Chapter 486: The Twelfth Wasteland
Chapter 486: The Twelfth Wasteland
"Benefit, what benefit?"
Li Hao asked.
"We’re not sure yet. After the Ancient Immortal Realm selection ends, His Majesty will bestow rewards upon you. The top ten will definitely receive special commendations, especially the top three."
Li Tiemu said.
Li Hao thought about it and found it reasonable.
"Then I’ll give it a try."
The opportunity was right in front of him. Although Li Hao wasn’t particularly competitive, he wouldn’t pass up something he could easily get.
"Don’t overexert yourself. This isn’t the Southern Domain Battle. Some ultimate trump cards are best not used lightly."
Li Tiemu advised, worried that Li Hao might use powers with severe side effects just to improve his ranking.
"Understood."
Li Hao nodded, not intending to go all out. If he could do it, great; if not, it didn’t matter.
He waved, greeted Gu Yan and the others, and then flew straight into the wasteland.
"Three years have passed, and he’s advanced from Third Tier True Immortal to the ninth level. His Immortal Power has increased by dozens of times. He should at least make it into the top twenty", Murong Qingwu murmured, watching Li Hao’s back.
"Top twenty?"
Nearby, the old woman, Zhou Qingyun, and the Sword Abyss disciples who overheard Murong Qingwu’s words were stunned, their eyes wide.
Lin Mingrong, who had previously known from the Dream Lord that Li Hao had made it into the top hundred but not his exact rank, now showed a hint of surprise on her usually expressionless face.
"Old Li, what’s your disciple’s current rank?"
Zhou Qingyun couldn’t help but ask.
Li Tiemu, hearing this, knew there was no need to hide it anymore. He had kept it a secret earlier to prevent any leaks that might lead to targeted assassinations by rival sects. Now, with the selection almost over, all sects would soon know, so there was no point in hiding it.
"His rank number is 996."
Li Tiemu said with a slight smile.
Hearing this, the Sword Abyss disciples quickly looked at the immortal stele.
Lin Mingrong’s gaze rapidly scanned the top hundred, and as she narrowed it down, her divine sense immediately locked onto a position, causing her pupils to widen.
"25th place?!"
Her lips parted in disbelief.
Others also reacted, their eyes widening as they stared at the stele.
"25th place? This, this is impossible!"
"Heard the top three are all from the Immortal Lord Realm. So, that young man…?"
"I remember this number. Three years ago, it was 19th. He…?"
Everyone was shocked, their eyes filled with astonishment.
Hearing their stunned whispers, Gu Yan and the others remained silent. They were roughly at the same realm as Li Hao, but their rankings were vastly different, especially compared to three years ago, when the gap was even more significant—19th place versus over two thousand.
The exclamations drew the attention of elders from other abysses, who telepathically inquired.
Li Tiemu, with a smile, didn’t hide anything and shared Li Hao’s achievement.
As the news spread, the other eight abysses all turned their gaze, their faces filled with shock.
In the Spear Abyss, where the most disciples gathered, three elders stood beside a young man in a black robe. He had a commanding presence, standing like a golden spear, his eyes cold and scornful. The other disciples kept their distance, looking at him with a mix of awe and respect.
"What?"
The elder beside him suddenly changed expression, unable to contain his shock.
"What’s the matter?"
The other two elders turned to him, their faces slightly altered.
The elder looked up, his gaze fixed on the black immortal stele for a moment before slowly saying:
"Elder Li just said that their Sword Abyss has a disciple with a rank number of 996, placing him… 25th."
"Hmm?"
"How is that possible?!"
The two elders from the Spear Abyss were stunned, quickly looking at the immortal stele. When they saw the 25th place number, they were speechless.
This was something that couldn’t be faked, especially with the selection about to end and identities revealed. If it were a lie, the person would be ridiculed for a thousand years.
"25th?"
Beside them, the young man who had been staring at the wasteland with a detached look suddenly focused his cold eyes, as if shaken. He looked intently at the immortal stele.
Three years ago, he had barely made it into the top thousand. If not for the guidance of the Dream Lord in the Langya Painting Realm and a stroke of heavenly luck that helped him break through to the Immortal Lord Realm, he might have struggled to make it into the top hundred.
"That number…"
Su Ye Chen stared at the ranking, his eyes slightly changing. If he remembered correctly, three years ago, that number was 19th!
Three years ago, when the initial Challenge concluded, he had a clear memory of all the numbers outside the Imperial Clans in the top hundred.
He had assumed they were the top elites from other Heavenly Sects, but never imagined they were monsters from his own sect.
"25th place? A disciple from the Sword Abyss actually made it this high?"
"Is he also at the Immortal Lord Realm? Why have I never heard of him?"
"Whose number is that?"
"That number is familiar; three years ago, it was already 19th place!"
"Besides Senior Brother Ye Chen, our sect actually has such a True Dragon. He's too strong!"
The news spread, and the disciples from all the depths were utterly shocked, their eyes fixed on the 25th place number.
Hearing the discussions among the sect disciples, Li Tiemu's mouth nearly split to his ears, but he tried to hold back, though the corners of his mouth couldn't be suppressed.
Seeing his smug smile, Zhou Qingyun and the old woman couldn't help rolling their eyes.
"Nice one, Old Li. You actually kept this a secret from us."
"You don't even trust us? You're going to owe me a jug of wine for this!"
"Let's call it quits!"
Both of them wore faces of indignation, but their eyes betrayed a hint of amusement. To have such a monster in their Sword Abyss was a tremendous joy for the entire sect.
Li Tiemu chuckled, "It's all for the greater good, for the greater good!"
"Get lost."
Zhou Qingyun rolled his eyes, while the disciples around him had mixed expressions.
...
Meanwhile, Li Hao had already arrived in the wasteland.
Compared to three years ago, entering the wasteland now felt much easier. Back then, he had to use the Heavenly Stars Pulse just to reach the fifth wasteland. Now, Li Hao charged straight to the ninth wasteland, his Immortal Power still abundant.
Even when he reached the Tenth Wasteland, his Immortal Power hadn't depleted much, and he didn't even need to replenish it.
It's important to note that the power of the Nine Flower Immortal Seal not only depends on the amount of Primordial Dao condensed but also on the number of flowers on the seal. Each flower brings a qualitative enhancement, similar to the doubling of Immortal Power after a realm advancement.
Back then, Li Hao, relying on the foundation of the Nine Flower Immortal Seal, could breach the eleventh wasteland as a Third Tier True Immortal. Despite his lower realm, the Nine Flower Immortal Seal made up for it.
If it were a one-flower immortal seal, the power would be twice the norm. For a Tenth Tier True Immortal with 500 Immortal Power, that would be five times.
A two-flower immortal seal would be a thousand!
A three-flower immortal seal would be two thousand!
By the time it reached a four-flower immortal seal, it would be four thousand, and so on, doubling each time.
As a Third Tier True Immortal, Li Hao, with the enhancement from the Nine Flower Immortal Seal, was equivalent to a Tenth Tier True Immortal with a two-flower immortal seal!
Now, he was equivalent to 256 times the power of a Ninth Tier True Immortal!
If the opponent had a three-flower immortal seal, Li Hao would be 64 times stronger. His Immortal Power alone could completely overwhelm them.
Standing in the Tenth Wasteland, Li Hao faced the Primordial Immortal Art that surged around him, the constant rumbling of thunder and the spread of crimson flames. Occasionally, spatial cracks would appear, carrying the destructive power of the spatial primordial great way, which required at least the second level of spatial origin to detect.
But to Li Hao, these were mere illusions. His Ancestor Immortal Body, covered by his Immortal Power, easily resisted them.
The thicker the Immortal Power, the more formidable the Ancestor Immortal Body. It seemed as if a true Immortal Power aura enveloped his body, capable of effortlessly deflecting various divine powers and ordinary Immortal Techniques.
Facing the fog wall ahead, Li Hao didn't hesitate. He formed a sword finger with his hand and slashed.
Boom!
Sword Qi roared out, forming a supreme crack that tore through the fog wall. The various Primordial Dao powers intertwined within were instantly shredded.
Li Hao took a step forward, disappearing from his spot as if by teleportation, and arrived in the eleventh wasteland.
Upon arriving, Li Hao immediately felt an intense pressure. The surroundings were filled with Primordial Immortal Art and Immortal Dao Law, which were the powers of the Immortal Lord Realm. These powers could bypass Dao Domains and ordinary Immortal Techniques, as if issuing commands that must be followed, unless countered with Immortal Power Laws of equal strength.
Li Hao's expression turned serious, and the Immortal Power within him, which had been restrained, erupted uncontrollably.
At the same time, his Ultimate Limit Power was revealed.
Heavenly Stars Pulse surrounded him, like countless starlights gathering, tracing out mysterious and profound outlines.
His depleted Immortal Power was instantly replenished, and his Ancestor Immortal Body was pushed to its peak, managing to block some of the Primordial Immortal Art directly, sparing him from significant damage.
It was important to note that the power in the wasteland was extremely strong, and only a few could resist it at the same realm. If it were an ordinary Immortal Lord, they might not last long in the eleventh wasteland.
"Ultimate Realm!"
Li Hao wasted no time, unleashing all his Ultimate Realm Power and achieving Dharma Image Unity.
He charged forward, his spatial origin at the fourth level allowing him to perceive the initial forms of attacks here.
The Primordial Dao condensed more rapidly in this place, and without the fourth-level spatial origin, Li Hao would have been bombarded repeatedly before he could react.
The journey was extremely desolate, and he encountered almost no one. Li Hao's figure continuously flashed and leaped, quickly reaching the deep border of the eleventh wasteland.
Here, a Crimson Flame-like fog wall enveloped the area, with flames burning on its surface.
Li Hao's gaze sharpened. Compared to three years ago, his Immortal Power had increased, but his Soul Spirit had grown even more.
Soul Spirit Power was crucial for Object Control Power.
Over the past three years, in the first year, his Soul Spirit Golden Bones increased to 200, and in the following two years, they continued to grow, reaching a total of 560 today!
Each Soul Spirit Golden Bone was formed from numerous Soul Spirit Golden Veins.
With just his Soul Spirit strength, Li Hao could even compete with high-ranking Immortal Lords!
Whoosh!
As the Dharma Image enveloped him, Li Hao's brow emitted Soul Spirit Golden Light. Suddenly, his Immortal Power condensed in his palms, forming a dazzling and sharp Long Sword.
The depleted Immortal Power was instantly replenished, and then, the Long Sword emitted a sharp Sword Momentum.
"Slash!"
Li Hao suddenly raised his hand and swung the sword.
This strike was not just Qing Tian but also incorporated the Sword God Technique, combining two Sword Momentums that seemed to merge into a single strike with azure and golden light.
The Crimson Flame on the fog wall rose continuously, as if roaring fiercely, generating red lightning arcs of Primordial Dao's extinction.
With a loud bang, the fog wall cracked, but the gap was small.
Li Hao's eyes narrowed, and his figure flickered. Time Essence power enveloped him, disrupting the time fluctuations within half a foot of his body, allowing him to slip through like a phantom.
...
"Look quickly!"
"Hao Tian's number is moving!"
Outside the wasteland, Gu Yan and Yue Xi, among others, were closely watching the immortal stele. Suddenly, the golden number on the stele emitted a bright light, transforming into a golden lightning bolt that shot upward.
It quickly passed 24, 23... and continued climbing.
In the blink of an eye, it had surpassed 20 names.
But it didn't stop there, continuing to climb, soon surpassing 17, 15... and then, in front of Gu Yan and the others' widened eyes, it surpassed the tenth position, pushing the previous occupant down.
The golden lightning gradually stabilized, settling in the tenth position and transforming into a rank number.
Tenth!
Seeing this, the Nine Depths of the Great Dream fell into a brief silence.
Apart from the Sword Abyss, the other abysses also watched the number, and upon seeing this leap, they were stunned, their eyes wide with amazement.
In the Spear Abyss, the tall figure of Ye Chen was also taken aback, his eyes momentarily losing focus.
How... could this be?
He, at the first level of the Immortal Lord Realm, had struggled to maintain the 17th position.
Just a moment ago, that person was instantly surpassed, leaping from 25th place all the way to 10th!
"Him, him..."
Li Tiemu was also shocked, his eyes widening. His eye sockets turned red with excitement, and even his ears seemed to turn bright red.
He had only been speaking casually, trying to encourage Li Hao. After all, Li Hao was only at the True Immortal Realm, and making it into the top thirty was already unbelievable, let alone the top ten!
That was a domain only those at the Second Rank of the Immortal Lord Realm could aspire to!
"Him..."
Yue Xi and Murong Qingwu were also stunned. While they knew Li Hao was exceptional, they hadn't expected that, after three years, the young man had progressed even faster, to a degree that was even more outrageous!
"Even Senior Brother Ye Chen from Spear Abyss is only 17, and he's at the Immortal Lord Realm..."
"Could he also be at the Immortal Lord Realm?"
"That's impossible..."
Everyone was stunned by the ranking, finding it hard to believe.
In the Ten Thousand Mountains Sword Tower, a young man in white, sitting cross-legged on a giant sword, was meditating with his eyes closed.
Suddenly, a loud cry came from beside him, someone panicking, "Xuan Yu, it's bad!"
"Hmm?"
The young man in white furrowed his brows and opened his eyes.
He saw his longtime friend, who was usually calm, looking frantic, "Your ranking has dropped, out of the top ten!"
"Hmm."
Zhang Xuan Yu's face changed, and he quickly looked over. He saw that the tenth position, which used to be his, was now occupied by someone else, and he was now one step below.
His face turned from shock to anger.
At the last moment, he had been overtaken?
How could this be!
The competition for the top ten was fierce, and although he was at the bottom, he had investigated those ranked 11th to 15th. They were all First Rank Immortal Lord Realm, and their rankings had only slightly fluctuated. None of them had the power to challenge the top ten.
This new number wasn't among them... Where did he come from?
"Xuan Yu, your ranking has dropped."
At that moment, a figure flew over, Zhang Xuan Yu's Master. She was slender and graceful, exuding an elegant and mature beauty, but her expression was urgent.
"I see."
Zhang Xuan Yu's face darkened, his Immortal Power subtly emanating, "Master, do you know who that number is?"
"I've already sent someone to investigate, but it's definitely not from an imperial clan."
"Alright, let's wait two more days. I'll challenge him on the last day, not giving him a chance to react!"
Zhang Xuan Yu glanced at the ranking, a cold glint in his eyes.
He didn't act immediately. The closer the rankings, the more intense the competition. He wanted to use his trump cards to crush the opponent completely!
...
At that moment, in the Twelfth Wasteland.
As soon as Li Hao entered, he felt an even more intense and terrifying pressure. His Immortal Power surged like a flood, continuously replenishing him to barely maintain his stance.
"Such strength."
Li Hao's expression turned serious.
Suddenly.
He sensed a distortion in the void, his face changing. Just as he was about to dodge, a Thunder Sword suddenly slashed over. It was a manifestation of thunder essence, infused with the residual consciousness of some Immortal Technique, transforming into a beam of sword light, swift as lightning, slicing toward Li Hao's neck.
Time Essence!
Li Hao's Immortal Power erupted, and the Time Essence surrounding his body was instantly pushed to its limit, freezing the area!
Even with just the Third Rank of Time Essence, he couldn't completely freeze the Thunder Sword, but it still affected it, slowing the flow of time around him slightly.
With just this slight delay, Li Hao used spatial teleportation to narrowly avoid it.
The Thunder Sword swept past, disappearing into the unknown. Li Hao broke out in a cold sweat. If he had been hit, even his Ancestor Immortal Body would have struggled to withstand it, suffering severe injuries.
This was a place where only those at the Second Rank of the Immortal Lord Realm could barely survive. For him now, the pressure was still too great.
"However, it's quite thrilling."
Li Hao thought to himself, not retreating. He hadn't felt such tension in a long time.
His expression turned serious, and he began to focus intently on his surroundings.
Soon, a white mist began to rise, enveloping the area.
Li Hao's face changed slightly, recognizing it as another Primordial Immortal Art. He quickly put some distance between himself and the mist, dodging to another area.
While dodging, a black particle suddenly flew toward him from a distance.
Initially, Li Hao didn't think much of it, but as the black particle drew near, he sensed its terrifying power. It contained a strong earth essence, and if he were to touch it, he would likely be suppressed by some force.
Dodge!
Li Hao dodged again, moving like a nimble residual image, weaving through the Twelfth Wasteland.
(End of Chapter)
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