Chapter 885: The Struggle of Dragon and Snake—How Can I Be Absent?

In an instant, all five Chaos Dao Seeds perished.

All of this happened in the blink of an eye; from Li Hao’s appearance to the end of the battle, it took no more than three breaths.

Luo Ningshuang and Su Wanyi both snapped back to awareness, watching Li Hao reach out and claim the Heavenly Dao Force from the five Chaos Dao Seeds, their throats bobbing involuntarily.

These were Chaos Dao Seeds from the Ninth Heavenly Realm—five of them united, yet slaughtered by this youth with overwhelming dominance!

“I’ll take this Heavenly Dao Force.”

Li Hao collected the Heavenly Dao Force and spoke calmly to the two women.

If they refused and tried to seize it, they’d have to “debate” it properly.

“You…”

Luo Ningshuang stared at Li Hao in shock and asked, “How did you do that?”

“Hmm?”

Li Hao frowned.

Luo Ningshuang sensed a flicker of killing intent in his eyes and immediately realized he might misunderstand—she hurriedly added, “I mean, how did you kill them?”

“Did you just go blind?” Li Hao countered.

Luo Ningshuang: “…”

For the first time, she’d heard someone phrase “Are you blind?” so politely.

She was irritated, but remembering his recent rescue, she suppressed her temper and said, “Thank you for the favor. I’m Luo Ningshuang, from the Ancient Imperial Clan—one of the Top Ten Clans of the True Realm!”

“Each takes what they need.”

Li Hao waved dismissively, unbothered by her gratitude.

Seeing Li Hao turn to leave, Su Wanyi bit her lip and asked, “Have you been to the Su Clan in the Northern Region?”

“Hmm?” Li Hao looked at her in confusion.

“I’m Su Wanyi, sister to Su Muqing and the others,” Su Wanyi said at once.

Li Hao’s eyes lit with realization—he’d heard of the Four Little Phoenixes of the Su Clan, but in the Northern Region he’d only met Su Muqing and Su Wanqing, never the mysterious eldest sister. He hadn’t expected to find her here, in the Original True Realm.

“Farewell.”

Li Hao nodded slightly, said nothing more, and turned to leave.

Su Wanyi froze. She’d assumed that upon hearing her name, the youth would say something—her father had mentioned the marriage arrangement, and while she’d ignored it during her cultivation in the Original True Realm, the matter had eventually faded. None of her sisters had caught his eye, and she’d once planned to track him down and demand an explanation—after all, her sisters’ talent and beauty were far from lacking.

Watching Li Hao’s figure vanish, Su Wanyi came to her senses and felt a surge of anger—this man knew she was from the Su Clan, yet treated her like this?

“Too arrogant. Too audacious.”

She clenched her fists, furious inside. No wonder none of her sisters had impressed him—such arrogance, such utter disdain, truly infuriating.

Luo Ningshuang saw Su Wanyi’s anger and understood deeply, but she remained more rational, uninterested in petty quarrels. She fixed her gaze and said:

“That guy is truly formidable.”

Su Wanyi calmed down, recalling the scene of Li Hao slaughtering the five Chaos Dao Seeds—her eyes filled with solemnity. Such skill truly granted him the right to look down upon the world.

“No wonder the Eighth Heavenly Realm was cleared out—if he can casually slay Chaos Dao Seeds from the Ninth Realm, then in the Eighth, he must walk like a king.”

Su Wanyi said, her mind filled with astonishment—and doubt.

Both were at the peak of Immortal Lord Realm, their cultivation bases maximized, having fused twenty-three Chaos Laws. Logically, their power shouldn’t differ greatly—unless there were differences in bloodline or Dao comprehension. But this youth’s gap with them was far too wide!

“I heard he comprehended sixty-nine stars in a single day. Someone like him must have secrets we know nothing of—he’s likely a major rival on this Ascension Path.”

Luo Ningshuang murmured.

Yet after witnessing Li Hao’s prowess, if she’d once planned to challenge him on the Ascension Path, she now had no strong desire to do so.

Not only because she might not win, but because the debt of his rescue made it hard for her to fight him with full force.

“With his skill, he’ll likely wipe out all the Chaos Dao Seeds in the Ninth Realm soon—only the Beast Kings here might stand a chance by uniting against him.”

Su Wanyi’s expression turned grave. She glanced at Luo Ningshuang, saying nothing—but her eyes conveyed her meaning: We must hurry, or the Chaos Dao Seeds of the Ninth Realm will be wiped clean too!

Luo Ningshuang clearly understood. Without further delay, they quickly pulled out Divine Herbs to heal their wounds, then dashed off in the opposite direction from Li Hao.

…

As Su Wanyi and Luo Ningshuang had guessed, after appearing, Li Hao swiftly hunted down Chaos Dao Seeds across the land.

Over these three hundred years, he devoured ancient demon flesh, refining ten drops of True God Blood each year—totaling three thousand drops!

The pressure of the Ninth Heavenly Realm was extreme; one drop of True God Blood could extend his spiritual sense only one kilometer. Three thousand drops, however, allowed him to sense disturbances over three thousand li.

Compared to others stumbling blindly, Li Hao had a massive advantage—this greatly increased his efficiency in hunting Chaos Dao Seeds. After all, the perception range of Chaos Dao Seeds here was no more than a hundred li, even with their special Dao-body senses, never relying on spiritual sense.

“Hmm?”

Soon, Li Hao spotted six or seven Chaos Dao Seeds scattered across a hillside, with a massive primate Chaos Dao Seed crouched at the center.

Without doubt, this primate was the Beast King of the Ninth Heavenly Realm.

Li Hao didn’t hesitate—he rushed toward it.

His figure moved like a phantom, his perception surpassing the Chaos Dao Seeds—before he even appeared, they sensed neither his aura nor his movement.

As Li Hao suddenly struck, the Chaos Dao Seeds were startled and immediately clustered together.

Li Hao unleashed Fate Sword Qi, striking directly at the primate Chaos Dao Seed resting atop the peak.

The primate, caught off guard, lost an arm. Furious and enraged, it retaliated instantly, heaving the mountain beneath its feet like a giant club and slamming it toward Li Hao.

Li Hao raised his hand, and the sword qi pierced through the mountain, guided by fate itself, directly piercing the primate’s chest.

Its roar cut off abruptly. Before the other Chaos Dao Seeds could arrive, their leader had already fallen.

A thick mass of Heavenly Dao Force hovered above its corpse. Li Hao reached out, seized it, and absorbed it into his body. As he turned, several Fate Sword Qis shot forth—like inescapable spiraling darts of destiny—slashing into the skulls of the remaining Chaos Dao Seeds, killing them instantly.

“The power of fate is truly wondrous.”

Li Hao mused inwardly.

After swiftly exterminating this Chaos Dao Seed nest, Li Hao moved on to the next.

He conducted a thorough search, relentlessly hunting Chaos Dao Seeds. The Heavenly Dao Force within each in the Ninth Realm was four to five times stronger than in the Eighth. His own store of Heavenly Dao Force grew thicker and more abundant by the moment.

“Hmm?”

While continuously clearing and slaughtering, Li Hao’s spiritual sense suddenly detected two figures atop a mountain peak, locked in battle with two Chaos Dao Seeds—and holding the upper hand.

“That’s… the Divine King?”

Seeing the dark-gold armored youth, Li Hao’s pupils contracted—could the Divine King really be here?!

That familiar face… Though he’d had little interaction with the Divine King in the Multiverse, they’d both originated from the False Realm of Tianyang—he could never forget these two who had betrayed him. “Why is he here? Ah, right—the Divine King, Yuan Zu, and the others like Liang Tian Sheng were all summoned ahead to the Southern Region. But they never appeared in the Southern Region Battle. Though their soul lifespans were unfit for that battle, they vanished completely…”

Li Hao’s eyes flickered. He’d assumed they’d simply never crossed paths—but now he saw the Divine King here, in the Original True Realm. And from his perception, the Divine King’s attacks were ruthless and brutal—clearly a cultivator who had fused twenty-three Chaos Laws.

To hunt Chaos Dao Seeds in the Ninth Realm, one must have fused twenty-three Chaos Laws—or else one couldn’t even fight.

“In just a few hundred years, even if he entered the True Realm before me, the difference shouldn’t be this vast—yet he’s fused twenty-three Chaos Laws!”

“The face is similar… Could he just be someone who looks alike?”

Li Hao was puzzled. The Divine King had been brilliant in the Multiverse, a true prodigy—but in the True Realm, especially the Original True Realm, his talent was far from top-tier. He couldn’t possibly fuse twenty-three Chaos Laws so quickly!

With countless thoughts entangled, Li Hao didn’t reveal himself immediately. Instead, he subtly extended his spiritual sense to probe.

…

With a thunderous crash, the Divine King pierced the Chaos Dao Seed’s skull and retracted his spear.

He adjusted his breath, glanced at Xue Fei, who had simultaneously slain the other Chaos Dao Seed, and smiled. Their combat strength, among those who had fused twenty-three Chaos Laws, was among the upper echelon—even the pinnacle. Together, slaying two Chaos Dao Seeds wasn’t difficult.

Even three could be swiftly eliminated without drawing too much attention.

Over the past half-month in the Ninth Realm, their alliance had yielded rich rewards—he was certain they’d harvested more than anyone else.

“Rest, then continue.”

The Divine King said to Xue Fei.

Both collected the Heavenly Dao Force from their kills, offering no idle pleasantries.

“Our hunting speed in the Ninth Realm is surely the fastest now,” the Divine King said with a smile.

Xue Fei nodded slightly but said nothing. The Divine King’s performance had satisfied her—at least he hadn’t held her back; his combat strength was formidable.

“On the Ascension Path, I hope we can continue cooperating.”

The Divine King said.

Xue Fei’s eyes flickered. She said nothing, only gave a slight nod:

“As long as you don’t interfere with me.”

“Naturally.”

The Divine King smiled, but inwardly sneered—if you interfere with me, I won’t be polite!

“Let’s go.”

Soon, after resting, they prepared to rise.

But at that moment, a figure suddenly descended before them—soundless, without warning.

When they recognized his face, both froze. The Divine King’s pupils contracted, his expression darkened, and killing intent blazed in his eyes.

At the same time, Li Hao noticed the Divine King’s reaction—the instant flash of killing intent confirmed he hadn’t mistaken the man.

He hadn’t been certain whether it was the same person, so he’d decided to reveal himself to test it—but no test was needed; the man’s killing intent had already betrayed him.

“Divine King?”

Li Hao’s gaze turned icy. “I never expected to meet you here. It seems you have your own great secrets.”

“Hao Tian!”

The Divine King’s eyes turned glacial, his killing intent no longer concealed. “I didn’t come looking for you—you’ve actually come to me? You’re asking for death!”

“Looking for me?”

Li Hao laughed. “When the True Immortal Ancient Demons slaughtered us in the Multiverse, you and Yuan Zu feigned death and hid. If not for me, the entire Multiverse would have been destroyed—and now you dare come looking for me?”

"Feigning death is our tactic—surviving by such means is also a skill."

The Divine Sovereign said coldly: "But you—if I hadn’t given you that chance, how would you have gained such a great fortune and inherited the Immortal Emperor’s legacy?"

Li Hao froze, staring at him in surprise. Though inheriting the Heavenly Calamity Immortal Emperor’s legacy wasn’t a secret, not everyone knew it—could this man have still been in the Southern Region during the Southern Region War?

"So, you came looking for me because you resent me for obtaining this fortune?"

Li Hao narrowed his eyes.

"Exactly. That wasn’t yours to take. Hand over the Emperor’s Palace—I am my Master’s true disciple, the rightful heir!"

The Divine Sovereign no longer concealed his tone, speaking coldly.

"Master? True disciple?"

Li Hao froze again. After a moment, he came to his senses—and instantly understood.

When he first encountered the Luo Emperor in the Emperor’s Palace, the man had said his Master once had three true disciples, two of whom still had unextinguished soul-hearts, and told him to find them; if he could recover even one, he too would be named a true disciple.

One of those two was the one he knew—Shi Miao. He never imagined the other was this Divine King!

A reincarnated body?

"So that’s it—you’re my Master’s former true disciple..."

Li Hao was taken aback, his emotions strangely twisted. "No wonder you’ve fused twenty-three Chaotic Laws. In just a few centuries, you’ve changed so much—you’ve awakened your past-life power. So your hatred for me stems from believing I stole your inheritance?"

"Enough talk. Hand over my Master’s Emperor’s Palace legacy!"

The Divine Sovereign grew impatient, his eyes darkening with malice.

Seeing the killing intent in the other’s eyes, Li Hao’s strange feelings faded. He knew this Divine King could not be equated with Shi Miao. Though both were true disciples of the same unseen Master, this man’s character seemed far inferior.

"So, you feel no remorse for the feigned death—you believe I stole what was yours..."

Li Hao nodded. "Then you don’t need to be reborn again. Perish utterly!"

As he spoke, he raised his hand—Destiny Sword Qi instantly coalesced in his palm, and he slashed toward the other with a single stroke.

He had hesitated a moment, remembering the other was his Master’s true disciple—but the man’s behavior made him realize no such bond deserved to be honored. He might as well clean house for him!

"You seek death!"

The Divine Sovereign suddenly unleashed a terrifying aura. He had previously sent his disciples to fight Li Hao in the Blood Arena, hoping to teach him a lesson—but back then, Li Hao had hidden within Jidao Mountain, and he could never kill his Master’s true disciple under the Immortal Emperor’s gaze.

But here, in the Infinite Heavenly Realm, even an Immortal Emperor couldn’t intervene!

Such a perfect opportunity—he wouldn’t let it slip.

In an instant, numerous Ultimate Realm forces emerged behind him—the Celestial Star Meridians and other Final Realm powers also surfaced.

"You cultivated one lifetime—I cultivated a hundred. Ten thousand years of cultivation, the battle experience of a Pretender Emperor—what do you think you can possibly match me with?!"

The Divine Sovereign’s eyes blazed like twin suns locking the heavens, gazing down upon the void, his entire body radiating an oceanic, terrifying might.