Follow the path of Dao from infancy Chapter 1888 Chapter 505: Breaking 100, Challenging the Quasi-Emperor (Part 2)
Previously on Follow the path of Dao from infancy...
After his declaration echoed, a momentary hush descended upon the Abyss, soon shattered by a sea of bulging eyes overflowing with disbelief and awe.
In addition to the Immortal Immortal Emperor and the Star Empress, eight additional Immortal Emperors were overseeing this selection process?
Remember, these Immortal Emperors stand as legendary powerhouses across the True Realm, each commanding expansive territories.
Right then, the gravity of how seriously the clans viewed the True King selection hit everyone, along with its ties to the stakes of the Ten Thousand Clans, drawing such intense scrutiny.
"Four types of training—what could they possibly be?"
A voice murmured in deep contemplation.
By now, Li Hao stood right in front of Shi Miao. They exchanged grins like old friends meeting again after ages apart.
"Feeling confident?"
Shi Miao inquired in a gentle tone.
Li Hao shook his head first, paused to reflect, then nodded and replied, "I'll do my best."
Shi Miao offered a gentle smile and stated, "Whatever happens, I'm claiming a spot in this True King selection."
Her statement carried an air of unshakable assurance, as if the spot was hers without question.
Li Hao accepted her words without doubt, merely nodding in agreement. Should Shi Miao claim a position and he manage one too, that would secure two slots. Shi Miao could then assist in locating Feng and the rest, ensuring a more complete search.
The sole unknowns lingered in where the group had scattered across the True Realm and the state of affairs beyond.
"Brother Haotian, at last you're back—we haven't crossed paths in centuries."
Nearby, the Yan Fire Clan siblings addressed Li Hao, their expressions radiating genuine fondness.
Li Hao returned the smile, sensing their boosted auras, and remarked, "Looks like you've made solid progress; well done."
"Yes, cultivating in the Great Emperor Dojo speeds things up immensely. We're matching others in realm now, but the gap within the same realm remains a mystery."
The Yan Fire Clan siblings—one at Immortal King Realm Perfection, the other at the Ninth Level—both brimmed with optimism for the upcoming selection.
"Brother Haotian, spending so much time in the Heaven Tower has slowed your cultivation progress, almost like chasing the wrong priority. Climbing to higher realms truly amplifies battle strength; grasping Cultivation Techniques comes after."
Spotting Li Hao's realm stuck at the Seventh Level of the Immortal King Realm, the young Yan Fire Clan member pointed out.
Li Hao agreed with a nod; the observation rang true. He had fretted over failing to fuse seven Realm Hearts, risking entrapment in the Heaven Tower amid a massive conflict. Thus, he poured everything into insights, shunning external immortal power and sealing himself off completely.
In consequence, his cultivation had come to a standstill.
Yet, advancing to the Ninth Level of the Immortal King Realm would allow him to swallow the Realm Domain Pill in his possession, propelling him straight to Perfection.
He sat two levels shy of the Ninth Level of the Immortal King Realm at present; another two centuries of focused cultivation might...
"...Commence! No dragging your feet for extra time—the preliminary test lasts just ten days. When it ends, only the final scores count. Even midway through a level you might clear, falling outside the top hundred means elimination!"
As Li Hao mulled over his thoughts, the Immortal Immortal Emperor had laid out the selection rules thoroughly.
With his command to begin, figures across the Great Emperor Dojo and encircling the Abyss surged toward the Heaven Tower in a frenzied rush.
Luckily, as an Emperor Artifact, the Heaven Tower held boundless might. It could divide even a single floor into separate space-times, ensuring trials didn't interfere with one another.
"Time to move."
Li Hao snapped out of his reverie and spoke to Shi Miao.
The Yan Fire Clan siblings and a handful of others, witnessing the stampede, grew impatient. They quickly bid farewell to Li Hao and Shi Miao before darting off to the Heaven Tower.
This ten-day ordeal highlighted how every moment now shaped their eventual outcomes.
After all, extra time opened more paths to conquer the levels.
By the time Shi Miao and Li Hao approached the Heaven Tower entrance unhurriedly, the majority had already plunged inside, with just a scattering of figures remaining—like heirs from major clans.
These heirs traded composed looks, knowing their true rivalry lay beyond this initial phase.
Securing a top hundred spot presented no challenge for them, so haste proved unnecessary.
"You're at the 110th level?"
Li Hao glanced upward, mildly taken aback by Shi Miao's ranking on the display, though it aligned with her untapped prowess exceeding that mark.
"I'll go ahead; catch you up there."
Shi Miao flashed a charming smile at Li Hao, and they split ways at the 65th level.
Without lingering, Li Hao stepped into the Heaven Tower.
65th level.
The well-known realm of the Heaven Tower materialized once more, as Ancient Demons burst from a nearby tear, each pulsing with Seventh Level Immortal King Realm pressure.
Their realm matched his perfectly.
Li Hao kept his face steady. He lifted his hand and swept lightly across the emptiness.
An unseen blade seemed to slice right at the rift's edge, effortlessly halving the charging Ancient Demons.
Once sliced, their forms dissolved into wisps of dust like bursting bubbles, denied any chance of revival.
Same-realm foes posed no threat to Li Hao, fragile as sparks against his palm, shattered with ease.
With Ancient Demon silhouettes toppling like falling rain in his path, Li Hao pushed through floor after floor. The reek of demon blood clung to his senses, refusing to fade even as he climbed higher.
His ascent flew by, his ranking soaring without pause.
70 levels, 75 levels, 80 levels.
At the 80th level, the Ancient Demons confronting him had surged to the Ninth Level of the Immortal King Realm!
"If these Ancient Demons were actual beings rather than illusions, they'd make for an incredible haul of resources…"