Volume 3 - Chapter 401: Defeating All in the Same Realm (Part 2)
Before long, five streaks of light whistled through the air.
Su Wanqing looked up and immediately stood. “Brother Su Qiyu.”
The youth in the lead was tall and strikingly handsome. He wore a robe adorned with celestial treasures, and on his belt hung nine radiant Immortal Beads—each one dazzling in its brilliance.
Every single bead could automatically withstand a full-force killing blow from a peak Immortal Lord without even needing to be activated.
Su Wanxue and Su Muqing also rose to greet him.
Su Qiyu’s gaze swept over the three girls before landing on Li Hao. Surprise flickered in his eyes.
“And who is this?”
Su Muqing’s face darkened slightly. “Just some idle nobody. Not worth your attention.”
“Could he be the one the rumors speak of—the brat trying to pursue Sister Muqing?” asked one of the four Su Clan youths behind Su Qiyu, all cousins of various ranks.
The other three immediately understood and turned to look at Li Hao with disdainful, mocking expressions.
Su Qiyu had been in seclusion recently, attempting a breakthrough to the Immortal King Realm. Hearing this, he looked puzzled. “Pursuing Muqing?”
He was astonished. To think someone on Gusu Empire Star still dared such recklessness—did the boy have a death wish?
And more baffling still, he hadn’t already been struck down on the spot and was even allowed to sit beside Su Muqing and the others?
Worried that Li Hao might feel humiliated, Su Wanqing quickly sent Su Qiyu a voice transmission, explaining the situation, including the marriage contract and their father’s decree.
Su Qiyu was stunned. The pieces clicked into place. When he heard that Li Hao had only a hundred-year soul lifespan, his pupils contracted slightly, and he gave Li Hao a long, serious look.
“Is that true?” he asked via voice transmission.
Su Wanqing nodded.
Su Qiyu stared deeply at Li Hao. When he heard the mocking voices behind him, he immediately raised a hand to silence them.
He understood now. There was an Immortal Emperor backing this youth—his father wouldn’t have tolerated this otherwise. A mere marriage contract would never have forced the Su Clan to make concessions, not to mention risking conflict with the Lin Clan.
The demon clans were watching hungrily, the northern frontier was under immense pressure, and the Human Race in the Northern Region could not afford internal strife.
“Quiet, all of you,” Su Qiyu said calmly. “Since this concerns Muqing, I trust she will handle it with proper judgment.”
With that, he led his group to sit nearby.
The four youths exchanged puzzled looks. They didn’t understand why Su Qiyu was defending this young man, but as members of a great clan, none of them were foolish. They quickly fell silent and began speculating about Li Hao’s background and identity.
Not long after they sat down, other prodigies from noble clans came over to pay their respects. Most kept it brief—just enough to exchange names and establish connections.
After all, the Sword Pool Blossom Contest wasn’t just a chance for young elites to make a name for themselves—it was also a prime opportunity to build ties with the three great families.
As more prodigies moved among the crowd, greeting one another, forging alliances, and cementing friendships, the atmosphere grew increasingly lively.
Then several more figures sped through the air.
At their head was a white-haired old man, with the youthful features of a child. He radiated no aura, but his eyes carried a piercing depth that made others avert their gaze instinctively.
“Immortal King Tan has arrived.”
A murmur spread, and the entire crowd began to quiet down. Those who had been walking around or exchanging greetings quickly returned to their seats.
“Young masters and ladies,” the old man said with a warm smile, “this year, the Immortal Osmanthus blossoms once again.”
He continued, “Not only have fourteen Divine Spring Golden Osmanthus bloomed, but even the Immortal Aura Purple Osmanthus, which only blooms once every ten thousand years, will open today. I’ve calculated the timing—today’s contest at the Sword Pool is perfectly timed. But there are only a limited number of blossoms, so let’s see who among you has the strength to earn them.”
At his words, everyone looked toward the tallest branch, where six Immortal Aura Purple Osmanthus flowers were beginning to bloom, eyes shining with excitement.
“The rules,” Immortal King Tan said, “should be known to all. In same-realm duels, those who win five rounds will earn the right to pick a Flowing Frost Silver Osmanthus. Win ten, and you may claim a Divine Spring Golden Osmanthus.”
He paused, then said with gravitas, “But if anyone can defeat all opponents in the same realm without a single loss, and no one dares to challenge them further, they will be granted the right to pick an Immortal Aura Purple Osmanthus.”
A ripple of astonishment swept through the crowd. To defeat every opponent in the same realm without a single defeat—that was a daunting challenge.
“If there aren’t enough same-realm challengers, and you advance by default, you may battle my Immortal Puppet to make up for the ten victories. That too will be considered valid,” said Immortal King Tan.
Everyone was familiar with this rule. However, the prospect of claiming an Immortal Aura Purple Osmanthus seemed nearly impossible.
“Defeat all opponents in the same realm? That’s insane.”
“No wonder the rule is so strict. Looks like Immortal King Tan would rather let the Immortal Aura Purple Osmanthus wither than allow it to fall into unworthy hands. But that only makes it rarer. Even if its effects last only ten years, it’s still priceless!”
The crowd buzzed with speculation. Their eyes gleamed with determination—but most quickly glanced toward the Su, Lin, and Jiang Clans. Only the prodigies from these three families had a realistic shot at conquering everyone in their realm.
“So difficult…”
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