Chapter 479: Chong Er Makes the List
Gu Changming nodded slightly and did not reject Li Hao's gratitude. The reason he helped this young man, aside from the grace of that Immortal Emperor, was because he saw great potential in him.
In the ancient demon tide, this youth had slain numerous ancient demons, displaying strength far beyond his peers. Even in the True Immortal realm, he possessed an overwhelming power to defy adversity. Gu Changming had even mistaken him for a direct disciple of the Immortal Emperor.
"Your dossier has just been sent to the Demon Suppression Division. It will take a few days for them to record your battle achievements and officially promote you to a Lingguan. As a Lingguan, you will enjoy the many privileges of the Demon Suppression Division. Within the Yan Chu Immortal Dynasty, aside from the royal family, no other force will have the right to make you bow your head!"
Gu Changming spoke casually, but his words carried an undeniable dominance.
Li Hao's eyes flickered as he thought of his senior brother, Ji Qingxuan, who had come to the border to earn merit under their sect's orders. Even with his cultivation at the Immortal Lord realm, Ji Qingxuan had only managed to earn the rank of First-Class Demon Suppression Guard and had yet to reach Lingguan. It was clear how strict the hierarchy of the Demon Suppression Division was.
However, rules and hierarchies often existed only for those without backing or connections.
"Once this battle report reaches the Immortal Capital and His Majesty reviews it, the 1,920,000 Immortal Merits will officially be credited to your name."
Gu Changming chuckled and led Li Hao out of the dark hall, saying, "But even now, with your current Immortal Merits, you're already ranked in the top twenty on the merit board of Qingcheng Mohe Border!"
Li Hao didn't care much about this ranking. Instead, he asked, "Senior Gu, I noticed that after slaying demons on the battlefield, the demon corpses are collected in large numbers. Where are they sent? To the Demon Suppression Division?"
"Demon corpses?"
Gu Changming was slightly surprised, then quickly recalled the scene he had witnessed through the Star Domain Projection. This youth had not only slain the ancient demons but had also collected all their corpses. While this was not unheard of, it was rare for someone to go to such lengths amidst the intensity of battle.
Other soldiers would also collect demon corpses since turning them in could earn small amounts of Immortal Merit. However, in the heat of combat, few bothered with such trivial gains.
"Some of these corpses are sent to the Demon Suppression Division, while others go to various divisions of the Immortal Army. We've been dissecting ancient demons for ten thousand years, trying to understand them better and find ways to counter them more effectively."
Gu Changming continued, "Moreover, some Immortal Alchemists have developed methods to refine demon corpses into Soul Essence Pills. These pills can rapidly enhance one's soul strength in the short term. However, long-term use corrodes the soul, leaving behind an unremovable imprint. If too many are consumed, reaching a certain threshold..."
He paused. This was classified information within the Demon Suppression Division. Over the past ten thousand years, the powerful clans of the Hundred Races had also become aware of it, but it remained a closely guarded secret among the higher echelons.
Seeing the curiosity in Li Hao's gaze, he exhaled and continued, "It will lead to mutation, turning one into a demon-like creature that loses all reason."
Li Hao was momentarily stunned, feeling both relieved and regretful.
So, the method of refining ancient demons into pills used by these Immortal Alchemists still had such severe side effects.
Compared to that, his own cooking method was clearly far superior.
If there had been a way to process ancient demons without these risks, perhaps the demon threat would have been eradicated long ago.
"So, the Demon Suppression Division has a massive stockpile of demon corpses? As a Lingguan, would I be able to take some?"
Li Hao asked.
Gu Changming was slightly puzzled by his keen interest in demon corpses. But since Li Hao was an heir of the Immortal Emperor, he must have his own reasons. Without probing further, Gu Changming simply said, "Once you become a Lingguan, you can request a portion of demon corpses under the pretext of dissection and research. However, they must not be taken outside, to prevent outbreaks of demonic plagues."
Li Hao's eyes lit up. That would save him from having to risk his life hunting demons on the battlefield.
Furthermore, demon invasions at the border only occurred once every few hundred years. Even though his spatial storage already contained a large number of demon corpses, at his current rate of consumption, they wouldn't last more than ten years.
Hunting demons alone in the Outer Territories was far too dangerous. Without Wang Lao accompanying him, he could easily stumble upon a wandering King-tier ancient demon and end up as its meal.
It was an unnecessary risk.
"Given your age, will you be participating in the upcoming Southern Domain Battle?"
Gu Changming walked alongside Li Hao in the courtyard, asking with interest.
Li Hao nodded. "I've already been to the Immortal Capital's royal domain."
Gu Changming laughed. "The Immortal Dynasty has only a thousand slots available. With your strength, securing a spot won't be an issue. However, your soul lifespan is too short—barely a hundred years. Your cultivation level is still low. If you had a thousand more years, this Southern Domain Battle would likely be your stage to dominate."
Li Hao smiled faintly. "That doesn't matter. A fleeting brilliance is nothing compared to an eternal radiance."
"You have an interesting perspective."
Gu Changming led Li Hao across an arched bridge, arriving at the training ground where Gu Xingwan had been practicing her swordsmanship earlier.
Outside the pavilion, a young woman in a pale yellow dress stood quietly, gripping her sword with her head lowered, lost in thought. Her brows were tightly furrowed.
"Xingwan."
Gu Changming called softly.
Gu Xingwan snapped out of her daze and lifted her gaze, only to see the very person who had been troubling her thoughts.
However, at this moment, that young man stood beside her grandfather, his posture straight and proud. His handsome face, seemingly sculpted by the heavens themselves, bore a warm smile like the arrival of spring.
Unknowingly, the frustration in her heart eased slightly.
She flicked her sword, forming a shadowy arc before retracting her weapon, then walked over.
"Grandfather."
She greeted obediently, glancing at Li Hao but making no effort to acknowledge him.
Gu Changming smiled. "Chong Er has made great contributions this time. I will promote him to a Lingguan of the Demon Suppression Division. His future is limitless. You should get along well with him."
"Him? Becoming a Lingguan?"
Gu Xingwan was stunned. She understood the status of a Lingguan—only those with immense Immortal Merit could attain the position. But merit alone wasn't enough; cultivation, combat strength, and a history of slaying demons within the division were all necessary requirements.
"Grandfather, he's only at the True Immortal Realm. Is he hiding his true cultivation?"
She couldn't help but ask.
Gu Changming replied, "Chong Er's cultivation may not be as high as yours, but his combat strength is at least equal to yours. With such talent, he is worth nurturing. The Demon Suppression Division is both the sword and the dragon vein of Yan Chu, and it must have the heart to cultivate worthy individuals."
Gu Xingwan was dumbfounded. This boy was only at the third level of the True Immortal Realm, yet her grandfather claimed his strength was on par with hers? She had seen many outstanding geniuses, yet her grandfather had never shown such interest in them before.
"In ten years, the Southern Domain Battle will take place. Just like you, Chong Er will be participating. You should work hard and support each other."
Gu Changming spoke with care, deeply cherishing his granddaughter. Now that he had discerned Li Hao's true background, he had his own considerations—drawing his granddaughter closer to him. As an heir to the Immortal Emperor's legacy, even if not a direct disciple, Li Hao would undoubtedly carve a place for himself in the vast True Realm.
"What? He's joining the Southern Domain Battle?"
Gu Xingwan was shocked, looking at her grandfather in disbelief. Then she turned to Li Hao, her starry eyes widening slightly in astonishment before a stubborn anger flared within them.
Earlier, Li Hao had demonstrated a profound mastery of the Azure Sky Sword Art, far beyond her own. She had assumed his soul lifespan was much longer than hers, yet now he was competing in the same battle? Didn't that mean his talent surpassed hers by a large margin?
"Have you been to the Ancient Immortal Realm? Which Desolate Domain did you reach? The tenth?"
She asked coldly, eyes fixed on him.
"I've been there."
Li Hao replied calmly.
Gu Xingwan raised an eyebrow, the corners of her lips curling slightly. "Then you still need to work harder. Reaching the tenth Desolate Domain at the third level of the True Immortal Realm is commendable, but three years have passed. Everyone has been pushing themselves to the limit for the final sprint. You'll need to at least endure seven days in the tenth Desolate Domain to qualify."
"I have endurance, just not patience."
Li Hao shook his head.
Gu Xingwan was momentarily stunned, then let out a short laugh in disbelief. "Big words. Are you saying you plan to break through the tenth Desolate Domain and directly secure a place in the battle?"
"Yes."
Li Hao nodded.
Gu Xingwan looked at him as if he were crazy, then sneered. "That depends on whether you have the ability. Last time the Ancient Immortal Realm opened, I ranked 68th. What was your ranking?"
"Top twenty."
Li Hao answered.
"?"
Gu Xingwan had been ready to mock him, but the words caught in her throat. She stared at him blankly for a long moment, then turned to Gu Changming.
"Grandfather, is he insane?"
Gu Changming was also surprised by Li Hao's response, but he knew the boy wouldn't lie. If he ranked within the top twenty, that meant he had the strength to break through the tenth Desolate Domain—strength that was already capable of contending with Immortal Lords.
He recalled how Li Hao had blocked the attacks of a ninth-level Immortal Lord ancient demon. While Li Hao's power had been formidable, it hadn't quite reached the level of an Immortal Lord. It had, however, pushed the limits of a True Immortal's strength.
Now it seemed that the boy had other abilities he hadn't revealed.
"Xingwan, don't be rude."
Gu Changming gave her a slight reprimand. "There is always someone stronger. You must not grow arrogant. He may only be at the third level of the True Immortal Realm, but his mastery of the Azure Sky Immortal Art far surpasses yours. You should learn from him."
Gu Xingwan had already witnessed the depth of Li Hao's swordsmanship. She bit down lightly on her lip and said, "That's a separate issue. Even if he has exceptional sword talent, that doesn't mean he can break through the tenth Desolate Domain. He's only at the third level of the True Immortal Realm. Is that even possible?"
"I've told you before—some geniuses are born so dazzling that even the True Realm cannot suppress their radiance. Take the Supreme Heir of the Heavenly Palace, for instance. He possesses the rare Nine-Flower Immortal Mark. The moment he became an Immortal Lord, he defeated a seventh-level Immortal Lord ancient demon and made his name known to all. Thousands witnessed it with their own eyes. If you had only heard about it through rumors, would you have believed it?"
Gu Changming furrowed his brow.
"That's a Supreme Heir. He's not one."
Gu Xingwan's expression changed slightly. She pouted, but her gaze toward Li Hao remained filled with skepticism.
Someone four levels beneath her in cultivation surpassing her in combat? Impossible.
Seeing that Gu Changming was about to reprimand her again, she quickly turned to Li Hao. "If you're really that capable, then spar with me. If you win, I'll admit it."
Li Hao sighed. Why would he need her recognition?
Seeing Gu Changming's encouraging glance, he could only nod. "As you wish."
"Good. Right here, right now. No Immortal Weapons. We fight with our own strength!"
Gu Xingwan let out a cold snort.
Then, she shot backward, her aura surging as her immortal power erupted like a rainbow, exuding an extraordinary and peerless presence.
Behind her, threads of immortal energy wove together, forming a towering apparition—an image with silk ribbons covering its eyes.
Its forehead and eyes were completely veiled. Li Hao had learned from Gu Changming that they were from the Tianmu Clan, so it was clear that this apparition reflected Gu Xingwan's inner self.
"Your Azure Sky Sword Art surpasses mine only because I've only been comprehending it for thirty years. Take this strike!"
Immortal energy gathered in her palm, condensing into the shape of a sword. Swirling currents of energy spiraled around it like a vortex, growing more intense, forming rings like celestial halos. The surrounding temperature dropped sharply.
Li Hao observed the sword's power, sensing the essence of water law within it—an impressive mastery, already at the third level.
His own understanding of water law had only reached the second level.
But…
Her preparation was too slow.
Li Hao shifted his weight slightly, tapping his toe against the ground. In an instant, his figure vanished. The fusion of space essence and the technique of returning to the void allowed him to appear before her without giving her any time to react.
A flash of shock crossed Gu Xingwan's eyes, but her instincts were sharp. She immediately attempted to bring her sword down ahead of schedule. Though she hadn't reached the peak of her strike's power yet, it was still far stronger than a hastily launched counterattack.
However, just as she lifted her wrist, time seemed to lag for a brief moment.
She watched helplessly as her body failed to keep up with her thoughts. While she struggled to move, Li Hao's fingers had already pressed together, forming a thin sword light at his fingertips.
It was the same casual technique he had used earlier—Azure Sky Immortal Art.
This time, just like before, it slashed lightly in front of her face, severing a single strand of her long hair.
Then, with a flick of his fingers, his body flickered and disappeared, returning to his original spot.
It all happened in a single instant.
By the time Gu Xingwan raised her wrist, Li Hao was already standing in front of Gu Changming, casually holding the strand of hair between his fingers, lifting it slightly as if to show her.
Gu Xingwan stood frozen in place.
Her sword, glowing as brightly as the moon, hovered midair, never completing its arc. The frigid temperature that had enveloped the area gradually dissipated, and her overwhelming sword intent faded bit by bit until it completely disappeared.
Only the sound of flowing water beneath the arch bridge remained, filling the silence.
Not only was Gu Xingwan stunned, but even Gu Changming's eyes flashed with deep contemplation as he fixed his gaze on the young man before him.
In contrast to Gu Xingwan's powerful and grandiose display, Li Hao's moves had been direct and decisive, yet disturbingly precise.
Beyond his mastery of space essence, he also wielded considerable control over time essence.
To have the two most powerful of the Nine Sequences within him—his granddaughter's loss was not unjustified.
"You…"
After a long pause, Gu Xingwan finally snapped back to reality.
Her gaze on Li Hao had completely changed.
She had lost—completely and utterly.
If this had been a life-and-death battle, her head would already be on the ground.
Though she possessed the ability to be reborn from a drop of blood, attacks at this level contained more than just raw force. They carried profound energy capable of limiting regeneration and could even shatter one's primordial spirit.
Li Hao lifted the severed strand of hair between his fingers, then puckered his lips slightly and blew.
The strand floated forward, drifting down onto the stone pavement.
He turned to Gu Changming.
"Gu Lao, if there's nothing else, I'll take my leave."
Gu Changming came back to his senses and quickly said, "Stay and have a meal with us?"
"A meal?"
Li Hao raised an eyebrow, pausing mid-step.
Gu Xingwan had also fully recovered from her daze. She looked at the relaxed and unconcerned young man in front of her, her gaze complicated.
Even though she still had trump cards she hadn't used, and she hadn't activated her Tianmu ability, the fact remained—she had lost.
Just as she was about to ask Li Hao what kind of immortal art he had just used, a dazzling golden light suddenly shone down from above.
A massive projection, stretching endlessly like an unfolding scroll, appeared in the sky.
It was the Immortal Merit Ranking!
Like golden waves rolling across the heavens, the ranking list spread out. Countless people across the city lifted their heads in astonishment.
For the Immortal Merit Ranking to appear, it meant someone had been added to the list.
Considering the battle had just ended, the tallying of merit must have been completed, so it wasn't surprising that new names were appearing.
"Who is it this time? Another rising star on the Immortal Merit Ranking?"
"Look! The golden light is splitting in the middle—this is a newcomer!"
"Wait… Who is it? Their first entry on the ranking and already ranked in the top fifty?"
All across the city, people stood in shock, staring up in amazement.
Gu Xingwan also lifted her head.
She had killed numerous ancient demons at the border, though her grandfather had prevented her from venturing too deep into the battlefield out of concern for her safety. However, he had arranged for intelligence reports on isolated ancient demons to be passed to her, giving her opportunities for solo kills and practical combat training.
Through these efforts, she had accumulated a substantial amount of merit.
She had barely squeezed into the top hundred of the ranking—ranked 95th, with over 500,000 Immortal Merit Points.
Now, as the golden glow dissipated, a name was revealed.
A name with the simplest of strokes.
Chong Er!