Chapter 434: The Nine Sequences
Li Hao was momentarily stunned, a mix of surprise and joy.
While he knew mastering a technique to the eleventh stage would allow him to become a True Immortal, achieving the Nine Flowers Immortal Seal was still shrouded in uncertainty.
Passing the second layer of the True Sovereign Tower was only the second step. The difficulty of the third step was bound to be unimaginable.
"Thank you, senior," Li Hao said earnestly.
The projection—or rather, the Tower Spirit of the True Sovereign Tower—waved its hand casually, as though speaking to itself:
"Wang Shanhe has already passed the Shun Tian Ancestral Scripture to you, hasn't he? Do you know what 'Shun' means? What 'Tian' represents?"
Li Hao honestly shook his head.
"Remember this: Shun represents time, Tian represents void."
The Tower Spirit's eyes flashed with an enigmatic sharpness, locking onto Li Hao for a moment before its expression softened. "When you reach the bottleneck, you'll understand. I'll send you out for now. If you need to challenge the tower again, feel free to return. If you need a sparring partner, I can summon the projections from the first and second layers for your practice."
Li Hao's heart trembled slightly, the words echoing in his mind.
Shun as time, Tian as void?
Could this be the essence of the Time and Space Ancestral Scripture?
He immediately realized that the Tower Spirit had given him a profound hint about mastering the Shun Tian Ancestral Scripture.
With a casual wave from the Tower Spirit, Li Hao found himself back inside the True Sovereign Tower.
The surroundings were shrouded in darkness, but behind him, a faint light appeared—the tower's exit.
"Go," came the deep, resonant voice of the Tower Spirit. This time, the voice carried a weight far greater than that of the earlier projection, as though it transcended time and space.
Li Hao hesitated briefly before walking out of the tower.
Outside, near the meditation cushions in the distance, the gathered Saints saw Li Hao emerge. Their murmurs began to ripple through the group.
Compared to his last challenge, Li Hao had spent slightly less time inside this time.
Although he had successfully passed the second layer, this challenge had not involved the continuous back-and-forth maneuvers he had used in the first layer's battle. The fight had ended much more quickly.
"He was faster by half a stick of incense compared to last time. It seems two years of idleness have dulled his edge."
"Or maybe his mind was unsettled, distracted by other thoughts, making his attacks less focused."
"That's probably it."
Among the crowd, Hua Sheng and You Sheng exchanged worried glances. They decided to subtly caution Li Hao once he approached.
Meanwhile, in the front row of cushions, Ming Sheng and Mu Sheng shared a look, both recognizing the astonishment in each other's eyes.
As they overheard the whispered conversations around them, Mu Sheng felt an unshakable sense of embarrassment. Could Li Hao have been affected by his earlier challenge? Distracted by his actions? Impossible. Most people didn't know the truth—that the young man before them had already passed the first layer of the True Sovereign Tower's trials. This time, he had challenged the second layer!
The reduced time was understandable; the difficulty had doubled. To endure for two sticks of incense against such odds was already remarkable.
A gust of wind stirred. From afar, Wang Lao appeared silently near the meditation cushions, his gaze fixed on the True Sovereign Tower. After a moment, his eyes narrowed slightly, betraying a hint of shock.
Even with all his years of experience, such a feat was rare.
During the height of the True Realm's golden age, only a handful of monstrous prodigies among the Emperor's personal disciples had displayed such extraordinary talent.
Now, this young man—who had spent the past five years squabbling with him over chess games—had achieved the same level?
In just five years, Li Hao had challenged the tower twice and passed its second layer.
Wang Lao's fingers trembled slightly, like those of a frail old man bracing against a cold wind. Yet no one noticed the deep excitement in his heart.
Ming Sheng and Mu Sheng noticed Wang Lao's sudden appearance and were momentarily stunned. Then, their faces shifted as an unsettling realization struck them.
By now, Li Hao had reached the front of the meditation cushions.
Several gazes locked onto him, including those of Ming Sheng and the others. Li Hao gave a faint smile before turning to Hua Sheng and You Sheng, puzzled by the concern etched on their faces.
"Li Hao…" Hua Sheng began, trying to send him a warning through spiritual transmission.
Before she could finish, Lin Sheng stood and addressed Li Hao directly:
"To last so long in the second layer on your first try—clearly, this Emperor's Dao legacy is destined for you."
The air fell silent.
Hua Sheng froze mid-sentence, staring at Li Hao in shock.
You Sheng, too, was wide-eyed, her typically regal expression betraying her astonishment.
The rest of the Saints were momentarily dumbfounded by Lin Sheng's words, unable to process them.
After a few seconds of stunned silence, the murmurs erupted into a frenzy.
"Second layer? What second layer?"
"The True Sovereign Tower has another level?"
"What kind of test is this second layer? Why have we never heard of it?"
The crowd erupted into a flurry of voices, their discussions intensifying as they noticed Wang Lao standing above them. Their gazes collectively turned to him, expecting an explanation.
Amid the clamor, Wang Lao suppressed his inner excitement. A benevolent smile appeared on his face, his eyes fixed on Li Hao with an almost paternal fondness. He softly uttered "good" three times before saying:
"Follow me."
Li Hao nodded, turning briefly to Hua Sheng and using spiritual transmission to ask, "You wanted to talk to me just now?"
Hua Sheng froze for a moment before blurting out, "What Lin Sheng said—was it true?"
"Yes," Li Hao replied simply. Noticing her stunned expression and lack of response, he proceeded to follow Wang Lao.
As Wang Lao and Li Hao departed for the hut, the other Saints swarmed Lin Sheng with questions. It wasn't long before Lin Sheng revealed that Li Hao had previously passed the first layer of the True Sovereign Tower and had already undergone the initial test.
Lin Sheng also disclosed the existence of the tower's three layers, corresponding to the ranks of personal disciple, formal disciple, and registered disciple.
Realizing they had spent tens of thousands of years struggling through merely the registered disciple's test, the crowd fell into a stunned silence.
"Didn't Wang Lao say he wouldn't give special treatment? Why did he make an exception for him?"
After a long pause, one of the Saints, an elderly man with a long beard, muttered darkly.
Hua Sheng and You Sheng glanced over to see the bearded Saint's expression clouded with resentment.
Lin Sheng sneered coldly and said, "Who said his success was due to special treatment? Can't it simply be his own ability?"
"But it's only been three short years…" the long-bearded Saint protested, his brows furrowing as he stared defiantly at Lin Sheng.
"So what if it's three years? True prodigies defy convention!" Lin Sheng retorted sharply. "All of us here once considered ourselves geniuses, didn't we? But even among geniuses, there's always a hierarchy. And let's not forget—he triggered Nine Heavens Resonance when he first arrived. He's already broken every precedent. What more is there to contest?"
Lin Sheng's loud rebuttal reverberated across the area, carrying as far as Wang Lao's hut.
The long-bearded Saint faltered at the mention of the Nine Heavens Resonance, his defiance silenced.
The others, too, fell into a contemplative hush, recalling the astonishing display Li Hao had put on when he first arrived.
At the hut, Wang Lao led Li Hao back and smiled as Lin Sheng's voice echoed from afar. Without turning around, he chuckled, "Looks like that group of kids is jealous of you again."
Li Hao shook his head with a lighthearted smile, unfazed.
As Wang Lao settled into his usual seat, he turned to see Li Hao's calm demeanor. The sight brought a satisfied glint to his eyes. With a deep sigh, Wang Lao regarded Li Hao with admiration and a hint of disbelief.
"I don't blame them for feeling jealous. You gave me quite the shock this time," Wang Lao said.
Hearing this, Li Hao asked, "You already know I passed the second layer?"
"The Tower Spirit shared your situation with me," Wang Lao replied, his smile widening with pride. His gaze softened as he continued, "I knew you had managed to pass the first layer, but I thought it was a result of sudden enlightenment. I never expected you to conquer the second layer as well. The difficulty isn't just a fivefold increase—it's exponentially harder. Do you know? In the past, at least a million people could pass the first layer, but fewer than ten thousand ever made it through the second."
"Some could even annihilate the projection in the first layer instantly, yet they remained stuck at the second layer for the rest of their lives."
As Wang Lao spoke, his tone carried equal parts amazement and joy. The notion of Li Hao passing the second layer was something he hadn't dared to entertain before, but now, the youth had delivered an unimaginable surprise.
However…
Wang Lao's smile gradually faded, replaced by a more serious expression as his thoughts turned to the third test.
The trial for becoming a formal disciple required not just the mastery of the Nine Flowers Immortal Seal but also achieving it within ten thousand years—a strict time limit.
This challenge was hundreds of times harder than forming the Three Flowers Immortal Seal!
To form the Three Flowers Immortal Seal, one needed to comprehend a single Dao to its essence. This would constitute one flower, which represented the most basic True Immortal.
Two Flowers Immortal Seal practitioners, cultivated in smaller sects, were typically regarded as geniuses.
As for the Three Flowers Immortal Seal, those who mastered it were considered unparalleled prodigies within major sects and top-tier forces.
But the Nine Flowers Immortal Seal?
"It requires the comprehension of nine fundamental Dao at their essence," Wang Lao said gravely. His gaze bore into Li Hao. "You specialize in swordsmanship. If you perfect your swordsmanship, that counts as one flower."
"Your soul realm focuses on control—that's another flower!"
"But that only makes two. You still need to comprehend seven more Dao!"
Li Hao's expression darkened. Hearing this, he fully grasped the monumental difficulty of achieving the Nine Flowers Immortal Seal.
By this reckoning, even if he mastered body Dao and control Dao, he'd still only count for two flowers—barely enough to scratch the surface.
"The world has countless Dao," Wang Lao continued. "But to master nine of them at their essence within ten thousand years is an impossible task for most."
His gaze softened with a mixture of pity and determination. "Though I truly wish I could help, I can't betray the expectations of the Emperor. This is something you must accomplish on your own. If, after ten thousand years, you still haven't achieved the Nine Flowers Immortal Seal…"
He paused, his voice dropping. "I will break the rules to assist you in forming it. But even then, you won't qualify as a formal disciple of the Emperor. Still, it will give you the power of the Nine Flowers Immortal Seal, and at least I can send you out into the world with some peace of mind."
Li Hao was momentarily stunned, lifting his gaze to Wang Lao. In the elder's eyes, there was only a kind smile, but behind it lay a deep determination. If he were to break the rules for Li Hao, it was clear Wang Lao would have to sacrifice something. Yet, the old man seemed ready for such a price.
Li Hao exhaled deeply, shaking his head. "I'll try my best first!"
Seeing the unwavering determination in Li Hao's eyes—the same focus he had when playing chess—Wang Lao's gaze softened. In a low, gentle voice, he said:
"The world has countless Daos, but those recorded by the Immortals are contained in a compendium called the Ten Thousand Dao Codex. It catalogs the Daos of myriad realms. Take it and see if there are any Daos you've encountered or vaguely comprehended; those might be the ones you can delve deeper into."
With a wave of his hand, Wang Lao produced an ancient black tome inscribed with golden characters and handed it to Li Hao.
He had already discerned that Li Hao's lifespan was too short, and though the young man's talent was unparalleled, his knowledge base was limited.
To form the Nine Flowers Immortal Seal, nine fundamental Daos needed to be comprehended to their essence.
Li Hao accepted the book without hesitation and began flipping through its pages.
The moment the book opened, golden characters shot out, dazzling his eyes. A resounding, ancient hum reverberated in his mind, as if echoing the primal essence of the universe.
Fate… Time… Space… The Five Origins… Form and Control…
Each Dao was imprinted in his mind, with detailed explanations etched into his consciousness. The Codex categorized the Daos into a hierarchy: Fate Dao stood supreme, Time Dao and Space Dao reigned as kings, and the Five Origins—metal, wood, water, fire, and earth—served as their generals.
Beyond that were the Form Dao and Control Dao:
Li Hao realized that Form Dao corresponded to his Body Dao, emphasizing the shapes and structures of all things.
"Fate stands alone, while the other nine together form the Nine Sequences."
The book elaborated: mastering one of these Daos to its essence would grant the power of a singular Immortal Seal, marking a prodigy within their realm. Mastery of two Daos would elevate one to be invincible among their peers.
Li Hao's thoughts flashed back to the Tower Spirit's cryptic words: "To flow with time is to move with harmony; to master the void is to become one with the heavens."
Could the Shun Tian Ancestral Codex encapsulate the profound mysteries of Time Dao and Space Dao?
Li Hao's eyes flickered with understanding. If that were true, it was no wonder the Shun Tian Ancestral Codex could dominate those of the same realm.
Aside from the Nine Sequences, the Codex listed many other Daos, including the commonly known Sword Dao, Spear Dao, and others.
Li Hao furrowed his brow, contemplating. "If that's the case, merely raising Body Dao and Control Dao to the eleventh level may not be enough to fully comprehend the Shun Tian Ancestral Codex."
He realized that the Codex was intrinsically tied to specific Daos. Body Dao and Control Dao corresponded to Form and Control, two components of the Nine Sequences.
However, neither Time Dao nor Space Dao appeared in his panel.
"Could it be that these can't be upgraded with points and must be comprehended on my own?"
His mind buzzed with possibilities.
Wang Lao sat quietly, observing Li Hao's contemplative state. He said nothing. Teaching or even hinting at such matters would violate the sacred trust of the Immortal Emperor. Li Hao could only rely on his own insights.
After a long while, Li Hao's furrowed brows gradually smoothed out. Looking up at Wang Lao, he said, "Wang Lao, where's the chessboard?"
"Hm?" Wang Lao was momentarily stunned, then let out a soft chuckle. "Are you truly not tempted by the Codex?"
Li Hao shook his head firmly. "Even if it's for your sake, I will give it my all. Besides… I want to leave this place."
Wang Lao's heart trembled slightly as he met the boy's clear, determined eyes. He turned to gaze at the distant fields swaying in the breeze and softly said, "Then…"
"I want to see the chessboard," Li Hao repeated.
Though he didn't understand Li Hao's intentions, Wang Lao made no objections. With a wave of his sleeve, the chessboard appeared before them.
Li Hao studied it closely. The board was a simple grid of 361 intersections—not too many, not too few. Yet within its compact form, it held the vastness of a world.
As a piece was placed on it, the chessboard seemed to expand infinitely, encompassing boundless space.
Li Hao focused intently, and the board seemed to grow larger and larger in his eyes until it surrounded him entirely. He stood upon it as though he were but a single piece on an infinite chessboard.
Suddenly, realization dawned on him.
Within the chessboard lies infinite space.