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Chapter 350: Transmitting the Dao, Ultimate Path Cultivation
🕑 Added 2024-10-03 07:15:39 +0000 UTCAs the projection stones silently circulated, two figures rapidly traversed the void outside the Canglan Realm.
After escaping from the Buddhist Sect, Li Hao followed Feng Bo Ping, breaking through the barriers of the small world. They journeyed through the void, temporarily leaving the Canglan Realm and heading to Feng Lao's residence in the Small Thousand Realm.
The Small Thousand Realm was also one of the twenty-three lower realms, containing only two sacred lands: the Dao Tian Sacred Land and the Huang Tian Sacred Land.
Feng Bo Ping was the leader of Dao Tian Sacred Land, the Saint of Thieves.
"Treat this place as your own home. If you need anything, just come to me and ask."
At the peak of Dao Tian Sacred Land, within a spacious courtyard, Feng Bo Ping smiled as he spoke to Li Hao.
This was the most prominent residence, now handed over to Li Hao for him to stay in.
"Alright."
Li Hao nodded. He didn't exchange too many pleasantries with Feng Lao.
It had been a long time since they last met, but their bond was as strong as ever. It felt as though they had returned to their time at the Demon Lake, fishing together by the banks or keeping each other company at Tianmen Pass.
"The Small Thousand Realm is unlike other places. Here, it's survival of the fittest. There's no room for kindness or mercy, only ruthless means."
Feng Bo Ping's expression turned serious as he said, "In this realm, you must put away any compassion. Trust no one, especially the women from Huang Tian Sacred Land. They specialize in deceit. Out of ten words, not one is true. They practice the Dao of Lies, and if you believe them, you will only help them advance their cultivation."
Li Hao was a little surprised, knowing that each Saint had developed their own cultivation path.
For example, Wen Sheng (the Saint of Literature) killed with words, using poetry and literature to evolve his Dao. Reading itself was a form of cultivation for him.
However, in this realm, there existed a Dao of Lies, where deceiving people was a form of cultivation?
"You already have the rudiments of your Saint Dao. Otherwise, I would have considered making you the Holy Son of my Dao Sect, passing on the highest thieving technique to you—stealing the heavens, stealing the earth, and even stealing from all beings!"
Feng Bo Ping glanced at Li Hao, smiling. "In my Sacred Land, as long as you successfully steal, your cultivation will improve. As for those women of Huang Tian Sacred Land, they practice by deceiving others. The more successful the deception, the more energy the Dao grants them, significantly enhancing their cultivation. The bigger the lie, the greater the improvement."
"Though the Small Thousand Realm only has two Sacred Lands, it ranks near the top among the twenty-three lower realms."
Feng Bo Ping chuckled. "Everyone here is extremely cautious and sharp. Battles are fought with no regard for rules—attacking weak points, striking at the eyes, taunting to ruin morale—everything is used to win. Warriors from other realms often suffer huge losses when they come here."
Li Hao suddenly recalled Feng Lao's earlier insult toward the Buddha Lord. It seemed that this chaotic environment had much to do with the old man's influence.
"Once, a Holy Son from another Sacred Land came here to explore, but he couldn't even find his way back. Even his distress signals were stolen. His master had to personally intervene to rescue him."
Feng Bo Ping spoke with amusement, his face wrinkled into a smile.
Li Hao couldn't help but laugh. With one Sacred Land specializing in stealing and the other in deception, it wasn't hard to imagine what that Holy Son had experienced.
"Feng Lao, how about teaching me a bit of your thieving techniques?"
Li Hao asked with interest.
Feng Bo Ping was surprised. "But you already have your own Saint Dao rudiment. If you practice my thieving technique, won't it interfere with your cultivation?"
"It won't. My Saint Dao venerates all things—flowers, trees, mountains, rivers. Each has its own beauty, and they are all part of my cultivation. As the saying goes, 'The Earth follows Heaven, Heaven follows the Dao, the Dao follows nature, and nature follows all things.'"
Li Hao said with conviction.
As he finished speaking, a low rumble of thunder echoed around them. It was the sound of the Dao resonating.
The Saint Dao seed in his heart quietly sprouted at that moment, growing rapidly.
Feng Bo Ping was astonished to hear the resonance of the Dao. He examined Li Hao carefully and realized that the young man's Saint Dao rudiment had already stabilized and was immovable.
Moreover, the Dao resonance even had a slight effect on him, allowing him to sense the terrifying power behind Li Hao's Saint Dao.
"Your Saint Dao can actually incorporate other Saint Daos…"
Feng Bo Ping was left speechless. After their reunion, the young man was just as monstrous as ever.
It felt like old times again.
"Since that's the case, I'll teach you my supreme thieving technique—'Stealing Heaven'!"
Feng Bo Ping spoke earnestly.
Li Hao stood up and deeply bowed. "Thank you, Feng Lao."
Though they shared a bond of friendship, Li Hao treated the matter of receiving the Dao with great solemnity. The transmission of a supreme technique was no small thing—it was a gesture reserved for the closest of disciples, and even then, they might not receive such treatment.
Feng Bo Ping, sensing the gravity of the situation, calmly accepted Li Hao's bow. He then said:
"There are six months until the Supreme Prodigy Battle—a short time, but long enough for you to master my thieving technique. If you can manifest your Saint Dao rudiment within this period and step into the Half-Saint realm, then the title of Supreme Prodigy will be yours."
Li Hao nodded. After all, he was aiming for the first place. The incense reward from winning was enough to help him ascend to sainthood, saving him centuries of accumulation.
Without further words, Feng Bo Ping raised his hand, casting a barrier over the courtyard with the power of the Dao, and began transmitting the technique to Li Hao.
The supreme art of "Stealing Heaven" was imparted without reservation.
They sat opposite each other, transmitting knowledge directly into the consciousness, and the complete cultivation system of Dao Tian Sacred Land unfolded before Li Hao.
Li Hao immediately gained insight and couldn't help but marvel at Feng Lao's brilliance.
Thieving cultivation was much like practicing swordsmanship or saber techniques, except the focus was on theft.
Thieving required one to enter the world and seek opportunities, but only through stealing, not forceful taking. Forceful taking would ruin one's cultivation.
Many advanced techniques of thieving appeared in Li Hao's mind, such as stealing feng shui, stealing fortunes, and even larger endeavors like stealing the energy of an entire city or the century-long foundation of a powerful family.
Li Hao's understanding of the word "theft" deepened.
It was far more than the simple act of stealing objects—it was the plundering of all things.
After the transmission, Li Hao sat in meditation, slowly absorbing and digesting the knowledge.
The rudiment of his Saint Dao grew more radiant, resembling a golden vine within him, branching and sprouting leaves.
At that moment, four or five golden leaves had already begun to take shape, representing paths such as culinary arts, painting, and more.
In addition to the thieving techniques, Li Hao's mastery of skills like painting and cooking had all become part of his cultivation, integrating into his Saint Dao.
While Li Hao was deep in his thieving cultivation, the projection stones had already spread to various sacred lands, and the name Haotian was quickly gaining fame across the various realms, causing a ripple of curiosity.
In Yunxia Realm, one of the three great sacred lands, the Void Sacred Land:
A figure sat in the midst of a tear in the void, surrounded by chaotic and dangerous void currents, far too treacherous for even Dao practitioners to enter lightly.
"Hmm?"
Suddenly, the figure, wreathed in the Dao, opened his eyes.
His gaze was silver-white, like eyes formed from the void, and they shone with a sharp light.
"He's not dead?"
His brows furrowed, and a trace of concern flashed in his cold eyes. The events from ten years ago were still fresh in his memory.
His avatar had attempted to assassinate the boy, lying in wait in the void for ten years. Could it be that the boy had escaped?
"Bloodline regeneration… a divine bloodline at its peak... So this is the so-called God Clan, once known as the Undying Clan."
The silver-white in his eyes faded, replaced by cold, dark pupils.
"Feng Bo Ping... him again..."
Murderous intent flared in Xu Sheng's eyes, the Heavenly Saint who had crossed the Three Calamities. Back then, without relying on the Void Sacred Land, he wouldn't have been able to withstand Feng Bo Ping's attacks.
Saints were notoriously difficult to kill, and their Saint Dao was nearly indestructible. Although he wasn't a Heavenly Saint himself, as long as he was within his sacred land, no one could kill him unless a Supreme Saint personally intervened.
"Such a monstrous talent... he cannot be allowed to live. The Supreme Prodigy Battle... Will he dare to show his face again? The fools at the Buddhist Sect failed to kill him, letting him escape..."
Xu Sheng's expression darkened. If this youth survived and the God Clan rose once again in the sacred lands, it would be a disaster for the Void Sacred Land.
After all, the cultivation speed of the God Clan was far too fast, and within the same realm, they were always among the best.
It was one thing to face a single genius in the same realm, but to face an entire clan of such geniuses—that was terrifying.
The prodigies in his sacred land were already the cream of the crop, selected from ancient royal families and noble houses across numerous divine dynasties.
"Six more months..."
Xu Sheng calculated the time, his cold gaze retracting as he closed his eyes once more.
Meanwhile, in another part of Yunxia Realm, within the Bingzu Sacred Land:
This was the sacred land of the military strategists, specializing in cunning and intrigue.
"This news came from the Canglan Realm..."
"That... that's Haotian?!"
Several Holy Sons within the sacred land were stunned as they watched the projection from their master, immediately recognizing the figure in the fierce battle.
Compared to the terrifying confrontation, they instantly recognized the young man's appearance. He hadn't changed much from ten years ago, only looking slightly more mature. However, the overwhelming sharpness and aura he exuded were unmistakably the same as the boy they had known from the mortal realm.
"He's alive... He's actually still alive!"
Ji Xuanshen was shocked, then quickly became excited.
His master looked at him in surprise. "You know him?"
"Yes, Master. This is the prodigy who was ambushed by Xu Sheng ten years ago," Ji Xuanshen quickly explained.
His master was stunned, his eyes widening in disbelief. The events of ten years ago had also caused a stir in Yunxia Realm. They had all assumed that such a prodigy had perished. But to think that he had survived and now possessed such terrifying cultivation.
"I didn't expect it to be him..."
"Even after ten years, he's still a monster."
Ji Xuanshen watched the scenes of Li Hao's battles unfold in the projection, but when he saw Li Hao suppressing multiple Half-Saints from the Buddhist Sect with his Dao Domain, he couldn't help but twitch.
Over the past decade, he had been cultivating diligently in the sacred land, his cultivation progressing by leaps and bounds.
Back in the mortal realm, aside from Li Hao, he had been considered a top-tier prodigy. Now, with the guidance of a Saint, his cultivation had skyrocketed. Yet his greatest regret had been that he never got the chance to fight the young man who had once bested his Saint bones with a mortal body.
To his shock, not only had Li Hao survived, but he had grown even more fearsome over the past decade.
"With such strength, he's bound to rank among the top three in the Supreme Prodigy Battle."
"Not even first place?"
Ji Xuanshen was shocked by his master's evaluation.
To be able to suppress Half-Saints with such ease, yet still not claim the top spot?
"I've heard that incarnations of Supreme Saints will be participating this time, and there are several other monsters from the top three realms..."
His master shook his head, saying no more.
Ji Xuanshen's heart trembled, and he took a deep breath. He couldn't argue further. Just knowing that Li Hao was still alive filled him with joy.
"He's alive, after all."
Jiang Ziyan also received the news from her master, her face showing a rare smile.
In truth, she had long known that Li Hao was still alive. When the incident occurred ten years ago, she had secretly sent word to her father in the mortal realm. Upon learning the news, her father had been both shocked and enraged, but soon after, Yuhuang (Emperor Yu) recalled that Li Hao had entered the River of Oblivion.
He immediately dispatched the Wang family to investigate, discovering that Li Hao's name had not disappeared from the River of Oblivion.
Emperor Yu had been overjoyed and ordered the information to be sealed, treating it as a top-secret matter of the highest priority to prevent the Saints from uncovering the truth.
For the past ten years, Jiang Ziyan had kept this secret hidden, not even revealing it to those friends who had mourned Li Hao's supposed death, lest the information leak.
"Suppressing Half-Saints..."
Seeing the scene unfold in the projection, Jiang Ziyan's expression turned to awe. Ten years ago, Li Hao's display of extreme realms had already drawn the attention of Saints, demonstrating his terrifying talent.
Now, after a decade had passed, he was even more formidable.
She suddenly realized that her father's judgment of character had been spot on. No wonder he had shifted the incense offerings, once dedicated to the ancestors, to Li Hao instead.
A person like him was indeed worth befriending.
...
In the Buddhist Sect's sacred land in the Canglan Realm:
Inside a dimly lit, solemn hall, statues of bodhisattvas stood in silent reverence.
The Buddha Lord walked slowly through the hall, gazing at the figure seated on the lotus throne. With a sigh, he said:
"This tribulation will be difficult for him to overcome. His path to sainthood has been cut off. He now sees that boy as his heart demon, one that he must slay to sever his attachment to the demonic path and reforge a second Saint Dao."
"If he wishes to take that path, let him."
The figure on the lotus throne did not turn around, only spoke softly.
The Buddha Lord glanced at him, nodding slightly.
Then, with a wave of his hand, a golden relic flew out from the folds of his robe.
The relic was as bright as gold, resembling a bodhi seed, and as it floated in the air, it radiated a dazzling light.
The golden light gradually expanded, taking shape and eventually forming a humanoid figure.
As the light subsided, a young figure appeared—none other than the Twin Buddha Child.
However, this time, his entire body radiated the light of the Buddha, devoid of any demonic energy. His expression carried a trace of serenity.
But soon, he slowly opened his eyes. The Buddha light faded, and his expression quickly turned cold. A crack appeared on his forehead, revealing a pure black eye.
"He is my tribulation."
The Twin Buddha Child's voice, unlike its previous youthful tone, now carried a cold and distant edge.
"Overcoming this tribulation will be greater than surviving the Three Calamities."
The Buddha Lord seemed accustomed to this attitude, nodding slightly.
"If you cannot let go, then go. However, it's unclear if he will dare to participate in the Supreme Prodigy Battle. If he doesn't, once the battle ends and you ascend to sainthood, we shall join forces to hunt him down in the Small Thousand Realm."
The Green Lamp Buddha, with his hands clasped in prayer, murmured softly, "We await you. You are the last."
The black eye on the Twin Buddha Child's forehead closed, and the killing intent in his eyes receded. He said, "You won't have to wait long this time."
...
In the Dao Tian Sacred Land:
Li Hao had finished absorbing the thieving techniques and was now following Feng Lao around the sacred land, familiarizing himself with the surroundings.
"Master, who is this?"
Within the sacred land, Feng Bo Ping's two personal disciples had heard of the recent arrival of a mysterious guest, whom their master had been accompanying daily.
When they saw Li Hao, they were surprised by his youth. Could this be a newly accepted junior disciple?
"His name is Haotian. He's an old friend of mine."
Feng Bo Ping smiled as he introduced Li Hao to his two disciples.
Upon hearing this, Lin Baichuan and Chu Hanwei were stunned. They looked at Li Hao in shock and hurriedly bowed.
"Greetings, Senior."
They mistakenly took Li Hao for someone of the same generation as their master. Though he appeared young, appearances could easily be deceiving, especially with the manipulation of the Dao. A slight tweak of the laws could make one appear as anything—even a beast.
"Ah, this..."
Li Hao could tell that these two had been cultivating for at least sixty years. In fact, when considering both his previous and current lifetimes combined, they were roughly the same age as him.
Feng Bo Ping couldn't help but chuckle at the sight and said, "Your manners are fine, but Haotian is participating in the upcoming Supreme Prodigy Battle, just like you two. You should take the opportunity to learn from him."
"Ah?"
Lin Baichuan and Chu Hanwei were left dumbfounded. Their master's words implied that Li Hao had been cultivating for less than a hundred years?
After bowing so respectfully, they now felt a little embarrassed. Lin Baichuan, dressed in elegant white robes, asked curiously:
"Master, could it be that he's the reincarnation of a Saint?"
"Apparently not."
Feng Bo Ping shook his head.
Over the past few days, he had asked Li Hao about it. Generally, someone who had reached such a level of cultivation would have awakened memories of their past life if they were the reincarnation of a Saint.
Though Li Hao was aware of his previous life, he had made no grand claims of sainthood.
Hearing this, the two disciples exchanged glances, feeling somewhat at a loss.
"Brother Haotian is also participating in the Supreme Prodigy Battle? In that case, why don't we spar a little?"
Lin Baichuan extended an invitation to Li Hao, his curiosity piqued. He was also feeling a bit unwilling to accept his earlier deference, wondering if the young man might secretly mock them.
No sooner had he spoken than Feng Bo Ping smacked him on the head.
"How disrespectful! He's my old friend. How dare you address him as 'brother'? When someone surpasses you in skill, you call them 'senior'!"
Lin Baichuan rubbed his head, feeling a little aggrieved, but he greatly respected his master. Reluctantly, he said to Li Hao:
"Senior Haotian, would you like to spar?"
"If you spar with him, you'll lose. Better save your strength and protect your Dao heart," Feng Bo Ping said, shaking his head.
Li Hao couldn't help but smile. It seemed Feng Lao's relationship with his disciples was quite casual, without too many formalities.
"Is he really that strong?"
Next to them, Chu Hanwei, dressed in a red dress, looked at Li Hao in surprise, her beautiful eyes filled with curiosity.
"It's just a sparring match. It's not that big a deal," Lin Baichuan muttered under his breath.
Feng Bo Ping didn't bother explaining further. There was no need to show them the projection of Li Hao's battles. They weren't on the same level, and they would soon see for themselves when Li Hao faced the prodigies of the top three realms in the Supreme Prodigy Battle.
After sending his two disciples off, Feng Bo Ping turned to Li Hao and said:
"It's been a long time. I hope your fishing skills haven't rusted."
Li Hao's eyes lit up, and he laughed heartily. "I was just about to say the same thing."
Feng Bo Ping, intrigued, said, "Alright then, let's have a little competition."
With that, he rolled up his sleeves and led Li Hao to a remote mountain outside Dao Tian Sacred Land.
They found a tranquil lake and sat down to fish together.
This carefree activity filled Li Hao with a sense of peace, easing the fatigue from the recent battles at the Buddhist Sect.
For several days, Li Hao accompanied Feng Bo Ping, exploring mountains and fishing together. They enjoyed a series of friendly matches, both winning and losing in turn.
Meanwhile, in the Hua You Society, Zhandan and Ye Zu sent Li Hao a message.
Sensing the activation of his token, Li Hao entered the Hua You Society with his divine sense. Seeing their concern, he reassured them that he was safe.
"The Buddhist Sect is hunting you everywhere now. You have to be careful."
"Are you still planning to participate in the Supreme Prodigy Battle? I have a feeling they'll try to ambush you during the competition."
Zhandan and Ye Zu were deeply worried for Li Hao's safety.
Li Hao had spent several months discussing painting with Zhandan. Although it wasn't a long time, they had become friends through their shared passion for the art.
Smiling, Li Hao said to her, "Of course I'll participate. If I back down because of them, I'll be abandoning my own path, and that would mean letting them win."
Hearing his confident words, Zhandan simply replied, "Then, just be careful."
"By the way, where's Qingjiu? He's been awfully quiet these past few days."
Ye Zu changed the subject.
"Qingjiu."
Even Ye Zu, sensing an opportunity for amusement, called out to him.
Qingjiu's silhouette stirred, and he responded helplessly, "What is it?"
"When you face Qingfeng in the Supreme Prodigy Battle, go easy on him, alright?" Ye Zu teased with a chuckle.
Qingjiu: "…"
His master had already shown him the projection.
Hearing Ye Zu's playful jibe, he felt a pang of frustration. Thinking about his earlier remarks, he bitterly said:
"Haotian is too much of a monster. I've heard he's already mastered the Sixth Extreme Realm. Even my master is intrigued. Many Saints are curious about him, wanting to know how he managed to cultivate the Sixth Extreme Realm."
"Are Saints planning to ask him to be their master?"
Qingzu couldn't help but ask, his tone tinged with astonishment.
Qingjiu replied helplessly, "That's not quite it. After all, Haotian is only in the Dao Law Realm, so there's no way he could reverse the natural order. At most, they'd ask for advice. Now that he's under the protection of the Saint of Thieves, those Saints likely won't resort to forceful means, but they may try to strike a deal."
"That makes sense. In the Small Thousand Realm, the Saint of Thieves reigns supreme. Unless a Supreme Saint gets involved, Haotian should be fine."
Ye Zu nodded in agreement.
Qingjiu let out a quiet sigh of relief, grateful that the conversation had moved away from the Supreme Prodigy Battle. He had no desire to continue being the subject of their teasing.
After all, he had once been considered a top contender for the top ten, but Qingfeng had hidden his true strength, and now, with his talents fully revealed, he had far surpassed him.
Lately, Qingjiu had been feeling the pressure and was eager to find a way to break through.
Listening to the conversation, Li Hao couldn't help but feel a growing sense of urgency.
An innocent man may carry guilt simply for possessing a valuable treasure. Without Feng Lao's protection, the revelation of his true identity would have drawn the attention of other Saints, in addition to Xu Sheng.
He couldn't always rely on Feng Lao for protection, nor could he place all the burden on him.
Li Hao needed to become a Saint as quickly as possible. Once he established his Saint Dao, those covetous eyes might begin to look elsewhere.
With this in mind, Li Hao chatted a little longer before leaving the Hua You Society and finding Feng Lao.
"You want paintings, chess records?"
Feng Lao was surprised by Li Hao's request but found it oddly familiar.
Back in the mortal realm, no matter how dangerous the situation, this boy had always remained nonchalant.
Feng Lao had no intention of changing Li Hao's mindset and simply chuckled. "I'll help you gather what you need. My disciples are scattered across the realms. Aside from a Supreme Saint's personal belongings, I can find anything for you."
Though there was a hint of exaggeration in his words, they reflected the Saint of Thieves' immense confidence.
It was the kind of confidence a swordsman had in his blade.
Li Hao's heart filled with joy, and he immediately asked Feng Lao about places in the Small Thousand Realm where wars and disasters occurred.
According to Feng Lao, the Small Thousand Realm was far from peaceful, with constant wars between various divine dynasties. After all, in this realm, the law of the jungle reigned supreme.
Where there was war, there was death—perfect for his cultivation of the Extreme Path.
"War... places of death?"
Feng Bo Ping's eyes flickered when he heard Li Hao's question. "Are you planning to cultivate the Extreme Path to sainthood?"
Li Hao was taken aback, not expecting Feng Lao to be so familiar with this path.
Seeing Li Hao's surprise, Feng Bo Ping chuckled, but his expression soon turned serious.
"Your description was too specific. You can only mention this to me. Never speak of it to anyone else, or they'll start guessing your intentions."
"The path of Extreme Cultivation isn't exactly a secret in the Saintlands. Many Saints are aware of it. However, the prerequisites for cultivating this path are quite harsh. You must first refine your physical body to its ultimate form."
As he spoke, he glanced at Li Hao. Given that Li Hao had survived, he had already suspected that the young man had embarked on this irreversible path.
Looking into Feng Lao's deep gaze, Li Hao realized that he had been seen through. Deciding not to hide the truth from him, Li Hao said:
"My physical body has already reached its peak, so I'm capable of cultivating this path."
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