Ch. 521The great battle begins

The Yan Chu Immortal Dynasty arrived at the Heavenly Palace, where the Supreme welcomed its representatives and strengthened the young cultivators before the Southern Region Assembly Battle. After learning the battle would have three stages and three rounds, the Yan Chu delegation traveled north to its venue, where other Immortal Dynasties had gathered.

  • The Yan Chu delegation entered the Imperial Hall and paid their respects to the Supreme, who praised the promising young cultivators and gave them radiance that purified and increased their Immortal Power.
  • The Supreme asked Emperor Chu, whose true name was Chu Tianmu, to stay and talk while a Dragon Scale Clan elder escorted the others to Yan City and said the Assembly Battle would begin in seven days.
  • The Yan City Lord arranged separate lodgings for the Sects, and the disciples explored the city’s Dao Stele while Li Hao chose to rest and practice in his courtyard.
  • Emperor Chu returned the next day and said the Assembly Battle would have three stages and three rounds, though its specific trials remained unknown.
  • The Yan Chu delegation traveled north with Emperor Chu, and an announcement declared their arrival before the gathered Immortal Dynasties and their guards.

Ch. 522True Immortal Realm Group

The Seven Great Ancient Immortal Dynasties and other factions gathered for the Southern Region Assembly Battle, where the Heavenly Palace Supreme announced the rules, rewards, and a dangerous preliminary selection. Li Hao learned that the top ten true immortal contestants could challenge immortal lords, giving him a chance to face Jin Fengling, before competitors were ordered into separate ancient-demon secret realms to obtain Dao fire.

  • Emperor Chu led the Yan Chu Immortal Dynasty to the divine mountain, where Li Hao recognized competitors from the Heavenly Illumination, Jin Yun, Origin Reverence, and Jiang Rong Immortal Dynasties, including Jin Fengling, Chi Man, and Jiang Tianchi.
  • The Heavenly Palace Supreme arrived and sent a formation of heavenly prodigies, including Chi Ying, to the mountain's center.
  • The Immortal Guard Commander announced separate True Immortal Realm and Immortal Lord Realm groups, explaining that the top ten true immortals could challenge immortal lords and compete for major rewards.
  • The Heavenly Palace Supreme opened two ancient-demon secret realms and explained that contestants had to kill demons marked with Dao fire, while their soul cores would be preserved in case they fell.
  • An Ancient God Clan youth asked to enter the immortal lord realm secret realm, but the Immortal Guard Commander refused and warned that its strongest demons had reached the immortal lord realm seventh layer.
  • The Immortal Guard Commander ordered contestants to enter the appropriate secret realm after soul-lifespan checks and stated that external aids and Heaven and Earth Space would be unavailable inside.

Ch. 523Li Hao's Soul Lifespan

Li Hao and the other contestants prepared to enter the Southern Region Assembly Battle’s secret realm, where they would fight without external aids and face powerful Ancient Demons. The chapter ended with the Ancient Mirror revealing Li Hao’s soul lifespan as just 96 years.

  • Mi Xueyao watched the broadcast and thought Li Hao’s cooking could threaten the Ancient Demon clans.
  • Li Hao asked whether contestants could keep the Ancient Demons they killed, and the Immortal Guard Commander confirmed they could.
  • The Immortal Guard Commander permitted contestants to seize one another’s Dao fire, and the Dream Master organized her disciples into teams before warning Li Hao to prioritize his survival.
  • The Dream Master learned that contestants would appear at random locations in the secret realm, so the disciples prepared to rely on their own abilities if they could not regroup.
  • Gu Yan passed the Ancient Mirror and revealed a soul lifespan of 286 years, drawing astonished reactions from spectators.
  • Li Hao passed the Ancient Mirror, which displayed his soul lifespan as 96 years.

Ch. 524Slaughter in the Secret Realm

Li Hao’s soul lifespan of only ninety-six years stunned the Southern Region contestants before they entered the True Immortal Secret Realm. After arriving, Li Hao used himself as bait to draw ancient demons, and his first strike left five attackers frozen.

  • The Ancient Mirror revealed Li Hao’s ninety-six-year soul lifespan, shocking the gathered contestants and drawing the attention of Chu Yueli, Boya Xuejian, and others.
  • Li Hao told Yue Xi and the others he was human, then all contestants surrendered their external equipment and entered the True Immortal Secret Realm.
  • Li Hao arrived in a demon-infested landscape, released his aura to attract ancient demons, and found that his Heaven and Earth Space and Taowu Immortal Weapon were sealed.
  • Five ancient demons attacked Li Hao, but their Demon Sound failed to affect him, and he countered with silver Sword Qi that froze all five.

Ch. 525Defeated with a casual strike

Li Hao effortlessly killed ancient demons in the True Immortal Secret Realm and defeated a spear-wielding prince who challenged him, revealing the power of his sword and primordial spirit. As spectators realized his attack carried traces of the Time Great Dao, the prince recovered and withdrew while Li Hao continued onward.

  • Li Hao killed five ancient demons, stored their corpses in a spatial rift, and drew astonished attention from spectators and immortal dynasty leaders.
  • A purple-robed youth lured more than a dozen ancient demons toward him and incinerated them with a Thunder Pool Fire Prison, while an Ancient God Clan boy also killed demons with golden lightning.
  • Li Hao collected the corpses of demons killed by another contestant and continued hunting, then refused a spear-wielding boy's challenge in a mountain range.
  • The spear-wielding boy attacked Li Hao, but Li Hao's silver sword light severed his head and his primordial spirit strike cracked the boy's Nine-layered Divine Tower.
  • The spear-wielding boy recovered, realized Li Hao had spared him, and left as spectators and powerful figures recognized traces of the Time Great Dao in Li Hao's attack.

Ch. 526The Ancient God Clan Youth

Li Hao and the Ancient God Clan youth faced a horde of ancient demons, including two Dijiang Royal Clan members, in the True Immortal Secret Realm. The Ancient God Clan youth destroyed the demons and collected two portions of dao fire, while Li Hao calmly asked him to share.

  • Li Hao entered the mountain range and drew the ancient demons out of hiding as spectators watched in alarm.
  • The Ancient God Clan youth arrived and charged into the demons’ formation, where their combined power trapped him inside a Nether God shadow.
  • The Ancient God Clan youth broke free, revealed his formidable primordial spirit golden bones, and killed more than a dozen demons in a single attack.
  • The Ancient God Clan youth defeated both Dijiang Royal Clan demons and collected the two dao fires left behind.
  • The Ancient God Clan youth wiped out the remaining demons, then discovered Li Hao had stayed behind and asked him for a share of the dao fire.

Ch. 527Chaos Lifeform

Li Hao seized dao fire from Shen Wuji, hunted ancient demons, and rescued a struggling contestant while other prodigies displayed their abilities across the secret realm. The chapter ended with Li Hao approaching a carefree young man seated among dozens of ancient demon corpses.

  • Li Hao used time-space power to take the azure dao fire from Shen Wuji, who withdrew and promised to meet him in the arena.
  • Li Hao collected the ancient demon corpses and continued hunting, while spectators and the Dream Master and Li Tiemu reacted to his strength and the fierce competition.
  • Li Hao killed four ancient demons attacking a white-haired young man, took their dao fire, and left after warning the survivor to be careful.
  • Shen Wuji encountered a white-robed Supreme’s disciple, exchanged threats with him, and left looking forward to their arena battle.
  • Lin Qingying killed three ancient demons with Void Sword, while Gu Yan defeated five and looked toward the path he had come from.
  • Li Hao kept gathering demon corpses and helping contestants, then approached a young man drinking beside dozens of dead ancient demons.

Ch. 528The Emperor Clan

Li Hao befriended Di Linchen, an Emperor Clan prodigy, while they drank in the True Immortal Secret Realm, and witnessed Di Linchen effortlessly kill Ji Tianming. After leaving with a haul of Ancient Demon corpses, Li Hao headed toward his friends, including the endangered Gu Xingwan.

  • Li Hao met Di Linchen on a mountain, shared his wine, and learned that Di Linchen belonged to the Emperor Clan.
  • Di Linchen gave Li Hao two spare Dao Flames and explained that he had created his flask inside the secret realm using his mastery of the Space Dao.
  • Ji Tianming attacked Li Hao, but Di Linchen froze and shattered him with his control over space origin.
  • Li Hao left Di Linchen to search for his friends and collected the Ancient Demon corpses for food.
  • Gu Changming saw that Li Hao was moving toward Gu Xingwan, who was fighting three Ancient Demons, and felt relieved.

Ch. 529Ancient Demons Assemble

Li Hao rescued Gu Xingwan from three ancient demons, gave her a Dao fire, and let her travel with him as he continued hunting demons. Outside the secret realm, the emperors watched the contestants and learned that hundreds of powerful ancient demons had gathered into an army, threatening everyone nearby.

  • Li Hao killed an Ancient Demon Royal Clan member and two other ancient demons that had cornered Gu Xingwan, then gave her the Dao fire they left behind.
  • Gu Xingwan joined Li Hao as he searched the secret realm, and he explained that the royal clan member belonged to the Death Name Clan, whose secret art could inscribe an enemy’s name to kill them.
  • Li Hao swiftly killed eight more ancient demons and collected another Dao fire while Gu Xingwan struggled to keep pace.
  • The Seven Dynasties Emperors discussed Li Hao’s swordsmanship, his bloodline, and the harsh selection, which would eliminate more than two-thirds of the contestants.
  • Shen Wuji hunted ancient demons as hundreds gathered in a mountain range, prompting the emperors to worry that the contestants nearby were in danger.

Ch. 530The Di Ting Race

The Heavenly Palace Supreme revealed the ancient demons gathering across the True Immortal Secret Realm with crimson clouds, prompting contestants to converge near one enormous horde. Li Hao joined a group of powerful contestants, while Di Linchen refused to team up and charged into the demons alone.

  • The Heavenly Palace Supreme declined to intervene as the Di Ting Race drew ancient demons together, then used crimson clouds to reveal the gathering places.
  • Princess Hong Yun teleported toward hundreds of ancient demons and was killed after they surrounded her.
  • Di Linchen spotted the crimson clouds and headed toward the horde as other contestants gathered nearby.
  • Li Hao met Lin Qingying and Gu Xingwan, then agreed to join Miao Bubai and another contestant in exchange for the ancient demon corpses.
  • Di Linchen refused to join the group and entered the crimson clouds alone, astonishing the watching contestants.

Ch. 531Li Hao the Scavenger

Li Hao watched Di Linchen battle hundreds of elite ancient demons and saw that he possessed both the All Heavens Star Meridian and a nine sequences immortal seal. After Di Linchen defeated them and gave away his dao fire, Li Hao continued traveling between crimson-cloud gathering grounds, collecting ancient demon corpses while other prodigies fought.

  • Li Hao used his Eye of Time to observe Di Linchen fighting the ancient demons, but Di Linchen’s temporal power disrupted the vision.
  • A white-robed disciple of the Heavenly Palace Supreme instantly killed hundreds of ancient demons, shocking spectators across the Southern Region.
  • Di Linchen emerged victorious, offered Li Hao dozens of dao fire clusters, and scattered them for others when Li Hao declined.
  • Li Hao opened a spatial rift and collected Di Linchen’s battlefield corpses before heading with Lin Qingying and Gu Xingwan toward another gathering ground.
  • Li Hao reached Shen Wuji’s battlefield after its fight had ended, then continued scavenging corpses at other gathering grounds while prodigies battled around him.

Ch. 532Dao Questioning Mountain

Li Hao gathered dao fire and ancient demon corpses in the True Immortal Secret Realm, then killed Zhao Baiying after he threatened him over Lin Qingying. The first trial ended with Li Hao and the other dao-fire holders advancing to a second trial focused on their dao hearts.

  • Lin Mingrong joined Li Hao's group, and Li Hao gave dao fire to disciples of Great Dream Nine Abyss who had not obtained any.
  • Li Hao's group encountered Zhao Baiying and Ten Thousand Mountains Sword Pavilion disciples, and Li Hao killed Zhao Baiying with a time-space sword strike after Zhao threatened him.
  • Li Hao told Lin Qingying to return with him after the Southern Region Assembly Battle, and she agreed while planning to repay her master and the Ten Thousand Mountains Sword Pavilion.
  • The True Immortal Secret Realm trial ended, and participants with dao fire gathered outside the realm while those without it were eliminated.
  • The Immortal Guard Commander announced that dao-fire holders had passed the first trial and would prepare for a second trial testing their dao hearts.

Ch. 533Ninth Place

The first trial’s Dao Fire rankings were revealed, and Li Hao placed ninth before receiving a life-saving Immortal Weapon that he gave to Lin Qingying. The contestants then gathered at Dao Questioning Mountain for the second trial, which would test their Dao Hearts and require them to defeat avatars of their own Dao Realms.

  • The Immortal Guard Commander revealed the Dao Fire rankings and awarded Immortal Weapons to the top ten in each realm, while eliminating Immortal Lord Realm contestants who had failed to obtain Dao Fire.
  • Li Hao ranked ninth on the True Immortal Dao Fire Ranking and accepted a space-teleporting jade bracelet as his reward.
  • Li Hao gave the jade bracelet to Lin Qingying, provoking Chu Yueli’s jealousy as she watched.
  • The Immortal Guard Commander took the contestants and their leaders to Dao Questioning Mountain for the second trial.
  • The Immortal Guard Commander explained that the trial would test each contestant’s Dao Heart and require them to overcome an avatar of their own Dao Realm.

Ch. 534A Game of Go at the Foot of the Mountain

Li Hao and the other disciples began the Dao Questioning Mountain trial, where each climber had to defeat their own Dao Realm Avatar. While Li Hao’s companions climbed ahead, his avatar challenged him to a game of Go, drawing the Southern Region’s attention.

  • The Immortal Guard Commander announced that disciples had to reach the Forget Heart Hall to qualify, then opened the mountain for the second trial.
  • The climbers discovered that Dao Questioning Mountain forced them to ascend on foot and manifested an avatar for each person that only they could affect.
  • Li Hao led his fellow disciples up the mountain and used his eternal Dao Domain to shield them from outside attacks while they fought their own avatars.
  • After the others defeated their avatars and continued upward, Li Hao climbed the steps and met an avatar that embodied the Chess Dao.
  • Li Hao accepted the avatar’s invitation to play Go and recognized that facing his own playing style helped him understand himself.
  • Spectators across the Southern Region reacted in disbelief as Li Hao sat down to play Go with his Dao Realm Avatar.

Ch. 535Dao Questioning Mountain's Acceptance

Li Hao defeated his Chess Dao and Painting Dao avatars on Dao Questioning Mountain, astonishing the spectators with his skill in both arts. Though he had fallen behind the other contestants, he resumed climbing after the mountain accepted his painting.

  • Li Hao finished a go match at the mountain’s foot, and his Dao Realm Avatar conceded defeat before vanishing.
  • Li Hao climbed to a pavilion, where a Painting Dao Avatar challenged him to paint Dao Questioning Mountain.
  • Li Hao and the avatar painted the mountain, and the avatar acknowledged Li Hao’s work as superior.
  • Li Hao left his painting on the pavilion, where it sank into Dao Questioning Mountain, and he realized the mountain had accepted it.
  • Li Hao continued up the steps as spectators marveled at his painting and worried that he might miss the trial’s quota.

Ch. 536Reaching the summit (7K)

Li Hao reached the Forget Heart Hall just after the final place was claimed, because he had stopped to let a desperate girl pass him. He left to challenge the summit instead, and the chapter ended with the gathered disciples and rulers watching to see whether he could still qualify for the tournament.

  • Li Hao left the Dao Pavilion after Dao Questioning Mountain accepted his painting, then continued climbing while disciples and rulers worried that he would arrive too late.
  • Li Hao defeated a Fire Dao avatar in an instant and raced toward the Forget Heart Hall, where Yue Xi, Gu Yan, and the others waited anxiously.
  • A girl in green pleaded with Li Hao to let her pass, then used her hair to drag another contestant back and claim the thousandth and final place.
  • The Immortal Guard Commander ruled that the girl had not broken a rule and told Li Hao and the remaining late arrivals that they would have to reach the summit to advance.
  • Li Hao announced that he would reach the summit, ignored the girl’s taunts and Yin Jingcheng’s insults, and set off as Yue Xi, Gu Yan, and others followed.
  • The Original Venerable Empress and several emperors praised Li Hao’s composure and speculated that he possessed an eternal Dao heart, while the observers waited to see if he could qualify.

Ch. 537Astonishment

Li Hao reached the first Dao Pavilion on Dao Questioning Mountain and competed with his Dao Realm Avatar by fishing across ninety thousand li. He hauled in two Profound Darkness Dragon Immortals, including one in the Immortal Lord Realm, and continued climbing as the witnesses realized how formidable he was.

  • Li Hao encountered a Dao Realm Avatar that challenged him to fish for a Profound Darkness Dragon Immortal, and he accepted instead of fighting it.
  • Yue Xi, Gu Yan, Yin Jingcheng, Meng Huaiyue, and other climbers arrived and battled their own Dao Realm Avatars while Li Hao fished calmly inside the pavilion.
  • Li Hao and his Dao Realm Avatar hooked and dragged two Profound Darkness Dragon Immortals out of the void, including a First Level Immortal Lord Realm dragon.
  • The larger dragon transformed into a woman and begged Li Hao to spare her and her son, and Li Hao sent both into a spatial rift.
  • Li Hao left with Yue Xi and Gu Yan to continue climbing, while the witnesses erupted in shock and the Green-Dressed Girl and Yin Jingcheng regretted their earlier attitude toward him.

Ch. 538The match at the summit

Li Hao swiftly defeated the Water and Sword Dao Avatars, endured Dao Questioning Mountain’s test of his dao heart, and reached the summit. There, he faced a familiar Chess Dao Avatar, which challenged him to another game of Go.

  • Li Hao froze the Water Dao Avatar’s attack and shattered it with ice, then continued climbing as spectators marveled at his strength.
  • Li Hao defeated the Sword Dao Avatar with the ancient immortal art Blue Heaven and passed the final Dao Pavilion before the summit.
  • Li Hao climbed the last steps despite Dao Questioning Mountain’s growing pressure on his dao heart and reached the summit, where Chu Tianhuang, Boya Xuejian, and other prodigies saw him arrive.
  • A black Chess Dao Avatar appeared before Li Hao and offered another game of Go, and Li Hao agreed and began playing as spectators reacted with surprise.

Ch. 539The shackled Dao Heart

Li Hao won a grueling Chess Dao duel against the Dao Realm Avatar and gained insight into his own Chess Dao before reaching the Heart Questioning Hall. After glimpsing the mystery of the Dao Questioning Statue, he approached the golden mist but heard that his Dao Heart was shackled and fell back without entering the Dao Questioning Illusion.

  • Li Hao defeated the Chess Dao Avatar after spotting a flaw in its peaceful style, and the Avatar thanked him for his painting before vanishing.
  • Li Hao entered the Heart Questioning Hall with Chu Tianhuang and Boya Xuejian, then briefly perceived the Dao Questioning Statue as a world domain.
  • Li Hao tried to recreate his insight before the statue but failed, then sensed a draw from the golden mist outside the hall.
  • Li Hao leaped toward the golden mist, heard a voice warn that his Dao Heart was shackled, and fell back without entering the Dao Questioning Illusion.
  • The disciples saw that Li Hao had touched the golden mist and speculated that his Dao Heart might be a top-tier eternal Dao Heart.

Ch. 540The trial ends

Li Hao touched Dao Questioning Mountain’s golden mist without falling into its illusion, revealing an extraordinary Dao Heart and leaving the Supremes concerned about his future. After the trial ended, he rejected Chu Yueli’s marriage proposal and reunited with Yue Xi and Gu Yan as everyone headed to Forget Heart Hall for the next battle.

  • Li Hao touched the golden mist and heard a mysterious voice say that his Dao Heart was bound, while Old Han revealed that he had sealed Li Hao’s Dao Heart long ago.
  • Other Heavenly Prodigies tried to enter the golden mist but fell into the Dao Questioning Illusion, making Li Hao the only one to succeed.
  • The Immortal Guard Commander ended the trial, explaining that fighting the dao realm avatars and facing the illusion had already refined the competitors; only slightly over a thousand advanced.
  • Chu Yueli apologized to Li Hao and agreed to their marriage, but Li Hao refused and said he would explain his position to Emperor Chu after the battle.
  • Li Hao descended with Chu Tianhuang and Boya Xuejian, then met Yue Xi and Gu Yan, who joined him on the way to Forget Heart Hall.
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