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The child who used to sit alone in the courtyard looking up at the starry sky still lingered in his heart.

But that courtyard was no longer there.

The little tail that used to chase after him in that courtyard was gone as well.

The bloodline connections that used to reach across hundreds of thousands of miles and resonate with that courtyard were also gone.

But the All Heavens Stars were still there.

That pure-hearted child was still there.

Upon hearing Li Hao's words, Ji Yun Yue felt as if her heart had been fiercely stabbed, and the tears she had barely held back started flowing again like a dam had burst.

The others who wanted to persuade him closed their mouths at that moment and fell silent.

Looking at the young man's gentle and calm eyes and the unique temperament that transcended the material world, they all felt a deep sorrow, knowing that this dazzling prodigy no longer belonged to the Ji Family.

When the young man had come up the mountain and claimed to be surnamed Ji, he faced rejection and disdain from countless people.

Now that he was leaving, everyone wanted him to reclaim that surname, but they realized in despair that it was no longer possible.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I bid you farewell."

Li Hao slightly bowed and said, "The green mountains will not change, the clear waters will flow forever, the sun and moon will always be present, and we will meet again someday!"

After that, he looked at Ji Daoxin and said, "Senior, please open the secret realm for me."

Ji Daoxin remained silent, knowing that there was no turning back, the broken mirror could not be made whole again, and mistakes could not be mended.

Just like the winds of today, no matter how strong, could not blow back to yesterday.

"My child, the Ji Family will always be open to you, even if you do not wish to be one of the Ji Family anymore. But if you ever come back, the Ji Family will always welcome you."

Ji Daoxin gazed deeply at Li Hao and said word by word, "If you ever encounter difficulties in the future, just send a letter, and the Ji Family will certainly assist you with all our might!"

Li Hao just smiled slightly, not responding.

The other person was the head of a family that had lasted for ten thousand years; his words were kind but also strategic.

Ji Daoxin seeing the young man's clear and serene yet mature eyes, knew that he could not be treated as an ordinary youth, and indeed, his words did contain the intention of minimizing losses.

After all, a prodigy like Li Hao was bound to be a resounding presence in the vast wilderness in the future. Even if he was not a member of the Ji Family, it would be impossible to become enemies with him, whether as a patron of the Ji Family or as a friend, it was worth exerting great efforts.

"My child, let me make way for you, and send you off on your journey."

Ji Daoxin said, personally escorting him.

Such a protocol was only for the War God when returning from a campaign, either to welcome or to see off on a mission.

The news of Li Hao's return from the dead quickly spread throughout the Ji Family, and many people rushed over, including other prodigies.

Accompanied by Ji Daoxin, Ji Tianchao, and others, the young man walked shoulder to shoulder with them towards the foot of the mountain.

The rest followed in a grand procession, with many still calling out in sorrow and trying to keep him there, but the young man's figure remained unwavering.

When they heard that Li Hao had severed his blood ties with the Ji Family and was leaving, from the mountain peak to the mid-slope, and even down at the foot of the mountain, many Ji Family members who had rushed over called out in shock and panic, pleading with the young man to stay.

These sad and urgent cries traveled from the mountaintop to the foot of the mountain, accompanying him all the way, but the young man never looked back.

Countless members of the Ji Family watched his departing figure in sadness and despair, feeling as if the sky had collapsed; from the excitement and thrill of a moment before to the despair of now.

As members of the Ancient Holy Clan, which had glorified for ten thousand years, they were always the ones casting people out, but now, they felt an unfamiliar sense of abandonment.

"He's... leaving the Ji Family?"

Ji Xuan Shen arrived as well, and from a distance in the sky, he heard the countless discussions on the mountain. He instantly understood what had happened and stood there stupefied.

The next moment, he suddenly accelerated, descending like a comet and landed in front of Li Hao and others who were coming down the mountain.

Ji Xuan Shen looked at the family head, Ji Tianchao, Ji Qingyuan, and other War Gods, all escorting this young man. He felt both disbelief and a surge of anger, not understanding why they did not retain him.

"Are you really leaving? You've already obtained the Dao Seed, and I haven't challenged you yet!"

Ji Xuan Shen looked at Li Hao and said angrily.

"Mysterious God!"

Seeing Ji Mysterious God standing in the way, Ji Daoxin's face changed slightly, and he let out a light shout.

But he did not blame him, for he saw that Ji Mysterious God merely wanted to stop Li Hao from leaving, rather than truly harboring any ill will.

"There's no need for a challenge, you have already won."

Li Hao looked at the youth before him and said calmly, "In the Ji Family, you are the strongest prodigy."

"But I have not yet defeated you!"

Ji Mysterious God's face showed a mix of anger and a sense of powerlessness as he stared at Li Hao's Divine Flame outer garment, saying:

"You are now at the Grand Tao of Peace Realm, although I don't know how you managed it, but you had previously defeated me at Three Immortal Realms, now, you must be even more formidable!"

"One move, just one exchange!"

"If you can defeat me within one move, I will let you go!"

He stared intensely at Li Hao, "Do you dare accept?"

Hearing the words of this youth, the other members of the Ji Family were all taken aback, no one thought Ji Mysterious God was overreaching or recklessly arrogant, they all saw that the one move he talked about meant using all his strength, to retain this opponent who had once defeated him.

This was not hostility, but camaraderie!

Perhaps, this was the mutual admiration between prodigies?

"That's right, if you don't defeat Mysterious God, running away after winning is running away!"

"If you want to leave the Ji Family, then you must accept the fight!"

The other prodigies arrived and they all saw Ji Mysterious God's intentions, all voicing their support and egging him on.

Faced with Li Hao, who had mastered the Dao Domain, they had no confidence to withstand a single move against him, but Ji Mysterious God also had control of the Dao Domain, and if he combined it with the power of the Holy Bone, it was not impossible to withstand one move!

These words sounded like a challenge, like reluctance, but the other Ji Family elders all looked toward Li Hao, hoping he would agree.

To give Ji Mysterious God a chance.

A chance not for a challenge, but for him to stay.

Li Hao also understood Ji Mysterious God's intentions, and he fell silent for a moment.

The initial climb up the mountain, countless obstacles.

Now descending the mountain, it was still countless obstacles.

Back then, it was for the Ji Family.

Now, it was also for the Ji Family.

Only this time, there was something more.

And this something more happened to be the most precious and hardest to come by.

"Then let's give it a try."

Li Hao seemed to sigh as he spoke, knowing in his heart the outcome and the answer.

Hearing that Li Hao was willing to agree, a look of happiness replaced the anger and complexity in Ji Mysterious God's eyes, he breathed a sigh of relief, afraid Li Hao would insist on leaving, not giving him a chance at all.

After all, if Li Hao truly wanted to leave, he would not be able to stop him.

But one move, he still had that confidence.

Despite having been defeated by Li Hao at the Three Immortal Realms before, during this time, he had completely stepped from the Half-step Tao Realm into the Grand Tao of Peace Realm!

In just an instant, his Dao Domain could unfold, multiplying the power of the rules several times over.

At the same level of Dao Realm, he was the Ji Family's supreme prodigy, he did not believe he couldn't withstand one move from Li Hao.

"Your word is your bond!"

Ji Mysterious God drew in a deep breath, his eyes becoming stern, the aura of his body swelling as the geo-pulse appeared faintly, drawing all the power of the surrounding heavens and earth to converge upon him.

Armed with the experience of the last confrontation, this time he chose to strike first - somewhat dishonorable yet necessary – preemptively plundering the surrounding power of heavens and earth.

By doing so, he could prevent Li Hao from quickly entering the Land Immortal Realm, where in that realm's exchange, he felt he might not even withstand a single move, for now Li Hao was different from the Immortal, having reached the peak of the Four Extreme Realms.

As the enormous power gathered within him, Ji Mysterious God's whole body radiated a heavy oppressive force, and the power of splitting and transformation thundered around his body.

He gazed at Li Hao but saw Li Hao seemingly not gathering force or making a move.

"Don't blame me for not giving you time to prepare!"

If they were to clash again on the Dao stage, he would stop, but now, having said only one sentence, he rapidly deployed his Dao Domain towards Li Hao.

In the Grand Tao of Peace Realm, the fight was dominated by Dao Domains—those who have the stronger Dao Domain and seize the initiative first would be the victors.

Ji Daoxin and others looked at Li Hao, seeing that he was completely without any sign of explosive stance, their hearts were filled with secret joy—perhaps Li Hao really wished to stay deep down?

Just as everyone was astonished by Ji Mysterious God's power and secretly thrilled, Li Hao merely lifted his foot and continued walking forward.

Faced with the oncoming rift of the Dao Domain, he acted as if nothing had happened, simply stepping straight out.

The Dao Domain enshrouded him, but to Ji Mysterious God and everyone's amazement, there was no change to Li Hao's body, only his hair fluttered slightly, as if touched by the breath of spring.

Before Ji Mysterious God could react, two Dao Domains spread out from Li Hao's body, in just an instant, shattering Ji Mysterious God's Dao Domain, pushing it back in the opposite direction, and ultimately, completely compressing it back into his own body.

Within Li Hao's Dual Dao Domain, his Dao Domain was completely suppressed and couldn't unfold at all!

And the rules within Li Hao's Dual Dao Domain were not exerted with full force, only mildly suppressed.

Then, Li Hao took his steps, walking straight past Ji Mysterious God's side.

From beginning to end, Li Hao appeared to have not even lifted a hand, to have made no move.

And Ji Mysterious God couldn't move an inch, stiff as a statue, staring blankly as the youth who once defeated him walked towards and brushed past his shoulder, with only his eyes able to move.

The shock and horror in his heart could not be described in words.

Was the difference that great?

What followed was waves of crushing defeat and pain.

Ji Daoxin and Ji Tian Chao and others, who thought they would see a fierce clash, instead saw Ji Mysterious God's momentous aura abruptly and effortlessly stopped by Li Hao, as the spring rain nourishes all things, silent and unnoticeable.