Chapter 574: Domain Reversal
That short distance could have been closed in an instant, but a thick domain force suddenly enveloped the area, forcing the Yin Hai Clan members to a halt.
"Hmm?"
Everyone looked over and saw that beside Li Hao now stood an elderly man with white hair, his aged face full of anger and killing intent.
"Another Xianwang? And his realm isn't low!"
"Where did this support come from? These geniuses really have powerful backers!"
"Of course. Geniuses can't be messed with—they've got treasures and powerful guardians. Unlike us, just dead wood and weeds."
Countless people stared in surprise, whispering among themselves.
But Li Hao himself was a bit stunned.
That aged face was deeply familiar, yet the expression was one he'd never seen before.
The newcomer was none other than Wang Lao.
Li Hao never expected that, at this critical moment, Wang Lao would show up.
"Fifth-stage Xianwang?"
The Yin Hai Clan members' faces shifted, their eyes turning cautious and serious. Each stage in the Xianwang Realm was a world apart, and a fifth-stage Xianwang was a top expert even in clans ranked beyond the top fifty, almost at the level of clan chief.
Nearby, the Da Meng Clan hadn't expected Li Hao to have more helpers. Sensing Wang Shanhe's aura, their eyes filled with hope.
But the Fengling Clan members' faces grew dark. Still, they didn't back down; they just worried this boy might have even more support hidden.
"Wang Lao."
Joy flashed in Li Hao's eyes, but he quickly realized how dire their situation was and said hurriedly, "If you come here, you'll be implicated."
Hearing this, Wang Shanhe's heart trembled, his killing intent drowned in emotion. He lowered his head to look at Li Hao, his eyes full of pain.
"I saw everything, foolish child. We're the ones who implicated you. With your talent, any Supreme would have wanted you as a disciple. Even now, you still won't call for my help—do you want me to regret it for the rest of my life?"
By the end, his voice even quivered.
As a Xianwang, except for that ancient war when countless people left the imperial halls and perished like moths to flame, he hadn't shed tears in ten thousand years.
But right now, it felt like a nail driven through his chest, pain like a spiderweb cracking through his body, even to the soles of his feet.
"It's just that I wasn't careful enough."
Li Hao shook his head.
Wang Shanhe clenched his back teeth. He knew now was not the time for talk. He took a deep breath and stepped in front of Li Hao, sweeping his gaze across the Yin Hai Clan, then toward the Fengling Clan.
Every face, he tried to burn into his memory.
Then he looked up, his gaze locking onto the colossal figure high in the clouds—the one radiating supreme Dao might and the pressure of the ultimate Emperor Realm, shining like a sun before mortals.
His eyes bled tears, but he didn't flinch, staring at that once-admired, all-too-familiar face.
"Tian Di, do you really not know what happened with Lord Tian Yang back then?"
He practically ground out every word through his teeth, questioning this supreme being of the True World.
In that instant, the whole Southern Region was frozen in shock, too afraid to breathe.
To stare down a Supreme and question him sent chills through everyone.
That ancient title, lost for ages, echoed once more after a hundred thousand years.
Tian Di… In the clouds above, the emperors of the seven dynasties all had flickering eyes, old memories surfacing. They looked at the old man with disheveled white hair and suddenly found his face strangely familiar.
"Tian Di?"
"Wasn't that the Supreme's old title?"
"All these years, someone still remembers the Supreme's former name—could he be an old acquaintance from back then?"
All across the Southern Region, people were whispering in surprise, and some of the old-timers' eyes shone with emotion.
Jian Xin and Ming Yue looked angry at the old man's disrespect. Even if he was a Xianwang, as the Supreme's disciples, they'd met many such powerhouses, and even the seventh or eighth-stage Xianwang would treat them with courtesy.
"Show some respect!"
Ming Yue shouted in anger.
Jian Xin stayed silent, but glanced at Li Hao.
Wang Shanhe gave her only a brief look—recognizing the Supreme's disciple, a mere young girl, he ignored her and stared directly at the Supreme, meeting those eyes that hung in the heavens like sun and moon.
Their gazes met, and the thick imperial might pressed down like a sea, waves surging all around, endless pressure making Wang Shanhe's bones tremble.
This was imperial might—just a single look could kill even a powerful Xianwang.
But Wang Shanhe didn't back down. Filled with grief and fury, he just wanted an answer.
"The past is already settled. Tian Yang went astray. Are you one of his old followers?"
The Supreme's eyes were as deep as the starry sky, his voice cold and emotionless, impossible to read.
That was the answer… Hearing it, Wang Shanhe felt like his heart had been hammered, his eyes wide with rage as he stepped forward.
Just that one small step meant enduring pressure greater than ninety thousand mountains bearing down.
"Went astray? If dying fighting the ancient demons, with a broken emperor's heart, counts as astray, then all ninety trillion immortal soldiers of the Fusui Immortal Dynasty must have gone astray!"
He opened his arms, his eyes breaking under the strain of imperial might, his bones creaking all over.
His voice, full of grief and blood, thundered across the Southern Region:
"Lord Tian Yang slew one demon emperor, gravely wounded another, and suppressed the endless demon sea—does the world really remember him only as a sinner?!"
His roar shook the skies like a golden bell after ages of silence, plunging the crowd into speechless stillness.
In the clouds, the seven dynasty emperors looked down, their faces hidden by the light, unreadable.
"Slew a demon emperor? Is he talking about the Sin Immortal Emperor?"
"How could that be? Didn't they say he was a fugitive?"
"Who really knows what happened back then—maybe he failed to escape and had to fight the ancient demons instead."
"Maybe your great-grandfather would know, but he's long gone."
A hundred thousand years is too far—only a few old-timers remember the truth, and anyone linked to that old affair has vanished without a trace.
In the immortal cities of the Yan Chu Immortal Dynasty, those who had been tense and anxious because of Li Hao's plight were now wide-eyed in disbelief, staring at Wang Shanhe's back.
Even though time had blurred everything, even memory itself, at that moment, something buried deep in their souls seemed to break free, surging up from their hearts like a ship breaking through the sea.
"That's… Wang Shanhe!"
"It's him. Back then, he was already in the Xianwang Realm. He's not dead—he really survived!"
"He must be the one who guarded the lord's legacy all these years. Is he that kid's protector?"
"As expected, Lord Tian Yang never abandoned the Southern Region, never abandoned anyone. He really did slay the Demon Emperor… So that Demon Emperor was killed by Lord Tian Yang!"
In countless deep alleys, by willow-lined rivers, atop lonely peaks, people laughed madly or wept in pain. Some beat their chests, eyes bloodshot.
"What happened back then led to too much bloodshed. All those who fled ended up buried."
The Supreme, his imperial form towering, looked on indifferently and said, "That boy's talent was outstanding. I had hoped to teach him to walk the right path. But now, you remnants still refuse to settle down?"
Wang Shanhe's eyes widened in disbelief.
He couldn't imagine that someone who had once been so close to Tian Yang Immortal Emperor could say such things.
That charge, that stain—this man should have been the first to speak up for Lord Tian Yang, to defend him… As Wang Shanhe looked into those cold, merciless eyes, his heart seemed to tremble, as if he suddenly understood. A chill spread through his entire body, followed by an inexpressible fury rising straight from his soul.
"That accusation… was it your judgment?"
Wang Shanhe clenched his fists, his whole body trembling with rage. "Back then, Lord Tian Yang entrusted the Southern Region to you. But you…"
"Slap yourself."
The Supreme spoke softly.
Wang Shanhe's hand lifted on its own, surging with dazzling immortal Power, and he slapped himself hard enough that his neck bones cracked and blood trickled from his lips.
But as a Xianwang, his body quickly healed. He glared at the Supreme in shock and fury, wanting to speak, but found himself unable to utter a word.
He instantly understood—none of this was a misunderstanding. Everything was under the other's control.
So this was the truth… He woke up, but it was already too late.
But he couldn't comprehend, as a Supreme—one of the most exalted in the True World—what could possibly tempt him to betray Tian Yang Immortal Emperor?
Did he want to rule the Southern Region alone?
But Lord Tian Yang was already gone. With this man alive, he was the only Supreme in the Southern Region—why tarnish Lord Tian Yang's name?
He didn't know, couldn't figure it out. Once, the friendship between those two was legendary. The Twin Emperors of the Southern Region made the other domains wary, afraid to provoke them.
This man had even fought his way into forbidden lands for Lord Tian Yang, risking his life against other domain Emperors. But now… after a hundred thousand years, how could everything have changed so completely?
"Wang Lao."
Li Hao grabbed Wang Lao and gently shook his head.
It seemed Wang Lao didn't realize just how trapped he was—caught in a game where the other was the one moving the pieces.
And the other side… Li Hao looked up at the Seven Dynasty Emperors in the clouds, his gaze pausing on the Chu Emperor. Was he the other player? Or were there more?
But for him, it didn't matter anymore.
Wang Lao heard Li Hao's words, looked down at him, and saw his calm, peaceful expression. Suddenly, his eyes reddened. This boy saw things even more clearly than he did.
He'd chased here day and night, making it in time, yet he still couldn't get him out.
"Child, just yield, bow to him as master. Lord Tian Yang wouldn't blame you."
Wang Lao sent a voice transmission.
He couldn't speak, but he could transmit his voice.
Li Hao shook his head. "I won't. Not because I fear blame, but because it's useless. If I'm fated to die, I'd rather go out in a blaze of glory my own way."
Looking into those clear, bright eyes, Wang Lao felt his heart convulse. Such a monster, sure to become one of the top figures of the True World, had already placed life and death aside.
He looked up at the Supreme, his anger turning to hatred.
When the Supreme said "remnants," did he mean all those old friends from the past?
"Child, today I'll reverse my domain and get you out. Emperor Luo will meet you. The imperial hall should… withstand his attack!"
Wang Shanhe sent his voice, his gaze already filled with murderous intent.
After countless ages, a successor like Li Hao had finally appeared. Though right now he was only an official disciple, with the talent he'd shown in the Southern Region war, he'd definitely become a personal disciple when he met Emperor Luo again.
If Lord Tian Yang's legacy could be carried forward by such a disciple, one day the stain would be washed away.
Li Hao's expression shifted. Was this too reckless? If it failed and the imperial hall was destroyed, the inheritance would be lost, and the fighting immortal emperor would be forgotten in the river of history, forever branded a traitor.
"So you're a remnant? Killing you is a just cause!"
The Yin Hai Clan finally came to their senses, killing intent in their eyes. Their lead Xianwang spoke:
"Back then, we never got the chance to hunt down those traitors. Today, we'll do our part for the Southern Region!"
As he spoke, more than ten people erupted with blinding light, their domains unfolding and splitting the void into many worlds.
A terrifying pressure filled the air. The mere aura left countless people on the mountaintop gasping for air. The Xianjun Realm competitors felt the crushing weight, their faces turning pale.
Wang Lao's face was ice-cold, but his eyes were serious. He took a deep breath and looked over at the Da Meng Clan.
Seeing the familiar clan markings, a flash of relief crossed his eyes, then he sent a clear voice transmission:
"Everyone, I'm reversing my domain to give Hao Tian a chance—please, lend me your help!"
Hearing this, the Da Meng Clan's faces all changed. That meant he'd be sacrificing himself—there'd be no hope of even reincarnation.
But at this point, they knew no words could change his mind. And looking at the situation, even reversing his domain might not be enough!
After all, with the Supreme watching, no one knew if he would just order the Heavenly Palace forces to intervene.
"Our Da Meng Clan will do all we can!"
The old woman with the withered vine staff responded.
With her answer, Wang Shanhe's eyes relaxed a little. Then, all his Dao origins surged forth, turning into immortal Dao Laws crisscrossing his domain like heavenly chains!
The breath within his domain roared and churned like a raging storm. Mountains broke apart, ancient empty cities crumbled into dust—these cities were all relics of the old Fusui Immortal Dynasty.
As the domain mountains shattered, the entire domain became chaotic, its pressure soaring higher and higher.
The Yin Hai Clan swiftly joined hands, their domains shifting to form a strange grand array.
This pressure was already making the mountains below begin to collapse.