https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-139-Divine-General-Manor-Lost-Him/13450150/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-141-A-Grandmaster-Unable-to-Move-a-Single-Finger-/13450152/
Chapter 140: A Single Move to Stabilize the World (Grandmaster)
Chapter 140: A Single Move to Stabilize the World (Grandmaster) (Additional Monthly Votes 16)
Seeing Li Hao's calm and smiling face, Li Wushuang was somewhat taken aback.
Apart from that one word of concern, she suddenly felt a sense of unfamiliarity between them, or perhaps they had never been close to begin with.
After the brief pleasantries, there was nothing more to say.
Though they were related by blood as elder sister and younger brother...
Their relationship seemed less intimate than the Tan Palace disciples who were close to Li Hao.
After a short silence, Li Wushuang remembered her father's words and the hidden dangers in Liangzhou. She immediately transmitted a message:
"The Demons outside Liangzhou are restless. Be careful. If you are in danger, send a distress signal. My father is currently stationed in Liangzhou and can come to your aid at any time."
"Sure, you too."
Li Hao nodded, thinking of the military report.
Li Wushuang gave him a deep look. She could sense that the young man before her, even the magnificent Divine General Manor, could not bind him.
"If you have the chance, I hope we can meet again in Qingzhou", she said softly.
Li Hao remained calm and did not respond.
Li Wushuang sighed inwardly, bid Li Hao farewell, and returned to her position.
After Li Wushuang left, the others' gazes still lingered on Li Hao, whispering among themselves.
Soon, several Grandmasters came over to chat and extend their greetings, clearly hoping to form connections.
They had all heard about the incident in Qingzhou and knew that this young man had severed ties with the Divine General Manor, but none of them took it seriously.
After all, everyone wanted to step into the threshold of the Divine General Manor. How could anyone be so foolish as to step out? They assumed it was just youthful impulsiveness and that he would eventually come back.
By forming connections now, they were offering timely assistance, which would be a blessing for their future generations.
Grandmasters may be detached from worldly affairs, but they still have children, disciples, and sects.
With these, they have weaknesses.
With weaknesses, they want to cover them up, and thus they seek connections and smiles, stepping into the world of fame and fortune.
When one steps onto a higher platform, they inevitably have to watch their back.
The era of lone wolves is long gone. Even a Fourth Establishment Realm powerhouse who roams freely in the world must bow their proud head before the iron hooves of the Great Yu Divine Dynasty.
Otherwise, they would be driven away like stray dogs!
Soon, as the sun passed the noon mark on the sundial, a figure flew across from the opposite bank of the Dragon River to the Discussion Platform.
He wore a long white robe that fluttered in the wind over the river, and on his head was a white hood, with his hair and beard equally white, lending him a youthful appearance despite his age, and an air of graceful and ethereal elegance.
"Tianji Mountain Man."
The many Grandmasters who had been waiting immediately recognized him.
After landing, Tianji Mountain Man lifted his white hood, revealing his flowing white hair. His face was rosy, and he smiled as he slowly scanned the crowd, saying:
"Thank you, Grandmasters, for coming from all the provinces to attend this gathering. I am deeply grateful!"
"Not at all."
"You are too kind, Mountain Man."
Many Grandmasters chimed in with polite greetings.
Li Hao scanned the crowd and saw that there were at least two to three hundred Grandmasters present.
Including their entourages, there were nearly two thousand people.
But with Tianji Mountain Man's arrival, the previously noisy environment quietly calmed down.
After finishing his initial pleasantries, Tianji Mountain Man began to discuss the rewards for this grand event. Besides the benefits of deepening their martial arts through this gathering, there were additional prizes from the Heavenly Mechanism Tower.
Such as cultivation techniques, treasures, and spirit medicines.
All things martial artists cherished.
Moreover, after the discussion, the Grandmaster voted as the best by everyone would receive a spirit treasure and a divine weapon, as well as the opportunity to choose a secret technique from the Heavenly Mechanism Tower's scripture hall.
This reward was extremely tempting.
After all, the Heavenly Mechanism Tower's scripture hall was renowned, rivaling and even surpassing the Li Family's Rain Listening Pavilion.
The pinnacle secret technique inside can even be used by those who have reached the Fourth Establishment Realm.
However, the key is whether one can fully master it.
After the rewards were discussed, the Grandmaster Discourse officially began.
The discourse is relatively casual, and not every Grandmaster needs to take the stage. It mainly depends on the Grandmaster's own willingness.
However, most Grandmasters come here to verify the flaws and direction of their Martial Arts with other Grandmasters, a rare opportunity.
Soon, an elderly Grandmaster stepped onto the Discussion Platform. After a few pleasantries, he began to expound on his Grandmaster Dao.
His Grandmaster Dao is the Yin-Yang Path, derived from the alternation of the sun and moon, the interplay of Yin and Yang.
As this Grandmaster spoke, the audience became increasingly familiar with his Martial Dao. However, he did not reveal his secret techniques or ultimate moves, so it did not amount to exposing his deepest secrets. It was more like promoting the core beliefs of his sect.
Listening to this Grandmaster, Li Hao thought of the Yin-Yang Splitting Sword.
He had mastered this Sword Art through his Sword Dao, naturally absorbing the core Yin-Yang concept within the technique.
This concept was essentially the same as the one presented by the Grandmaster.
However, mastering the Yin-Yang Splitting Sword does not necessarily mean one can use the Yin-Yang concept to reach the Grandmaster realm.
On the contrary, this Grandmaster could use the Yin-Yang Path to create techniques similar to the Yin-Yang Splitting Sword, be it a Sword Technique, Palm Technique, or Fist Technique.
The key to a Grandmaster's Dao lies in the "Dao" itself.
Once one comprehends the Dao, it follows one's will. Even daily activities like eating, moving, and gestures all align with this Dao.
The Yin-Yang Splitting Sword is a technique, integrating the Yin-Yang Path into Sword Intent.
But a Grandmaster's Dao is the Dao itself, so every action is a technique.
It is easier to practice techniques through the Dao, but it is as difficult as rowing upstream to enter the Dao through techniques.
However, with the help of the panel, Li Hao had already grasped the Yin-Yang Path concept while practicing this Sword Technique.
Therefore, he understood everything the Grandmaster was saying and even knew that the Grandmaster was hiding some core elements, which were his secret techniques.
After all, these are the trump cards that even apprentices receive cautiously.
As the first Grandmaster finished his discourse and invited comments from the audience, there was a brief silence. Soon, another Grandmaster stepped up to challenge him, arguing that his Yin-Yang Path was not perfect.
This Grandmaster's Dao was the Ape Path.
He named it himself because he had observed monkeys from a young age, gaining insights into the principles of the universe and Martial Arts, which led him to the Dao.
His disciples also start their training by observing monkeys.
The cultivation techniques he created are all related to apes.
The Grandmaster Discourse involves not only verbal debate but also physical sparring.
Soon, the two Grandmasters began to spar, but they were very restrained, stopping at the point of contact. It was difficult to determine a clear winner.
The Ape Path Grandmaster wielded an iron staff, using flexible and unpredictable moves, while the Yin-Yang Path Grandmaster's attacks combined the real and the illusory, making them hard to fathom. Both were elusive and difficult to pin down, each with their strengths.
As they sparred, they also learned from and pondered each other's techniques. By the end of the exchange, both had gained a lot.
However, this discourse alone took an entire hour.
In previous Grandmaster Discourse Conferences, the shortest lasted three days, and the longest lasted half a month. It was not something that could be concluded in just a couple of days.
Li Hao had initially thought it would be interesting, but he found it somewhat boring after a while.
He could grasp the Dao the two were discussing immediately, but they kept elaborating with lengthy speeches, fearing that others might not understand.
He wished he could fast-forward or speed up the discourse, but unfortunately, this was reality, and he had no power to manipulate time.
He could only sit there, bored and restless.
Finally, the next Grandmaster took the stage.
One was the Feather Transformation Path, inspired by observing the transformation of butterflies.
Another was the Five Elements Path, using the five internal organs as a foundation to form five great mountains, emphasizing balance and continuous vitality in both attack and defense.
Another was the Crimson Flame Path, derived from the red flame of the Five Elements, using fire to break all techniques.
Li Hao listened intently and quickly grasped the essence of these Grandmaster Dao realms. The cultivation techniques he practiced were diverse, each founded by numerous Grandmasters, and they encompassed a wide range of martial arts philosophies.
Because of this, he had cultivated a vast and inclusive mindset, one that could incorporate the Dao of all things and gain deep martial arts insights.
As he listened, Li Hao discovered that the simpler the Grandmaster Dao, the easier it was to grasp its profound depths, thus allowing one to quickly advance to the Grandmaster realm.
For instance, the Grandmaster of the Crimson Flame Path had a slight advantage over the Grandmaster of the Five Elements Path in their duel.
Similarly, the Grandmaster of the Ape Path, when facing the Grandmaster of the Yin-Yang Path, had a narrower scope in terms of Dao intent, but the Yin-Yang Path Grandmaster had not reached the deepest levels of understanding.
"The greatest Dao is the simplest..."
Li Hao had a moment of clarity.
This was what he sought by coming here. He could gradually master the Dao of all things in the universe, but it would take a lot of time and offer minimal benefits in terms of power enhancement. In short, it would be inefficient.
Therefore, he aimed to find the core of all things, a process of simplifying the complex.
If he pursued only the complex Dao realms, he would end up like the Yin-Yang Path Grandmaster, spending a lot of time expanding the breadth of his Dao realm, ultimately falling behind those with simpler, more focused Dao realms.
The saying "one skill to rule them all" held true everywhere.
If it didn't work, it meant that the skill hadn't been perfected.
But if he could distill the complex Dao realms into a single skill, that skill would be incredibly powerful, beyond imagination!
Li Hao listened quietly, seeking a spark of inspiration in their conversation.
This spark was the common thread he needed to find among all things.
Unfortunately, that spark remained elusive.
"Amitabha."
"My cultivated Grandmaster Dao is the root of human nature, one of the three poisons—Wrath Path!"
On the stage, a young man in a robe ascended. The robe symbolized a certain existence, and the Grandmasters below, who had been whispering, fell silent.
"Wrath Path?"
"Can emotions lead to the Dao?"
"Truly, the disciple of the Buddha Master has a unique approach to the Dao!"
Many Grandmasters were surprised and felt a sudden understanding.
Most Grandmasters entered the Dao by observing the heavens, the sun, moon, and stars, and the myriad creatures, but this young man had entered the Dao through human nature, which was unusual and rare.
Seeing the robe on the young man, Li Hao frowned slightly, a sharp glint in his eyes.
Wuliang Mountain.
The elixir the venomous woman sought had been aided by Wuliang Mountain.
More likely, Wuliang Mountain had deliberately pushed or even lured her.
Otherwise, even if she had the intention, without knowing about the elixir, she would have chosen another method.
"Any living being has the original thoughts of greed, anger, and delusion. Demons crave blood, which is greed, and their brutal nature is anger. Even plants are the same; they grow towards the sun, which is greed, and they root deep into the soil and spread, which is anger..."
The young man in the robe continued his explanation calmly.
His voice was gentle and serene, like a ray of Buddha's light in the cold wind by the Dragon River, making everyone feel as if they were basking in a warm breeze.
Li Hao listened quietly. Although he had not practiced Buddhist sect cultivation techniques, he quickly grasped the essence of the Dao being explained.
This added a new perspective to his understanding of the Dao of all things.
Human nature could lead to the Dao.
But what common thread did greed, anger, and delusion share with birds, beasts, and plants?
Li Hao fell into deep thought.
What was that common thread?
Or was there truly a common thread among all things?
If not, then the point he sought would be an elusive and unattainable concept, making it impossible for his Grandmaster Dao to reach perfection, and he would only enter the Three Eternities Realm as an ordinary Grandmaster.
While Li Hao pondered, the young man continued his discourse.
Toward the end, he looked at the many Grandmasters below, his gaze suddenly focusing on Li Hao, and he smiled.
"I've heard that our Dayu has produced a prodigy who reached the Grandmaster realm at fourteen, unprecedented in history. I wonder if I could have a word with him?"
Hearing his words, everyone snapped back to reality and turned their gaze toward Li Hao.
Their eyes were filled with anticipation and amusement, eager to see if this legendary young man lived up to his reputation.
They had been curious before, but they had refrained from approaching him due to his surname.
"He is one of the Buddha Master's Personal Disciples and ranks first on the Qianlong List!"
Shen Yunqing's expression changed slightly as he warned Li Hao.
He was from Qingzhou and knew the details of that great battle, as well as the friction between Li Hao and Li Qianfeng. The young man in front of him was, in a way, Li Qianfeng's senior brother as a disciple of the Buddha Master.
By suddenly calling out Li Hao's name, the young man was likely trying to win some face for his junior brother, or perhaps to boost the Buddha Master's reputation.
Although Shen Yunqing and the other Tan Palace disciples didn't participate in the Li Family's True Dragon competition, the events of the banquet afterward had already spread widely.
Li Hao had nearly killed one of the Buddha Master's Personal Disciples with a single chopstick.
The news was too shocking to be suppressed and had spread far and wide. If it were just a rumor, it would have been quashed long ago, but it was the truth. All the guests at the banquet had been eyewitnesses, which kept the story alive and widely discussed.
Li Wushuang, sitting on the other side, also changed expression, her eyes flashing with anger as she glared at the young man on the platform.
She had initially felt that his grandmaster's path had opened her mind, and she had secretly admired it. But his words suddenly shifted to Li Hao, and she could see that he was deliberately targeting him.
Li Hao's gaze met the young man's, and although both wore smiles, Li Hao could see the coldness in the other's eyes.
Greed, anger, and delusion—clearly, the other was driven by anger.
Li Hao felt a bit amused. He hadn't even sought out trouble, but the trouble had come to him.
"Frankly, I'm not interested in just discussing the Dao."
Li Hao said calmly.
This wasn't a retreat but a provocation.
The rules of discussing the Dao emphasize restraint, but Li Hao had no interest in such formalities. If he were to act, he would prefer to disable the other person completely.
"Could it be that Young Master Li isn't here to discuss the Dao?"
Qin Wuque narrowed his eyes slightly and said with a light laugh.
He was a Venerable of the Buddhist Sect, at the Heavenly Being Baoxiang Realm, just a step away from Grandmaster Perfection, with a Dao Heart that was complete.
He had come to discuss the Dao to achieve Perfection.
When he saw Li Hao strike the gong at the entrance, he recognized him immediately.
"Whether or not to discuss the Dao depends on my mood."
Li Hao replied with a smile. "I just find your Dao too simplistic, not worth discussing."
Everyone was taken aback by this.
Qin Wuque was one of the Buddha Master's Personal Disciples, and the Dao Heart he had just described was far from simple. The fact that he had attained his Dao through anger alone was a testament to his spiritual insight. Yet, Li Hao had called his Dao simplistic?
Qin Wuque's smile remained unchanged as he said:
"Since Young Master Li finds my Dao Heart simplistic, I would like to ask what Young Master Li's Dao Heart is. I've heard that you reached the Tianren Realm during a sword duel with your father, Duke Xingwu. Could it be that Young Master Li's Dao Heart is the path of killing, involving the murder of one's brother and father?"
The entire hall fell silent at these words.
Everyone had heard about the incident, but no one had ever mentioned it in front of someone from the Divine General Manor. After all, it was a disgrace to the Li Family.
Now, Qin Wuque had openly brought it up, and many eyes turned to the young man, some with mocking expressions, others with amusement.
They dared not provoke the Divine General Manor, but they could let Wuliang Mountain do it for them, using the young man as their mouthpiece.
Li Wushuang's expression darkened, her eyes filled with growing anger. This was a disgrace to the Divine General Manor, and she understood the circumstances. She knew Li Hao was not to blame, but being publicly reminded of it was like a slap in the face.
Li Hao stared at the other man, his smile fading.
"Do you truly wish to discuss the Dao?"
Li Hao asked softly.
Qin Wuque's smile grew slightly. "Young Master Li, please enlighten me."
Li Hao didn't speak, but raised his hand. A pebble on the ground flew up and landed in his palm.
The pebble spun rapidly, polished and shaped into a snow-white chess piece.
"Everything in the universe can be part of the Dao. If you can withstand my move, it will prove that your grandmaster's path has some merit."
Li Hao's voice was calm, but his words were clear to everyone present.
As the crowd watched in shock, Li Hao raised his hand, holding the chess piece as if playing a game, and gently pressed it.
The piece flew out, landing on the Discussion Platform. The tiny piece, no larger than a fingernail, suddenly attracted a vast amount of energy, which enveloped it, radiating divine light.
At the same moment, a breathtaking aura emanated from behind Li Hao, and a grand ethereal figure emerged—it was the Heaven and Earth Dharma Image.
The hundred-meter-tall Dharma Image towered over the entire inner arena, radiating an awe-inspiring presence like a deity!
The Dharma Image raised its hand, and the massive palm, resembling a giant fan, seemed to grasp the tiny chess piece.
But at this moment, the chess piece gathered energy, glowing like an aurora-emanating sun, and with the Dharma Image's finger, it pressed down toward Qin Wuque!
It was as if pressing a piece onto the Chess Board, a move that could not be taken back!
Qin Wuque's face suddenly changed. From that towering Dharma Image, he felt a terrifying aura, like facing mountains, rivers, sun, moon, and stars!
The falling piece was not just a small stone; it seemed to be an immense mountain with no visible boundaries!
Such a formidable presence left him shocked and unable to comprehend.
"Wuliang Golden Body!!"
Sensing the imminent danger, Qin Wuque roared in anger, bellowing a Buddhist chant, no longer maintaining his previous solemn and gentle demeanor.
His Divine Soul emerged behind him, his body glowing with golden light, wearing a monk's robe and a string of prayer beads. He looked compassionate, as if ready to save all beings, but his expression became fierce as he exerted his power.
His Wrath Path, using anger as a killing move, was ruthless and brutal, filled with overwhelming fury, like a Wrathful Vajra!
"Heaven-Opening Divine Palm!!"
The radiant Wuliang Golden Body Divine Soul, with divine might burning around him like flames, raised his hands and fiercely slapped at the white chess piece above.
But the chess piece now glowed with an intense light, illuminating the heavens and earth, radiating a brilliance that was impossible to look at directly.
As the Heaven and Earth Dharma Image's finger pressed down, carrying the momentum to pierce through the nine netherworlds, the entire Discussion Platform trembled. The waves of the Dragon River surged, as if being drawn and swept along, even crashing onto the Discussion Platform!
A massive boom echoed.
The radiant Divine Palm, under the intense light of the Dharma Image's finger, was ground to nothing. That finger was not a simple move but contained the profound Dao and Object Mastery Realm power that Li Hao had condensed!
His Object Control Power surpassed that of the Imperial Clan. Even if the other party was a personal disciple of the Buddha Master, their Object Control technique could not compare to the Imperial Clan's.
"Great Buddha Golden Body!"
"My Buddha is boundless!"
Under the collapsing Divine Palm, Qin Wuque's eyes bulged as he roared to the heavens.
From his 84,000 pores, a surging wave of energy burst forth, his major meridians surged, and the Yang Meridian he had opened was pushed to its limit. His Object Manipulation Power formed another Divine Palm, which he slapped at the finger once more.
But the Heaven and Earth Dharma Image's finger seemed unstoppable, as if containing supreme rules, pressing down mercilessly.
The mountain-collapsing, sea-tsunami-like aura blew his monk's robe into a frantic flutter, his eyes bulging with rage as he watched his full-strength palm, concentrated with his Dao Heart and the ultimate Wrathful Heart and Fury, crumble and shatter beneath the merciless finger!
The chess piece, radiating brilliance, seemed like a comet from the heavens, reflected in his eyes.
It pressed down straight to his forehead!
The chess piece, originally an ordinary stone, did not shatter in such a fierce clash because of the immense Object Manipulation Power surrounding it.
This power still had the strength to protect the chess piece from breaking, indicating that it was not Li Hao's full power!
At this moment, this overwhelming force struck Qin Wuque's shoulder, and a cracking sound echoed. His shoulder bones compressed as if breaking, his legs trembled, and his feet sank deep into the stone of the Discussion Platform, cracking the massive stone platform.
Ultimately, his physical body was not strong enough. His knees buckled, and he fell to the ground, his knees spurting blood, splattering onto his face and monk's robe.
The force continued, still pressing down with the chess piece.
It forced his body to lie flat on the Discussion Platform, his limbs paralyzed, tightly pressed against the stone ground.
From below, it looked as if he was pinned by the Heaven and Earth Dharma Image's finger, unable to move!
Like a struggling toad!
(End of Chapter)
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