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Chapter 361: This Is Real
🕑 Added 2024-10-20 06:22:39 +0000 UTC"You're really going to ambush a junior, aren't you afraid of being ridiculed?"
Huang Tian Sheng sneered but showed no signs of weakness. Suddenly, her Saint Dao manifested, transforming her into a massive eagle.
Her Saint Dao's manifestation could change forms at will. At this moment, she transformed into a hundred-zhang-long majestic eagle, attacking the Buddha Lord's manifestation, deliberately trying to disrupt the Buddha Lord's heart of compassion by invoking the legend of the Buddha feeding an eagle with his own flesh.
"All forms are illusory, all are but emptiness!"
The Buddha Lord murmured, then suddenly struck out, aiming to annihilate the enormous eagle.
"All forms are emptiness? Then why is there still demonic intent? Your bald Saint Dao only seeks incense donations under a grand name. For the sake of incense, you resort to any means. How can you hope to become a Supreme Saint?"
Huang Tian Sheng scoffed as her manifestation shifted. The eagle's sharp claws slashed through the air, its wings emitting beams of golden light, engaging in a fierce battle with the Buddha Lord's manifestation, causing the surrounding void to churn violently.
The Buddha Lord's face remained cold, ignoring her taunts as he focused entirely on attacking.
The two of them unleashed their Saint Daos, tearing the sky apart, shredding the void into a forbidden zone. Even the slightest touch of this battle would cause a Dao Realm cultivator to perish, reduced to ashes.
"A mere path of lies, daring to criticize the Buddha!"
The Twin-Buddha Child watched the battle between the two Saints, his gaze cold and ruthless. Though he was still in his reincarnated form, he had nearly absorbed the entirety of his previous life's memories. Within him existed the arrogance of a Saint, mixed with the obsessions of his current life's desires.
Huang Tian Sheng seemed to hear the Twin-Buddha Child's words. She glanced at him sharply, her gaze as cold as blades piercing through the air:
"A mere reincarnated body dares to lecture me? In all of heaven and earth, without the path of deception, how could one ever discern the true self? Even the heavens can deceive, let alone you!"
With that, she quickly formed a seal, casting her divine power and unleashing her Saint Dao's domain, enveloping the Buddha Lord within.
In that domain, countless sword and blade lights appeared, along with strange and terrifying manifestations, all rushing toward the Buddha Lord's manifestation.
One thought, a thousand deceptions. One thought, a thousand realities.
In her hands, Speech and Will Become Reality was brought to its extreme.
The cold, blade-like light she had directed at the Twin-Buddha Child was suddenly shattered by a Buddha palm. The Buddha Lord's cold gaze targeted her as he tried to subtly shift the battlefield away.
Huang Tian Sheng, pretending not to notice, followed him as they continued to clash.
Meanwhile, the Twin-Buddha Child locked his gaze onto Li Hao's dark-side doppelgänger.
A murderous intent flashed in his eyes as he examined Li Hao. Was it a clone or the true body? One fight would reveal the truth.
"I let you escape the Buddhist Sect before, but now I will deliver your redemption!"
With a roar of fury, the Twin-Buddha Child unleashed his full power, revealing all of his extreme realms. His Saint Dao's embryonic form emerged, and with the combined power of Buddha and demon within him, he released a devastating palm aimed at Li Hao.
At the same time, cold light flickered in the eyes of Li Hao's dark-side doppelgänger.
Though it was only a clone, Li Hao had commanded it to fight with all its strength if met with opposition.
The dark-side doppelgänger immediately unleashed its power. While it only inherited a third of Li Hao's strength, it could still access Tongli Extreme Realm and wield that power.
Since Li Hao's main body had already reached the Ultimate Realm, even a third of his power was sufficient to activate the extreme realm.
With his body glowing with golden light, the dark-side doppelgänger absorbed the energy of heaven and earth. He raised his hand, and at his fingertips, an intensely sharp sword intent materialized!
That sword intent carried the essence of Wuwei Sword Dao, along with the devastating power of the Immortal's Guidance sword technique!
As these two forces fused at his fingertips, a palpable, dreadful energy filled the air.
The Twin-Buddha Child's expression shifted, but then a look of joy flickered in his eyes.
With such power, such presence, it had to be the true body!
"Die!"
He howled with fury, his face twisted like a ferocious demon, as he charged in with reckless abandon.
Suppressing his Buddha nature and unleashing his demonic side, he had to reconcile both to perfect his cultivation.
Boom!
As the Twin-Buddha Child rushed at Li Hao, his radiant Buddha palm, as dazzling as the Buddha Lord's own hand, crashed forward.
In the next moment, an extraordinary beam of sword light descended from the heavens, slicing through the Buddha palm.
In the blink of an eye, it severed the Saint Dao's embryonic form, cutting apart the Buddha and demon forces within the Twin-Buddha Child. The sword intent pressed forward, driving straight toward his body.
The Twin-Buddha Child's pupils shrank. The sword's power...
He hurriedly tried to retreat into the Return to Ruins, but the ethereal sword light broke through the pathway, forcing him out, slashing across his body.
Boom! With a resounding crash, the sword's force tore his body apart, reducing him to a pool of blood. The bones in his limbs shattered from the impact, leaving him in a state of complete disarray.
In the blink of an eye, only a pool of blood remained in the void. However, the dark-side doppelgänger had expended all of its strength in this attack. Without the support of the Heavenly Stars Meridian, the one sword strike had drained all of its power, and it could not recover quickly.
Thus, the doppelgänger could only watch as the blood pooled and reassembled into the Twin-Buddha Child's form once again.
Though his body had reformed through Blood Rebirth, a lingering sword mark had been imprinted on his soul.
This sword mark was faint but persistent, a shadow that refused to dissipate.
The Twin-Buddha Child had come to kill Li Hao and transcend his heart demon, but instead, he failed to eliminate his target and added a new scar to his Saint Dao, another obstacle to his path.
"You!"
The Twin-Buddha Child's fury was palpable, but he suddenly noticed that the doppelgänger's aura had significantly weakened, and a wild grin spread across his face.
"Such an extraordinary sword strike drained all your strength. No wonder it was so powerful. This sword technique... Could you be the one who comprehended the sword shadow at Wangyue Cliff?"
As he spoke, his gaze turned cold, and he stepped into the Return to Ruins again, intent on finishing off the weakened doppelgänger.
However, just as he closed in on the dark-side doppelgänger, it disappeared, and in its place appeared Huang Tian Sheng, who unleashed a sharp, umbrella-shaped treasure straight toward the Twin-Buddha Child.
The Twin-Buddha Child's pupils contracted, his expression one of shock.
Just as the weapon was about to pierce him, a low, enraged voice rang out. The Buddha Lord appeared, his face twisted in anger. He had realized that Huang Tian Sheng had deceived him earlier, hiding her true body while sending a clone to distract him, leaving her true self here to eliminate the Twin-Buddha Child.
Boom!
The Buddha Lord raised his hand, deflecting the umbrella-shaped weapon, and pulled the Twin-Buddha Child to safety.
"This is the real one!"
The Twin-Buddha Child quickly transmitted his voice.
The Buddha Lord's eyes brightened as he examined the young man being protected by Huang Tian Sheng. Earlier, he had sensed the sword that had nearly killed the Twin-Buddha Child, and indeed, this must be the true Li Hao.
However, he maintained his composure, showing no sign of triumph. He whispered to the Twin-Buddha Child, "I will hold them off. Summon the Void Saint and the others. If she continues to defend him, it will be difficult to kill him."
Huang Tian Sheng, having transcended the Three Disasters, was a formidable Saint. In a direct confrontation, they were evenly matched. But with the arrival of the Void Saint and the others, the balance would tip in their favor.
As per their prior plan, the Buddha Lord silently sent a message.
Back on the flying vessel.
Li Hao continued his relaxed game of chess with Hong Yue. The other Saints and disciples aboard glanced frequently in their direction. Ever since Li Hao had made his name on the Heavens Battleground, they all knew that this young man was the renowned Hao Tian.
They had received hints from their own masters that this journey would be fraught with danger, particularly for Li Hao, whose life might be at risk.
The presence of Yuan Zhou, a Saint of the Mo Family, served as confirmation of their suspicions. This made them feel both uneasy and strangely excited.
Halfway through their journey, the void ahead began to ripple
as two figures suddenly emerged, stepping into the path of the flying vessel.
The figures stood tall, surrounded by the flow of Dao rhythms, as if they were pillars connecting the heavens and the earth, instantly drawing everyone's attention.
"Saints!"
The people aboard the flying vessel gasped in shock, their faces instantly turning pale with tension.
As expected, Saints had come to ambush them. It was uncertain whether this would implicate everyone on the vessel or if they could somehow escape the impending disaster.
Yuan Zhou and Feng Bo Ping narrowed their eyes, their gazes growing cold. Feng Bo Ping recognized one of the Saints—Xu Sheng. The two had clashed before when Feng Bo Ping had gone to the Void Sacred Land to seek justice for Li Hao. Though they had fought, Xu Sheng had the advantage on his home turf.
"Mo Family's Yuan Sheng, a pleasure," Yang Sheng greeted with a light smile.
Yuan Zhou nodded slightly, maintaining a calm demeanor. "What brings the two of you here?"
"We're here to find someone. I hope Yuan Sheng can give us a little leeway in this matter. In the future, you will surely be repaid for your kindness," Xu Sheng said, his eyes shifting briefly to Li Hao, who was seated calmly on the vessel. Clearly, he had identified his target—Li Hao, the young man who had once escaped his clutches.
However, Xu Sheng was cautious, aware that the Mo Family's Yuan Zhou was not someone to be taken lightly. Though he wanted to eliminate Li Hao before the boy could grow into a greater threat, provoking the Mo Family was a risk he was hesitant to take.
"With the Supreme Heavenly Genius Battle imminent, this young friend of the Canglan Realm, the winner of the Canglan Realm's quota, is on his way to participate. Might I suggest that you delay any personal matters until after the battle?" Yuan Zhou said evenly.
Xu Sheng's face darkened. He knew Yuan Zhou was determined not to hand over Li Hao, but he couldn't afford to back down now. "Yuan Sheng, you and I both attended the Mo Sheng's birthday celebration all those years ago. We drank together at that time—surely that bond can grant me some leniency today?"
Yuan Zhou smiled faintly, his expression unchanged. "I promised to escort this young friend safely to the competition. If I were to hand him over now, I would break my word. It would be unseemly for me to renege on my promises."
Xu Sheng's face grew even darker, realizing that Yuan Zhou would not back down. This was a delicate situation. Although killing Li Hao was crucial, the repercussions of openly offending the Mo Family could be severe. Still, allowing Li Hao to survive meant future trouble.
"It seems there's no room for negotiation then," Xu Sheng muttered, his voice low.
Just as he was about to act, his mind suddenly caught a message from the Buddha Lord through his reflected avatar.
They found the real body.
Xu Sheng froze for a moment, his gaze locking onto Li Hao, who sat still on the vessel, seemingly indifferent to the mounting tension. There was something unsettling about how calm he was, as though the imminent battle didn't concern him at all.
Xu Sheng focused on the young man, carefully reevaluating. Everything about him seemed real, but such calmness in the face of certain death was unusual. If this were truly his main body, he should at least show some fear or readiness for battle. Even with his extreme realms and the Godblood Ultimate Realm, there should be signs of unease.
Xu Sheng's mind raced as he weighed the possibilities. His faith in the Buddha Lord's message, however, won out. He exhaled slowly and, to Yuan Zhou's surprise, said, "Then, until we meet again."
Without further confrontation, Xu Sheng and Yang Sheng turned and vanished into the void.
As they left, Feng Bo Ping's eyes narrowed, suspicion flashing in his gaze. "It seems just as Huang Tian Sheng predicted—they mistook the other side for the real body."
Earlier, Huang Tian Sheng had planned to deceive their enemies using her mastery of deception, disguising Li Hao's dark-side doppelgänger as his true form.
The unexpected twist was that even before Huang Tian Sheng made her move, the dark-side doppelgänger had already convinced Shuang Sheng Buddha and the Buddha Lord that it was the real body.
Though the process differed from the original plan, the result was the same—Xu Sheng and Yang Sheng had been drawn away.
Even if they had engaged in battle earlier, they would have withdrawn once they received the news from the Buddha Lord.
After all, the Mo Family, represented by Yuan Zhou, wasn't an enemy they wanted to offend lightly.
"They've left. We should increase our speed as well," Feng Bo Ping said, flipping his palm to reveal two objects—one glowing with silver light and the other a bright red fruit.
"A Void Stone and a Dragonblood Fruit!"
Yuan Zhou's eyes gleamed slightly upon seeing the items.
Feng Bo Ping smiled. "They came all this way just to deliver gifts. I couldn't refuse such generosity."
He tossed the Void Stone to Li Hao. "The Dragonblood Fruit is used to temper the body. Since you've already reached the Tongli Ultimate Realm, your body has reached its limit, so this isn't of much use to you anymore. But the Void Stone can be used to nurture an Emperor Weapon of Dao Tribulation, so your sword could absorb it."
Li Hao caught the stone. He knew that materials for nurturing Dao Tribulation Emperor Weapons were incredibly rare and valuable. They were consumable items, always in demand. Li Hao was about to return the stone, saying, "Since it belongs to you, Feng Lao, I can't accept it."
Yuan Zhou's gaze grew more serious as he observed Feng Bo Ping, realizing that this stone had been stolen from Xu Sheng and Yang Sheng's storage realms.
"Did you manage to steal from their storage realms?" Yuan Zhou asked, his tone heavy.
Feng Bo Ping grinned. "Where there's light, there are cracks. I simply reached through one of those cracks."
Yuan Zhou: "..."
Feng Bo Ping took back the Void Stone with a smile when he saw Li Hao's refusal. "Alright, I'll hold onto it for now. If you need it in the future, just let me know. I've got plenty of these."
Though Feng Bo Ping's combat prowess wasn't necessarily the best among Three Calamities Saints, his wealth was certainly noteworthy.
Li Hao nodded, accepting his offer. With the flying vessel speeding up, the group made their way swiftly toward the Heaven Origin Realm.
At the battle site where Huang Tian Sheng was confronting the Buddha Lord, Xu Sheng and Yang Sheng arrived just in time to witness the burning dark-side doppelgänger. Their expressions grew cold.
"The real body?"
Without any more words, the two Saints attacked, their Saint Dao powers intertwining with the void.
Huang Tian Sheng, sensing the sudden attack, snarled, "Two Saints, and you still dare to shamelessly attack a junior?!"
"This is none of your concern!" Yang Sheng retorted as his Crimson Sun Saint Dao surged, causing the temperature of the surrounding space to soar. In an instant, the flames began consuming the dark-side doppelgänger, burning it from within—its blood, bones, and even soul acting as fuel.
As the doppelgänger screamed and writhed in agony, Xu Sheng and Yang Sheng's faces finally relaxed.
"Buddha Lord, the next step is yours," Xu Sheng said, turning his attention to Huang Tian Sheng. "Leave her to me."
Huang Tian Sheng, enraged, attempted to extinguish the flames, but Xu Sheng sliced through the void, isolating her within a pocket of space. He established his Saint Domain, drawing her into his void territory, where he held the upper hand. While he couldn't kill her, he could ensure his own survival.
Void energy poured into his body, and Huang Tian Sheng's face darkened. She retaliated with furious attacks.
The more she raged, the more relaxed Xu Sheng became. In his heart, he was now certain—they had found the real body.
Meanwhile, the Buddha Lord raised his hand, pulling a mass of burning flesh from the dark-side doppelgänger. He cast a Great Karma Technique, weaving lines of Dao that should have led him to the source.
But then the threads of karma wavered, fading as if unable to find a root.
"Hmm?"
The Buddha Lord frowned, puzzled. How could this be?
Had something obscured the karma? Or had Li Hao truly left no Godblood behind?
"Well?" Yang Sheng asked.
The Buddha Lord's face flickered between light and shadow. "There's no trace of karma to follow. Unless some supreme being is shielding him, this is all of his true form."
Yang Sheng was stunned. "But we saw his clone in another place earlier."
"That clone may not have been made with Godblood. Karma seeks the origin, not the appearance," the Buddha Lord explained, shaking his head.
Yang Sheng frowned deeply. For Li Hao to have reached the Ultimate Realm and yet leave no Godblood, it seemed impossible.
"Are you certain this is the real body?"
The Buddha Lord nodded. "There's little doubt. The power he wielded earlier couldn't have come from a mere clone."
Hearing this, Yang Sheng glanced at Xu Sheng, who was still fighting Huang Tian Sheng. A sense of
irritation stirred within Yang Sheng. He couldn't shake the feeling that something was off, but with the Buddha Lord's confirmation, there was little else to question. "I'll assist Xu Sheng in finishing this. We can settle accounts with Huang Tian Sheng's faction later."
With that, Yang Sheng joined Xu Sheng in their joint assault against Huang Tian Sheng, both of them determined to overpower her. Their combined Saint Daos converged, putting immense pressure on Huang Tian Sheng.
Meanwhile, the Twin-Buddha Child stood before the burning remains of the dark-side doppelgänger, his expression wavering between uncertainty and relief. He muttered to himself, "It's over, then?"
The dark-side doppelgänger's body had been reduced to ashes, but the Twin-Buddha Child couldn't shake the unsettling sensation lingering in his mind. His heart demon, the shadow that had haunted him, should have been eradicated with Li Hao's death. Yet, within his spiritual sea, the sword mark left by Li Hao's attack still lingered, etched into his very soul.
His heart demon had dissipated, but this sword shadow was a new obstacle—a scar that remained in his Saint Dao. Though it would fade in time, it was a grim reminder that Li Hao had left a deeper mark than anticipated.
Two days later…
The flying vessel continued its steady journey, cutting through the vast expanse of space and crossing the dangerous Void Thunder Zone that shielded the Upper Three Realms. Finally, they reached the Heaven Origin Realm.
The realm was vast and rich with energy, far more concentrated than any other small world. The Void Thunder Zone acted as a natural barrier, sealing the abundant energy within the Heaven Origin Realm and preventing it from dissipating into the outside world.
Before long, they pierced through the protective barrier surrounding the Heaven Origin Realm and descended into the world below.
The Heaven Origin Realm was enormous, at least four to five times larger than the smaller worlds Li Hao was familiar with. At this time, the entire realm was buzzing with activity, as countless figures—royals, nobles, cultivators, and geniuses—gathered to witness the prestigious Supreme Heavenly Genius Battle.
The Heaven Origin Realm boasted three prominent Sacred Lands: Fa Family Sacred Land, Yuan Ancestor Sacred Land, and Mo Family Sacred Land. Among them, the Yuan Ancestor Sacred Land was the most revered, its territory seated atop the ancient Heaven Origin Sacred Mountain, a place of great power and majesty.
As the flying vessel descended toward the sacred mountain, Feng Bo Ping and Yuan Zhou led the way, cutting through the crowds. While most other spectators were forced to stay within the numerous kingdoms and Divine Courts scattered throughout the realm, only a select few—those of considerable strength or status—could ascend the sacred mountain to witness the battle up close.
At the foot of the Heaven Origin Sacred Mountain, Li Hao, Feng Bo Ping, and the rest of their group were greeted by representatives of the Yuan Ancestor Sacred Land, who escorted them to the guest halls prepared for their arrival.
Yuan Zhou, with a pleasant smile, addressed Li Hao, "Now that we've safely arrived, I wish you the best of luck in the upcoming battle. May you emerge victorious in the Supreme Heavenly Genius Battle and seize the crown."
Li Hao offered his gratitude with a respectful bow. "Thank you, Senior Yuan Zhou, for your blessing."
The other disciples and saints from the Thieving Heaven Sacred Land and Deception Heaven Sacred Land glanced enviously at Li Hao. It was no small matter to receive the favor and personal encouragement of a Saint like Yuan Zhou. Even among those with great potential, only a few ever achieved such recognition.
As they disembarked from the flying vessel and stepped into the Yuan Ancestor Sacred Land, the vastness and grandeur of the sacred mountain became apparent. The towering peaks, ancient halls, and mystical formations all radiated an aura of power and ancient wisdom. Here, where the greatest of the Upper Three Realms converged, the weight of the competition pressed down on all who came.
With a few days left before the start of the battle, Feng Bo Ping turned to address the gathered disciples. "You all have three days until the competition begins. Feel free to explore, but don't get into trouble. Keep your hands to yourselves—this isn't the place for your usual antics."
The warning was directed toward the disciples of the Thieving Heaven Sacred Land, many of whom had a tendency to let their skills get the better of them. Thieving was their specialty, after all, but any indiscretions here would bring severe consequences.
Turning to Li Hao, Feng Bo Ping smiled warmly. "As for you, I'm going to check in on Huang Tian Sheng and see how things are on her end. She may need some assistance getting away."
Li Hao nodded, his respect for Huang Tian Sheng deepened by what she had endured to protect him. He knew that the debt he owed her could not be repaid easily.
"There's no need."
A voice rang out from the void, and a figure stepped out of the Return to Ruins—it was Huang Tian Sheng herself. Her appearance, however, was shocking. She was disheveled, her long hair flowing wildly, and her body covered in bloodstains. Despite her injuries, her expression remained calm and indifferent, as if her condition was nothing of concern.
Li Hao's eyes widened in alarm, his fists clenching tightly. Seeing Huang Tian Sheng in such a state stirred a surge of emotion within him.
Feng Bo Ping glanced at her and chuckled. "Li Hao has a kind heart. You didn't have to show up in such a pitiful state to earn his gratitude."
Huang Tian Sheng raised an eyebrow, realizing that her act had been seen through. With a wry smile, the bloodstains on her body began to fade, and her injuries rapidly healed. In mere moments, she regained her usual serene and ethereal appearance.
Li Hao breathed a sigh of relief. "I'm glad you're safe, Senior."
Seeing Li Hao's genuine concern, Huang Tian Sheng's eyes gleamed with a hint of admiration. She offered him a gentle smile before replying, "Those two Saints couldn't stop me. To think they believed they could capture me—foolishness. Not to mention, they didn't dare push me too far. Three Calamities Saints have a trick up their sleeve: If pushed into a corner, we can ignite the power of the Three Calamities to trigger the Five Decays of Heaven and Earth. While it wouldn't lead to mutual destruction, it's something no one wants to deal with."
Li Hao was stunned. This was new information to him, and he quickly realized that Feng Bo Ping hadn't mentioned this fact earlier. No doubt, it was something he didn't need to know until now.
"Rest easy," Huang Tian Sheng said with a wink. "Now, I'm off to see if my disciples are worried about me."
Feng Bo Ping laughed. "They're not worried at all."
"You really don't know how to lie," Huang Tian Sheng rolled her eyes at him but did so with a playful charm that softened her words.
With that, she disappeared.
As soon as she left, Feng Bo Ping turned to Li Hao. "Rest here for a while. I'll be heading off to my Saint's Hall. You can continue your training, but don't stir up too much attention."
Li Hao nodded, watching as Feng Bo Ping left. He wasn't one to remain idle, so he returned to his courtyard, intent on refining more laws. His practice would strengthen his abilities without attracting unwanted attention.
A short while later, a servant from the Yuan Ancestor Sacred Land approached, knocking lightly at the door. "My lord, you have visitors waiting for you outside."
Li Hao opened his eyes, somewhat surprised. Stretching his spiritual sense, he found that the restrictions placed around each courtyard blocked his ability to see too far, likely out of respect for privacy.
However, outside the courtyard, where there were no restrictions, Li Hao sensed familiar presences. The faces, although slightly changed after ten years, were still recognizable.
And they were looking for him.
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