Chapter 394: Three Saints Revealed, Chaotic Divine Fire

Whoosh!

Hunkong Saint, seething with rage, sped forward. Wasting time with Li Hao here was pointless. Dragging this out until Yuan Zu and the others arrived would definitely ruin his plans. They would surely guess his reason for wanting to devour Li Hao – to break through to the Divine Realm of the physical body. And Yuan Zu would never tolerate a second God King being born.

He sprinted at full speed, instantly leaving Li Hao far behind.

In terms of movement techniques, he was already approaching the Sacrifice Dao realm, something Li Hao couldn't compare to.

Li Hao watched Hunkong Saint getting further and further away, his expression shifting slightly. He hadn't expected the other to be so patient. Once Hunkong Saint joined up with Dragon Saint, he would be the one forced to flee.

"Right, I still have Human Tribulations!"

Li Hao suddenly remembered the Minor Sublime Realm of the Three Saints. He had overcome the Human Tribulation of the Sacrificial Path, but still had the Incense Fire and Supreme Dao Human Tribulations remaining.

Bang!

He swiftly broke free from the shackles of the Incense Fire Human Tribulation. A certain power seemed to be released.

Li Hao felt a sense of liberation, but at the same time, a premonition of unease arose, as if a calamity was about to descend.

This was the Heavenly Dao unleashing a tribulation after the shackles were broken.

And the tribulations of Human Tribulations were often various unexpected human-caused killings.

Hunkong Saint, rapidly fleeing ahead, suddenly had a thought flash into his mind:

"He humiliated me so thoroughly, if I don't kill him, I will have lived in vain as a Supreme Saint!"

As soon as this thought emerged, he couldn't help but want to stop immediately, turn around, and fight Li Hao for another three hundred rounds.

But immediately after, he sensed something was amiss. His emotions seemed somewhat agitated.

Although he was currently in extreme rage, he still discerned that trace of agitation. His expression couldn't help but change slightly. What was happening?

The only thing that could interfere with a Supreme Saint's thoughts was the Heavenly Dao. Could it be the power of the Heavenly Dao influencing him?

This feeling… it's like someone nearby is undergoing a Human Tribulation!

He immediately thought of Li Hao behind him, but quickly dismissed it. Li Hao had previously undergone a Human Tribulation, and there had been a similar influence from the Heavenly Dao at that time. But Li Hao had already publicly overcome his Human Tribulation; it was impossible for him to undergo it again.

Perhaps I'm overthinking it… Hunkong Saint's eyes flickered. He didn't dwell on it, suppressing the anger in his heart and continuing to rush forward. As long as he found Dragon Saint and joined forces, with his friendship with Dragon Saint, the other should be willing to help him. If not, he had other ways to persuade him.

"Hmm?"

Li Hao saw Hunkong Saint slightly slow down, then continue rushing forward. His expression shifted slightly.

The influence of the Human Tribulation failed to incite murderous intent in him?

"I've heard that when other Supreme Saints undergo Human Tribulations, they seek out desolate, uninhabited lands. But in the end, under the influence of the Heavenly Dao, even during the tribulation process, others are still drawn here from extremely distant places for some reason, ultimately encountering each other and triggering the tribulation. There's also a way to avoid tribulation: find uninhabited land and have other Saints guard the surroundings, so even if someone approaches, they will be stopped and the tribulation will be overcome on their behalf."

Li Hao's eyes flashed.

This was the reason Saints established Holy Lands, or joined other Holy Lands.

When undergoing Human Tribulations, activating the Holy Land array would greatly increase the success rate of overcoming the tribulation.

But his current situation was different. He hoped the power of the Human Tribulation could influence Hunkong Saint.

Using the Human Tribulation as bait, but this prize catch wasn't taking the hook.

Bait… Li Hao's eyes flickered. Yes, how could he have not thought of it? The Hunkong Saint before him… was also someone who could be fished.

What if he was a Supreme Saint? Before angling, all beings in the heavens were prey.

In an instant, Li Hao's angling mindset broke through the bottleneck of the eighth stage, climbing to the ninth stage, and faintly possessing a sense of entering the Dao.

"Aren't you curious, how I was teleported here earlier?"

Li Hao suddenly spoke, calling out to Hunkong Saint.

Hunkong Saint's eyes flickered. Li Hao's sudden, inexplicable appearance had indeed startled him. But during the chase, he had temporarily suppressed this matter. The series of battles with Li Hao had almost made him forget. Now, being reminded by Li Hao, his expression deepened.

"I was directly teleported here by the ancient palace sculpture. That sculpture is the owner of the ancient palace. He teleported me here, perhaps as some kind of guidance. Of the three forks, this might be the only path leading to the Immortal-God Path. Tell me, if you find Dragon Saint, and I tell him the secret of the Immortal-God Path in exchange for his help, will he still cooperate with you?"

Li Hao saw through his intention to seek Dragon Saint's help to kill him, and directly stated this clearly.

Hunkong Saint's expression changed slightly, his mind racing. What Li Hao said… was highly credible.

Otherwise, that instantaneous teleportation, he hadn't detected it at all. Even the Netherworld Shift couldn't achieve that.

Only the terrifying Immortal-God power within this ancient palace could accomplish it!

Three forks, they had chosen earlier, avoiding the two paths with the aura of Yuan Zu and the God Kings, and had no choice but to select this middle path. Unexpectedly, they had stumbled upon the right one?

Immortal-God Path… Hunkong Saint's figure slowly stopped. He turned his head, staring coldly at Li Hao:

"You're telling me all this, wanting to cooperate with me? Wanting me to spare your life isn't impossible."

Li Hao sneered inwardly. The other party had finally stopped. He had just considered strategies like deliberately weakening his aura to show signs of decay, or turning around and running, but quickly rejected them. Because these tricks were easily seen through by a Supreme Saint.

While angling, Lie Heaven Saint had told him that the highest realm of deception was telling the truth.

And truth didn't necessarily mean the whole truth.

"Spare my life? You're overthinking it. I just want to tell you, if you seek Dragon Saint, the result won't be what you wish. I just don't want things to become troublesome."

Li Hao spoke again.

If he went along with the other party's words, trying to cooperate, only talking about benefits and not about past grudges, even with extensive persuasion, the other party would never believe him. It was pointless.

"Hmm?"

Hunkong Saint's expression turned icy cold. "You say all this, just not wanting me to find Dragon Saint. You want me to stop here? Do you think in a one-on-one fight, I absolutely can't do anything to you?!"

"Isn't it so?"

Li Hao revealed a fearless look, saying, "Although you're a Supreme Saint, you seem to be just so-so. If you could kill me, why would you need to lower yourself to seek Dragon Saint's help? Before fighting you, I also didn't expect I'd be this strong."

Hunkong Saint's breathing suddenly became heavier, his claws clenching with crackling sounds. Li Hao's words were too infuriating.

"Originally, I intended to hold back some power to deal with Yuan Zu and the God Kings. You actually really think I can't kill you, you're too foolish!"

Hunkong Saint's eyes were filled with tyrannical coldness. "You shouldn't have provoked me. Do you know what abilities you gain after reaching the three disasters of the Sacrificial Path? Why Sacrificial Path Saints are the hardest to achieve? Because Sacrificial Path Saints are the strongest!!"

As he spoke, his entire body suddenly erupted with crimson-gold divine flames. Fiery heat of divine blood burned on his armor, with streams of multicolored mist flowing within. His aura was constantly rising, surpassing the previous peak, and still continuing to strengthen.

Li Hao was stunned, his expression shifting slightly.

He sensed that the Hunkong Saint before him seemed to be doing something insane.

"What is the Sacrificial Path… Cultivating the Dao to its extreme, sacrificing it to the Heavenly Dao, to nourish heaven and earth, and you will receive the Heavenly Dao power bestowed by the Heavenly Dao!"

"That is true Heavenly Dao power, not just a trace of reflected power borrowed!"

Hunkong Saint said in a cold voice, his physical body was cracking, swelling. He was a physical body Saint, achieving Sainthood through the physical body Sacrifice Dao. Now, by sacrificing his physical body Dao power to the Heavenly Dao, a vast, supreme Heavenly Dao power was actually emanating from within his body!

This power froze time around them, stopped the raging wind, as if heaven and earth, all things, were under his control, surging with his anger, solidifying with his cold intent.

"After devouring you, I can make up for this loss, but devouring you like this will lose its meaning, it's equivalent to devouring you for nothing. But you've enraged me!"

The battle blade held by Hunkong Saint, its power suddenly surged. Tribulation power like blade芒 [máng - radiance/point] violently increased, compressing the air into lightning and thunder-like wails.

Li Hao's expression was grim. The other party was using a self-destructive method to kill the enemy. This was his true trump card.

"Die!"

Hunkong Saint didn't waste any more words, abruptly swinging his blade. A violent blade芒貫穿 [guànchuān - pierce through] heaven and earth, directly slashing over. Its power was ten times stronger than before!

It was already terrifyingly formidable before, and now its power surged wildly, enough to destroy Li Hao's Eternal Dao in a short half-breath, tear his physical body apart, and disintegrate his Dao body!

This power was too strong, cold sweat broke out all over Li Hao. But he didn't retreat, nor did he regret it. He knew, this was a desperate battle. Either Hunkong died, or he perished!

"Heavenly Dao, then let's see whose Heavenly Dao is stronger!"

Li Hao's eyes suddenly snapped open, shooting out terrifyingly cold light. Incense Fire, Supreme Dao, two hidden Saint Dao powers simultaneously erupted within his body.

This power integrated into his physical body, merging with the Sacrificial Path power. The Heavenly Dao power being nurtured within him, at this moment, rapidly surged from his dantian throughout his body, like possession, overlapping with his body.

"Law of Heaven and Earth!!"

At this moment, Li Hao no longer concealed anything. All three Saint powers were revealed. There was no need to hide other methods.

As the Law of Heaven and Earth erupted, his physical body was completely released, his body volume violently increased, becoming towering, his feet enough to trample hills.

In the instant the Law of Heaven and Earth was unleashed, a Dharma Aspect of Heaven and Earth appeared behind Li Hao. Before it could fully manifest, it rapidly merged with his body. A vast, boundless power, seemed to overturn all things, the ancient mountains around them were shaking!

"Hmm?!"

Hunkong Saint's crimson, tyrannical, cold eyes, at this moment, abruptly contracted, even revealing a hint of clarity.

This brat, he actually still had hidden power?!

That Saint Dao… three kinds of Saint Dao?!

Shock, astonishment, disbelief, appeared in Hunkong Saint's eyes.

Among the heavens, countless years, countless Saints had explored and perished, but none had ever managed to merge three Saint Daos.

Even Yuan Zu hadn't accomplished it.

But at this moment, this miracle was actually unfolding on this monster-like youth before his eyes.

He suddenly recalled that fleeting, illusory sense of agitation earlier, his mind feeling like thunder was roaring. He instantly understood.

That was the other party using the Human Tribulation of the second Saint Dao to lure him back!

He had lived countless years, and this was the first time he had seen someone using a Human Tribulation to bait an enemy.

Other Saints undergoing tribulations would avoid it as much as possible, carefully guarding against it. Yet Li Hao was using this tribulation as a means to kill enemies!

"Where did you come from, monster? Are you an Immortal-God reincarnation…"

Hunkong Saint muttered to himself.

The ultimate blade of the Sacrificial Path was swung out, countless tribulation powers rained down like thunder, engulfing Li Hao.

But in that instant, Li Hao also swung out the ancient Immortal Guiding the Way sword art.

This sword art had three realms: Intent, Origin, and End.

Li Hao had previously still remained at the Intent level. But now, he revealed a trace of 'Origin'. The sword intent directly reached the origin, as if a true Immortal-God had descended.

This was entirely pushed out by boundless, inexhaustible power. Under the Heavenly Dao power of the three Saint powers merged, his transformation into an immortal seemed to have progressed further. The Heavenly Venerable will he had faintly touched before, now became incomparably close. He could sense the Heavenly Dao, could control the Heavenly Dao power within his body. His will, silently and imperceptibly, aligned with the Heavenly Venerable's will.

Heavenly Venerable, revered by the Heavenly Dao.

Able to command heaven and earth, control all things.

Such a realm and means, unimaginable.

With a bang, the sky-filled tribulation power shattered.

If Hunkong Saint borrowed true Heavenly Dao power from the Sacrificial Path, then Li Hao was controlling the embryonic form of the Heavenly Dao he nurtured himself.

Although what Hunkong Saint borrowed was the Heavenly Dao that had already existed for countless years in the Land of Saints, it was ultimately just a small amount of borrowed power, still with a considerable gap compared to Li Hao's self-controlled Heavenly Dao power.

The sword芒 [máng - radiance/point] swept past, shaking open the Six-Tribulation Emperor Weapon, directly splitting Hunkong Saint's body in half.

At this moment, under the Law of Heaven and Earth form, Li Hao's volume was not at all inferior to Hunkong Saint, like an ancient god and ancient demon battling.

The moment the sword light split open Hunkong Saint, Li Hao saw that at the cracks of his wounds, they were rapidly healing.

He now had the power to defeat the opponent, but regrettably, still lacked the means to kill him.

A Supreme Saint's vitality was too tenacious. Even if defeated, they couldn't be killed.

Unless, like Yuan Zu, one forged a Seven-Tribulation Emperor Weapon, only then could one produce deterrence against other Supreme Saints.

That God King was besieged by numerous Supreme Saints, yet hadn't perished, only been sealed. Although the other had reached the God Realm, it was still enough to show the formidable vitality of a Supreme Saint.

"You monster, you actually found the path of merging three Saints, and you even have the Second End Realm… you're doomed, as long as I announce this news, you are certain to die!"

Hunkong Saint's body was healing, his expression becoming狰狞 [zhēngníng - ferocious].

In a head-on confrontation, he was actually no longer a match for Li Hao. Although he could not die, this humiliation drove him insane.

"You won't have the chance."

Li Hao said indifferently.

He put away the Gongming Sword, raising his hand. The fragment shimmered with light, suddenly flying out.

Just an arc of light flashed past. In an instant, Hunkong Saint's body was as if his tendons and bones had been extracted, becoming rigid.

To Li Hao's regret, repeatedly attacking with the fragment earlier seemed to have failed to trigger that fatal attribute. He didn't know if it had triggered but was useless, or if it hadn't triggered and was resisted by the other party.

However, he himself hadn't relied too much on this fatal attribute. His current method was that after cutting repeatedly before, he had already found a certain singularity in the other party's body. With just what seemed like a single blade strike, he had peeled away his physical body from his primordial spirit, and severed the connection between all the bones in his body, making his physical body a corpse!

Li Hao didn't give him a chance to heal, raising his hand. Deep and fiery light emerged in his eyes.

"Heaven and earth as the pot, myriad things as firewood, Dao born from heaven and earth, the origin of heaven and earth born from chaos… Chaotic Divine Fire!"

In the void, a muffled booming sound seemed to echo.

Immediately after, flames ignited.

Li Hao's experience in the Culinary Dao had long reached the bottleneck of the ninth stage, his accumulated experience was full.

Now, his mindset broke through, taking that step, Culinary Dao tenth stage!

Countless culinary messages poured into his mind, but Li Hao was immersed in the current culinary mindset, using heaven and earth as a pot, wanting to stew the delicious ingredient before him!

There was divine fire in heaven and earth, just that living beings could not see it. Heaven and earth began in chaos, and chaotic explosion produced all things.

And the thermal energy produced by the explosion, driving the power, was the Chaotic Divine Fire.

Li Hao used the Culinary Dao mindset to glimpse the origin of heaven and earth, glimpsing this Chaotic Divine Fire, and gaining control over it.

At this moment, as the divine fire burned, it instantly enveloped Hunkong Saint's body. That fire could burn all things, even Dao Tribulation Emperor Weapons, under the burning of the Chaotic Divine Fire, were rapidly twisting, deforming, the tribulation power on them actually dissipating!

Li Hao manipulated the Chaotic Divine Fire, avoiding that battle blade. If he burned this blade to ashes, it would be a pity.

However, a thought arose in his mind, this battle blade… might also be able to serve as an ingredient.

Can't be eaten? Too tough to bite?

That wasn't the problem of the food, it was the problem of the diner, a weak stomach!

(End of Chapter)