Chapter 374: The Seed of Heaven's Will, Reincarnation Cultivation
A vague will of the Dao coalesced from the newly born power. Though ethereal and intangible, it carried an awe-inspiring might.
This solemn, ancient, and supreme pressure gave Li Hao a sense of déjà vu.
When he traced the source of this power, Li Hao's pupils constricted slightly, a trace of shock rising in his heart.
This was... Heaven's Will?!
However, compared to the Heaven's Will Li Hao had touched upon when undergoing the Immortal Ascension, this one was different. It was like a miniature version, a far smaller seedling of Heaven's Will, or perhaps one could call it a seed!
Even so, this realization left Li Hao astonished and incredulous. After all, this was the supreme power of the heavens!
Although the seed of Heaven's Will within him could not compare to the full power of Heaven's Will in the external world, Li Hao could sense that with just a slight effort, he could trigger immense phenomena and easily suppress a Saint of the Three Calamities!
If he were to face a Supreme Saint, Li Hao felt he might even be able to stand his ground!
Feng Lao had once said that Supreme Saints were those who had perfected their Saintly Dao and glimpsed Heaven's Will, able to borrow power from it.
But now... Li Hao had nurtured a seed of Heaven's Will within himself!
According to Ying Xiaoxiao, he was currently only at the Lesser Extreme Realm for Saints, not yet at the true pinnacle of the Saintly Extreme Realm!
Once all three of his Saintly Dao powers were accumulated to the divine level and fused, he would then reach the true Saintly Extreme Realm!
At that point... how would this seed evolve?
Li Hao's eyes glowed with excitement and joy. Could it be that by then, he would nurture a true Heaven's Will?
If that were the case, Li Hao couldn't even imagine what kind of existence that would make him.
However, to accumulate all three powers to the divine level was an almost unimaginable challenge. The Source Ancestor had cultivated from the ancient times and, after so many years, had only brought his Incense Dao to the divine level!
The Extreme Dao was relatively easier to cultivate, but it would still require chaos and death across half of the Sacred Lands of the Heavens to achieve.
Essentially, half of the heavens would need to be destroyed to accumulate enough power for the Extreme Dao to reach the divine level!
As for the Sacrifice Dao... it was likely the hardest to accumulate. Although Ying Xiaoxiao had not gone into detail, Li Hao had a rough idea.
He would likely need to cultivate numerous Grand Dao paths to the Saintly Dao and perform many sacrificial rites to reach it.
It was worth noting that achieving Saintly ascension through even one Sacrifice Dao was exceedingly rare. To do so many times over would be unimaginably difficult!
Even with his panel, which could accelerate his cultivation, just considering the magnitude of this task made Li Hao's scalp tingle—it would be a long and arduous journey.
"The progenitor of the Divine Clan will soon awaken, likely inciting a great war across the heavens. Even if I assist them, the amount of Extreme Dao power they share with me will probably be limited unless I take the initiative to plunder and slaughter..."
Li Hao's eyes flickered, but in the end, he dismissed the thought.
In the mortal realm, it is said that for a general to succeed, tens of thousands of bones must be buried. For the Extreme Dao to reach the divine level, half of the heavens would need to be sacrificed for one person to ascend.
The price was too great for Li Hao to bear.
"However, even if I were to succeed in cultivating the Extreme Dao to the divine level, the Sacrifice Dao and Incense Dao will be much harder. By the time I manage to comprehend the Sacrifice Dao to the divine level, the natural slaughter and death across the heavens should have provided enough Extreme Dao power to reach the divine level…"
Li Hao's eyes glinted, and he put the thought of the Extreme Dao aside for now.
His focus shifted back to the Heaven's Will seed within him. With a thought, the ancient and vast aura in his body separated the Heaven's Will seed.
When gathered, it formed the seed of Heaven's Will; when dispersed, it became the intertwining powers of the Three Saints.
Li Hao exhaled softly, and the surrounding Dao energy condensed. As he breathed out, the energy around him manifested into two avatars.
Each avatar contained one of the Saintly Dao powers.
Sacrifice, Incense, Extreme Dao!
Aside from his true body, which held the Sacrifice Dao, his two avatars also wielded the power of Saints.
"They... even have the chains of the Three Calamities!"
Li Hao was startled to discover that within these avatars, there were chains of the Saintly Calamities—and three of them!
Meanwhile, in his true body, there were only two chains, as he had already survived the first of the Three Calamities.
"Triple cultivation... does this mean I have to face nine calamities?"
Li Hao was momentarily taken aback, but he soon understood. The Incense Dao and Extreme Dao powers had yet to undergo the trials and tribulations that would temper them.
Li Hao reabsorbed his avatars, and the two powers returned to his body. The three forces swirled within him, and the original Saintly Dao power was still bound by the chains of the Three Calamities.
Now, Li Hao could switch freely between any of the three Saintly Dao powers, or even display them simultaneously.
However, for Li Hao, the strongest method remained gathering all three powers into the seed of Heaven's Will. In this form, he might even be able to contend with a Supreme Saint!
Li Hao withdrew his aura, and the surrounding phenomena dissipated. With a single step, he emerged from the thousand-zhang-deep fissure in the earth and left.
...
At the same time, deep within a small world.
Near the molten core of the earth, a group of figures stood, surrounded by extreme heat. Even a Fourth Dao Realm expert could not remain here for long and had to rely on their Dao Domain to barely withstand the intense temperature.
Yet here, magnificent halls and buildings had been constructed.
Many figures resided within the buildings, and outside, a divine formation shielded them from the oppressive heat.
"Though we are called the Divine Clan, we dwell in this cramped, underground hell like vermin—filthy cockroaches and worms! It's disgraceful!"
"Enough complaining. We've endured for so many years, and our progenitor is about to return. Soon, our clan will once again see the light of day. The heavens will know that we are the Divine Clan, not some demonic sect!"
"In the past, there was no hope, so I grew accustomed to the suffering. But now... now I can hardly bear it any longer! When our progenitor returns, I'll be the first to charge into battle!"
"Indeed, we will make the heavens run red with blood!"
By the edge of a molten pool, several figures gathered, speaking in hushed tones, their words filled with bitterness and murderous intent.
Years of suppressed resentment and humiliation had long since been etched into their bones, and the rage they harbored was something every member of the clan carried in their hearts.
In the past, there had been less hostility, but with the imminent return of their progenitor, that rage had become increasingly hard to control. They were already imagining how they would make the heavens bleed and regret their actions.
Swoosh!
Suddenly, a figure appeared in the void, bathed in a faint blue light, quietly passing through the special barriers and arriving without a sound.
"Greetings, Divine Lady."
Seeing the woman in blue robes, some were stunned for a moment before hastily bowing in reverence.
Even some of the half-Saints standing near the molten pool quickly bowed when they saw her.
Their reverence was not only for her Saintly power but also because she was the direct descendant of their progenitor, carrying the purest of their progenitor's bloodline.
"Grandmother, I wish to see the progenitor."
Ying Xiaoxiao had returned, and upon reaching the highest temple, she immediately restrained her aura and bowed respectfully before an elegant elderly woman draped in a red robe.
"Xiaoxiao, you've become a Saint now. It's time to set aside your playful nature and remember the mission you carry for our clan."
The elegant elder smiled lovingly as she spoke.
In a soft voice, Ying Xiaoxiao replied, "I went to the Gufu World to absorb the Extreme Dao power and helped many of the lingering resentful souls find peace in the River of Death. I also bring good news."
"You have a kind heart, but our clan has saved countless lives, only to be branded as a demonic race. The Saints have been unjust, ignoring the truth..."
The elder's eyes darkened with hatred, but when she looked back at Ying Xiaoxiao, her gaze softened once more. "What good news do you bring? The progenitor's Saintly consciousness has only just begun to awaken and needs to rest and recover."
"I found someone who could aid us—a Saint whose power rivals that of a Saint who has survived the Three Calamities. When the progenitor leads our clan to seek vengeance, he could help us fend off the Green Lantern Buddha and the Void Patriarch."
Ying Xiaoxiao spoke eagerly.
"Oh?"
The elder's eyes lit up in surprise. "Is this true? Since the catastrophe, all Saints have avoided our clan. We dare not approach them, lest we expose ourselves. How are you so certain this Saint will help us?"
"Because he also holds a grudge against them."
Ying Xiaoxiao responded.
The elder's interest deepened. "Who is this Saint?"
"You'll know once I say. It's the one who recently claimed first place in the Supreme Heaven's Pride Battle."
Ying Xiaoxiao smiled, her eyes twinkling.
"Him?"
The elder had obviously heard of the legend of Haotian Zun. During the Supreme Battle, he had not used Incense but had become a Saint through the Sacrifice Dao. Upon ascending, he had immediately defeated both the Buddha and the Void Saint, a feat that had gone down in history.
"How did you come to know him?"
The elder looked at her great-granddaughter, noticing the sparkle in her eyes.
"We met in the mortal realm, back when Uncle Mo was with me."
Ying Xiaoxiao's gaze dimmed for a moment, her eyes losing their brightness as a wave of sorrow passed through her.
The elder immediately saw through her thoughts, her expression changing briefly before she sighed softly, saying, "Your Uncle Mo and the others went willingly. Helping to revive the progenitor is the highest honor. You need not grieve for them."
Ying Xiaoxiao remained silent, not responding.
The elder continued, "I had intended to send someone to recruit that new Saint. Many of the older Saints are either aware of the catastrophe or fear the Supreme Saints and do not wish to get involved. Some are even willing to be informants, hoping to curry favor with the Source Ancestor by leaking information about our clan…"
As she spoke, a cold expression appeared on her face. "But these new Saints are different—they still carry the pride of Heaven's Chosen and haven't been tainted by worldly concerns. I never expected you to already have established a connection with him. This is indeed good news. You should go and tell the progenitor yourself."
Receiving her grandmother's praise, Ying Xiaoxiao smiled and nodded.
She then made her way deep into the divine temple.
Suspended there was a massive fire crystal, from which an overwhelming Saintly aura emanated. Even though it was restrained, its presence was still as imposing as an ancient behemoth.
Ying Xiaoxiao's expression changed, and she bowed respectfully.
"What is it?"
A cold and indifferent voice came from the Saintly aura within the crystal.
"I have found a Saint who is willing to aid the progenitor's cause," Ying Xiaoxiao reported, explaining how Li Hao was willing to assist.
After she finished, the Saintly aura within the crystal stirred slightly, emitting a trace of destructive, murderous intent.
"There's no need to risk contacting other Saints. I do not require anyone's help. Should this news leak, it could ruin everything."
The voice said coldly, far from the joy Ying Xiaoxiao had expected, and instead, tinged with displeasure.
Ying Xiaoxiao was taken aback but quickly understood the progenitor's reasoning. She immediately said, "This person is different from others. Even if he chooses not to help, he won't reveal anything."
"Hm?"
The voice seemed surprised by her rebuttal.
After a brief pause, it grew icy and authoritative, "Do you trust me, or do you trust an outsider? You bear the mission of our clan, and as the Divine Lady, you must not be so foolish. Do you want one misstep to lead to the destruction of our entire clan and force me to endure another catastrophe at the hands of the Saints?"
Ying Xiaoxiao's face turned pale, and she knelt hurriedly. "Progenitor, I only wished to—"
"There's no need for unnecessary action. I will return soon. During this time, we must remain low-key. The closer the storm approaches, the calmer we must be." The voice was cold and distant.
Hearing this, Ying Xiaoxiao bit her lip and lowered her head.
She knew that the Divine Clan's current situation was precarious. Hiding in the Sacred Lands of the Heavens, they were constantly at risk, and she had hoped to secure more support to reduce casualties during the upcoming conflict.
"Did Qingxue fail to teach you properly? As the Divine Lady, you should always consider the bigger picture."
Qingxue was the elegant elder—Ying Xiaoxiao's grandmother.
The voice was laced with dissatisfaction, but it did not continue berating her. After a momentary pause, it spoke again, "The one you mentioned... Qingxue has told me about him. However, he carries too much trouble, drawing too much attention. Before aiding me, he might not even survive his own tribulations. By the time I emerge, he may well have already become prey for Huntian."
Ying Xiaoxiao was stunned, her face paling as she looked up. "Progenitor, what do you mean?"
"You need not concern yourself with this. Do not show yourself again for a while. The Source Ancestor is crafty and sly. If he senses anything, he might set his schemes in motion earlier than expected. Wait until I return, and we will take action."
The voice declared, and then the light of the fire crystal dimmed.
Ying Xiaoxiao's expression shifted. She looked at the crystal but, in the end, bit her lip and withdrew from the temple.
...
Time passed.
The day of the Saintly Dao Debate was fast approaching.
Li Hao continued wandering through the heavens, while simultaneously refining the myriad star veins and absorbing laws to temper his Saintly body and Dao bones.
Having shattered his Dao bones in the past, they were now reformed. At the peak of the Ninth Stage of Path Mastery, countless laws had been drawn into his body, and Li Hao's physical form was becoming increasingly terrifying, nearing the perfection of the Realm of Dao Perception.
During his travels, many of Li Hao's skills improved.
Of all his abilities, his greatest progress was in the Dao of Poetry and Literature.
Whenever Li Hao had time, he would recite his Dao Sutras, and each word seemed to give him an incredible amount of experience in the Poetry Dao—far beyond what he had ever gained from transcribing any ancient verses.
What's more, the bottleneck between the sixth and seventh stages of the Poetry Dao was effortlessly broken through while reading the Dao Sutra.
Li Hao could feel it: this scripture reached straight to the roots of the Grand Dao. In fact, it seemed to speak of Heaven's Will itself!
If he could fully comprehend it, his mindset would become as elevated as Heaven's Will, looking down on the mortal world with an impartial view.
Perhaps the one who had written this timeless masterpiece had left on his azure ox, avoiding worldly fame and fortune because all worldly pleasures and accolades meant nothing to him.
Unwilling to bow to mortal rulers, he transcended both secular order and the quarrels of the Saints. His mind had already fused with the Dao, untouchable by the dust of the mundane world.
Li Hao glanced at his panel of attributes.
Physical Dao: 10th Stage, Path Mastery: 9th Stage, Sword Dao: 9th Stage, Body Movement: 6th Stage, Fist Dao: 6th Stage.
For his artistic skills: Painting Dao: 10th Stage, Cooking: 9th Stage, Chess Dao: 8th Stage, Poetry and Literature: 8th Stage, Music Dao: 6th Stage, Carving: 5th Stage, Fishing: 6th Stage.
Remaining Skill Points: 12.
His Poetry Dao had leaped from the 6th to the 8th stage due to the experience gained from the Dao Sutra!
Li Hao had originally planned to break through from the Music Dao and Fishing Dao to reach the 7th stage, which would also raise his Body Movement Dao.
Now that the Poetry Dao had surged, he directly applied his seventh-stage literary insight to the Body Movement Dao.
Afterward, he used some of his remaining skill points.
Soon, his Body Movement Dao reached the 8th stage, just a step away from attaining the Dao!
At this level of mastery, Li Hao's movement technique was now just a step behind the Saints. Some Saints who were not particularly skilled in movement were only at the 8th stage themselves.
Combining this with his Eternal Dao Domain and sword techniques, Li Hao felt that he could now barely keep pace with some of the Saints who had endured the Three Calamities.
If he could raise his movement technique to the 9th stage, attaining the Dao of Movement, he would stand among the upper echelon of the Saints.
Of course, the specifics would depend on the divine skills he mastered.
...
In the twilight world.
Within the sacred pavilion atop a Saintly mountain.
With a crisp clack, a black chess piece was placed, blocking the retreat of the white.
Dressed in brocade robes like a noble young master, Li Hao smiled.
"Your move, Yezu."
He had been wandering among the mortal world and the heavens, meeting old friends along the way. Now, he had come to visit some acquaintances from the Hua You Society.
Since his ascension to sainthood, others had stopped summoning him as frequently, likely worried about offending him. So, Li Hao took the initiative to visit them instead.
These were the people who had traveled far and wide to support him, and he remembered their kindness.
"I didn't expect you to actually know how to play…"
Yezu looked at the chessboard with a complex expression before letting out a bitter laugh.
That kid Qingjiu had also claimed to be an avid chess player, but after a few rounds, his play was awful.
Yezu had expected the same from Li Hao, especially since he had learned that Li Hao was only 28 years old when he participated in the Supreme Heaven's Pride Battle. Given that Li Hao had reached such a terrifying level of cultivation at such a young age, Yezu had no hope that Li Hao would have much skill in chess. After all, with all that time devoted to cultivation, who would have time to play chess?
But after confidently opening the game, Yezu had been completely cornered and defeated by Li Hao's moves.
"Your chess skills are among the best I've seen."
Li Hao smiled.
Yezu's chess skills were even slightly better than Hong Yue's.
Yezu smiled bitterly, "You're so young, and yet you've cultivated to such a high level. It's terrifying for us old folks. When we first recruited you into the Hua You Society, we may have delayed your growth. If you'd had more time, you would have surely become a Supreme Saint by now!"
As he spoke, he looked at Li Hao, his eyes brimming with admiration.
The Supreme Saint was the highest status one could achieve in the heavens. Such individuals were free from worldly constraints and could live forever, facing only their own eventual lifespan. But that end would come only after an incredibly long period.
"Cultivation can happen at any time, but once missed, the joys of life cannot be retrieved. Even a Supreme Saint cannot turn back time."
Li Hao smiled.
Yezu was momentarily taken aback as he looked at the carefree youth before him, his gaze flickering slightly. Then, in a quiet voice, he said:
"You're different from us. You've truly let go."
The members of the Hua You Society pursued pleasure, but deep down, they were all focused on cultivation. Although some had given up due to stagnation, they would seize any opportunity to advance if given the chance.
Yezu understood this well. But he could sense that this young man before him was not the same. Li Hao had truly let go.
Perhaps that mindset was the key difference between them.
Li Hao heard Yezu's words but didn't respond. The Path to Immortality required not just understanding the heavens but also possessing a heart that could let go.
The Supreme Saints of the heavens were bound by their own Saintly Daos. Even if they reincarnated, they would still be shackled by worldly matters, eventually returning to the path of cultivation that countless others pursued. They would always be swimming upstream.
Such was the case, even for those seeking a different path in their next life.
As for Li Hao, his attitude came not just from his panel but also from his nature. He simply had no grand ambitions and was content to go with the flow.
"Not long from now, the Dao Debate will take place. You should be careful."
Yezu seemed to think of something and warned Li Hao.
Li Hao knew what he was worried about. He smiled and said, "You'll be attending, won't you? Let's meet again then."
Seeing how unworried Li Hao was, Yezu sighed and said, "The Buddhist Sect and the Void Sacred Land won't miss the chance to cause you trouble during the debate."
"They won't."
Li Hao shook his head, seeing Yezu's surprise. He smiled and added, "Because before they find me, I'll find them first."
Yezu was speechless for a moment before bitterly laughing, "But the Dao Debate is about the Saintly Dao. Even if you're stronger than them, your Saintly Dao foundation is still shallow…"
"We'll know the result when the time comes."
Li Hao smiled, dropping the subject.
Seeing Li Hao's confidence, Yezu didn't push the matter further.
After a few more rounds of chess, Li Hao left that world.
Before he departed, the Saint of the Netherworld Sacred Land came to see him off and exchanged pleasantries with Li Hao.
Now that Li Hao had become a Saint, any world he visited would send someone of note to greet him.
With Yezu's connection, the Netherworld Saint held no ill will toward Li Hao, and since the two had no prior relationship, there was no attempt at cultivating a close bond.
Everyone in the heavens knew about the upcoming Dao Debate and Li Hao's unresolved enmity with the Buddhist Sect and the Void Sacred Land. It was understood that only after passing this trial would Li Hao truly be considered to have secured his place.
After leaving that world, Li Hao resumed his wandering.
He sought out companions for chess, painted, hunted, and cooked. No matter which world he visited, he always sought out the finest local cuisine, learning a great deal in the process.
Though he had yet to find a cook who could match his own skill, he appreciated that, like swordsmen, each chef had their own unique style. This gave him much food for thought.
"Feng Lao, it's been a while since we went fishing. With a month left before the Dao Debate, why don't we do some wild fishing?"
Returning to the Dao Tian Sacred Land, Li Hao invited Feng Lao.
He had long mastered the Dao of Fishing, but his attention had been diverted to other pursuits, leaving it stuck at the 6th stage. Li Hao planned to use this time to break through that bottleneck and reach the 7th stage.
This, in turn, would allow him to advance his Fist Dao to the 7th stage.
Feng Boping had long grown accustomed to Li Hao's carefree attitude of wandering the world and savoring fine food. While exasperated, he said nothing. After all, even back in the mortal realm, Li Hao had been this way, yet it hadn't stopped him from becoming the most monstrous talent of his generation.
"Sure, it's been a long time since I've been in the mood for this," Feng Lao replied with a laugh, showing no concern for the upcoming Dao Debate.
Having seen Li Hao condense his Saintly Dao firsthand, Feng Lao believed that Li Hao wouldn't lose to the Buddhist Sect in the Dao Debate. On the contrary, he might even come out on top.
"Do you know any good fishing spots, Feng Lao?"
Li Hao asked.
Feng Lao chuckled. "In the heavens, any place can be a fishing spot. But I do know a good one—I'll take you there."
Li Hao smiled, and an image of the Swordmaster popped into his head. "Would you mind if we invited another companion to join us?"
Feng Lao raised an eyebrow, surprised that Li Hao knew other half-Saints, but he smiled. "Of course, the more, the merrier. If they're a fellow enthusiast, all the better."
"Wait for me, then. I'll go see if he's free."
With that, Li Hao left the Dao Tian Sacred Land and traveled to Canglan World.
Upon arriving, Li Hao's eyes flickered, but he didn't head toward the Buddhist Sect. Instead, he went straight to the Sword Ancestor Sacred Land.
Li Hao's visit quickly alerted the Sword Saint, who emerged from his courtyard and flew into the sky, where he saw Li Hao approaching.
"Haotian Zun?"
Seeing Li Hao, the Sword Saint's gaze flickered as he quietly muttered, "Are you here for her?"
"Hm?"
Li Hao was confused. How did the Sword Saint know he was here to see the Swordmaster?
"Pardon my intrusion. I came to see the Swordmaster. Is he here?"
Li Hao bowed in respect.
Though he had become a Saint, visiting another's Sacred Land still required the proper etiquette to avoid causing offense.
The Sword Saint was momentarily taken aback. He hadn't expected Li Hao to be looking for the Swordmaster. Thinking back to how the Swordmaster had spoken up for Li Hao during the Supreme Heaven's Pride Battle, the Sword Saint's eyes flickered as he thought to himself:
"All these years, and elder brother, your vision is still as sharp as ever."
Outwardly calm, the Sword Saint replied, "He's here. But are you only here to see him?"
Li Hao was puzzled for a moment before remembering Lin Qingying. "I also wanted to see some other friends. Is that possible?"
The Sword Saint thought Li Hao was referring to Bian Ruxue, Li Hao's fiancée. He knew the two shared a close bond that went beyond friendship.
"If you've come to see Xue'er, I'm afraid you'll be disappointed. She's already been reincarnated."
The Sword Saint spoke as he watched Li Hao closely. If Li Hao still harbored feelings for Bian Ruxue, the Sword Saint intended to use this as an opportunity to strengthen their bond.
"Hm?"
Li Hao paused, then after a moment, understood who the Sword Saint was referring to.
"Oh."
He nodded, somewhat surprised that she had chosen to reincarnate. With the Sword Saint as her master, it was clear that this decision had been made voluntarily.
Given that she hadn't cultivated the Ultimate Heaven and Earth Form, reaching the Saintly Realm would have been an arduous path, making reincarnation an inevitable choice.
Noticing Li Hao's indifferent reaction, the Sword Saint's gaze flickered ever so slightly. He remained composed as he explained, "Xue'er was pursuing the Ultimate Sword, but when she saw it in your hands, her Dao heart wavered. She made the decision to reincarnate, and she chose to be reborn in the mortal realm, away from the Sacred Lands. I won't be able to sense her presence again until she returns to the Sacred Lands one day."
The Ultimate Sword... Li Hao's thoughts drifted as he remembered the young girl who had once looked up at him, full of hope and admiration, speaking passionately about her dreams.
He also recalled that night by the campfire beyond the wilderness, where she had shown such earnest resolve.
He shook his head with a faint smile. The Ultimate Sword, in his hands? It was nothing special—it wasn't the Ultimate Sword at all.
After all, his own Sword Dao hadn't even reached the tenth stage. How could he claim to wield the ultimate sword technique?
"A reincarnation in the mortal world… I hope she finds peace."
Li Hao said softly. He held no ill will toward that young girl, but any lingering attachment had long since faded. Their once-constant letters had ceased, and the bond had been severed.
The Sword Saint fell silent for a moment. Then, after a brief pause, he said, "Xue'er was said to be your fiancée, yet the two of you never married. Have you truly let go?"
Li Hao glanced at him, surprised by how much the Sword Saint seemed to know.
He shook his head with a smile, replying, "That engagement was not something either of us wished for. Moreover, it was a vow made in this life. Now that she's been reincarnated, what happens in the next life is beyond our control. Besides, her engagement was with Li Hao—what does that have to do with Haotian?"
The Sword Saint was taken aback, studying Li Hao closely. He couldn't quite grasp the meaning behind Li Hao's final words.
But he understood the rest. The young girl had made her choice, and now the engagement was void. It seemed the last remnants of that relationship had dissolved as well.
For a moment, the Sword Saint stood in silence. After a long pause, he finally spoke, "She was driven by her pursuit of the Dao, but she was still too young. Even if your paths have diverged, I hope you won't hold it against her."
Li Hao understood that the Sword Saint was concerned about harboring any lingering resentment, but his concern was misplaced.
Recalling the girl's face, Li Hao couldn't help but sigh softly. Time had passed, and the years had changed them. A broken mirror couldn't be mended, and the carefree days of childhood couldn't be reclaimed.
"Life is a journey against the current, and I am merely a traveler. May our first meeting be one without regret."
Li Hao murmured quietly.
The Sword Saint glanced at him, realizing that Li Hao had indeed let go of the past. In his heart, the Sword Saint breathed a quiet sigh of relief. This, perhaps, was the best outcome for both parties.
He spoke, "The Swordmaster would likely be happy to see you. Go ahead."
Li Hao nodded, bowing in farewell, before heading toward the Sword Pavilion.
"What were you and the Sword Saint talking about for so long?"
Standing before the Sword Cliff, the Swordmaster greeted Li Hao's arrival with a smile, not bothering to turn around.
Nearby, two Sword Servants wearing bronze masks stared at Li Hao in astonishment before hastily bowing in respect.
Not long ago, they had been the ones leading Li Hao to the Sword Pavilion to hang his painting. Now, within such a short span of time, the young man stood as their master's equal—a Saint!
Li Hao's feats had spread across the heavens, and the Sword Servants had heard all about the young man's monstrous talent.
Li Hao waved his hand with a smile, signaling for the two Sword Servants to rise. He then approached the Swordmaster and, seeing him sitting in meditation rather than fishing, asked, "Oh, nothing much. Do you have time for some wild fishing?"
The Swordmaster raised an eyebrow, retorting, "The Dao Debate is in a month. Aren't you going to participate? The Buddhist Sect and the Void Sacred Land will definitely take this opportunity to kill you!"
"It's fine. I'll be waiting for them."
Li Hao grinned.
The Swordmaster was momentarily taken aback, eyeing Li Hao up and down. Though he had witnessed Li Hao's abilities during the Supreme Heaven's Pride Battle, the young Saint was still only at the early stages of his Saintly Dao. His foundation, compared to the Buddhist Sect and the Void Sacred Land, was still far too shallow.
"Apart from them, they may also invite some old friends to join them. You should consider that carefully."
The Swordmaster spoke with concern, worried that Li Hao might be underestimating the situation.
Li Hao smiled and nodded, assuring him that there was no need for concern.
In fact, if his enemies brought others along to challenge him in the Dao Debate, Li Hao would welcome it. It would give him the perfect opportunity to undergo the tribulations of his Extreme Dao and Incense Dao.
As long as he alternated between his three powers without revealing them all at once, no one would suspect that he had mastered the Triple Cultivation of Three Saints. Instead, they would assume he was using the Source Ancestor's method to separate the Saintly Daos, allowing him to wield only one at a time in rotation.
But rotating through them was vastly different from using them simultaneously.
Seeing how relaxed Li Hao was, the Swordmaster dropped the subject. He gave his two disciples some instructions before turning to Li Hao to ask where they were headed.
Noticing his interest, Li Hao laughed and said, "You'll see. Just follow me."
With that, he spread his senses, located Lin Qingying's aura, and instantly teleported to her location.
Lin Qingying, who had been practicing her sword in the courtyard, was startled when Li Hao suddenly appeared. Seeing that it was him, she let out a breath of relief, her eyes lighting up with surprise.
"What brings you here?"
She asked, her voice calm and gentle despite the excitement flickering in her gaze. By nature, she was reserved, so even in her joy, she appeared composed and serene.
Li Hao smiled, "I came to check on you. Has your master been released?"
Lin Qingying's smile deepened, and she replied, "Yes, he's been freed."
At that moment, a graceful woman in a moon-white robe swiftly approached. She exuded an air of elegance and maturity and, upon seeing Li Hao, respectfully greeted him, "This must be Haotian Zun. Yun Yue greets you."
Though she was a half-Saint, and much older than Li Hao, in the martial world, power commanded respect.
"No need for such formality."
Li Hao returned the greeting with a smile before turning back to Lin Qingying. "Do you have some free time? How would you like to come fishing with me? Let's go have some fun."
Lin Qingying didn't hesitate, replying instantly, "I have time."
Yun Yue stood beside her, mouth slightly open as if to say something, but instead, she smiled silently.
Seeing Lin Qingying's quick response, Li Hao laughed. After a brief greeting to Lin Shanhai, he led her away.
When the Swordmaster saw Lin Qingying, he nodded in acknowledgment.
Lin Qingying quickly bowed, her cheeks tinged with pink.
"Where to?"
The Swordmaster asked.
"Just follow me."
Li Hao teased.
Then, he enveloped Lin Qingying in his Saintly aura and, together, they crossed the spatial rift, returning to the Dao Tian Sacred Land.
The Swordmaster followed closely, his expression calm, showing no hesitation as he accompanied them into the Sacred Land.
When Feng Boping saw that Li Hao had brought back the Swordmaster, he was momentarily stunned. Then, recalling how the Swordmaster had spoken up for Li Hao during the Supreme Heaven's Pride Battle, he smiled and nodded in greeting.
"Liesaint is here too?"
Li Hao was surprised to see Liesaint standing beside Feng Lao.
Liesaint shot Li Hao a sharp look and huffed, "I heard you were going fishing, and since I had nothing better to do, I decided to tag along. When it comes to fishing, you've come to the wrong person. You should have asked me! In all the heavens, my fishing skills are second to none!"
She cast a sidelong glance at Feng Lao and added, "In fact, I was the one who taught him everything he knows."
Feng Lao's face darkened, and he snapped, "If only people believed your words when you said them."
Liesaint snorted, "We'll settle it with the results!"
Li Hao blinked, suddenly realizing that Liesaint's methods were indeed well-suited for fishing. Her boast was likely not an exaggeration.
Laughing, he said, "The more, the merrier. Shall we head out, Feng Lao?"
"Of course. By the way, are you bringing this young lady with you? You seem to have quite the number of female companions," Feng Lao teased as he glanced at Lin Qingying.
Lin Qingying blushed, feeling the constant protection of Li Hao's Saintly aura around her. She wasn't intimidated by the presence of several Saints, and she began to see them as ordinary people.
With a light chuckle, Feng Lao took the lead.
Li Hao then released Xiyan from his inner world. Everything was new and exciting to her, while Hong Yue stayed behind in the Sacred Land. She wasn't interested in fishing and would have only suffered through the experience. For those unfamiliar with it, fishing could be a tedious and boring pastime.
"The place we're heading to is the Celestial River in the Qühe World. It's an excellent fishing spot," Feng Lao explained.
The Swordmaster's eyes brightened at this, and he nodded, "Indeed, a fine place. I've cast my line there a few times."
"Shall we make this a competition? Let's see who catches the most," Liesaint suggested, clearly interested in a challenge.
Feng Lao cleared his throat, choosing not to respond.
And so, the group soared through the void, and time passed swiftly.
Before long, half a month had gone by.
Several pairs of eyes had been covertly watching Li Hao and his companions, and Li Hao had made no attempt to hide his whereabouts. News of his movements quickly spread to certain interested parties.
When they learned that Li Hao had been spending his time sightseeing and fishing with the Swordmaster and Dao Thief, both the Buddhist Sect and the Void Sacred Land fell into a contemplative silence.
With the Dao Debate just around the corner, Li Hao appeared to be in no rush. He seemed completely unconcerned—almost as if he had no intention of participating!
"That brat must have sensed the danger. If he skips this chance, it will be much harder to kill him in the future!"
In the secret hall of the Buddhist Sect, the Green Lantern Buddha and the Buddha Sovereign both frowned deeply.
This was a crucial moment for the future of the Buddhist Sect. If they couldn't eliminate such a dangerous threat now, their cultivation would be forever plagued by worry.
"That weapon of his—I've examined it before. It's a fragment of a Dao Calamity Emperor Weapon. He must be lacking the heavenly treasures needed to nourish it. Fishing in the Celestial River is likely his way of obtaining the divine fish born of heavenly water, which can be used to feed such a weapon."
The Buddha Sovereign spoke gravely. "Since he's aware of our plans and doesn't wish to face us, we'll have to try another approach. We'll offer certain heavenly treasures as rewards for the Dao Debate."
The Green Lantern Buddha was silent for a moment before replying, "The Source Ancestor will be delivering his Dao teachings. It's unlikely that Li Hao will miss such an event. Earlier, he sought the Source Ancestor's advice, and while most believe it was to inquire about the method for cultivating the Three Saints, he may have received the Source Ancestor's protection. He could simply be planning to listen rather than engage in the debate."
"If that's the case, then we must provoke him. Five heavenly treasures should be enough to entice him, don't you think?"
The Buddha Sovereign took a deep breath and spoke firmly.
The Green Lantern Buddha cast him a glance and said, "Inform the Void Sacred Land and see how they plan to proceed."
The Buddha Sovereign nodded.
As time passed, the heavens stirred with change. Many Saints entrusted their affairs to others and departed from their Sacred Lands.
Even the half-Saints within the Sacred Lands had begun to make preparations. The disciples of the Sacred Lands were well aware that the grand event in the Sacred Lands of the Heavens was fast approaching.