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Chapter 335: The Traces of Haotian, The Top Ten Rankings
🕑 Added 2024-09-16 05:18:07 +0000 UTC"Has the path to immortality truly been severed?"
Li Hao froze and asked, "Are there immortals and gods in this world?"
Hearing Li Hao's question, Night Ancestor chuckled and replied, "Immortals and gods are elusive and mysterious; no one has ever seen them with their own eyes. But there are records in ancient texts. For example, on the Moonwatching Cliff, there is a sword monument with a sword shadow called 'Immortal's Guiding Hand.' Such an exquisite sword technique could only be performed by an immortal."
"Indeed, it's said that even the Sword Saint went to comprehend it but couldn't fully grasp its mysteries. Other Supreme Saints have also remarked that the sword technique within could only have been left by immortals and gods, beyond the reach of mortal power."
"Aside from the Immortal's Guiding Hand on Moonwatching Cliff, there's also the palm imprint at the Cold Shiver Ancient Grounds and the shattered silk robes drifting in the Soul Severing Sea. All these hint that immortals and gods once existed in this world but have since vanished, leaving no trace."
The young voice, despite its youthful tone, revealed knowledge of many ancient secrets, and he continued, "Though Saints can live for millennia, they are not eternal. Only immortals and gods can achieve true eternity. If one wishes for their Dao to last forever, they must transcend the Supreme Saint realm and become an immortal or god, earning the eternal reverence of all beings."
"If one becomes an immortal or god, merely showing their presence in the world, leaving a trace of their existence, would make them the object of endless worship. After all, who wouldn't revere a living immortal or god? Even Saints would kneel in worship."
When the topic turned to immortals and gods, Green Ancestor also chimed in, his voice filled with regret.
Li Hao was shocked. He hadn't expected to learn such incredible secrets right after joining the Huayou Society.
"So when the Supreme Saints said 'the path to immortality is severed,' did they mean the path of cultivation, or is it a literal path?"
Li Hao asked curiously.
"It's a literal path," Night Ancestor answered. "Some Supreme Saints have touched the barrier, sensed the will of the Dao in this realm, and learned that immortality cannot be attained here. One must leave this realm to become an immortal."
"Thus, the Supreme Saints have long been searching for and exploring ways to leave, tracing the remnants left behind by immortals and gods. They found a path, but it was sealed off. This realm is like a closed egg. No matter how long we live, we are destined to die trapped within."
Li Hao was stunned. This was his first encounter with such secrets in the land of the Saints, and it was truly despairing.
To have no hope of immortality and to eventually perish—no wonder the Huayou Society existed, indulging in worldly pleasures. If death was inevitable, why not enjoy the present?
"Now, the Supreme Saints have found another path, located in a dangerous place. However, to break through the restrictions, it seems that one must unlock all the Extreme Realms to step onto that path and open it up!"
Green Ancestor continued, "For this reason, over the past thousand years, the Saints have reincarnated repeatedly, sometimes sending avatars through reincarnation to cultivate all the Extreme Realms, hoping to be the first to break that path and ascend to immortality."
"But this path is also incredibly difficult. Cultivating the Nine Extreme Realms is already a monumental challenge, requiring extraordinary talent. Moreover, the path itself is only a speculation. Its truth can only be confirmed by those who attempt it."
"Nevertheless, even the faintest hope of becoming an immortal has driven the Saints to scramble for it. Immortality is their only chance for eternal life!"
Li Hao was taken aback.
Earlier, Lin Shanhai had hinted that the reincarnation of Saints was for some secretive purpose, but he hadn't realized it was related to achieving immortality.
No wonder reincarnation was so risky, with the chance of falling into oblivion with each rebirth. Without such a powerful lure, why would the Saints take on such risks?
The Nine Extreme Realms… Li Hao's eyes gleamed. He had already unlocked the Seven Extreme Realms, and with enough techniques, the Eighth Extreme Realm was within reach. As for the Ninth, that would be the Dao Extreme Realm. Once his mastery reached the ninth level, perhaps he could glimpse its mysteries.
But...
"Even with their long lifespans, haven't the Supreme Saints cultivated the Nine Extreme Realms?"
Li Hao asked.
Though the Extreme Realms were difficult, with enough time and patience, they should eventually be mastered.
He had cultivated the Seven Extreme Realms thanks to his ability to accelerate his cultivation with points. Others, with their extended lifespans, should be able to compensate for the time difference.
"It's not that simple," the young man shook his head. "The Supreme Saints are all peerless geniuses and have cultivated for eons. They've mastered most of the Extreme Realms, but it's said that the Sixth Extreme Realm is the most difficult. No one has been able to master it. The Heavenly Human Realm, when cultivated to its peak, merges with the world itself. But while their hearts are broad enough to merge with the heavens, finding the will of the world to merge with is the challenge."
Li Hao was startled. The Sixth Extreme Realm?
He had heard before that the Sixth Extreme Realm was the hardest, but he hadn't realized that even the Supreme Saints were stuck there.
He suddenly thought of the trace of the Celestial Sovereign's will he had faintly sensed before. The end of the Heavenly Human Realm was the Celestial Sovereign.
"You're behind on the news. Ten years ago, it was said that the Yunxia Realm opened a path to the mortal world and found a young prodigy who had reached the Sixth Extreme Realm. Unfortunately, he was personally slain by a Void Saint, extinguishing that hope," Green Ancestor said suddenly.
Li Hao froze, shocked to hear this news about himself. His heart skipped a beat.
"Yes, I heard about that incident too. It's a shame. Without the protection of a Supreme Saint, even if one reaches the Sixth Extreme Realm, they're vulnerable to disaster. After all, the Saints want to cultivate the Sixth Extreme Realm themselves and would never let someone else seize that chance," Night Ancestor said.
"Geniuses are plentiful in the world, but those who don't grow to their full potential are like clouds—they can be blown away with a mere gust of wind."
Li Hao fell silent. When the Void Saint had tried to kill him, it was under the pretext of avenging the son of the Void Sacred Land. But now it seemed that what Night Ancestor said was just as valid a reason.
Prodigies, in the end, were just prodigies. Without the backing of a powerful force, their brilliance would only be short-lived.
Li Hao took a deep breath, his eyes turning cold. Since the assassination attempt when he was six, he had understood that his greatest reliance was himself.
If no one could protect him, then he would simply become invincible!
"Enough of that. It doesn't concern us anyway. Qingfeng, you haven't told us what you're best at," Green Ancestor said, changing the subject.
Li Hao gathered his thoughts and considered his strengths. Currently, his highest-ranking skills were cooking and painting.
"Cooking and painting."
Li Hao replied, "These are my two best skills at the moment."
Remembering the earlier conversation about chess, he added, "I also have some knowledge of chess. If there's an opportunity, I'd be happy to exchange ideas with you both."
"Oh? So many interests?" Green Ancestor was surprised. While they had all turned to other hobbies after losing their drive to chase immortality, each had specialized in just one. But Li Hao was skilled in multiple areas, even cooking.
"What? Did you say you like to cook?"
Suddenly, a rotund shadow stirred and approached Li Hao, exclaiming in surprise, "Are you serious, or do you just dabble? Dantian, how did he get in?"
"Another one who likes to cook? Looks like White Ancestor has found a kindred spirit," Night Ancestor laughed and said to Li Hao, "We take chess very seriously here. If you're a terrible player, we won't waste time with you."
The elegant female voice of the shadow known as Dantian spoke softly, "Qingfeng joined the Huayou Society for his skill in painting. His painting is exceptional. Butterfly showed me his work, and I must admit, his painting skills surpass even mine. He has already entered the Dao through his art!"
Upon hearing Dantian's words, the others fell silent, shocked as they looked at Li Hao.
His painting surpassed Dantian's?
Dantian was renowned within the Huayou Society for her painting, often referred to as a "Little Painting Saint." If Li Hao's painting earned her recognition, and she even considered him superior, that was a remarkable achievement.
Li Hao understood now. This was likely one of the vice presidents of the Huayou Society that Gui Qinshuang had mentioned, and she was also a Half-Saint.
Moreover, it seemed that she was also a master of painting. Li Hao's interest was piqued. If he had the chance, he could exchange insights with her. Plus, she likely had a collection of famous paintings, which could contribute to his repertoire.
"Painting?"
White Ancestor, the rotund figure, sounded disappointed. "I thought it would be cooking."
Li Hao chuckled, "My cooking skills are no worse than my painting."
"Really?"
White Ancestor stared at him in surprise. "Are you sure?"
"Let's exchange ideas sometime. You can judge for yourself," Li Hao replied confidently when it came to cooking.
White Ancestor's eyes lit up, and he nodded. "Yes, whether it's good or not, a taste will tell. Where are you? I'll come find you."
Li Hao hadn't expected White Ancestor to be so eager but quickly recognized that his passion for cooking was genuine. It also showed that he had plenty of free time.
"I'm in Canglan Realm," Li Hao said.
Dantian interjected, "White Ancestor, you can visit Qingfeng, but don't get too carried away. Don't disrupt his cultivation. He's still participating in the Supreme Heaven's Chosen Battle and seems to have a good chance of representing Canglan Realm."
Upon hearing Dantian's words, the others were surprised. Green Ancestor asked, "You're still competing in the Supreme Heaven's Chosen Battle? How old are you?"
"Almost thirty," Li Hao answered.
"…"
They were all momentarily speechless. Not even thirty? That was practically a child.
"You're so young, yet you're already into painting and cooking?" White Ancestor, still in disbelief, was baffled.
Thirty wasn't even considered the beginning of life. Back when they were thirty, they had been utterly focused on cultivation, not hobbies.
Back then, their minds were solely fixated on improving their cultivation. Even women had to take a back seat because distractions were detrimental to their progress.
"This..." Night Ancestor was stunned. "Not even thirty, and you've already reached the Dao Seeking Realm?"
Reaching the Dao Seeking Realm by this age was considered monstrously talented.
Dantian was equally astonished, staring at Li Hao. She had learned from Gui Qinshuang that Li Hao was participating in the Supreme Heaven's Chosen Battle, but she hadn't expected him to be so young.
The participants in the Supreme Heaven's Chosen Battle were all under a hundred years old, and since Li Hao had delved so deeply into painting, she had assumed he was at least in his eighties or nineties.
Even then, she would have been impressed. After all, to be in one's early hundreds and have already delved so deeply into the arts was rare.
They themselves had cultivated for several hundred to a thousand years, but as they grew older and encountered bottlenecks, they had turned to other pursuits for leisure.
"Is this a joke? Thirty years old and already at the Dao Seeking Realm? Could he be a reincarnated Saint?" The young man asked in disbelief.
Regardless of any other factors, simply reaching this level at such a young age was astonishing to them.
They had all been geniuses in their youth, and while they had reached their current strength and were considered old monsters in the Dao Seeking Realm, they had never reached this level as early as Li Hao had.
Li Hao chose to reveal his age because, during the Supreme Heaven's Chosen Battle, the Reflecting Bone Mirror would likely reveal it anyway, so there was no point in hiding it.
"Qingfeng's talent is something that could potentially lead to Sainthood. Shouldn't you be focusing on reaching the Saint Realm first?" Green Ancestor asked, clearly intrigued.
"Cultivation doesn't have to be all-consuming. It's important to balance hard work with relaxation," Li Hao replied with a smile.
Even these laid-back individuals were left speechless by his casual attitude.
He was certainly fearless...
"I thought we had already learned to take things easy, but it turns out Qingfeng is even more at ease than we are. The path to immortality is severed, so what does it matter if we become Saints? Eventually, we'll meet the same fate as the rest of us," Night Ancestor sighed with a wry smile. "I only came to that realization when I was three thousand years old, but Qingfeng has already understood it by the age of thirty. Does this mean he'll get to enjoy life for an extra three thousand years?"
The others fell silent. Although they had come to terms with their fates and had shifted their focus away from cultivation, it was still shocking that someone Li Hao's age had already come to such a profound realization.
"You've been practicing painting while cultivating. How much time have you dedicated to your art?" Dantian asked, her gaze fixed on Li Hao.
Li Hao hesitated for a moment before answering, "Whenever I had free time, I would paint. It's hard to calculate."
Dantian fell silent. Li Hao's cultivation certainly amazed her, but what struck her even more was his mastery of painting.
At less than thirty years old, dedicating even ten years to painting would have been impressive. Yet, even with such a short time, his skill had already surpassed hers.
She had immersed herself in painting for several hundred years, believing she had gained significant expertise. Now, it seemed her artistic talent might have been lacking.
"Life is but a fleeting dream. While we woke early, Qingfeng never slept at all," Green Ancestor sighed, shaking his head.
"Dantian mentioned that Qingfeng has a chance to represent Canglan Realm in battle. That's no small feat. It takes more than just Dao Seeking Realm cultivation," White Ancestor said, his eyes narrowing with interest.
Dantian snapped out of her thoughts and looked at Li Hao with a complicated expression. "That's correct. Qingfeng's swordsmanship has already entered the Dao. He's one of the top contenders to represent Canglan Realm, but the final decision will depend on the upcoming battles."
"Swordsmanship that has entered the Dao?"
Upon hearing this, the others fell silent once more.
They, too, had techniques that had entered the Dao and had reached incredible depths in their cultivation. But the key difference was... age.
Not even thirty years old—it was too young. At that age, none of them had come close to such abilities.
"Qingfeng is in Canglan Realm, huh? I might just pay a visit," Night Ancestor remarked.
"I'll go too. I want to see how good his cooking really is. Qingfeng, who is your master?" Green Ancestor asked, curiosity piqued.
If Qingfeng had reached such heights, his master was likely a Supreme Saint.
Li Hao fell silent, his thoughts turning to his first master, Lin Haixia.
But she had only reached the Divine Soul Realm.
Seeing Li Hao's silence, the others realized that they were treading on sensitive ground, and Qingfeng probably didn't want to reveal his master's identity.
Nevertheless, even without knowing the details, it was clear to them that Qingfeng was an extraordinary prodigy.
However, no matter what, even the information known by the direct disciples of the Supreme Saint Sect is inferior to Qingfeng's, which shows just how extraordinary he is.
"Qingjiu is also participating in the Supreme Heaven's Chosen Battle. Since you are all representing your respective worlds, you might encounter each other in the final battle," White Ancestor suddenly said.
"Qingjiu, come out," Green Ancestor directly called out.
Li Hao saw him sending his divine sense to a certain shadow. Most of the shadows here were stationary, likely engaged in other activities in the real world, without probing the Huayou Order.
Soon, the shadow that Green Ancestor had probed began to move and then asked in confusion, "Green Ancestor, what do you need me for?"
"Are you in seclusion?" Green Ancestor inquired.
Despite their different realms, their communication had no sense of hierarchy, instead resembling that of old friends.
"Of course. I'm preparing for battle recently. I still need to compete with the other three holy places of the Tianlan Realm. I don't know if I can win," the shadow Qingjiu said.
Green Ancestor responded with a hint of annoyance, "Stop pretending to be weak. The other holy places' sons are the ones to be afraid of. Aren't you also skilled in marksmanship? You even have the old bloodline body. This time, you're expected to secure the Supreme First Place."
"Don't scare me. If I can make it into the top ten, I'll be grateful. First place? Those are all monsters. You know it's difficult to stand in the top ten without half-saint strength," Qingjiu's shadow said with a bitter smile.
"Exactly. Green Ancestor, stop mocking him. You didn't even make it into the top ten when you were young. It's a shame you still carry the Green Emperor bloodline. Now that saints are reincarnating, those in the top ten are all monsters. If Qingjiu can make it into the top ten, it already shows hope for him to become a saint," Night Ancestor said, also teasing Green Ancestor.
Green Ancestor rolled his eyes and said to Qingjiu, "I called you over because we have a newcomer. This is Qingfeng, who, like you, is participating in the Supreme Heaven's Chosen Battle. You might encounter each other, so don't bully him too much."
"Newcomer?"
Qingjiu then noticed Li Hao and was surprised, "Also participating in the Supreme Heaven's Chosen Battle?"
Aside from being the youngest, here was another youngster under a hundred years old.
"That's right. Qingfeng is even younger than you, only thirty years old, and his swordsmanship has already entered the Dao!" Green Ancestor said with a smile.
Qingjiu was stunned, his expression immediately becoming serious as he scrutinized Li Hao, though the shadow did not reveal much.
"Thirty years old and swordsmanship has entered the Dao? If there's a chance, we should spar," Qingjiu said.
Li Hao nodded, "We can exchange ideas when there's time."
"I only entered the Dao of marksmanship after a full sixty years. Your talent is a bit frightening," Qingjiu said. Although it took him sixty years to enter the Dao of marksmanship, he practiced a very powerful form of marksmanship and did not think he was much inferior to Li Hao.
Despite being of the same age, the road of cultivation is long, and martial artists face life-and-death battles. Who really cares about age?
Strength is strength, and weakness is weakness.
"I'm just lucky," Li Hao said humbly.
"Qingfeng should keep up the good work and strive to represent the Canglan Realm. With your swordsmanship having entered the Dao, securing a place to represent the Canglan Realm should be achievable," Night Ancestor said with a smile.
Li Hao nodded.
"After the battle in Canglan, I'll come to discuss painting with you," Zhan Tan said to Li Hao.
"There's no need to wait until the battle is over. I'm available whenever I'm free," Li Hao said. He knew that this vice president, a half-saint from the Canglan Realm, would not affect his combat. On the contrary, discussing painting would enhance his understanding of painting, and if he reached the tenth stage, he could have a chance to become a saint.
"Such crucial battles should not be affected," Zhan Tan said, shaking her head.
Li Hao said, "It won't be affected. It's just a battle. If I win, I win; if I lose, I lose. If I can only narrowly win here, there's no need to participate further."
"With such resolve, it's no wonder you've already achieved such proficiency in painting by thirty," Night Ancestor said with a sigh.
"Well said. If not for the first place in the Supreme Heaven's Chosen List, participating would be meaningless," Green Ancestor nodded. Everyone present had been a genius in their youth and understood this pride, but being so open-minded at this age was rare.
Zhan Tan was somewhat surprised. Although it was only a brief exchange, she felt a sense of detachment from fame and fortune from Li Hao. This feeling was not deliberate but innate.
She glanced thoughtfully and said, "Since your goal is first place, I won't say anything more. After your top ten in the miscellaneous battle ends, I will send someone to fetch you."
"Alright."
Li Hao nodded.
"Once I finish my current affairs, I will also visit you to see if your cooking is as divine as you say. I hope to have a good feast," White Ancestor also said to Li Hao.
Li Hao smiled and agreed.
Night Ancestor and Green Ancestor both indicated they would come to watch and cheer for Li Hao.
Qingjiu, hearing this, feigned grievance and said, "Why don't you come to cheer for me? You're being fickle!"
"Scram. With your strength, you're sure to advance. I already pity your opponents," Night Ancestor said irritably.
Qingjiu helplessly said, "I won't reveal all my strength until the later rounds."
"Here we go, this kid is boasting again," Green Ancestor said.
"After the competition, we should find him and give him a beating to let him experience the skills of us old folks," Night Ancestor said.
Qingjiu: "…"
Seeing their lively conversation, Li Hao also smiled. After chatting for a bit, he bid them farewell.
Once his thoughts returned to his body, Li Hao continued to accumulate carving experience in his small courtyard.
Two days later, the top ten ranking battles began.
This battle was highly anticipated. Although it was only a skirmish among several dozen dynasties, making it into the top ten was no easy feat. The subsequent battles would be against the sons and daughters of the three holy places.
This battle determined the top ten rankings. Li Hao was one of the favorites for the championship, with another hot favorite being Chiguang. Many powerful figures recognized the formidable nature of Chiguang.
Li Qingyi and others also arrived as scheduled, wanting to see this fierce competition, as the performance in this battle would give insight into the opponents they would soon encounter.
Unlike other holy places where they couldn't probe, these skirmishes among miscellaneous practitioners were public, allowing them to see opponent information in advance.
Aside from Li Qingyi and others, there were also additional figures in the crowd.
Lin Qingying and others like Bian Ruxue and Qiu Wuhen also arrived. They were among the top ten of the Sword Ancestor's holy place and would represent the holy place in the future battles for the Canglan Realm's quota.
They came to investigate the information of other participants. Moreover, Li Hao, who had previously defeated the Haoyue Saint Son with a single sword strike, was also here. They knew Li Hao would not use his full strength in the previous battles, so they weren't too interested. But how about the top ten battle?
"That Chiguang is also quite terrifying."
Many pieces of information reached their ears. Aside from Li Hao, they also noticed an extremely formidable figure, Chiguang, who, like the Haoyue from the Sword Ancestor's holy place, seemed to have a significant gap compared to the other contestants.
"Dao of divine powers..."
Among the crowd, the Haoyue Saint Son, dressed in luxurious platinum clothing, changed his expression. Standing among the crowd, he stood out with a unique aura. He also came here to watch the battle.
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