Chapter 404: A Decade of Guardianship, Return to the Holy Land (13,000-word update, seeking monthly votes!)

Two years later.

Li Hao's comprehension of the Sculpting Dao reached the level of entering the Dao, successfully breaking through to the ninth stage. If he advanced further, he would reach the tenth stage and ascend to sainthood.

The Sculpting Dao Heart he gained upon reaching the ninth stage was embedded into his Movement Technique Dao. As a result, the many movement techniques he had mastered were deduced and enhanced. In terms of movement techniques, he was no longer at a disadvantage. When paired with the Extreme Realm of Returning to Ruins, he had reached the baseline competency of a Three Calamities Saint.

If he could achieve the tenth stage in movement techniques, that would be extraordinary. Even Supreme Saints might not be able to accomplish such a feat, with only a rare few reaching the level of Offering Dao in their movement techniques.

After all, these Supreme Saints had lived for far too long. Even if they spent thousands of years refining their skills, they could compensate for shortcomings in other areas.

Over the past two years, ancient demons continued to invade sporadically, but they were all third-tier ancient demons wandering into this region.

The moment they detected the Mysterious Womb Gate, it was also the moment Li Hao added them to his death list.

As for the ancient demon corpses he had previously collected, even after two years, Li Hao hadn't finished eating them. He estimated they'd last him another three to five years.

The person meant to relieve him of his guard duty still hadn't arrived. Li Hao had considered stepping out of the ancient path to check the situation outside, but he hesitated. If an anomaly occurred and he encountered another ancient demon commander outside, he wouldn't even have a chance to escape.

After all, an ancient demon commander's perception range surpassed his own. By the time he sensed them, he would already be under their watchful gaze and could be easily annihilated with a single strike.

But staying here was different. He had set up numerous hidden threads around the area. If an ancient demon commander approached without deliberately concealing themselves, Li Hao could detect them through these threads.

This was the territory of the ancient demons, and the likelihood of a commander sneaking around cautiously was low, so Li Hao felt relatively secure.

"The frequency of these ancient demons' visits is increasing. It seems other ancient demon commanders will soon notice this empty territory and claim it…"

Li Hao's eyes flickered.

The people in the Land of All Saints had no idea that the entire world could face destruction at any moment.

If an ancient demon commander found this place and destroyed the Mysterious Womb Gate, the Land of All Saints would face a catastrophic disaster.

Li Hao wasn't sure if the Mysterious Womb Gate could withstand a being of an ancient demon commander's level. All he could do was study it diligently, trying to repair the patterns on its surface.

Over the past two years of research, however, he had only discovered that repairing it required immortal power.

Fortunately, his body had accumulated an immense amount of immortal power. Though he hadn't yet become a true immortal and couldn't fully control it, this power had been tempering his physical body over time. Li Hao could feel his flesh growing stronger. Even the war blade of the Chaotic Heaven Saint could no longer harm his body. His physical strength had reached at least the level of a sixth-tier imperial weapon!

While his outer skin had improved, the real transformation was in his Dao Bones and divine blood.

The patterns of the Great Dao on his Dao Bones were now coated in a layer of silvery radiance, sacred and ethereal, becoming incredibly resilient.

Within his golden divine blood, faint traces of dark silver threads had appeared. Li Hao sensed that if he accumulated more immortal power over time, his body might gradually transform. Even if he couldn't comprehend the path to immortality, his physical body might still take the first step toward becoming an immortal physique!

Li Hao had grown accustomed to the monotonous life of the past two years.

Back in that courtyard, after the little tagalong behind him was taken away, he had lived alone like this.

But not long after, he met Second Grandpa and Elder Feng.

Thinking of Second Grandpa brought Li Hao's thoughts to the mortal world—to the old man in the imperial palace, the matriarch in the Divine General's Mansion, and the little one who loved squatting beside him to listen to stories.

He also thought of the girl who had followed him to the frontier, carrying his sword without complaint—Ren Qianqian.

And that little fox he had raised from a cub, now lost somewhere. He wondered if Emperor Yu had found it for him.

Countless thoughts and memories deepened his longing, an itch scratching at his heart, urging him to return.

But he knew that if he left and this place was exposed, the entire pseudo-realm would face a calamity. He had no choice but to remain and guard it.

How long he could hold out, Li Hao didn't know, but at least he could buy some time.

Otherwise, the first ancient demon to find this place might have already relayed the news back, bringing disaster upon the Land of All Saints.

Time passed.

In this desolate, barren canyon, Li Hao began to understand a fraction of Nangong Jian's emotions.

No wonder Nangong Jian had harbored such pessimism. At least Li Hao still had a path home and hope.

But he didn't know how much longer he'd have to wait here.

That woman with the red-tasseled spear had broken her promise, but Li Hao didn't blame her. He figured something unexpected must have happened to her outside.

Now, he only hoped her troubles could be resolved, that the one meant to suppress this place would arrive.

Or perhaps the immortal gods outside would clear out all the ancient demons on this battlefield, making it truly safe.

Waiting became routine. Li Hao's mind was occupied with sculpting and studying the gaps in the Mysterious Womb Gate's patterns.

Five more years passed in a flash.

In the first two years, ancient demons came sporadically each year, about a dozen or so. By the third year, when Li Hao sent his avatar to set up hidden threads further out, he detected a distant ancient demon territory teeming with their figures, camped and stationed there.

Li Hao's avatar quietly retreated.

Fortunately, his Movement Technique Dao had reached the ninth stage. Beyond pursuit and evasion, it included stealth techniques, also a category of movement.

Combined with the concealment abilities granted by attributes like the Jiang Xue Map from his catalog, his avatar avoided alerting the ancient demons, retreating silently after spotting their traces from afar.

This situation made Li Hao realize that other ancient demons had already begun occupying this area.

He felt time growing increasingly urgent. Each day, he studied with greater focus, pushing aside distractions.

But the patterns on the Mysterious Womb Gate seemed to embody some supreme law. Over years of research, his progress was excruciatingly slow, not even reaching one-thousandth of completion.

As time passed, more ancient demon territories were claimed, drawing ever closer to Li Hao.

He gathered rocks to conceal the Mysterious Womb Gate, setting up barriers around it and masking it with his saintly domain.

His primordial spirit had grown tremendously, which was why his avatar had been able to detect the ancient demons and retreat earlier. His perception range now surpassed that of second-tier ancient demons, even outmatching some first-tier demon leaders.

As long as he detected approaching ancient demons in advance, he could use his primordial spirit to cloak this area, confusing them.

If the timing was right, Li Hao would slay them and turn them into dinner.

Five years passed, and Li Hao's primordial spirit birthed a fifth divine bone.

Moreover, the immortal power within him had accumulated to a terrifying degree. If he unleashed it fully, he could easily slaughter second-tier ancient demons—hundreds of them wouldn't faze him.

But the territory housed ancient demon commanders—true immortal-level beings. The gap between immortal and mortal was vast, and Li Hao didn't dare take the risk.

Beyond that, his Sculpting Dao experience had reached the peak of the ninth stage.

To advance further, he needed to comprehend his own saintly Sculpting Dao.

Besides sculpting, his Fishing Dao had risen to the eighth stage, with its experience maxed out.

Over the years, every encounter with ancient demons through his hidden threads brought him massive experience. In this perilous environment, his focus when setting up threads sharpened, deepening his insights into fishing rewards.

Li Hao calculated the time. It had been ten years since he arrived here.

A decade had passed. He wondered if, on the other side of the gate, Yuan Zu and the Divine King were still standing guard.

But now, they were no longer obstacles to him.

Using the dual-faced attribute from his catalog, Li Hao created a shadow clone to patrol the canyon for him.

He devoted himself fully to studying the patterns on the Mysterious Womb Gate.

With the vast immortal power in his body, he could sustain the Extreme Immortal Transformation state for a long time—long enough to conclude several intense battles.

In this state, his perception of the gate's patterns deepened. They seemed to embody some supreme law of heaven and earth.

Using the embryonic Heavenly Dao born from the unity of his Three Saint Powers, he probed the patterns, suddenly gaining new insights and barely grasping their structure.

Li Hao continued to explore slowly.

If outsiders knew a saint was studying a power created by an Immortal Emperor, they'd surely scoff. But in this desolate place, Li Hao not only studied it—he was making progress.

---

Meanwhile, as Li Hao guarded the ancient path, behind the Mysterious Womb Gate…

In the towering ancient hall standing amidst the starry sky…

Ten years had passed.

Initially, the saints had gathered here, vying with one another, desperate to be the first to claim the immortal path, fearing it would be destroyed if someone else reached it first, leaving no chance for ascension.

But now, knowing the immortal path had been trodden by Hao Tianzun and that the gate was sealed, accessible only to those at the Sixth Extreme Realm, their initial anxiety had subsided. Over time, they began exploring other parts of the ancient hall.

Over the years, every corner of the hall had been investigated, revealing no further secrets.

The treasures left behind were scarce, and the passage of time—stretching back to an era even Yuan Zu found unfamiliar—had dulled their luster. Their power had faded, some crumbling to dust at a touch, fragile as rubble.

Now, only twenty or thirty saints remained seated before the Mysterious Womb Gate.

They cultivated here, seeking to comprehend the Sixth Extreme Realm, while also waiting in case the gate opened and Hao Tianzun returned, ensuring they'd receive the news immediately.

From the gate's activity, they could confirm that Hao Tianzun hadn't severed the immortal path.

This gave the saints hope and gradually reversed Li Hao's reputation. Where once many saints had condemned him, now they refrained from discussion, focusing solely on their own extreme realms.

Whoever could first comprehend the Sixth Extreme Realm would be the first to tread the immortal path.

"It's been ten years. I sent my avatar to reincarnate in the mortal world, where a century has passed, yet I still haven't grasped the Sixth Extreme Realm."

"Same here. My avatar guards the Three Immortal Realm,不敢继续修炼 (not daring to continue cultivating), yet I still can't comprehend the Heavenly Human Extreme Realm."

"The Sixth Extreme Realm isn't achieved through cultivation or power accumulation—it's about perceiving the will and heart of heaven!"

The saints waiting here wore mostly somber expressions.

Ten years had passed with the immortal path right before them. This time, with the combined might of all the saints in the holy land, they had failed to comprehend the Sixth Extreme Realm in a decade. It was almost unbelievable and elevated Hao Tianzun's prodigious talent even higher in their minds.

Only now did they truly realize that the Sixth Extreme Realm was beyond mere exhaustive thought—an achievement unattainable by ordinary means.

Beyond the gathered saints, figures like the Law Saint and Fame Saint bore grave expressions, deep in contemplation.

They recalled Yuan Zu relaying Li Hao's words: the Sixth Extreme Realm couldn't be attained through cultivation alone.

To that end, over the past decade, they had sent avatars to investigate Li Hao's past, uncovering every detail about this prodigy who had appeared out of nowhere.

After all, hiding matters of the mortal world from them was no easy feat.

Upon learning of Li Hao's history, they sent avatars to reincarnate in the mortal world, descending into the central Great Wild Heaven within a divine dynasty that revered them. Like Li Hao, they displayed peerless talent from a young age while keeping a low profile.

They even had their disciples reincarnate as the parents of their avatars, severing ties to ensure similarity.

It was almost a behind-the-scenes manipulation, replicating Li Hao's every experience.

Yet, in the end, their reincarnated avatars became warped. Far from Li Hao's carefree demeanor, they grew vengeful and cynical.

Some gave up entirely, abandoning cultivation to become useless, powerless to resist the orchestrated calamities in their divine dynasties. They could only watch as their people perished—some numb, others grief-stricken—utterly helpless.

Some tried to resume cultivation, but once abandoned, it was nearly impossible to pick up again.

They had learned of Li Hao's past: he had never seriously cultivated, indulging in food, drink, and leisure. For him, cultivation seemed as natural as eating or drinking.

Whenever his realm fell short, a little effort seemed to bring a breakthrough.

But their reincarnated avatars… lacked such talent.

Even with treasures shaping their foundations in the womb, granting them the world's finest aptitude, it wasn't enough.

If they cultivated wholeheartedly, they could reach the Grandmaster Realm by fourteen—or even ten—far surpassing Li Hao's records.

But if they indulged in leisure and never touched cultivation, even the best talent couldn't withstand such squandering.

This realization struck them with dread. That youth's aptitude was hundreds, if not thousands, of times more terrifying than they had imagined.

Over the past ten years, Li Hao's stature in their minds had risen, deepening their awe of his monstrous genius.

As for his experiences in the Land of All Saints, they didn't bother replicating those, as he had already comprehended the Sixth Extreme Realm by then.

"Now, our only hope lies with the Holy Infant."

In the five short years since Li Hao's departure, all the saints' reincarnated avatars had failed.

Five years in the holy land equated to fifty years in the mortal world—nearly a full cycle.

Even after so long, with all their effort poured into these prodigies, they couldn't grasp the Heavenly Human Extreme Realm, ending in failure.

Yuan Zu had previously proposed gathering the power of all saints to create a Holy Infant.

Blessed with the combined strength of the saints, this infant's primordial spirit would be forged from their fragments. Infused with their power from the womb, it would display extraordinary talent from birth.

Thus, even without cultivating, merely eating and sleeping—breathing alone—would allow the Holy Infant to absorb the world's power. Its pores would naturally draw in external energy, and its cultivation would grow automatically!

This way, the Holy Infant's life could perfectly mirror Li Hao's.

They selected a divine dynasty similar to the Jiang family's, with comparable governance ideals. Any differences were adjusted by the saints' decrees, crafting it into a second Great Yu Divine Dynasty!

There, too, stood five Divine General Mansions.

The Holy Infant was born into one such mansion, governed by law under the Law Saint's covert guidance.

He sent a disciple to the mortal world to marry and bear children, and the Holy Infant was born from his wife's womb.

To ensure similarity, the wife was a saintess from an ancient lineage in the Great Wild Heaven.

Under the saints' control, the mortal world became their chessboard, painted as they pleased.

From a young age, the Holy Infant displayed talent, though his parents were often absent.

He faced assassination attempts from concubines in the mansion—secretly orchestrated by the saints—and learned of it at age three.

Like Li Hao, he endured in silence, maintaining a normal facade.

But the saints closely observed, knowing his brilliance and quick wit allowed him to conceal his intentions.

At six, during foundation-building and bone-shaping, the saints intervened, tampering with the talent assessment to make the mansion believe he was worthless.

Thus, the Holy Infant grew even more discreet.

Later, someone brought back a baby girl to accompany his cultivation.

The saints debated over her selection, each vying to use their own reincarnated avatar, but they ultimately chose a mortal girl already in the world.

This girl, exceptionally gifted, had lost her parents young. Mature beyond her years, she cared for the Holy Infant.

They grew up together, childhood sweethearts training in the courtyard.

Until one day, the precocious girl was chosen by a renowned sword saint of the divine dynasty and taken away from the mansion.

The Holy Infant was alone again.

But the saints arranged for an elder from the mansion to "coincidentally" meet him, keeping him company in leisure.

Yet the Holy Infant's innate talent, imbued with the saints' power, shone through. His cultivation grew constantly, though he hid it after the early assassination attempt, concealing it from the elder.

Even so, his shallow cultivation was obvious to the seasoned elder, who questioned him, only for the Holy Infant to deny it.

The saints couldn't interfere with his actions—his reincarnated self had an independent personality. Activating the holy power within him to awaken saintly consciousness would grant him their memories but erase his original self, marking this reincarnation a failure.

On the surface, the Holy Infant played all day, but in secret, he trained diligently, seemingly driven by vengeance and a desire to break free.

Though the saints saw this, they didn't stop him. Investigating Li Hao, they found no one had seen him cultivate, but that didn't mean he never did in private.

Without effort, achieving such towering cultivation was unbelievable.

The Holy Infant's secret training went unnoticed, yet his strength soared.

By thirteen, he had reached the Heavenly Human Grandmaster Realm, surpassing Li Hao's record.

But no one knew.

At fourteen, when his father returned, the Holy Infant sought revenge.

The result was a father-son battle where he revealed his shocking cultivation. At fourteen, he was already half a step into the Three Immortal Realm.

This feat made him famous across the mortal world, hailed as the greatest genius in ten thousand years among the central divine dynasties.

Thereafter, under the saints' interference, his path aligned with Li Hao's.

Now, the Holy Infant was forty.

In the mortal world, he had become a war god, long reaching the peak of the Enlightenment Realm. He sought to enter the Land of All Saints multiple times but was refused by the saints.

A saint descended, telling him he must comprehend the Sixth Extreme Realm to enter the holy land.

Now, the Holy Infant roamed the mortal world, seeking the path to the Sixth Extreme Realm.

When he might comprehend it, the saints didn't know, but they saw him as their best hope.

When his cultivation reached the Four Establishments Realm, their arrangements lost meaning, and they could only let him grow freely.

"Though the Holy Infant seems to indulge in leisure, he's been secretly training hard for revenge. I feel we've taken the wrong path. Perhaps we shouldn't have replicated everything exactly."

The saints waited in the starry expanse before the Mysterious Womb Gate, their thoughts on the mortal world.

"Exactly. I opposed this approach back then. Maybe making him a pampered wastrel would've been better."

"Hao Tianzun said the Sixth Extreme Realm is harder to attain the more you strive for it. Without仇恨 (hatred), he might not have cultivated so urgently, adopting a mindset closer to Hao Tianzun's."

"But his life mirrors Hao Tianzun's. Doesn't that mean his current mindset is Hao Tianzun's?" someone countered.

Some saints fell silent.

Their own reincarnated avatars had failed, offering little hope.

This wasn't their first failure, but this time, with their full dedication, the setback stung deeper.

"Someone once said every snowflake's pattern is unique, as is every fingerprint. Though experiences may be similar, Hao Tianzun is Hao Tianzun, and the Holy Infant is the Holy Infant. There's no second Yuan Zu, nor a second Hao Tianzun."

A saint murmured.

The others fell silent at his words.

Indeed, the world held only similarities, not exact duplicates.

Even yesterday's self wasn't today's, nor today's tomorrow's.

"True, but this is our last hope," another saint said quietly.

Hope was too potent. Even knowing their approach might be flawed, they'd still try as long as a sliver remained.

"This Holy Infant is just the first attempt. If it fails, next time we can try a version without hatred or drive to cultivate—endless wealth and power, simply enjoying life. Let's see if that yields the Sixth Extreme Realm."

Yuan Zu spoke softly, cutting through the pessimism.

The saints paused, then nodded slightly.

Though each Holy Infant reincarnation cost them, it was worth it for the path to immortality.

"This first Holy Infant is already a failure."

The Divine King spoke coldly, "He seems to enjoy life now, but hatred festers within. When the Law Saint stopped him from entering the holy land, it planted a seed of resentment, like when he was first betrayed as a child. He hides it, pretending to savor the mortal world, but he's more desperate than anyone to become a saint."

The saints were taken aback, turning to him.

Over the past decade here with the Divine King, their goals aligned, easing tensions.

His words furrowed Yuan Zu's brow.

The saints exchanged glances, suddenly feeling the Divine King might be right.

Having reached the peak of the Enlightenment Realm, eligible for the holy land, yet blocked for unconvincing reasons, resentment was inevitable.

Outside the crowd, the Sword Master nodded slightly, having noticed this long ago and foreseen the Holy Infant's failure.

Only his avatar remained here, not his true self.

Besides some saints' true bodies, many had returned to their domains, leaving avatars to wait.

"Indeed. From what I know, Hao Tianzun harbors no hatred. Even when ambushed and humiliated by the Void Saint, I saw no vengeful fury in him. He doesn't let others' wrongs torment him—hatred doesn't consume him."

The Sword Master said calmly.

Many glanced at him, knowing his good rapport with Hao Tianzun.

His words carried weight.

"If so, let's start the second Holy Infant plan. This time, let him live in comfort."

Yuan Zu said after a long silence.

The saints exchanged looks, falling quiet. Some hesitated, but seeing most agree, they relented.

The Sword Master recalled fishing with Li Hao—the unguarded joy in his eyes when he caught a fish, a genuine love for the world.

"Perhaps the second Holy Infant should be distanced from cultivation, nurtured with other interests from a young age, not needing to match every experience."

The Sword Master suggested softly.

Yuan Zu glanced at him, saying nothing.

Soon, the second Holy Infant plan began.

In a mortal divine dynasty, another prodigy was born.

Time flew.

Twenty years passed in the mortal world.

In the holy land, it was just two years.

For twenty years, this second Holy Infant was cherished by elders and parents, living carefree.

Under deliberate arrangements, those around him fostered diverse hobbies—flower arranging, tea tasting, chess, fishing.

Among rich young masters, he stood out, but his illustrious background silenced any criticism.

Even without cultivating, with the saints' bestowed bones and rare treasures subtly mixed into his diet, his strength grew. Barely dabbling in cultivation, he reached the Heavenly Human Realm at twenty.

This was top-tier genius, though less dazzling than the first Holy Infant.

Still, for someone who barely cultivated, it was terrifying—a result of the saints' control.

At this stage, the saints watched the mortal world even more closely.

Meanwhile…

Outside the Mysterious Womb Gate, two more years drifted by.

In those two years, Li Hao slew more ancient demons as their occupied territories grew.

With wandering demons arriving more frequently and vanishing upon death, Li Hao sensed exposure was imminent.

He'd long finished cooking and eating his stockpile of ancient demon corpses.

Now, skipping cooking time, he focused solely on sculpting insights and studying the Mysterious Womb Gate's pattern gaps.

Through painstaking effort, he gained a rudimentary understanding of the patterns—a mere fraction. The law within them resembled the Chaotic Divine Fire, born from the world's roots. He dubbed it the Chaos Law or Heavenly Dao Law.

He couldn't repair it per the patterns—the gap between him and an Immortal Emperor was too vast. He could only patch it with his own power.

Lacking expertise in formations or restrictions, which were needed to seal the gap, he improvised.

A living person wouldn't be stopped by such a hurdle. Though unskilled in formations, Li Hao's saintly physique gave him exceptional insight into his body.

He chose to use a part of his body—like a finger—to plug the gap.

He had a reason for this: his body contained immortal power.

If he blocked it with his body, he'd know instantly if the gate was attacked. Plus, only a true immortal could break through, destroying his body.

He couldn't project immortal power outward—it would turn into raw world energy—but he could use his body directly.

Excited by this ingenious solution, Li Hao knew it wouldn't hold against an ancient demon commander, but it was the best he could do for now.

Next, he had to hide the gate.

He gathered more rocks to cover it, striving to make it look natural.

He left his shadow clone to guard it.

With his current primordial spirit strength, even a clone inheriting a third of his power was formidable.

Its spirit enveloped the area, making it nearly imperceptible to second-tier ancient demons unless a first-tier commander approached.

Yet the gate's inherent power could block first-tier demons.

True immortals couldn't enter.

Thus, the worst-case scenario—if detected and his block broken—only second- and third-tier demons could enter the Land of All Saints.

"Staying here longer serves little purpose. If a commander arrives, it's fate."

Li Hao gazed at the gate, longing in his eyes.

It had been too long.

He calculated: including his time fighting alongside Nangong Jian and his stay here, it totaled twelve years.

He'd been under thirty when he arrived.

"Twelve years. Those guys are probably still behind the gate."

Li Hao's eyes flickered. Saints lived long—tens of thousands of years, some like Yuan Zu perhaps a hundred thousand.

To them, twelve years were a blink.

"But these twelve years must've been tough for them."

Li Hao chuckled, imagining their tense anxiety.

The path to immortality wasn't what they envisioned.

Shaking his head, he entrusted matters to his shadow clone, entered the Extreme Immortal Transformation state, merged with the world, and slipped through the gap.

He severed a chunk of his cells, using it to seal the gap after passing through—only immortal power could penetrate.

---

As Li Hao crossed over, in the starry expanse of the ancient hall…

Before the Mysterious Womb Gate, the saints sat in silence, their minds on the second Holy Infant in the mortal world.

One year here was ten in the mortal world. Another year might reveal if this infant could grasp the Heavenly Human Extreme Realm.

They'd sent disciples to subtly guide him.

Suddenly, Yuan Zu and the Divine King, seated cross-legged, snapped their eyes open.

They sensed a presence—vast and profound, not a saint's aura, but an extraordinary power beyond saintly might.

"An immortal god?!"

They looked up sharply at the ancient immortal gate.

A force was seeping through, terrifyingly immense, sending their hearts racing, eyes widening, breaths quickening.

Had an immortal god descended from beyond the gate?

Were they here to receive them?!

Yuan Zu's shock turned to excitement, his body trembling.

The other saints, slower to react, soon noticed.

"An immortal god?"

They were stunned. Had an immortal god arrived?

They'd waited twelve years without the Holy Infant maturing, only for an immortal god to descend personally?!

Excitement surged as they stared at the gate's overwhelming aura.

Soon, the aura condensed, revealing a faintly familiar trace.

Yuan Zu, mid-thrill, froze, his expression shifting to disbelief as his eyes widened.

Him?

In just twelve years… had he become an immortal god?!

His heart clenched with an indescribable feeling.

The aura solidified, transforming from vast world energy into a physical form, revealing its appearance.

As the body took shape, Li Hao's aura emerged, stunning the saints. They stared in shock as his form fully materialized, the hall falling silent.

It was really Li Hao!

He was back!

The Sword Master blinked, then broke into a delighted smile.

The Sword Saint gaped, never imagining this immense power was Li Hao's.

As Li Hao's form clarified, the saints' expressions grew complex after their initial shock.

Yuan Zu narrowed his eyes, soon noticing Li Hao's aura remained saint-level. The earlier towering immortal power had vanished, as if an illusion.

He pondered. If Li Hao were truly an immortal god, there'd be no need to disguise it before them.

Yet, even standing there, Li Hao exuded a profound change Yuan Zu couldn't pinpoint, sparking envy. Was this the transformation from the immortal realm?

"It's you."

The Divine King rose, staring at Li Hao with grave eyes.

Li Hao's return suggested confidence they couldn't threaten him. Had he anticipated their presence?

He, too, sensed a power in Li Hao that unnerved him—unfathomable.

"Still here, huh? Quite the crowd."

Li Hao scanned the room, noting fewer saints than expected. His potent primordial spirit sensed more avatars in the outer hall through the gap. Nearly all saints of the Land of All Saints were here, in body or avatar.

But he didn't see Elder Feng or the Lying Heaven Saint inside. They'd said they wouldn't come, and it seemed they'd held true.

Spotting the Sword Master's avatar, Li Hao smiled and nodded.

"Hao Tianzun, have you… obtained the secrets of immortality?"

A saint couldn't help asking.

The others fixed complex, eager gazes on Li Hao.

Frowning at their stares, Li Hao said coolly, "Are the saints still planning to move against me?"

"Hao Tianzun, we've been waiting for you. The immortal path isn't yours alone. Cultivation depends on ability—let us through too."

A saint urged hastily.

Yuan Zu and the Divine King stayed silent, watching Li Hao, weighing their options.

They'd nearly forced him into the gate before; he likely harbored resentment. They needed to ease his grudge.

Li Hao laughed at the saint's words. If they knew the immortal path's reality, they'd flee.

"What do you two think?"

He looked calmly at Yuan Zu and the Divine King.

Seeing Li Hao's confidence, Yuan Zu knew he had a trump card. Guessing—perhaps an immortal sect master, a powerful treasure, or a fearsome technique—stirred caution. Smiling warmly, he said, "Hao Tianzun, it was all a misunderstanding. We were worried your youth couldn't handle it. Now that it's done, tell us how to ease your mind, and we'll comply."

Li Hao smirked, "Misunderstanding? Nice words, Yuan Zu. But compensation's not off the table. Two hundred heavenly treasures each, and we'll call it even."

Yuan Zu's face twitched; the Divine King frowned.

"Hao Tianzun, heavenly treasures are rare. I've amassed some over time, but most went into my imperial weapons. I've some spares, but not two hundred," Yuan Zu said earnestly, as if to convince him.

The Divine King growled, "You know my situation. I just returned—where would I get that many? Don't overreach!"

Li Hao raised an eyebrow, "None is none, but I don't like your tone."

"You…"

The Divine King clenched his fists, fuming, but knowing Li Hao held the gate and could come and go freely, he and Yuan Zu were powerless. He swallowed his anger.

"How about a hundred total? That's my limit," Yuan Zu offered quietly. "If it's not enough, I can compensate otherwise. I'll gift you a century of incense from a small world. Though you ascended via the Offering Dao, incense power still benefits you."

Li Hao's expression didn't shift, but he knew Yuan Zu was likely honest—a hundred would drain them.

"And you?" he asked the Divine King.

Seeing Li Hao accept Yuan Zu's terms, the Divine King relaxed slightly, pondering, "I'm not as wealthy as him. I cultivate the Extreme Dao. If you need it and they allow, I can slaughter a world for its Extreme Dao power. Plus, you're friendly with my junior. I could betroth her to you."

Li Hao paused, realizing he meant Ying Xiaoxiao.

His face darkened, "What do you take her for—an object to trade at your whim?"

The Divine King blinked, puzzled by Li Hao's anger, frowning, "I'm her ancestor. Marriage follows parental decree. As the clan's progenitor, my approval is her greatest honor."

"So if I marry her, I'd have to call you ancestor?"

Li Hao sneered.

The Divine King retorted stiffly, "If you don't want to, you don't have to."

Li Hao stared, silent.

The saints glanced at Yuan Zu, who watched Li Hao quietly.

He tacitly approved the Divine King's offer.

They didn't care about the betrothal—it was trivial. But slaughtering a world for Extreme Dao power was chilling.

The Thirty-Three Heavens would become Thirty-Two.

The Sword Master looked at Li Hao, conflicted.

He'd protest if it were anyone else, but with Li Hao benefiting, his heart wavered. Still, he didn't want even Li Hao to advance this way.

Hesitating, he said, "Hao Tian… Yuan Zu…"

The Sword Saint, sensing his intent, paled, glancing at him.

Offending Li Hao now would sever the immortal path.

But the Sword Master ignored him, his swordly Dao unwilling to bear regret.

The saints' gazes on him were complex.

The Medicine Saint, silent till now, looked at Li Hao, then Yuan Zu, saying, "Yuan Zu, this harms heaven's harmony. Let the Divine King find another way."

"Right. You slew him for his inhumane Extreme Dao. Are you joining him now?" the Literature Saint added gravely.

If he condoned this, his literary heart would shatter; his Literary Dao forbade such tragedy.

"Sacrificing the few for the many is necessary. They can reincarnate anyway," a saint countered.

"Exactly. If we become immortals and open this world's path, everyone could ascend. What's one small world's temporary loss?"

"They might thank us later," another added.

The Literature Saint trembled with rage, "How's that the same? Even if they reincarnate, is their past life their present? You all have past lives—do you see yourselves as them?"

Though not saintly reincarnations, they'd all been mortals reborn.

One saint replied, "To mortals, ignorant of good, evil, or the Dao, life and death are just calamity and pain. For some, living is worse. A quick end shortens suffering—not a sin."

The Literature Saint shook, furious at how evil could be spun as good for self-interest.

"Does this honor their faith in you?"

Others joined him, opposing the act.

Not all saints could stomach such inhumanity, though they were the minority, like the Literature Saint and Sword Master.

Most argued back, escalating into bolder claims.

Li Hao listened, finding it laughable yet sorrowful. These saints now seemed like bickering townsfolk, squabbling over gain and loss.

Indeed, who could transcend gain and loss, living contentedly?

If they could, they wouldn't be saints—such a realm required relentless effort and seizing fate's chances.

Li Hao looked at Yuan Zu, still silent, and the Law Saint, also mute.

To them, immortality outweighed a small world's loss.

Though the Divine King proposed and would act, they acquiesced.

Li Hao addressed the Law Saint, "What about you? Does your Dao of law and order permit this?"

Caught off guard, the Law Saint's face soured, "The world's full of disasters beyond law's scope. The highest law is heaven's—survival of the fittest. Birds eat bugs; eagles eat birds."

Li Hao nodded, "Your law—self-serving law."

The Law Saint's face darkened with anger, but restraint held it back.

Disappointed, Li Hao's excitement faded, "I don't need such Extreme Dao power. No need to argue."

The saints fell silent.

The Literature Saint and a few others beamed, their respect for Li Hao growing.

They hadn't known him well, but this choice under immense temptation revealed his character.

The Sword Master exhaled, sensing Li Hao would refuse, relieved at the confirmation.

The arguing saints quieted, relieved too—complex human nature at play.

The Divine King asked, "Then what compensation?"

"Extreme Dao assault secrets and the Divine Clan's Blood Origin Law," Li Hao said calmly.

One was the Divine King's mastery of Extreme Dao power; the other, his trump card, absorbing clan bloodlines to surge his strength briefly to unimaginable heights—his true edge against Yuan Zu.

Li Hao had seen this in the Void Abyss, knowing it could counter it.

Beyond these, he needed little else.

The Divine King's face stiffened—both struck his core, especially the Blood Origin Law, his strongest move.

"No Blood Origin Law. I'll give the assault secrets. You cultivate your body—I know a forbidden land with top-tier immortal herbs to refine your saintly physique further. How's that?" he offered.

Li Hao frowned, seeing his resolve. The Blood Origin Law was his line.

He didn't press. With his current strength, he didn't need it to kill the Divine King.

"Fine."

Agreeing, the Divine King and Yuan Zu relaxed.

The saints smiled, pleased.

"Then I'll prepare now. Tian Yu, fetch my incense treasure box," Yuan Zu said.

Among them, Xiao Tian Yu's expression was complex. Once Li Hao's rival, now he awed even the saints.

At Yuan Zu's command, he nodded and left.

The Divine King transmitted the assault secrets and forbidden land details to Li Hao via divine sense.

Soon, Xiao Tian Yu returned with a box—a single-tribulation imperial weapon, uniquely suited to store incense power.

Yuan Zu handed it to Li Hao, "A century of incense from a world. If you'd ascended via incense, it'd withstand an earth calamity, making you a Second Calamity Saint."

Li Hao accepted it without fuss.

"The heavenly treasures?"

Yuan Zu and the Divine King exchanged a glance, communicating silently.

"I've only thirty. You cover the rest," the Divine King grumbled.

Yuan Zu's face darkened but agreed, adding terms. Soon, they gathered a hundred treasures, handing them to Li Hao.

He took them casually, stowing them away.

"Now, open the immortal path for us," the Divine King said gruffly.

Li Hao raised an eyebrow, "When did I say I'd let you in? Isn't this compensation for last time?"

Their faces changed, anger flashing across the saints, yet they held back.

"Hao Tianzun, with amends made, the immortal path belongs to all. You're from this realm too. If we go to the immortal lands, we'd support each other, no?" Yuan Zu said gently, persuading.

Li Hao nodded, "If it were the immortal world you imagine, I wouldn't stop you. Sadly, beyond that gate is too perilous—you'd die for sure!"

(Chapter End)