The Name of Eternity.

Chapter 678 The Ten Strongest Kings

"That's right, a preliminary selection for the True King!"

Dao Yuan Immortal Emperor said, "In the war between the domain races, apart from the Immortal Kings, almost everyone else is cannon fodder and cannot influence the outcome. Only by utilizing the power of the military formation can one have the combat strength to fight against the Immortal Kings. Therefore, at that time, apart from the Emperor personally leading the expedition, it all came down to the number and combat strength of the Immortal Kings on both sides."

Hearing his master's words, Li Hao recalled the battlefield outside Longmen City, and his heart became heavy.

Indeed, only with the protection of military formations can Immortal Lords be allowed to fight; otherwise, the mere expansion of the Immortal King realm would be enough to cause the deaths of many Immortal Lords and True Immortals.

"All the races and top powers in the True Realm will contribute a portion of their resources, pooling them together as a reward for this True King selection."

Dao Yuan Immortal Emperor said, "The targets of this war preparation plan are the geniuses who have reached the peak of the Immortal Monarch Realm, as well as the experts who have reached the Immortal King Realm, or those who have made great contributions in the Immortal King Realm, or those who are at the peak of the Immortal King Realm!"

"The purpose is to enable those who are at a bottleneck to make further progress before the catastrophe breaks out, so that they can play a stronger role in the battle."

"Finally, ten true king commanders will be selected based on their combat performance."

"These ten True King commanders must be top-tier warriors at the Immortal King realm, the ten strongest True Kings among all the races of the True Realm!"

"They will lead the fighting forces of all races in the True Realm to fight against the army of the Ancient Demon Clan in the cataclysm. At that time, the Emperor will be on another level of the battlefield and will not be able to get involved. We will restrain each other. After all, if the Emperor enters the battlefield at the Immortal King level, it will be no different from a giant trampling into an anthill."

"The Emperor of the Ancient Demon Clan also does not want to see such a situation. Therefore, the battlefield will be taken over by the Quasi-Emperor Realm experts, while the ten True Kings will serve as the vanguard."

"When Quasi-Emperor level cultivators clash, they will restrict each other. What the True King's army needs to do is to defeat the Ancient Demon Clan's army and reduce casualties."

Both Li Hao and Shi Miao were stunned when they heard Dao Yuan Immortal Emperor's words.

Although Master spoke simply, the mere mention of the True Realm's myriad races contributing a portion of their resources is enough to demonstrate just how difficult it was to accomplish this!
Even a single race can have internal strife, civil war, and numerous factions, let alone the unification of all races!
Without a doubt, the implementation of this war preparation plan could only be achieved through the combined might of the various emperors.

"Indeed, although we did not experience the catastrophe 100,000 years ago, we can know how tragic it was by looking through the clan's records. There were even more emperors who perished!"

Di Wushe sighed softly. As a quasi-emperor of the imperial clan, he could no longer be considered a prodigy. After all, those who cultivated to the perfection of the Immortal King realm were all peerless prodigies, let alone quasi-emperors.

He had known about this pre-selection of the true king for a long time. It was a great alliance aimed at avoiding repeating past mistakes!

"I didn't expect that this war preparation plan would be activated so soon. Master, did you ask us to bring our junior brother back so that we could send him to participate in the True King election?"

Zhan Qinghuang said.

Dao Yuan Immortal Emperor nodded slightly, then shook his head: "Haotian's talent is remarkable, and his cultivation is incredibly fast. It's just a pity that he doesn't have much time left. Just now, Chaos Immortal Emperor and I both sensed the traces of destiny emerging. From these traces, we can barely see what will happen a thousand years from now. At most, a calamity will sweep across the four regions in a thousand years!"

"In less than a thousand years, it is already extremely difficult for Haotian to cultivate to the perfection of the Immortal King Realm."

"If he can truly master it, with Haotian's wisdom, he might become a true king's deputy, and he would have some ability to protect himself in such a war."

He looked at Li Hao with a sigh and regret in his eyes. He knew how talented this young disciple was, but unfortunately, time waits for no one.

Di Wushe and Zhan Qinghuang both looked at Li Hao. They knew their master's nature; he was compassionate and merciful, but he was cultivating Li Hao only to give him more self-defense capabilities in war, not to kill enemies. This showed how much their master loved this junior brother.

Li Hao's eyes changed slightly, and his fingers clenched involuntarily. Just a short thousand years?
So fast... This catastrophe suddenly changed, catching everyone completely unprepared. Just like the tribulations and enemies he had experienced before, others always faced opponents who were only slightly stronger than themselves, while he, whether it was the assassination attempts he had faced since childhood or the enemies he had encountered along the way, were usually able to crush him easily.

Perhaps this is reality: it never gives you the opportunity to prepare and grow step by step, but instead simply erases it.

Dao Yuan Immortal Emperor looked at Shi Miao with gentle eyes and said, "You have a great chance in this True King selection. Although you are only at the fourth level of the Immortal King Realm now, I believe you will do everything you can to win it for him. If you become a True King, you will be able to better protect Haotian."

Shi Miao's expression changed, and she said in a deep voice, "Of course, Your Majesty, there's no need to provoke me. I would give up my life for him!"

Li Hao's expression changed slightly as he looked at the woman beside him. Her resolute eyes seemed to remain unmoved even under the supreme iron palm in the Southern Region.

He silently withdrew his gaze, saying nothing and offering no further words.

Dao Yuan Immortal Emperor smiled at Shi Miao, and then said, "This time, the selection of True Kings will not consider talent or background, but only combat strength. After all, you are all at the Immortal King realm, so-called talent is meaningless. Without combat strength, everything is in vain. Moreover, there is no time or conditions to give geniuses a chance to grow slowly. What is needed now are soldiers and generals who can go into battle immediately!"

He said, "Go back and rest. I will send you there in a couple of days."

Li Hao and Shi Miao didn't say or ask any more questions. After bidding farewell to their master, Li Hao and Shi Miao returned to the small courtyard on the mountaintop.

Emperor Wushe and Emperor Zhan Qing remained in the hall, as Daoyuan Immortal Emperor had given them other instructions.

At the mountaintop, the clouds and mist were still, and time seemed to pass extremely slowly.

In the small courtyard with its fence, Li Hao sat on the zither stand, and Shi Miao sat on the swing in the yard, neither of them speaking.

They could all sense that this was perhaps the calm before a great battle, and these two days might be the last two days they would spend in this small courtyard.

"Three hundred years..."

Shi Miao looked around with longing in her eyes, let out a soft breath, and said, "Although it's still far from enough, I'm already very satisfied."

Li Hao looked at her silently and said slowly, "I will always be here in the future."

Shi Miao smiled but didn't say anything. In that catastrophe, life and death were uncertain, but she was still very happy that Li Hao could say that.

"I believe."

She said, "Because in the distant future, I see your figure, always there..."

A hint of sadness flashed in her eyes. She wasn't lying; she saw it. That figure was always there, but... only he was always there, and no one else could get close.

Time flies.

Two days passed in a flash.

"Young friend, if you see this mountain on the battlefield next time we meet, that is me."

As he was leaving, the old ancestor Yuanming, carrying the Jidao Mountain on his back, spoke in a deep voice.

His voice was weathered yet gentle, like that of a kind elder.

Li Hao's eyes flickered, and he suddenly felt a dryness and soreness in his eyes. Would their reunion be such a dangerous scene?
But he knew that even if he didn't want to face it, it might still happen.

"Then... Ancestor, I will find you on the battlefield."

Li Hao bowed deeply.

"At that time, we will be comrades-in-arms."

Yuanming, the venerable ancestor, said in a deep voice.

The old tortoise, which had carried the weight of the Extreme Dao Mountain for countless years, let out a soft chuckle. Li Hao also laughed, but many figures flashed through his mind, and he clenched his fists even tighter.

Since he began cultivating at a young age, he had experienced many wars, but he had not felt much urgency. Even in matters of life and death, he believed that he was the only one who could live and the only one who could die, and he would simply risk his own life.

But now, this catastrophe has swept across the entire True Realm. The scene outside Dragon Gate City where Immortal Lords are annihilated like ashes will occur in various parts of the True Realm when the catastrophe breaks out. And Elder Feng, Emperor Yu, and the others are also in the True Realm.

Even if they retreat back to the false world of Heavenly Calamity, they may not be able to survive. If the true world is destroyed, all races will perish.

He not only had to work hard to cultivate, but also had to cultivate as quickly as possible so that he would have the opportunity to find them and bring them to his side.

"Let's go."

Dao Yuan Immortal Emperor said softly.

As he spoke, he raised his hand and swept a force around Li Hao and Shi Miao.

Although he was an incarnation, he chose to personally see him off.

Li Hao and Shi Miao stood in their master's sleeve space and arrived at another place on the mountaintop. In addition to the two of them, there were more than twenty people gathered here, including three Immortal Lords, the rest were all at the ninth level of Immortal Kings, and two at the peak of Immortal Kings!

Dao Yuan Immortal Emperor didn't speak, but raised his hand and rolled up, and these people also entered the space in his sleeve.

Apart from Li Hao and Shi Miao, these are also from the Dao Source lineage and were selected to be qualified to enter the True King pre-selection.

Although they are not direct disciples, they are all at a bottleneck and have the potential to make further progress.

"I've met senior brother."

When the twenty-odd people saw Li Hao, they all bowed and greeted him.

Li Hao returned the greeting and glanced around. He saw that the three Immortal Lords were all at the Perfection Realm, with restrained and profound auras and eyes that seemed to generate lightning in the void. It was clear at a glance that although they were not his direct disciples, they were probably not far behind and were top-tier geniuses.

"Where is Senior Sister Ling Shu? Is she still cultivating in the Chaos Star?"

Li Hao suddenly thought of Di Ling Shu and asked her.

Dao Yuan Immortal Emperor said, "That's right. When she has cultivated enough, she may go to the True King selection, but it will take her too long. At most, she can only make a sprint and will not gain much."

Compared to Li Hao, it would take Di Ling Shu at least several thousand years to cultivate to the peak of the Immortal King realm. Just comprehending the Chaos Stars would take a thousand years.

"The fourth brother will go in through the family, and you will meet there."

Dao Yuan Immortal Emperor said.

Li Hao knew he was referring to Senior Brother Lei Jingfeng.

"Is Fifth Senior Brother really not coming?"

Li Hao couldn't help but ask.

Dao Yuan Immortal Emperor remained silent for a moment, then shook his head slightly without saying a word.

Clearly, Long Qingge chose to fight the Eastern Region to the death and was unwilling to leave at this critical moment.

Perhaps this wasn't the wisest choice, but it was... the choice most like him.

"Where are we going?"

Shi Miao asked.

Everyone else looked at the girl with curiosity and scrutiny, but no one asked her anything.

At this moment, their minds were preoccupied with the upcoming election for the true king and the impending catastrophe. They were preoccupied with their own worries and had lost much of their curiosity and desire to explore new things.

"In the abyss of the true world."

When Dao Yuan Immortal Emperor spoke, his words caused many people's pupils to contract and their eyes to show shock.

Shi Miao's expression also changed, and she asked uncertainly, "The True Realm Abyss? There, the laws of all things are in chaos, and all paths are broken. It is a dangerous place in itself. How can one compete and cultivate there?"

“There are seven abysses in the True Realm. We have chosen one of them to be modified. Although the environment is still harsh, it is suitable for cultivation and comprehension, and the efficiency is dozens of times that of the outside world. Even the conditions on the Extreme Dao Mountain are not as good as there!”

"That place was previously sealed off and the surrounding area was secluded. In addition, due to the characteristics of the True Realm Abyss, the Ancient Demon Clan could not directly teleport down there. This also ensured your safety and prevented the Ancient Demon Clan's emperor from launching a sneak attack."

Dao Yuan Immortal Emperor said.

This True King selection can be described as gathering the top combat power and geniuses of the four regions. If they are attacked by the Emperor of the Ancient Demon Clan and all of them are killed, it can be said that the seed will be completely cut off. Then they will only be left with a bloody battle to the death, with no way out.

Shi Miao was slightly taken aback, a look of realization appearing in his eyes. "The ancient demon race can use the projection of the Samsara Gate to illuminate all parts of the True Realm. Once this is used, even an Emperor can descend directly. However, the Abyss of the True Realm is an exception. Rather than calling it an abyss, it is more like a great rift in the True Realm that was created by the battles between the Emperors!"

"Even the Gate of Reincarnation cannot reflect into the Great Crack, so it is indeed safe."

Hearing her explanation, the other confused people also looked enlightened.

"This time, during the True King selection, there are Quasi-Emperor level beings present to watch over you, and two Emperor Venerables are stationed in the Abyss. This is to prevent any accidents from happening. If you perform well, you can also receive guidance from those two Emperor Venerables. Their expertise in the Emperor Path is different from mine. Each Emperor Venerable has their own Emperor Path and is the strongest in their own Emperor Path domain. If you can get some guidance from them, it can also help you make rapid progress."

Dao Yuan Immortal Emperor said.

Upon hearing this, the eyes of the others lit up slightly. With two emperors in charge, they were actually making such a grand gesture.

During their conversation, the world around Dao Yuan Immortal Emperor blurred, and then they traveled out of the Primordial True Realm and into the True Realm.

It seemed they had chosen their location in advance; when they appeared, they were faced with a bottomless abyss of starry sky.

Dao Yuan Immortal Emperor did not linger, and led everyone away in a straight flight.

Elsewhere, the starlight was dappled, but in this abyss, it was pitch black.

But as they went deeper, after what seemed like an even longer journey than from the Primordial Realm to the Realm, the light that appeared before them once again was that of stars.

It was like gradually seeing light again from the deepest darkness.

Deep within this abyss lies another starry sky, a world seemingly a hidden paradise.

In this starry sky, a large number of figures gathered, densely packed and scattered throughout the sky. Each figure stood upright, and besides humans, there were other races with bizarre and varied physical structures. Among them, Li Hao even saw the figure of the Ancestral Dragon Clan.

(End of this chapter)