Chapter 432: The Ancestral Scripture of Following Heaven
Li Hao nodded slightly, sensing the extreme difficulty of becoming a personal disciple. Elder Wang explained the nuances of the True Immortal Realm before raising his hand and pointing a finger at Li Hao's brow, transmitting the immortal technique directly.
Li Hao remained still, receiving the transmission as if an immortal seal whispered instructions into his sea of consciousness.
"This is the Ancestral Scripture of Following Heaven. I'm only passing on the True Immortal Chapter. If you manage to become the Immortal Emperor's registered disciple, you'll gain access to the Immortal Lord Chapter. Should you reach the Immortal Lord Realm, I'll then teach you the Immortal King Chapter, which is the final chapter," Elder Wang said, his rare solemnity evident.
"This scripture, even with only the True Immortal Chapter, is among the top-tier techniques of the True Immortal Realm. If cultivated to completion, you could achieve the Ancestral Immortal Body or master the Battle Heaven Technique. Either of these alone would allow you to dominate your peers in the True Realm, rarely encountering an equal."
Elder Wang glanced at the distant group seated on their meditation mats. "Anyone who passes the second test will have the chance to receive this scripture. Even if they can't comprehend it fully, learning just the basics would allow them to shine in the True Immortal Realm. If the Immortal Emperor were still alive, only the most elite candidates would qualify for even a glimpse of this knowledge."
Li Hao was taken aback. "It's that powerful?"
"If this scripture is cultivated to its final stage and its limits broken, it becomes the Imperial Technique that the Immortal Emperor himself mastered—the Heaven's Tribulation Imperial Technique," Elder Wang replied quietly. "The Ancestral Scripture of Following Heaven: follow Heaven to become a king, defy Heaven to bring calamity."
His voice was low, but those eight words resonated deeply. In the silent void around them, a faint rumble of thunder seemed to echo, shaking the stillness.
Li Hao's heart trembled as he grasped the profound meaning behind those words.
"You're still at the Saint level, having only passed the Second Calamity," Elder Wang continued. "With your strength, breaking through to the Third Calamity is well within your reach. Once you've touched the Heavenly Dao and reached the Saint level's grand completion, comprehending this scripture will become much easier."
Li Hao nodded. For most Saints, preparing for tribulations required meticulous planning, but for him, it was a minor matter.
Still, as he considered the tribulation, a thought occurred to him: would it be a waste to proceed without fully preparing?
"For now, focus on comprehending it yourself," Elder Wang advised. "I can't help you much with the cultivation itself, but feel free to ask me about other matters."
With that, Elder Wang picked up his chess box, turned, and walked away. Before long, he grabbed a gleaming hoe imbued with Dao light from near his wooden house and headed toward the fields.
Li Hao remained seated on the small wooden stool, waiting until Elder Wang was far enough away before pulling up his system panel. Though he knew Elder Wang couldn't see it, his instincts still made him cautious around someone of such a high realm.
The system panel displayed a new entry:
[Skill (Quasi-Imperial Technique): Ancestral Scripture of Following Heaven (True Immortal Chapter - Not Initiated)]
The scripture's content had already been integrated into Li Hao's mind. However, it was extraordinarily profound, encompassing both physical cultivation and the mastery of immortal techniques, along with precise control of immortal energy.
Li Hao was astounded. By Elder Wang's explanation, passing the first test already qualified one to ascend to the True Immortal Realm. Yet, in the face of this scripture, he hadn't even begun.
No wonder Elder Wang said mastering this technique would enable one to dominate the True Immortal Realm.
"Perhaps achieving an Eleventh Stage of enlightenment in two paths is necessary to truly master this scripture. It encompasses both the Path of the Body and the Path of Command; both must likely reach the Eleventh Stage for full mastery," Li Hao speculated, marveling at the scripture's requirements.
In the past, techniques like the Yan Luo Immortal Technique had required mastery in just one domain. But this scripture demanded simultaneous perfection in two.
A sudden inspiration struck Li Hao. If he could cultivate both the Path of the Body and the Path of Command to the Eleventh Stage and master the scripture, wouldn't that give him a chance to conquer the third level of the True Sovereign Tower?
The third level involved projections ten times stronger than oneself. But if Li Hao delayed advancing his realm and maximized his capabilities at his current stage, that disparity could be bridged.
Excitement flickered in his eyes. Elder Wang had mentioned that the higher the disciple's rank, the more of the Immortal Emperor's legacy they could access.
"Though it might seem like cheating, those personal disciples who succeed likely had unfair advantages too—born with chaos-infused bloodlines or raised on celestial medicines," Li Hao thought, rationalizing his decision. "In this world, honest people always suffer."
Closing the system panel, Li Hao stood, glancing around until he spotted Elder Wang in the fields. Humming a tune, he jogged over.
"What is it? Found it difficult already?" Elder Wang asked, noticing Li Hao's approach. Amusement twinkled in his eyes.
Li Hao nodded earnestly. "It's definitely hard."
The thought of elevating both the Path of the Body and the Path of Command to the Eleventh Stage felt daunting.
Hearing this, Elder Wang chuckled heartily. No matter how prodigious a talent, even someone like Li Hao had to work hard to master a quasi-imperial technique.
"Take your time. You're already on the third step, far ahead of everyone else. With your talent, as long as you stay diligent, no one will surpass you."
Li Hao nodded. He wasn't worried about others catching up. What he wanted was to finish early so he could leave this place sooner.
But…
"Elder Wang, what about you? If I leave here, will you stay behind?" Li Hao rolled up his pants, carefully following Elder Wang's muddy footprints through the fields. With every step, his feet sank unevenly into the soil as he approached the elder's side, his curiosity evident.
Elder Wang paused briefly, the motion of weeding around a celestial herb coming to a halt. Then, with a faint, serene smile, he replied, "Yes, I'll remain here, tending to the Immortal Emperor's Imperial Hall."
Li Hao's gaze deepened slightly, his tone soft. "Isn't that lonely?"
"Loneliness isn't frightening; monotony is," Elder Wang said, his back turned to Li Hao as he resumed clearing weeds. His voice carried clearly, reaching Li Hao's ears. "Before any of you arrived, this is how I lived—day in, day out."
He stopped again, this time raising his head to gaze at the distant, unreachable sky—or perhaps something even farther beyond it. His voice lowered, laced with a faint wistfulness. "My old friends perished in the True Realm. I don't even know if anyone gathered their bones. That… is true loneliness."
A soft wind stirred the air, brushing past the celestial herbs in the field. Wisps of glowing mist gathered and swirled gently, as if comforting the elder, caressing his unspoken sorrow.
Li Hao fell silent, his thoughts drifting to the ancient road he had traveled. He remembered the countless scattered bones strewn across the ground, forming an endless burial ground. At the time, they were just remains. But now he wondered—were some of those bones Elder Wang's friends, perhaps even family?
"Is it the rules that bind you here, or is it your own unwillingness to leave?" Li Hao asked quietly.
Elder Wang chuckled softly, his shoulders shaking slightly as he lowered his head. "This place holds the Immortal Emperor's legacy. A mere registered disciple wouldn't suffice to protect it. In the dangerous True Realm, even registered disciples may perish. Only if a true official disciple emerges can I leave, accompanying them as their guide."
He turned to look at Li Hao, his eyes filled with warmth and kindness. "You have some chance of becoming an official disciple, but only a slim one. You've experienced the challenge of the True Sovereign Tower's second level. Do you think you can pass it?"
Li Hao froze for a moment, but his eyes soon burned with determination.
For three years, they had played chess and chatted freely. Though cultivation had rarely been a topic of discussion, the bond between the two had grown deep—a connection that transcended their ages.
If there was a way to help Elder Wang leave this place, Li Hao would do everything in his power to make it happen.
"All I need to do is become an official disciple?" Li Hao asked earnestly, his eyes ablaze with resolve.
Elder Wang smiled, the warmth in his expression growing even softer. "Don't put too much pressure on yourself. I've already given you the Ancestral Scripture of Following Heaven. You know the difficulty of condensing the Nine-Flower Immortal Seal. Becoming an official disciple is no small feat."
Li Hao took a deep breath, his resolve firming. "I'll make sure you can leave."
"Don't overthink it. The more you dwell on it, the slower your cultivation will be," Elder Wang said, chuckling. He turned back to the celestial herbs, resuming his weeding. He hadn't brought up the matter in detail because he didn't want to burden Li Hao.
Nor did he want to become a hindrance to Li Hao's cultivation.
Li Hao remained silent. Some things could only be achieved through action.
When Elder Wang finished tending to the celestial herbs, the two returned to the field's edge. Elder Wang started reminiscing about his younger days of cultivation, sharing stories from his past with Li Hao.
He often spoke of his experiences with others, recounting tales of distant memories. Though his life spanned eons, the act of recalling and recounting helped keep those memories alive, protecting them from the erosion of time.
Even with near-eternal longevity, the passage of time still threatened to erode everything.
Li Hao set aside his solemn thoughts, falling into the familiar rhythm of their conversations. He listened attentively, as he always had.
As the sun set, casting long shadows across the land, Elder Wang hoisted his hoe over his shoulder and returned to the house. Li Hao followed, and upon arriving, invited him for another game of chess.
Hearing this, Elder Wang couldn't help but laugh. He had expected Li Hao to immediately immerse himself in cultivating the Ancestral Scripture of Following Heaven. After all, it was a quasi-imperial technique of the True Immortal Realm, accessible only to the most elite sects in the True Realm.
But knowing Li Hao's temperament, Elder Wang wasn't surprised. He only felt a faint twinge of disappointment as he recalled Li Hao's earlier words in the field. It was clear that Li Hao still prioritized the joy of chess and leisure over relentless cultivation.
Still, Elder Wang harbored no blame. The difficulty of becoming an official disciple was immense. Without exceptional foundations built from childhood, achieving it was nearly impossible.
Shaking off his faint disappointment, Elder Wang set down his hoe, brought out the chessboard, and joined Li Hao under the moonlight for a game.
Far off, the Saints meditated in silence, as still as statues on their mats.
Meanwhile, in front of the house, the old man and the young man placed their pieces on the board, occasionally sharing laughter.
Time flowed quietly in this secluded world beneath the Forbidden Ground.
In the blink of an eye, two years had passed.
Li Hao had now spent five years in the depths of the Double Rift Demon Valley.
Here, five years felt like the blink of an eye, with little visible change.
The Saints on their mats remained as silent as ever, unmoving like sculptures.
Even the celestial herbs in the fields showed almost no growth. Their short lifespan made any change almost imperceptible.
In front of the house, the chess game between the old man and the youth had undergone a tremendous transformation compared to when Li Hao first arrived.
Elder Wang's expression was serious as he stared intently at the chessboard.
Li Hao placed his pieces with precision. The game twisted and turned, the strategy layered like a hidden mountain path, leaving no visible trace of his intentions. It resembled the ethereal play of immortals, elusive and profound.
Unlike their first games, where Elder Wang had the leisure to sip tea and glance at the celestial herbs in the field, now a cup of tea sat forgotten beside him, stone cold.
On the other hand, Li Hao wore a similarly focused expression, his gaze unwavering and his demeanor taut. He knew that his current advantageous position was only because of Elder Wang's earlier lapse, allowing him to exploit a single opening and gradually build his momentum.
The gentle breeze stirred the mist hovering over the celestial herb fields, while the clear sound of Elder Wang placing his piece broke the silence with a sharp snap.
After a long pause, Li Hao followed with his move, his piece landing with a crisp note of its own.
As the mists thinned and the evening sky blazed crimson with brilliant sunset hues, the chessboard's situation finally began to reveal itself.
Elder Wang withdrew his hand from the board, sighed softly, and looked at Li Hao with mock annoyance. "Looks like you caught me slipping this time."
"Opportunities must be seized. Thanks to you letting up a little," Li Hao said with a cheeky grin, his joy barely concealed.
After all, beating Elder Wang in chess wasn't something that happened every day!
"How many wins is this now?" Elder Wang asked as he began collecting the pieces.
Li Hao didn't even need to think before answering, "Seven!"
Elder Wang shot him a sideways glance, his white eyes almost rolling out of their sockets. "And how many losses?" he countered, his tone laced with mischief.
Li Hao cleared his throat awkwardly, scratching his head. "That… I didn't count."
"You little rascal…" Elder Wang chuckled, his mood visibly lifting. With a sly grin, he said, "No worries, I've been keeping track. You've lost exactly 1,821 times!"
Li Hao froze. His expression turned as stiff as if he'd just eaten something sour. Elder Wang burst into laughter at the sight of his constipated look.
"All right, it's getting late. Time to rest!" Elder Wang announced with a broad smile.
Li Hao nodded with a resigned sigh. Over the past two years, his chess experience had already reached a perfect ten stages, but the eleventh stage's elusive mindset remained just out of his grasp.
As Elder Wang tidied up the chessboard and retired for the evening, Li Hao returned to his mat. Sitting cross-legged, he pulled out his drawing board. Under the moonlight, he began sketching the vast and resonant image of heaven and earth.
For the past two years, aside from playing chess with Elder Wang, Li Hao had dedicated himself to painting.
His skill in painting had also reached a perfected ten stages, but the mindset required for the eleventh stage continued to elude him.
As each painting concluded, a faint sense of confusion clouded his eyes.
Through repeated practice, Li Hao felt that his skills had reached their peak, yet he couldn't quite touch the bottleneck of the eleventh stage's mindset.
This mounting frustration gnawed at him, making the goal seem ever more distant.
"To use heaven and earth as the canvas, the Dao as the brush—what kind of painting would surpass all others? What would define the ultimate masterpiece?" Li Hao murmured to himself.
He couldn't imagine it. And without imagination, he couldn't find his way forward.
Sitting silently on his mat throughout the night, Li Hao's thoughts remained clouded by uncertainty. At dawn, while he was still deep in thought, a commotion stirred in the air.
The noise snapped him out of his reverie. He glanced around and saw the other Saints being drawn from their meditation as well, all looking toward the source of the disturbance. It turned out that Mu Sheng had returned from challenging the True Sovereign Tower.
"Two years have passed, and Mu Sheng lasted even longer this time. His progress is impressive!" one Saint remarked.
"Before, it took decades for any noticeable improvement. Now…"
As they observed Mu Sheng's achievement, a mix of surprise and admiration flickered across their faces. Yet, as if drawn by an unspoken consensus, many of their gazes turned toward Li Hao.
From the moment this newcomer arrived, the atmosphere of the valley had shifted. Everyone felt the growing pressure to keep up, and it showed in their increasingly restless behavior.
Feeling the weight of their attention, Li Hao's thoughts stirred. It was time. He should test his limits and see if his movement technique could reach the tenth stage—and whether it would be enough to pass the second level.
If not, then he would have to wait until ascending to the True Immortal Realm before attempting again.
Mu Sheng, his long white hair flowing behind him, noticed Li Hao among the seated Saints. Li Hao wasn't looking at him but rather at the towering True Sovereign Tower in the distance. Mu Sheng's brows furrowed, a flicker of discomfort crossing his mind.
It felt as though the prize he had been desperately fighting for was already preordained to belong to someone else—a futile struggle, no matter how hard he tried.
At that moment, Li Hao rose to his feet and took to the skies, heading toward the True Sovereign Tower.
The Saints stared in shock at his sudden movement.
"This is his second attempt in two years. Is he motivated by Mu Sheng's progress?"
"Last time, his performance was incredible. I wonder if he'll improve this time."
"He doesn't seem to have been cultivating much. Maybe he's just unwilling to fall behind."
In the crowd, Lin Sheng and Ming Sheng's eyes bypassed Mu Sheng, fixing instead on Li Hao's retreating figure. A strange unease began to creep into their hearts as they watched him approach the tower.
What was this growing sense of dread?