Chapter 448: Yan Chu Immortal Dynasty, Sword Abyss
Li Hao showed no interest, and Yuexi couldn't insist further. She simply assumed that Li Hao was making excuses, looking down on her. In her heart, she was secretly determined to challenge him again once they arrived at Dameng Jiuyuan.
Dameng Jiuyuan was not far from Wenxin Futuo City, just a three-day journey back and forth.
Along the way, Li Hao and Yuexi learned that the wine-nosed old man was actually Elder of the Sword Abyss in Dameng Jiuyuan, Li Tiemu.
During the journey, Li Tiemu inquired about Li Hao, Lin Yufeng, and Yuexi's backgrounds. He already knew Yuexi's origins, but he couldn't discern where Li Hao and Lin Yufeng came from.
Yuexi merely mentioned that she had been staying in Nanyang City, identifying herself as a member of the Calamity Clan.
This clan was feared and avoided by many forces in the True Realm, considered inauspicious by nature.
As for Li Hao, he only said that he came from a distant land, unfamiliar with this region.
Seeing that Li Hao was unwilling to provide details, Li Tiemu didn't push further. Instead, he simply said,
"Once you join Dameng Jiuyuan, you are part of Dameng Jiuyuan. No matter where you came from, from now on, our sect will be your shelter. Likewise, internal conflicts among disciples are forbidden—this is something that will be engraved into your Dao Heart upon taking the initiation ceremony at the sect."
Both Li Hao and Yuexi expressed no objections.
Li Hao took the opportunity to ask about the True Realm, as they knew almost nothing about the major factions, cities, and overall structure of this world.
Seeing that Li Hao seemed genuinely curious, Li Tiemu played along and treated him like an outsider, patiently explaining:
"I'll assume you're from the Western Region, then. You should at least know that the True Realm is divided into four great domains—correct?"
"The Eastern Region is ruled by the Ancestral Dragon Royal Court, while the Southern Region is under the dominion of the Heavenly Palace Supreme. The Northern Region belongs to the Demon Emperor Palace, where countless beast clans and demon races reside, coexisting yet constantly vying for dominance. As for the Western Region, it's the Chifen Imperial Domain, a chaotic land with various powerful factions—immortals, demons, spirits, gods, and other ancient races all tangled together."
"The Southern Region, where we are now, is vast—its territory spans over ten billion miles. Even a Celestial King would need a full year of travel to reach the borders."
"This place is near the ancient battlefield 'Emperor Abyss', a desolate frontier region. Do you know what Emperor Abyss is?"
Li Tiemu suddenly asked.
Li Hao's heart stirred. They had arrived from an ancient battlefield, but he wasn't sure if it was the same Emperor Abyss that Li Tiemu was referring to.
Before he could answer, Yuexi spoke calmly,
"I know. That's where the Great Emperor fell ten thousand years ago. Not long ago, the Heavenly Palace cleared it out. I went there to explore—it's filled with mountains of white bones, remnants of ancient demons, shattered True Treasures, broken immortal weapons, decayed domain artifacts, and even long-dimmed Emperor-tier Forbidden Artifacts..."
Upon hearing Yuexi's words, Li Hao and Lin Yufeng immediately realized that this was likely the same ancient battlefield they had come from.
For once, Li Tiemu's usual wretched smile disappeared. His carefree demeanor was replaced with rare solemnity.
After Yuexi finished speaking, he let out a deep sigh and said,
"That's right. That battle was catastrophic, inflicting severe damage upon the True Realm. In the past, nine Celestial Emperors ruled the Four Domains and the Primal True Realm, yet in that war, more than half of them perished!"
"To this day, the Northern Region remains without an Emperor. Many Quasi-Emperors are still fighting for supremacy. The Northern Region is now the most chaotic of the Four Domains. Aside from the lingering ancient demons, various factions continue battling over the supreme throne, seeking to unify the region..."
After saying this, he realized he had digressed and shook his head slightly before continuing,
"Where was I? Oh, right—the Emperor Abyss. The Southern Region's territory has significantly shrunk compared to the past. This Wenxin Futuo City is already near the borderlands. Further inward, you'll find countless Heavenly Sects and Immortal Dynasties."
Li Hao asked, "Are there any factions stronger than the Tianyi Sects?"
"The Ancient Immortal Dynasties."
Li Tiemu replied,
"Dameng Jiuyuan is located within Yan Chu Immortal Dynasty, one of the Seven Great Immortal Dynasties of the Southern Region. Wanshan Jianlou is here as well. To be precise, this entire region is part of Yan Chu Immortal Dynasty's territory."
"And the Heavenly Palace?"
"The Heavenly Palace is ruled by a Celestial Emperor, standing above all Ancient Immortal Dynasties. When an Emperor rules a Domain, all Immortal Dynasties must bow before them."
Li Tiemu's expression turned slightly serious, his gaze carrying a hint of hidden meaning.
As Li Tiemu explained, a rough map of the True Realm began to take shape in Li Hao's mind.
After three days of travel, passing through various cities, they finally arrived.
Some of the cities they passed were ancient and dilapidated, still covered in remnants of broken immortal formations.
According to Li Tiemu, these were once strategic strongholds used to reinforce the front lines during the Great War.
Now, they were nothing but forgotten relics.
"We're here."
Li Tiemu announced.
They had just stepped out from a teleportation array inside an Immortal City, emerging into open void space.
Ahead, a glowing path of immortal light extended before them, forming a rainbow bridge.
Stepping onto it, they felt a gentle force guiding their movements, allowing them to glide forward effortlessly without consuming their own immortal power.
In the distance—
A colossal landmass, shaped like an ancient tortoise, floated in the void, its surface rising and falling in great peaks and valleys.
An immortal formation shrouded the continent, keeping out asteroidal debris from the void.
As they neared, Li Hao sensed an intense wave of heat emanating from the formation, as if it could incinerate anyone unworthy.
Li Tiemu casually flicked out a stream of immortal power, opening a passageway through the formation.
At that moment—
The lush green forests, majestic rivers, and towering peaks of Dameng Jiuyuan came into full view, stretching out like a grand, painted scroll.
"This is our Dameng Jiuyuan," Li Tiemu declared.
Li Hao's eyes widened slightly—
This was a Heavenly Sect in the True Realm?
An entire world—and it belonged to a single sect?
The sheer vastness of this floating continent seemed to surpass even some of the Minor Worlds he had encountered in the Outer Heavens.
"Dameng Jiuyuan has nine divisions, which is why it is called the Nine Abysses. Our founding ancestor was closely tied to an ancient Emperor, receiving nine supreme techniques, which formed the foundation of Dameng Jiuyuan."
Li Tiemu continued,
"You two are sword cultivators, so you will join Sword Abyss. Coincidentally, I'm also part of Sword Abyss. As for you..."
He looked at Lin Yufeng and said,
"You use the spear, right? Well, Spear Abyss has the most disciples. You'll fit right in."
Lin Yufeng glanced at Li Hao.
Li Hao patted his shoulder, saying,
"Go forth and carve your own path."
Lin Yufeng nodded firmly.
"Alright, I'll take you to Spear Abyss first. I'll have you train under Old Tao, their Elder."
Li Tiemu said before leading them toward the Eastern Sector of Dameng Jiuyuan.
Li Tiemu led the way, taking Li Hao, Lin Yufeng, and Yuexi across the vast expanse of Dameng Jiuyuan toward Spear Abyss.
Below them, mountains, rivers, lush forests, and celestial palaces unfolded like a magnificent immortal realm.
Even from above, Li Hao could see countless disciples practicing their techniques across training fields, celestial peaks, and vast plains.
In the blink of an eye, they arrived at their destination—
A towering mountain, so steep and majestic that its peak seemed to pierce the heavens.
This was Spear Abyss—one of the Nine Abysses of Dameng Jiuyuan, a place where spear cultivators gathered.
Palatial structures clung to the mountainsides, while massive training grounds sprawled across its foothills.
At that moment, many disciples were in intense combat, their spears cutting through the air, creating blinding flashes of immortal light.
A spear cultivator's energy was sharp, fierce, and unyielding, making Spear Abyss the most battle-hardened division of Dameng Jiuyuan.
Just as they arrived, a figure soared toward them.
It was an elder in a red daoist robe, his long silver hair tied loosely behind him.
He hovered in midair, exuding a vast yet reserved power.
Upon seeing Li Tiemu, the old man snorted coldly, clearly unimpressed.
"Li Tiemu, what trickery are you up to now?"
Hearing this, Li Tiemu's face instantly brightened, revealing a grinning expression.
"Old Tao! I've brought you a genius!"
"Hmph, a genius like you would willingly send me here? It's already generous enough that you're not forcing me to switch to sword cultivation."
The person snorted coldly, clearly familiar with Li Tiemu's nature and showing no politeness at all.
Li Tiemu grinned shamelessly. "You wound me by saying that."
"Do we even have a relationship worth wounding?" the other person retorted.
At this moment, Li Hao observed the elder—he was dressed in a peach-colored robe, embroidered with delicate peach blossoms. The flowing sleeves of his attire were extraordinarily wide, swaying with every movement.
"Five pounds, take it or leave it."
The elder, Tao Chunfeng, spoke coldly.
Li Tiemu clearly understood what he meant and sighed helplessly. "Three pounds? You know how hard it is to brew this wine. It takes a full ten thousand years for just one pound!"
Hearing this, Tao Chunfeng turned away immediately, not even bothering to argue.
"Alright, alright! Five pounds, you old ghost!" Li Tiemu hurriedly relented, clearly unwilling but left with no choice.
As he spoke, he glanced at Li Hao, his expression as if saying, Look at what I sacrificed for you. Five whole pounds of my precious wine!
Li Hao, however, remained indifferent. Lin Yufeng wasn't some random disciple—while he might not be a top-tier prodigy, his talent was undeniable. Plus, with the Supreme Immortal Techniques Li Hao had imparted, Lin Yufeng would undoubtedly carve out a name for himself.
Lin Yufeng had also caught on to their negotiation. His expression turned slightly cold, but he didn't say a word—actions spoke louder than words.
"Which one?" Tao Chunfeng finally asked, his gaze sweeping across the three of them.
"Him." Li Tiemu pointed at Lin Yufeng.
Tao Chunfeng gave him a brief glance, then waved his sleeve indifferently. "Follow me."
Li Tiemu nudged Lin Yufeng with his chin. Lin Yufeng turned to Li Hao, cupped his fists, and said, "I'll be going first."
"Mn." Li Hao nodded, watching as Lin Yufeng followed Tao Chunfeng toward the towering mountain of Spear Abyss.
"Alright, let's go too," Li Tiemu called out, leading Li Hao and Yuexi away from Spear Abyss toward the northern part of Dameng Jiuyuan.
Before them, another massive mountain loomed, so high that its peak was lost in the clouds. However, one side of the mountain was eerily flat and sheer, as if it had been sliced cleanly by a celestial blade.
"This is Sword Abyss."
Li Tiemu smiled contentedly—now that he had successfully brought them back to the sect, these two prodigies were secured.
His mood was excellent, so he casually introduced the landmark ahead.
"This cliff was left by the previous Chief Sword Immortal of Sword Abyss. Thirty thousand years ago, he comprehended the Imperial Sword Form and slashed this cliff into existence."
"Afterward, it became a sacred place for Sword Abyss disciples—they carve their names upon the cliff as a testament to their swordsmanship. The closer to the center, the stronger the sword intent imprinted upon it."
"For Sword Abyss disciples, engraving their name at the center of the cliff is considered the highest honor."
As he spoke, he smiled meaningfully at Li Hao and Yuexi. "Once you two officially join the sect, you can give it a try if you're interested."
Li Hao glanced at the cliff briefly but had no interest in it whatsoever.
Engraving names? That sounded like something monkeys would enjoy.
However, Yuexi's gaze lingered upon the cliff, her deep eyes flickering with light. After a moment, she asked softly:
"What realm has that Chief Sword Immortal reached now? Can we become his disciples?"
Li Tiemu shook his head. "He's no longer here."
"Gone?" Yuexi turned to look at him.
A rare trace of solemnity appeared in Li Tiemu's expression.
"He mastered the Imperial Sword Form, but back then, the Southern Domain was engulfed in war. By the order of the Immortal Dynasty, he led a campaign to suppress the chaos."
"He slaughtered nine Ancient Demon Kings but ultimately perished on the battlefield."
"In the end, only his severed sword-wielding arm was recovered…"
Li Tiemu's voice carried a hint of lingering grief, and a cold glint flickered in his eyes.
Hearing this, Li Hao and Yuexi exchanged glances.
Although Li Tiemu hadn't revealed the full details, the implications were clear.
A figure of unparalleled brilliance, one who had comprehended an Imperial Sword Form, had fallen in battle, not even leaving behind a complete corpse.
The Great Emperor's Fall from ten thousand years ago had felt too distant, almost like a myth.
But now, this monumental sword-slashed cliff stood before them, a silent testament to a battle that had happened not so long ago.
It was a chilling reminder of the dangers awaiting them.
"Ancient Demons… My Yuexi Clan has only one goal in our cultivation—to eradicate them all."
Yuexi's slender fingers tightened slightly, her eyes radiating an icy determination.
Li Tiemu nodded approvingly. Regardless of the rivalries between sects, all cultivators had a common enemy—the Ancient Demons.
"Alright, let's head up."
Li Tiemu led them up the mountain.
The mountain paths of Sword Abyss resembled the spine of a dragon, jagged and winding, with layers of white stone resembling unsheathed swords.
"There aren't as many disciples here compared to Spear Abyss, huh?"
As they ascended, Li Hao noticed that the presence of sword cultivators was sparse, unlike Spear Abyss, which had been teeming with activity.
Li Tiemu let out a sigh.
"Sword Abyss has been declining in recent years."
"Many prodigies in sword cultivation have been drawn to Wanshan Sword Tower, leaving Dameng Jiuyuan's Sword Abyss in a slump."
On this day, Li Tiemu returned to Sword Abyss, bringing back two new disciples—a young man and a young woman.
Upon reaching the mountain summit, Li Hao and Yuexi finally saw several Sword Abyss disciples practicing their swordsmanship, sparring, meditating, and comprehending the Way of the Sword.
In the void, countless sword lights flickered—some were practicing sword control, commanding thousands of flying swords.
Others were using sword formations, their swords arranged in a dragon formation, releasing fierce roars.
The arrival of Li Tiemu immediately attracted attention. Some disciples quickly sheathed their swords and stepped forward to greet their teacher.
"Another junior brother?"
"Judging by their demeanor, these two seem rather extraordinary."
Although they couldn't discern Li Hao's or Yuexi's cultivation levels, their aura and composure naturally set them apart from the crowd.
As they walked forward, Li Tiemu explained to Li Hao and Yuexi through transmission:
"Sword Abyss has four divisions—Heaven, Earth, Profound, and Yellow. New disciples, unless directly apprenticed under a senior elder, must first pass an entry assessment and begin in the Yellow Division."
"From there, through diligence and performance, they can gradually ascend."
"The higher the division, the greater the cultivation resources. Naturally, the Heaven Division is the most prestigious."
He then grinned. "But you two are lucky. Since I'm one of the three great elders of Sword Abyss, as my disciples, you'll enter the Heaven Division directly!"
Hearing this, Li Hao's expression remained indifferent, while Yuexi was unsurprised, feeling it was only natural.
If they had been placed in the Yellow or Earth Divisions instead, she would've immediately drawn her sword and fought her way into the Heaven Division, just to see how wide the gap was!
Seeing their lack of excitement, Li Tiemu felt a bit defeated. Taking in prodigies had its downsides—they showed no emotional reaction even when given direct benefits.
Whether they were genuinely unfazed or just pretending to be aloof, he couldn't tell.
After walking some distance, he finally asked:
"Are you both willing to become my disciples?"
Li Hao nodded.
Yuexi also nodded.
However, both of them looked extremely casual about it.
Li Tiemu felt like this was the least gratifying experience of his life.
He forced a bitter smile. But considering these two were a Dao Heart Eight Resonance and a Dao Heart Nine Resonance, they were both absolute prodigies, so he let it slide.
They soon passed through the training grounds and arrived at the Sword Immortal Pavilion atop the mountain.
There, Li Tiemu sent out a transmission, summoning all of his personal disciples.
"Listen, I may usually be easygoing, but I'm extremely strict when it comes to accepting disciples. Until now, I have only had five, and with you two, that makes seven!"
He then turned serious.
"Joining my lineage means your cultivation will be subject to rigorous assessments. If you slack off, I will never tolerate it!"
Li Hao asked calmly, "As long as we meet the requirements, you won't interfere in our training, right?"
Li Tiemu glanced at him and replied, "As long as you perform well, I won't interfere."
Hearing this, Li Hao nodded in satisfaction. "That works for me."
Just then, three figures flew over and landed before the Sword Immortal Pavilion.
"Master."
The three bowed respectfully to Li Tiemu, then curiously observed Li Hao and Yuexi.
"Master took in a new junior brother and junior sister? Both at the same time?"
They seemed surprised.
They were well aware that despite Li Tiemu's usual carefree and mischievous demeanor, he also bore another title within the Yan Chu Immortal Dynasty—Iron Sword Immortal!
One of them, an intelligent-looking young man, asked, "Where's Senior Brother?"
"Senior Brother went out to slay Ancient Demons."
"And Fifth Junior Sister is lecturing on swordsmanship at the Immortal Dynasty, she hasn't returned yet."
Li Tiemu nodded. "Understood."
Then he gestured toward Li Hao and Yuexi.
"These are my newly accepted disciples—your junior brother and junior sister. Take care of them well."
"First, pay your respects."
With a wave of his hand, a large wooden chair appeared, and he sat down solemnly.
Without hesitation, Yuexi picked up a teacup offered by the young man and knelt to offer it.
Li Hao also lifted a cup, just as he was about to offer it when—
Suddenly, from deep within the Sword Immortal Pavilion, a low humming resonated through the air.
The ground trembled slightly.
Li Tiemu had just taken a sip of Yuexi's tea when he nearly choked, his previously dignified expression shattering as he jumped up in shock, staring in disbelief at the pavilion.
"This… this is…"
The three senior disciples also reacted immediately, their expressions turning into pure shock.
They exchanged glances, clearly understanding what had just happened.
Even Li Tiemu was stunned—the remnant iron sword within the pavilion was resonating?!
Why?!
Just as he was about to investigate, the humming ceased, as if it had never happened.
Everything returned to silence, making it seem like a mere illusion.
Li Tiemu's expression fluctuated between confusion and contemplation.
Then, suddenly—
A group of figures appeared above the pavilion, as if they had teleported in.
Their presence was shrouded in mist, making it impossible to discern their faces.
Li Tiemu immediately abandoned the tea ceremony, flying up to meet them.
The figures enveloped themselves in a barrier, speaking in hushed tones.
A brief moment later, the barrier dissipated, and the figures vanished.
One of them gave Li Hao and Yuexi a meaningful glance before departing.
When Li Tiemu returned to the pavilion, he sighed with a bitter smile.
"No idea what just happened… I'll have to check later."
Li Tiemu glanced at Li Hao's tea, now completely cold, and waved his hand dismissively.
"Forget it. From today onward, you two are officially my disciples. Li Hao, you're the sixth disciple. Yuexi, you're the seventh!"
He assigned their rankings accordingly.
Since Yuexi had been the first to offer tea, she ranked ahead of Li Hao.
Hearing this, Li Hao chuckled wryly.
A thought crossed his mind—was this Yuexi's real reason for rushing to offer tea first? Just so she could establish seniority over him in the sect?
When he saw the subtle arrogance in her poised posture, he felt his suspicion was completely justified.
"You're truly an old six."
Li Hao remarked.
Yuexi frowned slightly. Though there was nothing inherently wrong with his words, she couldn't shake the feeling that it wasn't a compliment.
"Now, let me pass down one of the core sword techniques of Da Meng Jiu Yuan—'Immortal Sword.' This is the first form—'Immortal Points the Way.'"
With a flick of his hand, Li Tiemu conjured a seemingly ordinary wooden sword in his palm.
His carefree expression returned as he said nonchalantly, "You two need to master this within half a month. That's the bare minimum requirement."
Upon hearing this, the three senior disciples nearby exchanged strange glances.
That was not what their master had told them when they were new disciples.
Back then, they had taken months, even half a year, to fully grasp this technique.
But they were used to their master setting different standards for different disciples.
This only proved one thing—the two new recruits must be absolute monsters.
Yuexi's eyes sparkled with fighting spirit, as if she had just received an exhilarating challenge.
Meanwhile, Li Hao's gaze flickered strangely, but he remained silent.
Li Tiemu then began his demonstration, exuding pure sword intent.
To Li Hao, it felt as if the remnants of the sword shadows from the Myriad Heavens Sword Wall had come to life, dancing before his eyes.
Yuexi was completely absorbed, her focus unshakable.
Meanwhile, Li Hao, watching with a trace of nostalgia, seemed more reflective than engrossed.
The three senior disciples had been observing their expressions carefully.
Seeing Li Hao's distracted, almost indifferent attitude, they couldn't help but steal a few extra glances at him.
"Have you memorized it? Go back and practice."
When Li Tiemu finished his demonstration, he looked at them expectantly.
Yuexi closed her eyes and didn't respond, already beginning her internal comprehension.
Seeing this, Li Tiemu didn't reprimand her. Instead, a hint of satisfaction appeared in his expression.
Meanwhile, Li Hao merely smiled and responded casually, "Got it."
Li Tiemu nodded but added a warning.
"You may have exceptional talent, but don't let it make you complacent. I assume you're already a True Immortal, correct? If you perform well, I might recommend you to represent our Sword Abyss in battle this time."
"Battle?"
Li Hao was puzzled.
Li Tiemu smiled slightly but didn't elaborate.
The three senior disciples nearby looked a little surprised but quickly recalled their master's habit of making grand promises.
It wasn't particularly shocking anymore.
"Alright, get to know each other. If you have any questions, ask them. If they give you trouble, come find me."
With that, Li Tiemu left Li Hao and Yuexi behind and vanished in a blink.
Yuexi slowly opened her eyes, still reflecting on what she had just learned.
At this point, the three senior disciples stepped forward and greeted them.
After a brief introduction, Li Hao gained a general understanding of his three new senior siblings.
The second senior brother, Lu Wuchen, appeared to be in his late twenties. He had a cold and reserved demeanor and only exchanged a few polite words before teleporting away.
The third senior sister, Wei Hongye, was a graceful beauty with an elegant presence. She wore a simple white robe, and her flowing silk sleeves added to her refined aura. Unlike Lu Wuchen, she was approachable and warm.
The fourth senior brother, Xu Jianming, was the most lively of the three. Bright-eyed and energetic, he immediately began bombarding Li Hao and Yuexi with questions—how did they end up here, what was their Dao Heart resonance, and what was their cultivation background?
Yuexi's thoughts were still immersed in sword comprehension, so she found Xu Jianming's chatter somewhat irritating.
Perhaps intentionally, she casually revealed her identity.
When Xu Jianming learned that she was from the Yanghuo Clan, his cheerful demeanor instantly stiffened.
For a moment, he looked like he wanted to say something but decided against it.
Instead, he awkwardly turned to Li Hao, hesitantly asking about his family background.
When Li Hao simply replied that he was from an ordinary human clan, Xu Jianming visibly relaxed and sighed in relief.
Wei Hongye, on the other hand, reacted differently.
Although she was surprised by Yuexi's lineage, she showed no trace of fear or hesitation.
Instead, she smiled gently and curiously inquired about Yuexi's talent and cultivation.
It was common knowledge that most sects avoided taking in people from the Yanghuo Clan due to their infamous misfortune.
However, knowing their master Li Tiemu's character, it was clear that Yuexi must possess extraordinary potential if he had accepted her as a disciple.
Seeing Wei Hongye's calm and accepting attitude, Yuexi's impression of her improved greatly.
The coldness in her gaze softened, and she nodded slightly before revealing:
"My Dao Heart resonance is Eight Rings."
The moment Wei Hongye and Xu Jianming heard this, their eyes widened in shock.
"Eight Rings?! That's an Eternal Dao Heart!"
Their reaction was instant and intense.
Even among top-tier prodigies, an Eight-Ring Dao Heart was considered incredibly rare.
Yet before they could even fully process this revelation—
Yuexi glanced at Li Hao and added casually:
"It's nothing special. He has one more than me."