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Chapter 544: The Imperial Platform Struggle
Chapter 544: The Imperial Platform Struggle
"Yesterday's fishing for yesterday, today's fishing for today. Naturally, I had to come."
The old man smiled calmly, carrying his fishing basket to his usual spot. There was a small hollow where the stool had sat for a long time yesterday.
"How was it last night? Any luck?"
The old man asked casually, but his words carried a double meaning.
Li Hao shook his head. "No, but there's movement now."
"Oh?"
The old man chuckled, understanding Li Hao's implication. "That's not bad. To sense movement in my fishing ground shows talent."
"Senior, you flatter me."
Li Hao scratched his head. If he truly had talent, he should have already reached the twelfth level of mental state.
But he had already grasped the threshold of the domain, and within that domain were his own unique laws. To find a flaw in someone else's laws and catch his own "fish" was still a distant goal.
"Fishing is a deep art, young man. Meditate on it well."
The old man laughed lightly and then took out his golden rod to fish in the lake.
Li Hao didn't say much, lowering his head to ponder.
Time passed, and the day flew by. Today, the old man caught two more fish, not the same ones from yesterday. In Li Hao's perception, the lake was empty; he knew he hadn't yet found the true world hidden by the laws within the other's domain.
When the moon rose, the elder stood up and prepared to leave. Li Hao reeled in his line and bid the elder farewell.
"Leaving already?"
The elder, seeing Li Hao about to go, asked with interest, "If you leave now, it's a missed opportunity."
Li Hao's lips twitched slightly. Those words were a significant provocation to a fisher.
But he didn't get angry. Instead, he bowed respectfully and said, "Thank you for the wine, Senior. I'll come again if I have time."
"That was a fair exchange; the food you brought was also good."
The old man smiled and didn't ask more, waving him off. "Until we meet again, then."
Neither inquired about the other's name. They waved goodbye, one walking into the forest and slowly down the mountain, the other leaping from the mountaintop and flying away with the wind.
Only the lake on the ground remained silent, reflecting the brilliant light of the moon's essence.
Upon returning to the courtyard arranged by the Heavenly Palace, Li Hao found the Great Dream Master waiting for him.
"The grand contest is tomorrow. Are you prepared?"
The Great Dream Master felt relieved when she saw Li Hao return and asked.
Li Hao nodded and took out some delicacies he had gathered from various cities from his Heavenly Earth Realm, offering a few to her. "These taste great. Patriarch, you can try them."
"Looking for food these past two days?"
The Great Dream Master was surprised but took the food, drawn by its enticing aroma.
"You have a big heart. With the battle approaching, everyone else is in seclusion or resting their minds. You, on the other hand, are out sightseeing. Should I say your Dao Heart is indeed a step above the rest?"
The Great Dream Master said.
Li Hao smiled. "Victory and defeat are common in martial schools. I'll do my best."
Seeing that Li Hao didn't take the outcome or ranking to heart, the Great Dream Master smiled bitterly. But she understood that with such a Dao Heart, it was natural for him to be so relaxed.
"Rest well. Tomorrow won't be easy."
The Great Dream Master took the food and floated away, not disturbing Li Hao further.
Li Hao sat in the courtyard, gazing at the bright moonlight, thinking about the fishing lake. Suddenly, he felt a deep connection. In the courtyard, he used his immortal energy as ink and sketched a picture of the old man fishing.
Immersed in the painting, he seemed to subtly blend into the old man's fishing realm, gaining a deeper understanding of the fishing ground.
Time passed quickly, and when Li Hao opened his eyes again, it was already the next day.
Outside the courtyard, the Great Dream Master's dharma body appeared, gathering the disciples of the sect.
Li Hao put away his painting, stood up, and joined the others.
Yue Xi, Gu Yan, and others arrived one after another, along with Yin Jingcheng and Meng Huaiyue.
"Let's go."
The Great Dream Master glanced at everyone, her gaze lingering on Li Hao. Seeing that he looked well, she felt reassured and led them away.
As the sects gathered, Emperor Chu appeared, leading everyone to the grand contest venue.
It was a mountain range. When Li Hao and the others arrived, they saw the numerous peaks crowded with people, countless figures like ants covering the entire mountain range, their voices a constant buzz.
"So many people."
Yue Xi whispered.
"These are locals from the Heavenly Palace realm, able to come and watch the battle live."
The Great Dream Master explained.
They landed on one of the main peaks, which was extremely spacious. Besides the various Heavenly Sects of the Yan Chu Immortal Dynasty, disciples from other Immortal Dynasties were also arriving.
Li Hao saw Di Lincen, Shen Wujin, and others, as well as the Supreme Sage's personal disciple, Sword Heart, who had displayed an extremely powerful Sword Path in the True Immortal Stage.
Beside him stood a young woman in a green robe, her expression as cold and frosty as ice, radiating a profound and serene aura like a vast, tranquil lake, seemingly indifferent to everything around her.
The two of them stood together, their expressions exuding a transcendent detachment from the mundane world, like exiled immortals descending upon the mortal realm, leaving onlookers in awe.
Additionally, Li Hao noticed Red Tassel, who was still dressed in a fiery red dress. Her demeanor was scornful and cold, carrying the aura of a seasoned warrior who had seen countless battles.
Li Hao mused that he should find her later to ask about the whereabouts of the Heaven-Deceiving Sage.
As representatives from the various Immortal Dynasties arrived, the towering Dharma Body of the Supreme of the Heavenly Palace also emerged, seated amidst the mist on the mountain peak. His presence was as radiant as divine yang, visible to all who stood on the nearby peaks.
When the Supreme of the Heavenly Palace appeared, the emperors of the Immortal Dynasties, who had been seated on the clouds, all rose to their feet.
Though they were emperors of their respective realms, they still adhered to the etiquette of the Immortal Deity when facing an Immortal Emperor of the Heavenly Palace.
One cannot fail to pay homage to an Immortal Emperor!
Apart from Emperor Chu and the other emperors, representatives from the various Heavenly Sects, including the Great Dream Master, also bowed deeply. The scene was grand, like a bamboo forest swaying in the wind, all heads bowed in reverence.
The Supreme of the Heavenly Palace gently waved his hand, signaling the end of the formalities, and then had the Celestial Guard Commander step forward to oversee the Southern Domain Grand Contest.
"Having passed the first two trials, you have already distinguished yourselves from the rest of your realms. Now, the Southern Domain Grand Contest truly begins!"
"Today is the Imperial Platform Struggle."
The Celestial Guard Commander's voice was loud and clear. His gaze swept across the crowd, silencing the noisy spectators on the peaks, leaving the entire ten-thousand-mile expanse of heaven and earth in utter silence, with only his voice echoing through the air.
"There are ten Imperial Platforms!"
He raised his hand, and everyone looked up to see ten stone platforms suspended in the sky above the peak, emanating an ancient and weathered aura.
"Each Imperial Platform can accommodate only ten participants. Climbing to the top of a platform means you have passed, and the top 100 of the True Immortal Stage will be determined!"
The Celestial Guard Commander continued, "The Top 100 Battle will be conducted through random draws using the Heavenly Dao Art, with participants facing off in pairs. This is a completely random process, entirely dependent on fate. However, to compete for the top ten, you will inevitably face strong opponents. There will be no room for lucky breaks."
Many were taken aback by the announced rules, not so much by the pairings for the Top 100 Battle, but by the fact that a staggering 90% of participants would be eliminated right from the start, leaving only the top 100!
Compared to the previous rounds, where at most only a third were eliminated, this round was far more brutal.
The previous rounds eliminated at most a third of the participants, but this time, it was 90%!
"Ten Imperial Platforms..."
Li Hao and the others all fixed their gazes on the ten floating platforms at the peak. There was no doubt that the struggle for these platforms would be a fierce and bloody battle.
"Today, the True Immortal Division will compete. Once the top ten and the champion of the True Immortal Division are determined, it will be the Immortal King Division's turn."
The Celestial Guard Commander explained.
Hearing this, the Immortal King Division participants all showed a slight change in expression, realizing their contest had been postponed.
If the True Immortal Division and the Immortal King Division were to compete simultaneously, the Southern Domain crowd would undoubtedly focus on the Immortal King Division, potentially overshadowing the True Immortal Division.
"Before the struggle begins, the Supreme Sage will project your Soul Cores. If you fall, you will have a chance at reincarnation. After all, all of you are prodigies of the True World's ten thousand races. This Southern Domain Grand Contest is to select the most outstanding prodigies to become pillars of the True World, to battle the ancient demons. It would be a great loss if any of you were to fall here."
The Celestial Guard Commander added, assuring everyone that they need not worry about the consequences and could fight without restraint.
On the clouds, Emperor Chu and the other emperors had just learned the rules of the great battle.
Upon hearing the Celestial Guard Commander's words, Emperor Tianzhao questioned, "What if sect disciples form alliances to seize a platform? This seems unfair."
Beside him, the White-Imperial's face, pale and coldly beautiful, replied, "The true focus of this great battle is to select the top ten. The Top 100 is merely a consolation for the disciples. Besides, if a sect attempts to dominate a platform, other sects will not stand idly by."
"Indeed, it seems there will be quite a show."
Beside him, Emperor Jiang stroked his beard with a smile, his eyes twinkling with amusement, as if anticipating the upcoming struggle.
"The slots are limited. How will they choose? If the two Dragon and Phoenix from the Heavenly Palace join forces, they should be able to protect all the other disciples of the Heavenly Palace."
Emperor Jin chuckled, but his eyes glanced at the Supreme of the Heavenly Palace.
At this moment, others had also thought of the matter, and they all looked at the Celestial Guard Commander with surprise and suspicion.
"The Imperial Platform Struggle will last for two hours. Those who stand on the Imperial Platform at the end will be counted as part of the Top 100!"
The Celestial Guard Commander raised his hand, and a wave of immortal energy condensed into a misty glow, slowly rising into the air. He then said, "In ten breaths, the Imperial Platform Struggle will begin. All True Immortals, prepare!"
With that, he stepped aside.
Seeing that he didn’t add any more rules, everyone was surprised and exchanged glances.
"It seems this will be a free-for-all, testing both individual prowess and the sect’s depth and discernment."
The Great Dream Master’s expression was grave. Her eyes swept over Li Hao, and a slight hint of relief appeared in them. "This might actually be a good thing. If you all work together with Hao Tian, you might all make it into the Top 100!"
Upon hearing this, Yue Xi and Gu Yan both looked at Li Hao. Lin Mingrong, who had passed earlier, also glanced at Li Hao, his eyes shining.
In the True Immortal Division, Li Hao’s performance had the potential to place him in the top ten. If he could lead them to dominate an Imperial Platform, it was highly likely.
"Hmph, how many people from our sect will make it into the Top 100 this time all depends on you."
Beside him, Yin Jingcheng, seeing Li Hao once again becoming the focus, snorted coldly.
Li Hao treated him like a buzzing mosquito and ignored him. His eyes swept to another area and met Lin Qingying’s gaze, who was standing at the Ten Thousand Mountains Sword Tower.
Li Hao gave her a nod, and Lin Qingying immediately understood, nodding back.
Soon, the Immortal Technique the Celestial Guard Commander had used exploded in the sky, releasing a brilliant light, signaling that the ten breaths were up.
"Begin!"
The Celestial Guard Commander shouted.
As soon as he spoke, the many True Immortals on the summit rushed out in a swarm, like arrows shot from the ground, all heading toward the Imperial Platforms.
"Let’s go."
Li Hao called to Yue Xi, Gu Yan, and the other sect disciples, while also gesturing to Lin Qingying.
Lin Qingying transformed into a green light and sped over.
"Lin Qingying, where are you going?"
Lin Qingying’s fellow disciples, seeing this, were shocked and alarmed.
"Qing Ying!"
Tian Hongyi’s face darkened when he saw this. Lin Qingying had already told him that she had someone in her heart, but he hadn’t expected her to openly meet with Li Hao now. Clearly, Li Hao was the person in her heart.
His face turned grim, and a flash of eradication intent appeared in his eyes.
Li Hao sensed the sudden surge of killing intent and followed it to see the Immortal Lord Tian Hongyi of the Ten Thousand Mountains Sword Tower. His eyebrows raised slightly.
"Let’s go."
Li Hao took Lin Qingying’s hand and, ignoring the others, led them toward the Imperial Platform.
The Imperial Platform was covered by a special Immortal Dao Law. Li Hao chose a platform with fewer people. At the moment, there were three people standing there, all on guard.
Li Hao led Lin Qingying and Gu Yan, among others, to land, filling the seven remaining slots on the platform.
Seeing Li Hao choose this platform, the three people’s expressions changed. They had all heard about Li Hao’s performance in the previous two trials. Over the past three days, with the sect’s help, they had reviewed the performances of other disciples in the previous trials, knowing that Li Hao was undoubtedly one of the best.
As Li Hao and the others had just landed, more people immediately flew over.
However, as soon as they stepped onto the platform, Li Hao and the others felt a repelling force from the platform, as if trying to push them all out.
At the same time, the air inside the platform became heavy, with a powerful binding force.
"The number of people has exceeded the limit!"
One of the three people who had arrived earlier, a young man, had a dark expression as he stared at the newcomer.
Although he wished Li Hao and Lin Qingying would leave, he knew that doing so would lead to a conflict with Li Hao.
"Then you should leave."
The newcomer’s eyes swept over Li Hao, showing a hint of wariness, and he coldly said to the young man.
While they were talking, more people continued to fly over and land on the platform.
The Imperial Platform, with a diameter of several kilometers, was large, but due to the special Immortal Dao Law, it could only accommodate ten people at a time.
In the blink of an eye, the number of people on the platform increased to over twenty.
No one made the first move, all remaining on guard, as if waiting for the right opportunity.
Suddenly, the Imperial Platform shook, and a powerful wave of intimidation descended from the void. Li Hao immediately felt his flesh and blood wither uncontrollably.
(End of Chapter)
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