Follow the path of Dao from infancy

Chapter 1247: Chapter 270: The Highest (Part 2)

"Junior Brother Haotian, congratulations! Getting the battle qualification on the first day. Next, you’ll be training with the Abyss Master. Please guide me, and if you have time, let’s spar."

Li Hao shook his head and said, "I won’t be going to the Abyss Master for cultivation."

"Hmm?"

The three of them looked at Li Hao in surprise. Yue Xi and Gu Yan both sharpened their gazes, paying more attention to Li Hao’s actions than before.

"Then where are you going?" Yue Xi couldn’t help but ask.

Li Hao didn’t hide it and smiled slightly, "I plan to explore the border."

"The border?"

The three were stunned. Murong Qingwu exclaimed, "Isn’t that where Senior Brother and the others went? Are you also going to accumulate Immortal Merits?"

"I’m just going to practice actual combat."

Li Hao knew he couldn’t explain himself to Old Man Li without a reason, so he smiled and said, "I feel like my practical experience is still somewhat lacking."

The three of them were speechless. If you consider your practical experience lacking, then what about us?

Li Tie Mu was helpless about Li Hao’s decision and said, "Are you sure you don’t want to reconsider? The guidance of the Abyss Master is a rare opportunity. If you have a Sword Dao bottleneck, with the Abyss Master’s advice, you might easily overcome it."

Li Hao smiled wryly. He also wanted to, but his bottleneck was in painting, cooking, and fishing, having nothing to do with Sword Dao.

At this moment, a dragon’s roar resonated in the sky.

Chu Xiangtian, riding a dragon chariot, burst through the clouds and descended in front of the black Immortal Stele.

He stood with hands behind his back, announcing the rankings on the black Immortal Stele, and then said:

"For those disciples who did not make it into the top thousand, don’t be disheartened. There are still three years ahead, and three years is enough time to change your destiny!"

"You can choose to stay here for cultivation, or continue to challenge. The Ancient Immortal Realm is always open, or you can return to your sect for cultivation. If you wish to challenge here, just trigger the secret realm’s wasteland talisman, and you will be directly transported here, but you’ll have to return on your own."𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

Though these were encouraging words, many lower-ranked disciples were already sighing.

Previously self-proclaimed prodigies, now in the wild domain competition, they felt the gap. They realized that among the monsters within three thousand years of soul life, they did not have the strength to stand out from their peers.

Many Earth Sects were already calling their disciples to prepare to return.

Li Tie Mu also called Zhou Qingyun and the old woman, out of the ten spots in the Sword Abyss, Li Tie Mu got four, Zhou Qingyun had only two, the old woman three, and another from the Earth Institute.

"So, earlier I glanced at Qingwu’s number; she’s ranked over two thousand. Is this the highest ranking among our Sword Abyss disciples?"

Zhou Qingyun led his own disciple over, eyes filled with emotion, not expecting that this time, Old Man Li’s disciples were not just numerous but also highly skilled in combat.

"Good fellow, why don’t your eyes move beyond your sect, always focusing on your own people."

Li Tie Mu immediately rolled his eyes.

The old woman, however, looked serious and said, "I didn’t expect the competition to be so fierce this time. It seems that besides Ming Rong, who has the battle qualification, all others in our Sword Abyss are at risk of being eliminated."

"Hmm?"

Li Tie Mu and Zhou Qingyun looked at her in surprise. They had all heard of her disciple Lin Mingrong, and suddenly remembered this young girl.

They looked behind the old woman and saw the young girl Lin Mingrong standing there, elegantly beautiful, like an independent Female Sword Immortal, her expression extremely serene.

"Ming Rong, what’s her rank?" Zhou Qingyun couldn’t help but ask.

"921st."

The old woman pointed toward the black Immortal Stele.

Zhou Qingyun took a deep breath, then smiled wryly, "Impressive, at least our Sword Abyss has a young talent. We won’t face total defeat."

As he spoke, he glanced at Li Tie Mu and said, "Your little disciple with the innate Sword Immortal body, his cultivation realm is too low. Can he catch up in three years?"

Li Tie Mu smiled and said, "Who said we only have one young talent in the Sword Abyss? The one you’re talking about, Gu Yan, will definitely catch up within three years. I have confidence in him."

"Oh?"

The two were surprised at his words, looking at him in disbelief. Zhou Qingyun glanced towards Li Hao and the others and said, "Qingwu, who is ranked over two thousand, who else besides her? Has the little girl from the Calamity Clan already mastered the True Force of Calamity?"

Li Tie Mu only smiled without speaking, not revealing Li Hao’s rank, as it would shock them, causing too much commotion, and leaking the information would be detrimental.

Seeing Li Tie Mu’s mysterious demeanor, the two murmured a bit, not taking his words seriously.

"Let’s go, we should also return. There’s no way to cultivate here. It’s the first challenge, and we’ve seen the dangers of the desolate domain. We have an idea now. Let’s come again when we’re confident."

Zhou Qingyun called out.

At this moment, elders from various other abysses in the distance were also calling their disciples to return.

After leaving the Ancient Immortal Realm, they arrived at the vast plaza in front of the Yan Chu Imperial City, where other sects were also returning, and space channels opened one after another.

As part of the Heavenly Four Sects, the Great Dream Nine Abysses naturally did not want to fall behind in face value. An elder sent a message back, and a space channel immediately extended, personally guided by the Great Dream Master.

Only those in the Immortal King Realm could cut off such a vast distance, and with just one anchor point, they could open a fixed-point space teleportation.

Upon returning to the Great Dream Nine Abysses, on Dream Mountain, the elders from each abyss reported the rankings of their disciples.

Except for Lin Mingrong from Sword Abyss, each abyss had one or two disciples within the top thousand.

There was also one abyss where not a single disciple made it through the battle line, leaving the entire abyss dejected and humiliated.

For disciples ranked beyond a thousand, reporting their scores was meaningless, so only the elder woman from Sword Abyss spoke, informing about her disciple Lin Mingrong’s ranking, earning the Great Dream Master’s encouragement and reward.

"Mingrong, as the only person from our Sword Abyss qualified to participate, you must work hard and set an example for your junior brothers and sisters!"

The old woman told her disciple.

Clad in snowy clothes, Lin Mingrong slightly nodded, her gaze sweeping over the other members of Sword Abyss, pausing briefly on Gu Yan. She had heard about this disciple with the natural Sword Immortal physique.

Gu Yan sensed her gaze, returning her look with intensity, feeling a fire burning within his heart.

This time, going to the Yan Chu Imperial City, he suffered continuous setbacks. His eyes were no longer apathetic, but sharp.

"Go, the Great Dream Master is waiting for you."

The old woman said to Lin Mingrong.

The newly announced disciples within the top thousand from each abyss received encouragement and rewards from the Great Dream Master, who also summoned them for a meeting.

Lin Mingrong slightly nodded, then bid farewell to everyone before turning to leave.

Li Tie Mu also said to Li Hao, "You should go too. I just informed the Great Dream Master about your situation, and only the Great Dream Master knows."

Li Hao was momentarily stunned, a bit helpless, but thinking of the Immortal Pill rewards, although not something he needed, they could later be left for Feng and Qing Ying, or given to Xiyan as snacks.

"Hmm?"

Seeing Li Hao break away from the crowd and follow Lin Mingrong’s figure away, Zhou Qingyun and the old woman were both stunned, involuntarily looking at Li Tie Mu.

Li Tie Mu smiled mysteriously, "Didn’t I just say, the talents from our Sword Abyss aren’t just limited to Mingrong."

"You’re saying that kid also ranked within the thousand? Then why didn’t you report it to the Great Dream Master just now?" Zhou Qingyun asked in shock.

The old woman looked at him doubtfully, "Old Li, you shouldn’t joke about this. If the Dream Master gets angry, we won’t help you."

"That kid’s ranking is somewhat special, it’s better not to disclose it," Li Tie Mu chuckled.

The two were even more surprised upon hearing this, exchanging glances, knowing that despite Li Tie Mu’s usual frivolousness, he is extremely serious at crucial times.

What kind of ranking requires such secrecy?

The two were curious, looking at Murong Qingwu and others, seeing the three of them with complex expressions, becoming even more intrigued.

Meanwhile, Li Hao followed Lin Mingrong’s figure to a hall on the mountaintop.

Walking along the corridor of the hall, he entered a courtyard.

Lin Mingrong walking ahead, when reaching the end of the corridor, noticed Li Hao still following. She slightly stopped, turning to frown and asked:

"Junior brother, only those qualified for participation can come here. Who are you?"

"Same as you," Li Hao lightly coughed: "But I’m not familiar with the way."