Chapter 451: Innate Sword Immortal Physique
The sword aura rushing toward him was like the hilt of an imperial blade standing tall. Li Hao glanced up at the very center of the highest point—where it felt as if the eyes of an emperor were staring directly at him.
However, this imperial might paled in comparison to the majesty of the Heavenly Catastrophe Imperial Hall.
The former chief disciple of Sword Abyss had once split mountains with his blade. At the time, he had only just stepped into the Immortal King Realm, and even then, using his full power, he had barely managed to unleash a fraction of the Imperial Sword's might.
Li Hao gave it only a brief glance before retracting his gaze. The names carved upon Imperial Sword Cliff were many, but he had little interest in joining the crowd.
If he truly wished to leave his mark, he might as well carve out an entirely new cliff for himself.
Back at his mountaintop courtyard, Qi Meng'an was the first to greet him upon his return, immediately informing him about Fairy Yue Xi's recent feat—leaving her name on Imperial Sword Cliff once again.
As the steward, Qi Meng'an had secretly hoped that this news would motivate Li Hao, given that he had never seen a swordsman as relaxed as his master.
Li Hao briefly recalled passing by the cliff earlier but hadn't even thought to check the new rankings. Still, it was a minor matter. He nodded and instructed Qi Meng'an to deliver his congratulations to Yue Xi on his behalf.
As for himself, he headed straight to the sword training grounds within the courtyard. Activating the formation barriers, he ensured that only he and Xiyan, who carried a sword token, could enter.
This time, his breakthrough in the Dao of Fishing had not only strengthened his swordsmanship but, more importantly, had allowed him to grasp the Great Dao of Time.
Within the Nine Sequences, Time and Space reign supreme.
Previously, painting had helped him gain insight into the Great Dao of Space. Now, through fishing, he had comprehended the vastness of time itself—how to fish from the river of time and extract fragments of history.
Among the Nine Flowers Immortal Seal he had condensed earlier, five of them were based on the Nine Sequences. Now, Li Hao intended to replace one of the remaining four with the Time Origin Dao!
The Immortal Seal could hold a maximum of nine flowers. Li Hao attempted to directly integrate the Time Origin Dao, but he soon discovered that it wouldn't merge properly.
He had to sacrifice one flower in exchange.
After careful thought, he decided to remove the Immortal's Guidance Sword Art from Nine Abyss Dream. Although it was a profound technique, it was ultimately just a branch of Sword Dao's origin, barely qualifying as a complete Dao Flower.
Within the formation barrier, Li Hao entered seclusion to refine and replace the Nine Flowers Immortal Seal.
As the Time Origin Dao fused into the Immortal Seal, a powerful gravitational force burst forth, rapidly absorbing the surrounding immortal energy.
The entire courtyard's immortal energy surged toward the sword training grounds—yet it was far from enough.
Li Hao activated his Cosmic Star Veins, unleashing their ultimate power.
At that moment, countless celestial lights appeared around him, each one a projection of a real star from the True Realm. Immortal energy surged from the stars, pouring into his body like an endless stream.
Outside the courtyard, Qi Meng'an sensed the unusual flow of immortal energy.
When he realized it was all converging toward the sword training grounds, he let out a breath of relief, a faint smile appearing on his lips.
"It seems Fairy Yue Xi's progress still managed to stir something in my young master, after all…"
As the new Nine Flowers Immortal Seal took shape, the Time Origin Flower and Space Origin Flower seemed to intertwine, forming an intricate, elegant Dao pattern.
This pattern emitted a faint distortion, subtly bending the space-time around it.
These two flowers formed the foundation of the seal, supporting the other Dao Flowers above them like branches of an ancient tree.
The moment he fully absorbed the Immortal Seal, Li Hao immediately felt the power of time and space merging with his body.
He could move his hand and shift space itself, as if the very fabric of reality bent to his will.
This level of control surpassed the limitations of immortal energy—even if an opponent had ten times, or even a hundred times his immortal power, he could still manipulate them like a plaything.
One year had passed since Li Hao arrived at Sword Abyss.
Over this year, he had:
Refined the Nine Flowers Immortal Seal, integrating Three Layers of Time Origin Dao.
Advanced his Sword Dao to the Eleventh Stage.
Sharpened his Chess and Painting skills, making further insights.
As the year-end approached, snow began to fall across the land.
The entire Sword Abyss was covered in a pristine white blanket—mountains, halls, and pavilions alike adorned in silver frost.
Through this snowy landscape, Li Tiemu finally returned to the mountain peak.
This time, he did not come back alone—he brought a young man with him.
A strikingly handsome youth with an air of quiet confidence.
"This is your new junior brother—Gu Yan!"
Gathering his disciples in front of Sword Immortal Pavilion, Li Tiemu introduced the boy to Wei Hongye, Li Hao, Yue Xi, and the others.
Gu Yan appeared to be around the same age as Li Hao, both looking like seventeen or eighteen-year-olds.
He had sharp brows and heterochromatic eyes—the upper half of his pupils glowed scarlet like fire, while the lower half shimmered silver-white.
This distinct dual-colored gaze was an unmistakable sign of an extraordinary Dao Physique.
"Gu Yan… Gu Clan?"
Wei Hongye's expression subtly changed upon hearing his surname, as if recalling an ancient legend.
Li Tiemu, aware that some of his disciples had significant backgrounds, didn't bother concealing the truth.
"That's right," he confirmed. "He is a descendant of the Ancient Immortal Bloodline—a member of the Gu Clan."
"More importantly…"
"He possesses the Innate Sword Immortal Physique."
The moment those words left Li Tiemu's mouth, both Wei Hongye and Yue Xi visibly reacted.
Li Hao and Xu Jianming, however, exchanged puzzled glances. They had never heard of this bloodline before.
But Wei Hongye and Yue Xi's pupils contracted sharply—they stared at Gu Yan, their eyes filled with shock.
Among the countless races of the True Realm, the Ancient Immortal Bloodline was incredibly rare.
This bloodline belonged to a nearly extinct, top-tier race.
According to legend, those of the Ancient Immortal Bloodline were born with unparalleled divine abilities.
And now—
This youth standing before them possessed the legendary Innate Sword Immortal Physique—
The most powerful physique for sword cultivation in existence.
Yue Xi gazed at him, her eyes filled with undeniable astonishment.
The young man named Gu Yan remained expressionless, his demeanor calm—almost numb. He simply stood there, listening to Li Tiemu's introduction without speaking, without looking around, his gaze only slightly lifted toward the pavilion behind Li Tiemu.
Li Tiemu, noticing the shocked expressions on Li Hao and Xu Jianming, felt extremely pleased. With a smile, he explained:
"Do you see the plaque behind me? Sword Immortal Pavilion. Among all sword cultivators, the highest realm is the Sword Immortal!"
"And those with the Innate Sword Immortal Physique naturally grasp the origin of swordsmanship from birth. In other words—"
"From the moment they begin to practice the sword, they are already capable of offering their sword to the Dao!"
Hearing this, both Li Hao and Xu Jianming couldn't remain calm.
Li Hao had always thought he was the one breaking all the rules—but now he realized there were others even more absurd than him.
Starting with the ability to offer one's sword to the Dao?
Xu Jianming was utterly dumbfounded. First, two monstrous junior disciples joined, and now they had an even more terrifying one?
"Master, where did you even find this one?"
Xu Jianming couldn't help but ask.
Li Tiemu's eyes gleamed with pride. "Naturally, it was fate. And our Sword Abyss possesses the strongest foundation in sword cultivation, enough to allow him to fully develop his Sword Immortal Physique. One day, he may even have a chance to reach the pinnacle of the Supreme Sword Dao!"
Of course, what he didn't mention was that this prodigy had actually been snatched away from Wanshan Sword Tower right under their noses.
Otherwise, why else would he spend his days running around outside the sect instead of staying put?
Xu Jianming, however, didn't buy his nonsense. He rolled his eyes slightly, though deep down, he was skeptical.
"Did Master recently get blessed by the Heavens? How did his luck suddenly explode like this?"
At that moment, Li Tiemu turned to Gu Yan and said,
"The entry-level sword technique of Sword Abyss—I will demonstrate it once. You must fully grasp it within seven days."
Gu Yan's expression remained unfazed, but the moment he heard the sword technique, the numbness in his eyes seemed to gain a glimmer of sharpness.
Yue Xi, on the other hand, looked toward Li Hao, seemingly trying to seek some shared sentiment.
She had investigated—when Wei Hongye and Xu Jianming entered, they were not required to master the technique within half a month.
Yet when she and Li Hao joined, they were given only fifteen days, a testament to their extraordinary talents.
And now—
This newcomer was only given seven days?
Li Tiemu raised his sword and began demonstrating.
The Immortal's Guidance Sword Art flowed gracefully, carrying the profound essence of "the ultimate simplicity of the Dao."
Watching Li Tiemu's sword movements, Li Hao's gaze sharpened—deep in thought.
This sword demonstration was at the level of "Origin Insight", which was precisely the level Li Hao himself had reached.
But—was this truly the full extent of his Master's abilities?
As soon as Li Tiemu finished, before he could say anything—
Gu Yan suddenly closed his eyes.
A few moments later—he opened them again, and in his palm, a sword materialized.
Without hesitation—
He began to execute the sword art.
Li Hao saw his initial stance and instantly understood something.
Without a word, he stepped back.
Yue Xi, however, was slightly slower to react.
She barely managed to dodge before the sword edge nearly grazed her, her expression shifting to shock.
Gu Yan's movements—
It was the Immortal's Guidance Sword Art!
At first, his execution was slightly rough, but in just a few breaths—
A Dao rhythm began to form.
He had entered the entry-level stage!
After seeing it just once!
And—
His execution grew smoother and more refined by the second. The subtleties of the technique began unfolding effortlessly within his movements.
At that moment—
Not only Yue Xi, but Wei Hongye and Xu Jianming were equally stunned, staring at their new junior brother in complete disbelief.
Li Tiemu himself froze for a moment—then suddenly grinned from ear to ear, his face glowing with excitement.
What a treasure he had picked up!
Already, his mind was envisioning the future—
When the Southern Region Tournament arrived, how this disciple would shock all the top sects and forces!
"Good! Good! Good!"
Once Gu Yan finished executing the sword technique, Li Tiemu was beaming—practically laughing like a child with candy.
"Incredible! As expected of the Innate Sword Immortal Physique! With your talent—and the foundation of our Sword Abyss—one day, you will stand at the pinnacle of the Supreme Sword Dao!"
His excitement was overwhelming.
Then, without wasting another moment, he said,
"Come! I will take you to Sword Abyss Tower!"
Wei Hongye and Xu Jianming were left speechless.
They could tell that their Master was in an extremely good mood—and that he was paying special attention to this new disciple.
But more than that—
Gu Yan's talent was so overwhelming that jealousy was impossible.
Yue Xi, however, had a complicated expression.
She lightly bit her lower lip, her fingers subtly tightening.
When Li Tiemu had brought her into the sect, he had valued her highly—but had entrusted her training to Wei Hongye.
Yet now—his attitude toward Gu Yan was entirely different.
Xu Jianming exhaled, shaking his head.
"It looks like our new junior brother will surpass us in no time. I just sensed his cultivation—he's also at True Immortal Third Realm!"
He glanced at Li Hao and Yue Xi, sighing.
Wei Hongye's eyes flickered with thought.
"Our Master has been traveling frequently to recruit prodigious disciples. The upcoming Heavenly Sect Rankings are of utmost importance, and every major power is competing fiercely. We… no longer have a chance to participate."
She paused, then looked toward Li Hao and Yue Xi.
"The responsibility falls on you two now."
Yue Xi silently gazed at the faint footprints in the snow, watching as the Master and Gu Yan disappeared into the distance.
She withdrew her gaze and left without saying a word.
Li Hao, brushing snowflakes off his robes, glanced at the snowfall.
This weather was perfect for hotpot and barbecue.
Without hesitation, he turned to Wei Hongye and Xu Jianming.
"Come to my courtyard. Let's have a meal."
Hearing that Li Hao was cooking, Wei Hongye and Xu Jianming exchanged a look of surprise.
From Yue Xi, they could feel an overwhelming sense of urgency and pressure.
But from Li Hao—
He had remained completely at ease, as if nothing could shake him.
Even when Yue Xi surpassed him—he showed no anxiety at all.
Was he really this unconcerned? Or was he simply hiding it well?
"No need for a meal. There will be plenty of opportunities in the future. Junior Brother… no, now I should call you Seventh Junior Brother. You should focus on your cultivation as well."
Wei Hongye said.
Xu Jianming nodded, patting Li Hao on the shoulder. "Our lineage is counting on you two to hold the fort. Don't lose to Elder Zhou's disciples."
Li Hao felt helpless. He had invited them as part of his cultivation, yet they clearly didn't see it that way.
But since they refused, he didn't insist. A good meal will always find its worthy guests.
Nodding in farewell, Li Hao returned to his courtyard.
Thinking about cooking, he was suddenly reminded of the corpse of the Ancient Demon—and couldn't help but swallow slightly.
Among all the ingredients of the True Realm, none were as nourishing as those from the Ancient Demon Race.
Immediately, he summoned Qi Meng'an, asking how to find them.
Hearing Li Hao mention the Ancient Demons, Qi Meng'an's expression turned serious.
In the True Realm, Ancient Demons were considered the common enemy of all races.
"This is the inner region of the Yan Chu Immortal Dynasty. The Ancient Demon Race rarely invades this deep. If you want to hunt them, you'll have to head to the borderlands and join the Yan Chu Immortal Army. That way, you can also earn military merits, gaining access to immortal dynasty rewards and sealed treasures—all of which are rare resources!"
Qi Meng'an explained.
Although he came from a royal lineage within the Nine Abyss Dream, in the grand scheme of the Yan Chu Immortal Dynasty, that lineage was no more than a small village.
Hearing this, Li Hao's mind shifted.
According to Senior Sister Wei, their First Senior Brother was currently at the border slaying Ancient Demons. However, this was under the orders of Sword Abyss, likely because Yan Chu Immortal Dynasty had summoned their forces—and Sword Abyss had dispatched him as a representative.
"So, if I want to hunt Ancient Demons, the battlefield is the only way."
Li Hao's eyes gleamed. The vitality of an Ancient Demon was worth the risk.
If he could condense his Divine Bones and refine his Primordial Spirit to its peak—
Then he would truly be nearly indestructible.
Even if his physical body was destroyed, his True God-level soul would still exist eternally.
At that point, even Immortal Monarchs might not be able to kill him completely!
But before heading to the Yan Chu battlefield, he planned to visit Sword Abyss Tower to select a sword technique.
He had been in Sword Abyss for a year and hadn't claimed any sword techniques yet. That wouldn't sit well with anyone.
The snow had finally stopped when Li Hao made his way alone to Sword Abyss Tower.
The tower stood imposing, rising from the valley like a fortress, its surroundings shrouded in dim light.
The rock walls bore countless sword scars, remnants of generations of sword cultivators.
Before arriving, Li Hao had heard the rumors—
That when Li Tiemu brought in his new disciple, Gu Yan, the young man had been acknowledged by three top-tier sword techniques.
And because of Li Tiemu's favoritism, Gu Yan had been allowed to take all three techniques at once, an exception to the rule.
Now—
Li Hao arrived alone.
Looking up at the tower, he concealed his Myriad Manifestations Aura.
Here, sword techniques chose their master—not the other way around.
To receive recognition, he needed to unleash his full Sword Dao and Sword Intent, allowing the sword techniques to evaluate him. Only then would he have the right to choose among them.
Standing before the Selection Sword Platform, Li Hao removed all disguises.
His sword intent radiated from the center of his brows.
The Sovereign Sword Dao.
This was the core of his sword cultivation, encompassing all sword techniques he had mastered. Even the Azure Sky Sword Art, one of the Ten Supreme Immortal Arts, had already been integrated into his Sovereign Sword Dao.
Above his forehead, the Nine Flowers Immortal Seal faintly manifested—
Time, Space, Water, Earth, Form, Control… Six of the Nine Sequences.
Their profound truths had all been partially merged into his Sovereign Sword Dao.
The core philosophy of the Sovereign Sword Dao was—
"To sever what the heart wills, what the heart desires."
But to sever, one must first possess.
With the fusion of so many Origin Dao insights, his Sovereign Sword Dao could now even distort time and space.
Its true strength was something even Li Hao himself was uncertain of.
Ever since stepping out of the Heavenly Catastrophe Imperial Hall, he had yet to truly fight at full power.
Now—
As his Sovereign Sword Dao manifested, the space and time around him began to ripple and shift.
Countless sword insights surrounded him, forming illusions of endless sword shadows.
His presence exuded a sharpness that was impossible to ignore.
A dominant, overbearing, and absolute Sword Intent surged from his body—
For the first time, this was his true nature, the raw edge of his heart.
Then—
The tower trembled.
At first, it was a faint vibration.
But in moments, it grew stronger and stronger, until the entire Sword Abyss Tower began to quake.
Finally, Li Hao realized—
The ancient swords embedded in the tower's walls were shaking violently.
As if trying to break free.
Whoosh!
The first sword flew out—
Followed by another—then another—
Within moments, hundreds of ancient swords had shot into the air, forming a massive storm of blades.
They whistled through the sky, swirling into a sword tempest around the entire Sword Abyss Tower.
They also encircled Li Hao, forming a sword vortex, like a hurricane of blades.
Li Hao looked up, momentarily stunned.
He hadn't expected so many techniques to respond to his sword aura.
But—
At the very top of Sword Abyss Tower, several of the most ancient swords remained embedded.
They trembled slightly—
But had yet to fully emerge.
However—
As the quaking intensified, a sudden burst of sharp ringing echoed through the air.
Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!
One by one, the top-tier ancient swords finally broke free—
Their immense sword pressure descended, falling directly in front of Li Hao.
The rest of the sword storm seemed to shrink back, subdued by their overwhelming presence.
Li Hao knew immediately—
These were the true top-tier sword techniques of Sword Abyss Tower.
Just as he was about to make his selection, something unexpected happened—
The ancient swords suddenly parted to the sides.
At the same time—
A golden divine sword shot out from the very summit of the tower.
Its radiant glow spread across the sky, emitting a blinding golden brilliance.
The sword looked ancient beyond comprehension, its surface engraved with countless rotating Dao patterns.
It was unlike any sword he had ever seen—
And its presence alone silenced the entire Sword Abyss Tower.
On the blade of the sword, a line of small characters was inscribed. As it slowly descended, the words became clear before Li Hao's eyes:
"One sword to cut down all in the world, in the next life still a god among swords."
A mere fourteen characters, yet they radiated an overwhelming dominance—unyielding, arrogant, and fierce.
Li Hao raised his head, his gaze landing on the hilt, where three words were engraved:
Sword God Technique!
For a moment, he was stunned. He had seen countless names of sword techniques before, but never one so blunt and direct.
Around him, the other ancient swords recoiled in fear, all retreating to the sides. Even the swirling storm of swords widened, as if instinctively keeping its distance.
Li Hao's eyes gleamed. There was no need to hesitate— even a fool could tell that this sword technique was among the absolute best in Sword Abyss Tower.
He reached out and grasped the hilt.
In an instant—
Golden light enveloped him, blinding his vision, pulling him into a vast, golden world.
A deep, ancient voice murmured in the background.
Then, Li Hao saw it—
A peerless figure standing alone, sword in hand, facing an endless army of immortals, gods, demons, and fiends.
In the next instant—
One sword strike!
The dazzling sword light consumed everything.
The brilliance was so intense that Li Hao could see nothing else.
By the time his vision returned, the countless figures were gone.
But that invincible sword intent remained, etched deep into his heart, carved into his very Sword Soul.
When he finally snapped back to reality—
The sword in his hand had vanished.
The storm of swords had dispersed.
All the ancient swords had returned to their original positions, as if nothing had happened.
It was as if the entire experience had been a dream.
But the sword technique imprinted in his heart told him otherwise—this was real.
He opened his system panel, and a new entry had appeared:
[Sword God Technique (Quasi-Emperor Level): First Sword—Mastered]
So it wasn't a dream after all.
And—
This Sword God Technique was a Quasi-Emperor Level sword art—only one step below the legendary Emperor Swords.
Even the Azure Sky Sword Art—one of the Ten Supreme Immortal Arts—was only at Perfection Level.
Yet his current Sword Dao had only barely mastered the first sword of this technique.
The Sword God Technique had nine levels, each simply named:
First Sword.
Second Sword.
Third Sword.
…all the way to the Ninth Sword.
Just from these brutally direct names, Li Hao could tell that the creator of this technique was an incomparable, arrogant, and absolute being.
After leaving Sword Abyss Tower, Li Hao returned to his courtyard.
His next goal—
Head to the Yan Chu Immortal Dynasty's border and hunt Ancient Demons.
However, when he expressed this intention, Qi Meng'an immediately stopped him, explaining Sword Abyss' rules.
Li Hao then sought out Xu Jianming for clarification.
That was when he learned—any disciple under True Immortal Fifth Realm was forbidden from venturing outside for training.
His previous trip to Futu City? That was just a casual outing.
"Wanting to train at the border is a good thing," Xu Jianming said.
"But if your cultivation is too low, you'd be nothing more than a foot soldier."
"Anyone accepted into our Heavenly Sect is a genius. No one is allowed to waste their potential as mere cannon fodder."
He then asked about Li Hao's current cultivation level.
Li Hao could have concealed it with his Myriad Manifestation Aura, but since Xu Jianming had asked directly, he chose not to hide it.
When Xu Jianming learned that Li Hao was only at True Immortal First Realm, he was stunned speechless.
Then, without hesitation, he patted Li Hao on the shoulder and said:
"Train properly. If you need immortal stones, come borrow some from me."
Though he called it a loan, the fact that he was even offering was already rare.
Li Hao sighed.
If going down the mountain required cultivation verification, then he had no choice but to train first.
Fortunately—
With 30,000 immortal stones saved up, combined with the power of the Star Meridian, the Heavenly Sect's abundant immortal energy, and his various enhancements, his training speed would be unparalleled.
One month later—
True Immortal Second Realm.
His immortal energy doubled from before.
Two months later—
True Immortal Third Realm.
His immortal energy doubled again.
At that moment, he received news—
His new junior brother, Gu Yan, had gone to challenge Imperial Sword Cliff and successfully left his name on the monument.
And—
He had surpassed Yue Xi's ranking.
Three months in the sect, and he had already left his mark on Imperial Sword Cliff.
The entire Sword Abyss was once again in an uproar.
Moon Pool Courtyard.
Yue Xi had just finished training.
As she wiped the sweat from her brow, her housekeeper rushed in with the news.
The silk handkerchief in her hand instantly shredded into pieces.
"He left his name above mine?"
Her fingers trembled slightly.
Three months?
Back then, she had taken an entire year before she managed to carve her name onto the cliff.
She had always believed that her talent in Sword Dao was unmatched.
Even that freakishly talented Li Hao, with his Dao Heart at Nine Rings, had been overshadowed by her in swordsmanship.
After all—
A strong Dao Heart was one thing. Swordsmanship was another.
But now—
This so-called 'Innate Sword Immortal Physique' freak was making her feel something entirely different.
A mixture of complicated emotions swirled within her.
Her expression shifted. Then, suddenly, she asked:
"What about Hao Tian?"
The housekeeper immediately bowed and replied:
"Young Master Hao? He… has shown no movements. He has not challenged Imperial Sword Cliff."
Hearing this—
The suffocating weight on Yue Xi's chest finally lifted slightly.
She had once heard Senior Sister Wei say:
"Any disciple who can leave their name on Imperial Sword Cliff within three years is already a prodigy."
Her own feat had been far beyond that standard, which was why her accomplishment had caused a stir back then.
So—
With Li Hao still not making a move, at least he was still behind her.
She took a deep breath.
And—without another word, she turned back to resume training.
Yet—
Even though she had found a temporary sense of relief, the reality remained—
The Innate Sword Immortal Physique… could she truly not surpass it?
She refused to believe that.
She had been labeled as a harbinger of disaster since birth.
She had never believed in fate.
And if fate was truly set in stone—
Then she would break it.
Six months after Gu Yan's shocking feat, Li Hao reached True Immortal Fourth Realm.
Most of his time was spent in cultivation, but in his free moments, he either played chess with the old master or competed in other arts against fellow disciples.
Then—
On this particular day—
Just as he finished his training—
A sharp, resonating sword hum tore through the air above his courtyard.
Immediately after—
A voice echoed from the sky, carrying a commanding presence.
It was Li Tiemu.
"All disciples, assemble immediately."