Chapter 583: Departure
Their eyes met—Di Jiming's gaze was cold. With Li Hao now favored by Dao Yuan Xian Di, he would surely set foot in the Primordial True Realm and had no need to compete for a Southern Domain quota.
Now, both were Immortal Lords, but in the Southern Domain, there was no more chance for them to fight.
Still, in the Primordial True Realm, he would have another chance to face Li Hao.
"Hmm?"
As Di Jiming pondered, he suddenly sensed Li Hao gathering immortal Power in his palm, brewing a terrifying sword Qi.
His face changed, eyes full of shock and anger. "What are you trying to do?"
"Returning your sword."
The sword Qi in Li Hao's palm was already condensed. In an instant, he slashed, thunder rolling through the world. After the shattering of the ninefold sequence, the Great Dao, all forces in the void were pulled together as one and slashed down.
This strike held all of Li Hao's current power—and his ultimate killing intent.
Di Jiming was shocked and furious, never expecting Li Hao to try to kill him now, relying on Dao Yuan Xian Di's authority.
But as a quasi-emperor son of the Emperor Clan, he didn't believe Dao Yuan Xian Di would publicly execute him. Without Dao Yuan Xian Di taking action, Li Hao alone was nothing but a clown!
He exploded with immortal Power. The stellar meridians behind him lit the sky. A golden mark appeared on his forehead, and the power of his Emperor Dao Ninefold Immortal Seal burst forth.
"You think you can do this? Courting death!"
Di Jiming struck back, this time not holding back at all. Previously, his attack was partly annoyance and partly for his cousin, but now it was pure rage at Li Hao.
A palm print instantly took shape—it was once again the Great Emperor's Heaven-Mourning Hand.
But this time, its force was even stronger than before.
In the blink of an eye, the clash covered the entire mountaintop.
Countless people hadn't even reacted before the two peerless prodigies collided.
A deafening roar shook the air. That world-destroying palm shattered under the sword's ultimate force.
Unity of the Great Dao—like a blade forged from all immortal Dao Law chains, the sword split that palm apart.
But as the emperor palm shattered, the sword Qi also dimmed and broke.
Both Li Hao and Di Jiming were sent flying back. Li Hao retreated several hundred meters, while Di Jiming's Dharma form appeared behind him and stabilized after a few dozen meters.
Seeing this, countless people's faces changed, all looking shocked.
Di Jiming was stunned, his face turning grim as he stared at Li Hao.
He felt his Emperor Dao Ninefold Immortal Seal suppressed by the other's. That unity Dao Immortal Seal could instantly draw on all the world's power—fast, condensed, and stronger than he'd imagined!
Li Hao's immortal Power surged and fluctuated. He glanced at the emperor clan genius but didn't attack again. That sword repaid the previous palm.
He had just stepped into the Immortal Lord Realm, not yet fully accustomed. Fighting a seventh-stage as a first-stage, and the other was an emperor clan genius—the gap was huge.
Still, at least now he could resist, not get wiped out with a single blow.
"Again!"
Di Jiming's anger surged even higher. He thought one palm would finish Li Hao, but the boy only got injured.
Even if he'd advanced from True Immortal to Immortal Lord, he was still only at the first level. Di Jiming could defeat even tenth-level Immortal Lords!
He unleashed his full might, wanting to kill Li Hao.
But Li Hao ignored him, striding toward the imperial road.
Di Jiming's fury grew at being ignored and he tried to attack, but a force enveloped and blocked him.
That force contained imperial might; even a trace of it shattered his immortal Power, dimmed his stellar meridians, and left his face pale.
He looked resentfully at Dao Yuan Xian Di, but just meeting those indifferent eyes was like being struck by lightning—his anger and killing intent were instantly shattered. He spat blood, his face deathly white.
Dao Yuan Xian Di hadn't even acted—just Di Jiming's own fury and killing intent rebounding under that imperial might nearly destroyed him.
Li Hao didn't even glance at Di Jiming's rage and injury. He stepped onto the road, walking forward under countless watchful eyes.
The youth's figure was radiant like a deity, but still thin and solitary. Countless people watched with complicated feelings. This boy had turned the Southern Domain upside down, nearly started a blood feud between two great clans, and forced two Emperors to appear—such an event was rarely seen in the ages.
"Haotian…"
Among the Da Meng Clan, Meng Wannian and the others had complicated expressions but didn't try to stop him.
They knew he was hunted. Dao Yuan Xian Di could only guarantee his safety if he left the Southern Domain—only then could he live and grow.
"He's gone…"
Yue Xi, Gu Yan, and others watched their peer in a daze. The radiance around him was beyond anything a True Immortal could do. They felt that when they met him again, he'd be a hundred times more dazzling than today.
On the edge of Wan Shan Sword Tower, Lin Qingying's eyes were filled with both joy and sorrow. She didn't run after his figure.
Everything that happened made her realize her own strength was too weak; chasing him would only drag him down.
"Someday…"
She silently vowed in her heart.
But at least Li Hao survived. She still had hope of seeing him again.
"Child…"
As she gazed in a daze, a gentle, motherly voice rose up in Lin Qingying's heart.
She froze, thinking it must be her imagination, looking around.
At the same time, both the Supreme and Dao Yuan Xian Di seemed to sense something. Their eyes shifted to a rather plain green-robed figure in the crowd below.
That girl was beautiful, but amid so many dazzling talents, she didn't stand out.
"I am Wu Wei Shi Mu. Are you willing to become my disciple?"
That gentle voice sounded again.
This time Lin Qingying heard it clearly. She was stunned, staring blankly around, but saw no one.
Yet she felt deep down that this might be her own path.
"I am willing," she replied silently.
…
Li Hao followed the imperial road out. When it extended beyond the mountains into the starry sky, under countless eyes, he reached the end.
Ahead was a vortex of void, connecting to another space.
Li Hao knew Dao Yuan Xian Di would send him elsewhere.
Standing at the edge of the vortex, he paused, half turning, but finally didn't look back. Then he stepped forward and entered the vortex.
From that moment, his figure vanished from the sight of everyone in the Southern Domain.
Dao Yuan Xian Di watched, his gaze turning to the Supreme. He said calmly, "The others are unimportant. Don't make things difficult for them."
The Supreme was noncommittal. "The Southern Domain gathering is over—I won't keep you for a drink."
Dao Yuan Xian Di, given this subtle dismissal, only smiled calmly and disappeared into the void, leaving not a trace behind.
As Dao Yuan Xian Di disappeared, the mountain skies, after a brief silence, gradually became noisy again.
Countless people whispered, shocked and curious, guessing where the youth had gone. Such a prodigy—no one knew whether he'd remain in the Southern Domain or leave entirely. The thought that he might depart made many feel regret; a genius like this not fighting for the Southern Domain would be a huge loss.
That Sin Immortal incident was ten thousand years past. Was it really necessary to keep pursuing it now? Many people wondered and sighed.
The remaining contestants all looked at each other, their expressions complicated. Especially the many True Immortal talents of the big clans—aside from Shen Wuji and a few others—most felt conflicted. Though the True Immortal round hadn't finished, it no longer seemed necessary; there was no doubt about who the uncrowned king was, even without a champion officially decided.
"What a pity..." Chu Tianhuang thought, sighing to himself. He had planned to befriend the boy after the tournament.
Chu Yueli, on the other hand, frowned deeply, looking troubled. She didn't know where the youth had gone. She would have to ask her royal father—if he truly left, her marriage arrangement would become a joke among the imperial sisters.
"There's always someone higher—never thought I'd see a day when I'd be left sighing by a true monster," murmured Boya Xuejian, a wry smile on her lips as she glanced at the other Immortal Lord talents. Only those who won the chance to enter the Primordial True Realm would get to see him again.
At this moment, the sky's realm stones once more shone with light. The Supreme's power withdrew, and the scene here was cast across the Southern Domain.
When people saw that the youth was gone, all the immortal courts began buzzing, uncertain what had happened.
The Immortal Guard Commander, following the Supreme's orders, announced that the tournament would continue.
"This trip to the Southern Domain has really opened my eyes," Gui Lingyue whispered, her eyes full of complexity, awe, and a bit of excitement.
Gui Lingshuang was silent. After the boy advanced to Immortal Lord, his aura alone made her wary. He was only a hundred years old, yet already this fierce after just stepping into Immortal Lord—she could feel the gulf between them.
"What happened?"
Somewhere in a quiet part of an immortal court, Mi Xueyao frowned at the scene playing out again in the realm stone's light. That guy was gone—did he die, or…?
Up in the sky, Wang Shanhe watched Li Hao leave, sighing with relief. With Dao Yuan Xian Di stepping in, Li Hao would surely be protected. Still, he didn't dare follow. Though he was Li Hao's protector and had ways to track him, he worried about being traced by the Supreme and exposing Li Hao's whereabouts.
'Kid, you're on your own now. If you need anything, find Luo Huang…' Wang Shanhe thought, feeling helpless that he couldn't help Li Hao much. The inheritance of Tianyang Xian Di hadn't benefited the boy much—instead, it had brought this disaster.
"Are you staying here or coming with me?" Nearby, Han old man looked at Wang Shanhe and frowned.
Wang Shanhe came back to his senses. He already recognized Han old man's identity and respectfully cupped his hands. "Junior will go with you."
Han old man didn't say more. He swept his sleeve, wrapping him in the black tower's divine radiance, then tore open the true realm and left.
He didn't return to Wenxin Futu City, but also departed the Southern Domain, heading for the deep and distant Primordial True Realm.
From then on, that city lost a tower. And in a primordial imperial city, a broken imperial artifact appeared.
With the True Immortal round continuing, the imperial stage was also repaired.
But the upheaval was so great that many people remained distracted, their interest in the ongoing battles low.
The remaining contestants all felt stifled—as if all the brilliance had been taken by that one youth, and they could no longer leave their mark.
Still, as time passed—one match, then two, then three—the people of the Southern Domain were gradually drawn back into the tournament.
With the top ten decided, the Southern Domain Genius War reached a new peak.
In the final contest for the championship, Di Linchen displayed his emperor clan dominance, defeating Jianxin, whose Dao heart was wounded, and taking first place.
Thus, the True Immortal round's ranking was set:
Di Linchen first, Jianxin second, Mingyue third.
Shen Wuji and Gui Lingyue took fifth and eighth, earning spots in the Primordial True Realm and the Supreme's rewards.
But when the prizes were given, everyone inevitably thought of the departed youth. He had the strength to be champion, but he'd quit the tournament, so naturally, there would be no Supreme reward.
Afterward came the Immortal Lord round, which was even more intense. Immortal Dao Laws filled the imperial stage, astonishing everyone watching.
Each fierce contest finished, and since there were fewer Immortal Lords, the round ended even faster—just three days.
At seventh stage Immortal Lord, Di Jiming of the Emperor Clan easily claimed first, overwhelming all rivals, both in power and skill.
The stronger Di Jiming looked, the more people thought of that vanished figure, though it was only a sigh in their hearts.
As the Southern Domain tournament finally ended, those who earned quotas all waited for the Supreme to send them to the Primordial True Realm.
The rest returned to their sects and immortal courts, heading home.
"You're ruthless," said a voice in a private starspace on the return journey, where seven figures appeared, their faces flickering in weak starlight.
It was Tianzhao Emperor who spoke, his face dark, eyes fixed on the Yan Chu Emperor.
"Back then, we let them stay in your domain. I knew you wanted to protect them, for the greater good and to clear their name in the future. But this time, the price was too high," Tianzhao Emperor said coldly.
"Indeed, if Dao Yuan Xian Di hadn't appeared…" Another voice sounded, cool and clear—it was Yuan Zun Empress, her eyes icy, not as casual as she'd been in the clouds, her gaze much colder.
"That boy was the Master's successor. You nearly snuffed out the only flame left. If they knew they survived only like this, I doubt they'd ever accept it," Jin Emperor said lowly. Earlier, his descendant Jin Fengling had fought Li Hao, and he'd supported his own, but now his eyes were somber as he stared at Chu Emperor.
"You can't blame him entirely. The Supreme's tests on us have never stopped these years. All our immortal courts are full of Tiangong's spies—we can't hide. Chu Emperor's action was for the greater good, but still…" Qin Emperor sighed.