Chapter 581: Dao Source Immortal Emperor
"Just you? Not enough."
In the mist, the Supreme quietly gazed down at the old figure standing atop the black tower, his expression calm.
As he spoke, all the changes in the world caused by Old Han's appearance were instantly smoothed out by a mysterious force. At the same time, the boundary stones reflecting the Southern Domain lost their glow and went dark, sealed by some kind of power.
In all the immortal cities of the Southern Domain, even among the border immortal armies stationed in the wild starry sky, everyone suddenly noticed the scenes they'd been watching disappeared, replaced by utter darkness—like someone had draped a black cloth over the boundary stones, making it impossible to see through.
This left everyone uneasy, whispering questions, but nobody knew the answer.
Only a few hidden elders understood what was happening and sighed in their hearts. It seemed the Supreme was closing the net.
Everything that should have been shown to the Southern Domain's immortals had already been shown.
What came next was not for ordinary immortals to see or know.
Now that the ancient, broken imperial tower had appeared, it meant a big fish had taken the bait. The coming situation no longer required the involvement of minor remnants—whoever showed up next would be even bigger prey.
And those kinds of "big fish" would be aware of the Southern Domain's movements even without the boundary stones.
Many old Immortal King Realm experts could still sense what was happening in the Heavenly Palace domain from afar through their own power—unless the Supreme himself cut them off.
But this Supreme did not. Many things could not be hidden from the highest level. As long as you fooled the middle and lower levels, that was enough. The ones at the top were all wise; they wouldn't talk nonsense or flip the world lightly.
"Ten thousand years ago, you broke through my peak, shattered my imperial realm, left me at half a step. All these years, sending Immortal Kings to spy, using me as bait—what's the point?"
Old Han's silver-black hair blew in the wind as he looked straight at the Supreme, eyes full of mockery.
"You really think no one knows what you've done? Now you shamelessly use a youth as a pawn to draw us out—so what if it's as you wish?"
Hearing this, everyone present fell deathly silent. Who had ever dared speak to the Supreme so brazenly?
But at this moment, the aura pouring from the old man was already above all the kings, beyond Immortal King Perfection. Even the Immortal Guard Commander was suppressed to the point he couldn't move at all. That was the pressure of half a step into the Emperor Realm!
Such a figure was willing to appear and stand against an Immortal Emperor. This was a fight to the death!
A single True Immortal youth could actually trigger such a chain of events. It was beyond anything anyone had expected—truly terrifying.
"Just you? Not enough."
The Supreme didn't answer—just repeated himself.
But as he finished, an overwhelming imperial might suddenly surged through the heavens and earth.
In an instant, everyone on the mountain felt their bodies tremble, as if their eyeballs might pop from the pressure. It was terror to the extreme.
Everyone below Immortal King Realm was forced to their knees, their guts shaking, almost ready to rupture!
The Immortal Lord Realm experts knelt and trembled. The True Immortal Realm cultivators were even worse—ashen-faced, like drowning men, shivering uncontrollably.
"Master…"
Jianxin and Mingyue's faces were ghostly pale. They had never felt such pressure from their master, as if he was truly furious.
But the Supreme's anger was expressed in utter calm. Only that overwhelming imperial intent, like a raging tide breaking through the sea of stars, threatened to drown everything!
Under that endless imperial might, all the contestants, whether True Immortal or Immortal Lord Realm, were terrified, shaking from head to toe. Even the Ghost Clan, Ancient God Clan, and other great clans—who had witnessed their own Immortal Emperors—could not stop trembling.
Old Han's face was grave, his gaze icy and sharp. He hadn't come here to die fighting the Supreme—he didn't have the right or the strength. But he was willing to risk it all, to carve out a path for that youth—a road toward the Emperor's future!
"Kid, don't waste the time you've been given. Stay true to your heart. Go!"
Old Han spoke softly. Only he knew, apart from showing off the Dao Source immortal seal, the youth had already passed another Emperor Realm trial—the Dao Heart.
That youth's Dao Heart wasn't just an Eternal Dao Heart. He had already touched the shadow of the Heavenly Dao Emperor Heart.
It's just that, except in special situations, a Dao Heart didn't actually boost battle strength.
With Old Han's words, the black tower erupted with world-shaking power. Black divine light shot up, turning the entire sky above the mountain into a night sky. Endless radiance poured down.
But the night lasted only a breath before a tyrannical force ripped it open—like splitting chaos and birthing the very first light.
The Supreme raised his hand and, for the first time with all eyes watching, struck.
It was just an imperial palm, but it was a true imperial palm—not the earlier Great Emperor Sorrowful Heaven Hand that Di Jiming had performed.
That secret technique was just created by watching the imperial palm. Its power was not even one ten-thousandth of a true imperial palm. And Di Jiming's cultivation couldn't bring out even one-millionth of its real might!
This imperial palm struck, the night shattered. For the first time, everyone truly felt what it meant to open heaven and split earth!
As the night broke, Old Han wrapped Li Hao and Ying Xiaoxiao in the black tower's divine light. An arcane imperial power burst out, trying to move them away.
But in the Supreme's eyes, he unleashed his imperial domain and shrouded the entire Heavenly Palace.
Old Han was prepared. His eyes sharpened, hair flying. The black tower spun layer after layer, like a sword being drawn. It pierced a hole through the imperial domain!
Rust fell away from the black tower, its dormant imperial weapon power erupting—even as a damaged weapon, its brilliance was boundless, trying to cut a way out.
Old Han's aura soared to its peak in an instant, and seemed to climb even higher—like he was breaking through some limit, even if just briefly.
For the first time, a trace of coldness appeared in the Supreme's eyes.
As the two forces were about to collide again, suddenly—a vast force appeared between heaven and earth. This force carried the air of the primeval, ancient, timeworn, and chaotic. It felt as if it had traveled from the primordial era, across countless ages—aged, solemn, yet incomparably grand.
This force stood between them, blocking both auras. A distant, cold voice echoed:
"Heavenly Emperor, I want that child."
This sudden change made both the Supreme and Old Han's faces shift.
Old Han quickly focused and saw who had arrived, stunned, eyes flickering with thought.
The Supreme's expression darkened as he stared at the silver-haired figure radiating imperial might. "Dao Source Immortal Emperor!"
Hearing those words, all the figures on the mountain, their hearts nearly crushed, looked up in terror. But that imperial might hung over them like a blazing sun, dazzling to the extreme. Even as they stared with all their strength, blood welled in their eyes, yet they still could not make out the figure's appearance. Even many Immortal Lord Perfection cultivators could only barely see a vague silhouette, towering in the void.
Emperors cannot be seen, and the Emperor Realm cannot be spied upon.
Even the kings present could only vaguely see a blurry figure, unable to see any features—only the sweep of silver hair.
But when the Supreme spoke that name softly, there was not a soul in the Southern Domain who didn't know it!
Dao Source Immortal Emperor!
One of the three great Emperors who reside and rule over the Primordial True Realm!
Primordial, Chaos, and Dao Source!
These three Emperors are the reason so many geniuses yearn for the Primordial True Realm, for they not only rule the realm but are famous for accepting disciples from everywhere.
To enter one of their sects means your future cultivation would skyrocket.
"It's actually the Dao Source Immortal Emperor…"
In the Ghost Clan, Gui Lingyue and her sister were both pale with fright, their ghostly aura trembling as they looked up—unable to see clearly.
Not far away, Shen Wuji of the Ancient God Clan also jerked his head up, staring straight at that sun-bright silhouette. Golden blood trickled from his eyes, but he still couldn't see.
Di Linchen, too, felt his heart quake. He stared at the figure, but could see nothing. No matter how extraordinary a genius, there were limits to cultivation and realm.
Among all these people looking up, only one figure, trembling all over, was bowing his head and walking toward the girl not far away.
Shrouded by the black tower's divine light, Li Hao was unaffected by the Emperor Realm's power. Nothing outside mattered to him now. As an ant, just watching could not change anything.
And in front of him, that slender figure was already fading away.
"You want to get involved?"
The Supreme gazed at the Emperor, his silver hair flying, his face that of a peerless young man.
"Your goal has already been achieved. That child is no longer useful to you. With the Ancient Demons invading, the True Realm is in crisis. Do you really want to destroy an Emperor Realm?"
The Dao Source Immortal Emperor looked him in the eye, and at the last words, his gaze grew sharp.
The Supreme fell silent, then finally said, "I will help him become Emperor, but that will be an Emperor of my Heavenly Palace."
Between Emperors, other words were meaningless. There was no point in hiding—everyone could see through his methods, much less another Emperor.
"Have you ever seen an Emperor enslaved? If he can be restricted by your Heavenly Palace, then he was never destined to become an Emperor."
The Dao Source Immortal Emperor replied coldly.
The Supreme didn't speak, but his eyes locked on his opponent.
Sometimes, words weren't needed. They understood each other well.
After a moment of silence, the Dao Source Immortal Emperor said, "I can have him promise that once he becomes Emperor, he will not be your enemy, and will accept one challenge of your choosing. If he loses, all old grievances are wiped clean. If he wins, you deal with the consequences yourself."
The Supreme remained silent.
He knew there was no way to force the Dao Source Immortal Emperor to make the boy swear never to take revenge on the Heavenly Palace. Even the Dao Source Immortal Emperor could not absolutely bind a future Emperor.
But a challenge of his choosing meant the initiative was his. If, with his own choice and his own territory, he still lost, then no restriction would ever work on that youth. That was already the greatest compromise possible.
"An imperial weapon. You can take the boy."
The Supreme said.
The Dao Source Immortal Emperor gave him a long look, then raised his hand. Imperial might radiated from his palm. It was a pitch-black arrow, as if forged from bronze, reeking of green rust and splattered with black blood.
That black blood carried a terrifying aura—twisted and fierce.
"Just this broken arrow."
The Dao Source Immortal Emperor casually sent it over, speaking coldly.
The Supreme's eyes narrowed. This arrow had once been legendary, but after the Ancient Demon war, it seemed to have been damaged. Now it looked like this.
He stared at the black blood on it. If he could remove it, perhaps he could restore the arrow's original might.
This arrow's name once struck terror into countless hearts.
The Emperor-Slaying Arrow!
"One is not enough."
The Supreme said.
The Dao Source Immortal Emperor's eyes flickered coldly. "Enough. If not for the years you've guarded the Southern Domain, I'd take the boy now—let's see who dares stop me?"
The Supreme's face darkened, but he said nothing.
Their conversation happened within the Emperor Realm. Nobody else could hear it.
After a brief silence, the Supreme's aura faded, signaling his concession.
Dao Source Immortal Emperor… bearing the name "Dao Source," it was clear how powerful he truly was!
Remember, each Immortal Emperor opens up a new era, a new imperial path.
Some open up the ultimate Heaven Meridian, some the ultimate Transformation into Immortal, some the final Eternal Dao Domain.
The Dao Source Immortal Emperor… was the one who opened the path of the Dao Source Immortal Seal!
Melding nine seals, merging all Dao into one—this Dao Source Immortal Seal was the treasure he left for the immortals and gods of the True Realm, paving the ultimate path for the human race!
As the Supreme withdrew his aura, Old Han finally relaxed, glancing at the Dao Source Immortal Emperor and giving a slight nod.
The Dao Source Immortal Emperor's expression was calm as he turned to the boy within the black tower's divine light.
At this moment, Li Hao had no sense of anything happening outside. The Emperor Realm's shroud cut him off; whether friend or foe, pawn or master, he had no choice.
All he could do now was stay with Ying Xiaoxiao until the end.
Companionship… just two simple words, yet the most precious, most difficult thing in the world.
'When you want to care for your parents, they're already gone; the living weep for the dead, yin and yang are forever separated. Only companionship endures.'
"You're too foolish."
Li Hao trembled as he stood by Ying Xiaoxiao's face, which was breaking apart, her body almost gone, only a bit of fading light remaining.
When she heard Li Hao's words, the despair in Ying Xiaoxiao's eyes softened.
But there was still sadness in her gaze.
As the Supreme's pressure faded outside and the Dao Source Immortal Emperor's aura appeared, Li Hao could not sense the Emperor Realm, but she could.
A smile of relief and contentment appeared on her face.
She finally understood why, in the future, she could always see this boy—shining bright.
So this was the turning point.
Not herself, not the Wenshin Emperor Tower, but the Dao Source Immortal Emperor's intervention.
That also meant this youth would finally go to the Primordial True Realm to cultivate—and soar!
She was happy for Li Hao, happy even as she faded.
"Don't be sad. I won't die…"
Ying Xiaoxiao's consciousness was gentle and faint, like a pale hand reaching out to touch Li Hao. "Remember what I told you? In the distant future, I'll always be watching you, always with you."
"Unless the river of time dries up, I will not die…"