Chapter 486: Twelve Desolate Regions

"Benefits? What kind of benefits?"

Li Hao asked.

"I'm not sure yet. We'll have to wait until the Ancient Immortal Realm Selection concludes. His Majesty will come and bestow rewards upon you all. The top ten will definitely receive special commendations, especially the top three," Li Tiemu said.

Li Hao thought about it and realized it made sense.

"Then I'll give it a try."

Opportunity was right in front of him. Although Li Hao wasn't one to compete, refusing to take what he could get his hands on would be a bit too standoffish.

"Don't push yourself too hard. This isn't the Southern Region Tournament after all. It's best not to use any ultimate trump cards lightly," Li Tiemu cautioned, worried that Li Hao might resort to some extremely damaging powers for the sake of ranking.

"Mm."

Li Hao nodded, having no intention of going all out. He'd take it if he could, and wouldn't if he couldn't.

He waved his hand, greeted Gu Yan and the others, then flew straight towards the desolate region.

"In three years, he's advanced from the True Immortal Realm, third level, to the ninth level. His immortal power alone has increased tenfold, he should at least be in the top twenty, right?" Murong Qingwu murmured softly, watching Li Hao's retreating figure.

"Top twenty?"

Beside her, the old woman and Zhou Qingyun, along with the Sword Abyss disciples around them, were stunned and widened their eyes at Murong Qingwu's words.

Lin Mingrong had previously heard from the Dream Master that Li Hao was in the top hundred, but didn't know his exact rank. Hearing Murong Qingwu's words now, a hint of shock appeared on her usually indifferent face.

"Old Li, what's your disciple's current ranking?"

Zhou Qingyun couldn't help but ask.

Li Tiemu knew that the cat was out of the bag and there was no need to hide it anymore.

He had kept it secret earlier for fear of information leaking and attracting assassination attempts from other sects.

But now, the selection was about to end, and all sects would soon find out, so there was no point in concealing it.

"His identity number is nine-nine-six."

Li Tiemu said with a pursed mouth.

Hearing this, the Sword Abyss disciples quickly looked towards the Immortal Stele.

Lin Mingrong's gaze swiftly scanned the top hundred. Narrowing the scope, her divine sense immediately locked onto a position, and her pupils couldn't help but shrink.

"25th?!"

She opened her red lips slightly, somewhat losing her composure.

The others also reacted and stared intently, involuntarily taking deep breaths.

"25th? This, how is this possible!"

"I heard that the top thirty are all in the Immortal Lord Realm domain, then, that young man…"

"I remember this number, he was already 19th three years ago, he…"

Everyone was shocked, their eyes filled with unconcealed astonishment.

Hearing their stunned whispers, Gu Yan and the others fell silent. Their realms were similar to Li Hao's, but their rankings were worlds apart, especially considering the even greater gap three years ago. 19th versus over two thousandth was a devastating comparison.

The exclamations here drew attention from the elders of the other Abysses. Some sent voice transmissions to inquire.

Li Tiemu, beaming, didn't hide anything and announced Li Hao's achievement.

As the news spread, the other eight Abysses turned their gazes in unison, their faces filled with astonishment.

In the Spear Abyss, where disciples were most numerous, a black-clad youth with extraordinary bearing stood beside three elders. He stood there like a golden spear, his eyes arrogant and cold. Other disciples kept their distance from him, their gazes filled with awe.

"What?"

The Spear Abyss elder beside him suddenly changed countenance and couldn't help but exclaim.

"What's wrong?"

The other two elders turned their heads, their expressions shifting slightly.

The elder looked up, staring at the dark Immortal Stele for a long time before slowly saying, "Elder Li just said that they have a Sword Abyss disciple whose identity number is nine-nine-six, ranked… 25th."

"Huh?"

"How is that possible!"

The two Spear Abyss elders were both stunned, and hurriedly looked towards the Immortal Stele. When they saw the number 25, they were dumbfounded.

Such a thing couldn't be faked, especially since the selection was about to end and identities would be revealed. Boasting at this point would bring ridicule for millennia.

"25th?"

Beside them, the youth who had been staring blankly at the desolate region, Su Yechen, suddenly focused his cold eyes. His heart seemed to tremble, and he fixed his gaze on the Immortal Stele.

Three years ago, he had barely squeezed into the top thousand. If not for the Dream Master's guidance in the Langya Painting Realm during these three years and a breakthrough to the Immortal Lord Realm due to a sudden inspiration, he would probably struggle to even break into the top hundred now.

"That number…"

Su Yechen stared at the ranking, his expression subtly changing. If he remembered correctly, that number seemed to be 19th three years ago!

After the initial challenge three years prior, he had a strong impression of the non-royal family numbers within the top hundred.

He had thought it was some top talent from another heavenly sect, but unexpectedly it was a prodigy from their own sect.

"25th? Sword Abyss actually has a disciple reaching such a high rank?"

"Is he also in the Immortal Lord Realm? How come we've never heard of him?"

"Whose number is that?"

"I remember that number, he was 19th three years ago!"

"Besides Senior Brother Yechen, our sect actually has such a true dragon, too strong!"

As the news spread, disciples from all Abysses were incredibly shocked, their eyes fixed on the number 25.

Hearing the discussions of all the disciples, Li Tiemu's smile almost split his face, but he tried hard to restrain himself, although the corners of his mouth couldn't help but twitch upwards.

Seeing his smug grin, Zhou Qingyun and the old woman couldn't help but roll their eyes.

"You old Li, you actually hid such a thing from us."

"Don't you even trust us? You rascal, you owe me a pot of wine!"

"We're done! Done!"

Both of them wore expressions of feigned anger, but their eyes also held smiles. Such a prodigy was actually from their Sword Abyss; it was a great joy for the entire sect.

Li Tiemu chuckled and said, "Isn't it all for the greater good, the greater good!"

"Get lost."

Zhou Qingyun rolled his eyes again, while the disciples around him had complex expressions.

…

At this moment, Li Hao had already arrived in the desolate region.

Compared to three years ago, entering the desolate region again, Li Hao seemed much more relaxed. Previously, he had to use the Celestial Star Veins even in the fifth desolate region. Now, Li Hao rushed all the way to the ninth desolate region, and his immortal power was still abundant.

Even when he arrived in the tenth desolate region, Li Hao's immortal power hadn't depleted much, and he didn't even need to replenish it.

It should be noted that the power of the Nine Petal Immortal Seal, besides gathering a large amount of Great Dao origin, each petal on the seal brought a qualitative improvement in power, similar to doubling immortal power after a realm breakthrough.

Initially, Li Hao relied on the foundation of the Nine Petal Immortal Seal to break through the eleventh desolate region at the third level of the True Immortal Realm. This was because, although his realm was low, the Nine Petal Immortal Seal compensated for it.

With a One Petal Immortal Seal, the power would be one times the norm. If the tenth level of True Immortal Realm was 500 units of immortal power, it would be five times that.

With a Two Petal Immortal Seal, it would be a thousand!

With a Three Petal Immortal Seal, it would be two thousand!

With a Four Petal Immortal Seal, it would be four thousand, and so on, doubling with each petal.

Li Hao, at the third level of the True Immortal Realm, relying on the enhancement of the Nine Petal Immortal Seal, was equivalent to the tenth level of True Immortal Realm with a Two Petal Immortal Seal!

Now, it was equivalent to 256 times the power of a ninth level True Immortal Realm!

If the opponent had a Three Petal Immortal Seal, it would still be 64 times weaker. Immortal power alone was enough to completely crush them.

At this moment, Li Hao stood in the tenth desolate region. Surrounding primordial immortal techniques assaulted him, constantly booming, with thunder and crimson flames spreading and engulfing the surroundings. Spatial rifts also occasionally appeared, silently carrying the destructive power of space origin Great Dao. One would need at least a second level understanding of space origin to even detect them.

But these were like phantoms in front of Li Hao. His Ancestral Immortal Body, covered in immortal power, easily resisted them.

The denser the immortal power, the more terrifying the Ancestral Immortal Body became. It seemed to be covered in a layer of immortal power true armor, capable of directly blocking and negating many divine abilities and ordinary immortal techniques.

Looking at the fog wall in front of him, Li Hao didn't hesitate. He raised his hand, forming sword fingers, and slashed out with a sword.

Boom!

Sword Qi suddenly roared out, transforming into an extreme rift, tearing the fog wall apart. The various Great Dao origin powers intertwined within were also torn apart in an instant.

Li Hao took a step, disappearing like a teleportation in place, and arrived at the eleventh desolate region.

As soon as he arrived here, Li Hao felt an intense sense of pressure. Besides the primordial immortal techniques, there were also immortal Dao laws. This was the power of the Immortal Lord Realm, capable of ignoring the barriers of Dao domains and ordinary immortal techniques. Powerful immortal Dao laws were like commands, that must be obeyed, unless countered with immortal power laws of equal strength.

Li Hao's expression became serious. The immortal power throughout his body was no longer restrained and fully erupted.

At the same time, the power of the Ultimate Realm was revealed.

The Celestial Star Veins circled around him, like countless stars gathering, drawing out mysterious and profound outlines.

The immortal power he had just consumed was replenished in an instant. The Ancestral Immortal Body was pushed to its peak, actually directly blocking some of the primordial immortal techniques here, and he didn't suffer much damage.

It should be known that the power in the desolate region was extremely strong. Among those of the same realm, only a few could withstand it. Even ordinary Immortal Lords might not be able to last long in this eleventh desolate region.

"Ultimate Realm!"

Li Hao didn't delay, unleashing the power of the Ultimate Realm completely, and merging with his Dharma Idol.

He roared forward. Fourth level space origin allowed him to perceive the nascent forms of attacks here.

The speed of Great Dao origin condensation was even faster here. Without the perception of fourth level space origin, Li Hao would have been bombarded relentlessly before he could even defend.

The path was extremely empty, without encountering anyone. Li Hao's figure constantly teleported and leaped, quickly arriving at the deep border of the eleventh desolate region.

Here, a crimson flame-like fog wall enveloped the area, flames burning on the wall.

Li Hao's eyes became sharp. Compared to three years ago, his primordial spirit had improved even more besides the increase in immortal power.

And primordial spirit power was related to the power of manipulation.

In the past three years, in the first year, his primordial spirit golden bones had increased to 200, and in the following two years, the primordial spirit golden bones continued to grow, now totaling 560!

It should be known that each primordial spirit golden bone was condensed from numerous primordial spirit golden veins.

In terms of primordial spirit strength alone, Li Hao could even compete with high-level Immortal Lords!

Whoosh!

With the Dharma Idol enveloping him, golden primordial spirit light bloomed between Li Hao's eyebrows. In an instant, immortal power throughout his body converged in his palm, transforming into a brilliant, sharp-edged longsword.

The depleted immortal power was replenished in the blink of an eye. Immediately afterwards, a spitting sword intent radiance burst forth from the longsword.

"Slash!"

Li Hao suddenly raised his hand and slashed out with the sword.

This sword was not only the Azure Heaven, but also integrated the Sword God Art. The two sword intents converged, as if azure and gold lights were combined, and slashed down simultaneously.

The crimson flames at the fog wall constantly rose, seemingly roaring ferociously, rubbing against each other to produce red electric arcs of Great Dao origin annihilation.

With a boom, the fog wall cracked, but the opening wasn't large.

Li Hao's eyes narrowed. Instantly, his figure flickered. The power of time origin enveloped him, disrupting the time fluctuations within half a foot of his body, like a phantom, he passed through.

…

"Quick, look!"

"Haotian's number is jumping!"

Outside the desolate region, Gu Yan and Yuexi and the others were staring intently at the Immortal Stele. Suddenly, the golden number representing Li Hao on the stele suddenly contracted its light, transforming into a golden electric serpent, shooting upwards.

Then it quickly bypassed 24th, 23rd… constantly moving forward.

In the blink of an eye, it surpassed 20th.

But it still didn't stop, continuing to climb, soon surpassing 17th, 15th… then, in the widened eyes of Gu Yan and the others, it surpassed 10th, pushing the original tenth place down.

The golden electric arc gradually stabilized, slowly appearing at the tenth position, and then scattered into an identity number.

Tenth!

Seeing this scene, a brief silence fell over the Nine Great Abysses.

Apart from the Sword Abyss disciples, the other Abysses were also watching the number. Now, seeing this leapfrog improvement, they were all stunned, widening their eyes in dumbfounded amazement.

In the Spear Abyss, the slender Su Yechen was also stunned, a moment of absent-mindedness in his eyes.

How… could this be?

He was at the first level of the Immortal Lord Realm, pushing himself to his limit, and only managed to reach 17th place.

Just now, he was actually overtaken in a flash, jumping from 25th directly to 10th!

"He, he…"

Li Tiemu also widened his eyes in shock, then his eye sockets heated up with excitement, and even his ears seemed to flush red.

He had just been casually saying it to encourage Li Hao. After all, Li Hao was only in the True Immortal Realm. Being in the top thirty would already be unbelievable, let alone tenth place!

That was a realm only those at the second level of the Immortal Lord Realm were qualified to even contemplate!

"He…"

Yuexi and Murong Qingwu were also stunned. Although they knew Li Hao was a prodigy, they hadn't expected that, in just three years, the young man seemed to be progressing even faster than them, even more outrageous!

"Spear Abyss's Senior Brother Yechen is only 17th, and he's in the Immortal Lord Realm…"

"Could it be he's also in the Immortal Lord Realm?"

"Impossible…"

Everyone was shaken by this ranking, finding it hard to believe.

In the Ten Thousand Swords Mountain Pavilion, a white-clad youth sitting cross-legged on a giant sword was resting with closed eyes.

Suddenly, a loud shout came from beside him. Someone panicked and said, "Not good, Senior Brother Xuanyu!"

"Hmm?"

Zhang Xuanyu frowned slightly and opened his eyes.

He saw his friend, who had followed him for many years, looking panicked and saying, "Your, your ranking has dropped, dropped out of the top ten!"

"Hmm."

Zhang Xuanyu's expression changed. He quickly looked over and saw at the tenth position, the identity number that had originally belonged to him, but now, he was ranked in the position below.

And in its place was another number.

He suddenly stood up, his face filled with shock and anger.

At the last moment, he was actually squeezed out?

How could this be!

In the top ten competition, although he was ranked at the bottom, he had investigated the ranks from eleventh to fifteenth. The royal family members inside were all at the first level of the Immortal Lord Realm, and their rankings had slightly fluctuated, but no one had the power to challenge the twelfth desolate region.

This number in front of him wasn't among them either… Where did it come from?

"Xuanyu, your ranking has dropped."

At this moment, a figure flew over, it was Zhang Xuanyu's master, her figure slender and graceful, with an elegant and mature beauty, but her expression was somewhat anxious.

"I saw it."

Zhang Xuanyu's face was gloomy, and immortal power faintly emanated from his body. "Master, do you know whose number that is?"

"I've already sent people to investigate, but it's definitely not a member of the royal family."

"Good, let's wait two days. In the last two days, I'll challenge again, giving him no chance to react!"

Zhang Xuanyu stared at the ranking, a cold glint in his eyes.

He wouldn't take action immediately. Such mutual competition, the smaller the gap, the fiercer the competition. He would directly use his trump card to completely crush the opponent!

…

At this moment, in the twelfth desolate region.

As soon as Li Hao entered this place, he felt an even stronger and more terrifying pressure than before. The immortal power in his body poured out like a flood, constantly filling in, barely managing to sustain him.

"So strong."

Li Hao's expression became serious.

Suddenly.

He sensed a wisp of void distortion, and his expression changed instantly. Just as he was about to dodge, a lightning sword abruptly slashed over. It was the embodiment of lightning origin, absorbing the residual consciousness of some immortal technique, transforming into sword light, traveling as fast as light, and cutting towards Li Hao's neck.

Time Origin!

The immortal power throughout Li Hao's body suddenly erupted. The time origin enveloping his body suddenly mobilized to its limit, freeze, freeze!

Even with only third level time origin, he couldn't completely freeze this lightning sword, but it still had an effect, slowing down the flow of time around him by a hair's breadth.

Just this slight pause allowed Li Hao to use space teleportation, narrowly dodging it.

The lightning sword swept past, flying into an unknown place and disappearing. Li Hao broke out in a cold sweat. If he had been hit, even his Ancestral Immortal Body would have had difficulty resisting and would have been seriously injured.

This was a place where only those at the second level of the Immortal Lord Realm could barely survive. For his current self, the pressure was still too great.

"But, it's quite stimulating too."

Li Hao thought to himself. He didn't retreat. It had been a long time since he had felt this kind of tense feeling.

His expression became serious, and he began to concentrate fully, observing his surroundings.

Soon, suddenly white mist appeared, enveloping him.

Li Hao's expression slightly changed. He knew it was another primordial immortal technique. He quickly pulled away, dodging towards another spot.

During his dodge, suddenly a black particle flew over from afar.

Initially, Li Hao didn't pay it much attention, but as the black particle approached, Li Hao sensed the terror. That thing contained a strong earth origin power. If touched, he seemed like he would be subjected to some kind of suppression.

Dodge!

Li Hao dodged again, like a nimble phantom, shuttling through this twelfth desolate region.

(End of chapter)