Chapter 388: The Opening of the Ancient Hall
The battle at the Void Abyss had concluded, bringing a temporary pause to the conflict between the Primordial Ancestor and the God Clan.
In that vast rift, only the Primordial Ancestor's second disciple, the Sage of Heaven's Origin, knew what transpired. Yet it was clear to all that a truce had been reached.
As the day of the Ancient Hall's opening approached, the Sages speculated that both the Primordial Ancestor and the God King would certainly not miss this chance.
Rumors about the Ancient Hall circulated among the Sages, with discussions even among the half-Saints. It was well-known that the purpose of the recent prolonged battle among the peak prodigies was to identify talents capable of mastering the sixth supreme boundary.
Now that such individuals had emerged, the long-standing legends of the Immortals and Gods were finally set to be revealed.
Several reincarnated Sages, upon regaining their memories, decided to return early and reclaim their former power.
What awaited in the Ancient Hall was still a mystery. If it were a straightforward path, there would be no issue. But if the path was limited, it would inevitably lead to fierce competition, and everyone would need to be well-prepared.
Due to the importance of the Ancient Hall, many Sacred Grounds opted not to interfere in the clash between the Primordial Ancestor and the God King, with most merely aligning with one side.
In the Hun Tian Sacred Ground within the Qiankun Realm.
"Master, does the Ancient Hall really hold the path to the Immortals and Gods? Perhaps the legends of Immortals and Gods are nothing more than myths. You have already reached the pinnacle of cultivation," a Sage with seven-colored wings spoke softly, his appearance refined and graceful. Feathers of a peacock fanned across his forehead, and his eyes carried a faint green hue.
"You've practiced for too few years to understand. Immortals and Gods are not myths. The Primordial Ancestor is so obsessed with Immortality because he witnessed it firsthand in ancient times and may even have been guided by an Immortal."
The towering Hun Tian Sage, with a black horn piercing the sky from his forehead, spoke calmly:
"Traces of the Immortals and Gods can be found everywhere. Those stars above the heavens, aside from the Divine Sun, were crafted by Immortal powers. Do you think the world was originally like this? Impossible. The artificial marks are too clear!"
"Yes, the celestial stele on the Battlefield of the Heavens was left by an ancient Immortal. Its true purpose was likely to screen potential disciples."
The ancient tree beside Hun Tian Sage slowly nodded and added, "Only when the Immortals disappeared did the stele become a measure for young prodigies. But if you think about it, there's no way that such an odd stone could form naturally in the world."
"An Immortal testing disciples through the stele?"
The Peacock Sage froze in realization. It started to make sense.
"Who knows what lies within the Ancient Hall. If the Primordial Ancestor and the God King join forces, no one would stand a chance against them if they open the path to the Immortals," the Peacock Sage said, sounding worried.
"Unlikely. When the time comes, the Primordial Ancestor will surely call us to deal with the God King first."
Hun Tian Sage spoke coolly, "The Primordial Ancestor attacked the God King out of fear and jealousy. The God King... could be called the greatest genius of all time, but he shone too brightly and trusted too easily."
The Peacock Sage blinked in surprise, stunned by the idea that the Primordial Ancestor could fear or envy anyone.
"It's nearly time. Let's head to the Xiao Qian Realm to meet that boy. He's the key to the Ancient Hall, and not all the Sages are eager for the Hall to open early. We shouldn't let anything happen to this key."
Hun Tian Sage's eyes narrowed, and his massive form contracted into the usual, restrained guise of a Sage.
The Peacock Sage's expression tensed. It made sense; the Ancient Hall wasn't going anywhere. For some Sages, an early opening might not be in their best interests.
Outside the Xiao Qian Realm, traces of Sage auras had recently been sensed, though the figures remained elusive.
In the quiet courtyard of the Dao Tian Sacred Ground, Feng Boping took a sip of his drink and glanced at Li Hao. "The Primordial Ancestor was right; some Sages really don't want you to open the Ancient Hall. I suspect there might even be a Saint lurking out there."
Li Hao, with his ability to glimpse fate, had sensed a dark presence near the Xiao Qian Realm. Clearly, it was not friendly.
Though he hadn't mentioned this to Feng Boping, Feng and Huan Tian Sage had maintained their vigilance, reinforcing the seals around the Xiao Qian Realm to keep any Sages from intruding unnoticed.
"For some, your timing might not be ideal. The Ancient Hall isn't going anywhere, and some want to achieve the sixth extreme realm themselves to secure more chances," Feng Boping continued, having long seen through certain Sages' motives. Even with the Primordial Ancestor and the God Clan temporarily ceasing their fight, Feng Boping kept the realm sealed for Li Hao's protection.
"It would be hard for any Saint to kill you quietly, and if they cause too big a commotion, they'd have everyone against them."
"Are you really not going to the Ancient Hall?" Li Hao asked, taking a swig from a wine gourd.
While most of the Saints were gathering their strength for the Ancient Hall, Feng Boping was an exception, staying back without a second thought.
"Becoming an Immortal is just a longer lifespan, the same as Heaven and Earth. It's not remarkable to live longer; it's sad if you live a long time but aren't happy."
Feng Boping tipped his drink back, smiling faintly. "This time, I can't accompany you. Take care of yourself. I'll be waiting for you to make that step."
Li Hao studied Feng Boping thoughtfully, sensing there was more to his words. Giving up a chance to become an Immortal implied something extremely important.
"If there truly is a path to Immortality, I'll come back for you."
"Then I'll be waiting."
The two clinked their wine gourds, savoring the food and drink without a word of pretense.
As the opening of the Ancient Hall drew near, several familiar faces reached out to Li Hao.
Zantan from the Flower You Society, Yaochi from the Sword Ancestor's Sacred Ground, as well as Ye Zu, Qing Zu, and Qingjiu—all sent messages, knowing how dangerous this journey would be.
"I'll be waiting for you to return," came a message from Lin Qingying through a Sage's communication token.
Glancing at it, Li Hao didn't reply. This journey was full of risks he couldn't overlook.
When the Primordial Ancestor's summons finally arrived, signaling the departure to the Ancient Hall, Li Hao prepared to leave.
"There's a familiar presence waiting outside the Xiao Qian Realm, the Primordial Ancestor himself."
"And besides the Primordial Ancestor, I sense another Saint among them."
Feng Boping came to Li Hao's courtyard, smiling. "It seems they won't let anything happen to you until you open the Hall. But be careful afterward."
"Got it."
Li Hao nodded, bidding farewell to Feng Boping.
Huan Tian Sage arrived just outside the Dao Tian Sacred Ground, where Li Hao invited her to travel together. She declined with a smile, "You've attracted enough attention on your own; I'll go separately."
Feng Boping, hearing this, shot her a look. He knew she had no intention of going to the Hall and was just saying this to reassure Li Hao.
Li Hao gave them both a strange look but didn't press the matter. "Alright, I'll go ahead then."
With that, he stepped outside the Xiao Qian Realm.
In the silent void, numerous Sage auras appeared, and the most notable among them were the Saints like Hun Tian Sage, Yi Sage, and Fa Sage.
It seemed that nearly all the Saints had gathered outside the Xiao Qian Realm, awaiting his arrival.
"The Saints are here?"
"Clearly, they're taking the Ancient Hall seriously, concerned about any surprises."
"With only him holding the sixth extreme realm, who knows how long we'd wait without him."
Solemnly, the Sages took in the scene. If this truly led to a path toward Immortality, it would open realms beyond their current understanding.
"Are you ready?" The Primordial Ancestor's projection approached Li Hao, smiling calmly.
Li Hao nodded, glancing around and catching sight of the Sword Saint, Sword Lord, and Wen Sheng.
"Let's go," said Fa Sage, coldly.
Without waiting, he took the lead.
Hun Tian Sage gave Li Hao an amused glance, evidently savoring the growing power within him.
Despite Li Hao remaining in the First Calamity Saint realm, Hun Tian could sense his formidable spirit.
"Be wary of Hun Tian," a quiet voice resonated in Li Hao's mind. It was a message from Yi Sheng, and when Li Hao glanced over, he caught Yi Sheng casting him a fleeting, sidelong look before swiftly moving away, as if they barely knew each other.
Li Hao remained composed. This wasn't the first time Hun Tian Sage had set his sights on him, but with his recent breakthroughs, Li Hao now possessed a level of confidence in his own survival, even under the threat of a Saint's attacks.
With the Saints leading the way, a grand procession of Sages followed behind, forming an imposing entourage. Li Hao found himself at the center, like the core of a constellation, as they traversed through dimensional rifts. In no time, they arrived at the Heaven's Origin Realm within the Upper Three Realms.
Here, a contingent of Sages awaited, having chosen not to gather outside the Xiao Qian Realm with the others to receive Li Hao. As they observed the arrival of the Saints surrounding him, an unspoken sense of gravitas filled the air—such a spectacle was unprecedented across the heavens.
These Saints, after all, were here to ensure the "key" arrived without incident.
Scanning the gathering, Li Hao's gaze fell upon a familiar figure not far from the Primordial Ancestor's true form. It was the God King himself, clad in his menacing, golden armor with the appearance of jagged mountains, radiating a fearsome aura like smoldering volcanic magma.
Beside the God King stood Ying Xiaoxiao and several other Sages of the God Clan. Since parting ways back in the Xiao Qian Realm, Ying Xiaoxiao had resumed her duties, now standing with her clan to participate in the opening of the Ancient Hall.
The moment Li Hao arrived, her eyes found him, carrying a glimmer of worry.
"Be cautious of the Primordial Ancestor," her soft voice echoed in his mind.
Li Hao blinked, slightly taken aback, and turned to look at her. Within her bright eyes, he saw a faint trace of sorrow and unease. But he kept his expression unreadable, choosing not to respond, and walked forward to stand before the Primordial Ancestor himself.
As he did so, a subtle, familiar presence prickled his senses. Glancing sideways, he spotted the figure of Xing Sheng seated on the edge of the assembly, his cold gaze fixed firmly on Li Hao.
A small smirk tugged at Li Hao's lips—so Xing Sheng was still alive. It seemed that this powerful figure, almost on par with the Saints, had indeed possessed some hidden means of survival.
"Since we're all here, let's get moving," the God King announced in an abrupt tone, sounding impatient as if he loathed to waste another moment.
The Primordial Ancestor gave a slight nod, then stood and waved a hand, slicing open a massive rift in the fabric of reality. This rift extended along an existing fracture between worlds, reaching an astonishing distance.
After a brief glance at Li Hao, the Primordial Ancestor entered first, his figure disappearing into the darkness. Several Sages of the Primordial Ancestor's Sacred Ground followed suit, with each stepping forward to join their master.
As Xiao Tianyu passed by Li Hao, he shot him a complex look before wordlessly lowering his head and stepping through the rift. Following close behind was Fa Sheng, accompanied by Qiu Tianlü, who had recently ascended to Sagehood. He cast a brief, contemplative glance at Li Hao, his expression unusually solemn.
Like Xiao Tianyu, Qiu Tianlü carried memories of his current life, woven together with the life he once lived as a Sage. Competing alongside Li Hao left an impression far too deep to ignore.
As the assembly of Saints and Sages proceeded through the dimensional passage, Li Hao spared Xing Sheng no further thought, joining the line that led into the rift. Emerging from the other side, he was greeted by the breathtaking sight of a star-strewn expanse.
There, suspended amidst the boundless starlit sky, stood the Ancient Hall, its surface alive with streaks of lightning and fire, a domain radiating boundless mystery.
Surrounding the hall was an ominous zone. The moment Li Hao's divine sense extended towards it, he felt it dissolve into nothingness—like dropping into an abyss that silently devoured everything.
Li Hao narrowed his eyes. The legends of this hall had long intrigued him, but now, facing its reality, he could feel the enigma in every pulse of the Ancient Hall's presence.
"It is said that this place once housed the Immortals and Gods themselves. I advise everyone to tread carefully—any reckless move could trigger mechanisms far beyond our control."
The ink-black eyes of Mo Jia's Saint gleamed as he cautioned the crowd.
The Primordial Ancestor, remaining silent, led the way to the hall's entrance, where an astral staircase woven of laws and stars unfolded before them. He ascended without hesitation, his form enveloped in a crackling field of lightning which quickly faded.
Without breaking his stride, he continued up the steps and soon reached the door of the Ancient Hall.
"Small obstacles like this shouldn't pose a problem for you," Fa Sheng remarked dryly to Li Hao. Fa Sheng, too, had heard of the recent battle and knew Xing Sheng had barely survived his encounter with Li Hao, his power only partially restored.
With that, Fa Sheng turned and briskly followed the Primordial Ancestor.
As Li Hao studied the star-lit staircase leading up to the hall, he realized the path was far from easy, yet he felt no true resistance. When he finally stepped onto the steps, he felt a powerful surge of law that coiled around him, infused with force as if crafted by the will of a Sage.
But as the energy encircled him, it transformed into a mere breeze, drifting aside, leaving his steps unhampered.
His body, like a towering tree, absorbed the force from the path's laws, rendering them powerless against him.
He knew this was the benefit of his Dao Comprehension Extreme Boundary, a state of near invulnerability to all lesser laws.
Observing Li Hao crossing the steps with the same ease as the Saints, several Sages who had been watching him intently shared meaningful glances, their expressions now more contemplative.
Soon, other Sages began ascending the steps as well, unleashing various powers to counter the path's challenges. Ji Sheng unsheathed his sword, cleaving through a sea of flames, reaching the Ancient Hall effortlessly, while Jian Zhu enveloped himself in his Sword Domain, warding off the relentless assaults as he crossed.
The other Sages employed their unique skills to make their way through, yet even the one-disaster Sages found it arduous, requiring them to expend considerable incense power just to press onward.
It was then that a certain realization dawned upon the assembled Sages—while they, too, were one-disaster Sages, the ease with which this young man traversed the star path was, to say the least, unnerving.
As the other Sages continued their ascent, the Saints wasted no time. The Primordial Ancestor, upon seeing Li Hao approach, pushed open the doors of the hall, revealing what seemed to be an entirely new world.
Inside, the hall stretched into an endless passageway lined with shimmering stars, like a galaxy embedded in the walls.
The Saints moved forward without hesitation, taking the lead.
Li Hao followed, drawn into the vast hall where the inner sky stretched endlessly, resplendent with starlight like the galaxy itself.
This wasn't the first time the Saints had come here; their familiarity with the path ahead showed as they continued onward without delay, guiding the rest forward through the intricate corridors of the Ancient Hall.
They came upon a long corridor, leading to a high platform at the end, cracked and worn, its ancient glory now riddled with scars of time and power.