Chapter 531: The Scavenger Li Hao
"Does he intend to kill them all by himself?"
Another youth spoke with a serious expression, muttering softly.
Miao Bujie furrowed his brow and said, "These are no ordinary ancient demons. If they were normal Perfected True Immortal Realm demons, I could kill hundreds of them, but these are elites, and some of them are from royal bloodlines!"
As the two spoke, Emperor Linchen had already entered the ancient demon horde under the red clouds.
His divine avatar behind him was magnificent, displaying an unparalleled figure that exuded imperial majesty. His divine robe shimmered like frost, and every movement emanated a kingly pressure.
Among the ancient demon tide, a shadow of a gigantic beast emerged from the darkness, radiating an aura of ancient malevolence, and clashed with Emperor Linchen's divine avatar.
A surge of dark power poured out from the ancient demon tide, forming a barrier that enveloped the area beneath the red clouds and blocked everyone's line of sight.
"That's the Ancient Demon Underworld!"
"They've already set up an ambush. Should we step in to help?"
"Why bother? He's showing off. The number of ancient demons under the red clouds is clear to see, but he's charging in alone. If he insists on showing off, he'll pay the price."
Seeing the dark barrier's power, the many figures approaching beneath the red clouds had varying expressions.
Miao Bujie turned to Li Hao and said, "He's probably in danger. Should we intervene?"
He wanted to lend a hand, hoping to make a connection with the imperial clan.
As a member of the Chijiang royal family, forging a friendship with the imperial clan would greatly benefit his status within the royal family.
Li Hao focused, but didn't speak. He activated his time-based powers, and a colorful thread appeared in his vision, stretching toward the Ancient Demon Underworld.
The thread was thin, but as it moved, it reflected a scene of the battle unfolding within.
This was the ability Li Hao had gained after reaching the Fourth Level of the Time Source. It allowed him to glimpse what would happen five seconds in the future.
Since time is constant and not fluid, he could bypass the "present" and observe the "future."
However, what Li Hao saw was very faint and limited, and he couldn't be sure whether the scene he observed would be altered by his own actions.
If it was altered, could it still be considered the future? It was a paradox, one that he might only understand once his time-based source reached a deeper level.
"Let's wait a bit."
Li Hao said to Miao Bujie.
At that moment, he saw Emperor Linchen fighting within the ancient demon horde, and to his surprise, he wasn't at a disadvantage at all.
Moreover, the celestial techniques Emperor Linchen employed were incredibly powerful. Numerous stars swirled around him, clearly indicating the Celestial Star Pulse!
This was the second final realm. It was the first time Li Hao had seen someone else wield it, other than himself.
And Emperor Linchen was at the True Immortal Realm, the same level as Li Hao.
With the Celestial Star Pulse, Emperor Linchen unleashed several terrifying celestial techniques—Heavenly Swan Waterfall, Red Burn Fire Domain—turning the surroundings into a chaotic, shattered wasteland.
Within the ancient demon tide, hundreds of demons worked together, and the mighty evil shadow they summoned began tearing through the celestial techniques, engaging in a battle with Emperor Linchen.
The mighty evil beast roared, shattering the celestial techniques, but Emperor Linchen quickly conjured more.
As the celestial techniques wreaked havoc, some ancient demons were killed. Over time, the number of ancient demons slowly decreased. At this rate, it was only a matter of time before the demon horde was wiped out. After all, the Celestial Star Pulse was too powerful. As long as the forces were even, it could exhaust the enemy to death!
In other words, unless someone had enough strength to exceed what Emperor Linchen could withstand and kill him instantly, it would be nearly impossible to defeat him.
The ancient demons also realized this. Several of them stepped forward, letting out furious roars. Suddenly, the other demons ignited with dark demon flames. The evil shadow they had summoned roared to the sky, and a black vortex appeared above its head. Chains waved out from the vortex, resembling a gateway to the Underworld.
Emperor Linchen's gaze shifted, and he stopped using the imperial clan's ultimate celestial techniques. Instead, his palms came together suddenly, and a Nine-Flower Celestial Seal appeared on his forehead.
Once the Nine-Flower Celestial Seal emerged, it radiated immense power, and his celestial power surged, raising his hand to slam down a giant palm.
The giant palm carried an ancient, far-reaching aura, as if a great emperor was using his hand to shatter the world.
Li Hao's eyes narrowed. From the Nine-Flower Celestial Seal on Emperor Linchen's forehead, he could faintly sense the power of the Nine Sequences.
It seemed that, like him, Emperor Linchen also possessed the Nine Sequence Celestial Seal!
In this gathering place of the strongest geniuses from the Southern Domain, Li Hao had finally encountered someone like himself.
As the power of the Celestial Seal was unleashed, a battle suit materialized around Emperor Linchen's divine avatar, and the bloodline pressure unique to the imperial clan was unleashed, engaging in battle with the evil shadow summoned by the ancient demons.
At this moment, the surrounding scene blurred. The time thread became chaotic, and the vision that was reflected started to fade away.
Li Hao paused for a moment and immediately realized that Emperor Linchen also controlled the Time Source. By using time-based powers during battle, he had prevented Li Hao from peering further into the future.
"We need to help him?"
Gu Xingwan looked at Li Hao, worry in her eyes.
Every moment in here was a life-or-death test, and she feared that he might have already fallen.
"No need. He can handle it."
Li Hao shook his head slightly. Although he couldn't see what was happening inside, he understood from Emperor Linchen's displayed power that the ancient demon horde was no match for him.
Seeing Li Hao's trust in Emperor Linchen, Miao Bujie and the other youth exchanged a glance. As a friend of the imperial clan, if Li Hao said this, they had no reason to rush in and help.
Moreover, the Underworld domain the ancient demons had set up was similar to the Dao Domain of the human race but far more solid and terrifying. Breaking it was not easy.
While they waited, outside the true immortal secret realm, Emperor Chu and the other emperors also saw this scene.
"That little one from the imperial clan seems quite confident."
"Too bad we can't trace back the time-based power in the reflected images to see the scene inside."
"I've seen that little one before. He bears the mark of the Nine Sequences. He should be fine."
"Look, the ancient god clan's little one is also about to go in alone."
Several emperors watched the ancient demon gathering places in the true immortal secret realm, seeing another group of geniuses gathering, while the young man from the ancient god clan charged in without intending to join forces with anyone else.
"It seems these guys are the top-tier in the True Immortal Group of this Southern Domain battle. They far surpass the other geniuses."
Emperor Jin shook his head slightly, a trace of regret in his eyes.
Such prodigies were not found in the Jin Yun Immortal Dynasty.
Although they could handle one against many, someone who could deal with hundreds of ancient demons alone had undoubtedly reached the peak of the True Immortal Realm.
As they conversed, countless people across the Southern Domain were stunned by the unfolding scenes. They had originally thought that the top geniuses inside would face a great trial, and that the Heavenly Palace Supreme would step in to stop this unforeseen danger. They never imagined the top geniuses would charge into the ancient demon horde alone.
"How reckless, aren't they True Immortals?"
"Is the gap between True Immortals really this big?!"
"Even in the True Immortal Realm, I can barely kill one ancient demon, let alone hundreds! This is outrageous!"
As countless people eagerly watched, suddenly, one of the ancient demon gathering spots vanished, and a figure stepped out from within.
With that scene reflected, chaos broke out all over the Southern Domain.
"Oh my heavens, what did I just see?!"
"The ancient demon horde is gone, and it's all just corpses!"
"It seems like it happened in the blink of an eye, oh my heavens!"
"That... that seems to be a disciple of the Supreme!"
Countless people looked at the snow-robed youth who had slaughtered the ancient demon gathering, their eyes filled with intense shock.
The youth passed through the ancient demon gathering site and directly flew into the red clouds. As the Dark Underworld Domain covered the area, before anyone could react, it dissipated again.
Soon after, the youth casually walked out, with hundreds of ancient demon corpses behind him! It was only a single breath's time!
Not only had the ancient demon gathering been eradicated, but it was as if it had been wiped out in an instant!
It was like a True Immortal casually refining a mortal city with no effort whatsoever.
Elders and sect leaders watching from outside the True Immortal secret realm all noticed the scene, their expressions frozen in disbelief.
Even the imperial clan, and the young man from the ancient god clan, were still fighting at the ancient demon gathering, but the Supreme's disciple had already…
"Is that real?"
Li Tiemu's eyes went wide, shocked and somewhat frightened, doubting his own sight.
Nearby, Da Mengzhu's expression also froze. The imperial clan and the ancient god clan's young man were already among the top geniuses, and in his view, they were even stronger than Li Hao. But the Supreme's disciple was even more exaggerated!
"Could it be... is it the Dao Source Celestial Seal?"
A terrifying thought emerged in Da Mengzhu's mind, somewhat shocked. But soon, she shook her head. If it were truly the Dao Source Celestial Seal, he wouldn't need to participate in the Southern Domain Battle; he could simply enter the original True Realm, and the Emperor of the original True Realm would certainly welcome him.
"Supreme, your disciple is truly remarkable!"
In the high skies, the female emperor of Chijiang Immortal Dynasty, wearing snake-shaped earrings, exclaimed in admiration.
"There's a deep sword intent residue there; it seems like a single sword strike wiped them all out."
"What a terrifying sword Dao."
Emperor Chu and others nodded in approval, generously praising the skill.
The Heavenly Palace Supreme only glanced at it, his expression unchanged. He smiled slightly at their praise and said, "It's only a few hundred ancient demons. If it were thousands, then my disciple would have to take action."
He looked at the youth beside him.
Emperor Chu, the female emperor of Yuanzun, and the others froze. They suddenly realized that when the Supreme spoke of his disciple, he wasn't referring to the youth next to him, but probably the two disciples in the secret realm.
With the snow-robed youth's recent actions, it seemed likely that he could indeed deal with the gathered ancient demons.
"Looks like the competition for the leader position in this Southern Domain Battle will be between your two disciples."
The female emperor of Chijiang sighed softly.
She had seen her own prince standing outside the red cloud, not taking action. Though his method was indeed cautious, it also indicated a huge gap in strength.
…
At that moment, inside the True Immortal secret realm.
The Dark Underworld Domain dissipated, and Emperor Linchen stood in the void. His robes fluttered slightly, looking somewhat disheveled with traces of demon blood splattered on him.
His hair was disheveled, but he quickly regulated his breath and turned to look at Li Hao from a distance. His figure flickered and appeared before Li Hao in the blink of an eye.
The pressure from his previous battle still lingered around him. Although the celestial seal on his forehead had already faded, his imperial bloodline pressure caused Miao Bujie, Gu Xingwan, and the others to subtly change their expressions.
"You should collect the corpses. Do you still need more Dao fire?"
He raised his hand, and dozens of Dao fire orbs appeared in his palm.
Seeing so many Dao fire orbs, Miao Bujie and another youth's expressions shifted slightly.
Although they had already collected their own Dao fire, it was clear from Emperor Linchen's gesture that if Li Hao wanted them, they would be given to him.
The closeness between these two was unexpected.
They couldn't help but glance at Li Hao with deeper interest.
Li Hao glanced at the Dao fire orbs but shook his head slightly. "I have enough Dao fire. If I need more, I'll hunt some more. You should keep these."
"I don't have much use for them."
Emperor Linchen shook his head slightly, then raised his hand and threw the Dao fire orbs into the air. They shot straight into the sky and dispersed.
"Whoever wants them, take them."
He turned to Li Hao and said, "I'll be heading back now."
"Alright."
Li Hao nodded. Once Emperor Linchen disappeared with his instant movement, Li Hao wasted no time. He quickly reached the battlefield, opened a spatial rift, and started collecting the scattered bodies.
Miao Bujie looked at the scattered Dao fire, but didn't pursue them. His expression was complex. If he encountered someone from the imperial clan in the upcoming arena battles, he felt that he might have to surrender to conserve his strength.
"Did he really manage to solve it all by himself? That guy, is he using the Nine Sequence Celestial Seal?"
Another youth said, narrowing his eyes and showing deep apprehension.
With the battle over, the geniuses who had gathered near the red cloud remembered Emperor Linchen deeply.
"Let's go. There's another spot; let's check it out."
Li Hao called to Lin Qingying and Gu Xingwan after collecting the bodies.
The two girls exchanged glances, snapping out of their shock. They didn't expect that a friend of Li Hao's would single-handedly solve the ancient demon horde.
Seeing Li Hao heading for the next red cloud, the two girls quickly followed.
When Li Hao arrived at the next red cloud, the battle there had already ended. Shen Wujian was wiping off the debris from his body. Upon seeing Li Hao, he raised an eyebrow and gave Li Hao a look that seemed to say, "Don't forget the promise you made earlier," before instantly disappearing.
"That person seems to know you."
Lin Qingying, with her sharp eyes, spoke to Li Hao.
Li Hao smiled but didn't say much, quickly focusing on collecting the corpses in the battlefield.
Outside the secret realm, many people also noticed Li Hao's actions, puzzled.
"What's that guy doing, collecting ancient demon corpses everywhere?"
"He looks like a scavenger. If you didn't know better, you'd think he was in charge of cleaning up this secret realm."
"Could there be treasures in those corpses?"
"What are you thinking? If there were real treasures, others would be collecting them too."
"Maybe it's just a strange hobby."
People discussed among themselves, mocking Li Hao's peculiar behavior.
As time passed, Li Hao moved from one ancient demon gathering place to the next. Under the red clouds, these gathering spots were very conspicuous, visible from far away.
However, when Li Hao arrived, these spots were already surrounded by people, engaged in fierce battles.
Some were working in teams of three or five, while others had dozens or even over a hundred people fighting together.
Seeing this, Li Hao was happy to avoid unnecessary trouble, fishing in troubled waters while collecting the corpses.
As more and more bodies piled up in the spatial rift, Li Hao's smile grew wider.