Chapter 455: One Day Up the Mountain, One Day Down the Mountain
In the immortal pathway of the void, a young figure appeared, casually looking around as he walked out.
His posture was upright, and his clothing, the disciple robes of the Heavenly Academy, were exceptionally clean, without a speck of blood or any damage. It was as if he had been strolling in some garden and had simply walked all the way here. His expression showed no sign of the shock or relief that one would expect after battling with the Ancestor Dragon, just a hint of curiosity.
"Another one has climbed up?"
The crowd in front of the thatched hut narrowed their eyes in surprise, not expecting that, so close to the end, someone else would climb up.
Previously, the little girl who had been teleported here had collapsed as soon as she landed, and Elder Li and the others had rushed to assist her. But this person, who seemed as though the ascent had been effortless, made many of them feel a sense of awe.
Li Hao had only joined the sect for a short time. Moreover, he spent most of his time either in the courtyard or going to Futu City, so other Heavenly Academy disciples did not know much about him. However, when Elder Li, Zhou Qingyun, and Wei Hongye saw his face, their eyes widened, and disbelief and shock were evident on their faces.
"Little... Seventh Junior Brother?" Wei Hongye said, stunned.
Elder Li Tiemu, holding the unconscious Yue Xi in his arms, also froze, his eyes wide open as he stared at Li Hao, as though he had seen a ghost.
This kid passed?
"Hm?"
Murong Qingwu, also surprised, looked at Li Hao as though she was meeting this junior for the first time.
She had heard from her master that Yue Xi and this junior brother joined the sect not long apart, and Yue Xi, with the bloodline of the Curse Tribe, had managed to make it up the mountain. That was already astonishing enough. But she had also been heavily injured and was now unconscious. Now, the situation was uncertain, and yet this young man looked like he had climbed up with ease.
Nearby, Ji Qingxuan and Lu Wuchen exchanged glances, both equally surprised. Ji Qingxuan wasn't very familiar with the three new disciples but knew about their general backgrounds. He had not expected that, aside from the sword immortal who could climb the mountain, the other two would also follow one after the other.
"How did you come up?"
A woman who had been standing beside Zhou Qingyun suddenly flashed and appeared in front of Li Hao, looking him up and down in surprise.
They had seen Yue Xi defeat the Ancestor Dragon and thought no one else would challenge the mountain, so they had sent her to the summit. But to their surprise, in just the short time they had been gone, someone had climbed from the seventh level all the way to the top.
In this brief span of time, there hadn't even been enough to fight. She even wondered if Li Hao had bypassed the seventh level and flown in from outside the Imperial Sword Mountain, but that possibility was slim. After all, the Immortal Kingdom's influence from the Yuan Lord would prevent such things from happening.
"I walked up," Li Hao said.
The woman was momentarily speechless, eyeing him once more, "Did you defeat the Ancestor Dragon?"
Li Hao recalled the Ancestor Dragon that had been split in half, but since he hadn't used the full power of the fourth level of the spatial origin, the dragon should be able to recover.
"Sort of," he replied casually.
Seeing the relaxed smile on the young man's face, the woman's expression grew serious. She could vaguely sense that there was something peculiar about this youth, a kind of temperament that was different from other geniuses. He seemed easygoing, but there was an underlying dangerous aura that could erupt at any moment.
Behind Ji Qingxuan and the others, Gu Yan, who had been standing at a distance from Elder Li, was staring at Li Hao. It was the first time since coming to this sword abyss that he was seriously examining this senior brother who was ranked ahead of him.
Yue Xi's arrival had already moved him, but to his surprise, Li Hao had made it to the top too.
As a natural sword immortal body, he had long been accustomed to outpacing his peers and those of the same cultivation realm, but now, it seemed that the gap in cultivation was not as large as he had imagined.
"That youth seems to have just joined Elder Li's faction not long ago," someone remarked.
"No wonder he's a new face."
"He just joined and managed to climb to the summit? What cultivation does he have? I can't even sense it."
"I heard someone had a Dao Heart with nine rings. Could it be him?"
"Most likely."
"There are so many disciples of Elder Li who've made it to the top. It's almost like everyone has come!"
Many disciples were quietly discussing amongst themselves in front of the thatched hut, all sizing up Li Hao.
Meanwhile, outside the Imperial Sword Mountain, there was an uproar and excitement.
Yue Xi and Li Hao had both managed to ascend the mountain, securing the chance to comprehend the Imperial Sword, which left many disciples shocked and envious.
However, Yue Xi had already made a name for herself in the Sword Abyss, and her name had been recorded at the Imperial Sword Cliff, so many knew her. But Li Hao, who came after her, was not well-known among the disciples, and now people were debating and discussing who he was.
"It's him..."
Xu Jianming stood on the hill, staring dumbfounded at the last figure to climb the mountain. He hadn't expected it to be that easygoing junior brother who had stayed at the first level for two years.
He stood there, dazed, and after a moment, he suddenly looked around, realizing that, except for him, everyone else—the senior brothers and sisters, junior brothers and sisters—had all gone up the mountain!
Leaving him all alone.
"Damn..." Xu Jianming silently cried out in despair.
At the summit of the Emperor Sword Mountain, not long after Li Hao's arrival, the elderly woman, along with Zhou Qingyun and Elder Li, bade farewell and returned to the Seventh Layer to continue their watch.
They didn't want to encounter another strange person like Li Hao, who had silently made his way up. They also intended to confirm with the Ancestor Dragon.
However, when they arrived at the Seventh Layer, they saw the Ancestor Dragon slowly healing its body, the process being quite slow, and its breath weak.
"You…"
The elderly woman and Zhou Qingyun were both stunned. They looked at the massive tear marks on the Ancestor Dragon's body, with half still unhealed. From the looks of it, it was clear that it had been cleaved in two by a sword!
The Ancestor Dragon, upon seeing them, suddenly felt a sense of familiarity and for the first time, didn't find these two old geezers so annoying.
"You're finally here. I need to heal first; I'm not ready to fight yet."
The Ancestor Dragon immediately said.
It feared that another prodigy like the last one might come by. It didn't have the strength to fight again.
That sword strike had made it feel the taste of death. The young man was terrifying, shaking its heart, making it hard to forget.
"…Was it that young man who injured you?"
After the initial shock, Zhou Qingyun couldn't help but ask.
The Ancestor Dragon, still healing, spoke with some irritation: "Otherwise, do you think I did this to myself?"
There was a touch of grievance in its tone.
Just as those guys left, it almost died! It was completely irresponsible. It had to report this to the Lord of the Abyss!
While the Ancestor Dragon was muttering grievances in its heart, Zhou Qingyun and the elderly woman were too stunned to speak.
In such a short time, that young man had actually defeated the Ancestor Dragon and injured it to this extent. It was too horrifying to believe.
"If I'm not mistaken, that young man had shown his aura before. He's only at the third level of the True Immortal Realm…"
Zhou Qingyun looked at the elderly woman, and the two exchanged looks, both seeing the shock in each other's eyes. How many monsters had Elder Li brought back this time?!
At the summit,
Wei Hongye and Murong Qingwu gathered around Li Hao, curiously asking him how he managed to get up here.
Li Hao could only honestly answer that he had fought his way up.
However, this answer clearly didn't satisfy them.
But as time passed, the trial on the Emperor Sword Mountain ended. All the disciples who had been staying around the mountain were sent out by a vast and mighty force.
At the same time, a calm and indifferent voice echoed from the summit, resounding throughout the entire secret realm:
"The trial of the Emperor Sword Mountain is over. Those who failed to pass should return to the Sword Abyss and continue your cultivation. You will have another chance in the future."
"That's the voice of the Lord of the Abyss!"
Some older disciples' eyes lit up.
Many disciples were excited and stirred. Even though they hadn't reached the summit, they had known the outcome two years ago. After all, everyone could roughly predict how far they would go when they first entered the Emperor Sword Mountain.
"Senior Brother Zhou made it to the summit. This time, he'll definitely go further, representing our Sword Abyss in battle!"
"That's right, we'll see them make their mark on the battlefield in the Southern Domain!"
"Let's go, let's go. We need to focus on our cultivation. Now the gap has widened, and we need to catch up."
"Bad luck. Senior Sister Zhao was stuck on the Seventh Layer and couldn't pass. What a pity."
Many disciples left in groups, some regretful, some hopeful, and some unwilling. In the end, as they left, the entrance to the secret realm closed with them.
"…"
Xu Jieming returned alone, looking a bit desolate. In his mind, all he could think of were ten thousand head of "grass mud horses."
…
At the summit,
Yun Wumian's figure landed in front of the hut. Upon seeing him, the disciples immediately bowed:
"Disciple pays respects to the Lord of the Abyss!"
Li Hao also followed suit, bowing, but then he looked up and curiously studied the other man. He found that Yun Wumian's gaze was gentle as he looked back at him. Their eyes met for a brief moment.
Li Hao immediately felt awkward and lowered his gaze.
"No need for formalities."
Yun Wumian smiled when he saw the boy's embarrassed expression. He couldn't help but smile.
Who would have thought that this time there would be an unexpected surprise?
Although Yun Wumian hadn't paid much attention to Li Hao, anything that happened on the Emperor Sword Mountain was something he could easily learn about if he wished.
When Li Hao reached the Sixth Layer at an astonishing speed and defeated the Ancient Demon at the eighth level of the True Immortal Realm, Yun Wumian had already noticed him. He then saw Li Hao enter the Seventh Layer and, with just one sword, defeat the Ancestor Dragon.
That sword strike, he recognized it.
It was one of the ten great Immortal Techniques from a hundred thousand years ago in the True Realm, the Azure Sky Sword Art!
Even though it had now been replaced by new techniques, its power remained terrifyingly overwhelming.
The boy had mastered such swordsmanship, and added the powers of earth origin and spatial origin into his attack, amplifying the force. Although both were only at the second level, this was still the Nine Sequences!
To grasp two types of Nine Sequences powers and comprehend them to this extent was extremely rare.
Aside from the naturally born sword immortal, Yun Wumian had not expected to encounter another such talented genius. Unlike Gu Yan and that girl from the Ying Huo tribe, he did not see any bloodline power within Li Hao. This boy was neither of imperial blood nor from an ancient immortal lineage. His mastery of swordsmanship and control over the origins seemed purely due to innate comprehension.
When comprehension reaches an unimaginable level, it could even rival bloodlines—perhaps even surpass them!
This made Yun Wumian feel quite pleased.
As everyone straightened, Yun Wumian casually glanced at the boy, then turned his attention around. He noticed the anxious expression on Li Laotou's face and the unconscious little girl in his arms.
Yun Wumian had detected the girl's true bloodline power when she activated the Ying Huo clan's abilities. It was to be expected that she would suffer backlash now. He slightly raised his hand, and a streak of spiritual light shot from his fingertip. It glowed like a firefly, trailing a brilliant blue arc until it reached Li Laotou and then entered the girl's forehead.
"Just rest for a few days. I've temporarily sealed the power within her. It will only be released in case of danger," Yun Wumian said in a calm and indifferent tone. "This power is not something she can control right now. Once she reaches perfection in the True Immortal realm, she will be able to truly wield it."
Li Laotou was immediately grateful, bowing his head. "Thank you, Lord of the Abyss."
At that moment, the unconscious Yue Xi's eyes twitched, her pupils rotating. It seemed she was about to wake up, but she seemed trapped in a nightmare. She mumbled softly in her sleep:
"Mother, don't go, Mother…"
"Don't kill my mother…"
The girl's murmuring was like the softest whisper in a dream. It was so faint, yet everyone present—such distinguished figures—could hear it clearly.
Some people looked at her with pity as they noticed her haggard face.
Others remained silent, their heads bowed, seemingly lost in thoughts of the past.
There were even some who showed no emotion, remaining impassive, unaffected by the sight.
Li Laotou quickly raised his hand, forming a barrier around the girl to protect her inner world and preserve her dignity.
"Congratulations. You've passed the trial of the Emperor's Sword Mountain, and now you all have the chance to comprehend the Emperor's Sword," Yun Wumian's voice broke through everyone's thoughts, causing their eyes to light up, hearts stirring with excitement.
"I, Great Dream of the Nine Abyss, have an ancient legacy. I once followed an Immortal Emperor, receiving guidance from him. I left behind two sword wills of the Emperor's Sword. If you are able to comprehend them, not only will you learn an unparalleled imperial-level sword technique, but you will also have the chance to touch the heart of Heaven's Dao, laying a stronger foundation for your own Dao heart!"
Yun Wumian's voice was calm, yet carried an overwhelming authority, like the deep flow of a spring that washed over everyone's hearts.
"This opportunity is rare. You will have six months to comprehend it, so cherish it well," he concluded.
Everyone responded in unison, agreeing eagerly.
At this moment, the girl in Li Laotou's arms woke up. She pressed her hand to her forehead, feeling an intense sting, nausea rising in her stomach.
But soon, she realized the surroundings had changed. Her eyes immediately fixed on Yun Wumian, her heart skipped a beat upon seeing the presence of an Immortal King standing as if at the center of the heavens and earth.
When her gaze landed on Ji Qingxuan, Yue Xi momentarily lost her focus, and a surge of excitement flooded her heart.
Had she… reached the top of the Emperor's Sword Mountain by passing the seventh level?
But then, her eyes caught sight of another figure in the crowd, familiar yet distant. From the side, it was Li Hao.
Her excited heart instantly fell, and she looked pale, stunned.
That guy… how could he be here?
Isn't this the top of Emperor's Sword Mountain?
How long had she been unconscious? What had happened?
As Yue Xi was lost in confusion, Yun Wumian had already raised his hand. With his movement, the entire Emperor's Sword Mountain trembled violently.
Everyone felt the ground shaking intensely, and some released their spiritual senses to discover with shock that the previous seven levels of Emperor's Sword Mountain—split into seven worlds—were now slowly closing up, merging back into a single massive and towering mountain!
At the same time, the various spirit and demon tribes that had been scattered across the mountain seemed to be transported somewhere, vanishing without a trace.
As the Emperor's Sword Mountain merged, a silver-gray light appeared on Yun Wumian's brow. It was a small lotus mark.
Anyone who carefully observed it would see that the lotus petals were numerous and exquisitely blooming.
Boom, boom, boom~~!
The ground behind the thatched hut shook violently.
Then, dust flew up as two towering stone monuments rose from the mountain.
On these two stone tablets were two deep sword scars—one deep, one shallow; one thick, one thin.
As the two sword scar monuments rose, an overwhelming, ancient, and cold sword intent emanated from them, sweeping away all the dust and smoke in the area.
When the sword scar monuments finally stopped shaking, everything returned to stillness. The sword intent slowly revealed itself from the sealed state, growing ever more terrifying, as though it had come from the ancient times, slashing through stars and moons!
Everyone looked up, their eyes filled with shock.
This is the Emperor's Sword Intent!
Yue Xi, still unsure of the situation, was now also stunned. She finally realized that this was indeed the top of Emperor's Sword Mountain.
However, at this moment, she couldn't even think about why Li Hao was here. Her eyes were completely fixated on the two sword scar monuments.
Yun Wumian looked at the crowd, whose minds seemed to have wandered. He slowly said, "These two imperial sword intents have existed for countless years. Now that they have been revealed, whether you can comprehend them will depend entirely on your luck and perception!"
As he spoke, he waved his hand, placing meditation cushions before the two gigantic stone slabs marked with sword scars.
The other disciples immediately snapped back to their senses and quickly flew over, sitting on the cushions, raising their heads to meditate on the imperial sword intents.
Ji Qingxuan's figure flickered, and he was the first to teleport to the frontmost position.
The other immortal realm figures followed closely behind.
Lu Wuchen and Wei Hongye also hurried to join them. With only half a year to comprehend, they could not afford to waste any time.
Just as the confused Yuexi was still processing the situation, she suddenly snapped to attention. She quickly leaped out of Li Tiemu's arms and dashed toward the cushions.
As many figures rushed forward to compete, only Li Tiemu and the elders, including Yun Wumian, remained behind, alongside a certain young figure.
At this moment, the young man stood out, looking rather out of place.
Li Hao raised his head and gazed at the two giant stone slabs with sword scars. When they first appeared, he felt a familiar aura. It was the aura of the Tianyang Immortal Emperor. A voice deep in his heart seemed to whisper, telling him that these sword scars were left behind by the Tianyang Immortal Emperor!
"So, this is the sword swung by the Emperor..."
Li Hao's eyes gleamed, and with his three levels of Sword Dao foundation, he immediately added the two imperial sword intents to his panel.
But this was only the surface, not even scratching the surface of the true meaning.
The thick sword scar was the Imperial Sword Technique "Duan Qiong"!
The thin sword scar was the Imperial Sword Technique "Wan Yue"!
Although he only grasped the basics, as the information flooded into his mind, Li Hao saw two sword energies appear before him, cutting through the heavens and leaving two deep sword marks in the air!
The overwhelming momentum and sword intent made him feel the power of the imperial sword, and he could even faintly sense the emperor's will from these marks.
Li Hao's gaze flickered as he stood still, deep in thought.
Yun Wumian and Li Tiemu, along with the other elders, all focused their attention on this young man. While everyone else was competing, he remained calm and detached, which made him stand out even more.
"Kid, what are you thinking?" Li Tiemu couldn't help but transmit a voice, urging him, "There's only half a year, what are you spacing out for?"
Li Hao snapped back to reality, glanced at him, and then looked up at the two massive sword scar slabs. His comprehension was already complete. Staying here any longer would be pointless, and he would just waste precious time.
"Yuan Lord, may I leave the mountain early?" Li Hao asked, bowing slightly to Yun Wumian.
Upon hearing the young man's request, the entire place fell into an eerie silence. Li Tiemu was so stunned that it felt like his throat was cut. He stared at Li Hao, doubting his own hearing.
What was that? He wanted to leave the Imperial Sword Mountain? And leave early?
The Imperial Sword Intent had been revealed for hundreds of thousands of years, with generations of disciples coming to comprehend it. No one had ever asked to leave early.
After all, the longer one stayed, the more one could comprehend. Who would waste such a rare opportunity?
Yun Wumian was also momentarily stunned. Clearly, this was the first time he had encountered such a situation. Normally, he was calm and collected, even when facing an army of ancient demons. But now, he was genuinely surprised. He asked, "Why? Do you feel like you can't comprehend it, or do you think you have already understood it?"
Li Hao shook his head slightly. If he were to say he had already comprehended it, that would be arrogant, since he had only glanced at it, and even then, he only grasped a fraction of it.
"I've already come, seen it, and now I want to do something more meaningful." Li Hao said.
Yun Wumian narrowed his eyes. From what the young man said, it seemed like he was ready to leave immediately.
"More meaningful things? What kind of things?" Yun Wumian asked, curiosity rising in his heart.
Li Hao looked at the back of the many disciples who had already seated themselves in front of the sword scar slabs. He then withdrew his gaze and turned to look down the Imperial Sword Mountain.
"I want to play a game, paint a picture, eat a delicious meal, and maybe carve something small." The young man's crisp voice echoed lightly in front of the humble hut at the summit of Imperial Sword Mountain.
Such simple words, spoken by the young man, left Li Tiemu, Zhou Qingyun, and the other elders dumbfounded, their eyes wide in shock.
To the young man, these simple, ordinary things seemed more meaningful than comprehending the imperial sword intent?
Yun Wumian hadn't expected this answer either. He was momentarily stunned, and when he saw the young man's sincere and clear gaze, he suddenly realized that the boy wasn't lying. He wasn't just trying to avoid the task or make excuses.
While the other disciples from the Sword Abyss rushed forward to climb the mountain, this young man only took a glance at the Imperial Sword Intent and was about to turn around and leave the summit.
Yun Wumian fell silent. A young man like this, he had never seen before.
If it weren't for witnessing this young man's unmatched sword strike that cleaved through the ancestral dragon, he might have considered him just a foolish child.
But that one sword strike told him that the young man wasn't stupid, and that he possessed an extraordinary sense of comprehension and intelligence.
Now, it seemed that this young man also had an exceptionally rare and unique heart.
But whether this heart was good or bad, Yun Wumian couldn't tell.
However, this was interesting.
He slowly spoke, "Your name is Hao Tian?"
"Mm." The young man nodded.
"What is your surname? Which family are you from?"
"My surname is Hao, my name is Tian, and I have no family. I came into this world alone," Li Hao replied calmly.
"Hao..." Yun Wumian muttered.
Yun Wumian searched through his mind for a family of great prominence with the surname "Hao," but he couldn't find one. He spoke softly, "To dare to take the name 'Tian,' what an ambitious temperament!"
"Tian sheng di yang, yi ming jing tian, what's wrong with that?" Li Hao replied.
Yun Wumian's gaze shifted slightly. He looked at the boy's calm eyes and suddenly his gaze softened a great deal. He spoke slowly, "I heard from Elder Li Tie Mu that you've only been in Sword Abyss for two years. You possess a certain power that subtly pulls at the laws of the Heavenly Dao, and even I find it difficult to clearly see your true cultivation. Unless you reveal your immortal energy, do you realize this is a very dangerous thing?"
Li Hao was slightly stunned, realizing that Yun Wumian was referring to his Wuxiang attribute.
Under the concealment of the Wuxiang attribute, his cultivation realm could be hidden.
Unless he voluntarily revealed his aura.
The meaning behind Yun Wumian's words quickly dawned on Li Hao.
Even Immortal Kings found it difficult to see through his aura, so they would surely suspect he was hiding some rare treasure!
"As a genius, it's normal to have your own opportunities. I won't pry into it," Yun Wumian's voice softened, and he continued, "But remember, when you entered my Great Dream Nine Abyss, you became a part of the Sword Abyss. If you face any difficulties, Sword Abyss will always be your support. No one can harm you as long as you are within Sword Abyss!"
Li Hao was momentarily stunned. He stared at Yun Wumian and then bowed, clasping his hands, and said, "Disciple remembers!"
Yun Wumian rarely smiled, and his smile surprised Li Tie Mu and the other elders, leaving them wide-eyed with astonishment.
"The opening of Imperial Sword Mountain ahead of schedule is for you all to comprehend the Sword Intent. Boy, do you know why?" Yun Wumian asked.
Li Hao's heart stirred, and he replied, "Is it related to the South Region Conference? To prepare the disciples in advance?"
Yun Wumian glanced at Li Tie Mu, who had an innocent expression, indicating that he had not leaked the news ahead of time.
"Correct, the South Region Conference, with the Nine Immortal Dynasties, many Heaven and Earth Sect geniuses, and even the prodigies from the Heavenly Palace, will all compete for supremacy," Yun Wumian smiled as he looked at Li Hao, "In the next three thousand years of the Soul's lifespan, anyone can participate. This battle will determine the ranking of the South Region sects, the distribution of Immortal Vein resources, and many other benefits. Therefore, all the sects are fighting for it!"
Li Hao nodded, already imagining how intense the South Region Conference would be.
"But aside from the sects, there are also immense benefits for the participants," Yun Wumian's eyes gleamed as he spoke softly, "If you make it into the top ten, you will have the opportunity to enter the Chaos True Realm for cultivation."
"The Chaos True Realm?" Li Hao asked in confusion.
Seeing that Li Hao didn't even know what the Chaos True Realm was, Yun Wumian was momentarily stunned. Then he couldn't help but chuckle, realizing that Li Hao truly had no family background.
Yet, despite coming from nowhere, reaching this point and standing in front of him was still somewhat unbelievable.
"Indeed, that's the holy land of cultivation that even the descendants of the imperial family are competing for. In there, you can touch the Chaos Dao and gain insights into other Great Dao more easily. Countless sects, families, and even disciples under the Supreme of the Heavenly Palace all desire to enter the Chaos True Realm, but the spots are limited…" Yun Wumian looked at Li Hao with a slight smile and added, "Make sure to seize this opportunity."
Li Hao, upon hearing this, immediately understood and nodded, "I will."
Seeing Li Hao's calm reaction, Yun Wumian asked, "Do you still want to leave the mountain?"
"Leave the mountain."
The boy's response left Yun Wumian with a sense of helplessness.
"Why?"
"Because going down the mountain is more meaningful," the boy said seriously.
Yun Wumian locked eyes with him and suddenly realized that his earlier encouragement and advice seemed to have been in vain.
However, oddly enough, he didn't feel angry. Perhaps it was the purity in the boy's gaze that made him truly believe that whatever this boy wanted to do, it might really be meaningful.
Maybe, for this boy, it was indeed so.
Yun Wumian sighed with a smile, "Go ahead, but if you need anything, just speak to Elder Li."
With that, he turned and sat back down at the tea table in front of the hut. It had been a long time since he had spoken so much, and now he felt his throat was dry.
Li Hao cupped his hands in farewell, bowed, and then waved at Elder Li before turning and descending the mountain.
"Haotian, are you really going down the mountain?" Li Tie Mu, seeing Li Hao's actions, immediately snapped out of his daze and grew anxious.
The boy only nodded and then leapt from the mountaintop, disappearing from their sight.
Li Tie Mu halted in his tracks, staring blankly at the scene.
But he quickly began to chase after the boy, only to have Zhou Qingyun place a hand on his shoulder and shake his head, saying, "Don't chase him. That boy, with his Dao Heart Nine Echoes, has a heart that is even higher than yours. In my opinion, he should have already gained something, and now he wants to go off and digest it on his own."
Li Tie Mu froze, looking at him with suspicion.
Zhou Qingyun spoke with a hint of annoyance: "You don't know how that kid passed through the seventh level, your performance as a master really leaves much to be desired."
Li Tiemu finally realized. That brat had managed to climb up and surpassed his expectations, and he still didn't know how he did it.
"How did he get past the seventh level? The Ancestor Dragon is not easy to deal with," Li Tiemu quickly asked.
Zhou Qingyun shrugged. "How else would he get past? He walked right through it."
"Be serious!"
"Heh, you're getting anxious. Your prized disciple nearly cut the Ancestor Dragon in half with one sword, and then casually walked over. Is that better understood now?" Zhou Qingyun said with a displeased expression, but his eyes were full of envy.
Having received a calamity-stricken clan, he felt a little jealous.
Having received a natural sword immortal body, he felt envious.
And now, another prodigy appeared. He really wanted to strangle this old guy!
Li Tiemu froze in place after hearing Zhou Qingyun's words.
One sword nearly killing the Ancestor Dragon? The image was hard to imagine, but somehow, he could barely picture it.
That kid... is he that strong?
Li Tiemu turned to the old woman and saw her rolling her eyes. He immediately confirmed that Zhou Qingyun wasn't lying.
He couldn't help but feel excited. He knew that Li Hao was only in the third realm of true immortality, and with just third-level celestial power, to be able to defeat the Ancestor Dragon with a single sword... didn't this indicate that he might have the potential to reach the peak of true immortality and be invincible?
"That kid is the most hidden one. If you ask me, when it comes down to real battle, the boy with the natural sword immortal body might not even be his match," Zhou Qingyun said, stroking his beard.
Li Tiemu's heart skipped a beat. His chest thudded loudly as he no longer paid attention to Zhou Qingyun. He hurried to the tea table near the grass hut where Yun Wumian was sitting.
"Yuan Master, is it really like this? That child..." Li Tiemu asked, a mix of urgency and disbelief in his voice.
Yun Wumian sipped his tea calmly, gently nodding. His expression, which usually appeared indifferent, now seemed a bit warmer as he looked at Li Tiemu.
"He is indeed a rare sword genius. Compared to the ancient immortal bloodline..."
He finished his tea and spoke softly, "Not bad."
Just these two words made Li Tiemu shake with excitement. He knew that nothing that happened at the Imperial Sword Mountain could be hidden from Yun Wumian. To receive such a remark from him meant it was extremely true.
"By accepting these two disciples, you have done a great service to Jianyuan. Once the Southern Domain war ends, feel free to ask for anything you wish," Yun Wumian said, glancing at Li Tiemu calmly.
Li Tiemu, trembling with excitement, felt tears welling up in his eyes. He gritted his teeth and said, "I only want the Great Dream Nine Abyss back, and to return to Tianyi Sect, to restore the glory from a hundred thousand years ago!"
Upon hearing this, Yun Wumian fell silent.
He looked at the old man, whose eyes were brimming with tears, and his gaze seemed to soften slightly. He raised his eyes toward the two sword-marked monuments standing tall in the distance, his expression filled with a sense of time and nostalgia.
"Yes... I too wish..." he whispered quietly.
His soft words made Li Tiemu's body shiver with emotion.
"When the Immortal Emperor fell, the Supreme One took over the Southern Domain and began erasing all traces of the Empire. After the battle, the ten great immortal arts were almost lost. That young man... who knows where he learned them..."
Yun Wumian's eyes seemed to glimmer with the brilliance of countless stars as he spoke in a low voice, "The Great Dream Nine Abyss has been careful for all these years, avoiding trouble and not causing any issues, just to keep the Supreme One from finding a weakness. The Great Dream Nine Abyss must not only survive but return to its rightful place, proving that the Empire's legacy has not perished, and that the Immortal Emperor will not be buried by time..."
These words seemed to resonate deeply with what Li Tiemu had been thinking. He was so moved that he almost burst into tears.
A hundred thousand years... That battle had been a disaster, with the Immortal Emperor falling. Since then, the Supreme One had ruled the Southern Domain, and all traces of the Empire were quietly erased.
The bloodshed of that battle seemed to have been covered in dust over the years, twisted and slandered by those with ulterior motives.
Many had forgotten that the Southern Domain could still exist today because of the countless bodies buried in the void of the Southern Domain's borders.
"Yuan Master, your intentions are noble. For this lifetime, my only wish is to see the return of the Great Dream Nine Abyss and the restoration of Tianyi Sect. That should be ours. We followed the Immortal Emperor. How can we dishonor the glory of the imperial path?" Li Tiemu wiped his tears, quickly regaining his composure as he clenched his teeth.
Yun Wumian gave a slight nod, quickly concealing the trace of emotion in his eyes. The many hardships they had endured in these hundred thousand years had taught them to suppress and control their feelings, so they would not give the Supreme One any handle to use against them.
"This time, there's still some time before the Southern Domain war begins. Do those two children have a chance?" Li Tiemu asked again.
Yun Wumian's eyes flickered slightly as he looked at the figure of the sword immortal body boy standing before the giant sword marks in the distance. He nodded slowly and said:
"Fifty percent."
Fifty percent... that was half a chance.
Li Tiemu took a deep breath, a strong determination showing in his eyes. He immediately said, "I'll go see that kid. I need to see what he's planning to do."
Yun Wumian gently raised his hand. "That child's natural talent and comprehension ability is not worse than the Sword Immortal Body. He just has a more indifferent temperament. But perhaps it's exactly this disposition that allowed him to come this far. You don't need to change him. When the time comes, let him show what he can. If he needs any cultivation resources, just provide them. If anything comes up, you can come to me."
Li Tiemu paused for a moment, wanting to say something but then held back.
Yun Wumian slightly shook his head and softly said, "The burdens we carry have deformed us, so don't let those children be deformed as well."
Li Tiemu froze, lowering his head and remaining silent. He didn't speak any further.
At the foot of the Emperor Sword Mountain.
Li Hao said he was going down the mountain, and he truly did.
However, when he reached the foot of the mountain, he saw that the merged first level of Emperor Sword Mountain actually had a spatial tear.
Li Hao was a little surprised. Using the power of the Space Dao's original essence, he pried open the spatial tear and slipped inside.
Once inside, he was greeted with a vast expanse of heaven and earth, just like the first level of Emperor Sword Mountain he had seen before.
The original space had only been compressed into a thin crack, but within, there was a universe of its own.
Li Hao was surprised, but then immediately sensed the presence of spiritual beings in the air. His eyes lit up, and he immediately moved towards the cliff valley.
"Hmm?"
At the front of the cliff valley, the old man of the Spirit Race, along with A Ling and the middle-aged Spirit Race man, were still sitting there.
Yun Wumian had not released them, so they could only remain there and wait.
Upon sensing Li Hao's presence, the three of them were all surprised and looked up.
"You're here?"
The old man of the Spirit Race was astonished.
Li Hao smiled, "I was passing by. Seeing you were still here, I came to take a look."
"Did you go to the mountain peak?"
A Ling couldn't help but ask, her eyes wide with curiosity.
Li Hao nodded, "I went to take a look."
"How was it?"
"There were a lot of people, very grand," Li Hao said.
The three of them couldn't help but laugh. The countless people yearning to reach the peak of Emperor Sword Mountain, and yet, to hear these six words from this young man?
"Isn't the point of reaching the peak to comprehend the Emperor Sword's will?" A Ling covered her mouth and laughed, then immediately asked.
"I've already comprehended it and came down the mountain first," Li Hao replied.
"That can't be true!" A Ling couldn't help but find it amusing, "Doesn't the longer you comprehend, the more you understand?"
That's true... Li Hao nodded and said, "But I'm a bit slow-witted and lack patience, so I had to leave early."
His Sword Dao foundation was at the third level, and whatever he could comprehend, he already had. Continuing to stay there could lead to some improvement, but the effect would be very minimal, which was why he chose to come down.
"If you're slow-witted, then there are hardly any clever people left."
A Ling said with irritation. After all, someone who could block her sword with a physical body like an immortal physique couldn't be considered slow-witted. Besides, Li Hao was at the third level of True Immortal Realm.
At this point, Li Hao, who had been reminded by Yun Wumian, had already concealed the attributes of his Myriad Phenomenon.
"Enough of this, let's play chess," Li Hao said.
"You're really addicted," the old man of the Spirit Race said with a laugh. He couldn't understand why, instead of comprehending the Emperor Sword's will, Li Hao was playing chess.
"Only after I win will my thirst be quenched," Li Hao laughed.
"Then it'd be easier to comprehend the Emperor Sword's will," the old man of the Spirit Race humorously responded.
On top of Emperor Sword Mountain, two massive sword scar steles stood tall.
Numerous disciples stood before the steles, gazing intently, lost in their thoughts.
Time passed swiftly, and before they knew it, half a year had gone by.
Yun Wumian appeared, pulling everyone out of their reverie, raising his hand to press the two sword scar steles back into the Emperor Sword Mountain.
With a loud rumble, everyone awoke.
"It's time to go down the mountain," Yun Wumian said.
The disciples looked at each other, some of them still with confused looks in their eyes, as all they could think about was those sword scars.
"Is it over already?"
"Has half a year already passed?"
"I... I haven't felt anything yet. I only felt a bit of sword intent."
...
The disciples stood up. Some groaned, some held their heads, while others closed their eyes, constantly recalling, afraid they would forget.
"Let's go. The other Yuan disciples have already gathered. We should leave as well."
Li Tiemu and the elders approached, calling their respective disciples to gather around.