Chapter 412: Immortal Emperor's Bloodline, True Immortal Descends
Meanwhile, Li Hao observed the diminishing flow of incense power from other directions. He continued to travel between the afflicted small worlds.
With the ancient demons ravaging the realms, over a dozen small worlds fell victim. These ancient demons were incredibly powerful, with each one dominating an entire small world.
Countless divine dynasties fell, their cities left in ruins, and even sacred lands were destroyed and overtaken by the ancient demons.
The demons lounged on sacred mountains, having feasted to their fill, and gathered the remaining populace into their domains, intending to deliver them to their leaders.
Li Hao traversed the void like a deity descending from the heavens, wielding broken celestial swords to strike down ancient demons from tens of thousands of miles away. He freed countless individuals trapped by the demons.
While Li Hao rescued the small worlds afflicted by the ancient demons, at the same time, near the celestial gate of the ancient palace:
Yuan Zu, the Divine King, and the other saints had returned to the battlefield. Ancient demons stationed there continued to guard the breach, and more demons trickled through. Fierce battles erupted immediately.
Amid the intense fighting, over a dozen saints fell, but the demons present were eventually eradicated.
In the starry void, the surviving saints rested and recuperated, awaiting the next wave of ancient demons.
Now gathered at the breach, they no longer allowed demons to escape. Even if a second-tier ancient demon emerged, a collective assault was enough to dispatch it. There would be no repeat of the earlier disaster where demons infiltrated the myriad heavens.
"There may still be ancient demons roaming the small worlds. Although Hao Tianzun defeated those that pursued us, some must have escaped to other realms," a saint said worriedly.
Yuan Zu reassured him, "A message from the sacred lands reports that many small worlds are indeed under attack by ancient demons. The good news is that Hao Tianzun has stepped in and is eliminating those infiltrators."
Hearing this, the saints collectively sighed in relief. Without their presence in the sacred lands, the demons would easily bypass defensive formations, leaving disciples vulnerable and legacies at risk of destruction.
"Hao Tianzun…"
Complex emotions filled the hearts of the saints. For Li Hao, they felt a mix of gratitude, guilt, and awe.
Yuan Zu glanced at the Divine King, who sat polishing his divine sword, a potent emperor-grade weapon. Detecting Yuan Zu's gaze, the Divine King looked up, narrowing his eyes as he transmitted a cold message:
"Don't get any ideas."
"I'm just surprised that you're willing to stay here and guard this breach," Yuan Zu replied.
The Divine King, known for his hatred of the heavens and the myriad realms, was unexpectedly cooperating with the saints, which was indeed unexpected.
"Hmph!"
The Divine King snorted coldly, declining to engage further.
Yuan Zu chuckled, sitting quietly on the nearby steps, his gaze fixed on the celestial gate emanating faint traces of ancient demonic energy.
Deep within Yuan Zu's Heavenly Origin Sacred Land
Hidden in the depths of Yuan Zu's sanctuary, behind a secret barrier, a vibrant flower radiating multicolored luminescence stood.
At its center, the flower's bud remained tightly sealed.
But suddenly, the flower began to tremble slightly, its petals unfurling slowly.
Within the bud lay a figure curled in a fetal position, resembling an infant in a womb, but with the physique of a slender young man.
The youth stirred, his entire body glowing faintly with radiant light, which faded back into his skin as he sat up.
"If the celestial gate shatters, it seems I'll have no choice but to seek refuge in the Immortal Ancestor's remnants," the youth murmured to himself, his eyes glowing with calm determination.
As he stood, the radiance around him coalesced into a set of divine robes formed by the laws of origin, adorning his figure. His appearance bore an uncanny resemblance to Yuan Zu.
The youth left the flower's core, causing its luminous petals to wither and dim. He turned and, with a wave of his hand, unleashed a blade of energy, severing the flower's stem. His gaze fell upon the root buried in the soil.
After a moment's hesitation, he dug up the surrounding earth, encompassing dozens of meters, and stored it in his personal spatial domain.
With a sharp motion, the youth vanished silently, leaving Yuan Zu's sanctuary.
A Forbidden Void
The youth arrived at a well-known void forbidden zone, renowned for its peril and hidden dangers.
The zone was notorious for its fatal traps and had claimed the lives of many saints.
Yet, the youth navigated it effortlessly, as if familiar with its layout. Avoiding its dangers, he advanced deeper into the zone, his journey marked by the bones of fallen saints scattered along the way.
At the zone's core stood an ancient temple, weathered but imposing.
In front of the temple, sculpted beasts crouched, radiating an aura of majesty. They seemed lifelike, as if ready to spring to life at any moment.
A statue nearby, though damaged with a missing arm and covered in moss, seemed to gaze into the void, exuding an intimidating presence that evoked trepidation.
"Immortal Ancestor…"
The youth murmured softly, his eyes reflecting a trace of sorrow.
"I must survive. I must preserve the bloodline of the immortal gods, ascend to the True Realm, and restore the glory of the Immortal Ancestor."
His voice was resolute, his gaze sharp. He stepped into the ruined immortal temple.
Near the entrance, seven decayed skeletons were seated in similar positions. Upon closer inspection, the bones appeared identical, as if belonging to the same person.
The youth glanced at the seven skeletons briefly before venturing deeper into the temple.
Moments later, the temple doors creaked shut, sealing him inside.
In the Abyss of the Myriad Heavens
At the lowest reaches of the floating worlds, where darkness reigned supreme, light from the stars could not penetrate. This was known as the Nine Nether Abyss, lying beyond the Thirty-Three Heavens.
In the depths of this abyss, a shadow moved swiftly, its body cloaked in black flames as it ventured further into the void.
"The heavens are in chaos. In this desolate and lifeless place, even the ancient demons won't bother coming here," the shadow muttered, delving deeper into the abyss.
Passing by chains anchored in the void, the figure's eyes flashed with a trace of malice. These chains, forged by Yuan Zu and other saints, had once imprisoned him.
Here, devoid of starry light and barren of energy, cultivation was impossible. Yet, he had refined the Nine Nether Flames, a unique power allowing him to navigate the abyss freely.
"As long as I survive, I can escape through the gaps left by the ancient demons. Beyond lies the True Realm, where the path to immortality remains open to me!"
Wrapped in his flames, the shadow surged into the depths of the Nine Nether Abyss
Over the span of just two days, with Li Hao traveling at full speed and relentlessly pursuing his targets, he successfully exterminated all the ancient demons invading the small worlds.
Most of his time had been spent on the road.
With the ancient demon crisis resolved, Li Hao received an influx of incense power, multiplying his previous accumulation by more than tenfold.
Now that the saints had publicly exonerated him, most of the faith across the heavens had shifted to him. Combined with his efforts to clear the ancient demons from over a dozen small worlds, Li Hao's renown reverberated through the myriad heavens. Every day, vast amounts of incense power converged on him.
Li Hao sensed that the sheer volume of incense power alone was now comparable to a Three Calamities Saint.
If this trend continued for a century, just one short century, he might even reach the Incense God Realm!
To put it into perspective, Yuan Zu took a staggering 100,000 years of gradual accumulation to achieve the Incense God Realm.
However, the population of the Thirty-Three Heavens had grown significantly since the ancient era. With concentrated faith, Li Hao could attain a qualitative transformation in his incense power within just a hundred years.
Beyond incense power, the destructive energy from the ancient demons ravaging the small worlds was absorbed by Li Hao, further accelerating his growth. His accumulation of extreme-path power was even faster than incense power.
Had Li Hao delayed by even a moment—or acted with calculated intent—allowing the ancient demons to decimate these worlds further, the extreme-path power he could have absorbed would have approached the Extreme Path God Realm.
Such rapid advancement exemplified the terrifying growth potential of extreme-path cultivation, surpassing the accumulation of incense power.
Yet, Li Hao ultimately chose not to harbor such a ruthless mindset.
After clearing the ancient demons, he returned to his sacred land.
Returning to the Sacred Land
"Thank you for your hard work. Without you, countless lives would have been lost," said the Medical Saint upon Li Hao's return.
She had already learned of his relentless pursuit and eradication of ancient demons through her information networks. There was little she could do to help in such matters. In single combat, she could at best stalemate with an ancient demon, but she lacked the certainty to kill one.
"It's nothing," Li Hao replied indifferently. He was already considering activating his sacred land and traveling to the mortal world to offer refuge, prioritizing the relocation of the Great Yu Divine Dynasty's people into his sanctuary.
Given limited space, Li Hao naturally favored the citizens of Great Yu.
An Unexpected Visitor
"You have an old friend here to see you," the Swordmaster informed Li Hao upon arriving.
Li Hao was surprised. Old friend?
His divine sense swept out and quickly identified the visitor—not Feng Lao or the Deceptive Heaven Saint, as he initially thought, but rather a woman of striking beauty.
Seated within the grand hall atop the sacred mountain, the woman exuded an alluring charm with her natural elegance. Her eyes carried a hint of enchantment, paired with a purity that felt contradictory yet mesmerizing.
Her attire was luxurious yet provocative—a long dress with a high slit revealing her snow-white, sculpted legs. A soft, snow-white fur adorned her shoulder, while her scarlet fingernails added to her captivating presence.
Li Hao froze momentarily, sensing a faint familiarity in her aura.
"It's the Fox Lord from the Nine Provinces Immortal Island," the Swordmaster explained.
Li Hao was momentarily stunned, descending to the grand hall at the mountain's peak.
The woman seemed to sense his arrival, her eyes lighting up with a hint of delight. With a graceful motion, she stood and appeared before Li Hao in an instant, stopping less than a foot away.
"Hao Tian?" she murmured softly, her breath carrying a faint, intoxicating fragrance that drifted past his nose. Her gaze shimmered with joy.
The scent stirred a sense of familiarity within Li Hao. He stared blankly for a moment before his eyes widened. "Little White Fox?"
"So I wasn't mistaken—it really is you," the Fox Lord said with a gentle laugh, reaching out to wrap her arm around his.
Her soft chest pressed against his arm, cloud-like in texture, while she lightly tapped her forehead with the back of her hand. "I should have guessed earlier. When you achieved the Three Immortal Extremes, you must have taken the risk to sever your bloodline and rebuild your body. That's why your scent changed, isn't it?"
Li Hao was stunned for a long moment before finally adapting to the situation. She was indeed the little white fox he had found as a child.
"You… could it be you're like Feng Lao?" he asked, still in disbelief.
The Fox Lord chuckled lightly. "Something like that. But my story is more complicated. I reincarnated into the mortal realm as the Fox Lord of Qingqiu Mountain. After my accidental death, a fragment of my soul was reborn into the body of a little white fox."
Realization dawned on Li Hao. "So when you suddenly disappeared, it was because you returned to the heavens, and your past-life memories awakened?"
"Exactly."
Despite her seductive and elegant demeanor, she displayed a hint of girlish charm. Her soft, playful tone was tinged with coquettish sweetness, enough to make one's heart melt.
"If I had known it was you, I would have sought you out sooner. But after returning to the heavens, I've been in seclusion. I wasn't aware of much happening outside until this major crisis forced me to emerge," she said with a smile.
Her warmth and familiarity eased the slight discomfort Li Hao felt at first. He had never imagined that the once pure and adorable fox he had cradled in his arms would grow into such a stunningly beautiful and mature figure.
"No wonder I couldn't find you anywhere in the mortal world," Li Hao said with a faint smile. Then he asked, "Are you here to seek refuge?"
The Fox Lord shook her head, her expression becoming more serious. The memories of her past life and this one blended seamlessly, forming her current persona.
"I came to find you for this exact reason. Do you truly have a safe refuge? If not, I might know a hidden place that could help you," she offered.
Li Hao raised an eyebrow. "You have a refuge?"
He had thought the saints like Yuan Zu and the Divine King had no other options, though it was possible they had secrets they hadn't disclosed.
The Fox Lord nodded. "I come from the Nine Provinces Immortal Island, a sacred land beyond the Thirty-Three Heavens. Our island is governed by nine lords—all of whom are saints. They have cultivated since the ancient era and are old Three Calamities Saints. Even the Void Ancestor must address us as seniors."
Li Hao froze in place. The Void Ancestor? Not merely a Void Saint but the master of such beings?
"While we may not be supreme saints, we've barely brushed against that threshold. Thus, even supreme saints are hesitant to provoke us."
She smiled faintly, revealing her formidable lineage before continuing. "Our island is called an immortal island because, during the ancient era, remnants of immortal and divine beings were discovered there. After years of study, we've managed to grasp a rudimentary understanding of their divine laws."
Li Hao was stunned. They cultivated divine laws?
Having received transmissions of war tactics and immortal arts from Nangong Jian, he was well aware of the power of immortal laws. Yet without access to divine energy, he couldn't yet unleash them.
"It's not true immortal techniques in the strictest sense," the Fox Lord explained. "Rather, they are rudimentary methods bestowed by immortals and gods upon mortals, but their precision laid an excellent foundation for us."
Li Hao understood and nodded.
"The refuge I mentioned is that Immortal-God Relic," the Fox Lord said. "If the ancient demons invade, we can retreat into the relic and activate it together. It can hide us within the Divine Sun, a place the ancient demons would never expect anyone to endure. They likely wouldn't find us there."
Li Hao immediately understood her plan. During his earlier studies of the heavenly stellar veins, he had noticed that while the stars were painted illusions, the Divine Sun was a true celestial body.
The Divine Sun emanated terrifying power, seemingly infused with remnants of heavenly laws, making it nearly impossible to approach.
Even beings with divine-level constitutions couldn't endure the sun's searing heat for long. The ambient energy around it was evaporated into nothingness, and saints could only linger briefly before their connection to the heavenly veins became insufficient, leaving them vulnerable to injury.
However, Li Hao was different. His connection to the Heavenly Stellar Veins allowed him to draw on celestial energy even on the sun, though much of it would be burned away. Still, it was enough to sustain his existence.
Yet, this plan wasn't feasible for his current circumstances. His sanctuary already housed millions, including the people of the Great Yu Divine Dynasty. Transporting so many to the sun was out of the question.
"How many can the Immortal-God Relic accommodate?" Li Hao asked.
The Fox Lord glanced at the nearby Medical Saint and Swordmaster, both of whom had a subtle change in expression. She smiled knowingly and replied, "Enough to fit your entire sanctuary."
Li Hao gave her a look, realizing she had come specifically to help him find refuge.
"Alright," he said, agreeing. He had been wondering where to hide the sanctuary after relocating the Great Yu's population, and now he had a solution.
"Does the Immortal-God Relic's existence remain unknown to the saints?" Li Hao asked curiously.
"They're aware of its existence," the Fox Lord said, "but they don't know it can be used to hide in the Divine Sun. They only know we possess such a relic."
The Medical Saint sighed. "It's fortunate they don't know. Otherwise, the Nine Provinces Immortal Island might not remain secure."
The Fox Lord nodded faintly, acknowledging the statement without further comment. She elaborated that the Nine Provinces Immortal Island and Qian Luo Holy Land had both emerged in search of ways to avoid disaster and were closely monitoring external developments.
Had it not been for her trust in Li Hao, she wouldn't have revealed such a secret.
"The mess they caused is theirs to clean up. It's infuriating that the innocent masses are caught in the crossfire," the Fox Lord said with a trace of disdain. The Nine Provinces Immortal Island had clashed with the saints in the past, standing as an independent power outside the Thirty-Three Heavens. Despite initial ostracism, their strength had secured their position.
After discussing the matter with Li Hao, the Fox Lord departed for the Nine Provinces Immortal Island.
New Visitors
Shortly after the Fox Lord's departure, several saintly auras descended upon the sanctuary.
Li Hao turned and smiled when he saw the newcomers—it was Feng Lao, the Deceptive Heaven Saint, and the Boundless Sky Saint.
"You've finally emerged from seclusion?" Li Hao asked with a smile.
Feng Lao and the Deceptive Heaven Saint seemed more composed and profound, their presence emanating the ethereal quality of true saints. Residual immortal aura from the accompanying immortal elixir still lingered around them.
"All thanks to you," Feng Lao said, his tone complicated. Having just exited seclusion, he had been bombarded with news of the chaos outside. It was disorienting to find the heavens on the brink of collapse after what felt like a moment's meditation.
The Deceptive Heaven Saint stared at Li Hao intently and said, "The calamity befalling the heavens is bound to turn. The heavens will not fall so easily. I've glimpsed the future."
Li Hao blinked in surprise, while the Medical Saint and Swordmaster turned toward her with expressions of both astonishment and hope.
Feng Lao, however, looked resigned and sighed. "Don't believe her nonsense. She's perfected the Path of Lies. If any lie she speaks becomes reality, her cultivation will skyrocket."
Li Hao knew of the Deceptive Heaven Saint's cultivation method, though he doubted its efficacy this time.
If her "lie" that the heavens wouldn't fall became true, she'd staked the entirety of the heavens as her wager. Should the lie prove correct, her cultivation would likely soar to unimaginable heights.
However, if her lie failed, the backlash would be immense.
"You're taking a dangerous gamble," Li Hao said, shaking his head. "If the heavens do fall, your saintly path will crumble."
The Medical Saint and Swordmaster realized she had not foreseen the future. No one had such an ability, and for a moment, they had almost been fooled.
The Deceptive Heaven Saint's expression remained serene. "Given the current state of things, if the heavens fall, we won't last long either. Why not take the chance?"
Feng Lao sighed again and turned to Li Hao. "Do you have a safe place to seek refuge?"
Li Hao shared the Fox Lord's plan with them, confident they wouldn't betray his trust.
Feng Lao was stunned for a moment, then said incredulously, "That little thing? The Fox Lord is her?"
He couldn't fathom how one of the Nine Provinces Immortal Island's lords could have been the little creature that once sat by his feet, chewing on bones in a rural courtyard.
He recalled swatting her away once, annoyed by her overly fragrant scent. Hopefully, she didn't hold grudges.
"Time is short," Li Hao said, shifting the topic. "The ancient demons will likely send periodic reports back to their leaders. If no report is returned, it signals trouble. If even multiple second-tier ancient demons fail to succeed, they may send their commanders."
He looked at the group and continued, "We need to fill the sanctuary to capacity as soon as possible and prepare to join the Nine Provinces Immortal Island for refuge."
Hearing Li Hao's words, the group grew serious. No one was more familiar with the ancient demons than Li Hao, and the ominous shadow of their threat loomed heavy over everyone.
Ancient Demons Gathering
At the celestial gates outside the sanctuaries, a desolate ancient road stretched under a dark gray sky. Thousands of ancient demons hovered above the gorge, their sinister forms filling the air with low growls and guttural roars.
Clusters of ancient demons gathered around the Xuan Pin Gate, their eyes gleaming with malice and hatred.
The chain of communication had been severed. Reports from the dispatched second-tier leaders had ceased, indicating that something had gone wrong.
"This is a pseudo-Immortal Emperor's realm. Could there really be a true immortal within?"
Four or five ancient demon leaders conferred in low, guttural tones.
From their understanding, true immortals should have long since vanished from this pseudo-realm. After so many years of silence, it seemed implausible for one to remain.
"We cannot enter this realm ourselves. But if a true immortal exists, even they wouldn't escape us!"
"For now, we wait for the commander to arrive," one ancient demon growled.
"I heard the celestial clan's army is on the move again. Previously, they killed the leader Mantong, and it was led by the Scarlet Tassel Immortal Sovereign of the Celestial Palace!"
"They must be targeting this pseudo-Immortal Emperor realm. There's no way that during the ancient war, the Immortal Emperor poured everything into the battlefield without leaving some treasures behind."
Several ancient demon leaders exchanged sharp glances. When the Celestial Palace was mentioned, their eyes filled with hatred.
The Celestial Palace had been their enemy for countless years. Many of their kin had perished at the hands of the palace, and while they had slain numerous true immortals from the Celestial Palace in retaliation, it was far from enough to quell their rage.
"The Xuan Pin Gate's celestial patterns are already starting to crumble naturally. After so many years, perhaps our commander can smash it open!" one of the ancient demon leaders growled through clenched teeth.
Just as the words left its mouth, an overwhelming wave of malice swept through the air, and the temperature around them seemed to plummet.
Amid a howling gale, a towering ancient demon, as massive as a mountain, slowly descended from the horizon.
Its movements appeared sluggish, but in an instant, it landed at the edge of the canyon.
The ground trembled violently, and an oppressive aura filled with malevolence and spiritual pressure caused all the ancient demons present to shudder.
"Commander!"
The five ancient demon leaders immediately bowed in reverence. One of them stepped forward and reported, "We have already dispatched over a hundred warriors, but all have perished within this pseudo-realm. There seems to be either a true immortal or a supreme saint inside."
The ancient demon commander's icy eyes gleamed with cruelty and killing intent. It stepped forward and extended a claw to touch the Xuan Pin Gate, feeling a faint repelling force.
"The Immortal Emperor's power has long dissipated. Only traces of his imperial might remain—less than a millionth of its original strength."
A glint of cold light flickered in the commander's eyes. Raising its massive claw, it clenched its fist and struck the gate with tremendous force.
The ancient, towering gate trembled slightly but remained unmoved, with only a layer of dust and debris falling from its surface.
The commander frowned and swung its claw in two successive strikes, yet the gate remained unyielding. Its eyes glowed a deep crimson, brimming with wrath.
"The Scarlet Tassel Immortal Sovereign is en route here, aiming for the Immortal Emperor's relics within this pseudo-realm. We cannot let the Celestial Palace seize this realm. If they acquire even one imperial weapon, the frontlines will become infinitely more dangerous, and all of us could meet our doom!"
Hearing the commander's words, the demon leaders' faces paled, and even the surrounding ancient demons trembled.
"I've already reported this matter to the Great King. Until reinforcements arrive, I will guard this place. That fool Mantong, withholding such critical information, deserved to die. His soul being annihilated was a mercy. Otherwise, the Great King would have ensured his suffering was endless!"
The commander's gaze turned icy. What it initially thought to be a fortunate discovery had turned out to be a deadly burden.
"This is a Demon Suppression Pill. Who among you is willing to enter the pseudo-realm?"
The commander opened its palm, revealing a dark, glowing bead. Its gaze fell upon the five true immortal-level demon leaders.
The demon leaders' expressions shifted. The Demon Suppression Pill could temporarily lower one's cultivation, making it easier to infiltrate. While useful in specific circumstances, its side effects were severe. The pill's corrosive nature could damage the user's immortal mark, and repeated use could even result in a permanent drop in cultivation.
"Before the Scarlet Tassel Immortal Sovereign arrives, if we can locate the imperial weapon within the pseudo-realm and assess the situation, it will be a significant achievement. You will be richly rewarded," the commander said, its gaze icy as it swept over the leaders.
The leaders immediately understood. The commander wanted to secure any advantages from the pseudo-realm before the celestial sovereign arrived.
"I will go," one of the demon leaders said in a deep voice, extending a claw.
The commander's cold demeanor softened slightly, and the black bead flew into the leader's claw.
"Scout the area and report back immediately. Once we have the information, the army will move in to conduct a thorough search," the commander instructed.