Follow the path of Dao from infancy Chapter 1887 Chapter 505: Breaking into the Top 100, Challenging the Quasi-Emperor
Previously on Follow the path of Dao from infancy...
Deep inside the Abyss, Immortal Kings from numerous clans stir gradually, their eyes opening one by one.
Having heard the female emperor's decree delivered through the Daoist Charm, surges of long-slumbering Immortal King auras burst out from all around.
"Has the True King election finally arrived?"
"Eight hundred years passed so quickly, like the snap of a finger."
"Even though it's just eight hundred years, it feels longer than ten thousand years of tough training outside. I wouldn't dare hope for True King status, but deputy to the True King..."
"For my clan's hopes, I'll battle with everything I've got to claim it!"
"In this massive disaster facing the Ten Thousand Clans, only by seizing control can we protect our own bloodline!"
Myriad eyes now shift toward the Heaven Tower, locking onto the brilliant top ten spots on the leaderboard beyond it, spots everyone yearns to claim.
Right then, inside the tower, silhouettes rocket out from every floor like swarms of insects.
With the Daoist Charm's decree spreading, the Heaven Tower's tests have halted, forcing those within to step out.
"At last, the moment is here—eight hundred years of grueling practice, climbing from Immortal King Realm First Level to Ninth Layer. I still hold the Realm Domain Pill unswallowed; this is the perfect chance."
Amid the throng, Luo Ningshuang in her green robe narrowed her eyes and murmured.
She's transformed greatly since eight hundred years back, her youthful edge softened into a deep, serene presence.
"Father, for the deputy True King role, I'll give it my all!"
Su Wanyi's gaze stayed glued to the golden leaderboard, her hand tightening into a fist without a sound. Her progress in cultivation mirrored Luo Ningshuang's, both wielding Ancestor Emperor Power. Through the years, without sight of that young man's form, the pair had pushed and rivaled one another, spurring deeper growth in their paths.
...
"It starts now, junior sister—are you ready?"
In the midst of the crowd, the golden-armored Divine Venerable, his eyes crackling with golden lightning, scanned around before settling on the silhouette from the Great Emperor Dojo.
That form lounged at ease, yet carried a slippery essence, evading any grasp of her presence or exact features. Just her eyes shone with rare clarity, and loose hair floated about, her bearing shrouded in Space-Time haze, distant and intangible.
This look felt so known—the Divine Venerable realized his junior sister had reclaimed her peak, nearly all her old cultivation and might revived!
From her past life, only that final stride to Quasi-Emperor lingered.
"Back then, junior sister, you stood unmatched below Quasi-Emperor as one of the Seven Monarchs. Now in this life, I've closed the gap."
The Divine Venerable's eyes narrowed a touch; after eight hundred years of intense toil, he'd not only hit Immortal King Perfection but also reclaimed his prior life's power, forging a fresh supreme Realm Heart to blend in. Combined with the Pseudo-King World Heart that absorbed six Realm Hearts from before, it evolved into a genuine King's Realm Heart, reshaping his domain into a real King's Realm.
A domain like that could shatter other Immortal Kings' realms with mere contact!
Alas, without Li Hao's banishment from the Heavenly Domain and the flood of Heavenly Dao Power it brought, he might have soared to even wilder peaks this time around.
In essence, though mighty today, he mostly drew from past-life legacies, with scant new gains in this existence.
...
"Mingyuan, watch out for that reincarnated Great Emperor."
Inside the Heavenly Emperor Clan, hosts of Immortal Kings rouse, clustering near Di Mingyuan, their faces mixing eagerness and poise. Yet when their sights drift to one shadowed corner of the Abyss, hints of wariness and fear flicker through.
After all, this contest features an Emperor's rebirth. No matter Di Mingyuan's prowess, matching that reincarnated Emperor could prove impossible.
"No issue at all."
Di Mingyuan kept his face utterly serene, radiating untarnished grace, as he stated, "Be it Emperor or Quasi-Emperor, during the True King election, everyone's capped at Immortal King Realm! Same level means the ideal test to see if I've hit the absolute peak!"
"Exactly—equal realms, and if you've touched the ultimate boundary, even an Emperor reborn would end in a stalemate at best!"
Next to him, an Emperor Clan Immortal King nodded, his forehead etched with the clan's proud, lofty bearing.
...
"This round, competing for the top True King spot will be no easy feat."
Among the Saint Clans, plenty of Immortal Kings wore grave looks, unconcerned over their Saint Heir grabbing a True King seat, but doubting if the prime one was within reach—and it promised fierce struggle.
...
"No matter what, if our Dao Clan misses the lead True King this go, nabbing at least two True King places should do."
In the Dao Clan, encircled by fellow Dao Clan Immortal Kings, Dao Qingyin—after eight hundred years of relentless training—had risen from Immortal King Realm Fourth Level to full Perfection.
The Dao Clan's Supreme Tao Scripture and array of Emperor Dao Skills flowed in her veins, giving her battle might that already outshone many veteran Dao Clan Immortal Kings at Perfection.
...
As clans buzzed with low talks and speculations, Shi Miao's eyes drifted to a spot on the Heaven Tower.
Then, spotting that form, the calm in her gaze thawed like ice in spring waters, her mouth curving faintly.
She'd always known he'd pull it off without fail.
At that instant, fresh from the Heaven Tower's exit, Li Hao felt it too, lifting his head to lock eyes with her from afar across miles.
A grin tugged at his lips unbidden, his shape blurred in motion, and he dashed straight toward her.
"Time presses, so no need for chit-chat. The True King election rules are straightforward: they'll hinge on the rankings from the next Heaven Tower dash for the initial round. Only the top hundred will qualify for the main event!"
As Li Hao sped to Shi Miao, a stern, icy voice from the Immortal Immortal Emperor boomed above, laying out the guidelines:
"After the top hundred earn prelim spots, they'll face four trials within the Heaven Tower. Besides oversight from me and the Star, eight more Emperors join to judge, rate, and score—ultimately, the twenty highest overall will advance to the decisive True King showdown!"