Chapter 489: Fury
The Heavenly Laws and Dao Visions of the thirty-six elders resonated in harmony, their Immortal Power surging, forming waves of silver-white Immortal energy rippling outward.
Within that pulsating Immortal Power, ancient and intricate Immortal Runes emerged, intertwining like threads of destiny. A mysterious formation seemed to manifest within the void itself.
Far beyond the Ancient Immortal Realm, in the nine thousand Immortal Cities of Yan Chu Immortal Dynasty, the protective barriers of countless cities flickered to life. Deeply buried reservoirs of power surged forth, infusing into the formations.
From the heavens, starlight descended, gathering upon a towering monument at the very heart of each city. These monuments absorbed the celestial energy, their surfaces becoming laced with crackling lightning, and in the next instant, they erupted, sending pillars of divine radiance skyward.
The boundless sea of clouds above the Immortal Capital trembled, parting as the Ancient Immortal Realm reflected upon the heavens, its silhouette appearing above the nine thousand Immortal Cities.
Across the vast Yan Chu Immortal Dynasty, the figures of elite disciples from countless sects—those who had survived and reached the end—were now reflected in the divine vision.
At this moment, those who stood within the Ancient Immortal Realm had become the focus of millions of eyes.
Two thousand of the most carefully chosen prodigies, all gazed upward.
Above the thirty-six elders, the surging Immortal Clouds gradually coalesced into illusions of vast Immortal Cities.
Then, the projection stabilized upon a grand and imposing Imperial Palace.
That was the capital of Yan Chu Immortal Dynasty—the seat of the Emperor who ruled over the nine thousand Immortal Cities and boundless lands.
And now, that Imperial Palace was being reflected in every city across the entire dynasty.
Countless figures gazed up in awe.
Within every city, numerous commanders and generals knelt in reverence.
Among the common folk, expressions of devotion and reverence spread like waves, while within the powerful aristocratic families, those who once lorded over others now bowed their heads, humbled in the presence of the Emperor's might.
"That is the Imperial Palace of Yan Chu Immortal Dynasty—only those of the King Realm are permitted an audience with the Emperor…"
Within the Ancient Immortal Realm, the elders and disciples of every sect stared at the distant Imperial Palace, their eyes filled with both reverence and longing.
They dreamed of stepping into that hallowed hall, yet they knew that without reaching the King Realm, they would never be granted that honor.
And how difficult was it to attain the King Realm?
The Immortal Lord Realm was one step, one tribulation, one heaven apart at each level.
Every advancement was a massive ordeal, and the ten major bottlenecks between each level ensured that 99% of cultivators never broke through.
"At this moment, all of Yan Chu bears witness to your names!"
Chu Xiangtian briefly glanced at the Imperial Palace's projection, knowing full well that within the hidden formations of the palace, the vision of this event was being relayed to every Immortal City across the dynasty.
He lowered his gaze to the ten figures on the Immortal Platform, then raised his hand, summoning the Immortal Dao Laws to interact with the Ancient Immortal Monument once more.
The monument trembled, and golden light surged.
The eleventh-ranked cultivator, Zhang Xuanyu, was illuminated by the golden radiance, yet his expression remained icy cold.
His gaze flickered away from the Imperial Palace projection and back to the Immortal Platform, where he locked onto the youth standing before him.
Without hesitation, he ascended.
As he landed on the platform, his expression remained calm—but his sharp, burning eyes fixated on Li Hao.
"You broke through the Thirteenth Desolate Domain?"
The moment he landed, Zhang Xuanyu spoke, his voice carrying a hint of suppressed fury.
If the one who took his place had been an Immortal Lord Second Stage cultivator, someone on par with him in cultivation, he would have accepted his loss—however grudgingly.
But the one before him was merely a True Immortal!
This fact alone made it unbearable.
"No."
Li Hao cast him a glance, immediately recognizing him as the former "Tenth" that Elder Li had mentioned.
Seeing Zhang Xuanyu's eyes filled with unconcealed hostility, Li Hao had no desire for a long conversation.
"No? Then how long did you stay in the Twelfth Desolate Domain?"
Zhang Xuanyu's tone sharpened, his voice laced with resentment.
Li Hao raised an eyebrow, replying indifferently:
"Do I need to answer you?"
"You—!"
Zhang Xuanyu's face darkened.
As an Immortal Lord, no True Immortal had ever dared speak to him this way.
The gap between True Immortal and Immortal Lord was insurmountable.
A True Immortal merely refined pure Immortal Power.
An Immortal Lord, however, had already comprehended Immortal Dao Laws, which allowed them to nullify the Saint Dao Laws that a True Immortal could wield.
It was like a battle between someone with no supernatural abilities and someone who commanded the laws of the universe itself.
Not to mention, an Immortal Lord also possessed far greater reserves of Immortal Power—making it an impossible fight.
And yet, there were exceptions.
Li Hao had comprehended the Fourth Stage of Spatial Dao, a level typically reserved for Immortal Lords.
Even among the prodigies of the Immortal Lord Realm, very few had mastered it at this level.
Moreover, all nine of his primary Dao origins had reached at least Second or Third Stage, a feat that was virtually unheard of among True Immortals.
Seeing that Li Hao had completely dismissed him, Zhang Xuanyu's face grew increasingly grim.
It was as if something rightfully his had been stolen, and when he demanded answers, he was slapped in the face instead.
If not for the presence of Chu Xiangtian, the gathering of all sects, and the millions watching from the Immortal Cities, he would never have let this slide.
"I hope you can keep that arrogance in the Southern Domain Battle."
Zhang Xuanyu gritted his teeth, his voice low and threatening.
Li Hao's eyes turned cold.
He might be easygoing, but that didn't mean he would tolerate disrespect.
Who did this guy think he was?
They weren't master and servant, so why did he think he was entitled to answers?
"Don't test me."
Li Hao didn't flinch, his gaze cold and unwavering as he stared directly at Zhang Xuanyu.
Zhang Xuanyu's expression stiffened. He cared too much about maintaining his dignity to stir up a commotion, yet this boy before him showed no such restraint, speaking with blatant boldness.
He clenched his fists tightly, his knuckles turning white. After a long pause, he finally swallowed his rage, holding back his words to avoid embarrassing his sect.
Seeing that Zhang Xuanyu had fallen silent, Li Hao couldn't be bothered to continue the exchange.
However, while their conversation had been subtle, everyone on the Immortal Platform had heard it clearly. Some of them glanced over, their expressions playful, clearly enjoying the spectacle.
"Using sect resources and Immortal artifacts to climb up the ranks? That's hardly respectable. You'll have to pay the price for that."
The imperial princess who had previously spoken once again chimed in.
She spoke casually, without even looking at Li Hao, as if she were merely murmuring to the air. This detached arrogance made her words all the more insulting.
Li Hao narrowed his eyes slightly, but he let it pass, treating her words as mere wind.
However, Xing Lan frowned slightly.
Having spent time with Li Hao at the border battlefield, she had personally witnessed how he slaughtered ancient fiends. His combat prowess and technique were undeniably real.
Even if he had used some Immortal artifacts during this trial, it wouldn't have been much—at least not enough to make up for such a massive gap.
In her mind, Li Hao's raw strength alone could easily place him in the top thirty.
Among True Immortals, she had never met anyone more terrifying.
Just then—
A golden beam of light once again shot out from the Immortal Monument, this time illuminating a young imperial prince.
This prince's gaze darkened instantly, his eyes locking onto the boy standing on the Immortal Platform.
Without waiting for the thirteenth-ranked cultivator to ascend, he soared forward, streaking through the air with imposing momentum, landing heavily onto the platform.
As soon as he steadied himself, he turned directly to face Li Hao, not even sparing a glance at anyone else.
"Brat."
His voice was laced with disdain.
"A mere True Immortal standing above so many Immortal Lords? I don't care whether you're here on your sect's orders to raise its prestige or if you're trying to make a name for yourself. Either way—get the hell down from here and go back to where you belong!"
His cold gaze carried an air of absolute authority, his words spoken as if they were law. The arrogance and hostility in his expression made his intent unmistakable—he despised Li Hao.
Unlike Zhang Xuanyu, this imperial prince had no intention of hiding his contempt.
His voice rang loud and clear, cutting across the crowd.
Not only did everyone on the Immortal Platform hear it, but so did the elders and top disciples gathered below.
For cultivators of their level, even the faintest whisper from miles away was detectable—let alone a direct confrontation like this.
Zhang Xuanyu's expression flickered, then brightened slightly.
A mocking smile crept onto his lips as he watched the scene unfold.
Unlike himself, this imperial prince had no such reservations.
Rule-breakers always got what they deserved.
"Tianzhen, stop causing trouble!"
From above, Chu Xiangtian's expression darkened, his voice carrying a note of warning.
However, Chu Tianzhen remained unmoved.
Instead, he bowed slightly, showing the proper etiquette to his elder brother, then spoke with calm conviction.
"Brother, our imperial clan is generous, but we cannot allow some people to break the rules."
His gaze flickered toward Li Hao, his voice carrying unmasked disdain.
"When the Southern Domain Battle begins, no one will be allowed to use Immortal artifacts or external aids. True combat strength is what matters. If this one relied on borrowed power to reach tenth place, how can any of us accept that?"
Chu Xiangtian's eyes darkened as he stared at his younger brother, clearly weighing his response.
Meanwhile, Chu Tianzhen's words rippled across the crowd, causing a stir among the disciples below.
"So that guy used Immortal artifacts to push into the top ten?"
"That explains everything! I was wondering how a True Immortal could possibly rank higher than so many Immortal Lords."
"Right? This is absurd. A True Immortal outpacing Immortal Lords? That's the best joke I've heard in decades."
"He's from the Grand Dream Nine Abyss Sect, huh? I've heard that sect has been trying to climb into the ranks of the top sects. They must have pulled all kinds of tricks for this."
"Makes sense. But once the Southern Domain Battle begins, it's going to be humiliating. Imagine carrying the title of 'Tenth' and then getting annihilated in a single move. That'll be hard to watch."
"The Grand Dream Nine Abyss Sect probably didn't even think that far ahead. They just wanted to ride the wave of fame. When it comes to actual battle, a Heavenly Fourth Sect like them won't even be on the map."
"True, but for now, they've definitely made a name for themselves."
Murmurs spread through the crowd, disdainful smirks and scornful glances directed toward the Grand Dream Nine Abyss Sect's delegation.
Even the Earthly Sect disciples, normally disinterested in such matters, glanced toward the Grand Dream Nine Abyss Sect's group, their expressions laced with amusement and mockery.
Hearing these whispers of contempt, Li Tie Mu, Zhou Qingyun, and the other elders of the sect visibly stiffened.
Li Tie Mu's face flushed red with anger, his veins bulging as he clenched his fists so tightly that his knuckles cracked.
His entire body trembled as his blood boiled with fury, yet he held himself back, knowing that shouting would only invite further ridicule.
"These bastards! They don't know a damn thing about what really happened, yet they spew nonsense as if it's the truth!"
"The moment the crowd turns against someone, they all scramble to step on them—thinking themselves righteous!"
"Haotian's strength is undeniable! Among True Immortals, I'd stake my life on his talent. These fools… they're nothing but trash!"
The crowd murmured with uncertainty, but Gu Yan's gaze turned icy cold as he swept his eyes over the various sects, especially those whose eyes were filled with mockery. The chilling stare he gave them sent shivers down their spines, forcing many to avert their eyes.
Zhou Qingyun and the elderly woman's expressions darkened.
The disciples of Grand Dream Nine Abyss Sect all clenched their fists in frustration, their faces filled with suppressed anger as they glared at those around them.
Meanwhile, the elders of the other divisions, despite maintaining neutral expressions, were filled with conflicting emotions.
A senior elder from Spear Abyss sent a transmission to Li Tiemu:
"Old Li, did your disciple really use Immortal artifacts to climb this high?"
Li Tiemu's expression twitched slightly. He wanted to refute in anger, but the moment he opened his mouth, he suddenly hesitated, unable to find the words.
Did he?
Even he didn't know.
Back on Sword Mountain, that boy had exceeded all expectations—but tenth place on the Immortal Monument? At this moment, a chilling doubt crept into his heart.
It was an iron rule—True Immortals could never rival Immortal Lords.
But there were exceptions. There had been miracles throughout history. Could Li Hao be one of them?
Yet, could he truly say with absolute certainty that no external forces had aided him?
He wasn't sure.
However, he quickly responded with a transmission of his own:
"Elder Sun, even if Haotian used Immortal artifacts, the ancient trial never forbade it. So how is that breaking any rules?"
The Spear Abyss elder's expression shifted slightly, his eyes flickering with thought before he eventually nodded slightly and replied:
"At this point, we must stand united. The imperial clan indeed never established such a rule."
Li Tiemu gritted his teeth and responded:
"Exactly! Do you really think the disciples of other sects don't use tricks? I don't believe it!"
As the two elders exchanged words, Murong Qingwu and Yuexi wore worried expressions as they stared at the Immortal Platform.
At that moment, Chu Tianzhen's gaze was locked onto Li Hao, his eyes filled with dominance and forcefulness.
"Are you going to step down yourself, or do you need me to make you?"
Li Hao hadn't expected himself to suddenly become the center of everyone's hostility. The sheer number of gazes focused on him made him extremely uncomfortable.
Before he could respond, Xing Lan, ranked fifth, suddenly spoke:
"Prince Tianzhen, the imperial family never prohibited the use of Immortal artifacts. Do you really need to act so disgracefully in a public setting?"
Chu Tianzhen glanced at her, and when his eyes landed on her flawless beauty, his coldness seemed to lessen slightly.
But his tone remained indifferent:
"He brought this on himself. If he had only reached the thirtieth rank, no one would care. He could have 'mixed in' without a problem. But he climbed too high. This is excessive."
Xing Lan frowned.
"As an imperial prince, shouldn't you show more magnanimity?"
At that moment, a man ranked fourth, another imperial prince, spoke indifferently.
His piercing gaze locked onto Xing Lan, exuding arrogance and condescension.
"The affairs of the imperial family are not yours to judge."
His tone was filled with undisguised scorn, completely unmoved by her stunning beauty. His eyes contained only cold authority and absolute power.
Xing Lan's expression darkened, a flicker of anger flashing in her eyes.
Then, the seventh-ranked princess gave her a sideways glance, her voice calm but cutting:
"Our imperial clan is already showing great restraint. Otherwise, we wouldn't just be talking—we'd be acting."
Xing Lan's face fell slightly.
She wanted to speak again, but before she could, Li Hao spoke first:
"No need to say anything more."
Hearing this, Xing Lan hesitated, looking at Li Hao with a complicated expression—filled with regret and disappointment.
She thought he was conceding—bowing before the imperial family's authority.
And with that, the admiration and favorability she had felt toward him… faded significantly.
But she also understood.
It was the rational choice.
It was the correct choice.
Yet, just as she sighed inwardly, Li Hao turned toward her and smiled.
His handsome, confident expression shone like sunlight filtering through spring leaves—warm, radiant, and unwavering.
Xing Lan's heart skipped a beat.
She was momentarily dazed.
And before she could react, Li Hao had already stepped forward.
He turned to face Chu Tianzhen, his expression calm and composed.
"I don't like arguing with people."
His voice was neither loud nor soft, but it carried across the entire Immortal Platform and reached the ears of every sect elder and disciple below.
"You're an Immortal Lord, right?"
Li Hao's eyes were cold as ice.
"Prove your strength."
"If you can make me take even one step back—"
"I will step down of my own accord."
The moment his words landed—
Silence.
Chu Tianzhen froze.
Zhang Xuanyu stiffened, his expression completely stunned.
Even Xing Lan's eyes widened, her mind blanking for a second.
Like a stone dropping into a still lake, his words sent ripples through her very soul.
That tranquil expression. That deep, unwavering gaze.
There was no bravado. No arrogance. No anger.
The entire Immortal Platform fell into an eerie silence.
Then—
Chu Tianzhen suddenly laughed.
"You've got quite the backbone."
His eyes flickered with mockery and amusement.
"It looks like your sect really prepared you well. You must have quite a few trump cards."
"Are you challenging me?"
Li Hao's gaze turned even colder.
His voice was calm yet sharp—like a sword being drawn from its sheath.
"You were the one picking a fight."
Then, his lips curved slightly, but his eyes remained ice-cold.
"Challenge you?"
"You're not even qualified to be my opponent."