Follow the path of Dao from infancy Chapter 1836 - 484: Heaven Tower (2)

"Ignore him; he's simply envious that I've chosen you as my disciple."

Astonishment hit Li Hao, and he spun to face his master, a tangled mix of bitter emotions rising inside him.

He knew full well the arrogance of an Immortal Emperor; how could they steal someone else's personal disciple? The Chaos Immortal Emperor had a point.

Still, his master remained unaffected and even stepped in to reassure him.

"You've accepted numerous disciples, yet it looks like just two among them might vie for True King."

With a subtle grin, the Dao Origin Immortal Emperor eyed the crowd trailing behind him.

Hundreds of silhouettes lingered behind the Chaos Immortal Emperor, and Li Hao spotted several known faces there, including Luo Ningshuang and Su Wanyi. But no additional Su Family folks appeared; apparently, they were continuing their Cultivation on the Chaotic Star, much like Senior Sister Di Lingshu.

In that group, two individuals stood out sharply, their gazes calm yet sharp, backs rigid, positioned like the heart of the universe, radiating a dreadfully potent presence.

Immortal King Realm Perfection!

Li Hao's gaze locked on, while the pair of fellow Immortal King Realm Perfection disciples next to him also showed faint shifts in expression, sensing the intense weight.

"Oh? He's really here, and somehow still breathing."

Spotting Li Hao, Su Wanyi and Luo Ningshuang exchanged odd flickers in their stares. Earlier, they'd ventured to the Eastern Domain and got trapped in an assault from Ancient Demons at the Dragon Pass front. The front collapsed, but due to their elite standing, they got special safeguards and fled back to Ancestral Dragon City.

Only after followers dispatched by their master escorted them did they make it securely to the Chaos Sea.

That's the perk of serving as a direct disciple under an Emperor. For regular disciples, amid such wild skirmishes, those from lesser lineages—or even from mighty ones but hit with bad fortune—would've perished miserably ages ago.

"Just two is plenty good; out of ten kings, securing two more leaves me content."

The Chaos Immortal Emperor let out a light laugh.

His two Immortal King Realm Perfection followers shot a chilly look at Li Hao and his group, lingering briefly on Li Hao before shifting away.

They were aware of Li Hao's reputation across the Primordial True Realm too, but sadly, in this clash against Ancient Demons, raw fighting power was all that counted. Former glories meant nothing; ultimately, no amount of genius or promise could serve as leverage against the Ancient Demons—they simply wouldn't.

As the Chaos Immortal Emperor showed up, fresh waves of amazed cries echoed nearby, with two Immortal Emperors appearing one after another stirring everyone into a frenzy of thrill and buzz.

"Remain here; the Star Emperor Venerable and the other Immortal Emperor Venerable will explain the full regulations when they come."

The Dao Origin Immortal Emperor instructed Li Hao and the rest.

Li Hao and his companions gave nods, lingering until the Dao Origin Immortal Emperor's form faded away like drifting dust, then they all bent in a formal bow to honor their departing master.

Witnessing that, the Chaos Immortal Emperor didn't linger and departed too, after giving directions to his own followers.

Once the pair of Immortal Emperors vanished, the crowd eased up, and plenty of eyes darted often toward the Chaos Immortal Emperor's group, chatting about the contrasts between the Chaos and Dao Origin branches.

"Is that really the Chaos Immortal Emperor? How come they've got so many disciples?"

"I heard the Chaos Immortal Emperor holds more sway in the Primordial True Realm, which is why they've gathered more supporters."

"I heard the Dao Origin Immortal Emperor picks his disciples more carefully, so he ends up with fewer?"

"Does that mean the Dao Origin Immortal Emperor's disciples are tougher overall?"

"Hard to tell; this challenge will reveal it all."

Amid the buzz of talk, the two Chaos lineage direct disciples—at Immortal King Realm Perfection—cast a look at Li Hao and company, then guided their followers to soar off to a different spot.

Li Hao traced their line of sight and noticed a cluster of people at the far edge, all clad in silver garments, giving off a vibe of worldly isolation.

"The Emperor Clan?"

Li Hao hadn't anticipated the Emperor Clan's presence either, and eyeing their count, he saw hundreds more figures there.

"Did you head to the Eastern Domain too?"

As Li Hao sized things up, a sound came from nearby, with Su Wanyi and Luo Ningshuang slipping from the rest of the disciples to approach him.

Being direct disciples of the Chaos Immortal Emperor, they matched the rank of those two Immortal King Realm Perfection ones and faced no restrictions.

"You went there too?"

Surprise crossed Li Hao's face.

"Yeah, we were holding the Dragon Pass."

Luo Ningshuang dipped her head. She'd learned Li Hao had been stationed at the back lines, a safer zone, which sparked a touch of letdown toward him.

In the end, venturing to the Eastern Domain for tempering but shying from the vanguard felt rather timid.

"Dragon Pass... did you catch sight of my Fifth Senior Brother?"

Li Hao had to inquire.

Su Wanyi shook her head. "Countless talents and loads of Immortal Kings filled the place. Zones were split up, so no real mingling happened, though I glimpsed him during the retreat..."

Li Hao went still, inevitably picturing the heartbreaking chaos in his thoughts, and released a quiet breath of sorrow.

"Put the Eastern Domain behind you; since you're here now, pour your effort into Cultivation. Sure, the timeline we have won't let us fight for True King, but reaching the ninetieth floor—on par with peak might from the Tenth Layer of Immortal King Realm—could at least let us aim for Deputy of True King, a role as vice leader over the True Realm's Immortal Kings ahead, second to none and above countless others!"

Luo Ningshuang declared, her stare blazing with fighting spirit.

Li Hao stayed silent, yet memories of Feng and other close allies flooded his mind. For the first time across his easygoing, carefree days, an intense drive to Cultivate gripped him!

"The War Clan, Ghost Tribe, Ancient God Clan..."

"All these mighty groups have shown up."

Su Wanyi's eyes scanned around as she whispered softly.

Right by the Heaven Tower, clusters of people claimed patches of illusory territory, their distinct presences and haughty looks identifying them as elite families ranking in the True Realm's top ten, each boasting hundreds strong.

"This battle for the ten kings is shaping up to be fierce."

Luo Ningshuang narrowed her eyes. Even just the top ten families eyed ten positions, and they'd brought plenty of Immortal King Realm Perfection powerhouses, not short on numbers.

"Still, Senior Brother Bieli and the rest are bound to succeed."

Su Wanyi stated, brimming with faith in her two senior brothers.

Luo Ningshuang agreed with a nod and murmured low, "The elite families ought to fret over snatching the leftover slots."

During their exchange, fresh arrivals trickled into the chasm steadily.

Li Hao paid no attention to the surroundings, shutting his eyes in quiet meditation instead.

Never before had such a fierce itch to practice hit him in his lifetime, wiping away every bit of interest in the outer chaos; nothing but enlightenment and grasp lingered.

To boost his battle prowess swiftly ahead of the looming disaster, the quickest way lay in forging the Emperor Road!

Thus, refining additional supreme Realm Hearts was essential.

Bringing every one of the seven Artistic Skills up to the Thirteenth Stage of the State of Mind was a must!

At the same time, grasping the trick to layering the seven supreme Realm Hearts without fusing them into an Emperor Road demanded focus!

His window was far too narrow; every instant had to count.

While he sat with eyes sealed in thought, Su Wanyi—poised to chat with Li Hao once more—found her path halted by a Barrier that Shi Miao conjured with a gesture.

"Ladies, head back now; with disaster approaching, you ought to grab every second for Cultivation too."

Shi Miao remarked evenly.

At his words, Luo Ningshuang arched a brow, but sensing Shi Miao's Fourth Level of Immortal King Realm Cultivation, she creased her forehead a bit, held her tongue, and tugged Su Wanyi toward the Chaos disciples' cluster.

Moments slipped by.

The assembled great clans mingled and connected here, rivals for the moment though they were; certain prodigies from those lineages shifted from foes to allies, crossing paths in this spot and spurring one another on.

In an instant, days flew past.

A abrupt ripple through the emptiness pulled Li Hao from his meditation.

Lifting his head, he noted the crowd had swelled by a third from earlier.

Over the grand Heaven Tower in front, a duo of forms drifted down gradually, unleashing the majesty of Emperor Venerables.

This embodied genuine sovereign might; the sheer force alone compelled hordes to seal their lips without thinking, barely daring to breathe.

"Incredibly powerful!"

Most prodigies rarely glimpsed an Immortal Emperor, but now an overwhelming impulse to drop to their knees surged within them.

Among these two Emperor Venerables, one wore a flowing gown shimmering with endless stellar grains, time's elegant dance woven into its creases, her look distant and icy, projecting a chilling apathy to everything.

The other boasted pure white locks, a slender visage resembling an old-timer, though their flesh showed zero creases.