Chapter 411: Standing Alone Against the Heavens
All the saints thought of the same thing at once, their expressions darkening. If the Xianmen was breached, wouldn't that mean the worst-case scenario Li Hao had predicted had come true?
If so, then the entire Zhutian… would be doomed to destruction!
At this thought, an indescribable mix of emotions surged within the saints—fear, regret, anguish.
"No, it's not the Xianmen, but extremely powerful ancient demons have invaded. It should be the second-tier ancient demons that Haotian Zun mentioned. And there's more than one!"
The injured saint, seeing their pale faces, quickly gasped out his explanation.
Second-tier ancient demons?
Hearing this, Yuan Zu and the others felt their tight chests loosen slightly. Although Li Hao had said that second-tier ancient demons were much more terrifying, as long as the Xianmen hadn't been breached, there was still hope.
"Let's go."
Yuan Zu didn't hesitate, immediately leading the saints toward the void.
Before long, they arrived at the Ancient Hall floating in the void. The moment they stepped inside, they were met with waves of suffocatingly violent pressure.
Yuan Zu's face darkened. He could feel the intense, chaotic killing intent within the hall. This wasn't the aftermath of ordinary combat—it was Shen Wang unleashing his full power in a desperate battle.
Hastening their pace, Yuan Zu led the group through the labyrinthine corridors and side chambers, finally reaching the Xianmen Rift.
There, they saw three massive ancient demons locked in combat with seven saints, while the rift itself glowed a bloody crimson, with dark mists churning ominously from within.
"Quick, assist them!"
Yuan Zu's expression changed drastically. He couldn't believe the ancient demons had managed to break through to the outside of the rift.
The Xianmen opening was supposed to be narrow, allowing only one ancient demon to enter at a time. Their plan had been to kill each demon as it emerged, ensuring the rift stayed under control.
But now, three ancient demons were attacking at once, indicating that something had gone horribly wrong.
The saints immediately joined the fray, rushing to intercept the demons. Yuan Zu, accompanied by Fa Sheng, Ming Sheng, and the Mo Clan Saint, led a group deeper into the rift.
Inside the rift, the air was thick with the stench of blood. The glow of Shen Wang's Domain, fiery red and radiating destruction, filled the space.
In the midst of the domain, Shen Wang, his hair disheveled and his armor drenched in blood, stood amidst the chaos. His exhaustion was evident.
Three enormous ancient demons swirled around him, their movements creating dark whirlwinds filled with soul-devouring power. Blades of dark energy shot out from the vortexes, piercing through Shen Wang's defenses and forcing him to retreat.
"Three of them?"
Yuan Zu's face fell. He could feel the deep malice and overwhelming might radiating from the ancient demons. These were the second-tier ancient demons that Li Hao had warned about.
Without hesitation, Yuan Zu activated his Origin Domain, which enveloped the battlefield. Within the domain, time seemed to slow, giving them a slight advantage.
"What happened?" Yuan Zu shouted as he joined the fight.
Seeing reinforcements, Shen Wang exhaled heavily in relief but maintained his grim expression. "A second-tier ancient demon arrived and used its soul-devouring mist to guard the rift. I couldn't break through it, and the other demons seized the opportunity to enter."
Yuan Zu instantly understood. Just one second-tier ancient demon had paved the way for the others.
"Be careful. These are far more dangerous than third-tier demons."
Shen Wang's voice was a low warning.
While third-tier demons were comparable to saints, second-tier demons were equivalent to the Divine Saint Realm.
"Kill them. We must seal the rift!"
Yuan Zu's voice was sharp and resolute. Summoning the Heaven-Suppressing Whip, he charged at one of the demons.
"You hold off the others; I'll handle this one!"
With a crack, the whip lashed out, its sound resonating like an explosion. The black mist surrounding the demon was torn apart, and the whip struck its head, leaving a deep, gaping wound. The demon's regeneration was halted by the whip's destructive power.
Furious, the demon shrieked and ignited with black flames. Behind it, a swirling shadow vortex appeared, exuding a terrifying suction force. Yuan Zu felt his soul being pulled, weakening his grip on the whip.
His heart sank. The ancient demons' techniques were far more insidious than anticipated, targeting even the strongest souls.
But Yuan Zu wasn't just any saint. His soul was fortified by secret techniques that allowed him to surpass even the limits of the Supreme Realm.
"Die!"
With a roar, Yuan Zu's eyes flashed with cold, emerald light. His soul fused with his body, and the whip lashed out once more.
This time, the demon's body was ripped apart, its wounds festering with destructive energy that prevented regeneration.
Just as Yuan Zu was about to breathe a sigh of relief, thick, black mist erupted from the demon's torn body. The mist radiated soul-corrupting energy, forcing him to retreat.
Suddenly, from within the rift, a guttural roar echoed.
Another massive form emerged from the churning darkness—a fourth second-tier ancient demon.
The demon surveyed the scene briefly before letting out a ferocious cry and charging straight at Yuan Zu.
"This is bad…"
Yuan Zu's pupils contracted.
Elsewhere.
After two days of relentless effort, Li Hao finally completed the construction of the Sacred Land.
He had anticipated another visit from the saints, but their absence puzzled him. Shrugging off the thought, he decided to focus on bringing the citizens of the Dayu Dynasty into the sanctuary.
Just as he was about to act, Yi Sheng appeared, her expression grave.
"Haotian Zun, something has happened."
Li Hao raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"
Yi Sheng replied, "Several small worlds have been attacked by ancient demons. I sent the Thousand-Faced Puppet that Mo Sheng gifted me to investigate the Ancient Hall. On the way, it encountered Yuan Zu and the others retreating in defeat."
Her tone was calm but heavy. "The Mo Clan has confirmed: the Ancient Hall has fallen. The rift cannot be sealed anymore. They did their best."
Li Hao's expression darkened. "Are there larger demons among them?"
Yi Sheng nodded solemnly. "Yuan Zu mentioned second-tier ancient demons invading. They couldn't hold the line. Seven or eight saints have already fallen. Now, Yuan Zu and the others are fleeing here, hoping you'll take them in despite everything."
"If the roles were reversed, they wouldn't necessarily accept us," Li Hao sneered, his voice brimming with disdain for the saints. "Even with second-tier ancient demons, if they'd committed fully to defending the rift, they could have held it. The demons can only come through one at a time, and one can be killed after the other. I warned them that second-tier ancient demons were far more dangerous. But they left only a token force at the rift while the others scattered aimlessly, too arrogant to feel the pain of failure."
Hearing his words, Yi Sheng sighed deeply. Just two days ago, Yuan Zu and the saints had been looking for a way to avoid the disaster, rather than facing it directly.
While the situation was indeed difficult to resolve, mistakes always came with a cost. Unfortunately, the ones who suffered were the people of Zhutian.
Li Hao noticed Yi Sheng's conflicted expression and knew she was beginning to feel compassion for them. However, he said nothing to sway her, only asking:
"They're coming here, aren't they? And they've brought the demons in tow?"
Yi Sheng understood the implication behind his words, and the softness in her heart vanished. She nodded firmly. "Yes, I used the Thousand-Faced Puppet to confirm it. The ancient demons are chasing them."
"So not only are they here to ask for help, but they've also brought disaster right to our doorstep," Li Hao said, shaking his head in disappointment. He no longer harbored any expectations of them, and his heart remained unmoved.
He withdrew his yuan shen from the Sacred Mountain, stepped into the skies above its peak, and waited, asking Yi Sheng to point out the direction from which they would arrive.
Seeing this, Yi Sheng was startled. She had thought Li Hao would turn his back on the saints and leave, yet he chose to remain.
"You're going to help them?" she asked, her voice tinged with surprise.
Even she, fully aware of the saints' selfishness, felt the urge to walk away. Yet, here he stood.
"They still have some use," Li Hao replied simply.
It didn't take long for a group of figures to rip through the void, drawing closer. At the same time, Jianzhu sensed their arrival and appeared beside Li Hao atop the mountain.
"They…" Jianzhu began but stopped mid-sentence, noticing the ominous clouds rolling in behind the saints. His face darkened.
Li Hao remained silent, stepping forward from the Sacred Mountain.
At the forefront of the group, Yuan Zu and Shen Wang spotted Li Hao and immediately accelerated toward him.
"Haotian Zun, those are second-tier ancient demons behind us. We can't hold them off alone. Let's join forces!" Yuan Zu shouted the moment he saw Li Hao, his voice filled with urgency.
He acted desperate but was fully aware that Li Hao could see through his intentions. Yuan Zu had deliberately led the ancient demons here, knowing Li Hao would be furious. To mask his ploy, he pretended to seek a joint effort to fend off the demons.
Shen Wang, on the other hand, didn't bother with theatrics. He simply stared intently at Li Hao, waiting for his response.
Li Hao's gaze swept across the saints. Fa Sheng, Ming Sheng, and others appeared disheveled and injured. Many of the lesser saints were visibly weakened, their yuan shen depleted, while some bore severe wounds.
A guttural roar thundered across the void, shaking the very air.
The roar startled the inhabitants of the Sacred Mountain. Looking toward the source of the sound, they saw Li Hao standing before the saints, and behind them, a swarm of ancient demons closing in.
There were over ten demons, four of which were clearly second-tier.
The sheer magnitude of their presence cast a shadow over the sky, and the oppressive malice emanating from their souls chilled everyone on the Sacred Mountain to the bone.
"What… what are those creatures?"
"They're ancient demons—I've seen them before!"
"Why are the saints leading them here? What were they thinking?"
Fear swept across the Sacred Mountain. Those who had come to this sanctuary to escape the invasion were horrified to see the saints bringing the very disaster they fled from.
The ancient demons slowed as they neared the saints, their malicious expressions giving way to caution. Among the four second-tier demons, a glint of apprehension flickered in their cruel eyes.
They sensed something unusual—a presence within the group, a soul that radiated a strength unlike any other.
"Join forces?" Li Hao repeated Yuan Zu's words, his lips curling into a sneer.
Yuan Zu and the saints felt a sinking dread. They thought Li Hao was about to refuse.
"Haotian Zun…" Yuan Zu tried again, but Li Hao cut him off coldly.
"I'll take care of these demons," he said, his tone flat. "But this will be the last time I clean up after your mess. Once these demons are dead, you will return to the rift and guard it properly. If you let more through, no one will save you."
The saints were stunned, their ears straining to confirm what they had heard. Li Hao was willing to help?
Joy flickered across their faces. Even the resentment they'd harbored toward him seemed to dissipate as gratitude took its place. For the first time, they realized that the young man before them was not the petty or vengeful person they had thought him to be.
"Haotian Zun, these ancient demons are extraordinarily dangerous, especially the second-tier ones. Even Shen Wang and I struggled against them. Let's fight together," Yuan Zu pleaded earnestly, his voice carrying newfound warmth.
But Li Hao paid no attention to the theatrics. He stepped forward, his stride calm yet purposeful.
Yuan Zu and Shen Wang instinctively stepped aside, watching as Li Hao advanced toward the approaching demons.
The ancient demons, now at the forefront, hesitated. Their instincts screamed danger, warning them of the overwhelming power emanating from the young man.
Yet, greed burned in their eyes. They could sense his soul's unparalleled strength. If they could consume it, they might ascend to the next tier—a goal worth any risk.
The saints, too, noticed the demons' unease. Their ferocity had subsided, replaced by a wary caution.
"Haotian Zun…" Yuan Zu began, but his words trailed off as cracks formed in the air around Li Hao.
From those cracks emerged fragmented celestial weapons, each radiating an ancient, terrifying aura.
After the woman with the crimson spear slew the ancient demon commander, Li Hao and Nangong Jian swept through the territories of the ancient demon leaders, recovering a total of eight fragments of celestial weapons. Although their celestial energy was depleted, their edges remained razor-sharp.
Including the broken celestial blade, Li Hao now had nine weapons in total.
At the moment, one weapon was with his dark-side avatar. Beside Li Hao, only six blades orbited him. Against the dozen or so ancient demons present, these were more than sufficient.
The fractured and ancient celestial weapons revolved around Li Hao like a spinning wheel, making him appear as the ordained master of the heavens and earth. His unparalleled presence overshadowed the saints around him, turning them into an unremarkable backdrop. Li Hao alone stood before the colossal ancient demons, his comparatively tiny frame radiating dazzling divine light and unassailable majesty.
The scene left those sheltering on the Sacred Mountain dumbstruck.
"Brother Hao!"
"Hao'er!"
The Li family members, too, were awestruck, covering their mouths with trembling hands, their eyes wide with fear and awe.
At the same time, the ancient demons, sensing the growing threat emanating from Li Hao, could no longer suppress their instincts. With a chorus of roars, they lunged at him.
Dark, soul-consuming mists spread as vortexes resembling black holes appeared behind the demons. These emitted a terrifying suction force.
The saints felt their yuan shen trembling within their bodies, as though it might be ripped out and devoured by the vortexes.
But the six broken celestial weapons orbiting Li Hao suddenly shot forward.
The muscle memory of slicing through ancient demons resurfaced in Li Hao's mind. In an instant, spurred by his yuan shen, the celestial weapons accelerated to their peak velocity, leaving trails of dazzling light.
The void of this realm was far less stable than that of the true world. Wherever the celestial weapons passed, they left streaks of black fissures in their wake, as if reality itself had been rent apart.
The demons' hulking bodies convulsed as though struck by billions of volts of electricity. In the next moment, their forms stiffened before black mist surged out, revealing their exposed yuan shen.
Before the demons' yuan shen could react, Li Hao's own yuan shen ascended, emerging from his body like a divine entity shrouded in radiant gold. It rushed toward the exposed souls of the demons.
"His yuan shen... is golden?"
The saints couldn't track the movements of Li Hao's yuan shen due to its sheer speed, but they could discern its golden glow. Each saint was struck with shock, sensing the terrifying spiritual pressure radiating from his yuan shen, which far surpassed their own at the peak of the extreme realm.
Boom!
With a single strike of its hand, Li Hao's yuan shen split the four second-tier ancient demons in half.
Golden arcs of light streaked through the sky, slicing into the yuan shen of the third-tier demons. The arcs ended as swiftly as they began, leaving behind nothing but dissipating black mist where the demons' souls once floated.
A deafening silence followed.
The ancient demons' roars, which had seemed all-encompassing just moments ago, now felt like distant echoes, barely real.
Li Hao extended a hand, and the six broken celestial weapons returned to orbit him before vanishing into his spatial domain.
The saints finally began to process what had happened as they stared at the frozen, lifeless corpses of the ancient demons floating in the void.
Even though they had previously witnessed Li Hao slay a third-tier ancient demon at the ancient temple, they had assumed it required his full power. Now, in mere moments, he had dispatched more than ten ancient demons, including four second-tier ones, without breaking a sweat.
Yuan Zu and Shen Wang were particularly stunned. While they had known Li Hao was strong, they had never imagined he could be so terrifyingly overwhelming.
The golden brilliance of his yuan shen left an indelible mark in their minds.
Raising his hand once more, Li Hao collected the remains of the ancient demons into his spatial domain. The oppressive black clouds that had loomed over the sky dissipated, leaving behind clear, serene skies.
On the Sacred Mountain, everyone stared dumbly at the scene.
The once-terrifying ancient demons had been wiped out in an instant by Haotian Zun. It was almost too much to believe.
"Now," Li Hao said, turning to Yuan Zu and the saints, his tone cold, "return to the ancient temple. Continue fulfilling your duties and atone for your mistakes."
Yuan Zu, snapping out of his stupor, suddenly understood why Li Hao had dismissed the idea of cooperation earlier—Li Hao didn't need their help.
After a moment's pause, Yuan Zu's face lit up with renewed fervor. He exclaimed, "Haotian Zun, with your strength, we wouldn't need to retreat! These ancient demons pose no real threat to you!"
Li Hao's gaze turned icy. "Did I not make myself clear? These were just second-tier ancient demons. If their leaders—the first-tier ancient demon commanders—arrive, even I would have to retreat. Those beings are true celestial-level threats. Furthermore, their leaders could potentially destroy the celestial gate itself!"
His words were like a cold splash of water, instantly quelling the excitement of the saints.
"Is there truly no way?" one saint stammered, his voice trembling.
Li Hao gave him a dismissive glance. "If you still see yourselves as saints, take responsibility. The only way to survive is to seal the rift and hold the line until reinforcements from the celestial armies arrive. If they come, we may be saved. If they don't, then all of us will perish—myself included."
The saints fell silent, the weight of their guilt bearing down on them. For the first time, they truly regretted their reckless actions in breaking the celestial path.
"Go. Don't waste any more time here," Li Hao said, waving them away.
Yuan Zu hesitated briefly before lowering his head. "We made the mistake, and we'll bear the consequences. Let's go."
The other saints followed Yuan Zu's lead. Many understood that their only remaining purpose might be to slow the inevitable collapse of the heavens.
"Haotian Zun, if you were to guard the rift personally…" one saint began, only to falter under the weight of the glares from his peers.
Li Hao's eyes turned cold. "Guarding the celestial gate means being prepared to die. If the ancient demon commanders break through, the first to die will be the gate's defenders. Should I guard the gate, what will you do?"
The saint's face turned ashen, and he fell silent.
"Haotian Zun," another saint interjected quickly, "please don't be angry. He doesn't represent us. You're right—this is our mistake to correct. If this truly is the end, then we accept it as our fate."
Through the trials they had faced, many saints had come to terms with reality.
The desire to ascend had long been replaced by the simple hope to survive. But now, with survival unlikely, all they could do was ensure they did not leave their followers to despair.
Yuan Zu bid farewell to Li Hao, then led the other saints away.
"Senior Brother…"
The Sword Saint glanced at the Swordmaster standing beside the Medicine Saint. He was also among the saints, but now, he too had to return to complete the mission of sealing the celestial gate.
In their youth, their master had presented a choice between a sword and a talisman, granting them access to the Sword Ancestor's legacy.
The talisman was a sacred talisman, granting authority over the Sword Ancestor's sanctuary.
He had chosen the talisman, while his senior brother had chosen the sword.
Since then, the Sword Saint had followed their master's swordsmanship, while the Swordmaster had carved his own path.
Now, faced with another choice, their paths diverged once more—perhaps this time, forever.
The Swordmaster regarded the Sword Saint with a complex expression. However, he said nothing, only letting out a sigh tinged with regret.
As Yuan Zu, Shen Wang, and the other saints departed, Li Hao withdrew his gaze and returned to the sacred land.
The Medicine Saint's expression was complicated. She had not expected Li Hao to be so formidable, let alone survive twelve years at the celestial gate.
"If they hadn't been so obstinate, with your talent, this world wouldn't be in such dire straits today if you had ascended to immortality," she sighed.
Li Hao shook his head. The past could not be undone, and dwelling on it was meaningless.
"This sacred land—please oversee it for the time being. Elsewhere, it seems more ancient demons have invaded. The ones that escaped weren't the only ones. I'll go take care of it," Li Hao said.
The Medicine Saint was momentarily stunned. She had received reports that several minor worlds had indeed suffered ancient demon attacks but hadn't expected Li Hao to be aware of them.
"Be careful," she cautioned.
Then, realizing the redundancy of her words, she smiled wryly at herself.
Li Hao bade farewell to the Swordmaster and left swiftly.
He had noticed the attacks on other worlds because the incense flows—the faith of those who believed in him—had drastically decreased. This indicated that many of his followers were in distress.
Furthermore, with the saints fleeing here pursued by ancient demons, the celestial gate had been left undefended, meaning more ancient demons had likely entered the heavens.
Swoosh!
Li Hao soared forward, his spirit merging with the world. Through a subtle connection to the will of the heavens, he used celestial foresight to discern the source of trouble.
Guided by this intuition, he quickly arrived at the nearest minor world.
As soon as he arrived, he caught the familiar stench of ancient demons.
He had devoured over ten thousand ancient demons—there was no mistaking their scent.
In a certain divine dynasty within the small world, dark clouds roiled as the colossal figure of an ancient demon streaked across the sky. Its soul-devouring domain swept across the cities and lands below. In an instant, countless souls were extracted, leaving entire towns lifeless.
Even the beasts and low-tier demons in the wilderness were reduced to lifeless husks, their spirits drained.
Wherever the ancient demon passed, death reigned.
The saints of this small world had long since abandoned it. Those left behind to guard the sanctuaries were only half-saints. Bound by the saints' orders, they activated the sanctuary's protective array to shield themselves, unable—or unwilling—to intervene in the unfolding catastrophe.
"The ancient demons are here! Run!"
"Help us! Someone, please help us!"
"Why did the saints allow such monsters in? Who will save us now?"
"Are there no saints left to show mercy?"
The divine dynasty was in chaos, filled with the anguished cries of those fleeing for their lives.
Neighboring dynasties, having received word, were also in disarray as people scrambled to escape, many heading toward the sanctuary.
However, outside the sanctuary, a massive crowd had already gathered, only to be blocked by the sanctuary's barrier.
"Let us in! Please, let us in!"
"We have believed in Mu Zu for generations! Why won't you let us enter?"
"Saints without compassion! Saints without compassion!"
The masses wailed and cursed as they pressed against the barrier.
Inside, the disciples of the sanctuary, many with family ties to the afflicted dynasties, could only watch helplessly. Bound by the strict orders to seal the sanctuary, they stood by as their families perished.
"Leave at once! Saints are battling the ancient demons, and gathering here will only bring destruction to us all. Return to your dynasties or face death!"
A half-saint emerged from the sanctuary, shouting with fury.
Fearful that the crowd would draw the ancient demons to their doorstep, the half-saint and the elders poured their sacred power into the array, radiating a divine but oppressive glow.
The crowd hesitated, their anger giving way to terror. Amid tears and curses, they began to retreat.
As those at the front retreated in panic, more people arrived from other dynasties, creating an overwhelming tide of humanity.
Among the refugees were royals—princes and princesses in opulent carriages. Overwhelmed by the throng, their carriages overturned, forcing them to scramble out in disarray, terrified by the chaos surrounding them.
Under the pressure of the sacred array, the crowd devolved into chaos. Weaker individuals were trampled to death, their bodies crushed into pulp.
Amid the pandemonium, a loud roar split the air. A fissure appeared in the sky, exuding dark mist. The enormous, monstrous form of an ancient demon emerged from the rift.
In an instant, terror froze both the fleeing masses and the disciples within the sanctuary.
Black mist fell like a shroud, and those caught beneath it screamed in agony as their souls were torn from their bodies.
As the ancient demon prepared to wreak havoc, a brilliant light streaked across the sky.
Clang!
The ancient demon's towering form froze mid-motion, its yuan shen forcibly extracted from its body.
Then, a golden light streaked through the sky.
Boom!
The ancient demon's yuan shen shattered, its body collapsing into ruin.
The chaotic crowd fell silent, stunned by the sudden turn of events. Terror gave way to disbelief, and then to hope.
A wave of exultant cries erupted.
"A saint! A saint has come!"
In the sky, Li Hao stepped through the rift, sheathing his broken celestial sword.
Li Hao glanced at the dense crowd below and noticed that the number of people trampled to death far exceeded those slain by the ancient demon in its brief appearance.
He shook his head slightly but didn't let the energy go to waste. Raising his hand, he absorbed the extreme energy left on the ground.
As black energy coalesced into his palm, Li Hao felt his internal extreme power grow slightly stronger.
To some, this scene might have resembled the actions of a demon. However, given that Li Hao had just slain an ancient demon, no one dared associate him with such creatures.
Many cultivators at the Wen Dao Realm and Si Li Realm, possessing robust constitutions, recognized Li Hao's face and immediately cried out his name in excitement.
"It's Hao Tianzun! Hao Tianzun has come to save us!"
"Hao Tianzun, please save my daughter!"
"Hao Tianzun…"
With cries of pain and pleas for salvation, the crowd rippled like waves, layer by layer falling to their knees, bowing fervently toward Li Hao.
Inside the sanctuary, the half-saints were equally stunned and hurriedly lowered their heads in deference. Ever since the revelations broadcasted via the boundary stones, clearing Li Hao's name, his reputation across the heavens had reached its zenith. His act of single-handedly stopping the saints at the celestial gate had left an indelible impression on countless people.
Hearing the calls of excitement, anguish, and prayer, Li Hao sighed inwardly. In times of disaster, human nature reveals itself.
But he had no time to console them further, as there were other small worlds plagued by ancient demons.
Raising his hand, Li Hao summoned a towering mountain peak from the earth.
The effortless display of power, causing the land to quake and mountains to rise, made the crowd even more awestruck.
Li Hao brought the peak before him and, with the power of his yuan shen, refined it into a colossal sword thousands of feet long.
He then activated the properties of his Heaven and Earth Diagram.
Previously, in the mortal world, he had imbued a battle flag with his mark, allowing it to channel fifty percent of his strength.
This mark could be placed on any object. Now, Li Hao embedded it into the enormous sword peak.
After inscribing the mark, Li Hao used the power of laws to enhance the mountain, making it highly resistant to destruction—requiring at least half-saint-level power to shatter it.
If the giant sword peak were destroyed, the mark would activate, unleashing an attack equal to fifty percent of Li Hao's strength.
This level of power was enough to forcibly annihilate a third-tier ancient demon.
With the mark complete, Li Hao calmly said, "This sword peak holds my sword intent. Should you face a dire enemy, you may destroy it to unleash the sword intent to strike them down. But do not use it unless absolutely necessary."
With that, he waved his hand, and the sword peak streaked over the heads of countless people, landing beside the sanctuary's mountain.
The earth rumbled, and the ground shook.
Everyone felt the tremor underfoot.
Li Hao's words, though spoken calmly, echoed powerfully in the minds of all present, resonating with their very souls.
For a moment, shock, joy, and reverence overwhelmed the masses. Cries of "Hao Tianzun" rang out incessantly.
Without lingering further, Li Hao stepped into the rift in the sky, vanishing from the sight of millions.
Inside the sanctuary, the half-saints remained in humble postures, heads bowed low, not daring to look up until long after Li Hao's departure.
When they finally raised their eyes, they gazed at the distant sword peak.
They noticed its altered form, imbued with laws—its rocks and dust fused seamlessly. Stripped of trees, the peak now resembled a colossal, naturally forged divine sword.
Outside the sanctuary, countless people continued to chant Li Hao's name and bow fervently.
Meanwhile, as Li Hao pursued the ancient demons, he followed their trail, passing through ruined divine dynasties and fields littered with corpses.
He didn't let the extreme energy lingering near the dead go to waste, absorbing it as he passed.
After collecting all the extreme energy left in the ancient demons' wake, Li Hao moved on to the next small world.
As he traveled, he noticed the incense energy flowing toward him from the void was significantly denser than before.