Chapter 524: Li Hao's Soul Age
Chapter 524: Li Hao’s Soul Age
When the words of the Deprivation Immortal Weapon and other external forces were heard, everyone present was already well aware, so they were not surprised.
At this moment, the scene of the gathered crowd in the Prohibited Zones was already reflected in various parts of the True World Southern Domain, even appearing in the starry sky where no one was around. Immortal Deities exploring the starry sky could see it as well.
What seemed like ordinary words to those gathered, however, caused many to feel a deep sense of sorrow and melancholy as they were reflected everywhere.
It was important to understand that the secret realm was akin to a cruel prison, extremely dangerous. The deprivation of the Immortal Weapon and other external forces meant that the combatants had to rely solely on their own strength, akin to fighting naked against the vicious ancient demons. Even a slight weakness could mean death!
Although the Prodigies who entered the secret realm had been carefully selected by the Immortal Dynasties, the threshold for the Southern Domain Battle was already so high, even at the first stage.
In a certain immortal city.
Inside a teahouse, a girl in a black dress sat quietly, sipping tea.
Outside the teahouse, in the sky above the immortal city, the gathered Immortal Dynasties were reflected, and the words of the Immortal Guard’s commander echoed like thunder.
"Those ten thousand races are truly ruthless."
After hearing these words, the girl’s lips curled slightly. If Li Hao were here, he would recognize her as Mi Xueyao, who had infiltrated the Yan Chu border.
Her face, though slightly changed, still possessed a beauty that could captivate a city, but she exuded no aura of ancient demons, appearing instead like a clear and beautiful human girl.
She sighed to herself, thinking that to deprive their own offspring of the Claw of Deprivation and cast them into such a brutal arena was something even the ancient demons might not do. No wonder the ten thousand races had not been extinguished after a hundred thousand years of war with the ancient demons.
To select the very best Prodigies, they could be so heartless, even to the point of crippling themselves.
...
"I’ve always said that the cultivation competition among the ten thousand races today is no longer the nurturing ground it was a hundred thousand years ago."
"Pity our clan is divided. If we don’t unite soon, we will shed even more blood in the future!"
Elsewhere, a figure exuding demonic aura stood in a city drenched in blood, which he had already invaded.
Seeing the reflected scene in the city, the ancient demon’s eyes glinted with malice.
...
"Master, it’s that young man."
In a territory of the Spirit Race within the Yan Chu Immortal Dynasty, several figures gathered, looking up at the starry sky.
In the reflected light, countless figures stood, all Prodigies with unique auras. They searched among them and found the familiar figure they were looking for.
Seeing the young man standing out among the gathered Prodigies, they all smiled.
"I knew that kid would go far. I didn’t expect him to advance from the True Immortal Realm, first level, to the True Immortal Realm, Perfection, in less than ten years!"
The Spirit Race elder smiled.
"He previously defeated the Imperial Clan at the True Immortal Realm. Once the news spreads, he might face challenges from other True Immortal Realm combatants."
Beside him, a Spirit Race girl looked worried.
"Who knows? Such strength is enough to deter many who might have ill intentions."
The Spirit Race elder stroked his beard and said.
"Master, do you think he can make it into the top ten of the True Immortal Realm?"
An older man who often played chess with the Spirit Race elder asked.
"Very likely."
The Spirit Race elder’s eyes were filled with anticipation.
...
"Hmm?"
In the starry sky, a figure rapidly moving through the vast expanse suddenly stopped. Seeing the reflected scene in the starry sky, his eyes grew distant.
When he recognized the figure of the Supreme Sage, his expression changed, and he said in a daze:
"It really is him..."
Then, he quickly spotted the young man’s figure in the reflection.
He was stunned again, then narrowed his eyes, suddenly remembering something, and his expression changed slightly.
He stood there for a long time, deep in thought, with a faint sense of unease.
At that moment, he saw the trace of time he was following, a colorful trail leading forward, heading straight toward the center of the Southern Domain.
Without hesitation, he quickly followed it.
...
"This is the Southern Domain Battle? With a three-thousand-year soul age limit, how can there still be so many Immortal Lord Realm combatants?"
"Is there really someone who can achieve the rank of Immortal Lord in just three thousand years?"
"You really lack knowledge. For those prodigies, they likely suppress their realms, focusing mainly on enlightenment; otherwise, they would advance even faster!"
"Exactly, they consume heavenly treasures and drink jade nectar. With their imperial bloodline and innate talent, their cultivation progresses at an incredible speed, far beyond our imagination!"
"Such exaggeration. Without external aid, a soul age limit of three thousand years, and the highest rank of ancient demons in the secret realm being Seventh Stage Immortal Sovereigns—this is practically a death sentence, isn't it?"
Countless people watched the rare and grand spectacle projected into the starry sky of the Southern Domain.
This represented the pinnacle of the current prodigies from various factions in the Southern Domain, with extremely high stakes. Through this battle, they could witness the upper limits of the prodigies from the ten thousand races.
"Our Frost Bloom Clan's prodigy will surely place in the top ten of the True Immortal Realm!"
"Frost Bloom Clan? I've heard that there's a Chaos Snow Spirit Reincarnation here. This talent is on par with the patriarch of the Frost Bloom Clan!"
"Our Firefly Clan is among the Hundred Clans. That's our prodigy, who hasn't revealed their true prowess in the Immortal Dynasties. Now, they will begin to make a name for themselves!"
"That's a young man from the Ancient Divine Race. How domineering, attempting to slay ancient demons at the True Immortal Realm. No wonder they are a great clan that made it into the top ten in the Imperial War Mountain!"
The various great clans within the Immortal Dynasties of the Southern Domain were all in heated discussion.
Their prodigies had joined various sects, using the Immortal Dynasties' quotas to enter the Heavenly Palace, representing both the Immortal Dynasties and their own clans in the battle.
...
At this moment, the Immortal Guard Commander finished speaking and scanned the crowd, asking:
"Are there any more questions?"
Upon hearing his words, the crowd fell into a brief silence. Then, Li Hao suddenly spoke up:
"I have a question."
"Hmm?"
The Immortal Guard Commander turned to Li Hao, immediately recognizing the young man's extraordinary aura. Dao resonance traces lingered around him, like a dispersed aura, indicating that his own Dao resonance was extremely strong.
He remained calm and asked, "What is your question?"
"Are the ancient demons we hunt inside our own, and can we take them out?" Li Hao asked.
"..."
The Immortal Guard Commander considered other possibilities but was surprised by Li Hao's peculiar question. He paused for a moment and then nodded, "Of course."
Li Hao let out a sigh of relief, nodded, and remained silent.
This scene, projected for all to see, caught the attention of a pair of clear, lake-like eyes in a small teahouse. The beautiful girl was momentarily taken aback, then a smile curved her lips.
That guy, could he really be planning to demonstrate how to devour ancient demons in front of everyone?
If that were the case, it would surely shock the entire Southern Domain and the ten thousand races.
Thinking about the young man cooking a corpse, she instinctively licked her lips, suddenly feeling a bit hungry.
Feeling hungry for a member of her own race, even if her moral standards were lax, was still taboo. She shook her head to dispel the thought, but it kept resurfacing.
"Kid, when I catch you again, I won't let you go. I'll bring you back to my clan."
Miyue Yao thought to herself. It wasn't just the taste of his cooking; she understood the immense threat Li Hao's cooking techniques posed to the ancient demon race. If other ancient demon clans learned or mastered these techniques, or if the human race discovered and widely used them, the ancient demon race would be in grave danger.
At that point, the ten ancient demon clans would need to unify, or the situation could reverse.
She knew that if she brought this news back to the ancient demon race, other clans might dismiss it as an exaggeration. After all, he was just a human, how could he pose such a threat?
Many Immortal Emperors had fallen in the great battle, let alone a mere ant.
But having witnessed countless dynasties rise and fall and Immortal Techniques evolve, she understood that this was not incredible. It was a change brought by new power, much like how a stronger Immortal Technique could replace an older one, with far-reaching and significant impacts that no individual's power could match.
...
After Li Hao finished his question, many people gave him strange looks, wondering what was on his mind to waste such a valuable opportunity to ask a question.
Others also began to speak up, asking whether it would be permissible to kill and seize dao fire inside.
This naturally raised the vigilance of many, but the questioner remained unperturbed, completely ignoring the wary gazes, displaying a strong sense of confidence and arrogance.
"Seizing dao fire is not encouraged, but it is allowed."
The Immortal Guard commander’s words, laced with a smile, sent a chill down the spines of many prodigies.
"Once you enter the secret realm, stick together and don’t fight alone. The other sects will certainly do the same."
The Great Dream Master telepathically communicated with Li Hao and others, clearly aware of this and prepared to deal with it.
She used her immortal realm to isolate the surroundings, ensuring that no one except an Immortal Emperor could silently intrude. Within her immortal realm, she addressed Li Hao and the others:
"Yin Jingcheng, Meng Huaiyue, Ye Chen, you three are all at the Immortal Lord Realm. You must stay together, support each other, and hunt ancient demons together to avoid injuries or casualties. If you manage to obtain dao fire, distribute it based on your performance, and strive to advance."
The Great Dream Master arranged this with a serious expression.
Upon hearing this, the three exchanged glances. Yin Jingcheng and Meng Huaiyue, being senior and junior siblings, had no objections. Spear Abyss Disciple Su Ye Chen also knew his strength was limited and that encountering others who were sticking together inside would likely be dangerous.
Moreover, the Immortal Guard commander mentioned that there were ancient demons at the seventh level of the Immortal Lord Realm inside, which would be a significant danger if encountered.
"Hao Tian, at the True Immortal Realm, you will lead. You must take good care of them. Any dao fire you obtain will be prioritized for you, and the rest should be distributed based on their performance. If you encounter an insurmountable danger, make the best decision based on the situation."
The Great Dream Master turned to Li Hao and said.
After speaking, a telepathic message appeared in Li Hao’s mind: "If you encounter the Ten Thousand Mountains Sword Tower or other Immortal Dynasties, and the situation becomes dangerous, prioritize your own safety."
Li Hao was slightly taken aback, seeing the Great Dream Master’s deep, focused gaze. He felt a heavy weight in his heart and nodded slightly, saying:
"I will do my best to bring them all out safely."
"You don’t have to strain yourself."
The Great Dream Master’s expression changed slightly, and she whispered.
Yin Jingcheng’s eyes narrowed slightly upon hearing that Li Hao would lead the True Immortal Realm group. He felt a bit uncomfortable, but with this grouping of True Immortal Realm and Immortal Lord Realm, he had no chance to get closer to the sect’s prodigies. The only one he could draw closer to was Spear Abyss’s Su Ye Chen.
"You must listen to Hao Tian’s orders once you enter the secret realm. Don’t attempt to act alone, or you might encounter others who are sticking together and have your dao fire seized, leading to trouble."
The Great Dream Master warned the others.
Gu Yan and other Sword Abyss Disciples looked at Li Hao, including Lin Mingrong, who gazed at this young man, now the leader of the Sword Abyss and even the entire sect’s True Immortal Realm.
The other eight abyss Disciples nodded in agreement with the Great Dream Master’s words. Li Hao’s performance in the Ancient Immortal Realm had already spread throughout the sect, and they all respected him.
As the Great Dream Master finished her arrangements, Li Hao noticed that the other sects were also isolated within their own realms, clearly choosing to act as groups within the secret realm.
At this moment, the Immortal Guard commander, seeing the right opportunity, announced loudly:
"The True Immortal Realm group will now enter the secret realm. Please come forward in an orderly manner. Once inside, you will be held in another void until the secret realm closes, at which point everyone will be teleported in at the same time, so there’s no need to rush."
"Additionally, the landing points within the secret realm are random. If your fate is poor, you might appear right next to an ancient demon, so be on high alert."
Hearing this, the patriarchs of the various sects all showed a slight change in expression. If this were the case, wouldn’t their plans to stick together fall through?
The strategies they had discussed earlier became unfeasible in the face of random landings.
"In that case, junior sister, be careful once we’re inside. We’ll find a chance to regroup."
Yin Jingcheng said to Meng Huaiyue beside him, glancing at Li Hao. For some reason, he felt a sense of satisfaction.
The other disciples’ faces changed slightly. Being able to stay by Li Hao’s side would undoubtedly be much safer than fighting alone.
Even Great Dream Master hadn’t anticipated this move. She furrowed her brows, realizing that Supreme Sage’s intention was to prevent them from forming alliances and battling each other within the secret realm. This would reflect poorly on the Southern Domain, as the main purpose of this prodigy great battle was to showcase the individual brilliance of the prodigies.
"Since that’s the case, if you encounter each other inside, form alliances. If not, just show your own abilities!"
Great Dream Master said.
Everyone’s expressions turned solemn, and they put aside any lingering sense of dependence. Instead, a burning determination ignited in their eyes.
After all, this way, no one could form alliances, and it would come down to individual strength!
And prodigies were least afraid of this.
At this moment, the other immortal dynasties had already begun their move, flying toward the entrance of the secret realm.
As they crossed the ancient mirror, a number immediately appeared, revealing their soul age.
These soul ages were rarely in the hundreds; most were in the thousands, indicating a soul age of a thousand years.
But if their physical age were to be checked, some might be just a few dozen years old, having recently reincarnated.
"Three hundred years, there are actually monsters who are three hundred years old!"
"Who is that? It’s too outrageous, a Tenth Tier True Immortal at three hundred years!"
"Quick, look at that ancient divine race youth, he’s only five hundred years old, less than ten decades!"
"At five hundred soul years, I was still in the Sage Realm!"
Seeing the soul ages reflected, countless people from the Southern Domain's immortal dynasties were boiling with excitement, amazed by these incredibly young soul ages.
"Some have soul ages of two thousand eight hundred, seven or eight times that of the younger ones. This is too unfair."
"But a soul age of three thousand is already a very young range, and there’s nothing that can be done about it."
As more figures crossed the ancient mirror, their soul ages were revealed, causing many to gasp in surprise. Those with soul ages of only a few hundred years were considered mere saplings among these prodigies.
Soon, the Yan Chu Immortal Dynasty’s group also set out.
However, Chu Tianhuang and his companions did not move; they were waiting for the Immortal Lord Realm secret realm to open.
Standing beside Chu Tianhuang, Chu Yueli watched the imperial clan siblings fly past, her eyes cold.
As disciples from various sects began to appear, it was quickly the turn of the Nine Depths of the Great Dream.
Gu Yan’s eyes flickered as he glanced at the ancient mirror and then flew over.
As his figure crossed, his soul age appeared: 286 years!
Seeing this number, even the other Heavenly Sect disciples couldn’t help but glance over.
A soul age of less than three hundred?
That’s too incredible!
Yue Xi, who was following Gu Yan, also showed a look of shock. She hadn’t expected this junior brother to have such a young soul age!
She crossed the ancient mirror, and her soul age was in the thousands.
Due to the Chaos Clan bloodline, she had spent much of her early years in hiding, which meant she had relatively few years of actual cultivation.
"Junior brother, your soul age is so young!"
Murmuring Qingwu, who was walking ahead, couldn’t help but turn back, her eyes showing shock as she looked at Gu Yan with a new appreciation. To have such a young soul age and still be able to come and fight, and not be outmatched by her—no wonder he was called the Sword Dao’s strongest talent!
This young soul age also drew the attention of other Heavenly Sect disciples, including the major sects of the Southern Domain and the powerful figures wandering the starry sky. They all showed surprise, recognizing the terrifying talent of this young man.
With a soul age of less than three hundred years, he had already reached Tenth Tier True Immortal. Within a thousand years, he was almost certain to reach the Immortal Lord Realm, putting him on par with those in the Immortal Lord Realm group.
"What bad luck."
Someone sighed, feeling that this young man’s young soul age put him at a disadvantage in the battle.
Gu Yan’s face remained cold, knowing he couldn’t hide it, but he was already used to such discussions and gazes.
He arrived at the entrance of the secret realm and turned to look at the young man on the ground, who was bidding farewell to Old Li and Great Dream Master.
A light flashed in his eyes. If their soul ages were similar, he wouldn’t be outmatched by the other.
"Go on, go on."
Old Li said with a smile to Li Hao.
Li Hao bid farewell to the two of them and soared to the entrance of the True Immortal Realm secret realm.
As his figure crossed the ancient mirror, his soul age appeared: 96.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
