Chapter 491: Eruption of Immortal Arts

"Hmm?"

Chu Tianzheng heard Li Hao's words. His expression, which had been amused by anger, abruptly turned cold. His eyes grew icy as he said in a chilling voice:

"Truly arrogant," Chu Tianzheng sneered, "It seems you haven't recognized your place. Everyone, watch closely. He said these words himself. Show us your sect's foundation! Let me see just how much your sect prepared for you to show off!"

As he spoke, he casually划 (huá - stroked/drew) in the air, and a rhombus-shaped immortal weapon soared out from the void, crackling with purple lightning, full of murderous intent. It was clearly an extremely powerful immortal weapon.

This immortal weapon hovered beside him, but he didn't grasp it. Instead, his eyes remained fixed on Li Hao, waiting for Li Hao to produce his weapon.

"Make your move."

Li Hao's eyes were cold and sharp, and immortal power silently built up within him.

"What? You're not planning to take out your immortal weapon? You intend to challenge me with just yourself?!"

Seeing Li Hao's stance, a killing intent flashed in Chu Tianzheng's eyes.

"You are not worthy to see my sword."

Li Hao stated.

If he were to summon Chu Taowu (梼杌 - Taowu), with his current immortal power foundation, he might be able to unleash nearly half of Taowu's power.

Taowu was a top-tier immortal weapon, chosen as the strongest from the treasures left behind by his Immortal Emperor teacher. If his immortal power was sufficient, the destructive force of Taowu alone would be enough to contend with experts at the eighth or ninth level of the Immortal Lord Realm, perhaps even defeat them!

And this was just one aspect of the foundation granted to Li Hao by that inheritance.

"Sharp tongue indeed. Let's see if I don't rip your mouth apart later!"

Chu Tianzheng's immortal power surged like a tidal wave, spreading out abruptly. His eyes turned frigid. "Exposed for your tricks, wanting to prove yourself with your own strength? Fine, I'll indulge you. Survive one palm strike from me, and consider yourself lucky!"

He also didn't use an immortal weapon. To use an immortal weapon against a True Immortal Realm cultivator would be laughable, even if he won.

Accompanying Chu Tianzheng's words, his Domain of Dao expanded. Although he wasn't using the external force of an immortal weapon, the anger and killing intent in his heart were all restrained and transferred into his attack.

His immortal power swelled and radiated outwards. The surrounding void crackled with lightning and thunder. The sheer pressure of his immortal power was enough to force arcs of electricity from the void, creating an apocalyptic scene of terrifying might.

Standing nearby, Zhang Xuanyu's eyes revealed gloating and a smile. He cheered inwardly, feeling delighted. To avoid being affected or interfering with the Crown Prince's attack, he swiftly moved, leaving afterimages behind, and shifted to another spot, observing from mid-air.

The prodigy from Illusion Sea Sect standing to Li Hao's left, as well as other members of the royal family, also retreated one after another, gazes fixed on this mismatched contest with varying expressions.

A True Immortal Realm challenging an Immortal Lord Realm of the Yan-Chu royal family, and refusing to use any immortal weapon foundation – it was practically courting death.

Was this person truly seeking death, or just utterly foolish?

Amidst the interested and strange gazes, only Xing Lan's eyes revealed worry, along with a faint, ineffable sense of anticipation she couldn't quite explain herself.

"Is that the might of the Immortal Lord Realm? So terrifying!"

"Immortal power forms its own pressure. Just the pressure from his immortal power feels like it could crush a person!"

"That's a member of the royal family. They cultivate top-tier ancient immortal arts and secret techniques. How can their immortal power be compared to others of the same realm?"

"That youth is doomed. Angering the royal family, provoking them in public. Even if he's beaten to death, there's no arguing, and no one will sympathize."

"Exactly. Wanting to occupy a high position without the ability. He deserves to die."

"Let's see if the Crown Prince will show mercy and leave him a wisp of soul, giving him a chance for reincarnation. Considering Tian Si Sect's reputation, he should still grant that much, right?"

Below the platform, members of various sects were discussing animatedly, gazing at the increasingly powerful aura. The immortal power-driven phenomena had already obscured half of the platform, leaving them in awe.

Within the Myriad Mountains Sword Pavilion, Lin Qingying, dressed in cyan robes, clenched her fingers tightly. Her eyes were fixed on the royal-robed figure. The many mocking comments from her fellow sect members reached her ears, accelerating her blood flow.

If the other party truly injured Li Hao, she vowed she would cultivate diligently to avenge Li Hao.

"How can that royal family be like this?"

"It's already a given fact, and they're still not convinced? If they have the guts, they should have charged forward in the Desolate Domain!"

In the Great Dream Nine Abyss, Murong Qingwu and Yuexi both wore expressions of indignation.

Li Hao was, after all, their junior brother. Although they hadn't known him for long, seeing him being humiliated like this sparked anger in their hearts.

Gu Yan clenched his fists, his gaze fixed on the youth on the platform. A light seemed to glimmer deep within his eyes as he wanted to see how the youth would cope with this predicament – would he transform into a true dragon, soaring through the nine heavens, or would he be like an eagle spreading its wings to fly, only to have them broken and fall to the ground?

"Hao Tian..."

Li Tiemu tensed up, staring at the platform, not blinking an eye. His heart was in his throat for Li Hao.

Other disciples from various abysses had expressions of anger or sighs. Only Lin Yufeng of the Spear Abyss revealed a thoughtful expression in his eyes. As Li Hao's immortal guard, having followed him from the depths of the Demon Valley Abyss, he knew Li Hao had inherited the Immortal Emperor's legacy from a top-tier being of the True World. As for what exactly he had inherited, he didn't know.

But he knew that as a disciple of an Immortal Emperor, it was impossible for him to fall in the current situation.

If he couldn't even handle an Immortal Lord Realm cultivator, then he would be too easily extinguished.

At this moment, on the platform, Chu Tianzheng was not in a hurry to attack. The immortal power behind him was still gathering, still accumulating, the purple electric arcs it pressured out were darting around, and the terrifying pressure was constantly building.

He not only wanted to cripple the youth before him, but also use this opportunity to showcase his own power. He was a prince of Yan-Chu. This scene was being projected to the nine thousand immortal cities of Yan-Chu. For him as a prince, this was an extremely rare opportunity to gain fame.

If he could make people remember him, it would greatly benefit his path in the imperial succession struggle in the future.

"Kneel down and admit your mistake now. It's still not too late!"

Chu Tianzheng said indifferently.

The wind from the immortal power's pressure buffeted Li Hao's face, his hair flying, but his expression remained calm, like a deep, still pool of water.

He didn't reply, didn't utter a sound, and was also accumulating his own power.

The realm the opponent was displaying was the second level of the Immortal Lord Realm, but it seemed he had just broken through not long ago. This was probably also the reason why the other party had not yet completely conquered the Twelve Desolate Domains.

Facing such a strong opponent, it was his first head-on confrontation.

Previously, when he and Mi Xueyao were chased by ancient demons of the Immortal Lord Realm, they could only flee and dodge. In the end, they relied on the mysterious small pagoda given by Old Han to remain safe and sound.

This direct confrontation could be considered his first.

"Seeking death!"

Seeing that Li Hao remained unmoved, as if he didn't take his released pressure seriously at all, a hint of rage and killing intent flashed in Chu Tianzheng's eyes.

He took a deep breath. Abruptly, on his forehead, a plum blossom-shaped immortal mark shimmered with light.

It was a Three Flowers Immortal Mark!

The immortal mark was the foundation of the True Immortal Realm. Once cultivation surpassed the True Immortal Realm, it could no longer be improved or refined.

At this moment, as the immortal mark appeared, Chu Tianzheng's aura suddenly increased once more. His Domain of Dao enveloped the area, containing three types of Immortal Dao Laws: the Origin of Earth Dao, the Origin of Mace Dao, and the Origin of Command Dao!

Among them, the Origin of Mace Dao was the deepest, being his primary weapon of cultivation.

The Origin of Earth Dao and Origin of Command Dao were both among the Nine Sequences, and both had reached the third level of mastery!

While the Mace Dao was at the fourth level, definitely considered powerful among early-stage Immortal Lords.

"Kneel down, even your primordial spirit!"

Chu Tianzheng suddenly raised his hand. His palm seemed to pull out bolts of lightning from the void. The condensed and gathered immortal power around him instantly surged towards his palm.

In an instant, lightning flashed in his palm, thunder rumbled, like a convergence of thunderous explosions.

"Earthly Net Heaven - Suppressing Origin!"

Chu Tianzheng slightly opened his eyes, and abruptly attacked, suppressing downwards towards Li Hao's head.

The lightning light gathered in his palm instantly transmitted through the Extreme Realm of Returning Emptiness, appearing above Li Hao's head. Dense Earth Dao Origin power completely enveloped the gathered immortal power, pressing down on Li Hao.

It was as if a mountain of thunder and lightning, condensed from immortal power, was about to crush all mortal ants!

"That's a royal family immortal art, the top palm technique of our Great Yan-Chu!"

"I heard that an Immortal Lord Realm expert once used this immortal art to suppress a demon city with one palm!"

"I can feel it's a little hard to breathe."

Below the platform, disciples from various sects wore drastically changed expressions. Some cried out in alarm.

Even from over ten miles away, they could feel the terror of that palm strike, as if the air within a hundred miles was being evacuated, about to suppress even the towering platform itself.

Standing on the dragon head above the platform, Chu Xiangtian's expression also shifted slightly. Light abruptly burst from his eyes, ready at any moment to lift the platform and resolve his imperial brother's attack.

Just as this palm strike was about to fall on Li Hao's head, suddenly, a domineering yet transcendent aura erupted violently.

With a clang, like a sharp, piercing sound, it cut through countless eardrums, like a treasure sword that had been dormant for ten thousand years, abruptly unsheathed!

A dazzling sword light erupted from Li Hao's palm. It was his sword fingers brought together, slashing upwards towards the sky. That sword strike was not only Celestial Azure Immortal Art, but also his own Sword Dao.

With a bang.

The lightning light of the Suppressing Origin Palm exploded. The sword technique, condensed to the extreme, pierced through the Immortal Dao Laws within the lightning light, found a crack within it, and with the power of the fourth level of Space Dao Origin, tore it apart, then pierced straight through to the heavens!

Immortal art collapsed. The sharp sword light penetrated straight through, scattering the thunder, and shot straight out of the platform, actually reaching towards the towering imperial palace projected onto the platform.

One sword opened the imperial gate!

This instant change left the countless voices of discussion below the platform as silent as death. Countless people widened their eyes in shock, watching this scene in disbelief.

Chu Xiangtian, who was on guard, prepared to lift the platform, and intended to resolve his imperial brother's attack, also hadn't anticipated this scene. His mind was focused on preparing to intervene and dissolve his imperial brother's attack, but the power of this sword strike was too extreme, too fast, to the point where he couldn't even stop it in time.

By the time he saw a phantom crack split in the projected imperial palace illusion, he was shocked and changed color, hastily raising his hand to quickly erase the remaining spatial traces in the air.

However, even as he erased them, he felt the core power of this sword technique actually contained the power of Space Dao Origin, and had reached at least the fourth level. Was this something a True Immortal Realm cultivator could comprehend?!

"Hmm?"

Chu Tianhuang, who had flown up to the first level of steps and hovered in the air, his aged eyes which had maintained a slight smile from beginning to end, now flashed with a glint of light.

Standing beside him, Bo Yaxuejian, dressed in white robes, also revealed a hint of indescribable light in her eyes, and a curve appeared at the corner of her mouth.

Xing Lan, whose expression had been worried all along, now widened her eyes, followed by an expression of delight. Her heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally relaxed slightly.

"Hmm?"

The royal princess who had previously shown disdain for Li Hao, her expression slightly changed, her brow furrowed.

Compared to their reactions, the most shocked was Chu Tianzheng. He stared in shock at the sword mark that tore the sky, his own attack actually being broken by that youth with bare hands?!

No immortal weapon, no taking pills, just the immortal power he erupted in an instant was so profound. And he could feel the fluctuations of Space Dao Origin traces. This youth could actually comprehend the top-ranked Space Dao Origin among the Nine Sequences!

"No wonder, no wonder he dares to be so arrogant!"

The shock on Chu Tianzheng's face instantly turned to coldness. If he were to stop here, he would lose face completely. Moreover, that strike just now was not his full power. Even though he intended to completely cripple this youth with that strike, he believed the strength he used was already sufficient.

"Die!"

He abruptly attacked, condensing a mace phantom in his palm. Holding it in one hand, he took a step forward, appearing in front of Li Hao with surging might, and swung the mace down.

Lightning intertwined on the mace, Immortal Dao Laws radiated, directly ignoring the many Sacred Dao Laws in Li Hao's Domain, rendering them ineffective.

He forcibly broke into Li Hao's Domain, intending to send Li Hao flying on the spot.

Li Hao saw his ferocity. The Eternal Domain flowed, immortal power surged. The power of Time and Space Dao Origin intertwined at this moment. The speed at which the opponent swung the mace was as fast as lightning, but speed was insignificant before time. There was still a brief moment of stagnation!

"Freeze!"

"Purple Ban!"

"Invincible!"

"Azure Heaven!!"

In an instant, Li Hao raised his hand and unleashed four of the Ten Great Immortal Arts simultaneously.

These ancient immortal arts, in Li Hao's hands, now bloomed with dazzling light.

Back in the Imperial Palace inheritance, of the Ten Great Immortal Arts, Li Hao mastered six. The rest, after mastering the Nine Sequences Origins, were also gradually added to his panel.

These Ten Great Immortal Arts were mostly related to the Nine Sequences Origins. One needed to master the Nine Sequences Origins to comprehend and understand them.

Freeze, was the Time Origin.

Purple Ban, to ban all immortal arts of the opponent, required Space Origin!

And Invincible, was the Earth Dao Origin, hailed as the strongest defensive immortal art!

The instantaneous release of these three immortal arts caused Chu Tianzheng, who had stepped into Li Hao's Domain with thunderous momentum, to fall into a brief stagnation of his body.

Although his body was stagnant, Chu Tianzheng's consciousness was not frozen. His pupils slightly constricted, and shock appeared in his eyes.

With his Immortal Dao Laws and his own power, this should have been a close-quarters instant kill strike. Yet, he was actually restrained by some inexplicable power!

The binding force of this Domain was beyond his imagination!

But he had no time to ponder. Accompanied by extreme light, the Azure Heaven Sword Art fused with the Sword God Formula bloomed in Li Hao's hands. From bottom to top, it cleaved open Chu Tianzheng's body, but was blocked by the battle armor immortal treasure on his body.

That was an immortal weapon, and of no low quality. It blocked seventy to eighty percent of the Azure Heaven Sword Art's power.

Li Hao quickly changed his immortal power, condensing it into a point, penetrating into the immortal armor. Sword energy instantly exploded within, transforming into countless tiny sword energies.

(End of chapter)