Chapter 493: The Origin Secret Realm
"Your humble son pays respects to Father Emperor."
"Your humble son pays respects to Father Emperor."
The royal family members on the immortal platform, including Chu Tianhuang standing in the first position, all knelt down.
The other royal family members below the immortal platform also knelt and bowed their heads, not daring to even glance up.
The other sects, including the Fumo Division, the Ten Thousand Year Aristocratic Families, and other influential forces, also reacted quickly, hastily kneeling and paying their respects.
The two figures standing in the mist beside the Imperial Palace, Yuan Xinggang and Shangguan Hong, slightly bowed, showing their respect. With their status and their relationship with the Chu Emperor, they no longer needed to perform such common formalities.
Li Hao, following the others, also intended to kneel, but suddenly, a gentle force supported his body.
At the same time, a powerful yet kind voice echoed in his mind, "Where is your master now?"
Li Hao was momentarily stunned, looking around in confusion. Then his gaze landed on the towering figure of the Imperial Palace.
"Your master has a connection with me. You need not worry. Did your master never mention it to you?"
The voice sounded again.
Li Hao finally realized that the one speaking was none other than the Chu Emperor, the ruler of the Nine Thousand Immortal Cities and the vast territories of Yan Chu.
In the True World, he was a top-tier power, likely second only to the Immortal Emperor standing at the pinnacle of the pyramid.
"How did Your Majesty know?" Li Hao sent a voice transmission, full of curiosity.
At this point, there was no need to deny it. The Chu Emperor's words didn't sound like deceit. Moreover, given the emperor's strength and status, if he harbored ill intentions, he wouldn't need to resort to deceit, as he had many ways to achieve his goal.
"Your Immortal Body is the Ancestral Immortal Body. Except for the families who were granted favor by him back then, this technique has not been passed on. And those families have long since perished, their traces erased..."
The Chu Emperor's voice sounded calm.
Li Hao was slightly taken aback. He didn't expect that his Immortal Body would reveal his identity.
However, since Gu Changming could discern his origin based on his actions, it wasn't so surprising that the Chu Emperor could recognize him too.
He responded, "I see."
"Where is your master now?" The Chu Emperor asked again.
Li Hao responded through a voice transmission, "Your Majesty, I just coincidentally acquired some inheritance. I'm not even considered a personal disciple, and I know nothing about him. Perhaps when I become his personal disciple, I'll learn more."
His words were relatively cautious. Though the Chu Emperor seemed to have no ulterior motive, Li Hao still kept a bit of wariness.
After hearing Li Hao's words, the Chu Emperor's voice fell silent for a moment. Then, it spoke again, seemingly with a tone of regret:
"I didn't expect that with your talent, you still aren't a personal disciple. That's... back then, his three personal disciples were truly remarkable, far surpassing this. They were the true geniuses of this world..."
The murmuring faded away.
Then, Li Hao saw the gates of the Imperial Palace fully open. A mighty and majestic voice rang out, which was the voice of the Chu Emperor, who had just transmitted the message:
"You all come from the Nine Thousand Immortal Cities and will soon fight for Yan Chu against the six kingdoms. The top ten, come forward!"
Chu Xiangtian immediately turned his head, signaling Chu Tianhuang to step forward.
The other royal family members, including the seventh-ranked princess, showed expressions of joy, standing up one by one and flying toward the Imperial Palace.
Li Hao, along with Xing Lan and others, also followed suit. The ten of them stood outside the Imperial Palace, surrounded by surging clouds, their figures extraordinary, attracting the gaze of all.
"The top-ranked will receive a Fragment of Destiny!"
With the Chu Emperor's words, a streak of light shot out from the Imperial Palace, radiating seven-colored glow, and landed in front of Chu Tianhuang.
Upon hearing this, the others' eyes brightened, full of excitement and envy.
A Fragment of Destiny was an invaluable treasure that allowed one to comprehend the power of destiny.
Among the countless paths of the True World, the Nine Sequences were supreme, but destiny reigned above all.
The difficult-to-understand Time and Space origins were nothing compared to the power of destiny!
The best way to comprehend the power of destiny was by using a Fragment of Destiny!
No one expected the Yan Chu Imperial Family to be so generous, bestowing such a treasure.
Even Chu Tianhuang, who usually appeared indifferent, couldn't help but show a bit of excitement. He quickly raised his hand to accept it and then bowed in gratitude.
"The second place will receive a top-tier Immortal Weapon, a drop of Imperial Blood Essence, and seven years of cultivation comprehension in the Origin Realm!"
The Chu Emperor continued with the rewards.
Two beams of light flew out from the Imperial Palace, one was a long sword radiating an intense icy force, with the blade seemingly accompanied by a phantom of a deep blue ice phoenix that let out a long cry, exuding terrifying might and momentum, suppressing the aura of all ten of the top-ranked individuals! Just this immortal weapon alone seemed capable of skewering all ten of them into a string.
Li Hao vaguely felt that in his Heavenly Space, Tao Wu was emitting an excited intent, sending a transmission to Li Hao:
"Such a delicious scent, I want to devour it!"
"Can you devour it?"
Li Hao, feeling the might of the immortal weapon, was somewhat startled by Tao Wu's words.
"If master and he were of the same realm, I am confident I could!"
Tao Wu excitedly responded.
Li Hao felt Tao Wu's bloodlust and ferocity, yet also sensed the confidence in its words. No wonder it was one of the top immortal weapons left in the Imperial Hall.
In the war long ago, it was likely that many immortal weapons of the same level as Tao Wu, or even stronger ones, were lost on the battlefield.
At this moment, behind the immortal weapon was a dense silver-black light, like an ever-dividing silver-black lightning.
Within the light, there was an overwhelming sense of authority, making everyone present feel a heaviness in their hearts, an indescribable sensation.
Standing in second place, Bo Ya Xue Jian's eyes sparkled for the first time. The weapon and the Imperial Blood Essence seemed to be prepared for him, and the attributes of the immortal weapon made him feel a great affinity with it.
He raised his hand to take the two coveted treasures, which landed in his hands.
"Third place, the same rewards."
The Chu Emperor continued with the bestowals.
Next, the same treasures shot out, but this time the attributes of the immortal weapon were a brilliant golden color, exuding a heavy force—another type of immortal weapon.
"My heavens, two drops of Imperial Blood Essence in a row!"
"Even the royal family would not dare to bestow such rewards!"
"This is Imperial Blood Essence, if used by someone without imperial blood, it can transfer their bloodline into imperial blood. If used by someone with imperial blood, it will increase the concentration of their imperial blood and grant an opportunity to receive imperial-level teachings!"
The disciples and elders from the various sects below the immortal platform were in an uproar. Some were envious, others wished they could be up there receiving such an opportunity.
"Others will receive an immortal weapon, along with the **Imperial Family's Top-Tier Immortal Body Battle Method: Overlord Immortal Body, and seven years of opportunities to comprehend the Origin Realm!"
The Chu Emperor's voice echoed, stable and heavy, but it reverberated throughout the world.
Seven beams of light shot out, each carrying an immortal weapon. However, none were of the same rank as the one received by Bo Ya Xue Jian, though they were still powerful enough to be used by a Celestial Monarch at the tenth level!
Moreover, seven streams of light entered the foreheads of Li Hao and the other seven. Immediately, a flood of information rushed in, including a golden Immortal Body Battle Method, which began to float in their consciousness.
"Young man, what is your name?"
While Li Hao was observing the Immortal Body Battle Method, the voice of the Chu King resounded, his gaze falling on Li Hao.
Upon hearing the Chu Emperor's words, Xing Lan and the others beside him looked at Li Hao in surprise, clearly not expecting the Chu Emperor to call out to him.
"Li Hao."
Li Hao quickly regained his senses and responded with a cupped fist.
At that moment, his name spread throughout the Nine Thousand Immortal Cities, becoming known to the world!
"You have reached this point as a True Immortal, and the Overlord Immortal Body Battle Method is meant for Celestial Monarchs. It is not of much use to you at this time. I grant you a Fragment of Imperial Blood Essence. Take good care of it."
The Chu Emperor said slowly. Then, a beam of light, radiating imperial might, flew toward Li Hao.
Li Hao was momentarily stunned but raised his hand to catch it. It was a drop of blood, heavy like ten thousand mountains.
He quickly thanked the emperor.
The others looked at Li Hao with envy in their eyes. Some had complicated expressions, while others secretly resented him.
The Imperial Blood Essence was an incredibly rare item, and for Li Hao to receive it was an unexpected stroke of luck.
The rewards for the top ten concluded, and the Chu Emperor raised his hand, drawing a large arc in the void. Within the arc, another world seemed to be reflected, resembling a secret realm.
"Those representing my Yan Chu to fight in the South Region, you may train in the Chaotic Secret Realm for these seven years. Those who perform well will be granted an opportunity to train and comprehend the Origin Secret Realm!"
Upon hearing this, the disciples of all sects below the immortal platform erupted in excitement again. The disciples who had failed to make it into the top thousand were stunned, stomping their feet in regret for missing this tremendous opportunity.
The Chaotic Secret Realm was a famous sacred place of cultivation within the royal family. Inside it was a chaotic world where many great laws could be easily comprehended.
But the Origin Secret Realm was even more terrifying. It was one of the top secret realms in the entire True World, and only a force like the Yan Chu Imperial Family could control it.
In the Origin Secret Realm, one could observe the foundational laws of various paths with the naked eye. Besides the Nine Sequences, all other laws could easily be captured and comprehended!
If one could cultivate here for an extended period, they could even give birth to a prodigy capable of mastering the Nine Flower Immortal Seal!
This was the top-tier foundation of a great power!
"The Chu Emperor is actually willing to open the Origin Secret Realm on such a large scale!"
"I've heard that even cultivators with third-rate talent can become top-tier geniuses after training in the Origin Secret Realm!"
"Opening the Origin Secret Realm is not easy. The Great Dao tends to become muddled. This is really a huge investment!"
"Previous South Region selection events were never this generous. If I had known, I would have taken every opportunity to break through to Celestial Monarch to secure a spot."
The elders from various sects all had shocked expressions, feeling regretful and lamenting the missed opportunity.
"You all have great fortune this time!"
In Da Meng Jiu Yuan Sect, Li Tiemu looked at Gu Yan and the others, excitedly saying:
"Train hard in the Chaotic Secret Realm and make sure you earn the chance to enter the Origin Secret Realm. Otherwise, the gap between you and Hao Tian will only grow wider!"
"If you can enter the Origin Secret Realm, it will surpass thousands of years of hard cultivation!"
Seeing Li Tiemu's excitement, even Yue Xi, who was somewhat confused about the significance, realized how rare this opportunity was. She couldn't help but clench her fists.
Gu Yan's eyes sparkled, and his expression became determined.
On the immortal platform, Li Hao, hearing the discussions around him, was somewhat surprised. It seemed like the rewards this time were substantial.
However, he wondered if the Origin Secret Realm would offer any benefits or enhancements in his pursuits of the Painting Dao and chess techniques.
"Go ahead."
The Chu Emperor spoke.
The arc he had drawn became vast, and within it, the blurry image of a secret realm could be seen.
Standing in the first position, Chu Tianhuang did not hesitate. He put away the rewards and was the first to leap into the realm.
The others followed quickly.
Li Hao, seeing this, could only follow suit.
After they entered, Zhang Xuan Yu and the others, who had ranked lower, swiftly entered as well.
A sense of spatial displacement filled the air. When Li Hao opened his eyes again, he found himself standing in a vast plain.
In front of the plain were nine towering towers.
At the end of these towers was a chaotic world of mist, like fog drifting above a cliff.
"Immortal Seal Tower."
A royal figure whispered, their eyes showing signs of nostalgia.
"This is the Chaotic Secret Realm?"
Xing Lan surveyed the surroundings and immediately felt a profound difference from the outside world. Occasionally, faint traces of great laws would sweep across the plain, akin to a gentle breeze that could be caught effortlessly.
This delicate sensation amazed her. Training here, as long as one had decent comprehension, could easily turn anyone into a genius!
"This is my first time in the Chaotic Secret Realm. I've heard so much about it. Have your royal family members cultivated here before?"
Nearby, a young genius from Huan Hai Men asked while examining the area with a smile.
The royal princess closest to him glanced at him and said, "We have only heard about it but never been here. Though we are from the royal family, we have also reached our current position through our own intelligence and comprehension. Don't think we only rely on resources and our background to belittle you."
Hearing her words, the young man from Huan Hai Men paused, smiled and said, "Don't be so sensitive. I didn't say anything, just asking casually."
"Hmph."
The royal princess snorted coldly and ignored him.
"Everyone, choose. This is the Immortal Seal Tower. Those who have cultivated the Immortal Seal to a certain level should head to the corresponding tower. The real Origin Secret Realm lies within the tower!"
At this moment, the middle-aged royal behind Bo Ya Xue Jian, ranking third, calmly spoke.
His words carried inherent authority, making people feel convinced.
"Immortal Seal?"
Li Hao and Xing Lan exchanged glances. Compared to the royal family, they obviously lacked much knowledge about this.
"What happens if you forcefully choose a tower above your level of Immortal Seal?"
The young man from Huan Hai Men asked.
"Simple, you won't be able to enter."
The middle-aged royal responded nonchalantly.
The young man looked enlightened and nodded.
At this moment, more and more people were arriving in the Chaotic Secret Realm. Before long, many disciples from other sects, as well as more royals, had gathered around.
With a dragon's roar, Chu Xiang Tian, stepping on the Ancestral Dragon, soared in.
He gazed at the crowd gathering on the plain, listening to the curious murmurs and discussions. He then explained the situation of the Immortal Seal Towers and the Chaotic Secret Realm.
Upon hearing Chu Xiang Tian's words, everyone understood that the nine towers before them were the gateways to the Origin Secret Realm.
"It's too soon, I'll go first."
The royal princess, with an impatient expression, immediately dashed toward the Immortal Seal Tower as soon as Chu Xiang Tian finished speaking.
Seeing her move, the others followed suit.