Chapter 543: Battle for the Imperial Platforms
"Yesterday's fishing was yesterday's, today's is today's. Of course I came."
The old man smiled calmly, carrying his fish basket back to the same spot. A small depression in the ground marked where his stool had rested the day before.
"Well? Any catches last night?"
The old man asked casually, though his question carried two layers of meaning.
Li Hao hadn't caught anything. He shook his head. "No, but there was movement."
"Oh?"
The old man chuckled lightly, understanding what Li Hao really meant. "Not bad. If you can sense movement in my fishing spot, you've got talent."
"Senior flatters me."
Li Hao scratched his head. If he really had talent, he should have already broken through to the twelfth segment in comprehension.
But now, he had only touched the threshold of domain. A domain had Laws unique to its owner. Trying to find a flaw in someone else's Laws and catch your own "fish" was still out of reach.
"Fishing is a deep art. Keep at it, kid."
The old man gave a carefree smile, then pulled out his golden rod and cast his line into the lake.
Li Hao didn't speak further. He bowed his head in quiet thought.
Time passed. Another day slipped by. Today, the old man caught two more fish—not the same ones as yesterday. In Li Hao's perception, the lake was still completely empty. He knew he hadn't yet found the real world hidden within the old man's domain, the one cloaked by Laws.
When the moon rose, the old man stood and prepared to leave again. Li Hao reeled in his line and said farewell.
"Not staying longer?"
The old man looked over in interest. "Leave now, and you're still leaving empty-handed."
Li Hao twitched slightly. For a fisherman, those words were a huge blow.
But he didn't get upset. Instead, he clasped his hands respectfully and bowed deeply. "Thank you for the wine, Senior. I'll come again when I have time."
"That was an exchange. Your food wasn't bad either."
The old man smiled, not asking anything else. He waved and said, "Then we'll meet again if fate allows."
Neither asked for the other's name. One wandered into the forest, leisurely descending the mountain. The other stood at the summit, then leapt into the wind and vanished into the sky.
Only the lake remained below, still and silent, reflecting the brilliance of the moonlight.
When Li Hao returned to the courtyard arranged by the Heavenly Palace, he found the Grand Dream Master waiting for him.
"Tomorrow is the battle. Are you ready?"
She breathed a quiet sigh of relief upon seeing him and asked.
Li Hao nodded and brought out several delicacies he had collected from the various cities, handing a few portions to her. "These taste pretty good, Sect Master. You should try them."
"You've spent the past two days looking for food?"
The Grand Dream Master was surprised, but as the delicious aroma reached her, her hand naturally accepted the offering.
"You really have nerves of steel. The final battle is upon us, and while everyone else is in seclusion or calming their minds, you're out sightseeing. Maybe your mental fortitude truly surpasses theirs."
She spoke with half-serious admiration.
Li Hao chuckled. "Victory or defeat is part of the game. I'll just do my best."
Seeing how he didn't care about rankings or winning, the Grand Dream Master smiled bitterly. But she understood—Li Hao's Dao heart had always been firm. To see through those things wasn't surprising for him.
"Get some rest. Tomorrow won't be easy."
She took the food and floated away, not disturbing him further.
Li Hao sat in the courtyard under the clear moonlight, thinking of that fishing lake. Suddenly inspired, he used immortal Power as ink and began painting. He drew the image of the old man fishing by the lake.
As his mind sank into the painting, he felt as though he were entering the very intent the old man had revealed. His understanding of the fishing domain deepened.
Time passed quickly. When Li Hao opened his eyes again, it was already the next day.
Outside the courtyard, the Grand Dream Master's projection appeared, gathering the sect's disciples.
Li Hao put the painting away, rose, and went out to join the others.
Yue Xi, Gu Yan, and the rest arrived one by one. Yin Jingcheng, Meng Huaiyue, and Su Yecheng also joined the group.
"Let's go."
The Grand Dream Master glanced over the group. Her gaze paused briefly on Li Hao. Seeing his good condition, she relaxed and led the group away.
As all the sects gathered, Emperor Chu's form appeared, guiding everyone to the battlefield.
It was a vast mountain range. When Li Hao and the others arrived, they saw countless figures swarming across the peaks like ants, packed shoulder to shoulder. The noise of their chatter filled the skies.
"So many people," Yue Xi murmured.
"These are locals from the Heavenly Palace territory. They're here to watch the battle live."
The Grand Dream Master explained.
They landed on the main peak of the range—an open area reserved for the top sects of the Yan Chu Immortal Dynasty, as well as those from other dynasties who arrived soon after.
Li Hao spotted Di Linchen and Shen Wuji, and also saw Jian Xin—the sword genius from the secret realm, a personal disciple of one of the Heavenly Palace Supremes.
Beside Jian Xin stood a girl in green robes. Her expression was cold and distant, like frost. She wasn't trying to seem aloof, yet she gave off a deep, ocean-like serenity, as though nothing in the world could move or disturb her.
The two stood side by side, exuding a quiet detachment from the mortal world, like fallen immortals gracing the earth—stunning and ethereal.
Li Hao also noticed Chi Ying, still dressed in her red dress, blazing like fire. Her gaze sharp and cold, she carried an aura of battle-hardened ferocity.
Li Hao thought to himself that when he had time, he'd ask her where Huang Tian Sheng was.
As disciples from every dynasty arrived, the majestic projection of the Heavenly Palace Supreme appeared, seated atop the mist-shrouded mountain peak, radiant like a divine sun, visible from every summit in the area.
As the Supreme appeared, all the emperors from the immortal dynasties, who had been seated on clouds, stood up.
Though they ruled dynasties, even they had to follow the etiquette of the immortals when facing an Immortal Emperor Realm figure.
Before the Immortal Emperor, even emperors must bow.
Not just Emperor Chu, but all the other dynastic rulers and sect leaders—including the Grand Dream Master—bowed low. The scene was awe-inspiring, like wind sweeping through a bamboo forest, all bending in unison.
The Heavenly Palace Supreme raised a hand, signaling the end of formalities, and had the Immortal Guard Commander step forward to begin the Southern Region Battle.
"After passing the two previous trials, you've emerged from the countless cultivators of each dynasty. Now, the Southern Region Battle truly begins!"
"Today is the Imperial Platform Contest."
The Immortal Guard Commander's voice boomed across the mountains. His gaze swept the scene, instantly silencing the chattering crowds. Within ten thousand miles, only his voice echoed:
"There are ten Imperial Platforms here!"
He raised his hand, and everyone looked up. High above the peaks, ten ancient stone platforms floated in the sky, emanating an aura of primordial antiquity.
"Each Imperial Platform can only hold ten spots. Climb onto one, and you're in—the top hundred of the True Immortal group will be decided this way!"
The Immortal Guard Commander said, "The top hundred battle will use Heaven's Dao Laws to randomly assign one-on-one matchups. It's entirely random, based on luck. Of course, if you want to make the top ten, you'll definitely have to clash with powerful opponents—there will be no lucky escapes."
Everyone was stunned by the rules—not so much the duels for the top hundred, but the part where ninety percent would be eliminated immediately, right at the start!
Compared to the first two rounds, this elimination rate was brutal.
Before, only about a third were cut.
But now—ninety percent!
"Ten Imperial Platforms…"
Li Hao and the others all looked toward the ten floating stone platforms above the mountain peak. No doubt, this fight would be bloody and brutal.
"Today is the True Immortal group's battle. Once the top ten and overall winner are determined, then the Immortal Lord group will begin."
The Immortal Guard Commander continued.
Hearing that, those in the Immortal Lord Realm showed subtle reactions. Their battle had been delayed.
If both groups fought at the same time, most of the Southern Region would focus only on the Immortal Lord battle, making the True Immortal group's efforts fade into the background.
"Before the fight begins, the Supreme will reflect your soul-heart. If you fall, you'll still have a chance at reincarnation. After all, you are the top talents of the myriad races in our True Realm. This Southern Region battle is to select the best to lead us in the war against the ancient demons. If you die here, that would be a needless loss."
The Immortal Guard Commander's words told everyone they didn't need to hold back—they could fight as hard as they liked.
In the clouds above, Emperor Chu and the other rulers of the immortal dynasties were just learning these rules.
Emperor Zhao asked, "If disciples from the same sect team up, can't they take over a platform together? That doesn't seem fair."
Beside him, Emperor Chi, her face pale and beautiful with an icy expression, replied, "The real focus is selecting the top ten. The top hundred is just a consolation for the rest. Besides, even if a sect tries to take a platform by force, they'd still have to deal with everyone else."
"Exactly. Looks like this'll be fun to watch."
Emperor Jiang stroked his beard and smiled, eyes full of interest, already imagining the chaos to come.
"With limited spots, how will they choose? If the Heavenly Palace's dragon and phoenix pair team up, they could protect all their sect members."
Emperor Jin laughed, but his eyes drifted toward the Heavenly Palace Supreme.
Everyone else had thought of the same thing. Their attention turned toward the Immortal Guard Commander, waiting for clarification.
"The Imperial Platform contest will last for two hours. Those still standing on the platforms at the end will enter the top hundred!"
The Immortal Guard Commander raised his hand. Immortal Power gathered into a hazy radiance that floated into the air. He then announced, "Ten breaths from now, the contest begins. All True Immortal cultivators, prepare!"
Then he stepped back, offering no further explanation.
Everyone was stunned—he really wasn't going to give any more instructions. They looked at one another in disbelief.
"Looks like this'll be a free-for-all. It's about strength, but also about a sect's foundation and judgment."
The Grand Dream Master's gaze was serious, but she glanced at Li Hao and looked slightly relieved. "This might actually work in our favor. If you all follow Haotian's lead, you might make the top hundred."
At her words, Yue Xi and Gu Yan looked toward Li Hao. Lin Mingrong, who had passed the earlier trials, also turned her bright gaze to him.
Within the True Immortal group, Li Hao was seen as a top-ten contender. If he led them to take over a platform, they had a real shot.
"Hmph. Looks like how many of us make it through depends on you."
Yin Jingcheng scowled, annoyed that Li Hao was once again the center of attention.
Li Hao treated him like an annoying gnat—completely ignoring him. His gaze swept to another spot where he met Lin Qingying's eyes among the Wanshan Sword Pavilion group.
Li Hao signaled with his eyes. Lin Qingying instantly understood and nodded.
Then, the immortal technique cast by the Immortal Guard Commander exploded midair in a dazzling flash—signaling that the ten breaths had passed.
"Begin!"
The Immortal Guard Commander shouted.
At that moment, countless True Immortal cultivators shot into the sky like arrows loosed from the ground, racing toward the platforms.
"Let's go."
Li Hao called out to Yue Xi, Gu Yan, and the other sect disciples, then waved to Lin Qingying.
She transformed into a streak of green light and shot toward him.
"Lin Qingying, where are you going?"
Her fellow sect disciples shouted in shock.
"Qingying!"
Tian Hongyi's expression darkened. Lin Qingying had told him before that her heart belonged to someone—but now she had openly joined Li Hao, leaving no doubt who that person was.
Tian Hongyi's face turned cold, and a flash of killing intent lit his eyes.
Li Hao felt the sudden spike in killing intent. He turned and saw it was Tian Hongyi from the Wanshan Sword Pavilion—an Immortal Lord cultivator. He raised an eyebrow slightly.
"Let's go."
Li Hao took Lin Qingying's hand without hesitation and led the group toward a platform.
Each platform was shrouded in unique immortal Dao Laws. Li Hao picked one with fewer people—only three were already standing on it, all tense and watching each other warily.
He landed with Lin Qingying, Gu Yan, and the others, quickly filling seven of the ten slots.
The three cultivators already there looked uneasy. They had all heard of Li Hao's performance in the trials. Over the past three days, their sects had reviewed the trial footage, and they knew Li Hao was no ordinary contender.
Just as Li Hao and his team landed, another cultivator flew in behind them.
But the moment he stepped onto the platform, everyone—including Li Hao—felt a repelling force, like the platform itself was pushing them out.
At the same time, the air on the platform grew heavier, with a powerful suppressive force.
"Too many people!"
One of the three original cultivators, a young man, scowled and glared at the newcomer.
He clearly wanted Li Hao's group to leave, but knew picking a fight with them would end badly.
"Then you get off."
The newcomer glanced at Li Hao's group, eyes full of caution, then sneered at the young man who had spoken.
More people began flying toward the platform.
Though the platform was massive—thousands of meters in diameter—and could physically hold tens of thousands, the immortal Dao Laws only allowed ten people.
In the blink of an eye, the number on the platform passed twenty.
No one made a move yet. Everyone watched everyone else, waiting for the right moment.
Then, the platform shook.
A heavy pressure burst from the sky. Li Hao instantly felt the flesh of his body shrivel slightly—beyond his control.