Volume 3 - Chapter 390: Northern Domain, The Su Clan (Part 2)
The vortex vanished.
Li Hao was spat out of the River of Time by the true realm’s spatial current, landing amidst a boundless, glittering sea of stars.
Around him, radiant stars floated silently in the void. Ahead, a massive celestial body loomed, surrounded by a golden belt of stardust—countless shattered meteors forming a ring of cosmic debris.
What stunned him most was the presence of a colossal beast, about the size of a clenched fist from his distance, crouched beside that star.
Considering how far he was from the planet, the creature’s actual size must have been in the millions of li.
Li Hao’s heart quaked.
Among men and monsters alike, a body spanning ten thousand zhang was already astonishing and typically signaled someone with Dao-seeking cultivation. Even the saintliest of demons across the realms might only span tens of thousands of zhang.
Yet compared to this beast? They wouldn't even measure up to a single strand of its fur.
At that moment, the creature seemed to notice him. A vast and ancient aura swept over the starry void, locking onto Li Hao’s presence.
But after a brief pause, the pressure passed like a gentle breeze—it lost interest.
Li Hao shivered. That was no ordinary being. It was undoubtedly an Immortal King, and likely one of the strongest within that realm.
“Just a Star-Origin Beast,” said the Black Tortoise Emperor Soul calmly. “You need not fear it. In the Northern Domain, it merely serves as a Guardian of Stars. What lies ahead should be a Command Star.”
As the voice fell, a ripple-like barrier, gentle as water, twisted the surrounding space and cloaked Li Hao’s body in concealment.
Then, a golden light shimmered into view before him, unfurling slowly.
It was an ancient scroll. The script upon it curled like flying dragons and dancing phoenixes, but Li Hao couldn’t read it. At the bottom right corner, however, a swirling image of a dragon and phoenix floated like a seal—circling, chirping softly with auspicious joy, a sound that brought peace to his heart.
“The Master said, with this scroll in hand, you may go to the Su Clan of the Northern Domain. There, you will find what you seek.”
The Black Tortoise Emperor Soul’s voice was steady.
Li Hao’s heart trembled. The Dao-Origin Immortal Emperor had foreseen his destination?
Could it be… he knew about Shi Miao’s reincarnation?
Perhaps he hadn’t calculated Li Hao’s fate directly—but hers. Or perhaps both. With power over fate, such foresight might well be within reach.
Li Hao knew little of the methods of Immortal Emperors, but what he did know filled him with awe. Across the true realm, aside from the Emperors themselves, even half-step Emperor Lords could not claim to fully grasp an Immortal Emperor’s power. The difference in realms was simply too great—such divine methods defied comprehension.
“Thank you, Dao-Origin Immortal Emperor.”
He whispered again, reverently, then tucked the ancient scroll away.
“Do you know anything about the Northern Domain?” the Black Tortoise Emperor Soul asked.
Li Hao shook his head. “Nothing,” he answered inwardly.
“The true realm is divided into four domains,” the Emperor Soul began. “The Southern Domain is ruled by the Celestial Palace and its myriad dynasties. It is human territory, though countless clans coexist. Demons and foreign races there are slaves—mounts, beasts, pets.”
“But the Northern Domain is different. It belongs to the demons. The major clans here are all demon clans. The dominant forces—all monsters.”
“Demons?”
Li Hao’s expression shifted. Even in the human world, demons and humans stood opposed. Demons devoured humans. Humans hunted demons.
“Exactly,” the Emperor Soul said. “Here, humans are food for demons, just as demons are livestock in the Southern Domain. Resistance is crushed with thunderous force.”
“But there are exceptions. Some powerful ancient human clans carved out territory amidst this chaos. The Su Clan you’re headed for is one of the few—an ancient, mighty human family respected even among demons.”
Li Hao paused, understanding dawning.
“Can I reach the Su Clan from that star ahead?” he asked.
“You can.”
At those words, Li Hao’s anticipation surged. Without hesitation, he sped forward.
As he soared through the stars, he could already sense it—the closer he drew to the star, the denser the demonic aura became. It pressed against him like black mist, whispering in countless strands.
The Star-Origin Beast at the star’s edge radiated an even more oppressive force.
“Your current appearance is similar to before, but your aura is completely different,” the Emperor Soul said. “In the true realm, there are billions of humans. It's not strange for people to share faces or names. As long as you don’t reveal your Dao-Origin Immortal Seal, no one will connect you to your past.”
Li Hao nodded.
He had already peered at his new appearance through his Primordial Spirit. It was subtly different—his eyebrows slightly altered—but not obvious. He looked much the same as before, perhaps a little more human. He had lost some of his sharpness, gained more calm. His aura was restrained, his presence subdued.
As he drew near, Li Hao saw other figures approaching the star as well.
They rode divine artifacts—some on flying boats where women danced and sang, while elegant young men reclined, fanning themselves with nonchalance.
These treasures blazed with divine light, like rainbows streaking across the heavens, piercing the planet’s protective aura and vanishing.
Li Hao did not hesitate and followed them in.
Beyond the planet’s protective current, dense, damp clouds loomed. Layer upon layer, they blurred vision. Only after passing through endless mist did he see it—
A magnificent continent.
Palatial towers of gold and jade dotted the land. Above them, true forms of demons flitted across the sky: massive centipedes a thousand zhang long, dragonkin spanning ten thousand zhang, phoenixes, giant rabbits, titanic deer…
Yet once they entered those palaces, they all transformed—into handsome men and beautiful women.
Only traces of their origins—scales at the wrist, claws at the fingertips, faint markings on their faces—hinted at what they were.
Some had transformed so completely they were indistinguishable from humans.
“If you hadn’t told me, Senior, I would’ve thought this was a human city…”
Li Hao’s eyes scanned the streets, murmuring inwardly.
Everyone walking the city looked human. Not a single obvious demon in sight—only a few high above occasionally revealed their true forms.
“Taking human form is due to the oldest belief in the true realm,” said the Emperor Soul. “The first Chaos Dao Ancestor… was human. All races show reverence.”
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