Chapter 387: Dao Ancestor
Seeing Li Hao's composure, Ying Xiaoxiao thought back to how he had just killed Star Saint with ease, and the tension in her heart began to dissipate. She knew that Li Hao had faced numerous deathly trials in the past but had always emerged unscathed—even back when his strength was far from what it was now.
Boom!
Just then, the entire Void Abyss trembled as if the heavens and earth were collapsing. From within the fissure in space came a terrifying tremor, and soon, a chaotic light began to gather and slowly seep outward.
Although it seemed to spread at a slow pace, it actually happened in an instant.
It was like a cosmic explosion, where the universe shattered in an instant. Li Hao's pupils constricted as he felt an overwhelming destructive force emanating from the chaotic light.
His hair stood on end, and he instantly enveloped Ying Xiaoxiao within his Dao Domain, retreating swiftly.
At the same time, Dragon God on the other side regained his senses and immediately soared into the distance.
Other saints of the Divine Clan were equally terrified, scattering in all directions.
Luckily, that chaotic force seemed to have a conscious awareness, shifting away from the Divine Clan's direction, yet leaving no protection over the Demon-Slaying Assembly.
"What…what power is this?"
"Chaos? Destruction?"
"Run!"
"The Dao itself is disintegrating—is this Heaven's Way?"
Numerous saints were struck with horror, fleeing in every direction. Was this the fallout from the clash between Origin Ancestor and Godking?
In the Void Abyss's rift, the two primal forces—Origin and End—collided at their extremes.
Origin Ancestor wielded the power of Origin, perceiving it as the source of all things.
The Godking, on the other hand, cultivated Extreme Path and condensed his own Sacred Dao. His Sacred Dao symbolized End.
All things will eventually end, and the End is also the beginning.
The two wielded Sacred Daos that had a subtle symmetry yet stark opposition, like destined enemies.
Now, the forces of Origin and End, erupting from each in their divine realms, reached the extreme limits of saintly power, tearing the void apart, shattering all principles, and revealing the most primal chaos of that region.
Chaos consumed all, even Sacred Daos.
All the saints' Sacred Daos originated from chaos but not before it, and thus were incapable of resisting it.
"Without them here to aid you, do you really think you can recreate the story alone?"
The Godking's gaze was locked onto Origin Ancestor. Once, they had drunk together, calling each other brothers, but now, they had become mortal enemies!
"And you," Origin Ancestor replied, looking at him calmly, "think you can kill me in revenge? Do you really believe you're capable?"
The Godking's eyes flared with rage. "The ancient palace is about to open. I may not be able to kill you, but I won't let you get your way either!"
"I gave you that bronze throne all those years ago. And what became of it? After all this time, have you managed to ascend to godhood?"
His mocking laughter echoed.
Origin Ancestor spoke indifferently, "You know, I have been cultivating since the ancient times, with only one aspiration: to glimpse the world beyond this one. Since you understand me, you should know that if I take that step, I will return to bring you with me."
"Bah!"
The Godking spat, sneering. "If I were to take that step, I would return for you as well. Why won't you give me the chance?"
Origin Ancestor looked at him quietly, understanding that there was no point in arguing about this matter. He replied, "Then let's see if you have the strength to take that chance."
Once, they had sworn to become immortal gods together as brothers, yet now, they would do anything to stop the other from achieving that goal. Perhaps this was the irony of fate.
"Die!"
The Godking roared, his entire form bursting into violent golden flames. At the same time, layers of domain power stacked up, reaching an ultimate level of 360 layers.
Eternal Dao Domain!
His domain was engulfed in endless fire, resembling an eternal flame realm. Crimson flames blazed, fueled by the centuries of rage he harbored.
As the power of his domain spread, his aura surged, with the force of End erupting in devastating intensity.
Origin Ancestor raised his hand as well, his domain forming layer upon layer, revealing an Eternal Dao Domain.
Within his domain, stars flickered in and out, life bloomed, and sometimes, a hazy, brilliant orange-red divine radiance appeared, resembling the chaotic light from the dawn of time.
Both unleashed their Eternal Dao Domains, colliding, each borrowing the power of Heaven's Way, merging it with their Sacred Daos and eroding each other.
Yet, both were at the ultimate domain, and both had reached the Through Force at the end of cultivation.
Where their second ultimate paths diverged, however, was profound.
The Godking had formed Divine Meridians alongside the Heaven Meridians, forging a Divine Meridian with his own divine realm's Sacred Dao, opening a path that siphoned power from all directions with terrifying might, equating to the strength of two Heaven Meridians.
Meanwhile, Origin Ancestor had the All-Beings Meridian.
Within the Heaven Meridians, he cast reflections of all beings, each one forming a vital essence that together surpassed the Godking's Divine Meridian.
As the stalemate persisted, Origin Ancestor's aura gradually gained the upper hand; the All-Beings Meridian was vast and boundless, seemingly about to overpower the Godking. But suddenly, the Godking's aura erupted from within, reversing the balance in an instant.
"Ancestral Divine Meridian—Blood Source is the true path to the second extreme!"
The Godking's eyes gleamed sharply. He had long studied the All-Beings Meridian's strength and had already devised a method to counter it before this battle began.
He used his bloodline as a conduit, making the Divine Clan offspring his veins and achieving the Ancestral Divine Meridian. This allowed him to draw from his kin at will, absorbing their power into himself.
At that moment, within the vast Divine Clan army outside the spatial rift, power began to drain from every member, flowing along the unique connection of their divine blood and merging into the Godking. This meridian-opening technique was as domineering and swift as his cultivation method.
After all, he had a vast lineage already proliferated, a whole race.
Origin Ancestor's expression shifted. Although his cultivation spanned eons and his foundation ran deep, he had to admit that the Godking's talent was unmatched, dazzling even the annals of history.
Opening the path of Extreme Dao, and now using bloodlines to carve out the second ultimate meridian—these two techniques were not only incredibly powerful, but they also required little to no preparation and cultivated rapidly. The Godking had effectively bridged the gap between himself and Origin Ancestor's immense foundation of ages past.
Others viewed him as a genius for paving the way for the Sacred Dao, becoming the first saint of the heavens and creating a path without reference. Yet, whenever he faced the Godking, he felt almost dull and ordinary by comparison.
Boom!
Origin Ancestor's Dao Domain merged with the power of his Sacred Dao, forming an Eternal Sacred Domain, its hazy light resembling the origin of all things as it pressed forward to envelop the Godking.
The Godking's domain likewise transformed, filled with godly flames. The force of End blanketed everything, rendering it withered and dead, with faint traces of temporal principles visible within.
As their powers clashed once more, the Ancestral Dragon Meridian displayed its superiority, and the Godking's Sacred Domain gradually gained the upper hand.
"Hmph, bring out your Tai Cang Divine Seal."
The Godking spoke coldly.
Hearing this, Origin Ancestor seemed willing to oblige, and his hand shot out, releasing a burst of divine radiance.
That light swirled and ascended, rapidly expanding as though forming a miniature world.
Boom!
The void quaked as an intimidating seal appeared, imbued with the power of a world.
This was no mere borrowed power; it was an actual small world pressing down!
The Godking smirked, raising his sword, but just as he was about to strike, a sudden, piercingly cold light flashed.
The light was abrupt, piercing through his Eternal Sacred Domain as if through a unique passageway, moving unobstructed.
Boom!
The Godking, caught off guard, felt his body pierced through as the cold aura stilled the godly flames on his armor. Withdrawing his sword, his form shattered.
Behind the fractured body stood a figure with white hair and white brows, his expression icy.
Yet, before he could withdraw his hand, the Godking's figure reformed instantly, his body regenerating as quickly as he had disintegrated.
But he was immediately confronted by the Tai Cang Divine Seal, crashing down upon him.
Boom!
The Godking's form was enveloped within the seal, his entire Sacred Domain shattered as he was surrounded by a dreadful force.
The white-haired elder took the chance to raise his hand, conjuring several prohibitive spells in the void, intending to assist in sealing the Godking.
Outside the rift, those who had retreated observed in silence.
From the tremors rippling through the rift, they felt a chill in their hearts—these primal powers could easily erase even a saint.
"Who will win, Origin Ancestor or the Godking?"
"That Godking is far stronger than I imagined. I thought Origin Ancestor would make short work of him, but it seems to be a drawn-out fight."
"Didn't witness the battle years ago, did you? The Godking established a race across the heavens, ruling alone. If it hadn't been for the saints uniting, he might not have lost even then."
"True. The Godking's might is terrifying. Perhaps only Haotian Zun can match him."
Many saints had already changed the way they referred to the Godking, as he had won their respect through sheer power. As they discussed the Godking's strength, several of them cast glances toward Li Hao.
It was only then, noticing Ying Xiaoxiao standing beside him, that it dawned on them—the Star Saint, who had confronted Li Hao, seemed to have perished!
Killing the Star Saint was far more astonishing than the fact that Li Hao had previously destroyed ten Void Sacred Grounds. After all, the Star Saint had held the title of "Unmatched Below Supreme Saint," a status beyond the reach of most saints.
Though Li Hao had similarly been deemed "Unmatched Below Supreme Saint," there had been a gap between them. But now, Li Hao had undeniably crossed into the ranks of the top echelon!
"This is terrifying; he seems only a step away from becoming a Supreme Saint."
"To have slain the Star Saint… Even the Food Saint and the Dark Saint might not have been capable of such a feat. And I heard he's not even thirty years old yet! Who knows how he trains?"
"Given time, it's almost certain that he will reach Supreme Saint level. If the ancient palace truly holds a path to godhood, then Li Hao might one day attain the status of an immortal god!"
At that moment, the saints' eyes rested on Li Hao without the previous dismissiveness or hostility. Those from sacred grounds Li Hao had once seized treasures from now regarded him with a newfound respect.
As murmurs ran through the crowd, an immense wave of energy suddenly surged out from within the crack in the void. Moments later, three figures emerged from inside.
"Origin Ancestor!"
"Isn't that the Saint of Tianyuan? I heard his specialty is the Sacred Dao of Creation!"
"He's Origin Ancestor's second disciple, and he was inside as well?"
"To come out of such a fierce battle unscathed… could it mean…?"
Many saints went pale, their minds racing to a dreadful conclusion. Could it be that he, too, was a Supreme Saint? The sheer intensity of that battle's shockwaves would have required a Supreme Saint to endure. If he indeed was a Supreme Saint, then Origin Ancestor's power was truly monstrous.
No Supreme Saint had ever been known to take on a disciple of that level.
Standing there, the Godking was clad in bloodstained armor, his eyes filled with malice as he glared at Origin Ancestor. "I'll be waiting!"
With those words, he spun around, his blood-red cloak billowing, enveloping his followers within its realm of laws.
As his gaze passed over Ying Xiaoxiao beside Li Hao, it stopped for a moment. His eyes grew cold, and with a final glance, he turned and disappeared into the void fissure. Within a few breaths, he was completely gone.
Origin Ancestor remained silent, his expression unreadable, making no move to pursue him.
Seeing this, the saints were taken aback. Just like that, the Godking was allowed to leave? He would surely rise again, and yet Origin Ancestor chose not to end him here. The saints seemed to sense something beyond what they understood.
Could it be that Origin Ancestor and the Godking had reached some sort of mutual understanding?
The two most powerful beings in all the realms had only one reason to align or halt their clash. With that realization, the crowd's gaze shifted to Li Hao.
As they looked at him, they noticed Ying Xiaoxiao standing by his side.
This was the Divine Clan's Holy Maiden!
Now, with the Godking and his entire army withdrawn, the Holy Maiden alone remained among them.
Murderous intentions glinted in several pairs of eyes directed at Ying Xiaoxiao, though she met those looks with a slight frown, unyielding and fearless.
"Let's go," Li Hao said to Ying Xiaoxiao, calm and unfazed. "The gathering is over. Time to return."
The two were about to leave when Origin Ancestor suddenly called out to Li Hao. He watched him in silence for a moment before smiling slightly. "The ancient palace will open in a year. Be cautious. There are some who would rather not see the path to godhood emerge and may come looking to cause you trouble."
"Understood," Li Hao nodded.
He then turned with Ying Xiaoxiao and the transformed form of Feng Lao, stepping into the rift in the void to depart.
The saints exchanged glances, slightly surprised that Origin Ancestor bore no grudge against Li Hao. Since Origin Ancestor had pardoned him, the rest of them wouldn't dare obstruct him.
After all, the Star Saint, considered among the strongest, had fallen at Li Hao's hand. Short of Origin Ancestor taking action himself, only the white-haired, white-browed Tianyuan Saint might be able to stop him.
Xiao Tianyu's expression was complex. After becoming a saint, he had thought he would close the gap between himself and Li Hao. Yet, to his astonishment, that gap had only widened. Li Hao's growth was mind-boggling, to the point where he seemed almost close to matching even their master, Origin Ancestor.
As Li Hao left, the remaining saints took their turns to bid farewell to Origin Ancestor.
They knew that the next time they would gather again would be in a year's time, at the ancient palace.
A year passed swiftly; to the saints, time slipped by like a page turning, one day to the next.
For Li Hao, though, a year was ample time to achieve many things.
Playing chess, fishing, meditating, cooking…
He found himself increasingly absorbed in the art of cooking, feeling as though he was on the verge of a breakthrough.
Apart from cooking, he continued refining his understanding of laws, his physical form finally absorbing the insights of the ninth segment of the Dao of Control, merging his physical body with the Dao of Laws.
With the perfection of his Dao bones and divine blood, Li Hao felt himself touching on a profound, indescribable sensation.
Drawing on his experience of reaching the extreme realm, he recognized this as the realm of absolute mastery.
He seemed to have become one with the Dao itself, indestructible. His regenerative abilities allowed him to reassemble even his Dao form. It was nearly impossible to destroy him completely—unless struck by some extreme, terrifying force.
Even if his form was shattered, his bloodline could instantly restore him!
Faced again with the chaotic shockwaves from Origin Ancestor and the Godking's battle, Li Hao was confident he could withstand them. In terms of survival alone, he felt he might even rival a Supreme Saint, and perhaps even surpass them in certain aspects!
He named this level of insight "Dao Ancestor."
Beyond the transformation of his form, this realm granted him a subtle connection with the will of Heaven. For the first time, he could glimpse fragments of Heaven's intent—an ability previously exclusive to Supreme Saints.
This mysterious realm—Dao Ancestor—also granted him numerous advantages, chief among them being a heightened sense of the will of Heaven.
He had now achieved the unimaginable: an embryonic understanding of Heaven's will.