Chapter 567: A Duel in a Hundred Years
"Your master already gave his word—do you mean to go against it?"
Li Hao halted, eyes cold as he looked at Mingyue. He spoke lowly: "The South Domain trial may not be finished, but I can withdraw. Is even that not allowed?"
He fixed his gaze on her. "If I wanted to hide my identity, why would I use those immortal techniques? Why would I even come here in the first place?"
Mingyue was briefly stunned by the challenge. Her expression shifted, then she sneered.
"You didn't even know your master's true identity before. Now you say you want to withdraw? You've already earned the right to fight for first place, to enter the Primal True Realm—are you just going to give that up?"
Naturally, Li Hao wasn't willing to lose such an opportunity. Even Da Mengzhu had said it was a rare chance. The Primal True Realm was full of opportunities. Even if he could advance by painting or playing chess, the South Domain trial had proven that resources still mattered.
And if that realm was truly a sacred land of enlightenment, wouldn't his cultivation rise even faster there through painting or playing?
But after what just happened, whether they would even let him enter now remained unclear.
"There's more than one path into the Primal True Realm. If fate allows, I'll make it there eventually. For now, I just want to leave."
That was all Li Hao said.
Compared to opportunities, he valued staying alive more.
Mingyue's anger burned. Someone with a clear path to first place was choosing to walk away? She couldn't make sense of this boy at all.
Her master offered him a chance—he refused.
The gate to the Primal True Realm stood wide open—he stepped back.
She could guess some of the reasons, but if it were her, she'd risk everything for a chance like this.
Cultivators were like fish crossing the river—if they didn't fight the current, how would they ascend?
"You're insane. This kind of chance doesn't come around easily!" she snapped.
But inside, she felt powerless. Because this boy clearly had the right to be arrogant. Could she say the same?
He defeated Jianxin. That alone made him stand above every other prodigy in the South Domain. Even if he was arrogant, who could say he didn't deserve it?
"Then don't worry about me," Li Hao said flatly, stepping forward again.
Mingyue felt his forceful aura brushing past her. Her fury boiled, but she had no way to stop him.
She clenched her jaw. She couldn't find an outlet for her anger—until a sudden idea struck.
"Do you dare to accept a duel with me?!"
"A duel?" Li Hao raised a brow, staring at her coldly. "You want to fight me too? Fine."
He misunderstood. But seeing his bluntness, Mingyue flushed with shame and anger.
"Not now!" she snapped. "You beat my senior brother, fine. You're in a league of your own among True Immortals. What I'm proposing is a duel after we both reach the Immortal Lord realm! You'll break through fast with your talent. I just want you to see—you're walking the wrong path!"
If Li Hao left now, she wanted to prove that with her master's guidance, she could surpass even a monster like him. With access to the Primal True Realm, she was confident she could catch up. But if he left, the gap would only grow wider—and no amount of talent could fix that.
"Hmm?" Li Hao understood what she meant now. His eyes grew cold. Inside, he found it both ridiculous and indifferent.
He wielded Gongming—Fame and Name—as his sword, seeking to sever worldly attachments. But even supreme disciples of top sects, even the greatest prodigies… could not escape face and pride.
What is Gongming? Its core lies in Name.
And face—reputation—is simply the outer skin of name. Everyone defends it. Everyone fights for it.
But only the name you earn through your own truth is real. Trying to save face through petty duels—what worth is there in that?
"Fine."
Li Hao's tone was cold, but he agreed.
First, he wasn't afraid. He'd use the battle to sever this distraction and push his sword Dao further.
Second, he knew if he refused, she'd keep pestering him. Best to settle it now.
"Good!" Mingyue exhaled, feeling a strange sense of relief. But when she saw how calm Li Hao was, she sneered again inwardly. I'll make you regret this someday.
She had once cultivated like mist on a cold morning—detached, calm. But now, for the first time, she felt a burning urgency.
She wanted to grow stronger. She wanted to surpass herself.
For the first time, someone else had placed pressure on her—true pressure. Even Jianxin hadn't done that.
Hearing their exchange, countless bystanders stared in shock. Mingyue, the Supreme's personal disciple, had challenged Li Hao to a duel at the Immortal Lord stage?
If Li Hao left and missed the chance to enter the Primal True Realm, then the next time they fought, the gap might be massive.
"Li Hao is too proud…"
"Turning his back on the Primal True Realm… leaving halfway through the trial… The Supreme even guaranteed his safe exit, and he still won't stay."
"That place—so many people dream of entering it. Even the Supreme's disciples must earn their spot. He really thinks he can get another chance later?"
"Once she enters and trains there, when they both reach the Immortal Lord realm, the difference might be like heaven and earth."
"A fallen prodigy—it happens all the time. Training alone without guidance… the gap just grows wider. What a waste."
"Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west—they might switch places by then."
"Yeah. He's strong now, but in the future? Who knows? Otherwise, why would she challenge him at all?"
Regret filled the crowd. Some stomped in frustration, wishing they could decide for him, calling him a fool for wasting such supreme talent.
"That kid… he's cautious," came a murmur in the clouds above.
The seven emperors of the ancient immortal dynasties each wore different expressions. But they all saw through Li Hao's decision.
He wasn't reckless. He chose self-preservation. That showed wisdom. But it also revealed an iron Dao heart, capable of suppressing all desire and temptation.
No wonder he could glimpse the heavens atop the Dao-seeking mountain. His heart outshone all others.
"Dao heart unmatched. Battle strength unmatched. Only a hundred years of soul-life… This might be the greatest monster we've seen in a hundred thousand years."
"Indeed. If he had three or five hundred years, maybe others could compete. But with just a hundred? It's absurd."
The seven emperors' gazes shifted, understanding what kind of monster they were now dealing with.
"That guy…"
On the mountaintop, Da Mengzhu, Li Tiemu, and the other elders of the Nine Abyss were stunned.
No one had expected that after defeating Jianxin, Li Hao would voluntarily withdraw and give up his chance to enter the Primal True Realm.
"That child… could it be that he came to the South Domain battle just for the glory of our sect?" Li Tiemu murmured, his expression blank.
Da Mengzhu's heart trembled violently as if something clenched within her chest—sharp, aching. Or maybe it was just a wave of sorrow too strong to hold back.
That boy… he resisted the temptation of the Primal True Realm. What in the world could possibly move someone like that?
Yet he had still come to participate in the South Domain battle. The sect had often declared that his victory would bring them great glory, and sure, winning fame would benefit him as well. It was meant to be mutual gain.
But now it seemed, to that boy, there was never any "mutual" about it.
"What exactly did you tell him?" Da Mengzhu turned to Li Tiemu.
Li Tiemu hesitated, then said with a complicated look, "I told him that our Da Meng Nine Abyss Sect was once incredibly glorious. Ten thousand years ago, we were a name known across the South Domain. With his talent, he could bring us back to that era. I placed a lot of hope on him..."
After hearing this, all the elders went silent.
Now that the match was over, there was no doubt that the name of the Nine Abyss Sect would resound once more throughout the South Domain and the immortal courts—just like it did ten thousand years ago.
After all, any sect capable of producing such a monster of a disciple would inevitably draw attention. Even if Li Hao withdrew, as long as Jianxin didn't lose again, many would still view Li Hao as the True Immortal champion.
And even if Jianxin did lose later, the title would remain in dispute. That would only make Li Hao's name last longer—and with it, the name of the Nine Abyss Sect.
Da Mengzhu stood silently, watching the thin figure on the platform. She suddenly saw a hint of loneliness in his stance.
He was standing alone—against the Heavenly Palace, against a Supreme's personal disciple.
She clenched her fists. Her heart ached like it had been stabbed. She wanted to act, but behind her stood her sect, her clan...
Her expression was full of struggle.
Back on the platform, Mingyue took a deep breath and said to Li Hao, "Then it's settled. We'll meet again when we both reach the peak of the Immortal Lord realm. As my master's personal disciple, I promise no one will harm you. No matter the outcome, you'll leave safely."
Li Hao calmly looked at her. "How about we set a date? Everyone's pace in cultivation is different. Wouldn't want someone waiting endlessly at the peak of the Immortal Lord realm."
Hearing that, Mingyue raised a brow and scoffed. "That's better. I was going to wait for you anyway. Since you're so considerate, then we'll make it one hundred years from now!"
"A hundred years…" Li Hao's gaze flickered.
With how much time recent insights and training had taken, he realized that a single breakthrough could eat up months or even years. Sometimes, time slipped by without notice.
He had advanced quickly so far, but to reach the peak of the Immortal Lord realm? A hundred years might actually be realistic.
Noticing his hesitation, Mingyue sneered, "What, think that's too long? You might've reached the True Immortal realm in just a hundred years, but to hit the peak of Immortal Lord in a hundred years is already insanely fast!"
"Even for monstrous talents, reaching the peak in under a thousand years is rare. Of course, if you're popping pills and ignoring your foundation, then a hundred years is plenty."
Her words stunned the crowd. No one expected this challenge to be so intense.
Trying to reach the peak of the Immortal Lord stage in a hundred years?
And the way she talked… made people both envious and resentful. Even with pills, reaching that level in a thousand years would be a miracle for most.
But to them, a hundred years was "leisurely"?
What kind of pills were they taking? Must be rare treasures no one even knew existed.
"Fine."
Li Hao didn't argue.
One hundred years it was.
If by then he had already reached the Immortal King realm, the fight would be unnecessary. He doubted Mingyue would dare to battle him by then anyway.
Then again, reaching Immortal King was no easy feat. Time in the immortal path stretched far longer than anything before.
Seeing him agree so simply, Mingyue gave a cold laugh but didn't block his way again.
Li Hao saw her finally step aside. With the nuisance and noise now gone, he felt a quiet relief.
He didn't speak another word. Nor did he offer any polite gestures. He just walked straight off the platform.
Just as he was about to return to the Nine Abyss Sect to bid farewell to Da Mengzhu and the others, a figure shot down from the sky and landed in front of him.
"Ah, sorry. We still have unfinished business. How could you leave so casually?"
The newcomer was a young man with sharp features and a cold glint in his eyes. His expression held both mockery and menace—and deep in his gaze, a killing intent that could not be hidden.
It was none other than Jin Fengling, whom Li Hao had encountered earlier in Origin City.
Li Hao's eyes narrowed. A chill flickered across his face.
Seeing that, Jin Fengling's lips curved upward, voice light yet forceful:
"You chose to withdraw, which means you're no longer a True Immortal contestant. You're not part of the tournament anymore. So if I challenge you now, it's not breaking any rules, and it's not bullying either. Just settling an old score. I was worried you'd disappear—hard to find someone like you later…"
Hearing this, many in the crowd looked stunned. They weren't familiar with this guy.
After all, the Immortal Lord bracket hadn't started yet, and most had barely noticed it. All attention had been on the True Immortals.
But they knew—this Jin Fengling was also a contestant.
"Who is that? From the Immortal Lord group? What grudge is he talking about?"
"Did he and Li Hao have beef before?"
"An Immortal Lord picking a fight with a True Immortal? Isn't that obviously bullying? Even if Li Hao dropped out, it's still shameful."
"You can't see it that way. In the True Realm, if someone has a grudge, they fight. Who cares about realms and fairness? This isn't a playground."
"Yeah, if Jin Fengling really had a feud with Li Hao, then now's probably the best chance he'll ever get. Once Li Hao leaves and grows stronger… who knows?"
"Exactly. Letting a tiger return to the mountain? If I'd made an enemy out of Li Hao, I wouldn't dare let him walk away either!"
"Still, this is low. Seriously low."
The discussion swirled. Many looked down on Jin Fengling's move, but even more worried about Li Hao's safety.
Whatever their personal feelings, no one wanted to see such a brilliant genius die here.
Even if Li Hao had turned his back on the Primal True Realm, even if he fell behind a tier, he was still a rare monster. Just not unprecedentedly rare anymore.