Chapter 421: The Scarlet Tassel Immortal Lord
"That ancient demon is dead!"
"It's finally dead. That True Immortal realm ancient demon… I can't believe Lord Hao Tian actually managed to…"
"The ancient demon's body shows no signs of a soul—it's completely dead!"
"Lord Hao Tian perished alongside the True Immortal realm ancient demon. We're saved…"
"Lord Hao Tian is the savior of the myriad worlds. Let us remember him forever."
The battle was over, and countless people embraced each other, crying tears of relief. This victory had been unimaginably hard-won, a struggle fraught with peril.
"Bring Lord Hao Tian's body back. Preserve it carefully, ensuring not even the slightest damage."
"As for the ancient demon's corpse, we must find a way to pulverize it completely—turn it to dust and utterly annihilate it. There must be no chance of it reviving."
Even though the ancient demon's body was now just an unmoving corpse, its iron-like, water-cast form still inspired dread and tension in those who approached it.
As the army began to transport the demon's body, Li Hao's remains were carefully encased in a barrier formed by multiple Half-Saints working together. Looking at the serene, composed face of the young man with his eyes peacefully closed, everyone was filled with a sense of reverence.
"The True Immortal realm ancient demon has fallen. This news should be reported to the Saints."
"The myriad worlds have been saved."
Among the crowd, the leaders of various factions quietly thought to themselves. Though they appeared to be independent leaders, most of them were in fact acting on behalf of hidden Saints. These Saints had gone into hiding during the disaster, waiting for the right moment to act.
Now, the True Immortal ancient demon that had forced the Saints into retreat had been slain by Lord Hao Tian in a mutual demise. Surely, this news would draw the Saints back from hiding.
However, none of these leaders had direct means to contact the Saints or knew where they had taken refuge. They could only wait for the Saints to reveal themselves.
In the void, many chose to stay behind and guard the entrance to the forbidden zone.
Though it seemed that Lord Hao Tian and the ancient demon's souls had both been consumed by the Twin Rift Demon Valley, these were no ordinary beings—one possessed strength beyond that of a Supreme Saint, the other was a True Immortal realm entity. The forbidden zone might not necessarily be able to fully destroy them. Whatever the case, a guard presence was needed here to monitor any changes and respond promptly.
As the war concluded, peace gradually returned to the myriad small worlds.
Meanwhile.
Within the Divine Sun, the Saints had gathered.
Ever since Li Hao left the Divine Sun, they had been counting the hours.
"It's already been two hours. Check again—see what's happening outside."
Feng Boping could no longer suppress his impatience and urged Dark Saint to act.
Beside him, Li Muxiu and Li Yuanzhao also looked on anxiously, their faces tight with worry.
Normally, their cultivation levels would disqualify them from attending a Saints' council, but their close ties to Li Hao earned them courtesy and respect from the Saints.
"If Lord Hao Tian succeeded, the small worlds should be peaceful."
Saint Mietian murmured softly.
Dark Saint nodded in agreement, understanding the logic. Without delay, he retrieved the Zhaotian Mirror.
While the mirror couldn't track the ancient demon directly, it could reflect the state of any location based on its coordinates.
He once again cast the mirror's light upon the small world previously threatened by the demon, only to see a scene of complete desolation.
The Saints' expressions darkened. The world had been completely annihilated.
Feng Boping and the others clenched their fists involuntarily, their faces growing grim.
Dark Saint's gaze turned somber as his thoughts churned. He quickly shifted the mirror's light to another small world, selecting a key location to check for signs of resolution.
He focused on Tianyuan Small World.
As the foremost among the myriad small worlds, Tianyuan was rich in Saint veins and dense with natural energy—a paradise many longed to see. At this moment, however, its cities were filled with joyous, celebratory crowds.
Seeing the jubilant faces reflected in the mirror, the Saints froze for a moment before their eyes widened with astonishment and delight.
Feng Boping and the others were momentarily stunned before waves of wild joy surged through their veins.
Dark Saint moved the mirror to observe other small worlds, and the results were the same.
"It seems… the crisis really is resolved?"
Dark Saint could hardly believe it, as if he were caught in a dream.
That Saint-level Lord Hao Tian had truly managed to kill a True Immortal realm ancient demon!
He checked seven or eight more small worlds, all showing similar scenes. Although some bore scars from the recent disaster, the residents' faces were filled with relief and happiness.
"I'll go outside to confirm. I have a way to quickly ascertain the truth."
Saint Ming immediately volunteered.
No one stopped him, and Feng Boping silently followed, flying out of the Divine Sun.
Before long, they returned with confirmation—the ancient demon was truly dead.
However, so was Lord Hao Tian.
Both had perished together.
Hearing the news, Feng Boping's heart trembled violently. He immediately raced toward the Twin Rift Demon Valley in a frenzy.
Within the Divine Sun, those who had heard Ming Saint's report were left in a stunned silence, uncertain whether to feel joy or sorrow.
Other Saints left the Divine Sun one by one, using their own networks to investigate. They all came to the same conclusion as Ming Saint.
Afterward, the Saints left the Sacred Land and the Immortal Isles within the Divine Sun as a sanctuary for the survivors while they themselves rushed to the Twin Rift Demon Valley.
Upon their arrival, the Saints were greeted by dozens of Half-Saints stationed outside the valley. The guards froze in shock before hurriedly bowing in respect.
There, the Saints saw Feng Boping, sitting listlessly on the ground, his expression blank and hollow.
"Explain everything in detail."
Ming Saint spotted one of his disciples in the crowd and immediately called him over.
The disciple, trembling with emotion, bowed deeply before recounting everything he had witnessed.
He even projected the events into the void for all to see—a vivid re-enactment of their alliance's last stand and Li Hao's final battle with the ancient demon.
As they watched the projection of Li Hao's fierce combat with the ancient demon, the Saints were left awestruck. Li Hao had killed the ancient demon's body with a single sword strike, forcing its soul out into the open.
How could he have been so powerful?
Then they saw his relentless attacks, burning his primordial spirit to battle the demon. Finally, both he and the ancient demon plummeted into the Twin Rift Demon Valley, consumed by its abyss.
"Hao Tian…"
Lin Qingying gazed at the projection's end with a pale face, her body trembling.
"Hao-ge!" Li Yuanzhao's eyes welled with tears, his fists clenched tightly.
The Li family members present were equally shaken, unable to find words to describe their feelings.
No one could have imagined that the boy who once walked out of the Li family would shine so brightly across the myriad worlds.
Now, like a shooting star, he had burned brilliantly, only to fall just as quickly.
"He…"
Amid the crowd, Li Ping'an stood with a pale face. That familiar figure from his childhood—the one he had spent years chasing—was gone.
He had once hated Li Hao, resented him. But now, his heart felt hollow and aimless.
All the tales he had heard about Li Hao over the years had seemed distant, exaggerated. But this time, he had witnessed it with his own eyes.
While the highest Saints despaired and withdrew, Li Hao had saved everything.
Just as he had once saved Dayu, earning a legacy that still resonated a century later… it was deserved.
"He can't be dead. I don't believe it!"
Ji Xuanshen and others stared stubbornly at the fading projection. Though they had met Li Hao when he was already a rising star, they couldn't believe that someone who had survived so much—including Saint-level assassination attempts—could truly fall now.
Yet, as time passed, the absence of any sign of his return made the truth inescapable.
Far away, Feng Boping's figure vanished in a flash.
The Sword Master noticed something and immediately left without hesitation.
The other Saints, recovering their composure, turned to Ming Saint. "What about the ancient demon and Lord Hao Tian's body?"
"They've been transported back," the Half-Saint present responded truthfully.
Ming Saint was about to suggest they go take a look when Fa Saint interrupted, speaking gravely, "Since that True Immortal realm ancient demon has been slain by Lord Hao Tian, shouldn't we head to the Immortal Gate to seal the rift immediately? We can't allow more ancient demons to come through!"
His words snapped everyone into focus.
Indeed, the True Immortal ancient demon was dead, but the rift remained. The crisis threatening the myriad worlds was far from over. Moreover, now that they knew the ancient demon could disguise itself as a Second-Grade ancient demon to infiltrate, they needed to act decisively. Any Second-Grade ancient demon coming through had to be eradicated before it revealed its true form.
"Let's go!"
"We must act quickly!" Ming Saint declared, urgency lacing his voice.
The other Saints shared his resolve. Li Hao's earlier intervention had saved the myriad worlds once. Now, his sacrifice against the True Immortal ancient demon marked the second salvation. If another True Immortal ancient demon were to infiltrate, all the chances Li Hao had fought to secure would be for naught.
In a flash, the Saints set out for the ancient temple.
Dark Saint lingered for a moment, his expression pensive. Based on the previous frequency of ancient demon incursions, the myriad worlds should have already fallen. Even without the True Immortal ancient demon, the Third-Grade ancient demons should have been enough to devastate countless small worlds. Yet, there was no sign of them.
Could it be that Lord Hao Tian had eradicated them all?
Unable to unravel the mystery, he quickly followed the others.
This time, Mietian Saint, Yi Saint, and several others also headed to the ancient temple, determined to lend their strength.
When they arrived at the ancient temple, they heard sounds of battle echoing from within.
The Saints exchanged astonished glances. Who could be fighting here?
Rushing inside, they were greeted by a shocking sight: the temple floor was littered with the corpses of ancient demons—over thirty in total, both large and small.
Nearby, a group of more than ten human warriors clad in silver armor were surrounding and attacking two struggling ancient demons. These demons, one larger and one smaller, were covered in wounds, their desperate struggles growing weaker. The silver-armored warriors, demonstrating remarkable coordination, sustained minimal injuries during the fight.
Noticing the Saints' arrival, the silver-armored warriors tensed momentarily. Once they realized the newcomers were fellow humans, they relaxed slightly. Their commander raised a hand, and the warriors quickened their pace, swiftly dispatching the two ancient demons. Only one among them sustained a minor injury due to a moment of over-aggressiveness.
"You…"
Ming Saint and the others stared at the silver-armored warriors in astonishment, their expressions shifting from shock to realization, and finally to a mixture of excitement and joy.
The Saints immediately recognized the design of the warriors' armor. It was unlike anything produced in the myriad worlds. Coupled with their appearance here, there could only be one explanation: these were the True Realm Celestial Army soldiers that Lord Hao Tian had spoken of!
Reinforcements had arrived!
While Mietian Saint and Yi Saint felt a surge of relief, their joy was tempered with complexity. Reinforcements had come—but too late for Lord Hao Tian. They had lived to see salvation, but the radiant young man who had fought so valiantly would never witness it.
The silver-armored warriors exchanged glances, clearly surprised by the sheer number of Saints in this realm. Could it be that this realm harbored True Immortals?
The leader of the silver-armored warriors stepped forward, scanning the Saints. Identifying a few Supreme Saints as the group's leaders, he used his spiritual sense to communicate directly.
"We hail from the Heavenly Palace of the True Realm, under the command of the Scarlet Tassel Immortal Lord's 'Silver Tassel Battalion.' The Immortal Lord has slain the ancient demon commander and sent us to rescue your realm. We have intelligence suggesting the ancient demon commander dispatched a True Immortal realm ancient demon here. Where is it now?"
"The True Realm? The Heavenly Palace?"
"Silver Tassel Battalion?"
The Saints, including Fa Saint, were momentarily stunned by the leader's words, their eyes lighting up with anticipation.
For years, they had yearned to reach the realm behind the Immortal Gate, hoping to join the celestial forces and cultivate to become true immortals. Now, the long-awaited reinforcements had arrived.
Although they had no understanding of what level an Immortal Lord represented, the fact that the Silver Tassel Battalion consisted of over ten Supreme Saints was proof enough of the Immortal Lord's terrifying power.
"Respected warrior, the True Immortal realm ancient demon has already been slain," Ming Saint replied humbly, bowing with respect.
The silver-armored commander blinked, momentarily stunned before smiling. "This realm boasts a True Immortal? Might you introduce us? By command of the Immortal Lord, we are here to retrieve the bloodline of the Celestial Emperor. The situation outside is complex, and the Immortal Lord cannot remain for long. We ask for your cooperation in this matter."
"Bloodline of the Celestial Emperor?"
Mietian Saint's eyes flickered with thought. As someone who had lived during the same era as the Source Ancestor, albeit slightly later, he was well-versed in ancient secrets. Could the so-called Celestial Emperor refer to the realm's former deities?
The mention of this bloodline made him think of the Source Ancestor. His gaze grew somber. What a pity the old man was gone; he hadn't lived to see this day.
Ming Saint and the others, hearing the commander's words, fixated on the phrase "cannot remain for long." Their expressions tightened.
"Respected warrior, we are unaware of any Celestial Emperor bloodline in this realm, nor do we have True Immortals. The one who slew the True Immortal realm ancient demon was a Saint from our realm, Lord Hao Tian. He perished alongside the demon," Yin Yang Saint explained humbly, adding a hint of flattery. "Would it be possible for you to introduce us to the Immortal Lord? We are willing to pledge our loyalty and service."
The commander froze at Yin Yang Saint's explanation, then frowned. "Surely you jest. That was a True Immortal. A Saint couldn't possibly kill it—unless they wielded a Celestial Emperor's relic?"
Yin Yang Saint sighed, realizing his earlier request had been ignored. He lowered his voice and explained, "The Saint in question was… complicated. He didn't possess a Celestial Emperor's relic, but his own capabilities were…"
He trailed off, struggling to articulate what they had witnessed. Without having seen it with their own eyes, it was difficult to believe.
"He was simply… too extraordinary," Yin Yang Saint admitted with a bitter smile.
The silver-armored commander raised an eyebrow. What kind of explanation was that? Extraordinary? No matter how exceptional a Saint might be, killing a True Immortal was impossible. A Saint's power couldn't destroy a True Immortal's Celestial Seal unless aided by a Celestial Emperor's relic. Could this person be the Celestial Emperor bloodline they sought?
His thoughts grew heavier. If that were the case, then they had indeed arrived too late.
"Are you the strongest beings in this realm?" the commander asked, scanning the gathered Saints.
"Yes," Ming Saint replied. "When the True Immortal realm ancient demon invaded, we were all that remained."
The commander's gaze flickered with understanding. This time, he directly switched to his True Realm language, conveying his thoughts with precision.
"Do any among you possess the Celestial Emperor's bloodline? If so, you may follow me to the True Realm. The Immortal Lord will personally recommend you to join the Heavenly Palace. If your talents are exceptional, you will receive its cultivation, accessing celestial techniques that you could never encounter in your lifetime. Your future will be limitless!"
Hearing his words, the gathered Saints exchanged puzzled glances.
Celestial Emperor's bloodline? They had never heard of such a thing.
Mietian Saint's eyes flickered as he glanced toward one of his disciples. That disciple's lineage was rumored to include celestial beings, though diluted over generations. Mietian Saint had accepted the disciple partly due to this possibility.
"How do you determine if one has the Celestial Emperor's bloodline?" Mietian Saint asked.
The silver-armored commander gave him a measured look before responding, "Good question. Even the faintest trace of the Celestial Emperor's bloodline contains an extremely weak thread of celestial power. The Immortal Lord can sense it with minimal effort. I caution you not to lie or exaggerate. Without the Emperor's bloodline, you will only waste your time in the True Realm, achieving nothing. Better to remain a Saint here and enjoy your status."
Hearing this, Mietian Saint immediately summoned his disciple. "Yuanqing, step forward and be tested."
A Saint who had undergone one tribulation looked startled but soon understood. Bowing his head, he stepped forward.
Ming Saint and Yin Yang Saint exchanged surprised glances at Mietian Saint. Seeing his calm expression, they seemed to grasp his intention. Yin Yang Saint turned to the silver-armored commander and said, "Respected warrior, we were born long after the age of the Celestials. The deities vanished eons ago, and we have no way of knowing if any among us carry their bloodline. Might we all undergo this test?"
"Indeed, we have never encountered Celestial beings ourselves, nor heard of anyone who has," another Saint added.
The silver-armored commander frowned slightly, recognizing their intentions. However, given their collective ignorance, he relented. "Very well. All of you may follow me for the test."
He opened his spatial domain.
Ming Saint and the others were excited, their hearts racing. Surviving the calamity might have led them to this serendipitous encounter. This could be their celestial opportunity, a chance to ascend to divinity.
They silently resolved that once they met the Immortal Lord, they would plead to stay, whether or not they possessed the Celestial Emperor's bloodline. This was their chance to transform and achieve immortality.
Among the crowd, Mietian Saint, however, chose not to step into the spatial domain. He knew he lacked the Celestial Emperor's bloodline. Although this was an opportunity to leave the myriad worlds, he was not particularly eager to ascend. He wished to remain and observe the realm, as his lifespan still stretched long ahead.
The silver-armored commander noticed Mietian Saint's decision but did not press him. After gathering the others, he turned and traversed the Immortal Gate's rift, heading beyond.
Outside the Xuanpin Gate.
The ground was strewn with the corpses of ancient demons. A woman with a crimson tassel affixed to her spear stood on a jagged rock, her flowing black hair billowing in the canyon winds. Her cold eyes scanned the horizon.
"The corpse of this ancient demon commander will earn ten thousand celestial merits," a silver-armored youth carrying a blade said with a faint laugh.
The woman with the crimson tassel ignored his comment, her expression unchanged.
Suddenly, the rift behind her shimmered.
She turned and saw several soldiers from the Silver Tassel Battalion emerge, their figures radiating strength. Each soldier was a prodigy, capable of easily slaying Second-Grade ancient demons with just three working in concert.
"Did the Nine-Tier Celestial Treasure, the Piercing Celestial Needle, resolve the True Immortal ancient demon?" she asked the silver-armored commander sharply.
The commander immediately knelt on one knee, reporting everything that had transpired within the rift. He opened his spatial domain, allowing the Saints he had brought with him to step out.
The Saints emerged cautiously, their eyes widening as they took in the scene around them. The vast number of silver-armored warriors exuded the overwhelming presence of Supreme Saints, leaving the Saints from the myriad worlds feeling insignificant.
Though they were revered as the pinnacle of their realms, here they seemed like mere foot soldiers. The woman with the crimson tassel, her cold gaze piercing as though it contained the essence of the sun and moon, emanated a terrifying pressure that made their scalps tingle.
"Hmm?"
The crimson-tasseled woman's face darkened as she listened to the commander's report. The Celestial Emperor's bloodline was gone? They had arrived too late?
"Explain. How did this happen? Is there any record of the event?" she asked, her icy gaze locking onto the gathered Saints.
"Y-yes, we have a projection," Ming Saint stammered, his heart racing. He quickly activated the projection to display the battle that had taken place.
The Saints were beginning to understand. This woman was clearly focused on Lord Hao Tian. Could it be that he indeed carried the Celestial Emperor's bloodline?
The projection revealed the intense battle between the ancient demon and the young man. When the projection showed the moment of Li Hao's arrival, his single strike killing the ancient demon's physical body, the silver-armored commander's eyes widened. He had doubted their story but now realized it was true. That sword—what kind of celestial weapon was it?
As he scrutinized the blade, he noticed its flaws. The sword was incomplete, rusted, and devoid of celestial power, relying solely on its sharp edge.
"A Saint fighting a True Immortal realm ancient demon?" a silver-armored youth with a blade muttered in disbelief. His wide-eyed gaze betrayed his shock.
The crimson-tasseled woman, who had described the Celestial Emperor's bloodline as extraordinarily talented, now watched the scene in silence. Even she had underestimated its potential.
The projection ended with Li Hao and the ancient demon's souls being swallowed by the forbidden abyss.
The crimson-tasseled woman's expression grew colder. "And you concluded they are dead based on this?"
"Respected warrior, that is one of the most dangerous forbidden zones. Not even Supreme Saints have returned from it. Although they were stronger than ordinary Supreme Saints, their absence confirms…" Yin Yang Saint hesitated, bowing respectfully.
The crimson-tasseled woman remained silent. From the projection, she could discern the abyss's danger, but she could not see its true depths.
"So, we were too late. What a pity."
The silver-armored youth sighed. "He managed to refine the Celestial Path Mixed Infant and cultivated a Divine Bone in his soul, an accomplishment unmatched even in the Heavenly Palace. Such a prodigy would have been carefully protected. To think he perished here."
"We must leave soon. If the Kui Jiao Ancient Demon King arrives, we will also face peril."
The youth's words prompted a glare from the crimson-tasseled woman. "Give me half an hour. I will enter the abyss myself."
His face paled. "That's far too dangerous! The gate's power hasn't fully dissipated. To enter, you'll need to take the Absolute Celestial Pill, which will harm your cultivation. Is this worth it?"
Her gaze was resolute. "Did you not see his talent? A Saint who could push a True Immortal realm ancient demon to this extent. Even a one percent chance of survival would make his future limitless. In times like these, we cannot afford to lose such a genius."