Rising from the abyss, standing between heaven and earth, the Blood Lake under the youth’s feet churned, while the decaying Dao Intent rampaged and enveloped but failed to cause his physical body to wither.
His flesh was reborn from ruin, sublimated within the Extreme Realm, undying and indestructible!
And in this moment, he broke free from his shackles, forged his Tao Heart with all things under heaven, and stepped into the Four Stands Realm!
Now his Tao Heart was transcendent, out of the ordinary, free to wander the heavens and earth.
Bursts of breath, tumultuous as raging waves and deep as the ocean, surged from all directions, converging upon him, as the aura of the Tao Heart Realm gently diffused out.
But these escaping auras were devoured by the surrounding, rampant Dao of decay.
The youth lifted his head, his face near perfection, as if intricately carved by the mountains and rivers’ brush strokes.
His eyes were like glaciers, piercing and devoid of emotion, as if looking down upon all living beings, with a lofty indifference that saw through all vicissitudes and everything in this world.
He seemed untouched by anything, no sorrow or joy, detached from life and death, like an unfeeling True God!
But as his gaze moved and fell upon the black Qi Kun jade belt dangling on a rough chain dipped into the Blood Lake, those icy eyes began to thaw gradually.
Then, slowly, warmth emerged from the cold, transforming from that detached, lofty Heavenly Heart to the heart within this body, merging completely with the physical body—both the Heavenly Heart and the Tao Heart, and the human heart, all three as one, truly returning from nirvana!
At this moment, many thoughts and memories regained their color, and a bright light burst forth from his eyes. His figure shimmered and he rapidly dove toward the Blood Lake, landing on the Qi Kun jade belt’s chain.
The chain was incredibly thick, previously used to bind the Demon Saint, he bent down, picking up the now broken Qi Kun jade belt from its edge near the Blood Lake.
Earlier, he had sunk into the Blood Lake and had also released the belt, fortunately, it seemed to have been quickly swept onto this chain by the blood water, preventing it from completely rotting away.
At this moment, within the jade belt, the Heaven and Earth Space churned with blood.
Li Hao’s Divine Thought flew into it, immediately seeing clearly inside, there were three faint life forces.
The Candle Flame God and Ms. Yin, and a red whisker.
Seeing the red whisker, Li Hao’s eyes sharply focused, and he quickly leaped to a higher position on the chain.
He inhaled deeply, sucking out all the Dao-infused blood from the Heaven and Earth Space.
This blood water splashed onto him, causing corrosion, but not as severe as before, now only superficial burns appeared, scarring but then rapidly healing over.
His physical body had transcended the nine refinements of Divine Weapons, achieving a qualitative enhancement, comparable to the Saint Heart Heavenly Treasure!
Even if someone from the Ultimate Study Realm attacked him unguarded, they could not cause him any harm, but despite this, he still couldn’t completely ignore the erosion of the Dao Power from the Blood Lake.
After all, this was the power of the Saint Realm, even if it couldn’t compare to its former self, it was still not something he could resist at present, even the Tao Comprehension Realm would have to shed a layer of skin, and the Saint Heart Heavenly Treasure would wear down!
After all the blood water was removed, Li Hao looked inside at the Candle Flame God and Ms. Yin huddled together, embraced, with a red whisker nestled between them.
They were all still alive!
Li Hao paused, somewhat surprised, and felt an indescribable joy.
The Candle Flame God and Ms. Yin were originally extremely weak, but now, they had merged into one, covered with the Dao Domain of the Candle Flame God, yet different from its original Dao Domain, more mystical and powerful.
Moreover, a strange purple-black and red light flowed around the pair, spiraling and chasing, each containing the power of Extreme Yang and Extreme Yin.
The decaying Dao Intent diffusing from the blood water was largely blocked by these two ancient and profound forces, while the rest was blocked by the Dao Domain, although a tiny bit still seeped through.
This was causing their bodies to show slight signs of decay.
“This is, a bloodline awakening?”
Li Hao glanced at the purple-black aura and the red glow, thinking of what Ji Yun Ge had once said, that the Candle Flame God and Ms. Yin were originally one, with an ancient divine beast bloodline.
Now, these auras that contained profound ancient powers seemed to be the strength hidden within their bloodline.
Encountering life-and-death situations in the Mo River, and again here, had finally triggered it.
Compared to them, Li Hao was more concerned about the red whisker, emanating an extremely faint presence, seemingly unaware of him.
Li Hao felt a pang in his heart; he couldn’t yet extract it since it couldn’t isolate the surrounding Demon Saint Dao Intent.
Drawing a deep breath, Li Hao accessed his panel and chose to add points.
The bottleneck at the Tao Heart Realm had been previously shattered, with 3 Skill Points remaining. With his selection, one point was immediately deducted.
And the Physical Body Dao elevated from Seventh Stage to Stage Eight!
In an instant, a vast trove of information flooded into his mind, like a legacy from the unseen world, continuously being instilled.
Li Hao sat cross-legged, feeling as if the heavens and earth were like a curtain that he could touch and tear apart with a little effort since stepping into the Tao Heart Realm.
Immediately, he used his Tao Heart to break open the void, creating a small piece of personal Heaven and Earth Space.
He didn’t expand it to the limit, it was enough for now.
Next, he intended to put the Qi Kun jade belt into it but felt a force resisting.
This resisting force originated from the Heaven and Earth Space within the Qi Kun jade belt.
Li Hao realized that this kind of Heaven and Earth space treasure couldn’t be stored within another Heaven and Earth space; the two spaces couldn’t overlap.
If he moved the three of them out of the Qi Kun jade belt’s Heaven and Earth Space, the even more turbulent Dao Intent on the surface of the Blood Lake would quickly erode and destroy them.
Li Hao immediately retracted his own Heaven and Earth Space, holding the Qi Kun jade belt in his hand, protecting that fragment of a tiny Heaven and Earth Space within his palm.
Now, as he continued to absorb the insights of Dao Eighth Rank in the Physical Body Dao, his panel updated once again, and many Body Refining Techniques underwent significant changes.
The changes in these Cultivation Techniques had caused the vital energy within him to gradually become more vigorous and powerful.
Even without active practice, some Cultivation Techniques could operate autonomously within his body, causing his flesh and blood to undergo transformations again!
The strength of his physical body was rapidly advancing, far surpassing the initial million catties. After returning from Tianji Tower, he had already approached nearly two million catties.
At this moment, the cultivation of his Physical Body Dao had risen to the Eighth Stage, and his comprehension of the Tao Realm was extraordinary. Many of the top Body Refining Techniques were re-deduced and enhanced, reaching the level of the Ultimate Study Realm!
Even the second-rate Body Refining Techniques had achieved a Peerless status and had also elevated to a transcendental degree!
This represented a comprehensive qualitative change and leap!
His physical strength continued to grow. At the same time, in just a few moments as he sat motionless, the autonomous operation of merely a few Cultivation Techniques caused his vital energy to surge rapidly, breaking through to the Defying Fate Realm in one fell swoop!
Within his body, a mysterious energy arose.
This energy, winding throughout his body, seemed to communicate with an existence beyond heaven and earth, something intangible.
Following that indistinct sensation to perceive, Li Hao only felt unimaginable depth and unspeakable oppressive fear. If he were to extend further, he felt he might infringe upon a taboo and die!
Defying Fate, Defying Fate—It’s not merely about mastering the power of Defying Fate but genuinely feeling the presence of Destiny!
Thereby also realizing his own insignificance and the expanse of the heavens and earth!
Reaching the Defying Fate Realm would instead make one more humble and reverent.
Previously, Li Hao had not had the chance to thoroughly experience the Life-Defying Power he exchanged from the Merit Treasure Vault, but now this energy belonged to him from his own cultivation.
Before long, the thoughts of numerous Cultivation Techniques flooded his mind, diverting Li Hao’s attention from everything else.
His mind was like a raging storm, deducing and fusing seven or eight Ultimate Study Realm-level Body Refining Techniques, as well as dozens of Peerless-level Body Refining Skills – integrating the strengths of a hundred methods, amalgamating the Great Dao, and carving out his own ultimate technique.
However, his ultimate technique was neither the Sword Dao nor the Fist Skill.
Both of these major paths had not yet reached the Seventh Stage, let alone refining and deducing his own ultimate technique.
What he was now opening was the Ultimate Body Refining Technique of the Physical Body Dao!
After sitting cross-legged for a long time, Li Hao suddenly opened his eyes. The numerous Body Refining Techniques merged into one at this moment, and he understood his own Ultimate Body Refining Technique. His flesh was a red-hot color, steaming with countless waves of energy.
But soon after, his red-hot flesh turned into a golden-red color, as if entering a Divine Power State.
But in actuality, he had not entered it; it was just the culmination of his physical strength, with his vital blood coalescing and transforming.
“Supreme World Venerable Body!”
Li Hao sat cross-legged on the chains above the Blood Lake, his body bursting with golden Divine Light. Behind him, a massive aura of bloody light appeared—a rainbow of flesh that like a seven-colored divine radiance, emitted an otherworldly and extraordinary aura.
Around his body, the aging Dao Intent that eroded his flesh slowed down significantly.
This was the ultimate technique of the Physical Body Dao he had developed, which could enhance his own strength, physical defense, and also possessed the ability to “suppress” rules!
Faced with the aging Dao Intent, it could slightly push back and weaken it.
When deploying their own ultimate techniques within the Ultimate Study Realm, it generally comes with an accompanying rule, which is a special state, like Li Muxiu’s brief half-step invincible state.
And Lu Yuan’s Limitless Thunder Tao comes with the Limitless State, enhancing strength in an all-around way to a certain limit.
However, these ultimate technique states would be broken in the face of the Dao Domain, because they weren’t condensed enough and would face indiscriminate rule suppression from the Dao Domain, quickly being shattered. Therefore, cultivators of the Ultimate Study Realm had no choice but to flee when facing those of the Tao Realm!
But at this moment, the rule suppression revealed by Li Hao’s body could somewhat impact the Dao Intent.
If he encountered a Dao Domain, Li Hao felt that with his own ultimate technique, he would have the power to suppress and break through!
The strength of the Ultimate Study Realm varied greatly; there were high and low levels. His technique was a fusion of seven or eight ultimate techniques and more than a dozen Peerless Body Refining Skills, unimaginably powerful!
At this moment, Li Hao did not stop but continued to deduce and expand this ultimate technique.
Quickly, an enlightenment emerged.
Like a vibration, the chains below him quivered lightly, stirring the waves of the Blood Lake.
A Dao Domain power radiated from the center of his body, pushing outward in all directions!
The Grand Tao of Peace Realm!
With his Supreme World Venerable Body ultimate technique, he stepped into the Tao Realm and successfully carved out his Dao Domain!
At this moment, as the Dao Domain expanded, it contained the suppressive power of the Ultimate Study Realm. Just like the Candle Flame God’s Dao Domain, which contained its ultimate technique of burning power, capable of incinerating everything within the domain.
And Li Hao’s Dao Domain was suppressive!
The chains beneath him, those peculiar irons binding the Demon Saint, were shaken by the suppression.
And the aging Dao Intent around him, within Li Hao’s Dao Domain, saw a significant decrease in power.
The constant pressure exerted from the suppressive force pressed upon it, but this suppressive rule was eroded by the Dao Intent, both wearing each other down.
Despite the wear, the Dao Intent still had the upper hand, slightly affecting Li Hao’s body.
Li Hao’s expression turned icy. He closed his eyes and continued to deduce.
Moments later, suddenly, another peculiar fluctuation extended and expanded from his body!
The Second Dao Domain!
This Dao Domain was opened by Li Hao using the Dragon Cicada Void Body’s transformation into the indestructible Ancestral Dragon Body. Within the domain, it seemed as if there was a dragon’s hum, containing terrifying pressure. While it was not Li Hao’s own ultimate technique, he had now opened a Dao Domain with the power of oppressive rules!
Suppression and pressure, two similar rules added together, and abruptly the aging Dao Intent within the Dao Domain became even weaker.
Li Hao did not stop, but continued to deduce the techniques in succession.
Soon, the third Unparalleled Skill, the transformation of the Ten Thousand Flood Dragons Physique into the Ancestor Dragon Divine Body, was also cultivated into a Dao Domain.
The laws of the Daoist Domain Skill were solidification, able to compress and crush everything within the Dao Domain.
As this third-layer Dao Domain expanded, the initially faint Dao Intent was instantly and completely blocked off.
But it was just a blockade, not annihilation, for Saint’s Dao Intent could not be destroyed unless it met an opposing Dao that could shatter it!
Without rest, Li Hao continued to deduce all the other cultivation techniques.
Soon, layer upon layer of Dao Domains unfolded, covering his body.
Seated within the abyss, an unimaginably terrifying aura radiated from him, with a total of nine overlapping Dao Domains ensuring that the decayed Dao Intent was already isolated outside, unable to approach him.
As for the rest of the Peerless Skills, Li Hao could only deduce them to the level of Unparalleled Skills. To develop them into Dao Domains, these skills had significant intrinsic limitations and still lacked some enlightenment.
Unless his Physical Body Dao was to rise another stage, he could then fully compensate for the remaining shortcomings.
However, having deduced dozens of Peerless Skills to the level of Unparalleled Skills was already enough to shock and awe the world.
Li Hao stood up and continued to practice within the abyss. His flesh and blood compressed and shrank. Without the Power of Heaven and Earth here, he drew upon the fresh blood of the Demon Saint from the Blood Lake, absorbing it using the Soul Sacrifice True Demon Skill, converting it into the Power of Heaven and Earth, and tempering himself.
His aura was continuously climbing, becoming more condensed, and his flesh was rapidly transforming, with Physical Body Strength swiftly increasing.
Originally less than two million catties of strength, as Li Hao practiced, it gradually climbed to three million, four million, five million catties!
This had already exceeded five times that of the Divine Power State!
Just the rise from Seventh Stage to Stage Eight of the Physical Body Dao, coupled with the transformation of many skills, had led to such an exaggerated increase.
“I wonder if reaching ten million catties will once again break the limit?”
Li Hao’s eyes moved, but to do that, he would need dozens more Body Refining Techniques, and they could not overlap with the current ones, which were not easy to find.
He didn’t dwell on this and continued to practice and absorb.
The Blood Lake, which originally posed a threat to his life, now became nourishment that enriched him.
Only now did Li Hao have the leisure to feel the Blood Lake. The pure Blood Qi contained within was not as vast as he had imagined. The Demon Saint had died ten thousand years ago, having severely exhausted his physical body before death, with his essence blood burning away, leaving only corrupt flesh behind.
But, after all, it was the essence of a Demon Saint. It took Li Hao several days of continuous absorption to completely dry up the pure power in the Blood Lake, all of which was converted to consolidate himself.
His Physical Body Strength once again increased, from five million catties to about seven million catties, comparable to two Divine Power States.
And the strength of his physical body was distinctly more powerful than before, although to what extent, Li Hao himself did not know. But he felt that even without releasing any power, he could walk into others’ Dao Domains with his physical body and more than likely not be injured.
At this moment, with multiple Dao Domains acting as barriers, Li Hao transferred the Candle Fire God Couple and Little Red-whisker from the Qiankun Jade Belt to his own Heaven and Earth Space, moving the rest of the miscellaneous items in as well. He had planned to simply discard the tattered Qiankun Jade Belt, as he no longer needed it.
But upon reflection, it was this object that had helped them survive.
Li Hao put the item away and then stamped his foot down, shooting up towards the sky. With nine layers of Dao Domain protecting his body, overlapping one another, the Abyssal Laws’ power to forbid flight could not affect him.
Before long, he had burst out of the abyss, soaring into the sky and reaching the high altitude outside.
Looking up, Qiu Tian Dao appeared as a disc suspended in the sky, with the three Abyss Sky Locks all put back into place, suggesting that a major figure from the Ji Family had come and dealt with the matters here.
However, it seemed they had not noticed him deep within the Blood Lake.
Yet, Li Hao harbored no misunderstandings or resentment over this; it was quite normal that the chaotic Dao Intent above the Blood Lake would obstruct investigations.
He glanced at Qiu Tian Dao and then averted his gaze, his eyes calm, without love or hate.
Then, his figure flickered, consolidating the nine layers of Dao Domain into one, crossing the desolate sea directly and flying away, leaving this deadly place behind, as if also parting ways with the past.
The vast desolate sea, now under the acceleration of Li Hao’s Dao Domain, was crossed in no time at all.
Once he left the desolate sea, the Power of Heaven and Earth around him quickly gathered, absorbed by the Heaven and Earth Vein to restore his physical body, continuing to nourish it.
Passing the lone peak that guarded the desolate sea, the Elder atop it was dozing with eyes half-closed. Suddenly, hearing the sound of the wind, he looked up and saw the leisurely figure of a young man flying towards the distance.
“Who is that…?”
The Elder was puzzled. He could only see the figure from behind, but he was unable to perceive the young man’s aura.
After a journey of hundreds of thousands of miles, Li Hao landed on a hilltop, then quickly opened his Heaven and Earth Space, releasing the Candle Flame God and Ms. Yin.
They were still curled up together, their bodies in a state of semi-fusion, with a Dao Domain shrouding them, covering only around their bodies, as the power of their Extreme Yang and Extreme Yin bloodlines still swirled around them.
Li Hao watched intently, and before long, he discerned some clues. In a desperate situation, they chose to merge, but without enough power, they only fused halfway.
If no external force broke through their current state, they might always remain like this, for many, many years…
Looking at Little Red-whisker, also covered by their Dao Domain, it seemed to have benefited from their situation, having had a narrow escape from death.
Li Hao didn’t hesitate and quickly mobilized the geo-pulse, drawing the vast energy of Heaven and Earth, and then directed all of it into their bodies.
With the continuous influx of power, the Extreme Yang and Extreme Yin bloodline forces in the bodies of the Candle Flame Body and Ms. Yin gradually slowed in their swirling and eventually settled within their respective bodies.
Before long, their bodies began to change, as if growing and awakening.
Soon, Candle Flame God was the first to open his eyes, looking around blankly until he saw Li Hao, and then a hint of closeness appeared in his eyes:
“Where is this?”
Li Hao didn’t answer, but said instead, “Withdraw your Dao Domain.”
Though puzzled, the Candle Flame God looked into Li Hao’s eyes, felt a subconscious bond, and sensed no ill will from him, so he complied.
Li Hao beckoned, gently catching Little Red-whisker from within the domain’s coverage, and placed it in his palm.
A faint life force emanated from the Red-whisker, and Li Hao suddenly thought of the Tao Rhyme Blood Fruit in the universe belt, which he hadn’t eaten before as it held little meaning for him; he had planned to save it for Ren Qianqian.
This fruit was a blood condensation from the Crimson Blood Vine Demon King itself, sharing its life, making it most suitable to replenish its vitality.
Li Hao quickly took out the fruit and channeled an immense amount of energy which he controlled to be extremely gentle, just like previously on the Blood Lake, where the Red-whisker had gently supported him.
This force, combining with the Tao Rhyme Blood Fruit, transformed into plasma and pure energy, and slowly settled into Little Red-whisker.
Li Hao watched intently, and after a moment, the faint life force on Little Red-whisker gradually grew stronger.
Li Hao inwardly sighed with relief.
As Little Red-whisker’s life force grew stronger and it absorbed faster, it wasn’t long before its body elongated, raising a tendril and saying confusedly:
“Am I alive again?”
“It seems so.”
“Then that means we aren’t dead?”
“Right.”
“Wow woohoo!”
Little Red-whisker immediately twined around Li Hao’s arm, extending two tendrils like arms, waving them ecstatically:
“We didn’t die, we really didn’t die!”
“I was even planning to go to Mo River to find you.”
A smile appeared on Li Hao’s face, “It seems you were clever enough not to sacrifice everything.”
“Are you angry?”
Little Red-whisker suddenly shrank and asked quietly.
“Guess.”
The two little antennae of Little Red-whisker touched each other in front of its body, like two poking fingers:
“Being a demon, if I had really sacrificed everything for you, even in death I would have been laughed at by other demons.”
“Besides, the root tendrils I kept back, even if you ate them, wouldn’t have been much, and as a demon, it is more dignified to die by the hands of the Human Race!”
“You certainly care a lot about face.”
Li Hao couldn’t help but chuckle.
“So you’re not mad then?” Little Red-whisker immediately asked.
Li Hao laughed, “Of course not, you don’t owe me anything.”
“Does our promise still count then?” it quickly asked again.
“Certainly.”
Li Hao raised his hand, “Pinky promise.”
“Okay, pinky promise.”
Little Red-whisker quickly twined around Li Hao’s pinky finger, renewing their agreement.
“Wherever you want to see, I’ll accompany you there in the future.”
Li Hao said softly, then smiled slightly, “Once we leave here, I’ll help you find some Divine Medicine and Precious Materials to restore your body.”
“That’s what you said, do I owe interest too?”
“Yes, one bite per day.”
“Woah, but I’m not even healed yet.”
“Then it accrues.”
“How long can I owe?”
“As long as it takes for you to pay back.”
“…”
After a moment of silence, Li Hao said, “What should I call you in the future?”
“I don’t know; they all call me Crimson Blood Vine Demon King.”
“Do you have your own name?”
“Name… Isn’t Crimson Blood Vine Demon King a name?”
“That should be considered a title.”
“Then let me think…”
Li Hao could tell from its demeanor that it did not have a name, and demons did not seem to care about these things; only the Human Race cared.
After all, the name for fame, the name for reputation, and the name for identity were all significant.
“It seems I can’t think of one. Why don’t you just call me anything?”
Seeing the Moonlight Flowers on the hill, Li Hao said, “Then I’ll call you Xiyan.”
That was the name of the flower.
“Xiyan?”
“Yes.”
“So, I’ll be called Xiyan from now on? Xiyan, Xiyan… Do I have a name now?”
“Yes.”
“It sounds nice; from now on, I’ll be called Xiyan. If someone else calls me Crimson Blood Vine Demon King, I’ll ignore them.”
Li Hao smiled, watching as Xiyan transformed back into a red ring, coiling around his wrist, his eyes not only filled with amusement but also a serious expression.
He looked up at the Candle Flame God Couple, seeing that they had awakened, but just as Ji Yun Ge had said, their memories seemed to have vanished, and they were now quite friendly towards him.
“From now on, you will follow me,” Li Hao said.
The couple quickly nodded their heads.
Their bodies separated from their semi-fused state and transformed into the forms of a young boy and girl, kneeling before Li Hao.
Li Hao raised his hand, drawing in more Power of Heaven and Earth, harmonizing and controlling it to nourish their bodies.
Their bones and flesh slowly grew, their aura strengthened, and their appearances seemed to age by a year or two.
Li Hao planned to help them gradually restore their original strength on their way back.
Now, he did not care whether their powers were restored.
After placing them temporarily in the Heaven and Earth Space, Li Hao stepped forward and vanished from the spot in an instant.
In the Ji Family, on Saint Mountain.
It had been a month and a half since Li Hao’s sacrifice, but that grief still lingered in the hearts of the Ji Family, unable to dissipate, though it was scarcely mentioned now.
In the ancestral temple of the Ji Family, an elderly Heroic Spirit sat on the threshold, gazing into the distance, with tears flowing every day.
His daughter was gone, and his most outstanding grandchild was gone as well.
He never thought that after dying, he would shed so many tears, hurt so much.
Hundreds of kilometers away from the ancestral temple, several interconnected mountains were the dwelling place of the Yun clan lineage.
“The information sent out for investigation has been received.”
In a hall within the mountains, the expressions of the people from Ji Tian Chao were gray, and they seemed to have aged over the short span of a month.
“His father is from the Li Family of the Dayu Divine Dynasty; that child has been the most outstanding over the past thousand years in the Dayu Divine Dynasty, but he fought fiercely against his father and was forced out of the family.”
“No wonder his surname is Ji…”
“But Qingqing, she…”
After reading the investigative report, their expressions were ugly, hearts filled with grief.
It was hard to imagine how that young man managed to persist and make it all the way here alone.
“Is this what destiny is, to bring such a dark fortune to my Ji family?” whispered Ji Yun Yue, her face devoid of hope.
Ji Yunqing’s lips moved slightly, wanting to say something, but no words came out.
At that moment, Ji Tian Chao suddenly looked up towards the sky.
His somber eyes filled with suspicion.
When he focused intently, it wasn’t long before a black shadow flew rapidly from a distance, roaring as it approached.
As the figure’s face became visible, Ji Tian Chao was momentarily stunned, then his eyes gradually widened, showing an expression of incredulous astonishment.
“Le Ping, Le Ping?!”
Ji Tian Chao’s voice trembled, mixed with shock and excitement. Despite having faced countless deadly battles and conflicts, the old man could always maintain his composure, but now he doubted whether his aging eyes had deceived him.
The figure that whooshed towards them stopped above the Yun peaks, his body cloaked in a Divine Garment formed by the outward release of energy, his gaze calm as he looked down at the people on the peaks.
When he saw Ji Yun Yue’s figure, Li Hao was momentarily stunned, his expression softening considerably—it seemed that the latter had not encountered disaster and had been timely rescued by the Ji Family.
Additionally, he did not sense the presence of that couple, but he no longer cared.
“Is this Le Ping?”
Ji Yun Qing, along with Ji Yun Yue and others, including their children, all looked up in astonishment at this youthful figure.
Seeing his somewhat similar yet distinctive features and the aura of the Grand Tao of Peace Realm emanating from him, they were all somewhat stunned, puzzled and bewildered.
The previous Ji Le Ping had been monstrous, but they were clear that he was only in the Three Immortal Realms, yet now, this youth, with his Divine Power released and unable to mask his aura, was clearly in the Grand Tao of Peace Realm!
In just over a month, even if that child had broken through to the Four Stands Realm, it surely wasn’t possible to reach the Tao Realm in one step, was it?
“Senior Tian Chao, I wish to leave this place; please open the Holy Land Secret Realm for me.”
Li Hao descended, his demeanor composed as he spoke with a slight bow.
At this moment, his posture no longer carried the subservience of juniors or younger generations but was calm and equanimous, seeing all beings as equal.
“Are you really Le Ping?!”
Upon hearing the youth’s form of address, Ji Tian Chao’s face showed disbelief mixed with incredulity, but more than that, excitement.
Hearing him, Li Hao showed no change in expression and said,
“That is not my name now.”
Everyone was stunned and Ji Tian Chao’s face changed slightly. “Then are you going back to your original name Li Hao?”
Hearing this, Li Hao realized they had already known about his past, probably learned from that couple. He shook his head slightly and said,
“I have my own name, and if we meet again, you may address me as… Haotian.”
In the abyss, where he was reborn from the ashes, he had already decided.
He had severed his past and also bade farewell to the small infant body he had originally travelled in.
“Lending you a child’s body, returning you to a family with both parents…”
From now on, it would be his own life.
He had repaid the kindness to that couple, owing them nothing, nor the infant whose body he had occupied.
After all, without him, that child would have died in an assassination by the Divine General Mansion at the age of six.
Now, he was utterly clear.
Hearing Li Hao’s words, everyone was dumbfounded. Haotian? What about his surname?
“My child, we are already aware of what happened on Qiu Tian Dao and have executed all the criminals there.”
Ji Yun Qing hurriedly said, “Your parents… we had previously expelled them according to family rules. We thought you were dead, but now you are back. If you agree, we will have people find them and bring them back.”
Li Hao remained unemotional and said, “Senior Yun Qing, I have no parents. How the Ji family handles them, whether rewarding or punishing, right or wrong, has nothing to do with me. I came here just for you to open the Holy Land Secret Realm; otherwise, I may have to force it open, which might cause you injury.”
Hearing the youth’s words, everyone looked at Li Hao in astonishment.
But then they remembered the news from the Yu Divine Dynasty, the roars of righteous indignation from many elders in the Council Hall a month ago, and the scolding directed at that couple; they all fell silent.
Had it not been for Li Hao’s Dao Seed status at the time, that couple would probably not have been able to leave the Council Hall.
Even if Qingqing had been desperately protected by Old Shisan, sparing her life, her husband would have undoubtedly died.
After all, without the Dao Seed, even indirectly causing the death of the Ji Family’s Dao Seed, forgiveness was impossible.
“My child, although your parents were foolish, you still have us, you are still a part of the Ji Family! We will use all our efforts to nurture you.”
Ji Yun Yue said urgently.
“Yes.”
“You are a member of our Ji Family. We were negligent before. If you are angry, we will assist you in any way you like.”
Others also spoke, looking at Li Hao with concerned faces.
Li Hao did not respond, instead glancing at Ji Tian Chao, who was staring at him in bewilderment.
Earlier, when he emerged from the abyss, his clothes had been destroyed; now, his garments were constructed from Divine Power, which made it impossible to completely mask the All Phenomena Attributes.
Seeing that the old man had already investigated, Li Hao did not hide it, and simply turned off the All Phenomena Attributes at this moment, revealing his bodily aura completely.
“Ladies and gentlemen, take a good look; do I still carry any trace of the Ji Family’s aura on me?”
Li Hao said.
Everyone was stunned and quickly sensed and explored, and then their expressions changed dramatically, shocked as they looked at Li Hao.
“You, how could you?”
Ji Yun Qing was astonished, unable to contain his shock. “Are you really Le Ping? Your appearance, your cultivation…”
At this moment, Li Hao’s appearance had changed, and his cultivation level had also risen to their same level in the Grand Tao of Peace Realm, adding to the incredulity. They had not probed earlier, but now they couldn’t even sense the bloodline?
“I have reshaped my body. From now on, I am myself.”
Li Hao did not hide, but simply stated calmly, “Your Le Ping is dead, from now on, there is only Haotian!”
The youth’s words struck everyone’s hearts like a drum at dusk or a bell at dawn.
