Follow the path of Dao from infancy

Chapter 1381: Chapter 321: Preparations Before the Great Battle (Part 2)

She did not make things difficult for Li Hao publicly, to prevent the matter of the marriage agreement from becoming widely known and embarrassing her.

Not much later, Gu Yan and the others also emerged one after another.

After several years apart, Li Hao noticed that Gu Yan’s aura had undergone significant changes compared to before, becoming more restrained and profound. His cultivation had reached the peak of the True Immortal Realm Tenth Layer but had yet to step into the Immortal Monarch Realm.

The difference between the True Immortal and Immortal Monarch Realm is but a hair’s breadth, yet countless prodigies remain stuck at this bottleneck for tens of thousands of years, unable to break through. Being able to shatter the bottleneck within a thousand years is considered a result of chance and fortune.

Gu Yan, upon seeing Li Hao, nodded in greeting, yet his expression remained extraordinarily calm, like a treasured sword sheathed away.

"Meeting again, which city did you go to?"

A figure accompanied by starlight appeared—it was Xing Lan. She fluttered down from the Heavenly Bridge, and upon seeing Li Hao, she couldn’t help but smile and ask.

Li Hao noticed she was more radiant compared to before, with an aura of starlight faintly visible, like a certain pattern of innate Tao diagram.

"The Time-Space Origin City, what about you?"

Li Hao asked.

Xing Lan’s eyes instantly showed a look of envy and said: "I didn’t have such luck. I couldn’t capture the origin of the Space-Time Dao and had to settle for going to the Form Control Origin City."

Li Hao figured out her destination too—the fact that he visited both the Five Paths Origin City and the Time-Space Origin City but didn’t see her there.

"That’s not bad either, after all, it is the Nine Orders." Li Hao declared.

Xing Lan chuckled and said: "Seven years is too short, if it were seven hundred years, that would have been ideal."

"I think many would agree." Li Hao laughed.

Not far away, Chu Yueli’s gaze turned cold, and she looked away.

It wasn’t long before, as more people emerged, when almost everyone was out, the old grandmaster spoke:

"Let’s move, escort you away, and go back to prepare well for battle. You all are the prodigies of our Dynasty and should endeavor to bring glory to it."

"Yes."

Many responded loudly, breaking away from the regrets of parting from this Original Secret Realm, eyes filled with anticipation.

As the old grandmaster led the way, he took everyone to the Origin Reception City, then opened a passage above the courtyard, sending everyone out one by one.

"Little fellow, this time the schedule is tight, so I won’t keep you here. Next time, come back and play a game of chess with this old man."

As Li Hao was being sent off, the old grandmaster transmitted his voice into Li Hao’s mind.

Li Hao was taken aback and quickly replied: "Of course, next time for sure!"

"Then you’ll have to perform well. If you manage to get a good ranking in the Southern Domain battle, His Majesty will certainly award you a spot to comprehend in the Original Secret Realm."

The old grandmaster transmitted his voice while laughing.

"Hmm."

Li Hao agreed, and then together with Yue Xi, Gu Yan, and the others, he stepped into the teleportation channel, leaving the Original Secret Realm.

Upon exiting the Original Secret Realm, it turned out to be the Chaos Secret Realm they had entered earlier, where many figures gathered on the plains, with strong experts possessing the aura of the Immortal King Realm imparting teachings to cultivators on understanding the Dao.

As Li Hao and Chu Tianhuang’s batch from the Original Secret Realm emerged, the quiet spell on the Chaos Secret Realm broke, many opened their eyes, feeling the presence of numerous powerful and familiar auras.

"It’s Chu Tianhuang!"

"The Imperial Family, they’ve all returned!"

"Xing Lan, Tian Hongyi, all of them returned! Has the Original Secret Realm cultivation ended?"

"Indeed, it’s been seven years, already seven years!"

People in the Chaos Secret Realm stood up, eyes filled with both shock and envy, as well as regret, along with a few prospects for the upcoming Southern Domain battle. Though they couldn’t face off against the monsters like Chu Tianhuang, they could still leave a mark by showcasing their own flair in the battle, recognized by many.

One must know that the Southern Domain battle would be famous across the Southern Domain in the Great Thousand True Realm. Even with a ten-thousandth of focus cast on oneself, it’s an unimaginable amount.

"How powerful! They seem to have grown stronger compared to seven years ago!"

"Exactly, our sect’s Senior Brother Nie Yuanshan is obviously far more formidable than before!"

"Cultivation in the Original Secret Realm, I’ve heard it’s like a horse on a fast course, further widening the gap between us and them, and it’ll likely grow even wider in the future!"

"I’ve heard that after the Southern Domain battle, those who secure leading ranks will have the chance to cultivate in the Primordial True Realm, truly the supreme Holy Land for Cultivation in the True Realm!"

"Don’t think too much about it. The Primordial True Realm is suitable for cultivation but is rumored to be extremely harsh and dangerous. In past times, prodigies entering there have been laid to rest."

Discussions buzzed across the plains of the Chaos Secret Realm.

Yan Chu Immortal Dynasty had one thousand spots for battle, but only a hundred managed to enter the Original Secret Realm, while the remaining nine hundred spent their time in the Chaos Secret Realm.

Amidst the chatter, dragon roars suddenly rang out, rushing from afar.

Riding on an Ancestor Dragon, Chu Xiangtian gallantly arrived, clad in imperial armor, loftily standing high above the Chaos Secret Realm, overlooking the crowd, and declared:

"The Southern Domain battle will commence in three months, gather at the Ascension Platform in the Imperial Capital by then, and then head to the Supreme Heavenly Palace to fight together!"

"During these last three months, take time to immerse yourselves. Also, remember that in the battle, Immortal Soldier armor and other treasures will be prohibited; you must rely solely on your own skills. Don’t play any tricks that would disgrace the Immortal Dynasty!"

His voice was piercing, majestic like a bell tolling at dawn, reverberating in everyone’s hearts.

As one of the top-tier Princes, he was already at the peak of the Immortal Monarch Realm, able to challenge numerous Immortal Monarch realm powerhouses, and could even contest a strike with Immortal King realm experts. This level of power was something that new-generation prodigies like Li Hao could only look up to!

The plains fell quiet, minds buzzing.

"For your sects, for yourselves, make sure to give it your all, go!"

Chu Xiangtian shouted loudly.

Only then did the crowd feel that the intimidating pressure from above eased slightly, their hearts whispering in awe that this Prince’s pressure exceeded many sect masters. This was the Imperial Family of the Ancient Immortal Dynasty!

Chu Tianhuang and the others looked at Chu Xiangtian’s figure and his majestic appearance, their eyes varied, flickering with different glows.

"Hmph!"

After the imperial brothers finished speaking, Chu Yueli sneered at a distant youth, flicked her sleeves, and flew away, being the first to leave the scene.

The rest of the Imperial Family also hurried away to make their final preparations.

"Brother Haotian, see you again."

Before leaving, Chu Tianhuang flew in front of Li Hao, smiling and said.

Li Hao instantly felt many eyes from the Imperial Family focus on him, his gaze flickered slightly; what appeared as a simple greeting from Chu Tianhuang seemed to announce their relationship to the other members of the Imperial Family.

These Princes engaged in open and covert contests, gathering allies and forming partnerships—Li Hao understood this but didn’t want to overthink, for everything void was but a delusion, all changes were mind-driven. Facing this greeting, he responded calmly with a smile and nodded.

As Chu Tianhuang left, Gu Yan suddenly transmitted to Li Hao:

"Do you wish to follow this member of the Imperial Family?"

Li Hao knew Chu Tianhuang’s greeting had already taken effect, leading Gu Yan and surely other members of the Imperial Family to think similarly. Should one encounter the Imperial Family members opposing Chu Tianhuang, they would likely trouble Li Hao. If one failed to discern this, those troubles might push Li Hao closer to Chu Tianhuang, solidifying their relationship more tightly.

"No, just an acquaintance."

Li Hao transmitted his response.

Upon hearing, Gu Yan seemed to relax his expression slightly, saying: "Dynasty conflicts are extremely complex, for us cultivators, let’s not waste our best years and time on this. As long as one is strong enough, even the Dynasty will ultimately bow before you, true strength needs none of this."

Listening to his advice, Li Hao couldn’t help but laugh, saying: "You better not worry about me, you’ve also gained a lot this time, go back and properly absorb it."

Gu Yan gave Li Hao a deep look and nodded.

"Let’s go."

Li Hao moved as well, having become somewhat central in Sword Abyss, and now led the way out of the secret realm.

Outside the Chaos Secret Realm lies the Ancient Immortal Realm, around which the guards of the Imperial Family had already lined up in a long formation, seeming to await the return of many prodigies from the realm.

Escorting from above along the way, bidding respectful farewells, outside the Ancient Immortal Realm awaited the teleportation Immortal Array—the first teleportation Immortal Array of Yan Chu, capable of transmitting to various places across the Nine Thousand Immortal Cities.

Li Hao and others returned to the Great Dream Nine Abysses.