Volume 3 - Chapter 418: Opening the Final Realm (Part 1)
As Li Hao pondered in silence, Su Zhenyuan’s expression was complex. After his thoughts circled several times, he finally spoke.
“Hao Tian, these days… You haven’t suffered any mistreatment at the Su Clan, have you? Did anyone try to bully you?”
Li Hao returned to his senses and shook his head. “No.”
Seeing no resentment in the boy’s expression, Su Zhenyuan breathed a little easier. In truth, he had kept a close eye on Li Hao's time at the Su Clan. After all, this was someone who had arrived bearing a marriage contract. With his status, it had been simple enough to investigate everything that had occurred under his own roof.
“Muqing has been far too unruly. I’ll go fetch her right now,” Su Zhenyuan said immediately, casting a glance at the tightly closed palace doors.
He was prepared to explain the previous marriage arrangement to Su Muqing, even if she resisted. If necessary, he was willing to invoke his authority as a father to force her compliance—though that was the very last step he wished to take.
Inside the hall, although Su Muqing had already entered, she hadn’t begun cultivating. Instead, she used her divine sense to observe the situation outside.
With both Jiang Qiuyu and her father showing up one after another—and the patriarch of the Jiang Clan even treating Li Hao with such kindness, going so far as to pass down one of the Jiang Clan’s most secret movement techniques—it left her shocked and conflicted.
It was clear how highly the Jiang Clan valued him. Their conversation only reinforced how terrifying this youth’s talent was, surpassing anyone she had encountered before, even Lin Zhexuan, who had grown up with her and once shone like the blazing sun.
But now, hearing her father abruptly shift the topic to her, her expression changed. Her heart tensed, and a sudden urge to hide overtook her.
She didn’t want to face Li Hao yet. She didn’t want to face her father either—or Lin Zhexuan. All she wanted was to lock herself away somewhere quiet.
Just as she tensed up completely, Li Hao suddenly spoke.
“No need, Uncle.”
“If she doesn’t want to see me, then there’s no need to force it. If there’s nothing else, Uncle, I’ll take some rest.”
With that, Li Hao sat back down on the carved chair.
Su Zhenyuan froze.
Inside the hall, Su Muqing also froze. Her tense body suddenly relaxed. Through her divine sense, she stared at the young man. For the first time, he felt… agreeable—considerate, even. He had actually taken her feelings into account.
Su Zhenyuan’s expression turned even more complicated.
He knew that Li Hao had spent over a decade by his daughter’s side. To ordinary Immortals, ten years was a fleeting instant. But for a peerless genius like Li Hao, ten years was more precious than a hundred or even a thousand. To waste that kind of time was a true tragedy.
“You…”
He looked into Li Hao’s calm eyes. It was clear the youth didn’t want to pressure his daughter—even knowing that he, Su Zhenyuan, was ready to back him.
Combined with how Li Hao had earlier stepped forward to shield Su Muqing without hesitation, this wasn’t pretense. It was genuine.
For a moment, he remained still, saying nothing.
Li Hao also stayed silent, simply picking up a piece from the chessboard and placing it gently on the board.
Compared to forcing someone’s hand, advancing in cultivation was more important—more meaningful.
The recent battle had made one thing painfully clear: without power, he couldn’t even protect Ying Xiaoxiao’s reincarnation.
If so, then what had he spent decades cultivating for? What would all his efforts mean?
The courtyard fell quiet for a time. Su Zhenyuan slowly composed himself. After a deep breath, his gaze toward Li Hao now carried a hint of respect. This young man hadn’t used him to pressure Su Muqing—that sort of character was truly rare.
“The Ancestor summoned you to the ancestral grounds earlier. He has something to say to you. I believe he intends to cultivate you. When will you go?”
Su Zhenyuan asked.
Li Hao thought of the Su Clan’s Ancestor, Su Jiuzhe. Had he not intervened, Su Muqing would have already perished.
Even though it was expected of him as an Ancestor to protect his descendants, Li Hao still felt deep gratitude.
He immediately rose and said, “Then I’ll go now.”
“Good.”
Su Zhenyuan nodded and led him toward the depths of the Su Clan. Before leaving, he turned to glance deeply at the palace door.
He knew his daughter had witnessed everything from within.
He could only hope that, from the small details she had seen, she would begin to understand what kind of person this boy truly was.
Lin Zhexuan might be an ideal son-in-law in many respects, but when the crisis struck, he had stood by helplessly, just like her own useless father—watching as Su Muqing walked toward death.
Although he could understand Lin Zhexuan’s powerlessness, comparisons were cruel.
Compared to Li Hao’s actions, even he felt ashamed—let alone Lin Zhexuan.
“Let’s go.”
With a sweep of his power, Su Zhenyuan enveloped Li Hao and soared toward the Su Clan’s ancestral grounds.
Inside the palace, Su Muqing withdrew her divine sense, a complex look on her face. The images of her father and Li Hao drifting away lingered in her mind.
Lin Zhexuan’s silhouette surfaced in her thoughts. She bit her lip lightly, then shook all those feelings away, retreating to her own cultivation chamber.
…
In the Su Clan’s ancestral grounds.
This sacred place lay deep within the Su Clan—a small hill surrounded by peach blossom fences.
Peach blossoms bloomed across the hill, their fragrance wafting through the air. Pink petals drifted onto the grass, painting a scene like a fairyland.
When Su Zhenyuan arrived, the surrounding void held only one figure on guard—an elder of the clan.
“Clan Master.”
The elder appeared to be in his eighties, slightly hunched, his hair already white. His gaze toward Su Zhenyuan carried warmth.
Su Zhenyuan nodded slightly. “Fourth Uncle, this is Hao Tian. I’ve brought him to meet the Ancestor.”
“Mm.”
The elder known as Fourth Uncle turned to Li Hao. He had witnessed the battle outside Gusu City—this old man had watched from afar. Naturally, he knew this youth had turned the tide and saved the Northern Region’s Human Clan from destruction.
His gaze softened with admiration. He smiled and said, “Hao Tian—what a fine name. I wonder what kind of parents could raise such an extraordinary child. On behalf of the people on the Northern frontier, I thank you.”
With that, he bowed slightly to Li Hao.
Startled, Li Hao quickly moved to support the old man’s arm. But this Fourth Uncle was an Immortal King. His arms were immensely heavy. Li Hao couldn’t lift him, and the bow landed anyway.
Even Su Zhenyuan was taken aback by how solemn this gesture was. As head of the Su Clan, even he didn’t dare accept such a salute from Fourth Uncle lightly.
“Fourth Uncle, the Ancestor likely plans to nurture Hao Tian. It’s a token of our clan’s intent.”
Fourth Uncle stood upright, patted Li Hao’s arm gently, and gave him another kind smile. Then he shot a sideways glare at Su Zhenyuan and said, half-chiding:
“With this child’s aptitude, the Ancestor cultivating him is our Su Clan’s good fortune! How can it be called a gesture of goodwill? If he were outside, what Emperor wouldn’t vie to train such a genius?”
Su Zhenyuan froze and fell silent, sheepish.
Indeed, with Li Hao’s talents, even other Emperors would compete for him.
Nine Blossoms, Nine Sequences—he already qualified to become a personal disciple of an Emperor. Not to mention the Dao-Origin Immortal Seal—an achievement that even stood out among Imperial disciples.
Add to that his tempered True God Blood, a soul lifespan of a hundred years, and so many other factors—he was, without question, the strongest prodigy this old man had ever seen.
“You…”
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