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Chapter 354: The Supreme Name, Shaking All Heavens
🕑 Added 2024-10-07 06:39:26 +0000 UTC"Revived?"
Li Hao was momentarily startled, his brows furrowing slightly, but soon he relaxed.
If he's revived, then I'll just kill him again when I get the chance.
After all, he was a reincarnated saint, so it wasn't surprising that he had some trump cards.
But for now, Li Hao's real concern wasn't these Dao Law realm opponents, but the saints who could strike at any moment. The Buddhist Revered One and Void Saint were already aware of his whereabouts, and they wouldn't easily let him continue growing stronger.
"When the Supreme Prodigy War begins, he might cause trouble for you," Lin Qingying said, her face showing some concern.
Li Hao pushed aside his thoughts and shook his head. "Just a defeated opponent, nothing to worry about."
Hearing Li Hao's simple response, Lin Qingying's eyes flickered, but she didn't think he was being arrogant. After the battle with the Buddhist Sect, Li Hao's reputation had spread throughout Canglan Realm, and unless saints personally intervened, few could challenge him.
"The Buddhist Sect won't let this go easily. Be careful," Lin Qingying said softly, giving Li Hao a deep look.
Li Hao nodded. At that moment, he noticed a handsome young man dressed in black approaching the crowd.
"Haotian," the black-clad youth smiled at Li Hao.
Li Hao recognized the voice and immediately recalled who it was. "Qingjiu?"
"I didn't expect to meet you here. This is the first time we've met in person, isn't it? I saw that battle—very impressive!" Qingjiu said with a smile, though there was a hint of frustration in his eyes.
Previously, he had been the youngest member of the Huayou Society and was now participating in the Supreme Prodigy War, drawing a lot of attention. His confidence had swelled, but after encountering someone like Haotian, his budding pride was shattered.
Still, instead of feeling envious, he was awakened to the reality that the upper limits of the Dao Law Realm were far higher than he had realized, and he had not even touched them yet.
Having calmed his mind, his cultivation had improved slightly, something for which he was grateful to Haotian.
"You're here to train as well?" Li Hao asked.
Qingjiu laughed, "With the war approaching, I knew everyone would come here to test themselves, so I came to join the fun. You should leave your name as well. I bet you'll achieve gold light, maybe even three flashes!"
Upon hearing this, those who hadn't been interested in Li Hao or knew little about him were slightly surprised and turned their eyes toward him.
They hadn't heard of what had happened in Canglan Realm or the Twin-Born Buddha, but they were well aware of the legend of the gold light with three flashes. Now, this prodigy with a golden light ranking was saying this young man might achieve three flashes?
Lin Baichuan, Chu Hanwei, and the others glanced at Li Hao in surprise.
They knew he had a mysterious background, but they hadn't expected him to have so many connections. Qingjiu, from a holy land in a middle-tier small world, was well-known, having gained fame over a decade ago. To think that he was not only familiar with Li Hao but also believed he could achieve gold light with three flashes, the current highest achievement!
Even the members of Huangtian Holy Land were now focusing their attention on Li Hao, realizing that he was no ordinary figure. No wonder he had caught their master's attention.
"Who is that guy? I've never heard of him."
"I heard there's a prodigy in Canglan Realm, must be him."
"Hmph, gold light with three flashes? Isn't that a bit much? That's a mark of supreme talent. Even many saints in their youth only reached one or two flashes of gold light. How could it be so exaggerated?"
"I think I've heard the name Haotian. There's an All-Heavens Wanted Notice for him. If you kill him, you can trade his head at the Buddhist Sect for treasures, divine techniques, and a substantial amount of incense fire."
Many of the figures gathered around the Heavenly Monument cast their eyes on Li Hao, some curious, others sneering or filled with malicious intent.
Lin Shuhai smiled and nodded at Li Hao, who returned the gesture. At that moment, Lin Baichuan said, "Brother Haotian, feel free to catch up with your old friends. We'll go ahead and leave our marks."
With that, he eagerly approached the monument.
Li Hao, having no urgent need to continue chatting, watched them go. He turned to Qingjiu and asked, "Is there any benefit to leaving your name on the monument?"
"Benefit?" Qingjiu looked at him, a bit bemused, "Does seeing the extent of your talent count as a benefit?"
Hearing that, Li Hao felt a bit disappointed. So, there were no real tangible benefits?
Qingjiu, noticing Li Hao's disappointed expression, was left speechless. For many, leaving their name on the Heavenly Monument was an immense honor, a way to make their mark across the heavens. Yet, Li Hao was focused on whether there were rewards for it.
"It's purple light!"
"It's flashing! It's flashing again!"
Excited shouts broke out from the crowd.
At the monument, Lin Baichuan had placed his hand on the towering ancient stone. Lightning flashed from where his hand touched, and a dazzling purple light appeared beside his name.
The purple light flashed twice before slowly fading, leaving his name glowing in purple near the middle-upper section of the monument. At the bottom of the list, a blue light name quietly disappeared.
"Two flashes of purple light—as expected of Senior Brother Lin."
The disciples from Dao Tian Holy Land smiled, their eyes filled with pride.
Although they were competitors within their holy land, they felt a sense of shared glory at this moment, all celebrating Lin Baichuan's success.
Chu Hanwei glanced at Li Hao and then at Qingjiu. Her keen eyes noticed that Qingjiu's name was already on the monument, his characters glowing brilliantly with gold light.
For someone like Qingjiu to be impressed, Haotian must truly be extraordinary. Her curiosity about Li Hao only grew.
"Two flashes…"
Lin Baichuan stared at his name, feeling a mixture of satisfaction and complexity.
Previously, he would have been pleased with his performance. However, hearing Qingjiu's conversation with Li Hao had made him feel a bit uncomfortable.
Silently, he stepped back from the monument, stealing a glance at Li Hao, eager to see if he could indeed achieve the gold light with three flashes that Qingjiu had predicted.
As Lin Baichuan stepped down, the other prodigies eagerly approached the monument to leave their marks.
The weakest among them achieved three flashes of blue light, while the rest attained purple light, with one or two flashes depending on their ability.
Chu Hanwei also stepped forward, and like Lin Baichuan, she achieved two flashes of purple light, placing her name near the top of the monument. A truly extraordinary achievement.
Li Hao scanned the monument, recognizing some familiar names, including Bian Ruxue.
Her name was also marked with purple light, ranking even higher than Lin Baichuan, indicating three flashes.
Lin Qingying's name was also purple, positioned ahead of Bian Ruxue.
"My swordsmanship has already entered the Dao, with no Dao as the Dao," Lin Qingying transmitted to Li Hao telepathically.
Li Hao was momentarily stunned, looking at her with some surprise. From the time he had given her pointers to now, only a short time had passed, and she had already integrated swordsmanship into the Dao?
To reach this level, where one's swordsmanship had fully merged with the Dao, was to ascend to a higher plane of mastery.
"Then you should consolidate your path, aim for the perfection of swordsmanship, and sanctify your sword to become a saint!" Li Hao responded telepathically.
Lin Qingying was taken aback, seeing the sincerity in Li Hao's expression. She was at a loss for words. To sanctify the sword and become a saint—even saints didn't dare say such things lightly. Yet here was Li Hao, suggesting it with such seriousness.
Even though she had entered the Dao, she wouldn't dare dream of becoming a saint through her sword, but Li Hao's expectations… They suddenly ignited a new motivation in her.
Li Hao continued scanning the monument, noticing Lin Shuhai and Chi Guang's names glowing with purple light.
But then he saw Qingjiu's name, glowing in gold, placed at the very bottom of the seven gold names.
Li Hao glanced at Qingjiu, realizing that his friend was indeed stronger than Chi Guang and Lin Shuhai. Qingjiu must have mastered his techniques and comprehended the Six Great Extremes.
"We've all finished. Brother Haotian, it's your turn now."
Lin Baichuan and the others returned, having expected their results. They neither felt disappointed nor overly excited.
Li Hao nodded slightly. Since he was already here, there was no reason to miss the opportunity.
As
Li Hao approached the Heavenly Monument. With many eyes now watching him, he walked forward, calm and composed.
Some onlookers who had no prior knowledge of Li Hao whispered among themselves:
"Hmph, gold light with three flashes? Qingjiu must be trying to flatter him."
"Even Senior Brother Xiao didn't achieve three flashes. Who does he think he is?"
Among the crowd, several figures stood out, all exuding an air of power and authority. One of them, a noble-looking young man, maintained a solemn expression despite the murmurs around him. He had witnessed the projection of the events in Canglan Realm, which his master had shown him. So, he knew the danger this young man represented, far beyond what others imagined.
Meanwhile, a woman draped in luxurious robes, with a proud posture and an air of superiority, also had her gaze fixed on Li Hao. She had three red marks between her brows, giving her a divine presence. However, her eyes were cold and disdainful.
"A lowly person from the lower realm dares to dream of gold light with three flashes? Ridiculous!"
Another woman beside her agreed, whispering, "People from such backgrounds don't understand the true meaning of gold light with three flashes."
Those around them glanced their way, recognizing their high status and quickly averting their gaze, not wanting to provoke these two.
As the criticisms continued, Li Hao had already flown up to the Heavenly Monument. Without pausing, he reached out and touched the ancient stone monument.
The moment his hand made contact with the monument, he felt an electric current spread from his palm. He heard a distant rumbling, like the sound of thunder, resonating with the monument. It was as if something was probing him, scanning his entire being.
Li Hao, with his heightened senses, suddenly felt a piercing gaze brush over him—a gaze that was cold and indifferent, akin to the presence of the Sixth Terminal Realm: the Heavenly Sovereign. However, this was subtly different, carrying the same sense of authority but in a unique form.
His heart tightened. The more he cultivated, the more aware he became of the frightening, unknown forces in the universe. It reminded him of how, the more one learns, the more they realize their own insignificance. The truly wise are humble, unlike those who know little yet believe they know everything.
As these thoughts crossed his mind, the electric current in his hand intensified, growing more vibrant and shining with dazzling brightness.
Around him, the clouded, dim atmosphere suddenly grew darker. The world seemed to hold its breath.
Li Hao withdrew his hand from the monument, raising his head to look at it. For a brief moment, it seemed as though the monument trembled ever so slightly.
Then, an astonishing scene unfolded.
At the top of the monument, an ominous blood-red light erupted from its surface. The light wasn't a soft glow—it was vivid, like fresh blood seeping from the ancient stone. Yet, it was also majestic and powerful, as though the light had existed for eons. The blood-red glow quickly intensified, like a blood moon descending upon the monument, casting a crimson halo that radiated in all directions.
The discussions around the monument abruptly ceased. Every single person fell into stunned silence, their eyes locked on the spectacle unfolding before them.
The blood-red light stood above all the other names. It wasn't just part of the rankings—it seemed to claim the highest spot. If the names were a list, then this name appeared like the title of the list, standing supreme over the rest.
The crimson light slowly condensed and solidified into deep, dark red, and two characters emerged on the monument, glowing fiercely:
Haotian.
For several moments, the entire area was silent. Then, the crowd erupted in shock and disbelief.
"What is that?!"
"Blood light? It's blood light!"
"Am I seeing this correctly? That's not gold light—it's blood-red light!"
"I thought the seventh color was just a myth, but it's real!"
Many around the Heavenly Monument, even those who had been meditating or cultivating, snapped out of their trances, their attention drawn entirely to the scene. Once they realized what was happening, their jaws dropped in awe.
Lin Baichuan, Chu Hanwei, and the others were utterly stunned. Lin Baichuan's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets as he struggled to comprehend what he was seeing.
In the All-Heavens Ranking, at the very top, stood a name bathed in terrifying blood-red light, towering over all others. The sheer presence of the name seemed to exert a pressure that made it hard for onlookers to even gaze directly at it.
"His name…"
Lin Qingying stood frozen in place, her eyes sparkling with admiration as she stared at the back of Li Hao standing before the monument.
Chi Guang, Lin Shuhai, and the other prodigies from Canglan Realm were similarly speechless. They had expected Li Hao to make a strong impression, perhaps with three flashes of gold light, but never had they imagined this—a blood-red light, unprecedented in the monument's history.
The Heavenly Monument was known for revealing the potential and hidden strength of those who touched it. Could it be that Li Hao had made some incredible breakthrough during this time?
"How is this possible?"
The noble-looking young man who had mocked Li Hao earlier now wore an expression of disbelief. Could someone who suppressed so many Half-Saints really possess the potential to trigger blood light?
Meanwhile, the divine-looking woman with the three red marks stood in shock, her cold and proud demeanor momentarily shattered.
"How could this be… My master only achieved gold light with three flashes when he was younger. He's now a Supreme Saint…"
The names engraved on the monument faded after a thousand years, meaning that many saints' youthful accomplishments had long disappeared from its surface.
"Blood light… It was said to be a myth, but it's real."
As the crowd buzzed with awe, Li Hao himself seemed slightly dazed. A moment ago, a red shadow had entered his Sea of Consciousness, carrying an intense aura of Dao Law. Within his mind, the red light condensed into a small bell, faint and mysterious.
When Li Hao mentally reached out to touch it, the bell rang softly, and its sound reverberated like the essence of the Dao, shaking him to his core. His blood seemed to resonate with the bell's sound, and countless thoughts surged through his mind.
Snapping back to reality, Li Hao was shocked. That crimson glow had turned into a bell in his Sea of Consciousness. When it rang, it had felt like a moment of enlightenment, filling his mind with Dao insights.
His Sea of Consciousness was now saturated with Dao principles. If he entered meditation now, or if he focused on comprehending a technique, he would achieve rapid progress, as though the bell had created a shortcut to understanding the Dao.
But what kind of power could refine and condense the very Dao principles into a bell and store it in someone's consciousness?
Li Hao didn't have time to think too much about it. This was an opportunity to improve his cultivation and knowledge of the Dao. Whether it was chess, painting, or any other Dao, he could now make significant strides.
He left the monument, sat down cross-legged, and immediately entered meditation, wrapping himself in a protective barrier.
Outside, Lin Baichuan and Chu Hanwei had been about to congratulate Li Hao, but seeing him sit down to meditate, they stopped in their tracks.
The others quickly realized what was happening—Li Hao was clearly gaining an insight from the monument and had entered a state of comprehension.
"Could the Heavenly Monument really lead to enlightenment?"
The crowd stared in disbelief.
It was not unusual for someone to have a sudden realization after a major battle, but to gain such profound insights just from leaving their name on the monument? That was unheard of.
"This…"
Qingjiu, who had wanted to ask Li Hao a few questions, stopped in his tracks as well, realizing that now wasn't the time.
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