Chapter 445: Journey to the True World

Seeing such dazzling incense offerings, Lee Hao felt a complex mix of emotions in his heart.

Having first arrived in the Heavens, he was completely unfamiliar with this place. After living in the mortal realm for over a decade, he had long considered the mortal realm his "home."

Fighting his way through the Heavens, defeating all the supreme geniuses of the Heavens, and slaying saints to intimidate all, Lee Hao's heart always remained in the mortal realm, always at the border of the Great Yu Divine Dynasty, in that fortified city, in that small fenced yard.

There, cooking smoke curled gently into the air, old friends kept him company, he fished in his leisure time, and painted in quiet moments. Life was wonderfully carefree and joyful.

He felt no belonging to the Heavens. However, the rift torn open in the True Venerable Tower, the five years of surging incense, and now this incense rainbow bridge, truly made Lee Hao feel that he had integrated into the Heavens, that this was his second "home."

The emotions contained within the incense surpassed all words.

Lee Hao took a deep breath and accepted these incense offerings. Although the incense in his body had already reached the peak of the God Realm, this incense continued to settle and accumulate. Lee Hao found it hard to imagine what realm and qualitative change he would achieve if he continued to accumulate even more incense after reaching the God Realm.

Ancestor Yuan had already reached the Incense God Realm long ago, yet he still collected incense year after year. His purpose was clearly not simply to obstruct the path of other saints.

…

"That place wasn't a forbidden zone, but an opportunity?!"

"So that's how it is."

"Heavens, why didn't I go there sooner?"

"Who could have expected that?"

In the majestic palace within the holy land, Feng Boping and others questioned Lee Hao about his experiences. When they learned that he had fallen into the depths of the Twin Fissure Demon Valley, not only survived, but also obtained an opportunity to advance to True Immortal, they were all shocked and pleasantly surprised for Lee Hao.

Lee Hao did not elaborate on the Heavenly Calamity Emperor Palace. It wasn't because he didn't trust Elder Feng and the others, but because his identity was special. He was the current sole disciple of that Immortal Emperor. Knowing his identity would bring them more harm than good.

"No wonder…"

Feng Boping and others looked towards Elder Wang, and then noticed Hua Saint, You Saint, and the others that Lee Hao had brought back.

"Isn't this… Saint Lin?"

Suddenly, Saint Mitian looked over in surprise, his eyes revealing shock.

Saint Lin had already noticed Saint Mitian. Seeing his astonished look, he simply smiled and said, "Long time no see."

Saint Mitian exclaimed in shock, "You're already a Supreme Saint? In less than ten thousand years…"

Saint Lin smiled wryly, "Don't mention age. Compared to the one beside you, I'm ashamed of myself."

Saint Mitian was stunned, then couldn't help but chuckle, sighing, "He's a monster. But you, it seems you've also obtained quite a fortuitous encounter."

Saint Lin just smiled bitterly and said nothing more.

Hua Saint, You Saint and others were also recognized. They exchanged greetings with everyone, but all avoided mentioning anything about what happened in the forbidden zone.

…

Several days later.

After the gathering ended, Feng Boping approached Lee Hao with worry, saying:

"Those True Immortals from the True World have all been killed. Their backing forces are so numerous, won't they investigate?"

Lee Hao smiled and said, "It's fine. Even if Immortal Lords come to investigate, they will retreat."

In these past few days, he had already asked Elder Wang. Elder Wang said that he would reinforce the Gates of the Profound Female in various locations, and would also establish an Immortal Array outside the previous Gate of the Profound Female. Even if an Immortal Lord rashly entered, they would face a killing calamity, and could only retreat if they respectfully begged for mercy.

In the forbidden zone for ten thousand years, Elder Wang had deeply studied many things to an extremely profound level.

Immortal Arrays were one of them.

Chess like formations, formations like chess.

Seeing Lee Hao so confident, Feng Boping breathed a sigh of relief. He knew Lee Hao wasn't one to be arrogant. He must have had absolute certainty to say such a thing.

"Elder Feng, do you know where the Divine Race is located?"

Lee Hao asked.

He had not forgotten the Emperor Palace's commission. Of the three direct disciples, one had completely perished, and the other two's soul-hearts had not withered. If he could find Ying Xiaoxiao and confirm that she was indeed the Goddess Shí Miǎo, Lee Hao would send her to the Emperor Palace, rather than choosing to harm her secretly.

"The Divine Race…"

Feng Boping shook his head slightly, saying, "Since the great calamity, only the Divine King has appeared. The whereabouts of the Divine Race are probably only known to the Divine King. In the five years while we waited for you, we did think about the Divine Race, but we searched everywhere and couldn't find any trace of them."

"Back then, when the Divine King was sealed, the Divine Race hid themselves. No one in the Heavens knows. If the Divine Race wants to hide, they are very difficult to find."

Lee Hao felt a bit helpless. It was indeed the case, the Divine Race could be considered experienced in hiding.

After bidding farewell to Elder Feng, Lee Hao found Elder Wang and explained the matter to him.

"You know the whereabouts of Miss Shí Miǎo?"

Upon hearing Lee Hao's words, Elder Wang, who always had a calm and smiling demeanor, almost jumped up in shock, looking at Lee Hao excitedly, "Really? Are you sure?"

"We can only be sure after finding her."

Seeing his delighted and flustered appearance, Lee Hao couldn't help but laugh, finding it amusing.

"Oh, oh…"

Elder Wang also came back to his senses, suddenly realizing he had been so excited in front of Lee Hao, feeling a little out of composure. But seeing Lee Hao's smiling face, showing no anger, he felt a sense of ease. In the few years they had spent together, this young man had always seemed as detached and refined as a chrysanthemum in his heart.

"Let me search," Elder Wang said, then closed his eyes.

Around his body, Lee Hao immediately felt waves of powerful law energy envelop him. These energies surrounded his body, then seemed to isolate him from the heavens and earth, forming an independent domain. This domain was profound, and its laws extended out like meridians, merging with the Heavenly Dao power in the outside world.

As he continuously emanated vast pressure, Lee Hao stood quietly outside, waiting.

A moment later, Elder Wang opened his eyes, but the law energy around him did not dissipate, only a look of puzzlement appeared as he said, "The person you mentioned seems to be no longer in this realm."

Lee Hao was stunned. Before he could say anything, Elder Wang said, "Let me search again."

He then closed his eyes again. In the Immortal Dao laws surging around his body, the light of sun, moon, and stars emerged, as if he were standing in an independent starry sky.

As those stars and moons revolved, countless rune-like powers flew and spun. After a moment, Elder Wang opened his eyes, his brow furrowed tightly.

"I didn't find her, but I seem to have found traces of time fluctuations. It seems what you said should be true. It's just that, the other party may have gone to the True World."

"The True World?"

Lee Hao was taken aback, then said, "But the Gate of the Profound Female is always guarded."

"There is more than one gap leading to the True World. And at one Gate of the Profound Female, there are traces of time fluctuations. Perhaps she mastered some of the Goddess Shí Miǎo's power and traveled out from there. According to your description, the person you saw is likely the reincarnation of Goddess Shí Miǎo. When in danger, perhaps a tiny portion of her power awakened, allowing her to escape…"

Elder Wang said in a deep voice.

Lee Hao's eyes flickered, thinking of Ying Xiaoxiao's voice and smile, he asked, "If she recovers her identity as Goddess Shí Miǎo, will she still be my friend?"

"Hard to say, but the memories of her reincarnation should not disappear, unless she reincarnates again," Elder Wang said, "But now that reincarnation has collapsed, all reincarnations are pseudo-reincarnations, not true reincarnation."

"Pseudo-reincarnation?"

Lee Hao was taken aback.

There was a distinction between true and false reincarnation?

Elder Wang shook his head but did not elaborate. That involved some terrifying secrets that only direct disciples of the Immortal Emperor were allowed to know. Otherwise, knowing it would bring Lee Hao no benefit.

"If she went to the True World, then to find her, we can only go to the True World as soon as possible."

Elder Wang's expression turned solemn and serious, "While there are still traces of time fluctuations, I can barely capture them. The longer it takes, the harder it will be to find her. According to you, the other party is only Saint-level. In a place like the True World, I'm afraid…"

"If she reincarnates again, even if she recovers into Goddess Shí Miǎo in the future, she may not remember the memories of this life."

"And if she reincarnates, it is unknown where she would reincarnate to."

Lee Hao sensed his urgency and understood Elder Wang's intentions.

He was slightly silent. He had originally thought he could find Ying Xiaoxiao in the Heavens and send her to the Emperor Palace, but now he had to go to the True World immediately.

He had just returned and wanted to spend more time with Elder Feng and the others.

Seeming to see through Lee Hao's thoughts, Elder Wang said, "If you want to accompany your friends, you can ask them for their thoughts. If they are willing, bring them to the True World together, and you can also look after them along the way."

"That's true."

Lee Hao's heart stirred. He immediately found Elder Feng, Lin Qingying, and others, gathering them all together.

"You plan to go to the True World?"

Feng Boping and others were slightly surprised to hear Lee Hao's words, but not too astonished.

After all, with Lee Hao's talent, these Heavens were too small for him.

Now that Lee Hao was already a True Immortal, it was natural for him to go to the broader world of the True World to venture out.

"If you're going, I'll go too," Feng Boping said directly before Lee Hao could explain the urgent reason.

Sword Master wore a smile, maintaining his elegance and casualness, saying, "The reason we didn't go to the True World before was to look after your body and planned to go in a few years. Since you're fine, we should also venture into the True World, lest we suffer such grievances again."

His words reminded everyone of the pressure from the three True Immortals earlier. A hint of coldness emerged in their eyes.

Having experienced the ancient demon calamity and Lee Hao's death, and then the suppression by True Immortals, such successive pressures, even if they originally had the intention to live a peaceful life, at this moment, they all developed a strong fighting spirit, wanting to cultivate and control their own destiny.

"This old man won't go. I'll stay here to guard our home," Saint Mitian waved his hand with a smile, saying, "When you are tired and come back, come find me for tea."

Ever since what happened in the past, his desire for cultivation had faded.

"I want to go," Lin Qingying said to Lee Hao, her eyes extremely determined.

Lee Hao felt her persistence in her eyes, and said softly, "It's too dangerous there."

"As long as I can see you, no matter how dangerous it is, I'm not afraid."

Lin Qingying looked up, staring directly at Lee Hao.

Lee Hao's heart trembled, and he fell slightly silent, saying, "After I find a friend there, I will come back."

Lin Qingying shook her head slightly, seemingly having made up her mind and would not change it.

Others also spoke up one after another, expressing their desire to go to the True World.

Chi Guang, Lin Shu Hai and others, who had just reached the Half-Saint realm, also wanted to go to the True World to broaden their horizons, looking at Lee Hao with expressions that were both reserved and hopeful.

Seeing that they were all willing to go, Lee Hao nodded and said, "Then let's go together."

With Lee Hao's decisive decision, cheers erupted throughout the room.

…

The next day, Lee Hao, together with Elder Wang, took everyone to the True World.

Apart from Elder Feng and others, Saint Ming and Saint Mu and others did not plan to go to the True World immediately. After they came out, they quickly inquired about the outside situation and learned that there would be many opportunities for them to go to the True World with their strength in the future.

Having not seized the opportunity to befriend Lee Hao in the forbidden zone, even if they traveled together now, it would be difficult to make further progress. Moreover, having been away from the Heavens for too long, they all wanted to stay in their hometowns for a while longer.

As for Hua Saint, You Saint, and others, as Lee Hao's Immortal Guards, they needed to accompany Lee Hao unless Lee Hao ordered them to stay behind to guard.

As they set off, Half-Saints and Enlightenment Realm experts from various holy lands came to see them off like a surging tide.

With the departure of the Saints, Half-Saints were now the top experts within the various holy lands, capable of guarding their holy lands.

In the ancient starry palace, Lee Hao and Elder Wang walked together, arriving at this place.

Eight Half-Saints were guarding here, receiving Immortal Gods from the True World. They also received the news that Lee Hao and others were heading to the True World.

"Saint Haotian!"

"Greetings, Saint Haotian."

The eight Half-Saints saw Lee Hao and stood up one after another, bowing respectfully. Some even performed a grand salute on their knees, despite being Half-Saints themselves.

During the previous ancient demon calamity, Lee Hao had turned the tide and saved the Heavens. This matter had spread throughout the Heavens over the past five years. Countless people had seen the tragic scene of the young man in the projection, perishing together with the True Immortal Realm ancient demon in the forbidden zone.

In the holy lands of the Heavens, statues of Lee Hao had been erected for disciples to worship.

Lee Hao bid farewell to them, then together with Elder Wang, took Sword Master, Elder Feng, and many others towards the True World.

Arriving in the True World once again, the desolate scene entered their sight. But unlike the last time, in the distance, they saw figures of True Immortals flying and wielding swords.

Previously, Lee Hao had given instructions, and Elder Wang had taken action to kill a batch of True Immortals who had caused trouble in the Heavens. But in the True World, there were still many forces, including some rogue True Immortals, who had heard about the "false world" and knew that Heavenly Palace had opened up this place. They all wanted to come to this ancient battlefield forbidden zone to explore, and also to take a look at the Immortal Emperor's false world.

"Let them wait a moment, I will set up an array here," Elder Wang said to Lee Hao.

Lee Hao nodded, and then took Elder Feng, Sword Master, and others to rest and wait aside.

Elder Wang raised his hand and condensed streams of light like silver runes, forming the array bases of the Immortal Array in the void.

"This is the True World?"

Feng Boping and others looked around, surveying the area.

This was their first time here, and they felt particularly fresh and amazed.

This True World was more desolate and dilapidated than they had imagined.

Lee Hao explained the reason to them, and they then learned that this was an ancient battlefield.

At this moment, True Immortals flew over on their swords from afar, traversing the ancient road canyon, and landing outside the Gate of the Profound Female.

"Hmm? A group of Saints?"

Four True Immortals landed. The True Immortal power they had previously concealed was now slightly revealed. Their gazes swept towards Lee Hao and Feng Boping and others. They noticed that Lee Hao was a True Immortal Realm, but only at the first level of True Immortality.

"Only True Immortal level one, and he's here to recruit people?"

The young True Immortal sensed Lee Hao's cultivation level, slightly raising his eyebrows. His gaze swept across and instantly landed on Lin Qingying.

He sensed that this woman possessed an extremely strong sword intent Dao Embryo within her body. That Dao Embryo was extremely mysterious, seemingly existing yet not, seemingly non-existent yet not nothing, similar to some supreme Dao Embryo he had heard of.

(End of Chapter)