Chapter 853: Sixty-Nine Stars in One Day, Emergence from the Void (Combined)

“Go.”

Li Hao activated a chaotic pillar and departed from this location, then turned toward the next one.

While the outside world boiled with commotion, he continued diligently shuttling between chaotic stars, striving to activate all 69 as quickly as possible.

When it came to true effort, Li Hao was exceptionally diligent—after all, even his daily chess and painting were efforts to grow stronger.

He had never slackened.

Now, with the threat of the Southern Region’s Supreme looming, he would not relax even slightly.

Seeing Li Hao’s astonishing rate of comprehension, Shi Miao was filled with joy; judging by his demeanor, he might complete the comprehension of all 69 chaotic stars today!

If that were true, one could imagine the shock it would send through the outside world—a colossal boulder crashing into the tranquil Chaos Dao List!

“With the protection of the Dao Source Immortal Emperor here, there’s no need to worry…”

Shi Miao thought to herself.

Had it not been for that, she would have urged Li Hao to slow down, to not reveal such sharp brilliance.

To help Li Hao move faster, Shi Miao exerted her full strength—each time he activated a chaotic star, she raced at full speed to the next, using space-time arrays to continuously shuttle between them; she employed the primordial essence of time to send her avatar ahead to scout the caverns of the next chaotic star, using it as a beacon for direct teleportation.

This greatly saved travel time.

Thus, Li Hao began tirelessly activating and absorbing them one after another.

“I feel that once my Chaotic Dao reaches a certain stage, I’ll be able to fully comprehend all 69 chaotic stars…”

“After all, the baseline is Dao-level insight—comprehending the chaotic stars, not fusing them…”

As Li Hao activated the chaotic pillars, his mind was still pondering other matters; though the Chaotic Dao required three art points to advance a stage, he felt it was immensely worthwhile.

“If the Chaotic Dao reaches the seventh or eighth stage, I can’t imagine how powerful it would become…”

“Even if there are heart-state requirements, my music and poetry heart-states remain intact—enough to cross the threshold of the sixth stage, unless the heart-state demands for this Dao differ radically from others.”

Li Hao thought to himself.

His rank on the Chaos Dao List soared continuously, rising higher and higher!

From over 900,000th place, he surged straight upward—instantly reaching 700,000th, 600,000th, 500,000th!

Soon, the number of chaotic stars Li Hao had comprehended surpassed half!

His rank rocketed upward; the heavenly prodigies still alive above him all felt faint tremors from the Chaos Dao List.

Some, immersed in meditation, ignored it.

Others, comprehending other chaotic immortal arts, didn’t check.

But most glanced at the message, dismissed the sensation—and upon that single glance, chaos erupted!

“Entered the list in one day?”

“Did I misread? Or is the Chaos Dao List malfunctioning?!”

“Is the Dao in chaos? How is this possible? What kind of person is this?!”

“Hao Tian—who is this? I’ve never heard this name!”

“Hao Tian? That name sounds familiar… ah, I remember! Wasn’t the seventh direct disciple announced by the Dao Source Immortal Emperor a year ago named Hao Tian?!”

Across the Original True Realm—including ancient chaotic clans that had dwelled here since time immemorial—all were stunned and in uproar.

In an instant, the name Hao Tian echoed everywhere; many sought to learn who this divine figure was, emerging so astonishingly from nowhere!

In the Original True Realm, beyond the three immortal realms established and guarded by the Original, Chaos, and Dao Source Immortal Emperors, most lands were chaotic wastelands, where numerous ancient chaotic clans dwelled, occupying precious chaotic spiritual veins or seizing ancient chaotic divine trees to establish their tribes and propagate.

Beyond these places, there were also vast immortal cities serving as central hubs connecting distant regions.

These chaotic immortal cities were also guarded by Immortal Emperors!

In the Original True Realm, there were not only the three Immortal Emperors—some powerful ancient chaotic clans harbored slumbering Immortal Emperors.

Additionally, other Immortal Emperors resided here, though their fame fell short of the Big Three; they created chaotic immortal cities, where people came and went, and rules were relatively lax.

Many ancient chaotic clans, unable to become disciples of the Big Three’s lineages, came to these chaotic immortal cities—either becoming disciples of the city’s Immortal Emperor or serving as city guards, their status far from ordinary.

“Hao Tian? Who is that?”

“A year ago, the Dao Source Immortal Emperor used his imperial Dao power to announce throughout the Original True Realm that he had a seventh direct disciple—wasn’t his name Hao Tian?!”

“That’s right—it was a year ago. The timing matches closely; it must be the same person.”

“Obviously—such an outrageous prodigy must be an Immortal Emperor’s direct disciple. But even then, it’s unbelievable; there must be something strange going on!”

In various chaotic immortal cities, many ancient chaotic clans whispered among themselves.

Their bloodlines were formidable; from birth they possessed extraordinary power—some were born with Wen Dao Realm cultivation, absorbing chaotic spiritual energy even in the womb, with primordial Dao patterns coiling around their bodies; with minimal cultivation, they soared to sainthood and shattered into True Immortals.

In chaotic immortal cities, they maintained human appearances, revealing only slight traits of their clans; some among them had traveled to the True Realm, leaving behind legendary reputations, dubbed by humans as ferocious beasts or divine beasts.

Such as the Chaotic Crimson Phoenix Clan, the Eight-Clawed Fire Chi Clan, the Golden-Scaled Roar Clan, the Biao Clan, the Chaotic Ink Qilin Clan, and more.

They left bloodlines in the True Realm too, though the chaotic blood had long thinned—yet they remained formidable demonic races in the True Realm, terrifying beyond measure.

Those demonic clans tied to the Original True Realm’s lineages sent their extraordinary prodigies to the chaotic ancient clans of the Original True Realm to purify their bloodlines and receive better cultivation.

At this moment, the ancient chaotic clans resting and refining in the chaotic immortal cities were all murmuring; as the news spread, even their elders were stirred.

On Jidao Mountain.

“Huh? Who surpassed me…?”

“How is this possible? I’ve been surpassed too—Hao Tian? This…”

In the various halls of the mountain, many disciples were startled; many had climbed chaotic stars to comprehend them, but due to limited slots, they couldn’t remain inside as long as direct disciples could.

Thus, after cultivating for a while on a chaotic star, they had to yield their slot and return to Jidao Mountain.

Other factions and ancient chaotic clans were the same.

Precious resources were always reserved for the top prodigies; the rest fought over the scraps.

“This—is the master’s newly accepted direct disciple!”

“It’s really him!”

The entire Jidao Mountain trembled; many disciples were stunned.

When the master first announced it, they had guessed the direct disciple must be extraordinary—but never imagined this extreme!

“Huh?”

The restless murmurs on the mountain were heard not only by Yuan Ming, the ancient ancestor bearing Jidao Mountain, but also by the Dao Source Immortal Emperor resting in the grand hall atop the peak.

The Dao Source Immortal Emperor’s eyes widened slightly; within them, inverted sun and moon shimmered with mysterious light, as if piercing past and future.

Soon, he froze.

Though he had always held Li Hao in high regard and believed deeply in this disciple, he still hadn’t anticipated the boy would surpass even his imagination.

“Young Hao Tian…”

Yuan Ming, the ancient ancestor behind the mountain, muttered in a deep, rumbling voice, his massive turtle eyes filled with a simple yet astonished expression.

…

Elsewhere, in the Chaos Sea.

This was the immortal realm guarded by the Chaos Immortal Emperor; within the boundless Chaos Sea, every droplet of wave was thick with chaotic immortal energy, radiating infinite chaotic qi.

Legend said that among the Three Immortal Emperors, those who trained under the Chaos Immortal Emperor advanced fastest, for the surrounding Chaos Sea made cultivation as easy as eating and drinking—even ordinary beasts tossed into it would evolve into ferocious chaotic beasts!

At the center of this chaotic sea lay a magnificent, towering immortal island.

The chaotic seawater crashed against its shores, stirring countless waves; the chaotic qi radiating from those waves enveloped the island, bathing its inhabitants constantly in thick chaotic immortal energy, refining and transforming their bodies, purifying and condensing their immortal energy into liquid form.

At this moment, a figure pierced through, passing the island’s barrier and flying straight toward the Dao Hall atop the island.

“Disciple Su Muqing seeks an audience with Master!”

The girl knelt outside the hall, head bowed.

“Enter.”

A solemn, calm voice came from within.

Su Muqing hurriedly rose and entered the hall, where she saw the towering figure seated upon a lotus of ancient chaos.

That figure seemed seated at the center of heaven and earth, chaotic laws drifting like vines around him, while layer upon layer of solemn domains stretched endlessly, like boundless void.

“Master, I have something to ask…”

Su Muqing hurriedly knelt again.

“No need to speak.”

The towering figure remained calm, raising a finger; vast chaotic qi gathered in the Dao Hall, and slowly, a scroll-like list emerged.

It was the Chaos Dao List!

The list displayed a rank of over 400,000th.

At its center was a shadowy figure, with the text behind it: Entered List: One Day.

Seeing the shadow, Su Muqing froze.

She would never mistake it, never forget—it was him, the boy who had left an indelible mark in the Northern Region.

He had truly come—and had risen to over 400,000th place?!

She saw the cultivation level listed behind it: 42 Chaotic Stars!

Her pupils contracted; her breath seemed to halt, filled with shock and disbelief.

Her master had once told her that with her talent, she could comprehend one chaotic star in roughly three years—and to comprehend all 69, she’d need only two hundred years!

In just two hundred years, she would enter the top 300,000 of this era’s Immortal Jun!

After another thousand years of cultivation, she could condense her own chaotic laws; within three thousand years, she might master all 23 chaotic laws!

Such progress was already astonishing—far surpassing many chaotic ancient clans who hadn’t fully comprehended all chaotic laws after tens of thousands of years.

But…

Seeing this scene before her, she felt as if it were an illusion.

As she stared in shock, the shadow before her suddenly moved, shooting upward at incredible speed, and in an instant, another ten thousand names were added!

And the display below showed: Chaos Star 43!

In just a brief moment, the other had just comprehended another Chaos Star!

“M-Master, this is impossible...”

Su Muqing could only stare, speechless.

The Chaos Immortal Emperor’s expression remained calm. “To you, it is indeed incomprehensible, but there is one reason: he had already touched the power of Chaos before, possessing deep understanding and mastery of it—hence his ability to effortlessly comprehend these Chaos Stars.”

Su Muqing froze, gazing at the Chaos Dao Tribunal List, her eyes growing complex.

Even after arriving in the Primordial True Realm, is he still so radiant?

“Master, when did he arrive?”

Su Muqing suddenly asked.

“A year ago. Now he is a disciple of Dao Yuan Immortal Emperor.”

The Chaos Immortal Emperor, as if sensing his young disciple’s thoughts, said calmly: “Your heart still needs cultivation. Focus deeply, forge your own path. Only by mastering your own way can you retain your own sharpness, even when others shine brilliantly.”

Su Muqing’s heart trembled. She looked at her master, and in those imperial eyes that seemed to pierce all things, she felt utterly exposed.

Her face turned pale. Slowly lowering her head, she said: “Disciple understands.”

“His ascent has slowed!”

Li Hao continued comprehending one Chaos Star after another, yet noticed his ranking’s rise had gradually slowed: previously, each Star gained him twenty or thirty thousand places; now, it was less than ten thousand, sometimes only a few thousand.

The higher up you go, the smaller the gaps become.

“It’s normal.”

Shi Miao raised her hand, forming a space-time array, and transported Li Hao as she said: “The lower you are, the worse the talent. Some secured their Chaos Star comprehension slots through connections and stopped growing long ago. But those prodigies—like the ones you met earlier with better talent—will quickly rise into the top fifty thousand.”

“The higher you go, the fiercer the competition among true prodigies.”

“This is merely the starting point.”

The “better talent” she referred to were the ghost-sister duo, Jian Xin, and Ming Yue.

Li Hao nodded, his mind at ease. Rankings didn’t matter—he sought cultivation.

He entered the Chaos Star dominated by time. Su Muqing had just left this Star not long ago; now, as Li Hao arrived, both he and Shi Miao altered their appearances and aura before entering the cavern.

Now, every cavern was in an uproar, many discussing his name.

Those who cultivated within the caverns had already comprehended dozens of Chaos Stars; they were stunned by Li Hao’s surpassing them and were all speculating about his origins.

Once, this place was for quiet cultivation, time extremely precious—but Li Hao’s arrival turned it into a bustling marketplace. Many who had been immersed in cultivation could no longer find peace.

Li Hao and Shi Miao changed their appearances and slipped silently into the Chaos Pillar trials.

Soon, once all Chaos Pillars were activated, Shi Miao accelerated time for Li Hao, and they vanished in an instant.

By the time others reacted, the two were already gone, leaving only a wave of commotion.

“Are they?”

In one Chaos Star cavern, as Li Hao landed, he saw two familiar figures: Yue Xi and Gu Yan.

This place was also extremely lively—he heard many discussing his name, realizing he had become thoroughly famous.

But Li Hao didn’t care. He glanced at Yue Xi and Gu Yan, thought for a moment, and decided not to greet them—otherwise, after he left, many would pester them with questions about him, disturbing their cultivation.

“After cultivation ends, I’ll find them again. After all, the Primordial True Realm isn’t so vast, nor so small...”

Li Hao thought to himself.

With his current status as Dao Yuan Immortal Emperor’s direct disciple, finding someone to meet here was certainly a trivial matter.

He quietly moved to the side, began testing the Chaos Pillar, and once all were activated and confirmed his comprehension was flawless, he and Shi Miao hurriedly departed.

Among the crowd, Yue Xi and Gu Yan listened to the surrounding chatter, their hearts already in turmoil.

They had known the Chaos Dao Tribunal List had been surpassed, and that Li Hao had arrived in the Primordial True Realm—but they never imagined he’d become this extraordinary.

They heard a prodigy who had comprehended thirty-six Chaos Stars say he’d been overtaken!

The news shook the cavern, sparking uproar; many found it unbelievable and asked everywhere who this “Hao Tian” really was.

Neither of them spoke up, only exchanging glances, their shock beyond words.

Only they knew who Hao Tian truly was.

“He really... always does this.”

Yue Xi smiled bitterly, suddenly recalling how Li Hao had first arrived at the Dream Nine Abyss, remaining obscure for a time—so much so that she had once looked down on him.

But the brilliance of a true dragon cannot be hidden by time. Soon after he revealed his prowess, he soared beyond all reach—leaving her unable to even see his heels.

“How did he surpass so many at once?”

Gu Yan felt not only shock, but deep curiosity—he sensed boundless secrets within that senior brother.

Yue Xi smiled bitterly. Who could know? Perhaps only their master could provide the answer.

Li Hao traversed various Chaos Stars, recognizing many familiar faces, including Bo Ya Xuejian, Chu Tianhuang, and others.

Among them, he saw Chu Yue Li. He hadn’t expected someone with her talent to reach the Primordial True Realm—clearly, something significant had happened in the Southern Region after he left.

Otherwise, Chu Yue Li, Yin Jingcheng, and others would never have secured slots in the Southern Region.

Li Hao had no interest in pondering further—it was none of his concern now. He was disappointed not to see the Dream Master.

Near Yin Jingcheng and Meng Huaiyue, he saw no Dream Master guarding them—only other Dream Clan Immortal Kings.

“Fifty-nine...”

Li Hao’s figure flickered, swiftly withdrawing from the Chaos Pillar. He exchanged a glance with Shi Miao; their coordination was flawless, and they swiftly exited the noisy cavern.

Next one!

Time flew, but Li Hao moved even faster.

With perfect synergy, in an instant, they arrived at the final Chaos Star.

“Final one.”

Li Hao gazed at the Chaos Stone Wall—138 law cracks spread across it, interwoven. This was a Chaos Star dominated by space, filled with invisible spatial rifts and chasms; one misstep could plunge one into chaos.

But those prodigies who came here to cultivate all had Immortal Kings behind them to shield them from the Chaos Chaos Domain—so naturally, they could easily avoid these chaotic rifts.

This was why the number of comprehension slots on each Chaos Star was limited: each prodigy required an Immortal King to expend energy accompanying them—how many Immortal Kings had nothing better to do?

Soon, Li Hao memorized every law crack on the Chaos Stone Wall.

Moments later, the 138 Chaos Pillars beside him activated, brilliant light converging, the Chaos formation solidifying, shaking the entire Star.

As countless eyes focused on the scene, the “culprit” behind it all had already slipped out of the cavern.

Arriving above this Chaos Star, for the first time, Li Hao and Shi Miao did not hurry to leave.

Nor did they need to visit any other Chaos Star—after all, they had all been comprehended!

“Sixty-nine Chaos Stars...”

Li Hao’s eyes gleamed. His master had said sixty-nine Chaos Stars contained ten thousand laws—now, he had comprehended them all.

His rank on the Chaos Dao Tribunal List had climbed to 260,000th!

This rank exceeded Li Hao’s expectations—he had assumed comprehending all sixty-nine Chaos Stars would place him within the top ten thousand. But Shi Miao had said comprehending Chaos Stars was merely the first step.

To combine the Chaos Stars, weaving them into your own Chaos Law, was the second step!

Taking that second step—even weaving just one Chaos Law—would bring a qualitative leap in combat power, pushing your rank above those who merely comprehended sixty-nine Chaos Stars.

Li Hao comprehended all sixty-nine Chaos Stars solely to master the twenty-three Chaos Laws.

“That’s already excellent.”

Shi Miao told Li Hao: “Now, calm your mind, arrange and weave all the laws from these sixty-nine Chaos Stars into your own Chaos Law. I believe you’ll progress rapidly in this second step!”

She wasn’t flattering him—she truly believed it.

Li Hao nodded. “I already feel I can weave and combine them anytime.”

He truly felt it—since mastering the second stage of the Chaos Dao, these laws had become far less complex in his eyes.

“Actually, there were originally seventy-two Chaos Stars.”

Shi Miao revealed a secret, speaking slowly: “That meant twenty-four Chaos Laws. But three Chaos Stars vanished long ago—some say they were destroyed, others that they were hidden by a Great Emperor, and still others claim the Ancient Demon Clan infiltrated the Primordial True Realm and stole them!”

“Thus, twenty-three Chaos Laws became the ultimate pursuit.”

She spoke, her eyes filled with regret: “If those three Chaos Stars could be recovered, the combat power of the Primordial True Realm would increase dozens of times!”

“That exaggerated?”

Li Hao was astonished.

“Of course,” Shi Miao said. “If even one prodigy forges twenty-four Chaos Laws, the significance is extraordinary. This power greatly enhances Immortal Kings—it’s the ultimate Foundation Establishment, and it raises the chance of one day opening the Emperor Realm. Even cultivating just one top-tier Immortal King surpasses an army of thousands.”

Li Hao understood. Indeed, the missing one Chaos Law meant incompleteness, severing the highest path—denying countless prodigies who might have pursued perfection, leaving them perpetually behind.

“But don’t dwell on it. Mastering and fusing even twenty-three laws requires extraordinary talent. Even I, in my prime, struggled immensely to barely fuse twenty-three laws!”

Shi Miao said.

Li Hao froze. Shi Miao was one of the top prodigies of her era—and she barely fused twenty-three laws?

He instantly felt how arduous this path was.

“But you can. I believe in you,” Shi Miao suddenly smiled at Li Hao, her face blooming like a flower.

Li Hao was momentarily stunned by her radiant smile, his mind going hazy, as if the air around him had turned sweet.

He smiled slightly, then asked: “Shall we return to Jidao Mountain?”

“Mm.”

Shi Miao nodded: “You’ve jumped so many ranks that many now know you. Staying here, I fear some may harbor ill intent.”

As she spoke, a glint of cold light flashed in her eyes.

Li Hao nodded slightly, understanding Shi Miao’s meaning—even if he hadn’t provoked anyone, trouble would still find him.

Rising to fame too quickly isn’t necessarily a good thing.

“Let’s go.”

Shi Miao formed a space-time array and returned Li Hao to Jidao Mountain.

By the time the two returned to Jidao Mountain, the Original True Realm had already erupted in chaos.

The Three Imperial Domains and several Chaotic Immortal Cities were in uproar; even many Chaotic Ancient Clans were discussing the name “Hao Tian.”

Those near Li Hao’s rank on the list revealed his position on the Chaotic Prodigy List to the public.

Rank 260,000 on the Chaotic Dao List.

Entered the list in one day!

The news spread rapidly across all corners, leaving countless beings stunned.

Previously, Dao Yuan Immortal Emperor had announced to all major factions that he had taken his seventh direct disciple; many had merely taken slight notice, paying little heed—only ensuring they wouldn’t rashly offend him later.

But now it was different: this ascent was too outrageous, shattering many people’s understanding. Rumors and speculations erupted everywhere.

“Hao Tian?”

On a certain Chaotic Star, a slender, graceful figure clad in black silk robes sat in stillness.

Listening to the murmurs around her, her gaze grew distant—was that the human?

“How could it be…”

Her eyes filled with shock; she could not believe it. Ten years ago, they had clashed in the Northern Region; though he had defeated her with his Second Layer Immortal Lord realm, she had felt their gap was not great.

Yet now, in just ten years, he had comprehended sixty-nine Chaotic Stars in a single day?

Had he already mastered Chaotic power back then—and had she lost because of that very technique?

…

In the Original Land, peaks encircled the area.

Each peak bore ancient arrays that gathered the chaotic forces of heaven and earth, making cultivation here twice as effective.

On two of these peaks, the figures seated in the main halls, meditating in stillness, suddenly opened their eyes.

“Is it truly him?”

An elder in blue robes, his eyes gleaming with astonishment, then grew solemn.

“Last year, when Dao Yuan Immortal Emperor sent word, I thought it was someone with the same name. I assumed the boy was already dead. Yet here he is, arriving in the Original True Realm and becoming Dao Yuan’s disciple…”

“Since Immortal Emperor direct disciples don’t serve two masters, it seems he hasn’t yet become a disciple under my master—and hasn’t received my master’s legacy…”

On another peak, a figure clad in dark-gold armor sat with inner divine light, his eyes brimming with supreme dominance and an overwhelming, haughty aura.

His realm was unmistakably Immortal Lord Peak, his body swirling with great Dao laws, thick Chaotic energy, and twenty-two Chaotic Laws coiling and interweaving around him—if one counted carefully.

“If so, I should make time to return to Tianyang. My master’s relics must still be there. Since that boy hasn’t claimed them, they’re mine now…”

He murmured to himself.