Chapter 414: Li Hao Faces the True Immortal
"Li Hao, we will fully support you in slaying the ancient demon. Command us as you see fit, and we hope you can set aside past grievances!" the Saint of the Ming School said urgently, his expression sincere.
"That's right. The heavens face extinction because of the mistakes we made in the past. We implore you, Li Hao, to give us a chance to make amends," other Saints echoed, their voices filled with remorse.
"This is a True Immortal-level ancient demon, a genuine Immortal. I am merely a first-calamity Saint. Why do you think I have any chance against it?" Li Hao scanned the group, his voice calm yet cutting.
The Saints were momentarily stunned, their expressions turning conflicted. The Saint of the Mohist School sighed bitterly and said, "Li Hao, you are the only hope for the heavens. If you're unwilling to take this risk, we will respect your decision. You are right—this is a True Immortal-level demon. The gap is insurmountable. Even if we were to sacrifice ourselves in a desperate charge, we might not leave a scratch. If you see no chance, we understand if you choose to leave and preserve the flame of life."
Hearing this, a few Saints hesitated, as if wanting to speak, but ultimately held back, their expressions tinged with helplessness and despair.
Li Hao sighed inwardly. Now was not the time to dwell on their past mistakes. The arrival of a True Immortal-level ancient demon rendered any blame irrelevant. The heavens were at the brink of ruin.
"I can only try," Li Hao finally said.
If it had been a Commander-level Ancient Demon, he wouldn't hesitate to retreat. However, a True Immortal-level Ancient Demon was different. He had once dissected their remains and studied their anatomy. If given the right opportunity, there was a slim chance of killing it.
The odds were slim, but if he retreated now, the heavens and the mortal realm would be turned into a living hell. Furthermore, the Primordial Ancestor and Divine King couldn't hold out much longer. Once this True Immortal pursued them, Li Hao's soul power alone might not be sufficient to conceal his sanctum. His only option would be to buy time and hide his sanctum within the Divine Sun.
Hearing Li Hao's response, the Saints were visibly relieved. The Saint of the Law looked at him and asked, "Li Hao, how confident are you?"
"One percent."
The Saints' expressions faltered, a trace of bitterness in their eyes. But they understood—this was a True Immortal-level opponent. Even a one-percent chance was a near-miracle.
"For you to stand with us despite such slim odds is truly humbling," one Saint said, his face full of guilt. Li Hao's resolve put their past actions into sharper contrast, amplifying their regret.
"True heroes emerge in times of crisis. Li Hao, tell us what to do. Even if we must charge into battle and die to shield you, we will not falter," the Saint of the Ming School said resolutely.
Li Hao nodded but suddenly froze, his gaze turning toward the Ancient Hall. He could feel a powerful aura locking onto their location.
The True Immortal-level ancient demon must have already dealt with the Primordial Ancestor and the Divine King. Against a True Immortal, their Divine Realm abilities were no more than the futile efforts of newborns.
Taking a deep breath, Li Hao summoned a projection of himself to coordinate with the sanctum while addressing the Saints. With their cooperation, this battle would bring together the strongest forces in all the heavens. If they still failed, darkness would engulf the realms.
"That ancient demon has already taken notice of us. Prepare for battle," Li Hao said, his voice calm but firm. "I'll lead the charge. Do your best to support me."
"It's already coming?" The Saints turned pale, glancing nervously toward the Ancient Hall.
"Let the Saint of War handle the strategy," the Mohist Saint said, turning to the small, wiry Saint of War, who was clad in an earth-colored robe and exuded an aura of calm composure.
Knowing time was short, the Saint of War immediately began speaking. "That demon's black mist is vast and corrosive, capable of eroding soul power. Against a True Immortal, such an ability will be even stronger. Charging blindly will only lead to faster annihilation. Our only option is to channel our power to Li Hao. There's no time to prepare a large formation, but I've devised a battle array after years of study. The question is whether you're willing to cooperate."
"Just tell us what to do!" the Ming Saint urged.
"It's called the Heavenly Saints' Array. It requires 108 Saints to align their powers, converging thirty percent of their strength onto a single individual."
The Saints were stunned, their disbelief evident.
An array like that existed? Even thirty percent of 108 Saints' combined strength—focused into one—would be terrifying. With just this force, they could match or even suppress the Primordial Ancestor or Divine King. Yet, they had never heard of such a technique.
"Can you guarantee its effectiveness? Why have you never mentioned this before?" one Saint asked suspiciously.
"I've tested it over a thousand times, and it's failed only twice," the Saint of War replied solemnly. "This array is forbidden in the heavens. You wouldn't have heard of it. Anyone who masters it could dominate the realms, but its exposure would lead to immediate suppression by the Supreme Saints."
"Enough talk! Let's set it up!" the Yin-Yang Saint urged.
Without hesitation, the Saint of War began to organize the array. The Mohist Saint quickly selected 108 Saints, ranging from the strongest to the weakest, and they moved into position.
As the Saints took their places, a golden array rose into the void, its central focus aimed at Li Hao. Streams of golden energy shot toward him, the combined power of 108 Saints pouring into his body.
Li Hao immediately felt their power merging with his. In his spiritual sea, the projections of the Saints aligned in the array, transmitting their strength and soul power to him like radiant torrents.
The power of the array not only amplified their strength but also infused him with fragments of their Saint Paths, creating a resonance within his soul.
Li Hao's soul power began to surge, breaking past his prior limits. As his Soul Successor attribute expanded, he remembered his family's Soul Shattering Technique, which allowed them to break through limits by inheriting the legacy of ancestral spirits.
Their ancestral Soul Successor Technique allowed for only 80 cycles of soul fusion, even when breaking through to Wendao Realm, extending the limit to just over 100 cycles.
Now, through the array devised by the Saint of War, this limitation was being shattered. However, unlike inherited ancestral souls, this array transferred the collective power of 108 Saints directly into Li Hao, allowing his Saint Dao to reach new heights.
As the array continued to operate, Li Hao's aura grew exponentially stronger.
At the same time, he sensed the terrifying aura from the Ancient Hall becoming more distinct, rushing toward them at an incredible speed.
"Be ready—it's coming!"
Li Hao's voice was grave, his expression tense as he stood on high alert.
The Saints tensed as well, turning their gazes toward the direction of the Ancient Hall.
...
Meanwhile, Li Hao's avatar arrived back at the sanctum.
"Li Hao, is this your avatar?"
As soon as the avatar appeared, the Saint of Medicine and the Sword Lord quickly came out to meet him, their faces anxious.
"Yes, the situation is dire. A True Immortal-level ancient demon has used a special method to infiltrate this realm, far beyond what I anticipated. We must evacuate immediately," Li Hao's avatar said quickly. "Inform the Nine Provinces Immortal Island about the situation and arrange for an urgent evacuation. Also, one of you needs to go to the mortal realm and bring back the citizens of Dayu's Nineteen Prefectures. If the sanctum can't accommodate them all, see if Nine Provinces Immortal Island has any space left."
His words were swift and direct, detailing the gravity of the situation.
Hearing this, the Saint of Medicine and the Sword Lord were horrified. A True Immortal-level ancient demon had descended?
In a world devoid of Immortals, such a being was akin to a predator entering a den of lambs.
"What about your main body?"
Feng Boping suddenly appeared via teleportation, his expression serious as he addressed the avatar.
"The Primordial Ancestor and Divine King have already fallen. My main body is joining the other Saints to engage the True Immortal-level demon in a life-or-death battle. If we succeed, the heavens will be safe. If we fail, you must evacuate and preserve a spark of life," Li Hao's avatar explained calmly.
Hearing this, the faces of those present turned ashen, their hearts sinking.
"Li Hao, that's a True Immortal-level ancient demon. Do you even stand a chance?"
The Saint of Lies approached quickly, her voice laced with concern.
"I have no guarantees. I can only try. The sanctum is vast, and while my soul power can cloak its presence from second-tier ancient demons, I can't promise it will evade the detection of a True Immortal," Li Hao admitted.
At his words, the half-Saints within the sanctum, who had overheard the conversation, began to gather, their faces pale and eyes filled with dread.
The Saint of Medicine and the Saint of the Void fell silent. They knew Li Hao was risking everything to buy time for their evacuation.
"If it were just you, you could hide from the True Immortal, couldn't you?"
The Sword Lord fixed his gaze on Li Hao.
He couldn't believe that someone who had survived outside the Immortal Gate for twelve years wouldn't have the means to escape a True Immortal-level demon.
Li Hao's avatar said nothing. If it were just him, he could indeed escape. He could even take a few others within his Heaven and Earth Space, but its capacity was limited—far too small compared to the sanctum.
Feng Boping was silent. He understood Li Hao's character—this man would never abandon his friends.
"I stood with you in the mortal world; I'll stand with you now," Feng Boping declared, ready to take action.
But Li Hao's avatar grabbed his arm and said firmly, "Feng Boping, I'm not confident about this fight. Please, look after my friends."
In the crowd, Ji Xuanshen and others stepped forward. Word of Li Hao's imminent departure had spread, causing unease throughout the sanctum. Now, hearing his words, Ji Xuanshen's eyes reddened.
As peers who had once been rivals, now friends, they felt powerless watching Li Hao prepare to sacrifice himself for their survival.
"If you're not confident, that's all the more reason I need to go," Feng Boping insisted, trying to break free. But he was shocked to find the avatar's grip incredibly strong.
"Stay here and keep our mutual friend company. He's already lost a fishing buddy; he doesn't need to lose another," Li Hao's avatar said, his gaze sweeping over the crowd and landing on Li Muxiu.
Li Muxiu, now in the Wendao Realm, overheard the conversation clearly. His eyes turned red, his heart wracked with pain. The helplessness of being unable to contribute in such a critical moment cut deep.
Feng Boping's throat tightened. His voice hoarse, he said, "Don't talk like that. You can't die—I won't allow it!"
Li Hao's avatar smiled faintly, though there was a hint of sorrow in his eyes. "Feng Boping, take care of them for me," he said before turning to the Saint of the Void and the Saint of Medicine.
"Contact Nine Provinces Immortal Island immediately. Explain everything. We'll hold off the ancient demon for as long as we can. This avatar will dissipate soon."
"Understood. We'll act as quickly as possible!"
The two nodded solemnly, suppressing the pain in their hearts as they prepared to act.
In the crowd, the Li Clan watched in stunned silence. He Jianlan, Li Wushuang, and Li Yuanzhao were already in tears.
"Li Hao, why is your life so bitter?" He Jianlan sobbed, her voice trembling.
"Why must you carry this burden alone?"
Her anguished words struck deeply. Li Tiangang and Ji Qingqing clenched their fists, while Li Ping'an stood frozen, staring at the boy in the sky, his eyes unfocused.
Li Hao's avatar quickly issued his final instructions. "We'll do everything we can to fight. Use the time we gain wisely. Don't waste it!"
With that, his figure dissolved like smoke.
"Li Hao!"
"Li Hao!"
Cries erupted as his avatar vanished.
The Saint of the Void and the Saint of Medicine were the first to regain composure, immediately taking action. One departed to contact Nine Provinces Immortal Island, while the other guided the sanctum toward its evacuation route.
Feng Boping hesitated for a moment before gritting his teeth. He had his own mission—to bring the people of Dayu to safety.
...
In the void, fifty thousand miles from the Ancient Hall, Li Hao and the Saints waited.
The 108 Saints in the array remained in formation, while the rest hid within the void.
A sharp whistling sound echoed as a terrifying presence approached.
From the distant void, a shadow loomed, moving rapidly and drawing nearer with each moment.
As the ancient demon's figure approached, becoming visible to the naked eye, Li Hao severed the flow of Immortalization Energy, his expression somber, his eyes locked firmly on the foe.
His aura surged, steadily building as his Extreme State Power circulated.
Entering a state of divine strength, his body radiated golden divine light. He then transitioned into Ultimate Immortalization, his hair turning silver-gray. The intense tearing force on his body was swiftly healed under the tenfold regenerative power of divine energy, leaving him virtually unscathed. His consciousness fused with the heavens, merging with this world entirely.
"He's here!"
The Saints surrounding Li Hao grew tense, their faces grim as they stared at the ancient demon.
Its presence here meant that the Primordial Ancestor and Divine King had already fallen.
Two figures who once commanded awe across the heavens had perished in an instant, leaving behind only sorrow and despair.
"Not even a True Immortal—just a cluster of Saints?"
The True Immortal-level ancient demon surveyed Li Hao and the Saints, its eyes filled with cruel killing intent. When its gaze fell on Li Hao, it lingered. Compared to the faint glimmers of the other Saints, this young man's aura shone like a brilliant moon, far more terrifying than the two ants it had slain earlier.
Fortunately, there was no True Immortal here. Though not afraid of True Immortals, it still remained wary of those wielding the relics of an Immortal Emperor.
The void fell into a brief, uneasy silence.
Both sides scrutinized each other, neither moving to strike. Li Hao was not in a hurry; without confidence in victory, he aimed to delay the confrontation as long as possible.
But the silence was short-lived. The ancient demon's eyes glowed red, and it lost patience. It had no intention of wasting words on these insects. Killing them all and extracting their souls would suffice to understand this world's situation.
Unfortunately, the two Saints it had killed earlier were mere avatars, their soul sources erased upon death, denying it the chance to gather intelligence.
With a low growl, the ancient demon raised its claw, sweeping toward Li Hao and the Saints in one devastating motion, intent on crushing them all.
To the Saints, this seemingly simple attack was earth-shattering. The claw ripped through the heavens, severing countless Heavenly Daos, its power insurmountable and terrifying.
This was the power of a True Immortal?
What they thought were indestructible Heavenly Daos crumbled before their eyes.
With just one strike, the hope that had flickered in their hearts wavered like a fragile candle in a storm.
Li Hao's eyes, however, burned with determination. His power erupted fully, no longer holding back.
Immortal energy within him surged outward, merging with the Ultimate Immortalization that drew upon the forces of the world. Around him, a vortex of storm-like energy formed, solid and tangible.
His Eternal Domain unfolded, the void around him tearing open as eight fragmented Immortal weapons emerged, glinting with deadly light. Guided by his Primordial Spirit, they shot toward the gaps in the ancient demon's claw.
Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!
The weapons cut through the air, slicing apart the claw's oppressive wind force. They aimed for the demon's vulnerable side, seeking to pierce through its hide and dismantle its form.
At the same time, the claw descended, bearing down directly on Li Hao.
Roaring, Li Hao channeled all his power into his attack. A luminous sword materialized in his grasp. With a sharp upward slash, he unleashed a blow not of mere Immortal Guidance, but of Immortal Wrath.
Lightning roared, and the heavens themselves seemed to tremble with fury.
The sword strike tore through the skies, gathering all the power within a thousand-mile radius as if overturning an ocean, concentrating it into a single devastating blow aimed at the claw.
Boom!
The collision erupted with earth-shaking force, splitting the void into chaotic, jagged cracks. The sword's radiance enveloped the claw, forcing it upward against its momentum.
The terrifying shockwave reverberated across the battlefield, shaking even the Saints hiding in nearby void fissures. They stared in disbelief at the young man bathed in silver lightning—this was Li Hao's true strength?
Even as the claw was deflected, the eight fragmented Immortal swords struck the demon's flank. The sharp edges screeched against its hide, slicing through its surface but becoming embedded like axes in a dense wooden post.
Li Hao's expression darkened. He had intended for the eight weapons to dismantle the demon's body in a single coordinated strike. But with his spirit divided among them, their destructive power had diminished, failing to penetrate deeper into the flesh.
The ancient demon was momentarily stunned. It—the True Immortal—had actually been injured by a mere Saint. The absurdity of the situation filled it with fury.
A guttural roar erupted from its throat as its full True Immortal might erupted. Immortal energy surged, and the eight fragmented swords embedded in its body were blasted away. The force reverberated back to Li Hao's Primordial Spirit, causing a sharp, jarring shock.
The 108 Saints linked to him through the military formation also felt the tremor. Though only lightly affected, they experienced disorientation and dizziness.
Li Hao's eyes narrowed as the demon's Immortal energy filled the void. His bones creaked under the immense strain, but he summoned the power of the Heavenly Star Meridian behind him. Countless stars gathered their light, forming a brilliant halo that surrounded him, channeling celestial energy into his body.
The Saints were once again awestruck.
But Li Hao was not done. His body expanded rapidly, transforming through Heavenly Law Manifestation. From an ordinary human form, he grew into a colossal figure spanning several thousand feet, soon reaching over ten thousand feet tall, matching the ancient demon's size.
Behind him, a Heavenly Avatar emerged, slightly larger than his own manifested form, its features resembling Li Hao's but radiating divine authority.
Around this massive avatar, countless smaller Saintly Avatars appeared—projections of the 108 Saints linked to him, their figures filling the sky like stars in an infinite galaxy.
"Is that… my avatar?"
The Saints within the military formation were shocked to see their avatars projected around Li Hao's.
Li Hao, too, was surprised. This unforeseen phenomenon brought with it tremendous power, augmenting his own capabilities.
"Is this… the path to the ultimate boundary?"
Li Hao's thoughts flickered briefly before he refocused. There was no time to ponder. He unleashed his final trump card—the Heavenly Dao Prototype, forged through the unity of his three Saintly realms.
As this power radiated outward, even the ancient demon faltered. Its expression shifted, revealing a hint of unease.
"Cut!"
Li Hao recalled the eight fragmented Immortal swords but retained the sharpest among them. Infusing it with every ounce of his strength, he swung the blade in a devastating arc. The sword light blazed like a crescent moon, slicing through the void with impossible speed, striking directly at the demon's exposed flank.