https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-488-Ascending-the-Immortal-Terrace/13451900/
Chapter 489: Gaining Renown
Chapter 489: Gaining Renown
As Chu Xiangtian's words fell, the ancient black immortal stele suddenly trembled slightly. Then, at the top of the stele, the first golden number abruptly transformed into a brilliant beam of golden light, shining down onto the crowd below.
The light illuminated the foremost members of the Imperial Clan's Fief, settling on an elderly man with a weathered face and a hunched back.
The old man wore a golden phoenix dragon imperial robe, and within a few yards of him, no other members of the Imperial Clan dared to approach.
As the golden light enveloped him, the old man's expression remained calm. He slowly ascended to the ancient immortal terrace.
"Is that Chu Tianhuang, the one ranked first?"
"Such an aged appearance? With his power, he could easily maintain the looks of a young man or even a youth."
"You don't understand; he no longer pursues outward beauty."
"You're wrong. I heard he cultivates an extremely unique technique. This appearance might better align with his Dao Heart."
"This is the top genius of our great Yan Chu, who is said to be only a little over two thousand soul years old and stands out in the wasteland."
"I haven't seen him for so long."
The disciples of various sects looked up, their eyes filled with surprise as they watched the elderly man enveloped in golden light.
Before he revealed himself, everyone had heard of the name ranked first and assumed it belonged to a young man of extraordinary beauty. They never expected it to be an elderly man.
However, with a soul age of just over two thousand years, he was still considered very young. If he wished, he could easily restore his youthful appearance.
As the first golden light shone, the second golden number on the immortal stele also transformed into a thick beam of golden light, shooting toward a specific location.
This was the position of the Zhuyu Pavilion sect, where an elder's Dao Domain enveloped all the disciples to prevent their conversations from being overheard.
The golden light pierced through the Dao Domain and enveloped a young man dressed in snow-white robes. He wore a sword at his waist, had a face like a crown, and his eyebrows arched gracefully, making him so handsome that it was hard to tell if he was a man or a woman. His lips were a vivid red, and his skin was cold and pale. The ground where he stood was fiery red, yet it gave off a chilling sensation like an ice cave.
"That's Boya Xuejian. I heard he is a primordial being, without father or mother. How terrifying!"
"If it weren't for Chu Tianhuang, he would dominate the entire Yan Chu Imperial Clan. He's terrifying!"
"A primordial being, there's no comparison, no comparison."
"Not even the ancient imperial bloodlines can match him, let alone our mortal bodies."
The crowd murmured, their eyes filled with gravity.
In the Ten Thousand Mountains Sword Tower, the disciples couldn't help but look at a young man in snow-white robes.
Tian Hongyi.
He was the chief of their Ten Thousand Mountains Sword Tower, renowned like a thunderclap, and currently ranked sixth!
Soon, the golden light would shine upon this eldest senior brother, making him known to the world.
"I want to see who that tenth place is!"
In an unnoticed corner, Zhang Xuan Yu's face was cold and stern as he stared intently at the immortal stele, eager to see where the tenth golden light would shine.
Just as Boya Xuejian also ascended to the immortal terrace, the third golden number shone, illuminating an imperial clan member with a majestic presence, middle-aged in appearance, but with eyes that radiated authority like thunder.
Then came the fourth and fifth...
As the golden light shone, the Star Pavilion erupted in cheers.
The fifth-ranked golden light shone upon Xing Lan, her exquisite and graceful figure floating weightlessly in the air.
She glanced down at her sect master and familiar seniors, her expression calm, and then gracefully flew toward the immortal terrace.
"That Xing Lan, I heard she was born from an ancient tree in the chaotic star, a natural Dao Body, and a terrifying being."
"In terms of foundation, she is not much behind Boya Xuejian."
"I wonder how far they have advanced in the wasteland."
"To cultivate to the Immortal Lord Realm within three thousand soul years, they are all top-tier geniuses. My distant cousin, who is forty thousand soul years old, hasn't even broken through that Dao Sect barrier yet."
Disciples from various sects all looked on with longing. Most of them had cultivated to the Tenth Rank of the True Immortal Realm, but the differences in their sects' foundations caused significant variations in their combat prowess.
The gap between the Tenth Rank of the True Immortal Realm and the Immortal Lord Realm seemed to be just a single step, yet it could hold back millions.
As the golden light shone, it this time pointed towards the Ten Thousand Mountains Sword Tower.
Countless eyes followed, and they saw Tian Hongyi, dressed in white, rise into the air, carrying the glory of the Ten Thousand Mountains Sword Tower as he ascended to the immortal terrace.
“Ten Thousand Mountains Sword Tower is said to have two prodigies this time. Besides Tian Hongyi, there’s also Zhang Xuan Yu, who ranks eleventh. He’s a terrifying prodigy, originally in the top ten, but unfortunately, he was pushed out.”
“Ten Thousand Mountains Sword Tower’s foundation is truly strong, able to cultivate two geniuses of such caliber.”
“Of course, all the sword cultivators in Yan Chu are concentrated in the Ten Thousand Mountains Sword Tower. Other sects may have the Sword Dao, but how can they compare?”
“The Ten Thousand Mountains Sword Tower is the Holy Land of sword cultivators!”
The crowd murmured, and some sword cultivators from other sects couldn’t help but flash with admiration in their eyes.
When Li Tiemu, Zhou Qingyun, and others heard these words, their faces immediately turned somewhat sour. No one mentioned the Sword Abyss of the Nine Depths of the Great Dream. Compared to the Ten Thousand Mountains Sword Tower, the Sword Abyss was just a branch of the Nine Depths of the Great Dream and didn’t even match the foundation of the Spear Abyss, seemingly forgotten and overlooked by people.
“Our Sword Abyss also has the Emperor Sword Intent. Our founding ancestor once received guidance from an Immortal Emperor, but unfortunately, no one remembers this anymore.”
Li Tiemu’s eyes showed a mix of sighs and frustration.
“Ten thousand years is too long; too much has been forgotten and buried. No matter how much we proclaim it, no one believes us,” Zhou Qingyun shook his head.
The old woman, hearing their laments, couldn’t help but roll her eyes slightly before her gaze softened as she looked at Li Hao and said:
“What can be buried is just the noise. When the gloss is washed away and time settles, what remains is the true essence. Our Sword Abyss has also produced a prodigy, not a primordial being or a descendant of the Emperor’s Blood, yet he still managed to rank in the top ten!”
Hearing her words, the members of the Sword Abyss all looked at Li Hao with complex expressions.
At this moment, they truly felt the significance of this young man securing the tenth place for their sect.
While he might still not match Tian Hongyi, the tenth place alone was enough to shout to the world of Yan Chu that, besides the Ten Thousand Mountains Sword Tower, there were still top-tier sword cultivators and sects capable of cultivating such geniuses!
Gu Yan clenched his fingers slightly. As an Ancient Immortal Legacy and a Natural Sword Immortal Constitution, he was supposed to be the ultimate prodigy of the Sword Dao and should have shouldered this burden.
Although he had come to the Nine Depths of the Great Dream to cultivate and hadn’t developed a deep emotional connection with the sect, seeing someone else take on this responsibility made him feel somewhat bitter.
Was it because he was too weak, or not hard enough in his efforts?
His foundation and background were both top-tier. Could it be that his insight was lacking?
His fist clenched tighter and tighter.
Amidst the clamor, Tian Hongyi of the Ten Thousand Mountains Sword Tower also ascended the majestic immortal terrace, followed by the seventh-ranked individual, another member of the Imperial Clan.
Golden Light enveloped a graceful figure, an Imperial Princess exuding an aura of supreme authority and regal elegance. She swept her gaze over the various sects, then gracefully soared up to the immortal terrace.
Next, the eighth and ninth ranks were occupied by members of two other sects from the Five Great Tianyi Sects: the Tidal Sect and the Illusion Sea Sect.
Among the top ten, apart from the elite monsters from the Five Great Tianyi Sects, the remaining four were all from the Imperial Clan, clearly demonstrating the powerful bloodline and deep roots of the Yan Chu Imperial Clan.
"It's your turn!"
"Let's see who it is!"
As the ninth-ranked disciple from the Illusion Sea Sect flew up to the immortal terrace, Zhang Xuan Yu's gaze fixated on the tenth rank number.
Golden Light illuminated the Battle Platform immortal terrace, and the wind seemed to swirl around the figures, rustling their hair and Dharma Robes. They all silently gazed down at the scene beyond the immortal terrace.
Suddenly, the Golden Light of the tenth rank on the immortal stele shot out like thunder, spanning the vast distance in a sweeping arc and landing in the center of the crowd.
This was the location of the Nine Depths of the Great Dream.
The Golden Light penetrated the Dao Domain Barrier Li Tiemu had cast, enveloping Li Hao.
The Golden Light seemed to drape the young man in a shimmering layer of gold, making him appear as radiant and brilliant as a deity.
Yue Xi and Gu Yan, who were standing beside Li Hao, couldn't help but take a few steps back due to the overwhelming aura emanating from the Golden Light. The others also moved back slightly.
Li Hao felt the rank token at his waist warm up, realizing that the token's pull had allowed the immortal stele to lock onto him.
"Hmm?"
"That's... the Nine Depths of the Great Dream? The Tiansi Sect?!"
In the Ten Thousand Mountains Sword Tower, Zhang Xuan Yu's eyes widened in shock as he stared at the young man enveloped in the Golden Light.
When he sensed the aura emanating from the young man, his eyes widened even further, almost to the point of splitting, his face filled with astonishment.
The Tiansi Sect, a place where a phoenix was born from a chicken coop, was one thing, but for that phoenix to still be in the True Immortal Realm?!
"Is it him?"
It wasn't just Zhang Xuan Yu who was shocked. Cui Yuesheng, one of the elders of the Ten Thousand Mountains Sword Tower, also had his eyes widen in horror as he stared at the young man in the Golden Light.
The young man's appearance was deeply etched in his memory.
Nine Resonances of the Heart, a top-tier dao heart, he had only just entered the True Immortal Realm three or four years ago, yet he had managed to come here to represent the Nine Depths of the Great Dream in the competition three years ago.
Now, he had actually reached the tenth rank on the immortal stele?!
His mouth opened wide, as if he had swallowed a goose egg, utterly disbelieving.
When he realized something, he turned to look at Zhang Xuan Yu, seeing the other's stunned expression, and slowly came to his senses, though his face still showed disbelief.
In just three or four years, this young man had not only surpassed monsters like Zhang Xuan Yu but had also reached the Immortal Lord Realm!
"Is it him?!"
On the other side, in the Illusion Sea Sect, Hu Xiaochi stared blankly at the Golden Light.
He never imagined that the figure in the Golden Light would be that young man!
The young man had truly come here, and not only had he made it into the top ten, but he was also the only one in the True Immortal Realm among them!
If we're talking about combat power at the True Immortal Realm, doesn't that make him the top in Yan Chu's Immortal Dynasties?!
"Qiling, what's wrong?"
Beside him, Hu Xiaochi's Master asked in confusion, "Do you know that person?"
Hu Xiaochi snapped back to his senses. His true name was Hu Qiling.
"Nothing, nothing."
Hu Qiling hurriedly shook his head, but his mind was already flooded with thoughts of the border's Immortal List, causing a storm of emotions to surge within him.
No one knew that the young man in the border was none other than the famous Chong Er on the Immortal Technique Ranking!
"He's from Nine Depths of the Great Dream. So, he's from Nine Depths of the Great Dream... Does this mean that Nine Depths of the Great Dream might..."
Hu Qiling's eyes glazed over, suddenly sensing that the long-standing Five Great Tianyi Sects' power structure, which had lasted for tens of thousands of years, might undergo a significant change after the Southern Domain Battle!
Whoosh!
Li Hao, enveloped in golden light, soared onto the ancient immortal terrace.
Landing on the terrace, Li Hao looked at the people around him. When he saw a pair of beautiful eyes widen in disbelief, he responded with a smile.
The owner of those beautiful eyes was Xing Lan.
She stared at Li Hao in a daze, her usually calm and composed face now showing signs of shock.
Is it this kid? Tenth?
Her mind instantly recalled the scenes of the border battles, where she had protected him, her expression changing rapidly before finally settling into a mix of confusion and relief.
No wonder he dared to venture into the border at the third level of the True Immortal Realm. Three years ago, he had already reached 19th place, absolutely breaking the tenth wasteland.
This guy... Xing Lan snapped back to her senses, her eyes now filled with a complex mix of emotions, including a sudden sense of being deceived, which made her glare at him slightly.
Li Hao, seeing the change in her eyes, felt a bit bewildered but only responded with a helpless smile.
"True Immortal Realm."
At that moment, a slightly skeptical voice sounded.
It was the Imperial Princess, who had ranked seventh earlier, standing not far away. She looked at Li Hao with a scornful expression.
Her eyes revealed indifference, coldness, and a sense of superiority, as she said, "You haven't reached the Perfection stage of the True Immortal Realm. Did you make it to tenth place on your own merit?"
Others also turned to look, including the elderly Chu Tianhuang, who had climbed up first, and his companion, Boya Xuejian. The former had a calm expression and glanced over, while the latter looked curious, his eyes clear and innocent, as if purely fascinated.
"Pretty much."
Li Hao glanced at their expressions and casually replied to the Imperial Princess before turning his attention away from her.
The Imperial Princess's eyes narrowed slightly, and a hint of disdain appeared on her lips, but she didn't say anything more.
No matter how he managed to get here, he would reveal his true colors during the Southern Domain Battle.
As Li Hao ascended, the tremors on the immortal stele suddenly ceased.
Chu Xiangtian's gaze also fell on Li Hao, equally surprised that the rank number that had amazed them earlier was from the Tiansi Sect and was a True Immortal Realm practitioner!
Three years ago, he had achieved a speed comparable to the Immortal Lord Realm, breaking into the tenth wasteland. Could a True Immortal Realm practitioner really do that?
As for concealing cultivation... he couldn't detect any signs of it on Li Hao. Chu Xiangtian was at the Perfection stage of the Immortal Lord Realm, and if Li Hao could hide his true strength under his watch, it would be even more terrifying!
"Open!"
Chu Xiangtian didn't say much, just raised his hand and pointed.
In an instant, several old men in black robes from the National Supervisory Academy flew over.
They gathered above the immortal terrace, a total of thirty-six in number, standing in a circle.
As their Immortal Power surged, their Heaven and Earth Dharma Bodies emerged behind them, towering like deities, standing tall between heaven and earth.
(End of Chapter)
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