221-224

Chapter 221: A Youth Enters the Great Wilderness

The Eastern Aurora Continent was vast and boundless. If one were to consider the Great Yu Dynasty as the center, then the Imperial Capital would be the bullseye.

The nineteen provinces formed an outline resembling a teapot.

The spout extended outwards, and at the edge of its lip lay Tianmen Pass. From Tianmen Pass, it stretched further, traversing the gray Demonic Lands beyond the borders. This region was a haven for demons and monsters, and beyond that lay the Great Wilderness Realm, depicted in deep black on the maps.

The Great Yu Ministry of War had four departments, overseeing martial examinations, cartography, transportation across the provinces, and weaponry.

The second department, the Bureau of Geographic Affairs, was responsible for managing the maps of the land, regularly updating and revising them.

Over the three thousand years of the Great Yu Dynasty's history, maps had been replaced and updated numerous times. The changes in the terrain within the provinces aside, the demonic territories beyond the borders were designated as gray areas. However, over the years, the mountains and peaks within these lands had been gradually surveyed and named.

This greatly aided the Demon Suppression Agency in tracking down wanted demons from beyond the border. Maps were their eyes, and countless talented individuals had sacrificed their lives in the pursuit of accurate cartography.

Yet, no matter how the old and new maps changed, the region beyond the demonic lands, further and deeper, a territory named "Great Wilderness Heaven" by the previous Emperor during his expedition, remained a deep black.

No terrain features or descriptions were provided.

Like a black abyss encircling the edge of the continent, it was a forbidden land for humans, dangerous and mysterious.

For thousands of years, rising talents from the Ministry of War had attempted to explore the Great Wilderness Heaven, but countless lives were lost, and only meager information was brought back.

This information, written in blood, was compiled into a book called the Great Wilderness Scripture.

It consisted of only two pages, with a few hundred words of brief descriptions.

Lives were as fragile as paper.

Despite this, these two thin pages were carefully preserved in the Imperial Palace. Only the top-tier forces, such as the Divine General's Mansion, possessed copies.

At this very moment, on the edge of the Great Wilderness Heaven, a youthful figure was traversing a primeval forest of ancient trees.

Towering trees surrounded him, shrouded in a misty gloom.

"The records say that within the Great Wilderness Heaven, miasma fills the sky, giant beasts roam, demons wreak havoc, and there are even rumors of ancient, fearsome beasts," Li Hao said as he carefully observed his surroundings.

The records were indeed accurate. Though he hadn't encountered any giant beasts or demons yet, he could already feel the damp, toxic miasma permeating the forest.

Fortunately, his Undying Body was incredibly resilient, easily resisting and protecting him from harm.

However, if another expert at the Three-Immortality Realm were to remain in this forest for an extended period, their Undying Body would be damaged.

Those with even lower cultivation wouldn't fare any better, facing even greater hardship.

Mother actually lives in a place like this… Li Hao's eyes flickered, his thoughts racing as he questioned the shrunken, hidden Ji family elder on his person. "Are there truly humans living here as you said?"

"Not humans, but Sacred Beings!"

The Ji family elder's voice immediately corrected him.

He had developed a fondness for Li Hao's talent, which was why he was willing to speak more.

"My Ji family is an ancient Sacred Clan. While we are also of human origin, our people possess the bloodline of ancient Sacred Beings, making us incredibly strong. We are far superior to your barbaric, primitive humans. Moreover, our clan is protected by a Sacred Land, immune to the miasma. It's not an exaggeration to call it a divine realm."

Upon hearing this, Li Hao felt a slight sense of relief. It seemed his mother's living environment was quite good.

As they walked, Li Hao engaged in conversation with the Ji family elder.

He learned the elder's name, Ji Yun Ge.

The elder only spoke briefly about the Ji family, avoiding in-depth discussions. However, he provided Li Hao with numerous insights into the Great Wilderness Heaven, making Li Hao realize that it was indeed as perilous as countless previous scholars from the Ministry of War had discovered.

But the dangers were regional.

For example, the area they were currently in was the outer edge of the Great Wilderness Heaven. While they might encounter terrifying demons, the probability was low.

Most of the inhabitants were demons and beasts with weak bloodlines.

However, the energy of the heavens and earth was abundant in this region. Even demons with weak bloodlines could potentially cultivate to the Demon King level. Therefore, the Great Yu Dynasty's records, stating that those below the Four-Pillars Realm should not enter the Great Wilderness Heaven, were a reliable warning.

Within the towering ancient trees, Li Hao followed Ji Yun Ge's directions, speeding through the forest.

He moved through the trees, each with a diameter of several dozen meters. Each branch could easily accommodate several people lying down.

As he was traveling, a dark shadow suddenly shot towards him.

Guided by the Dao's resonance, the attack was inevitable, giving the impression that it was impossible to dodge.

Li Hao was slightly startled, but his halted footsteps quickly resumed, and he activated the Art of No Trace. With a whoosh, he vanished from the Dao's grasp.

Before the Dao's resonance could reconnect, Li Hao reappeared at the point of the attack, swift as lightning. He saw that the attacker was a woman hidden behind the thick leaves of a tree branch.

She was half-human, half-demon, with monstrous mantis-like legs.

Seeing Li Hao suddenly appear before her, the woman was startled. She hadn't expected that this seemingly ordinary human youth, despite his unassuming aura, possessed such remarkable agility!

Her pupils constricted, but she reacted quickly, spitting a jet of emerald green venom.

Boom!

Li Hao unleashed a powerful punch, the force of his fist shattering the venom and striking the female demon in the face. Her delicate, snow-white features were shattered, revealing bone-like plates beneath, causing her to scream in agony.

"An Ancient Prodigy?!"

The female demon recoiled, staring at Li Hao in shock.

At such a young age, to possess such terrifying explosive power! In the outer edges of the Great Wilderness Heaven, she had encountered an Ancient Prodigy?!

She cursed her bad luck, ignoring the pain in her face, and turned to flee.

Li Hao's reaction was incredibly swift. He activated the Thousand Mountains, Flying Birds Chart, combined with the Art of No Trace, and instantly caught up to her. Before the female demon could react, he struck her with a powerful punch, shattering her skull.

Blood splattered, staining the nearby trees.

A soul escaped from the female demon's body, staring at Li Hao in terror, screaming as it fled wildly.

Her soul burned, exploding with full speed. But Li Hao's control over objects had already condensed into a sword, which he instantly unleashed, tearing through her body. Then, he swiftly split the sword energy, shredding her severed soul into pieces, completely annihilating it.

All of this happened in the blink of an eye. This Dao Heart Realm Demon King had fallen at Li Hao's hands.

Ji Yun Ge, hidden on Li Hao's person, couldn't help but smile.

While he had witnessed Li Hao's extraordinary talent in the River of Death, it was partly due to Li Tianzong's lingering will secretly guiding him.

Now, Li Hao's true body's explosive power, his skill and strength, were no less impressive than in the River of Death. This put Ji Yun Ge's mind at ease and filled him with satisfaction.

He thought that when Li Hao returned him to the Ji family, he could introduce him to others. If Li Hao could cultivate within the Ji family, it would be an excellent opportunity for him.

At this moment, after killing the female demon king with a punch, Li Hao felt a stinging pain in his fist. The venom had apparently touched his skin and was corroding it.

His flesh could be corroded by it. If it were an ordinary expert at the Three-Immortality Realm, their flesh would have already rotted, revealing their bones.

Li Hao took a deep breath. He hadn't even traveled a few dozen miles into the Great Wilderness Heaven when he was ambushed by a Demon King.

He looked at the female demon king's corpse. Except for her shattered head, her body was still intact.

He quickly flew back to her body, reaching out and absorbing her life essence.

The female demon king's body quickly withered, eventually resembling wrinkled gray, decaying flesh.

Li Hao casually slapped her remains, reducing them to dust to avoid leaving any traces.

After absorbing the female demon king's life essence, Li Hao circulated and refined it within his body. The stinging sensation on the back of his hand instantly disappeared, the corrosive damage ceased, and his flesh regenerated.

He had just emerged from the River of Death, and his true body was still at the level it was before the final battle in Liangzhou. His flesh was comparable to a divine weapon forged seven times.

Now, it had improved further.

This demonstrated the potency of the female demon king's venom. Even a Demon King like Lu Yuan at the Pinnacle Realm would struggle to inflict serious injury with it. Yet, this Dao Heart Realm demon had caused Li Hao to bleed!

"A Dao Heart Realm demon can injure me. Are these the Demon Kings of the Great Wilderness Heaven? They seem even more powerful than those outside," Li Hao muttered to himself.

Ji Yun Ge couldn't help but laugh upon hearing this.

Is it praiseworthy that a Dao Heart Realm demon injured a Three-Immortality Realm expert?

It's truly defying the heavens.

However, Ancient Prodigies were like this. Defeating a Demon King in adversity would be a cause for celebration in the outer lands, but in the Great Wilderness Heaven, it was merely considered commendable.

But he knew that Li Hao's true strength was far greater. Even within the Ancient Sacred Clan, Li Hao could become a prodigy. This was the reason for his appreciation of Li Hao's talent!

After dealing with the female demon king, Li Hao didn't linger but continued on his journey.

He possessed the Myriad Forms attribute, which allowed him to conceal his aura. However, the sound of his movements would still attract some demons along the way.

Li Hao encountered and dealt with two more demons, both at the Three-Immortality Realm, who attempted to ambush him. He swatted them away with a single palm strike.

He didn't have any weapons with him, but his own body was already at the level of a divine weapon, making his fists and feet incredibly destructive.

While traveling, Li Hao also digested the memories and martial arts techniques he had brought back from the River of Death.

Due to his memories, these techniques were directly recorded in his panel. Within the panel, after being refined by his Body Dao, Seventh Stage, they had evolved into new techniques.

For example, the original Myriad Blood True Demon Technique had transformed into the Sacrificial Spirit True Demon Technique.

The ratio of absorbing and refining demonic blood essence had increased.

This allowed Li Hao's flesh to reach its limit even faster.

Ji Yun Ge guided Li Hao, helping him avoid some of the more dangerous forbidden areas within the Great Wilderness Heaven.

These areas were inhabited by renowned Great Demon Kings and should not be entered lightly.

Li Hao had no intention of venturing into them to hunt. His current priority was to return Ji Yun Ge to the Ji family. If possible, he also wanted to see his mother.

Knowing that she was safe would be a relief.

The night was as cool as water.

In the endless ancient forest of the Great Wilderness Heaven, the occasional scattered remains of bones could be seen.

A small fire, built from dried leaves and twigs, burned on a thick branch, but it didn't ignite the branch itself.

The thick branches contained abundant moisture and vibrant life force, making it difficult for ordinary flames to start a wildfire and ignite these vital ancient trees.

Moreover, the miasma in this area was damp, and without a constant supply of fuel, the flames would quickly extinguish.

At this moment, by the fire, Li Hao stopped to rest and adjust his state.

He leaned against the tree trunk, picked up a blade of grass, folded it into a mouth organ, and gently blew.

Moonlight spilled down, ancient trees of the Great Wilderness Heaven stood tall, and the soft, melodious whistle drifted through the air, then was contained by the soundproof barrier Li Hao had set up.

It only echoed between the branches.

His musical experience slowly increased.

This was also a form of cultivation.

He had nothing else with him, no books, paintings, or chess to study. Only music could entertain him.

Ji Yun Ge stood on the other side of the branch, his hands behind his back, gazing at the distant stars and moon, his eyes filled with longing for home.

Listening to Li Hao's melodious and swirling grass whistle in the quiet moonlight, his own yearning for home deepened.

He turned to look at the young man, but saw that Li Hao's gaze was fixed on the dark ancient forest, as if lost in thought.

"What is that tune called?"

"Moonlight."

"You said in the River of Death that you didn't want to go home, but your tune is full of longing," Ji Yun Ge said, his eyes fixed on Li Hao.

"Two different things," Li Hao replied, removing the blade of grass from his mouth. "I miss my friends."

Ji Yun Ge looked at him. "Are your friends very powerful?"

"That depends on what aspects you're referring to," Li Hao said with a smile. "Some are good at fishing, some are good at eating and drinking, and some don't have any particular talents, but they're happy."

"I think being able to live a happy life is a skill in itself."

Ji Yun Ge's eyes flickered slightly. "I see that you spent a lot of time in the River of Death enjoying yourself. In such a dangerous environment, you still have the leisure to entertain yourself. Are you truly not afraid of death?"

"We can't abandon life just because we're afraid of death. That would be putting the cart before the horse," Li Hao replied, without explaining that it was due to his panel. "It's like diligently cultivating for the sake of life, but spending all your life cultivating, and never living. What's the point of that?"

"Without strength, in the face of life and death, in the face of demons, there's only despair," Ji Yun Ge said.

Li Hao smiled slightly. "But aren't there many powerful martial artists who die? Many of them haven't even had the chance to enjoy life. For example, Senior, your cultivation isn't low, is it?"

Ji Yun Ge was startled, his face changing slightly. Li Hao's words implied that even someone as powerful as him had died.

This was a bit offensive.

However, he didn't get angry. Instead, he seemed lost in thought.

Looking back on his life, he had lived a long time, but most of it was spent cultivating.

Now, reflecting on it, the things he often reminisced about in the River of Death were things outside of cultivation.

Playing with those guys, drinking, competing in hunting, and the ordinary daily conversations and scenes…

He fell silent.

When facing life and death, the things one reminisces about are not how they cultivated, but certain people and events.

Especially since he was now dead.

His obsession with returning to the Ji family was a longing for home, and the purpose of returning home was that he couldn't bear to leave the Sacred Mountain or the people on it.

Seeing that Ji Yun Ge was silent, Li Hao didn't say anything more. He continued to hold the blade of grass in his mouth and gently played a tune.

He wasn't against cultivation, but in the midst of busy cultivation, one could also stop to have a cup of tea and chat.

That was "living" life.

The night was slightly cool, a small fire, a clear and melodious whistle, two souls with different thoughts.

And a bright, round moon…

…

For several days, Li Hao continued his journey.

Along the way, he also practiced the techniques recorded in his panel one by one.

Each practice further refined and enhanced his body. Coupled with the demons he hunted along the way and the absorption of their blood essence, Li Hao's progress was rapid. His flesh reached the level of an eight-forged divine weapon.

In the River of Death, his flesh was comparable to a nine-forged weapon, allowing him to barely survive in the Taiping Dao Realm.

Now, he was getting closer to that level.

After all, in reality, he didn't have access to as many divine medicines, and even if he did, he couldn't consume them. He relied entirely on techniques to absorb and transform energy. Fortunately, the effects weren't inferior to divine medicines, but it took some time.

"Hmm? Something seems off here," Li Hao said as he stepped into a crimson, blood-red mountain range. Crimson mist surrounded him, and when it touched his body, Li Hao felt a strange sensation of his flesh softening.

This was even more terrifying than the miasma. It seemed to weaken his physical strength.

"This is the Crimson Wood Corpse Ridge," Ji Yun Ge said. "This is where a Dao Seeker fell. His Dao Realm didn't dissipate, forming a unique forbidden zone here, extremely dangerous."

Then, he changed the subject. "However, it shouldn't be a problem for you. The Dao Realm rules here aren't as strong as they were when that person was alive. They will only constantly decompose your blood essence. If you stay here for too long, you'll become weak, and even age and die. But with your physique, you should be able to withstand it."

"Deep within this region, there's a Crimson Blood Vine King rooted in the Dao Seeker's remains. Every sixty years, it produces a Dao Resonance Blood Fruit, incredibly potent, capable of greatly enhancing one's physique and promoting the development of one's physical strength to the point of achieving the Extreme Force Realm and triggering the Divine Power state."

"You can go look for the Crimson Blood Vine King. It has absorbed too much of the Dao Seeker's flesh and is restricted, unable to escape. However, its combat strength is mediocre, so you should be able to defeat it."

Li Hao was taken aback, slightly dumbfounded. The Dao Resonance Blood Fruit would likely be of little use to him.

But since he was already here, he might as well take a look. If he couldn't use it, he could bring it back for Qianqian.

As Li Hao's thoughts raced, several sounds of breaking the air suddenly came from ahead.

"Stop!"

"Who is that? Quickly, stop him for me. I am from the Qin family of the Ancient Sacred Clan!"

Several angry shouts echoed.

Li Hao looked up and saw a short man fleeing ahead, with three other figures pursuing him at full speed, their movements incredibly fast.

The fleeing short man, upon seeing Li Hao standing in mid-air, his face changed, and he hurriedly said, "Don't block me. I'll give you the treasure!"

As he spoke, he had already reached Li Hao's side.

Li Hao was still puzzled when the man suddenly attacked, striking Li Hao's face with a palm strike.

Boom!

Li Hao grabbed the man's wrist, then with a crack, crushed it.

"What are you doing?" Li Hao asked in confusion.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 222: Slaying a Prodigy, Elevating Divine Renown

"Ouch!"

The short man cried out in pain, staring in horror at Li Hao. Even if the other party was prepared, wouldn't it be difficult to block a close-range attack like his?

Yet, he had blocked it. What kind of monstrous strength was that?

"You're at the Four Eons Realm?!"

The short man was shocked. He couldn't discern Li Hao's aura, but judging by his age, reaching the Three Immorality Realm would be considered impressive.

"Spare me! I'll give you the item, just don't kill me..."

Without waiting for Li Hao's reply, the short man hurriedly pulled out a belt and handed it to Li Hao. "The Dao Rhyme Blood Fruit is inside. Spare me!"

Dao Rhyme Blood Fruit?

Li Hao was slightly surprised. Ji Yun'ge had just mentioned this item, and now it was right in front of him.

But, the item was in this belt? Li Hao was puzzled, but he didn't take it. Instead, he suddenly punched out, aiming for the man's head.

The man was being chased, yet he offered a treasure to Li Hao. It was clear he was trying to shift the blame onto him. It seemed like a plea for mercy, but his intentions were wicked.

"You..."

The short man was shocked and enraged. He roared, and a golden talisman ignited in his palm – a Sacred Heart Talisman.

The burning talisman emitted a blazing divine light, enveloping his body to block Li Hao's punch.

But Li Hao, upon seeing the talisman, immediately reacted. He unleashed the "Flying Segment" attribute, doubling his attack range.

His fist was only halfway extended when the terrifying destructive force struck the man's head.

With a loud pop, it was like a fruit bursting.

The short man's mouth slightly opened. In the final moments before his death, he still looked incredulous, unable to comprehend why he had died.

His body had lost all movement, and a wisp of soul escaped from his skull, fleeing into the distance.

But Li Hao's condensed sword energy, imbued with the "Hidden Bow" attribute, had already been concealed in the surroundings. The moment the soul escaped, it instantly struck.

Sword energy hidden with "Hidden Bow" remained undetected, and its lethality doubled.

It instantly cleaved the short man's soul in two. Then, the sword energy exploded like a hedgehog, tearing the soul to shreds.

The short man was merely at the Three Immorality Realm. Before Li Hao, he didn't even have a chance to use the Sacred Heart Talisman to save himself.

Everything happened in the blink of an eye. The short man's body and soul were destroyed, leaving only the activated Sacred Heart Talisman, shrouding his headless corpse.

All that remained was to wait for the talisman to burn out, leaving behind a mere corpse.

Within this short span, three figures had already caught up in pursuit. Seeing Li Hao instantly kill the short man, they were startled, then immediately surrounded Li Hao, forming a triangular formation to lock him down.

"Damn little thief! You didn't die by my hand. That's too easy for you!"

The leading young man looked at the headless corpse, his eyes still filled with anger and rage. The other party was only at the Three Immorality Realm, yet he had almost snatched the Dao Rhyme Blood Fruit from him. It was an insult!

"Boy, hand over his corpse. I am from the Qin family of the Ancient Saint Clan. Don't be as foolish as that idiot!"

The young man shouted at Li Hao, his gaze carefully scrutinizing him. The more he looked, the more he frowned. The boy didn't seem to be from the Great Wilderness Heaven.

But how could a low-level human from outside the Great Wilderness Heaven, at such a young age, possess such cultivation, instantly killing a Three Immorality Realm cultivator?

Li Hao held the corpse, shrouded in divine light, and raised an eyebrow. "Shouldn't you thank me first? I stopped him for you and killed him."

"Young man, hand over the Dao Rhyme Blood Fruit first. Our young master will reward you handsomely."

Another middle-aged man beside him stared intently at Li Hao, speaking in a gentle tone, yet his body subtly exuded an aura, enveloping the surroundings, sensing the area to see if Li Hao was alone.

The elderly man silently locked onto the surrounding world, using secret techniques to prevent Li Hao from escaping like the short man, using Sacred Heart Talismans and secret techniques.

Li Hao possessed the Heavenly Veins, and his perception of the surrounding world was extremely sensitive. Although the other party's movements and probing were subtle, he immediately sensed them, and his eyes turned cold. It was clear that they had murderous intent.

He felt a surge of anger. The people of the Great Wilderness Heaven seemed to disregard rules and order even more.

"Just tell me what you want, and then give me the corpse!" the young man said angrily. The anger he felt from the short man hadn't completely subsided.

"What if I don't want to give it to you?" Li Hao replied.

The young man's eyes suddenly turned icy. "Then you're asking for death!"

"Die!"

The elderly man, having locked onto the surrounding world, secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He exchanged glances with the middle-aged man, confirming that there was no one else besides Li Hao. In other words, the boy, whose origins were unknown, had come alone.

Without any hesitation, he attacked before even finishing his sentence.

As members of the Ancient Saint Clan, there was no one they wouldn't kill. Even if Li Hao was the descendant of another Saint Clan, it wouldn't matter. The Great Wilderness Heaven valued strength above all else. If one's skills were inferior, death was the only consequence!

With a loud bang.

At such close range, the elderly man, who was at the Four Eons Realm and a servant of the Ancient Saint Clan, had cultivated extremely profound Saint Clan techniques. His attack was like a thunderbolt, guided by Dao Rhyme, leaving no room for evasion.

Li Hao didn't dodge. The attack was too fast. His back tensed, and his body leaned forward slightly, his back stinging.

But soon, the Indestructible Body activated, instantly healing the minor wounds and the pain disappeared.

"Impossible?!"

The elderly man's eyes widened in disbelief. The boy wasn't wearing any divine armor or protective clothing, yet he had withstood his attack with his bare body?!

The young man and the middle-aged man were also stunned, their expressions changing.

Li Hao's eyes were icy. He used his object manipulation ability to place the headless corpse aside, suspended in mid-air. Then, he took a step forward, using the Art of Vanishing Without a Trace, instantly closing the distance to the young man.

"You!"

The young man's face changed in shock and anger. He hurriedly raised his hand and slashed out with his sword.

But Li Hao shattered the sword light with a single punch. The sharp blade rubbed against Li Hao's fist, creating a sharp spark and a bloody gash. It was clearly a high-grade divine weapon.

As the sword light shattered, Li Hao's fist landed on the young man's chest.

A low growl erupted from within the young man's chest, followed by a dark black Xuanwu phantom that roared at Li Hao, using its back to withstand Li Hao's fist.

Li Hao's eyes widened in surprise. Underneath the young man's golden silk robe, there was divine armor. The golden silk robe was no ordinary garment. It seemed to be a fireproof and waterproof treasure, soft yet tough.

The powerful impact sent the young man flying back, and the black Xuanwu phantom faded slightly.

Since he had already made his move, he had to eliminate them completely.

Li Hao's eyes shot out cold, electric light. He took a step forward and pursued the young man.

"Damn it, don't be arrogant!"

The middle-aged man roared in anger. A rough, ancient spear suddenly appeared in his hand, exuding a wild, ancient aura. He thrust it towards Li Hao.

Li Hao didn't engage in a head-on confrontation. Instead, he used the Art of Vanishing Without a Trace to bypass the spear and activated his Illustrated Scroll, increasing his speed.

Like a streak of lightning, he caught up to the young man.

A violent fist force gathered in Li Hao's palm. He suddenly punched out again.

"You're asking for death!"

The young man roared in anger, but a hint of fear crept into his heart. The boy was like a wild dragon, his strength terrifying. Even with divine armor to protect him, he was still shaken to the point of his blood churning. He was a Dao Heart Realm cultivator!

At this moment, Li Hao's battle aura, with the Myriad Phenomena attribute, had a greatly reduced concealing effect, revealing his cultivation level. He was only at the Three Immorality Realm!

It was always the prodigies who defeated their enemies against the odds. Today, he was being humiliated against the odds, and the young man couldn't believe it.

Brilliant sword light, like black flames, roared out, but Li Hao instantly activated the Supreme Body, entering a state of temporary invulnerability.

The sword, affected by the Supreme Body, lost its Dao Rhyme guidance. Although it was locked onto by his vision, the blade silently slid past Li Hao, unable to touch him!

Bang!

Li Hao's fist struck again. The Xuanwu phantom roared once more, but this time, the fist intent was as fierce as a raging storm, instantly engulfing it.

The phantom dissipated, and the fist landed on the young man's chest. The golden silk robe caved in, and his chest collapsed into a large crater, his bones broken, and his internal organs displaced.

The young man spat out a mouthful of blood and flew backward like a golden canary with broken wings.

"Young Master!"

The middle-aged man and the elderly man had caught up, their faces filled with horror. Their young master, protected by divine armor, had still been severely injured?

Li Hao suddenly raised his hand. Energy surged and gathered in the void. The Heavenly Veins, like a water pump, frantically drew power from all directions, condensing into a terrifying torrent of sword energy, forming two sword dragons that roared towards the two men.

The two men were shocked and enraged, hurriedly defending themselves. The elderly man, seeing Li Hao still attacking the young master, his eyes widened in fury. He roared,

"Stop! How dare you be so reckless!!"

While speaking, he didn't bother to block the sword dragons. He activated his own divine armor, a swirling sword shadow encircling his body, protecting him and blocking the incoming sword energy.

But many sword energies still slipped through like fish escaping a net, striking him.

Bang!

Before the elderly man could reach the young master, a sword energy suddenly pierced his body. In an instant, he trembled, like a shrimp with severed nerves, stiffening in place.

A force that pulled him towards the abyss suddenly struck.

The elderly man's pupils constricted. He realized that all his strength was rapidly disappearing. He was terrified. Was he going to die?

But he hadn't even been seriously injured!

As his consciousness began to fade, he panicked and hurriedly activated his Life-Reversal power.

The family had sent him to accompany the young master because he had a chance to reverse his fate. Even if he encountered danger, he could help the young master escape.

But he hadn't expected to die first. As a result, the Life-Reversal opportunity could only be used on himself.

With a whoosh, his soul shot out from under his feet, enveloped by a force, and fled into the distance.

Perhaps due to the influence of Life-Reversal, the elderly man's mind was filled with the fear of death, infinitely amplified, causing him to forget about the young master.

The sword energy pursued him, but it all missed, allowing the elderly man to escape.

Li Hao frowned slightly, but he didn't chase after him. With his current strength, he couldn't contend with fate.

He attacked the young man, unleashing a series of punches. The young man raised his sword to parry, unleashing a powerful aura, but Li Hao shattered it with two punches. The remaining punches all slammed into his body and head.

"I... I am..."

Soon, the young man's body was smashed to pieces, his flesh and blood mangled, his soul trapped within his body, pounded to death.

Before he died, the young man couldn't utter a complete sentence. This genius of the Ancient Saint Clan, Qin family, had perished.

The middle-aged man was surrounded by the sword dragons, and seeing this scene, his heart was filled with terror.

Although their young master was just one of many young masters in the Qin family, his talent wasn't top-tier, only average, he shouldn't have been killed so easily.

Moreover, the one who killed the young master was just a boy!

Could it be a top-tier prodigy from another Ancient Saint Clan?!

"You, you're dead!"

The middle-aged man was terrified, his eyes filled with fear. If the young master's brother found out that his younger brother had chased after the Dao Rhyme Blood Fruit and was killed here, he wouldn't know how enraged he would be!

And as guards, they would be held accountable.

Li Hao heard the middle-aged man's words and picked up the young man's sword. The sword was entirely silver, exquisitely crafted, and exuded a faint silver light.

Hearing the middle-aged man's words, he turned to glance at him and casually threw the divine sword.

With a whoosh, the sword light suddenly tore through the air, like a projectile, plunging into the sword torrent and slashing down at the middle-aged man's head.

The middle-aged man was horrified. He pulled out a Sacred Heart Talisman and burned it, transforming it into a black bell phantom that enveloped his body.

But the next moment, the bell rang, shattered by the silver light, and slashed down at his shrinking eyes.

The divine sword was incredibly sharp. In Li Hao's hands, it unleashed even greater power than the young man had previously displayed, cleaving the middle-aged man in half!

Even his soul was severed and obliterated.

"You're quite decisive, kid. It's a pity that the Life-Reversal guy got away."

Ji Yun'ge had been hidden on Li Hao's body, unseen. Witnessing Li Hao effortlessly slaughter the Qin family juniors, he smiled.

"Won't they go back and report this?"

Li Hao frowned, slightly worried that after dealing with the small fry, the big bosses would come knocking. It was quite annoying.

"Of course."

Ji Yun'ge said, "Otherwise, what would be the point of the Qin family sending a Life-Reversal Realm cultivator to protect that kid? However, it seems like they don't intend to go back."

As he spoke, a plume of black smoke shot up into the sky from the distant mountains, like some kind of signal.

"That's the Qin family's distress signal. It seems there are other Qin family experts nearby."

Ji Yun'ge said, "Looks like they intend to take revenge on the spot."

...

Before a crimson cliff, a large hole gaped in the cliff face, revealing a section of twisted, withered vines, several dozen meters long, seemingly twitching and convulsing.

Outside the cliff, on several low hills, numerous figures had gathered, dressed in various styles, all young elites from different tribes and families within the Great Wilderness Heaven.

They gazed at the body of the Crimson Blood Vine Demon King, their eyes gleaming with anticipation, waiting for it to emerge.

They had originally come to compete for the Dao Rhyme Blood Fruit, but they had unexpectedly discovered that the Crimson Blood Vine Demon King was undergoing a transformation, condensing a second blood body.

Now, it was halfway through the process and couldn't stop. Although it sensed their intrusion, it was helpless.

And they didn't interrupt it. They waited for the second blood body to condense. The blood body was equivalent to absorbing most of the essence and medicinal power of the Crimson Blood Vine Demon King, like a newly grown ten-thousand-year-old blood ginseng, ten times more precious than the Dao Rhyme Blood Fruit.

Therefore, when the Dao Rhyme Blood Fruit was snatched, no one chased after it.

Besides watching for the birth of the second blood body, it was also because the Ancient Saint Clan, the Qin family, had sent a young master to pursue the thief.

For a Dao Rhyme Blood Fruit, they had suppressed their desire to clash with the Qin family, but the second blood body was different.

"Qin Tianchen, the Qin family's prodigy, is also here. It'll be difficult to snatch it."

"Let's see what happens. The Crimson Blood Vine Demon King isn't easy to deal with. There are also other families. Let's see who makes the first move."

Many people's gazes focused on several outstanding figures in the crowd, one of whom was particularly eye-catching: the prodigy of the Ancient Saint Clan, Qin family, Qin Tianchen.

It was rumored that he was born with sacred bones and extraordinary talent, with the potential to become a Saint. He began cultivating at the age of three and reached the Divine Wandering Realm by ten.

Then, at fourteen, he reached the Heavenly Human Grandmaster Realm, and at seventeen, he entered the Three Immorality Realm, slaying demon kings against the odds, extremely ferocious.

Now, at only twenty-four years old, his strength was no less than that of many older generations. He dominated a region, and it was said that he had recently ventured deep into the Great Wilderness and single-handedly slain an ancient beast!

In the crowd, Qin Tianchen was handsome and elegant, his figure outstanding. He quietly gazed at the Crimson Blood Vine Demon King in the cave.

Not far from him, several other figures occasionally glanced at him, their eyes filled with solemnity.

It was said that he had already reached the peak of the Harmony Force Realm and mastered the Divine Force state, yet he was still here.

As everyone waited, a plume of black smoke suddenly shot up into the sky from a distance.

The two elderly men beside Qin Tianchen were startled, then their expressions changed. The direction of the smoke was where the second young master had chased after the thief.

Qin Tianchen's peripheral vision caught it, and he noticed it too. His usually cold face was momentarily stunned, then his eyes widened, and a powerful aura emanated from his body, surging into the sky.

"Eldest Young Master!"

From a distance, a soul sped towards them, the elderly man who had attacked Li Hao earlier.

Seeing Qin Tianchen who had just soared into the air, he hurriedly said, "Young Master, someone snatched the Dao Rhyme Blood Fruit and tried to kill Second Young Master."

"Who?!"

Hearing this, Qin Tianchen's eyes narrowed. He had come here to protect his younger brother and help him obtain the Dao Rhyme Blood Fruit. Now, someone dared to kill his brother?

Everyone who had come to compete was already here, and no one had left.

Seeing that the old servant was only a soul, his expression changed. "Where's Tianyu?"

"I, I escaped using Life-Reversal..." The old servant stammered, his heart filled with fear and anxiety.

Seeing this, Qin Tianchen's eyes shot out lightning-like divine light. "So, you abandoned my brother and escaped?"

"Eldest Young Master, hurry and save Second Young Master..." The old servant hurriedly said. He had escaped using Life-Reversal, but Second Young Master was only at the Dao Heart Realm, and he was probably in danger. He hoped he could still make it in time.

Qin Tianchen's face was grim. He wanted to slap him to death, but he couldn't afford to dwell on it now. He turned and stepped out, about to chase after the thief, but he saw a figure speeding towards him from a distance, wearing a golden silk robe and carrying a flowing silver sword.

The attire was the same as his brother's.

But it was being worn by a boy.

When Li Hao escaped from the Liangzhou War to the River of Death, his clothes were already tattered. After killing the young man, he had taken his clothes. It was a treasure robe, so he used it to cover himself, changing out of his own tattered clothes.

As for the divine armor, it was ruined, so he didn't bother to take it.

He had tracked them down, both to take the initiative and to avoid being searched and discovered that he came from outside the Great Wilderness Heaven, which would attract powerful enemies to the Great Yu Dynasty.

"So many people?"

Li Hao glanced around and saw figures on the nearby hills.

His gaze fell on the elderly man's soul, and he saw him crying to a young man, instantly understanding that the young man was likely the target of his plea for help.

"It's you?!"

Qin Tianchen saw Li Hao wearing his brother's clothes and holding his brother's sword. His eyes turned red, and his previously icy cold expression instantly turned furious.

"Who are you?!"

The two elderly men beside Qin Tianchen also caught up, and seeing Li Hao's attire, they were shocked and roared in anger.

The commotion startled everyone, causing those nearby who were waiting for the Crimson Blood Vine Demon King's blood body to emerge to look over in astonishment.

Judging by the situation, Qin Tianchen's younger brother, who had just chased after the thief, seemed to have been killed?!

They immediately recognized Li Hao's attire. Even his clothes had been stripped, and his weapon was gone. Clearly, the man was also gone!

"Who is that person? He's so young!"

"He looks like he's only in his teens. Which clan's prodigy is he?"

"He dared to kill someone from the Ancient Qin family and even chased after them. This guy is incredibly bold!"

Everyone was shocked and amazed by the scene.

"Listen up, I'm from the Ancient Divine Clan, the Heavenly Clan!"

Li Hao heard the elderly man's question and thought, They're giving me a chance to speak. He had come here to conceal his identity. If he simply ran away, he didn't know what methods the Ancient Saint Clan had. If they traced him back to outside the Great Wilderness Heaven, it would be bad for the Great Yu Dynasty.

Since you're a Saint Clan, it's not too much for me to be a Divine Clan, right?

Hearing Li Hao's loud response, the world fell silent for a moment. Everyone was dumbfounded.

Ancient Divine Clan?

Did they hear wrong? They had never heard of this name before!

In the Great Wilderness Heaven, there was an ancient Divine Clan?!

Everyone was shocked, feeling like they had witnessed something incredible.

Qin Tianchen was also shaken. A hint of doubt appeared on his angry face. Ancient Divine Clan?

His elders had never mentioned it. The Ancient Saint Clans were called Saint Clans because their ancestors were Ancient Saints!

Therefore, they all had the bloodline inheritance of Ancient Saints.

The boy claimed to be from a Divine Clan. Could he be a descendant of a god?

But where were the gods in this world? They had never even heard of them!

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 223: The Young Man's Fierceness

"Stop pretending to be a god or a demon. If you were truly a member of the Divine Race, how could you steal things from our clan, snatch our young master's sacred garment and weapons?"

The two elder Qin clan members, though suspicious, weren't intimidated by Li Hao. They roared angrily, their words laced with probing.

"He offended me, so I naturally wouldn't show mercy."

Li Hao feigned arrogance.

"Whether you're from the Divine Race or the Ghost Race, once I twist your head off, I'll see what you truly are!"

Qin Tianchen, however, was too impatient for further inquiries about Li Hao's identity. His younger brother's tragic death filled him with a desire for vengeance.

It was truly laughable that a mere, unheard-of divine name would try to intimidate an ancient prodigy.

With a whoosh, he launched his attack. His figure barely moved from his spot, leaving a lingering afterimage behind before he appeared before Li Hao in an instant, launching a fierce assault.

He struck out with a palm, aiming directly for Li Hao's head.

Li Hao was momentarily stunned, his eyes narrowing. He swiftly unleashed a sword beam.

Bang!

The sword energy erupted, like a silver dragon unleashed upon Qin Tianchen's palm.

Qin Tianchen's palm, like a piece of glazed jade, was struck by the sword beam. Yet, it was as smooth as water, as if the blade couldn't touch his skin, possessing a certain ethereal quality.

The blade slid past, but his palm continued its trajectory towards Li Hao's face.

Li Hao immediately unleashed the pressure of the Illustrated Scroll, his eyes widening in anger, a wave of menacing killing intent surging forth.

Roar!

Like a tiger's roar, like a dragon emerging from the sea!

Tiger Pressure! Blood Sea Vicious Dragon Illustration!

Two waves of intimidating power erupted, shaking the very soul, causing Qin Tianchen's palm to pause for a brief moment. Li Hao seized the opportunity, striking out with a fist that landed squarely on Qin Tianchen's palm. The powerful force of the blow sent both of them reeling back hundreds of meters.

In this brief exchange, they both sensed the other's formidable power.

"That's the Qin clan's ancestral martial art, the Three Thousand Illusory Forms!"

"Such swift footwork, it's practically teleportation. Is this Qin Tianchen's true strength?"

"That young man actually blocked it!"

Those on the surrounding peaks were astonished by the lightning-fast exchange.

Many eyes were still fixed on the lingering afterimage of Qin Tianchen, who had barely moved his feet. The afterimage was so realistic, it was impossible to tell it was fake, until Qin Tianchen was forced back by Li Hao, and the image vanished.

If he had attacked them, they wouldn't have had time to react before being cut down by Qin Tianchen!

"Hmm?"

Qin Tianchen's body swayed slightly as he felt a tingling sensation in his palm. The vast force of the punch had a domineering, invincible quality.

His eyes narrowed. He suddenly realized that the young man before him was indeed something special. No wonder he had killed that useless old servant, forcing him to use a life-saving technique.

And with such strength, his brother truly had no chance of survival.

Thinking this, his eyes turned icy and cold, his body radiating a powerful aura as he activated his true energy and launched another attack.

He drew his sword, a dazzling beam of sword light erupting, seemingly cleaving through the clouds in the sky.

"Let me teach you how to wield a sword!"

This time, his footwork was even faster. Afterimages appeared where he stood, followed by several more as he moved.

Based on the trajectory of the afterimages, he seemed to be attacking head-on.

But Li Hao suddenly slashed sideways, his sword beam cutting through space, arriving first despite being launched later.

Clang!

A sharp ringing sound echoed from the divine metal.

Qin Tianchen's figure was forced back from his teleportation-like speed. The sword energy he had gathered could only be used for a hasty block. Li Hao's sword strike sent a shockwave through his body, as if he had collided with an unyielding wall.

His body swayed slightly before erupting into dozens, then hundreds of afterimages, completely surrounding Li Hao, unleashing the true form of his footwork!

In an instant, hundreds of Qin Tianchen appeared in the void, all wielding swords, attacking Li Hao from different angles.

The sight was terrifying, making many onlookers' hearts pound with fear.

Li Hao's eyes also turned serious as he sensed the opponent's cultivation level: Reverse Destiny Realm.

But this was the strongest Reverse Destiny Realm cultivator he had encountered so far. His footwork was undoubtedly a skill only possessed by those at the Ancestral Martial Art Realm, comparable to the Heavenless Trace Technique.

Feng Lao's version of this footwork was already a half-step Ancestral Martial Art.

Once perfected, it would be among the top footwork techniques even at the Ancestral Martial Art Realm, incredibly elusive.

Seeing the multitude of Qin Tianchen attacking, Li Hao swayed, unleashing the Heavenless Trace Technique and disappearing into the encirclement. His gaze quickly locked onto the true Qin Tianchen, hidden like a transparent phantom, and he slashed out with his sword.

Other Shore Sword Intent, shortening the distance. Reincarnation Sword Art, shaking the heavens and earth!

This sword strike, imbued with two sword intents, erupted like concentrated starlight, instantly appearing before Qin Tianchen.

Qin Tianchen's pupils constricted, his heart filled with shock. He hadn't expected Li Hao to be able to locate his true form.

He was filled with anger and unleashed a swift sword strike.

Bang!

The frost-like sword energy shattered instantly, forming a vortex. The remaining sword force instantly swirled, tearing Qin Tianchen's sacred garment.

The hundreds of illusory Qin Tianchen attacks missed their mark and vanished.

Before the onlookers could react, they saw the battlefield shift to another location, with Li Hao having forced Qin Tianchen back with a single sword strike.

"What!"

"Qin Tianchen was actually defeated?"

"Who is that young man? He's defeated Qin Tianchen again!"

The onlookers were stunned, as if they were seeing a ghost. They gazed in awe at the young man's figure. His footwork seemed to be an Ancestral Martial Art as well!

Cultivating an Ancestral Martial Art requires exceptional talent. After all, these are techniques comprehended by those at the Ancestral Martial Art Realm, incredibly profound, containing a certain ultimate truth, a path to questioning the saints.

Li Hao, at the Three Immortal Realm, was able to comprehend it and utilize it effectively, avoiding Qin Tianchen's footwork, demonstrating that he had cultivated it to an incredibly profound and terrifying level.

"Could this young man truly be a prodigy of the Divine Race?!"

"Am I seeing things? His aura is hidden, but what little is revealed suggests he's at the Three Immortal Realm?!"

Many people were discussing in astonishment, their voices filled with excitement and disbelief.

It's true that prodigies can defeat their opponents despite being at a disadvantage, but the one being defeated here is Qin Tianchen, a prodigy who can also fight against the odds!

Among the crowd, several figures with exceptional bearing also focused their gazes, their eyes filled with shock. They treated Qin Tianchen with utmost caution, but now, he had launched a furious attack and suffered consecutive setbacks!

"Damn it!"

Qin Tianchen was forced back by the sword energy, feeling a tremor in his arm. The power that the young man had unleashed was no less than his own, perhaps even stronger!

This young man was stronger than the ferocious beast king he had slain!

"Young Master!"

The two elders rushed over, ready to join the battle to assist.

"Don't come near."

Qin Tianchen roared, his eyes radiating divine light, his body releasing an immense aura. His hair instantly bloomed with a brilliant golden light, his aura surging.

"He's entered the Divine Power State!"

"Ultimate True Energy Realm. As expected of a Qin clan prodigy. He's truly opened up the Ultimate Realm!"

The onlookers were awestruck by the sight of Qin Tianchen, whose hair had turned golden and whose skin was shrouded in a golden divine light.

In the Vast Wilderness Heaven, the Ultimate Realm is a sought-after stage for many prodigies.

Without reaching the Ultimate Realm, one is not worthy of being called a prodigy!

This is also the reason why the martial artists of the Vast Wilderness Heaven look down upon those from the outside world. In the Great Yu Dynasty, even the top powers have scant records of the Ultimate Realm, let alone the vast majority of martial artists, including Heavenly Human Masters, who may never even hear of the existence of the martial Ultimate Realm in their entire lives.

Even the royal family, who possess the most advanced cultivation techniques of the Great Yu Dynasty, cannot cultivate to the limit.

Therefore, in the Great Yu Dynasty, it is a martial legend, a myth that is unattainable.

But within the Vast Wilderness Heaven, prodigies with the inheritance of saintly foundations can cultivate it!

Now, as he entered the Divine Power State, Qin Tianchen's aura increased tenfold. His golden hair fluttered, and the anger in his eyes turned into an unfathomable killing intent.

He had been pushed to this point by the same young man who had slain that barely-adult ferocious beast king!

"Die!"

Qin Tianchen no longer held back. He suddenly unleashed a violent sword strike, drawing upon the Dao's principles. This sword strike condensed boundless power, like a frost dragon, roaring straight towards Li Hao.

Li Hao, seeing this, no longer held back either. He also unleashed his Divine Power State. In an instant, his physical strength increased tenfold, and his energy capacity and circulation also increased tenfold!

Whoosh!

Below, the onlookers, who were marveling at Qin Tianchen's brilliant divine form, erupted in a chorus of astonished gasps when they saw Li Hao also transform into a youthful deity.

The young man had also reached the Ultimate True Energy Realm!

Qin Tianchen's eyes also showed a hint of shock. The Ultimate True Energy Realm was not easy to cultivate. He had absorbed countless precious herbs and treasures from his clan, coupled with rigorous physical training, to achieve a physical strength of a million catties, comparable to that of an ancient, young ferocious beast.

After all, with ordinary cultivation techniques, the Ultimate True Energy Realm, when cultivated to perfection, only reaches ten thousand catties.

And the limit is a full hundred times that!

It requires top-tier body refinement techniques to hone the body to achieve this.

Bang!

After entering the Divine Power State, Li Hao no longer held back. He quickly launched an attack, his sword beam slashing out. With a bang, he split the opponent's sword energy with a single strike. Then, he stepped forward, unleashing the Heavenless Trace Technique.

He closed the distance in an instant, appearing before Qin Tianchen.

With a bang, the Half-Step Invincible Fist erupted, striking the other in the face, sending Qin Tianchen plummeting from the sky to the foot of the mountain, creating a massive crater.

Li Hao didn't stop, diving down to continue the attack.

"Don't harm the young master!"

The two elders' faces turned pale with shock and anger. They flew towards Li Hao, unleashing their respective Ancestral Martial Arts.

They were both at the Ancestral Martial Art Realm, which is why they were assigned to protect Qin Tianchen.

Although Qin Tianchen had grown stronger, possessing the power to rival those at the Ancestral Martial Art Realm and dominate a region, this was the Vast Wilderness Heaven. Without reaching the Great Peace Dao Realm, there was still a chance that he could be ambushed and killed by top-tier experts from other clans.

Li Hao didn't intend to continue the prolonged battle. He suddenly drew upon the power of the surrounding Heaven and Earth veins, exhaling a breath of immortal energy that transformed into a mighty force, accompanying his sword strike.

Sword Extreme Spring and Autumn!

Spring and Autumn, like Yin and Yang, the sword intent tearing through the air, attacking the two elders separately.

Bang! The void trembled as the elders' Ancestral Martial Arts shattered Li Hao's sword technique. However, they were also momentarily stunned by the force.

Seeing Li Hao continue to attack Qin Tianchen, the two elders were filled with shock and anger, roaring as they launched a full-fledged assault on Li Hao.

They directly unleashed their most powerful Ancestral Martial Arts, fusing them with their own martial paths. These Ancestral Martial Arts were self-created and perfectly aligned with their martial paths. Even if others mastered these techniques and reached the true form level, without the corresponding martial path alignment, they wouldn't be able to unleash the true essence of the Ancestral Martial Arts!

The reason Ancestral Martial Arts are called Ancestral Martial Arts is that only in the hands of their creators can they unleash that unique power.

Li Hao's Half-Step Invincible Fist, though at the true form level, was still somewhat inferior to Li Mu Xiu's Invincible Fist. It lacked the unique state of temporary invincibility.

Bang bang bang!

The two Ancestral Martial Art Realm elders and Li Hao clashed, their sword beams crisscrossing, creating a scene of earth-shattering destruction.

This sight left the onlookers speechless, stunned into silence.

Where did this young man come from? Only a teenager, yet he was fighting two Ancestral Martial Art Realm experts head-on. He was too fierce!

Bang!

On the ground, Qin Tianchen burst out of the dust, his golden hair disheveled. Though in the Divine Power State, shining like a deity, he looked somewhat disheveled. He roared and charged towards Li Hao at full speed, the four of them instantly locked in a chaotic battle.

Clang!

Qin Tianchen unleashed the Three Thousand Illusory Forms, swift as lightning. Seizing the moment when Li Hao's momentum was momentarily interrupted, he struck Li Hao's back with his sword.

But the scene he had envisioned, of Li Hao being cut in half, didn't happen. His brother's sacred garment had been torn during the battle, revealing Li Hao's golden body. The sword beam struck, leaving only a shallow scar!

"What?!"

Even Qin Tianchen, with his strong mentality, was momentarily stunned.

Clearly, this scene was far beyond his expectations, shocking him.

His top-tier, nine-forged divine weapon had only inflicted a minor injury on Li Hao?!

"Hmm?"

Li Hao felt a sharp pain in his back, his eyes turning cold. Since his body had become comparable to an eight-forged divine weapon, he hadn't been injured much.

At the seven-forged level, even Lu Yuan, at the Ancestral Martial Art Realm, using his Ancestral Martial Art, Infinite Thunder Dao, could only break his skin. Now, at the eight-forged level, it was very difficult for Ancestral Martial Art Realm experts to injure him.

The injuries inflicted on him by the two elders during their fight were minimal, but now, he was bleeding!

"Another nine-forged divine weapon!"

Li Hao immediately realized the threat posed by the opponent's weapon. If he hadn't been in the Divine Power State, with his physical strength greatly enhanced, though at the eight-forged level, comparable to the nine-forged level, his body would have been torn apart by now!

Li Hao no longer bothered with the two elders. He endured their two Ancestral Martial Art attacks and charged towards Qin Tianchen.

"Die!"

Li Hao drew upon the power of Heaven and Earth, only ten percent, but his aura suddenly expanded, like a whale swallowing water. He unleashed the Heavenless Trace Technique, instantly killing towards Qin Tianchen.

Seeing Li Hao's sudden surge in power, Qin Tianchen was shocked and incredulous. After fighting for so long, the other still had hidden cards!

He frantically burned two Sacred Heart Talismans, one for defense and one for footwork. His speed increased dramatically, allowing him to evade Li Hao's attack.

Li Hao didn't stop, instead activating all the attributes of the Illustrated Scroll, further boosting his footwork.

Bang!

He unleashed a sword strike, striking Qin Tianchen's long sword. The divine sword let out a mournful cry, the force it was enduring too great, its sword spirit trembling, on the verge of collapse.

Qin Tianchen unleashed the Three Thousand Illusory Forms, trying to create distance, but Li Hao quickly unleashed a fist strike, the Flying Segment attribute enhancing his attack range by double.

Bang!

Qin Tianchen thought he had dodged, but before his fist even fully extended, his head was struck, exploding.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 224: You Carry the Blood of My Ji Clan (Seeking Monthly Tickets)

Golden-red divine blood sprayed forth from Qin Tianchen's neck, a violent cascade.

Even in his divine power state, Li Hao had managed to shatter his skull with a single, devastating punch!

At this sight, the crowd gathered at the cliff edge fell silent.

Several exceptionally imposing figures within the group were struck speechless with shock, unable to believe their eyes.

The young man, his precious garments torn, held his silver sword aloft. He had withstood the attacks of two Absolute Mastery realm experts, his body riddled with gashes that healed instantly, his regenerative power astonishing.

The Sacred Heart Talisman, meant to shield Qin Tianchen, had failed to withstand Li Hao's blow. While the talisman was potent, its power was comparable to that of a Dao Heart realm expert. Rarer Sacred Heart Talismans, with more refined essence, could rival the full-powered strike of a Fate-Defying realm expert.

However, the power Li Hao unleashed far surpassed the Sacred Heart Talisman's capacity to withstand.

After all, it was merely a talisman, not a Sacred Heart Heavenly Treasure.

"Young Master!!"

The two elders, witnessing Qin Tianchen's grievous injury, roared in shock. They unleashed the Qin family's secret techniques, their auras surging to the peak of the Absolute Mastery realm. Two Absolute Mastery techniques descended upon Li Hao simultaneously.

Li Hao's aura surged, his intent to kill the Qin family's young master unwavering.

Bang!

He unleashed a torrent of sword energy, a whirlwind that swept over his opponents.

Despite his severed head, Qin Tianchen's physical body was incredibly resilient. Combined with his divine power state, the blood from his neck quickly clotted, and his head showed signs of regeneration.

His soul, cowering within his flesh, dared not reveal itself. Seeing Li Hao's frenzied attack, Qin Tianchen's heart trembled. Was this a desperate attempt at mutual destruction?

"Fate-Defying!"

Filled with rage, he roared, unleashing his Fate-Defying power.

The void vibrated with energy. The attacks of the two elders seemed to accelerate suddenly. Just as the sword energy Li Hao controlled was about to obliterate Qin Tianchen's body, their attacks struck first.

With a loud bang, Li Hao was sent flying like a cannonball, crashing into the ground below.

The earth cracked, hills trembled, as if a million-ton boulder had fallen.

But in the next instant, the ground exploded. Li Hao, bathed in divine flames, his aura radiating outward, climbed out of the crater. Golden-red divine blood stained his tattered garments, but his wounds had already healed.

What a formidable physique!

The onlookers were awestruck. The boy's body was akin to a top-tier divine weapon. Absolute Mastery realm experts were unable to inflict lasting damage?!

It was important to remember that the aura he exuded was merely that of a Three-Immortality realm expert!

A Divine Clan Prodigy!

At that moment, the onlookers, recalling Li Hao's earlier words, held their breath.

Could it be that the depths of the Vast Wilderness Heaven held secrets unknown to them, that ancient Divine Clans truly existed?!

"He's not dead?!"

The two elders were dumbfounded to see Li Hao rise so quickly. Their attack had been devastating, yet it had no effect on the boy.

"Young Master, flee!"

One of the elders finally snapped out of his shock and urged Qin Tianchen to escape.

The other elder's face also changed color. At this point, the boy's ferocity had exceeded their comprehension. If the battle continued, who knew what other trump cards Li Hao possessed? The young master had already used his Fate-Defying power, and it was unwise to linger.

"I, Qin Tianchen, will not rest until I have killed you!"

Qin Tianchen regained his composure, fixing a steely gaze upon the boy, etching his image into his Dao Heart.

His younger brother was dead, and now he had lost a life as well. His heart was filled with rage, but as a prodigy, he managed to suppress his fury.

Without hesitation, his soul enveloped his headless body and fled into the distance.

One elder covered his retreat, while the other charged towards Li Hao.

"Die!"

The elder's major meridians ruptured, his soul ignited, as he unleashed a Qin family secret technique. His body shone like a blazing sun, releasing a force that threatened to sweep across the land.

Li Hao intended to pursue, but seeing the elder barring his path, his expression shifted slightly. A dying counterattack from an Absolute Mastery realm expert, especially an Absolute Mastery expert from an Ancient Sacred Clan, was a force to be reckoned with.

His Heavenly Veins rapidly drew upon the energy of the heavens, Li Hao drawing in more power, reaching forty percent!

His flesh bulged, as if about to burst.

If he reached fifty percent, his skin would begin to crack.

Bang!

Li Hao soared into the air, engaging the elder in a fierce battle.

The two clashed, thunder and fire intertwined with divine light, sword energy piercing the heavens.

The earth-shattering battle forced the onlookers at the cliff edge to scatter, fearing they would be caught in the crossfire.

After half an incense stick's time, the elder's burning soul and meridians began to weaken, their energy exhausted.

His robes were torn, his body drenched in blood. His stooped form was even more withered and aged, yet his eyes burned with extreme resentment and fear.

Li Hao was also covered in blood, but his body was unmarked. The wounds that had appeared had healed during the battle, his regenerative ability terrifyingly strong!

The elder gasped for breath, then unleashed his Undying power, launching another attack that flattened nearby peaks and gouged terrifying craters into the ground before the cliff.

Finally, the elder's strength waned, and Li Hao cleaved him in two with a single strike.

The Silver Flowing Divine Sword, an eight-forged divine weapon, was now marred with nicks and chips, its blade fragmented.

Li Hao, wielding the broken sword, unleashed the Sacrificial Spirit True Demon Technique, without any pretense, openly absorbing the elder's essence, transforming it into vital energy and refining his own body.

When the elder's corpse was withered and ashen, Li Hao casually swatted it into dust, leaving no trace, preventing his secret technique from being observed.

Having done this, Li Hao turned his gaze towards the onlookers at the cliff edge.

That single glance made the hearts of those watching from afar seem to skip a beat.

The boy was too ruthless. He had killed Qin Tianchen's younger brother, then dealt Qin Tianchen a fatal blow. Even the elder generation of Qin family Absolute Mastery experts couldn't kill him in a desperate fight. It was terrifying!

Moreover, Li Hao's aura grew stronger with each battle, a technique they couldn't comprehend.

The boy's body seemed like a bottomless pit, growing stronger with every fight, like a wild beast, radiating an aura of invincibility.

At this moment, Li Hao retracted his divine power state and ended his transformation, his body aching and swollen. But under his body's self-healing abilities, the pain gradually subsided.

He held the broken sword and walked towards the cliff.

With each step the boy took, those watching from afar felt their hearts tremble.

Someone finally couldn't bear it any longer and turned to flee, intending to spread the news – a Divine Clan prodigy had emerged in the Vast Wilderness Heaven!

"The second blood body of the Crimson Blood Vine Demon King there will be a great tonic for you."

Ji Yun'ge, hidden on Li Hao's person, spoke as the battle ended, guiding Li Hao with a mental message.

However, he didn't comment on Li Hao's fight with Qin Tianchen, as if lost in thought.

Li Hao looked towards the cave in the cliff, where a Crimson Blood Vine lay motionless.

Following Li Hao's gaze, the others also looked towards the cave. Several exceptionally imposing men and women's expressions shifted slightly, hesitant to act.

They had realized that the Crimson Blood Vine Demon King had birthed a second blood body and was currently vulnerable.

But the boy was right there at the cliff edge. Who dared to act?

Even the elder generation of Qin family Absolute Mastery experts had been killed. Unless the most powerful elders of the Qin family core emerged, the other clans and tribes would have to back down.

What worried them even more was the boy's proclaimed reputation.

Vast Wilderness Divine Clan!

Unheard of!

Just one boy from the Divine Clan was this fierce. What kind of terrifying power would the boy's elders possess?

Seeing that no one was acting, Li Hao didn't hesitate. He used his object manipulation technique, extending it into the cave.

Inside the cave, a three-zhang-long crimson vine lay quietly beside the Crimson Blood Vine Demon King's thick main body.

As if sensing Li Hao, the crimson vine rose, writhing like a venomous snake. A voice entered Li Hao's mind:

"Young man, please, spare my blood body. You can devour my main body. It contains no less power than my blood body. I just want to leave this place…"

Li Hao raised an eyebrow. The voice was mournful, was it the Crimson Blood Vine Demon King's?

"Why wouldn't I choose to devour both?" Li Hao countered.

"If you do that, though I can't defeat you, I can make my main body self-destruct. And before you obtain my blood body, I will tear it apart as well. That way, you'll gain nothing!"

The Crimson Blood Vine Demon King spoke, clearly facing a desperate, fatal choice.

Li Hao's eyes flickered. So, obtaining the blood body would be tricky.

If it were other tribes vying for it, the Demon King might not make such a desperate choice. After all, in a scramble and a fight, it would have a chance to escape. But in front of this boy, it had no hope.

It was quite possible that it would make an extreme choice.

Li Hao thought for a moment and said, "Then I'll taste your main body first. Don't resist."

"If you can swear on your Dao Heart to spare my blood body, I will not resist…" the Crimson Blood Vine Demon King said cautiously.

"I haven't forged a Dao Heart yet."

"..."

The Crimson Blood Vine Demon King finally realized that Li Hao's aura was merely that of a Three-Immortality realm expert.

This boy was truly just a Three-Immortality!

"Then, then promise me with your martial arts…"

"You're being too verbose. You're not in a position to negotiate. Either fight me, or don't. I'm not tired anyway." Li Hao replied coldly.

"..."

The Crimson Blood Vine Demon King hesitated. Against anyone else, it wouldn't agree so easily. But it had witnessed the boy's battle firsthand. Even if it fought to the death, it wouldn't stand a chance.

"Then you have to keep your word."

It could only say so in a dejected tone.

Li Hao didn't bother to reply. He extended his object manipulation technique towards the main body and pulled one end towards him.

Li Hao activated the Sacrificial Spirit True Demon Technique and began to refine the main body.

The Crimson Blood Vine Demon King quickly transferred its soul to its second blood body. Its purpose in creating the blood body was to break free from the shackles of the Crimson Wood Corpse Ridge.

Its main body had been nurtured by absorbing the essence of the Daoist's corpse, and it was bound by the Daoist's realm, unable to escape. It could only sacrifice thousands of years of cultivation and reincarnate to break free.

"The Crimson Blood Vine Demon King didn't even resist."

"Is he going to devour both the main body and the blood body? How ruthless!"

"What kind of technique is that? It feels so sinister. Is he really a member of the Divine Clan? It feels more like he's a demon!"

The prodigies from various tribes watching from afar felt a chill run down their spines. The Crimson Blood Vine Demon King, facing the boy's terrifying might, didn't even have the thought of resisting. It was truly frightening.

Soon, Li Hao had absorbed all of the Crimson Blood Vine Demon King's main body, and all of its Demon King's precious blood was refined by Li Hao.

He couldn't absorb the precious blood like a pill, but he could transform it through this technique. The effect was comparable to taking pills, with no side effects.

As the Crimson Blood Vine Demon King's precious blood was refined, Li Hao felt the fatigue from the previous battle vanish, and his body felt like a furnace, with a vibrant life force burning within.

He felt that he could use this energy to refine his body to an even stronger level.

However, now was not the time to cultivate.

His gaze fell upon the cave, and he said to the Crimson Blood Vine Demon King's second blood body, "I'm full. I'm leaving."

"Wait, wait!"

Seeing that Li Hao was truly keeping his word and letting it go, the Crimson Blood Vine Demon King was overjoyed. Seeing Li Hao about to leave, it quickly called out to him.

"Hmm?"

Li Hao was slightly surprised. "Did you change your mind?"

Crimson Blood Vine Demon King: =()

What did I change my mind about?

"Could you take me with you?"

The Crimson Blood Vine Demon King transmitted its voice, sounding pitiful.

Li Hao raised an eyebrow, then glanced at the human tribes of the Vast Wilderness Heaven, and after a moment of thought, said, "Afraid of death? Following me is fine, but there's interest to be paid."

"What's interest?"

"You have to give me benefits."

"I can let you bite me again, but not more than that."

The Crimson Blood Vine Demon King said timidly.

Li Hao's earlier act of devouring its main body had terrified it. The boy was too ruthless.

But Li Hao's attitude of leaving without hesitation made it realize that the ruthless boy also had a compassionate side, so it quickly seized the opportunity to plead for its life.

"Fine."

Li Hao agreed and said, "Then get out of the cave quickly. That guy ran away earlier. Don't delay too long. He'll go back and call for reinforcements."

Crimson Blood Vine Demon King: "Okay!"

With a flash of crimson light, it shot out of the cave, its body contracting and twisting, quickly rushing to Li Hao's side.

"They're about to fight!"

The onlookers from afar all focused their attention.

But then they all widened their eyes as they saw the Crimson Blood Vine Demon King's blood body shrink into a small, withered vine, wrapping around Li Hao's arm like a vine ring, its light contracting. From the looks of it, it had clearly been subdued!

"No way? It submitted without even fighting?"

"Is this vine demon that sensible?"

"I think they must have secretly communicated and made a deal before this!"

"I think this vine demon is using this boy to escape from here."

"Humph, that boy is no good guy. This vine demon is playing with fire!"

The prodigies from various tribes were all indignant, but thinking of the boy's terrifying combat power, they could only sigh in frustration.

Li Hao didn't linger any longer. He used the Heavenly Earth Without Trace Technique and flew towards the direction Ji Yun'ge had previously indicated.

After leaving the Crimson Wood Corpse Ridge, Li Hao sensed several faint auras following him. He sneered, sped up, and quickly shook them off.

"There really are some people who aren't giving up. They guessed that you and I would separate outside the ridge and wanted to rob you."

Once they were far away, Li Hao said to the Crimson Blood Vine Demon King on his wrist.

The Crimson Blood Vine Demon King had also sensed it. Hearing Li Hao's words, it quickly said, "Thank you, benefactor!"

"Don't thank me so quickly. We had a deal. This favor isn't free. Let me bite you."

Li Hao said.

"..."

The Crimson Blood Vine Demon King paused for a moment, then obediently extended a blood vine from the vine ring to Li Hao's mouth.

Li Hao didn't hesitate. He bit it off and chewed it.

The texture wasn't very good, like chewing a very dry piece of meat.

Soon, the blood vine was swallowed, and Li Hao felt a warm wave of energy flow into his body. However, compared to absorbing its main body earlier, it was too weak.

Unless he devoured it all.

"We're almost there. You can leave now."

After flying several thousand miles, Li Hao told the Crimson Blood Vine Demon King.

Along the way, he encountered four Demon Kings, but he easily killed them and refined their bodies. The essence of their flesh, combined with the Crimson Blood Vine Demon King's vigorous main body energy, allowed Li Hao to refine his body to the level of a nine-forged divine weapon.

Now, even in the Dao Domain of a Taiping Dao realm expert, Li Hao could barely hold his own.

"Benefactor, can I continue to follow you?"

The Crimson Blood Vine Demon King extended a tendril from the vine ring, gently rubbing against Li Hao's arm, as if begging.

Li Hao was surprised. How long had it been since he had subdued it?

"Aren't you afraid I'll eat you?"

"...It seems that the outside world is more dangerous than I imagined. Or, benefactor, could you take me to a safer place?"

The Crimson Blood Vine Demon King said cautiously.

Li Hao suddenly understood.

It wasn't his charm that was too great.

It was the intimidating power of the Demon Kings here.

"Fine, but before that, I'll be collecting interest every day." Li Hao said.

The Crimson Blood Vine Demon King was silent for a moment, then agreed, "Yes, okay."

"In your human language, do you have to hook fingers to keep a promise?" it asked.

At the same time, it extended a blood vine tendril from the vine ring, curling it like a little finger.

Li Hao glanced at it and said indifferently, "Forget it. Sometimes, promises made with hooked fingers aren't kept."

"Really?"

The Crimson Blood Vine Demon King was puzzled, then said, "Do you think I'm a demon, so I'm cunning? Let's hook fingers and try it. I'll definitely keep my word!"

Li Hao snorted softly, too lazy to answer, and ignored it.

Seeing that Li Hao wasn't paying attention to it, the Crimson Blood Vine's tendril slowly wrapped around Li Hao's little finger:

"Then I'll hook fingers myself. Although I'm a demon, I'll keep my word!"

Li Hao continued to fly forward.

He sped through the wind and clouds, occasionally stopping to rest before continuing on his journey.

"Boy, you're one of my Ji Clan, aren't you?"

Along the way, Ji Yun'ge, who had been silent for a long time since Li Hao's battle with Qin Tianchen, spoke for the second time since the battle.

Hearing his voice, Li Hao's body stiffened slightly.

"Senior, don't you know my origins?"

Li Hao quickly regained his composure and replied with a mental message.

Ji Yun'ge chuckled, "You little rascal, you're still pretending in front of me. When you fought Qin Tianchen, your divine blood was exposed. Although your self-healing ability is very fast, and you don't know what cultivation technique you used to conceal your aura, even I found it difficult to detect, but the aura contained in the blood you shed when you were injured couldn't be concealed."

"You carry the blood of my Ji Clan!"

(End of Chapter)