Volume 3 - Chapter 412: I'll Go in Your Place (Part 1)
Su Zhenyuan swept his gaze across the Lin and Jiang families.
Jiang Xuming had just fallen, and Jiang Qiuyu’s face was etched with grief. After all, Jiang Xuming had been one of the most exceptional talents their family had produced in generations.
The Lin family—Lin Jinrou and the other two—were equally dazzling, but they likely weren’t much stronger than Jiang Xuming.
Not just Su Zhenyuan—Lin Daogong’s expression had also darkened. The elders of other noble clans glanced at their own prodigies, only to realize in despair that sending them up now would be sending them to their deaths.
That red-bearded youth’s strength was simply overwhelming—at the peak of what a soul lifespan under a thousand years could possibly achieve. Was this monster planning to defeat them all by himself?
As for a war of attrition? Utterly pointless. With the All-Heavens Star Vein, the opponent could instantly return to peak condition.
Unless some secret technique could inflict irreversible and incurable wounds…
But deploying such a technique would come at an immense cost to the user as well.
“What’s wrong? Haven’t decided who to send yet? Or is there no one left to send?”
The purple-robed middle-aged man looked down at Su Zhenyuan and the others, smiling coldly at their grim expressions.
“Father…”
Amid the heavy silence, Su Muqing stepped forward and looked at Su Zhenyuan.
Su Zhenyuan’s body trembled slightly. He looked at his daughter with a complex gaze—grief, guilt… As a protector of the human race, he had done his duty. But as a father, he had failed. Letting his daughter take this risk could destroy her future forever.
Even Su Muqing might not be any stronger than Jiang Xuming had been at his limit, when he had burned his soul and consumed forbidden pills. This battle would demand everything.
And yet… he didn’t speak the words to stop her.
If he did, wouldn’t Jiang Xuming’s noble sacrifice become meaningless?
“Don’t go.”
Li Hao’s face shifted as he saw Su Muqing stepping forward.
Though he could feel how powerful Su Muqing was, that demonic youth was just as terrifying.
As Li Hao grabbed her wrist, Su Muqing’s face changed, a flash of distaste in her eyes. She turned to him coldly and said:
“If I don’t go, are you going in my place?”
“Yes.”
To her surprise, Li Hao nodded without hesitation, eyes filled with unwavering resolve.
Su Muqing was momentarily stunned.
Everyone had witnessed how terrifying that red-bearded youth was. Even if Lin Jinrou or the others took the stage, it would be a death sentence.
That included Su Wanqing and Su Wanxue—they weren’t his match either.
Li Hao… she stared at the boy. Was he really willing to throw his life away for her?
This wasn’t some childish game. One misstep here would mean annihilation. She couldn’t help but pause.
But soon, she recovered, her face darkening.
“Don’t joke. This is about the fate of an entire Immortal City, about countless immortal citizens! Besides, if I lose, I’ll still have to go out for the third match!”
As she spoke, she turned toward Su Zhenyuan. Seeing the look in her father’s eyes, she understood—he had silently given his consent.
She softly murmured her thanks to him, and then, beneath the weight of those aged, weary eyes, she charged toward the Demon Ancestor’s arena.
But just then, a figure flashed forward, blocking her path.
“I’ll go in your place. I won’t lose.”
Li Hao said firmly.
“Move!”
Su Muqing had no patience for this. Her figure twisted and slipped past Li Hao, continuing toward the arena.
Li Hao’s face turned grim. This girl was the reincarnation of Ying Xiaoxiao—he couldn’t bear to see her meet disaster before she even awakened.
He had already watched her die once before. Was he supposed to watch it happen again?
He exploded with power, trying to rush into the arena first—but a mighty force suddenly enveloped him, as solid as an iron wall. His entire body was sealed, and he couldn’t release even a shred of strength.
“Don’t interfere. Kid, I don’t care who you are. Just sit and wait quietly.”
Lin Daogong glanced at Li Hao with indifference. Seeing how entangled he was with Su Muqing made his brow furrow. After all, Su Muqing was the Lin family’s future daughter-in-law.
“Let me go!”
Li Hao’s face twisted. His blood surged and boiled as he struggled to break free.
But the opponent was a half-step Immortal Emperor. The gap was far too great. Even an Immortal King was beyond Li Hao’s reach right now—let alone someone who could suppress Immortal Kings with a flick of his hand.
In response, that overwhelming force hurled him back to the Su family’s side.
“Haotian!”
Su Wanqing rushed up, her expression changing as she stared at Li Hao. Was he really willing to die for her sister?
Suddenly, she realized—they had all underestimated his feelings for Su Muqing. Misjudged his true intentions.
Maybe… this boy hadn’t lied from the start. Maybe he really had come only for Su Muqing, and nothing else. Not for the Su family. Not for cultivation.
“Haotian, just wait. If you went up now, you’d only die.”
Su Zhenyuan also watched Li Hao’s actions. Though he believed this boy had ulterior motives, obsessed as he was with Su Muqing, in this moment, seeing him step forward… Su Zhenyuan couldn’t help but feel a flicker of warmth.
But Li Hao seemed deaf to their words. He stared at the Demon Ancestor’s arena. The sealing barrier was already closed.
His blood surged like a roaring tide. His body was trembling, yet his mind entered an icy, deathly calm.
His soul felt detached from his body, his consciousness quivering.
He could not… let her fall again.
He didn’t know—if the tragedy of the Southern Region repeated itself here—would he still be able to hold onto reason?
As Su Muqing stepped into the arena, the prodigies of all the noble families seemed to exhale in unison.
Now, only Su Muqing could break this deadlock.
If even she were defeated, and the enemy managed to slay every human genius in three consecutive matches…
It would be a day of utter darkness for the human race.
“She’s the true phoenix of the Su family!”
“I’ve seen her portrait—I know her. That’s Su Muqing!”
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