Chapter 356: First in the Heavens, Accumulating Painting Dao

Around Li Hao, a barrier enveloped him, and Dao sounds reverberated in his sea of consciousness. The Dao's aura manifested, encircling him like rosy clouds. His peerless figure, amidst the hazy dust, appeared even more otherworldly, captivating everyone's attention.

While Li Hao was immersed in closed-eye contemplation, outside, discussions erupted. Everyone was alarmed as they watched the blood-red characters atop the Heavenly Stele and frequently glanced towards the young man.

Ancient legends were now manifesting in reality—the seventh color had actually appeared on the Heavenly Stele.

"I've heard tales from ancient, distant times that blood-red light once appeared, but regrettably, names left on the Heavenly Stele only last for a millennium; they have long since vanished."

"My master mentioned that such events occurred in ancient times."

"After countless years, it actually appeared again. Isn't this too inconceivable?"

"First in the Heavens? Could it be that he will be first in this Heavenly Pride Battle?!"

Heavenly geniuses from all realms were whispering amongst themselves, their expressions a mix of shock and gravity.

"No wonder Master values him so highly…"

Lin Baichuan and Chu Hanwei now completely realized just how capable Li Hao truly was. The Heavenly Stele directly observes oneself, revealing hidden methods. Li Hao's ability to evoke blood-red light, unprecedented since ancient times, meant he had likely reached the pinnacle of the Dao Manifestation realm.

Soon, the sensational news here was discreetly transmitted via secret channels to outside the Heavenly Battlefield.

In various sacred grounds, they received this earth-shattering news. Upon learning of this, many sacred grounds were shaken.

"Supreme inscription? The legendary blood-red manifestation? Haotian? Who is this, never heard of him."

"Haotian? Could it be Haotian from the Azure Billow World?"

"The Feathered Sparrow Tower's intelligence reports say that person has mastered eight extreme realms, from Strength Communication to Four Establishments, all cultivated to extreme perfection. In the Azure Billow World battle, he revealed the Eternal Dao Domain, 360 layers of Dao Domain overlapping!"

"Such a monstrous talent, no wonder he topped the Heavenly Stele. Unexpectedly, he could evoke blood-red light; this hasn't happened in ten thousand years."

Upon investigation, many sacred grounds learned some of Haotian's deeds.

From appearing in the mortal realm ten years ago, being ambushed by a Void Saint, disappearing without a trace, to his sudden rise to fame in Azure Billow, defeating the Buddha Son, suppressing heavenly geniuses, and more—everyone was astonished. Unbeknownst to them, a dazzling new star had risen among the lands of saints, currently in the midst of its ascent!

Topping the Heavenly Stele, supreme inscription—such sensational events instantly caused the name Haotian to enter the sight of saints from many sacred grounds.

Upper Three Realms, Heavenly Origin World.

Within the Legalist Sacred Ground.

"Blood-red characters on the Heavenly Stele? He actually suppressed Senior Brother Wu Tian!"

"Senior Brother Wu Tian achieved golden light twice, the first in a millennium. He has a chance to be first in this Supreme Battle, but that person got blood-red characters!"

Within the sacred ground, news spread, and many were discussing in hushed tones.

On a towering, law-regulated peak, this peak stood majestically, situated at the edge of the Heaven's Law Sacred Peak of the Legalist Sacred Ground, one of the seven peaks, a divine peak where only saints could reside.

At this moment, atop the peak were several sculptures, all depicting a handsome, youthful man.

The young man in the sculptures was sitting cross-legged on an open-air Dao platform, cultivating.

Outside the Dao platform were numerous prayer mats—this was a saint's Dao field.

To sit upright in the main seat of a saint's Dao field was extraordinary, even a saint's direct disciple wouldn't qualify, and his identity was not limited to that. He was the reincarnated owner of this sacred peak.

A swift sparrow flew lightly, landing outside the Dao field, transforming into a feathered woman, kneeling and whispering.

Upon hearing this, the young man opened his eyes. In his pupils, silver light flashed, as if strands of scripture were turning.

"Blood-red characters…"

Wu Tian's eyes flickered slightly. He looked up at the high heavens, to the battlefield atop the heavens, where at this moment a heavenly genius's name was resounding throughout the heavens.

He quietly pondered for a moment, then faintly smiled, "Although the Heavenly Stele can probe depths, it can only probe physical bodies and Dao aura. Skill techniques and realms are difficult to measure. This person has eight extreme realms, no wonder…"

Physical body and Dao aura represented cultivation realms. To cultivate eight extreme realms in just a millennium and evoke blood-red characters, it seemed somewhat explainable.

"However, being able to comprehend the sixth extreme realm, it seems the ancient hall will be unveiled to the world within a millennium. The secrets concerning the lands of saints will also be revealed…"

Light flickered in his eyes, and distant memories from his previous life surfaced, but quickly receded. After a brief moment of contemplation, he stood up, deciding to go see for himself.

Although he had awakened many memories from his previous life, his current self was still primarily dominated by his reincarnated persona, not a saintly heart, thus inevitably tinged with some mortal thoughts, and he also wanted to join in the excitement.

In another sacred ground, the Origin Ancestor Sacred Ground.

Within a certain blessed cave.

Two figures sat cross-legged before a stone wall. One figure had white hair and a white beard, with an air of immortality, eyes slightly lowered, seemingly asleep.

The other figure sat on the steps below, appearing to be in his early twenties, extremely young, full of vitality, but his expression revealed a calmness unbefitting his age, intently observing the murals, immersed in cultivation.

Suddenly, the white-haired elder opened his eyes, in which starlight and moonlight seemed to flash, deep and serene.

"Blood-red characters again… Which old fellow's incarnation has reincarnated to join in the fun?"

The white-haired elder murmured to himself.

His eyes flickered, a certain dusty memory was evoked, and a shocking figure flashed in his memory, surrounded by thunder, making contemporary prodigies unable to lift their heads.

But that figure had vanished without a trace for many years. Could it be that person reincarnated?

His eyes glimmered slightly, he glanced at the young man immersed in comprehending the murals, a smile appeared on his face, and he said nothing.

The young man seemed to sense something, turning his eyes towards his master, and said softly, "Master, your aura just fluctuated slightly. Has something major happened?"

For his master's aura to have a slight disturbance, it must be a momentous event.

The white-haired elder smiled. The fluctuation in his aura was not due to the prodigy who inscribed his name on the Heavenly Stele, but because he recalled the scene from ten thousand years ago.

"It's nothing. Although you haven't inscribed your name on the Heavenly Stele, you are destined to achieve golden light thrice. Continue to comprehend the Immortal Wall. This Heavenly Pride Battle may have opponents you look forward to."

The white-haired elder smiled faintly.

The young man was slightly stunned, his eyes slightly brightened. He knew his master must have learned of some prodigy's news.

However, he did not inquire further; he would encounter them eventually.

His cultivation was not driven by the stimulation of others. His goal was not among his peers, but to become a saint, and a supreme saint, to eventually debate and contend with those saints!

At the same time, in many sacred grounds, figures emerged from seclusion.

Some holy sons did not go to the Heavenly Battlefield, not caring about inscribing their names on the Heavenly Stele, nor willing to prematurely reveal their fame. Some were low-profile, some were arrogant, disdaining to follow the crowd, but at this moment, they all heard of the Heavenly Stele's tremors, the appearance of ancient and rare blood-red characters, and someone listed as supreme!

This stirred a competitive spirit in many holy sons, wanting to see just who was so arrogant.

As figures poured into the Heavenly Battlefield, in an instant, this Heavenly Battlefield, previously without battles, also became lively.

Within the Sword Ancestor Sacred Ground.

Sword Saint, having learned the news, couldn't help but look at the young girl sitting in the courtyard, cultivating.

The girl's expression was indifferent, seemingly emotionless, focused in comprehension. Flowers bloomed and withered around her, seemingly subtly containing the power of time.

That trace of faint power in this anomaly made Sword Saint's eyes slightly solemn, increasingly satisfied with his disciple.

If she cultivated to the peak in this life, and in her reincarnation, compensated for the lack of the extreme realm in the Heaven and Earth Dharma Aspect, she would surely reach the summit, and become the Sword Ancestor Sacred Ground's third saint.

But… thinking of the news he just received, Sword Saint sighed softly in his heart. But then he thought, even if they walked different paths from that young man, his disciple's future might not be inferior, just that she hadn't caught up yet. In the next life, she would definitely be able to stand shoulder to shoulder with him!

Thinking this way, his mood eased a lot, he smiled faintly, closed his eyes, and did not disturb her.

Within the Buddhist Sacred Ground.

In a certain dim Buddhist hall, the Twin Buddha Sons were in secluded cultivation, with two kinds of power alternating around them.

He originally wanted to take the path of great completion through fusion, stepping into the Supreme Saint in one go, but now a demonic obstacle had arisen in his heart. If this tribulation was not eliminated, it would be difficult to fuse. He could only abandon the foundation, not seeking that perfection.

But in this way, his current power had instead increased, returning to the path of his previous life. Now, the prototype of the saintly path had formed, and he was about to step into the Half-Saint realm. By then, swallowing the accumulated incense offerings, he could become a saint at any time!

However, in the Supreme Heavenly Pride Battle, if he became a saint, he would lose the qualification to participate.

Therefore, he did not intend to become a saint before then, first cultivating to the limit beneath the saint realm, and after killing that monstrous talent, he would cultivate again in reincarnation!

Although his current life was ruined, he harbored hatred in his heart, but if he could kill that person and eliminate the demonic obstacle, the next life would definitely be easier, perhaps even without needing to use an incarnation to undergo mortal tribulations again.

Outside the Buddhist hall, the Buddha Venerable sensed the Twin Buddha Sons' cultivation, sighing inwardly. Another lifetime, who knew what changes would occur.

Thinking of the news he just received, a hint of coldness appeared in his compassionate eyes, but quickly receded. He had once given his body to feed an eagle, only because the eagle could help him become a Buddha and to discard the cumbersome mortal body at the time, feeding the eagle to shed his mortal form. Now that he had become a Buddha Venerable, having donned the kasaya, he naturally did not want to lose himself again.

The three thousand volumes of Buddhist scriptures, each volume cultivated oneself.

Since it was cultivating oneself, if oneself was damaged, one would naturally use Buddhist Dharma to suppress it, and surely eliminate it.

Thoughts flickered in his eyes, and suddenly he disappeared from outside the Buddhist hall. Subsequently, an incarnation manifested, flying out, crossing the Azure Billow World, heading towards the Rosy Cloud World.

…

Within the Heavenly Battlefield.

As time passed, outside the Heavenly Stele, more and more figures gathered.

Many people came upon hearing the news, wanting to see if the news was true. When they saw the two scarlet characters on the Heavenly Stele, they were instantly astonished.

Seeing it with their own eyes, the shock was more real than the news.

Those two characters actually suppressed the heavens, making all prodigies within the thirty-three realms appear dim and pale under their scarlet light.

"Haotian? If you didn't know better, you'd think the Heavenly Stele was originally named Haotian Stele!"

"This name is centrally and conspicuously placed, and within the next millennium, likely no one will be unaware of it!"

"Who is this person, what is his origin? Why have I never heard of him, his fame is not apparent?"

Many people were inquiring and discussing.

The battle in Azure Billow World, although it made Li Hao famous, most people were unaware. But now, inscribing his name on the Heavenly Stele, first in a millennium, instantly made Li Hao's fame soar. Countless people became aware, feeling like lightning had suddenly burst forth, suddenly intruding into their sight.

Amidst the noisy discussions, in the open space outside the Heavenly Stele, Li Hao sat cross-legged.

Countless probing gazes were blocked outside the barrier.

Li Hao, borrowing the spiritual light stirred by the Great Dao Thunder Sound Bell, was comprehending the Culinary Dao and Painting Dao.

Both these skills had reached the ninth rank, but experience was not full. However, if he could comprehend the mental state in advance, once the experience accumulated, it would naturally come to fruition, stepping in in one go.

But Painting Dao comprehension was harder than he imagined. Although many flashes of inspiration and thoughts emerged, only a few insights were sparked.

Li Hao's mind turned, and while the inspiration was about to dissipate, he switched to comprehending Chess Dao.

Playing chess with Red Moon, his Chess Dao experience at the seventh rank was full. At this moment, under the guidance of inspiration, many thoughts burst forth. Li Hao suddenly felt a sense of fluency. His Chess Dao experience broke through the experience bottleneck on the spot, reaching the eighth rank.

As Chess Dao reached the eighth rank, his mental state increased, and Art Skill Points also newly added +1.

Li Hao was delighted. With this Chess Dao mental state, he could raise his Imperial Dao to the eighth rank.

Currently, his Culinary Dao and Painting Dao were both ninth rank, corresponding to Sword Dao and Body Dao ninth rank.

The rest of his skills had not yet crossed the sixth rank bottleneck, only Chess Dao at the seventh rank. Li Hao planned to use all the mental state from Chess Dao on Imperial Dao.

Once Imperial Dao reached the ninth rank, Dao Manifestation would be achieved naturally. By then, ninth rank body combined with ninth rank Imperial Dao, he might have hope to comprehend the limit of the Dao Hearing Realm!

Eternal Dao Domain was already so terrifying. Li Hao couldn't help but have some anticipation for the extreme realm of Dao Hearing.

"This little bell seems to be able to be struck again…"

Li Hao checked the scarlet little bell in his mind, eyes flickering. He came casually, left his name casually, unexpectedly there was such a good harvest.

This kind of thing, others likely didn't know.

As Imperial Dao reached the eighth rank, various complex messages surged in, and Li Hao fell into comprehension and digestion again.

After a long time, when Li Hao had fully digested and absorbed, and his Imperial Dao power had risen another level, he opened his eyes, and saw countless gazes gathered around him. The number of people here was actually four or five times more than before, like a vegetable market, actually packed with many figures.

Besides the holy sons of various sacred grounds, many other slightly lesser heavenly geniuses also seemed to have arrived here.

Li Hao roughly scanned, there were thousands of people. Even if all the sacred grounds of the thirty-three realms were combined, they couldn't gather so many holy sons.

Li Hao saw many gazes cast over, and instantly understood in his heart.

He looked up, he hadn't carefully examined it before, but now he saw that in front of the Heavenly Stele, many heavenly geniuses also seemed to have been aroused by a competitive spirit, continuously inscribing their names.

And on the Heavenly Stele, blue and green lights flashed from time to time.

When green light appeared, it always caused some snickers in the crowd.

Green light was also a sign of strong individuals in the Dao Manifestation realm. Although not comparable to holy sons and other heavenly geniuses, they were definitely extremely authoritative prodigies within divine dynasties, but here, they were somewhat out of place.

Li Hao smiled faintly. Seeing so many figures gathered, he didn't feel annoyed, but instead his eyes slightly brightened.

Li Hao dispersed the barrier, and saw outside the barrier, Red Moon standing nervously. Lin Qingying stood beside her, slightly shielding her from many gazes.

This was the dangerous Heavenly Battlefield. She only had less than Celestial Human Realm cultivation, here like a lamb, not daring to leave Li Hao's side without permission.

While Li Hao was in seclusion, she only felt time was long, like torture. Those gathered gazes instantly probed her cultivation details. Although they didn't care, these casual glances from holy sons and heavenly geniuses made her feel like a mountain was pressing down, her heart pounding.

"So many people."

Xi Yan also noticed the numerous figures around, exclaiming in surprise, always looking like she hadn't seen the world.

Li Hao laughed, taking out brushes, ink, and painting scrolls from his heaven and earth space, saying to Red Moon:

"Sorry to trouble you, grind ink for me."

When Red Moon saw Li Hao finish cultivating, she heavily sighed in relief in her heart, feeling as if she had been released from a burden.

Those gazes that inadvertently swept across her body, she also suddenly couldn't feel the pressure. Standing beside Li Hao, it seemed everything was shielded by the young man in front of her. She had an unprecedented sense of security.

A smile appeared on her face, she agreed, and stepped forward to grind ink for Li Hao with her fair hands.

"I'll help you spread out the painting paper."

Xi Yan said excitedly, her waist transforming out from Li Hao's wrist.

Red Moon saw Li Hao's blank painting scroll, her eyes curious, and asked, "Does Young Master also paint?"

"A little understanding."

Once the ink was ground, Li Hao began to paint.

So many heavenly geniuses were rushing here, perfect for him to farm experience.

Lin Qingying had seen Li Hao's paintings before, but now couldn't help but quietly approach, watching intently.

She saw a towering stele outline appearing, and Lin Qingying instantly knew Li Hao was painting the Heavenly Stele.

As the brushstrokes outlined, the Heavenly Stele slowly appeared on the painting scroll. Once the Heavenly Stele was painted, a generous experience notification suddenly popped up in front of Li Hao.

Li Hao counted, surprisingly 210,000!

Equivalent to half a Three Calamity Saint's experience!

Li Hao was astonished in his heart. This Heavenly Stele actually had such abundant experience?

He had painted landscapes, even wondrous and perilous terrains, the experience they brought was only a meager amount, at most comparable to the experience gain of a Three Imperishable Realm.

This Heavenly Stele was indeed not ordinary… Li Hao thought of the Dao Sound Scarlet Bell in his mind, his eyes slightly flickered, his thoughts returning, then he continued to paint the scenery outside the Heavenly Stele.

Thunder rumbled, Dao aura manifested, surrounded by heavenly geniuses.

As the figures of those heavenly geniuses appeared one by one, experience notifications constantly popped up in front of Li Hao.

The less were seven or eight thousand, the more were two or three thousand.

Li Hao painted intently, brush and ink flowing, the length of the painting scroll also constantly lengthening, like a painting of a thousand li of rivers and mountains, depicting many figures with different postures, expressions, and temperaments.

Red Moon stood aside, her beautiful eyes gradually widening, an undisguised look of shock appearing on her face.

She thought Li Hao's "a little understanding" was just a superficial hobby, unexpectedly in painting, he was even more extraordinary than Li Hao's chess skills!

She was proficient in zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Although chess was her forte, she was also considered to have entered the hall of fame in painting. Now, how could she not see that Li Hao's paintings were top-notch master level, a masterpiece of posterity with a casual stroke.

"This painting… unparalleled in the heavens!"

Red Moon murmured to herself.

This Painting of Heavenly Stele Gathering Heroes, besides the Heavenly Stele's majesty and Dao aura being presented in the painting, the expressions of the heavenly geniuses were lifelike, their temperament and appearance meticulously detailed. Just one painting allowed people to appreciate the ultimate style of this moment.

"What is that person doing?"

"Seems to be painting, with a maid grinding ink beside him, could it be he's treating this place as a leisure spot, actually bringing a personal maid along."

"Painting? Are you kidding me?"

Everyone was surprised, frequently looking over, feeling that the other party was showboating.

Red Moon heard these discussions, felt indignant in her heart, only secretly sighing, these heavenly geniuses diligently cultivated, naturally looked down upon zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting, but their cultivation was still not as good as Young Master, the gap between people was truly vast.

Li Hao wholeheartedly immersed himself, painting so many heavenly geniuses at once, gathered in the painting, was also a great test for his skills.

The entire painting, besides details, also emphasized the overall composition. Even heavenly geniuses who only provided seven or eight thousand experience points, Li Hao carefully depicted, integrating them into the entire painting.

As the painting was completed, Li Hao felt a sense of soreness all over his body, but after slightly stretching, he quickly recovered to ease.

He checked his experience, this one painting actually brought him a full 1.5 million experience!

Besides the 210,000 experience contributed by the Heavenly Stele, the rest were all provided by these heavenly geniuses.

Like Red Light and Lin Shuhai, heavenly geniuses who could bring more than 30,000 experience points, there were surprisingly fourteen of them here.

And Pure Wine, also brought Li Hao more than 40,000 experience points.

Besides Pure Wine, there were two others, surprisingly close to 50,000 experience points!

Such abundant experience, comparable to a Half-Saint, even stronger than some Half-Saints!

While Li Hao was surprised in his heart, he couldn't help but sigh, among the heavens, there was indeed no lack of prodigies.

He didn't pay much attention, his mind not on these people. In this Supreme Heavenly Pride Battle, the Buddha Venerable and Void Saint would surely make trouble, not watching him become a saint with their own eyes. Besides relying on Old Feng, he himself also needed to accumulate more power.

After all, Old Feng was a known card, the other party might have countermeasures prepared.

"Power comparable to saints, unless I comprehend the Final Realm, or the extreme realm of Dao Hearing…"

Light flickered in Li Hao's eyes, there were still about five months left, time was pressing.

He slightly stretched his muscles and bones, then continued to paint again.

Although the experience gain would diminish on the second painting, it could still harvest a lot.

Li Hao planned to finish it in one go here, using these gathered heavenly geniuses to fill up his Painting Dao experience!

Previously, Old Feng cooperating with him in painting had already provided him with considerable experience, and now he was getting closer and closer to ninth rank perfection.

Li Hao handed the painting scroll to Xi Yan, then began to paint for the second time.

While Li Hao continued his second painting, more and more people gathered, all discussing.

Lin Qingying saw Li Hao forgetting himself in his devotion, completely unaware of his surroundings, couldn't help but think of Li Hao's appearance in her courtyard, a sweet smile forming on her lips.

The other party was still the same as before, completely unconcerned with everything around him.

"This guy, his nature still hasn't changed…"

Red Light's gaze was fixed, seeing Li Hao's actions, originally wanting to go over and greet Li Hao. Although he had previously lost to Li Hao, he admitted he was inferior, although angry in his heart, he knew he couldn't blame Li Hao, only blame himself for being too weak.

But seeing Li Hao focused on painting, he still wisely didn't say much, instead recalling Li Hao's leisureliness during the previous quota battle.

"Supreme on the Heavenly Stele, I thought he had hope to step into the top three in the heavens, it seems we still underestimated him."

"However, those few didn't come to inscribe their names, seeming disdainful, victory or defeat is still hard to say."

"Those few are reincarnations, once saints, how could they look down upon this little bit."

"Indeed, the Twin Buddha Sons also didn't come, only us, still contending for fame, those guys themselves are fame."

Lin Shuhai and other Azure Billow World holy sons were discussing in low voices.

Bright Moon Holy Son was silent, he had once thought, his Sun and Moon Great Dao connected heaven and earth, he had hope to step into the supreme, first in the heavens, but now successively suffering setbacks, he felt somewhat lost in his heart.

Li Hao's Sword Dao, he couldn't understand, but he could feel, it seemed much stronger than his Sun and Moon Great Dao.

What kind of Sword Dao would that be? He had been thinking about this matter these days.

Before long, Li Hao's second painting was also finished, again harvesting nearly a million experience points.

Seeing that Painting Dao experience was about to be full, a smile appeared on Li Hao's face, then he began his third painting.

And at this moment, a commotion suddenly arose from outside the crowd.

"It's Azure Deer King!"

"He actually came too!"

"Someone inscribed their name here, it seems it disturbed him."

Many people looked over one after another, all with alarmed expressions, watching a verdant green dragon carriage, slowly flying and landing.

On the dragon carriage were seven or eight maids, all with graceful figures, breathtaking beauty, their temperament only second to the holy daughters of many sacred grounds, but even more elegant and exquisite than many royal princesses within divine dynasties.

They waved fans and held wine, attending to a young man wearing a jade green robe.

On this young man's robe were two deer antlers, quite luxurious.

Seeing this person, the crowd instantly made way.

Compared to Haotian, the other party was already famous for a long time, already known throughout the heavens.

When his name spread, the heavens had also trembled, after all, more than ten years ago, he had overpowered a Half-Saint, beating a Half-Saint until they coughed blood, and finally chose reincarnation, this matter made his fame soar.

"Didn't Azure Deer King already inscribe his name on the Heavenly Stele, golden light twice, I heard he's not even a saint reincarnation!"

"That's right, he's a monstrous talent from the Chaos Heaven Sacred Ground, in this Supreme Heavenly Pride Battle, I heard he has hope to take first place!"

The crowd discussed animatedly, their eyes shining, seeming to feel there was excitement to watch.

Azure Deer King walked down from the dragon carriage, his eyes indifferent, sweeping out, instantly seeing a few familiar figures in the crowd, among them Wu Tian from the Legalist Sacred Ground.

He smiled faintly, but his gaze landed on one place, where there was a beauty adding fragrance to the sleeves, a young man figure calmly painting.

Their gazes met, Azure Deer King instantly knew, that person was the figure who had become famous throughout the heavens this time.

Smiles appeared on both their faces.

Li Hao also showed a bright smile, like looking at a plump lamb.

Another one here to deliver Painting Dao experience, golden light twice? That must be considerable experience!

(End of chapter)