Chapter 360: Imperial Dao Ninth Stage, Source Saint

As the Supreme Heavenly Pride Battle drew near, in this tranquil time before the storm, Li Hao repeatedly resonated the Dao-sound chime, seeking enlightenment in Painting Dao.

With the fourth resonance, Li Hao's comprehension of Painting Dao reached the extreme of the ninth stage.

He faintly touched upon the transcendence at the threshold, the leap from the ninth to the tenth stage, from the mortal realm to sainthood, a Painting Dao uniquely his own.

Li Hao continued with the fifth resonance of the Dao-sound chime, hoping to break through in one fell swoop.

However, despite the gathering of numerous flashes of inspiration, he remained stuck in the previous state of perception. This final step towards Painting Saint could not be achieved solely through inspiration. Although the Dao-sound chime's resonance resembled enlightenment, it was not true enlightenment after all.

Realizing that relying solely on the chime wouldn't lead to instant sainthood in technique, Li Hao swiftly took advantage of the chime's resonating echoes to shift his thoughts to Chess Dao.

Chess Dao was at the eighth stage. If he could comprehend the ninth stage, his strength would also greatly increase.

As his thoughts converged, his understanding of Chess Dao deepened rapidly, and numerous sparks of inspiration erupted.

Subsequently, Li Hao resonated the Dao-sound chime for the sixth time. This time, the chime's color had become extremely faint, as if it would dissipate at any moment.

Yet, the inspiration brought by the resonance allowed Li Hao's Chess Dao to rapidly ascend, faintly approaching the ninth stage.

Li Hao didn't stop, pressing on with the seventh resonance in one go. This time, the crimson light completely vanished, and the Dao-sound chime, after vibrating, slowly dissipated from Li Hao's sea of consciousness.

The final spiritual thoughts transformed into inspiration, allowing Li Hao's Chess Dao to swiftly break through, touching upon the true Dao realm.

Two and a half resonances of the Dao-sound chime elevated Chess Dao from the eighth stage to a near-perfect ninth stage.

Li Hao estimated that two Dao-sound resonances were equivalent to one enlightenment. This Dao-sound chime could resonate seven times, providing immense assistance seven times when he was stuck at a bottleneck.

Li Hao observed the Chess Art Dao realm, now elevated to the ninth stage, and directly embedded it into his Imperial Dao.

Instantly, countless thoughts surged in.

The ninth stage Imperial Dao encompassed the command over all ninth-stage Daos and energies.

At this moment, Li Hao truly became a Dao-Law Realm cultivator, where words became law, and a thought could bring forth creation or destruction!

Furthermore, with the ninth stage Imperial Dao reaching the pinnacle of the Dao-Law Realm, coupled with his comprehension of the ninth stage Body Dao, Li Hao suddenly felt that if Imperial Dao and Body Dao could be perfectly combined, perhaps he could touch upon the extreme of the Listening-to-Dao Realm.

The Listening-to-Dao Realm had two levels: the True Person Realm, where Dao realms were integrated into oneself, rendering Dao power harmless.

The Dao-Law Realm, which commanded the laws of heaven and earth.

If these two could be combined, integrating laws into oneself, then one would be impervious to all laws and Dao power would not diminish!

Li Hao's eyes gradually brightened. If he could truly achieve this, then even if he stood still without any resistance, other Listening-to-Dao Realm experts would find it difficult to harm him in the slightest!

Clarifying his thoughts, Li Hao immediately attempted to integrate laws into himself.

But while the idea was there, execution was difficult. After repeated failed attempts, Li Hao suddenly recalled the process of absorbing and refining Extreme Dao power. Inspired, he wondered if laws could also be refined.

He immediately used Imperial Dao to imprint laws into his divine blood.

He had previously cultivated the Divine Blood Dao Body. His divine blood contained Dao power, making it top-tier among True Person Realm bodies, impervious to Dao power reduction. Now, he wove laws, transforming them into thread-like, minuscule forces, threading them into his divine blood and then slowly refining them.

However, accommodating the power of laws within tiny divine blood was an extremely arduous process.

Fortunately, Li Hao possessed ninth-stage Imperial Dao comprehension, and his control over laws had reached the peak of the Dao-Law Realm. After expending considerable mental energy, he finally managed to confine a law within his divine blood and completely refine it!

From then on, that divine blood contained the power of that law.

If it encountered a law of equal or opposing nature, it would negate or resist it.

"It really works!"

With the successful refinement of the first law, Li Hao's eyes lit up. This path was correct and viable!

However, this path, like Qi meridian refinement, also required time.

This consumption of time was unavoidable. Li Hao now understood why others' cultivation often took hundreds of years. Some things, like refinement and comprehension, were like building a house. Haste made waste. Rushing would not build it well and could easily lead to collapse.

Fortunately, the Lands of Saints was rich in energy and laws. Li Hao's refinement speed was not slow. In the following days, he refined laws daily, and his physical body became increasingly formidable and terrifying.

However, only a little over a month remained before the Supreme Heavenly Pride Battle.

Li Hao secluded himself in his courtyard for cultivation. During this time, Lin Baichuan and Chu Hanwei and others were also making their final sprint, all in seclusion, or using their own methods to soothe their minds. No one visited each other, for fear of disturbing others.

As the competition approached, Li Hao had refined over a hundred laws within his body. His entire being carried a peculiar aura, as if he were the center surrounded by laws, just by standing there.

"Unfortunately, this final step in Painting Dao requires true enlightenment."

Li Hao emerged from seclusion, feeling the abundant power within him, far stronger than before, but still lacking the qualitative change compared to a Saint.

Previously, his Eternal Dao Domain alone could suppress Half-Saints and easily defeat opponents of the same realm. Now, with the addition of Qi meridians and refined laws within his body, walking on the path to the extreme of the Listening-to-Dao Realm, his strength had increased tremendously. However, the threshold of sainthood was simply too high, the gap too vast.

In his previous sparring with Elder Feng, although he injured Elder Feng, it was reliant on the peerless swordsmanship of Immortal Guiding the Way.

His own power was still insufficient to contend with a Saint.

Moreover, Elder Feng hadn't been serious at the time. If he were to truly engage in a life-or-death battle with a Pseudo-Saint, Li Hao still wouldn't be confident. However, the difference was that this time he had the power to retaliate. Though not confident of victory, he wouldn't lose so miserably.

Reaching this level in the Listening-to-Dao Realm was already considered incredible, but it wasn't what Li Hao desired.

"If Qi meridians and the extreme of the Listening-to-Dao Realm were both cultivated to their peak, perhaps there might be a chance to fight. But there's no time. If only there were another year…"

Li Hao frowned, time was too pressing. In the past half year, his progress had been rapid, surpassing imagination compared to others, but it was still not enough.

"Currently, the fastest path left is to sprout the Saint Dao Embryo and completely solidify it!"

"With a Saint Dao Embryo, coupled with numerous extreme realm powers and Immortal Guiding the Way, there should be a fighting chance!"

Although a Saint Dao Embryo was only an embryo, easily crushed by a true Saint Dao, it was, after all, still a Saint Dao, having the qualification to be on the table.

Unlike refining laws and cultivating Qi meridians, the Saint Dao Embryo depended on enlightenment. It could be quick or slow, perhaps decades without comprehension, or sudden enlightenment in a moment.

"The Heavenly Pride Battle is approaching. Our Lesser Thousand World is quite a distance from the Heavenly Origin World. We need to set off in advance."

Feng Boping arrived at Li Hao's courtyard, informing Li Hao to prepare to depart.

Li Hao remained silent. For others, it was to compete with heavenly prides, but for him, once he took this step, he might face Saintly assassination. His opponents were Saints.

Seeing Li Hao's lack of response, Feng Boping seemed to see through his worries and said, "You don't need to worry about the Buddhist and Pseudo-Saint matter. Just focus on participating in the Supreme Heavenly Pride Battle. I have arrangements for everything else. You just need to take first place, and all will be well, and there will be unexpected surprises!"

"Unexpected surprises?"

Li Hao couldn't help but look at Elder Feng.

"That's right. I heard from an old friend that besides the incense rewards for first place this time, there are also three extremely precious heaven and earth treasures, important materials for nurturing a Dao-Tribulation Emperor Weapon!"

Feng Boping's eyes gleamed, and he said, "I heard that two of the heaven and earth treasure materials are from the Buddhist sect and the Void Sacred Ground. They voluntarily donated them to reward the first place of the Supreme Heavenly Pride Battle!"

"The other one seems to be a generous gift from a certain Supreme Saint, which has nothing to do with us. But the Buddhist sect and the Void Sacred Ground's act of bleeding themselves dry this time, you should know the reason, right?"

Li Hao's face turned slightly cold, "To lure me over?"

"Exactly."

Feng Boping sneered, "In this Lesser Thousand World, within the Thief Heaven Holy Land, it is my territory. Within a Saint's territory, as long as you stay indoors, I can always protect you. Even if a Supreme Saint comes in person, I have ways to escape, but if you leave this Lesser Thousand World, outside of my Saint Domain, it will be difficult to predict the outcome."

"They are afraid you will shrink back and dare not participate in the competition, so they are using these things as bait."

"But they don't know that with your strength, as long as you participate, you will definitely take first place. No one can be your opponent!"

Feng Boping knew what the Buddhist sect and the Pseudo-Saint were planning. If they could lure Li Hao to participate, they would assassinate him. As for the lost heaven and earth treasures, if they fell into the hands of someone else who won first place in the Heavenly Pride Battle, they could simply send out a message saying that the heaven and earth treasures were their extra friendly sponsorship, which would also garner them a favor from the sponsored person.

After all, someone who could take first place among all heavens' heavenly prides could become a Saint on the spot. At the very least, this goodwill could become a bridge for making connections. Overall, it would definitely not be a loss!

A murderous intent flashed in Li Hao's eyes. To kill him, the Buddhist sect and the Void Sacred Ground were truly willing to spend.

"What you need to do is take first place!"

Feng Boping said, "Then you will not only become a Saint, but also take their treasures. I would like to see their expressions then!"

Hearing this, the murderous intent in Li Hao's eyes gradually subsided, restrained in his heart, and he said, "They are bleeding so much to lure me over. This trip will likely be exceptionally dangerous."

Feng Boping nodded, "Indeed, but I have already called upon old friends, plus Thief Heaven Saint, we have a way to safely send you to the Heavenly Origin World. Once you reach the Heavenly Origin World, they won't dare to act rashly against you. After all, that is where a Supreme Saint is seated. The regulations of the Upper Three Realms are also extremely strict. Law Saint has strict discipline and will never condone anyone overstepping the bounds in the Upper Three Realms!"

"Law Saint…"

Li Hao's eyes flickered. Law Saint was one of the Supreme Saints. Divine Dynasty laws, the etiquette of ruler and subject, and so on, all revolved around the word 'law.' It was clear how significant Law Saint was.

Having seen the ugly, false faces of this Pseudo-Saint and that Buddha Venerable, Li Hao had no illusions about Supreme Saints. However, he didn't trust the other party's person, but he trusted the other party's Saint Dao.

Saints would abide by their own Saint Dao, otherwise, contradicting it would only harm themselves.

Even if it seemed like a contradiction in the eyes of outsiders, if a Saint had their own perspective and understanding, then it would not be considered a contradiction.

Just like Buddha Venerable sacrificing flesh to feed the eagle was compassion, while in some people's eyes it was aiding evildoers and nourishing the wicked. But how to view it was entirely up to Buddha Venerable's own heart.

"The Heavenly Origin World has Law Saint's regulations. No one is willing to touch them. In addition, I have also found the Ink Family Saint of the Heavenly Origin World to escort you. The Ink Family has a Supreme Saint seated there. If the Buddhist sect dares to touch the Ink Family Saint, it will surely enrage the Supreme Saint!"

Feng Boping said to Li Hao, "Furthermore, I visited the Source Saint of the Heavenly Origin World. When he learned of your situation, he told me that if you can take first place, he will personally protect you, and no one will be allowed to harm you in the slightest."

"Source Saint?"

Li Hao was slightly stunned, and couldn't help but look at Elder Feng. He hadn't been in the Lands of Saints for a short time either. Apart from the ten years wasted in hiding and escaping in the void, he had been recuperating in the Sword Ancestor Holy Land until now, nearly two years.

He had also heard of many Supreme Saints in the Lands of Saints. In the holy lands of the Upper Three Realms, Supreme Saints were seated!

This Source Saint was the most ancient Saint in the Lands of Saints!

Source Saint had already existed when the second Saint was born, walking the world and educating the people.

For Elder Feng to be able to visit him and have him take action for himself, it was clear that Elder Feng had done many things behind the scenes for him during this time.

Li Hao was slightly silent, and said to Elder Feng, "Elder Feng's kindness, I'm afraid I can never repay it."

"Go, who wants you to repay it!"

Feng Boping, hearing Li Hao say this, spat out in annoyance, then revealed a smile, and said:

"Other people's heavenly pride saint sons only need to peacefully seclude themselves and participate in the competition, but you have to face Saintly assassination. You have no other reliance in these Lands of Saints, unlike those heavenly prides who are born into prestigious families and have been disciples of holy lands since childhood. You rely entirely on yourself. If I don't help you, who can?"

"Don't consider these messy things. You just need to prepare well for the competition, and take first place for me. When you become a Saint, we will personally settle accounts with them one by one!"

Li Hao took a deep breath. Elder Feng had done so much for him. What reason did he have to retreat?

"I will!"

Li Hao said seriously.

He originally didn't have a strong desire to compete for first place, only wanting incense, but now, he truly wanted to grasp this first place in his hands.

"That Source Saint cherishes talent. If you can take first place, you will surely gain his appreciation. In the Lands of Saints, many Saints once benefited from Source Saint's grace and guidance during their cultivation. Although they weren't disciples, they respected him extremely. As long as Source Saint values you, with a single word, no one in these heavens will dare to touch you!"

Feng Boping said, this was the path he truly paved for Li Hao.

Li Hao nodded slightly upon hearing this, deeply glanced at Elder Feng, and said nothing more.

After speaking with Li Hao, Feng Boping asked Li Hao to wait in the courtyard, and then left.

Not long after, Feng Boping returned with two figures, namely Thief Heaven Saint, whom he had seen before, and a Saint dressed in ink robes.

Their auras were restrained, but Dao rhythms still surrounded them, appearing transcendent and peerless, as if standing in the cracks of heaven and earth, untouchable.

"I have other old friends who will follow in secret. This is the Ink Family Saint."

Feng Boping introduced to Li Hao through voice transmission.

Li Hao immediately cupped his hands and bowed to the Ink-robed Saint as a greeting.

The Ink Family Saint, named Yuan Zhou, lightly sized up Li Hao, and a few hints of surprise immediately appeared in his eyes.

Although Li Hao's aura was not apparent, his whole body seemed to contain restrained law power, which had never been seen in other Dao-Law Realm cultivators.

"No wonder Thief Saint strongly recommended and vouched for you. You truly have world-startling talent."

Yuan Zhou smiled, and said to Li Hao, "My coming here is not only due to Thief Saint's invitation, but also entrusted by a fellow disciple. You don't need to worry. I will definitely escort you to the Heavenly Origin World."

Hearing his words, not only was Li Hao surprised, but Feng Boping was also stunned. He had visited the Ink Family Holy Land and spent some effort to finally invite someone, but now the other party said it was entrusted by someone else?

Was there someone else entrusting him to take care of Li Hao?

Seeing Thief Saint's puzzled gaze, Yuan Zhou smiled slightly, and said, "I was originally unwilling to agree, but Thief Saint gave too much."

Feng Boping: "..."

In other words, the other party benefited from both sides?

Originally entrusted by someone, earning favor, and also earning favor and benefits from him. Good heavens…

"May I ask who entrusted you to look after him?" Feng Boping curiously asked. If Li Hao had made connections with a Saint from Sword Ancestor Holy Land, he wouldn't be surprised, but the Ink Family was in the Heavenly Origin World, and Li Hao had never been there. Who would know him?

Yuan Zhou's smile was somewhat mysterious, "That would be inconvenient to say more about."

Seeing that he was unwilling to reveal it, Feng Boping could only give up. Li Hao was suspicious in his heart, but didn't think too much about it. He would know sooner or later anyway.

"Little fellow, you are going to owe me a favor again. This time, you must take first place. I am still waiting for you to repay the favor."

Thief Heaven Saint looked at Li Hao with a smile.

Li Hao smiled wryly, and nodded seriously, "I will!"

Feng Boping said to Li Hao, "To conceal your departure to the Heavenly Origin World, I need you to use your doppelganger technique from the human world. Can you do it now?"

Li Hao was taken aback, and immediately knew what Elder Feng was talking about. His Double-Faced Person Diagram attribute could create a doppelganger that inherited 30% of the main body's power.

"No problem."

Li Hao nodded.

"Alright, then you start your technique. We will wait for you outside."

Feng Boping said.

The three of them immediately left the courtyard.

Seeing this, Li Hao immediately activated the Diagram attribute and created the Dark-Side Doppelganger.

Looking at the Dark-Side Doppelganger, which looked exactly like him and had the same aura, Li Hao faintly guessed Elder Feng's plan.

After the doppelganger was created, Li Hao called for Elder Feng.

Elder Feng, Yuan Zhou, and Thief Heaven Saint came in again. When they saw Li Hao's Dark-Side Doppelganger, they were all somewhat surprised.

"Your doppelganger is truly capable of passing off the fake as real."

Yuan Zhou said.

Thief Heaven Saint glanced at it a couple of times. Although she could see obvious differences, it was because she was proficient in deception and falsehood Dao that she could perceive them. Ordinary people might not be able to.

"Not bad." She gave a word of praise, looking at Li Hao with increasing appreciation. If she could coax this child to Thief Heaven Holy Land to become a saint son, then even without her, the holy land could be worry-free in the future.

"Your main body will follow us, and the doppelganger will be escorted secretly by Thief Heaven Saint."

Feng Boping said to Li Hao, this was the decision he and Thief Heaven Saint had discussed.

It was mainly Thief Heaven Saint's idea. In terms of deception, Thief Heaven Saint was a top expert.

Her control over people's hearts was exquisite and subtle.

Li Hao nodded, entirely at their disposal.

As the date approached, the holy sons of the two major holy lands all gathered together, riding a huge flying ark treasure, traversing the void.

Feng Boping and Yuan Zhou, including Li Hao's main body, were here, as well as the holy sons of the two major holy lands, a large number of people.

After they departed from the holy land, two hours later, Thief Heaven Saint, carrying Li Hao's doppelganger, sped towards the Heavenly Origin World from another route, their tracks hidden and obscure along the way.

(End of chapter)