Chapter 565: Imperial Dao Sword Technique
"That sword Dao…"
Chu Tianhuang, Boya Xuejian, and the other Immortal Lord cultivators all showed shock in their eyes.
Jianxin's sword Dao could actually slice through the immortal Dao Laws with ease. He was only at the True Immortal stage, but just the pressure of his sword Dao could collapse the laws of the Dao surrounding the imperial platform. That could only mean his sword Dao had already surpassed the natural Dao Laws here—an indicator of sixth-level origin comprehension, something only peak-stage Immortal Lords could attain!
Yet now, this was being wielded by someone in the True Immortal realm!
"His sword Dao talent is terrifying."
"Sixth-level sword Dao… how is that even possible?"
The geniuses from the major clans at the True Immortal level were all stunned. Some among them had reached the fourth level of origin comprehension and already considered themselves exceptional. One had even secretly reached the fifth level and had kept it hidden. Jianxin's earlier sword Dao had already made that one feel threatened and wary—but now, Jianxin revealed he had been holding back even more.
A single level gap felt like an unbridgeable chasm.
"This guy…"
Di Linchen's gaze changed from calm to shaken, and finally turned deeply serious. His fingers clenched around the wine jug.
Level six… aside from himself, there was actually someone else who could reach it. So this is what it meant to be a direct disciple of a Supreme? The Ancient Sword Immortal Body… truly worthy of standing shoulder to shoulder with the imperial clan's Overlord Body.
This scene left the entire South Domain in stunned silence.
"You see that? That's the strongest prodigy of our Ancient Sword Immortal clan in thirty thousand years! Back then, the Supreme personally visited our clan and offered everything to recruit Jianxin as a disciple. He's not like the others!"
Far away, in the boundless Sword Domain where the Ancient Sword Immortal clan resided, the peaks rose like sword blades. Countless clansmen were cheering and excitedly watching.
It was too shocking. Reaching the fifth level was already enough to dominate the same realm, but Jianxin had broken through to sixth level, shattering all expectations—creating a miracle!
"That boy's death is certain. If he'd been more low-key, Jianxin might not have gone so hard on him."
"So arrogant. A disciple of that Sin Immortal, and yet the Supreme didn't kill him outright—he still didn't know what's good for him!"
"When Jianxin breaks through to Immortal Lord, he'll be unstoppable among them. He's too strong!"
The clansmen cheered, proud that Jianxin, unlike the traitor Guyan, was their true clan prodigy.
"Hiding that deep, huh…"
On the ground, experts from each heavenly sect all looked on with shaken expressions.
If not for Li Hao forcing him to this point with that terrifying sword strike just now, Jianxin probably wouldn't have revealed this trump card.
Still, the fact that Li Hao could force him to go that far was already a shocking feat.
"What a shame. Both of them are worthy of being direct disciples of a Supreme, but one must fall."
"Judging by Jianxin's aura, he doesn't plan to let him survive three moves. It's a public statement—Haotian is not worthy of being his master's disciple."
"What a pity. If not for meeting a monster like Jianxin, Haotian might have actually taken first place in the True Immortal division. Aside from that imperial clan genius who hasn't shown their cards, the others aren't his match."
People sighed and shook their heads.
This gathering of prodigies had truly opened their eyes. They had never seen such overwhelming talent clash like this before.
As the South Domain boiled with excitement, Li Hao stood on the imperial platform, gazing at the transparent sword auras swirling around Jianxin like swimming fish. His pupils narrowed.
Such powerful sword intent… such terrifying sword energy… Li Hao's expression grew solemn. At the same time, from Jianxin's eyes, he saw killing intent.
This third strike wasn't just to defeat him—it was to kill.
They had no grudge before, yet now Jianxin was set on killing him. That killing intent made Li Hao's heart turn cold.
Immortal Power surged through him, flowing into the sword in his hand—Gongming. This sword carried his Dao, his conviction: 'Because I do not contend, no one under heaven can contend with me.'
Fame and fortune were fleeting. Only by drinking a thousand cups could one wager the fate of all!
The power of the Nine-Sequenced origins circulated in Li Hao's palm, all pouring into Gongming.
Seeing this, Jianxin smirked. Repeating old tricks? Out of options already? Indeed, channeling all Nine-Sequenced origins into sword Dao was already the limit of sword arts.
But in front of sixth-level sword Dao? It would be crushed!
He raised his hand, and all the transparent sword qi in the sky gathered toward his palm like water being sucked by a whale.
In an instant, they condensed into a new sword—seemingly solid, and yet upon its formation, the surrounding space turned pitch black. Space itself couldn't contain it; the immortal Dao Laws couldn't touch it!
This sword hadn't even moved, yet already released a suffocating pressure, as if it transcended the world.
He was still only at True Immortal, and yet could release such might—countless people widened their eyes in disbelief.
But on the other side, Li Hao looked down at the sword in his own hand.
Killed in three moves? Fine by him.
Time and space, form and force, all disappeared into the base of Gongming.
Then, the five elements—metal, wood, water, fire, and earth—began circulating around the sword. They wove together, forming a strange cycle of Dao.
Amid that cycle, something faint began to emerge—a domain!
In that instant, Li Hao remembered what the old man once said about the fishing grounds. A sudden realization flashed through his mind.
But now was no time to dwell on it. He locked the insight away and channeled all the power from the celestial meridians into the sword. A sealed, almost-forgotten majesty began to leak out from the blade, spreading across the imperial platform—spreading across the whole world!
"This…"
"Impossible!"
In the clouds, the Empress of Yuanzun, Emperor Chu, and others all turned pale. As rulers who held the lives of millions, they still couldn't keep calm at this moment.
Even the Supreme's towering divine form in the sky furrowed his brows slightly.
"You…"
On the imperial platform, Jianxin's previously cold, murderous gaze flickered. He could feel the power from Li Hao's sword—it was overwhelming, ancient, containing a terrifying force!
But how could that be possible?
He was sixth-level sword Dao, Nine-Sequenced essence as support. How could the other match him?!
That pressure kept building. Jianxin's heartbeat raced, and blood roared in his veins. He knew he couldn't wait—he stepped out, activating a top-grade immortal movement art. His full might surged forth, and behind him rose a towering phantasm: a primordial sword immortal holding a sword of legend.
The phantasm floated there, seemingly plucked from myth itself.
As Jianxin struck, the phantasm's closed eyes seemed to open just a sliver—and a blinding sword light shot out.
As the divine figure raised its hand alongside Jianxin, a terrifying surge of sword qi shot skyward. The imperial platform's barrier rippled violently as the strike came crashing down toward Li Hao.
That sword slash tore through layer upon layer of immortal Dao Laws. It ripped the very space of the platform apart, cleaving a black abyss through the sky.
Li Hao's hair was whipped into the air, but he didn't retreat. Instead, his eyes flashed with cold light. He stepped forward, and an ancient sword intent erupted from his body.
At that moment, he unleashed the sword technique he had comprehended within the city of five origin paths—when he touched that distant imperial sword.
The Five Destruction Imperial Sword!
This sword strike carried imperial might. Though it was cast with only fourth-level origin comprehension in sword Dao, it was a sword art on the imperial level. Combined with the immortal Power from the celestial meridians, even if the technique itself lacked the perfection of sixth-level mastery, its sheer power overwhelmed all!
Boom!!
A ferocious collision of sword intent followed. From Li Hao's Gongming sword, another abyss was carved out—also pitch-black—but this abyss was surrounded by five spiraling lights, forming a destructive domain.
The Five Destruction Imperial Sword: the absolute severance of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth—the five foundational paths of creation. Thus, this sword could annihilate the very essence of existence.
Back when that immortal Emperor first unleashed this sword, it erased an entire star river, turning it into a forbidden zone where not even immortal Power remained. No light could pierce that darkness, leaving only eternal night and void.
Now, that sword which once pierced star rivers began to show its might through Li Hao's hand. It shattered Jianxin's abyssal slash, and along with it, the giant sword formed of countless transparent sword qis.
But the sword intent didn't stop. It swept on, carrying cold killing intent that mirrored Li Hao's gaze. He stepped again, celestial meridians pouring out immortal Power. The aftershock swept through the skies above the platform.
Boom!
The divine figure behind Jianxin raised its arm—but that arm was shattered. The terrifying sword pressure crashed over Jianxin like a tidal wave.
"No—impossible!!"
Jianxin's eyes widened. From disbelief to madness, the normally serene young man now looked deranged. He roared and drew out the Sword Immortal bloodline's true soul—a sword-shaped essence ripped from his spine and spirit.
He slashed out with it, trying to block, to counter the attack.
He could not accept this—being defeated—being defeated in swordsmanship!
But that sword soul was like a mantis trying to block a chariot. In front of the Five Destruction Imperial Sword, it shattered instantly. Jianxin coughed blood.
His body erupted with immortal Power, forming a storm of sword qi that struck at Li Hao's blade—but all were erased. Without hesitation, the slash cut through.
Time seemed to stop. The energy surging across the platform froze for a moment.
Then, Jianxin's body split—from his forehead down through his chest.
Before the crack could widen, his body exploded into countless fragments of blood. Within each blood clump were minuscule sword qis, gnawing like maggots, poised to annihilate every piece.
It all happened in an instant.
But then, the space around Jianxin suddenly froze. His blood, his broken form—all halted.
Then, those invading sword qis vanished, erased by a mysterious force—silent, formless, absolute.
What remained in the void was Jianxin's soul, standing dazed. His soul was riddled with cracks.
And then the crowd saw it—his soul bore more than two hundred golden soul bones!
Such a number at the True Immortal stage was terrifying.
But the shock from all that had just occurred was too much. The entire South Domain was dead silent.
Countless eyes stared wide. Mouths hung open. No one could speak.
What had just happened?
Jianxin, who had just revealed sixth-level sword Dao—had been struck down in a single sword slash!
His soul, though strong, was covered in cracks. It was as if the world had been told: the sword that shattered him… was stronger.
"How… how is this possible?"
The same stunned voice echoed in every mind.
Sixth-level sword Dao—had lost. It had actually lost!
"That guy…"
On the mountain peak, Gui Lingyue stared blankly, her mind blank with shock.
Even Gui Lingshuang, whose expression had always been calm, was now stunned.
Jianxin, who had just revealed sixth-level sword Dao, had reached a level where he could fight even them. They wouldn't dare claim they could defeat him.
And now, this monster of monsters—had lost. He had lost to Li Hao.
"What kind of sword is that? I felt like I was facing Grandfather himself!"
"An imperial sword… That was an Imperial Dao sword art…"
Gui Lingshuang murmured in a daze.
Not far away, Shen Wuji stood there with his mouth agape, completely forgetting where he was.
He had never imagined this was how things would turn out.
He thought Jianxin had hidden deep enough, been terrifying enough—but no. The real monster was that other guy!
He's only had a hundred years of soul lifespan—how could it be?!
Shen Wuji's mind buzzed.
From the power of that strike, it was clear—when Li Hao fought him earlier, he hadn't even used fifty percent of his strength!
He… had lost that badly?
After being stunned, Shen Wuji's eyes filled with confusion. When he lost to Li Hao, his Dao heart hadn't wavered. He had been proud—telling himself that a firm Dao heart couldn't afford to be shaken. He wouldn't allow further defeat.
But now, his Dao heart… had wavered.
They said this was a gathering of once-in-ten-thousand-years geniuses.
But that guy… was a once-in-a-hundred-thousand-years monster!
Not just Shen Wuji—all the other True Immortal participants were stunned.
No matter how proud they were, they now understood. Against either of those two, they would definitely lose. But for Jianxin—terrifying as he was—to also lose, that was beyond terrifying.
Wind stirred the white robe in the clouds. Di Linchen, who had been watching with a grave look, now stood there dazed. After a long while, he finally came back to himself, staring at that familiar yet now unfamiliar young figure.
He had thought of him as an amusing companion with shared interests. In terms of strength, he hadn't viewed Li Hao as a rival. He had come here with only one goal—defeat the Supreme's disciples and take first place.
But now… he suddenly laughed. His shoulders shook with it.
"So… you were the craziest one all along."
He laughed quietly, yet his hand gripped the wine jug tightly.
As someone with imperial blood, to be surpassed by a peer—especially one with such short soul lifespan…