Chapter 912: Challenge the Limits

With the words spoken, the darkness before him gradually faded, light emerging bit by bit, revealing a lush mountain range with layered peaks.

The peaks stood like jagged fangs, wreathed in mist and clouds, their foothills winding between them.

Li Hao could sense the dense five primordial immortal forces—metal, wood, water, fire, earth—allowing those skilled in different immortal arts or immortal bodies to fully utilize their strengths here, perfectly balanced.

“The environment of the first level is remarkably fair.”

Li Hao thought to himself; perhaps this was to accommodate those at the peak of Immortal Lord realm, since an overly extreme environment would be unfriendly to them.

As he surveyed his surroundings, a fissure suddenly tore open in the void ahead, out of which three ancient demonic figures surged forth, each radiating black energy, their forms distinct: one was the Di Jiang royal clan he had seen before, another the Yan Mo clan, and the third a demonic entity shrouded in foul, pitch-black mist that corrupted the surrounding laws of heaven and earth.

“Three ancient demonic royal clans…”

Li Hao narrowed his eyes; since becoming an Immortal King, he had slain ancient demons on the battlefield, but always within formations—strictly speaking, he had never truly faced off alone against an Immortal King.

As he observed, the three ancient demonic royal clans shot piercing, ferocious glares at him and instantly attacked.

Three domain forces unfolded, surrounding Li Hao from three angles.

“Wuxiang.”

Li Hao’s will shifted, and the Wuxiang Domain instantly expanded.

In an instant, the space around him seemed to warp slightly, then quickly returned to normal—but Li Hao standing within the domain now radiated an unfathomable, profound aura.

The Wuxiang Domain: the chess has no form, no path!

The three ancient demonic royal clans’ domains pressed in, crushing and eroding toward Li Hao, piercing directly into his own domain and closing in on him.

Black Yan force coalesced into blazing blades, slashing toward Li Hao. Simultaneously, the Di Jiang royal clan swung a fist-sword imbued with faint imperial power—though weak, it induced momentary daze and shook the spirit.

The remaining Poison Corrosion clan demon released dark toxic mist that corrupted all surrounding laws and immortal forces, creating an immortal prohibition zone—even the immortal energy projected from the celestial constellations was blocked, nullifying Final Realm power!

With this coordinated assault, it was instantly a dead end; for Immortal Kings of the same realm, resistance was nearly impossible.

Li Hao couldn’t help but marvel: no wonder they said only prodigies could reach the corresponding level in the Celestial Tower; others couldn’t even reach the level matching their realm.

As the three domain forces struck, Li Hao stood motionless; the domain energies passed through his body, yet instantly pierced straight through, colliding with each other and shattering the void—yet Li Hao’s figure remained unmoved in place.

“Wuxiang has no path; with diverging routes, no force can ever reach the other.”

Li Hao murmured, sensing the subtlety of the Wuxiang Domain: making himself formless, making the domain formless—when he himself was formless, no attack could find a path to reach him.

Thus, he could not be harmed in the slightest.

“Wuxiang is also myriad forms.”

Li Hao raised his hand, transforming the Wuxiang Domain—instantly, his domain surged forth, filled with countless images of himself, appearing beside the three ancient demonic royal clans; where there had been three against one, now there were thirty “Li Haos” simultaneously attacking a single demon!

Tenfold retaliation!

With a thunderous boom, the three demonic figures could not withstand it—their domains shattered instantly, their bodies dissolving into blood mist, then annihilated into nothingness under the countless “Li Haos’” sword strikes.

Over.

The world returned to stillness; before Li Hao’s eyes, the voice reappeared:

“Congratulations. You have passed the first level of the Celestial Tower. Continue to challenge the second level?”

“Yes.”

A fissure split open in the sky, a powerful suction enveloping Li Hao; he offered no resistance and was drawn in.

In an instant, the darkness within the fissure faded, revealing another world: the ground was covered in lava, the void filled with scorching fire-element immortal force.

Li Hao had mastered the Nine Sequences; the environment’s impact on him was now negligible.

He waited for his target to appear.

This time, the demons emerged from the molten lava below—six ancient demons, all at Immortal King Level One, and all ancient demonic royal clans!

Li Hao raised an eyebrow; even the second level was this intense—he began to suspect most Immortal Kings at Level One couldn’t even pass the first five levels.

As the six demons attacked, Li Hao did not change his technique—he still used the Wuxiang Domain.

Wuxiang transformed into myriad forms, instantly slaughtering all six demons, passing the second level smoothly.

Immediately, he proceeded to the third level, then the fourth…

At the third level, the number of demons reached twelve—doubled again!

The fourth level had twenty-four demons.

He reached the fifth level, where forty-eight demons surrounded him densely.

Though the number doubled, under Li Hao’s transformation into myriad forms, it became the demons outnumbered, and he swiftly eliminated them.

At the sixth level, the number of demons remained forty-eight, but Li Hao clearly sensed their aura had strengthened—still Immortal King Level One, yet their aura reached the peak limit.

Each demon’s power had increased by at least one-third.

This change finally gave Li Hao a sense of warming up…

At the seventh level, the number of demons dropped to twenty-four, but their power rose again, and their techniques and mastered immortal arts increased.

At the eighth level, demons further reduced to twelve, capable of unleashing terrifying immortal arts, blending multiple laws, approaching the early stage of imperial techniques.

At the ninth level, demons reduced to six, their techniques rivaling imperial-level arts like the Five Supreme Emperor Swords.

At the tenth level, they returned to three—but their domains had strengthened, nearing the pinnacle of domains.

Li Hao’s Wuxiang path was slightly disturbed—he could now be slightly wounded!

…

“So strong!”

In the tenth level of the Celestial Tower, Su Wanyi’s face was icy; the three ancient demons’ domains had all risen to near-pinnacle levels, nearly matching her own—she hadn’t expected to be forced to use half her power here.

Correct—when breaking through to Immortal King, besides awakening the Ancestral Emperor Force, her own cultivated Core Domain was also a pinnacle core domain!

After all, she was the eldest daughter of the Su family and the direct disciple of the Chaotic Immortal Emperor; her talent was only slightly inferior to Su Muqing’s.

Later, she learned that Su Muqing’s extraordinary talent stemmed from being the reincarnation of a ten-thousand-year-old monarch’s monstrous soul, inheriting its original spirit’s innate gifts—hence her extraordinary power.

Excluding that, she was the most gifted in the Su family.

“Kong Zhan Domain!”

She unleashed her domain; within it, countless void fissures tore open, laws snapped, immortal forces shattered.

As if invisible countless sword lights darted through her domain, swiftly shattering the three demons’ domains and cutting them to pieces.

“To pass the tenth level, one must at least comprehend a pinnacle domain—any domain slightly inferior will be instantly slain by these three demons!”

Su Wanyi thought grimly, her eyes narrowing.

Soon, the grand voice of the Celestial Tower echoed before her:

“Continue to challenge the eleventh level of the Celestial Tower?”

“Continue!”

Su Wanyi did not hesitate; she still had her Ancestral Emperor Force unused—what she had shown so far was far from her true strength!

“That guy probably also has a pinnacle domain—at least he passed the tenth level. I wonder how far he’ll go…”

As she was sucked into the sky’s fissure, Su Wanyi’s mind flashed with the image of that young boy; her eyes flickered slightly, and for the first time, she felt a hint of anticipation.

…

“Continue!”

On the other side, the three demons beside Luo Ningshuang dissolved into dust, leaving no ash—she chose to continue, the eleventh level!

“I wonder, when I unleash my Ancestral Emperor Force fully, how many levels can I reach? Twenty? Thirty?”

Luo Ningshuang’s eyes gleamed with anticipation.

…

While every level of the Celestial Tower was packed with challengers, the abyss outside remained eerily silent.

The prodigies from all realms and clans who had once swarmed around the Celestial Tower like gnats were now inside—but as time passed, a few individuals gradually emerged.

When they saw only a handful of figures floating in the starry void, they immediately realized they had exited too early, meaning their combat power was relatively weak.

“Damn it, it’s this hard? I’m undefeated in my realm, yet I couldn’t even pass the seventh level!”

“Others must be challenging lower levels matching their realm—otherwise they wouldn’t be out so late.”

“I should’ve started from the first level and gone slowly.”

Many eyes held dread and regret; before entering, they had all been top prodigies of their clans and local immortal realms, some even choosing the tenth level matching their realm immediately!

Yet they were defeated within three breaths of entering.

They fell fast, and brutally—even with mental preparation, they never imagined this trial would be this monstrous!

They doubted anyone in their realm could possibly pass the tenth level. They regretted not first testing the differences between the lower levels.

At the summit of the Celestial Tower, the Star Empress and the Immortal Emperor floated silently; the abyss wind brushed their imperial robes, fluttering slightly. Their expressions were calm, as if unchanging through eternity, yet their eyes shimmered with countless thoughts—deep and distant.

“It seems, after ten thousand years away, this generation still has many promising talents.”

“Pity, the time allotted is too short—otherwise, all of them might have become true king seeds.”

The Immortal Emperor murmured softly.

The Star Empress displayed the scenes within the Celestial Tower to the Immortal Emperor’s divine soul, allowing him to observe every challenger’s progress.

Aside from the Immortal King realm’s peak and ninth-rank cultivators pushing at the ninetieth level, many young prodigies at Immortal King levels one to three showed astonishing performances.

Unfortunately, their cultivation was too low—and this True King selection judged solely by combat power.

“Ninety-ninth level already. No wonder—the imperial clan moves fast.”

The Star Empress murmured.

At the ninety-ninth level of the Celestial Tower, a figure of the imperial clan, at Immortal King realm’s peak, battled the demons.

Six demons surrounded him—all at Immortal King realm’s peak, terrifyingly powerful; their combined techniques were imperial immortal arts, already bearing faint imperial aura.

Moreover, the six demons synergized perfectly, their combined power far exceeding the sum of their individual strengths.

“That’s the imperial clan’s Ancestral Emperor Force!”

Suddenly, the Star Empress’s eyes flickered as she saw a towering, majestic Emperor avatar rising behind the imperial clan figure—vast as heaven and earth, as if a true Emperor had descended; with the Ancestral Emperor Force flowing through it, this was no mere shadow or projection—it was a faint embodiment of the Emperor himself!

Boom!

With just a raised hand, the six ancient demons that had previously driven the imperial clan’s figure into retreat were instantly erased from existence, like dust scattered by the wind.

Easier than pinching six insects to death—the dire situation reversed instantly, and the challenge was cleared.

“It seems one of the True Kings this time possesses considerable strength.”

The Star Empress’s eyes revealed approval.

The Immortal Emperor, witnessing this, nodded slightly. The True King they had hoped for should at least pass the hundredth level of the Celestial Tower—this would barely approach the power of the weakest Pretender Emperor. Should he encounter an ambush from other Pretender Emperor-level ancient demons on the battlefield, even if he couldn’t defeat them, he’d at least have a means of survival, enough to hold out until reinforcements arrived, rather than being instantly slain!

After all, if a True King commander could be effortlessly instantly killed by an enemy Pretender Emperor, it would be utterly meaningless.

“Hmm?”

Suddenly, the Immortal Emperor’s eyes shifted slightly, revealing a trace of surprise.

“Immortal King Realm First Layer? Two top-tier domains?”

Hearing this, the Star Empress also noticed at the base of the Celestial Tower, on the thirteenth level, a young boy’s figure locked in battle.

…

“Reverse-Time Domain!”

As the domain unfolded, the twelve approaching ancient demons froze solid in midair, utterly motionless.

Li Hao had repeatedly deployed the Formless Domain, and his practical use of it had become quite proficient.

He now switched to the Reverse-Time Domain.

As a top-tier domain, the Reverse-Time Domain exerted extreme control over time—even within an Immortal King’s domain, it could accelerate, freeze, or reverse time.

Though its techniques were relatively few, each one was blunt, brutal, and terrifying.

Whether freezing time, accelerating it, or reversing it—once seen, it could not be broken.

Now, within the frozen time, Li Hao did not rush to attack; instead, he wished to test how long he could maintain the freeze.

Time passed. As an incense stick burned out, the ancient demons before him began to stir—eyes and bodies slowly regaining movement.

“So this is the limit under normal conditions. Immortal King Realm Second Layer is indeed powerful.”

Li Hao thought to himself.

He no longer hesitated—he unleashed the Chaotic Ultimate Sword Dao and slew all twelve ancient demons at once.

Then he proceeded to the next level.

Amidst successive domain challenges, Li Hao soon reached the nineteenth level.

The six ancient demons here wielded terrifying Immortal Arts—some capable of enhancing their own bodies.

Li Hao could only freeze them for half a breath.

But for him, that was enough to kill them.

By the time he entered the twentieth level, the duration he could freeze them halved again—barely two instants.

While freezing them, Li Hao also accelerated his own time; the Chaotic Ultimate Sword Dao was sharp and fearsome enough to let him advance swiftly.

Without hesitation, Li Hao chose to enter the twenty-first level.

“Immortal King Realm Third Layer…”

Li Hao’s gaze grew grave. When he first reached the eleventh level, he had sensed the ancient demons’ transformation—though only one realm apart, their combat power had nearly multiplied tenfold!

This third layer would be even stronger.

“Top prodigies who can fight across two Immortal King realms are already at their limit. Levels twenty-one through twenty-nine should force me into my strongest state.”

Li Hao thought to himself.

As the light and shadows shifted, he soon arrived at level twenty-one.

Before him stretched a desolate, vast land—the Immortal energy was thin, the environment poor, meaning the use of many Immortal Arts would demand far greater expenditure.

Li Hao waited silently for the ancient demons to appear.

In an instant, three ancient demons emerged, each radiating the aura of Immortal King Realm Third Layer.

Merely their aura, released, surged like a dark tide, whipping Li Hao’s hair wildly, overwhelming him with crushing pressure.

Immortal King Realm Third Layer… Li Hao’s eyes flickered. He suddenly wondered—if his cultivation, carved from lifespan, could be restored after the challenge ended.

If so, his true upper limit might far exceed Immortal King Realm Third Layer.

But he was far from reaching that point yet.

He unleashed countless extreme forces; the Finality Power emerged. The Celestial Star Veins and the Heavenly Manifestation both appeared behind Li Hao.

His three thousand one hundred True God Bloods also stirred at once—terrible control power surged as the Reverse-Time Domain expanded.

Boom!

The void shattered as three grotesque ancient demon figures surged forward in deadly assault.

Their domain power had multiplied; at Immortal King Realm Third Layer, their life-seas were immensely solid, teeming with life, greatly enhancing their domains.

“Freeze!”

Li Hao instantly activated it—the vast Immortal energy channeled by the Celestial Star Veins was rapidly siphoned into the domain, yet more Immortal energy continued pouring down from the Celestial Stars, as if flowing into an endless ocean, never filling it.

The terrifying power of the Time Dao disrupted the void, warped heaven and earth—all things in motion now seemed shrouded by an unseen force, frozen in place.

The three ancient demons before him instantly stiffened—but only for a fleeting instant. The stiffness vanished; their roars grew louder, their movements faster. Though none possessed a top-tier domain, they were still Immortal King Realm Third Layer—stronger than Li Hao’s domain in both strength and capacity to withstand and unleash Immortal pressure.

In an instant, Li Hao felt his Reverse-Time Domain being invaded.

In all his challenges so far, this was the first time his domain had been breached, and he felt it beginning to fracture.

A single top-tier domain had encountered such fierce resistance merely by leaping two realms.

“Immortal King Realm Third Layer…”

Li Hao finally felt the difficulty of fighting against a higher realm—this was no less daunting than a First Layer Immortal Lord challenging a Full-Layer Immortal Lord!

Yet he had no intention of using the Formless Power yet—he wanted to test the absolute limit of a single top-tier domain!

“True God Blood!”

Li Hao’s eyes suddenly blazed into golden flames; his True God Soul emerged behind him, and the 3,100 drops of True God Blood within the soul ignited instantly.