Chapter 910: Zhutian Tower

With the appearance of the Dao Source Immortal Emperor, many figures immediately turned their gaze, sensing that vast and supreme aura, all startled and murmuring among themselves.

“That… that’s an Immortal Emperor?”

“My candidacy for True King has two Immortal Emperors overseeing it—I never expected to see one so soon after arriving!”

“No wonder this place gathers the very top prodigies and combatants of the True Realm—I’ve never seen an Immortal Emperor before, yet here I see one at once.”

Many whispered in awe, their eyes filled with excitement and agitation.

“Is that person beside the Immortal Emperor his disciple? I heard that even direct disciples of Immortal Emperors have no advantage in this True King candidacy—they must climb step by step through sheer strength.”

“Exactly—no talent matters, only combat power!”

“That’s a good thing. This is true fairness.”

“The true strongest contenders here are those Immortal Kings who’ve cultivated for seventy or eighty thousand years.”

As many murmured, Li Hao and Shi Miao and the others also surveyed the surroundings, startled by the dense throng of figures.

Keep in mind that their Dao Yuan lineage only selected a little over twenty people, while there are at least thousands present here!

“So many people!”

“What’s that mountain?”

“That’s not a mountain—that’s a tower!”

Li Hao and the others’ gazes were drawn to the towering black shadow in the abyss ahead, while the countless floating figures around them clustered like gnats around this colossal, sky-piercing tower.

“This is the Divine Imperial Artifact—Zhutian Tower!”

The Dao Source Immortal Emperor spoke slowly: “This is the Imperial Weapon of the Star Emperor. You may not know his name, but you’ve surely heard of the Second Ultimate Realm—the Zhutian Star Vein. Correct—it was opened by the Star Emperor himself!”

Li Hao was stunned. The Zhutian Star Vein—he knew it well. Could this Ultimate Realm truly have been opened by the Star Emperor?

And now, he stood before the Emperor’s own Imperial Weapon!

It felt like a legend materializing before his eyes—shocking and exhilarating.

“The Star Emperor is one of the two Imperial Emperors overseeing this event. This Zhutian Tower is your next trial ground!”

The Dao Source Immortal Emperor slowly raised his head, his gaze seeming to reach the tower’s peak: “Zhutian Tower contains the secret methods of ten thousand Dao paths of the True Realm and gathers combat tactics from countless celestial races. It has three hundred levels! The first hundred levels suppress Immortal Kings, the middle hundred suppress Pretender Emperors!”

“The final hundred levels are designed specifically for confronting Great Emperors.”

“In the past, this tower also imprisoned the most heinous Immortal King criminals. Now, those criminals have been sent to ancient Demon Warfronts to atone through service—so the tower has been left empty.”

The Dao Source Immortal Emperor turned his gaze to Li Hao and Shi Miao: “To compete for the True King title, you must reach within the ninetieth level—or even pass the hundredth!”

“Only then can you possibly seize a True King seat!”

He spoke these words mainly to Shi Miao.

After all, Shi Miao was currently at the fourth layer of Immortal King realm—unlike Li Hao, she had some chance to contend for the True King seat.

But Li Hao had only just entered the Immortal King realm. Though his talent was peerless, the time left to him was far too short.

“Ten thousand years have passed—this tower’s glow has dimmed, so much so that I didn’t recognize it at first.”

Shi Miao looked up at the tower before her, her eyes tinged with nostalgia.

The Dao Source Immortal Emperor shook his head slightly. “It’s not dimmed—it’s stained with too much demon blood, never cleaned.”

Shi Miao froze, then fixed her gaze intently—her eyes grew heavier, more solemn.

Ten thousand years ago, the Star Emperor had also fought in that great calamity. She vaguely remembered how this Star Tower had crushed the ancient demon tide into bloody pulp, slaying countless ancient demons.

Once radiant as starlit glass, its tower body was now entirely black—drenched in the blood of ten thousand years ago, never faded.

“So each ten levels correspond to one layer of Immortal King realm?”

Li Hao said.

The Dao Source Immortal Emperor nodded slightly. “But they correspond to the absolute limits of each realm. In other words, even ancient demons—stronger than the ten thousand races of the True Realm—would struggle to survive within their designated levels. Ordinary human prodigies would find it nearly impossible to even enter their corresponding levels.”

“This Imperial Artifact is extremely harsh.”

Hearing this, the three other fully cultivated Immortal Lords exchanged silent whistles.

The other Immortal King ninth-layer disciples and the two Immortal King full-layer disciples also grew grim-faced.

“When the trial begins, try it out—if you can directly enter the ninetieth level, that will already be extremely difficult for you.”

The Dao Source Immortal Emperor told them.

Hearing this, the disciples’ expressions tightened further. They were all top-tier Immortal Kings trained at Jidao Mountain—elite among their peers. Yet here, before Zhutian Tower, they would struggle so much?

As they spoke, sudden ripples surged through the void.

Li Hao and Shi Miao turned back and saw a vast group of figures rushing toward them along the path they had come.

Leading them was a towering figure, eyes haughty, face androgynous yet exquisitely beautiful and cold—Chaos Immortal Emperor.

Seeing Dao Source Immortal Emperor, Chaos Immortal Emperor gave a slight nod, then his gaze swept over Li Hao and Shi Miao, lifting slightly as he smiled faintly:

“Dao Source, you bring two disciples from other sects to this elite trial? Doesn’t that sting a bit?”

Dao Source Immortal Emperor replied coolly: “Li Hao is also my disciple.”

Chaos Immortal Emperor chuckled. “The seed is indeed excellent—but only you don’t care.”

Li Hao and Shi Miao both frowned slightly, displeased—but then Dao Source Immortal Emperor’s voice directly echoed in Li Hao’s mind:

“Don’t mind him—he’s just jealous I got you.”

Li Hao froze, turning to look at his master—his heart filled with a complex, souring emotion.

He knew well how proud Immortal Emperors were—how could they take another’s direct disciple? Chaos Immortal Emperor hadn’t been wrong.

Yet his master didn’t care at all—instead, he came to comfort him.

“You’ve brought many disciples, but only two among them have a chance to compete for True King.”

Dao Source Immortal Emperor glanced at the multitude behind Chaos Immortal Emperor, smiling faintly.

Chaos Immortal Emperor’s retinue numbered several hundred. Li Hao recognized many familiar faces—Luo Ningshuang, Su Wanyi, and others—but no other Su family members; they were likely still cultivating on the Chaos Star, like Sister Di Lingshu.

Among them, two figures stood out sharply: their eyes contained but radiated piercing light, their stances upright, as if they had become the center of heaven and earth, their aura terrifyingly immense.

Immortal King full-layer!

Li Hao’s eyes narrowed. The two other Immortal King full-layer disciples beside him also paled slightly, feeling the pressure.

“Hmm? He’s here too—and still alive.”

Su Wanyi and Luo Ningshuang spotted Li Hao, their eyes flickering with unusual emotion. They had been in the Eastern Region, stationed at Jianlong Defense Line, when ancient demons suddenly attacked—the line collapsed. Due to their special status, they received priority protection and escaped back to Zulong City.

Later, disciples sent by their master retrieved them, allowing them to return safely to the Chaos Sea.

That was the advantage of being a direct disciple of an Emperor. Other disciples, especially those with weaker backgrounds—or even those with strong backgrounds but bad luck—would have perished long ago in such chaos.

“Two is already good. Two out of ten Kings—I’m satisfied.”

Chaos Immortal Emperor smiled.

His two Immortal King full-layer disciples glanced dismissively at Li Hao and the others, lingering slightly on Li Hao before shifting their gaze elsewhere.

Li Hao’s reputation in the Original True Realm was known to them—but unfortunately, this ancient demon war valued only combat power. Past honors meant nothing. No matter how prodigious or promising, could one negotiate with ancient demons? No. With Chaos Immortal Emperor’s arrival, fresh gasps erupted around them. Two Immortal Emperors arriving in succession filled many with excitement and exhilaration.

“Stay here. When the Star Emperor and the other Immortal Emperor arrive, they will explain the full rules.”

Dao Source Immortal Emperor told Li Hao and the others.

Li Hao and the others nodded. Only after Dao Source Immortal Emperor’s figure dissolved like a sand shadow did they bow deeply together to see him off.

Chaos Immortal Emperor, seeing this, also didn’t linger. After giving his own disciples instructions, he departed.

With the two Immortal Emperors gone, others relaxed. Many kept glancing toward Chaos Immortal Emperor’s disciples, discussing the differences between the Chaos and Dao Source sects.

“Is that Chaos Immortal Emperor? Why does his sect have so many disciples?”

“I heard Chaos Immortal Emperor is more dominant in the Original True Realm, so he has more disciples.”

“I heard Dao Source Immortal Emperor is stricter in taking disciples, so he has fewer?”

“Then does that mean Dao Source Immortal Emperor’s disciples are stronger?”

“Hard to say. We’ll find out during this trial.”

As they spoke, Chaos Sect’s two Immortal King full-layer direct disciples, after glancing at Li Hao and the others, led their group and flew off toward another direction.

Li Hao followed their path and saw a group of solitary, lofty figures standing at the end—each clad in silver robes, radiating an otherworldly, transcendent aura.

“Imperial Clan?”

Li Hao hadn’t expected the Imperial Clan to show up—there were hundreds of figures over there.

“You’ve been to the Eastern Region too?”

As Li Hao gazed, a voice came from beside him—Su Wanyi and Luo Ningshuang had left their group and approached together.

They were direct disciples of Chaos Immortal Emperor, equal in status to the two Immortal King full-layer disciples, so they weren’t bound by strict hierarchy.

“You’ve been there too?”

Li Hao was surprised.

“Yes. We were at Jianlong Pass.”

Luo Ningshuang nodded. She had heard Li Hao was stationed in the rear, safer areas—she’d felt somewhat disappointed.

After all, if one dared to train in the Eastern Region but shunned the front lines, it seemed cowardly.

“Jianlong Pass… did you see my fifth master?”

Li Hao asked involuntarily.

Su Wanyi shook her head. “There were countless prodigies, countless Immortal Kings there. Our assigned zone gave us no chance to interact with him—but I saw him during the retreat…”

Li Hao froze, his mind conjuring the horrific scene—he sighed inwardly.

“Forget about the Eastern Region. Since you’re here, focus on cultivation. Even if you have no chance to compete for True King, if you can climb to the ninetieth level—matching the combat power of a top-tier Immortal King tenth-layer—you can at least compete for True King Deputy. That’s the future position of True Realm’s Immortal King Deputy Commander. Excluding the Emperor realm, it’s one beneath ten thousand ten thousand!”

Luo Ningshuang said, her eyes blazing with combat intent.

Li Hao said nothing—but thought of familiar faces like Master Feng. For the first time, his once relaxed, carefree heart burned with a fierce desire to cultivate!

“War Clan, Ghost Clan, Ancient God Clan…”

“All these powerful clans have arrived.”

Su Wan yi scanned the scene and spoke in a low, solemn voice.

Just before the closest reaches of the Tower of Ten Thousand Worlds, groups of figures had each claimed their own patch of empty space; their auras were distinct, their gazes haughty—they were all from the top ten clans of the True Realm, each numbering several hundred.

“This competition for the Ten Thrones will be fierce indeed.”

Luo Ningshuang narrowed her eyes. Just the ten great clans alone held ten slots, and each had sent multiple experts at the peak of Immortal King realm.

“But Brother Bieli and the others will surely make it.”

Su Wan yi said, with absolute confidence in those two senior brothers.

Luo Ningshuang nodded and whispered, “Those clans should be the ones worrying—how they’ll fight for the remaining slots.”

As they spoke, more figures gradually arrived in this abyss.

Li Hao had no interest in the outside world; he quietly closed his eyes and sank into silent contemplation.

For the first time in his life, a fierce desire to cultivate had erased all his curiosity about the world—there was only insight, only comprehension.

To increase his combat power as quickly as possible before the calamity arrived, the fastest way was to carve out an Emperor’s Path!

Therefore, he needed to condense more top-tier world cores.

He needed to raise all seven arts to the Thirteenth Stage of Mind State!

At the same time, he needed to comprehend an Emperor’s Path where the seven top-tier world cores could stack without merging.

The time left to him was far too little—he had to treasure every moment, every second.

As he closed his eyes in thought, Su Wan yi, who had just wanted to speak to Li Hao again, opened her mouth—only to be blocked by a barrier raised by Shi Miao’s hand.

“Both of you, please return. The calamity draws near—use this time to cultivate diligently.”

Shi Miao said calmly.

Upon hearing this, Luo Ningshuang raised an eyebrow slightly, but sensing Shi Miao’s cultivation base at the fourth layer of Immortal King realm, she frowned and said nothing, pulling Su Wan yi back to the ranks of the Chaos Line’s disciples.

Time passed.

The great clans who had arrived had all met and grown familiar with one another. Though now rivals, some prodigies among them had turned from opponents into friends, and now gathered here to exchange encouragement.

In the blink of an eye, several days passed.

As the void suddenly trembled, Li Hao snapped out of his contemplation.

He looked up and saw that the number of figures here had increased by a third since before.

On the towering Tower of Ten Thousand Worlds ahead, two figures descended slowly, radiating the aura of Emperor Sovereigns.

This was true Emperor power—mere pressure caused countless others to fall silent, holding their breath.

“So strong!”

Many prodigies had rarely seen an Immortal Emperor before; now, a surge of instinct drove them to kneel.

One of the two Emperor Sovereigns wore a long gown, its hem shimmering as if reflecting countless star-dust grains, with an aura of flowing time rippling along its edges; her gaze was aloof and icy, cold with disdain for all things.

The other had snow-white hair and a gaunt face, appearing as an old man, yet his skin bore not a single wrinkle.