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Chapter 542: Gathering of Monsters
Chapter 542: Gathering of Monsters
When Li Hao and the others reached the Heart-Cleansing Hall at the mountain’s waist, they immediately drew the attention of those who had not made it to the summit.
Many recognized Li Hao, who had previously lingered near the bottom of the thousandth place and had impressively fished up an Immortal Lord Realm Dragon Race member in the Dao Pavilion.
“He’s surrounded by a group of Immortal Lord Realms!”
“Did he make it to the summit?”
Many looked at Li Hao with surprise and doubt, not believing that this young man could truly reach the peak and secure a spot on his own.
Among the crowd, the Emerald-robed Girl and her companions had already gathered at the Heart-Cleansing Hall. Seeing Li Hao return, their expressions turned sour.
If Li Hao reaches the summit and secures a spot, we’ll meet him in the upcoming great battle.
“Unfortunately, he’s at the True Immortal Realm. If he were at the Immortal Lord Realm, I could deal with him,” a young man from the Emerald-robed Girl’s sect said.
He was at the Immortal Lord Realm, but his Dao Core was insufficient, preventing him from reaching the summit.
“This young man secured the ninth place on the Dao Flame Rankings in the True Immortal Realm, making him a rare and formidable opponent,” another disciple from the same sect said solemnly.
“Hmph, his sharpness is too prominent, and he likes to show off. Others will be watching him closely. We just need to avoid a direct confrontation.”
Another True Immortal disciple added.
By this time, Li Hao and his group had already entered the Heart-Cleansing Hall.
Li Hao could clearly feel the gazes of many, including those True Immortal Realms who had been on the summit.
The Celestial Guard Commander then spoke, instructing those who had not passed the trial to leave the mountain.
After the other disciples at the mountain’s waist had all descended, the Celestial Guard Commander said:
“Congratulations, you have passed the two trials. You are the most outstanding prodigies of the Southern Domain. The final Southern Domain Battle is the ultimate showdown!”
“This great battle will give you the chance to showcase your full potential. In the True Immortal group, those who can rank in the top ten will have the opportunity to enter the Primordial True Realm.”
“The great battle will take place on the Imperial Platform in three days. Use this time to rest and make final preparations!”
Hearing the Celestial Guard Commander’s words, everyone’s expressions turned serious. They had traveled thousands of miles from various places, crossing countless distances, all for this final great battle.
“The great battle is finally about to begin. So many prodigies, and now only a thousand remain.”
“It feels like even those who were eliminated are capable of taking on ten thousand each. They are the top monsters in our immortal city.”
“Not just our immortal city, but those eliminated prodigies are the handpicked monsters from over a hundred immortal cities. Unfortunately, there are too many prodigies this time!”
People from the various immortal dynasties of the Southern Domain were both excited and moved.
As the Celestial Guard Commander finished speaking, the trial at the Mountain of Inquiry was closed. Li Hao and the others were sent out of the Heart-Cleansing Hall and the Mountain of Inquiry by a powerful force.
The Dream Sovereign led Old Li and the elders from the various Abysmal Branches to greet Li Hao and the others, escorting them to their own immortal realm.
“You have three days to rest and prepare for the battle,” the Dream Sovereign said, looking at Li Hao with gentle eyes, then addressing Li Hao and the other disciples.
In this Nine Abysmal Branches, apart from the Sword Abyss disciples, the Spear Abyss had the most disciples. Apart from the three Immortal Lord Realms who would definitely participate in the Immortal Lord group, there were nine True Immortal Realms, making it a significant number!
The Sword Abyss, apart from Li Hao, also included Yue Xi and Gu Yan, taking up a third of the spots.
Spear Abyss also had two participants selected.
In other abysses, some disciples were eliminated early, leaving no one to be chosen, which was somewhat embarrassing.
However, Great Dream Master was extremely satisfied with the results. After all, apart from the number of disciples, the quality was more important. Li Hao’s performance gave her hope that he could compete for a top ten spot. Once he could cultivate in the Primordial True Realm, Li Hao’s future would be even brighter, and he was destined to reach the King Realm, perhaps even achieving the highest levels within it.
The King Realm had vast differences between each level, and the status varied greatly. At the peak of the Immortal King Realm, one could sit as the protector of a nation!
“Mm.”
The nine nodded, and Yin Jingcheng, Meng Huaiyue, and Su Yechen also nodded, feeling a significant amount of pressure at the upcoming Immortal Lord Realm great battle.
After all, they had just entered the Immortal Lord Realm, but during the two trials, they discovered that many others were already at the second or third level of the Immortal Lord Realm, and some were even more formidable!
“Hao Tian, you performed very well. Many will now see you as a formidable opponent, so you must be cautious and not be careless during the great battle.”
Great Dream Master warned Li Hao.
Li Hao nodded.
Seeing the patriarch’s special attention, the others glanced at Li Hao with envy, but they also understood that Li Hao was indeed the sect’s hope, and his performance far surpassed theirs.
After all, apart from Li Hao, no one else had managed to reach the summit of Mountain of Inquiry.
Even the three Immortal Lord Realm disciples next to Yin Jingcheng had failed to climb it.
“Let’s go.”
At that moment, Emperor Chu, sitting on a cloud, stood up and waved, signaling the Yan Chu Imperial Clan and the various sects to leave for rest.
Li Hao saw Lin Qingying among the Ten Thousand Peaks Sword Pavilion group, and they exchanged a glance, their intentions conveyed through their eyes. They would meet again in three days.
As the various Immortal Dynasties left, the area outside Mountain of Inquiry became quiet.
The golden mist on the mountain summit slowly descended, enveloping the Hall of Inquiry, silent and timeless.
…
Li Hao and the others arrived at the courtyard arranged by the Heavenly Palace for rest.
Each Immortal Dynasty was given different accommodations, with no interference between them.
Li Hao presented the two Obsidian Dragon Immortals he had fished to Great Dream Master, saying, “Patriarch, I noticed your painting realm lacks something. These two dragon immortals could be kept as pets.”
“Indeed, they can be kept in a pond.”
Great Dream Master, seeing the two dragons Li Hao had caught on Mountain of Inquiry, recalled his radiant appearance in the pavilion. She smiled, accepted the dragons without hesitation, and said, “With your current strength, these two dragons don’t even qualify as your guards, but I’ll take them.”
“No need to be polite.”
Li Hao smiled.
“During the trials, you might not have noticed, but there are still many strong opponents in the True Immortal Realm worth paying attention to. I’ve recorded their performances in the True Immortal Secret Realm and on Mountain of Inquiry. You can review them; it will be useful if you encounter them in the great battle.”
Great Dream Master told Li Hao.
Li Hao initially wanted to say it wasn’t necessary, but then thought that since he had three days of free time, it would be good to learn about his opponents.
“The other sects will likely also review your performance and show it to their disciples. After all, you are now one of the most popular candidates in the True Immortal Realm.”
Great Dream Master told Li Hao, then raised her hand, and the Painting Dao Mindset revealed a hazy scene in the air, gradually becoming more real, replaying the performances of some disciples in the True Immortal Secret Realm.
Li Hao moved a stool over and fetched some snacks he had cooked during his free time from the Heaven-Earth Dimension. He sat in the courtyard, munching on the snacks as he watched.
Unfortunately, the Great Battle was too intense, leaving him no time to cook and consume all the ancient demon corpses he had gathered in the Spatial Rift. Otherwise, his spiritual essence power would have increased even further!
"Such a delicious smell, where did you get this?"
The Great Dream Master caught a whiff of the pastries beside Li Hao, her delicate nose twitching slightly, and asked in surprise.
Li Hao smiled and said, "I made them myself."
Fortunately, on the Mountain of Inquiry, the Cooking Dao Incarnation didn't manifest, or he would have had to cook a meal in front of countless people from the Southern Domain.
"You made them?"
The Great Dream Master was taken aback, her expression turning strange. She picked up a pastry and put it in her mouth, her beautiful eyes widening in amazement.
"Really made by you?"
She quickly swallowed and couldn't help but ask again.
Li Hao nodded with a smile and continued eating.
The Great Dream Master was momentarily stunned, suddenly thinking about Li Hao's performance on the Mountain of Inquiry. She was speechless—how many more surprises did this guy have in store?
She extended her hand, quickly grabbing another pastry and eating it slowly.
Soon, one pastry was finished, and she quietly took another, savoring it slowly.
As Li Hao ate, he reached for another pastry, only to find the plate empty.
He was taken aback and looked at the Great Dream Master, who was holding a pastry but eating it very slowly.
Could it be that he had been eating too fast without realizing it?
Li Hao was a bit puzzled but didn't think much of it, taking out two more plates.
At this moment, his gaze fell on a young swordsman in white in the projection.
The young man charged into a cluster of ancient demons and, with a single sword strike, obliterated all of them!
The sharpness of that sword strike was dazzling, and Li Hao felt it was almost blinding. He knew that unless he used Full Power Eruption, he wouldn't be able to achieve the same.
"Very strong."
Li Hao squinted and said, his eyes focused.
The Great Dream Master, seeing whom Li Hao was looking at, whispered, "That's the personal disciple of the Heavenly Palace Supreme, named Sword Heart. You've seen him on the Dao Flame Rankings. With that young man's strength, if he goes all out, he could probably clear half of the secret realm's ancient demons. I believe his Sword Dao Realm has already reached the Fifth Stage!"
"Sword Dao Fifth Stage..."
Li Hao took a deep breath. This was undoubtedly a once-in-a-millennium Sword Dao prodigy.
His Nine-Sequence Dao, including the Sword Dao, was only at the Fourth Stage.
For a True Immortal Realm cultivator, this was already extremely rare and terrifying.
The Fifth Stage was a realm that even high-ranking Immortal Lord Realm cultivators found difficult to reach!
"Among the True Immortal Realm cultivators, he will surely be in the top three. The only question is whether he will come before or after the other disciple of the Heavenly Palace Supreme."
The Great Dream Master said.
As an Immortal King Realm cultivator, her insight was sharp. Despite Sword Heart not revealing much, she could still discern his terrifying strength.
Li Hao nodded, his expression growing more serious. He truly couldn't underestimate the heroes of the world.
However, he had never intended to underestimate them. His goal was to enter the top ten, not to vie for first place.
"Who's the other one?"
Li Hao asked.
"The other one is the prodigy from the Imperial Clan, the one you're friendly with."
The Great Dream Master waved her hand, and the image before them shifted to show Di Lincen.
Li Hao saw Di Lincen standing on a mountain peak, surrounded by numerous ancient demons, but his demeanor remained calm and composed.
The ancient demons suddenly attacked, but at that moment, a Dharma Image appeared behind Di Lincen. He then gently raised his hand and pressed down, shattering the innate secret techniques and Immortal Techniques released by the ancient demons. A tremendous force and intimidation descended, causing the ancient demons to howl and scream in agony. Their organs and bones shattered, and they fell to the valley floor.
The tragic death was still fresh in Li Hao's mind. When he encountered Di Lincen, the latter was drinking on the mountaintop.
"This great battle has three participants from the Imperial Clan. One of them is Di Lincen, who is at the True Immortal Realm. The other two are at the Immortal Lord Realm, and they are powerful figures within that realm, with a good chance of taking the top spot."
The Great Dream Master's eyes showed a hint of wistfulness as she said, "The Imperial Clan stands at the pinnacle of the Hundred Clans, having produced several Immortal Emperors. The clan's strength has never waned over the past ten thousand years. Although the great battle of the past left the Imperial Clan weakened, compared to the overall decline of the True World, they remain formidable!"
"In the past ten thousand years, the Imperial Clan has regained its former strength. Talents have emerged one after another, and they have been favored by heavenly opportunities, producing geniuses that are rare even in a thousand years."
"Thus, some have said that the True World should be renamed the Imperial Dominion."
Li Hao nodded. When he saw Di Lincen wiping out the gathering of Primordial Fiends, he had already realized that Di Lincen's strength was extraordinary and his methods were profound.
"Besides them, there are the Hundred Wars Clan, the Heavenborn, the Primordial Wasteland Clan, and the Netherborn..."
The Great Dream Master raised her hand, and the scene before them shifted. Li Hao saw the images of various geniuses who had shown their prowess in the True Immortal Secret Realm.
Their performances were no less impressive than those of the young man from the Ancient God Clan, Shen Wujin.
Li Hao suddenly felt that winning a top ten spot would require considerable effort.
"This year, over a dozen geniuses, who are rare even in a thousand years, have emerged all at once. The competition is more intense than ever before!"
The Great Dream Master looked at Li Hao with a hint of helplessness. In the past, Li Hao's ability to defeat an Immortal Lord despite his Adversity would have secured him a top ten spot, but now, there was some uncertainty.
Li Hao nodded, not making any comments.
The Great Dream Master then showed Li Hao the images of the people climbing the Mountain of Inquiry. They were among the first to reach the summit, swiftly defeating Dao Realm Manifestations with ease.
After Li Hao finished watching, the Great Dream Master quietly finished the remaining snacks and stood up, saying, "Rest well and don't let your mind wander. No matter what happens, you have already brought glory to the sect. Your name and that of the Nine Depths of the Great Dream are now well-known throughout the Yan Chu Immortal Dynasty!"
She wasn't lying. Since Li Hao's impressive performances in the two trials, the name of the Nine Depths of the Great Dream had become famous in Yan Chu, resonating in every immortal city.
"Um."
Li Hao nodded and reached for the plate of pastries, only to find it empty again.
"..."
He fell silent, his gaze toward the Great Dream Master filled with a hint of resentment.
The Great Dream Master's cheeks turned slightly red. As the patriarch, she felt a bit embarrassed for stealing her disciple's pastries.
She turned and floated away, quickly escaping the scene.
After the Great Dream Master left, Li Hao sat in the courtyard, feeling a bit idle.
He thought about painting a picture but suddenly lost interest. He considered playing a game of chess, but the Chess Dao match on the Mountain of Inquiry had left him wanting more, and he didn't want to be distracted by another game just yet.
"Does that mean I can only cultivate to pass the time?"
Li Hao mused to himself.
But he had reached a bottleneck in the Nine-Sequence Dao Realm, and he had no idea how to break through it in the short term.
On the other hand, there was potential for breakthroughs in the Art Dao and the Angler Dao, but he lacked the right opportunity.
"Speaking of which, I haven't had a chance to explore this Heavenly Palace domain properly. I heard that Lying Heaven Sage and the others came here, but I haven't seen them. I wonder where they are."
Li Hao thought to himself.
(End of Chapter)
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