Chapter 506: Origin Dao Fruit

"Then this is indeed the most competitive time."

Li Hao said.

The others have all just arrived in Origin City to contend for the spiritual bursts. Once the number of people decreases later, the competition won't be so intense.

"Indeed."

"Then I'll borrow a spot from you, Senior."

Li Hao said.

The old man was somewhat surprised but nodded and said, "Go ahead."

Li Hao sat down on the ground right then and there, ignoring the five sky-piercing beams of light. Instead, he formed sword energy with his fingers and started to carefully sculpt the section of tree root in his hand.

The old man observed Li Hao's focused expression, a strange look appearing on his face. He obviously hadn't expected someone to ignore the divine tree's spiritual bursts and do other leisurely things here instead.

Having nothing else to do, he casually cast his fishing line, but his gaze fell on Li Hao's hands, observing his sculpting.

Li Hao was gradually becoming engrossed. His Dao Domain surrounded him, with Dao Insights of Time-Space, Water, Fire, and Earth converging within it, creating absolute tranquility and peace around him, preventing any disturbance.

Sword energy carved into the tree root, gradually revealing outlines and a divine aura. The sculpting was like painting, and the painting like sculpting.

Li Hao's Path of Painting had already reached level 11, while his Path of Sculpting was only level 10.

At this moment, the many insights from the Path of Painting also converged at his fingertips.

However, having previously used painting to comprehend the Space Dao, Li Hao was now even more focused on feeling the Dao Insight brought by this sculpting.

In the blink of an eye, the divine tree gradually became exquisite, radiating a divine aura and precious light. This section of severed tree root gradually transformed in Li Hao's hands into the shape of a woman with flowing robes.

This woman was none other than Lin Qingying.

Her eyes were clear and serene, lifelike, as if vividly standing in Li Hao's palm.

"Oh?"

The old man's eyes showed surprise when he saw the sculpted figure. He immediately recognized the extreme skill in Li Hao's sculpting, placing him at a rather remarkable level even among the many powerful figures he had seen.

Before long, as the final touch to the eyes was completed, Li Hao felt a sense of awakening, finally realizing where he was.

He had been so absorbed in sculpting that he had forgotten everything else.

Looking at the Lin Qingying sculpture, which was full of divine aura and seemed to have Great Dao energy flowing around it, Li Hao's eyes flickered, and he began to sculpt again.

Soon, the wooden sculpture of Lin Qingying held a sword in her hand. The sword was drawn but seemed to be merely held horizontally in the void.

Around the sword, sharp Dao light radiated, clearly the Void Sword Dao that Lin Qingying practiced.

To be precise, it was the Swordless Dao.

The surprise in the old man's eyes deepened. Sculpting the woman herself wasn't particularly rare, but being able to sculpt her mastery of the Great Dao as well was extremely terrifying.

"It seems your sculpting has entered the Dao."

He said softly.

Li Hao came back to his senses and smiled at the old man. Then he examined the sculpture in his hand. The smile on his face slowly faded.

This sculpture was extremely perfect, but for some reason, he felt it was still missing something.

Earlier, while sculpting, he had felt the texture within this section of divine wood, containing the aura of the Wood Dao origin.

And in the process of sculpting, he seemed to have gradually understood a little, but it wasn't enough.

"True sculpting should perhaps be natural and flawless…"

"The original growth of the divine wood is itself natural sculpting…"

A realization dawned in Li Hao's eyes, and he seemed to understand something. He quickly got up and went to cut another section of divine wood. Then, feeling a little embarrassed, he said to the old man,

"Senior, may I borrow another section?"

"It's alright, take as much as you like."

The old man seemed to see something and smiled, speaking calmly.

Li Hao breathed a sigh of relief, clasped his fist in thanks, then put away the Lin Qingying sculpture and began sculpting again.

This time, he thought of Elder Wang, and then of Ying Xiaoxiao, whom Elder Wang had gone to pursue.

He thought of their first meeting at the roadside tea stall, where she stood gracefully in the wind, smiling and saying that her surname was Ying, from "have requests, must respond," and her given name was Xiao, from "unrestrained and free."

The laughter that rippled in the wind and the girl's unrestrained spirit made him smile knowingly now.

The Great Dao power in his hands fluctuated. This time, he no longer used sword energy for sculpting, but the Origin of Time.

Time flowed slowly and swiftly across the divine wood, like a caress, and the divine wood changed accordingly.

The divine light on it bloomed, the wood grain cracked and twisted, gradually extending into lines, finally forming the figure of a woman.

The woman's outline gradually became clear, green leaves bloomed on the divine wood, gradually splitting and transforming into her black hair.

When the old man saw this change, a hint of solemnity appeared in his eyes, and then a faint, almost imperceptible smile slowly appeared at the corner of his mouth.

He seemed to have not misjudged the person… He quietly watched Li Hao sculpting.

Sculpting with time, the process was not fast. Time swept around Li Hao. When Li Hao finished sculpting, the old man looked at the woman's appearance, and his eyes slightly narrowed.

Huff… Li Hao exhaled lightly, looking at the sculpture in his hand, satisfaction in his eyes.

At this moment, he noticed that the divine light cast by the five beams of light above his head had disappeared. Looking up, he saw that the five divine trees had returned to normal.

"It's over?"

Li Hao asked in surprise.

"More than a month has passed."

The old man said.

Li Hao was stunned. "I've been sculpting for a month?"

"Yes." The old man nodded slightly, looking at the sculpture in Li Hao's hand, and said, "Where did you see this woman? Who is she to you?"

Li Hao looked at Ying Xiaoxiao and said, "A friend, I suppose."

"A friend…"

The old man narrowed his eyes slightly and said, "When did you meet her? This little girl is not simple."

"You know her?"

Li Hao's heart stirred. He immediately thought of Ying Xiaoxiao's previous life, the Divine Maiden Shi Miao who had dominated the True World under the Celestial Emperor Tianyang ten thousand years ago.

This old man could live in Origin City, so mysteriously, he must know not Ying Xiaoxiao, but her previous life, or rather her original form.

"A former heavenly prodigy, a Divine Maiden who dominated the True World, making the younger generation unable to lift their heads. Those who could stand shoulder to shoulder with her, in the entire True World, could be counted on one hand. The others were also extremely powerful figures, with the potential to become Celestial Emperors and reach the pinnacle of the True World. It's a pity…"

The old man shook his head.

Li Hao's eyes flickered and said, "In that case, Senior, you were here ten thousand years ago?"

The old man smiled but didn't answer. He only said, "You seem to be using this minor skill to comprehend the Great Dao."

Seeing that he was unwilling to answer, Li Hao didn't press further. He had a general idea in his mind and said, "Comprehending the Great Dao is just incidental. I only want to pursue a higher realm of sculpting."

"Haha…"

The old man couldn't help but laugh out loud when he heard Li Hao's words. Comprehending the Great Dao was just incidental, and sculpting was the main thing?

He laughed heartily and said, "You can say this to me, but if you say it outside, you'll get beaten up."

Li Hao also realized that his words were a bit too provocative and said sheepishly, "Please forgive me, Senior."

"However, although your Path is minor, it seems to be somewhat extraordinary."

After laughing, the old man suddenly stopped smiling, his expression becoming meaningful. "A Celestial Emperor once said, 'Using a minor path to reach the Heavenly Dao' might describe your situation. Moreover, although your minor path is insignificant, I can actually see the shadow of two Great Daos within it. This is a bit unusual."

"Using a minor path to reach the Heavenly Dao?"

Li Hao was taken aback, his eyes lighting up. He felt a sense of pleasant surprise at finding a kindred spirit, and asked, "What was that Celestial Emperor called?"

"He has long since fallen. His name is buried in the river of time. It is best not to disturb it."

The old man shook his head and said to Li Hao, "You can cultivate to this level, perhaps your path of cultivation is correct, somewhat similar to that Celestial Emperor."

Seeing that the old man was unwilling to reveal more, Li Hao had no choice but to stop asking. He could inquire further from Elder Wang when they met again.

"Perhaps."

Li Hao said. He suddenly thought that through fishing, he could comprehend the Time Dao, and in the Path of Painting, there were even the subtle principles of the Space Dao, Water Dao, and Earth Dao. This was simply terrifying.

One should know that among the Nine Orders, the Five Elements—Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth—could extend into many Great Daos, which is why they could become the Nine Orders.

But now, the art he cultivated, one single art, actually contained three of the Nine Order Daos.

This art seemed to be far more powerful than he had imagined. If measured by the Nine Order Daos, it was even of a higher level.

"Perhaps, there is some kind of cultivation in this world, where by only cultivating one art, one can comprehend the Nine Orders, even the True Laws of Ten Thousand Daos…"

This thought suddenly emerged in Li Hao's mind, but then a flash of inspiration suddenly struck his brain, and he suddenly shivered.

If there truly was a kind of "cultivation," or rather "art," that, if completely mastered, could allow one to comprehend the Nine Orders, then wouldn't that be… life itself?

And the essence of life is reincarnation!

Li Hao suddenly felt a sense of unease. The ancient demon woman Mi Xueyao he had encountered before possessed fragments of reincarnation. He had also heard that the ancient demons had emerged from reincarnation, and the destruction of reincarnation led to the release of the ancient demons.

All of this seemed to be connected in some way…

"What are you thinking about?"

The old man's voice brought Li Hao back to his senses.

Li Hao reacted, put away the Ying Xiaoxiao sculpture in his hand, and shook his head. "It's nothing. Um, Senior… can I take another section of tree root?"

The old man chuckled and said, "Take it if you wish."

Li Hao repeatedly thanked him and cut another section of tree root. Then, he used his immortal energy to infuse the divine wood.

The divine wood absorbed immortal energy like a bottomless pit. Li Hao kept pouring it in, but found that it still couldn't be filled, which surprised him somewhat.

But he didn't stop. Instead, he used the ultimate state of the Chu's Star Meridian Technique, drawing starlight from all over his body, extending like meridians, continuously sending immortal energy into the divine tree.

There were no stars in this Origin World, but this Star Meridian Technique seemed to extend through the Origin Secret Realm to another time-space.

"Ultimate state?"

When the old man saw the starlight around Li Hao, a look of shock appeared in his eyes. Obviously, Li Hao's performance exceeded his expectations. Being only in the True Immortal Realm, he had actually cultivated the ultimate state.

Once one mastered the Star Meridian Technique, they would have a constant flow of immortal energy, making them tireless monsters on the battlefield.

How terrifying would such a person be if they were in the Immortal King Realm?

A tireless Immortal King Realm cultivator would be an invincible existence on the battlefield, surpassing millions of immortal soldiers!

With the continuous flow of immortal energy, Li Hao kept supplying energy for three days and three nights. Only then did a trace of new life appear at the broken point of the divine wood.

Seeing this, Li Hao was greatly shocked. The nurturing of this golden divine wood seemed to exceed his imagination.

"Just do your thing, don't waste time."

The old man smiled and advised Li Hao, "If you wait until you heal this tree, it's estimated that your time here will be over."

"But Senior…" Li Hao was immediately troubled. That was true, but if he stopped, it would be like taking the other party's divine tree for nothing.

"This old man has time, I can do it slowly myself."

The old man said to Li Hao, "You young people are still young, take advantage of your youth to do more useful things. Let me do this kind of time-consuming work."

Li Hao couldn't help but feel ashamed and apologetic and said, "Senior, I'm afraid I can hardly repay this kindness."

"You will have the opportunity."

The old man smiled and said, "With your talent, if you don't fall prematurely, you will have a chance to explore that highest position in the future. If you still remember this kindness by then, it won't be too late to repay it."

Li Hao smiled wryly. He himself didn't dare to think about becoming a Celestial Emperor.

But since the other party said so, he had no choice but to clasp his fists in thanks, secretly remembering this favor in his heart.

Then, he was about to continue cross-legged sculpting.

But at this moment, suddenly a powerful aura flew over, approaching in an instant, crossing the void.

A young man in a royal robe, with a noble bearing, stood with his hands behind his back, hovering in the sky above the golden tree.

His gaze also fell on Li Hao and the old man. He raised an eyebrow, obviously not expecting anyone else to be here besides himself.

When he saw that Li Hao was only in the True Immortal Realm, the surprise in his eyes disappeared, turning indifferent. His gaze shifted to examine this golden divine tree.

The old man also saw this person, but his expression was calm, without saying a word.

At this moment, the young man in the royal robe circled the divine tree once, his brow slightly furrowed, and said, "Where is the divine tree Dao fruit on this tree?"

His gaze turned to Li Hao, a sharp light shooting from his eyes, "Boy, did you eat it?"

"What?"

Li Hao was stunned, feeling the powerful majesty gradually emanating from the other party. His expression suddenly became serious. The other party was in the Immortal Lord Realm, and his aura was much stronger than Chu Tianzheng, whom he had defeated before, seemingly on par with Chu Tianhuang.

"Humph, something you are worthy of defiling? You're courting death!"

The young man in the royal robe showed murderous intent in his eyes, divine light blooming in his palm. He was about to use immortal laws to suppress and kill Li Hao directly.

But at this moment, the old man beside him slowly opened his mouth and said, "He has not eaten your Origin Dao Fruit. Do not wantonly commit evil here."

The young man in the royal robe looked at the old man, his eyes narrowed, his expression becoming a bit solemn. But he suddenly clasped his fist and said, "Senior, could it be that you are the true form of this Origin Divine Tree?"

"True form? Origin Divine Tree?"

Li Hao looked at this old man, thinking of Taotie's words, and his heart couldn't help but be secretly shocked. Was this golden divine tree in front of him really the Origin Divine Tree?

But there were already five Origin Divine Trees in the city, each corresponding to the Five Elements: Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth. What was this one?

"Your ancestor told you, right? Your aura is very similar to that little brat back then. I didn't expect…"

Disappointment and regret appeared in the old man's eyes.

Once, there was a young man, also as monstrous as the young man in front of him, with Nine Petal Immortal Marks and the Space-Time Dao around him, who had come to this Five Elements Origin City.

He had attracted him, taught him the Dao arts, wanting to add a chance for him to become a Celestial Emperor.

That young man who had been cautious and grateful to him, had left this place many years ago. He hadn't expected that now, the descendant of that person would come here and directly demand the divine tree Dao fruit.

Was it that the young man back then had changed, or was it that his descendants were inherently like this?

But he believed the former more. After all, in royal families, subordinates were always obedient to their powerful elders…

"Senior, I have Nine Petal Immortal Marks, and I aspire to become a Celestial Emperor. I hope Senior will bestow upon me an opportunity, and I will surely repay you handsomely in the future!"

The young man clasped his fist towards the old man, speaking solemnly.

The old man sighed inwardly and shook his head. "The Origin Dao Fruit is gone. I'm afraid I can't give you this opportunity. You should go back to the city and comprehend the Daos."

"Senior, I came with sincerity. My Jinyun Celestial Dynasty will surely produce a Supreme Being in the future. Please bestow an opportunity!"

The young man said earnestly, but these words seemed to carry a hint of coercion.

The old man's face darkened slightly, and he said, "Leave this place, or try to seize it."

The young man stared at the old man, but disappointment appeared in his eyes and said, "Senior, please don't regret it. I will not attack Senior's main body, so you cannot attack me either. Since the Origin Dao Fruit has been eaten by this kid, then I will make him spit it out!"

As he spoke, he turned his head to look at Li Hao, murderous intent suddenly bursting out in his eyes, and directly slapped his palm down towards Li Hao.

Obviously, he also saw Li Hao's extraordinary nature. Being able to come to Origin City and having fluctuations of the Space-Time Dao around him, he was definitely a monstrous prodigy.

This Origin Divine Tree was confused, giving the Origin Dao Fruit to this young man. It could only be said that it had misjudged.

"Die!"

He uttered a single word, and the laws of immortality suppressed, endless killing intent suddenly attacking from the surrounding void.

This sudden change, although Li Hao had anticipated it, still changed his expression.

Origin Dao Fruit?

The other party said that if he didn't attack the divine tree, he wouldn't be attacked by it?

Then, wasn't his previous act of cutting tree roots considered attacking the divine tree?

He suddenly understood. No wonder this old man was willing to let him cut the roots. It seemed he was letting him break the rules first. If he didn't comply with him or took any other presumptuous actions, the other party could forcefully attack him!

Thinking of this, his expression changed slightly, feeling somewhat uncomfortable.

He had just felt grateful to the other party, but he hadn't expected there to be calculations hidden within.

However, he had no time to think about this now. Feeling the intense killing intent surging from all directions, Li Hao's entire body seemed to tremble.

This young man was definitely not a simple Immortal Lord Realm cultivator, but a top-level monster among them!

Heaven and Earth Dharma Form!

Divine light bloomed in Li Hao's eyes, his extreme state erupted, and Nine Petal Immortal Marks also emerged on his forehead. At this moment, he couldn't afford to hold back anything, directly unleashing his full power.

Bang!

Along with the fusion of his Dharma Form and himself, immortal power suddenly vibrated. Using the Battle Heaven Imperial Law from the Heaven-Following Ancestral Scripture, he unleashed an attack, immortal power amplified ninefold, and the Azure Heaven Sword Technique was swung out.

Brilliant sword intent seemed to flatten the surrounding forest within a hundred li, flashing past in an instant, cutting through the void, actually tearing a gap in the deathly immortal laws that were sealing him off.

His figure broke free, his hair flying, staring in shock and anger at the young man.

"Hmm?"

The young man also seemed not to have expected that this True Immortal Realm ninth-level guy could actually break through his attack.

The power and amplification that erupted in that instant surprised him, a look of shock appearing in his eyes.

When he clearly saw Li Hao's profound aura, he finally realized that this True Immortal Realm fellow was extremely talented, and the immortal techniques and methods he had mastered were not to be underestimated. He might even be able to kill ordinary Immortal Lord Realm cultivators!

A True Immortal Realm cultivator defying realms to kill an Immortal Lord, even the most ordinary Immortal Lord Realm cultivator, was unbelievably incredible!

A cold intent appeared in his eyes. He increasingly believed that the Origin Dao Fruit had been bestowed upon this young man by the divine tree's main body. Immortal power surged in his body, and a Dharma Form phantom also emerged behind him, raising his hand and pressing down towards Li Hao.

"Eight Directions Thunder Annihilation!"

The massive palm seemed to contain endless thunder hells, so dense that they were pitch black.

"Quickly hide in the divine tree, he won't dare to hurt you!"

The old man's voice suddenly sounded quickly in Li Hao's mind.

Li Hao was slightly taken aback, a hint of hesitation flashing in his eyes, but in the end, he still dashed towards the golden tree trunk like a teleport.

The young man's expression changed, and he shouted in alarm and anger, "Get out!"

Seeing his expression, Li Hao felt certain in his heart and said, "We have no grievances or animosity. You are going too far!"

"Taking things you shouldn't take, that is not your opportunity, but your calamity!"

The young man said coldly.

Seeing that the other party was convinced that he had taken the Origin Dao Fruit, Li Hao was too lazy to explain. The more he explained, the less clear it would become.

He said coldly, "What's your name? Jinyun Celestial Dynasty, right? I'll remember it!"

"What, you still want to retaliate against me?"

The young man couldn't help but sneer when he heard Li Hao's words.

But seeing Li Hao hiding on the tree trunk, his expression became somewhat ugly. He knew that the other party had found this shelter and would definitely not come out for the time being.

"Senior, if you drive him out, my Jinyun Celestial Dynasty will still befriend you in the future." The young man turned to the old man and said.

The old man shook his head and said, "Leave, and don't waste time here."

"You really want to choose such a guy with no background?" The young man's face darkened.

"That's my business."

The old man said coldly.

The young man's face sank. He turned to look at Li Hao, and the murderous intent in his eyes was undisguised and said, "Since you know I am from the Jinyun Celestial Dynasty, then remember my name, Jin Fengling! Remember to come and find me!"

Hearing his arrogant words, Li Hao knew that he was deliberately leaving his name, luring him to retaliate. This was a display of strong confidence, and since the other party had already revealed his identity, even without leaving his name, he could still track him down.

He didn't speak, just memorized the other party's appearance.

Jin Fengling didn't say anything more, flicked his sleeves, snorted coldly, and flew away, returning to Origin City.

(End of chapter)