Chapter 540: Trial's End
"Hmm?"
Di Linchen also noticed Li Hao's action, his eyes narrowing slightly.
Not far off, Shen Wuji, who had been leaning against a stone beside the great hall with arms crossed, suddenly stood up, eyes filled with shock and fury as he stared at Li Hao.
Clearly, he hadn't expected that boy to touch the golden mist and not fall into the trance.
That meant Li Hao's Dao heart wasn't just strong enough for the summit—it was far beyond that.
"That voice…"
Li Hao stared at the golden mist with suspicion.
The voice that had sounded in his mind just now was incredibly soft and warm, like a divine Dao melody. It gave off a sacred, almost intimate feeling that made one want to keep listening.
"'Your Dao heart is sealed'… what does that mean?"
Li Hao murmured to himself, frowning as he fixed his gaze on the golden mist.
If his guess was right, that voice was likely the will of Way-Seeking Mountain itself.
But his Dao heart was sealed?
While Li Hao stood there, deep in thought with a puzzled expression, the scene was reflected across the Southern Domain's Immortal Dynasties—in particular, within Futu City, on the border of the Yanchu Immortal Dynasty.
A towering spire loomed over the city—the Ask-Heart Futu Pagoda.
Once an imperial pagoda, it had been damaged by a calamity in ages past and now stood partly ruined.
Inside it, a few cultivators were still verifying their Dao hearts, while many others stood in the plaza outside, looking up, captivated by the ongoing event of the Southern Domain Grand Battle.
On a small hill across from the pagoda, a figure sat beneath a tree, fishing into the misty clouds as if drawing something from another time.
Old Han's eyes, however, weren't on the line but on the reflection of Way-Seeking Mountain ahead. He saw the boy with his head bowed in thought and smiled faintly, though his eyes were calm. He murmured:
"Good thing I sealed your Dao heart back then. If I'd let you step into that golden mist of the Heavenly Dao, those Supremes watching from outside wouldn't be able to sit still."
His gaze flicked to the Supreme of the Heavenly Palace beyond Way-Seeking Mountain, his eyes darkening with a flash of cold light.
But soon he looked back at the mountain, his expression thoughtful.
"This kind of thing can be hidden from others—even Supremes might not notice—but not from you. After all these years, I wonder… do you regret it?"
A breeze stirred the cloud sea, brushing the boy's hair in the reflection on the water.
A cool wind snapped Li Hao back to reality. He still couldn't figure out what that voice meant. When had his Dao heart been sealed? Who had sealed it?
He called out in his mind, but there was no answer.
Just then, two figures shot over to him—Chu Tianhuang and Boyaxue Jian.
"You alright?"
Boyaxue Jian looked him over. Seeing that Li Hao hadn't fallen into the trance state, he was surprised and said, "Your Dao heart is seriously strong. Have you already reached the top tier of the eternal Dao heart?"
Both the chaotic Dao heart and eternal Dao heart had three tiers. For someone at the True Immortal or Immortal Lord stage to reach the summit meant they already had the potential for the King Realm.
And those with a top-tier eternal Dao heart had the potential to reach the peak of the Immortal King Realm.
Across the entire Southern Domain, Immortal Kings were already overlords of their territories. Peak-stage Immortal Kings were extremely rare—well-known examples included the emperors of the Immortal Dynasties and a few figures like the Grand Marshals or old Grand Tutors.
"I'm fine."
Li Hao shook his head.
Chu Tianhuang gave him a deep look. He quietly made up his mind—no matter the cost, he would draw Li Hao to his side.
At the same time, he understood that a talent like Li Hao probably couldn't be bound by the Yanchu Immortal Dynasty. But that didn't matter. As long as they became close friends, Li Hao could be a great ally in his future fight for the throne.
As he pondered this, others began jumping upward toward the golden mist.
Inspired by Li Hao's display, many were suddenly filled with competitiveness.
But one after another, the moment they touched the mist, their bodies went stiff like they'd been hit by ancient cold. They fell straight to the ground, raising dust, eyes vacant, trapped in the Way-Seeking trance. Their faces held solemn, trance-like expressions.
Even as people continued to fail, no one backed down. If no one had succeeded, they might've held back—but since Li Hao had made it, they all wanted to see if they could become the second.
If someone else could do it, then so could they—that was the pride all true geniuses shared!
But more and more leapt into the air, and every one fell like dumplings into the dirt, motionless.
This scene, broadcast across the Southern Domain, left countless viewers stunned.
Without comparison, there's no contrast. But with it, Li Hao's uniqueness stood out even more.
"Those people who climbed to the summit all at once—they're completely stiff now."
"That's the Way-Seeking trance. If your Dao heart isn't strong enough, touching that upper area pulls you into an illusion where you face your Dao heart head-on."
"Seriously?! All those people, and only Haotian succeeded?!"
As more fell, many stared wide-eyed, exclaiming in disbelief.
Back on the mountain, those who hadn't acted yet were dumbfounded. Seeing nearly twenty people all fail except for Li Hao made their expressions freeze.
"No way. I don't believe he's the only one here with a top-tier eternal Dao heart!"
Someone growled in anger, unable to accept it.
Among the remaining ones, no one dared act rashly anymore. Only a few stood still, eyes flickering as they stared at the golden mist, clearly thinking hard.
"Didn't expect that kid's Dao heart to already reach the top-tier of the eternal level."
Outside Way-Seeking Mountain, the Emperor Jiang spoke softly, his gaze fixed on that boy.
A Dao heart represented future potential. This boy was only at the True Immortal stage—if given enough cultivation resources, he could be raised all the way to the peak of the Immortal King Realm.
Of course, raising someone from True Immortal to Immortal King was still within the means of an Immortal Dynasty. But pushing someone to the peak of the Immortal King Realm… even the seven ancient Immortal Dynasties, which had survived the chaos of the Ancient Demon War, couldn't say for certain they could pull that off.
After all, the resources needed for the Immortal King Realm—rare treasures and heavenly materials—were unbelievably scarce. Each one that appeared could incite fierce competition from countless factions, even large-scale military mobilization.
"To have such Dao heart comprehension at not even a hundred years of soul lifespan… what has this child gone through?"
Yuan Zun Empress narrowed her eyes, a serious look in them.
The higher one's Dao heart, the more they had experienced. For someone so young to have a heart that could be called eternal, he must have lived through things no one else had.
But there were countless lives in the world—maybe, in the end, it simply came down to something innate, something that set him apart from birth.
"There are a few other little ones with top-tier eternal Dao hearts as well. They just haven't chosen to show it."
Tianzhao Emperor swept his gaze across the great hall, eyes landing briefly on a few figures, a subtle smile playing at his lips.
Chidi said, "If someone's truly reached that level of Dao heart, they wouldn't bother flaunting it or fighting for attention. A heart that's truly eternal isn't swayed by fleeting glory. If they were provoked into acting out of pride, then their Dao heart still isn't there. A true eternal Dao heart only follows what it wants—never what others expect."
Tianzhao Emperor nodded slightly. It was true.
Which meant those who had tried to leap toward the golden mist were already doomed to fail the moment they moved. Their actions alone proved their Dao hearts weren't enough.
"This child… he's the backbone of our human race. Now that he's been seen by all, the infiltrators planted by the ancient demons must have taken note of him. Once this Grand Battle ends, we must send people to protect him well."
Jiang Emperor sighed.
Chu Emperor nodded. "I've already made arrangements for that."
"Let's see how the next trial goes. If he can place in the top ten, he'll be qualified to train in the Primal True Realm. With the protection of the Primal Immortal Emperor, even the ancient demons won't be able to touch him. If he reaches the peak of the Immortal Lord or even the Immortal King Realm there, then when he returns… he'll be a true pillar of humanity."
Yuan Zun Empress said this calmly.
The others nodded. If he could enter the Primal True Realm, they would all be at ease.
That place was one of the few that the ancient demons had never been able to penetrate.
Even though their Immortal Dynasties maintained strict defenses along the borders, there was no guarantee ancient demons wouldn't sneak in. After all, over these past 100,000 years, as humanity had grown stronger… so had the ancient demons.
Back atop Way-Seeking Mountain, as more and more arrogant geniuses lay sprawled across the ground, no one else dared attempt the climb.
But the contrast had only deepened. As they glanced toward Li Hao, their expressions grew more complicated.
So young, and yet his Dao heart outshone all of theirs—it was a bitter pill to swallow.
Li Hao, however, ignored the attention. He returned to the hall and sat quietly by himself, eyes fixed on the golden mist, still pondering that mysterious voice.
Time passed. Now and then, bursts of immortal techniques rumbled from the foot of the mountain, but no one else made it to the summit.
Another day passed, and Li Hao still didn't see Gu Yan or Yuexi appear, which left him slightly disappointed.
Yuexi's Dao heart was strong—she also had an eternal Dao heart. She probably failed to defeat her Dao Manifestation, which held her back.
Three days passed in a flash. Way-Seeking Mountain had quieted down. Most of the remaining challengers had failed to reach the top. Only a few succeeded.
"Way-Seeking Mountain Trial is complete!"
As the divine sun rose and light spilled over Way-Seeking Mountain, the voice of the Immortal Guard Commander rang out across the entire mountain.
In that instant, all those who had fallen into the trance-like pilgrimage state snapped awake, looking dazed and confused.
"What's going on? Why am I still here?"
"I fell?"
"I never reached the Forget-Heart Hall… why's it over already?"
Whether on the summit or at the base of the mountain, all the geniuses who had been trapped in the Way-Seeking Trance now looked around in confusion.
While they'd been lost in the illusion, they had no awareness of the outside world.
Soon, with the loud voice of the Immortal Guard Commander echoing in their ears, they all learned they had been eliminated from the trial. They had failed the second test.
Of the original fewer-than-three-thousand participants, only about one thousand remained.
Though technically, due to some latecomers who succeeded, there were a few more than one thousand.
"We all failed? I touched the mist and lost control of my body instantly…"
Those at the summit who had collapsed looked around at the others, seeing their same shocked expressions.
"Did anyone make it into the golden mist?"
"Besides that guy, who else?"
They started asking around, but no one answered. Their expressions turned even more bewildered.
"This second trial has no rewards."
The Immortal Guard Commander's voice rang out once again, loud and clear. "Or rather, the rewards of this trial have already been given during your climb."
"Whether it was your fight against the Dao Manifestations or the Way-Seeking Trance that questioned your Dao heart—those were all tempering experiences!"
"The destination is important, yes… but don't forget the scenery along the way."
As the words settled in, many were stunned into silence, reflecting carefully.
But some, those who had fought hard against their Dao Manifestations, already had calm expressions—they'd gained much from those battles.
"Now, all who passed the trial, gather at Forget-Heart Hall!"
The Immortal Guard Commander's command echoed out again.
Hearing this, Li Hao and the others on the summit stood up one after another and began descending the mountain steps toward their next destination.
"The second trial is over. Next comes the Grand Battle!"
Chu Tianhuang walked beside Li Hao, his voice filled with anticipation and the will to fight.
Though he was a royal prince, used to court intrigue, deep down he was still a warrior, a cultivator seeking the path.
Nearby, Boyaxue Jian also smiled and said, "I wonder if the two of us will meet in battle. But as for you, Haotian, among the True Immortal group, only a handful reached the summit. You're definitely one of the top few—making it into the top ten is guaranteed."
His gaze toward Li Hao was filled with open admiration and confidence.
Li Hao smiled without false modesty. He believed the same—he was going to fight for a top-ten spot.
"That's for sure," Chu Tianhuang said with a laugh, eyes on Li Hao. "Then I'll strive to charge ahead in the Immortal Lord group. Let's aim to meet again in the Primal True Realm!"
"Agreed," Boyaxue Jian smiled, like spring blooming from winter's frost.
The descent was easy and light-hearted. As they passed the first Dao Pavilion below the summit, a soft voice called out:
"Tianhuang gege."
Chu Tianhuang turned and saw his younger sister, Princess Chu Yueli.
Li Hao saw her too. She had previously fallen into a trance at this Dao Pavilion but had now recovered.
As he glanced at her, Chu Yueli also looked at him. When she saw Li Hao descending alongside Chu Tianhuang, a flicker of surprise passed through her eyes—then bright, shimmering light lit up in them.
"You reached the summit too?"
She stepped forward to ask.
Li Hao saw that her attitude was no longer as inexplicably hostile as before, but he didn't feel much toward her and simply turned away without replying.
Chu Yueli noticed his distant manner. Her expression changed slightly, a flash of irritation surfacing—but it was gone in an instant. As a princess, she had her share of city-deep poise. Especially now, seeing Li Hao's brilliance and massive potential, she was willing to tolerate quite a bit.
"I was rude before. I hope you won't hold it against me."
Chu Yueli lowered her head slightly and spoke to Li Hao.
Li Hao raised an eyebrow and gave her a sideways glance, then said flatly, "You go your way, I go mine. Nothing to talk about."
Chu Yueli's fingers clenched slightly, but her face kept its smile. "That marriage… I've agreed to it."
At those words, Chu Tianhuang froze, his brows instinctively furrowing.
The person he was trying to win over already had a marriage tie to his royal sister?
That complicated things. His mind spun quickly, calculating anew.
Nearby, Boyaxue Jian was also taken aback, clearly not expecting Li Hao to have joined the Yanchu royal family by marriage.
Li Hao heard her words and couldn't help but roll his eyes. "I never agreed to it. Once the Grand Battle is over, I'll make things clear to the Chu Emperor."
"What?"
Chu Yueli stood stunned. She hadn't expected that even after her humble apology, he would still be angry—and serious about it, too.
Her face darkened slightly, but she suppressed the anger and said quietly, "It was a misunderstanding before. From now on, you're free to walk your path—I won't interfere. But I still think we could give it a try. The road of cultivation is long. My father, the Chu Emperor, values you highly and would support your journey greatly."
Li Hao frowned and looked at her strangely. What was this princess thinking? Before she was totally against it, now she was practically begging?
"I don't lack cultivation resources. If your father is only willing to help me because of this, then I'd rather not accept it."
Li Hao spoke calmly. His tone was relatively mild—after all, they were still within the Yanchu Immortal Dynasty's borders. It wouldn't be wise to offend the royal family too harshly.
Chu Yueli's expression turned grim, but she quickly masked it. She gave Li Hao a deep look and said, "We'll speak again after the Grand Battle. Don't assume that just because you have great talent, you can disregard everything. I hope you give this matter proper thought."
With that, she didn't give Li Hao a chance to reply and turned to leave, not even saying farewell to Chu Tianhuang.
Chu Tianhuang, having heard their exchange, let out a quiet sigh of relief. As she walked away, he began to piece things together.
He couldn't help but marvel—his father was indeed a master strategist, already arranging a marriage between Li Hao and his sister ahead of time.
He knew his sister well. Among all the princesses, she was one of the top few in terms of talent—only two or three could rival her.
Boyaxue Jian had also figured things out. The Chu Emperor had once brought up a marriage proposal to him, which he had firmly declined. It seemed Li Hao was now facing the same situation.
"Brother Haotian, it's nothing. Don't think too much about it. The sky is vast, and the True Realm even vaster—a man's heart should be with his sword!"
Boyaxue Jian patted Li Hao's shoulder and smiled.
Li Hao understood what he meant. He smiled again and said, "I'll drink to that."
"Haha! I don't know when the Grand Battle will begin, but once this trial's officially over, let's grab a drink."
Boyaxue Jian laughed.
Chu Tianhuang watched this cold and aloof young man treat Li Hao with such warmth, and felt a bit surprised. He'd tried multiple times to subtly befriend Boyaxue Jian, but the man had always responded with cold distance, keeping things formal and detached.
Descending the steps further, Li Hao soon spotted Yuexi and Gu Yan.
They stood waiting near the path, as if expecting someone.
When they saw Li Hao walking with Chu Tianhuang and Boyaxue Jian, they immediately realized he had reached the summit.
"You made it to the top?"
Yuexi ran up to him, eyes wide with joy.
Seeing her excited expression, Li Hao suddenly found this senior sister he hadn't spent much time with a bit more endearing.
"Yeah."
He smiled and looked at the two of them. "Come on, let's go down together."
"Okay."
They nodded and followed beside him.