Chapter 479: The Youngest Spirit Officer

The young girl was slightly dazed, standing blankly in place.

The sharp and clear sword intent brushed past her, making her feel a little disoriented. She was very familiar with that sword intent; it was the 'Azure Sky' she had just been practicing!

However, compared to the Azure Sky she practiced, the sword intent just now was even purer, as if it could shatter everything, disperse clouds and mist, dissipate smoke and dust, and even split open the bright and clear heavens and the blue sun!

"You..."

The young girl snapped out of her daze and stared blankly at the young man before her. The immortal technique she practiced was something her grandfather had sternly instructed her never to impart to outsiders. Moreover, it was one of the lost True Immortal Ten Great Immortal Techniques, possessing immense power in the True Immortal Realm and extremely difficult for True Immortals to cultivate and master.

Yet, this unfamiliar young man had casually unleashed it, and the even more perfect sword intent clearly indicated a higher level of mastery than her own.

Checking his cultivation… she scanned Li Hao up and down and realized that this young man was actually only at the Third Level of the True Immortal Realm, while she was at the Seventh Level of the True Immortal Realm!

"Who are you?"

The young girl narrowed her eyes slightly, looking at the tall young man whose nose was above her head height. He stood tall and straight, full of youthful vigor, with a shallow smile between his bright eyes and deep brows, like a spring breeze caressing her face. He was not angered by her stern reprimand, like a gentle, refreshing breeze.

Her lips pursed slightly, and the anger in her eyes also dissipated a lot, replaced by more curiosity in her heart.

"Who are you?"

Li Hao smiled and asked in return.

The delicate face of the young girl regained its composure, and she said, "This courtyard is mine. Why are you asking me who I am?"

"Yours?"

Li Hao was a little surprised and stopped speaking in riddles with her. "The Celestial Master summoned me to come here. What is your relationship to the Celestial Master?"

The young girl's eyes flickered, and she somewhat guessed the reason. She glanced at Li Hao's fingers which had just crushed her sword qi. A mere Third Level True Immortal Realm cultivator could easily crush her sword qi. She asked, "How many reincarnations have you undergone? Judging by your low cultivation level, your strength is not weak. Where did you learn the Azure Sky Immortal Technique?"

Li Hao shook his head and said, "You still haven't told me what your relationship to the Celestial Master is."

"The Celestial Master you speak of is my grandfather."

The young girl's expression was calm. "As for you, I don't remember my grandfather having disciples like you."

Li Hao suddenly understood and shook his head. "I don't know why your grandfather summoned me either. Let's wait until your grandfather arrives."

The young girl frowned, glanced at Li Hao, and didn't say anything more. She wanted to turn around and practice her sword, but as soon as she took a step, she recalled the sword qi that the young man had casually unleashed. A sense of discouragement suddenly rose in her heart. She had practiced so hard, yet she was no match for his casual gesture.

"Hey."

"?"

"How long did it take you to reach this level of mastery?"

The young girl asked. Although her tone was casual, there was a hint of unwillingness to admit defeat in her heart.

"A few days, maybe."

Li Hao replied casually, his gaze looking around, wanting to walk around the courtyard.

The young girl was stunned, and then her face darkened. "I'm not joking with you."

"Neither am I."

Li Hao waved his hand, no longer wanting to get entangled with this young girl, and turned to leave.

"Wait a minute."

The young girl's figure flickered, teleporting in front of Li Hao. A hint of anger surfaced on her delicate face. "I just asked, I wasn't probing for anything sensitive, do you have to be so petty?"

Li Hao was speechless. Just as he was about to speak, a faint wave of oppressive aura appeared. He looked up and saw the old man he had seen in the border battlefield, slowly descending from the high sky within the courtyard.

The young girl also saw the old man and stopped talking to Li Hao. She turned around and happily greeted him, "Grandpa, you're back! Are you injured?"

"That Di Qiu was only at the Second Level of the King Realm, he couldn't hurt your grandpa."

The old man's face showed a doting smile, his wrinkles piling up together. He gently stroked his granddaughter's hair, then his gaze fell on the young man beside the arched bridge.

Seeing the young man's tall and straight figure, and his spirited demeanor, a touch of gentleness appeared in his eyes, as if the vicissitudes of life flashed through the corners of his eyes in an instant. His smile slightly faded, and his voice was neutral, neither happy nor angry. "What is your name?"

"Chong Er."

Li Hao cupped his hands slightly.

"Chong Er? What an awful name."

The young girl turned her head to look at Li Hao, pouting slightly. Just now, standing in front of Li Hao, she possessed a somewhat graceful and aloof temperament, like an untouchable fairy. But at this moment, standing beside her grandfather, she seemed a few years younger, her expression full of liveliness and arrogance, and her words were more casual.

Hearing this, Li Hao couldn't help but roll his eyes at her – impolite.

Seeing that Li Hao dared to roll his eyes at her in front of her grandfather, the young girl was also a little surprised and immediately angered. Thinking of Li Hao's attitude just now, she turned to the old man and said in a spoiled manner, "Grandpa, why did you call him here? Are you going to take him as a disciple?"

When the old man heard the words "take a disciple," his eyelids twitched slightly. He said to Li Hao, "Are you willing to become my disciple?"

"Grandpa, are you really going to take him as a disciple?"

The young girl widened her eyes slightly, her face revealing unwillingness. Her brow furrowed. Other disciples, when they saw her, were all polite and respectful, holding her in the palm of their hands and showering her with precious and rare gifts that she was too lazy to even glance at, all to please her.

But this young man before her seemed even more arrogant than her, causing a slight sense of resistance in her heart.

The old man ignored his granddaughter and just calmly looked at Li Hao.

Li Hao was slightly stunned for a moment, then shook his head. "I'm sorry, I already have a teacher."

Although the Celestial Master before him had an extraordinary status, he had an Immortal Emperor as his teacher. Joining the Great Dream Nine Abyss was only to familiarize himself with the True World. There was no need to take another master.

"Hmm?"

Hearing Li Hao's answer, the young girl couldn't help but be stunned.

Her grandfather was the Demon Subduing Celestial Master of the Demon Subduing Office. Countless geniuses wanted to become his disciples. These geniuses were one in ten thousand, and among them were even top geniuses carefully cultivated by Earth Sects, all trying their best to make connections and become disciples under her grandfather's tutelage, just to enter the Demon Subduing Office through her grandfather's connections.

And now, someone actually refused?

The old man's eyes flickered slightly, but he wasn't too surprised. Instead, the corners of his mouth slightly curved into a smile. He landed on the ground and said, "This old man is Gu Changming, a Three-Star Celestial Master of the Demon Subduing Office. Are you willing to join the Demon Subduing Office?"

Demon Subduing Office… Li Hao's eyes flickered. The old man's words naturally meant that it was not only about inviting him to join, but also providing him with support and cultivating him within the Demon Subduing Office.

"If I join the Demon Subduing Office… is it busy?"

Li Hao asked hesitantly.

Gu Changming was taken aback. He obviously didn't expect Li Hao to react like this. Over the years, when he invited some promising juniors to join the Demon Subduing Office, apart from those who excitedly agreed, there were also a few who politely declined. But this was the first time he had encountered someone asking if it was busy.

He couldn't help but laugh and said, "That depends on you. If you want a leisurely position, it's not impossible."

"There are leisurely positions?"

Li Hao thought for a moment and said, "Then there's no problem."

"You…"

The young girl beside him was furious. Her grandfather rarely extended an invitation, and he was still bargaining here as if he was asking for more. It was too much.

"Xingwan, go practice your sword first. I have something to discuss with this little brother in private."

Gu Changming saw his indignant granddaughter and chuckled, waving his hand to let her leave.

"Grandpa, do you really think so highly of him?"

Gu Xingwan was a little surprised. She rarely saw her grandfather with such a gentle attitude.

Gu Changming smiled without responding.

Gu Xingwan took a deep look at Li Hao, then turned and obediently left.

After Gu Xingwan had walked far away, Gu Changming put his hands behind his back and walked to Li Hao's front. He gently sized up Li Hao, a hint of sighing and emotion in his eyes. "Come with me."

Then he led Li Hao into the Water Moon Hall.

Within this majestic and towering palace, rich immortal energy circulated. He led Li Hao to the depths of the palace, raised his hand and lightly tapped in the void. Silver-grey ripples fluctuated, as if some kind of enchantment secret force was opened.

The fluctuating silver-grey ripples were consistent with the patterns on the tracks of the war chariot Li Hao had ridden on the Starry Sky Ancient Road.

The space in front of them shimmered like water waves, revealing a hidden hall.

The light in this hidden hall was extremely dim. Even with Li Hao's divine sense, he could only barely make out the surroundings. Some extremely powerful force restricted his divine sense from spreading out.

In the area that Li Hao could see, there was a totem pole. The base of the pole was coiled with dragons and phoenixes, and the carvings on the pole were all immortals and gods stepping on dragons and phoenixes, with magnificent momentum. But their postures were like madmen, blood weeping between their eyebrows, as if a third eye had been gouged out.

Gu Changming stopped after only two steps, and Li Hao, following behind him, was also forced to stop.

"Earlier, in the Main General's Hall, we reviewed the battle and tallied the immortal merits of all generals. After deliberation, in this battle, in addition to killing ancient demons, you made great contributions at the last moment, earning 1.92 million immortal merits!"

Gu Changming said with his back to Li Hao, his voice neutral.

Li Hao was stunned. He couldn't help but feel a bit surprised and delighted in his heart, but soon, he felt a chill and trepidation, and asked, "This immortal merit, I wonder how it is calculated, and how could I, a junior, deserve such merit?"

Gu Changming turned around, his face even more profound in the dim hall. "The ancient demon woman beside you, how did you encounter her, did you know in advance that she was an ancient demon?"

As he spoke, his gaze was like two cold stars in the dark night, staring at Li Hao.

Li Hao's face changed slightly, feeling immense pressure. The other party's words undoubtedly told him that they could see everything that happened on the battlefield.

"I knew."

After a brief silence, Li Hao replied, "But she didn't know that I knew her identity, so I used her to assist the Peacock Army."

His words avoided how he knew Mi Xueyao, and the months they spent together, and only spoke the truth, thus being extremely candid.

This was also a technique he learned from the Lie Tian Saint. The most brilliant lie is to avoid certain truths and only tell parts of the truth, but it is possible to create a lie due to information gaps, which is impossible to expose.

Gu Changming stared at Li Hao for a moment, then nodded slightly. "I believe your words, but others may not believe them. They regard you as a suspect who is a spy for the ancient demons and want to put you under investigation."

Investigation? Li Hao frowned, but didn't react too much. Instead, he stared at the old man before him. The other party telling him this naturally had another reason.

Seeing Li Hao's calm expression, Gu Changming revealed a hint of appreciation in his eyes. Then he sighed softly, "But you don't need to worry. I told them that you are a member of my Demon Subduing Office. I have already ordered someone to send your files to the Demon Subduing Office. Your identity as Chong Er has been serving as a Demon Subduing Guard in the Demon Subduing Office for three years!"

Li Hao was slightly stunned. The information revealed in these words was too significant. He fixed his eyes on the old man, wondering why the other party would help him.

"Azure Sky Sword Technique, Ancestral Immortal Body…"

Gu Changming looked at Li Hao, a smile appearing on the corner of his mouth. "Originally, I didn't have full confidence. Perhaps it was some coincidence. But after seeing you just now, I can be sure. You are a descendant of Immortal Emperor Tianyang, or perhaps a direct disciple of Immortal Emperor?"

Li Hao's face changed slightly. This was the first time his identity had been recognized.

However, seeing that the other party did not show any killing intent, his suddenly tense body relaxed slightly.

Seeing Li Hao remain silent, the appreciation in Gu Changming's eyes did not diminish. "Don't worry, my clan once received the grace of the Immortal Emperor. I will keep your identity a secret. Bringing you here is for this purpose. Apart from me, even Xingwan, that girl, will not know. Although she is trustworthy, she is still too young…"

As he spoke, his expression was already very sincere.

Li Hao knew that explanations were useless at this moment. If the other party had killing intent, and had suspicions, they would rather kill by mistake than let him go. And now they could still talk at such close range, which was enough to show that the other party was not an enemy.

"Why does senior think so?" Li Hao asked.

Gu Changming laughed and said, "Third Level True Immortal Realm, capable of withstanding attacks from the Immortal Lord Realm. Such a monstrous talent, coupled with the Ancestral Immortal Body, the lost Azure Sky Immortal Technique… and seeing you, your soul age is only less than a hundred years old. Do you think it's still difficult to guess?"

"..."

Listening to him say this, even Li Hao himself felt it made a lot of sense.

"Thank you, senior, for helping me conceal my identity." Li Hao cupped his hands to express his thanks.

Gu Changming saw that Li Hao had dispelled his doubts and also laughed. He didn't think Li Hao was naive. Instead, the message he had released was clear. If Li Hao still harbored hostility towards him, he would be a clueless fool.

"So, are you a descendant of the Immortal Emperor, or…?"

Gu Changming asked curiously.

"Disciple."

Li Hao said, "But not yet a direct disciple."

"Not yet a direct disciple?"

Gu Changming was stunned. A hint of shock appeared in his eyes. Such a monstrous talent, and yet he hasn't been accepted as a direct disciple by the Immortal Emperor?

As expected of the Immortal Emperor…

"After that great battle ended, did Immortal Emperor really… fall into silence?"

Gu Changming said in a low voice.

Li Hao nodded slightly.

Gu Changming slightly clenched his fingers and fell into silence. After a long while, he took a deep breath and said, "Have you heard of the Tianmu Clan?"

"No."

Li Hao shook his head.

Gu Changming's mouth revealed a bitter smile and said, "Indeed, ten thousand years is too long. Three thousand years after that battle, the Tianmu Clan was squeezed out of the Hundred Clans Mountain. It's normal that you haven't heard of it. Perhaps the Immortal Emperor's legacy didn't mention it either. After all, my clan was just a small clan that he casually rescued back then. Why would he keep it in mind…"

Li Hao's eyes moved slightly. The Celestial Master before him, his ancestors once received the grace of Immortal Emperor Tianyang?

Gu Changming turned around and continued walking towards the front of the hidden hall, bringing Li Hao to the totem, pointing at the totem, and recounting a buried past.

The Tianmu Clan was once unremarkable among the myriad clans of the True World, but they received the assistance of Immortal Emperor Tianyang and were fortunate enough to leave their mark on the Hundred Clans Mountain, becoming one of the Hundred Clans.

After becoming one of the Hundred Clans, the entire Tianmu Clan also underwent great changes. The strength of the clansmen rapidly increased, and they grew and developed quickly.

But good times didn't last long. The ancient demon calamity descended, Immortal Emperor Tianyang fell, and tens of thousands of years later, the Tianmu Clan was also driven out of the Hundred Clans Mountain. Coupled with the True World environment after the calamity, myriad clans killed and competed against each other. To avoid disputes, the Tianmu Clan became increasingly low-key and began to conceal their identity.

With Gu Changming's current power and status, he was naturally not afraid of being known as a member of the Tianmu Clan, but he was also unwilling to publicize it to avoid unnecessary trouble.

"Since you are a disciple of the Immortal Emperor, and you have made great contributions this time, I will strive for you to become the youngest Spirit Officer of the Yan Chu Immortal Dynasty!"

After revealing his identity, Gu Changming said gently to Li Hao.

"Spirit Officer?"

Li Hao was stunned. In the Demon Subduing Office, Spirit Officer was generally a position that only Immortal Lord Realm cultivators could hold, possessing considerable power, which many noble families and sects would try to curry favor with.

"That's right. If you have any needs, just tell me. Within the Yan Chu Immortal Dynasty, I will try my best to protect you. Since you are a disciple of the Immortal Emperor, you are not meant to be ordinary. Sooner or later, you will become famous in the True World. This Yan Chu Immortal Dynasty will not be your final destination."

Gu Changming said, seeing that Li Hao's future would be extremely bright.

Li Hao was slightly silent, knowing that the old man before him had given him great assistance, although it was on account of his unseen Immortal Emperor master.

"Thank you."

Li Hao cupped his hands. He knew that the other party's assistance, in addition to repaying the past favor of his master, perhaps also had the intention of cultivation and making connections.

And what he had to do was to try his best to repay the other party in the future.

(End of chapter)