Chapter 532: Mount Wenda
"Is it you?"
While collecting ancient demon corpses, Li Hao encountered a disciple from Da Meng Jiuyuan.
Lin Mingrong's clothes were torn, and she looked injured. Though the wounds had already healed, her disheveled hair showed signs of a fierce battle.
When she encountered Li Hao in midair, she was momentarily stunned, and then a surge of joy erupted in her eyes.
Li Hao's performance in the Ancient Immortal Realm had made her deeply aware of the gap between herself and this young man. Her master had also privately told her that he would surely show extraordinary performance in the Southern Domain War, likely making it into the top ten.
Now, meeting Li Hao, she felt like she had found a pillar of support.
"You're injured?"
Li Hao recognized the woman. She had once guided him to Da Mengzhu's palace, and although they had gotten off on the wrong foot, they hadn't had much interaction after that.
"I'm fine."
Lin Mingrong shook her head, but her gaze quickly swept over Gu Xingwan and Lin Qingying beside Li Hao. A hint of disappointment flashed in her eyes, but it quickly disappeared. She said to Li Hao, "Can I stay with you? I already have Dao Fire, and I'm worried someone might try to take it."
As she spoke, she pulled out the Dao Fire from her hand, afraid Li Hao might misunderstand.
Li Hao was already used to having Gu Xingwan with him, a bit of a burden, so he replied, "It's fine. You can follow me."
Earlier, Da Mengzhu had advised him to help any fellow disciples he met, as long as it didn't interfere with his own convenience.
Lin Mingrong let out a sigh of relief and put away the Dao Fire, following Li Hao.
Li Hao continued to soar through the skies. Not long after, he encountered Gu Yan and Yue Xi.
The two of them also looked a bit disheveled, clearly having gone through a fierce battle, but Li Hao noticed that Gu Yan's aura was even stronger than before, giving off a sharp feeling, as though he had made progress in the sword path.
After learning that they had already obtained Dao Fire, Li Hao didn't mention giving them any more.
He then led them to another ancient demon gathering site to continue collecting corpses.
The others were curious about Li Hao's strange actions but were easily brushed off by him.
As time passed, the number of ancient demon corpses collected grew, and they began encountering more disciples from Da Meng Jiuyuan.
Some of them hadn't hunted Dao Fire yet, so Li Hao took out over a hundred Dao Fire orbs and casually handed them out.
The disciples were pleasantly surprised and grateful for Li Hao's generosity. This could directly qualify them for the second round.
Hunting Dao Fire wasn't simple, but for someone like Li Hao with immense combat strength, it was an easy task. For others, however, it was a deadly contest.
After several ancient demon gathering places were wiped out, the trial in the True Immortal Secret Realm was nearing its end.
Most of the people wandering through the secret realm were in small groups, traveling together. Only a few were still operating solo.
"The red clouds seem to have disappeared."
"Looks like they've all been wiped out."
"I heard on my way here, someone single-handedly wiped out an ancient demon gathering. It's terrifying."
Li Hao, along with Gu Xingwan, Gu Yan, and the other Da Meng Jiuyuan disciples, continued to search for the ancient demon's traces. However, the red clouds that they had been able to spot from far away had vanished, and now they could only look for isolated ancient demons.
"The trial should be ending soon," Lin Mingrong said, glancing at the time.
Yue Xi frowned and said, "Why haven't I seen Senior Sister Qingwu? She hasn't encountered any trouble, has she?"
Gu Yan, hearing this, also showed a faint worry in his usually calm eyes.
Li Hao glanced at them both and thought, considering Mu Rong Qingwu's combat power, she should still have a good chance of hunting Dao Fire unless something unexpected happened.
"Why are you here?"
Suddenly, a group of figures sped toward them, all wearing silver-white sword robes and exuding a powerful aura.
One of them, upon seeing Li Hao, slightly changed his expression. Then, when he saw Lin Qingying standing beside Li Hao, he frowned and asked, "What's going on here?"
Wanshan Sword Tower, as part of the Tianyi Sword Sect of Yan Chu, had almost all its sword cultivators gathered there. However, there was also a Sword Abyss within Da Meng Jiuyuan, and for many years they had sought to take Tianyi Sect's position. This was well-known, which made the relationship between Wanshan Sword Tower and Da Meng Jiuyuan far from harmonious.
"Senior Brother Bai Ying," Lin Qingying called out upon seeing him, greeting him briefly.
"They're disciples of Da Meng Jiuyuan, come over here," the youth's face darkened as he said to Lin Qingying.
Lin Qingying shook her head and said, "I've already obtained Dao Fire. I'll be fine once the trial ends. You all take care of yourselves."
"You!"
Zhao Baiying's expression changed, "Do you plan to betray the sect?"
Lin Qingying frowned, "I'm just traveling with them. We've never discussed sect matters, and I will not betray the sect."
"Then come back, is it because they're forcing you?" Zhao Baiying's gaze swept toward Li Hao and the others, showing signs of caution.
Lin Qingying shook her head and said, "I have my friends here. I'll be fine."
"Friends, who?" Zhao Baiying's eyes swept over Li Hao and the others. When he noticed Lin Qingying standing beside Li Hao, his expression changed, and he darkly said, "Aren't you worried that Senior Brother will blame you?"
Hearing him mention Tian Hongyi, Lin Qingying's calm face suddenly turned cold and she said, "Why would he blame me?"
"Senior Brother is unparalleled in talent. His affection for you is well-known. You..."
Zhao Baiying couldn't help but say.
Lin Qingying's expression changed immediately. She angrily said, "Who he likes is his business. I've already told him that my heart belongs to someone else and that he should stop bothering me."
"You..."
Zhao Baiying was furious, "So many sect's saintesses desire Senior Brother's attention but cannot get it. Before we entered the secret realm, Senior Brother told me to look after you, and yet you don't appreciate it?!"
"I've already clearly told him, even if the female emperor likes him, it has nothing to do with me, Lin Qingying."
Lin Qingying's face was cold as she spoke, her gaze shifting to Li Hao, seemingly worried that Li Hao might misunderstand.
"You really think too highly of yourself. If not for Senior Brother's sake, I would..."
Zhao Baiying laughed angrily.
He didn't finish his sentence before Li Hao interrupted, saying, "Since we're both from Yan Chu Immortal Dynasty, I can't be bothered to make things difficult for you, but if you keep acting so self-important, I don't mind sending you packing."
He spoke casually, but Zhao Baiying's face changed immediately.
"You."
Zhao Baiying glared at Li Hao, his fists tightening.
The other disciples from Wanshan Sword Tower behind him also changed their expressions, glaring at Li Hao with furious looks.
His words were too arrogant, they didn't even take them seriously.
But thinking about this young man's performance in the Ancient Immortal Realm, where he had trampled the Chu Tianzhen of the royal family underfoot, though they didn't know whether Li Hao had used external celestial treasures in that battle, it had still left a deep impression on them.
"Fine, you're tough. I hope you make it to the end. Senior Brother will teach you a lesson!"
Zhao Baiying suppressed his anger, gritted his teeth, and said to Li Hao.
He then gestured to retreat.
But Li Hao's eyes flashed with coldness. Was he thinking he could talk and leave just like that?
"Talk too much? Then stay!"
He raised his hand, and a sword qi gathered at his fingertip, then suddenly shot out.
The sword energy contained the power of time and space. It arrived in an instant, flashing, and struck Zhao Baiying's body in an instant, splitting it apart!
This sword struck the past, coming before his reaction, and the damage caused in the past was presented in the present, as if the force of fate and karma had taken effect.
Boom!
Zhao Baiying's body exploded, and his primordial spirit shot out of it, his face filled with horror. Before he could even scream, his primordial spirit suddenly trembled, then cracked open, turning into golden fragments that scattered and dissipated in the air.
The other disciples from Wanshan Sword Tower were stunned upon seeing this, and then they were filled with absolute terror.
Zhao Baiying, one of the most powerful among them, had been killed in the blink of an eye, and even his primordial spirit had been shattered. This was simply terrifying!
To think that Zhao Baiying's primordial spirit had broken through the extreme limit, condensing golden veins and even cultivating two golden bones for his primordial spirit!
Such power had been casually destroyed by the sword energy Li Hao conjured. This was far too frightening!
"Run!"
The others reacted quickly, panicking and scattering in all directions, afraid that Li Hao would wipe them all out.
However, Li Hao was not bloodthirsty and did not pursue them. After the bodies of the ancient demons shattered and fell, the coldness on his face also dissipated.
"Let's go."
Li Hao waved his hand, as if nothing had happened, and said it casually.
Behind him, many of the Da Meng Jiuyuan disciples were shocked. Although they had seen Li Hao kill ancient demons decisively, Zhao Baiying, who was so famous in Wanshan Sword Tower, was not even comparable to the ancient demons. Zhao Baiying was capable of hunting dozens of ancient demons, yet he was easily killed by Li Hao.
Gu Yan's gaze froze slightly as he looked at Li Hao's back, feeling a bit dazed.
The sword light Li Hao had just conjured was exquisite and made him feel a sense of awe.
In his strongest field of swordsmanship, it seemed that Li Hao was far beyond him.
Time and space were embedded within that sword. Unfortunately, he hadn't comprehended the source of time.
"Such a fast sword, a sword that can cut through time..."
Gu Yan murmured softly, his eyes revealing a trace of complexity.
He had thought that he was slowly catching up to Li Hao, but unexpectedly, he had been left even further behind.
"Did it have any impact if I killed him?"
Suddenly, Li Hao turned his head and looked at Lin Qingying.
Lin Qingying was momentarily stunned, then shook her head and said, "It's fine, I didn't make the move."
Li Hao nodded. He knew that the events had been projected to the outside of the secret realm, so the elders of Wanshan Sword Tower should have witnessed the entire thing.
"Once this Southern Domain war is over, you should come back."
Li Hao spoke to Lin Qingying.
When they first came to the True Immortal Realm, she was unfamiliar with the place, so he had her join Wanshan Sword Tower. It was a good place to be.
Master Feng and the others, the saints, had done the same, dispersing across different places.
But now, once this Southern Domain war was over, Li Hao believed he would be able to protect them, and they wouldn't need to be scattered anymore.
"Alright."
Lin Qingying didn't hesitate and nodded with a hint of joy in her eyes.
But soon, she thought of something and sighed, saying, "But before I leave, I need to say goodbye to my master. He has been very kind to me, and Wanshan Sword Tower has also shown me favor. I need to find a way to repay them."
"Mm."
Li Hao nodded. He didn't stop her; it was only natural to repay kindness.
Although he had just killed a genius from the Sword Sect, that didn't conflict with this. At least, to him, the two matters were separate.
Unless the other party couldn't tell the difference.
Gu Xingwan glanced at Lin Qingying and asked Li Hao, "Have you known each other for a long time?"
"Mm."
Li Hao nodded.
Upon hearing Li Hao's answer, Lin Qingying's lips curled into a smile.
Gu Xingwan's eyes revealed a complex expression, a touch of disappointment.
As everyone continued searching, time passed, and suddenly, a grand, resonant voice echoed through the sky.
"The trial in the secret realm will end soon. There is one hour left."
This last hour was a reminder for those who had yet to hunt Dao Fire.
Soon, the disciples who had not obtained Dao Fire started to get anxious, searching for ancient demons everywhere.
But most of the ancient demon gathering places had already been wiped out, and only a few remained.
Additionally, some, like Li Hao, had already gathered a lot of Dao Fire, making it impossible for many others to advance.
The last hour quickly passed, and suddenly, the surrounding world became quiet. Then, their bodies were enveloped by a powerful force. When the scenery in front of them suddenly changed, they found themselves standing outside the True Immortal Secret Realm.
"Out... we're out?"
"I haven't hunted Dao Fire. Did I get eliminated?"
"Just a little more, I was so close to killing that ancient demon. Ah, why did this happen?!"
Various voices of confusion and distress could be heard.
Li Hao turned around and saw Lin Qingying and the others nearby, standing not far from the ancient mirror that had measured their soul lifespan.
He scanned the area and noticed Da Mengzhu and the others still standing on the mountaintop, which made him breathe a sigh of relief.
At this moment, dozens of figures appeared in the void, exuding a powerful aura.
These were all from the Immortal Monarch realm.
Li Hao noticed that Chu Tianhuang's robe had a sleeve torn off, as though he had been through a battle, which surprised him.
"The first trial is over. Now, those who have Dao Fire, please bring it out."
The leader of the Immortal Guards spoke loudly.
The disciples looked at each other. Those without Dao Fire were looking around, their eyes filled with unwillingness.
Li Hao and Lin Qingying took out their Dao Fires.
At this time, the crowd erupted in surprise.
Several figures in the crowd took out large amounts of Dao Fire, gathering them above their heads.
Li Hao noticed that the most conspicuous one was the ancient god clan's youth.
"So much Dao Fire!"
"I was wondering why I couldn't find any. Turns out they took it all!"
"Scoundrels, why take so much when only one Dao Fire is needed to pass?!"
Many without Dao Fire grumbled, angrily glaring at the ancient god youth and others.
In addition to them, there were others holding three, five, or even a dozen Dao Fires, but compared to the hundreds of Dao Fire orbs held by the ancient god youth, they looked insignificant.
The wailing from the crowd caused the Immortal Monarch realm group to glance over, but they quickly showed indifference, casting cold and disdainful glances before withdrawing their gazes.
"Those holding Dao Fire, congratulations on passing the first trial!"
The leader of the Immortal Guards ignored the wailing and resentment and announced loudly.
Many holding Dao Fire displayed joy in their eyes.
More, however, kept their expressions calm, their eyes revealing anticipation for the upcoming battle.
"Those without Dao Fire, please return to your respective sects. Those who fell in the secret realm, the Supreme will offer them a chance for reincarnation through the Soul Heart."
The Immortal Guard leader surveyed the crowd, giving a final glance at those holding Dao Fire.
"Those who passed the first trial, prepare for the second trial. As top-tier geniuses, in addition to combat strength, you also need to possess an extraordinary Dao heart!"