Chapter 464: Immortal Merit Ranking
"Train well. In three years, with the abundant immortal energy in the Langya Dreamscape, you should be able to reach True Immortal Fifth Realm!"
On Great Dream Mountain, Da Meng Lord gazed at Li Hao and continued, "By then, your strength will have risen again. Once the Ancient Immortal Realm Trial ends, the imperial family will reward you all with treasures—secret manuals, and even the current top ten supreme immortal arts!"
"For the next seven years, I will personally help you master the supreme immortal art granted by the imperial family, aiming to push you to the pinnacle of mastery."
Da Meng Lord's gaze was serious as she spoke.
To fully master a supreme immortal art in just seven years was an absurd claim—if others heard it, they would be shocked beyond belief. But she had the confidence to make it happen.
If she were to personally guide this young man, it was not impossible.
Li Hao's eyes flickered. He had heard before that the supreme immortal arts he currently cultivated were ancient techniques from a hundred thousand years ago—long since surpassed by newer arts. The glory and traces of the past had been buried silently in the river of time.
"Senior, can I leave Langya Dreamscape?"
Li Hao bowed slightly as he asked.
Da Meng Lord, whose gaze held expectation, suddenly narrowed her eyes slightly. "Where do you want to go?"
"I want to travel around on my own," Li Hao replied. "I'll come back when I have time, to seek your guidance on painting arts, if you would be willing to teach me."
Da Meng Lord was momentarily stunned.
She had cultivated painting as a pastime because her lifespan was too vast, leaving her with an endless amount of time to explore other arts.
Moreover, she used painting as a method to comprehend the Grand Dao—merging space, time, water origins, and nine layers of Dao essence. For her, painting was a means of cultivation.
But for this young man to already want to walk this path, wasn't it too early?
"If you achieve a high rank in the Southern Territory Battle, I will teach you then," Da Meng Lord said softly. "But before the battle, you are only allowed to train in the sword."
Her tone remained gentle, but her words were firm. In her heart, she assumed the boy was simply trying to win her favor by showing an interest in painting.
However, rather than feeling annoyed or offended, she simply offered him guidance in return.
Li Hao sighed inwardly. He had hoped to use this time to push his painting skills to the twelfth stage and break into the Immortal Lord Realm.
By the time the Southern Territory Battle ended, it would be too late.
But he understood her perspective. Arguing further would be pointless.
Besides, if he could refine and cook the ancient demons he encountered, it might even push his culinary arts to the twelfth stage—which would be just as good.
"Then, junior takes his leave," Li Hao said, cupping his hands.
Da Meng Lord watched as he turned to leave without hesitation. He seemed to have no reluctance at all.
But just as he was about to step out of Langya Dreamscape, Da Meng Lord suddenly remembered his request earlier—he was actually leaving the greatest cultivation sanctuary of Great Dream Nine Abyss!
"Stop."
A dreamlike voice suddenly echoed in Li Hao's mind—Da Meng Lord's voice, carrying more authority than before.
Li Hao paused, turning to look back at the palace.
But he could not see Da Meng Lord's figure.
"Are you truly planning to leave Langya Dreamscape? Where do you intend to go?"
Li Hao knew that if he admitted he was heading for the borderlands, he probably wouldn't be allowed to leave.
"Just wandering," he responded in his heart, "Wherever seems interesting, that's where I'll go."
Wherever seems interesting… that's where I'll go…
Six simple words.
Seated atop the palace's high pavilion, Da Meng Lord gazed down at the young figure below.
For a fleeting moment, she saw in him the shadow of an old acquaintance—someone from a time long past.
A young man who had once burned brighter than any star in the True Realm.
A figure whose radiance had illuminated the world, standing atop the summit of all races.
Time blurred.
Echoes of ten thousand years past seemed to stir within her heart.
"Brother, where are you going?"
"I'm going where there are crowds—wherever people gather, that's where I'll be!"
"Why?"
"Because I want the world to know that our Great Dream Clan can stand at the very peak of the Hundred Races!"
That youthful, proud voice, filled with boundless confidence and defiance, had once shaken the world—and he had achieved it, reigning at the pinnacle like a divine sovereign, his radiance unstoppable.
And now…
"What do you consider interesting?"
She murmured softly, almost as if speaking to herself.
Meanwhile, at the edge of Langya Dreamscape, Li Hao grinned and responded in his heart:
"Wherever the crowds are. Wherever people gather, that's where it gets interesting."
Da Meng Lord's gaze trembled slightly.
Perhaps too much time had passed since she had last heard such words.
But the boy received no reply.
Seeing that she wasn't going to stop him, Li Hao turned and walked away.
Da Meng Lord's eyes finally focused again, and she spoke softly:
"Wait."
Li Hao's footsteps halted.
Turning back toward the palace, he suddenly saw a streak of light shooting across the palace dome—a flash like a falling star, descending swiftly toward him.
As it landed in his hand, he looked down and saw—
A broken jade piece.
Shaped like a fish.
"This is the Chaos Tribulation Dao Fish—born from the Nine Chaos Tribulations, possessing the ability to foresee future dangers. Keep it with you."
Da Meng Lord's voice echoed in Li Hao's mind.
Li Hao was stunned. Foresee future dangers? Didn't this mean it was related to time origin?
Yet, even with his Time Origin at the Second Stage, he wouldn't dare claim to predict danger.
Without a doubt, this was an invaluable treasure.
Li Hao quickly said, "Senior, this is too valuable… I can't accept—"
"Take it!"
"Alright."
Li Hao nodded and, without hesitation, tucked it into his robe.
Seeing this, Da Meng Lord nearly laughed out loud. She rolled her eyes at him, even though he couldn't see her. She hadn't realized how many times she had smiled today—more than she had in the past thousand years.
Softly, she said, "Go now. I'll be waiting for you to return."
Li Hao nodded, feeling genuinely grateful. This was their first meeting, yet she had given him such a precious treasure. Moreover, she didn't question where he was going, nor did she try to stop him—instead, she let him do as he pleased. This level of trust and indulgence left him deeply moved.
After bidding farewell to Langya Dreamscape, he found that the area was already empty. Even the elders of the various sects had left, likely assuming that their disciples would remain in Langya Dreamscape for the full three years.
Li Hao didn't see Elder Li, guessing that he had likely returned to Sword Abyss.
He considered going to say goodbye, but it would only lead to a long conversation. Instead, he found a servant, left behind a transmission talisman, and asked for it to be delivered to Elder Li.
In the talisman, he simply stated that he was going out for a while and that they shouldn't worry.
With that done, Li Hao departed from Great Dream Mountain and left the Great Dream Nine Abyss Sect altogether.
Stepping into the vast starry sky, he swiftly activated a teleportation array.
Instead of heading straight to the border, he first made a stop at Wenxin Pagoda City.
Since he might be gone for three years, Li Hao decided to bid farewell to Old Man Han before leaving.
"Go if you must. Why are you bothering this old cripple?"
On a mountain ridge outside Wenxin Pagoda, Old Man Han, fishing lazily into the cloud sea, barely lifted his eyelids as he spoke.
Li Hao smiled wryly, already used to the old man's gruff attitude. He cupped his fists and said, "Then I'll be on my way. When I return, I'll cook something delicious for you."
With that, he bowed deeply and turned to leave.
"Where are you going?"
Old Man Han suddenly spoke, stopping him in his tracks.
Li Hao paused and answered truthfully, "To the borderlands, to slay ancient demons."
"You?"
Old Man Han squinted, finally shifting his gaze away from the clouds. After scrutinizing Li Hao for a moment, he smirked and said, "That sect of yours—Great Dream Nine Abyss—they're really letting a prized genius like you run off to the border battlefield?"
"How does Senior know I'm a prized genius?" Li Hao asked with curiosity.
Old Man Han snorted coldly, waving him off impatiently. "Go if you want. If they don't cherish you, why should I care?"
Li Hao heard the words, but instead of being offended, he grinned.
Bowing deeply again, he said, "Then I'll take my leave, Senior."
Before he could straighten up, a whistling sound cut through the air.
Something dark and heavy hurtled toward him.
Li Hao instinctively raised his hands, catching it midair. Looking down, he found a pitch-black iron plate, ancient and worn.
"Don't lose it," Old Man Han muttered. "Return it when you come back."
Li Hao turned to look at the old man's back, unable to see his expression. Smiling, he clutched the iron plate tightly, then carefully stored it away.
"Understood!"
With that, he turned and left.
Meanwhile, Old Man Han continued gazing at the clouds, his half-lidded eyes reflecting deep thought.
"The fools of Great Dream Nine Abyss… still chasing the shadows of the past?"
His brows furrowed, but after a moment, they slowly relaxed, replaced by a sigh filled with nostalgia and lament.
Leaving Wenxin Pagoda City, Li Hao boarded a teleportation array and jumped to another celestial domain.
Before traveling to the border, he had already researched the terrain using Great Dream Nine Abyss's vast archives.
The imperial maps of Yan Chu Immortal Dynasty weren't something common families could access, but Great Dream Nine Abyss was a Heavenly Sect—their connections ran deep.
With these topographical records, Li Hao was able to plan his route with ease. His destination:
Qinghe Borderlands—the nearest battlefront to Great Dream Nine Abyss, located in the western frontier of Yan Chu Dynasty.
Despite being the closest, the distance was still immense, separated by dozens of celestial cities.
Each immortal city along the way was a vast floating world, suspended in the void, surrounded by shattered stardust and ancient ruins.
From Elder Li, Li Hao had learned that Ji Qingxuan, along with various other Heavenly Sects, including Wanshan Sword Tower, had joined the Qinghe Border War.
This battlefield spanned billions of miles, stretching as far as the eye could see.
It is said that one of the Nine Immortal Emperors, Qing Emperor, once practiced his sword here, splitting apart a mountain that once enshrined Ancient Immortals. The shattered rocks fell, suspended in the void, eventually forming a river—hence the name Qinghe (Blue River).
The mountain is gone, but the river remains.
After teleporting through several immortal cities, Li Hao arrived at the final city before Qinghe Borderlands—only to be stopped by the guards beside the teleportation array.
"Young man, the next stop is Qinghe Mò City!"
The middle-aged guard looked at him seriously and said, "Wait until you've at least reached True Immortal Fifth Stage before coming here! Otherwise, once you arrive, you have two choices—either enlist in the army or be branded a traitor to all races. There's no turning back. Are you sure about this?"
"Yes."
Li Hao nodded.
He was already familiar with the border's rules. The Yan Chu Immortal Dynasty didn't restrict True Immortals from entering. The Ancient Demon Cataclysm had greatly weakened the imperial family, and relying solely on the military was too costly. As a result, many wandering cultivators and young heroes volunteered to fight against Ancient Demons.
However, apart from those who truly came to fight, there were also traitors—some who defected to Ancient Demons, and others who served as spies, smuggling information outside.
Thus, Qinghe Mò City, the military stronghold, had only one law—enlist or die.
Seeing Li Hao's firm nod, the middle-aged guard and his companions exchanged glances, their eyes carrying a hint of respect. They could tell that Li Hao was only at True Immortal Third Stage, yet he was still heading to the war front—this kind of courage was rare.
"Take care!"
The middle-aged guard spoke solemnly, then took the immortal stones handed over by Li Hao and placed them into the teleportation array's energy slot.
The immortal stones shattered, activating the formation.
The moment Li Hao was sucked into the teleportation channel, a deep, resonating horn sounded overhead—ancient and soul-shaking, as if an ancient mammoth was blowing a warhorn with its tusks.
The horn's sound was deafening, vast, and commanding.
When Li Hao opened his eyes, he found himself in a desolate battlefield, the sky covered in patchy dark clouds. Behind him stood towering, bloodstained walls, their surfaces layered with dried flesh, fur, and remnants of countless past battles—so much so that it was impossible to tell where one war ended and another began.
Further ahead, the streets were packed with warriors, all clad in battle armor, their gazes as sharp as swords.
Li Hao took a deep breath. The heavy stench of blood filled the air—not from Ancient Demons, but from humans and other races.
This border city had stood for countless millennia, defending against the Ancient Demons, burying countless warriors in its walls.
"The Ancient Demons are attacking again!"
"It's the Peacock Army—this must be a major invasion!"
"We should prepare ourselves too. Even if we only scavenge the battlefield, we might gain something!"
From the main street and the central plaza, many warriors had already responded to the horn's call, taking off toward the battlefront. Meanwhile, those remaining on the ground stood watching the sky, their expressions grim.
Li Hao's eyes gleamed.
He had just arrived, and already Ancient Demons were attacking?
Clearly, this was no coincidence—but rather a sign that the border was under constant assault.
He was also aware that within the Yan Chu Immortal Dynasty, the military hierarchy was divided into five elite legions. The most powerful was the Chu Immortal Army, commanded by the Grand Marshal, a force so feared that even imperial princes tread carefully around them.
The Chu Immortal Army's soldiers were given one absolute right—killing a prince was not a crime.
Of course, this didn't mean they could act recklessly. Instead, after executing a member of the royal family, they had to report to their superior.
If the Grand Marshal declared "No crime", then it was justified.
If he said "Guilty", then punishment would follow.
This alone showed the Grand Marshal's terrifying power—his authority was unparalleled.
Below the Chu Immortal Army, the second most elite was the Dragon War Army, followed by the Peacock Army, the Tiger-Lion Army, and lastly, the Wolf Guard, which was stationed across various immortal cities.
The Chu King's Command Seal given to Li Hao by Shangguan Hong allowed him to mobilize the Tiger-Lion Army at will.
The Tiger-Lion Army was an elite force, with generals at Immortal Monarch Fifth Stage and above.
The Peacock Army was even more terrifying—a hundred-man unit could slay an Immortal Monarch, and ten thousand troops could rival a peak Immortal Monarch!
As for the Dragon War Army, its presence alone could make Heavenly Sects bow their heads, forcing even Immortal Kings to yield.
At the very top, the Chu Immortal Army was unstoppable—within the Yan Chu Dynasty, they were truly invincible, their power absolute.
Of course, Li Hao had no intention of using the Chu King's Command Seal here.
He had come to the border for one reason—to hunt Ancient Demons and cook them.
Just as these thoughts flashed through his mind, a radiant light burst across the sky.
Li Hao looked up, hearing gasps of shock from the crowd.
In the heavens, a vast golden scroll unfurled, stretching countless miles across the sky, revealing three massive glowing words—
Immortal Merit Ranking!
Then, a beam of dazzling light emerged from the list, splitting open like a rift in space.
As the light dimmed, one name became visible—shining so brightly it illuminated the entire city.
"Ji Qingxuan!"
"Who is that?"
"My heavens—someone actually entered the Immortal Merit Ranking!"
"This is a major achievement—it means he's officially recognized as a noble of the empire!"
"The top one hundred on the Immortal Merit Ranking receive dukeships—a title of high nobility!"
Throughout the plaza, warriors and soldiers alike exclaimed in awe, their expressions filled with shock and admiration.
Li Hao was momentarily stunned when he saw the name—it was actually his senior brother?
At this moment, he could clearly see the giant Immortal Merit Ranking spanning across the sky. It contained only one hundred names in total!
However, each of these one hundred names was like an unshakable mountain peak, written in gigantic characters infused with Dao resonance, visible to the entire city.
Currently, Ji Qingxuan was ranked ninety-ninth, just barely making it onto the list!
But even this alone was enough to shock the entire city.
"The top hundred of the Immortal Merit Ranking rarely change over ten years. Anyone who makes it onto the list will be granted high-ranking titles and noble status. Who is this Ji Qingxuan?"
"I heard he's a disciple from a Heavenly Sect."
All over the plaza, discussions about Ji Qingxuan echoed from every direction.
As Li Hao listened to these conversations, gaining insights into the situation, a commanding voice suddenly called out from behind him.
"All of you new arrivals, come over here."
Li Hao turned around and saw a battle-hardened soldier clad in black armor, holding a long spear, standing amidst the crowd and beckoning them over.
Li Hao was not the only one who had teleported from the previous immortal city—there were about a dozen others who had been transported here as well, all from different border cities near the frontlines. Upon hearing the soldier's command, they walked toward him.
"If you have a command letter, present it. Those who came here voluntarily to enlist, step aside first."
The soldier's stern gaze swept over the crowd as he spoke.
Li Hao had snuck in quietly without obtaining any special command token from his sect, so he could only stand aside without a word.
From the crowd, three men and two women stepped forward, reporting their backgrounds and showing their command letters.
Some were from prestigious families, sent here to temper themselves through battle.
Two of them were disciples from the Second Heaven Sect—they had also recently participated in the Ancient Immortal Realm's trials but failed to reach the top thousand. Since returning to their sects wouldn't bring them any notable rewards, they had decided to hone their combat skills here instead.
The black-armored soldier called over another officer to escort those with command letters elsewhere, presumably to their assigned battle units.
Then, he turned his cold gaze back toward Li Hao and the others who had stepped aside.
"So, you all volunteered to enlist?"
His expression grew even harsher, his voice filled with unmistakable suspicion.
"Due to recent incidents where spies posing as soldiers leaked critical military intelligence to the Ancient Demons, anyone who arrives here without proper verification must prove their loyalty through battle—by killing Ancient Demons!"
The soldiers' icy words made even the most eager among them feel a little frustrated.
"We came here to slay Ancient Demons, and now we're being accused of being spies?"
"There are actually people betraying the Immortal Dynasty? Are they insane? If the dynasty falls, the Ancient Demons won't spare them either!"
"Who knows what a traitor is thinking? If you could understand them, wouldn't that make you one too?"
"...Fair point."
"Then how many Ancient Demons do we have to kill before we're cleared?"
"We came here to slay demons anyway, so it's fine."
The group chattered among themselves, venting their frustration.
The black-armored soldier remained unmoved, stating firmly, "You must accumulate enough military merits, or bring back three Ancient Demon heads, before you can obtain an official soldier's identification in the Sky Wolf Army."
"If you want to rise through the ranks, you'll have to undergo further assessments. Until then, you'll be assigned to the Wildfire Battalion—a temporary unit."
"In the Wildfire Battalion, you won't be taught the battle formations of the Immortal Army, to prevent intelligence leaks. However, the unit has access to the Demon-Slaying Battle Formation, which is just as powerful. Your mission will be simple: clean up any Ancient Demons that slip past the frontlines."
Upon hearing this, the new recruits exchanged glances, sensing the strict discipline of the border forces.
"Why is it called the Wildfire Battalion?"
A young man standing next to Li Hao asked curiously.
The black-armored soldier glanced at him, noting that he held his gaze without fear. Instead of getting angry, he simply responded:
"Because all of you are wandering warriors, like wild grass that can never be completely burned away. Just like wildfire, you will rise again, stronger each time."
The young man blinked, then muttered under his breath:
"That's...a pretty crude metaphor."
"If anyone has any objections, now is the time to back out."
The soldier's sharp eyes scanned the group.
The ten or so recruits exchanged uncertain looks, but no one chose to leave.
The soldier nodded approvingly, his tone turning colder.
"Good. If anyone had chosen to back out... Congratulations, you would already be dead."
The entire group froze, staring at him in shock.
"This is the border—a battlefield," the soldier growled. "You think you can come and go as you please?"
His stern warning instantly wiped away any lingering naïve thoughts. The recruits instinctively straightened up, understanding that this was not a game—it was war.
"Now, step forward and register."
The soldier let out a cold snort, signaling them to follow.
The recruits began lining up, taking turns for registration.
As they walked, the young man next to Li Hao nudged him and whispered:
"Brother, you're only at True Immortal Third Stage, yet you came all the way here to hunt Ancient Demons? That's some serious guts."
Li Hao blinked. Earlier, he had heard Yun Wumian's words and deliberately suppressed his aura, revealing only his True Immortal Third Stage cultivation.
"Slaying demons is everyone's duty." Li Hao replied seriously after a brief pause.
The young man actually seemed convinced, glancing at Li Hao in surprise. Then, after activating a soundproofing barrier, he leaned in and whispered:
"To be honest... I actually have a command letter. I'm a disciple of Tianyi Sect, and I'm here to earn military merit for my sect. Stick with me—I'll look after you."
Li Hao was a little surprised.
"Which of the five Tianyi Sects do you belong to?"
"Now that's a secret."
The young man shook his head, then suddenly smirked.
"But ten years from now, when I become famous in the Southern Territory War, you'll definitely know my name!"