The Second Floor of the True Venerable Tower

As the Ripple Sword merged, the three Sword Qi rapidly overlapped, instantly unleashing Sword Light no less powerful than the projected image.

Just when Li Hao thought he could win with a single sword strike, suddenly, the projection also unleashed three Sword Qi, incorporating the Sword Intent of the Ripple Sword into them. In an instant, its Sword-Ray surged, illuminating the entire Heaven and Earth.

Li Hao was taken aback, his pupils contracted slightly, and he immediately sensed that the challenge of the True Venerable Tower was difficult.

Whoosh!

He hurriedly dodged, but the terrifying sword pierced through his Sword Qi and followed closely.

He Return to Emptiness Teleportation, but the projected eyes seemed to see Return to the Ruins his path, and Sword Light pursued him relentlessly.

Li Hao dodged in a sorry state, narrowly avoiding the Sword Qi, but the projection followed Return to the Ruins in pursuit.

"Break!"

Li Hao suddenly turned and attacked.

The projection reacted extremely quickly, slashing down with its sword in an instant. Despite the hasty attack, the overwhelming power of the sword easily broke through Li Hao's charged attack.

Swoosh.

The projection didn't stop; as it broke through Li Hao's Sword Light, it quickly pursued him.

Li Hao immediately understood why Old Wang said it was difficult to achieve enlightenment here. The projected attacks never stopped, and unless one truly reached a bottleneck and gained some insight, it would be impossible to achieve enlightenment in such a fierce battle.

Furthermore, if the increase in strength after enlightenment is not significant, it is difficult to reverse the situation even if enlightenment has been achieved.

A power difference of twice that of the previous level is equivalent to a leap of half a major realm.

Li Hao did not engage in battle, but instead chose to avoid it and observe the weaknesses of the projection's attack.

"This True Venerable Tower challenge, though a test, also seems to be a form of training!"

Li Hao understood.

This is an excellent opportunity to examine oneself.

The projection's performance at this moment may be more Perfection than one's own, but everything has flaws and weaknesses. Perhaps the true purpose of the test is to make up for these flaws and allow one's own strength to reach a higher level.

However, even though he was trying to avoid the fight, Li Hao was finding it extremely difficult to dodge.

"Strength, speed, Movement Method are all doubled!"

"I'm faster, I can use Movement Method I know, including projection techniques, and I can execute them more freely with twice the strength!"

"But..."

Li Hao dodged desperately, Return to Emptiness Teleportation technique. The All Heavens Star Meridian enveloped and surrounded him. Although his Movement Method was at the Ninth Dan and was surpassed by the projection, with his energy nearly inexhaustible, he still managed to barely create a space to catch his breath by continuously using the Return to Emptiness Teleportation.

"The Terminal Realm Power... this projection hasn't increased!"

Li Hao gradually observed the situation of the projection; the power of the All Heavens Star Meridian had not been enhanced.

The Terminal Realm... it truly seems to be the ultimate limit.

Even the Immortal Dao Treasure used by the Immortal Emperor to select his disciples could not project power beyond the Terminal Realm!

"If one can cultivate all realms to their Terminal Realm, then the challenge of the True Venerable Tower... wouldn't it be equivalent to not being enhanced at all, but simply fighting against oneself?"

Li Hao thought to himself.

But that scenario is too idealistic and too far-fetched for him right now. Cultivating to the Terminal Realm. Li Hao estimates that only beings at the Immortal Emperor level could possibly achieve it by cultivating to the Terminal Realm in all of them.

Currently, apart from the All Heavens Star Meridian, the only thing in the projections that surpasses Li Hao's power level is the strength of other realms.

Boom!

Suddenly, the projected body expanded rapidly, unleashing the Law, Heaven and Earth!

At the same time, the Heaven and Earth Dharma Form slowly emerged behind it. Surrounding the Heaven and Earth Dharma Form were the Myriad Saints Dharma Forms, like phantoms, conveying a continuous stream of Sacred Dao power to the Heaven and Earth Dharma Form.

Li Hao's expression changed slightly, but without the slightest hesitation, he unleashed his power simultaneously.

Soon, in this vast world, two towering figures stood, and a great battle erupted.

Li Hao unleashed his full power, engaging in a fierce battle with the projection.

The power of their respective Dharma Form was almost equal, which delighted Li Hao, as it meant that his Heaven and Earth Dharma Form seemed to have also reached its Terminal Realm.

"The Sword Dao, the projected Sword Dao power is too strong. Although it's still only Tenth Dan, it's stronger than my Sword Intent."

In the brief exchange, Li Hao was still no match and could only dodge.

Fortunately, the Return to Emptiness Extreme Realm maintained by the All Heavens Star Meridian allowed him to continue teleporting without interruption.

Despite the projection being twice as fast as his own Movement Method speed, he still couldn't break through the threshold of the Return to Emptiness Extreme Realm.

"Unfortunately, this test requires defeating the projection. If it were just a matter of enduring the time limit, I could pass it on the first try."

Li Hao Dark Dao to himself.

As he dodged each attack, he continued to observe the projected attack, but the more he looked, the more alarmed he became, unable to find any flaws.

Was he really that strong on a normal day? Li Hao was speechless, unsure whether to be happy or give a bitter smile.

After One Incense Stick.

Li Hao still couldn't find a flaw in the projection, nor could he find an opportunity to counterattack. He felt puzzled and troubled.

If one were to embed the Transcendent Chess Heart that one had just comprehended into the Body Movement Dao, one might have a chance to turn defeat into victory, but this would ultimately be considered cheating.

Aside from this method, defeating this projection is actually quite difficult.

"But since the Immortal Emperor has set up such a test, someone must be able to pass it. Besides, this test is only to become his Registered Disciple. It's too outrageous that someone can't even pass the test for a Registered Disciple..."

Li Hao's eyes flickered, suppressing the urge to use his Transcendent Chess Heart, wanting to try again on his own.

As he dodged repeatedly, Li Hao saw the projection using various methods to pursue and intercept him, but none of them worked.

Suddenly, a thought struck him. The projection was already so powerful, yet it hadn't been able to kill him yet because he possessed the All Heavens Star Meridian, whose energy was nearly inexhaustible, allowing the Return to Emptiness Extreme Realm to rest without interruption. Anyone else would have been drained long ago.

"In my eyes, this projection is troublesome. But from the projection's perspective, perhaps I am even more troublesome now—powerful than me, yet unable to kill me..."

Li Hao's eyes flickered as he slowly began to examine himself, deciding to make use of his strengths.

He suddenly remembered the Go Board game he had played with Old Wang earlier.

Old Wang's chess skills are extremely profound, clearly surpassing his own. Even though Li Hao is currently Tenth Dan Chess Dao, when he looks back at Old Wang's skills, he feels that his opponent is not at the Tenth Dan, but at a higher level.

The reason they were able to win earlier was because Old Wang underestimated them and gambled that he wouldn't see the flaws.

If they were to clash again, Li Hao still wouldn't be very confident of winning.

The reason he was able to win earlier was because Li Hao used his limited strength to launch an attack.

When you are weaker than your opponent, if you want to win by being weaker, you must concentrate your strength on one point and unleash your full power!

Therefore, everything else must be abandoned and discarded!

"My advantage lies in my All Heavens Star Meridian..."

"It was the power of the All Heavens Star Meridian Ultimate Realm that allowed me to persevere until now. Since its power is limitless, then..."

"Battle is also a strategy; wielding the sword is like placing a piece..."

Li Hao's eyes flickered. In an instant, although he was frantically and rapidly Return to the Ruins Void, he felt a sudden sense of peace and tranquility.

He suddenly accelerated the speed of his Return to Emptiness Teleportation, constantly flashing in the Void.

The projection also sped up to catch up, but despite its extremely fast and powerful Sword Intent, it couldn't touch Li Hao, so it was all in vain.

As the flashing continued, Li Hao's movements gradually changed. If viewed from above, one would see that Li Hao's Return to Emptiness Teleportation route was not chaotic, but gradually became regular, forming a pattern!

It was a painting, and it was also a Chess Manual.

The path still bore traces of Li Hao's Sword Qi. With each Return to Emptiness Teleportation through the Void, more and more Sword Qi remained. When Li Hao stepped out of the Return to Emptiness Teleportation again, he stood in the center of the chessboard.

He himself became a piece, constructing a chessboard that formed a terrifying Sword Formation!

"Burst!"

Li Hao stopped running away and suddenly turned around, staring at the projection. He unleashed his full power, his Divine Blood burning and surging, his heart burning like Blazing Flame fire, pounding violently.

As his Sword Light flashed out, Myriad Daos Sword Qi converged from the Void, condensing and blending together. All of this erupted in an instant.

The projection had an extremely strong offensive desire. Li Hao remembered Wang Lai saying that, and he had also noticed this while observing along the way. This was also the reason why the projection made the challengers suffer so much, leaving them no chance to catch their breath. But at the same time... an advantage is also a weakness; having it is the same as not having it!

This is precisely the weakness of this projection!

When faced with Li Hao's sword attack, the projection's first instinct was not to run away or Return to the Ruins, but to counterattack, crushing the opponent with an even more ferocious attack!

But this time, Myriad Daos Sword Qi condensed, and in an instant, the Sword-Ray that Li Hao unleashed with his sword led to the explosion of Myriad Daos Sword Qi. Its terrifying and fierce power instantly overshadowed the projected Sword-Ray.

Li Hao would call this sword strike the strongest!

Bang!

In an instant, the projected Sword Light shattered, and its body was engulfed by the Sword-Ray, instantly becoming fragmented. At the moment the projection shattered, Li Hao's Primordial Spirit burst forth, drawing upon the remaining power of the Sword Dao and directly crushing the projected Primordial Spirit!

The Sword Intent dissipated between Heaven and Earth.

Like a gust of wind, it stirred Li Hao's hair, and the world fell silent, leaving only Li Hao's own breathing.

He stared at the shattered and dissipating projection, feeling somewhat dazed and incredulous that he had succeeded!

Without relying on Transcendent Chess Heart, but solely on pure combat intuition, he found a way to break the deadlock in this invincible and perilous situation.

"Carefree!"

Li Hao couldn't help but burst into laughter, experiencing the thrill of battle for the first time, a thrill as exhilarating as Chess.

At this moment, where the projection disappeared, a vortex appeared in the Void, vaguely resembling Dao Gate.

The challenge is over, should we head out now?

Li Hao smiled and released the Law, Heaven and Earth, his body returning to normal, his Aura receding, and the various Extreme Realm Power slowly sinking into his body.

At this moment, a wave of mental fatigue washed over him. Although the All Heavens Star Meridian could provide Li Hao with inexhaustible power, the intense battle he had just fought had left him mentally exhausted, which he needed to alleviate himself. Fortunately, his Primordial Spirit was extremely strong, and his Divine Power far exceeded that of Saint-Level. Otherwise, the fatigue he felt Past this moment alone would have been enough to make him fall asleep.

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After resting for a while, Li Hao finally stepped towards the vortex door.

Soon, as if stepping into Abyss, my body felt weightless.

Before long, light reappeared before their eyes, and their senses, which had been blocked, were restored.

Li Hao looked over, expecting to see the crowd outside the tower, but suddenly froze.

Before him stood a magnificent, dark Palace Hall, surrounded by darkness, as if cast from iron walls, with dim light.

Before him stood a purple, glowing pillar!

On that pillar, Purple Light flickered like earthworms, appearing and disappearing intermittently, like the patterns of some kind of Great Dao.

Li Hao glanced around and saw a faint light shining in from not far away, through several windowless gaps.

He took flight and looked out into the open space, seeing the vast plains in the distance and the towering palace reaching to the heavens.

On the other side, Li Hao saw many Meditation Cushion in the distance, and people sitting on Meditation Cushion.

But at that moment, many of them stood up and craned their necks to stare in their direction.

Among them, Li Hao also saw Old Wang, who was standing in mid-air above everyone's heads, quietly observing the scene.

When their eyes met, the Old Wang been lost in thought, paused for a moment, a look of surprise and shock appearing in his eyes.

"Am I still inside the tower?"

Seeing this, Li Hao confirmed his location; he was still inside the True Venerable Tower.

Could this pillar before us be the portal that leads out?

It seems that Old Wang didn't tell me how to get out after the challenge, probably because he thought it was too easy and didn't need further explanation?

Li Hao glanced around; there was nothing else there, so the answer was obvious.

He approached the pillar, examined it closely, and discovered that it indeed contained Space Dao energy, which is typically used in teleportation systems.

He raised his hand to touch it, and the Dao Power drew it in, causing the Space Dao power above to stir.

Soon, a suction force came from inside the pillar, pulling Li Hao's body inside.

Whoosh!

When Li Hao opened his eyes again, he found himself back in the vast Heaven and Earth he had just been in.

However, unlike before, the pillar we had just seen was now suspended in mid-air, standing majestically.

While Li Hao was in a daze, the purple dark light on the pillar quickly gathered, concentrated at a point in front of the pillar, and then slowly condensed into a figure.

The figure was exactly like Li Hao; it was clearly a projection.

"...?"

Li Hao was dumbfounded. What was going on?

Does that mean the challenge I just took doesn't count?

Before he could think further, the projection, after coalescing, bowed slightly to Li Hao, making a gesture of invitation, and then suddenly unleashed a terrifying aura.

A burst of dazzling golden light erupted, and a head of silver hair flew wildly. The projection's power surged and rose steadily, becoming even stronger and more terrifying than before under Li Hao's shocked gaze!

If the power of this projection was only twice his own before, now it is at least five times stronger!

This five times is not five times that of an ordinary Supreme Saint, but five times that of Li Hao himself, which is extremely exaggerated.

If there were any Ancient Demon at the True Immortal Realm here, they would be instantly killed by this projection!

Even a group of Ancient Demon would probably be instantly killed and wiped out!

Li Hao was dumbfounded. What the hell was going on?

Before he could even curse, the projection in front of him had already swiftly attacked.

Whoosh!

Li Hao instinctively dodged the Return to Emptiness Extreme Realm's teleportation.

But at that moment, the projection directly channeled the Heaven and Earth Power, instantly severing the Return to the Ruins. The powerful force forced Li Hao out of the Return to Emptiness Teleportation.

Then, the projection instantly condensed into a mighty force of Heaven and Earth, transforming into a massive Sword-Ray that Descent before Li Hao's eyes in an instant before he could react.

Bang!

Without a doubt, Li Hao felt his physical body shatter. In addition, a terrifying Primordial Spirit power attacked and crushed his Primordial Spirit in an instant.

The world fell silent.

Darkness appeared before Li Hao's eyes, but glimmers of light gradually became clear within it.

The light came from behind him. Li Hao turned around and saw the tower gate he had stepped through earlier, only a few steps away.

He seemed to have always been standing there; everything that had just happened was merely a nightmare.

Li Hao was momentarily dazed, his mind filled with questions. He looked at the deep darkness before him and vaguely sensed a force restricting him, preventing him from moving forward. But within that darkness, there was a faint Purple Light, like the light that had flickered on the pillar he had seen earlier.

Li Hao scratched his head, turned around and walked out of the door. If he had any questions, he would go to Old Wang and he would eventually get the answers.

Meanwhile, at the Meditation Cushion, everyone saw the gate of the True Venerable Tower open. Not long after, Li Hao's figure walked out from inside, still shaking his head, seemingly helpless and confused. Seeing this, everyone felt as if the heart that had been hanging in suspense had finally died.

From the time Li Hao went in until now, someone has been keeping track of it; One Incense Stick has already burned out!

The fact that he could stay inside for so long on his first visit almost made them suspect that Li Hao had cleared the level inside.

If it weren't for what Bright Saint and Herding Saint said—that going inside would immediately lead to a battle with the projection, leaving no time to stall—they would have suspected that Li Hao was just touring inside.

"Finally out! This has been taking forever. Who even kept track of the time?"

"Almost two incense sticks have been burned!"

"..."

Upon hearing the time announced by Winter Blade, everyone fell silent.

Lin Sheng stared at the boy who flew towards him, looking back every few steps, his eyes filled with complex emotions. He still remembered that not long ago, when he challenged the True Venerable Tower, the boy sat there playing Chess, not paying any attention to him at all, showing no concern. At that time, he felt dissatisfied and disdainful, but at this moment, he felt a sense of humiliation.

"The first test of passing the Three-Year Challenge, the True Venerable Tower... Could he also pass it in a few years?"

Saint Luo said in a low voice, his voice filled with disbelief and a hint of bewilderment.

If that's the case, then what's the point of their efforts?

Compared to these monsters, I might as well just lie down and give up.

Saint Luo's words caused the other Sage' lips to twitch slightly.

They've toiled here for tens of thousands of years, only to find it all wasted?

Racing against this kind of guy seems a bit too much.

Herding Saint and Bright Saint's faces were gloomy as they stared at the young man, their eyes revealing a hint of Anger and killing intent, but they quickly concealed it.

They knew that if they tried to do anything under Old Wang eye, the outcome would be even worse.

But... are we really going to just hand over this Immortal Emperor Dao Heritage to someone else?

While the two men's expressions were changing, Li Hao returned to the Meditation Cushion. He was several hundred meters away from the True Venerable Tower when he saw the tower gate close automatically.

At this moment, Li Hao looked at the people on the Meditation Cushion and saw that Flower Saint and Wandering Saint controlled their complicated expressions and smiled at him. Li Hao smiled back, knowing that they had no ulterior motives.

He sensed several subtle Killing Aura, but they quickly disappeared. Li Hao knew that his sharpness had probably attracted the attention of others who had ulterior motives. Being too sharp inevitably attracts unwanted attention; this is the law of all All Things, and no one can avoid it.

However, with the Old Wang and his own strength, he is not afraid of anyone having any ulterior motives.

After all, it's fine to judge someone's feelings, but if there are clues to follow, then don't blame him for being ruthless.

"You little brat..."

Old Wang saw Li Hao arrive, a complex emotion flickered in his eyes, and he couldn't help but sigh softly.