Chapter 492: Slaying a Royal

The explosions of these tiny sword energies contained a destructive force with a fatal attribute, spreading like maggots gnawing at the bone, covering Chu Tianzheng's body.

A dense shadow of death suddenly descended, enveloping even Chu Tianzheng, an Immortal Lord Realm cultivator. He couldn't escape it, and he could feel the terrifying power spreading.

At the same time, his immortal body was breaking apart from the inside out. The intense pain and tearing sensations made him feel like he was in a dream. He had actually been severely wounded by a True Immortal Realm cultivator, and he was witnessing the aura of death engulfing him.

How is this possible?!

嗖!

Chu Tianzheng hastily employed the power of defying fate, his aura instantly changing. He drew a wisp of the power of destiny from the True World, subtly altering his own fate.

The so-called "fate alteration" was to truly change one's destiny.

As royalty, he naturally had opportunities to reverse fate. These were usually used in battle to create some interference, but such fate-altering opportunities had very limited impact against True Immortal Realm cultivators.

However, this alteration of fate masked the destructive force of the fatal attribute, causing it to pause briefly.

This power could obliterate an Immortal Lord Realm cultivator, but it was diverted by this method, akin to one thing countering another.

Fortunately, Li Hao hadn't intended to rely solely on this extra power to kill him. In the brief pause while Chu Tianzheng used his fate-altering power, Li Hao's palm had already reached into the hole in the shattered immortal armor, grabbing Chu Tianzheng's immortal body and violently yanking him down.

Yama Path, Slaying Blade.

Primordial spirit power erupted in his palm, transforming into black flames. These flames surged from his palm, permeating Chu Tianzheng's body like demonic fire, intent on incinerating his primordial spirit.

The contest had now escalated from a clash of immortal power to a battle of primordial spirits. Li Hao's primordial spirit had 560 gold bones, a level that even high-ranking Immortal Lord Realm experts might not reach, let alone Chu Tianzheng, who had just entered the second stage of the Immortal Lord Realm.

The intense pressure of his primordial spirit spread through the burning black flames, like an unstoppable demonic fire.

"What power is this?!"

Chu Tianzheng's pupils dilated, his heart filled with overwhelming shock. But no one answered him, and he had no time to ponder. The instant his primordial spirit was scorched by the Yama fire, the excruciating pain gave him the sensation of being subjected to a slow and agonizing death.

He let out a miserable scream as his primordial spirit, like a recoiling tentacle, instantly detached from his physical body and retreated hundreds of feet, staring at Li Hao in horror.

On his primordial spirit, numerous fine golden threads were spreading, like capillaries across his entire being. They looked incredibly radiant, like a dazzling golden deity.

But Li Hao knew this was merely the stage of breaking through the primordial spirit's limit, reaching the 'golden vein' stage, not even close to condensing the first gold bone.

If not for the disparity in their cultivation realms – True Immortal Realm versus Immortal Lord Realm – the other's primordial spirit would have perished in an instant before him, unable to withstand even a single breath.

Without its primordial spirit, the physical body that had just altered its fate now lost its ability to move once more.

Li Hao clenched his palm. The turbulent immortal power within the opponent's body, which was suddenly scattered and chaotic, was instantly drawn and condensed into a ball, tightening abruptly. This force pulled and contorted his entire body, causing it to collapse. A series of explosive sounds echoed as bones shattered throughout his body, fracturing in multiple places.

Li Hao looked up, his eyes like molten gold. Primordial spirit power draped over his body like an outer garment, ready to erupt and strike at any moment.

He fixed his gaze on the royal prince who had lost his physical form. The coldness in his eyes and the imposing pressure of his primordial spirit made Chu Tianzheng, who had escaped into mid-air, feel his mind buzzing, momentarily doubting the reality before him.

But that almost suffocating pressure from the primordial spirit made him realize the terrifying power of the young man's soul, something he had never witnessed in a True Immortal Realm cultivator.

The fierce fight from moments ago fell into a brief silence, and the arena stage also became quiet.

The expressions of the others, who had initially been watching with amusement and curiosity, turned solemn as they stared intently at the young man draped in golden primordial spirit power.

Although the primordial spirit hadn't left his body, they could already sense its terrifying aura. Such primordial spirit strength was simply not something a True Immortal Realm cultivator should possess!

The primordial spirit was the ultimate form of the divine soul. For a True Immortal Realm cultivator's divine soul to be this powerful was simply unbelievable!

It was common knowledge that the primordial spirit was even harder to cultivate than the physical body, and its growth was much slower. This was also why the Ancient Demons could dominate the myriad races of the True World.

Among the myriad races, there were no shortage of imperial races with powerful immortal bodies, but they were still vulnerable before Ancient Demons, their primordial spirits easily annihilated.

"Am I seeing things? What's going on?"

"The primordial spirit of Prince Chu Tianzheng has been forced out; has he abandoned his physical body?"

"He's an Immortal Lord Realm cultivator, yet he's actually losing?!"

"How is this possible? Is it an illusion? Could it be the Illusion Sea Sect making a move?"

Below the stage, the various sects were in an uproar, finding it unbelievable to witness such a scene.

A True Immortal Realm youth had actually forced an Immortal Lord Realm cultivator to flee with his primordial spirit! It was utterly preposterous!

The elders of each sect were even more deeply shocked than their disciples. They could see that the young man's sword strike just now had unleashed four terrifying immortal techniques simultaneously upon drawing his sword.

Moreover, the power of that sword strike was beyond imagination, extremely terrifying. If not for the royal prince's immortal armor protection, his physical immortal body alone might have already been cleaved open and shattered!

And for an Immortal Lord Realm cultivator to rely on immortal armor to protect against a True Immortal Realm opponent was already dishonorable, bordering on cheating.

"That young man… he seems to have mastered more than one Ninth-Order power!"

"He's just a True Immortal Realm cultivator, this comprehension is outrageous! How many Flower Immortal Marks does he have?!"

The sect elders saw even deeper into the subtleties, their eyes fixed intently on Li Hao, like hungry wolves, as if looking at a priceless treasure.

"He actually… won?"

Within the Great Dream Nine Abyss Sect, the elders of each abyss were all staring in astonishment at this scene.

Earlier, when everyone was questioning them, they also suspected that the Dream Lord and Old Man Li had given the young man top-tier immortal weapons to help. They had been somewhat reluctant to watch the battle unfold, but unexpectedly, the situation had reversed in an instant.

Li Tiefu was also dumbfounded. As Li Hao's master, even he hadn't expected such a turn of events.

He realized at this moment that his understanding of this cheap disciple could be described as nonexistent!

Gu Yan and the trio of Yue Xi were also staring blankly at that figure, the shock in their hearts beyond words. A True Immortal Realm cultivator defeating an Immortal Lord Realm royal prince! Unbelievable!

Within the Gun Abyss group, Lin Yufeng, besides shock, also felt some admiration and respect. Having become familiar with the True World, he deeply understood the difficulty of such a challenge. But the young man had accomplished it. This was indeed a monstrous talent capable of obtaining the Immortal Emperor's legacy disciple status in just a few short years. He had to admit his admiration!

In the crowd, Gu Xingwan, dressed in a goose-yellow dress, gently covered her mouth, her eyes filled with disbelief.

At the same time, this scene was also reflected in the Nine Thousand Immortal Cities of Yan Chu.

The various immortal cities fell into deathly silence. Countless people were stunned by this scene.

An Immortal Lord Realm royal prince being beaten to the point of primordial spirit escape by a True Immortal Realm cultivator was unheard of, overturning their understanding.

In certain locations within some of these immortal cities, some figures suddenly opened their cloudy, aged eyes, staring blankly at the projection in the sky.

The four ancient immortal techniques that the young man had consecutively unleashed, those were powers that had once been famous throughout the various domains of the True World ten thousand years ago. They had long been lost, and few had ever seen them; fewer still had even heard of them.

But now, these once-dormant immortal techniques had unexpectedly erupted with brilliance once more on a peaceful day after countless years!

"It's the Forbidden Purple, the Forbidden Purple Immortal Technique!"

"That's Invincible, the earth-element origin immortal technique, created by the Immortal Emperor! Even a True Immortal Realm cultivator wielding it can achieve temporary, momentary invincibility, capable of withstanding attacks from the Immortal Lord Realm!"

"Sword Technique Azure Sky, rooted in the sword path, the strongest True Immortal Realm sword technique!"

"Heavens, four immortal techniques appearing at once! Who is that young man? What's his name?!"

"Ten thousand years… to actually see these lost immortal techniques again. What kind of contest is this? The Southern Domain Assembly? Could it be that the ancient inheritances never truly broke, and those who inherited that power have returned?!"

Throughout the Nine Thousand Immortal Cities, figures emerged, some rising to their feet.

Some were playing chess in courtyards, their faces aged and wrinkled. Some were disheveled and unkempt, like impoverished beggars begging in the streets. Others were in gloomy places, locked in chains with only a small skylight letting in a sliver of sunlight.

And the reflection in the clouds happened to be visible through that narrow skylight. The silent chains began to swing violently, and from the darkness came a murmur of disbelief, which then transformed into a mad laughter.

In various other places, figures of little renown, long hidden from view, were now gazing up at the sky, muttering to themselves. Some had tears welling up in their eyes, their expressions agitated, their bodies trembling.

If someone mastered only one lost immortal technique, it might just be a lucky youth who had stumbled upon a great opportunity.

But to master four lost immortal techniques simultaneously, the situation was entirely different.

In that era of ten thousand years ago, only the top powers, and the Immortal Dynasty's secret palace guarded by the Immortal Emperor, had the qualifications to gather all Ten Great Immortal Techniques!

"Have they returned? Have they truly returned?"

"Haha, who is that young man? Southern Domain Assembly? What kind of contest is it? I must see!"

These figures, usually living unnoticed in the Nine Thousand Immortal Cities, now had piercing gazes that seemed to penetrate the firmament, their eyes fixed on the young figure projected in the clouds.

Ten thousand years was too long. They had seen countless events. This Southern Domain Assembly might be a grand occasion for various sects, but to them, it was merely a drop of rain falling from lowered eyelids, just like countless rainy nights – ordinary and insignificant.

But at this very moment, this raindrop that they usually wouldn't care about reflected four lost immortal techniques. The aura sealed in time illuminated their eyes.

Within the Ancient Immortal Realm, on the arena stage.

Li Hao glanced at Chu Tianzheng's primordial spirit and was about to raise his hand to seize it with primordial spirit power.

A mere primordial spirit was like minced meat in his eyes, easily chopped to pieces!

But just as he was about to act, a sudden surge of immense power enveloped the area, transforming into a wall of steel-like law power, blocking the way and separating him from Chu Tianzheng.

Chu Xiangtian, who had been watching from atop the ancestral dragon, had made his move. As a top-tier expert in the Immortal Lord Realm, although he was shocked, his reaction was extremely swift. If he allowed the young man to attack again, his royal brother, for whom he had little affection, would likely be in danger, even his primordial spirit could be extinguished!

If they were in the wilderness, given their "deep brotherly love," he would probably not even glance in his direction.

But here, in front of a vast audience, with the royal family's dignity at stake, as the host of this event, he naturally couldn't stand by and do nothing.

Li Hao looked towards Chu Xiangtian, seeing the other's stern gaze, he knew it was no longer possible to strike again.

But as he was about to give up, Chu Tianzheng, who was blocked by the immortal law power on the other side, regained his senses and roared, "Don't stop me, I want to kill him!"

As he spoke, his primordial spirit tore through space, summoning the purple immortal weapon again, intending to use it to suppress and kill Li Hao.

Chu Xiangtian's expression shifted slightly, and he angrily retorted, "Have you not embarrassed yourself enough?!"

As he spoke, his power abruptly tightened its restraint. The lightning flickering on Chu Tianzheng's purple immortal weapon suddenly contracted as if whimpering, its light fading and dimming.

Chu Tianzheng was roused by his roar, his face instantly becoming extremely unsightly.

On this majestic arena stage, with the gazes of twenty thousand elite disciples from various sects below, and the projection reaching the Nine Thousand Immortal Cities, virtually all eyes in Yan Chu, except for the border armies, were focused here at this moment. Yet, he had lost. If he possessed the power of time origin, he would surely turn back time and redo everything.

What made it even more unbearable was that although the palace gates in the clouds above were still closed, he knew that his imperial father was inside, overlooking everything.

Nothing that happened in this Ancient Immortal Realm could escape his father's notice.

"Return my physical body!"

Chu Tianzheng gritted his teeth, the fire of rage in his heart seemingly materializing into golden flames, violently fluctuating. He said with humiliation, word by word.

Hearing his words, Li Hao instead flung the immortal body, its internal organs already shattered, to his feet, then stepped on its chest, standing upon it.

"You questioned my ability to reach the tenth tier, then let your body speak for me!"

He stood on the other's immortal body, his posture rising slightly, appearing to be roughly the same height as the tenth-ranked step.

Hearing Li Hao's words, Chu Tianzheng's eyes almost burst with blood. His primordial spirit was on the verge of losing control. He roared in a low voice, each word dripping with anger, "I'll say it one more time, give me my body back!!"

"Dare not come and take it yourself?"

Li Hao coldly stared at him, not concealing his killing intent in the slightest.

If he hadn't possessed such strength today, he would likely have been crippled by the other party and thrown back outside.

And as a cultivator, being publicly crippled, in front of the Nine Thousand Immortal Cities and all eyes, would inevitably shatter his Dao heart. His entire life would be ruined, only reincarnation and re-cultivation remaining.

Li Hao's words were like needles piercing Chu Tianzheng's heart. He felt so enraged that his heart was about to explode. The other was right; he truly dared not.

He was of noble status, but even the powerful feared the desperate. The young man had shown no mercy in his attacks. The terrifying aura of death that had permeated his body earlier had already proclaimed the other's killing intent.

"Boy, don't be so aggressive. You're just a commoner, stepping on royal flesh. Do you not want to live?!"

At this moment, a voice rang in Li Hao's ears, cold and filled with anger.

Li Hao turned his head to look. It was the aloof royal princess. Even now, as she spoke, she still had her arms crossed, her eyebrows raised, looking down at him as if from the clouds.

"According to you, in the future, whoever spars with you royals, you become invincible just by wearing royal robes?"

Li Hao chuckled coldly, saying, "In sparring matches, there is no distinction of status. Otherwise, would your victory be glorious?"