Chapter 410: Clearing the Injustice, The Desperate Crisis Arrives
Yuan Zu did not hide anything and simply recounted Li Hao's journey over the past decade in the Heavens.
After listening to Yuan Zu's explanation, the Li family members were completely stunned, their hearts overwhelmed with indescribable shock and confusion.
They had thought that Li Hao, after entering the Heavens, might at best find a foothold and thrive like a fish in water. However, they never expected that in just over ten years, he would reach the pinnacle of the Heavens, becoming someone even the saints—who had established mortal divine dynasties and left countless legends—now feared and revered.
"From Canglan Realm, he rose to power, defeating countless prodigies across the heavens, becoming the first, achieving sainthood on the spot, and standing invincible in all of the heavens…"
Many saints accompanying Yuan Zu also sighed emotionally as they recounted Li Hao's path. That youth was simply too monstrous, like a comet blazing across the sky—so dazzling that the entire world noticed, and no one could forget.
Li Tiangang and the others were rendered speechless by this revelation. That child who had already shown brilliance in the mortal world turned out to be like a dragon emerging from the sea in the heavens, achieving his own True Dragon's Ascension Gate.
"Invincible in the heavens…"
Li Ping'an, struck with shock and disbelief, turned pale. His body swayed as if he were about to collapse.
He never imagined that the shadow he had been chasing all along had already traveled to such an unreachable place.
The God King escorted everyone to the Heavenly Sacred Ground before bidding farewell to Yuan Zu and returning to guard the Ancient Hall.
The avatars of the other saints also disappeared. Only Yuan Zu's true self remained, his aura restrained but still surrounded by dense Dao Principles. He felt like the center of the world, leaving everyone feeling an involuntary urge to look up to him.
The other saints also restrained their auras. Otherwise, if released fully, anyone below the Wendao Realm would struggle to even stand.
While the Li family members trembled in awe, Yuan Zu brought them to Tianyuan Sacred Ground. The energy there was dense, the environment stunningly beautiful, like an earthly paradise.
Once everyone had settled in, Yuan Zu conjured images of the fallen divine dynasties that had been destroyed by the ancient demons.
His earlier recounting of Li Hao's feats was part of his plan to emphasize Li Hao's current position, hoping it would motivate these people to persuade Li Hao.
At this moment, with scenes of ruined cities and devastated lands reflected in the sky, the Li family members, Yu Emperor, and others were all left in stunned silence. From a bird's-eye view, countless cities were lifeless, filled with corpses, and war had spread like wildfire across the lands.
In a world guarded by saints, such a tragedy was inconceivable.
The terrifying forms of the ancient demons were projected as well. Yuan Zu added a faint touch of Law Power, and the crowd immediately felt an overwhelming sense of malice and pressure. Just from the projections alone, they felt the suffocating fear.
"These are the Ancient Demons, each comparable to a top-tier saint," Yuan Zu said softly. "Right now, only Hao Tianzun can suppress them. However, even that would only be a temporary solution. The ancient demon armies are endless. We can only ask Hao Tianzun to take us to a place of refuge, preserving the seeds of life. Perhaps when someone ascends to become a True Immortal, we can reverse this and drive the ancient demons out."
Hearing his words, while everyone couldn't fully understand, they still grasped the essence of the situation: the heavens were experiencing an unprecedented calamity.
But none of them had imagined that flight and refuge would be the only option.
"Convincing Hao Tianzun will depend on you all," Yuan Zu said earnestly, his gaze sincere and filled with hope.
Despite his status as a saint, his humility won over the crowd.
Li Tiangang said firmly, "In such a great calamity, as warriors, we should step forward. There's no reason to retreat."
However, his wife, Ji Qingqing, quietly tugged at his sleeve. Li Tiangang looked at her in confusion.
Ji Qingqing remained silent, her eyes reflecting deep thought.
Li Muxiu's gaze flickered. Though he respected Yuan Zu, he couldn't help but feel something was off about the saint's words.
He knew Li Hao far too well. Despite over a hundred years of separation, he didn't believe that someone's nature could change so drastically unless they experienced a monumental trauma.
"Senior, may I ask what Hao Tianzun's stance is on this matter?"
While everyone pondered in silence, the Yu Emperor stepped forward and asked with calm respect.
His demeanor was humble, but his straight posture radiated imperial authority—soft yet firm.
Hearing the Yu Emperor's question, Yuan Zu glanced at him and immediately recognized this man as the key descendant who enabled Jiang Sheng's revival.
On the surface, it seemed like a casual inquiry, but Yuan Zu knew it was a pointed question.
Still, his own wisdom and composure ran deep. Smiling faintly, Yuan Zu replied, "Hao Tianzun had a misunderstanding with us earlier. It was entirely our fault, and we are willing to atone for it, no matter the cost. However, the mistake has already been made. We only hope that Hao Tianzun will forgive us for the sake of all living beings and the common good."
The Yu Emperor's gaze flickered, processing the hidden message. The truth was already clear: this matter was far more complicated than the saint let on.
If it were a small misunderstanding, how could that child refuse to act? Li Hao's kind nature would never allow him to abandon the world.
"If it's a misunderstanding, then perhaps you should accompany us to clear the air. If it's truly a small matter, I'm sure Hao Tian would forgive you," the Yu Emperor said gently, his tone soft yet unyielding.
The saints exchanged glances. They could see that this mortal emperor was shrewd and not easy to deceive.
Smiling, Yuan Zu replied, "Of course. We have already apologized to Hao Tianzun once, but we will apologize a hundred or a thousand times if necessary. We will accompany you, hoping that even if he cannot forgive us, he can set aside grievances for your sake and for the sake of all living beings."
Grievances…
The Yu Emperor nodded faintly and said, "When we see Hao Tianzun, we will do our best to persuade him."
By now, everyone understood that the saints' polite demeanor was merely a way to use them to reach Li Hao. They had no choice but to comply, as it was impossible to negotiate with saints.
Seeing the Yu Emperor's agreement, the Li family members fell silent.
Yuan Zu signaled to Xiao Tianyu, who quickly turned and departed. Moments later, he returned with a group of figures following behind him.
When the group entered, the Li family members were puzzled. But Li Muxiu and Li Qingzheng froze in shock as they recognized several familiar faces among the group. These were ancestors of the Li Family who had previously entered the Sacred Land. Their portraits still hung in the family shrine.
With Yuan Zu's introductions, the two sides quickly realized their shared bloodline.
Li Tiangang, leading the younger generation, stepped forward to pay respects. Even Li Muxiu and Li Qingzheng bowed deeply, acknowledging the elders despite their own advanced age.
In the ancestral shrine, countless spirits of the Li ancestors emerged to observe their descendants.
The saints waited patiently as the Li family reconnected with their ancestors. Yuan Zu dismissed the projections, having already instructed the sacred land's Li family members on how to persuade Li Hao.
The night passed quickly.
By the next day, Yuan Zu led everyone, accompanied by the other saints, toward a mysterious void to seek out Li Hao.
As they traveled through the void, using the saints' Heavenly Traversal methods, the mortals were once again awed by the power on display.
As a towering sacred mountain appeared before them, Yuan Zu slowed his steps, leading the group gradually closer.
At the summit of the sacred mountain, Li Hao was busy constructing structures.
His primordial spirit was so powerful that it already enveloped the surrounding area. The moment Yuan Zu and the saints emerged from the void, Li Hao sensed their presence. After all, the combined aura of the saints was too conspicuous.
But aside from the saints' auras, Li Hao quickly sensed some familiar presences.
He froze momentarily, then turned to look, pleasantly surprised to see Yu Huang, Ren Qianqian, and others.
In addition, he saw his second uncle, fifth uncle, and his Aunt He Jianlan, who had cared for him since he was young.
He even saw that little chubby boy… but how had he turned into such a big fat man?
Li Hao's gaze landed on Li Yuanzhao, now middle-aged with a bulging belly. He was stunned for a moment.
If not for the familiar aura, he might not have recognized him. The change was simply too drastic.
As the group approached, they, too, spotted Li Hao and recognized him instantly.
Li Hao's appearance had hardly changed. With his level of cultivation, maintaining a youthful form for thousands of years was simple. If one didn't mind, even ancient saints who had lived for tens of thousands of years could appear as children.
"Brother Hao!"
Now a middle-aged man, Li Yuanzhao couldn't contain himself when he saw Li Hao. Tears welled up in his eyes as he charged toward Li Hao, his voice cracking.
Yu Huang's eyes also grew warm, though he remained more restrained. His heart whispered: The boy truly hasn't changed. He's still the same.
Ren Qianqian bit her lips lightly, tears rolling down her cheeks like broken pearls. She floated toward Li Hao slowly, as if afraid she would wake up from a dream if she moved too quickly.
Beside her, Li Ping'an stared blankly at the figure ahead.
It was the same figure he had seen carved into countless statues—unchanged, only even more handsome and brimming with heroic spirit. He exuded an unmatched brilliance, something no statue could ever capture.
So this is… my elder brother?
Soon, Li Ping'an noticed Ren Qianqian's face. Even though she stood behind him, his divine sense clearly revealed her tear-streaked expression of overwhelming joy. It felt like a knife twisted into his heart.
"Yuanzhao, Qianqian…"
Seeing them, Li Hao stopped his work, his smile brightening as he moved forward to greet them.
Then, his gaze shifted past them to Yuan Zu and the other saints. He immediately understood their purpose.
However, he couldn't care less about the saints right now. No matter what, being reunited with his family and old friends was a joyous occasion.
"Brother Hao, I missed you so much…"
Li Yuanzhao threw himself into Li Hao's arms, sobbing uncontrollably.
To outsiders, he was a burly middle-aged man, yet at this moment, he cried like a child, speaking words that would make others cringe with embarrassment.
Li Hao was slightly taken aback but didn't ask. He faintly sensed that this little guy had likely not been doing well.
Among the Li family members, a woman with an exquisitely arranged hairpin and cold, sharp eyes watched the scene in shock.
She was Li Yuanzhao's wife. When she married into the Li family, she often heard rumors about Li Yuanzhao being close friends with the only Heavenly General of Dayu, but she always dismissed it as his boastful exaggeration.
After all, Li Yuanzhao's talent fell far short of being considered a prodigy, let alone matching someone like that.
What made her even more skeptical was how Li Yuanzhao became despondent shortly after their marriage, drowning himself in wine. Whenever she pressed for answers, he would refuse to explain.
Over time, her dissatisfaction grew, and she often ridiculed him. Their relationship deteriorated year by year.
Yet now, she was witnessing this scene with her own eyes.
The Heavenly General—that invincible young man of the heavens—was truly embracing her seemingly useless husband.
"Don't cry, don't cry. I'm still here…"
Li Hao gently patted Li Yuanzhao's back, comforting him softly.
At this moment, Ren Qianqian also approached, tears still glistening in her eyes as she gazed at Li Hao with a mix of disbelief and joy.
Li Hao noticed her appearance had changed slightly. The once obedient girl who carried her sword behind him now radiated an ethereal beauty, like a celestial maiden. She was even more beautiful than before.
Smiling, Li Hao asked, "Have your sword skills improved over these years?"
Ren Qianqian's nose tingled, and she replied in a soft voice, "I've been waiting for you to teach me again."
Hearing this, Li Hao felt an inexplicable warmth surge through his chest. His eyes seemed to mist as he grinned and said, "This time, I'll teach you the strongest sword technique in the heavens!"
Ren Qianqian bit her lips and said nothing, simply staring at Li Hao. To her, it wasn't the strongest sword technique that mattered. She only wished to follow him, to bask in the sunlight together, to live a simple life—even without swords, she would be content.
By now, the others had also gathered around Li Hao.
Li Hao's gaze swept over them one by one, noting how the passage of time had carved its marks upon them. Many had changed, but their familiar expressions and brows remained the same.
"Second Uncle, Fifth Uncle, Aunt…"
Li Hao's eyes scanned the group before pausing, noticing someone missing. "Where's Fourth Uncle?"
Li Muxiu hadn't expected Li Hao to remember Li Xiaoran. His heart swelled with emotion, tears glistening as he replied, "Not long after you entered the Immortal Gate, Fourth Uncle began wandering the world and rarely returned to the God General Manor. That's why he isn't here."
Li Hao nodded, understanding. He had heard that Fourth Uncle enjoyed roaming the world in his youth, living a carefree life.
"I originally planned to finish building the sacred mountain before coming to find you. Since you're all here early, that's even better. I'll take you to see the place I'm building. You'll likely live here from now on."
Smiling, Li Hao led everyone to the sacred mountain.
He specifically chose an excellent spot for them to settle down.
Among the crowd, Li Tiangang and Ji Qingqing noticed how Li Hao's gaze bypassed them entirely. Their expressions shifted slightly, their hearts sinking in disappointment.
Li Ping'an, too, felt an inexplicable sense of loss when he realized his brother hadn't even looked at him. Along with that disappointment, an ember of anger flickered to life within him.
To his shock, Li Hao seemed equally indifferent to their parents.
While Li Hao warmly welcomed others and guided them to their new resting place—a vast and open area perfect for building residences—Li Ping'an could no longer contain himself.
"Li Hao!"
His sudden outburst broke the moment's calm.
Li Hao furrowed his brows, turning his gaze toward him. He saw a sharp-featured young man, undoubtedly handsome, whose aura revealed he had reached the Wendao Realm's peak. However, such things held no significance to him.
Li Ping'an, still filled with anger, felt cold sweat bead on his back the moment he spoke. A sense of regret gnawed at him.
At the same time, the atmosphere seemed to freeze. The lively chatter fell silent in an instant—so quiet one could hear a pin drop.
Li Yuanhao, Aunt He Jianlan, and the others turned toward him, their faces filled with unease and tension, even silent reproach.
That look made Li Ping'an deeply uncomfortable. Even when he had caused trouble in the past, no one had ever looked at him this way.
"You've thrived here in the Heavenly Sacred Land, but all these years, why haven't you returned to see your parents? Do you know how much they've missed you?"
Although anxiety filled his heart, Li Ping'an still gritted his teeth and blurted out the words.
Since he was young, he had always been seen as a shadow of that person. Even when his parents looked at him, their gazes would sometimes drift away, as though seeing someone else.
It was only after he grew older that he understood—it was a gaze of grief, a look of longing for another person.
What he had desperately sought and could not obtain, another person had easily grasped. Yet now, this person wore an indifferent expression, as though it all meant nothing. Li Ping'an could not accept it.
"Parents?"
When Li Hao heard this title, his eyes flickered slightly, and he immediately understood.
But his heart remained calm as he responded plainly, "The person you speak of has long been dead. Didn't anyone tell you that?"
Li Ping'an froze, staring at him in shock and confusion. "What do you mean?"
Li Hao didn't want to explain further and instead gestured for Li Muxiu, Yu Huang, and the others to follow him to the other side for conversation.
At that moment, a series of space-tearing sounds echoed through the void.
From afar, Ji Xuanshen and others arrived on top-tier treasures, bringing along their friends from the Heavens. The crowd accompanying them was surprisingly large.
"Haotian, we've arrived."
Ji Xuanshen descended in front of Li Hao and noticed the Li family members standing nearby. Their faces seemed familiar, yet he couldn't place them, so he assumed they were friends of Li Hao.
Looking a bit sheepish, Ji Xuanshen scratched his head and said, "Look, I brought all these people… Is it too many?"
Behind him stood thousands of people, a mix of his friends and their own acquaintances, carefully chosen by Ji Xuanshen. Even so, their numbers were still large.
Li Hao glanced at the crowd and smiled faintly. "Not at all. My sacred land can hold tens of billions of people. Let's start by filling it up."
Hearing this, Ji Xuanshen finally breathed a sigh of relief. The people behind him, who had been nervous, also relaxed. They had been afraid Li Hao would refuse to accept them.
At the same time, they noticed the presence of the saints.
This left them a little stunned—how had the saints of the Heavens all gathered here?
Then, more space-tearing sounds rang out as a steady stream of people arrived outside the sacred land.
Many familiar faces appeared: Zhantan, Ye Zu, and others.
In the crowd, Li Hao also noticed Lin Qingying. She was accompanied by Lin Shanhai and several other alchemists, including her master.
In no time at all, the once-empty space became packed with people.
The Li family members looked around at the swelling crowd. Their shock only grew as they realized that the people gathered here were powerhouses, many at the Four Establishment Realm, with not a few even at the Wendao Realm.
These people appeared to be Li Hao's friends and allies.
Standing in the crowd, Li Ping'an felt his face alternate between pale and flushed. He stared at the figure in the center of it all, surrounded and revered like the stars orbiting the moon.
The stories he had heard about Li Hao, the legendary tales of his prowess, all seemed to come alive in front of his eyes.
People said his elder brother was a natural-born king, a being destined to shine.
People said his elder brother was a peerless genius, unmatched across the worlds.
Countless praises and honors had painted Li Hao as someone standing atop the peak, looking down on everything.
Now, that very image had materialized before him.
"I've arrived… My master and her friends came too. Did we bring too many people?"
Lin Qingying walked up to Li Hao, echoing the same concern as Ji Xuanshen, worried that their presence might burden him.
Li Hao glanced over and smiled. "This is nothing. Look at the size of my sacred land—does it look like it can't handle a crowd?"
Lin Qingying sighed in relief, then noticed the saints in the background. Her expression shifted slightly.
She had already heard the details of Li Hao's situation from Jianzhu, and she felt injustice and anger on his behalf.
It was the saints who had caused the disaster, yet they had smeared Li Hao's name across the Heavens, severing his incense offerings.
"If you ever feel like it's too much, don't push yourself."
Lin Qingying said softly.
Li Hao nodded lightly, appreciating her concern.
Before long, the void cracked open again, and Yi Sheng emerged. She surveyed the area and, seeing the saints gathered here, showed no surprise. She calmly descended before Li Hao.
Upon seeing another saint arrive, the Li family members were left even more stunned. It seemed that wherever Li Hao was had become the center of the Heavens.
"I noticed how vast your sacred land is. I've brought quite a few people—over a hundred million. Can it handle that?"
Yi Sheng asked gently.
Li Hao had anticipated this and nodded. "I've prepared space for all of you long ago. It's not a problem."
Yi Sheng looked relieved, then turned her gaze toward Yuan Zu and the saints. Having taken Li Hao's side and owed him favors, she naturally wanted to help him settle scores. With a calm yet piercing tone, she said:
"Why are you all here? Shouldn't you be sealing that gap? Didn't you say earlier that Haotian was selfish? And now you've come begging him to clean up your mess?"
Her words took everyone aback as they turned to look at the saints.
The Li family members and Yu Huang were stunned. Selfish? Haotian?
They glanced at the saints, their eyes filled with confusion and disbelief.
Yuan Zu's face stiffened slightly. Although he had mentioned his own mistakes to the Li family, he had glossed over the details, conveniently omitting the part where they had slandered Li Hao across the Heavens. Now that Yi Sheng had exposed it outright, his face turned a bit awkward, though he quickly smiled to cover it up.
"This is a misunderstanding. We've already apologized to Haotian Zun."
Yuan Zu replied with a forced smile, sending Yi Sheng a warning look.
Under normal circumstances, Yi Sheng might have held back. After all, she wasn't a match for Yuan Zu, whose Seven Tribulation Imperial Weapon could suppress the saints of the Heavens.
But now, she showed no fear, ignoring his warning completely. Her tone remained calm but sharp as she said:
"If it's a misunderstanding, why is the rumor still spreading outside that Haotian Zun is selfish and blocked the saints' path to the Immortal Road? If you've truly apologized, shouldn't you first clarify this misunderstanding?"
Her words were like knives, cutting straight to the heart of the matter.
Yuan Zu and the other saints' faces darkened instantly. If they did what Yi Sheng suggested—using boundary stones to project the truth across the Heavens—it would expose everything. The world would know that Li Hao had tried to stop them, while the saints had caused the catastrophe.
At that point, Li Hao would likely receive endless incense offerings, and countless followers would turn to him, abandoning the saints. Only their most devoted believers would remain loyal.
"Yi Sheng, don't go too far! If you want to earn favors from Li Hao, fine—but don't think I won't expose your selfish intentions. You hope we saints perish, don't you? Then you'll ride Haotian Zun's ship to safety. If he clears this world and goes to the Immortal Divine Realm, you'll reign supreme here! You're overthinking it!"
Yuan Zu's voice echoed coldly in Yi Sheng's mind.
At the same time, the other saints also sent her messages—some cursing her, others trying to persuade her, and a few explaining the supposed pros and cons of her actions.
On the surface, Yi Sheng and the saints all remained calm, but the exchange of words in secret grew increasingly heated.
Yi Sheng's calm smile remained. She looked at Yuan Zu and replied through divine transmission:
"You're the one who's overthinking. If Haotian Zun does ascend to the Immortal Divine Realm, I will follow him there. Who cares about the Heavens here?"
Yuan Zu sneered. He didn't believe her. The Immortal Divine Realm was filled with ancient demons; it was hardly a safe haven. Even if she truly intended to leave, this place would still serve as her backup plan.
The thoughts of saints always ran deep. Their motives were rarely as straightforward as they appeared.
"Don't push this too far!" Yuan Zu warned once more.
Yi Sheng ignored him, her expression calm.
At that moment, Li Hao spoke.
"Yi Sheng is right. I'd nearly forgotten about this issue. Everyone here, does anyone object to it?"
Li Hao's casual question froze Yuan Zu and the saints. Their faces darkened as they exchanged quick messages.
At this point, they realized that provoking Li Hao any further would leave them with no room to retreat. Compared to incense power, their lives were far more valuable. They had no choice but to lower their heads.
"No objections."
Yuan Zu spoke on behalf of the saints, reluctantly agreeing.
Hearing this, those present finally understood the truth. Ji Xuanshen and his companions looked at each other in shock. Only now did they realize that the earlier rumors and slander had been orchestrated by the saints. They couldn't believe that Li Hao had endured such tremendous pressure.
The Li family members and Yu Huang also looked visibly shaken. Their earlier admiration for the saints, who had treated them with kindness and humility, evaporated in an instant. They now understood why the saints had been so courteous—they needed the Li family to serve as intermediaries for their plea.
Moments later, Jianzhu arrived. Upon seeing the situation, he chuckled and said, "What a lively gathering."
Yuan Zu and the saints frowned slightly at his subtle mockery, but Jianzhu didn't dwell on it. He knew well the grievances between Li Hao and the saints and trusted Li Hao to handle the situation.
"Haotian Zun, this sacred land of yours is vast. At least it can accommodate tens of billions of people. We saints staying here shouldn't trouble you too much, right?"
Yuan Zu tried to sound polite.
Yi Sheng interjected coldly, "You haven't fulfilled your earlier promise. Agreeing to it doesn't count unless you act on it."
Yuan Zu shot her a glare, inhaling sharply as he exchanged messages with the other saints.
Moments later, he gave his word. "Tomorrow, we'll ensure the truth is revealed to the Heavens."
Li Hao didn't press further and sent the saints off. He then projected an incarnation of himself to assist Ji Xuanshen and his group with settling in while his true body flew into the void to continue constructing the sacred land.
The Next Day.
With the activation of boundary stones, the Heavens witnessed a projection of the events at the Xuanpin Gate.
Yuan Zu and the saints had no choice but to expose the truth: how Li Hao had tried to stop them, how they had ridiculed and insulted him, and how their recklessness had led to the invasion of the ancient demons.
This revelation caused a furor throughout the Heavens.
"I heard the Qinghuo Small World was filled with corpses, completely wiped out by the ancient demons."
"Ancient demons? Are they the ancestors of the monster clans? That Immortal Path is this dangerous? No wonder Haotian Zun tried to stop them!"
"Who spread those rumors earlier, slandering Haotian Zun?"
"Do you even need to ask? It was definitely the saints' followers…"
The projection sent shockwaves through the Heavens. Many disciples of the saints, previously devout, now felt their Dao hearts crumble. They couldn't believe that the saints they revered as gods had committed such a monumental error and shown such ugly behavior.
In the Void Sacred Land, Li Hao and those gathered could also see the projection.
For the first time, the Li family and Yu Huang fully understood the enmity between Li Hao and the saints. They realized the injustices Li Hao had faced and the immense burden he had borne.
"Hao-ge, they're despicable!"
Li Yuanzhao stomped toward Li Hao, his round face red with anger.
Ren Qianqian and Yu Huang also hurried over, their eyes filled with both anger and pity as they looked at Li Hao.
They knew all too well that Li Hao's journey in the mortal world had already been unimaginably difficult. Everyone saw his glory, but only those who cared for him saw his scars.
Seeing their concerned faces, Li Hao felt a little awkward and smiled faintly.
"It's nothing—just a few rumors. They couldn't harm me."
"People say that rumors die with the wise, but when the ones spreading rumors hold enough power, lies can become truths."
Yu Huang sighed deeply, his voice heavy with discontent toward the saints.
Li Hao shook his head, unwilling to dwell on it.
At that moment, he noticed countless incense offerings gathering toward him from the void.
Clearly, the projections had caused a significant shift in public opinion.
Meanwhile, in the Tianyuan Sacred Land, Yuan Zu and the saints quickly realized that their incense power was depleting at an alarming rate. What had once been a mighty river of faith now trickled like a weak stream, fading into a few scattered glimmers of light.
Without incense power, their cultivation would stagnate, and they would never grow stronger.
"Let's go find Haotian. Now he has no more excuses to refuse us."
One saint gritted his teeth, clearly reluctant yet determined.
The other saints, though pained, knew they had no choice but to proceed. They needed Li Hao to survive the coming calamity.
Just as Yuan Zu prepared to lead the saints to find Li Hao, a crack suddenly split open in the sky above the Tianyuan Sacred Land.
From the crack, a bloodied figure tumbled out.
It was a saint, his body drenched in blood, his Imperial Robe torn and shattered.
"Something… something has happened!"
The saint's voice trembled as he fell to the ground. Seeing Yuan Zu and the others, he gasped, "Quick… save the God King! An ancient demon has appeared—one unlike anything we've ever seen!"
The saints were stunned. Someone immediately recognized the bloodied figure as a Three Tribulation Saint. To see him in such a state was terrifying; his wounds refused to heal, and his entire body trembled.
"What happened?"
Yuan Zu's heart pounded violently, as though his blood had frozen in his veins. His voice trembled.
"Don't tell me… the Immortal Gate has been breached?"