https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-430-Challenge-True-Venerable-Tower/13451689/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-432-The-Third-Trial-the-Path-to-the-True-Immortal-Realm/13451691/
Chapter 431: True Venerable Tower, Second Floor
Chapter 431: True Venerable Tower, Second Floor
As the Wave Stacking Sword Intent merged, the three strands of Sword Qi rapidly converged, instantly erupting into a Sword Light that was no less formidable than the Projection's.
Just as Li Hao thought he could match the Projection with a single strike, the Projection suddenly unleashed three strands of Sword Qi, also incorporating the Wave Stacking Sword Intent. In an instant, its sword glow surged, illuminating the entire Heaven and Earth.
Li Hao was taken aback, his pupils narrowing slightly. He immediately sensed the difficulty of this True Venerable Tower challenge.
Whoosh!
He quickly dodged, the terrifying strike breaking through his Sword Qi and pursuing him.
He used Netherwast Teleportation, but the Projection's eyes seemed to see through his Return to the Abyss path, with Sword Light chasing him relentlessly.
Li Hao narrowly avoided the Sword Qi, but the Projection followed him into the Abyss.
"Break!"
Li Hao suddenly turned and attacked.
The Projection reacted swiftly, instantly slashing its sword. Despite the hurried attack, the overwhelming Power easily broke through Li Hao's accumulated strike.
Whoosh.
The Projection didn't stop. After breaking through Li Hao's Sword Light, it swiftly pursued him.
Li Hao immediately understood why Elder Wang said it was difficult to achieve sudden enlightenment here. The Projection's attacks never ceased, and unless one truly hit a bottleneck and gained some insight, it was nearly impossible to achieve sudden enlightenment during such intense combat.
Moreover, even if one's strength increased after sudden enlightenment, it might not be significant enough to turn the tide.
A two-fold Power difference was akin to a half-step Realm gap.
Li Hao chose to avoid the fight rather than engage, observing the Projection's attack weaknesses.
"This True Venerable Tower challenge, though a trial, seems to be a form of training as well!"
Li Hao realized.
It was an excellent opportunity to examine his own abilities.
The Projection's performance was perhaps even more perfect than his own, but every thing had flaws and weaknesses. If he could identify and compensate for these, it might be the true purpose of the trial, allowing him to elevate his strength to a new level.
However, despite his efforts to dodge and evade, Li Hao found it extremely challenging.
"Power, speed, Body Movement Techniques, all doubled!"
"The Projection's speed is faster, and it knows all the Body Movement Techniques I do. With the two-fold Power difference, it performs them even more fluidly!"
"But..."
Li Hao dodged frantically, continuously using Netherwast Teleportation, with All Heavens Star Pulse enveloping and surrounding him. Although his Body Movement Techniques were at the Ninth Rank and were surpassed by the Projection, the nearly infinite energy allowed him to continually use Netherwast Teleportation, creating a sliver of breathing space.
"The Ultimate Realm Power, this Projection hasn't enhanced it!"
Li Hao gradually observed the Projection's situation. The Power of All Heavens Star Pulse had not been increased.
Ultimate Limit... it seemed to be truly the ultimate.
Even this Immortal Emperor's Supreme Treasure, used to select disciples, could not project Power beyond the Ultimate Limit!
"If I could cultivate all Realms to the Ultimate Limit, would this True Venerable Tower challenge... be equivalent to no enhancement, just a battle against myself?"
Li Hao pondered.
But such a scenario was too ideal and far too distant for him. Cultivating to the Ultimate Limit was extremely difficult; achieving it for one Realm was already rare. Cultivating all Realms to the Ultimate Limit, Li Hao estimated, might only be possible for beings at the Immortal Emperor level.
Currently, aside from All Heavens Star Pulse, the Projection surpassed Li Hao in the Power intensity of other Realms.
Boom!
Suddenly, the Projection's body swelled, and it unleashed Emulate Heaven and Earth!
At the same time, the Heaven and Earth Dharma Image slowly emerged behind him. Surrounding the Heaven and Earth Dharma Image were the Dharma Images of the Sages, like phantoms, continuously supplying saint dao power.
Li Hao's expression changed slightly, and without any hesitation, he unleashed his own power.
Soon, in this vast world, two towering figures stood firm, engaging in a fierce Eruption.
Li Hao exerted his full strength, clashing with the Projection.
The Dharma Image Power they both erupted was almost equal, bringing a pleasant surprise to Li Hao. This meant that his Heaven and Earth Dharma Image seemed to be approaching the Ultimate Limit.
"The Sword Dao of the Projection is too strong. Although it is still at the Tenth Rank, it surpasses my Sword Intent."
After a brief exchange, Li Hao still couldn't match the Projection and could only dodge.
Fortunately, the Gui Xu Ultimate Realm maintained by the All Heavens Star Pulse allowed him to continuously teleport, enabling him to persist.
Despite the Projection's body movement techniques being twice as fast as his own, it couldn't break through the Gui Xu Ultimate Realm.
"Pity, this trial requires me to defeat the Projection. If it were just a matter of enduring, I could pass it in one go."
Li Hao thought to himself.
As he continued to dodge, he observed the Projection's attacks, growing increasingly alarmed. He couldn't find any weaknesses.
Was I this strong all along? Li Hao was speechless, unsure whether to be happy or bitter.
After a while.
Li Hao still couldn't find any weaknesses in the Projection or an opportunity to counter-attack. He began to feel puzzled and frustrated.
If he embedded the Extraordinary Chess Heart into his Body Movement Path, he might have a chance to turn the tide, but it would feel like cheating.
Apart from this method, defeating the Projection would be extremely difficult.
"But since the Immortal Emperor set up this trial, there must be someone who can pass it. After all, this trial is just for becoming a registered disciple. If I can't even pass this, it would be too exaggerated..."
Li Hao's eyes flickered, suppressing the urge to use the Extraordinary Chess Heart and deciding to try again on his own.
As he continued to dodge, Li Hao observed the various techniques the Projection used to chase and block him, but they were all ineffective.
Suddenly, a thought crossed his mind. The Projection was so powerful yet couldn't kill him, thanks to the All Heavens Star Pulse. With nearly infinite energy, the Gui Xu Ultimate Realm could continuously teleport, which would have drained anyone else.
"In my eyes, the Projection is difficult to handle, but from its perspective, perhaps I am even more troublesome. It has more power than me, yet it can't kill me..."
Li Hao's gaze flickered as he began to reassess his own strengths.
He suddenly recalled his battle with Elder Wang on the chessboard.
Elder Wang's chess skills were extremely profound, clearly surpassing his own. Even now, at the Tenth Rank of Chess Dao, Li Hao felt that Elder Wang's skills were at a higher level.
His previous victory was due to Elder Wang's underestimation and the assumption that Li Hao couldn't see the weaknesses.
If they faced each other again, Li Hao had no confidence in winning.
His previous victory... was because he used his limited power to launch a concentrated attack.
When one's power is weaker than the opponent's, to win, one must focus on a single point and fully erupt!
For this, everything else must be abandoned and set aside!
"My advantage lies in the All Heavens Star Pulse..."
"It is the All Heavens Star Pulse Ultimate Realm Power that has allowed me to persist until now. Since my power is nearly infinite, then..."
"Battle is also a strategy, wielding a sword like placing a chess piece..."
Li Hao's eyes flickered. In that moment, despite his frantic and desperate dodging, his mind became calm and extremely composed.
He suddenly increased the speed of his Netherwast Teleportation, continuously flashing through the void.
The Projection also erupted full speed in pursuit, but despite its extremely fast and powerful Sword Intent, it couldn't touch Li Hao, making its efforts futile.
As he teleported, Li Hao's movements gradually changed. If one were to look down from a high vantage point, they would see that Li Hao's Netherwast Teleportation path was not chaotic but gradually became more regular, forming a pattern!
It was a painting, and it was also a chess manual.
The path was still marked with the Sword Qi Li Hao had left behind as he teleported through the Netherwast. With each successive Netherwast Teleportation, more and more Sword Qi accumulated, and when Li Hao emerged from his latest teleport, he found himself at the center of the chessboard.
He himself was the piece, constructing the chessboard, forming a terrifying Sword Formation!
"Explode!"
Li Hao stopped fleeing and abruptly turned to face the Projection. He unleashed a full Eruption, his Divine Blood burning and surging, his heart in his chest blazing like a flame, pounding fiercely.
As his Sword Light slashed out in rage, thousands upon thousands of Sword Qi converged from the void, merging into a single, powerful force. This eruption happened in an instant.
The Projection's desire to attack was intense. Li Hao remembered that Wang had mentioned this, and he had observed it himself. This was one of the reasons the Projection made the Challenge so difficult for its opponents, giving them no chance to catch their breath. But at the same time, this strength was also a weakness—what is, is not!
This was precisely the Projection's vulnerability!
When faced with Li Hao's sword attack, the Projection's first reaction was not to flee or Return to the Abyss to dodge, but to counterattack with even more ferocious force!
But this time, with tens of thousands of Sword Qi converging, the moment Li Hao swung his sword, a torrent of Sword Qi erupted, its terrifying and piercing power instantly overwhelming the Projection's Sword Light.
This strike, Li Hao deemed, was his strongest!
Boom!
In an instant, the Projection's Sword Light shattered, and its body was engulfed by the sword beam, disintegrating into pieces. As the Projection fragmented, Li Hao's Soul Spirit surged forth, channeling the lingering power of the Sword Dao to directly shatter the Projection's Soul Spirit.
The Sword Intent in the world dissipated.
A breeze blew, stirring Li Hao's hair, and the world became quiet, leaving only his heavy breathing.
He stared at the shattered and dissipating Projection, feeling a mix of dizziness and disbelief. He had succeeded!
Without relying on the Extraordinary Chess Heart, he had found a way to break the deadlock purely through his battle intuition, in an insurmountable crisis.
"Exhilarating!"
Li Hao couldn't help but laugh, feeling the thrill of battle for the first time, as if it were a game of chess that stirred his blood.
At that moment, a vortex appeared in the void where the Projection had vanished, hinting at a gate.
The Challenge was over; it was time to leave?
Li Hao smiled, dispelling the Emulate Heaven and Earth technique, his body returning to its original state, his aura subsiding, and his various Ultimate Realm powers gradually sinking back into his body.
At this moment, waves of mental fatigue washed over him. Although the All Heavens Star Pulse provided him with inexhaustible power, the intense battle had left him mentally drained. Fortunately, his Soul Spirit was extremely strong, his Spiritual Energy far surpassing the saint level; otherwise, this fatigue alone would have been enough to send him into a deep sleep.
After a brief rest, Li Hao stepped toward the vortex gate.
Soon, it felt as if he had taken a step into the Abyss, experiencing a sense of weightlessness.
Before long, light reappeared before his eyes, and his sealed senses were restored.
Li Hao looked around, expecting to see the crowd outside the tower, but he was taken aback.
Before him stood a massive, dark palace, surrounded by darkness like iron walls, with dim lighting.
In front of him was a purple, glowing pillar!
The pillar was adorned with Purple Light, which flickered like worm trails, resembling the patterns of a Great Dao.
Li Hao glanced around and saw a few gaps in the walls, letting in a faint light.
He soared up and looked out through one of the gaps, seeing a vast plain in the distance and the towering palace that reached the heavens.
On the other side, Li Hao saw numerous zabuton, with people seated on them.
Many of them had stood up, craning their necks to look in his direction.
Among them, he saw Elder Wang, hovering above the crowd, silently observing.
When their gazes met, Elder Wang's expression, which had been somewhat distracted, showed a hint of surprise and shock.
"Am I still inside the tower?"
Li Hao, seeing this scene, confirmed his location. He was still in the True Venerable Tower.
Could this pillar be the gateway to exit?
Elder Wang hadn't told him how to leave after the Challenge, probably thinking it was too simple to mention?
Li Hao scanned the surroundings and found nothing else, making the answer obvious.
He approached the pillar, examined it closely, and discovered that it indeed contained spatial Dao power, typically used for teleportation.
He reached out, and the Dao power responded, activating the spatial Dao power within.
Soon, a force from within the pillar pulled Li Hao in.
Whoosh!
When Li Hao opened his eyes again, he found himself back in the vast expanse of heaven and earth.
However, unlike before, the pillar he had just seen was now floating in the air, standing tall and majestic.
As Li Hao stood in a daze, the purple glow on the pillar rapidly converged, focusing at a single point in front of it. It then slowly condensed, forming a figure.
The figure was identical to Li Hao, clearly the Projection.
“...?”
Li Hao was taken aback, what was going on?
Was the challenge he just faced not counted?
Before he could think further, the Projection, after materializing, gave Li Hao a slight bow and made a gesture of invitation, suddenly erupting with terrifying power.
Blinding golden light erupted, his silver hair flying, and the Projection’s overwhelming aura surged, rising higher and higher. Under Li Hao’s stunned gaze, it became even stronger and more terrifying than before!
If the previous power was just twice his own, now the Projection’s might was at least five times greater!
This wasn’t just five times the power of an ordinary Supreme Sage, but five times Li Hao’s own power, an extremely exaggerated difference.
If there were any True Immortal Realm Ancient Demons present, they would be instantly killed by this Projection!
Even a group of ancient demons would likely be obliterated in an instant!
Li Hao was speechless, what was happening?
Before he could curse, the Projection had already lunged at him.
Swoosh!
Li Hao instinctively dodged, using the Gui Xu Ultimate Realm teleportation.
But at that moment, the Projection summoned the power of Heaven and Earth, instantly cutting off the Return to the Abyss. The overwhelming power forced Li Hao out of the Netherwast Teleportation.
Then, the Projection instantly condensed the might of Heaven and Earth, forming a massive sword beam. As Li Hao just managed to react, it descended before his eyes, striking instantly.
Boom!
Without any doubt, Li Hao felt his physical body shatter. Moreover, a terrifying soul spirit power assaulted him, instantly crushing his Soul Spirit.
The world went dark.
Darkness enveloped Li Hao’s vision, but gradually, threads of light became clearer. The light came from behind him, and Li Hao turned to see the tower door he had entered, only a few steps away.
It seemed as if he had been standing there all along, and everything that happened was just a nightmare.
Li Hao was dazed, his mind filled with questions. He looked at the deep darkness ahead, faintly sensing a power that restricted and prevented him from moving forward. In the darkness, there was a dim purple light, similar to the glow from the pillar he had seen earlier.
Li Hao scratched his head, turned, and stepped out of the door, deciding to ask Elder Wang for answers. He would surely get some explanation.
At the zabuton, everyone saw the door of the True Venerable Tower open, and shortly after, Li Hao’s figure emerged, still shaking his head, looking helpless and confused. Seeing this, everyone felt a sense of relief, as if a weight had been lifted from their hearts.
From the time Li Hao entered until now, it had been more than an incense stick’s worth of time!
For his first attempt, to be able to stay inside for so long made them almost doubt whether Li Hao had already completed the challenge.
If not for what Bright Sage and Pastoral Sage had said—that one would immediately face the Projection and couldn’t delay—the others would have suspected that Li Hao was sightseeing inside.
“Finally came out, that was too long. Who was keeping track of time?”
“Almost two incense sticks!”
“...”
Hearing Dong Dao’s report, everyone fell silent.
Lin Sheng watched the young man fly over, turning his head every few steps, his eyes filled with complex emotions. He still remembered the recent past when he challenged the True Venerable Tower, and the other party was sitting there playing chess, completely ignoring him, showing no concern. At the time, he felt discontent and disdain, but now, he felt a sense of humiliation.
“Passing the first trial in three years, this True Venerable Tower... Could he possibly clear it in a few years?”
Sage Luo whispered, his voice filled with disbelief and a hint of confusion.
If that were the case, what was the point of their efforts?
Compared to these monsters, they might as well give up.
Sage Luo’s words made the other Sages’ lips tremble slightly.
After striving for tens of thousands of years, were they just wasting their time?
Racing against such beings seemed almost cruel.
Pastoral Sage and Bright Sage’s faces darkened as they stared at the young man, their eyes flashing with anger and a hint of murderous intent, but they quickly suppressed it.
They knew that under Elder Wang’s watchful eye, any underhanded moves would end in a worse outcome.
But... were they really going to hand over the Immortal Emperor’s Legacy?
As their faces changed, Li Hao returned to the zabuton. He saw the tower door automatically close from a few hundred meters away.
At that moment, Li Hao looked at the people on the zabuton. He saw Flower Sage and Wander Sage hiding their complex expressions, smiling at him. Li Hao smiled back, knowing they had no other intentions.
Li Hao had just sensed several veiled killing intents, but they quickly vanished. He knew that his sharpness had likely aroused others' ill intentions. Excessive sharpness inevitably invites envy; this was a universal truth that no one could escape.
However, with Elder Wang by his side and his own considerable strength, he was not afraid of anyone's schemes.
After all, while he could be forgiving in matters of the heart, if there was any trace of wrongdoing, they should not blame him for being merciless.
"You young man..."
Elder Wang looked at Li Hao as he arrived, a complex expression flashing in his eyes, and he couldn't help but sigh lightly.
(End of Chapter)
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