In the illusory sky, a golden light slowly split open, standing erect like an unapproachable gateway.
Energy billowed and spread in waves, rippling through the air and diffusing a hazy aura.
"Is that the Immortal's Gate?"
"Are the beings that emerge from there as formidable as true immortals?"
"Even more so. Beyond that gate lies the realm of the ancient sages, a world of true splendor and brilliance."
"I missed the opportunity a thousand years ago, but this time, I've finally made it."
Among the crowd in the Imperial City, apart from the excited young elites, there were also elders with fervent expressions, their eyes glowing with intense heat.
Although they appeared aged, their lifespan of myriad years made a mere thousand years seem youthful.
Having already reached the pinnacle of martial arts in the mortal realm, coupled with their esteemed status, they lacked the motivation to continue their cultivation.
However, with the reopening of the Immortal's Gate, the brilliant world beyond ignited a long-forgotten fervor within them, reminiscent of the passionate youth they once were.
Within the Qindao Palace, Qin Zhenren emerged from his secluded chamber and stood tall, gazing into the distance.
Below him, seven or eight disciples took to the air, their eyes filled with anticipation.
Among them, Qingjingzi and Mingyue Jian were the most talented among the personally taught disciples, and their eyes shone with anticipation.
"You may also embark on this journey. Let your abilities speak for themselves, and see if you can receive the teachings of the sages. Should you attain sainthood in the future, do not forget the gratitude you owe the Jiang family."
Qin Zhenren spoke softly to his disciples.
Though his time was nearing its end, he did not restrict them. It would be cruel to choose a successor at this point, and it might even foster resentment in the hearts of those not chosen.
Thus, he wanted his disciples to compete freely, and he would make a selection only if they failed to attain their goal.
However, the one who inherited his legacy would likely be the least talented among them, and it would be challenging for them to lead the Qindao Palace to glory. They might even cause its decline.
But that was of no consequence...
The founder of the Jiang family would be reborn in another decade, and by then, the Great Yu Dynasty would no longer need the protection of the Qindao Palace.
"Master..."
Hearing his words, the disciples felt ashamed, but with the opportunity for martial glory right before them, they couldn't bring themselves to refuse.
Mingyue Jian and Qingjingzi exchanged a glance, having previously expressed their desire to stay by their master's side and continue their cultivation. However, their master was now urging them to embark on this journey, not wanting them to feel left behind.
This left the two of them feeling helpless, and so they reluctantly agreed to join.
Nevertheless, they couldn't deny their curiosity and anticipation for the mysterious world beyond the Immortal's Gate. As cultivators, it was impossible not to yearn for such an opportunity, but they felt that there were more important things in life than mere cultivation.
At the same time, within the Imperial Palace, there was no morning court session today, making the vast palace unusually quiet.
In the rear palace, Li Hao and the Yu Emperor were having an early meal.
The cuisine of the imperial court was indeed exquisite, prepared by top chefs. The Yu Emperor had even requested the chefs to prepare some of their specialty dishes for Li Hao, and he was impressed—the dishes were at least the work of a Level Five Culinary Master.
At this moment, they were savoring a medicinal dragon meat porridge.
The dragon meat was tender and soft, sweet and delicious, without a hint of the usual gamey taste of dragon meat.
"The Immortal's Gate has opened."
Sensing the energy fluctuations above the Imperial Palace, the Yu Emperor looked up, his eyes flickering slightly. He had witnessed this scene a thousand years ago, and even as an emperor then, he couldn't contain his excitement.
But this time, his heart remained calm.
Turning his head, he saw the young man beside him glance up briefly before continuing to eat and drink nonchalantly.
This kid... The Yu Emperor felt a twinge of helplessness. It was the Immortal's Gate, after all—how could this young man seem so indifferent?
"Another bowl, please."
Li Hao handed his empty bowl to Chu Jiuyue beside him.
Chu Jiuyue quickly took the bowl. Although he could be more casual in the bamboo courtyard, he had to be respectful toward Li Hao in the Imperial Palace, especially in the presence of the Yu Emperor. After all, Li Hao was the only Heavenly General of the Great Yu Divine Dynasty! He had the authority to kill royalty without repercussions—a testament to his status.
Soon, a full bowl of porridge was brought to Li Hao, who continued eating while casually glancing at the Immortal's Gate. Waves of auras emanated from within, each one incredibly powerful and undoubtedly belonging to beings of the Daoist Realm.
These auras were not veiled in the slightest, naturally exuding an intimidating display of power.
"The powerful beings from the three holy lands have arrived to accept disciples."
At that moment, Jiang Ziyan and the others arrived, accompanied by several princes and princesses.
These royals were among the most talented in the imperial family, having trained in the Qindao Palace and mastered the top-tier cultivation techniques of the royal family. In the same realm, they were unparalleled among their peers.
In the entire Great Yu Divine Dynasty, only a handful could suppress them in the same realm.
When she saw the Yu Emperor and Li Hao enjoying their meal, Jiang Ziyan was slightly taken aback by the relaxed atmosphere around them.
The princes and princesses behind her felt a sense of guilt as they bowed before the Yu Emperor. They knew that going through the Immortal's Gate meant turning their backs on the Great Yu Dynasty, and it had taken a lot of mental preparation for them to make this decision.
"Your Majesty."
The princes and princesses bowed in reverence.
Their eyes also fell on the young man sitting beside the Yu Emperor, and a strange look appeared in their eyes, along with a hint of jealousy.
However, they knew that this young man was the Heavenly General of Great Yu, the one who had saved the Imperial Palace and the Imperial City. Without him, they would have perished long ago.
Moreover, his bestowed authority was immense, and if they dared to offend him, they knew their father would likely applaud their execution...
"Rise."
The Yu Emperor said calmly.
Seeing the fervor and tension in his children's eyes, he could easily decipher their thoughts. To him, their emotions were as transparent as a sheet of white paper.
This made him sigh inwardly. "Comparison is the thief of joy." As his offspring, they were more fixated on the Immortal's Gate than Li Hao, the one who was least concerned with fame and glory.
Thinking of glory, the Yu Emperor glanced at the black sword by the young man's side. He hoped that this sword, named 'Glory,' would truly live up to its name and become the pursuit of countless people in this world, shining with the most brilliant radiance at the summit!
A smile slowly appeared on his face, and he said to Li Hao, "I hope to see you standing at the pinnacle one day, shining with dazzling brilliance!"
Li Hao handed his empty bowl to Chu Jiuyue and replied with a bitter smile, "Your Majesty, please don't pressure me..."
"..."
The Yu Emperor felt like rolling his eyes. He was too lazy to bother with this cheeky young man.
But, mindful of his children present and his status, he maintained his composure.
He gave a soft cold hum and addressed his children before him, "Since you're going to compete, bring back some decent achievements, and don't lose face for the Jiang family!"
With the Emperor's permission, the princes and princesses were overjoyed and quickly nodded their heads in agreement.
The Yu Emperor's gaze fell on his brother, Jiang QingShan, and his eyes flickered as he said, "QingShan, you should also give it your all this time."
Jiang QingShan gently shook his head, "I won't join in on this excitement."
"You're not going?" The Yu Emperor asked, surprised.
Jiang QingShan smiled amiably, "If I go, who will keep you company?"
"..." The Yu Emperor fell silent as he looked at his brother.
At that moment, the golden light from the Immortal's Gate became more and more intense, and seven figures stepped out.
One blurry figure stood tall within the golden light of the Immortal's Gate, his stature majestic as if standing shoulder to shoulder with the heavens and earth itself. Though his figure was indistinct, one could feel the supremely lofty aura of a saint emanating from him, like tidal waves slowly spreading across the entire Imperial City.
"I am the Feather Ancestor of the Primordial Sacred Land. Today, I open the Immortal's Gate, bringing creation and merit, allowing mortals to tread the path to sainthood."
"You, the proud children of heaven, if you possess the requisite talent, may pass through the Immortal's Gate to seek great opportunities and listen to the teachings of the saints!"
The blurry figure's voice was detached yet majestic, drifting out like pearls falling into the ears of everyone in the Imperial City.
It was as if the voice resonated from the depths of their souls, causing them to buzz with excitement.
Ordinary commoners who heard this voice instinctively felt reverence and couldn't help but kneel in worship.
"That's my master."
Admiration shone in Jiang Ziyan's eyes as she gazed at the figure. Her master was a half-saint, and although he wasn't a full saint, only upon reaching the Daoist Realm would one understand the true gap between the Daoist and Saint Realm.
It was like an ant looking up at the vast blue sky, an impossible distance!
Li Hao put down his chopsticks and bowl, having finished his porridge and his meal.
He quietly gazed at the figure standing in front of the Immortal's Gate, his aura vast and majestic, and despite the distance, Li Hao still felt a sense of oppression.
"Is that a saint?"
In the Imperial City, many of the strong cultivators who had come for the Immortal's Gate were excited, unable to see the figure clearly but feeling even more reverence.
"Those who wish to pass through the Immortal's Gate must undergo four tests: the Reflecting Bone Mirror, the Extreme Dao Monument, the Dao Heart Pagoda, and the Ascending Stairway."
"Based on your age, realm, cultivation, and Dao Heart, we will evaluate your qualifications."
"Now, let's begin..."
After the Feather Ancestor finished speaking, his figure gradually disappeared from within the golden light of the Immortal's Gate.
The seven Daoist Realm cultivators who had stepped out of the Immortal's Gate quickly took out several items.
A huge, pitch-black mirror, over ten zhang tall, floated in the air. It was oval-shaped, and instead of reflecting the blue sky and white clouds, its surface was shrouded in darkness.
In addition, there were eight Extreme Dao Monuments that Li Hao had seen before, which were also taken out and suspended in the air.
Then, a small revolving pagoda appeared, floating above the Immortal's Gate, emitting a purple haze.
At the same time, a snow-white stairway made of energy extended from the Immortal's Gate, with forty-nine steps leading up.
The Extreme Dao Monuments stood beside the stairway, one every five steps, and the last nine steps led to the Dao Heart Pagoda.
And outside the first step of the stairway was the large, oval-shaped Reflecting Bone Mirror.
"Who's first?"
One of the Daoist Realm cultivators stood beside the stairway and scanned the crowd.
His divine sense had already enveloped the entire city, and he could sense the strong auras gathered within. His voice was calm, lacking the ethereal and majestic quality of the Feather Ancestor, but it carried a cold and detached edge.
"That's Senior Brother Zhang."
Jiang Ziyan recognized him and immediately flew out, coming to a stop before him.
"Junior Sister." Senior Brother Zhang had already noticed Jiang Ziyan and smiled at her. His eyes swept over her snow-white neck, as delicate as fine porcelain.
"Thank you for your hard work, Senior Brother Zhang." Jiang Ziyan bowed slightly.
"You're too kind, Junior Sister," Senior Brother Zhang replied with a faint smile.
After a brief exchange of greetings, Jiang Ziyan turned and called out to the princes and princesses, "Come on, show them the might of the bloodline of the Jiang Imperial Family!"
Although these royals were used to being high and mighty, ordering others around, they now felt a sense of restraint and nervousness. They exchanged glances, each hoping that someone else would go first.
Finally, one of the older princes stepped forward and said to Jiang Ziyan, "Sister, then I'll go first."
"Go ahead." Jiang Ziyan nodded.
The middle-aged prince then bowed to the seven Daoist Realm cultivators standing by the stairway before stepping towards it.
As his figure approached, the huge, oval-shaped dark mirror began to ripple with white light, reflecting his silhouette and revealing his information.
Ancient-looking characters appeared:
Age: 328 years old.
The middle-aged prince was surprised to see that the Reflecting Bone Mirror could indeed reveal his true age.
He took a deep breath and, without hesitation, unleashed his aura as he stepped onto the stairway.
As soon as he did so, he felt an overwhelming sense of oppression envelop his entire body.
It seemed to be some kind of rule or law!
His expression changed, and he couldn't be bothered to hide his strength anymore. He burst forth with all his might.
Soon, his figure quickly climbed the stairway, but as he passed the fifth step, the nearby Extreme Dao Monument remained unchanged.
Apparently, he had not cultivated the power of the Divine Might Realm.
The middle-aged prince didn't stop and continued to sprint forward, his momentum growing stronger, but his steps gradually slowed.
He displayed the power of the Absolute Expert Realm, rushing up the stairway like a raging bull, his eyes fixed on the Immortal's Gate, filled with longing and determination.
Finally, he climbed all forty-nine steps and arrived before the Immortal's Gate.
The small revolving pagoda above the gate suddenly shot out a purple light, scanning his body.
Then, the purple light retracted, and the purple haze surrounding the pagoda turned golden-yellow.
The middle-aged man glanced at it but did not linger, continuing towards the Immortal's Gate. Suddenly, he was repelled by a force that blocked his path.
"Hmm?"
The man's expression changed, and his face turned ugly as he heard the indifferent voice of the Feather Ancestor.
"Three hundred years old, yellow-level Dao Heart, inferior aptitude, unqualified."
The middle-aged man was stunned, his face aghast. "How is that possible? I'm at the Absolute Expert Realm. Although I'm over three hundred years old, I entered the Defying Life Realm when I was only sixty, and it only took me a cosmic cycle to achieve it!"
"We only consider aptitude, not cultivation. Your Dao Heart is too low, and your future potential is limited. Go back to the mortal realm and enjoy your retirement." The Feather Ancestor's voice was indifferent, and an irresistible force enveloped the man, transporting him away from the Immortal's Gate and back to Jiang Ziyan's side.
Apparently, the Feather Ancestor was aware of his identity as Jiang Ziyan's royal brother but still showed no leniency.
The man looked dazed, and when he regained his bearings, he suddenly realized what he had lost. His face turned pale, and he wore an ugly expression.
A low-level Dao Heart?
Impossible! His Dao Heart was fueled by his ambition to inherit the Great Yu Imperial Throne and become the emperor!
How could such ambition be considered a low-level Dao Heart? In his opinion, there was hardly a more lofty aspiration under the heavens, unless one aspired to become a saint.
But who would dare entertain such a thought?
Jiang Ziyan's expression turned slightly unsightly, but she understood her master's temperament. Indeed, a yellow-level Dao Heart was too low.
How could one be so lacking in ambition? She couldn't help but ask, "What is your Dao Heart, then?" as she glanced at her royal brother. Although he hadn't reached the Extreme Realm, he had achieved the Defying Life Realm in just a cosmic cycle, indicating that his aptitude wasn't bad.
The middle-aged man glanced at her but lowered his head without answering.
If he revealed his ambition, he feared his father, the emperor, would have him beheaded.
Jiang Ziyan sighed inwardly as she saw his reaction and guessed his thoughts.
To inherit the imperial throne was merely following in someone's footsteps. True ambition should involve founding a divine dynasty and becoming its founding emperor—that would be a truly awe-inspiring aspiration.
"Never mind. Who's next? Don't embarrass the Jiang Imperial Family any further." Jiang Ziyan said.
The middle-aged man's face twitched, but he knew he had lost his chance to enter the Immortal's Gate and had also lost his backing. He didn't dare to show any further dissatisfaction, and at that moment, he felt a sense of dread.
He had taken the risk of incurring the emperor's displeasure, only to fail to enter the Immortal's Gate. Now, he feared that the imperial throne would no longer be within his grasp.
The middle-aged man's failure came as a surprise to the others. The remaining princes and princesses didn't gloat but instead wore tense and solemn expressions.
The strong cultivators who had gathered from all over the Imperial City also rushed to the square outside the Imperial Palace. Seeing this situation, their faces changed, and they felt nervous and apprehensive.
Even those at the Absolute Expert Realm were rejected? The criteria for entering the Immortal's Gate were incredibly strict!
Soon, the second member of the royal family stepped forward—this time, it was a princess.
Her reflected age was only thirty-two years old, and her cultivation had reached the peak of the Three Immortals Realm. She was just a step away from the Four Establishments Realm and had not yet formed a Dao Heart.
Since she lacked a Dao Heart, there was no need to test it. However, at such a young age, she had already reached the peak of the Three Immortals Realm, indicating an extremely high aptitude.
Her figure stepped onto the Ascending Stairway, and she quickly began her ascent. Like the middle-aged prince, she sprinted forward, her momentum growing stronger. However, her steps gradually slowed.
She displayed the power of the Three Immortals Realm, rushing up the stairway with determination in her eyes as she longed to pass through the Immortal's Gate.
Finally, she climbed all forty-nine steps and arrived before the gate.
The small revolving pagoda above the gate suddenly shot out a purple light, scanning her body. Then, the purple light retracted, and the purple haze surrounding the pagoda turned golden-yellow.
"They're all geniuses of the Ji family."
In the void outside the square, Ji Tianchao had also arrived, but he stayed in the shadows, quietly observing. He had escorted these youngsters here, and with the Jiang family opening the Immortal's Gate, providing such a rare opportunity, he naturally couldn't miss it.
However, he had instructed these youngsters not to be too ostentatious and to try their best not to reveal the Ji family name. The ancient sacred clan had always preferred to keep a low profile...
Boom!
Ji Xuanshen's body suddenly erupted with a vast and mighty aura, akin to a deity, as his body shone with golden light.
Peak of the Divine Might Realm!
The seven Daoist Realm powerhouses standing beside the Ascending Stairway, who had previously been expressionless, now had eyes that shone with a faint light.
Finally, a true genius had arrived.
"What is that?"
"Why has his skin turned golden?"
"What powerful energy. I feel the heat emanating from his body, like a furnace."
"Who is this? I've never seen him before. What's his name?"
In the square, everyone witnessed Ji Xuanshen's transformation and felt the majestic aura he exuded, comparable to a great sun. They were all astonished.
At that moment, Ji Xuanshen didn't waste any time with idle talk and directly took a big step forward.
As he stepped onto the Ascending Stairway, the power of rules immediately enveloped him, and he felt a heavy weight on his shoulders. Undeterred, he continued forward with powerful strides.
At the same time, his age was reflected on the Reflecting Bone Mirror beside the stairway—twenty-nine years old.
Upon seeing his age, everyone was shocked.
Only twenty-nine years old?!
Many of the older cultivators who had come to witness the opening of the Immortal's Gate were also flabbergasted.
They could sense the energy emanating from the young man, which was unmistakably at the Tai Ping Daoist Realm! In the Great Yu Divine Dynasty, such strength and cultivation placed him among the top powerhouses, yet he was only twenty-nine years old?!
They suddenly wondered if they should just give up. How could they possibly compete with such a monster?
As Ji Xuanshen continued up the Ascending Stairway, his aura became even more powerful, and he strode forward, unfazed by the increasingly oppressive force of the rules.
With each set of five steps he took, the nearby Extreme Dao Monument lit up brilliantly.
Peak of the Divine Might Realm, Divine Power! Ji Xuanshen didn't pause and kept moving forward. Soon, he passed another set of five steps, and the second Extreme Dao Monument shone brightly once more.
Heavenly Pulse!
Two extremes ignited, illuminating two Extreme Dao Monuments.
Ji Xuanshen was only twenty-nine years old, and if he were given a few more decades, he would undoubtedly comprehend other extremes.
As a descendant of the ancient sacred clan, his potential was immense, and he could be considered one of the top geniuses in the human realm.
Before long, Ji Xuanshen effortlessly reached the forty-ninth step of the Ascending Stairway and stood before the Immortal's Gate.
The remaining Extreme Dao Monuments did not light up.
As he stood there, the Dao Heart Pagoda emitted a purple light, scanning his body before retracting back into the pagoda, which then shone with a silver-white glow.
"Mystic-grade Dao Heart!"
A voice echoed from within the Immortal's Gate, seemingly in awe, but it wasn't the Feather Ancestor speaking.
Ji Xuanshen stood before the Immortal's Gate and turned to look down at the Imperial Palace below, his gaze meeting with the young man's. He nodded slightly, conveying the message, "I'll wait for you there," before stepping through the gate.
Seeing Ji Xuanshen's success, the other Ji family geniuses heaved a sigh of relief and smiled, feeling a sense of assurance.
If even Ji Xuanshen couldn't pass, then there was something wrong with the Immortal's Gate.
"Then, I guess it's my turn now."
Another genius stepped forward and, upon reaching the Ascending Stairway, glanced at the young man in the Imperial Palace and bowed slightly to him before rushing forward.
This person was also very young, only thirty-two years old, and had already reached the Absolute Expert Realm.
Soon, he activated the first Extreme Dao Monument and continued unimpeded.
His Dao Heart was also scanned, and it shone with a silver-white light, though not as dazzling as Ji Xuanshen's.
"One extreme, mystic-grade Dao Heart. He's one of ours."
A voice seemed to emanate from within the Immortal's Gate, and some of the higher-level cultivators who heard it were taken aback, realizing that the competition for these geniuses had already begun.
Before long, as the second genius stepped through the Immortal's Gate, the third and fourth followed... Each of them glanced at the young man in the Imperial Palace and nodded slightly as a greeting before beginning their tests.
Among them was Ji Qingyuan's daughter, Ji Qingfeng.
During the competition for the Dao seed, she had followed her father's orders and tried to defeat and expel Li Hao from the competition. However, in the end, Li Hao had relied on his iron fists to awe and convince all the geniuses on that mountain peak.
With his Three Unyielding Paths of Undying, he had forged an undefeated legend, causing all the geniuses of the Ji family to acknowledge his superiority and submit wholeheartedly.
Ji Qing Frost nodded to Li Hao, acknowledging his presence, before beginning her test.
Her age, as reflected by the bone mirror, was twenty-seven years old.
Peak of the Divine Might Realm.
Soon, Jade Frost easily ascended the forty-nine steps of the Ascending Stairway and entered the Immortal's Gate.
Inside the Imperial Palace, the Yu Emperor noticed the exceptional strength of this group of geniuses, most of whom had reached the peak of their respective realms. This was truly terrifying, and it was clear that they weren't from within the Great Yu territory.
He had already guessed their origins, but what surprised him was that they all seemed to know Li Hao.
"Do you know them?"
The Yu Emperor asked.
Li Hao nodded: "We've crossed paths before."
The Yu Emperor understood, suddenly remembering Li Hao's mother's surname.
Jiang Ziyan and the others also sensed that these geniuses were clearly stronger than the others, and most of them had reached the peak of their realms. The youngest among them was only twenty-nine years old, yet he had already achieved two extremes, which was simply outrageous.
"These guys... They all seem to know him."
Jiang Ziyan looked at the young man sitting at the dragon table in the Imperial Palace. He was chatting casually with her father, seemingly unconcerned about the events unfolding outside.
As the Ji family geniuses passed through the Immortal's Gate one by one, the square fell into a brief silence. However, prompted by Jiang Ziyan's companion, Zhang Shixiong, more challengers soon flew out to take on the test.
But as the examination proceeded, some of the challengers were revealed to be under thirty years old, with only the Three Immortals Realm cultivation. While they would have been revered in ordinary circumstances, their talent and cultivation now seemed inferior in comparison to the previous geniuses.
However, as more people gathered in the square outside the Imperial Palace, the atmosphere became more heated and intense. Even those in their thirties, who had only reached the Absolute Expert Realm, stepped forward to challenge the Immortal's Gate. The criteria for passing the test seemed incredibly strict!
Soon, the second member of the royal family stepped forward—this time, it was a princess.
Her reflected age was only thirty-two years old, and her cultivation had reached the peak of the Three Immortals Realm. She was just a step away from the Four Establishments Realm and had not yet formed a Dao Heart.
Since she lacked a Dao Heart, there was no need to test it. However, at such a young age, she had already reached the peak of the Three Immortals Realm, indicating an extremely high aptitude.
As she stepped onto the Ascending Stairway, she quickly began her ascent. Like the others before her, she rushed forward with growing momentum, her eyes fixed on the Immortal's Gate with determination.
Finally, she climbed all forty-nine steps and arrived before the gate.
The small revolving pagoda above the gate suddenly shot out a purple light, scanning her body. Then, the purple light retracted, and the purple haze surrounding the pagoda turned golden-yellow.
"This is tough!"
"Even the pride of the Chishui Lin family lost. He only made it to the thirtieth step of the Ascending Stairway."
"What kind of monsters were those who passed with ease earlier?"
"Look, there's another one at the Extreme Realm. That must be someone from the Wang Clan."
On the Ascending Stairway, the Extreme Dao Monument lit up once more, and a young man from the Wang Clan stood tall, exuding pride and coldness in his eyes.
He activated the Power Extreme Dao Monument, his body turning crimson gold as he unleashed his strength and sprinted up the stairs. Soon, he reached the forty-ninth step.
Nothing unexpected occurred, and he was accepted by the Immortal's Gate.
"You should go now, too."
On the Qindao Palace, Zhenren Qin said to Jian Mingyue and the others beside him.
Jian Mingyue and Qingjingzi nodded and flew toward the Immortal's Gate.
Seeing these disciples of the Qindao Palace, the various geniuses in the square paused their challenges to give them a chance.
"I guess it's my turn now."
Qingjingzi stepped forward and onto the Ascending Stairway, but he couldn't light up the first Extreme Dao Monument. However, he managed to activate the second, cultivating the Heaven and Earth Vein.
Such a special case was rare.
Soon after, he entered the Immortal's Gate without any difficulty.
Within the Immortal's Gate lay a vast void. As soon as Qingjingzi entered, he saw the others who had made it earlier, along with three majestic figures and numerous Daoist Realm cultivators. Their auras made his heart tremble.
At the same time, he felt that the world beyond the gate was rich and profound. The heavenly and earthly energy was so dense that it seemed to drill into his body, allowing him to improve without cultivating.
This feeling was too comfortable. Was this the land of the sages? Qingjingzi was astonished and curious. He bowed slightly, then turned his head and realized that he could easily see the outside world through the gate, though those outside couldn't see in.
"He still hasn't come?"
Hime Kiyoshimo looked toward the gate and noticed that Li Hao hadn't appeared among the challengers, causing her eyebrows to furrow.
Hime Genjin remained impassive, his eyes shining faintly as he kept silent.
Outside the gate, Mingyue Jian and the others took turns challenging the stairway.
Their ages were reflected in the Reflecting Bone Mirror, ranging from a few hundred years to Mingyue Jian, the youngest at fourteen years old, two years younger than Li Hao.
With his Heaven Man Master Realm cultivation, Mingyue Jian stepped onto the Ascending Stairway but couldn't light up any of the monuments. However, as he climbed the stairs, the small pagoda shook, emitting purple light that enveloped him.
As the light retracted, the pagoda buzzed.
"Dao Heart Bell!"
A surprised voice came from within the gate. "Could it be a natural oddity?"
As Mingyue Jian entered, exclamations of surprise followed. "I want that boy for the Void Sacred Land!" someone shouted.
Those outside heard the whispers and were astonished. Did Mingyue Jian possess an extraordinary physique?
The Yu Emperor turned to Li Hao, who sat beside him, seemingly unconcerned, and said, "You should go now."
"Mhm," Li Hao nodded, standing up. "Your Majesty, please look after Xiao Baihu. He's my little companion."
The Yu Emperor nodded in agreement.
Li Hao then called out to Ren Qianqian, asking her to prepare.
Ren Qianqian was nervous, having witnessed the many failures.
Noticing her tension, Li Hao smiled and said, "Don't worry, just relax and adjust. With your strength, even without the Extreme Realm, your talent is exceptional."
Hearing his words, Ren Qianqian took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. "I'm ready, Young Master," she said seriously.
Li Hao nodded and flew up with her.
As they reached the airspace above the square, a figure rushed toward the Ascending Stairway.
"Kid, let me go first."
It was none other than Jiang Lichen, his figure flickering as he stepped onto the stairway. He quickly activated the second Extreme Dao Monument, cultivating the Heaven and Earth Vein, and sprinted forward. Soon, he reached the forty-ninth step.
At the same time, the small pagoda shook, bathing him in purple light. As the light retracted, it turned pitch-black.
Along with the light, a buzzing sound emanated from the pagoda.
"Earth-grade Dao Heart?!"
A shocked voice came from within the gate.
"And it's a natural oddity, too! What kind is it?"
Someone exclaimed in surprise.
Jiang Lichen entered the Immortal's Gate, and indistinct voices could be heard from within, as if they were arguing.
The people in the square were puzzled, unsure what had happened but knowing something unusual had occurred.
Jiang Ziyan's eyebrows furrowed as she recognized her royal uncle. How could he possess an Earth-grade Dao Heart, a trait only saints could have?
The commoners below may not understand the significance, but in the land of the sages, such a Dao Heart was incredibly rare!
Jiang Ziyan never expected a monstrous genius like her royal uncle to appear in their family.
"Could our Jiang family produce two saints in the future?"
Jiang Ziyan was stunned. With their resurrected ancestor and her royal uncle's potential, the Jiang family seemed destined for greatness.
"Young Master, you should go first. I need more time to adjust," Ren Qianqian said to Li Hao, still nervous after Jiang Lichen's success.
Li Hao felt helpless but understood her lack of experience and nervousness. "Alright," he said, stepping forward.
Jiang Ziyan watched as Li Hao approached the Ascending Stairway.
Below, many people recognized him.
"That's General Haotian!"
"Is our Great Yu's top Heavenly General entering the Immortal's Gate, too?"
Tension and expectation filled the air as people looked up.
Ancient characters appeared on the Reflecting Bone Mirror, displaying Li Hao's age: sixteen years old.
Seeing his age, many were dazed.