209-212
Chapter 209: Battle Against the Taiping Dao Domain
Within the city.
Li Hao and Li Xiaoran, concealing their figures, saw three figures suddenly burst from the battlefield. Their eyes turned cold as they instantly recognized Candlelight God, Lu Yuan, and their companions.
Yin Madam was also among them, which meant that no one was guarding the outside of the Nether River.
It made sense.
Leaving Yin Madam alone to guard it wouldn't have been enough to deter either Li Hao or Li Xiaoran.
"They've been watching us all along..."
Li Xiaoran's gaze was sharp as a blade. "This formation won't be able to withstand the Taiping Dao Realm's attacks for long. We need to act quickly. If you can't handle it, retreat immediately. The treasury should have plenty of Sacred Heart Talismans. Did you take them all?"
"Yes."
Li Hao nodded.
As the inheritor of the True Dragon, the treasury held not only the ancestral divine weapons but also countless treasures accumulated over a thousand years, including a large number of Sacred Heart Talismans.
Such precious items were stacked in thick piles within the treasury, a testament to the Li family's profound heritage!
Among them were also offensive Sacred Heart Talismans that could pose a significant threat to Dao Heart Realm cultivators.
Li Hao's desire to test Candlelight God's Dao Domain's might stemmed from the abundance of treasures in the Li family treasury, allowing him to spend freely. His advantage here was greater than outside.
After all, everything was born from Li Tianzong's obsession, so he didn't mind consuming them.
"Kill!"
Li Hao suddenly charged out. Though Wind Elder wasn't present this time, preventing him from learning the Art of Boundless Disappearance, his cultivation had broken through to the Three Immortals Realm, his strength constantly refining and strengthening. The rules' constraints on him weakened, leading him to touch upon a near-intangible feeling while comprehending movement techniques, allowing him to independently comprehend the Art of Boundless Disappearance.
With the sixth stage of the Movement Dao's realm, along with the occasional "inspiration" as a reference, it wasn't difficult to deduce.
Now, combined with numerous pinnacle movement techniques from the Li family, his speed was even faster.
Further aided by several collected paintings and musical scores, his movement techniques received a boost from the diagrams. In the blink of an eye, he unleashed his full speed, teleporting across dozens of miles and appearing before the formation.
Boom!
The Frostbite sword in Li Hao's hand unleashed a furious slash.
He possessed a Formation Token, and his attack pierced through the formation, landing on Candlelight God.
Candlelight God hadn't anticipated Li Hao's sudden counterattack, let alone his instantaneous leap. His eyes narrowed, instinctively attempting to dodge, but Li Hao's swordsmanship was also at the sixth stage. The Boundless Sea sword intent severed the space, directly striking down.
Though it lacked Dao Rhyme guidance, relying solely on speed made it incredibly difficult to evade.
A surge of scorching flames erupted. Candlelight God's Dao Domain had already unfolded. Seeing the sword light that Li Hao had slashed into the domain, shock and anger filled his eyes.
How audacious!
To dare to counterattack him?
He was in a state of having deployed his Dao Domain. A mere Three Immortals Realm cultivator, who gave him the audacity?!
With a boom, the divine flames within the domain exploded, the sword light shook the heavens. The intense impact reverberated through the formation, causing ripples to spread across it. Countless divine runes flickered rapidly, as if on the verge of shattering.
The clash of their attacks nearly tore the formation apart!
Candlelight God staggered back a few steps, his pupils constricting slightly, a hint of astonishment in his eyes.
Within the Dao Domain, his martial arts were the rules, the order!
The Extreme Flame Dao, capable of incinerating all things, could destroy and burn everything within the domain.
If he were in the midst of a battlefield filled with people, he only needed to extend his Dao Domain, and everything around him – Heavenly Man Grandmasters, Three Immortals Realm cultivators, Dao Heart, Absolute Technique Realm... would all turn into charcoal and fireballs, instantly consumed!
Unless one relied on a chance defying fate, they could barely escape.
Even Li Hao's sword qi and divine weapon should have been burned and melted under the rules of the Extreme Flame Dao!
In fact, Li Hao's sword qi did melt, but during the melting process, the remaining power of the sword qi forced him back!
The power contained within that sword qi seemed capable of cleaving a hundred mountains!
"What kind of divine power is this?!"
Candlelight God was shocked. This was the first time he had been forced back while his Dao Domain was deployed, and by a Three Immortals Realm cultivator?!
When he looked, he saw Li Hao, his body radiating a golden light, like a war god, exuding boundless killing intent and ferocity.
Cultivating in the Nether River, including the time acceleration, was eighteen years, but in reality, it was less than two months.
This was the first time Li Hao truly revealed his strength!
This terrifying aura reverberated outwards, causing everyone on the nearby city walls to be stunned, staring in awe at the young man.
"Little Ten..."
Chen Hefang and the other aunts, including Li Qingling and the other female generals, were all astonished at the young man's figure.
It was unimaginable that the child was so powerful and terrifying.
Three Immortals Realm?
The aura he exuded at this moment sent shivers down the spines of those who were also at the Three Immortals Realm, giving them a sense of being instantly strangled and annihilated.
Even more terrifying was that Li Hao had forced back a top-tier Demon King at the Taiping Dao Realm with a single sword, which was simply unbelievable!
Li Xiaoran, who had followed, was slightly slower than Li Hao in terms of movement speed. He also witnessed this scene, stunned and bewildered.
Was this the confidence Li Hao had in testing the Taiping Dao Realm?!
Dao Domain invincibility was a common understanding in the martial arts world, but now, it had been shattered by Li Hao, who didn't possess a Dao Domain!
"It seems that as long as the power is strong enough, even the rules of the Dao Domain may not be able to suppress it quickly!"
Li Hao's eyes were icy. With just that one sword, he had already grasped the peculiarities of the Taiping Dao Domain.
Although the Dao Domain's rules would suppress and annihilate any foreign objects that dared to intrude, as long as the power was condensed enough, one could barely persist.
Because suppression and annihilation took time.
Just a little bit of time, but the stronger the power, the longer that time could be extended!
Therefore.
The Dao Domain was not unbreakable!
Kill!
Li Hao unleashed another sword strike. With the Divine Power state enhancement and the connection to the Heavenly Veins, he took out a handful of divine medicines and swallowed them, his aura surging again.
One of the advantages of being in the Nether River was that he could cultivate so quickly, also thanks to the ability to consume divine medicines without being isolated.
Without needing to consider the consequences, even divine medicines with side effects could be consumed by Li Hao to the fullest, doing everything possible to enhance his strength during this period!
After all, once he left the Nether River, everything would vanish.
Boom!
The second sword, like a raging wave, condensed countless sword intents and slashed down furiously.
Candlelight God regained his composure, filled with rage. It felt like an emperor being mocked and defiled by a beggar, a deep sense of humiliation.
The golden light on his forehead split open, like vertical pupils, shooting out scorching divine flames. Enhanced by the Dao Domain, these flames seemed capable of incinerating everything, causing the space to appear as if it were filled with scorching black smoke.
The sword light, upon entering the domain, rapidly burned and melted, but it was like an extremely condensed piece of firewood. While the surface continued to burn, the inside remained incredibly solid. It pierced through dozens of yards of the domain and collided with the intense divine flames, only then dissipating into a wisp of flame.
It was clearly just sword qi, yet it felt like a straw being rapidly incinerated.
Li Hao's expression changed slightly. The Dao Domain was indeed extraordinary. If the opponent seriously deployed the Dao Domain, with the power enhancement, his sword qi, while still posing a threat, would be extremely limited.
After all, the opponent's inherent strength was enough to dominate the Absolute Technique Realm.
"This kid!"
Lu Yuan caught up, seeing Li Hao engaging Candlelight God in battle, not falling behind, his heart filled with incredible shock.
The opponent's growth rate filled him with dread.
"Husband, I'll help you!"
Yin Madam arrived, raising her hand and unleashing the Black Moon. Like a sickle-shaped blade, it slashed down violently.
But Li Hao, standing within the formation, the black blade struck the formation, causing the divine runes to vibrate, but it failed to break through in one go.
At the same time, several figures flew from within the city, evidently sensing the presence of an Absolute Technique Realm Demon King, intending to assist Li Hao in repelling him.
Li Xiaoran also made his move, his blade light crisscrossing, directly striking the Black Moon, shattering the moonlight.
"A Half-Step Dao Realm cultivator, still needing to borrow the hands of others?!"
Li Xiaoran roared, slashing towards Lu Yuan with his blade. The blade light, though arriving later, severed the space, directly striking Lu Yuan's head.
Lu Yuan had previously witnessed the terrifying power of Li Xiaoran's blade technique. Now, he was both shocked and enraged, his body flickering with lightning, tearing apart the blade light, but he was still injured, blood flowing from his head.
"Damn it!"
Lu Yuan was furious. In a one-on-one fight, he might not be a match for Li Xiaoran.
"I'll kill him myself!"
Candlelight God, hearing Li Xiaoran's roar, stopped his wife, Yin Madam, who was about to come to his aid. Golden flames burned in his eyes, scorching his eye sockets. His bright golden eyes fixated on Li Hao:
"Dare you come out?"
Li Hao sneered: "Do you think I'm a three-year-old child?"
He immediately unleashed a series of sword strikes.
The sword light continuously poured out, bombarding the opponent's Dao Domain. Each strike was incredibly powerful. If it weren't for the Dao Domain, it would have been able to cleave across hundreds of miles, severing mountains and splitting rivers.
But within the Dao Domain, after traveling a dozen yards, it would burst into flames, the sword qi rapidly decaying.
"He really dares to contend with me?"
Candlelight God felt like laughing, but he ignored Li Hao. Earlier, he had been caught off guard by Li Hao and forced back within his Dao Domain. Now, he had poured a large amount of power into the domain, and Li Hao's attacks could no longer reach him, being consumed by the Dao Domain's rules!
"Wait until I break the formation and kill you!"
Candlelight God began to punch the formation frantically, attempting to shatter it.
Other older members of the Li family's collateral branches angrily unleashed their attacks, but as soon as they entered the opponent's Dao Domain, they were incinerated, disappearing without a trace.
Seeing the sword qi crisscrossing within the Dao Domain, they truly understood how terrifying the power of the Li family's direct descendants was!
"Endless Sky Wanderer Blade!"
Li Xiaoran also unleashed his absolute technique. The blade light seemed to sever the void, and a towering mountain phantom appeared faintly on Candlelight God, as if about to suppress him.
That was the end of the blade light's journey.
But the giant mountain phantom appeared and then burned away. The blade light rapidly approached, but under the incineration of the Dao Domain, the blade intent was burned, causing its speed to slow down. The blade light, which had previously arrived almost instantly, now had a discernible trajectory!
With a boom, Candlelight God casually swatted, sending out a wave of scorching heat, shattering the blade intent.
His eyes were icy, though he had easily shattered Li Xiaoran's absolute technique, he didn't feel any satisfaction, instead, a sense of shame and anger.
These two Li family members could actually intrude into his Dao Domain, it was simply disgraceful!
"Die!"
A violent flame fist slammed into the formation, causing the divine runes on the formation to smoke, as if melting.
Li Hao's pupils constricted, unleashing a series of sword strikes. He activated all the major veins in his body, drawing upon the power of the surrounding world, and struck with all his might.
His current strength was even greater than outside, thanks to the Myriad Blood True Demon Technique, which had refined his physical body to an even greater extent, reaching the level of an eight-forged divine weapon.
Boom!
The sword light struck the blazing fist, like magma, the sword qi self-ignited, but the flames only diminished slightly.
Although Li Hao could attack Candlelight God within the Dao Domain, he was suppressed by the domain, and his power wasn't enough.
The attacks of others were melted as soon as they entered the Dao Domain, leaving not even ashes behind.
"We can't hold on any longer."
Li Xiaoran's face was grim, transmitting a message to Li Hao.
Li Hao's gaze grew even colder. He took a deep breath and entered the Transcendence Realm.
The Heavenly Veins, like water pumps, frantically absorbed the surrounding world's power. Li Hao's strength surged wildly, his eyes radiating divine light, and his angry hair fluttered in the air.
He raised the Frostbite sword and swung it once more. The sword light seemed to absorb the light of the heavens, condensing into an extreme frost sword intent like autumn water, suddenly slashing out.
The azure sword light, like a divine rainbow, shone brightly, instantly flying into the Dao Domain, turning into a burning sword light, but its speed did not decrease. It charged straight towards Candlelight God.
Candlelight God's expression changed slightly, and the divine flames on his forehead shot out again, but they were torn apart by the burning sword qi. The sword qi continued unabated, killing again.
Candlelight God was shocked, roaring as he swung his fist to strike.
Boom!
The fist flames vibrated, and the sword light was also dispelled by this punch, but the terrifying force left a sword mark on Candlelight God's fist.
Candlelight God was injured!
"Husband!"
Yin Madam, seeing this scene, was horrified.
The Taiping Dao Domain was actually injured by a mere Three Immortals Realm cultivator?!
"You!"
Candlelight God's fist ached, and he was stunned. He never expected to be injured within his Dao Domain.
Li Hao's eyes shone with divine light, revealing even more intense killing intent. He seemed to have sensed the limit of the Dao Domain's suppression.
Currently, he was at thirty percent of his Transcendence state, coupled with his refined body and the enhancement of numerous divine medicines, he could barely injure a Dao Realm cultivator!
"Damn it!"
Candlelight God trembled with rage. Golden flames rapidly spread from his eyes to his entire body, like a god bathed in flames, facing Li Hao, who was clad in golden light, separated by a formation, like a battle between two deities!
"I'll kill you!"
Candlelight God roared, swinging his fist towards the formation again.
But before his fist could land, the formation suddenly shattered.
Both Li Hao and Candlelight God were stunned. Li Hao's pupils constricted as he looked into the distance. He saw a young man in tattered black robes standing in the air above the East City, calmly retracting his palm.
Clearly, the formation had been destroyed by him.
"Taiping Dao Realm!"
Li Xiaoran's pupils constricted, hurriedly transmitting a message to Li Hao: "Something's changed, run!"
"Finally willing to make a move, a bunch of damned dead souls!"
Candlelight God, seeing the young man in tattered robes, a flash of anger crossed his eyes, but he quickly suppressed it.
The opponent was a top-tier Demon King at the Taiping Dao Realm, and a genuine one at that.
He had previously used his Dao Realm to patrol, encountering these terrifying auras lurking in the demonic abyss, visiting them one by one, intending to unite them to break through Dragon City.
Only two figures had just responded to his summons. The others, with whom he had previously made agreements, were now ignoring his signals, as if disdainful.
Li Hao's expression also changed. Without the formation to block, although he now had the strength to barely engage Candlelight God, there was another Taiping Dao Realm cultivator!
It was only the third day, and such a shocking change had occurred.
At this moment, Li Hao suddenly saw golden light gathering in front of him, the ancient characters of the Nether River appearing:
Main Mission Changed:
Guard Dragon City for One Day.
Countdown Started...
Seeing the jumping characters, they were ancient characters like Zi, Chou, Yin, Mao, etc., seemingly symbolizing a second-by-second countdown.
Li Hao's expression changed. From the original 3/10 of the guarding time, it had suddenly shrunk to one day?
Had the demons launched a surprise general attack?
Seeing Candlelight God in front of him, Li Hao seemed to understand. Though filled with anger, he also knew that this was the end.
If he continued to fight, he would also be in danger, and he would implicate Li Xiaoran.
"Go!"
Li Hao roared, unleashing seven or eight sword lights, slashing towards Candlelight God while also attacking Lu Yuan and Yin Madam, covering Li Xiaoran's retreat.
Li Xiaoran had previously witnessed Li Hao's terrifying movement techniques, and without saying anything, he quickly charged out, unleashing two absolute techniques while rushing towards the Divine General's Mansion.
But during his retreat, his mind remained focused on Li Hao. If Li Hao was in danger, he was prepared to sacrifice himself, even burning his soul to protect Li Hao!
This was the hope of the Li family, the true hope of freeing his elder brother and bringing him back!
"Ughhhaaaa..."
Suddenly, a ferocious and shrill roar erupted from the Divine General's Mansion.
The figure was enveloped in boundless black energy, like a demon, a ghost, a sinister specter, its face contorted in rage, roaring as it charged towards the young man in tattered robes who had broken the formation.
"Big Brother..."
Li Xiaoran instantly recognized it as Li Tianzong.
Originally, guarding Dragon City for four days, after the city was breached, the opponent would undergo a transformation, as if his obsession was awakening, entering a state similar to demonic possession.
But now, Dragon City had been breached earlier, and the opponent had also entered this state prematurely.
Sadness filled Li Xiaoran's eyes. He knew that guarding Dragon City was his elder brother's final obsession before his death.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter 210: The Ancestral Shrine's Destruction
Boom!
In the distance, Li Tianzong, his figure like a demon or a ghost, clashed with the young man in tattered robes, their battle unleashing earth-shattering tremors.
Li Xiaoran glanced at them twice. In this state, his elder brother's strength had indeed skyrocketed. Initially only at the Absolute Art Realm, he now possessed the power of the Heavenly Peace Dao Realm!
"Let's go!"
Li Xiaoran, enduring the pain in his heart, said to Li Hao.
Li Hao also looked back, his eyes flickering, but he didn't say anything. He swiftly flew towards the Divine General's Manor.
Their speed was incredibly fast, with the Candlelight God and Lu Yuan hot on their heels.
But other senior members of the Li family's collateral branches emerged, including Li Xuanyin, charging towards the Candlelight God to impede his pursuit.
"Seeking death!"
The Candlelight God's eyes were cold, his Dao Domain expanding to encompass a radius of a li.
His body shot forward, his Dao Domain like an invisible fireball propelling him. Buildings crumbled into dust wherever he passed.
Those soldiers who were caught in the Dao Domain, unable to dodge in time, were instantly engulfed in flames and extinguished in a flash.
With his Dao Domain unleashed, the Candlelight God charged through the city, ignoring those who dared to confront him.
Some of the collateral branch elders were at the Four Pillars Realm, but when they attacked, their strikes barely extended ten meters before turning into wisps of flame within the Dao Domain. Before the Heavenly Peace Dao Realm, those below were mere ants!
Li Hao and Li Xiaoran quickly arrived at the front of the Divine General's Manor. Gazing at the grand and imposing structure, they didn't hesitate, rushing towards the entrance.
Bang!!
Suddenly, a violent explosion reverberated from within the Divine General's Manor.
A massive black-furred hand, emerging from the depths of the manor, rose high and swept downwards, causing the entire structure to tremble violently.
Li Xiaoran and Li Hao were caught off guard, staring in shock at the enormous hand. How could such a thing appear within the Divine General's Manor?!
Li Xiaoran's expression changed drastically. He exclaimed in alarm, "No good, it's the Ancestral Shrine!"
He suddenly accelerated, unleashing his full power, using Dao rhyme to propel himself through rapid teleportation.
Li Hao, in turn, sped up to chase after him, rushing into the Divine General's Manor. Every pore on his body constricted, a sense of extreme foreboding washing over him.
He noticed that the defensive formation outside the manor was intact.
How did this demon get inside?
Soon, as they stepped into the manor, the pursuing Candlelight God slammed into the formation. His Dao Domain shook the formation, continuously burning it. Soaring golden light enveloped the manor, surrounding it in a protective barrier.
This formation was even stronger than the one protecting Dragon City. In a fit of rage, the Candlelight God repeatedly punched the formation, causing the divine patterns to tremble slightly.
"This, this is..."
When Li Hao and Li Xiaoran reached the Ancestral Shrine, they felt as if their blood had turned to ice, a chilling sensation that ran from head to toe.
The shrine stood on a hillside, but now, the mountain itself was caved in, and the shrine's halls were reduced to rubble.
A hundred-zhang tall demon, covered in black fur, with a bear-like body and a grotesque, snow-white ivory face, its eyes cold and tinged with crimson, swept its gaze over Li Hao and Li Xiaoran.
Beside it, Li Qingzheng, a middle-aged man, was covered in blood, his face contorted in furious rage.
"The Ancestral Shrine..."
Li Xiaoran stood frozen in mid-air, his mind reeling.
The exit from the River of Death, the most sacred place of the Li family, was now shattered.
"Still trying to escape from here? Stay here, and join us in eternal slumber."
The hundred-zhang demon's eyes were cold, a faint sneer playing on its lips.
A unique wave of energy emanated from its body. Li Hao's pupils constricted as he immediately recognized the unfolding of a Dao Domain.
And this demon's Dao Domain unfolded with incredible speed, appearing in the blink of an eye.
"I'm not that half-baked Dao Realm practitioner."
The hundred-zhang demon saw the shock on Li Hao's face and chuckled coldly. Its massive body turned, causing the ground to rumble as it lunged towards Li Hao, its black-furred hand seemingly obscuring the sky, giving an impression of infinite extension.
"You shall die!!"
Li Xiaoran roared in a fit of madness, his major meridians seemingly tearing apart as he unleashed a surge of power, executing his strongest Absolute Art, a single strike with his blade.
In an instant, the blade light illuminated the heavens, then abruptly vanished. A terrifying chasm ripped through the void, extending rapidly, crashing into the demon's Dao Domain, even splitting it with a distorted mark.
The invisible blade light extended at lightning speed, striking with a resounding bang against the rough black-furred hand, leaving a half-meter deep wound.
The hundred-zhang demon seemed surprised that a mere Absolute Art Realm practitioner's attack could penetrate its Dao Domain and injure it. The cold indifference in its eyes flickered with surprise, but it quickly morphed into even colder hostility:
"A peerless genius, huh? The taste will be even better."
Its aura surged, its Dao Domain radiating like aurora, rapidly expanding to engulf Li Hao and Li Xiaoran.
"You two go, I'll hold it off."
Just as Li Hao was about to make a move, Li Qingzheng's figure appeared in front of them. His entire body seemed to tremble with rage, crimson divine light extending from within him, releasing an overwhelming aura of killing intent.
This killing intent condensed behind him into a blood-red phantom, resembling a majestic being.
His blood vessels ruptured, his aura tearing his robes apart, revealing his muscular upper body.
Waves of blood-red energy erupted from his pores, his aura skyrocketing as he burned his soul!
"Go!"
Li Qingzheng roared, suddenly raising his hand. A brilliant spear light shot out, transforming into a black arc that pierced the expanding Dao Domain, forcing it to halt at the spear tip.
The extreme power concentrated at the spear tip, resisting the expansion of the Dao Domain, generated boundless might.
Li Xiaoran and Li Hao were both shocked. Li Qingzheng, whether due to the influence of the River of Death or his inherent nature, was displaying power beyond their expectations.
Li Xiaoran's heart ached with sorrow, but he suppressed his anger and turned towards the collapsed Ancestral Shrine.
Li Hao also understood that Li Qingzheng was fighting for their time. Though filled with rage, he could only turn and flee, rushing into the shrine.
Li Xiaoran's object manipulation power swept through the shrine, flinging aside the shattered fragments of the halls. There, he saw that the ancestral tablets were all destroyed!
Only one tablet emitted a faint golden light.
It was the tablet of the founding ancestor, Li Tianyuan.
His golden statue had been shattered, only this small tablet remaining.
As they approached, they sensed the faint remnants of consciousness on the tablet, the spirits of the other ancestors.
"You've come..."
"Unfortunately, we can't hold on much longer."
"I'm afraid we won't be able to send you out..."
A series of sorrowful consciousnesses transmitted their thoughts, but they faded after a brief moment.
Under the powerful attack of the Heavenly Peace Dao Realm hundred-zhang demon, they could only gather the power of all their ancestors to protect the founding ancestor's tablet.
In life, they were powerful, some dominating for hundreds of years, their brilliance unmatched. Others had single-handedly challenged the nineteen states of the Great Yu Dynasty, earning eternal fame.
But after death, they were merely remnants of consciousness, their power greatly diminished. Even Absolute Art Realm practitioners could pose a serious threat, let alone a Heavenly Peace Dao Realm being.
"It's a pity that a peerless genius has emerged from the Li family, yet they must die here..."
"If you die, remember to kill all the demons here..."
More ancestors transmitted their final thoughts, filled with endless regret, fading into the tablet.
The faint golden light gradually dissipated and extinguished.
Li Xiaoran and Li Hao stared blankly at the remaining ancestral tablet.
Though they knew it was all due to Li Tianzong's obsession, the words still made their blood boil, a sense of sadness filling them.
"Children, don't grieve."
Li Tianyuan's spirit appeared on the tablet, addressing Li Xiaoran and Li Hao. "The Li family has no cowards who cling to life, only valiant souls who die in battle!"
"Who among you is willing to wear my remnant soul and slay the demons?"
Li Xiaoran and Li Hao looked at their founding ancestor. In the outside world, Li Xiaoran would have bowed deeply in respect, but at this moment, his heart was filled with sadness.
"Me."
Li Xiaoran said to Li Hao. "Hao'er, you find a way out, I'll buy you time."
"There's no way out."
Li Hao said bitterly. "I have no clue. The only way out... is probably to hold on, to survive another day."
Li Xiaoran's heart ached. Indeed, he didn't know where to find a second path to survival.
Without the Ancestral Shrine, they had to clear the trial, or die.
If they had the power of the Heavenly Peace Dao Realm, they could use their Dao Domain to escape to another location, free from the confines of Dragon City. With a Dao Domain to shield them from the rules of the River of Death, surviving a day wouldn't be difficult. But neither of them possessed such power.
"I wonder if my elder brother's consciousness has recovered. If so, let him protect you with his Dao Domain. But my elder brother can't leave Dragon City..."
Li Xiaoran's face contorted, despair evident in his eyes.
He himself wasn't afraid of death, but Li Hao was here.
If Li Hao died here, it would be more painful than his own death.
"If that's the case, children, let us fight together."
Li Tianyuan's spirit, seeing their predicament, immediately made a decision for them. His figure flickered, transforming into a golden light that enveloped Li Hao.
In an instant, Li Hao's entire body seemed to be clad in golden armor.
The spirit transformed into armor and divine flames, covering Li Hao's entire body, simultaneously granting him a surge of powerful energy.
Bang!
A figure suddenly flew through the air, crashing violently a hundred meters away.
Li Xiaoran and Li Hao turned to see Li Qingzheng, his body covered in blood, his spear broken.
"Fifth Brother!"
Li Xiaoran rushed towards him.
But Li Hao stopped him, whispering, "You go find a way out, I'll handle this."
His eyes radiated a chilling killing intent. The golden light covering his body, combined with his divine power state, exuded unimaginable might.
Seeing the hundred-zhang demon's Dao Domain crushing down, about to kill Li Qingzheng, Li Hao suddenly raised his sword and swung.
The sword energy swept across, momentarily blocking the Dao Domain.
The power of this casual strike was comparable to Li Qingzheng's full-powered attack when he burned his soul.
At the same time, his object manipulation power dragged Li Qingzheng's body to another location. Li Hao looked up, holding the Azure Frost, gazing at the towering figure of the hundred-zhang demon.
"Hmm?"
The hundred-zhang demon also sensed Li Hao's current aura, incredibly vigorous. Though only at the Three Immoralities Realm, it gave him a sense of unease.
"If you were at the Four Pillars Realm, I might have to take you seriously. But a mere Three Immoralities..."
The hundred-zhang demon sneered, then raised its hand to suppress him, pushing its Dao Domain forward.
"How did you get into the Divine General's Manor?"
Li Hao asked.
"Naturally, through the formation tokens. Why else would I send people to assassinate your Li family's ten sons? Their formation tokens were swapped long ago."
As the hundred-zhang demon finished speaking, its Dao Domain crashed down.
Li Hao's face darkened. It was because of this?
"Fourth Brother, go quickly, find a way out, don't die!"
Li Hao quickly transmitted a message, then, facing the oppressive Dao Domain, he suddenly slashed upwards with his sword.
"Kill!"
The spirit of the founding ancestor seemed to roar in his ear.
This sword unleashed a dazzling array of divine light, like the first rays of dawn dispelling the darkness.
The sword light pierced through the Dao Domain. Under the suppression of the Dao Domain's rules, the demon's Dao Domain wasn't a fire Dao, it didn't burn the sword energy. Instead, it carried a terrifying force of compression and collapse, attempting to crush the sword energy.
But the sword energy was enveloped in divine light, dazzlingly bright, piercing through and striking the hundred-zhang demon's chest with a resounding clang. Numerous hairs were severed, leaving a wound.
However, the wound healed at a visible speed.
"Hmph!"
The hundred-zhang demon was enraged, raising its hand to strike repeatedly.
Li Hao's body flickered rapidly, dodging and weaving, forcing back the giant hand with a single sword strike, creating distance between them.
The demon was right, the difference in their realms was too great, a full limit of one major realm.
With numerous divine medicines and the founding ancestor's spirit empowering him, Li Hao's power surged like a raging river, enough to severely injure the demon, but not enough to deal a fatal blow.
"Ancestor, I'm going to unleash my full power."
Li Hao took a deep breath and said in a low voice.
"Go ahead, die without regret." Li Tianyuan's consciousness transmitted.
Li Hao didn't want to die in battle, but he had no other choice.
He extended his connection to the Heavenly Veins, releasing the restrictions on his body. In an instant, the vast energy of the surrounding world poured into his body.
The Immortal Transformation Realm he had entered was further pushed, from 30% to 50%!
Then 70%!
A terrifying power gathered around Li Hao like a storm, the world around him changing, clouds swirling.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter 211: I Want to Go Home (Two-in-One)
"Hm?"
Witnessing Li Hao's imposing aura, the hundred-zhang tall demon's expression shifted, a hint of gravity settling in his eyes. "This strange sensation… it feels familiar. Are you an ancient saintly prodigy from the Great Wilderness Heavens?"
Li Hao didn't answer. In a life-or-death battle, there was no need for idle chatter.
Kill!
His flesh and blood tore apart, crimson-gold divine blood flowing as the torrent of world energy flooded his body, turning his hair silver-white, as if his life force were burning.
Suddenly, he unleashed the attributes of numerous diagrams, launching his attack.
He struck with his full might from the very start.
Sword Dao Reincarnation!
The world seemed to fall silent for a fleeting moment. The Azure Frost Sword, like a tranquil autumn lake, unleashed a jet-black sword beam.
This beam, like a black thunderclap, tore through the void, reversing light and darkness, condensing all things into a single blade that directly shattered the demon's domain!
The domain was brutally sliced open by the black sword beam, which then surged forward like a thunderbolt, a sharp blade cutting through silk, aiming straight for the hundred-zhang tall demon.
"What?!"
The hundred-zhang tall demon's pupils constricted in shock. His domain, shattered?
"My domain is invincible!"
He roared, his domain closing in, desperately squeezing the black sword beam, frantically trying to grind away its martial intent and power.
Thunder, fire, wind, and snow, various martial intents manifested as the sword light was eroded, creating strange phenomena, but it didn't falter.
Though it appeared as a single beam, it was actually a superposition of hundreds of sword beams, each representing Li Hao's full power.
Only at this point, when his Ascension to Immortality was nearing its critical limit, could Li Hao mobilize such a vast amount of power in an instant, condensing it into this earth-shattering, soul-stirring sword strike!
With a resounding boom, the hundred-zhang tall demon's enraged palm was cleaved by the sword light, shattering the dark energy within it. Blood sprayed forth, and ghostly black miasma emanated from the wound.
Li Hao roared as he charged forward, cloaked in the power of his ancestral souls, wielding the Azure Frost Sword. He stepped into the demon's domain, his blade striking the hundred-zhang tall demon's head.
"You!"
The demon's skull was shattered, blood gushing forth as even more black energy erupted from his body. His body was thrown back, his eyes wide with shock as he stared at Li Hao.
The domain, cleaved by the sword light, closed in, enveloping Li Hao. But to the demon's horror, it couldn't immediately shatter Li Hao's body.
Li Hao's body trembled, but he withstood the domain's oppressive rules. His body continued to shatter and fragment, his bones cracking with loud pops, but he seemed capable of enduring for a while!
This sight was beyond the demon's comprehension, incomprehensible.
This was a domain!
And he could sense that the rules of his domain hadn't failed. It was simply that Li Hao's physical body was too powerful, comparable to a top-tier divine weapon!
"Kill!"
Li Hao roared, his sword slashing with fury.
His physical body was comparable to an eight-time forged divine weapon, nearing the ninth level. Even the domain couldn't instantly incinerate a divine weapon of this caliber.
Divine weapons forged beyond seven times, even if a domain tried to refine them, would take time.
Lu Yuan's physical body was comparable to a six-time forged divine weapon, already a top-tier level among Supreme Art masters, but it was still far inferior to Li Hao's current state.
The sword light raged, Li Hao ignoring the wounds covering his body, launching a fierce assault.
The hundred-zhang tall demon roared back, his anger ignited by this unprecedented humiliation.
He unleashed a torrential wave of demonic energy, his body burning like black flames. He struck with successive palm strikes, his massive demonic hands capable of easily causing an entire city to tremble and collapse, transforming bustling metropolises into basins. But Li Hao's sword light forced him back again and again.
In the distance, Li Xiaoran, anxiously searching for a way out, witnessed Li Hao's battle, his heart pounding in his chest.
Though empowered by the ancestral souls, the power Li Hao unleashed was even more terrifying.
Seeing this, his anxiety grew. Li Hao's talent was too great to be lost in the Mò River.
Besides the ancestral hall, where else was there a way out?
Li Xiaoran continuously recalled the clues he had gathered during his previous explorations, vaguely sensing something.
At that moment, a massive tremor shook the Divine General's Mansion. Li Xiaoran looked up to see a vast cloud of demonic energy sweeping towards them. The formation had been breached, and the demons outside the city had stormed the walls, engaging in a fierce battle.
The most prominent figures in the melee were Li Tianzong and the youth in tattered robes.
"Big Brother, if you still have consciousness, please show me the way…"
Li Xiaoran's eyes were filled with sorrow as he gritted his teeth, continuing to follow the thread of his memory.
Meanwhile, Li Hao and the hundred-zhang tall demon had reached the peak of their battle, both covered in blood.
Li Hao's blood splattered across the domain, instantly compressed and exploded. This domain contained unimaginable gravitational pressure. Ordinary Supreme Art masters who entered would quickly explode and die.
"Die!!"
Li Hao roared, drawing in even more world energy, pushing past the 70% bottleneck and reaching a higher level.
This also meant that he was on the verge of losing control.
As a more violent surge of power flooded his body, Li Hao, as if recklessly squandering his energy, created hundreds of layers of barriers around himself.
He wasn't unaffected by the domain, but rather, he was constantly resisting its influence with his power. It was like water soaking through paper. A single sheet of paper would be soaked instantly, but a whole book would take a while.
Boom!
Li Hao's sword light, like a black thunderbolt, tore through half of the hundred-zhang tall demon's head.
The demon, with only his mouth remaining, still roared, unleashing the power of his entire body, his aura surging.
But Li Hao charged headfirst into the demon's head. Upon seeing the blood splatter, a thought struck him. He reached into the demon's brain, activating the Myriad Blood True Demon Technique with all his might!
With the violent surge of energy, like a powerful pump drawing water, the hundred-zhang tall demon screamed in agony as his lifeblood and energy were relentlessly drained into Li Hao's arm.
"What kind of wicked technique is this?!"
The demon roared in fury and shock. Such a domineering technique felt utterly evil, even to a demon.
"Your obsession must be dispelled!"
Li Hao's eyes were icy. Seeing the demon's aura weakening, he sensed an opportunity.
The Azure Frost Sword danced around him, unleashing black sword beams to block the domain's power. His hands, and indeed his entire body, reached deeper into the demon's brain.
With this nourishment of blood and essence, Li Hao's shattered body began to show signs of repair.
But the world energy had become too violent, enveloping both Li Hao and the hundred-zhang tall demon.
Li Hao's absorption rate increased. With a series of screams and howls, the demon's body fell to its knees. The domain, which had been desperately trying to crush him, gradually stopped, and then began to dissipate.
As the domain vanished, Li Hao's arms felt as if a million pounds had been lifted from them. He ripped through the demon's body.
Blood sprayed everywhere as Li Hao broke through the demon's flesh, absorbing its essence with all his might.
As the demon king's blood and energy were drawn into his body, Li Hao's physical body continued to refine, but his Ascension to Immortality seemed to have entered an unstoppable phase.
While the world energy continued to tear apart Li Hao's body, he was also constantly refining himself. This cycle of destruction and rebirth caused his body to undergo a continuous transformation.
Li Hao emerged from the bloodbath, a blood-soaked killing god, radiating a fierce aura. He suddenly raised his hand and unleashed a sword strike, severing the surrounding world energy.
The torrent of world energy was instantly cut off, and the shattering of Li Hao's body ceased.
Li Hao controlled his body to close, bringing his Ascension to Immortality state under control.
Thankfully, the recent physical refinement had significantly enhanced his control over his body, allowing him to barely regain control and prevent a complete loss of control.
Li Hao took a few breaths to catch his breath, then quickly swallowed a large handful of divine medicines. He felt his body become as hot as a furnace, his energy surging once more.
Such a reckless consumption of medicines would leave severe consequences for his martial path, but Li Hao had no mercy for this body.
Once his energy returned to its peak, Li Hao stepped out of the hundred-zhang tall demon's body and saw Candlelight God still desperately attacking the Divine General's Mansion. Killing intent surged in his eyes.
At this moment, Candlelight God seemed far less threatening than before.
Li Hao could feel that his physical body had reached a new level. The tearing and refining caused by the world energy had brought his body to a level comparable to a nine-time forged divine weapon.
Whoosh!
Li Hao took a step, instantly appearing at the formation.
Seeing Li Hao suddenly appear, Candlelight God was slightly startled, but he didn't hesitate to continue breaking the formation.
Otherwise, if Li Hao attacked from within the formation, he would only be able to defend from outside.
Li Hao, however, had no intention of letting the formation bear the burden any longer. He took a step and entered Candlelight God's domain.
"Hm? You actually seek death…"
Candlelight God raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised, but then he sensed Li Hao's provocation.
He suddenly unleashed the full power of his domain, intending to incinerate Li Hao.
Li Hao felt the scorching heat, his blood seeming to boil. This time, he didn't expend much energy to block the domain. Instead, he extended a finger, using his body to probe it.
His finger burned with pain, like it had been pressed against a red-hot iron plate.
But despite this, it wasn't immediately reduced to ashes.
With his current physical body, Li Hao could withstand the domain.
It just wouldn't last long.
This way, Li Hao could redirect the energy he would have used to isolate the domain towards attacking.
"Die!"
Li Hao attacked with all his might, using ruthless force against himself as well.
Without isolating the power, relying solely on his physical body, he was like being immersed in boiling water.
But his will was as strong as iron, unwavering. No pain was visible on his face, only the divine intent in his eyes erupted as he swung his sword with all his might.
"Hm?!"
Candlelight God's expression changed in shock. Li Hao could withstand the domain's rules with his physical body?!
He couldn't comprehend it, couldn't imagine it. Such a thing shouldn't exist.
But upon closer inspection, he was shocked to discover that Li Hao had refined his body to the strength of a nine-time forged divine weapon.
A monster among demons!
It was important to note that the rewards of body refinement were minimal, and it took a long time. Even demons didn't follow a purely physical cultivation path.
Boom!
The sword light raged, and Candlelight God suddenly raised his hand, taking a fiery halberd from the space of the heavens and earth, smashing it towards the sword light.
The violent collision nearly shattered Candlelight God's arm, and the light on the halberd was shattered.
Li Hao entered the Ascension to Immortality state again, guiding the world energy to 80%.
The world veins rapidly converged, and a terrifying surge of power flooded Li Hao's body. He stepped forward repeatedly, using the Heaven and Earth Without Trace Technique. Black sword light rained down like a storm.
Candlelight God hadn't been able to observe Li Hao's battle with the hundred-zhang tall demon due to the Divine General's Mansion's formation. Now, with Li Hao's full power unleashed, Candlelight God felt a surge of fear.
He roared, wielding his fiery halberd, but Li Hao forced him back, making him question his own existence.
Within his own domain, he was being suppressed by an Immortal Realm cultivator. It was simply absurd!
"Husband…"
Yin Madam was stunned, her beautiful eyes widening in disbelief.
Lu Yuan, who had been preparing to assist from the side, stopped in his tracks, staring at Li Hao as if he had seen a ghost.
This boy was even more terrifying than when he had encountered him at the Heavenly Gate Pass.
Boom!
The sword light, like a black thunderbolt, struck Candlelight God's shoulder, tearing off his arm.
Candlelight God roared, the blood from the wound being incinerated by flames, stopping the bleeding. He looked at Li Hao, whose hair was now silver-white, with shock and anger, realizing that the boy was using some incredibly terrifying secret technique.
"Can power at its peak break through a domain? How is this possible…" Candlelight God felt his understanding of the world shattered. His domain was constantly burning Li Hao's body, but Li Hao's self-healing ability was incredibly powerful, his shattered flesh constantly regenerating.
Candlelight God's anger was ignited, and he used his Undying Power to instantly regenerate his arm, then resumed his battle with Li Hao.
Their fight shook the heavens and earth, leveling the streets outside the Divine General's Mansion. Everywhere they went, the ground was charred and incinerated by the domain.
Yin Madam and Lu Yuan exchanged glances, both seeing the horror in each other's eyes. As Supreme Art masters, they couldn't intervene in this battle!
The boy was too terrifying. If he were to survive, he would likely soon rival the Buddha and become the third figure in the Great Yu Dynasty to be feared!
Boom!
Candlelight God's body was struck by Li Hao's sword, crashing into the ground far away, creating a deep, charred crater hundreds of meters long.
Li Hao attacked again, the Azure Frost Sword, forged from cold iron, having become scorching hot from prolonged combat within the domain. The nine sword souls on it dared not emerge, lest they be incinerated by the domain.
Only the inherent hardness of the divine weapon allowed it to barely withstand the domain.
"Die!"
Candlelight God roared, emerging from the ground. He didn't dodge Li Hao's attack but instead swung his fiery halberd.
Their bodies pierced each other. Li Hao severed half of Candlelight God's body, while his own arm was cut off.
Candlelight God's flesh and blood writhed, rapidly regenerating under the Undying Power. But before he could fully regenerate, he saw that Li Hao's severed arm had already regrown, and he was charging towards him again.
His body's regeneration speed was several times faster!
Candlelight God was struck in the face by the sword light and knocked down.
Li Hao attacked again, but a burst of fire erupted from the crater, rushing towards him.
When Li Hao dispersed it, he saw Candlelight God fleeing into the distance, transforming into a rainbow of light.
Yin Madam had already retreated earlier and disappeared.
Lu Yuan, seeing Candlelight God flee, finally reacted. He cursed inwardly, but his heart trembled as he turned and fled in the opposite direction, fearing that Li Hao would target him.
"Why are you running? Weren't you going to break the formation and kill me?!"
Li Hao pursued Candlelight God, roaring loudly.
Candlelight God's face turned crimson with anger upon hearing Li Hao's words.
He was furious and terrified. Without using his ultimate trump card, he knew he was no match for this crazed youth.
Let those other dead souls wear Li Hao down first!
"You'll die eventually!"
Candlelight God suppressed his anger, his eyes cold. He suddenly slapped a Sacred Heart Talisman onto himself, boosting his speed, and vanished in the blink of an eye, flying out of Dragon City.
A half-step Great Peace Dao Realm Demon King, chased into a desperate flight by Li Hao.
Seeing the talismanic patterns surrounding Candlelight God and his increased speed, Li Hao also slapped a Sacred Heart Talisman onto himself. The talismanic light enveloped him as he pursued at full speed.
But as soon as he left the city walls, Li Hao felt an ominous premonition. Several extremely cold gazes seemed to be fixed on him from behind the demonic horde outside the city.
There were probably several Great Peace Dao Realm Demon Kings lurking there!
During this brief pause, Candlelight God had already flown into the dark forbidden zone hundreds of miles outside the city, in just half a breath.
That area contained the rule of certain death for humans. Even though Li Hao could now withstand the domain's rules, he might not be able to violate the Mò River's rules.
Li Hao's face darkened. At this point, he had almost given up hope of escaping the Mò River. But even if he died here, he wanted to kill Candlelight God before he died.
To prevent him from escaping and causing further harm to Liangzhou.
However, this wish was now unlikely to be fulfilled.
Li Hao glanced at the forbidden zone, then decisively turned and charged towards another part of the city at full speed.
Lu Yuan was flying at full speed towards the outside of the city. He wasn't one of the dead souls here. Even if those dead souls died, they wouldn't perish. They would forever reincarnate within the Mò River until the river was cleared and the quest was completed, at which point they would be freed.
But if he died here, he would truly be dead.
However, while entering the city had been easy, now it felt as if leaving was impossible.
Where he had charged out, several older generation Li family soldiers appeared, blocking his path.
Though their cultivation was inferior to Lu Yuan's, they were all fearless in the face of death.
Lu Yuan roared in anger, unleashing successive thunderbolts, forcing them back.
But at that moment, a beam of light roared towards him from behind.
Lu Yuan turned his head in shock to see a black sword beam tearing through the sky, slashing for fifty miles!
The sword light raged, severing Lu Yuan's head.
The various martial intents contained within the sword light instantly destroyed and obliterated his soul.
The massive dragon corpse fell from the sky.
This Supreme Art Realm Elder of the Dragon Gate, unable to withstand a single sword strike from Li Hao at his peak!
Compared to outside the Mò River, this was mainly because Li Hao was currently empowered by too many things: various divine medicines, the ancestral souls, and so on.
Most importantly, his physical body had been refined to the level of a nine-time forged divine weapon, nearing the limit of the Immortal Realm. The sheer amount of world energy he had drawn in during his Ascension to Immortality was beyond imagination.
When he was just a Heaven's Mandate Realm cultivator, Li Hao could use 40% of his Ascension to Immortality to fight Dao Heart Realm cultivators and withstand Reverse Destiny Realm attacks. Now, with the World Veins and nearing the peak of the Immortal Realm, his power was even more terrifying.
Li Hao glanced at the severed dragon corpse, stepped forward, and landed in front of it. He activated the Myriad Blood True Demon Technique, absorbing its essence to further refine his physical body.
As the dragon corpse dried up, Li Hao felt a sense of relief. At least one of the three Greater Demon Kings had been dealt with.
He didn't look at the old dragon who had cultivated for tens of thousands of years and was renowned throughout Great Yu. He turned and charged towards the city walls.
When Li Hao arrived, he saw that the city walls had been overrun by the demonic horde. Everywhere he looked, there were soldiers and demons fighting, their corpses piled high, blood flowing like rivers.
Chen Hefang, Li Qingling, and the other Li family women who had come to reinforce the walls were nowhere to be seen.
Li Hao enveloped the battlefield with his aura, but he couldn't sense their presence.
This meant that they had most likely been swallowed by the demonic horde. They were probably already dead, devoured by some demon or lying in the belly of another.
Li Hao took a deep breath and guided the Azure Frost Sword into the demonic horde, his body weaving through the battlefield.
Soon, Li Hao realized that the auras of the other "brothers" had also vanished.
With the north side of the city breached, given their personalities, they had likely already fallen in battle against the demonic horde.
Li Hao sighed inwardly and continued to charge into the demonic tide, doing his best to hold back the tide.
If he fought with all his might, he might be able to hold the line for a day.
With Li Hao's arrival, the battlefield was instantly swept clean. Sword energy crisscrossed the area, tearing through the demonic horde.
The previously collapsing situation was immediately stabilized by Li Hao's intervention.
The demonic horde continued its relentless assault, and Li Hao fought back with all his might. Without reaching the Great Peace Dao Realm, he didn't need to enter the Ascension to Immortality state. With the World Veins' regenerative power, he could maintain a state akin to half of the Undying Realm. Prolonged battles weren't difficult for him.
Numerous Demon Kings surged from the demonic horde, seemingly seeing a glimmer of hope, charging towards Dragon City.
Li Hao fought back fiercely, slaying these Demon Kings and converting their blood and energy into his own, refining his physical body further. Various body refinement techniques pushed his body to its absolute limits.
The battle continued. After relieving the pressure on the north side of the city, Li Hao charged towards the east.
He was like a sharp sword on the battlefield, darting everywhere, constantly reinforcing breaches in the defenses.
But Dragon City was vast. Even with Li Hao's help, demons still infiltrated various areas, and the citizens fled in all directions.
Li Hao fought and commanded the Li family army, shrinking the defensive line and retreating to the inner circle of Dragon City.
After all, the formation was gone. They could only rely on a human wall to resist.
Time flew by.
When the battle was halfway through, Li Hao suddenly heard a roar.
A massive demonic figure fell from the sky, crashing into the city.
Li Hao recognized it as the true form of the youth in tattered robes. He had been battling Li Tianzong for a long time without a clear victor, but now his body was covered in cracks, and his soul was dim as he fell.
Li Tianzong, shrouded in black mist, roared as he charged down, engulfing the demon's true form in a cloud of darkness. Terrifying sounds of tearing flesh and writhing muscles echoed from within.
Li Hao tried to probe with his divine sense, but the black mist blocked him.
His actions seemed to disturb something. The black mist suddenly churned, then contracted like a whale sucking water, converging on a single figure.
It was Li Tianzong.
His body was enveloped in demonic energy, but his eyes had turned blood red, and he seemed to be muttering something under his breath.
Li Hao's hearing was exceptional, and he instantly heard what he was saying.
"I must protect…"
"I must protect…"
Li Tianzong seemed to be muttering incoherently.
Sensing Li Hao's gaze, he suddenly looked up. His eyes were filled with violence, devoid of any calmness or the gentle smile he had shown earlier.
Li Hao felt a chill run down his spine, as if he were being targeted.
He was startled, realizing that Li Tianzong was in an abnormal state, seemingly transforming into the state Li Xiaoran had described as being unapproachable.
As Li Hao's expression turned grave, Li Tianzong's blood-red eyes seemed to pause, reflecting Li Hao's image. After a moment, a hint of clarity gradually emerged from the violent killing intent.
"Go… to the city…"
Li Tianzong shouted, but something seemed to trigger a change in his expression, which quickly became contorted and filled with pain.
He roared, his body suddenly rising from the ground, charging towards the city walls, bellowing, "Let me go!!"
His roar echoed through the sky above Dragon City. Outside the city, several hidden figures' auras intensified.
"What's going on?"
Candlelight God and his wife had reunited within the demonic horde outside the city. They had concealed their auras, waiting for the dead soul Demon Kings to break through the city and wear Li Hao down before making their move.
Seeing Li Tianzong, the defender of Dragon City, charge out like a demon, they were both startled. This change was unexpected.
This was their first time in the Mò River, and many things were unknown. Usually, the first time someone entered, it was mainly for gathering information.
Candlelight God noticed that the few Dao Realm Demon Kings within the demonic horde, who had previously looked down on him with disdain, now seemed eager to act, radiating a powerful aura.
"Is their target Li Tianzong?"
Candlelight God's eyes shifted, filled with suspicion.
At that moment, a scene that made his eyes widen in shock unfolded.
Several Great Peace Dao Realm Demon Kings charged out of the demonic horde and surrounded Li Tianzong.
But instead of attacking, they crashed into Li Tianzong.
Li Tianzong's appearance became even more terrifying. He seemed to transform into a demon, his body swelling and growing larger. He opened his mouth and swallowed all the Demon Kings whole.
"This…"
Candlelight God and Yin Madam's pupils constricted in shock as they watched this scene unfold.
Li Tianzong, having devoured several Demon Kings, radiated a terrifying demonic aura, like a ghost or a demon god. He roared at the sky, his hair flying, his body growing into a monstrous size.
He suddenly turned, his feet crushing the demonic horde as he charged back towards Dragon City:
"All of you will die, die…"
His eyes shot out violent red light as he charged into the city.
As his body underwent this drastic change, Dragon City also experienced a massive transformation.
Li Hao saw Li Tianzong charging back, his body radiating a demonic aura that was even more terrifying than a Great Peace Dao Realm cultivator, like a towering demon god.
As he stepped through Dragon City, all the soldiers who had been desperately fighting the demonic horde suddenly stopped.
Then, they all released black energy, like demons or resurrected ghosts, merging with the demonic horde and turning on the citizens of the city.
The citizens also began to emit black energy, transforming into demons, destroying buildings and houses everywhere.
Li Hao stood suspended in mid-air, watching this sudden change, completely stunned.
It had been a demonic horde attacking the city, but now, even Dragon City's soldiers and citizens had turned traitor, transforming into demons!
Was this the true difficulty of conquering this Mò River?
Li Hao felt a chill run down his spine, a sense of bitterness filling him.
The original ten-day mission to defend Dragon City would likely change around the eighth or ninth day, or even on the tenth day.
Even if everyone worked together to defend Dragon City, ultimately, they would still have to face the transformation of all of Dragon City's soldiers and Li Tianzong himself.
Why was this happening?
Li Hao couldn't understand. How could anyone conquer such a difficult quest?
Even Great Peace Dao Realm cultivators wouldn't be able to!
Roar! Roar!
At this moment, terrifying roars echoed throughout the city.
The soldiers who had been fighting the demons were now emitting black light from their eyes, riding on the backs of their former enemies, destroying and wreaking havoc throughout the city.
More and more demons swarmed towards Li Hao.
"Hao'er!"
In the distance, Li Xiaoran's figure rushed towards them, also shocked by this scene.
Now, almost the entire city had fallen.
Except for the Divine General's Mansion, where the formation hadn't been breached yet.
Outside the Divine General's Mansion, demons and transformed soldiers swarmed everywhere. The only ones who could be considered defenders were Li Hao and Li Xiaoran.
Just the two of them had to face all of this, defend Dragon City, and clear the quest.
Li Hao wanted to laugh, but he couldn't. He knew that a Netherworld-level Mò River was dangerous, but this was the first time he had truly experienced it.
No wonder Second Master had said that even Fourth Establishment Realm cultivators shouldn't enter a Netherworld-level Mò River lightly. It was easy to never return…
"So, it's like this…"
Li Xiaoran approached Li Hao, gazing at the demons swarming towards them. He seemed to have understood, his face turning pale and bitter.
"The final challenge in defending Dragon City is Big Brother, whose obsession has awakened…"
"So, the ultimate goal is to protect Big Brother…"
He felt sadness, obsession turning into madness.
Big Brother's obsession in life was to protect Dragon City. Now, after his death, he had become the greatest threat to Dragon City within this Mò River.
Gazing at Li Tianzong, who was striding towards them like a demon god, Li Xiaoran said sadly:
"Big Brother, the Battle of Dragon City is over. Only you haven't returned, only you haven't returned!"
Boom!
Li Tianzong suddenly raised his hand, and a terrifying bolt of lightning shot towards them.
Li Xiaoran didn't even have time to react. He only saw a flash of light, but Li Hao had anticipated it. His expression changed, and he quickly raised his hand and unleashed a sword strike.
The sword energy shattered the lightning and killing intent.
Li Hao shielded Li Xiaoran behind him, looked up at Li Tianzong, who was striding towards them like a hundred-zhang tall demon god, and whispered to Li Xiaoran behind him:
"Fourth Master, fall back. Let me try."
"Hao'er, what are you going to do?"
Li Xiaoran looked at him, his eyes filled with sadness and despair.
This despair wasn't the despair of knowing he would die here. It was the despair of knowing that Li Hao would die here, that Big Brother would be forever trapped here, unable to be freed.
If they fell here, with the Li family in its current state, who would be able to bring Big Brother back, to return to the ancestral hall?
Li Hao didn't speak. He simply stared at Li Tianzong, who was steadily approaching, his grip on his sword tightening.
His mind flashed back to the past two months, to the whispers at the dinner table last night.
"If you were truly my son…"
Li Hao's aura surged wildly. At this moment, he completely opened the floodgates of his body, allowing the world energy to flow through him unrestrained.
"Since you want to go home, let me open a path for you."
"Let's see if my life can be exchanged for…"
Li Hao whispered, taking a step forward.
This step was towards death, but also towards his unprecedented peak, the ultimate Ascension to Immortality!
He had no choice. If he didn't fight, he would still die. So, he might as well fight with everything he had!
(End of Chapter)
Chapter 212: Clearing the Mortal River (Let's Add Another Chapter)
"Hao'er, what… what are you saying?"
Li Xiaoran, jolted by Li Hao's hushed words, felt a tremor course through his body. He then witnessed the surrounding energies converge, relentlessly pressing towards Li Hao's form.
The energy coalesced into a tempest, isolating him. The sheer might of the gathering force alone made him feel as if he couldn't approach.
At the heart of this energy vortex, Li Hao's body radiated a golden light. His hair, which had recently returned to a lustrous black, once again turned silver, strand by strand.
From black to white, it was as if his life force was fading.
Li Xiaoran watched, dumbfounded, feeling as if his blood had frozen. He guessed what Li Hao was about to do.
He opened his mouth slightly, intending to shout a desperate plea to stop him, but the words caught in his throat, unable to escape.
Was there any other hope?
No.
He couldn't help but shed tears. After all his years of striving, hope had vanished, and it was ultimately a child who would risk his life!
He looked at Li Tianzong, who was striding towards them like a demon god, and said in anguish, "Big Brother, please wake up! Your grandson has come to take you home!"
Boom!
The response was Li Tianzong's sudden, thunderous fist, like a black meteor billowing with smoke, hurtling towards them.
At the same time, the surrounding demons surged forward like a tide. Though they would be engulfed by the fist's destructive force, they still charged madly towards them.
Li Xiaoran instantly understood that the situation had been manipulated by the Mortal River. They were no longer facing demons or Li Tianzong, but the river itself!
The Mortal River was using the demons and Li Tianzong to trap them, the living, to join the deceased in eternal slumber!
Beneath the howling force of the fist, a brilliant azure sword light erupted, abruptly halting the massive fist's descent.
But it was only a momentary pause before it crashed down again.
Li Hao's aura swirled around him. His golden-red divine body, activated by his divine power state, began to crack and fragment, the threshold of his Transcendence exceeding eighty percent.
And his aura continued to rise, giving the impression of a plunge into the abyss of death.
Yet, Li Hao's expression calmed. The Azure Frost Sword in his hand let out a sharp, piercing cry as he swung it once more against the fist.
The sword spirit within the blade wailed and roared, finally managing to deflect the fist.
Li Tianzong's body paused, his eyes bloodshot red as he roared, "All soldiers, follow me! Fight our way out!"
He seemed to perceive this as the battlefield of Dragon City, viewing Li Hao as a demon, determined to lead his soldiers through this deadly ordeal.
Li Hao remained silent. The Azure Frost Sword, dancing in mid-air, shattered like ice, unleashing a vast river of sword energy that enveloped Li Xiaoran, protecting him while cutting down the demons and the transformed soldiers.
Perhaps the true way to clear the Mortal River was to assist Dragon City in a desperate battle against the demons during the ten-day defense. By ensuring the barrier remained intact while allowing the soldiers to be depleted, there might be a chance to hold the line during this mutated phase, ultimately eliminating them all.
This was a rare and valuable piece of information, but whether it could be brought out remained uncertain.
The river of sword energy cleared the demons around Li Xiaoran. Li Hao turned to Li Tianzong, who had unleashed his Dao Realm.
"Fourth Master, take care of yourself. Try to survive. I'll see if I can carve out a path of life for you," Li Hao whispered.
This was also a repayment for Li Xiaoran's help outside the Mortal River.
And the path of life he sought to carve was to defeat Li Tianzong and eliminate all the demons. This way, the Mortal River would end, and Li Xiaoran could leave.
But to achieve this, he needed to reach the peak of Transcendence, a feat that offered only a glimmer of hope.
Even Li Hao himself wasn't certain of success.
With that, he soared into the sky, seemingly drawing upon the momentum of the entire world, unleashing a powerful fist against Li Tianzong, aiming to halt his advance and confine the battlefield ahead, preventing it from reaching Li Xiaoran.
Boom!!
Li Tianzong also roared as he unleashed his fist, a collision of heaven and earth. The terrifying shockwaves knocked out and killed demons within a radius of several miles.
Li Hao's entire body was rapidly shattering and regenerating, bathed in blood, resembling a bloody statue.
Li Tianzong's Dao Realm unfolded, expanding in an instant to cover several miles, engulfing Li Hao, leaving no room for escape. This was the true speed of a Heavenly Peace Dao Realm's Dao Realm deployment.
Within the Dao Realm, various rules emerged, not just one, but rules mastered by other Heavenly Peace Dao Realm demon kings, now superimposed and fused together.
Several forces of rules pressed down, tearing Li Hao's body apart as if unraveling a cocoon.
But thankfully, his body had reached the strength of a Nine-Forged Divine Weapon, allowing him to endure for a brief moment.
Seizing this fleeting opportunity, Li Hao shifted his stance, utilizing his various body techniques to their utmost, teleporting out of the Dao Realm's range like a series of rapid steps.
As soon as he exited the Dao Realm, the rate at which his body was shattering slowed.
Li Tianzong, however, seemed to have locked onto Li Hao, pursuing him with long strides.
As Li Hao retreated, he rapidly ascended, creating distance and drawing in more of the world's energy.
His body tore and crumbled again, feeling as if it was about to disintegrate.
When his Transcendence exceeded ninety percent, Li Hao's skin and flesh began to fall away, revealing his muscles and organs, looking like a creature from a pool of blood, incredibly gruesome.
But Li Hao's absorption didn't stop, continuing to push towards the limit.
The world's energy pressed down even more frantically, now impossible to contain, everything hurtling towards a destructive peak.
Soon, Li Hao's Transcendence reached ninety-nine percent.
His flesh and blood peeled away, his internal organs spilled out, leaving a fragmented shell. His body could no longer bear the strain.
Based on his experience as a Heaven-Human Realm cultivator, if he were to fully transcend, his consciousness would likely only persist for a fleeting moment before annihilation.
That would be the ultimate instant.
But now, his physique was enhanced, dozens of times stronger than his Heaven-Human Realm self. Even at the peak of Transcendence, he could maintain consciousness for a few breaths.
Boom!
Li Hao's body completely merged with the world, reaching the peak of Transcendence.
His flesh and blood seemed to vanish, his consciousness seemingly detaching from his body, merging with this vast and boundless world.
At this moment, Li Hao heard the entire world fall silent.
The countless roars from Dragon City, the demon's howls, all disappeared.
His hearing seemed to be damaged, as if his entire body had fallen into a massive lake. Then, his consciousness, like branching spiderwebs, connected with the entire lake.
He himself was the world!
The three stages of a Grandmaster's self-awareness: seeing oneself, seeing the world, seeing all living beings.
Now, Li Hao seemed to have truly "glimpsed the world."
He suddenly understood where his path of seeking the Dao should lead.
But he had no opportunity or time to cultivate his Dao heart at this moment.
Perhaps he would never have the chance again.
An unimaginable force connected to his consciousness. At this moment, Li Hao became the master of this world.
He felt the vast and powerful energy filling his body, wildly colliding and destroying.
He was stronger than ever before, and more fragile than ever!
His life was about to end.
All of this happened and ended in an instant. Li Hao's consciousness shifted from the world back to his body, witnessing his body disintegrating and dying. A murderous glint flashed in his calm eyes, and he suddenly activated the Undying Power!
In an instant, his previously disintegrating body began to slowly regenerate and heal!
A powerful regenerative force, like the resurgence of all things, caused new flesh and blood to grow, filling the previously fragmented shell, restoring his body.
His physique was strong enough, comparable to a Nine-Forged Divine Weapon, and he was in a divine power state, boosting his regenerative abilities. Coupled with the Undying Power, he was finally able to withstand the disintegration and decay of complete Transcendence.
His body was solidifying while simultaneously shattering, but it still appeared to be solidifying.
The destructive effects of peak Transcendence on his body didn't stop, it just seemed to pause.
In this blink-of-an-eye cycle of shattering and regeneration, his flesh and blood were constantly refining, his physical body solidifying to an even more extreme level.
However, when the Undying Power ended, Li Hao's life would also come to an end. He would completely transcend, disappearing into the world!
And the Undying Power only lasted three minutes.
A mighty demonic force swept over, Li Tianzong's eyes bloodshot red as he roared, "You can't stop me!!"
Li Hao looked up. Those bloodshot, savage eyes were fixed on him, filled with intense hatred and killing intent, a far cry from his previous gentleness.
But Li Hao knew that the Li Tianzong before him was not the Li Tianzong he had known.
He felt no anger, his eyes calm. He simply tightened his grip on his sword, feeling his body constantly breaking and regenerating, the piercing pain, and said softly,
"I won't stop you. I'm just guiding you."
The Azure Frost Sword in his palm, as if sensing its master's state of mind, suddenly erupted with dazzling frost, cutting a path of azure light through the demon-infused sky.
Immense sword intent gathered in Li Hao's palm. The Nine-Forged sword now had cracks on its blade, showing signs of shattering.
It couldn't withstand the vast world energy Li Hao was pouring into it.
Li Hao didn't retreat but charged directly at Li Tianzong.
His body entered the Dao Realm, yet it was as if he was walking on a lotus flower. The Dao Realm's field of rules was automatically pushed away by Li Hao's body, unable to get close!
His blood-soaked figure, like a graceful, transcendent immortal, stepped through Li Tianzong's Dao Realm. His sword light, like a rainbow, gently descended.
But this seemingly gentle sword strike carried the power of thunder, easily slicing through the Dao Realm and striking towards Li Tianzong's body.
Li Tianzong, sensing the danger, abruptly raised his head, his bloodshot eyes glaring at the brilliant sword light. He roared, and several demon king heads, condensed from demonic energy, emerged from his body, roaring in fury:
"Block it!!"
Roar!!
Li Tianzong roared, summoning a long spear from the space of the world.
The spear shaft was like dark black iron, with spiraling dragon patterns winding around it. As he gripped it, divine flames ignited, surging towards the sword light.
With a loud bang, the sword energy pressed down, shaking the heavens and earth.
Power beyond the Dao Realm tore and unleashed, shattering buildings and demons within a ten-mile radius.
Li Tianzong roared to the sky, but the spear was pushed back step by step. His aura became wild, and the demon kings revealed ferocious expressions, roaring,
"It's useless. You can't escape!"
With a bang, the spear was deflected, and the sword light pierced straight through, striking the ground.
The entire Dragon City ground shook violently, like a magnitude ten earthquake.
And half of Li Tianzong's body was grazed by the sword light, blood spurting out, directly severed!
From his shoulder to his thigh, a gaping wound appeared.
The demon kings on his body roared, quickly gathering demonic energy to repair and mend the wound.
Li Hao saw this, but his eyes remained calm. Only he could truly understand his current strength. He controlled this world, as if he had become a true immortal god!
He raised his hand, endless power surging from all directions, then condensing into countless sword energies, overlapping, transforming into three silver-white sword lights that instantly struck Li Tianzong.
All of this was mobilized and condensed in a blink of an eye, the power he could wield beyond imagination.
Immortals could summon wind and rain, do anything.
Now, Li Hao controlled the power of the world, borrowing the might of a world to exert such power.
No matter how strong a Dao Realm was, it couldn't truly destroy the world, shatter the void, so Li Hao couldn't be enveloped, couldn't be destroyed!
Bang!
Three consecutive sword lights shattered the Dao Realm, ignoring the rules, directly striking Li Tianzong, severing his arm, splitting his chest, releasing more demonic energy.
In the distance, the Candlelight God and Yin Madam stealthily approached, intending to deliver the final blow to Li Hao, but when they saw this terrifying scene, they were shocked.
Li Tianzong, who had condensed multiple Dao Realms, was actually being suppressed by the white-haired Li Hao!
"What did he do? How is this possible?"
Yin Madam's eyes widened in disbelief.
The Candlelight God's pupils constricted, his heart pounding. A distant ancestral memory surfaced from his mind, causing his hair to stand on end.
"That seems to be the power of a Saint…"
He muttered to himself, feeling a shock he couldn't describe.
Li Tianzong's massive body retreated repeatedly, severely wounded by Li Hao's sword energy, spraying blood everywhere.
But his eyes emitted an even more captivating red light. He roared suddenly, and the demon king heads on his body tried to roar and threaten Li Hao, but they suddenly seemed to be drained of something, their colors changing.
"Damn…"
Before the demon king heads could roar, they retracted into Li Tianzong's body, as if forcibly pulled in by some force.
Then, Li Tianzong's demonic aura became even more intense, and the wounds on his body rapidly healed, his severed limbs regrowing.
"Anyone who stands in my way will die!!"
His eyes were bloodshot as he roared, several demon king phantoms condensing behind him, adding a terrifying aura. His Dao Realm contracted, concentrating on the spear, piercing through the air.
This spear was like a thunderbolt, piercing the heavens, with the might to tear apart the sky above Dragon City.
Li Hao also raised his hand, unleashing his strongest sword technique, Sword Extreme Reincarnation!
Spring, autumn, winter, summer, dozens of sword techniques, sword paths, all condensed into the four seasons.
Finally, the seasons rotated, transforming into a pitch-black sword light.
This sword light was like the night, capable of swallowing everything, covering all things.
It contained terrifying destructive ultimate meaning, crashing heavily into the spear.
A violent shockwave erupted, Li Tianzong's flesh and blood tearing, his demonic body shattering. He burned his entire body's meridians and soul, unleashing infinite power.
Li Hao's body also oozed blood, constantly breaking down. Unleashing such a powerful attack had drawn more power, causing the Undying Power to weaken. It was supposed to last three minutes, but now it was cut in half.
Li Hao knew his time was running out.
Seeing Li Tianzong charging at him like a madman, he met the attack head-on.
The two clashed fiercely in the void, their fists and feet colliding, creating a series of terrifying shockwaves.
"Soldiers, kill together!"
Li Tianzong roared again. The transformed soldiers throughout the city turned into black smoke, drifting towards his body, intending to merge.
Seeing this, Li Hao's face changed. If he allowed them to merge, even in his Transcendence state, he might not be able to withstand it.
Why was he so persistent?
Li Hao looked at those bloodshot, savage eyes and sighed softly.
He really wanted to look up at the world one last time, even if it was a fake one.
But he knew he didn't have time.
"I'll send you back…"
Li Hao raised his hand. The Azure Frost Sword shattered, but he channeled his power, solidifying the fragments into broken blades, once again unleashing his strongest sword intent.
Three consecutive sword strikes. One struck the demons and soldiers within the city, while the other two struck Li Tianzong.
His demonic might was shattered, his body exploded, his chest cracked open.
Performing such a powerful attack caused Li Hao's flesh and blood to disintegrate and accelerate. The solidified Azure Frost Sword also shattered into debris. He could only charge forward, his fists continuously pounding.
Bang bang bang!
Continuous punches slammed into Li Tianzong's massive demonic body, riddling it with holes, countless demonic energy surging out.
Li Tianzong roared in fury, but his body was completely suppressed by Li Hao.
He seemed to understand that he had failed.
"I want to go home. I want to take you home…"
He let out a sorrowful roar like a wounded beast, hot tears streaming from his bloodshot eyes, seemingly reliving the despair of Dragon City's destruction.
Bang!
Li Hao's final punch shattered the remaining demonic energy, and the hundred-foot-tall demonic body vanished, plummeting straight into the city.
Li Hao's body, however, became terrifying. The flesh and blood of his chest and abdomen had all fallen away, leaving only a fragmented shell.
The Undying Power couldn't alleviate the damage, and it was quickly running out.
Li Hao turned towards the city, suddenly raising his hand, drawing in all the world's energy and slashing it out.
A sword energy, like ripples, vibrated out from beside him, rapidly transmitting, its destructive power comparable to a Dao Realm's extension. Wherever it passed, demons and transformed soldiers were obliterated, without even a chance to scream.
This included several Three-Immortals Realm demons and even demon kings, all met with unstoppable force.
The Candlelight God tried to escape, but the power came too fast. He used his Dao Realm to block with all his might, roaring in anger, but his body was engulfed.
"Hao'er!"
Li Xiaoran's body rushed from the distance, only to see Li Hao's body dissipating, like dust.
Li Tianzong crawled out of the deep pit, disheveled, but without any demonic aura or black energy. The bloodshot redness in his eyes had vanished.
He looked around, and when he saw Li Hao, who was about to dissipate in mid-air, his pupils constricted, and he rushed over.
"Child!"
He charged like a rainbow, arriving before Li Hao, watching his dissipating form, his body trembling:
"You… how could you do such a foolish thing!"
Li Hao felt his consciousness being pulled by the world's energy, about to dissipate. Seeing Li Tianzong, who seemed to have regained his clarity, he twitched his lips and smiled slightly:
"Now you should be able to go back…"
Beside him, golden text appeared, indicating that Li Hao had completed the main storyline.
Was this considered clearing the level?
Li Hao wanted to look closer, but his vision was already blurry. Everything seemed to be fading into the distance, as if he was being pulled into the vast expanse of the world, completely merging.
"If you clear the level, you should be able to be freed…"
Li Hao muttered.
His body, like dust, dissipated before Li Tianzong and Li Xiaoran.
Li Xiaoran, covered in demon blood as he rushed over, watched Li Hao vanish like a wisp of smoke, ceasing to exist. He was completely stunned.
The boy's final, faint words echoed in his ears, causing him to break down in tears.
The Mortal River was cleared, and his elder brother, Li Tianzong, would be freed.
But Li Hao wouldn't be coming back!
(End of Chapter)