Chapter 344: The Duel at the Summit - Part 1
On the slopes of the Mountain of Inquiry.
After leaving the Dao Pavilion, Li Hao quickly ascended.
Along the way, he passed several cultivators who had previously gathered at the pavilion and left earlier.
These people were surprised to see Li Hao, but they paid him no further mind, continuing their own ascent. However, many had stopped on the stone steps, palms pressed together, wearing expressions of reverence, as if on pilgrimage.
Li Hao climbed with ease and soon arrived at the next Dao Pavilion.
Just as he arrived, the crowd began speculating what form his Dao Manifestation would take this time—when, outside the Dao Pavilion, his manifestation began to materialize.
The moment it appeared, it emanated a dense aura of Water Dao essence. It raised its hand, casting a Water Dao immortal art. Around them, rain fell like a sudden downpour, filled with a piercing chill.
Seeing that it was a Water Dao manifestation, Li Hao acted decisively. The opponent had only reached the third stage of the Water Dao, far from the fourth.
Whereas Li Hao, having consumed a Divine Fruit from the Divine Tree in the City of Five Dao Origins, had reached the fourth stage in all nine sequences.
“Congeal!”
With a flick of his wrist, the gusting wind and freezing rain froze in midair. Then, with another sweep of his arm, the frozen downpour transformed into a wall of ice that surged forward toward the manifestation.
The Water Dao manifestation was about to retaliate, but the wall of ice exploded abruptly. Shards of ice turned into countless sharp blades that pierced through its body in an instant, causing it to shatter and dissipate on the spot.
All of it happened in the blink of an eye. Li Hao withdrew his hand, not sparing the defeated form a glance, and continued up the stairs.
This brief and fierce battle was projected across the Southern Region’s various Immortal Dynasties, leaving countless onlookers dumbfounded.
Previously, they had witnessed Li Hao’s easy defeat of a Fire Dao manifestation, but that had been on the lower slopes of the mountain. Now, having reached the upper half, the manifestations grew significantly stronger.
“He’s terrifying! He’s mastered both the Water and Fire Dao!”
“And his proficiency in both is quite high.”
“Not surprising—after all, only the most elite geniuses are qualified to join the Southern Region Conclave. Some even command the Dao of Time and Space.”
“If all his opponents were combat-oriented manifestations like this one, he’d probably already be at the summit!”
The crowd was abuzz. All had now seen just how formidable the young man truly was.
His earlier feat of reeling in the Xuanming Dragon Immortal—already at the Immortal Lord level—while fishing in adversity was more than enough to prove Li Hao's qualifications to rank among the top echelon of True Immortal prodigies.
After all, while many were powerful, only a few had the ability to overcome adversity.
“That youth is comparable to those of the Ancient God Clan. I expect fierce clashes in the battles to come!”
Within one of the Immortal Dynasties, an Immortal King-level expert sat atop a mountain, stroking his beard as he spoke to the disciples beside him.
“Excellent!”
Outside the Mountain of Inquiry, Li Tiemu clenched his fist in excitement, cheering for Li Hao.
The Great Dream Master also revealed a rare smile. Judging by his speed, Li Hao’s odds of reaching the summit were looking very strong.
“So fast!”
Outside the Dao Pavilion, others who saw Li Hao defeat the manifestation in a flash were astonished.
Earlier, he had sat alone in the lower Dao Pavilion. Yet now, at a higher point on the mountain, he was dispatching his foes even faster—it was difficult to comprehend.
Unfazed by the astonished stares, Li Hao swiftly dealt with the Water Dao manifestation and resumed his climb.
This time, there were noticeably fewer people on the stairs. Only a scattered few remained, kneeling like statues, caught in a state of trance, lost in reverent awe.
Not long after Li Hao departed, Yuexi, Gu Yan, and others followed. The green-robed girl and the rest also hurried to catch up. They looked around but did not see Li Hao’s figure, momentarily stunned.
When someone asked, a nearby cultivator who had barely defeated his Dao Manifestation gasped out that Li Hao had already gone ahead.
“So this is his true climbing speed?”
Gu Yan couldn’t help but raise his head to look toward the summit. His gaze sharpened, and he continued his ascent along the stairs.
Soon, his own Dao Manifestation appeared. Without hesitation, he unleashed his sword technique, engaging in fierce combat.
The green-robed girl and the others, upon hearing news of Li Hao, wore solemn expressions and once more resumed their climb and challenges.
Elsewhere, Li Hao soon reached the next Dao Pavilion.
This was the third one.
Beyond this pavilion, he was only one step away from reaching the summit.
At that moment, a new manifestation appeared outside the Dao Pavilion.
Li Hao stood quietly, gazing at it. This manifestation radiated a sharp and chilling aura, slowly coalescing a sword in its hand.
A Sword Dao manifestation!
“Please.”
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