Follow the path of Dao from infancy

Chapter 1194: Chapter 258: Yan Chu Immortal Dynasty, Sword Abyss

Li Hao was unwilling, and Yue Xi could not insist further. She felt that Li Hao was using excuses and evasions, looking down on her. In her heart, she was secretly competing, waiting for the Great Dream Nine Abysses, there would naturally be another chance to challenge Li Hao.

The Great Dream Nine Abysses was not far from Heart Inquiry Floating City, only a three-day journey back and forth.

On the road, Li Hao and Yue Xi learned the nickname of the old man with the red wine nose, who was the Sword Abyss Elder of the Great Dream Nine Abysses, Li Tie Mu.

Li Tie Mu inquired about the origins of Li Hao, Lin Yufeng, and Yue Xi during the journey. He already had some understanding of Yue Xi, but could not discern the origins of Li Hao and Lin Yufeng, who were evidently companions.

Yue Xi only mentioned that she was temporarily residing in the nearby Nanyang City, belonging to the Calamity Clan.

For that clan, many forces in the True Realm kept a respectful distance, unwilling to be tainted by misfortune.

Li Hao said he came from a distant place, a newcomer unfamiliar with the area.

Seeing that Li Hao was unwilling to disclose details, Li Tie Mu did not press further, only said:𝓯𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

"Entering our Great Dream Nine Abysses means becoming a disciple of our Great Dream Nine Abysses. Regardless of your origins, our sect will be your retreat. Similarly, you must not harm your fellow sect members. This notion should be established in your Dao Heart during your initiation upon your return to the sect."

Li Hao and Yue Xi both agreed to this.

Li Hao inquired about the situation in the True Realm, as they were completely ignorant about it, including its forces and various cities.

Li Tie Mu, seeing Li Hao engaged earnestly, chatted with him, treating him as an outsider and explained in detail:

"I’ll assume you are from the Western Domain. The True Realm has four domains, this you should know. The Eastern Domain is governed by the Ancestral Dragon Royal Court, the Southern Domain by the Heavenly Palace Venerable, the Northern Domain is the realm of the Demon Emperor Palace, home to many demons and a mix of the Ten Thousand Clans. The Western Domain is the Chi Fen Imperial Domain, a land of mixed powers including immortals, demons, demon gods, and ghost souls."

"In the Southern Domain, the territory is similar to the Western Domain, said to stretch over hundreds of billions of miles. Even an Immortal King would take a year to traverse to the border."

"This is the frontier of the Southern Domain, near the ancient battlefield ’Emperor Abyss’. Do you know of Emperor Abyss?"

Li Tie Mu suddenly asked.

Li Hao was intrigued. They came from an ancient battlefield, but whether it was the Emperor Abyss mentioned by the other party, they did not know.

Before he could answer, Yue Xi calmly replied, "I know. That’s where the Great Emperor fell ten thousand years ago. I’ve heard that not long ago, the Heavenly Palace cleared it out. I visited there once. Skeletons piled into forests, ancient demon corpses scattered everywhere, true treasures shattered into mud, and countless abandoned Immortal Soldiers and Domain Artifacts, not to mention imperial artifacts dulled and without light..."

Upon hearing her words, Li Hao and Lin Yufeng immediately knew this was likely the ancient battlefield they had arrived from.

The usual casual and slightly sleazy grin on Li Tie Mu’s face faded, and an unusual solemnity took over. After Yue Xi finished speaking, he slowly said:

"Indeed, that battle was extremely fierce, severely depleting the True Realm’s vitality. In those days, nine Immortal Emperors ruled the four domains and the Primordial True Realm, yet more than half fell in that battle!"

"To this day, there remains no emperor in the Northern Domain, with many quasi-emperors vying. Currently, the Northern Domain is the most chaotic place. Aside from the rampant ancient demons, various forces are competing for the supreme throne, hoping to unify the Northern Domain..."

He seemed to think the conversation had gone too far, slightly shaking his head, he said to Li Hao:

"Where was I... Emperor Abyss, right? Nowadays, the Southern Domain’s territory has shrunk significantly compared to the past. On the frontier, humans are rare, and this Heart Inquiry Floating City is already on the periphery. Towards the center are gatherings of the Heavenly Sect and stands of Immortal Dynasties."

Li Hao asked, "Is there a force stronger than the Tianyi Sect?"

"The Ancient Immortal Dynasties!"

Li Tie Mu said, "Our Great Dream Nine Abysses is part of the Yan Chu Immortal Dynasty, one of the seven great ancient Immortal Dynasties in the Southern Domain. The Ten Thousand Mountains Sword Tower is as well. To be precise, the area we are currently in is all within the territory of the Yan Chu Immortal Dynasty."

"And the Heavenly Palace?"

"The Heavenly Palace is ruled by the Immortal Emperor Venerable, standing above the ancient Immortal Dynasties. The Immortal Emperor governs a domain, and all Immortal Dynasties bow before it."

Li Tie Mu spoke.

His expression bore a hint of solemnity, as if there was a deeper meaning in his gaze.

With Li Tie Mu’s introduction, a rough map of the True Realm emerged in Li Hao’s mind.

In three days’ journey, transmitted from Heart Inquiry Floating City, through several cities, some of which were incredibly ancient and dilapidated, with remnants of vast arrays outside—these, according to Li Tie Mu, were once crucial cities on the frontline of battle; now, they had been left behind here.

"We have arrived."

Li Tie Mu said.

They were transmitted from an Immortal City, arriving in a void with a radiant path of immortal power. Standing on it seemed to propel one’s body forward without expending any immortal power.

Ahead lay an enormous continent like a turtle, floating in the void, rising and falling.𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

The continent was shrouded in an Immortal Array, keeping external meteorites at bay.

The radiant path led to the continent. As they approached, Li Hao felt the heat emitted from the continent’s Immortal Array, seemingly capable of evaporating him.

Li Tie Mu waved a hand, and a path opened immediately on the array, revealing the verdant greens and rivers within the continent like an unrolling painting.

"This is where our Great Dream Nine Abysses is located."

Li Tie Mu said.

Li Hao’s eyes showed astonishment. Was this the power of a Heavenly Sect in the True Realm? The entire world was merely a sect.

Moreover, the continent’s expanse appeared broader than the small worlds of the All Heavens.

"Our Great Dream Nine Abysses has nine branches, which is the origin of the ’Nine Abysses’. In the past, the founding ancestors had close ties with the Emperor, receiving nine absolute techniques from the Emperor, establishing the Dream Nine Abyss Sect."