Chapter 496: Origin City
Above was a vast and chaotic world, its sky shrouded in gray mist, with countless brilliant streaks of light cutting across like a celestial rain of stars.
Li Hao was momentarily stunned by the breathtaking sight. The flowing lights were not merely scenery—they were strands of pure Dao Origins, continuously streaming without end. If one could grasp them and refine their understanding, it would greatly accelerate the comprehension of Dao Origins.
He found himself standing in an ancient and towering city. The city walls were pitch black, immense, and carried a profound sense of antiquity, as if they had stood here for tens of millions of years.
Spreading his divine sense, Li Hao discovered that the city was unimaginably vast, yet it felt eerily empty. Many of the buildings were old and abandoned, with no signs of inhabitants.
The city was silent, but he quickly spotted three figures within it. Apart from Chu Tianhuang and Boya Xuejian, who had arrived earlier, there was also a stranger—a young man clad in an unusual silver robe, exuding an air of nobility.
"Hmm?"
As Li Hao surveyed his surroundings, Chu Tianhuang and Boya Xuejian, who had been doing the same, also sensed his presence.
The two of them were momentarily surprised, their eyes flashing with curiosity. They had already recognized Li Hao's remarkable talent during his battle against Chu Tianzheng. His combat prowess was undeniable, but they hadn't expected that he, too, would arrive at this level.
"You managed to reach the ninth layer? You also possess the Nine-Floral Immortal Seal?"
Chu Tianhuang's gaze sharpened as he flickered into motion, suddenly appearing beside Li Hao. Despite his aged face, his expression carried warmth and goodwill as he asked.
Previously, Li Hao had publicly subdued Chu Tianzheng, even stepping on his imperial body, yet Chu Tianhuang bore no trace of resentment. Instead, he looked at Li Hao with genuine friendliness.
Li Hao could sense the restrained yet immense power within him. This royal powerhouse was on an entirely different level compared to Chu Tianzheng.
"Where is this place?"
Li Hao nodded slightly and inquired curiously.
He had spent quite some time meeting the Chu Emperor, but judging by their expressions, these two had just arrived.
It seemed that the hall where he had met the Chu Emperor had an immensely strong temporal influence, causing time to flow at a drastically different pace.
At that moment, the air suddenly turned colder. A figure dressed in pure white flickered and appeared at Li Hao's side—Boya Xuejian.
"A True Immortal defeating a second-stage Celestial Lord… Not bad."
Boya Xuejian observed Li Hao with an approving smile, his demeanor exuding a mutual recognition between prodigies.
"You overpraise me."
Li Hao responded humbly.
Chu Tianhuang, meanwhile, answered his earlier question. "The Origin Secret Realm consists of nine layers, corresponding to different levels of the Immortal Seal. This is the ninth layer, the closest to the Dao Origins. Look above us—those are strands of Dao Origins. In other layers, chaotic forces obstruct visibility, making it much harder to perceive these origins directly. Cultivating them would also be more difficult."
"So it truly makes sense that the strong only become stronger."
Li Hao commented.
The Nine-Floral Immortal Seal was already an apex existence, and being in this realm provided even greater advantages. The disparity between those who could cultivate here and those who couldn't would only widen further.
"However, these are just common worldly Dao paths—not the Nine Sequences. Since we're in the Origin Secret Realm, it's best to focus on comprehending the Nine-Sequences Origins."
Boya Xuejian interjected.
Chu Tianhuang nodded and said, "If you want to comprehend the Nine Sequences, you'll need to enter one of the Four Great Origin Cities. This place is merely the Chaos Gateway City."
"The Four Great Origin Cities?"
Li Hao and Boya Xuejian exchanged intrigued looks.
Chu Tianhuang showed no signs of holding back information. He remained approachable and continued in a calm tone. "It is said that an Immortal Emperor once established five Origin Cities within the Origin Secret Realm: the City of Time and Space, the City of Five Elements, the City of Form and Dominion, the City of Chaos, and lastly, the City of Fate."
"Each city allows cultivators to comprehend a corresponding foundational Dao. However, only four remain. The City of Fate disappeared countless ages ago and has been lost ever since. Some believe the Heavenly Dao of the True Realm deliberately concealed it, preventing immortals from prying into and altering their own destinies. Others say some unknown force invaded and obliterated it."
He shook his head. "Regardless of the reason, ever since the City of Fate vanished, cultivating the Dao of Fate has become nearly impossible. Those who had previously mastered it gradually faded from existence, and their progress stalled indefinitely."
As expected of a royal lineage—the secrets he knew were immense. Li Hao listened intently.
It was always said that Space and Time ruled supreme, while Fate was the pinnacle of all paths. Before Fate, all other Daos paled in comparison.
If one could comprehend the Dao of Fate, they could reverse their own destiny. Such power was absolutely domineering—invincible in the same realm, leaving no room for argument.
"So… are we heading to the Origin Cities now?"
Boya Xuejian's eyes flickered with contemplation. As a Chaos Snow Spirit, he cultivated the Water Dao Origin. If they were heading to the Origin Cities, then the Five Elements Origin City would be his ideal destination.
"Hmm."
Chu Tianhuang nodded and said, "This is a rare opportunity. Comprehending the Nine Sequences is the most valuable pursuit. However, if we want to reach the Origin Cities, we must first cross the Heavenly Dao Bridge."
As if anticipating Li Hao and Boya Xuejian's questions, he continued, "But before heading to the Heavenly Dao Bridge, we should first meet the Grand Tutor. Over the next seven years, if we encounter any difficulties, we can seek his assistance. This place isn't exclusive to Yan Chu—other six great Immortal Dynasties also have access. For example, that young man over there, judging by his attire, should be from the Jingtian Immortal Dynasty."
Hearing this, Li Hao and Boya Xuejian discreetly extended their divine senses to observe the silver-robed youth. The young man had clearly noticed them as well, yet his gaze remained incredibly calm, exuding supreme confidence.
Anyone who made it to the ninth layer of the Chaos Gateway City was undoubtedly a bearer of the Nine-Floral Immortal Seal—an elite existence, standing at the pinnacle of their peers.
"This will be interesting… seven years from now."
Boya Xuejian's eyes gleamed with battle intent and anticipation. Suddenly, he turned to Li Hao and said, "You use a sword as well. Once you catch up to my cultivation, we should have a proper match."
"Alright."
Li Hao nodded. From that statement alone, it was clear that Boya Xuejian also followed the path of the sword.
Chu Tianhuang glanced at Boya Xuejian. Previously, he had tried to recruit him, hoping to secure a strong ally for his future struggle for the throne.
But Boya Xuejian had declined. His ambitions lay outside Yan Chu.
Now, he was extending a similar invitation to Li Hao. Although Li Hao was still in the True Immortal Realm, his potential was unrivaled in Yan Chu. If he could secure such a genius as an ally, his chances against his monstrous elder brothers in the future would improve significantly.
"Ah, it's been years since we've had new arrivals."
"Everyone, come take a look! See whose descendants have arrived and take them in!"
Suddenly, voices echoed throughout the city—some aged and hoarse, some hearty and laughing, others carrying a touch of elegant charm.
From within Chaos Gateway City, numerous auras flickered into view.
Before Li Hao and the others could react, they felt a shift in their vision. In an instant, a white-haired elder had appeared before them.
"Hmm?"
The elder studied the three of them, his eyes flashing with a hint of surprise. "Three of you?"
Clearly, he hadn't expected three bearers of the Nine-Floral Immortal Seal to arrive at once.
"It has been so long… but it seems Yan Chu's national fortune has strengthened once again."
The elder laughed heartily, but soon, his gaze settled on Li Hao. His eyes revealed a trace of intrigue. He sensed that Li Hao's soul was exceptionally young—his Soul Lifespan was surprisingly low.
However, he did not mention it aloud. Instead, he turned his gaze toward Chu Tianhuang and asked, "Which prince do I have the honor of meeting?"
"Chu Tianhuang greets the Grand Tutor."
Chu Tianhuang immediately bowed deeply.
The white-haired elder, dressed in a black Grand Tutor's robe, lifted his hand, preventing him from fully bowing. His eyes swept over Li Hao and Boya Xuejian before saying, "Come with me."
With a flick of his sleeve, the trio felt their surroundings shift once more. When their vision stabilized, they found themselves in a courtyard.
The courtyard had an aged appearance but was surprisingly vast. Several interconnected pools formed a flowing stream, their waters glistening.
To Li Hao's astonishment, he spotted Dao-infused Spirit Fishes swimming in the pools—creatures formed from condensed Dao Runes. If cooked properly, they could greatly enhance one's perception of the Dao.
Among the fallen leaves, three to five phoenix trees stood tall, their golden foliage scattering across the ground. A stone chessboard rested under the trees, its surface covered with fallen leaves. The pieces on the board were locked in a fierce game, yet only one person was seated at the table.
"Before anything else, let's talk about the rules of Chaos Gateway City."
The Grand Tutor settled into a nearby chair, lifting his hand slightly.
Instantly, Li Hao felt a subtle shift—time within the courtyard had slowed dramatically.
This courtyard was a self-contained domain, its temporal flow manipulated to extend conversations without impeding their external cultivation.
However, while daily activities and combat wouldn't be affected by the time dilation, the comprehension of the Dao would. The fluctuation of time would distort the perception of Dao Runes, making them vague and harder to grasp. Thus, using this time flow for training would be pointless—it would only waste time and unnecessarily consume one's Soul Lifespan.
"Within the city, personal duels are strictly forbidden, except in special circumstances. If a fight breaks out, the City Lord of Chaos Gateway City will intervene immediately. He has the authority to expel you, and not even I would be able to stop him."
The Grand Tutor said, "But outside the city, you must be careful. There are princes from other Immortal Dynasties, as well as some old monsters who earned great merit and were rewarded with training here. If you encounter them, keep your distance immediately. Even I may not be able to rescue you in time!"
The three of them nodded seriously, taking his words to heart.
"You all have immortal weapons, correct?"
The Grand Tutor glanced at the three of them and continued, "Fortunately, this Origin Secret Realm does not allow those at the Immortal King Realm to enter. The strongest here are at most Immortal Monarch Realm. If your immortal weapons are of high enough quality, they can provide some protection and buy you time to escape."
"Here, take my golden talismans. Keep them on you at all times. If you encounter danger, crush them immediately, and I will arrive instantly."
He handed out three golden talismans, one to each of them.
"Why can't Immortal Kings enter here?"
Li Hao asked as he accepted the talisman, his curiosity piqued.
The Grand Tutor gave him a glance and explained, "Immortal Kings condense an Immortal Nation within their bodies. The domain power of an Immortal Nation is repelled by the Origin World, making it impossible for them to enter."
Chu Tianhuang added, "My father stationed the Grand Tutor here because he is invincible among Immortal Monarchs. Only someone of his caliber could maintain order here. If it were any other Immortal Monarch at the tenth level, they might not be able to hold this place."
Hearing Chu Tianhuang's subtle flattery, the Grand Tutor stroked his beard and smiled with satisfaction. "As expected of a prince, you're well-informed. However, I wouldn't call myself invincible—though, I suppose, dealing with most Immortal Monarchs wouldn't be much trouble."
Chu Tianhuang grinned and said, "If even the Grand Tutor refuses to claim invincibility, then who else dares?"
The Grand Tutor quickly waved his hand. "That's too much, far too much."
Yet, his smile deepened, clearly enjoying the praise.
Li Hao and Boya Xuejian exchanged glances. Though it was clear that Chu Tianhuang was buttering him up, the fact that someone of his stature spoke so highly of the Grand Tutor was proof that this elder was far from ordinary.
"The Grand Tutor is the War God of our Immortal Monarch Realm experts. To guard the Chaos City in the Origin Secret Realm, he voluntarily gave up his chance to break through to the Immortal King Realm. But even if he were an Immortal King, he could still fight on equal footing with others of that level!"
Chu Tianhuang transmitted this message directly to Li Hao.
Li Hao's expression became more serious upon hearing this.
"You have come here to reach the Origin Cities, correct? The Heavenly Dao Bridge is perilous. You must be cautious—once you step onto it, I will be unable to intervene. You will have to rely on yourselves."
The Grand Tutor warned them.
The three nodded.
"Go on, then. Other participants from the lower levels are making their way here as well. I still have to brief them. Right now, the Heavenly Dao Bridge is not too crowded. If you go now, you won't be disturbed. Later, when more arrive, it will become chaotic."
The Grand Tutor gestured for them to leave.
"Hmm."
Chu Tianhuang nodded and turned to Boya Xuejian and Li Hao. "Shall we go together?"
"Of course."
Boya Xuejian agreed.
Li Hao took one last glance at the chessboard nearby, feeling an itch to play a match. But this was a rare opportunity—exploring the Origin City was far more important. He could always return later to challenge the Grand Tutor to a game.
As the three of them left, the Grand Tutor stroked his white beard, a satisfied smile on his face.
"Three in one go… In the past, having even one reach this place was rare. What a time."
He sighed, then waved his hand, sending out his clones to guide the incoming participants from the other layers.
Before leaving, he turned to the chessboard and murmured, "Old friend, I'll play with you when I return."
Across from him, the other chair was empty. Only a white jade piece remained.
But as his gaze swept across the chessboard, he suddenly let out a soft exclamation.
There was an extra black piece on the board, placed in an extremely tricky position—one that disrupted the flow of the game and forced the white pieces into a deadlock.
He blinked, then carefully studied the board again.
The extra black piece was indeed there.
Moreover, it was not placed at random—it contained multiple hidden moves, completely reversing the situation on the board.
"Old friend… is that you?"
The Grand Tutor's heart trembled slightly, and he looked at the white jade piece.
But the jade piece remained still, silent as always.
His breathing grew rapid, and his eyes reddened slightly. He picked up the jade and infused his divine sense into it, searching for any changes.
Yet, as always, there was nothing.
Just like the countless times he had looked at it before.
His expression dimmed, and he scratched his head in frustration.
Then, a thought struck him. He waved his hand, causing time in the courtyard to slow down and then reverse.
In the flow of time's reversal, the figures of Li Hao and the others reappeared—but only as projections.
The Grand Tutor watched as, just before leaving, the young man among them paused beside the chessboard, picked up a piece with his fingertips, and placed it down.
It was the extra black piece.