Chapter 429: Challenging the True Sovereign Tower
After showcasing his abilities, Li Hao withdrew the Earthly Luo Shields and allowed his soul to return to his body.
Across from him at the chessboard on the wooden stump, Elder Wang stared at Li Hao in disbelief. Li Hao had been here for only three years and had never actively cultivated. Yet his first display of the Yan Luo Immortal Technique had already reached the level of true mastery?
Could it be that he had secretly been practicing in his mental world? But Li Hao had spent most of his time playing chess with Elder Wang or learning to cultivate immortal herbs. When would he have found the time to comprehend the Yan Luo Immortal Technique?
Elder Wang fell into silence. Li Hao's performance was completely unexpected.
At that moment, someone seated on a meditation mat in the distance sensed the strong soul fluctuations emanating from the wooden house. They opened their eyes and looked over. Upon seeing the manifestation of Li Hao's Yan Luo External Form, they froze in shock.
He hadn't chosen the path of soul cultivation and hadn't trained in the Yan Luo combat techniques. Others who had attempted the Yan Luo combat techniques before had failed to master them.
Yet now, this newcomer seemed to have done it!
Did Elder Wang give him special treatment?
"Does this count as passing the test?"
Li Hao asked Elder Wang, standing before the wooden house.
Snapping out of his thoughts, Elder Wang looked at him with a strange expression. "How did you comprehend this technique? You couldn't have inherited it elsewhere. Have you been secretly practicing the Yan Luo Immortal Technique while playing chess with me every day?"
Li Hao grinned. "Otherwise, how could I keep losing to you, Senior?"
"You little rascal."
Elder Wang rolled his eyes in mock annoyance. He didn't believe a word of it. Li Hao's single-minded focus on chess didn't leave room for distractions. The only explanation was that he had used his limited spare time to master the technique in such a short span.
Elder Wang recalled something Li Hao had said before:
"Once you reach the peak, you'll find freedom in the heavens."
This boy… Elder Wang grumbled internally, realizing Li Hao had managed to live up to his own boast.
"Since you've cultivated the first stage of Desolation in the Yan Luo Immortal Technique to the level of true mastery, it does count as passing. You're eligible to challenge the True Sovereign Tower, where quick thinking is the true test."
As he spoke, Elder Wang gathered up the chess pieces in his hand. A trace of admiration flickered in his gaze as he looked at Li Hao.
This kid was extraordinary. He had only been here for three years and hadn't put in the same rigorous effort as others. Yet he had easily overcome what had taken others thousands, even tens of thousands, of years to pass.
This could only mean that Li Hao's foundational accumulation far surpassed that of others, making moments of epiphany possible for him.
Moreover, the fact that he could win against Elder Wang in chess was even more astonishing.
"I'll give it a try, then," Li Hao said confidently.
If his guess about the challenge was correct, he might be able to pass the second test with ease.
Hearing this, Elder Wang didn't try to stop him. Instead, he smiled and shook his head. "If you head there now, the others are bound to be rattled. That might actually be a good thing—it could push them to improve."
Seeing the mischievous smile on Elder Wang's lips, Li Hao was momentarily speechless. That expression was the same one Elder Wang wore whenever he made sly moves during their chess games.
"I'll come back and play more chess with you after I'm done," Li Hao said, then stood and flew toward the pitch-black True Sovereign Tower in the distance.
The Saints meditating nearby, who had sensed Li Hao's presence earlier, saw him flying toward the tower and froze in shock. One of them widened their eyes and abruptly stood up.
"He's going to challenge the True Sovereign Tower?"
The sharp exclamation caught the attention of others. They opened their eyes in confusion, only to see Li Hao heading toward the tower. Their expressions turned incredulous.
"What is he doing?"
"Challenging the True Sovereign Tower? That's impossible. Don't joke around."
"Exactly. He's only been here a short time. He's probably just going to observe. Maybe Lin Sheng's recent success inspired him to take a look."
As the Saints exchanged thoughts, they couldn't help but look at the person who had shouted, thinking he was overreacting. Challenging the tower after just three years was unthinkable. Even doing so after three hundred years would be pushing it.
Meanwhile, Li Hao had already arrived at the base of the True Sovereign Tower.
From a distance, the tower appeared small, but up close, it loomed tall and majestic. Its many levels rose steeply, exuding a solemn and awe-inspiring presence, radiating the immense pressure of the Great Dao.
Li Hao's eyes gleamed slightly as he studied the structure. Then, mimicking what he had seen Mu Sheng and others do before, he approached the tower's ground-level entrance.
As he neared, the tower's door seemed to sense his presence and slowly opened, revealing a pitch-black interior.
Without hesitation, Li Hao stepped inside.
Back at the meditation mats, the Saints who had been observing were stunned into silence as they watched Li Hao walk through the doors of the True Sovereign Tower. Their faces soon filled with disbelief.
"He actually went in…"
"What does he think he's doing?"
Realizing the implications, one of them turned to look toward Elder Wang.
If someone entered the True Sovereign Tower without passing the first test, Elder Wang would surely punish them harshly.
But Elder Wang remained unbothered. He was leisurely gathering chess pieces and placing them back into Li Hao's chess box.
"Elder Wang, that newcomer just entered the True Sovereign Tower!" one of the Saints couldn't help but call out.
Elder Wang slowly finished putting away the chess pieces and closed the lid on the box. Then, looking up at the now-closed doors of the True Sovereign Tower, a faint smile appeared on his lips. Standing up, he leisurely flew toward the meditation mats.
"Elder Wang, he…"
Someone started to complain but suddenly noticed the calm and smiling expression on Elder Wang's face. They froze in disbelief. Could it be that the shortcut the boy took actually worked?
Was something like this truly permissible?
As Elder Wang approached, others seated on the meditation mats felt his presence and snapped out of their thoughts, looking toward him in confusion.
"He has already passed the first test and is eligible to challenge the True Sovereign Tower," Elder Wang announced with a smile.
Even though they had already suspected it from his demeanor, hearing it confirmed left the Saints shocked to the point their jaws nearly dropped. Some even doubted their ears.
He passed the first test?
That newcomer?
Only three years since he arrived?
And he passed?
The Saints were dumbfounded, unable to process the news. Others who had no idea what was happening began to murmur among themselves. Who passed the first test? Lin Sheng? But wasn't that long ago?
Someone finally noticed that the young man who was often seen in front of the wooden house was nowhere to be found. A sense of unease crept into their hearts.
Hua Sheng and You Sheng, upon seeing Elder Wang, immediately thought of Li Hao. They glanced toward the wooden house to find him but came up empty. Hearing Elder Wang's statement, their hearts tightened. They exchanged incredulous glances, each seeing shock and disbelief in the other's eyes.
"Haotian, that newcomer has only been here for three years, but he has already passed the first test. His speed far exceeds yours. You all need to work harder," Elder Wang said with a calm smile.
His words landed like a thunderclap in the midst of the Saints. Those who had been confused now felt their minds go blank.
Among the crowd, Lin Sheng's pupils contracted sharply. His body tensed as if his blood had frozen, and a tingling sensation ran down his scalp. His gaze locked onto Elder Wang, his expression filled with disbelief.
Three short years. The young man who had been trying to take shortcuts in front of the wooden house had somehow passed the first test?
How was that possible?
It couldn't be true!
Lin Sheng snapped back to his senses, his eyes narrowing as he stared at Elder Wang with a steely intensity.
Ming Sheng, Mu Sheng, and others were also stunned. When they recovered, they turned their gazes toward Elder Wang.
Elder Wang had once assured them there would be no hints or shortcuts for anyone. But now… had the rules changed?
The other Saints, too, looked at Elder Wang in confusion and suspicion.
Elder Wang, however, continued to smile serenely. He had expected such reactions. The sheer talent and abnormal progress of someone like Li Hao were bound to provoke disbelief, suspicion, and even jealousy among these young prodigies.
"I've always said that I wouldn't provide any hints. Everything depends on your own comprehension. The same applies to Haotian. Although I am fond of him, our conversations have always been limited to chess and cultivating immortal herbs. We've never discussed immortal techniques, nor have I given him any hints through chess. That would be meaningless," Elder Wang explained calmly.
By "meaningless," he implied that if he truly wanted to help, there would be no need for subtle hints. A direct explanation would suffice, and no one would dare object.
Hearing this, the Saints froze in place.
Given Elder Wang's cultivation and status, he had no obligation to explain anything to them. Nor would he need to lie—they lacked the standing to compel him to fabricate anything.
"You have all reached the Saint level, which makes you exceptional talents among humanity. Yet, in the face of the immortal path, even the most extraordinary talents are still merely human. In the immortal path, everyone is equal. However, there are always a few in the myriad worlds—rare prodigies—who can effortlessly cross even the immortal threshold. These individuals are born with an innate wisdom for the immortal path."
Elder Wang sighed as he continued, "To pass the first test in just three years would make Haotian a top-tier prodigy even in the True Realm. Such cultivation speed, without the foundation and heritage of an immortal family, is sufficient to qualify him as a direct disciple of the Immortal Emperor."
Ming Sheng's eyes flickered with thought. "Elder Wang, are you saying there are people in the True Realm who can comprehend the Yan Luo Immortal Technique within three years?"
"Yes," Elder Wang replied. "But such individuals are exceedingly rare. They are the epitome of the elite, true rarities among rarities. To become a disciple of the Immortal Emperor is to seize a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, something unparalleled across the myriad worlds."
The Saints fell silent, their thoughts heavy.
For the first time, they truly felt the vast chasm between themselves and the prodigies Elder Wang spoke of. They realized that in the True Realm's fierce competition, they were merely considered "excellent."
"What about the Immortal Emperor's personal disciples? How terrifying must they be?" Mu Sheng suddenly asked.
Elder Wang was momentarily taken aback. The smile on his face faded, replaced by a solemn expression.
In his mind, he recalled the image of a figure of unparalleled elegance—a woman whose beauty seemed to transcend mortal comprehension. Her presence was captivating, and her grace seemed destined to bring both salvation and calamity. She had followed Tianyang Immortal Emperor into the fateful battle during the Great Fall of the Immortal Sovereigns, and she had never returned.
That woman had been the Immortal Emperor's personal disciple. Her talent was unparalleled across all realms, cutting through the myriad worlds like a sharp blade.
Even in the sparring sessions between the disciples of the Immortal Emperors, she had displayed unparalleled brilliance, considered a future contender for a quasi-emperor rank.
Yet, tragically, she had fallen.
"Personal disciples… they are extraordinary from birth, surrounded by celestial phenomena. Some are reincarnations of Chaos Dao seeds, while others are souls condensed from the True Realm's Mixed-Origin energy, born with a primordial soul…"
Elder Wang spoke softly, his voice tinged with reminiscence. "For these individuals, techniques like the Yan Luo Immortal Technique might only take half a month to master. Some, even more astonishing, could understand it at a glance…"
His voice grew quieter as if lost in memory.
It was a time of great glory in his past when he had the privilege of accompanying the personal disciple of an Immortal Emperor, serving like an old attendant and witnessing their cultivation.
In a serene courtyard, the celestial maiden danced with peerless grace, enchanting all who saw her—an otherworldly genius at her peak.
For her, the immortal techniques of the world were comprehended in an instant.
Even the immortal laws taught by the Immortal Emperor took her only a few years of contemplation to grasp. Cultivation for her was as effortless as eating or drinking water.
Such a prodigy was leagues above the so-called geniuses of the myriad realms. She was a true anomaly standing at the pinnacle.
As Elder Wang murmured, the Saints seated on the mats stared wide-eyed, unable to contain their shock.
They had never considered asking about such things before, but now their worldview was shaken. The revelation was both awe-inspiring and disheartening.
Could someone truly comprehend immortal techniques at a glance? Master them in half a month?
The Saints, who had spent countless years arduously cultivating here, felt a crushing sense of inadequacy. They understood the immense difficulty of these techniques, making Elder Wang's words even more impactful.
Noticing the stunned silence and pale expressions of the group, Elder Wang realized he might have struck a nerve. Smiling lightly, he reassured them:
"There's no need to compare yourselves to the personal disciples of the Immortal Emperor. Those beings are true spirits born of Chaos, utterly unique. Even the Immortal Emperor must search across the myriad realms for eons to find a single suitable candidate. They are one-in-a-billion existences."
His words offered some comfort, though the Saints remained silent. Still, they felt slightly better.
Being unable to compete with such rarities was… understandable.
Though they were Saints, rare prodigies among the myriad realms, they had already learned from Elder Wang that the vastness of the True Realm dwarfed the pseudo-realms of the heavens they knew. Compared to the True Realm, their world was minuscule.
"Does that mean Haotian has the potential to become a formal disciple of the Immortal Emperor?" someone asked, their mind finally catching up to the earlier revelation.
Mastering the Yan Luo Immortal Technique in three years, while not as miraculous as what Elder Wang described, was still extraordinary.
Others, too, reacted, their expressions shifting subtly.
Lin Sheng, Ming Sheng, and Mu Sheng exchanged looks, their faces darkening.
They were competing merely for the position of a registered disciple, yet now someone with the qualifications of a formal disciple had joined the fray?
A palpable sense of crisis swept over them.
Tens of thousands of years of hard work, and they were being overtaken in just three years? The gap was overwhelming!
"Wait, why hasn't he come out yet?"
The Saint who had first noticed Li Hao asked, puzzled.
Hearing this, Elder Wang turned his gaze toward the True Sovereign Tower.
Inside the True Sovereign Tower
As Li Hao stepped into the tower, darkness enveloped him. Moments later, he felt himself transported to a vast and boundless space.
The sky stretched endlessly, with the ground extending into infinity. The atmosphere was filled with silvery-gray clouds, scattered in patches.
A strange energy scanned him, as though an invisible gaze was scrutinizing his every detail. Soon, a figure began to materialize in the void ahead.
It was an exact replica of Li Hao.
Even more startling was the aura it exuded. Its body emitted the energy of the Ninth-Rank Mixed-Origin Divine Blood, only denser and more potent.
"My physical body has been enhanced by a factor of two?"
Li Hao raised an eyebrow, intrigued. As he observed, the projection exploded with an intense aura, its silver hair flowing wildly as it activated the extreme Hua Xian state Li Hao knew so well.
Li Hao's expression turned serious. Elder Wang hadn't exaggerated—the projection's aggressive instincts were overwhelming. Within moments, it had pushed its state to the peak.
Feeling the terrifying pressure, Li Hao decided not to use any of his accumulated enhancements. Since he could challenge the True Sovereign Tower repeatedly, he wanted to test his raw abilities first.
Whoosh!
The projection struck first, unleashing a dazzling sword light—a perfect execution of the Xian Ren Zhi Lu technique.
As the radiant sword light slashed toward him, Li Hao's pupils contracted. The sheer brilliance of the attack made it feel as though the entire world had been cleaved in two.
"Is my swordsmanship really this strong?"
Li Hao was momentarily stunned. His body tensed, and cold sweat prickled his skin as the immense sword intent locked onto him. For a fleeting moment, he felt as though an immortal had descended, pointing directly at his forehead.
There was no escape. The only option was to face it head-on.
However, the mental pressure was immense. The sword intent seemed to whisper to him, tempting him to accept his fate.
Li Hao swiftly broke free of the illusion. His silver hair fluttered as he erupted into the extreme Hua Xian state, channeling the power of the heavens and earth into a counterattack.
Boom!
Two sword lights collided, shaking the void. Li Hao's sword was instantly swallowed by the projection's attack.
But as his sword dissipated, Li Hao struck again, unleashing three consecutive slashes. It was a technique he had mastered long ago—Tielang Jian—a layered wave sword style that he seamlessly integrated into the celestial-grade Xian Ren Zhi Lu technique.