Chapter 445: The Three Tiers of Heavenly Sects
"I am from the Earth-Tier Second-Class Sect, Chun Jian Sect. Our founder once inherited the Chun Zhan Emperor Sword, one of the nine legendary Emperor Swords of the True Realm. The sword's imperial might still lingers to this day. If you can comprehend its teachings, you could wield its might to cut down all injustice in the world!"
The young True Immortal addressed Lin Qingying directly.
He had long heard that this pseudo-realm of an Immortal Emperor had produced two exceptional geniuses. If he could recruit another extraordinary talent, it might elevate Chun Jian Sect to the Earth-Tier First-Class level!
However, Lin Qingying did not immediately respond. Instead, her gaze instinctively shifted toward the youth beside her. Her eyes carried a trace of inquiry, a gesture that immediately drew a frown from the young True Immortal.
"You need not concern yourself with him," the True Immortal said indifferently. "He is merely at the first level of the True Immortal Realm. I've heard that your realm's Immortal Dao has long been severed, leaving many in ignorance. Let me explain: the True Immortal Realm has ten levels, with the tenth being the pinnacle. He's only barely stepped through the doorway."
"If you join my sect, I guarantee that within ten years, you will stand among the supreme Saints, condense your Immortal Mark, and surpass this so-called threshold. With diligence, you might even condense the Three-Flower Immortal Mark!"
The True Immortal's words provided Feng Boping and the others a crash course on the levels of the True Immortal Realm. But instead of being swayed, their attention turned to Li Hao.
After all, they had just witnessed Li Hao casually dispatch three True Immortals with a single swing of his sword!
Though they knew Li Hao had only recently stepped into the True Immortal Realm, it seemed, as always, that no one of the same rank could match him.
Feng Boping and Jian Zhu exchanged knowing smiles. Five years might have passed, and the world around them might have changed, but this youth remained the same.
Hearing the True Immortal's words, Li Hao felt a stir of curiosity. He glanced upward at the elder, who was busy setting up a formation, and sent him a voice transmission:
"Elder, is what he says true? Should she consider joining his sect?"
After all, the offer seemed like an opportunity. If the sect was genuinely worthwhile, Lin Qingying could benefit from it.
"Partially true, partially false," the elder replied casually while continuing his formation work. "There are indeed nine unparalleled Emperor Swords in the True Realm, and Chun Zhan is one of them. But his claim of inheritance is likely exaggerated. At most, his sect's founder might have been instructed by the Chun Zhan Emperor Sword in passing. If the sword had truly been bestowed upon them, their sect would at least rank as Heaven-Tier Fourth Class. Alternatively, their founder was too dim-witted to grasp even a fraction of its teachings."
Li Hao immediately understood the elder's meaning and asked further:
"What do these classifications—Earth-Tier, Heaven-Tier—signify?"
"If the system hasn't changed in the last hundred thousand years, the True Realm's Heavenly Sects are divided into three tiers: Heaven, Earth, and Profound," the elder explained.
"Each tier has four levels, ranked from first to fourth. First is the highest; fourth is the lowest.
'Profound Sects don't produce Immortal Lords, Earth Sects don't produce Immortal Kings, Heaven Sects don't produce Immortal Emperors.'"
"In simple terms," the elder added, "an Earth-Tier sect doesn't have an Immortal King. If it did, it would be ranked as at least Heaven-Tier Fourth Class."
Li Hao quickly grasped the implications. This meant that the highest-ranking individual in the young True Immortal's sect was merely an Immortal Lord.
"And that little girl indeed has a supreme sword Dao embryo within her—specifically, a Mixed Void Sword Embryo!" The elder continued. "Though it's still in its infancy, it's an exceptionally rare talent. A hundred thousand years ago, she would have been qualified to apprentice under a Heaven-Tier First-Class sect!"
Hearing this, Li Hao felt a surge of joy on Lin Qingying's behalf. He returned his attention to the scene before him and saw the True Immortal urging Lin Qingying for a decision. Calmly, Li Hao replied, "Apologies, but we already have plans for a master."
The True Immortal raised an eyebrow at Li Hao's response and sneered, "Which sect are you from, to dare interfere in my Chun Jian Sect's affairs?"
Ignoring Li Hao, he turned back to Lin Qingying. "Make your own decision. Don't let him hold you back. If he dares object, I can crush him with a single hand!"
Though eager to recruit Lin Qingying, he wanted her to make the choice herself. After all, judgment was also a mark of potential.
Lin Qingying, sensing the growing tension, didn't want to escalate the situation. She immediately replied, "Thank you for your kindness, but I will follow him."
Her gaze shifted to Li Hao, her cheeks tinged with a faint blush. Having waited for five long years, her feelings were no longer concealed.
The True Immortal saw the emotions in her eyes and immediately understood. Though he had no interest in her beauty—having seen more ethereal figures among the True Realm's great sects—he found the situation somewhat amusing and said coldly, "You've wasted your talent by choosing this path. Fine. Today, I'll make the choice for you. One day, you'll thank me!"
As he finished speaking, a surge of killing intent erupted from him, aimed directly at Li Hao.
Clang!
In an instant, a streak of dazzling sword light tore through the void. The True Immortal had drawn and swung his sword in a single seamless motion, the blade hurtling toward Li Hao with immense force.
The sudden attack caught Feng Boping and the others off guard, their faces paling in shock.
To their astonishment, Li Hao barely flinched. With a cold snort, he summoned his celestial weapon, Taotie, which let out a ferocious roar. The sword tore through the air like a raging beast, instantly shattering the True Immortal's blade and piercing straight through his head.
It happened so quickly that the True Immortal barely had time to react. His pupils shrank as the silvery blade of light blinded him, severing his life force before he could even blink.
Boom!
The True Immortal's head exploded, his body destroyed as celestial laws from Taotie suppressed his regenerative abilities. His immortal mark and soul fled from his shattered skull, trembling in fear as they hovered before Li Hao.
"A celestial weapon?" the dying True Immortal thought in horror.
"How can someone at the first level of the True Immortal Realm wield such a thing? What sect could produce such a terrifying disciple?"
The remaining three True Immortals, realizing the dire situation, erupted with their True Immortal auras and swiftly formed a defensive formation known as the Small Five Formation. Their interconnected energies barely masked their fear as they stared at Li Hao, who looked ordinary at first glance but had just casually wielded a celestial weapon.
"Please forgive our transgressions. We ask for your mercy," a female True Immortal quickly said, not daring to inquire about Li Hao's background. The fact that he could control a celestial weapon without being overwhelmed by its power made it evident that he had a strong force supporting him—one capable of keeping the weapon subdued.
"You spoke of joining your sect to wield the sword and cut down all injustice. But with your actions, how do you define fairness?" Li Hao's gaze was cold as he swept his eyes over the three True Immortals. He then turned to the remaining soul and Immortal Mark of the young True Immortal and said:
"My first sword strike in the True Realm will address this injustice."
As his words fell, Taotie, the celestial weapon, roared with excitement. It thrived on chaos and bloodshed, and if not for the presence of the elder by Li Hao's side, it might have already unleashed its violent nature upon the world.
The young True Immortal, realizing Li Hao's resolve, roared in desperation. His Immortal Mark burst apart, releasing two intricate "patterns" on it, summoning a ferocious storm of Immortal energy that surged toward Li Hao in an attempt to take him down.
Taotie easily sliced through the raging storm, leaving the True Immortal's original intent—two streams of primal essence imbued with his will and soul—hurtling toward Li Hao, aiming to destroy his Immortal Mark and drag him down to oblivion.
Li Hao remained calm. As the two streams of primal essence, accompanied by the distorted, snarling visage of the young True Immortal, approached his Immortal Mark, a faint pattern appeared on Li Hao's forehead.
One mark.
Two marks.
Three marks…
The young True Immortal froze mid-scream as he saw the markings manifest. His mind reeled with disbelief.
Li Hao, however, did not hesitate. With a flick of his fingers, as though snuffing out a wisp of smoke, he obliterated both streams of primal essence along with the young True Immortal's soul.
A True Immortal at the eighth level was thus annihilated, erased in an instant. Even the remaining three True Immortals could not comprehend what had happened.
"Leave," Li Hao said coldly.
The three True Immortals, overwhelmed by terror, turned and fled, their swords carrying them away at breakneck speed.
As their panicked figures disappeared over the horizon, the elder descended, his celestial array fully constructed. He glanced at the distant silhouettes and said to Li Hao:
"You let them go, but aren't you concerned about potential retaliation?"
"You said Earth-Tier sects don't produce Immortal Kings, didn't you? Even if their sect master comes, they won't breach your celestial array, will they?" Li Hao replied.
"True enough," the elder chuckled and nodded before adding with a smile: "You are kind-hearted, which is commendable. However, your status is no longer ordinary. Those who dare offend you may find mercy in your heart, but they won't find any in mine."
As his voice fell, a faint thunderclap echoed in the distance. The sound seemed soft here but was no doubt deafening where it originated.
Li Hao glanced at the elder but said nothing. He acted according to his conscience; the elder followed his.
"Let's go."
Li Hao gestured for Feng Boping, Lin Qingying, and the others to follow. Together, they stepped further into the vast and boundless True Realm.
The group, still awed by Li Hao's display of power, felt a renewed sense of excitement. Traveling through the majestic True Realm, their journey held the promise of endless wonders.
As they walked, Li Hao's heart filled with mixed emotions. His previous journey into the True Realm had been solitary and fraught with unease, but now he was surrounded by friends, their laughter brightening the once-lonely path. This stark contrast made him deeply appreciative of his current life.
As they traversed the canyon lined with white bones, Feng Boping and the others grew quieter. They listened attentively as Li Hao explained the history of the place. Their initial excitement gave way to solemnity, and their expressions turned grave.
Only now did they come to understand the ancient origins of the heavens and the sacrifices made to preserve the pseudo-realm. The very path they walked had been built upon the bones of countless Immortals who had fought to seal off the Ancient Demons.
The elder walked beside Li Hao, his face shrouded in an enigmatic mist, making his expression unreadable. After a while, he leaped into the air and disappeared, leaving behind a single message via transmission:
"Continue onward. I will find you later."
Li Hao's eyes flickered. He understood that the elder had long wished to revisit this battlefield. Holding back his longing while constructing the array must have been unbearable.
Exiting the canyon, Li Hao cast a glance toward a familiar spot, but the war chariot and its rider were gone.
"Nan Gongjian," Li Hao murmured. "I hope you are well."
The canyon gave way to a desolate and expansive battlefield littered with the remains of Ancient Demons. The sheer number of corpses, piled like hills, left the group in silent awe.
Having dealt with the Ancient Demon threat firsthand, they knew how terrifying these beings were. Yet here, the battlefield was littered with their remains—a chilling testament to the scale of the ancient war.
As they advanced, Li Hao led the way. The battlefield was eerily empty of living demons, their presence likely eradicated during the earlier purges. Occasionally, other True Immortals could be seen flying across the sky, heading toward the Xuan Pin Gate. These travelers kept their distance from Li Hao's group, wary of the celestial aura emanating from the elder's array.
Li Hao knew those who fled would return empty-handed, but he chose not to care, placing absolute trust in the elder's capabilities.
After traversing a vast distance of a million miles, they finally emerged from uncharted territories. Before them, a shimmering void stretched out, dotted with countless points of light that revolved like stars orbiting a moon. At the center, a massive disk of silvery light pulled at the starlight, converging it toward a central celestial gate—a teleportation hub.
Several True Immortals stood guard at the gate, their attention immediately drawn to Li Hao's group. Clad in ornate silver armor that bore an ancient and majestic design, they wielded uniform divine spears. One of them stepped forward, his gaze sweeping over Lin Qingying and the others, quickly discerning their origins.
When his eyes landed on Li Hao, he hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Which sect are you from?"
"Is it mandatory to answer?" Li Hao asked calmly.
The True Immortal's brows furrowed at what he deemed an audacious question. He snorted coldly and said, "There's no such rule, but never mind. You need to pay the toll—one hundred immortal stones for you, ten for each Saint, and one for everyone below Saint level. Pay up and move along!"
With a dismissive wave of his hand, he gestured for them to proceed after paying.
Li Hao guessed that the toll had been padded for personal gain but couldn't be bothered to haggle. After slaying those three True Immortals earlier, he had scavenged roughly 20,000 to 30,000 immortal stones from their belongings. Paying this fee was no burden.
However, he didn't hand over the three hundred stones right away, choosing instead to wait for the elder to arrive. The True Immortal noticed the glowing stones in Li Hao's hand and, seeing that payment wasn't an issue, returned to his station at the teleportation gate without pressing further.
Several days later, the elder finally appeared.
When Li Hao saw his bloodshot eyes, he couldn't help but feel a pang of sorrow.
"Let's go," the elder said simply upon arrival. Glancing at the stationed True Immortals, his gaze darkened slightly as he muttered under his breath, "The Heavenly Palace?"
He stared at the guards, his eyes flashing with a glint of contemplation.
Noticing Li Hao's curious glance, he shook his head, his expression somber as he transmitted his thoughts:
"If my memory serves me right, during the Great Cataclysm, the Heavenly Palace led the charge. Even the Emperor fell. How did the Heavenly Palace survive?"
"Could it be that the Heavenly Palace Emperor didn't perish?"
His frown deepened as he mused aloud. Then, shaking off his thoughts, he said, "Let's go. I'll investigate the current state of the True Realm later."
Li Hao considered the implications but said nothing, silently following the elder.
When the stationed True Immortal moved to block the elder and demand a teleportation fee, the elder merely raised a finger. Instantly, a new vortex shimmered into existence at the teleportation site.
The True Immortal froze, his expression morphing from confusion to utter disbelief.
To summon a teleportation vortex with a single gesture… That's a power exclusive to Immortal Kings!
The elderly man before him was no ordinary individual. Trembling, he dared not utter another word.
"Go," the elder commanded, his tone casual yet filled with unassailable authority.
Following his lead, Li Hao, Feng Boping, and the others stepped into the newly formed teleportation vortex, disappearing into its depths.
As the group vanished, the remaining True Immortals stood in stunned silence. One of them finally murmured in awe:
"There was… an Immortal King here…"
The celestial array carried them smoothly through a sea of immortal energy. Before they could fully immerse themselves in the sensation, a grand city suspended in the void appeared before them—a magnificent structure that loomed amidst the starlit expanse.
"Askheart Futuo City?"
The elder gazed at the city's silhouette, his eyes flickering with a mix of nostalgia and sorrow. He had followed the teleportation route without knowing its destination, but he hadn't expected to arrive here.
The city, once a beacon of the True Realm, bore scars of time. The towering walls were cracked, with massive fissures running across their surface, some too deep to repair. A massive claw mark marred the facade—a stark reminder of the battles fought here.
When they exited the teleportation array, they found themselves outside the city gates. True Immortals stationed there immediately approached to collect an entry fee.
The elder stood motionless, lost in a swirl of memories. Li Hao stepped forward, unwilling to draw unnecessary attention, and inquired about the fee. After handing over two hundred immortal stones, they were allowed entry.
"You're in luck," one of the guards remarked with a smirk. "The Futuo City is hosting a recruitment drive. Several major celestial sects are here to take in disciples. If any of you get selected, it'll be a blessing."
The elder, shaken from his reverie, gazed at the dilapidated city walls and muttered bitterly:
"Ten thousand years… To think Askheart Futuo City has fallen to such a state. A simple array can now connect to it, and I can't sense even the faintest trace of sovereign power within. Once, this place stood as a bastion against the Abyssal Sea, guarding the True Realm from countless death demons.
"Back then, all races took pride in inscribing their names upon these walls. But now…"
His gaze lingered on the countless names etched into the stone, many faded and worn by the passage of time, their significance seemingly forgotten.
With a heavy heart, the elder followed Li Hao into the city.
The city gates were as imposing as a black heavenly gate, and beyond them lay a mountain range brimming with pavilions and mansions. Figures darted through the skies, rarely walking on the ground.
"Even the emperor's glyphs upon these gates have dulled," the elder murmured, his voice tinged with melancholy as he observed the decline that ten thousand years had wrought.
As they ventured deeper into the city, a surge of overwhelming power suddenly descended from the distance. A massive sword, spanning over a hundred miles in length and twenty miles in width, streaked across the heavens, its brilliance captivating every onlooker.
"The Wan Shan Sword Pavilion from the Tianyi Sect! They've come for recruitment!"
"I've heard their standards are incredibly strict!"
"Hurry! Even if we can only serve as errand runners, it's worth it!"
The air buzzed with excitement as numerous True Immortals and Saints rushed toward the colossal sword. The commotion left no doubt—Askheart Futuo City was about to witness a grand event.