Volume 3 - Chapter 388: Lord Haotian (Part 3)
The Dao-Origin Immortal Emperor did not stop him. He allowed Li Hao to finish all three kowtows before finally nodding. With a gentle wave of his hand, the void split open—a straight path extending far into the unknown.
"Go," the Dao-Origin Immortal Emperor said softly.
Li Hao lifted his gaze to the path ahead, then turned to look at the spot where the girl had disappeared.
He stared deeply at that place. Then his eyes turned to Han Lao. "Senior, come with me."
Han Lao could see what Li Hao was thinking and shook his head. "Don’t worry. The Dao-Origin Immortal Emperor has promised me—the Heavenly Emperor won’t harm me. Nor will he harm your sect companions. You don’t have to worry."
Li Hao looked toward the Dream Clan, then to the earth below—to the Great Dream Nine Abysses, to those familiar faces.
Yuexi. Gu Yan. Both of them looked back, eyes full of worry.
He withdrew his gaze and looked toward the figure in green near the edge of the Myriad Mountains Sword Tower. Their eyes met. In Li Hao’s eyes flickered a trace of pain—then he turned away.
He knew that in his current state, he was in no position to protect anyone.
"Haotian…"
High in the sky, Wang Shanhe had broken free from the Celestial Guard Commander’s domain. He stared dazedly at Li Hao, pain etched across his aged features.
He understood—if not for the Dao-Origin Immortal Emperor's intervention, Li Hao would have perished.
The Heavenly Emperor’s only disciple in this era, peerless in talent… and yet Wang Shanhe had failed to protect him.
That battle in years past had been too brutal. Too costly. If only those two Imperial weapons hadn’t been lost, perhaps Li Hao wouldn’t have had to suffer today’s disgrace.
Li Hao looked to the old man, then shifted his gaze to the Dao-Origin Immortal Emperor. He bowed deeply.
"Senior, may I ask you to protect my friends?"
The Dao-Origin Immortal Emperor's face remained calm. "You need not worry. With me here, even the Supreme will not trouble them."
At those words, Li Hao’s heart finally settled. He bowed again.
His gaze swept across the other contestants, across the Southern Domain, across the mountaintop—then slowly retracted.
And then, he stepped onto the path the Dao-Origin Immortal Emperor had opened for him.
In the Southern Domain, Elder Feng and many others remained. But Li Hao knew: if he stayed with them now, he would only bring them harm.
He walked alone, with nothing on him, departing the Southern Domain as he once had stepped out from the Divine General’s Manor.
But back then, he had Elder Feng by his side.
Now, only the warmth in a pair of remembered eyes accompanied him. And that was the reason for his journey.
Countless gazes from all corners of the Southern Domain—from imperial courts, celestial sects, and great clans—locked onto that young figure.
He had upended the entire Southern Domain Tournament, drawing out two Great Emperors and a half-step Emperor weapon, breaking through into the Lord realm in the face of certain death. He had survived.
Everyone knew—this youth’s name would echo again in the years to come.
If he was already this monstrous at the True Immortal Realm, what would he become as a Lord?
"Master… it seems this time, your wish didn’t come true after all…"
On a lonely peak, an old man leaning on a cane watched the conclusion of it all—with a faint smile in his eyes.
At the edge of the clouds, Jianxin and Mingyue looked toward the youth walking silently past them.
Neither had expected the Dao-Origin Immortal Emperor to step forward for Li Hao, nor that he had been watching this place all along.
They had entered the Primordial True Realm in hopes of becoming disciples of the Three Great Emperors. And now, that youth had already secured that privilege ahead of them.
"A hundred-year duel…"
Mingyue bit her lip. A sudden sense of urgency surged within her. If he entered the Primordial True Realm too, she no longer felt confident about that duel.
But to concede without a fight—impossible.
She was the Supreme’s direct disciple. They had started on the same path. She had a head start of hundreds of years of soul-longevity. How could she surrender now?
On the ground, Chu Tianhuang and others stared with complex expressions at the youth’s departing back. They didn’t know where he was going.
But with the Dao-Origin Immortal Emperor intervening, there was no doubt—he would enter the Primordial True Realm.
Perhaps they would meet again there.
"He survived… he actually survived…"
Chu Yueli stared blankly at his silhouette. She was stunned—but then, joy spread across her face.
He hadn’t died. If their marriage alliance came to pass, with his future status, she would rise high within the imperial clan.
But… where was he going now?
Confusion flickered in her eyes. It didn’t seem like he was leaving with the Dao-Origin Immortal Emperor.
Li Hao walked the starlit path stretching deep into the cosmos.
Suddenly, his steps paused slightly. His gaze swept to a figure standing at the edge of the passage.
That person exuded a noble aura. A divine star of command hovered above his head in the distant sky, casting a regal light.
An imperial clan member—Ji Ming of the Jin Dynasty.
As Li Hao’s gaze fell upon him, Ji Ming’s face turned cold. He clenched his fists tightly.
He hadn’t killed Li Hao today. It gnawed at him. Especially the fact that that woman had defeated him within the same realm—he could not accept it.
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