Volume 3 - Chapter 389: Departure (Part 3)
In the void above.
Wang Shanhe watched as Li Hao disappeared, finally exhaling in relief. With the Dao-Origin Immortal Emperor intervening, Li Hao’s life was no longer in jeopardy.
Still, he dared not pursue.
Though he was Li Hao’s guardian and had means of tracking his whereabouts, he feared the Supreme might trace him in turn—and inadvertently expose Li Hao’s path.
“Kid… from here on, you’re on your own. If anything happens, seek out the Luo Emperor…”
His heart ached with helplessness.
He had done so little for Li Hao.
The inheritance left by the Emperor Tianyang had brought the boy more danger than benefit. In the end, it had nearly cost him his life.
“Are you staying, or leaving with me?”
Beside him, Han Laotou turned and gave him a sharp glance.
Wang Shanhe snapped out of his thoughts. He had long since recognized Han Laotou’s identity. Bowing his head, he said respectfully, “This junior will follow you.”
Han Laotou didn’t waste words. With a flick of his sleeve, divine radiance from the Black Tower enveloped Wang Shanhe, and in the next instant, tore through the heavens of the True Realm.
They vanished—departing the Southern Region and heading for the deep, mysterious Primordial True Realm.
From that day on, the City of Heart-Reflecting Pagoda lost one of its towers.
And in a certain imperial city within the Primordial Realm, a broken imperial artifact quietly appeared.
As the True Immortal tournament continued, the imperial platform was also repaired.
But the earlier incident had stirred such waves that most were still lost in discussion. Their interest in the ongoing battles had dwindled.
Even the subsequent participants felt a deep frustration.
All the light seemed to have been stolen by that one youth. No matter what they did now, their names would fade in his shadow.
Still, as time passed, the audience’s focus slowly returned to the ongoing battles.
One match, then another, then a third…
Eventually, as the top ten contestants were announced, the Southern Region’s Tournament of Prodigies once more surged to a climax.
In the final match for first place, Di Linchen unleashed the domineering power of the Imperial Clan.
He defeated Jianxin, whose Dao Heart had been shaken, and claimed the crown.
Thus, the True Immortal division’s final rankings were settled.
Di Linchen first, Jianxin second, Mingyue third.
Shen Wuji and Gui Lingyue placed fifth and eighth respectively, earning qualification for the Primordial True Realm—and the Supreme’s rewards.
Yet during the ceremony, all thoughts still drifted back to that departed youth.
He had the strength to claim the crown. But having effectively withdrawn from the tournament, he naturally received no honors from the Supreme.
Next came the Immortal Lord battles—more intense, more dazzling.
Immortal laws blanketed the imperial platform, their display leaving the crowd breathless.
Each battle was fierce, but the Immortal Lord division had fewer contestants. The entire bracket concluded in just three days.
Among them, Di Jiming—seventh-level Immortal Lord with Imperial Clan blood—claimed first place without controversy.
With overwhelming force and unrivaled mastery, he crushed his opponents. No one in his realm could match him.
Yet the more dominant his performance, the more people were reminded of that vanished figure.
And could only sigh.
With the Southern Region’s grand tournament finally concluded, those who earned placements awaited the Supreme’s transfer to the Primordial True Realm.
The rest returned to their various immortal sects and courts, beginning their journey home.
…
“You’re ruthless.”
In the vast starry sky, within a hidden domain, seven figures floated.
Faint starlight glinted off their faces, casting flickering shadows.
The speaker was the Emperor Tianzhao.
His gaze, cold and grim, was fixed on the Emperor of Yanchu—the Chu Emperor.
“I allowed them to take refuge in your territory back then because I knew you wished to protect them—to preserve the greater situation, and perhaps pave the way for a future reversal of judgment. But this time, your actions were too severe.”
His voice was low, weighty.
“Indeed. If the Dao-Origin Immortal Emperor hadn’t stepped in…” came another voice, crisp and chilly.
It belonged to the Empress Yuanzun, her skin pale as snow. Gone was the carefree elegance she had shown amid the clouds—now replaced by an icy edge.
“That youth carries the legacy of the Lord himself. You nearly extinguished the last spark. If they knew they survived by such means, they’d never have consented.”
The Emperor of Jin spoke, his tone low.
His own son, Jin Fengling, had once attacked Li Hao. Then, he had stood behind his son. But now, his eyes were filled with shadow as he stared at the Chu Emperor.
“You can’t place all the blame on him,” sighed the Emperor Qin.
“These years, the Supreme has never stopped testing us. Even within our own courts, the Celestial Palace has planted spies. There’s no way to hide anything. The Chu Emperor made his choice—for the greater good. But still…”
He trailed off.
Comments
Post a Comment