Chapter 459: Sole Sword Dao, Slash!
"Which sect are you from?"
The girl in the star-and-moon patterned dress narrowed her eyes as she asked.
To reach this place at such speed while having this level of cultivation—unless he possessed an extraordinary technique that could completely conceal his aura and disguise himself as a True Immortal Realm, Third Layer, he had to be an extremely rare prodigy.
And the more terrifying possibility? If he could make it through the perilous Ninth Wilderness Area while keeping his presence hidden, that would make him even more dangerous.
"What about you? Which sect are you from?"
Instead of answering, Li Hao responded with a question of his own.
If one wanted to ask about another's background, they should at least introduce themselves first—that was the unspoken rule of the martial world.
"Xingchen Palace, Xinglan."
The girl sensed the subtle challenge in Li Hao's words, but she didn't mind. She simply replied calmly.
She believed that even if she didn't introduce herself, those she considered rivals would recognize her immediately, and as for the royal family, they would already have detailed records of every Tianzong prodigy.
For those who didn't know her? She didn't care about them in the slightest—so revealing her name made no difference.
"Xingchen Palace..."
Li Hao's eyes flickered slightly.
One of the five great Tianzong sects in the Yan Chu Immortal Dynasty—no wonder she had arrived at the Tenth Wilderness Area so quickly. She was likely one of their top disciples.
"Da Meng Jiu Yuan, Hao Tian."
Li Hao stated his own identity.
"Hao Tian..."
Xinglan gave him a quick once-over before nodding slightly. "I'll remember you."
With that, she wasted no more time. Her figure transformed into a streak of starlight, soaring forward like a rainbow.
Li Hao was slightly puzzled. He hadn't done anything—why remember him?
Still, the other party didn't seem to have any hostile intentions. After a brief thought, he decided it wasn't worth overanalyzing. He immediately teleported forward, continuing his journey.
In the Tenth Wilderness Area, the suppressive force was overwhelmingly powerful.
Even with his strength, Li Hao had to unleash his extreme power, activating the Ancestral Immortal Body's might to move freely.
As he advanced, a sudden chaotic force struck from ahead without warning.
Boom!
A sharp ice spike shot out of the void, flashing amidst electric arcs.
The spike cut through the air with a piercing howl, freezing the space around it, causing the surrounding void to distort.
Li Hao immediately sensed the spatial fluctuation and reacted in time, dodging at full speed—only narrowly avoiding it.
"So this is a Primordial Immortal Art?"
Li Hao turned his head.
The ice spike vanished in an instant, leaving no trace behind.
But in that brief moment, Li Hao had clearly sensed the fusion of two Origin Powers within it—the Water Origin and Space Origin.
Although the fusion was crude, it suddenly opened up a new train of thought for him.
Li Hao didn't pause. He pressed forward without hesitation.
Before long, another manifestation of Dao Origin condensed in front of him, transforming into a shadowy specter that let out a sharp wail and charged at him.
Its sound waves were piercing, targeting the soul itself.
But Li Hao's Primordial Spirit had already broken through the Extreme Realm.
Although he had yet to reach the ultimate "True God" Realm, the divine bones within his Primordial Spirit shone brilliantly, directly nullifying the soul-crushing sound waves.
"Even an Ancestral Dragon would perish here in an instant…"
Li Hao narrowed his eyes slightly.
The Tenth Wilderness Area was truly the limit for True Immortal Realm cultivators—it was indeed formidable.
Extending his divine sense to a thousand meters, he activated his Eternal Dao Domain and teleported forward at high speed.
With his Quadruple Space Origin, even though the spatial structure here was chaotic, he could still sense the fluctuations dozens of miles away.
The ice spike from earlier—as well as the other Dao Origin attacks he had encountered—gave him enough time to react.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Li Hao flickered through the air, teleporting rapidly.
Before long, he had dodged multiple hazards and finally arrived at the mist wall at the edge of the Tenth Wilderness Area.
Here, he saw four figures waiting.
Aside from Xinglan, the girl in the starlit dress, there were three royal family members standing there.
However, compared to Xinglan, who remained elegant and untarnished, the three royal family prodigies all had visible injuries.
One of them had charred robes, another had messy hair, and they all bore signs of battle—clearly having clashed with the Dao Origins and Primordial Immortal Arts in the area.
Upon seeing Li Hao arrive, Xinglan's gaze sharpened slightly.
When she noticed that Li Hao's clothes were still intact, completely unscathed, the depth of her interest in him intensified.
But she quickly concealed it.
With her ethereal beauty, she smiled gently and said, "You actually made it."
Li Hao raised an eyebrow. "You were waiting for me?"
"I wanted to see if you could survive in the Tenth Wilderness Area."
Xinglan didn't bother to hide her intentions.
She had indeed been waiting to assess Li Hao—if he couldn't withstand the conditions of the Tenth Wilderness Area, then there would be no need to pay further attention to him.
Reaching this place with a True Immortal Realm, Third Layer cultivation was already impressive.
But this wasn't a race of starting points—the real winner would be the one who reached the final destination.
"Then I suppose I didn't disappoint you."
Li Hao chuckled.
The three royal family members turned their attention toward Li Hao.
They all recognized Xinglan, but this guy… where did he come from?
When they noticed Li Hao's cultivation level—and the ease with which he had arrived—their expressions became grave.
True Immortal Realm, Third Layer?
How was that possible?
A cultivator at this level had actually reached the Tenth Wilderness Area?
Within the Yan Chu Immortal Dynasty, the royal family had the best resources and training methods.
Among equally talented individuals, royal family members should naturally be stronger than Tianzong disciples.
Yet here they were, standing in the same Wilderness Area as this True Immortal Realm, Third Layer nobody—it was both humiliating and infuriating.
"Which sect are you from?"
One of the royal youths questioned Li Hao.
His tone carried the innate arrogance of the royal family, making it seem less like a question and more like a demand.
Li Hao glanced at him twice.
Then completely ignored him.
"You…!"
Seeing himself outright ignored, the royal youth's face darkened, his voice turning icy.
"Do you know who I am?" he said coldly. "Kneeling before a prince is your duty. Do you know your crime?"
"You're a prince, not the crown prince."
Li Hao replied blandly.
The royal youth nearly exploded from sheer rage, his expression twisting in anger.
"Fine, fine! You think I won't find out who you are? You're dead once I leave this place!"
Li Hao's eyes narrowed, a faint killing intent flickering within them.
But he quickly restrained it.
This secret realm belonged to the Yan Chu Immortal Dynasty—there were definitely powerful royal experts monitoring everything.
Even if he silently assassinated this fool here, it was likely that some royal elders would notice.
With that thought, he turned away, ignoring the brainless prince entirely.
The faint trace of killing intent that had flickered in Li Hao's eyes did not escape Xinglan's sharp perception.
She was slightly surprised—this young man actually dared to harbor killing intent toward the royal family of Yan Chu?
His courage was truly borderline reckless.
However, rather than feeling wary, she instead developed a deeper sense of appreciation for him.
Seeing that the royal prince still wanted to press the issue, Xinglan spoke indifferently,
"Three of you, I'll be heading ahead first. Anyone who has made it to the Tenth Wilderness Area is a rare talent of their sect. We'll likely meet again in the future, so it's best not to make enemies over trivial matters."
Hearing Xinglan's words, the three royal heirs exchanged looks.
The royal youth who had been speaking knew this as well.
If he had ambitions of vying for the crown prince's position, this was a perfect opportunity to build connections.
But at the same time, he also understood how cutthroat the royal competition was.
With several monstrous geniuses already present within the royal family, he stood no chance at claiming the throne.
If he could secure a position as a duke, that would already be a decent fallback.
However, building too many connections could easily invite disaster.
He sneered coldly,
"You so-called sect prodigies sure have grown bold. Do you think your achievements matter? No matter how high you climb, one imperial decree is all it takes to make you kneel in submission!"
Upon hearing those words, Xinglan's brows twitched slightly, and a hint of coldness flashed through her eyes.
But she didn't bother arguing further.
Turning to Li Hao, she said,
"Beyond this mist wall is the Eleventh Wilderness Area—its dangers are incomparable to what we've faced so far. I'll be heading in first. Until next time!"
As she spoke, her immortal power surged violently.
In that instant, her concealed aura erupted—revealing the pressure of an Immortal Lord Realm, Second Layer!
She raised her hand, and starlight shimmered. A crescent moon-shaped energy blade slashed forward, tearing the mist wall apart.
Then, with effortless grace, she stepped through.
Beyond the mist wall, thunder roared and flames blazed—it was a scene akin to purgatory.
Seeing this, Li Hao's eyes flashed with surprise.
"She's actually at Immortal Lord Realm?"
Earlier, her aura had been so well concealed that Li Hao hadn't noticed.
As Xinglan stepped into the Eleventh Wilderness Area, her ranking on the black celestial monument instantly surged to 16th place.
Above the Wilderness Areas, high within the clouds—
Chu Xiang Tian and over a dozen royal family members stood, overseeing the changes on the black celestial monument.
Upon seeing Xinglan's number rise to 16th place, smiles appeared on their faces.
"Xinglan has surpassed Han Yu. It looks like she's entered the Eleventh Wilderness Area."
"With her Immortal Lord Realm, Second Layer cultivation, it's only natural she could enter. The real question is—how long can she last in the Twelfth Wilderness Area?"
"Compared to her, I'm more interested in that number 996. His ranking speed is finally slowing down—looks like he's nearing his limit."
"If my sources are correct, none of the sect prodigies under 3,000 years old who have reached Immortal Lord Realm are using that number. He must still be at True Immortal Realm."
The royal figures continued discussing in relaxed tones, but there was a glint in their eyes—a sign that they were considering recruiting this mysterious genius into their ranks.
Meanwhile, back in the Tenth Wilderness Area.
BOOM—!
Not long after Xinglan left, a sudden clap of thunder shattered the silence.
In the distance, a massive lightning whip—hundreds of meters long—formed in the air.
The lightning was intertwined with flames, a fusion of two Origin Powers, creating a terrifying force of absolute destruction.
The next moment, it lashed out violently, sweeping across the entire area!
The three royal heirs' expressions changed drastically—they immediately activated their movement techniques and dodged with full power.
Li Hao's figure flickered.
Sensing a spatial rift, he vanished instantly, reappearing several miles away just as the lightning whip slashed through his previous position.
Just before he left, he caught sight of one of the royal heirs being grazed by the lightning whip.
A golden immortal fire barrier flared up around the heir's body, absorbing most of the impact—yet he was still sent flying through the air.
"So the royal family all have protective treasures…"
Li Hao's eyes gleamed.
For the royal heirs, making a name for themselves in the Southern Region wasn't as important as earning favor with the Yan Chu Emperor.
Still, Li Hao didn't dwell on it.
In the upcoming Southern Region Battle, all rule-breaking treasures would definitely be banned.
Otherwise, what should be a contest of geniuses would just turn into a battle of artifacts.
After all, every top-tier prodigy was backed by a powerful sect or clan—it wouldn't be surprising if they pulled out top-tier immortal weapons, or even domain artifacts.
At the end of the day, only true skill would determine the winner.
Whoosh!
Having distanced himself several miles away, Li Hao found himself surrounded by spatial distortions.
By now, he was likely far from the royal heirs.
Not wanting to waste any time, he recalled Chu Xiang Tian's earlier words:
Anyone who makes it past the Tenth Wilderness Area will secure a spot in the tournament.
And the final obstacle was this mist wall ahead.
When Xinglan had slashed it open earlier, Li Hao had caught a glimpse of the dangers inside.
He didn't take it lightly. His expression grew serious.
Within his body, his power began to surge.
One by one, his Extreme Realm and Ultimate Realm abilities activated.
☉ Godblood Ultimate Realm!
☉ Celestial Star Veins, Ultimate Realm!
☉ Primordial Spirit Fusion!
☉ Heaven and Earth Manifestation Fusion!
☉ True Form of Heaven and Earth!
As Li Hao's strength unfolded and adjusted, thick and overwhelming energy radiated from his body.
His Ancestral Immortal Body erupted with terrifying might, and his Celestial Star Veins resonated with the stars outside the Wilderness Area, attempting to draw in their energy.
But Li Hao quickly noticed something.
The power from external stars was significantly weaker than usual.
The chaotic Dao forces and distorted space of this Wilderness Area shattered most of the incoming energy, reducing it to only one-tenth of its original strength!
For someone like Li Hao, who was used to wielding power freely, he now needed to be more precise in his energy consumption.
☉ Immortalization!
Merging with the world's energy, Li Hao's power surged once more.
At the same time, within his Saint-level Minor Extreme Realm, the embryonic power of the Dao began to awaken inside him.
As the embryonic shadow of the Heavenly Dao Origin emerged, the chaotic Dao Origins surrounding Li Hao instantly weakened, as if they were instinctively avoiding him.
At this moment, Li Hao was already radiating a terrifying aura. However, this alone was still not enough to make him feel capable of breaking through the mist wall ahead.
After all, this mist wall was the dividing line between True Immortal Realm and Immortal Lord Realm. Only a power beyond the peak of True Immortal Realm could break through!
At the same time, deep within the Ancient Immortal Realm, atop a secluded mountain.
Two figures sat across from each other, a chessboard spread between them.
The two were vastly different in appearance.
One was an elderly man with white hair and beard, dressed in a simple gray robe. His hair was tied back with a wooden hairpin, exuding an aura of detachment from the world—like an immortal sage beyond mortal concerns.
The other was a middle-aged man clad in golden battle armor, his sharp eyes carrying an unfathomable depth, as if concealing a boundless sea of bloodlust. A suffocating killing aura emanated from his body.
Though he sat merely on a simple stone slab, his presence was like a warlord reigning atop a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood.
Behind them, their spiritual projections were vastly different.
One was serene and ethereal, resembling an immortal paradise in full bloom.
The other was blood-red and eerie, filled with the wails of countless souls, like a hellish purgatory.
If Chu Xiang Tian and the other royal heirs saw them, they would immediately bow in respect—because these two men were figures whom even the Yan Chu Emperor himself could personally command!
Their status even surpassed that of the royal family. Even a prince had to lower their head in deference before them.
"Hm?"
The white-haired elder was about to place a chess piece when his wrinkled fingers suddenly paused.
Turning his gaze, his sight pierced across countless miles, locking onto a distant Wilderness Area.
There, a youthful figure was gathering power, preparing for a breakthrough.
"Celestial Star Veins, Ultimate Realm…"
"Heavenly Dao Fusion Embryo… Just where did this kid come from?"
As he murmured, the golden-armored general beside him also turned to look.
His gaze was piercing—as if his eyes directly tore through the void, shooting out two golden beams of divine light.
"Huh? He's only at True Immortal Realm, Third Layer… yet he dares to challenge the mist wall of the Tenth Wilderness Area?"
The golden-armored general raised an eyebrow.
Even among his most fearless battlefield warriors, few would dare such an act.
But what truly caught his attention was the boy's mastery of Ultimate Realm powers—not just one, but two—and the fact that he had even cultivated a Heavenly Dao Fusion Embryo.
Even in the Immortal Lord Realm, such a talent was exceedingly rare.
Let alone in a True Immortal Realm cultivator!
"Interesting… I never expected such a monster to appear. Compared to the so-called 'Imperial Bloodline' geniuses and those so-called 'Chaotic Immortal Fairies,' this boy's strength relies solely on his own bloodline."
The white-haired elder smiled faintly.
Originally, they had come here merely to monitor the royal heirs, ensuring they didn't secretly cheat or make unfair moves.
But instead, they had stumbled upon a far more interesting discovery.
"A fine seedling!"
The golden-armored general's eyes gleamed with light.
"I'll take him! Once the Southern Region Tournament ends, I'll bring him into the Chu Immortal Army and personally train him. In a thousand years, he will undoubtedly become one of the most fearsome generals in the world!"
For ordinary sect disciples, joining the Chu Immortal Army was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Becoming a future Yan Chu War General held a status even higher than a Tianzong sect master!
But the white-haired elder merely chuckled.
"The battlefield is too brutal," he said lightly.
"I think he'd be more suited for the National Supervisory Academy. I could take him as my personal disciple, teach him how to govern an empire and advise the emperor."
"Hmph! Without the refinement of battle, what good is a strategist?"
The golden-armored general clearly disagreed.
Just as he was about to argue—
Pa!
The white-haired elder's chess piece landed on the board.
With a smiling gaze, he said,
"Your move."
The golden-armored general narrowed his eyes, scanning the chessboard carefully.
After a few moments, his expression darkened.
"… You cheated."
The white-haired elder said nothing—just smiled knowingly.
Then, he turned his gaze back to the distant battlefield.
"That boy may not possess any noble bloodline, but his origins are far from ordinary," he mused.
"The way he manipulates immortal energy reminds me of… an old acquaintance."
Meanwhile, in the Tenth Wilderness Area…
Li Hao slowly unsheathed his sword.
He didn't use Taowu, but instead wielded a simple True Treasure sword—the standard weapon of a Tianyuan Academy disciple.
To him, this sword was enough.
At this moment, all of his Ultimate Realm and Extreme Realm powers had been activated.
With the exception of the Nine Flower Immortal Seal, he had already brought his strength to the limit.
Ancestral Immortal Body.
Shun Tian Ancestral Sutra—Battle Heaven Imperial Law.
This Battle Heaven Imperial Law was an Eleven-Stage Dao Technique—a power rivaling even his Ancestral Immortal Body.
Its precision in immortal energy control was leagues beyond any ordinary cultivation method.
Right now, Li Hao was forming nine strands of immortal energy, twisting them together into a single force.
Each additional strand doubled the power output.
By the time all nine strands fused together, his total strength had already surpassed the limits of peak True Immortal Realm, Tenth Layer!
One Sword, Blue Sky!
Slash!!
Li Hao's sword swung down!
The space before him split apart.
Immortal energy surged, and in an instant, the compressed sword energy exploded outward—cleaving through the mist wall!
Though it wasn't as effortless as Xinglan's earlier attack, Li Hao was only at True Immortal Realm, Third Layer!
As the mist wall shattered, the violent Dao Origin forces within were instantly unleashed—
Lightning roared.
Crimson flames erupted.
Freezing ice surged.
All of them rushed toward Li Hao at once!
But Li Hao's expression remained calm.
Sword Dao, Unrivaled!
Break!
With a single sword strike, the very void itself fractured—
All obstacles before him… shattered.
All that stood in his path… was cut down.
With True Immortal Realm, Third Layer cultivation…
Li Hao broke through the Tenth Wilderness Area…
And entered the Eleventh Wilderness Area—a domain only Immortal Lord Realm cultivators could set foot in!