Chapter 454: Ancestral Immortal Body

In the passageway, the majestic Emperor Sword Mountain floated before the eyes of all the disciples.

Outside this Emperor Sword Mountain stretched an endless verdant plain, dotted with rolling hills. At this moment, the disciples stood in twos and threes atop these hills, each with an extraordinary bearing, observing the towering Emperor Sword Mountain.

Li Hao, along with Yue Xi, Gu Yan, and the other two, entered one after another, landing on a certain hill.

"I'll go first."

Yue Xi spoke immediately after a brief gaze, then her eyes passed over Li Hao, glancing at Gu Yan who stood beside him.

Seeing that he didn't look back at her, Yue Xi's eyes flickered slightly, and without turning her head back, she flew off.

Li Hao looked around, admiring the surroundings. He saw many disciples pause briefly before eagerly rushing towards Emperor Sword Mountain.

While he was casually observing, he noticed his junior brother Gu Yan still standing quietly, not moving.

"Aren't you going?"

Li Hao asked, somewhat surprised.

"Competing together reduces the difficulty, and victory becomes uninteresting."

Gu Yan said indifferently.

Li Hao was taken aback, then chuckled softly. Tsk, the arrogance of a top-tier prodigy.

But, does your mom know that speaking like that will easily get you beat up out there?

"Then I'll go first."

Li Hao said, and then followed the crowd of disciples, heading towards the majestic Emperor Sword Mountain.

Seeing Li Hao's figure flying away, Gu Yan's expression remained calm and serene, only quietly gazing at the summit of Emperor Sword Mountain. He vaguely felt a gaze from there, also fixed upon him.

…

Soon, Li Hao arrived at the first level of Emperor Sword Mountain.

The outside was enveloped by an immortal force barrier. Looking in from the outside, only blurry mountain and water outlines could be seen.

Li Hao passed through the barrier, and immediately a feeling of enlightenment arose in his heart. A voice seemed to tell him that the way to clear the first level was to go to the central area, where a portal to the second level was located.

Before him was a vast and boundless world. He was suspended in the air above a forest. Around him, he could only sense two intense battle auras.

Li Hao was surprised. From the outside, Emperor Sword Mountain looked like a city in size, but inside it was a whole different world.

"The power of space origin…."

Li Hao scanned his surroundings, immediately recognizing the extraordinary nature of Emperor Sword Mountain.

Through a subtle sense, he could roughly discern the direction of the central area, guided by some kind of power.

However, Li Hao was not in a hurry to find the central area. Instead, he headed towards one of the battle locations. He hadn't yet seen a Spirit Race member.

Soon, Li Hao arrived at the battle location and saw a woman in red sleeves fighting against four figures.

This is the Spirit Race? Li Hao observed in surprise. The Spirit Race of the True World looked no different from humans in appearance, except for their silver hair and transparent pupils, as if they had stepped out of an icy world. Their aura was also more elusive and subtle, and their use of immortal force seemed extremely light and refined.

At this moment, the woman in red sleeves was fighting desperately, continuously using "Immortal Guiding the Way," but her swordsmanship had not yet reached perfection. This sword could not guide her to a path of survival.

Li Hao's arrival was not concealed. The woman in red sleeves quickly noticed Li Hao's figure. When she clearly saw Li Hao's Heaven Courtyard disciple uniform, joy appeared in her eyes, and she hurriedly called out, "Senior brother, save me!"

The four Spirit Race members also noticed Li Hao. One of the youths suddenly broke away from the encirclement and flew towards Li Hao, intending to first restrain Li Hao.

Li Hao watched their battle for a while and roughly understood the situation. The Spirit Race's fighting style was more light and agile than humans, but they seemed extremely cautious of their lives, disliking brute force. Otherwise, the woman in red sleeves was only at the True Immortal Realm third level, and they could have defeated her long ago by joining forces.

"Want to save someone? Pass me firs—"

The Spirit Race youth teleported over and coldly said to Li Hao, while flicking out a light blade, azure blue like a butterfly.

However, before he could finish the word "first," Li Hao flicked his finger. A sword Qi suddenly shot out, shattering the butterfly blade and instantly piercing his shoulder, knocking him back.

Then, Li Hao took a step forward, arriving beside the woman in red sleeves. He raised his hand and waved, space vibrated, forcing all three other Spirit Race members back.

Seeing the power Li Hao casually displayed, the four Spirit Race members were all shocked. They exchanged glances and realized that the disciple before them was not someone they could contend with.

Moreover, they recognized the Heaven Courtyard disciple uniform, surely a monstrous talent under some elder.

They didn't linger and quickly turned to flee.

Their mission here was to intercept disciples who didn't meet the requirements. Someone like Li Hao, who was obviously not someone the first level could hold back, prompted them to retreat without hesitation.

With the four Spirit Race members retreating, the woman in red sleeves finally had a chance to catch her breath. She also saw Li Hao wave his hand and repel the four Spirit Race members, without even unleashing excessively strong immortal force, but using some other method.

"Thank you for your help, senior brother. My name is Hu Hongyao. May I ask for your name, senior brother? I will definitely thank you properly in the future!"

The woman in red sleeves wiped the sweat from her temples, came to Li Hao's side, and said with post-disaster joy.

Li Hao looked at her smiling face, which had a hint of innocence and naivety, and couldn't help but smile. He said, "Just call me Hao Tian. It was just a small matter. You're an Earth Courtyard disciple, right? This trial is a bit too difficult for you. You should withdraw."

Hu Hongyao didn't feel offended by Li Hao's words. Instead, she nodded, saying, "Yes, I actually just came to train, using the space here. If I can observe other senior brothers fighting, it might also greatly improve me. After all, we are all of the same lineage…"

She revealed her little thoughts, a blush appearing on her cheeks.

Li Hao was taken aback, then chuckled. It was rare to meet such a straightforward woman. He said, "Then be careful."

Hu Hongyao nodded her head repeatedly like a chick pecking at rice, then blinked her eyes, which were like starry gemstones, at Li Hao. "Senior Brother Hao Tian, my hometown is Muxin Prefecture. We have delicious mud-man fruit there. Every year in August and September, the purple-union hundred-net flower blooms. I'll bring some for you then."

Li Hao laughed, saying, "For saving your life, why not give me immortal pills instead?"

Hu Hongyao was stunned, her cheeks immediately turning red. She quickly said, "I thought senior brother, you are a Heaven Courtyard disciple, you wouldn't lack any cultivation resources. If you want them, I have ten Bodhi Immortal Pills and some immortal stones… let me count them first."

As she spoke, she was about to open her spatial storage to give them to Li Hao.

Li Hao sensed the spatial fluctuations and seeing she was serious, waved his hand to stop her, saying, "Just kidding. If I like to eat something, just bring me some good food."

"So, Senior Brother Hao Tian is also a glutton?"

Hu Hongyao's eyes lit up, as if she had found a kindred spirit, and she eagerly said, "Then I'll look for some for you later. I also know a few small restaurants that are particularly good."

Li Hao laughed, saying, "Alright, you should go first, while there are still many people here."

Hu Hongyao then remembered the main purpose and slapped her forehead, immediately nodding. She bowed to Li Hao repeatedly to express her gratitude before waving goodbye.

After she left, Li Hao also slowly flew towards a certain direction.

After flying for thousands of miles, Li Hao suddenly sensed three Spirit Race auras in a cliff valley.

He released his perception to investigate, and saw a flattened area in the cliff valley. Three Spirit Race figures were sitting there, playing a game of chess. An old man and a middle-aged Spirit Race member were playing against each other, with a young Spirit Race girl serving beside them.

Li Hao was somewhat surprised. The Spirit Race even plays chess?

Li Hao approached.

In the cliff valley, the two Spirit Race members playing chess seemed to sense something. The old man among them glanced towards the void and sighed, "We don't go looking for trouble with those little guys, yet little guys come running here."

The middle-aged Spirit Race member opposite him placed a piece, asking, "Master, we are ordered to guard against these disciples. Now that they're here and we ignore them, is it really alright?"

"Haven't you seen that it's already chaotic outside? The real test is above. Our place here is just a formality."

The old Spirit Race member said calmly, then said to the girl beside him, "You go and drive that kid away, don't disturb our chess game."

The Spirit Race girl beside him nodded slightly, and then disappeared from the spot.

Li Hao's current Space Origin Dao was at the fourth level. Void Return teleportation was as slow as walking in his eyes. He could even, with just a thought, change the opponent's Void Return teleportation path, making them teleport to a place that would confuse them, or redirect the path to where he was attacking, catching them off guard.

But Li Hao was not interested in this little girl at the moment. His gaze was fixed on the chessboard.

With just a fleeting glance, his eyes could no longer look away.

The chessboard was like a vast net, capturing his mind and spirit completely. The exquisite layout, the intense game, made Li Hao's breathing become slightly rapid.

"Stop! This is not a place for you to be. Don't seek your own death."

At this moment, the Spirit Race girl teleported in front of Li Hao. Seeing that Li Hao was still flying forward, seemingly not seeing her, she frowned. At the same time, a surging immortal force emanated from her body. She was at the True Immortal Realm fifth level.

However, besides this immortal force, her pupils turned watery blue, and the void around her seemed to flow like water waves.

Whoosh!

She suddenly attacked, lightly pointing her finger. The void twisted like a whirlpool, and then immortal force shot towards Li Hao along an extremely profound trajectory.

Li Hao seemed oblivious, continuing to fly straight ahead.

Seeing that Li Hao didn't even dodge, the Spirit Race girl's expression changed, a hint of anger rising in her eyes. She had only intended to teach him a lesson, making him back down, but this person was somewhat courting death!

She simply didn't bother to withdraw her strength and let the attack land.

Bang!

The whirlpool-like sharp attack landed on Li Hao's chest. His Ancestral Immortal Body was automatically triggered, and immortal force surged out from his body, directly shattering the whirlpool power.

This level of attack could not harm the Ancestral Immortal Body, like a slight tickle.

However, Li Hao was jolted back to his senses. He glanced at the Spirit Race girl, whose eyes were filled with shock, and cupped his hands, saying, "Girl, I didn't mean to offend you. I only wish to watch a game of chess."

This time, it was the Spirit Race girl's turn to be unable to hear what Li Hao was saying, only staring in shock at this human.

She and her master were imprisoned in this domain of the Abyss Lord, their cultivation realms suppressed to True Immortal Realm fifth level. But her original cultivation was not at True Immortal Realm fifth level. Just now, her attack, even a True Immortal Realm seventh level might be injured, but the human before her actually blocked it with just his immortal body?

And, he was unscathed!

At this time, the two playing chess also noticed the commotion here. Hearing Li Hao's words, a hint of surprise appeared in the old Spirit Race member's eyes, then a smile of interest emerged. "Young man, you understand chess too?"

Li Hao followed the voice and immediately bypassed the Spirit Race girl. The Dao rhythm of Space Origin, combined with Void Return teleportation, allowed him to appear in front of the cliff valley at a speed several times faster than Void Return teleportation, and his movements were untraceable!

"A little bit. Sorry for disturbing you two. Please continue."

Li Hao cupped his hands and bowed, his attitude extremely humble.

The two exchanged glances, both somewhat surprised that Ah Ling had failed to stop this human kid.

Moreover, they also recognized the disciple uniform Li Hao wore – a Heaven Courtyard disciple, the most elite of Sword Abyss.

A monster talent?

Smiles appeared on both their faces. How interesting, such an interesting person among the human geniuses.

"Alright, then you can watch."

The old Spirit Race member didn't say much more and continued playing chess with his disciple.

Li Hao then focused his attention, staring intently. When the old Spirit Race member paused after placing a piece, he asked, "May I be so bold as to ask, senior, where did you place your first piece?"

"Oh?"

The old Spirit Race member glanced at him, then pointed at a spot on the chessboard.

"And you, senior?"

Li Hao looked at the middle-aged Spirit Race member.

The other party immediately understood Li Hao's intention and couldn't help but laugh. He also pointed out the location of his piece.

Li Hao stared at it, and countless complex chess paths immediately appeared in his mind, using this as a base to deduce.

Both of them could see that Li Hao wanted to replay their chess game by analyzing the initial piece placements, but this required extremely profound chess skills.

They didn't pay much attention to Li Hao, nor were they worried about Li Hao suddenly attacking. After all, even if he was a Sword Dao monster talent at True Immortal Realm ninth level, they could still subdue him.

They were the ones who decided how many people could pass the first level.

Except for those few who climbed up earlier, they were all monster talents at the Immortal Lord Realm, and they were truly helpless against them…

As the two continued to play, Li Hao watched from the side. The Spirit Race girl, Ah Ling, who had tried to stop Li Hao, had now returned. Seeing Li Hao's focused look on the chess game, completely disregarding her, she couldn't help but glare at him hatefully, then said to the old Spirit Race member, "Master, I am incompetent, not his match."

"Hmm, it's alright."

The old Spirit Race member responded absentmindedly, his attention entirely on the chessboard.

Ah Ling looked at the human youth. Seeing that he showed no vigilance at all, this bizarre scene in the cliff valley made her feel somewhat absurd.

Other disciples were all rushing to the central area, and when they encountered them, the Spirit Race, they would either avoid them to conserve strength or quickly defeat them. But this person ran to the most dangerous place, sticking his neck out to watch her master play chess here…

Three Spirit Race members, one human… put together, it all seemed ridiculous.

A long time passed.

A gentle breeze brushed against the cliff rocks. This intense game of chess finally came to an end.

When the last piece was placed, a hint of admiration appeared in Li Hao's eyes.

He had thought that Old Wang's chess skills were already the best he had ever seen, but he didn't expect to encounter two more here, existences comparable to Old Wang.

Moreover, their strengths were equal, fighting each other with all their might. This contest made him feel a sense of exhilaration.

"Good game!"

Li Hao couldn't help but exclaim in admiration.

The old Spirit Race member had won the game, a victorious smile on his face, along with some lingering satisfaction. Hearing Li Hao's praise, he couldn't help but glance at him and smiled, "You understand it?"

When he said "understand," he wasn't referring to winning or losing, but to being able to comprehend the brilliance of every piece placement.

Li Hao smiled and said, "Barely."

"Oh?"

The old Spirit Race member was amused. He picked up six black pieces and five white pieces from the chessboard, pointed to a spot, and asked Li Hao, "If I had placed this piece here, do you think I would still have a chance to win?"

Li Hao stared intently. Countless chess paths instantly gathered in his mind. He pondered and said, "There's only a sliver of hope. If you place the piece here, you'd have to cross the 'Dragon's Bite' here, snatching a piece from its throat to break free!"

"But if he notices in advance and closes the 'Dragon's Bite,' then there's no hope. Therefore, you need to make two feints here and here to provide cover."

Hearing Li Hao's words, both the old Spirit Race member and the middle-aged man opposite him were filled with astonishment.

This kid really understood chess, and his chess skill wasn't low.

"Interesting, interesting…"

The old Spirit Race member couldn't help but laugh, then waved his hand at the disciple before him, "Get up. I'll play a game with this little brother."

The middle-aged man was stunned, a hint of surprise on his face. "Master, but he's a human…"

"So what if he's human? Ten thousand years ago, the Spirit Race and humans were allied races."

The old Spirit Race member said, then seemed to think of something and shook his head with a sigh, "In the face of chess, there is no distinction of race. Little brother, come."

He gestured for his disciple to get up, letting Li Hao sit down.

Seeing this, Li Hao naturally wouldn't be polite. His hands had already been itching to play while watching the game just now.

The chess skills of these two were both at the twelfth level, the same level as Old Wang. If he could defeat them, or compete with them, he might be able to touch the twelfth level chess Dao mind realm.

"Ah Ling, how did you lose just now?"

The middle-aged man reluctantly got up, walked aside, and asked Ah Ling who was standing beside him.

"His immortal body is terrifying."

Ah Ling glanced at Li Hao and whispered, "My current attacks can hardly injure him."

The middle-aged man was stunned. He was also suppressed at True Immortal Realm fifth level. Although his Dao realm comprehension was higher than Ah Ling's, if she couldn't even break Li Hao's defenses, then if he attacked, he might not be able to completely suppress him either.

"But he's only at True Immortal Realm third level…"

The middle-aged man glanced at Li Hao. Earlier, Li Hao's Ancestral Immortal Body was triggered, and immortal force leaked out, and the Myriad Manifestations attribute couldn't conceal it.

Ah Ling remained silent, not speaking.

At this moment, on the chessboard, Li Hao devoted himself wholeheartedly, fighting and playing chess against the old Spirit Race member.

Meanwhile, tens of thousands of miles away from the cliff valley, many Sword Abyss disciples were fighting against the Spirit Race, vying to enter the central area.

On the second level, there were 50 True Immortal Realm sixth level demon races.

These demon races were bloodthirsty and brutal, quickly putting pressure on many Sword Abyss disciples who had managed to reach this place. Many were forced to retreat.

And in higher places, some figures were still climbing.

At the same time, on the summit of Emperor Sword Mountain, several figures appeared.

As soon as they arrived, they saw that the summit of Emperor Sword Mountain was very simple, with only a thatched hut.

Outside the hut, there was a pile of stones with a sword stuck upside down in it.

Outside the hut was a tea table, and a figure in snow-white robes sat there quietly, sipping tea.

His hair was a mix of black and white, seemingly having experienced vicissitudes, yet still retaining vigorous power.

Seeing that figure, Ji Qingxuan, who was in the lead, quickly bowed and said, "Disciple greets Abyss Lord."

The middle-aged man before them was the Abyss Lord of Sword Abyss, Yun Wumian.

The other three beside Ji Qingxuan also quickly bowed and saluted.

"Good, come over and have tea."

Abyss Lord Yun Wumian's expression was as淡然 (dàn rán - calm, indifferent) as缥缈 (piāomiǎo - misty, ethereal) mist. His textured and magnetic voice invited the four to sit down and drink tea.

All of them were slightly flattered and sat down in front of the Abyss Lord in order, drinking tea.

"Elder Li told me that you斩 (zhǎn - beheaded, slayed) seven Ancient Demon Chieftains on the frontier. Not bad."

Yun Wumian looked at Ji Qingxuan and commented.

To be deemed "not bad" by the Abyss Lord, Ji Qingxuan put down his teacup, slightly stood up, and cupped his hands. "Abyss Lord is too kind. The sword is yet to be sharpened. This time, by comprehending the Emperor Sword, I hope to refine it further."

Yun Wumian slightly nodded, then lowered his gaze, focusing on the clouds and mist outside Emperor Sword Mountain, seemingly also overlooking the countless figures climbing below Emperor Sword Mountain.

The entire Emperor Sword Mountain was within his Immortal Kingdom domain. With a thought, he knew everything happening inside.

When he saw the few figures fighting their way up to the fifth and sixth levels, his eyes, like clouds and mist, revealed a hint of gentle satisfaction within their calmness.

As time passed, more and more disciples retreated from Emperor Sword Mountain, all being teleported out of Emperor Sword Mountain, landing on the plains and hills outside. Some were healing their wounds, while others were meditating and cultivating there.

On the hill, Gu Yan, dressed in black sword robes, saw that fewer and fewer disciples were coming out of the first level of Emperor Sword Mountain. He knew that it had gradually returned to calm.

At this moment, he also lifted his foot and flew towards Emperor Sword Mountain.

And Yun Wumian at the summit also noticed the proud little fellow finally taking action.

A slight arc appeared at the corner of his lips. A born Sword Immortal Body. It was truly not easy for Elder Li to bring back such a treasure.

As his attention followed the young man, arriving at the first level of Emperor Sword Mountain, the entire situation of the first level appeared in his mind.

There were not many disciples left here. Many Spirit Race members were gathered in the central area, which meant the challenge difficulty would increase.

At the same time, a secluded place far from the central area appeared in his mind. Several figures were gathered in front of that cliff valley.

"Hmm?"

Yun Wumian saw the scene there, and a hint of surprise appeared in his eyes.

(End of Chapter)