Chapter 753: Chapter 147: Mortal Demon Domain, Twin Buddha Children_3
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Li Qingyi’s gaze was wary as she looked at the pair of twin Buddha Children, noticing how her own reflection shimmered in their pale pupils. A sudden trepidation overwhelmed her, compelling her not to look any longer.
“Master once said that some powerful individuals begin laying out their plans from the womb, not merely born with innate talents, but instead through the stratagems of Saints!”
Zhao Qingshu’s eyes were heavy with gravity as he spoke.
“I’m certain we’re no match, the question is whether Brother Lin Shuhai can overcome.”
They turned their gaze toward Lin Shuhai. Despite his scholarly elegance that made him appear like a scholar from the Mortal Realm, they all knew just how terrifying he could be in battle.
…
If they could secure the first place in this encounter, they would undoubtedly reap abundant Incense Fire, as this battle would be watched by dozens of Dynasties from the Canglan Realm, drawing countless reverent spectators and their Incense Fire offerings.
“This feels somewhat familiar…”
Li Hao observed the twin Buddha Children, his eyes shifting slightly as he recalled the Buddha Lord he had previously slain. The latter had also pursued the dual cultivation path of Buddha and Demon. For Buddhist cultivators, breaking through the worldly karmic obstacles is hard enough, but conquering the inner demons of the heart is even more challenging—a daunting milestone for all Buddhist cultivators.
To be born human is to harbor inner demons, and as Buddhist cultivators aim for transcendence, they must either subjugate or suppress those Heart Demons.
Li Hao averted his gaze, then turned to look at the Semi-Saints of the Buddhist order and the Thousand Worlds Buddha Honor.
He could faintly sense that what was before them now was not their true form but rather an avatar’s reflection.
And even though it was merely an avatar, it still enshrouded the space like a brilliant sun, instilling in onlookers an urge to worship.
Is this the most powerful Three Calamities Saint, second only to the Supreme Saint?
During his time here, Li Hao also learned about the Three Realms of Saints, each corresponding to one of Three Calamities. Surviving a calamity greatly enhances one’s power, but each calamity is also a tribulation!
Throughout history, more Saints have perished in these calamities than those who remain.
Once transcending the Three Calamities, one can leave a lasting legacy, able to live out a greatly extended lifespan to its natural end unless one seeks their own death.
At this moment, as the crowd gathered, suddenly two enormous fissures appeared in the sky, slowly revealing two figures within. Majestic in stature, they were colossal as the Heaven and Earth Law Manifestation, one the Sword Saint, and the other the Literary Saint.
Li Hao had seen the Sword Saint before and recognized at a glance that he was present in the form of an Avatar, akin to the Avatar of Void Saint that had pursued him in the past.
Likewise was the Literary Saint. This was Li Hao’s first time seeing him, appearing like a true sage, but radiating with auspiciousness. His presence seemed to conjure an illusion of a tranquil sea and bamboo forests in the void, as if a soothing breeze was passing through, creating a scene of utmost serenity.
Beside the Sword Saint, light twisted into sword shadows, forming an extraordinary Sword Domain.
The three Great Saints had gathered to witness the Pride of Heaven Battle in the Canglan Realm. Such a spectacle prompted many onlookers to burn with envy.
Regrettably, they no longer had the opportunity to ascend the stage—for to perform before Saints and earn their favor would be to shoot up to the heavens like a meteor!
With the avatars of the three Great Saints descended, the Thousand Worlds Buddha Honor, seated high above the Buddha Hall on a dazzling golden Lotus Platform, looked on with a gentle demeanor, exchanging a glance with the Literary Saint and Sword Saint, who both nodded in greeting.
Without much exchange of pleasantries—as old acquaintances—the Thousand Worlds Buddha Honor slowly declared the rules for the upcoming battle.
With forty contenders from the Three Great Sacred Lands and the Divine Dynasty’s unaffiliated individuals, the first round would not be a duel but rather retrieving Spiritual Pearls.
The Thousand Worlds Buddha Honor gestured, and a ray of Buddha light, like a golden fire, drifted down, creating a void passageway in the middle of the square.
On the other side of the passageway lay a Forbidden Land occupied by Demons.
“These are the Spiritual Pearls, scattered in the Demon Domain of Mortal Life. Based on the swiftness of returning with Spiritual Pearls, the first twenty to do so will advance, while the slower ones will be eliminated,” slowly declared the Thousand Worlds Buddha Honor.
This rule had already been investigated by some powers and had spread among the contestants like Li Hao.
Li Hao received this information secretly from Zhan Tan, and was not surprised by it; the disciples of other Sacred Lands were also unperturbed, already acquainted with the rules.
Only a few individuals like Su Yun from the unaffiliated had an astonished expression upon hearing this, showing that their backing powers were not that formidable to have learned the news in advance.
“To prevent anyone from hoarding the Spiritual Pearls, only one pearl will be released at a time, overseen by the Literary Saint and Sword Saint, and assigned randomly to a Demon’s possession within the Demon Domain of Mortal Life.”
“The first to defeat the Demon swiftly and retrieve the Spiritual Pearl will rise in rank.”
While the Thousand Worlds Buddha Honor spoke, the silver-white Spiritual Pearl in his hand transformed into a streak of light and flew into the crevice in the center of the square.
Li Hao understood this to be akin to a Demon-slaying competition.
When the Spiritual Pearl was cast, the first to act and venture forth was a disciple of the Buddhist faction, specifically the twin Buddha Child.
This was a random selection dictated by laws, and upon seeing this much-anticipated twin Buddha Child being the first to act, the crowd was both surprised and intrigued, wondering what kind of performance would unfold.
The twin Buddha Child showed a calm demeanor without much expression. Under the attention of everyone, he walked straight into the crack in the void.
The arena was very quiet, the sights within the Demon Domain of Mortal Life unseen.
The Boundary Stone’s reflection only showcased the subsequent showdowns, not this preliminary selection.
A breath later, light emanated from the void crack, and the twin Buddha Child stepped out holding the silver-white Spiritual Pearl.
At that moment, someone responsible for timing took note and immediately announced:
“Twin Buddha Child, one minute 34 seconds!”
Upon hearing this, everyone was surprised at the expedience of his return.
But what this result implied was not clear to them. They knew only that it signaled swiftness; given that the Guardian Demon of the Spiritual Pearl was at least in the Dao Law Realm, finding and defeating it to take back the Spiritual Pearl in such a brief span was doubtlessly impressive.
Before long, the next Heavenly Pride was chosen to act—it was Zhao Qingshu, whom Li Hao had met before.
Zhao Qingshu wore a solemn expression, following the twin Buddha Child and inevitably drawing comparisons, leaving him feeling somewhat unfortunate.
Nevertheless, as a Heavenly Pride, he was not overly daunted and quickly stepped forward.
As the Spiritual Pearl was released, Zhao Qingshu entered the Demon Domain of Mortal Life.
Time passed; one thirty-minute period, then another… After a while, Li Hao estimated about fifteen minutes had passed. Eventually, a figure stumbled out from the crack—it was Zhao Qingshu.
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Chapter 751: Chapter 147: Mortal Demon Domain, Twin Buddha Children
Chi Guang had not expected that just by trying to lay low, someone would actually take it seriously.
“It seems this time, I can’t keep a low profile anymore…”
A chilling glint emerged in Chi Guang’s eyes, thinking of the mentor’s words about the twin Buddha Child’s demon statues, his gaze brimming with the flames of battle.
On the other side, with the upcoming battle for supremacy imminent at the Flower Travel Association,
Ye Ancestor and Green Ancestor were among those who sent messages to Li Hao, informing him that they would soon arrive in the Canglan Realm to watch the battle and support him.
Upon hearing this, Qingfeng feigned a pitiful tone, “Doesn’t anyone care to come and see me?”
…
“You’ve got your mentor backing you, what do you need us for? Qingfeng is all alone.”
Ye Ancestor responded gruffly.
“That’s right, why should we watch how you show off?” Green Ancestor was more direct.
Feeling helpless, Qingfeng said, “Your partiality really breaks my heart.”
“You still have the mood to nag here; I think you just can’t wait to start fighting.” Green Ancestor spoke.
Qingfeng:ʘᴗʘ
Li Hao, upon learning that Ye Ancestor and others would come, sent a message to Zhan Tan, asking her to help with the reception.
Zhan Tan told Li Hao to focus on preparing for the battle and not to be distracted by these matters.
Having previously discussed the Artistic Path with Li Hao, she already felt she might have been holding him back, and now with the conflict approaching, she too had received news that many prides of heaven had made breakthroughs under pressure just before going into battle, enhancing their strength and potentially posing a threat to Li Hao.
As the battle drew near, Emperor Canghai also approached Li Hao, Chi Guang, Su Yun, and others to ask if they needed any assistance, such as weapons or divine pills.
Su Yun mentioned she was in need of a Condensation Dao Pill, while Chi Guang and Li Hao said they did not require anything.
“If we can seize the spots to represent Canglan Realm in this battle, we will be blessed by the incense fire from the Canglan Realm. How much you will receive depends on your performance in the battle,” Emperor Canghai said.
He harbored great expectations for both Li Hao and Chi Guang, having previously placed his bets on Chi Guang for securing a place in the top ten. However, Li Hao’s impressive display had now taken him by surprise. If both could represent the Canglan Realm in battle, the Divine Dynasty of Emperor Canghai would receive not one but two shares of Dragon Energy!
This was a sacred blessing from the Heavenly Dao of Canglan Realm; the two shares of Dragon Energy could stabilize the nation of Emperor Canghai’s Dynasty and potentially give rise to monstrous talents with Saint aspects among the Imperial Family. If he were to absorb it himself, he could also use it in cultivating the Heavenly Dao as an Emperor.
Different Saints established their own systems, such as the Sword Saint, Literary Saint, and Buddhist Daoist Saints. An Emperor who aspires to become a Saint should cultivate the Imperial Dao, which requires the accumulation of Dragon Energy.
As the grand battle approached, the Three Great Sacred Lands and numerous Dynasties bustled with activity. Even those prides of heaven who had failed to qualify eagerly anticipated this top-tier battle of the Heavenly Pride in the Canglan Realm.
Days flew by, and the struggle for the spots was set to take place within the Buddhist Holy Land.
Ever since the Supreme Genius Battle emerged, the locations chosen for the Canglan Realm’s qualifying battles alternated among the Three Great Sacred Lands.
This allowed the Sacred Lands to showcase their splendor and attract heavenly prides from various Divine Dynasties. This time, it was the Buddhist Holy Land’s turn.
Li Hao, Chi Guang, and the top contenders of the Divine Dynasties were escorted to the Buddhist Holy Land along with various members of the Imperial Family.
Far from the Buddhist Holy Land, one could see a towering and majestic Holy Mountain piercing the sky, with auspiciousness enveloping the heavens and Buddha’s light shining upon all, as if the sun had descended on the Sacred Peak Top, transforming into a Treasure Bead twinkling with thousands of Buddha’s rays.
Upon setting foot within the Buddhist realm, the devout chanting of Buddha’s scriptures quietly echoed.
Contrarily to the competitors like Li Hao, others who came to watch arrived a day early, using connections to secure a front row seat.
At the foot of the Holy Mountain in the Buddhist Holy Land, there were two giant beasts resembling golden lions, radiating the aura of the Half-Saint Realm. Although they appeared as golden lions, sharp observers would recognize them as ancient Demon Kings concealing their true form.
Half-Saint Buddhist Beasts guarded the gate at the foot of the mountain, with monks greeting visitors along the pathway, all exuding an aura of Buddhist treasures.
“Is this the Buddhist Holy Land?”
“Such solemnity and reverence; it makes me unconsciously hesitant to speak loudly.”
“Look at all those Buddhist Beasts. See, isn’t that a Half-Saint Realm Buddhist Beast being used as a mount?”
People whispered among themselves.
On the Sacred Peak Top, vast and broad, representatives of various powers had gathered, numbering in the millions. Princes and princesses were commonplace, alongside direct heirs from ancient Martial Arts Families, with immense backgrounds; otherwise, it would be impossible for them to attend the battle in person—resigned to gaze upon the contest from afar through a Boundary Stone.
Apart from those with influential backgrounds, numerous heavenly prides were also present, their collective presence nearly palpable.
Yet, front and center stood the Half-Saints of the Buddhist family, revealing their majestic Dharma Aspects, towering over a hundred feet tall, supremely conspicuous among the millions of spectators on the peak.
Their mounts, too, were massive and formidable, also encompassng the existence of the Half-Saint Realm.
Among them were Green Lions, Golden Haired Behemoths, White Pigs, Peacock Kings, and more, all emitting auspiciousness. However, before their subjugation, these Buddhist Beasts were undoubtedly fierce demons inducing fear and dread.
Suspended above the Buddha Venerate Treasure Hall, the Buddhist Holy Land’s Saint, the Thousand Worlds Buddha Honor, sat in an imposing manner, his Dharma Aspect as grand as the Heaven and Earth Law Manifestation, towering a thousand feet high, visible clearly even to those standing on the periphery of the Holy Mountain, emanating Buddhist golden light and auspiciousness.
Thousand Worlds Buddha Honor, the master of the Buddhist order, had overcome the Three Calamities and was nearly stepping into the Supreme Saint Realm.
It was said that in his embodiment of thousands of lifetimes, he had comprehended the fundamental nature of the world—birth, aging, sickness, death, fame, fortune, as well as distinctions of right and wrong wealth and honor, having achieved the Great Detachment Mindset.
Within the Canglan Realm, the position of the Buddhist Holy Land stood paramount, and this Thousand Worlds Buddha Honor was recognized as the mightiest in the Canglan Realm.
Now, various powers and countless prides of heaven beheld this preeminent figure of the Canglan Realm, all eyes revealing admiration and subservience.
Chapter 752: Chapter 147: Mortal Demon Domain, Twin Buddha Children_2
As various forces gathered, Li Hao and others also arrived. He, along with Chi Guang, walked among the top ten of the Divine Dynasty, catching everyone’s attention as hot candidates likely to secure a place in this battle.
Following the arrival of Li Hao and the others, it wasn’t long before a stir arose in the venue. It was several Saint Heirs and saintesses from the Sacred Land of Literary Ancestor making their appearance.
Li Hao and Chi Guang turned around and saw a group of figures with scholarly elegance approaching the steps. Among them were both men and women, all exuding an air of scholarly aura, as if they were literati and writers leisurely wandering through the mortal world, just here to engage in light banter.
Here the term “banter” refers to the poetic lament in classical literature.
Among them, Li Hao noticed familiar figures, Zhan Tan and Zhao Qingshu.
However, Zhan Tan was just an accompanying figure, merely escorting, walking slightly to the side and behind.
…
Walking in the center, however, were Zhao Qingshu and ten other young men and women, each exuding the aura of the Dao Law Realm.
Leading them was a young scholar who appeared as a scholar of the Mortal Realm, extraordinarily handsome with a laid-back gaze that penetrated worldly views, as if he had read through thousands of books and was no longer surprised or intrigued by any changes.
“Is that Lin Shuhai from the Sacred Land of Literary Ancestor? He seems quite ordinary.”
“That’s called being restrained. What do you know? I heard from a friend in the Sacred Land of Literary Ancestor that he won over several Heavenly Prides with just three words spoken effortlessly. Can you imagine?”
“That exaggerated?”
Many eyes concentrated on the young scholar, with serious expressions.
Chi Guang narrowed his eyes. Besides the twin Buddha Children, he too wanted to measure up against this prodigy from the Sacred Land of Literary Ancestor.
Seemingly feeling his challenging gaze, Lin Shuhai looked this way, his eyes meeting Chi Guang’s, yet his expression remained indifferent, with a slight smile emerging on his lips, nodding gently.
Chi Guang grinned widely, those guys from the Sacred Land of Literary Ancestor, indeed very polite.
Following behind Lin Shuhai, Zhan Tan also noticed Li Hao and revealed a charming smile on her serene face.
Her look caused others nearby to glance sideways, somewhat dazed. This Semi-Saint had a breathtakingly beautiful, untouchable grace, yet now, her sweet smile seemed to turn the world on its head, making hearts flutter.
“Ye Ancestor and the others have already arrived. Once you finish, I’ll introduce you.”
Zhan Tan transmitted her voice to Li Hao.
Li Hao nodded.
As the people from the Sacred Land of Literary Ancestor took their seats, it wasn’t long before another commotion arose near the steps outside.
A group of figures with impressive presence arrived, each with a distinct aura but all with a cutting edge feel, none other than Haoyue Saint Son and others from the Sword Ancestor Holy Land.
“Those from the Sword Ancestor Holy Land are here too, everyone’s arrived!”
“Who is that saintess, she looks so beautiful.”
“Be careful with your words, that’s an Elder from the Sword Ancestor Holy Land, Yao Ancestor, though she indeed was a saintess centuries ago.”
Li Hao turned his head and saw familiar faces like Yao Ancestor and Lin Qingyue, and couldn’t help but smile.
Yao Ancestor and Lin Qingyue, noticing Li Hao’s gaze, looked towards him. Yao Ancestor smiled warmly, nodding lightly to Li Hao.
Previously, Li Hao had displayed extraordinary qualities of the Sword Dao and recently secured first place in the Solo Battles of the Divine Dynasty, she knew this battle would be the moment Li Hao truly made his name.
Seeing Li Hao, Lin Qingyue pondered on the insights gained from her recent retreat, feeling a sense of tranquility.
Beside her, Bian Ruxue and Haoyue Saint Son among others also noticed Li Hao. Given that Li Hao and other solitary warriors of the Divine Dynasty were seated in positions as prominent as those of the Holy Lands, their presence was very noticeable.
Haoyue Saint Son, recalling the information gleaned when he exited retreat, his expression turned frosty. Li Hao was completely disregarding him and even others, thinking that defeating him would secure first place?
Despite his annoyance, an even sharper light shone in his eyes. His recent retreat brought significant gains, and he was determined to redeem his previous disgrace!
Bian Ruxue and other Saint Heirs and saintesses saw Li Hao but had no particular reaction. Li Hao’s earlier display of the Sword Dao had been a long time ago, and they knew him to be a sword prodigy. If they encountered him, they could only avoid his sharp edge.
As people from the Sword Ancestor Holy Land arrived, the atmosphere at the venue heated up.
“Look, that’s a Buddha Child from the Buddhist sect!”
“Is that the twin Buddha Child? I heard he has mastered Six Great Extremes, which is simply terrifying!”
“It’s said that he was born with a heart demon. Throughout his cultivation, he has been subduing this heart demon. Others contend with people externally, but he contends with himself!”
In front of the Buddha Hall, ten figures walked out, among them not only Buddha Children but also female Bodhisattvas, all bearing a serene and peaceful demeanor, seemingly unaffected by the worldly chaos.
Leading them was a young Buddha Child in black and white Kasaya, one of his eyes white, giving him a rather eerie appearance.
As they stepped out, the previously noisy Sacred Peak Top suddenly quieted down significantly. Many eyes turned especially solemn. This was the twin Buddha Child, the most renowned among the Three Great Sacred Lands. Besides mastering the Six Extremes, he also possessed numerous Divine Skills and techniques. It is said he is the reincarnated body of a Buddhist Saint who sought further advancement.
Seeing him, Chi Guang, standing next to Li Hao, grew solemn.
He could faintly see a terrifying demon statue behind the twin Buddha Child. While it was extremely subtle, merely standing there made him feel as if his gaze couldn’t lock on properly.
Besides him, Lin Shuhai from the Sacred Land of Literary Ancestor also looked over calmly, his eyes flickered slightly, but his expression remained mostly unchanged.
“So, that’s the twin Buddha Child? Terrifying. I heard he devoured his twin in the womb, possessing innate dual Buddha and demon bodies, extremely terrifying.”
Chapter 753: Chapter 147: Mortal Demon Domain, Twin Buddha Children_3
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Li Qingyi’s gaze was wary as she looked at the pair of twin Buddha Children, noticing how her own reflection shimmered in their pale pupils. A sudden trepidation overwhelmed her, compelling her not to look any longer.
“Master once said that some powerful individuals begin laying out their plans from the womb, not merely born with innate talents, but instead through the stratagems of Saints!”
Zhao Qingshu’s eyes were heavy with gravity as he spoke.
“I’m certain we’re no match, the question is whether Brother Lin Shuhai can overcome.”
They turned their gaze toward Lin Shuhai. Despite his scholarly elegance that made him appear like a scholar from the Mortal Realm, they all knew just how terrifying he could be in battle.
…
If they could secure the first place in this encounter, they would undoubtedly reap abundant Incense Fire, as this battle would be watched by dozens of Dynasties from the Canglan Realm, drawing countless reverent spectators and their Incense Fire offerings.
“This feels somewhat familiar…”
Li Hao observed the twin Buddha Children, his eyes shifting slightly as he recalled the Buddha Lord he had previously slain. The latter had also pursued the dual cultivation path of Buddha and Demon. For Buddhist cultivators, breaking through the worldly karmic obstacles is hard enough, but conquering the inner demons of the heart is even more challenging—a daunting milestone for all Buddhist cultivators.
To be born human is to harbor inner demons, and as Buddhist cultivators aim for transcendence, they must either subjugate or suppress those Heart Demons.
Li Hao averted his gaze, then turned to look at the Semi-Saints of the Buddhist order and the Thousand Worlds Buddha Honor.
He could faintly sense that what was before them now was not their true form but rather an avatar’s reflection.
And even though it was merely an avatar, it still enshrouded the space like a brilliant sun, instilling in onlookers an urge to worship.
Is this the most powerful Three Calamities Saint, second only to the Supreme Saint?
During his time here, Li Hao also learned about the Three Realms of Saints, each corresponding to one of Three Calamities. Surviving a calamity greatly enhances one’s power, but each calamity is also a tribulation!
Throughout history, more Saints have perished in these calamities than those who remain.
Once transcending the Three Calamities, one can leave a lasting legacy, able to live out a greatly extended lifespan to its natural end unless one seeks their own death.
At this moment, as the crowd gathered, suddenly two enormous fissures appeared in the sky, slowly revealing two figures within. Majestic in stature, they were colossal as the Heaven and Earth Law Manifestation, one the Sword Saint, and the other the Literary Saint.
Li Hao had seen the Sword Saint before and recognized at a glance that he was present in the form of an Avatar, akin to the Avatar of Void Saint that had pursued him in the past.
Likewise was the Literary Saint. This was Li Hao’s first time seeing him, appearing like a true sage, but radiating with auspiciousness. His presence seemed to conjure an illusion of a tranquil sea and bamboo forests in the void, as if a soothing breeze was passing through, creating a scene of utmost serenity.
Beside the Sword Saint, light twisted into sword shadows, forming an extraordinary Sword Domain.
The three Great Saints had gathered to witness the Pride of Heaven Battle in the Canglan Realm. Such a spectacle prompted many onlookers to burn with envy.
Regrettably, they no longer had the opportunity to ascend the stage—for to perform before Saints and earn their favor would be to shoot up to the heavens like a meteor!
With the avatars of the three Great Saints descended, the Thousand Worlds Buddha Honor, seated high above the Buddha Hall on a dazzling golden Lotus Platform, looked on with a gentle demeanor, exchanging a glance with the Literary Saint and Sword Saint, who both nodded in greeting.
Without much exchange of pleasantries—as old acquaintances—the Thousand Worlds Buddha Honor slowly declared the rules for the upcoming battle.
With forty contenders from the Three Great Sacred Lands and the Divine Dynasty’s unaffiliated individuals, the first round would not be a duel but rather retrieving Spiritual Pearls.
The Thousand Worlds Buddha Honor gestured, and a ray of Buddha light, like a golden fire, drifted down, creating a void passageway in the middle of the square.
On the other side of the passageway lay a Forbidden Land occupied by Demons.
“These are the Spiritual Pearls, scattered in the Demon Domain of Mortal Life. Based on the swiftness of returning with Spiritual Pearls, the first twenty to do so will advance, while the slower ones will be eliminated,” slowly declared the Thousand Worlds Buddha Honor.
This rule had already been investigated by some powers and had spread among the contestants like Li Hao.
Li Hao received this information secretly from Zhan Tan, and was not surprised by it; the disciples of other Sacred Lands were also unperturbed, already acquainted with the rules.
Only a few individuals like Su Yun from the unaffiliated had an astonished expression upon hearing this, showing that their backing powers were not that formidable to have learned the news in advance.
“To prevent anyone from hoarding the Spiritual Pearls, only one pearl will be released at a time, overseen by the Literary Saint and Sword Saint, and assigned randomly to a Demon’s possession within the Demon Domain of Mortal Life.”
“The first to defeat the Demon swiftly and retrieve the Spiritual Pearl will rise in rank.”
While the Thousand Worlds Buddha Honor spoke, the silver-white Spiritual Pearl in his hand transformed into a streak of light and flew into the crevice in the center of the square.
Li Hao understood this to be akin to a Demon-slaying competition.
When the Spiritual Pearl was cast, the first to act and venture forth was a disciple of the Buddhist faction, specifically the twin Buddha Child.
This was a random selection dictated by laws, and upon seeing this much-anticipated twin Buddha Child being the first to act, the crowd was both surprised and intrigued, wondering what kind of performance would unfold.
The twin Buddha Child showed a calm demeanor without much expression. Under the attention of everyone, he walked straight into the crack in the void.
The arena was very quiet, the sights within the Demon Domain of Mortal Life unseen.
The Boundary Stone’s reflection only showcased the subsequent showdowns, not this preliminary selection.
A breath later, light emanated from the void crack, and the twin Buddha Child stepped out holding the silver-white Spiritual Pearl.
At that moment, someone responsible for timing took note and immediately announced:
“Twin Buddha Child, one minute 34 seconds!”
Upon hearing this, everyone was surprised at the expedience of his return.
But what this result implied was not clear to them. They knew only that it signaled swiftness; given that the Guardian Demon of the Spiritual Pearl was at least in the Dao Law Realm, finding and defeating it to take back the Spiritual Pearl in such a brief span was doubtlessly impressive.
Before long, the next Heavenly Pride was chosen to act—it was Zhao Qingshu, whom Li Hao had met before.
Zhao Qingshu wore a solemn expression, following the twin Buddha Child and inevitably drawing comparisons, leaving him feeling somewhat unfortunate.
Nevertheless, as a Heavenly Pride, he was not overly daunted and quickly stepped forward.
As the Spiritual Pearl was released, Zhao Qingshu entered the Demon Domain of Mortal Life.
Time passed; one thirty-minute period, then another… After a while, Li Hao estimated about fifteen minutes had passed. Eventually, a figure stumbled out from the crack—it was Zhao Qingshu.
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Chapter 754: Chapter 148 Absorbing Extreme Dao, Semi-Saint Demons
At this moment, Zhao Qingshu looked somewhat disheveled, a hint of shock hidden in his eyes, but as soon as he stepped out of the spatial rift, he swiftly reined it in. He looked up at the Cloud Bell in the sky, where the magnificent corona marked the time.
According to his own silent count, despite some small discrepancies during the confrontation, it was roughly correct.
A quarter of an hour… Zhao Qingshu’s heart sank, and a bitter smile appeared on his lips. Only after entering did he realize how truly valuable, how utterly terrifying, a minute and a half from the Twin Buddha Child was.
Inside the Literary Saint Holy Land, the likes of Li Qingyi breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing Zhao Qingshu finally emerge, having feared some accident had befallen him. But with the Literary Saint present, even the Buddha Venerate of the Buddhist World would not dare to interfere, so there must be another reason.
“Zhao Qingshu, 16 minutes and 29 seconds!”
The Buddhist referee announced loudly.
…
The gap in time took everyone by surprise. Watching the performance of the Twin Buddha Child, who took merely a minute and a half, and considering Zhao Qingshu was also a Saint Heir famous within the Literary Saint Holy Land who once ventured alone into the Demon Domain, slaughtering over a dozen Demons of the Dao Law Realm and burning their corpses atop Shu Hai, and had even made a name for himself in Canglan.
Now, as time flew by and their cultivation grew ever stronger, who would have thought it would take him 16 minutes?
The disparity was a staggering sixteenfold!
If such a gap were to occur in a clash, it would lead to an unimaginable combat scenario.
Seeing Zhao Qingshu’s result, the Holy Lands, including the Sword Ancestor Holy Land and the scattered cultivators of the Divine Dynasty, all appeared gravely solemn.
They did not believe Zhao Qingshu to be too weak; after all, he was a Saint Heir and one of the top ten chosen through the competition within the Literary Saint Holy Land. Such a vast discrepancy could only mean that the Twin Buddha Child was too terrifying!
“Interesting, interesting…”
Chi Guang’s eyes shimmered, the fighting spirit within blazing like ferocious flames.
At this time, the third contestant went up and stepped into the spatial rift under the watchful eyes of all.
Time passed, this time even more slowly, looming around twenty minutes, before the spatial rift began to fluctuate, and he returned from within.
This individual was a Saint Heir from the Sword Ancestor Holy Land, not lacking in strength, but his face was currently filled with shock and displeasure.
Witnessing his performance, those who had previously doubted Zhao Qingshu’s time now recognized the terror of the Twin Buddha Child.
In an instant, many gazes converged on that young Buddha Child, impatient to see for themselves the capabilities of the Demon guarding the Spiritual Pearl within that spatial rift. No matter how strong, it could only be at the Dao Law Realm, right? These Saint Heirs were the elites of the Dao Law Realm, and finding a Dao Law Realm creature that could surpass them would be equivalent to encountering a top-tier Saint Demon!
Surely, they couldn’t have appointed a Semi-Saint as the guardian?
This thought left many with a chill of horror on their faces.
They quickly turned their gazes toward the supreme leader of the Buddhist sect, only to see various marvels surrounding him, bathed in dazzling Buddha light, making it impossible to fathom his thoughts.
At this point, the fourth, the fifth… Successively, more Heavenly Prides took their turn, venturing into the fleeting world of the Demon Domain within the spatial rift.
The times were mostly between 17 to 20 minutes.
Zhao Qingshu, who had gone before, was now looking slightly better. It was a relief that, compared to the monstrous Twin Buddha Child, he was far behind, but compared to others, he was quite alright.
Soon the scene buzzed again.
Emerging was Lin Shuhai from the Literary Saint Holy Land.
As the leading Heavenly Pride of this generation from the Literary Saint Holy Land, he held considerable fame and was closely watched by various forces. He was also a strong contender for the top three spots in the Pride of Heaven Battle.
“It’s Shuhai’s turn!”
“Does Brother Shuhai have a chance to surpass the Twin Buddha Child?”
“It’s hard to say; that Twin Buddha Child is just too monstrous.”
Eyes filled with anticipation and worry, Li Qingyi and the others felt even more nervous than if they were the ones going up.
Watching Lin Shuhai step forward, Chi Guang turned his head to look, his eyes narrowing.
Haoyue Saint Son’s eyes revealed a trace of cold intent. The others were too weak to serve as reference, but Lin Shuhai’s performance might provide some insight into just how formidable the Twin Buddha Child was.
Lin Shuhai’s expression remained calm, indifferent to the countless gazes upon him. Exuding a scholarly aura, he walked toward the spatial rift.
Everyone held their breath, waiting silently, unconsciously keeping time.
When the time passed 1 minute and 36 seconds, many sighed inwardly; indeed, the Twin Buddha Child stood out alone, too aberrant.
At 1 minute and 58 seconds, suddenly, the spatial rift quaked, and Lin Shuhai stepped out, appearing just as calm and composed as when he had entered, holding the silver-white Spiritual Pearl in his hand.
An uproar surged through the crowd, and everyone looked at him in shock. Although there was a gap between him and the Twin Buddha Child, it seemed not too wide!
A mere gap of less than 30 seconds could mean just taking a few extra detours.
Chi Guang’s eyes narrowed, and he rubbed his hands together, even more eager and impatient.
Lin Shuhai stepped out of the spatial rift, glanced at the Twin Buddha Child, but saw the other’s gaze vacant, looking at the distant clouds. Despite standing at the highest spot, capturing the attention of the entire field, he seemed to be lost in thought, oblivious, his mind elsewhere.
A slight smile curled at Lin Shuhai’s lips as he handed over the Spiritual Pearl to Buddha Venerate, before returning to his seat in the Literary Saint Holy Land.
“This Lin Shuhai, somewhat terrifying…”
Behind the Twin Buddha Child, other Buddhist disciples and Bodhisattvas looked toward him, their eyes filled with a particularly heavy weight.
Others might not know the terror of the Twin Buddha Child, but they did, yet Lin Shuhai managed to come close in time, suggesting that beneath that scholarly veneer, there likely lurked a monster as well!
As the excitement brought by Lin Shuhai subsided, others successively took the platform, with times returning to over ten minutes. Among them was Su Yun, whom Li Hao knew, with a time of 16 minutes and 21 seconds.
Chapter 754: Chapter 148 Absorbing Extreme Dao, Semi-Saint Demons
At this moment, Zhao Qingshu looked somewhat disheveled, a hint of shock hidden in his eyes, but as soon as he stepped out of the spatial rift, he swiftly reined it in. He looked up at the Cloud Bell in the sky, where the magnificent corona marked the time.
According to his own silent count, despite some small discrepancies during the confrontation, it was roughly correct.
A quarter of an hour… Zhao Qingshu’s heart sank, and a bitter smile appeared on his lips. Only after entering did he realize how truly valuable, how utterly terrifying, a minute and a half from the Twin Buddha Child was.
Inside the Literary Saint Holy Land, the likes of Li Qingyi breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing Zhao Qingshu finally emerge, having feared some accident had befallen him. But with the Literary Saint present, even the Buddha Venerate of the Buddhist World would not dare to interfere, so there must be another reason.
“Zhao Qingshu, 16 minutes and 29 seconds!”
The Buddhist referee announced loudly.
…
The gap in time took everyone by surprise. Watching the performance of the Twin Buddha Child, who took merely a minute and a half, and considering Zhao Qingshu was also a Saint Heir famous within the Literary Saint Holy Land who once ventured alone into the Demon Domain, slaughtering over a dozen Demons of the Dao Law Realm and burning their corpses atop Shu Hai, and had even made a name for himself in Canglan.
Now, as time flew by and their cultivation grew ever stronger, who would have thought it would take him 16 minutes?
The disparity was a staggering sixteenfold!
If such a gap were to occur in a clash, it would lead to an unimaginable combat scenario.
Seeing Zhao Qingshu’s result, the Holy Lands, including the Sword Ancestor Holy Land and the scattered cultivators of the Divine Dynasty, all appeared gravely solemn.
They did not believe Zhao Qingshu to be too weak; after all, he was a Saint Heir and one of the top ten chosen through the competition within the Literary Saint Holy Land. Such a vast discrepancy could only mean that the Twin Buddha Child was too terrifying!
“Interesting, interesting…”
Chi Guang’s eyes shimmered, the fighting spirit within blazing like ferocious flames.
At this time, the third contestant went up and stepped into the spatial rift under the watchful eyes of all.
Time passed, this time even more slowly, looming around twenty minutes, before the spatial rift began to fluctuate, and he returned from within.
This individual was a Saint Heir from the Sword Ancestor Holy Land, not lacking in strength, but his face was currently filled with shock and displeasure.
Witnessing his performance, those who had previously doubted Zhao Qingshu’s time now recognized the terror of the Twin Buddha Child.
In an instant, many gazes converged on that young Buddha Child, impatient to see for themselves the capabilities of the Demon guarding the Spiritual Pearl within that spatial rift. No matter how strong, it could only be at the Dao Law Realm, right? These Saint Heirs were the elites of the Dao Law Realm, and finding a Dao Law Realm creature that could surpass them would be equivalent to encountering a top-tier Saint Demon!
Surely, they couldn’t have appointed a Semi-Saint as the guardian?
This thought left many with a chill of horror on their faces.
They quickly turned their gazes toward the supreme leader of the Buddhist sect, only to see various marvels surrounding him, bathed in dazzling Buddha light, making it impossible to fathom his thoughts.
At this point, the fourth, the fifth… Successively, more Heavenly Prides took their turn, venturing into the fleeting world of the Demon Domain within the spatial rift.
The times were mostly between 17 to 20 minutes.
Zhao Qingshu, who had gone before, was now looking slightly better. It was a relief that, compared to the monstrous Twin Buddha Child, he was far behind, but compared to others, he was quite alright.
Soon the scene buzzed again.
Emerging was Lin Shuhai from the Literary Saint Holy Land.
As the leading Heavenly Pride of this generation from the Literary Saint Holy Land, he held considerable fame and was closely watched by various forces. He was also a strong contender for the top three spots in the Pride of Heaven Battle.
“It’s Shuhai’s turn!”
“Does Brother Shuhai have a chance to surpass the Twin Buddha Child?”
“It’s hard to say; that Twin Buddha Child is just too monstrous.”
Eyes filled with anticipation and worry, Li Qingyi and the others felt even more nervous than if they were the ones going up.
Watching Lin Shuhai step forward, Chi Guang turned his head to look, his eyes narrowing.
Haoyue Saint Son’s eyes revealed a trace of cold intent. The others were too weak to serve as reference, but Lin Shuhai’s performance might provide some insight into just how formidable the Twin Buddha Child was.
Lin Shuhai’s expression remained calm, indifferent to the countless gazes upon him. Exuding a scholarly aura, he walked toward the spatial rift.
Everyone held their breath, waiting silently, unconsciously keeping time.
When the time passed 1 minute and 36 seconds, many sighed inwardly; indeed, the Twin Buddha Child stood out alone, too aberrant.
At 1 minute and 58 seconds, suddenly, the spatial rift quaked, and Lin Shuhai stepped out, appearing just as calm and composed as when he had entered, holding the silver-white Spiritual Pearl in his hand.
An uproar surged through the crowd, and everyone looked at him in shock. Although there was a gap between him and the Twin Buddha Child, it seemed not too wide!
A mere gap of less than 30 seconds could mean just taking a few extra detours.
Chi Guang’s eyes narrowed, and he rubbed his hands together, even more eager and impatient.
Lin Shuhai stepped out of the spatial rift, glanced at the Twin Buddha Child, but saw the other’s gaze vacant, looking at the distant clouds. Despite standing at the highest spot, capturing the attention of the entire field, he seemed to be lost in thought, oblivious, his mind elsewhere.
A slight smile curled at Lin Shuhai’s lips as he handed over the Spiritual Pearl to Buddha Venerate, before returning to his seat in the Literary Saint Holy Land.
“This Lin Shuhai, somewhat terrifying…”
Behind the Twin Buddha Child, other Buddhist disciples and Bodhisattvas looked toward him, their eyes filled with a particularly heavy weight.
Others might not know the terror of the Twin Buddha Child, but they did, yet Lin Shuhai managed to come close in time, suggesting that beneath that scholarly veneer, there likely lurked a monster as well!
As the excitement brought by Lin Shuhai subsided, others successively took the platform, with times returning to over ten minutes. Among them was Su Yun, whom Li Hao knew, with a time of 16 minutes and 21 seconds.
Chapter 755: Chapter 148 Absorbing Extreme Dao, Semi-Saint Demons_2
Qiu Wuheng’s time was 14 minutes and 12 seconds.
Bian Ruxue’s was 15 minutes and 29 seconds.
Both were around a quarter of an hour, not much of a difference.
As the 20th person made their move, finishing with a time of 16 minutes, the one ranked at 20 minutes looked pale, knowing they were on the verge of elimination.
Not long after, Li Hao saw Lin Qingyue walking out.
Lin Qingyue had a grave expression. Advancing to the top 20 was a minor issue, but the scores of the Twin Buddha Children, Lin Shuhai, weighed like mountains on everyone’s hearts; these were the top contenders in their realm.
…
She looked towards Li Hao, and upon seeing Li Hao’s encouraging smile, the severity in her face slowly faded, and she too revealed a serene smile.
She nodded at Li Hao, then clad in azure, she headed towards the spatial rift.
Soon after, the rift fluctuated, and Lin Qingyue’s figure emerged, instantly causing a stir.
Lin Qingyue’s time was a startling 4 minutes and 15 seconds!
In the Sword Ancestor Holy Land, Lin Qingyue’s final score was third. Nobody had expected such a performance from her at this moment.
“Another monster!”
The crowd looked on with heavy gazes, promptly memorizing this woman.
“It seems she has grasped something about the Sword Dao.”
Li Hao smiled slightly; before he left, he had informed her that the pinnacle of the gentle Sword Dao was nothingness, it seems she had indeed comprehended it.
In the Sword Ancestor Holy Land, ranked second was the Spiritual Fantasy Holy Son, his expression slightly changed. He was set to compete right after Lin Qingyue. Previously when the Haoyue Saint Son disrupted Lin Qingyue’s Dao embryo, severely injuring her, he was deprived of the chance to face her. Now it seemed he would most likely lose.
Soon, the result for the Spiritual Fantasy Holy Son was out: 8 minutes and 9 seconds!
This result was nearly twice as slow as Lin Qingyue’s.
When stepping out of the rift, the Spiritual Fantasy Holy Son glanced at the woman below the stage, his face revealing a bitter smile.
However, the Haoyue Saint Son was frowning. Previously, using Lin Qingyue as a medium for the Sword Dao, he shattered his own emotions, perceiving the ruthlessness of the sun and the moon and the unity of the universe. He hadn’t expected that after disrupting her Dao embryo, Lin Qingyue could still perform so amazingly. Such dazzling results only showed he had underestimated her initially.
Watching her stunning face, his eyes flickered, a previously severed thought faintly emerged in his heart, but was quickly exterminated again.
Now, as the results of one Heavenly Pride after another came in, those ranked outside the top 20 were automatically eliminated, with the cutoff time gradually approaching 18 minutes.
Zhao Qingshu and others started to feel nervous.
Not long after, Haoyue Saint Son stepped forward, drawing many gazes instantaneously.
Haoyue Saint Son looked towards Li Hao, seated amidst the Divine Dynasty, his gaze ice-cold.
Chi Guang, sitting next to Li Hao, noticed the look and slightly raised an eyebrow, responding with a cold laugh, but soon realized that Haoyue Saint Son’s gaze might not be directed at him, but rather at Qingfeng beside him.
His cold laugh stiffened, quickly turning into a hint of murderous intent, his gaze becoming even sharper.
Soon, Haoyue Saint Son’s result also came out. His time was precisely 2 minutes and 30 seconds!
Seeing this result, many were in awe, yet they couldn’t help but sigh. This result could rank third, but compared to the Twin Buddha Children, it was still about a minute off.
Haoyue Saint Son walked out of the rift, his expression gloomy. Already having calculated his own time, he stepped out without checking the result and went straight back to his seat with a somber face.
“Hmph!”
Chi Guang snorted coldly, looking at his own ranking; his turn was coming soon.
Several more Heavenly Prides took their turns, all finishing after tens of minutes, and finally, it was Chi Guang’s turn.
He stood up, immediately attracting countless gazes.
Previously in the Divine Dynasty Solo Battle, although Chi Guang lost to Li Hao, his mastery of top-tier Dao Entrance Level Divine Skills still made many see him as a formidable enemy.
Seeing the looks from these people, Chi Guang let out a slight cold laugh. What they had seen earlier was just a part of his capabilities, the warm-up was over, now it was time for the real deal!
He stepped onto the battle platform and directly entered the spatial rift.
It wasn’t long before he stepped out, his body still surrounded by lingering flames, holding a silver Spiritual Pearl in his hand.
Time, 1 minute and 47 seconds!
Only 11 seconds behind the Twin Buddha Children!
Seeing this result, Chi Guang’s eyes turned icy, glancing at the Twin Buddha Children, who were lost in thought and not paying attention, the cold light in his eyes suddenly intensified.
But then, he looked down at Qingfeng from the podium, his expression cold, with a touch of condescension.
Li Hao, seeing his gaze, felt a bit puzzled; it seemed like this guy wanted to prove something to him?
But at this moment, Chi Guang’s score was announced, causing the venue to suddenly quiet down a few notches.
Many were dumbstruck, staring at him in shock. As a representative of the Divine Dynasty, such a score was only second to the Twin Buddha Children!
Lin Shuhai and Haoyue Saint Son, along with other leaders from Holy Lands, all ranked behind him. Without the Twin Buddha Children, there was no doubt that Chi Guang would have been this competition’s biggest dark horse!
“Are you kidding me, this speed, even stronger than Lin Shuhai!”
“Both those Holy Land leaders have been suppressed by him!”
“In the previous Divine Dynasty Solo Battle, didn’t he only rank second? How strong must the first place be?”
“What do you know, I heard from his sect mates in the Grotto Heaven where he trained, that his most potent ability is his Spear Dao, but who has seen him use a spear in previous battles?”
“Pretending to be weak? No wonder, I was saying, being second in the Divine Dynasty, how could he be more terrifying than a Holy Land leader? Though he threw the previous match, even taking first in the Divine Dynasty, this result is still frightening!”
“Suppressing the Holy Land leaders, this Chi Guang will be the biggest variable in the top three!”
“Is it possible that he still hid his strength, and might even have a chance to win the championship?”
Chapter 755: Chapter 148 Absorbing Extreme Dao, Semi-Saint Demons_2
Qiu Wuheng’s time was 14 minutes and 12 seconds.
Bian Ruxue’s was 15 minutes and 29 seconds.
Both were around a quarter of an hour, not much of a difference.
As the 20th person made their move, finishing with a time of 16 minutes, the one ranked at 20 minutes looked pale, knowing they were on the verge of elimination.
Not long after, Li Hao saw Lin Qingyue walking out.
Lin Qingyue had a grave expression. Advancing to the top 20 was a minor issue, but the scores of the Twin Buddha Children, Lin Shuhai, weighed like mountains on everyone’s hearts; these were the top contenders in their realm.
…
She looked towards Li Hao, and upon seeing Li Hao’s encouraging smile, the severity in her face slowly faded, and she too revealed a serene smile.
She nodded at Li Hao, then clad in azure, she headed towards the spatial rift.
Soon after, the rift fluctuated, and Lin Qingyue’s figure emerged, instantly causing a stir.
Lin Qingyue’s time was a startling 4 minutes and 15 seconds!
In the Sword Ancestor Holy Land, Lin Qingyue’s final score was third. Nobody had expected such a performance from her at this moment.
“Another monster!”
The crowd looked on with heavy gazes, promptly memorizing this woman.
“It seems she has grasped something about the Sword Dao.”
Li Hao smiled slightly; before he left, he had informed her that the pinnacle of the gentle Sword Dao was nothingness, it seems she had indeed comprehended it.
In the Sword Ancestor Holy Land, ranked second was the Spiritual Fantasy Holy Son, his expression slightly changed. He was set to compete right after Lin Qingyue. Previously when the Haoyue Saint Son disrupted Lin Qingyue’s Dao embryo, severely injuring her, he was deprived of the chance to face her. Now it seemed he would most likely lose.
Soon, the result for the Spiritual Fantasy Holy Son was out: 8 minutes and 9 seconds!
This result was nearly twice as slow as Lin Qingyue’s.
When stepping out of the rift, the Spiritual Fantasy Holy Son glanced at the woman below the stage, his face revealing a bitter smile.
However, the Haoyue Saint Son was frowning. Previously, using Lin Qingyue as a medium for the Sword Dao, he shattered his own emotions, perceiving the ruthlessness of the sun and the moon and the unity of the universe. He hadn’t expected that after disrupting her Dao embryo, Lin Qingyue could still perform so amazingly. Such dazzling results only showed he had underestimated her initially.
Watching her stunning face, his eyes flickered, a previously severed thought faintly emerged in his heart, but was quickly exterminated again.
Now, as the results of one Heavenly Pride after another came in, those ranked outside the top 20 were automatically eliminated, with the cutoff time gradually approaching 18 minutes.
Zhao Qingshu and others started to feel nervous.
Not long after, Haoyue Saint Son stepped forward, drawing many gazes instantaneously.
Haoyue Saint Son looked towards Li Hao, seated amidst the Divine Dynasty, his gaze ice-cold.
Chi Guang, sitting next to Li Hao, noticed the look and slightly raised an eyebrow, responding with a cold laugh, but soon realized that Haoyue Saint Son’s gaze might not be directed at him, but rather at Qingfeng beside him.
His cold laugh stiffened, quickly turning into a hint of murderous intent, his gaze becoming even sharper.
Soon, Haoyue Saint Son’s result also came out. His time was precisely 2 minutes and 30 seconds!
Seeing this result, many were in awe, yet they couldn’t help but sigh. This result could rank third, but compared to the Twin Buddha Children, it was still about a minute off.
Haoyue Saint Son walked out of the rift, his expression gloomy. Already having calculated his own time, he stepped out without checking the result and went straight back to his seat with a somber face.
“Hmph!”
Chi Guang snorted coldly, looking at his own ranking; his turn was coming soon.
Several more Heavenly Prides took their turns, all finishing after tens of minutes, and finally, it was Chi Guang’s turn.
He stood up, immediately attracting countless gazes.
Previously in the Divine Dynasty Solo Battle, although Chi Guang lost to Li Hao, his mastery of top-tier Dao Entrance Level Divine Skills still made many see him as a formidable enemy.
Seeing the looks from these people, Chi Guang let out a slight cold laugh. What they had seen earlier was just a part of his capabilities, the warm-up was over, now it was time for the real deal!
He stepped onto the battle platform and directly entered the spatial rift.
It wasn’t long before he stepped out, his body still surrounded by lingering flames, holding a silver Spiritual Pearl in his hand.
Time, 1 minute and 47 seconds!
Only 11 seconds behind the Twin Buddha Children!
Seeing this result, Chi Guang’s eyes turned icy, glancing at the Twin Buddha Children, who were lost in thought and not paying attention, the cold light in his eyes suddenly intensified.
But then, he looked down at Qingfeng from the podium, his expression cold, with a touch of condescension.
Li Hao, seeing his gaze, felt a bit puzzled; it seemed like this guy wanted to prove something to him?
But at this moment, Chi Guang’s score was announced, causing the venue to suddenly quiet down a few notches.
Many were dumbstruck, staring at him in shock. As a representative of the Divine Dynasty, such a score was only second to the Twin Buddha Children!
Lin Shuhai and Haoyue Saint Son, along with other leaders from Holy Lands, all ranked behind him. Without the Twin Buddha Children, there was no doubt that Chi Guang would have been this competition’s biggest dark horse!
“Are you kidding me, this speed, even stronger than Lin Shuhai!”
“Both those Holy Land leaders have been suppressed by him!”
“In the previous Divine Dynasty Solo Battle, didn’t he only rank second? How strong must the first place be?”
“What do you know, I heard from his sect mates in the Grotto Heaven where he trained, that his most potent ability is his Spear Dao, but who has seen him use a spear in previous battles?”
“Pretending to be weak? No wonder, I was saying, being second in the Divine Dynasty, how could he be more terrifying than a Holy Land leader? Though he threw the previous match, even taking first in the Divine Dynasty, this result is still frightening!”
“Suppressing the Holy Land leaders, this Chi Guang will be the biggest variable in the top three!”
“Is it possible that he still hid his strength, and might even have a chance to win the championship?”
Chapter 756: Chapter 148 Absorbing Extreme Dao, Semi-Saint Demons_3
The venue was stirred by shocking discussions, with people whispering to each other in private.
Chi Guang, hearing these murmurs, displayed a hint of arrogance in his eyes and indifferently returned to his seat.
When he sat down, he glanced at Li Hao next to him and noticed that Li Hao seemed to be in deep thought, as if pondering something.
The corners of his mouth curved slightly. Feeling the pressure now?
Li Hao contemplated for a while and eventually decided to take out his drawing board.
With such an opportunity, the Saint revealing himself, even if it’s just an incarnate reflection, drawing it could provide considerable experience. The question was whether it would cause offense.
…
If it did cause offense, the other party would likely stop him, with a warning first. He would then cease his actions.
Fortune favors the bold.
Thus, Li Hao began to draw.
“Huh?!”
Seeing Li Hao suddenly take out his drawing board and ink, Chi Guang’s face changed subtly, his eyes fixed on Li Hao for a moment before he withdrew his gaze, no longer looking. But in his sleeve, his fist was quietly clenched…
Li Hao chose to start with a drawing of Literary Saint. Sensing the gaze, Literary Saint looked towards Li Hao, and upon seeing his drawing board and actions, a hint of surprise appeared in his eyes.
But soon after, he thought of something and glanced at Zhan Tan.
Zhan Tan, perceiving the attention of Literary Saint, keenly returned the gaze to Li Hao and was astonished to see Li Hao’s actions. She was rendered speechless.
In these past few months, having discussed paintings with Li Hao every day, she deeply understood the young man’s heartfelt love for the Artistic Path. He had little concern for cultivation, she thought it unlikely he would be so carefree during the tense competition for quotas.
Seeing the twin Buddha Child’s results, didn’t he feel the pressure?
Or was he really just intending to muddle through?
Li Hao saw that Literary Saint made no move to stop him, and his hands quickly resumed the drawing.
Before his turn to fight came, he finally completed his drawing.
As Li Hao put down his brush and finished the drawing, he saw 160,000 experience points emerge on the panel. A trace of astonishment appeared in his eyes; merely the incarnation’s reflection yielded such vast experience. From the experience gap, it belonged to the rank that could easily suppress a Semi-Saint with just a wave of a hand.
Li Hao’s thoughts shifted, and he looked towards the twin Buddha Child and Lin Shuhai among others. This was a rich source of ‘wool’!
However, with his imminent battle, he had no time for painting and had to put away his drawing board. He then stood up and gave a slight bow to Literary Saint.
Literary Saint, noting Li Hao’s action, revealed a slight smile. Such an unconventional youngster was a first for him to encounter. Plus, he had good etiquette and did not overstep boundaries, clearly well-taught at home.
Out of forty contestants, Li Hao would take his turn at the 35th position.
As Li Hao stepped forward, the venue became somewhat quieter, many held high hopes for this first-ranked contender from the Holy Dynasty.
Although the Heavenly Prides selected in the Holy Dynasty were generally inferior to those from the Holy Land, with the presence of Li Hao and Chi Guang this time, the standard for Holy Dynasty’s Heavenly Prides had been raised.
The previously impressive Su Yun had ranked quite high amongst the Holy Land’s Heavenly Prides, prompting many to reconsider their previous underestimation of these Holy Dynasty talents.
“With Chi Guang securing second place and performing so well, this Qingfeng should be even stronger, right?”
“How could that be? Chi Guang is a dark horse, having concealed his skills before. Haven’t you heard? His true strongest move is the spear!”
“Don’t underestimate this Qingfeng. Even if he’s not as good as Chi Guang, he should finish within five minutes at least!”
“That’s true, after all, suppressing all the Heavenly Prides of the Holy Dynasty and being selected from tens of Holy Dynasties in the Canglan Realm, he must indeed be terrifying.”
The spectators watched with grave expressions, their eyes fixed on Li Hao.
“He’s about to make a move. I wonder what his results will be.”
Li Qingyi’s eyes lit up upon seeing Li Hao. She had also competed earlier, finishing in 13 minutes, but she knew that Li Hao’s result would certainly not be more than ten minutes, at least within three minutes!
Lin Shuhai, hearing the whispered discussions from Li Qingyi and others behind him, looked at the young man with his gentle and calm eyes, his lips curving into an interested smile.
“Feel the gap!”
Chi Guang stared at Li Hao’s back, his eyes filled with cold intent, quite eager to see the expression on Li Hao’s face after his turn.
Li Hao walked onto the stage, not looking around. As soon as the Spiritual Pearl was released, he headed straight for the spatial rift.
Crossing through the rift, Li Hao felt a familiar sense of spatial leaping.
His surroundings changed, and soon he appeared in a desolate land.
Here, barren branches and withered vines covered the sky, resembling a forsaken land of death, permeated with vast amounts of grey death energy.
Li Hao paused, his eyes revealing Divine Light, and he immediately saw that within the grey death energy floated numerous black resentments filled with the will to kill!
A… treasure land?!
Taken aback, Li Hao didn’t expect the post-rift trial to be such a place. To him, it was an unexpected boon!
Sensing the Divine Blood within him, Li Hao didn’t hesitate and quickly started to absorb these murderous resentments.
These were the nutrients needed for the Extreme Path to Saint Ascension.
As the large amount of black resentments gathered around Li Hao like a hurricane, the active Divine Blood within his body absorbed all the black energy, shrouding it.
The Divine Blood, like a miniature prison, locked up the black wisps.
The Divine Blood that sealed the resentments revealed a black streak amidst its golden glow, akin to the pupil of an eye.
Li Hao could feel something extraordinary forming inside, as if about to give birth to some powerful force.
Once all the Divine Blood absorbed enough resentments, a sort of metamorphosis would take place. This metamorphosis was the Extreme Dao becoming a Saint, using the power of slaughter to cultivate the ultimate Saint Path!
As the absorption continued, the mist in the Demon Domain seemed to dissipate much.
Li Hao opened his eyes, the gold in his pupils flashing momentarily before returning to their usual dark hue.
Chapter 756: Chapter 148 Absorbing Extreme Dao, Semi-Saint Demons_3
The venue was stirred by shocking discussions, with people whispering to each other in private.
Chi Guang, hearing these murmurs, displayed a hint of arrogance in his eyes and indifferently returned to his seat.
When he sat down, he glanced at Li Hao next to him and noticed that Li Hao seemed to be in deep thought, as if pondering something.
The corners of his mouth curved slightly. Feeling the pressure now?
Li Hao contemplated for a while and eventually decided to take out his drawing board.
With such an opportunity, the Saint revealing himself, even if it’s just an incarnate reflection, drawing it could provide considerable experience. The question was whether it would cause offense.
…
If it did cause offense, the other party would likely stop him, with a warning first. He would then cease his actions.
Fortune favors the bold.
Thus, Li Hao began to draw.
“Huh?!”
Seeing Li Hao suddenly take out his drawing board and ink, Chi Guang’s face changed subtly, his eyes fixed on Li Hao for a moment before he withdrew his gaze, no longer looking. But in his sleeve, his fist was quietly clenched…
Li Hao chose to start with a drawing of Literary Saint. Sensing the gaze, Literary Saint looked towards Li Hao, and upon seeing his drawing board and actions, a hint of surprise appeared in his eyes.
But soon after, he thought of something and glanced at Zhan Tan.
Zhan Tan, perceiving the attention of Literary Saint, keenly returned the gaze to Li Hao and was astonished to see Li Hao’s actions. She was rendered speechless.
In these past few months, having discussed paintings with Li Hao every day, she deeply understood the young man’s heartfelt love for the Artistic Path. He had little concern for cultivation, she thought it unlikely he would be so carefree during the tense competition for quotas.
Seeing the twin Buddha Child’s results, didn’t he feel the pressure?
Or was he really just intending to muddle through?
Li Hao saw that Literary Saint made no move to stop him, and his hands quickly resumed the drawing.
Before his turn to fight came, he finally completed his drawing.
As Li Hao put down his brush and finished the drawing, he saw 160,000 experience points emerge on the panel. A trace of astonishment appeared in his eyes; merely the incarnation’s reflection yielded such vast experience. From the experience gap, it belonged to the rank that could easily suppress a Semi-Saint with just a wave of a hand.
Li Hao’s thoughts shifted, and he looked towards the twin Buddha Child and Lin Shuhai among others. This was a rich source of ‘wool’!
However, with his imminent battle, he had no time for painting and had to put away his drawing board. He then stood up and gave a slight bow to Literary Saint.
Literary Saint, noting Li Hao’s action, revealed a slight smile. Such an unconventional youngster was a first for him to encounter. Plus, he had good etiquette and did not overstep boundaries, clearly well-taught at home.
Out of forty contestants, Li Hao would take his turn at the 35th position.
As Li Hao stepped forward, the venue became somewhat quieter, many held high hopes for this first-ranked contender from the Holy Dynasty.
Although the Heavenly Prides selected in the Holy Dynasty were generally inferior to those from the Holy Land, with the presence of Li Hao and Chi Guang this time, the standard for Holy Dynasty’s Heavenly Prides had been raised.
The previously impressive Su Yun had ranked quite high amongst the Holy Land’s Heavenly Prides, prompting many to reconsider their previous underestimation of these Holy Dynasty talents.
“With Chi Guang securing second place and performing so well, this Qingfeng should be even stronger, right?”
“How could that be? Chi Guang is a dark horse, having concealed his skills before. Haven’t you heard? His true strongest move is the spear!”
“Don’t underestimate this Qingfeng. Even if he’s not as good as Chi Guang, he should finish within five minutes at least!”
“That’s true, after all, suppressing all the Heavenly Prides of the Holy Dynasty and being selected from tens of Holy Dynasties in the Canglan Realm, he must indeed be terrifying.”
The spectators watched with grave expressions, their eyes fixed on Li Hao.
“He’s about to make a move. I wonder what his results will be.”
Li Qingyi’s eyes lit up upon seeing Li Hao. She had also competed earlier, finishing in 13 minutes, but she knew that Li Hao’s result would certainly not be more than ten minutes, at least within three minutes!
Lin Shuhai, hearing the whispered discussions from Li Qingyi and others behind him, looked at the young man with his gentle and calm eyes, his lips curving into an interested smile.
“Feel the gap!”
Chi Guang stared at Li Hao’s back, his eyes filled with cold intent, quite eager to see the expression on Li Hao’s face after his turn.
Li Hao walked onto the stage, not looking around. As soon as the Spiritual Pearl was released, he headed straight for the spatial rift.
Crossing through the rift, Li Hao felt a familiar sense of spatial leaping.
His surroundings changed, and soon he appeared in a desolate land.
Here, barren branches and withered vines covered the sky, resembling a forsaken land of death, permeated with vast amounts of grey death energy.
Li Hao paused, his eyes revealing Divine Light, and he immediately saw that within the grey death energy floated numerous black resentments filled with the will to kill!
A… treasure land?!
Taken aback, Li Hao didn’t expect the post-rift trial to be such a place. To him, it was an unexpected boon!
Sensing the Divine Blood within him, Li Hao didn’t hesitate and quickly started to absorb these murderous resentments.
These were the nutrients needed for the Extreme Path to Saint Ascension.
As the large amount of black resentments gathered around Li Hao like a hurricane, the active Divine Blood within his body absorbed all the black energy, shrouding it.
The Divine Blood, like a miniature prison, locked up the black wisps.
The Divine Blood that sealed the resentments revealed a black streak amidst its golden glow, akin to the pupil of an eye.
Li Hao could feel something extraordinary forming inside, as if about to give birth to some powerful force.
Once all the Divine Blood absorbed enough resentments, a sort of metamorphosis would take place. This metamorphosis was the Extreme Dao becoming a Saint, using the power of slaughter to cultivate the ultimate Saint Path!
As the absorption continued, the mist in the Demon Domain seemed to dissipate much.
Li Hao opened his eyes, the gold in his pupils flashing momentarily before returning to their usual dark hue.
Chapter 757: Chapter 148: Absorbing the Extreme Dao, Semi-Saint Demons_4
He raised his head and scanned the area; the black mist was gone, and without hesitation—having just absorbed those resentful killing thoughts which had taken him half a minute—he acted.
His Divine Thought unfolded, his Primordial Spirit hovered above, searching for the Spiritual Pearl.
Soon, Li Hao sensed the aura and traces of the Spiritual Pearl deep within the Demon Domain, where an obscure yet terrifying presence lurked.
A hint of shock appeared in Li Hao’s eyes; having spent time with Zhan Tan lately, he had become quite familiar with the aura of the Semi-Saints. The dreadful presence next to the Spiritual Pearl turned out to be a Demons Semi-Saint!
A guardian who is actually a Semi-Saint?
Surprise shone in Li Hao’s eyes, and after a moment of thought, his figure flickered, hurrying toward that location.
…
His movement technique was extremely fast, using Returning Ruin Instantaneous Movement in quick succession. The energy gathered around him by the Heaven and Earth Vein provided him with a continuous stream of power for deployment. Even the greatly exhausting Returning Ruin Instantaneous Movement could be performed non-stop like having infinite stamina.
In the blink of an eye, in less than five seconds, Li Hao arrived at the location of the Spiritual Pearl.
A gigantic hundred-legged Demon with eyeballs covering its entire body lay coiled there, its form like that of a spider. Yet, it appeared to be some sort of grotesque mutation, more ferocious, with numerous haunting eyeballs, dense spikes, and dark carapaces covering its body.
And the silver-glowing Spiritual Pearl was lying nonchalantly on the ground in front of it, rolling about.
“Little guy, that’s somewhat interesting. The way you just absorbed those resentful killing thoughts was a bit like that bald guy.”
Eyes of this Half-Saint Spider Demon, full of tens of purple demonic pupils, were now all reflecting Li Hao’s figure, issuing a voice of an old man with a hint of playful tone.
Li Hao asked, “How can you give this item to me?”
The Half-Saint Spider Demon seemed aware that Li Hao was racing against time, but it replied leisurely and with a smile:
“Normally, the test requires you to endure an attack from me or leave a mark on my body. Then, you can take this thing. I don’t intend to give you youngsters a hard time. However, if you can tell me why you were able to absorb those things and to what end, I can just hand over the item to you.”
Li Hao raised his eyebrows; this involved the secrets of becoming a Saint along the Extreme Dao, which are held by the Divine Clan. If he hadn’t been considering that this Semi-Saint was a Buddha Venerate’s demon, he might have already been thinking about silencing it.
“Let’s stick to the regular challenge.”
Li Hao spoke.
Upon hearing this, the Half-Saint Spider Demon’s pupils shifted and twinkled, and its voice suddenly turned somewhat displeased:
“I am offering you a chance. You just need to agree and rapidly transfer your thoughts through Divine Thought. Within a breath’s time, it would be enough to explain fully. When you take this Spiritual Pearl back, with your current performance, you might even surpass that Buddha Child. This is a rare chance to make a name for yourself; you should cherish it.”
“Let’s just proceed with the normal process.”
Li Hao was somewhat impatient. Although he wasn’t extremely urgent—it was merely about making it into the top 20, and securing a spot was sufficient—going by the previous results, he was confident of advancing to the next round within 10 minutes, but he also didn’t wish to waste time here in vain.
“Kid, you seem to have a lot of confidence in yourself!”
Seeing that Li Hao refused to reveal anything, a ferocious glint appeared in the eyes of the Half-Saint Spider Demon.
It was confined here by that Buddha Venerate’s bald monk, having seen the powers of the Buddha Venerate. Thus, it wanted to probe further. Had it not been for the Buddha Venerate’s order to refrain from killing, it would have swallowed several disagreeable Heavenly Prides who entered earlier.
“If I’m in a good mood, I might go easy on you. But if I’m not, your path as a Heavenly Pride ends here!”
The Half-Saint Spider Demon was clearly very familiar with the outside testing rules and had memorized the timing of the previous Heavenly Prides who came for the challenge. As long as it could delay Li Hao past the time limit, he would be defeated.
Not killing him, but still able to cut off his path as a Heavenly Pride and break his destiny.
Li Hao, upon hearing this, fell silent for a moment before replying, “Alright, I’ll tell you. It’s a special Cultivation Technique that can absorb resentful killing thoughts and convert them for Demonic Path Cultivation.”
“Now you speak, too late. Do you think I’ll believe you? That’s the Buddha Venerate’s tactic; that strange Buddha Child who came earlier ignored it completely, unable to see through it, yet you can master it. This must be some Saint’s secret!”
The voice of the Half-Saint Spider Demon grew increasingly fierce: “Even if you had obediently told me just now, I would still capture your soul. Your Human Race is deceitful. Even your women say that a man’s words are not to be trusted, so how could I believe you? Weaving Dreams!”
It suddenly growled, casting some sort of Demon Domain secret technique.
Li Hao’s vision seemed to be filled with dazzling lights, and the world twisted. The originally foggy and dim world turned vivid and colorful, but this distortion of color instead made one feel dizzy.
Li Hao glanced at the Spiritual Pearl, and the Half-Saint Spider Demon, noticing Li Hao’s gaze, sneered as strands of spider silk shot out, sticking to the Spiritual Pearl and retracting it back into its abdomen.
“Life is but a dream, go to sleep!”
The voice of the Half-Saint Spider Demon became ethereal.
Laws eroded, weaving around Li Hao like layers of spider webs, intending to entangle and intertwine him.
But in the next moment, the Heaven and Earth Vein behind Li Hao suddenly rotated, followed by the emergence of a terrifying Eternal Dao Domain.
With the Descent of the Eternal Dao Domain, the laws stretching around Li Hao’s body vanished, the space seemed to warp, and the variegated lights disappeared.
Chapter 757: Chapter 148: Absorbing the Extreme Dao, Semi-Saint Demons_4
He raised his head and scanned the area; the black mist was gone, and without hesitation—having just absorbed those resentful killing thoughts which had taken him half a minute—he acted.
His Divine Thought unfolded, his Primordial Spirit hovered above, searching for the Spiritual Pearl.
Soon, Li Hao sensed the aura and traces of the Spiritual Pearl deep within the Demon Domain, where an obscure yet terrifying presence lurked.
A hint of shock appeared in Li Hao’s eyes; having spent time with Zhan Tan lately, he had become quite familiar with the aura of the Semi-Saints. The dreadful presence next to the Spiritual Pearl turned out to be a Demons Semi-Saint!
A guardian who is actually a Semi-Saint?
Surprise shone in Li Hao’s eyes, and after a moment of thought, his figure flickered, hurrying toward that location.
…
His movement technique was extremely fast, using Returning Ruin Instantaneous Movement in quick succession. The energy gathered around him by the Heaven and Earth Vein provided him with a continuous stream of power for deployment. Even the greatly exhausting Returning Ruin Instantaneous Movement could be performed non-stop like having infinite stamina.
In the blink of an eye, in less than five seconds, Li Hao arrived at the location of the Spiritual Pearl.
A gigantic hundred-legged Demon with eyeballs covering its entire body lay coiled there, its form like that of a spider. Yet, it appeared to be some sort of grotesque mutation, more ferocious, with numerous haunting eyeballs, dense spikes, and dark carapaces covering its body.
And the silver-glowing Spiritual Pearl was lying nonchalantly on the ground in front of it, rolling about.
“Little guy, that’s somewhat interesting. The way you just absorbed those resentful killing thoughts was a bit like that bald guy.”
Eyes of this Half-Saint Spider Demon, full of tens of purple demonic pupils, were now all reflecting Li Hao’s figure, issuing a voice of an old man with a hint of playful tone.
Li Hao asked, “How can you give this item to me?”
The Half-Saint Spider Demon seemed aware that Li Hao was racing against time, but it replied leisurely and with a smile:
“Normally, the test requires you to endure an attack from me or leave a mark on my body. Then, you can take this thing. I don’t intend to give you youngsters a hard time. However, if you can tell me why you were able to absorb those things and to what end, I can just hand over the item to you.”
Li Hao raised his eyebrows; this involved the secrets of becoming a Saint along the Extreme Dao, which are held by the Divine Clan. If he hadn’t been considering that this Semi-Saint was a Buddha Venerate’s demon, he might have already been thinking about silencing it.
“Let’s stick to the regular challenge.”
Li Hao spoke.
Upon hearing this, the Half-Saint Spider Demon’s pupils shifted and twinkled, and its voice suddenly turned somewhat displeased:
“I am offering you a chance. You just need to agree and rapidly transfer your thoughts through Divine Thought. Within a breath’s time, it would be enough to explain fully. When you take this Spiritual Pearl back, with your current performance, you might even surpass that Buddha Child. This is a rare chance to make a name for yourself; you should cherish it.”
“Let’s just proceed with the normal process.”
Li Hao was somewhat impatient. Although he wasn’t extremely urgent—it was merely about making it into the top 20, and securing a spot was sufficient—going by the previous results, he was confident of advancing to the next round within 10 minutes, but he also didn’t wish to waste time here in vain.
“Kid, you seem to have a lot of confidence in yourself!”
Seeing that Li Hao refused to reveal anything, a ferocious glint appeared in the eyes of the Half-Saint Spider Demon.
It was confined here by that Buddha Venerate’s bald monk, having seen the powers of the Buddha Venerate. Thus, it wanted to probe further. Had it not been for the Buddha Venerate’s order to refrain from killing, it would have swallowed several disagreeable Heavenly Prides who entered earlier.
“If I’m in a good mood, I might go easy on you. But if I’m not, your path as a Heavenly Pride ends here!”
The Half-Saint Spider Demon was clearly very familiar with the outside testing rules and had memorized the timing of the previous Heavenly Prides who came for the challenge. As long as it could delay Li Hao past the time limit, he would be defeated.
Not killing him, but still able to cut off his path as a Heavenly Pride and break his destiny.
Li Hao, upon hearing this, fell silent for a moment before replying, “Alright, I’ll tell you. It’s a special Cultivation Technique that can absorb resentful killing thoughts and convert them for Demonic Path Cultivation.”
“Now you speak, too late. Do you think I’ll believe you? That’s the Buddha Venerate’s tactic; that strange Buddha Child who came earlier ignored it completely, unable to see through it, yet you can master it. This must be some Saint’s secret!”
The voice of the Half-Saint Spider Demon grew increasingly fierce: “Even if you had obediently told me just now, I would still capture your soul. Your Human Race is deceitful. Even your women say that a man’s words are not to be trusted, so how could I believe you? Weaving Dreams!”
It suddenly growled, casting some sort of Demon Domain secret technique.
Li Hao’s vision seemed to be filled with dazzling lights, and the world twisted. The originally foggy and dim world turned vivid and colorful, but this distortion of color instead made one feel dizzy.
Li Hao glanced at the Spiritual Pearl, and the Half-Saint Spider Demon, noticing Li Hao’s gaze, sneered as strands of spider silk shot out, sticking to the Spiritual Pearl and retracting it back into its abdomen.
“Life is but a dream, go to sleep!”
The voice of the Half-Saint Spider Demon became ethereal.
Laws eroded, weaving around Li Hao like layers of spider webs, intending to entangle and intertwine him.
But in the next moment, the Heaven and Earth Vein behind Li Hao suddenly rotated, followed by the emergence of a terrifying Eternal Dao Domain.
With the Descent of the Eternal Dao Domain, the laws stretching around Li Hao’s body vanished, the space seemed to warp, and the variegated lights disappeared.
