Chapter 523: Li Hao's Soul Lifespan
Upon hearing about the stripping of Immortal weapons and other external forces, everyone had already known and weren't surprised.
At this moment, the scene where everyone was gathering in this restricted area was already being reflected across the Southern Domain of the True World, even in the starry sky where it appeared. Immortal gods exploring the starry sky could see it as well.
The seemingly ordinary words that fell into the ears of the crowd made many people feel a sense of melancholy and sadness as they spread across.
You see, the secret realm was like a cage for refining beasts, extremely dangerous. Stripping away Immortal weapons and other external aids meant fighting with only one's own strength. It was as if they were fighting ancient demons naked, and even the slightest weakness could lead to death!
Although the geniuses entering the secret realm had been carefully selected by their respective Immortal Dynasties, just this first hurdle in the South Domain's war was already so difficult.
In a certain Immortal city, in a tea house, a young girl in a black dress sat quietly, sipping tea.
Outside the tea house, the scene of the gathering Immortal Dynasties in the Southern Domain was reflected, and the words of the Immortal Guard Commander echoed through.
"The Ten Thousand Races are indeed ruthless," the young girl murmured with a slight smile. If Li Hao were here, he would recognize this girl as Mi Xueyao, who had infiltrated the border of Yan Chu.
At this moment, her appearance had changed slightly, but her breathtaking beauty remained. Yet, she carried no trace of the ancient demon aura; she looked like a delicate and beautiful human girl.
She thought to herself, 'Stripping their claws and throwing them into such a killing cage... this is such a cruel thing that even we, the ancient demons, might not do. No wonder, after ten thousand years of fighting, the Ten Thousand Races haven't been destroyed.'
To select the top geniuses, they could be so heartless as to clip their wings.
"..."
"I've always said that the competition for cultivation among the Ten Thousand Races has long ceased to be the warm bed of ten thousand years ago."
"Unfortunately, our clan is split. If we don't unite soon, more blood will be spilled in the future!"
Elsewhere, in a blood-soaked city, a figure shrouded in demonic aura stood. This was the place it had already infiltrated.
Seeing the reflected scene in the city, the ancient demon's eyes showed a ruthless glint.
...
"Master, it's that young man," said a voice in the domain of the Spirit Clan in Yan Chu's territory. Several figures were gathered, gazing up at the starry sky.
In the reflected image, countless figures stood, all of them top-tier geniuses, each exuding a unique aura. Their gazes searched, and among them, they found that familiar figure.
At this moment, seeing the young man standing among the gathering geniuses, his unique brilliance still shone. They all smiled.
"I knew that kid could go far. I didn't expect that in less than ten years, he went from the First Stage of True Immortal Realm to the perfection of True Immortal Realm!"
The elder of the Spirit Clan smiled.
"He had previously defeated the royal family in the True Immortal Realm, and the news spread. He will likely face opposition from other True Immortal Realm participants in this group."
The young girl beside the elder showed concern in her eyes.
"It's hard to say. With such strength, he is enough to intimidate many who have ill intentions," the elder said, stroking his beard.
"Master, do you think he can make it to the top ten of the True Immortal Realm group?" asked a middle-aged man who often played chess with the elder.
"There's a great chance," the elder replied, his eyes full of anticipation.
...
"Hm?" A figure speeding through the starry sky suddenly stopped, his eyes slightly dazed as he saw the reflection in the vast starry sky. His expression changed when he saw the figure of the Supreme.
"Is it really him..." he muttered.
He stared at the reflected image and, after a moment of confusion, his gaze sharpened. Suddenly, he thought of something, and his expression slightly changed.
He stood still for a long time, seemingly in thought, and a faint feeling of unease grew in his heart.
At this moment, he saw the time-flowing trace he had been following, a colorful track speeding ahead, seemingly leading to the center of the Southern Domain.
He immediately stopped hesitating and quickly chased after it.
...
"So, this is the South Domain Battle? With the 3,000-year soul lifespan limit, how can there be so many Immortal Monarch Realm participants?"
"Can someone really cultivate to Immortal Monarch in 3,000 years?"
"You have no idea. For those geniuses, they are likely suppressing their cultivation realms, mainly focusing on comprehending the Dao. Otherwise, they would progress even faster!"
"Exactly. They have access to rare treasures, drink divine nectar, and with the Emperor's blood and Immortal resources, they can advance rapidly. We can't even imagine it!"
"It's outrageous. Without external help, with a 3,000-year soul lifespan limit, the highest-ranking Immortal Monarch Realm participant among the ancient demons in the Immortal Monarch Realm's secret realm is at the Seventh Stage. Isn't this a death sentence?"
Countless people, watching the rare spectacle reflected in the Southern Domain's starry sky, were amazed.
This represented the pinnacle of the geniuses from all the forces in the Southern Domain, their worth extremely high. It was a chance to see the ultimate limits of the Ten Thousand Races' geniuses through this battle.
"My Frosthua Clan's genius will definitely make it into the top ten of the True Immortal Realm!"
"What's the Frosthua Clan? I heard there's a reincarnation of a Chaos Snow Spirit, whose talent is comparable to the patriarch of the Frosthua Clan!"
"My Liuying Clan is part of the Hundred Clans, and that's our genius. They hadn't shown their true abilities in the Immortal Dynasty, but now it's time for them to rise to fame!"
"That's the young man from the Ancient God Clan. How domineering! Trying to slay Immortal Monarch Ancient Demons with the True Immortal Realm. No wonder they made it into the top ten of the Imperial War Mountain!"
Various forces from across the Southern Domain, gathered in their Immortal Dynasties, were all discussing fervently.
Their family's geniuses had all entered various sects, representing their Immortal Dynasties, and would fight in the Heavenly Palace, standing for both their Immortal Dynasty and their family.
After the Immortal Guard Commander finished speaking, he glanced over the crowd and asked, "Is there anything unclear?"
Upon hearing his words, the crowd fell into a brief silence. At this moment, Li Hao suddenly spoke up.
"I have a question."
"Hm?" The Immortal Guard Commander turned to look at Li Hao. With a single glance, he could tell that the young man before him had an extraordinary aura. There were traces of Dao Rhyme swirling around him, a manifestation of his powerful Immortal Dao, indicating that his Dao Rhyme was indeed strong.
His expression remained calm as he asked, "What question?"
"If we hunt ancient demons inside, do they belong to us? Can we bring them out?" Li Hao asked.
"..."
The Immortal Guard Commander considered other possibilities but didn't expect Li Hao's question to be so peculiar. After a brief pause, he nodded and answered, "Of course."
Li Hao let out a sigh of relief, nodded, and didn't speak again.
This moment was reflected in the image seen by a pair of clear, lake-like eyes in a small tea house. The young girl inside paused in slight shock, then smiled at the corner of her lips.
'That guy... is he planning to perform some sort of show on how to eat an ancient demon in front of everyone?'
If so, this would surely astonish all the Ten Thousand Races of the Southern Domain.
However, thinking of the body he had cooked before, she instinctively licked her lips, suddenly feeling a little hungry.
Feeling hunger for someone of her own kind was a taboo even for the ancient demons, who were far less bound by the conventional moral standards of the human world. She lightly shook her head, trying to dispel the thoughts in her mind, but they continued to surface against her will.
'Kid, wait until I catch you again. I won't let go, I'll take you back to my clan.'
Mi Xueyao thought to herself. It wasn't just about the taste of that cooked dish. She understood how much harm Li Hao's cooking technique could bring to the ancient demon race. If other ancient demon clans learned of it, or if this human race found out and widely used it, their ancient demon race would fall into danger.
At that time, the Ten Ancient Demon Clans would have to unite, or the situation could even reverse.
She knew that if she brought this news back to the ancient demon clan, the other ancient demon clans outside of her own would likely dismiss it, thinking it was exaggerated. After all, he was just a human youth. How could he have such a threatening power?
In that battle, even many Immortal Emperors had fallen, let alone a mere insect.
However, having witnessed countless dynasties rise and fall and Immortal techniques change, she understood that this was not impossible. This was the change brought by new power. Just like how one Immortal technique could evolve into a stronger one, the impact of this change would be profound and far-reaching, far beyond any personal strength.
...
After Li Hao asked his question, many people looked at him strangely. They couldn't understand what this young man was thinking, wasting such a precious opportunity to ask important questions.
Others also began speaking up, asking whether it was feasible to kill and steal Dao Flames inside the secret realm.
This naturally raised suspicion among many, but the person asking the question remained unfazed, showing extreme confidence and arrogance, completely disregarding the wary gazes.
"Stealing Dao Flames is not encouraged, but it is allowed," the Immortal Guard Commander replied with a smile, saying words that sent a chill down the spines of many geniuses.
"When you enter the secret realm, be sure to team up for safety. Do not act alone. Other sects will definitely do the same."
Da Mengzhu transmitted her voice to Li Hao and the others, clearly aware of this point and already prepared for it. She used her Immortal Domain to block the surroundings, and no one but Immortal Emperors could enter her Immortal Domain undetected. She spoke to them inside the Immortal Domain:
"Jingcheng, Huaiyue, Yechen, you three are all in the Immortal Monarch Realm, so make sure to stick together and support each other. Hunt the ancient demons together to avoid injuries or casualties. If you catch any Dao Flames, you three should distribute them based on your performances. Try to all advance."
Da Mengzhu arranged things with a solemn expression.
Upon hearing this, the three exchanged glances. Yin Jingcheng and Meng Huaiyue, being master and disciple, had no objections. Gun Yuan disciple Su Yechen also knew that with his own strength, he would be at a severe disadvantage if he encountered others working together.
Moreover, the Immortal Guard Commander had mentioned that there were ancient demons at the Seventh Stage of Immortal Monarch Realm. If they encountered them, it would be an extremely dangerous situation.
"Haotian, you lead the True Immortal Realm group. You must take care of them. If you catch any Dao Flames, they are yours first. As for the rest, distribute them based on their performance. If you face insurmountable danger, you can decide what to do based on the situation."
Da Mengzhu turned to Li Hao and said.
After finishing her words, Da Mengzhu's voice echoed in Li Hao's mind: "If you encounter the Wan Mountain Sword Pavilion or other sects targeting you, the situation will be dangerous. You must prioritize your own safety."
Li Hao froze for a moment. Seeing Da Mengzhu's deep gaze, he felt a heavy weight in his heart. He nodded slightly and said, "I will try my best to bring them all out safely."
"You don't have to force yourself," Da Mengzhu's expression subtly shifted as she spoke softly.
Yin Jingcheng, hearing that Li Hao was to lead the sect's True Immortal Realm group, narrowed his eyes, feeling somewhat uncomfortable. However, with the True Immortal Realm and Immortal Monarch Realm being separated into groups, he would have no chance to get close to the sect's geniuses, and his only option was to bond with Gun Yuan's Su Yechen.
"When you enter the secret realm, you must listen to Haotian's orders. Do not act alone. If you encounter other groups, even if you have Dao Flames, they will be stolen, and you'll be in trouble," Da Mengzhu warned the others.
The Sword Yuan disciples, including Gu Yan and Lin Mingrong, looked at Li Hao. Among them, Lin Mingrong fixed her gaze on this young man. He had already become the leader of Sword Yuan and the True Immortal Realm leader of the entire sect.
The other Eight Abyss disciples nodded in agreement with Da Mengzhu's words. Li Hao's performance in the Ancient Immortal Realm had already spread throughout the sect, and they all respected him greatly.
As Da Mengzhu made her final arrangements, Li Hao noticed that other sects had also been separated by spatial boundaries. It was clear that each sect had chosen to fight as a group in the secret realm.
At this moment, the Immortal Guard Commander saw that the time had come and loudly declared:
"The True Immortal Realm secret realm is now open. Please enter in an orderly fashion. Once you enter the secret realm, you will be temporarily stranded in another space until the realm closes, at which point you will all be transported into the secret realm at the same time. Therefore, there is no need to scramble."
"Additionally, the landing points inside the secret realm are random. If you are unlucky, you may end up right next to an ancient demon, so be on your guard."
Upon hearing this, the sect leaders' expressions changed slightly. If that was the case, wouldn't their plan to group together fall apart? The strategies they had discussed earlier became unfeasible in the face of random landings.
"If that's the case, junior sister, you need to be careful once you're inside. We'll look for an opportunity to join up," Yin Jingcheng said to Meng Huaiyue, casting a glance at Li Hao. For some reason, he felt a sense of relief.
Other disciples' expressions also shifted slightly. Being with Li Hao was certainly much safer than fighting alone.
Da Mengzhu hadn't anticipated this move. Her brows furrowed as she realized that the Supreme Immortal's intention was to prevent them from grouping together and fighting in the secret realm. This would make the scene in the Southern Domain quite chaotic, as the purpose of this battle was to showcase the geniuses' individual brilliance.
"Since that's the case, if you happen to encounter each other inside, stick together. If not, just focus on your own performance!" Da Mengzhu instructed.
The group's expressions grew serious. The sense of reliance they felt earlier disappeared, and their determination began to rise.
After all, this way, no one could rely on others. It would be a battle of individual strength!
And geniuses were never afraid of this.
At this time, other Immortal Sects had already begun to move toward the secret realm.
As their figures passed the ancient mirror, a number immediately appeared— their soul lifespans.
Most of the displayed soul lifespans were four-digit numbers, with some reaching over a thousand years. However, some of the physical ages were only in their thirties, recently reincarnated.
"Three hundred years, there's actually a monster at three hundred years old!"
"Who is that? Three hundred years old and at the tenth stage of True Immortal Realm!"
"Look, that Ancient God Clan youth, only five hundred years old, not even ten full cycles!"
"When I was five hundred years old, I was still at the Saint Realm!"
The soul lifespans revealed in the mirror shocked countless people in the Southern Domain, especially seeing the young soul lifespans.
"Some are already over two thousand eight hundred years old, seven to eight times longer than others. This isn't fair."
"But a soul lifespan of three thousand is already a small range. This can't be helped."
As more and more figures passed through the ancient mirror, revealing their soul lifespans, many gasped. Only those with three to five hundred years of soul lifespan were considered quite young among these geniuses.
Soon, the disciples of Yan Chu Immortal Sect also started to move.
However, the leaders, including Chu Tianhuang, did not act yet. They were waiting for the Immortal Monarch Realm group's secret realm to open.
Chu Tianhuang's sister, Chu Yue Li, stood by his side, her gaze cold as she watched the royal siblings pass by.
As other sect disciples began to emerge, it was soon Da Meng Nine Abyss's turn.
Gu Yan's eyes flickered as he glanced at the ancient mirror before flying off.
As his figure passed by, his soul lifespan appeared—286 years!
Seeing this number, even other Heavenly Sect disciples couldn't help but look in surprise.
Not even three hundred years of soul lifespan?
This was too ridiculous!
The young woman walking beside Gu Yan, Yue Xi, was also shocked. She hadn't expected her junior brother's soul lifespan to be so small!
Her soul lifespan appeared as a four-digit number.
She had spent many years hiding and avoiding, carrying the burden of the Chaotic Tribe bloodline, so she had not been able to truly cultivate for long.
"Junior brother, your soul lifespan is so young!" she said.
Murong Qingwu, who was walking ahead, also turned around, astonished. She looked at Gu Yan with renewed respect. With such a soul lifespan, he was still able to come to the battlefield, and his combat strength was not inferior to hers. No wonder his talent was called the strongest swordsmanship aptitude!
Such a soul lifespan also attracted the attention of other Heavenly Sect experts, as well as powerful beings drifting through the stars, all of them filled with surprise at the potential this young man had.
With a soul lifespan of less than three hundred years, and already at the tenth stage of True Immortal Realm, he could potentially reach Immortal Monarch Realm in a thousand years, which would be on another level, comparable to the Immortal Monarch Realm group next to him.
"Bad luck," some people sighed, feeling that this young man was at a disadvantage by participating in the battle with such a soul lifespan.
Gu Yan's face remained indifferent. He had long grown accustomed to such discussions and gazes.
He arrived at the secret realm, looked back, and his gaze landed on the young man who had just bid farewell to Elder Li and Da Mengzhu.
A glimmer of light appeared in his eyes. If their soul lifespans were similar, he should be able to compete with the other.
"Go ahead, go ahead," Elder Li said to Li Hao with a smile.
Li Hao bid farewell to the two of them and soared toward the True Immortal Realm secret realm.
As his figure passed through the ancient mirror, his soul lifespan was revealed, a brief two-digit number:
96.