Chapter 559: Defeating the God
This battle forced Li Hao to unleash the full power of his immortal Mark.
As the aura of the Nine Sequences spread out, all the contestants outside the arena could feel the nine types of Dao Law power radiating from Li Hao's forehead.
It wasn't just the time and space Dao he had used before—he had mastered all nine sequences.
"Nine Flowers, Nine Sequences… how is that even possible?"
"That's the Nine-Sequence immortal Mark! He actually mastered all nine?"
"Could he be… a personal disciple of an immortal Emperor?!"
Everyone was shaken. Even the True Immortal contestants who had yet to enter the field were staring at Li Hao in disbelief.
"He's not just Nine Flowers… he's also Nine Sequences…"
Chu Tianhuang and the others were dumbstruck. They also had Nine-Flower immortal Marks, but compared to Li Hao's Nine Sequences, they were far inferior.
Grasping even one sequence made one a genius; two sequences placed you among the elites. But all nine? That was something almost unheard of across the entire Southern Region.
"He's Nine Sequences too…"
Outside the platform, Mingyue, dressed in green and cold as frost, stood dazed for a moment. She clearly hadn't expected anyone other than herself and her senior brother Jian Xin to have a Nine-Sequence immortal Mark.
If it were someone from the Di Clan, she might have barely accepted it—that clan ranked first among all the races of the true realm, their heritage unfathomable. But the young man before her—if she remembered right—was less than a hundred years old, yet had still managed to master the Nine Sequences?!
"Nine-Sequence immortal Mark… the most supreme of all, second only to the legendary marks from ancient times…"
Even Da Meng Master and the disciples within the sect were stunned. No one had expected Li Hao to be cultivating the Nine-Sequence immortal Mark.
Far off in the void…
A figure flying rapidly through the stars suddenly paused as he saw the youth's face reflected across the sky. He froze, and his expression immediately changed.
"Nine Sequences… you've already condensed them?!"
His eyes were filled with shock. He couldn't believe it. Just a few years since they'd last met, and the little guy who had just inherited the legacy had already condensed the Nine-Sequence immortal Mark.
That was the standard required to be accepted as a direct disciple of an immortal Emperor. There was no longer even a need to seek out the reincarnated form of Shi Miao—Li Hao's talent and potential alone made him worthy of becoming the new personal disciple!
As Li Hao's Nine-Sequence immortal Mark shone, waves of astonishment swept across the Southern Region. On the arena, the origin Dao powers that had been previously suppressed surged forth again, stronger than ever, heavier in presence!
Even Shen Wuji's cold, condescending gaze changed. His expression shifted into disbelief.
He couldn't accept that this boy—someone younger than him—had achieved the Nine Sequences, something even he hadn't managed!
"You…"
His heart trembled, but soon turned into fury.
With a roar, he charged at Li Hao, his bizarre footwork continuing.
Boom!
A golden fist, blazing like a comet, hurtled toward Li Hao.
Li Hao raised his eyes. The power of the Nine Sequences circulated around his body. Even just the time and space origins created a terrifying domain and killing force. And now, he was fusing form, command, and the Five Dao.
He raised his hand, immortal Power surging through him. The power of the fourth-layer command Dao erupted, enhancing everything ninefold!
With the Supreme Heaven Scripture's control techniques and his ancestral immortal body reaching their peak, the Five Dao power merged into his fist.
This punch—water and fire, time and space—everything was unified into a single blow.
Boom!
As he struck out, the void screamed as if wailing. The sound sent shivers down the spine.
That was the explosion of the void being torn by fist force. The radiant fist intent collided with Shen Wuji's golden fist, shaking the entire platform. Even the sealing barrier shimmered with terrifying ripples, as if a thousand waves were crashing outward!
And this was a sealing array set up personally by the commander of the immortal guards—a force of the immortal King realm.
Now, it was actually being shaken!
With a loud bang, the golden fist shattered, and Shen Wuji's body was blown backward, coughing up a mouthful of golden blood onto the arena. He slammed into the sealing barrier, and the sound of bone breaking echoed out.
He fell, then staggered back to his feet. His shattered bones and arm began rapidly healing. Like Li Hao, his regenerative ability was monstrous. Though he lacked the Celestial Star Meridian, the Gu Shen Clan's secret arts allowed their divine blood final-stage power to go far beyond what others imagined. He could enhance the final-stage divine blood power again and again.
It meant that just like Li Hao, as long as he wasn't instantly obliterated, he could keep healing.
As Shen Wuji stood again, Li Hao's eyes locked on him. Power surged once more. His bones cracked audibly as he activated Heaven-Reaching Form, expanding his body to its true size.
This was the Saint Body cultivated in the Saint realm. Behind him, a heavenly image manifested, containing silhouettes of countless ancient saints—the embryonic form of the All-Saints Heaven Image, ten times stronger than the regular heavenly image.
Then, Li Hao stepped into the ultimate Ascension state.
His body fused with the world, merging with the true realm. Instantly, he drew upon a vast torrent of immortal Power.
Through this extreme integration, he faintly touched a wisp of Heavenly Sovereign Will, and drew it into himself.
"Heaven's strength is my strength. Heaven's will is my will."
Li Hao clenched his massive fist. Immortal Power gathered and compressed, radiating with terrifying shockwaves.
Outside the arena, the Gu Shen elder's face changed drastically. Even through the sealing barrier, he could feel the horrifying energy building in that boy's fist.
It was like a star on the verge of exploding—absolutely terrifying.
"Young master! Don't clash head-on!!"
He shouted urgently, but the sealing barrier cut off all sound. No one outside could interfere. Inside, the two fighters wouldn't waste time reading lips.
"He's drawing on Heavenly Sovereign Will…"
In the clouds above, the Red Emperor and other imperial rulers also looked grim.
This boy's performance had exceeded all expectations—even they were shaken.
Only the Chu Emperor looked the most serious, staring closely.
He had long been briefed by Yuan Xinggang about this youth's talent. But what Li Hao was showing now still surpassed his expectations.
Boom!
Shen Wuji didn't back down. In his life's creed, there was no such thing as retreat.
So even though he could sense how terrifying Li Hao's punch was, he felt only madness rising within him.
He used the power from the Divine War Battle Chant's prelude, combined it with Ancient God Descent, and unleashed the Fist of the Divine One.
But the moment their fists met, a vast will descended.
It was lofty, unreachable—a supreme being, gazing down at him from the peak of existence.
His spirit shook violently. In that moment of disoriented shock, intense pain suddenly exploded across his body.
From his knuckles to his wrist, every bone shattered. Then came the arm, the shoulder, the chest—
Boom!
Shen Wuji's entire body burst apart, golden blood splashing everywhere as his internal organs exploded.
That punch, taken head-on, obliterated all the flesh from his body. Only a skeletal frame hung with scraps of meat remained.
It all happened in an instant. Shen Wuji was blown apart—reduced to bare bones.
His golden skeleton was flawless and exquisite, but his hair, flesh, and face had all vanished, leaving only a skull.
Looking closely, even the bones were laced with cracks.
"Young Master!"
The ancient elder of the Gu Shen Clan cried out in alarm.
In the distant territory of the Gu Shen Clan, countless people stared in horror.
None of them had expected their pride, Shen Wuji, to be defeated so miserably.
A few elders wore dark expressions. They hadn't thought anyone in the Southern Region, outside of the Di Clan, could pose such a threat.
"The Nine-Sequenced Dao truly lives up to its name…"
One elder murmured, staring at the golden skeleton projected on the arena with a trace of regret.
Compared to Shen Wuji, that youth had proven superior.
On the arena, Shen Wuji's bloodless bones crashed backward. Despite his wounds, he wasn't dead.
But for now, his flesh had been "killed."
Which meant his primordial spirit had been forced out of his body.
"You…"
The moment he separated, Shen Wuji saw the wreckage of his body and stared at Li Hao in fury and disbelief.
That single exchange had ended with his body crushed—completely annihilated.
"Got any other tricks?"
Li Hao didn't follow up with another strike. Honestly, at this point, he couldn't muster another.
His Celestial Star Meridian was still sealed by that strange war chant. Though it was starting to loosen, it was still impossible to channel the immense immortal Power needed for a second blow.
He had already drained the entire arena of its immortal Power.
"You're spent!"
Shen Wuji scanned Li Hao and saw his weakened state. His eyes lit up, and he laughed loudly. "Without your Celestial Star Meridian final-stage, no one can outlast me!"
As he spoke, his flesh began to rapidly regenerate.
But just then, a golden figure rose from within Li Hao's body.
"I wasn't planning to wear you down. If that's all you've got, just surrender."
Li Hao's primordial spirit raised its hand. His palm became a swirling vortex that pulled Shen Wuji's spirit toward it.
Shen Wuji froze. His pupils contracted. He remembered how the ghost tribe had lost to Li Hao's primordial spirit. If even they couldn't resist, how could he?
Though his spirit was strong, Li Hao's was clearly stronger!
He roared, resisting with everything he had. But he couldn't stop the pull. Li Hao's primordial spirit caught him and compressed him into a golden soul sphere.
"Looks like he's lost."
Seeing this, Gui Lingyue understood immediately. Shen Wuji had no chance left to turn things around.
She stared deeply at the scene on the arena. Both contestants were on a monstrous level. She knew she wasn't a match for either of them anytime soon.
Beside her, Gui Lingshuang nodded slightly, eyes flashing. A sense of urgency rose within her. That youth had cultivated for less than a hundred years, yet had already reached this level. It wouldn't be long before he caught up to them.
"He's… incredible."
Bo Ya Xuejian and Chu Tianhuang both let out quiet sighs. Once these two reached the True Immortal stage, they'd be terrifying opponents. Even now, they weren't sure they could beat either of them.
This was supposed to be a True Immortal match, but the level of the fight shocked even the Immortal Monarch group.
"He's so powerful."
Chu Yueli's eyes sparkled. Her chin lifted slightly, and she felt an indescribable thrill. Knowing this man would soon be her husband made her heart flutter with anticipation.
"Surrender. You've got no chance left."
On the arena, Li Hao opened his hand and looked at the soul sphere in his palm.
Shen Wuji's face appeared faintly on the sphere, twisted in shock and rage. He never imagined he'd end up like the ghost tribe—defeated and humiliated.
He struggled fiercely, but Li Hao's spirit pressure was even more terrifying than that last punch. He had no strength left to resist.
"How can your primordial spirit be so strong? How did you cultivate it?"
He couldn't help asking.
Less than a hundred years old, and this kid had a Nine-Sequenced immortal Mark and a terrifying primordial spirit. It was insane!
Even Shen Wuji had only reached this level with the help of his clan elders, endless resources, and countless treasures. But what about Li Hao?
"How someone cultivates is a personal matter," Li Hao said with a faint smile. "Asking is rude."
Shen Wuji realized he had overstepped and knew Li Hao wouldn't answer. Still, the shock was hard to swallow.
Li Hao slowly closed his fingers around the soul sphere.
Realizing what was coming, Shen Wuji's face twisted. Blood seemed to well up in his expression as he clenched his teeth.
"I surrender!"
He never thought he'd say those three words.
He used to think any genius who surrendered was a coward, that it was better to die than yield. But now, in this moment, he finally understood how those defeated geniuses felt.
Li Hao flicked his hand, releasing the soul sphere. Shen Wuji's body shrank back to its original size.
His spirit returned to his body, and in a flash, his flesh healed.
His face was pale, and he retracted his Power. The sealing force on the arena faded.
Li Hao once again felt the Celestial Star Meridian reconnect, and his body instantly recovered to peak form, his immortal Power full.
"This match—Yanchu Immortal Dynasty, Da Meng Jiu Yuan Sect, Human race, Hao Tian—wins!"
The commander of the immortal guards stepped forward. His eyes fell on Li Hao with a complex, unreadable expression.
His voice was quiet, but it spread throughout the Southern Region and every immortal city. After a brief stunned silence, cheers erupted into the sky.
All across the Southern Region, Li Hao's name rang out like thunder.
No one had expected the match to be so thrilling and brutal.
Li Hao had already defeated multiple top-tier races. Now, even the Gu Shen Clan had fallen to him. And he had shown his Nine-Sequenced immortal Mark—one of the most supreme in existence.
"Human race… wait, does he still have more strength left?"
Gui Lingyue's eyes suddenly narrowed. She had never believed Li Hao was just a basic human with no special bloodline.