Whoosh!
From the barren region, a figure shot out.
It was already nearing the end. In the open space in front of the barren region, disciples from various sects gathered.
High in the sky, Chu Xiangtian rode his ancestral dragon, standing proudly in the high sky. Within the clouds behind him, the figures of other princes and princesses could be vaguely discerned, seemingly illusory and indistinct. Yet, even these hazy forms, like silhouettes, gave off a feeling of unmatched prodigies, noble beings only to be revered.
Everyone was waiting for the time to run out, with only the last hour remaining.
Zhang Xuanyu was transported out from the barren region, his robes riddled with tears, sleeves ripped, and traces of bloodstains marring his back and other areas. He looked rather battered.
Enduring bitterly in the twelfth barren region for two days, he was approaching his limit.
However, this challenge was not without its benefits. Engaging in sparring and collisions with primal immortal techniques and other immortal dao laws there, he had gained significantly. Once this was over and he secluded himself in cultivation again, his strength would improve slightly once more.
"It's about to end…"
The spirit within the true treasure jade pendant around Zhang Xuanyu's waist helped him keep time. There was less than an hour left until the end.
He looked at the sea of people outside, hearing the familiar and noisy sounds. Suddenly returning here from the edge of life and death, he felt an indescribable sense of relief.
He let out a soft breath and raised his head to look at the Immortal Monument.
His gaze locked directly onto the tenth position.
Nine…nine…six?
Zhang Xuanyu froze in stunned disbelief, the trace of relief on his face instantly solidified, his eyes widening slightly, unable to believe it.
He had used a secret technique, shattering an immortal bone buried within his body, to gain a day's extension. Adding to that his sect's cultivation methods, and the immortal dao laws he had obtained through fortuitous encounters – all had been exhausted, yet he still hadn't climbed back into the top ten?
Could it be that the top ten were already within the domain of the thirteenth barren region?!
He stared blankly at the ranking, somewhat lost in thought, a sense of desolate defeat welling up in his heart, along with a hint of confusion.
He asked himself, reaching this level in the twelfth barren region was already close to his limit.
Unless the opponent was in the third level of the Immortal Lord Realm.
Aside from Tian Hongyi, Xing Lan, Bai Yaxuejian… Zhang Xuanyu's gaze slowly swept across the other Heavenly Second-Tier Sects. Ascending to the Immortal Lord Realm within three thousand years of soul life was already an unparalleled prodigy, one in a billion. Let alone reaching the third level of the Immortal Lord Realm, which was practically non-existent. Yet Yan Chu actually had ten?
Out of nine thousand immortal cities, only one in a thousand immortal cities might produce such a being…
The light in Zhang Xuanyu's eyes dimmed, replaced by a bitter taste, and he lowered his head.
At this moment, figures came flying rapidly.
"Senior Brother!"
"Xuanyu!"
"Junior Brother!"
Fellow disciples from the same sect rushed over. Ever since Zhang Xuanyu re-entered the barren region, news had spread within the sect, and others had been paying attention to this matter, as it concerned the honor and disgrace of the entire sect.
At this time, several elders among them also looked up at the Immortal Monument, but saw that Zhang Xuanyu's ranking had not changed.
Two days had passed, yet he had not reclaimed his position, showing that the one ranked tenth was somewhat beyond imagination!
"Xuanyu, don't overthink it, you've already done your best!"
Beside him, Master Xinyu, with a beautiful and gentle demeanor like a graceful lady, and shrouded in hazy immortal energy, spoke softly, a hint of pity and regret in her eyes.
Things had come to this point, and anger and resentment were useless. They could only accept it.
"I want to see who exactly is this number ten. I know the other monstrous talents from the Heavenly Second-Tier Sects, but their rankings don't seem to be among them."
"Unless they have a hidden ace, intending to challenge the position of a Heavenly First-Tier Sect? Humph!"
"There's still an hour left until the end, and His Majesty will come over then, everything will be revealed. Let me see who it is!"
The other elders all had coldness in their eyes. Just one rank difference, but the outcomes were completely different.
If Zhang Xuanyu could also squeeze into the top ten, then a sect with two prodigies in the top ten would definitely become famous throughout the nine thousand immortal cities of Yan Chu!
Even the aloof and powerful imperial family would have to take a serious look.
"Let's go, let's go back and talk."
Cui Yuesheng said, turning around to lead the disciples back.
On a giant sword, Lin Qingying in her green dress stood at the edge. Seeing the disciples swarming towards a gathering place, she knew that Senior Brother Zhang was also an extremely formidable figure. But since he had come out now, and the ranking on the Immortal Monument hadn't changed, a subtle smile flickered at the corner of her mouth, and the tense heart within her gradually relaxed.
Then, her gaze shifted towards the Great Dream Nine Abyss, seeing the place surrounded by crowds, with faint sounds of noisy cheers and jubilation. A smile appeared in her clear eyes.
That youth could always bring her surprises, like a bright pearl, radiant and dazzling.
"It's a pity about Xuanyu. If his water dao origin could be half as good as Bai Yaxuejian's, he could at least easily enter the top ten."
At this moment, a steady voice descended. Tian Hongyi, dressed in snow-white robes, appeared behind Lin Qingying at some point, speaking calmly.
Lin Qingying's gaze returned, and her eyes couldn't help but glance towards the direction of Bamboo Rain Pavilion.
These days, the most common name she heard from her master and many fellow disciples was this name: Chaos Being, unparalleled talent, even the imperial family had been suppressed.
She slightly shook her head, not responding, nor asking anything.
Tian Hongyi saw that the topic he had brought up seemed to have no interest for the woman, and couldn't help but frown slightly, saying:
"In seven years, with your speed of progress, you'll also have a chance to make a name for yourself at the Southern Domain Assembly. Sooner or later, you will come into contact with that Bai Yaxuejian and squeeze into our circle. Aren't you even a little curious?"
Lin Qingying looked towards the distance, and said calmly:
"Why should I be curious?"
Tian Hongyi was slightly taken aback, and said: "As cultivators, what all living beings seek is nothing more than reaching the summit. And now we are standing on the summit."
"The summit…"
Lin Qingying's eyes flickered slightly. She glanced towards a certain direction, seeing the increasingly boisterous cheers and jubilation there. A faint arc appeared at the corner of her lips:
"Some people desperately climb the mountain, while others leap off the summit. The scenery you want to show me, someone else will let me see."
"Who?"
Tian Hongyi's eyes turned cold, and he immediately asked.
Feeling the air around her suddenly freeze, Lin Qingying's smile and gentleness instantly vanished. She frowned slightly, turned her head and stared at this most dazzling youth of Myriad Mountain Sword Sect, saying:
"Just saying it casually, the summit you speak of, perhaps when you truly see it, you'll find it's nothing great. All living beings… can still live even without reaching the summit!"
"Your cultivation attitude is too passive!"
Tian Hongyi couldn't help but say.
Lin Qingying turned and left, returning to her cultivation place, no longer engaging in conversation with him.
"Humph, talks lightly, but cultivates harder than anyone!"
Tian Hongyi watched Lin Qingying leave, his face somewhat gloomy.
He had noticed her. She had joined the sect for a very short time, but her cultivation was desperate and diligent, extremely hardworking. He originally thought she was like him, eager to reach the summit and survey the world. In that case, she might even become his dao companion, accompanying him on this journey.
But he didn't expect her to be so distant towards him, which made him feel somewhat annoyed.
…
"That Zhang Xuanyu failed!"
"He's still at eleventh!"
"It's about to end, there's no time left now, Hao Tian is really going to be tenth!"
At the Great Dream Nine Abyss, within the barrier domain, the disciples were all extremely excited, especially the Sword Abyss disciples, including Gu Yan and Yuexi and others, feeling both complicated and happy.
"Kid, you're really something! That Zhang Xuanyu stayed inside for two days, and still didn't surpass you!"
Li Tiemu was so excited that his fists kept pounding on Li Hao's shoulder, wishing he could hug Li Hao and kiss him a few times.
Seeing the old man so excited, Li Hao quickly pushed him away, trying to avoid his saliva from splashing on his face.
"I stayed for three days, he stayed for two, of course he can't beat me, unless he breaks through the fog wall."
Li Hao said.
"You stayed for three days?"
Li Tiemu widened his eyes, then couldn't help but say: "The three days you stayed earlier, you were all in the twelfth barren region?"
"Where else would I be?"
"I thought you… Good heavens, you brat, you didn't say it clearly, making us nervously worried to death for these two days, while you were probably laughing on the side!"
Li Tiemu was both angry and annoyed, but also surprised and delighted. His emotions were almost being twisted to ecstasy by this kid.
"You didn't ask, and besides, if I wasn't in the twelfth barren region, where else could I be?"
Li Hao also looked innocent.
Li Tiemu rolled his eyes. His gaze swept across other parts of the Immortal Monument. Except for the area around nine hundred, where there were occasionally ranking changes, other places were basically silent.
Almost everyone was waiting outside the Immortal Monument, watching the excitement as the end approached.
"It should be settled, there should be no suspense. The few ranked behind you haven't entered, and there's no movement from the imperial family. Unless someone is like you and suddenly kills their way to tenth from behind."
Li Tiemu said, his voice unable to conceal his excitement.
Zhou Qingyun and the old woman were both looking at Li Hao in amazement. Who could have imagined that the disciple Elder Li brought back to the sect three or four years ago could actually achieve such a ranking in the entire Yan Chu Immortal Dynasty!
Top ten, this was the top ten among nine thousand immortal cities!
An immortal city was not just an ordinary human city, its area was comparable to hundreds of kingdoms, with vast territories and countless citizens.
The geniuses and prodigies within them were countless, but to stand out among nine thousand immortal cities showed that one had already cultivated to the extreme in each realm.
"To have such strength in the True Immortal Realm, Elder Li, what grade of immortal imprint does your disciple have?"
Zhou Qingyun couldn't help but ask.
To suppress even Zhang Xuanyu and rush into the top ten with the ninth level of the True Immortal Realm, this was too extraordinary.
"What grade of immortal imprint?"
Li Tiemu was taken aback, and couldn't help but turn his head to look at Li Hao. Only now did he realize that he had never seen Li Hao's immortal imprint.
"You kid, could it be a six-petal immortal imprint?"
Li Tiemu couldn't help but ask.
Beside them, Gu Yan's eyes flickered slightly, a glimmer of light appearing in his eyes as he stared at Li Hao.
Yuexi and Murong Qingwu looked at Li Hao in surprise. Six-petal immortal imprint?
Li Hao did not answer, only smiled without saying a word.
"Mysterious and secretive, you brat!"
Seeing Li Hao like this, Li Tiemu glared at him in annoyance, but wasn't really angry. After all, it wasn't yet time for the Southern Domain Assembly, and hiding some trump cards would only be better.
"A six-petal immortal imprint, even to go to the Heavenly Palace and become a disciple under a Supreme, you could get the status of a formal disciple, right?"
The old woman murmured, looking at Li Hao as if he were a priceless treasure.
Her disciple, Lin Mingrong, was somewhat dazed. She was a three-petal immortal imprint, also a phoenix among people, an unparalleled talent. Her master had once said that she could become a disciple under that Immortal Emperor Supreme.
Time flowed quietly.
In various other immortal sects, cheers erupted from time to time.
Someone at the last moment, their ranking rushed into the top thousand, securing this admission ticket, and the entire sect cheered and danced for them.
Soon, an hour passed.
Accompanied by a dragon roar echoing in the sky, a violent gong reverberation sound came from the firmament, drowning out all the discussions, vanishing instantly.
"The trial is over!"
Chu Xiangtian spoke calmly, his cold voice resounding throughout the entire venue.
His realm had already reached the perfect level of Immortal Lord Realm. In the arena, except for the overlords of the Immortal King Realm, almost no one could contend with him.
Even Heavenly Sect elders like Li Tiemu, under the same realm, were not a match for this imperial family prodigy.
"Please, Marshal, assist in bringing out all the disciples from the barren region!"
Chu Xiangtian suddenly turned around, cupping his hands in a bow towards the barren region, his attitude extremely humble.
"Marshal."
"Which Marshal?"
"Nonsense, the Marshal who can make Chu Xiangtian so respectful, in the entire Yan Chu, there is only the Great Marshal Who Pacifies the Nation!"
Outside the barren region, disciples and elders from various sects were surprised, and couldn't help but look into the depths of the barren region, but saw nothing.
Li Hao was somewhat surprised, he didn't expect that General Shangguan was still in this barren region.
So, wouldn't his previous performance have all fallen into the eyes of him and that Old Yuan?
While Li Hao was pondering, a profound immortal power suddenly vibrated from the depths of the barren region, like ocean waves brushing through each barren region, from the depths of over thirty layers, directly reaching the outer edges.
The few disciples who were still struggling in the barren region were all pushed out.
"Thank you, Marshal."
A glimmer of light appeared in Chu Xiangtian's eyes, and he bowed again, speaking gently.
The dozen or so figures behind him, as hazy as clouds, all changed their expressions, hurriedly cupping their hands towards the depths of the barren region, and bowed in unison to pay respects to the Great Marshal Who Pacifies the Nation.
At the same time, they cast annoyed glances at Chu Xiangtian, annoyed that he knew the Marshal was here, but didn't tell them earlier.
Don't look at them as princes and princesses, but there can only be one who inherits the throne. For the rest, to that imperial father, they were just his children.
And children could be born just by taking concubines, while the Great Marshal Who Pacifies the Nation had only been that one in the past seventy thousand years!
The weight of the two, which was light and which was heavy, they were all very clear in their hearts.
Those who were not clear-headed had no chance to even come to this ancient immortal realm, and had long been submerged.
"Please, Immortal Ascending Platform!"
Chu Xiangtian then turned around and said loudly.
As his words spread throughout the arena, in the firmament above the outer edge of this crimson barren region, clouds suddenly surged, and then, from the depths of the clouds, a deep black platform like an abyss slowly descended.
The platform seemed to be cast from molten iron, with bronze pillars standing on it, exuding an ancient and barbaric aura.
The people below all raised their heads to look up, their eyes showing shock, feeling that this Immortal Ascending Platform seemed to be an extremely powerful top-tier domain artifact, even carrying a hint of imperial might!
As the clouds opened, as if heaven and earth were just beginning to open up from chaos, this Immortal Ascending Platform slowly descended amidst the surging clouds, hovering in front of the Immortal Monument.
"Now, may I invite the heavenly prodigies within the top one thousand of the Immortal Monument to ascend the platform!"
Chu Xiangtian, riding eight ancestral dragons, flew to the high sky above the Immortal Ascending Platform, speaking loudly to heaven and earth.
His voice rumbled and resounded like thunder for tens of thousands of miles.
(End of this chapter)