Chapter 444: All Heavens Resound

Enveloped by the Immortal Kingdom, heaven and earth fell silent, the sun and moon lost their light. The cold and alluring woman in the colorful dress felt as if plunging into an abyss, unable to sense even a trace of immortal power. Her own immortal Dao strength was completely lost, like a mortal stripped of her limbs, leaving only shock and terror in her heart.

Suddenly, a streak of silver light pierced through the darkness, like a ray of hope illuminating her world.

Then, this ray of light passed through her eyes, instantly piercing her jade-like skull, Dao blood splattering, and her primordial spirit extinguished.

A descendant of the ancient Battle Heaven Clan, fallen in the Holy Land.

Taowu, having consecutively slain three, seemed somewhat excited, letting out a low, beast-like roar of exhilaration. But quickly, it followed Li Hao's will and returned to his hand, flashing faintly in Li Hao's palm before disappearing into Li Hao's天地 (Heaven and Earth) space.

At this moment, the darkness enveloping the Immortal Kingdom also receded like a tide. The three True Immortals who had previously oppressed billions in the Holy Land had fallen in an instant, leaving countless people in stunned silence.

As the three True Immortals perished, the killing intent in Li Hao's eyes also receded, replaced by the joy of a long-awaited reunion in his heart.

He smiled, looking at Elder Feng and the others, and said, "I have kept you all waiting!"

These mere six words caused tears to well up in the eyes of Feng Bo Ping and the others once more.

Five years, though short, this five-year separation, watching Li Hao's physical body before them, its life force flowing day and night, was unbearably agonizing.

They had yet to fully adapt, to escape from that grief, knowing how much sorrowful wine they had drunk facing Chang Yue and that figure.

"I thought you…"

Lin Qingying's figure drifted over like a gentle breeze. She covered her face, tears falling for the first time in front of Li Hao, revealing her inner emotions.

Seeing her, Li Hao's expression also became complicated.

He was of course aware of Lin Qingying's feelings, but he currently had no such inclinations. However, the woman's hot tears were like soft, deadly swords, causing him a pang of heartache.

He was silent for a moment, then opened his arms, gently embracing her soft body.

"I'm back…"

He said softly.

Hearing Li Hao's words, Lin Qingying's body seemed to soften even further, pressing tightly against Li Hao's chest. She buried her head in his shoulder, choking out a soft "Mmm."

Five years of longing, pain, and memories, were all filled by Li Hao's simple phrase, "I'm back."

"Hao Tian…"

"Brother Hao!"

Li Wushuang and Li Yuanzhao and the others all rushed over, unable to suppress the excitement on their faces.

Li Muxiu and Li Qingzheng also quietly approached. When they saw Li Hao, their hearts had already surged with excitement, wanting to jump for joy on the spot, their fists clenched tightly. As Li Hao successively slew three True Immortals, they felt a complex mix of emotions besides shock.

There was relief, regret, and heartache, but they didn't come closer, unwilling to disturb the young man further.

A sparrow freed from its cage, soaring in the firmament, now already a majestic eagle or phoenix spreading its wings. They only hoped that the young man could proceed steadily, step by step, to even greater heights.

As more and more people excitedly called out, the name "Hao Tian" resounded throughout the Holy Land.

In the Holy Mountain, He Jianlan and the others had tears in their eyes, both excited and gratified. Although the young man no longer bore the Li family name, they still felt proud, genuinely happy for Li Hao's current strength.

Among the crowd, Li Ping'an felt somewhat dazed hearing the deafening shouts around him.

That radiant figure, the one who casually slew three True Immortals, was that the shadow he had chased since childhood?

When that figure truly stood before him, he realized he hadn't even stepped on the edges of that shadow.

He suddenly recalled his parents' lost expressions when they were young, and the melancholy in their eyes when they looked at him. At this moment, he seemed to understand.

He stood in the crowd, feeling like a minion, silent and insignificant.

…

With Li Hao's return, the entire Hao Tian Holy Land erupted in cheers.

Feng Bo Ping and Sword Master, after calming their excitement, explained the previous events of the three True Immortals snatching Li Hao's physical body. Only then did Li Hao understand what had happened, and he secretly felt a wave of lingering fear. If he had returned even half a day later, even just half a day, he might have been eternally separated from Elder Feng and the others.

He suddenly felt that his previous actions of reducing them to ashes were still not thorough enough.

"Source Ancestor and the others are not dead, and they've all gone to the True World?"

As Feng Bo Ping and the others recounted the events of the past five years, Li Hao learned about the earth-shattering changes that had occurred in the Heavens.

He was somewhat surprised, but also relieved. That woman with the red tassel spear had ultimately kept her promise, bringing reinforcements and defending this realm.

However, Source Ancestor and the others were actually not dead, which shocked Li Hao.

Sage Mitian had previously inquired about the reason and sighed to Li Hao, "Source Ancestor and God King are both cunning old foxes, and they have cultivated for a long time. No one expected that their bodies they showed in ordinary times were not their true bodies!"

Li Hao hadn't anticipated this point. After all, the power Source Ancestor had displayed previously was terrifying enough, able to suppress many Supreme Sages. Who could have imagined that it was just an avatar?

In that ancient demon catastrophe, it turned out he was the most naive, almost truly perishing.

However, now knowing this, even if time were reversed, Li Hao would still make the same choice again.

"So, does this mean the Heavens are now connected with the various sects from the True World? This good fortune, is it still thanks to them?" Li Hao said.

Feng Bo Ping's expression became somewhat somber upon hearing this, saying, "It's not necessarily good fortune; it's a mix of good and bad. For example, what just happened is a bad thing."

"Such bad things are not only happening in our Hao Tian Holy Land. Those people from the True World treat us like native inhabitants here. First, they came to explore treasures everywhere. Some holy lands' spirit medicines cultivated for ten thousand years were directly snatched or stolen."

"Those True Immortals simply don't take this place seriously, and with their True Immortal realm cultivation, they can go anywhere freely, as if entering an uninhabited land."

Li Hao's eyes flickered, revealing a hint of coldness.

Just from what had happened right before his eyes, he could imagine the mentality those True Immortals held towards the Heavens.

"But it's not all bad. For example, Sage Lying Heaven, she has gone to the Heavenly Palace. Thanks to your blessing, she is now a True Immortal!"

"My blessing?"

"Have you forgotten the great lie she told, saying that the Heavens would surely be safe, and everything would take a turn for the better? And it actually came true!"

Li Hao immediately remembered. If something had happened to the Heavens, then Sage Lying Heaven's lie would have failed, and her Sage Dao would have collapsed, costing her dearly.

He just hadn't expected that she would use this opportunity to leap into becoming a True Immortal.

"The major forces that came here to recruit disciples are quite disciplined. They consider Source Ancestor and God King's future growth in the Heavenly Palace and also look down on the things here, maintaining a solemn and dignified demeanor, which is admirable."

Sword Master said, "But other True Immortals, perhaps due to their mixed and varied backgrounds, are arrogant and domineering, picking disciples everywhere. If someone has good aptitude, they don't even care if the person is willing or not and directly take them away, not knowing if they are truly taking them to become disciples and impart teachings…"

Li Hao nodded slightly. As the Heavens came into the view of the True World forces, being a pseudo-world of an Immortal Emperor, it was inevitable that various forces from the True World would come here to investigate. Among them, there would naturally be those who harbored ill intentions.

"Where are they recruiting disciples now?"

Li Hao asked.

Sage Mitian said, "The Heavenly Palace has already retreated. Several other forces seem quite grand as well, and they have also taken their disciples and left. But there are still some True Immortals remaining in various places recruiting disciples. I will send a message to check their locations."

"No need for such trouble."

Elder Wang smiled slightly, "Let me take a look."

As he spoke, he slightly closed his eyes. After a moment, he suddenly opened his eyes and said to Li Hao:

"There are still quite a few True Immortals. Take a look."

With a wave of his hand, projections appeared in the void.

In one projection, two True Immortals were seated on the dragon throne in a divine dynasty's imperial palace, immortal power surging around them. Auspicious dragon shadows appeared behind the throne, while a group of figures knelt before them, including an emperor in royal robes.

Even more were various richly dressed concubines and princesses.

At this moment, one of the True Immortals was carefully selecting. The concubines who were pointed at directly came before the True Immortal on the dragon throne and were taken into his 天地 (Heaven and Earth) space.

In another holy land, a True Immortal was browsing through the Holy Land's scripture repository, casually flipping through divine arts books, discarding them after a quick glance, shaking his head and muttering to himself.

In a certain void, five True Immortals were standing before a towering palace, seemingly preparing to break into that forbidden area.

The True Immortals in various places of the Heavens were all projected by Elder Wang, presented before Li Hao and the others.

Such methods shocked Feng Bo Ping and the others, staring in awe at this old man, also recalling that the previously self-proclaimed descendant of the Battle Heaven Clan had perished under his power.

"If you want to take action, just tell me."

Elder Wang seemed to understand Li Hao's thoughts, saying with a smile.

Li Hao's face was gloomy. These True Immortals were treating the Heavens as a place where they could do whatever they pleased, wantonly indulging themselves.

"Here, here…"

Li Hao pointed, and several projections showed True Immortals humiliating local royalty and selecting disciples in holy lands, their attitudes casual yet domineering.

As Li Hao's finger swept past, the scenes in the projections abruptly changed. The True Immortals inside seemed to sense something, suddenly startled, looking around in confusion. But in the next moment, their bodies suddenly burst apart, then collapsed into black dots, disappearing into the void, completely annihilated.

This change startled even Li Hao, somewhat shocked.

Across thousands of miles, Elder Wang could casually kill True Immortals?

This already surpassed the range of teleportation and the distance of Return to Ruin.

Feng Bo Ping and the others were equally stunned speechless. They didn't think this was just an illusion in the projection; something terrifying must have happened in the places being projected.

As the places Li Hao pointed to, one True Immortal after another perished, not even managing to let out a scream.

"What if there's another member of the Battle Heaven Clan among them?"

Li Hao couldn't help but ask.

Elder Wang said with a smile, "Even if there is, the memories they leave behind before death won't reveal who killed them."

"Then, can they find the Heavens?"

"That depends on whether the news of them coming here has spread."

Elder Wang saw Li Hao's concerns and said softly, "If you want to protect the Heavens, being low-key is not enough. The best defense is deterrence. No one is willing to attack a royal city bare-handed!"

"I understand."

Li Hao nodded.

As the many True Immortals Li Hao had selected all perished, news spread from various places in the Heavens, filled with both panic and surprise.

"Your physical body?"

After the matter of the True Immortals was settled, Feng Bo Ping looked at Li Hao's body. He could sense that this was not a primordial spirit, but a real physical body.

"This is a Primordial Chaos Physical Body."

Li Hao briefly explained, and then realized that now that he had returned, it was time to return to his true physical body.

"Your physical body is cultivated quite well."

Elder Wang's gaze fell on Li Hao's towering physical body in the Holy Land. Without Li Hao's primordial spirit to restrain it, this physical body naturally revealed its 法天象地 (Law, Heaven and Earth) majestic stature.

With Elder Wang's discerning eyes, combined with Li Hao's cultivation when he first went to the Heavenly Calamity Emperor Palace, admiration couldn't help but appear in his eyes. To be able to condense such a physical body at the Saint level, even in the True World, he would definitely be a favored prodigy of a major sect.

At this moment, Li Hao dispersed the ancestral immortal body outside the Primordial Chaos Physical Body, and his primordial spirit detached from the Primordial Chaos Divine Blood.

As his primordial spirit was released, completely severing contact with the Primordial Chaos Divine Blood, this physical body instantly shrank, turning into a drop of golden divine blood, exuding an aura of chaos.

Li Hao's primordial spirit did not stop, directly rushing towards that towering physical body.

Soon, it merged with it. In an instant, a familiar sensation returned to his entire body. Compared to using the Primordial Chaos Divine Blood as a physical body, there was still a noticeable difference compared to his own physical body.

Rumble rumble rumble~~!

As Li Hao's primordial spirit returned, the entire Hao Tian Holy Land trembled like the earth was shaking and mountains were swaying.

Vast immortal power gathered, enveloping Li Hao's physical body like thunder. This immortal power was invisible to Feng Bo Ping and the others, but they could feel waves of terrifying pressure like tidal waves in the air.

The Nine Petal Immortal Seal flew out from above his body's head, and vast immortal power tilted and enveloped it. The Heavenly Constellation Veins showed even greater power at this moment. One after another, dazzling stars, brighter and more radiant than before, continuously emerged beside Li Hao, projecting and gathering the faint immortal power.

This immortal power was faint because the immortal power of the Heavens was weak, but the Heavenly Constellation Veins could gather it in an instant.

Soon, all this immortal power permeated into Li Hao's body. The ancestral immortal body shell that had previously dispersed transformed into immortal power and surged into Li Hao's physical body this time.

Previously, it was just a shell, but now, it was the combination of immortal power and physical body, cultivating the physical body into an ancestral immortal body, surpassing even ninth-level Dao soldiers. Even ordinary true treasures would have difficulty harming it!

Accompanied by silver light filling the sky, dazzling rays of light, the light of the Heavenly Constellations shone above the entire Hao Tian Holy Land. Li Hao's ancestral immortal body also truly reached completion at this moment.

But with body and mind synchronized, primordial spirit united, Li Hao felt a sense of consciousness ascending, entering a world that was both enlightenment and confusion, dream and reality.

At this moment, he truly became a True Immortal. At the same time, the sensation from the Nine Petal Immortal Seal also allowed Li Hao to sense some vague information, placing himself at the first level of the True Immortal Realm.

The news of Li Hao's return quickly spread from Hao Tian Holy Land.

The entire Heavens learned that Saint Hao Tian had not perished but returned as a True Immortal. Cheers erupted from all worlds in the Heavens, and incense power even more concentrated than before gathered from all directions, drawing golden bridge-like incense rainbows across the sky above the entire Hao Tian Holy Land.

(End of Chapter)