Chapter 493: Emperor of Yan-Chu
Chapter 493: Emperor of Yan-Chu
The Imperial Princess, upon hearing Li Hao's words, felt a momentary choking sensation and glared at him in anger. "I don't want to waste my breath with you. Quickly remove your foot and return the Physical Body, or you will desecrate Imperial Power, and your entire clan will be exterminated!"
Thud!
Li Hao stomped down, shattering the Immortal Body's chest.
Seeing Li Hao's audacity, the Imperial Princess's expression clearly changed, and the other prominent members of the Imperial Clan also furrowed their brows.
If it were just a personal grudge between Li Hao and Chu Tianzheng, they wouldn't have gotten involved. But now that Li Hao was publicly desecrating the Imperial Body, damaging the Imperial Clan's dignity, they couldn't remain indifferent without facing significant repercussions.
"Stop."
The Imperial Princess's Immortal Power flared, her flying black hair billowing as she exuded a formidable aura, ready to take action.
However, Li Hao ignored her and rummaged through his robes, pulling out a token.
Seeing the token in Li Hao's palm, the Imperial Princess's expression changed abruptly, her eyes narrowing in shock.
The other members of the Imperial Clan also had a change in their expressions, their anger instantly suppressed as they fixed their gaze on the young man.
"Chu King's Order?"
On the Immortal Terrace, Xing Lan and the others also saw the token in Li Hao's hand and were visibly shocked.
This token was extremely rare, requiring significant immortal merit to receive. With it, even the patriarch of their Tianyi Sect would not dare to act rashly against Li Hao, for fear of being swiftly surrounded by the iron hooves of the Chu Immortal Army.
There was even a saying that with Chu King's Order, even slaying an unpopular prince would go unpunished.
Chu Tianzheng, standing opposite Li Hao, saw the token and his furious expression froze, leaving him stunned on the spot.
The young man before him actually possessed the Chu King's Order? Who had bestowed it upon him?
Over the past two years, while stationed at the border, Li Hao spent much of his time in the Water Moon Secret Realm, where he learned many secrets of the Yan Chu Immortal Dynasties from Gu Changming. He gained a deep understanding of the various powers and privileges within the Immortal Dynasties and mastered Immortal Art.
This method was not just any method; in fact, it surpassed many others.
True World Immortal Deities roamed freely, but even they adhered to the rules set by the Immortal Dynasties.
With the Chu King's Order, Li Hao could severely injure a prince without facing any consequences, unless Marshal Shangguan Hong declared the token invalid.
"Quite a lively scene?"
As the Immortal Terrace fell into a brief silence, a cheerful voice echoed, sounding both warm and detached.
Upon hearing the voice, the members of the Imperial Clan on the Immortal Terrace all jumped to their feet, quickly turning to see two figures emerge from the mist in the depths of the wasteland. Their faces changed, and they hurriedly bowed in reverence.
Even as a prince, in the presence of these two pillars of the Immortal Dynasties, their own fathers, the Imperial Capital would treat them with respect, let alone them, who had yet to inherit the Crown Prince's position.
The Imperial Clan, though lofty and influential before sects and noble families, had to be cautious and prudent in the presence of certain beings, as it concerned their future prospects.
Standing on the High Platform, one wrong step could lead to a fall into the Abyss, sometimes making them even more cautious and hardworking than the prodigies and monsters of the sects and noble families.
Li Hao put away the token and looked at the two arrivals. The one who spoke was Master Yuan Xinggang's son.
Beside him stood Shangguan Hong, clad in golden armor, towering and imposing, with a beard and eyes like cold stars. Despite his stern appearance, he showed a rare softness when facing Li Hao, nodding slightly at him.
Li Hao immediately bowed in respect.
“It’s the National Master and the Grand Marshal!”
“Heavens, they actually came in person!”
“Is this their True Form? They actually walked out of the wasteland.”
“In the past, the Southern Domain Battle selection never had such a grand presence.”
“This selection is the most elite of the monsters I, Yan Chu, have gathered in recent years. It’s no surprise these two are here.”
Below the Immortal Terrace, the crowd was in a state of shock and excitement. In the reflected Nine Thousand Immortal Cities, waves of exclamations rippled through the air. Countless people recognized these two pillars of the Immortal Dynasties, knowing their unassailable status and the awe they commanded, having held sway for tens of thousands of years within the Immortal Dynasties.
Xing Lan and the others, though surprised, quickly bowed their heads in reverence.
“Stop making a fool of yourself!”
Shangguan Hong glanced at Chu Tianzheng, coldly snorted, and waved his hand. A drop of blood splashed from the immortal body beside Li Hao, floating before his Soul Spirit.
Chu Tianzheng’s face turned red. Losing face in front of the Grand Marshal would surely affect his future chances of competing for the Crown Prince position, as he would not gain the Marshal’s support.
Despite his frustration, he hurriedly expressed his gratitude and then fused his Soul Spirit with the drop of Divine Blood, using Blood Drop Rebirth to reconstitute his physical body.
“Little one, are you interested in following me to the Chu Immortal Army after the ceremony? I’ll cultivate you for the next seven days, and I guarantee you’ll make a name for yourself in the Southern Domain Battle!”
Shangguan Hong looked at Li Hao, a smile playing on his lips, and spoke telepathically.
Li Hao was momentarily stunned, feeling somewhat conflicted. He had planned to spend the next seven days feasting on demon flesh and then delving into the Art Dao with Meng Zhu.
If he could advance the Art Dao, he might have a chance to Ascend to the Immortal Lord Realm.
At that point, he wouldn’t have to rely solely on external forces to survive against Immortal Lord Realm experts.
Seeing Li Hao’s hesitant expression, Shangguan Hong was taken aback and couldn’t help but laugh. “You’re as stubborn as a mule, aren’t you? Even I can’t persuade you!”
He spoke this aloud, causing the Imperial Clan members and Xing Lan and the others to stare at Li Hao in shock.
What was going on? What did the National Grand Marshal just invite this guy to do?
Moreover, why was he so friendly towards Li Hao?
Zhang Xuan Yu, standing nearby, blinked repeatedly, feeling thoroughly bewildered by the rapid succession of events.
“Isn’t this just like your temper when you were young?”
Yuan Xinggang smiled slightly, guessing what Shangguan Hong had invited Li Hao to do and that he had been refused. He added with a grin, “Let’s set aside the minor issues for today’s ceremony. We’ll talk later.”
As he spoke, he flicked his hand lightly.
The shattered immortal body beneath Li Hao instantly disintegrated under an unseen force, leaving not even a trace of dust.
Seeing the National Master destroy his physical remains with a mere flick of his hand, Chu Tianzheng’s lips twitched, but he dared not say a word.
“Xiangtian, continue.”
Yuan Xinggang looked up at Chu Xiangtian.
Chu Xiangtian’s forehead was drenched in cold sweat. He hadn’t expected these two grand figures to appear in person, thinking they would merely observe from a distance.
He took a closer look at the young man, memorizing his appearance. Clearly, this young man had won the favor and approval of these two prestigious figures. Beyond his background, it was undoubtedly due to his exceptional talent as a monster.
This was definitely someone worth cultivating and pulling into their circle.
He bowed and responded, then released the restrictions on the immortal stele, announcing, “The remaining Ascenders, please come up in an orderly manner!”
The immortal stele trembled, and beams of golden light shot out. The thirteenth, fourteenth, and subsequent figures in line after Chu Tianzheng were illuminated by the golden light.
As more and more figures ascended the stage, the Immortal Terrace grew increasingly crowded.
Previously, the crowd that had taken to the air to avoid the conflict between Li Hao and Chu Tianzheng now descended one by one, returning to their positions.
However, when they looked at the young man on the platform, their expressions were heavy with seriousness.
The appearance of National Master Yuan Xinggang and Marshal Shangguan Hong had calmed them down. Now, as they looked at the young man, they realized just how terrifying he was.
To think that a True Immortal Realm cultivator had defeated the Second Rank Immortal Lord Chu Tianzheng—such strength was likely unmatched within the True Immortal Realm!
The Yan Chu Immortal Dynasties, with its nine thousand immortal cities and countless citizens, likely had tens of millions of True Immortal Realm cultivators alone.
For the young man to achieve such a feat was nothing short of a miracle.
"Li Hao actually knows the Great Marshal?!"
"Even the National Master seems to know him!"
In the Great Dream Nine Abyss Sect, the elders of each abyss were stunned, watching the scene with disbelief.
Li Tiemu, too, stared with wide eyes, feeling an unprecedented sense of unfamiliarity with this disciple.
Even he, who found it difficult to approach the two top figures on the immortal terrace, was now seeing them treat Li Hao with great kindness and respect.
"He, he..."
Yue Xi stared blankly at the young man, suddenly feeling an immense distance between them, as if he were out of reach.
Gu Yan stared intently at Li Hao's back, her eyes gleaming as she quietly clenched her fists.
After settling the small incident, Yuan Xinggang and Shangguan Hong took to the air above the immortal terrace, disappearing into the clouds beside the Imperial Palace, their figures barely visible.
As the golden light illuminated the immortal terrace, one by one, figures ascended the platform.
Each of these figures, upon reaching the platform, couldn't help but glance at the young man.
Whether through connections or sheer strength, the young man had earned the respect and attention of all.
Zhang Xuan Yu had already returned to Li Hao's side. He looked at the young man beside him, his expression incredibly complex. The fact that Li Hao had defeated Chu Tianzheng and earned the favor of the two great figures was a testament to his talent. Even those who envied him would dare not plot his demise, for fear of the repercussions.
Otherwise, if the investigation traced back to them, it could lead to widespread consequences.
In no time, the disciples from the various sects and other forces who had placed in the top thousand on the immortal stele all ascended the platform.
Among them were beings like Gu Xingwan, bred by the Demon Suppression Bureau, and disciples from the myriad noble families.
Chu Xiangtian stood on the Ancestral Dragon, looking down at the crowd below. His gaze swept across them, pausing briefly on Li Hao before moving on. He then spoke slowly and clearly:
"Congratulations to all of you, who have been selected as the prodigies of the nine thousand immortal cities of the Yan Chu Immortal Dynasties. You, the thousand of you, represent the most outstanding young generation of the Yan Chu Immortal Dynasties in the past ten thousand years!"
Cheers erupted from the crowd below, and the countless people in the nine thousand immortal cities echoed with amazement.
The earlier confrontation between Li Hao and Chu Tianzheng had stirred excitement and shock among the countless True Immortal Realm cultivators in the nine thousand immortal cities, who now regarded Li Hao as a role model for their realm.
"To cultivate to such a level within a mere three thousand years of soul age, from Force Mastery to the Sage Realm, and then to ascend to the Immortal Deity Realm, even becoming a ruler among immortals!"
"You have boundless futures ahead, embodying the fate of the True World and carrying great destiny and opportunity. We hope that you can shoulder the fate of our great Yan Chu Immortal Dynasties, representing Yan Chu in battle and repelling the prodigies of the Southern Domain, to demonstrate the supreme dignity of the Yan Chu Immortal Dynasties!"
With Chu Xiangtian's passionate words, the disciples from various sects in the audience all had their eyes shining. Even though they had failed to make it into the top thousand, they still felt a surge of excitement and enthusiasm.
Shouldering the fate of the nation, venturing beyond Yan Chu, and competing against the top prodigies of the other six ancient Immortal Dynasties and the Heavenly Palace in the vast Southern Domain—what a glorious and exhilarating endeavor!
"Seven years remain until the day of battle!"
"During these seven years, I hope you all will strive to reach new heights. The Yan Chu Imperial Family will also open the Royal Secret Vault to provide additional support, aiding you in breaking through enemy lines and achieving victory on the Southern Domain Prodigy Battlefield!"
Chu Xiangtian declared loudly.
His voice boomed, resonating through the nine thousand immortal cities, eliciting cheers and a sense of the imperial family's majesty and benevolence.
On the Immortal Terrace, Li Hao and the others listened quietly. Even Li Hao felt a surge of excitement in his heart. The Prince's commanding and resonant voice was incredibly infectious, as if he were born to be an emperor.
If it weren't for the vast territory of the Yan Chu Immortal Dynasty and the numerous princes, the Prince's abilities would have been enough to make him a worthy emperor.
However, among the many members of the Yan Chu Imperial Clan, he seemed unable to rise to the forefront.
After finishing his speech, Chu Xiangtian turned to the majestic Imperial Palace projected before them. He slowly bowed and knelt on one knee, saying:
"Please, Father Emperor, grant me your blessing!"
His words drew the attention of countless spectators to the towering gate of the majestic Imperial Palace.
The gate, a thousand feet tall like a mountain, blocked the view of what lay beyond, making it impossible to see inside.
It seemed like an insurmountable barrier and threshold.
At that moment, the Imperial Palace gate creaked open, slowly parting in the mist, and then slowly swung wide. The surrounding mist swirled and was drawn in by the power emanating from the gate, creating a constant flow.
Behind the gate, the figures of Ancestral Dragons and Scarlet Phoenixes flitted by, like graceful butterflies dancing on either side of the entrance.
Then, a tremendous aura of intimidation emerged from within, like a cold and piercing presence, descending upon the Immortal Terrace and the Ancient Immortal Realm below, filling everyone with an indescribable sense of awe. It was as if they were suddenly submerged in the depths of a lake, the air being snatched away, making them involuntarily hold their breath.
This aura of imperial might spread through the projection, and the cheers from the nine thousand immortal cities seemed to instantly quiet down, as if the entire realm was held in silent reverence.
Despite the vast distance, the imperial might was palpable and awe-inspiring!
Inside the gate, a towering figure, resembling a Heaven and Earth Dharma Body, sat in the Imperial Hall. His gaze, like the inverted rays of a divine sun, was filled with countless brilliant Golden Light Dao Patterns, and divine radiance emanated from his being, exuding an overwhelming aura.
His eyes looked upon all things with a sense of equality with heaven and earth, the sun and the moon, making anyone who met his gaze feel as insignificant as ants, compelled to look up in awe, trembling with a sense of reverence.
The natural imperial might alone was enough to silence the Ancient Immortal Realm, leaving it as still as a cold cricket in winter.
However, this imperial might, while awe-inspiring, was not oppressive. It instilled respect without suffocating, exuding a gentle peace.
Statues and portraits of this emperor could be found throughout Yan Chu, but seeing him in person was a different experience altogether.
Li Hao, experiencing this for the first time, felt his heart quicken, as if he were reliving the moment he first saw Emperor Luo in the Imperial Hall legacy.
(End of Chapter)
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