. This distance meant little.
“But if you stay here a full year before contemplating the Chaotic Stars, you may lose to your senior sister Ling Shu.”
Li Hao didn’t look up, slowly selecting his pieces: “Let me lose. We’re sect siblings—why compete for superiority?”
Dao Yuan Immortal Emperor paused, then smiled. Though his encouragement had failed, hearing these words brought him unexpected satisfaction.
“Your tea art is excellent, but the tea seeds are mediocre. I’ll give you two ancient demonic tea seeds later—they should benefit you greatly.”
Dao Yuan Immortal Emperor said after sipping the tea, his tone carrying subtle depth.
Li Hao blinked, realizing his master had sensed something. He asked curiously: “Ancient demonic tea seeds?”
“Two fine divine teas I planted inside the chest cavity of an ancient demonic Immortal King, absorbing its blood and soul essence. The tea has been tainted—but it should have a unique flavor.”
Dao Yuan Immortal Emperor said.
Li Hao fell silent. Planting tea trees inside the corpse of an Immortal King?
That was brutal. If the Ancient Demonic Clan learned of this, they’d erupt in rage.
Though if they knew he was using them as ingredients, they’d be even angrier.
Another month passed.
Li Hao’s painting and carving experience bars had both reached nearly half.
Dao Yuan Immortal Emperor readily agreed to Li Hao’s request, quietly serving as his subject, just as Su Jiuzhe had—causing Li Hao’s painting and carving experience to surge.
When Li Hao returned to the hall with pastries and tea, he had barely set them down when Dao Yuan Immortal Emperor said:
“Your waiting person has arrived.”
Li Hao froze.
Then, a familiar, profound aura appeared outside the hall.
Shi Miao!
Li Hao instantly reacted, heart pounding, rushing out of the hall—and saw Shi Miao descending through the void.
Shi Miao, seeing Li Hao, was equally overjoyed. Though separated only a year, it felt like a thousand years. She flung herself into his arms:
“Did you wait long?”
“Not long. Just a year.”
Li Hao said.
Shi Miao was about to speak more, then remembered something, quickly adjusted her attire, and bowed deeply toward Dao Yuan Immortal Emperor inside the hall:
“Disciple Shi Miao pays homage to Dao Yuan Immortal Emperor. Thank you, Immortal Emperor, for saving my life!”
Dao Yuan Immortal Emperor sat before the chessboard, elbow resting casually on his knee: “I’ve taken your beloved as my direct disciple. You don’t mind, do you?”
Shi Miao froze, blushing: “As long as he agrees, I have no objections.”
“You little thing—your former master offered you countless talented youths to breed your bloodline, and you refused them all. So your heart was always here.”
Dao Yuan Immortal Emperor shook his head slightly, a faint smile touching his lips, as if recalling past events.
Hearing this, Shi Miao’s eyes dimmed with sorrow, thinking of her fallen master:
“He long foresaw the great calamity of heaven and earth—but never expected he’d perish himself, nor that the Heavenly Emperor would be such a petty man...”
At the mention of the Southern Region’s Supreme Sovereign, a trace of hatred flashed in her eyes.
Dao Yuan Immortal Emperor gazed silently into the void: “How do you know he didn’t foresee his own death? Perhaps he chose it willingly. Without his sacrifice, the Southern Region would not be as it is today. That Heavenly Emperor... truly disappointed.”
He shook his head slightly.
Shi Miao froze. Did her master foresee his own death?
She fell silent. Of course—he had known. He had walked into the calamity deliberately.
“Since you’ve come to the Primitive True Realm, don’t waste your time. Go.”
Dao Yuan Immortal Emperor waved his hand.
Shi Miao immediately bowed deeply, solemnly, then took Li Hao’s hand and stepped out of the hall.
“Let’s go to the Chaotic Stars. Have you decided which one?”
Shi Miao asked.
Li Hao knew the sixty-nine Chaotic Stars each differed; most would choose the one most aligned with their highest Dao to accelerate progress.
“Wherever you go, I go,” Li Hao said.
Shi Miao smiled gently: “I came to accompany you. Of course, wherever you go, I go. Fine—eventually we’ll contemplate them all anyway. Which one first doesn’t matter.”
As she spoke, she raised her hand and slashed the air—before them appeared a spatial-temporal array:
“Each Chaotic Star is guarded by an Immortal King, holding back the Chaotic Chaos Zones. Let me guard you.”
Li Hao stared at her in surprise—he now noticed her aura had changed. She was no longer an Immortal Lord—she was an Immortal King!
“You’ve advanced in realm?”
“Mm.”
Li Hao asked no further. Shi Miao’s realm advancement was unlike that of ordinary cultivators.
The two stepped into the spatial-temporal array.
Around them, the primordial essence of space and time shifted. Soon, the array reopened—before them stood a steep, sword-like peak.
This was a true sword: its shape, appearance, all matched a blade—sharply pointed on both sides, its edges so thin they approached the sharpness of a blade.
Yet despite such thinness, the rocks and soil did not crumble—instead, they were held together by a fundamental Dao law.
Li Hao stared in astonishment, then turned to see that the flowers and grasses at the mountain’s base were all blades—rising upright from the ground, each razor-sharp.
Some plants resembled swords; others resembled spears; still others curved and twisted, like reflections refracted beneath water.
“This...”
Li Hao stared at the scene—this surpassed even the Sword Graveyard. Every object bore the shadow of a sword.
Beyond swords, Li Hao sensed the presence of other Dao primordial essences.
“This is the Chaotic Sword Star!”
Shi Miao told Li Hao: “Sword Dao is primary, with other Daos fused into it, forming Chaotic Sword Dao!”
“Chaotic Sword Dao...”
Li Hao sensed the surrounding Dao primordial essences—many felt deeply familiar. He mastered the Nine Sequences Dao primordial essence, capable of evolving all things—he could contemplate every Dao here.
“If I contemplate and fuse all these Daos, I can awaken Chaotic Sword Dao?”
Li Hao asked curiously.
This seems easy enough for anyone who masters the Nine-Order Immortal Seal, let alone the Dao Source Immortal Seal.
“It’s not that simple.”
Shi Miao said: “What you describe is mere stacking. The Chaotic Sword Dao, however, perfectly fuses the fundamental sources of other Dao paths into sword Dao. Fusion and stacking are two different kinds of power.”
Li Hao recalled his previous battles, where he had integrated all the sword Dao techniques he mastered into the Sole Self Sword Dao.
But now, hearing Shi Miao say this, he seemed to understand a little.
Previously, he had merely stacked them—every sword intent he possessed had been piled together, finally converging into the power of the Sole Self Sword Dao.
“Fusion means extracting their characteristics and arranging them into the most perfect form.”
Shi Miao raised her hand, and before her eyes, the Water Dao’s fundamental source and Fire Dao’s fundamental source coalesced into ice and flame, drawing near each other; even under her Immortal power’s isolation, they still emitted boiling steam.
“This is mutual loss—even if you isolate other Dao paths like Earth Dao or Metal Dao in between…”
As she spoke, rocks and metal condensed in midair, sandwiched between the ice and flame; the boiling steam vanished.
“But the loss still exists—it’s just reduced. Fusion eliminates it entirely.”
She flicked her finger, and the rocks and metal merged into a substance like diamond.
The ice and flame also fused, becoming scalding, crimson magma!
Li Hao watched her effortlessly manifest this, stunned, and suddenly grasped something profound.
◆C〇
“These are extreme, but fusion is simple—like Metal Dao merging with Water Dao, Rock Dao merging with Time Dao…”
Shi Miao said: “These are harder. Beyond these, there’s also the comprehension of Chaotic Power. If you comprehend the characteristics of Dao’s fundamental sources and can fuse them, then Chaotic Power is the adhesive that stabilizes their fusion—turning them into the Chaotic Dao!”
“Sounds difficult.”
Li Hao said, feeling overwhelmed—this Chaotic Law was indeed harder to master than he’d thought.
Shi Miao immediately took Li Hao’s hand and soared away, saying: “I’ll take you to the star core of this Chaotic Sword Star. There, you can comprehend the Chaotic Dao at closest range.”
As they flew through the void, Li Hao noticed the rivers on this star contained water shaped like sharp blades—flowing shards of ice.
Soon, they crossed the Sword Qi Forest and arrived at a boundless plain, where a massive, sunken pit lay at its center.
Shi Miao moved with incredible speed, enveloping them in her Domain power to repel the Chaotic Chaos Zone’s forces, then descended into the pit with Li Hao.
As they descended deeper into the pit, they soon reached the heart of this Chaotic Star—a basin-like region.
After passing through the dark tunnel, the bottom glowed brightly; a tiny sun floated beneath the ceiling, radiating brilliant light.
Li Hao could tell it wasn’t a true divine sun, but a Law artifact created using the Light Dao’s fundamental source.
What surprised Li Hao was that the pit contained many figures—he scanned roughly and counted at least two or three hundred!
Along the way, Li Hao had learned that although this Chaotic Star allowed comprehension of Chaotic Law, it required Immortal Kings to guard it and repel the Chaotic Chaos Zone’s forces, so cultivators could focus safely.
Immortal Kings had already formed their Domains; further comprehension of Chaotic Law was meaningless, as Domains couldn’t be reforged.
Thus, Immortal Kings here were essentially like attendants to the Crown Prince—only responsible for escorting and protecting, gaining nothing themselves.
Each prodigy who came to comprehend had an Immortal King guarding them; the Chaotic Chaos Zone’s power here was extreme, and only high-tier Immortal Kings could guard more than one or two people.
That’s why so few were here—only top-tier prodigies could come, and they needed Immortal Kings to accompany and guard them. Ordinary prodigies couldn’t even afford to hire an Immortal King to come here.
“Come.”
Shi Miao brought Li Hao directly down before the group of figures.
Ahead, only a dozen or so sat in meditation; everyone else kept their distance.
A massive ancient wall stood before them, covered in cracks of Law—interwoven and crisscrossing. Li Hao scanned it and counted 138!
Each Law crack was a condensed fundamental source of a Dao—meaning the wall contained 138 Dao fundamental source Law inscriptions.
Among them, Li Hao immediately spotted the Sword Dao Law inscription—standing at the center, thickest of all.
Fortunately, his Sword Dao had reached the twelfth level, and his Sword Dao fundamental source had reached the sixth peak, so he noticed it instantly.
“Comprehend all these Law inscriptions infused with Chaotic Power, and you’ll grasp the Chaotic Sword Star’s Law.”
Shi Miao told Li Hao.
Li Hao couldn’t help but gasp—so many? All of them?
“If I comprehend them all, I’ll master Chaotic Law?” Li Hao asked.
“It’s not that simple. You must comprehend three Chaotic Stars and fuse them to grasp Chaotic Law!”
Shi Miao said: “Comprehending one Chaotic Star only reveals the surface of Chaotic Dao. For example, this Chaotic Sword Star—if you comprehend every detail, your Sword Dao will improve into Chaotic Sword Dao, but you’re still far from Chaotic Law.”
Li Hao fell silent, suddenly realizing Chaotic Law was far more complex than he’d imagined.
His sixth senior sister, Di Lingshu, had comprehended one Chaotic Star in just three years?
Even now, Li Hao couldn’t help but silently admire her.
As he marveled, a voice filled with surprise suddenly spoke:
“You’re here too?”
Li Hao recognized the voice instantly and turned to see two figures rise—one with a complex expression, the other with surprise but eyes as calm as a deep lake.
Li Hao hadn’t expected the world to be so small—he’d just arrived and encountered Jian Xin and Ming Yue, who he’d clashed with in the Southern Region Tournament.
Behind them stood a thin, elderly man wearing a wide-brimmed hat, carrying a firewood axe—looking like a simple mountain villager.
But Li Hao sensed an extremely dangerous aura from him.
“You’re still alive…”
Jian Xin and Ming Yue quickly noticed Shi Miao; their expressions changed slightly. Back then, this girl had been utterly shattered under her master’s hand.
How could anyone survive an attack from a Supreme Being?
Yet now, she stood before them, perfectly intact—and after only twenty years, she’d reached Immortal King realm!
Shi Miao glanced at them, her gaze settling on the old man with the axe; her expression grew serious.
“I thought you’d be too proud to come to the Original True Realm. I didn’t expect you’d come at all—too bad you’re late.”
Jian Xin’s eyes fell on Li Hao, then returned to calmness: “Twenty years, and you’ve only advanced three realms? Back then, you were the prodigy with a hundred-year soul lifespan. With your cultivation speed, you should be at Immortal Lord realm fifth level by now…”
As he spoke, Li Hao noticed—Jian Xin and Ming Yue had both broken through to Immortal Lord realm, and both were at fifth level!
“Three levels or five levels—it makes no difference. I still beat you.”
Li Hao said calmly.
Hearing this, Ming Yue, who stood half a step behind Jian Xin, immediately turned pale and sneered:
“How bold of you to speak like that! Do you really think things are the same as twenty years ago? This is your first Chaotic Star, isn’t it? You’ve got not a trace of Chaotic aura on you—you have no idea how different the Original True Realm is from the True Realm. Twenty years here equals two hundred, even two thousand years in the True Realm!”
Li Hao raised an eyebrow, but before he could respond, Shi Miao spoke for him, coldly:
“You dare to be arrogant just because you’ve grasped a sliver of Chaotic Dao?”
Ming Yue’s face turned ashen, but she had no retort against Shi Miao.
After that battle, she and her master, along with other elders from the Heavenly Palace, had learned Shi Miao’s true identity.
This girl, who had briefly appeared and effortlessly crushed an Imperial Clan’s pseudo-Imperial heir, was a legend from ten thousand years ago—already famed across the True Realm back then, a top-tier prodigy.
Knowing her battle records, they understood that even in an era overflowing with prodigies, she had been an object of awe for countless great clan heirs. Compared to her, they were nothing.
Not to mention she had long crossed the River of Time—her true realm was already at pseudo-Emperor level, even among pseudo-Emperors, among the elite.
“Hmph. At least I know something.”
After a long silence, Ming Yue sneered.
She couldn’t match Shi Miao, but at least she was stronger than Li Hao now.
He, relying on his talent, had refused to become a disciple of an Immortal Emperor and hadn’t come to the Original True Realm—unaware he was wasting himself.
Li Hao glanced at them, uninterested in arguing, and turned away without another word.
Jian Xin said: “If you still harbor resentment over what happened back then, come after us. When your realm catches up to ours, feel free to challenge us anytime!”
Li Hao, who had already turned to study the Law-crack wall, suddenly flashed a cold, icy gleam in his eyes.
He turned back, his gaze seeming to freeze the air, fixed on Jian Xin:
“You’re not even worthy to bear that debt!”
Jian Xin’s expression changed; Ming Yue’s did too—both were shocked and furious.
“Young lad, don’t speak so rashly. Are you planning to settle accounts with the Supreme Being?”
At that moment, the old man behind them lifted his head slightly; beneath his hat, his aged face revealed eyes narrowed with chilling, sharp malice, radiating a powerful Immortal King aura.
Other cultivators in meditation were startled by the conflict and turned their gazes toward them.
“Chatterbox.”
A young man ahead suddenly opened his eyes and snorted coldly.
His realm was Immortal Lord realm peak, radiating an intensely restrained, dominant aura.
Behind him stood a bald, white-robed elder, eyes closed like a monk. Hearing the youth speak, he slowly opened his eyes, glancing at Li Hao and Jian Xin with a warning look.
The old man with the axe ignored them, staring at Li Hao: “Young friend, why don’t you speak?”
As he spoke, his aura intensified, pressing down as if forcing Li Hao to kneel—thick with threat.
Li Hao looked at him deeply, unbothered by the pressure, then stepped forward sharply: “Do I need your permission, you old dog, to settle accounts with the Supreme Being?!”
His voice rang out, showing no retreat; his gaze locked directly onto the old man.
Those watching around were stunned—even those not from the Southern Region knew who “Supreme Being” referred to.
This boy was saying he’d settle accounts with a Supreme Being?
That was an Immortal Emperor!
The old man’s eyes turned icy, releasing lethal intent; his axe tightened in his grip.
Without hesitation, Li Hao summoned the Black Tortoise Emperor Soul. With this incomplete Emperor artifact and the Broken Fate Core gifted by his senior brother, he wasn’t afraid.
“Try to move. If not for the Law restrictions here, do you really think you’d win?”
Shi Miao stared at the opponent, her pupils glowing with seven-colored misty light, her entire body radiating intense temporal power.
The old man holding the firewood axe slightly changed his expression, reined in his aura, and sneered, “Had it not been for the prohibition against combat on the Chaos Star, I would have used your two lives to sharpen my blade today.”
Shi Miao sneered, but refused to waste words on him.
Here, combat is forbidden; otherwise, how could she have allowed Li Hao to be humiliated? Even if it cost her true body’s strength, she would have slain him.
But she had already memorized him.
“If you won’t fight, then stop talking nonsense—annoying!”
Beside them, the young man at the peak of Immortal Lord realm frowned, his expression clearly impatient.
Mingyue glared at him. “What’s it to you? If you find it annoying, go away.”
The Immortal Lord realm youth glanced at her, then gave a faint sneer. “Dare you accept my challenge if you have the guts?”
Mingyue’s expression changed slightly—he was at the peak of Immortal Lord realm, and had cultivated here far longer than she could guess; even as the Supreme’s direct disciple, she might not match him.
“Wait until I catch up in realm—you’ll see if I dare,” she sneered.
The Immortal Lord realm youth gave a faint sneer and refused to say more.
Jianxin ignored the others, fixing his gaze on Li Hao. “Do you truly seek your own death? Your sword Dao, your talent—if you’d only bowed your head slightly back then, how could you have ended up like this?”
He felt a measure of regret for Li Hao. Though their positions differed, Li Hao’s sword Dao had once impressed him deeply in the Southern Region.
Hearing this, Li Hao couldn’t help but laugh—coldly.
“You always tell others to bow—then why don’t you tell your master to raise his hand higher? Why must he force others’ heads down?”
Before Jianxin could speak, Li Hao coldly added: “But no need to persuade me—those hands pressing down will one day, I swear, I will cut off myself!”
Mingyue bristled with rage. “My master is an Immortal Emperor! Do you really think you can stand against him? Do you know how hard it is to become an Immortal Emperor? Even if you become one, you still won’t be his match!”
Li Hao glanced at her but said nothing. Immortal Emperor was still far beyond him now—but fortunately, he was steadily advancing, step by step, toward that ultimate goal!
He turned away, ignoring them entirely—arguing was pointless.
Jianxin studied Li Hao deeply, raised a hand to stop Mingyue from speaking further, and shook his head. “The closer he gets to that realm, the more he’ll understand what despair truly is. No need to say more.”
Then he spoke again to Li Hao: “I’ll say it again—when you finally catch up to us, come challenge me anytime. I’ll take that debt myself.”
Li Hao’s gaze settled on the wall of law cracks, saying nothing about “you’re not worthy”—he focused only on meaningful things.
Jianxin didn’t care whether Li Hao had listened; he sat down again with Mingyue.
Li Hao stared at those law cracks—within them lay many primordial Dao sources. Having mastered the Nine Orders Dao, he could deduce them easily, so his comprehension came without difficulty.
But the chaotic energy within the law cracks flowed like ever-changing water, encompassing extraordinarily complex Dao characteristics and shadows of countless Daos.
Li Hao gazed intently, and slowly, understanding dawned in his heart.
Has the rudimentary knowledge been recorded?
Suddenly, a prompt flashed before his eyes.
(End of Chapter)
End of Chapter
