Chapter 462: Li Hao's Rank
Chapter 462: Li Hao's Rank
At this moment, Li Hao returned from before Shangguan Hong and Yuan Xinggang. The Ultimate Power had yet to dissipate from his body, and he radiated a terrifying aura, making him stand out prominently in the crowd.
He had maintained this peak state to barely hold his ground in front of those two.
But now, standing in the square, he seemed like a crane among chickens, his aura overwhelmingly powerful.
"Who is that?"
"Which sect’s disciple, with such a fearsome aura!"
"His cultivation is only Third Tier True Immortal, right? Did I see wrong?"
Many sect elders noticed Li Hao, their eyes widening in surprise.
Li Tiemu, who had been waiting on the outskirts, was taken aback when he saw Li Hao suddenly appear. He quickly rushed over to Li Hao, his face filled with excitement.
"Come!"
Li Tiemu beckoned to Li Hao, waved his hand, and they both vanished, disappearing from everyone’s sight.
At this point, Li Hao regained his composure and swiftly reined in the Ultimate Realm aura. The Ancestor Immortal Body’s might also retreated into his body, making him less conspicuous.
But in that brief moment, many sect elders had already taken note of Li Hao’s appearance.
"That’s that kid..."
In the Ten Thousand Mountains Sword Tower, Cui Yuesheng’s pupils contracted slightly as he recognized Li Hao’s face, his eyes filled with shock.
How is this possible?
In just two and a half years, that kid went from First Rank True Immortal to Third Tier True Immortal. That’s not particularly impressive, just the normal standard for a top-tier prodigy.
But... what about that terrifying aura?
If it weren’t for Li Tiemu’s appearance, he would have thought he was seeing things. But with Li Tiemu there, it proved he couldn’t have been mistaken.
"Elder Cui, do you know that young man?"
A nearby elder from the Ten Thousand Mountains Sword Tower asked, puzzled.
"He’s the one I mentioned, the monster with the nine-ringed dao heart."
Cui Yuesheng replied, his face darkening.
The elder was taken aback, his expression changing as he immediately searched for Li Tiemu’s figure but couldn’t find him, not knowing where he had gone.
In reality, Li Tiemu hadn’t taken Li Hao far, just to the edge of the wasteland. He used an Immortal Art to conceal both of them, making them difficult to detect.
"You little brat... you’ve been hiding your true strength, haven’t you?"
Li Tiemu looked at Li Hao, his tone reproachful but his eyes gleaming with joy. "Did you break through to the tenth wasteland?"
Li Hao nodded.
"Sure enough..."
Li Tiemu was overjoyed. Seeing Li Hao’s calm demeanor, he almost wanted to pick the kid up and give him a big kiss!
This was incredible. On the first day of the Ancient Immortal Realm, he had already made it into the top twenty. Most of those ahead of Li Hao were Immortal Lord Realm beings, and there didn’t seem to be any True Immortal Realm cultivators!
Just this alone would bring great honor to the Nine Depths of the Great Dream!
But Li Tiemu held back.
Patience is key. Li Hao’s talent was too great, and he wanted to keep him hidden until the Southern Domain Battle to make a grand entrance.
Otherwise, other sects might become jealous and use various means to target him.
The Heavenly Sect competition was extremely brutal.
If he revealed Li Hao’s rank now, it would certainly make the Nine Depths of the Great Dream famous throughout Yan-Chu. But if they couldn’t protect him afterward, it would be a huge embarrassment.
No rush, no rush. The Southern Domain is the main stage... Li Tiemu reminded himself.
He told Li Hao, "Don’t easily reveal your rank to others. Your position is too high and too conspicuous. Not only will it blind the Tianyi Sect, but the imperial clans you’ve surpassed won’t be happy either. They’ll either try to recruit you or destroy you!"
He spoke with utmost seriousness and gravity.
Li Hao nodded slightly. He was not one to seek the limelight and would prefer to avoid trouble.
Seeing Li Hao agree, Li Tiemu felt a weight lift from his chest. Young people often crave fame, and he had been genuinely worried about not being able to convince Li Hao.
"Where are they?"
Li Hao asked.
Li Tiemu's gaze swept over the black immortal stele and quickly locked onto Yue Xi and Gu Yan's rank numbers. "There they are. Apart from you, Qing Wu is still at the front. She has already reached 2,600th place. If she can make it to the tenth wasteland, she stands a good chance of breaking into the top thousand!"
Li Hao nodded. Murong Qingwu's talent was extremely high, and she had started cultivating a few centuries earlier than Yue Xi and Gu Yan, making her even more formidable.
"Gu Yan is at 3,182nd place and is still catching up, but his ranking is jumping quickly. That kid is resilient and has the Natural Sword Immortal Constitution. Even if he doesn't make it into the top thousand this time, I believe his progress over the next three years will surpass many others!"
Li Tiemu said, his eyes gleaming with confidence in his young disciple.
After all, the Abyss Lord had mentioned that together with Li Hao, they had a fifty percent chance. Given Li Hao's unexpected performance, if Gu Yan could push a bit harder, their chances would be even better.
"Yue Xi was forced to unleash her catastrophic bloodline true power by the ancient demons. She hasn't mastered it yet, so it's uncertain whether she can adapt and control it within three years."
Li Tiemu murmured, a hint of greed in his eyes. He wanted all four disciples, including Murong Qingwu and Yue Xi, to break into the top thousand!
Now that Li Hao had secured his entry on the first day, it was up to the other three.
He wasn't worried about Gu Yan, only about Murong Qingwu and Yue Xi.
Li Hao nodded slightly and glanced at his own rank: 17th place!
"During the Southern Domain Battle, will the Immortal Lord Realm experts also compete with us?"
Li Hao couldn't help but ask curiously.
If they were to compete on the same stage, a True Immortal matching an Immortal Lord would be like admitting defeat from the start.
"Indeed."
Li Tiemu nodded. "The rules state that anyone with a soul age of three thousand years or less can participate, and soul age cannot be faked. Even if you have reincarnated, your previous soul age still counts."
"Thus, under the same soul age, if someone can cultivate to the Immortal Lord Realm, it's their own ability, and competing on the same stage is only fair."
"So, for those with a soul age of exactly two thousand nine hundred years, this is the most advantageous."
Li Hao said.
Li Tiemu nodded, "Exactly. Among geniuses, a hundred years can make a significant difference. Some of you have soul ages that differ by a thousand or two thousand years, like you, whose soul age is only a hundred years..."
As he spoke, he glanced at Li Hao, momentarily stunned.
Yes, this kid... has a soul age of less than a hundred years and has cultivated to the Third Tier True Immortal, with combat power rivaling a Tenth Tier True Immortal at Perfection?
He was momentarily speechless.
"While it may seem unfair when you break it down, true fairness is a rarity in this world."
Li Tiemu, thinking Li Hao was troubled, comforted him, "Sometimes, no matter how you feel about it, there's something called fate in this world."
Li Hao nodded. He didn't mind these things. If he could help the Nine Depths of the Great Dream secure a good rank, he would do his best. If not, he wouldn't force it.
As they were talking, a commotion arose from the front.
In the square, a cluster of starlight gathered, and a stunning figure in a star-moon dress appeared. It was Xing Lan.
However, her appearance was different from when Li Hao first met her. Her dress was somewhat tattered, as if it had been scorched by red flames or torn by something. She looked a bit disheveled.
Still, this did nothing to diminish her radiant and brilliant aura. Standing among the crowd, she immediately drew everyone's attention, as if she were a natural protagonist.
Several Elders from the Star Hall immediately flew over to check on her.
The flicker of emotion in Xing Lan's eyes had vanished, and her expression had returned to calm. She nodded slightly in response to the Elders' concerns, but her gaze swept the square, searching for a certain young man.
Her eyebrows furrowed slightly. Still in the tenth wasteland?
She didn’t think much more and followed the Elders back to the Star Hall.
As Xing Lan returned, other members of the Imperial Clan also started to appear.
The square became increasingly lively, and the rapidly changing numbers gradually stabilized. Clearly, the disciples still inside could only improve their rankings by enduring, with only occasional small leaps.
Li Hao gazed at the square, wondering if the little girl had arrived yet.
While he was waiting, a figure in a green robe suddenly darted across and appeared in the square. Her robes were somewhat torn, her hair disheveled, and she looked a bit bedraggled.
Li Hao’s eyes lit up, and he quickly rushed over.
“Ah!”
Seeing Li Hao suddenly appear before her, Lin Qingying was taken aback. She let out a startled cry, hurriedly covering her face and turning away.
“You, why are you here?”
She turned her body, instinctively saying, but quickly realized how silly that sounded. If she could come here, why couldn’t Li Hao?
“Don’t look at me.”
“Why not?”
“I...”
Lin Qingying’s cheeks flushed, knowing how disheveled she looked. She felt both embarrassed and angry.
Li Hao could see what she was thinking and grinned, “We’re old friends, why be shy? I’ll always remember how gracefully you practiced sword techniques in the courtyard, more beautiful than anyone else.”
Lin Qingying was taken aback, her eyes suddenly welling up. She turned back, “Really?”
“Really.”
Li Hao nodded. Seeing her increasingly moist eyes, he panicked and quickly changed the subject, “So, how many wastelands have you traversed?”
“Seven.”
Lin Qingying answered almost without thinking, then looked at the black immortal stele, her eyes immediately dimming. “My number is 1014, ranked beyond the top ten thousand. I definitely won’t be able to participate this time.”
“Pretty impressive.”
Li Hao looked at her in surprise. In just two and a half years since arriving in the True World, she had progressed from Semi-Saint to a level comparable to a peak Seventh Rank True Immortal.
Her rate of advancement was astonishing.
Seeing Li Hao’s shocked expression, Lin Qingying was momentarily stunned. She suddenly found his wide-eyed, handsome face a bit silly and a bit adorable, and couldn’t help but giggle, feeling a warm sensation in her heart. “Do you really think I’m impressive?”
“More real than a steel needle!”
Li Hao exclaimed, “Did you take some kind of super drug? This cultivation speed is almost demonic.”
Lin Qingying covered her mouth and laughed, giving Li Hao a playful glare, but her expression was gentle and tender. “You’re the one who’s demonic. I cultivate the Sword Dao, and I did take some potent medicines, all bestowed by the sect.”
Li Hao nodded, feeling reassured that she was receiving focused cultivation at the Ten Thousand Mountains Sword Tower.
“Your performance should already satisfy your sect. You still have three years, keep pushing!”
Li Hao encouraged her.
Lin Qingying, who had already started to lose hope, felt a renewed surge of confidence and motivation. She clenched her fist and nodded vigorously, “I won’t stop moving forward!”
Her words seemed to carry deeper meaning.
Li Hao smiled, “Even if you do, I’ll wait for you.”
Lin Qingying’s cheeks turned slightly red, but her eyes shone brighter. “I don’t want to hold you back. Don’t wait for me; I want to follow in your footsteps and see your radiant form.”
Li Hao couldn’t help but laugh, “I’m not a light bulb, how can I be radiant?”
“What’s a light bulb?” Lin Qingying asked, puzzled.
Li Hao chuckled, “Your sect is here to pick you up. We’ll talk later.”
At that moment, Cui Yuesheng rushed over. Seeing Li Hao, his expression was complex, and he said, “Little brother...”
“Goodbye.”
Li Hao waved to Lin Qingying and then instantly teleported away.
Cui Yuesheng, rushing over, was taken aback by Li Hao’s deliberate avoidance. He felt a twinge of pain, thinking it was a shame that such a prodigy had been snatched away by that old man surnamed Li right under his nose!
As time passed, more and more disciples from various sects emerged from the wastelands.
Li Hao and Li Tiemu stood in the square, waiting quietly.
While waiting, they chatted casually.
“With your performance, once it’s reported back to the sect, you’ll definitely receive the best resources and support. Even the Abyss Lord will personally teach you sword arts!”
Li Tiemu excitedly telepathed to Li Hao, painting a glorious future. “At that time, we might even invite the Great Dream Master to impart his wisdom. After all, you’re now our sect’s greatest hope, our highest-ranking member!”
Li Hao asked, "The Ancient Immortal Realm ends in three years, but when exactly does the Southern Domain Battle take place?"
"Ten years!"
Li Tiemu said, "Once the trial here is over, the thousand selected individuals will receive seven years of cultivation resources from the Imperial Clan. Although it's only seven years, it can significantly boost their strength."
"Ten years..."
Li Hao nodded, thinking that he still had plenty of time.
In ten years, he might even become an Immortal Lord.
However, compared to the twelve segments of art, he currently wanted to cultivate his Soul Spirit to its ultimate limit first.
After all, the mindset for Artistic Skills was rare and unpredictable. The more obsessed one became, the harder it was to start.
Perhaps one day, watching a snowfall or listening to the wind might inspire a sudden enlightenment.
But cultivating the Soul Spirit could only be done through one's own efforts, bit by bit.
Moreover, cooking ancient demons might even help his Cooking Dao advance to the 1st Rank.
Thinking of this, Li Hao's eyes grew brighter.
"Once this is over, I want to visit the border."
Li Hao said to Old Li.
"Border? Which border?"
Li Tiemu was taken aback, his eyes widening as he looked at Li Hao.
"The Yan-Chu border."
Li Hao said.
"What will you do there?" Li Tiemu couldn't help but ask.
"Of course, to kill ancient demons." Li Hao said.
Li Tiemu slapped his forehead, realizing his question was redundant. One went to the border to kill ancient demons, of course.
"But your cultivation realm is too low. The border battlefield is dangerous even for an Immortal Lord, let alone you. Do you want to train your combat power and gain experience? That's a good idea. If you really want to go, I'll accompany you, and I'll have Qingxuan look after you."
Li Tiemu immediately said.
Li Hao shook his head slightly, thinking of the eldest senior brother, "That's not necessary."
Li Tiemu immediately put on a stern face, trying to assert his authority, "You want to go alone? That's absolutely out of the question!"
Before Li Hao could respond, two figures appeared on the square.
Li Hao looked over and saw Yue Xi and Murong Qingwu.
Li Tiemu also noticed and said to Li Hao, "We'll discuss this later."
With that, he went to greet Murong Qingwu and Yue Xi.
At that moment, both women looked extremely disheveled and heavily injured, clearly having put in great effort to survive in the wasteland.
The first thing they did upon emerging was to check their rank numbers to find their positions.
Seeing that she was ranked beyond two thousand, Murong Qingwu's face darkened, looking somewhat upset.
Yue Xi, seeing herself ranked beyond three thousand, her face turned even darker. She couldn't believe that despite her efforts, she was ranked so low.
This meant that there were over three thousand people stronger than her in the field.
She quickly thought of Gu Yan and scanned the ranks, finding his position two hundred places behind Murong Qingwu.
His rank was six hundred places higher than hers.
Her expression became complicated, and she clenched her fists.
Then, she suddenly remembered someone she had overlooked and began searching for Nine Nine Six's rank number.
She scanned from two thousand to four thousand but found nothing, growing increasingly anxious.
She expanded her search, looking beyond four thousand, but still couldn't find it.
She suddenly felt a chill and started searching from the top down.
But even after searching down to one thousand and then five hundred, she still couldn't find it!
"Could it be... he hasn't participated yet?"
Yue Xi felt a bit lost.
As she inadvertently looked up at the top of the black immortal stele, she suddenly saw a few eye-catching three-digit numbers among the many two-digit ones.
One of them was Nine Nine Six, ranked at...
Nineteenth!
Li Hao had been out for a long time, and his rank had been overtaken by other Imperial Clan members, slipping from seventeenth to nineteenth.
Seeing that rank, Yue Xi trembled, as if struck by lightning, and stood there in a daze.
(End of Chapter)
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