Chapter 490: Immortal Technique Unleashed
"Mm?"
Hearing Li Hao's words, Chu Tianzhen's amused expression suddenly turned ice-cold. His gaze sharpened as his voice grew sinister.
"Arrogant fool. Looks like you don't understand your place. Everyone, listen carefully—these words are his own. Now show me, what kind of sect heritage did they prepare for you? Let's see just how many tricks they've stuffed up your sleeves to make you look good!"
As he spoke, he casually waved his palm.
A diamond-shaped immortal weapon materialized in midair, enveloped in crackling purple lightning, exuding a bloodthirsty aura. The weapon hovered beside him, but he did not immediately grip it. Instead, his sharp eyes locked onto Li Hao, waiting for him to summon his own weapon.
"Draw your weapon."
Li Hao's eyes were cold, his immortal energy quietly surging.
"What's this? You don't plan on using your immortal weapon? Are you seriously thinking of fighting me barehanded?!"
Seeing Li Hao's stance, Chu Tianzhen's gaze darkened with murderous intent.
"You're not worthy to see my sword."
Li Hao's tone was calm and indifferent.
If he summoned Chu Taowu, with his current immortal energy reserves, he could likely unleash half of its true power.
That was no ordinary immortal weapon—it was a supreme immortal blade, carefully chosen from his immortal emperor master's inheritance. With sufficient energy, its sheer might alone could rival high-stage Immortal Lords, perhaps even overwhelm them.
And that was only one of the many trump cards left to him by his master.
"Still running your mouth? Let's see if you can still talk when I tear it apart!"
Chu Tianzhen's immortal energy exploded like a tidal wave, shaking the void around him. His pupils turned icy as his killing intent surged.
"Trying to prove yourself after being exposed? Fine, I'll give you the chance! Survive my attack—if you can!"
He didn't use his immortal weapon. Against a mere True Immortal, relying on an artifact would only disgrace him.
But his fury had already condensed into a single blow.
As his domain unfolded, his anger and killing intent were no longer reflected in words but in raw power.
His immortal energy surged like a sea, expanding outward. The sheer pressure caused thunder and lightning to crackle across the void, forming ominous streaks of electric arcs.
Even without launching an attack, his sheer presence was enough to distort the surroundings. It was terrifyingly oppressive, like the descent of an apocalyptic storm.
Watching this, Zhang Xuanyu's eyes gleamed with schadenfreude. He stepped back to avoid being affected, choosing instead to spectate from a distance with gleeful anticipation.
Other high-ranking sect disciples—including the Heavenly Sea Sect's elite and various imperial clan members—also stepped aside, giving space for the one-sided confrontation. Their expressions were a mix of curiosity and disdain.
A True Immortal challenging a prince of the imperial clan, an Immortal Lord—
Was this ignorance? Or plain suicide?
As they exchanged amused glances, only Xing Lan's expression revealed concern.
But beneath her worry, there was a flicker of inexplicable anticipation—an almost irrational belief that this boy could create another miracle.
"That's an Immortal Lord's might? Unbelievable!"
"His raw immortal energy pressure alone feels like it could crush someone!"
"Of course. His techniques stem from ancient imperial arts, and his energy foundation is beyond ordinary cultivators!"
"That boy is finished. He dared to provoke the imperial family—he's dead even if he begs!"
"He overreached himself. Climbing so high, only to be beaten down in disgrace. This will be his most humiliating moment."
"Perhaps the prince will spare his soul for reincarnation, considering he's from the Grand Dream Nine Abyss Sect. That much leniency should be given, right?"
Below the platform, the crowd erupted into discussions. Many stared in awe at Chu Tianzhen's immense power, convinced that Li Hao was about to be crushed.
Inside Mountains of Swords Pavilion, Lin Qingying's hands tightened into fists.
Her eyes, locked onto Chu Tianzhen's regal figure, burned with intense determination.
The mocking laughter of her sect peers rang in her ears, making her blood boil.
If he was truly defeated, she swore—
She would dedicate everything to training, one day avenging him!
"The imperial clan… how could they be so unreasonable?"
"The ranking is already settled, yet they still refuse to accept it? If they're dissatisfied, why didn't he just climb higher himself?"
In Grand Dream Nine Abyss, Murong Qingwu and Yuexi were both furious.
Although they hadn't known Li Hao for long, he was still their junior martial brother. Watching him being humiliated like this filled their hearts with anger.
Gu Yan clenched his fists tightly, his eyes fixed on the figure standing on the immortal platform. Deep in his gaze, a flicker of light burned—he wanted to see how that young man would respond to this predicament.
Would he break free and rise like a true dragon, soaring into the heavens?
Or would he be like an eagle taking flight, only to have its wings broken and fall to ruin?
"Haotian..."
Li Tiemu stood stiffly, his entire body tense as he stared unblinkingly at the immortal platform. His heart had risen to his throat, pounding uncontrollably.
Among the disciples of the other abysses, some were angry, some sighed in frustration, but only Lin Yufeng from Spear Abyss had a calm, thoughtful gaze.
As Li Hao's Immortal Guard, who had followed him from the depths of the Demon Valley Abyss, he knew that Li Hao had inherited an immortal emperor's legacy—one of the True Realm's supreme beings.
What exactly had Li Hao inherited? That, he did not know.
But he did know one thing—as the disciple of an immortal emperor, there was no way he would perish here.
If a mere Immortal Lord was enough to defeat him, then he wasn't worthy of that inheritance at all.
At that moment, atop the immortal platform, Chu Tianzhen was in no rush to attack.
The immortal energy behind him was still surging, gathering, and compressing. The purple lightning arcs crackled chaotically, and the terrifying pressure continued to build.
He didn't just want to cripple this brat.
He wanted to use this moment to demonstrate his strength.
As a prince of Yan Chu, this battle was being broadcasted across the empire's Nine Thousand Immortal Cities. If he could leave a lasting impression, it would bring endless advantages to his future ambitions.
This was a rare opportunity to make a name for himself.
"If you kneel now and beg for forgiveness, there's still time!"
Chu Tianzhen spoke with cold indifference.
The gale of his immortal energy pressure whipped at Li Hao's face, causing his hair to flutter wildly.
But his expression remained calm—like the still surface of a deep, bottomless lake.
He neither responded nor made a sound.
He too, was gathering his power.
His opponent was an Immortal Lord Second Stage, but had only recently broken through—which explained why he had failed to conquer the Twelfth Desolate Domain.
This would be his first time facing such an opponent head-on.
Before this, he and Mi Xueyao had been hunted by an Immortal Lord-level Ancient Demon, but at that time, all they could do was flee and dodge. In the end, it was Old Han's mysterious tower that had saved them.
But this time…
This would be his first true battle.
"You're asking to die!"
Seeing Li Hao remain unfazed, seemingly ignoring the immense pressure he was emitting, Chu Tianzhen's gaze burned with rage and murderous intent.
He took a deep breath.
Then, suddenly—
A plum blossom-shaped immortal seal appeared on his forehead, its glow shimmering.
It was a Three-Flower Immortal Seal!
For True Immortals, their immortal seal was their foundation. But once they ascended beyond True Immortal, it could no longer be refined or enhanced.
The moment his immortal seal appeared, Chu Tianzhen's entire aura surged once again.
His domain expanded, enveloping the area.
Within it, he commanded three immortal laws—
Earth Dao Essence.
Mace Dao Essence.
Control Dao Essence.
Among them, his Mace Dao Essence was the strongest, his primary weapon cultivation path.
His Earth Dao Essence and Control Dao Essence had both reached Third Stage, making them mid-level mastery among the Nine Essences.
But his Mace Dao Essence had reached Fourth Stage—placing him among the strongest Immortal Lords of his rank.
"Bow, both your body and your soul!"
With a sudden motion, Chu Tianzhen lifted his hand, as if plucking thunder from the void itself.
The boundless immortal energy gathered in his palm, condensing at a terrifying speed.
Lightning flashed violently, booming thunder echoed across the platform, and blazing arcs of power intertwined within his grip.
"Dilo Sky—Primordial Suppression!"
His eyes gleamed coldly as his palm descended toward Li Hao.
In that instant—
The storm of lightning in his palm vanished.
Instead, it materialized directly above Li Hao's head through the Abyssal Realm's Extreme Boundary, as if he had teleported the attack itself.
A powerful earth essence force spread out, wrapping the lightning compression in layers of earth element suppression.
The technique manifested as an enormous thunder-infused celestial mountain, crashing down to annihilate everything beneath it!
"That's an imperial immortal technique—one of Yan Chu's strongest palm techniques!"
"I heard an Immortal Lord once used this very move to crush an entire demon city in a single strike!"
"I can barely breathe just from the pressure!"
Below the immortal platform, countless sect disciples turned pale with shock. Some even cried out in disbelief.
Even from dozens of miles away, they could feel the terrifying might of this strike. It was as if the air within a hundred miles had been drawn away, the entire platform trembling under its power.
Standing atop the head of the ancestral dragon, Chu Xiangtian's expression subtly shifted.
His eyes flashed sharply, prepared at any moment to intervene and support the platform itself—ensuring his brother's attack wouldn't collapse the entire battlefield.
Just as the palm strike was about to crush Li Hao's head, suddenly—
A dominant yet otherworldly power erupted!
A sharp, piercing screech suddenly rang out, cutting through the air like a long-sealed divine sword abruptly unsheathed after countless years of slumber!
A dazzling sword light erupted from Li Hao's palm—not from any physical weapon, but from his clasped sword fingers, slashing directly toward the heavens.
This was not just the Azure Sky Immortal Technique, but his own sword dao, fused into a single strike.
Boom!
The thunderous glow of the Primordial Suppression Palm exploded upon impact!
The compressed sword technique tore through the lightning-imbued immortal law, seeking out a single flaw within its structure.
Harnessing the power of the Fourth Stage Space Dao Essence, Li Hao forced it apart—and then, his sword energy pierced through completely!
The immortal technique collapsed, and the razor-sharp sword radiance shattered the rolling thunder, shooting straight beyond the immortal platform—toward the distant imperial palace projection in the sky!
A single sword to cleave open the Emperor's Gate!
The transformation happened in an instant, leaving the once-buzzing crowd in dead silence.
Countless people widened their eyes in disbelief, staring in utter shock at the scene before them.
Even Chu Xiangtian, who had been prepared to step in and support the immortal platform, was caught off guard.
His entire attention had been focused on neutralizing his brother's attack, but the sheer explosiveness of Li Hao's sword technique was beyond expectation.
It was too powerful.
Too fast.
He hadn't even had time to react or intervene.
When he noticed that the imperial palace projection had been sliced open by a phantom rift, his expression instantly changed.
Quickly, he raised a hand, sweeping away the lingering spatial residue, erasing the traces before they could cause further impact.
Yet, as he dispersed the remnants, he distinctly felt the core essence of that sword technique.
It contained the power of Space Dao Essence—and not just a basic grasp, but at least Fourth Stage mastery!
Could a True Immortal possibly comprehend such a profound level of Nine Sequences Essence?
"Hmm?"
High above, at the very top of the ranking steps, Chu Tianhuang, who had maintained a perpetual calm smile, suddenly had a flicker of interest in his aged eyes.
Beside him, the snow-clad youth, Boya Xuejian, also revealed a peculiar glint in his gaze, the corner of his lips curving ever so slightly.
Meanwhile, Xing Lan, who had been watching anxiously the entire time, gasped softly, her wide eyes shimmering with delight.
The heart that had been hanging in suspense for so long finally relaxed slightly.
"Hmm?"
The previously disdainful princess furrowed her brows, her expression slightly shifting.
Yet, none were more stunned than Chu Tianzhen himself.
He stared in disbelief at the sword mark that tore across the sky, his mind momentarily blank.
His attack—a technique of his royal lineage—had actually been shattered barehanded by this youth?!
No immortal weapon. No external aid. No elixirs.
Just a raw explosion of immortal energy—deep, unfathomable, and terrifyingly potent.
He could even sense the fluctuations of Space Dao Essence left behind by the attack.
This brat had mastered Space Dao Essence among the Nine Sequences?
"No wonder... no wonder he dared act so arrogantly!"
The shock in Chu Tianzhen's eyes gradually faded—replaced by an icy glare.
If he stopped now, he would lose all face.
And besides, that strike wasn't even his full strength.
Though he had intended to cripple Li Hao completely, he believed the force he used should have been enough.
But now?
"Die!"
With a savage growl, he struck once more!
This time, his palm condensed a long mace phantom, gripping it with one hand.
With a single step forward, his figure surged toward Li Hao, the mace descending like a collapsing mountain!
Thunder arcs intertwined, immortal law surged, and within his domain, Li Hao's Saint Dao laws were instantly negated—rendered ineffective before true immortal law mastery.
He forcibly broke into Li Hao's domain, attempting to send him flying on the spot.
Yet, just as he stepped in—
Li Hao's eyes flashed.
Eternal Dao Domain surged forth.
Immortal energy coalesced and roared.
Time and Space Dao Essence intertwined.
The mace strike was fast.
But in the face of time itself, speed meant nothing.
Even if it was just an instant—
That instant was all he needed!
"Solidify!"
"Purple Forbidden!"
"Invincible!"
"Azure Sky!!"
In the blink of an eye, four of the Ten Great Immortal Techniques erupted simultaneously!
Ancient and timeless, the immortal techniques bloomed in Li Hao's hands, their radiance piercing through the heavens.
During his inheritance at the Imperial Palace, he had obtained the Ten Great Immortal Techniques, initially mastering six of them.
But now, after fully comprehending Nine Sequences Essence, he had gradually integrated the remaining techniques into his own cultivation.
The Ten Great Immortal Techniques—
Each was directly connected to the Nine Sequences.
To truly comprehend them, one needed a deep mastery of their corresponding essence laws.
Solidify—Time Essence.
Purple Forbidden—Spatial Seal, disabling enemy immortal techniques.
Invincible—Earth Essence, the strongest defensive technique.
All three techniques exploded outward at once!
In an instant, Chu Tianzhen, who had charged into Li Hao's domain with the speed of a thunderbolt, was forcefully frozen in place!
Though his body was paralyzed, his mind remained conscious.
His pupils shrunk sharply—a wave of terror flashing through his eyes.
With his immortal law mastery, this should have been an instant kill attack—but now?
He was being restrained by some unfathomable force!
This domain suppression exceeded his understanding!
But he had no time to process it.
Amidst the bursting radiance, Azure Sky Swordsmanship, fused with Sword God Technique, blossomed from Li Hao's grasp.
The sword light surged upward, cleaving through Chu Tianzhen's body!
But in that very moment—
His battle armor flashed, activating a high-grade immortal treasure!
A defensive immortal weapon!
The Azure Sky Sword Technique's devastating force was absorbed by the armor, reducing its impact by seventy to eighty percent.
Li Hao's eyes sharpened.
His immortal energy shifted instantly.
Compressing his sword energy into a single piercing point—
He bypassed the external armor!
The sword light erupted from within!
Like countless microscopic blades, the sword aura detonated from inside the armor—piercing outward in all directions!