Volume 3 - Chapter 391: The Ancient Betrothal
Li Hao swept his gaze across the scene and was instantly struck by its grandeur—far more dazzling than the previous Marshal King Star, a hundred times over.
Above the sky, golden phoenix feathers shimmered and true dragons soared, stirring up swirling clouds of multicolored brilliance. Below, majestic palaces lined the land, radiant with gold and jade, outshining even imperial courts tenfold. Even an ordinary storefront resembled a celestial temple, filled with heavenly treasures glowing in divine light. The air rang with melodies from zithers and swords, a harmony of magnificence.
"So this is the Imperial Star?"
Li Hao felt a tremor in his heart. Thinking of the Su clan, he silently asked the Black Tortoise Emperor Soul:
"Are there Immortal Emperors on this Imperial Star?"
"There are."
Sensing his concern, the Black Tortoise Emperor Soul replied, "But Immortal Emperors dwell in semi-slumber most of the time. Unless something earth-shaking occurs, they do not awaken. The Supreme you saw earlier was merely an incarnation. Even my master, Dao-Origin Immortal Emperor, only reflected his will here, not his true form. If his true self had descended, the real world would have collapsed. You mortals wouldn’t have been able to withstand it."
"An incarnation?"
Li Hao’s pupils constricted. That Supreme had been so overwhelming that no one could even meet his gaze. A single trace of his presence had brought every king to their knees—and that was just an incarnation?!
In that moment, Li Hao understood why Immortal Emperors were held as the ultimate sovereigns of the true realm—no wonder all races revered them.
After leaving the teleportation array, Li Hao entered the city before him and began searching for the Su clan’s location.
Fortunately, the local humans spoke the same language as those in the Southern Domain, though the accent was different.
Hearing Li Hao’s accent, the locals assumed he was from a remote northern star and cast him curious glances. But once they sensed his cultivation, their expressions softened, and they kindly gave him directions.
"The Su clan resides in Gusu City. You'll need to teleport from here to get there."
"Gusu City?"
Li Hao’s heart stirred. This star was called Gusu, and the city bore the same name. Could the Su clan have an Immortal Emperor as an ancestor?
"Rumor says so, but what things are truly like now, this old one can’t say. I’ve dwelled in the original true realm for far too long. Also, since an Immortal Emperor sleeps on this star, I, too, must enter a partial slumber. If you face danger, I will reveal myself. The rest is up to you."
The voice of the Black Tortoise Emperor Soul gradually faded.
Li Hao didn’t complain. Instead, he offered silent thanks and retrieved an Immortal Stone, stepping into a roadside tavern.
The tavern was luxurious—more palace than inn. Those entering and leaving glowed like glass statues, clad in divine trinkets—clearly the elite.
Li Hao sought out someone in the tavern to inquire about Gusu Imperial Star.
Sensing his Immortal Lord-level cultivation, the tavern-goer treated him with due respect and offered a brief explanation.
Gusu Imperial Star was vast beyond measure, with numerous forbidden zones. Many cities and mountain ranges were off-limits for aerial travel. These areas were private spirit veins monopolized by great clans, shrouded in secrecy. Certain cities were even sanctified—crossing them from above was sacrilege, as they housed ancient emperor statues and ancestral tablets. Any immortal soaring over would be guilty of blasphemy.
Such were the customs of Gusu Imperial Star—nonnegotiable and absolute.
The man casually explained all this, and upon learning that Li Hao intended to visit the Su clan, he directed him to the proper teleportation hub.
The star was so large that it dwarfed the realms of the heavens combined. Even if you added thirty-three small worlds together, they wouldn’t equal a tenth of it.
Li Hao left the tavern and made for the teleportation site. Recalling the dying words of that tragic, shattered face, he felt an urgency stir within him.
After three consecutive teleportations, passing through three celestial cities, Li Hao finally arrived in Gusu City.
The city before him was even more imposing. The streets seemed paved with golden bricks, and ethereal zither melodies drifted through the air, imbued with the purest rhythm of the Great Dao. Children growing up here would, by simply listening, reach the Dao with ease—so long as they had even a shred of insight.
In the mortal world, reaching the Dao Perception Realm required extraordinary talent and a thousand years of cultivation. But here, even teens could attain it with little effort.
The Su clan occupied the very heart of Gusu City—the most splendid and powerful district.
Their massive imperial estate stood like a sovereign realm unto itself. The compound alone eclipsed the size of a mortal kingdom. Countless palaces dotted the grounds, pools where dragons and phoenixes bathed shimmering under starlight—luxury beyond measure.
Outside the estate, patrols of Immortal Lords in heavy guard stood watch, their eyes cold and piercing as they scanned every passerby.
Even immortals crossing the street quickened their steps and held their breath, afraid to stir dust near the gates.
"Have you heard? The Su clan is marrying into the Lin clan. The Emperor's fated daughter will wed the Emperor's fated son. Can you imagine how powerful their descendants will be?"
"What else can we do? In the Northern Domain, the human race survives only because a few great clans prop us up. Otherwise, we’d have long been reduced to beasts. The demons are far too powerful now—we have to band together."
"I heard Su Muqing and that imperial son were childhood sweethearts. This marriage is heaven-made."
"I've long heard that the Emperor's fated daughter is a peerless beauty. I came all this way just to catch a glimpse of her."
"Of course! Ten years ago, I had the fortune to see Miss Su from afar just once. In the ten years since, every time I close my eyes, that image returns—I’ll never forget it."
Crowds gathered outside the estate, murmuring and craning their necks to catch a glimpse. Yet none dared to release their divine sense toward the estate.
Li Hao paused, catching snippets of their conversation. Only then did he realize these people had come just to glimpse the lady of the Su clan.
He couldn’t help but chuckle inwardly. Even immortals, it seemed, could be captivated by a pretty face. But the closer he got to the estate, the stronger the pressure he felt. The Su clan was indeed a major power in the Northern Domain—its status might even surpass the royal clans of the Southern Domain like the Yan and Chu.
Farther from the estate, the streets buzzed with hushed voices. But closer to the gate, silence reigned. No one dared approach.
Thus, as the youth strolled forward, many eyes were drawn to him. The Immortal Lords on patrol immediately turned their gaze toward him.
Seeing his plain robes, their expressions sharpened.
"Who goes there? What business do you have with the Su clan?"
One of the Immortal Lords stepped forward and questioned him evenly. His tone wasn’t hostile—after all, the Su clan received many high-born visitors, and one couldn’t judge a person by appearance alone.
Li Hao thought of what Ying Xiaoxiao had said—about the Su clan in the Northern Domain. He took a deep breath, feeling a rare nervousness rise within him.
From his Heaven and Earth space, he retrieved the ancient scroll. The Black Tortoise Emperor Soul had told him it was bestowed by the Dao-Origin Immortal Emperor. Bringing it to the Su clan would yield what he sought. That Immortal Emperor would surely have foreseen what he needed.
He handed the scroll to the Immortal Lord and said,
"My name is Haotian. I come to visit the Su clan. Please present this to the one in charge."
The Immortal Lord raised an eyebrow, sensing the faint Dao resonance emanating from the ancient scroll—as well as a concealed aura that even he found intimidating. His heart trembled. Clearly, this youth was no simple figure.
He accepted the scroll and said,
"Please follow me to the guest hall and wait a moment."
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