Chapter 488: Rising to Fame
As soon as Chu Xiangtian's words fell, the ancient black Immortal Monument trembled slightly. Then, at the very top of the monument, the first-ranked golden sequence suddenly transformed into a dazzling beam of golden light, piercing downward into the crowd below.
The light descended upon the foremost area where the imperial members were gathered, illuminating a hunched, elderly figure clad in golden dragon-embroidered robes.
Despite the brilliance of the golden radiance, the elder's expression remained utterly composed as he slowly ascended toward the Ancient Immortal Platform.
"That's Chu Tianhuang, ranked first?"
"He looks so old… With his level of power, it would be effortless for him to maintain the appearance of youth."
"You don't understand. He probably doesn't care about appearances anymore."
"That's not it. I heard he cultivates an extremely unique technique, and this form might actually align better with his Dao."
"So this is the number one genius of Yan Chu… He's only two thousand five hundred years old, yet his performance in the Desolate Domain was unmatched."
"I've never even seen him appear until now."
All across the gathered sects, disciples gazed upward in awe, watching as the golden light enveloped the old man. Before his appearance, everyone had already heard his name countless times, expecting him to be some peerlessly handsome young man, but instead, they found themselves looking at a wizened elder.
Yet, considering that his soul lifespan was only two thousand years, he was actually incredibly young. If he wished, he could revert to his youthful appearance at any moment.
As the first golden light faded, the second golden sequence on the Immortal Monument lit up, transforming into another thick golden beam, shooting toward a different location.
This time, the light fell upon the Bamboo Rain Pavilion, one of the top sects.
The sect's elders had previously used Dao Domains to shield their disciples, preventing others from eavesdropping. However, the golden light effortlessly penetrated through the barrier, landing upon a snow-robed youth within.
The youth wore a sheathed sword at his waist, his features flawless, sharp sword-like brows, and lips as red as blood. His cold, pale complexion gave him an androgynous beauty, making it difficult to discern his gender at first glance.
The ground beneath him was a scorching red, yet he exuded an icy aura, making those around him feel as though they had stepped into an eternal frost cavern.
"That's Bo Ya Xuejian… They say he's a chaotic lifeform, born without parents… an unparalleled monster!"
"If not for Chu Tianhuang, he would have completely crushed the entire Yan Chu Imperial Family!"
"A chaotic lifeform… There's no competing with that."
"Even the ancient emperor-blooded clans can't compare to him, let alone us mortals."
Whispers rippled through the crowd, awe and apprehension filling their voices.
Meanwhile, within Wanshan Sword Tower, the gathered disciples instinctively turned their gazes toward another young man clad in white.
Tian Hongyi.
The foremost prodigy of Wanshan Sword Tower, a name that carried immense weight, and currently ranked sixth.
Soon, another golden beam would shine upon him, announcing his status to the world.
In a secluded area, Zhang Xuanyu's face was grim, his eyes locked onto the Immortal Monument, waiting to see where the golden light of the tenth place would land.
Above the platform, Bo Ya Xuejian had already ascended, and following him, the third-ranked golden beam shot out, illuminating a middle-aged man with an aura akin to thunder, his imperial robes billowing as he floated toward the Immortal Platform.
Then came the fourth, then the fifth…
As each golden radiance shone, a chorus of cheers erupted from the Star Pavilion.
The fifth-ranked light fell upon Xing Lan, a woman whose celestial beauty seemed ethereal, as though she were weightless, floating gracefully into the sky.
Before departing, she cast a calm gaze upon her master and fellow disciples, then silently ascended to the platform.
"That's Xing Lan… I heard she was born from an ancient tree within the Chaos Star Realm, a natural Dao Physique, another terrifying genius."
"In terms of background, she's not far behind Bo Ya Xuejian."
"I wonder how deep into the Desolate Domain they managed to go."
"Anyone who can reach the Immortal Lord Realm within three thousand years is an absolute monster. My distant cousin is already forty thousand years old and still hasn't broken past that barrier."
All around, disciples murmured in awe, their gazes filled with both longing and frustration.
Many of them had already cultivated to True Immortal Realm Tenth Stage, yet the difference in their foundations was enormous. Even among those at the same level, the disparities in power were insurmountable.
To many, the True Immortal Realm was simply the final roadblock, and breaking through to the Immortal Lord Realm was an impossible feat, stopping millions of cultivators in their tracks.
As the golden light descended, it now shot toward Wanshan Sword Tower.
Countless gazes followed its trajectory, watching as Tian Hongyi, clad in snow-white robes, soared upward, carrying the honor of Wanshan Sword Tower as he ascended the Immortal Platform.
"I heard Wanshan Sword Tower produced two monstrous geniuses this time. Aside from Tian Hongyi, there's Zhang Xuanyu, ranked eleventh. He was originally in the top ten but was pushed down."
"Wanshan Sword Tower's foundation is terrifying. They actually nurtured two geniuses of this level."
"Of course! All of Yan Chu's top sword cultivators gather at Wanshan Sword Tower. While other sects have sword cultivators, they can't compare to Wanshan Sword Tower."
"Wanshan Sword Tower is the true holy land for sword cultivation!"
Amidst the discussions, several sword cultivators from other sects had eyes filled with admiration, clearly yearning for such an environment.
Hearing these words, Li Tiemu, Zhou Qingyun, and the elders of Da Meng Jiu Yuan couldn't help but have darkened expressions. No one even mentioned Jian Yuan, their sect's sword cultivation division. Compared to Wanshan Sword Tower, Jian Yuan was just a subdivision within Da Meng Jiu Yuan, not even as well-known as Qiang Yuan, and had long been overlooked and forgotten.
"Jian Yuan once possessed Imperial Sword Intent. Our sect's founder was personally guided by an Immortal Emperor. But now, no one remembers."
Li Tiemu's gaze flickered with both frustration and disappointment.
"One hundred thousand years is too long. Too much has been forgotten and buried. Even if we spread the truth, no one will believe it."
Zhou Qingyun shook his head.
The old woman beside them, hearing their lament, rolled her eyes slightly, but then her expression softened as she turned to Li Hao, saying:
"What is buried is just meaningless noise. When time washes away the excess, only the real truth remains. Our Jian Yuan has already produced a monstrous genius, hasn't it? Not a chaotic lifeform, nor an imperial bloodline descendant, yet he still made it into the top ten."
Hearing her words, the disciples of Jian Yuan all turned to look at Li Hao, their gazes complicated.
Only now did they fully comprehend the weight of his achievement—ranked tenth in all of Yan Chu, proving to the world that outside of Wanshan Sword Tower, there still existed top-tier sword cultivators and sect lineages capable of nurturing them.
Standing to the side, Gu Yan clenched his fists slightly.
As a descendant of ancient immortal bloodlines, born with the Sword Immortal Physique, he should have been the one carrying this burden, not someone else.
Although he had come to Da Meng Jiu Yuan to cultivate, he had never formed deep emotional ties to the sect. But now, seeing someone else carry this responsibility, his heart felt uneasy.
Was he too weak? Or had he not worked hard enough?
His foundation and background were top-tier, so was it his comprehension that fell short?
His fists clenched tighter and tighter.
Meanwhile, amid the roaring discussions, Tian Hongyi of Wanshan Sword Tower landed on the towering Immortal Platform, followed by the seventh-ranked cultivator.
The golden light shone upon a royal princess, her elegant and regal demeanor exuding an innate majesty, her gaze sweeping over the gathered sects before she calmly ascended the platform.
Next came the eighth and ninth, both from two of the Five Great Tian Yi Sects—Chaoxi Sect and Huanhai Sect.
Within the top ten, aside from the monstrous geniuses of the Five Great Tian Yi Sects, the remaining four were imperial bloodline cultivators, a testament to the unparalleled power and deep heritage of the Yan Chu Imperial Family.
"It's finally time!"
"Let's see who it is!"
As the ninth-ranked disciple from Huanhai Sect soared onto the Immortal Platform, Zhang Xuanyu fixed his burning gaze upon the tenth-place ranking on the Immortal Monument.
The golden light descended.
The immense wind pressure from the platform swayed the hair and robes of the standing cultivators. From their lofty perch, they silently observed the scene unfolding below.
Suddenly, the tenth-place golden beam shot out like a bolt of lightning, streaking across the sky in an arc before landing squarely in the center of the crowd.
It pierced through the protective barrier surrounding Da Meng Jiu Yuan, illuminating Li Hao.
The golden radiance bathed his entire figure, casting him in a divine aura, his silhouette shimmering like a godly being cloaked in gold.
The sheer pressure of the light forced even those standing beside him—Yue Xi, Gu Yan, and the others—to instinctively step back, retreating several paces. The surrounding crowd also unconsciously made way.
Li Hao felt the burning heat of his identity token, knowing it was the artifact's link to the Immortal Monument, allowing it to lock onto him.
"Hmm?"
"Da Meng Jiu Yuan? Tian Si Sect?!"
Within Wanshan Sword Tower, Zhang Xuanyu's pupils shrank violently, his gaze locked onto the golden light surrounding Li Hao.
The moment he sensed the youth's aura, his shock intensified, his dilated pupils trembling, his entire face contorted with disbelief.
Tian Si Sect—a phoenix born in a chicken coop was one thing, but for that phoenix to still be in the True Immortal Realm?!
"It's him?"
Zhang Xuanyu wasn't the only one stunned. Cui Yuesheng, an elder of Wanshan Sword Tower, also had his pupils contract in shock as he stared at the youth bathed in golden light.
That boy's face was far too familiar.
A cultivator who had achieved Nine Echoes of Dao Heart, possessing a supreme Dao Heart—three or four years ago, he had only just stepped into True Immortal Realm. But then, three years ago, he had arrived at this battlefield representing Da Meng Jiu Yuan.
And now, he had climbed to the tenth position on the Immortal Monument?!
Cui Yuesheng's mouth opened slightly, as if he had swallowed an entire goose egg, unable to believe it.
His gaze shifted toward Zhang Xuanyu. The young man stood completely stunned, lost in a daze, unable to comprehend what had just happened.
Three or four short years—this person had actually surpassed Zhang Xuanyu, someone regarded as a once-in-a-generation genius. And Zhang Xuanyu was already in Immortal Lord Realm!
"It's really him?!"
Meanwhile, in Huanhai Sect, Huo Xiaoqi stood frozen, staring at the golden light.
He never expected that the figure within the radiance would be that same youth!
Not only had he really arrived here, but he had secured a place in the top ten. And he was the only True Immortal Realm cultivator among them!
If they only considered the strength of True Immortal cultivators, then wasn't he essentially the strongest True Immortal in Yan Chu Immortal Dynasty?!
"Qi Ling, what's wrong?"
Beside him, his master frowned and asked, "Do you know that person?"
Huo Xiaoqi quickly snapped back to reality. His real name was Huo Qiling.
"N-no, it's nothing."
But in his heart, waves of shock raged—he couldn't forget the Immortal Achievement Rankings at the border.
No one knew.
That boy—he was "Chong Er", the legendary name that had shaken the rankings!
"He's from Da Meng Jiu Yuan? He's actually from Da Meng Jiu Yuan... Does this mean Da Meng Jiu Yuan is—"
Huo Qiling's thoughts became chaotic. The balance among the Five Great Tian Yi Sects, which had stood strong for tens of thousands of years, might just collapse after this Southern Domain Battle!
—
Whoosh!
Bathed in golden light, Li Hao ascended to the Ancient Immortal Platform.
Landing steadily on the platform, he swept his gaze over those present.
The moment his eyes met a certain pair of beautiful, widened eyes filled with disbelief, he smiled in response.
And the owner of those beautiful eyes was—Xing Lan.
She stared blankly at him, her usually calm and collected expression visibly cracking.
"It's that brat? He's the one ranked tenth?"
Memories from the border battlefield flashed through her mind—the battles, the moment when she had escorted him away, the countless exchanges of words and clashes.
Her gaze flickered, emotions shifting between disbelief, realization, and acceptance.
No wonder.
No wonder this youth had dared to venture to the battlefield as a True Immortal at third level.
Three years ago, he had already reached nineteenth place—that meant he had cleared the Tenth Desolate Domain at the time.
This guy...
Xing Lan exhaled, her eyes filled with complicated emotions, but then—she suddenly felt a surge of embarrassment and mild anger.
She had clearly been fooled!
Narrowing her eyes, she shot him a glare.
Li Hao noticed the sudden shift in her expression and was momentarily confused.
Still, he could only respond with a helpless smile.
—
"True Immortal Realm?"
A skeptical voice suddenly broke the silence.
The source of the voice was a regal-looking princess, who had been ranked seventh on the Immortal Monument.
Her gaze was condescending, her expression laced with arrogance and cold detachment. Even the slightest tilt of her head gave the impression of looking down upon everyone below her.
"You haven't even reached the peak of True Immortal Realm, and yet you climbed to tenth place on your own?"
Several people turned to look, including Chu Tianhuang, the elderly number one ranked cultivator, and Bo Ya Xuejian, standing beside him.
Chu Tianhuang's expression remained indifferent, merely tilting his head slightly to observe.
Bo Ya Xuejian, however, looked on with pure curiosity, his gaze bright and inquisitive—he seemed genuinely intrigued rather than doubtful.
"More or less."
Li Hao glanced at them, then replied to the princess's question with a casual tone, before promptly losing interest and looking away.
The princess's eyes twitched slightly at his dismissive response.
Her lips curved into a faint smirk of disdain, but she did not press further.
Regardless of how he had gotten here, his true strength would be exposed during the Southern Domain Battle.
—
With Li Hao's arrival, the Immortal Monument stopped trembling, falling into complete silence.
Chu Xiangtian's gaze remained locked onto Li Hao, still processing the shock.
He never imagined that the mysterious identity behind that tenth-ranking number would belong to a cultivator from Tian Si Sect—and a True Immortal at that!
Three years ago, this youth had stormed through the Desolate Domains at a speed rivaling Immortal Lords.
Was this something a True Immortal could achieve?
As for the possibility of him concealing his true realm…
Chu Xiangtian himself was at Immortal Lord Realm, peak level. And yet—even with his divine perception, he sensed no falsehood in Li Hao's aura.
If Li Hao had managed to deceive even him, then that would be even more terrifying.
—
"Open!"
Chu Xiangtian suddenly raised his hand and pointed forward.
In an instant, a black tide of figures surged forward—elders of the Imperial Supervisory Court.
Draped in dark robes, their presence was overwhelming, as they soared toward the Immortal Platform.
In total, thirty-six of them arrived, spreading out into a formation.
As their Immortal Power surged, Heavenly Laws and Dao Visions manifested behind them—towering deities, standing like immovable gods in the heavens.