Follow the path of Dao from infancy Chapter 1906 Chapter 511: The Way of the King of Realms (Part 2)
Previously on Follow the path of Dao from infancy...
Li Hao's recollection was spot on; his rival was likewise a reincarnated Quasi-Emperor, similar to him, who had abruptly vaulted onto the rankings amid the closing stretch of the ultimate trial.
"I wish to witness how you ascended to this spot."
The youth detected Li Hao's stare and flashed a subtle smile toward him, declaring, "I am Wan Jijun, reincarnated Quasi-Emperor."
"Haotian."
Li Hao gave a short reply, and as for reincarnation... Would journeying across worlds qualify?
"Wan Jijun?"
"That figure is truly Wan Jijun!"
"His actual name from the prior existence, one of the ancient Kings who progressed to Quasi-Emperor, now reborn once more."
"That young fellow is in for tough times."
Those who overheard Wan Jijun's statement reacted with shock akin to gulping down a toad, gazing at him in awe, while numerous pitying looks turned to Li Hao, mixed with a few that gleamed with schadenfreude.
In the end, among the various Immortal King Perfections, Li Hao's cultivation level shone too brilliantly.
This served as a deep embarrassment to the veteran ancestors of mighty lineages, leading them to yearn for Li Hao's downfall.
"Both combatants, please step into the arena."
The Star Empress announced.
A confrontation like this, overseen by the Emperor himself as referee, marked an unparalleled event.
Li Hao and Wan Jijun shared a look before soaring to the shared battle platform.
Li Hao cast a glance toward the distant Shi Miao, noting her rise to the nineteenth position, gearing up to clash with the one slotted at eighteenth.
Li Hao held no concerns for Shi Miao; besides, no fatal risks existed in this place.
"So swiftly, former lives are clashing against one another—it's happening way too soon, right?"
"I figured the top ten True Kings would hold off their challenges until the assault began, but it kicked off right away like this."
"The elite ten are bound to vie for supremacy, since higher placements yield greater rewards and command authority!"
The assembled clans buzzed with chatter, yet their attention locked onto the platform where Li Hao and Wan Jijun faced off, given that it involved the top contenders themselves.
"Wan Jijun..."
The individuals who had earlier been stunned and pleased by Li Hao's ascent now witnessed his challenge, causing subtle shifts in their faces.
Di Wushe creased her brow sharply; she had delved into Wan Jijun's background, knowing he had once reigned as a King with immense talent, having forged the King's Domain within the Immortal King stage, rendering him nearly unbeatable, and that was before he advanced to Quasi-Emperor—now, reborn and restored to Immortal King peak, his arsenal of abilities from yesteryear must have resurfaced, potentially even stronger than during his Kingly days.
"It's fine; even in defeat, he'd hold onto fifth place."
From the War Clan, Zhan Qinghuang knitted her eyebrows, reassuring herself inwardly.
"Mofan, is this your junior brother? He appears to be in a bind."
Within a venerable lineage bearing an archaic character as its name, the patriarch addressed Gu Mofan, who was clad in dark robes.
Gu Mofan's gaze sharpened, struck by surprise at Li Hao's lofty climb, yet he remembered his junior brother's initial exploit of igniting sixty-nine stars in a single day upon entering the Primordial True Realm, making the current feat seem plausible by comparison.
"Should he find himself overpowered, he ought to secure the True King slot at minimum."
Gu Mofan murmured gently.
To him, even should Li Hao yield ground repeatedly, dropping straight from fourth outside the top ten seemed improbable, barring some rivals concealing profound depths.
Securing a True King position already constituted supreme honor, considering how brief Li Hao's time in the Immortal King Realm had been.
"Indeed, once he attains Immortal King Perfection and hones it further, he might genuinely stand unassailable below Quasi-Emperor."
The Ancient Clan's leader uttered softly, his gaze reflecting appreciation for Li Hao; ascending so far at the Seventh Level of Immortal King, whatever the circumstances, demanded exceptional uniqueness—he was convinced no trickery could evade the Ten Emperors' vigilant oversight.
Atop the arena, Wan Jijun positioned himself with arms folded behind, exuding neither arrogance nor haste but a profound serenity as he regarded Li Hao.
Though intrigued by Li Hao's method of reaching such prominence, in the ultimate evaluation, placing fourth despite everything showed not just raw might but excellence in various facets, earning his respect.
He simply sought to uncover the secret behind his opponent's remarkable rise.
"Judging from your earlier display, you've embarked on the Multiple Realms path, a grueling Emperor Road; in my previous life, I attempted it too, yet abandoned it at the fifth Realm Heart."
Wan Jijun spoke measuredly, "By the fifth Realm Heart, I grasped that this route plunged like a bottomless chasm, with challenges exploding exponentially the deeper you go; maintaining seven separate Realm Hearts proves a hundredfold tougher than five, perhaps even a thousandfold!"
"Unclear how far you've progressed; given your elevated rank, fusing six Realm Hearts seems improbable—have you crossed into the ultimate phase?"
Based on Li Hao's prior bout against the Ten Emperors' puppet form, he held some gauge of his strength and now yearned to test it firsthand.
Li Hao remained indifferent, responding, "It's exactly because of the hardship that it qualifies as the Emperor Road; if the path to Emperor were simple to tread, Emperors wouldn't be so scarce across the realms—none may blaze the trail, so I'll forge it; none may traverse the way, so I'll stride it!"
As he declared this, his formerly composed and subdued air unleashed a formidable aura.
This presence stemmed not from immortal energy but from an unyielding faith, the pinnacle of Dao Intent!
That Dao Intent alone appeared to coalesce into a towering silhouette behind Li Hao; the figure was hazy, akin to mist, blending reality and illusion, yet it embodied a crystallized resolve, and the aura radiating from it carried a subtle imperial grandeur!
Wan Jijun paused in astonishment, then his eyes blazed with light as he exclaimed, "Excellent! For these very words, I'll unleash everything in this fight against you!"
"This youth truly embodies the Emperor's Extreme Dao Heart."
The Immortal Immortal Emperor, beholding the display, couldn't restrain his admiration, adding, "Post this clash, with proper nurturing, he could harbor a chance amid this era's calamity to claim the Emperor title through his Dao Heart!"