https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-147-Fourth-Uncle-of-the-Li-Family/13450168/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-149-A-Single-Sword-Splits-the-Heavens/13450177/
Chapter 148: Borrowing a Breath from Heaven and Earth
Chapter 148: Borrowing a Breath from Heaven and Earth
After receiving the Sacred Heart Amulet, Li Hao thanked Eunuch Chu Jiuyue once more, asking him to convey his gratitude to Emperor Yu.
The impression Li Hao had of the most exalted and revered existence in the Great Yu Divine Dynasty still lingered from his infancy, the first glimpse he caught upon arriving here.
That was a towering, extremely robust figure, seated on the Dragon Throne, with a presence that could swallow mountains and rivers, exuding an aura of supreme dominance.
It seemed that one could only revere from a distance, never to approach or offend.
But the repeated bestowals from the Emperor made Li Hao feel that the majestic figure was not entirely cold and unapproachable.
...
The snowstorm continued.
The burned letter received no response and thus quietly vanished.
No more letters came from Qingzhou City.
Li Hao continued his daily cultivation, sketching the snow and mountain scenery beyond the Pass, fishing for Lesser Demons in the wilderness, and exploring the vast and mysterious Way of Heaven and Earth. Deep down, he still did not want to miss the ultimate pursuit.
Perhaps, he also had a Martial Heart?
Time passed swiftly.
In the blink of an eye, half a year had gone by.
From the early winter when he first arrived at the camp, it was now mid-winter, with the snow on the ground piling thicker.
But like the yin and yang of all things, when the snowfall accumulates to a certain depth, it is the time for the clouds to part and the moon to reveal itself.
In the snow, Demons stealthily emerged from their burrows in the distance, preparing to hunt for food.
In the forest, two Mountain Tigers were fighting over a deer carcass.
The small river was frozen over, but beneath the ice, fish swam freely.
On a snowy mountain peak, Li Hao sat, perceiving the slightest movements and sounds within dozens of miles, his body seeming to merge with the peak itself.
He gazed at the mist and the rising sun, quietly listening to the sound of the snow melting.
The snow fell from the sky, but it was the earth's vapor that condensed and solidified.
Seeds buried deep in the soil sprouted and grew into towering trees. In autumn, the leaves would be carried by the wind to the farthest reaches of the sky.
Fish, confined to the water and living in the lowlands, swam as freely as if they were soaring in the sky.
People on land, seemingly carefree and joyful, were bound by various orders and constraints, like invisible chains and shackles, making it difficult to break free.
All things are living beings, yet living beings are not all things.
In these past six months, Li Hao had reached the bottleneck of the Way of All Things. The ultimate spiritual light was right before his eyes, just a step away from breaking through the barrier and achieving a complete understanding.
Now, his All Things Intent was fused, and his various Sword Techniques had been restructured. Although his cultivation remained at the Tian Ren Master Realm, he had truly reached the limits of the Great Master Realm. His actual combat strength was about half stronger than when he was in Daiyue City.
If he were to encounter the Young Demon King again, he could easily slay him with the new Sword Move he had comprehended over the past six months.
Back then, within a few minutes of battle, he had combined his self-created Cyclic Sword Technique, which possessed terrifying destructive power. Now, after six months of contemplation, he had refined and improved this Sword Art even further.
At this moment, a cold wind blew, brushing past his face and stirring up the snow on the ground.
Wind?
A faint thought seemed to flicker in Li Hao's mind. He narrowed his eyes slightly, sitting quietly for a moment, but the thought slipped away.
He had been feeling this way recently, but always lacked the strength to grasp it.
Brushing the snow off his hands, Li Hao picked up the little white fox that was curled up by his knees and stood up to leave.
He flew back to the camp.
Over the past six months, the number of stone houses around the camp had increased. Considering the impending battle that could come at any time after six months, Li Hao had not put much effort into building the residents' houses, treating it more as a hobby or a way to understand nature.
As always, he cooked lunch himself.
During the meal, Li Hao once again urged Song Qiumo to return to Tan Palace, telling her she didn't need to stay and accompany him.
The Myriad Mountains Demon King had endured the pain of losing his son for six months, showing that he was an extremely shrewd and composed Demon King. If Song Qiumo stayed, the Demon King might spend a large sum to hire another Demon King to keep her occupied.
Therefore, Li Hao felt she didn't need to stay and waste her time here.
Defending the Heavenly Gate Pass was a private matter he had taken on, and he did not want to involve too many people.
Song Qiumo remained silent, eating her meal quietly. After finishing, she looked up at Li Hao and said, "Since you put it that way, I'll leave today."
Li Hao sighed with relief and said, "When you return, please convey my greetings to the Palace Master."
"Sure."
Song Qiumo nodded, agreeing readily this time.
After the meal, she packed up the small trinkets she had bought during her time there, items she had purchased while procuring supplies from nearby cities, such as silk headbands and jingling bracelets.
Song Qiumo gathered her things and bid Li Hao farewell.
"Aren't you regretful?"
Li Hongzhuang accompanied Li Hao to see her off. Once Song Qiumo's figure disappeared into the horizon, Li Hongzhuang turned to Li Hao and asked.
"Regretful?"
Li Hao was puzzled.
"Deep down, you must still hope she could stay, right?" Li Hongzhuang whispered.
Li Hao smiled and shook his head slightly. "You're wrong. I'm genuinely happy she's leaving. At least she won't face any danger."
"Really?"
Li Hongzhuang was slightly surprised and gazed at Li Hao intently.
Li Hao said, "If it were possible, I'd hope you could leave too. You don't need to stay and face the same fate. I might be able to escape, but you might not."
Li Hongzhuang frowned slightly, looking at Li Hao. "Do you have any other plans? Relying on that senior alone might not be enough. Unless he's like Second Uncle, who has reached the Ultimate Mastery Realm, he might be able to suppress them with a single punch."
The Fourth Establishment Realm has four levels, each with a significant gap. Li Hongzhuang couldn't determine what level that senior was at.
"Only one plan."
"What is it?"
"Run if we can't fight."
"..."
Li Hao smiled and returned to the camp.
Li Hongzhuang quickly caught up and said seriously, "This isn't the time for jokes. Why don't you go find Fourth Uncle first? If Uncle Xiaoran steps in, ordinary Fourth Establishment Realm demons won't stand a chance."
Li Hao's eyes flickered, and he shook his head slightly. When he left the Li Family, he had nothing but the clothes on his back, not even taking his famous sword, Eternal Night, because he didn't want to take anything from the Li Family or rely on their connections.
"This isn't the time to be stubborn!"
Seeing Li Hao shake his head, Li Hongzhuang hurriedly said, "We speculated earlier that if the Myriad Mountains Demon King comes, we might face three Demon Kings. If they attack in pairs, even that senior might be held off for a moment, giving the third one the chance to kill you!"
"I understand."
Li Hao looked at her calmly. "That's why I said, if things go wrong, I'll run. As for you, you might become a liability. If you don't want to die, you'd better leave as soon as possible."
"By the time you realize it, it'll be too late", Li Hongzhuang said anxiously.
Li Hao shook his head slightly and didn't say more.
Seeing Li Hao's stubbornness, Li Hongzhuang sighed and began packing her things. "I can't persuade you. I'll go back to Qingzhou to find your father, Second Uncle, and Fifth Uncle to try and talk some sense into you. I hope the Myriad Mountains Demon King hasn't already arrived by then."
Li Hao found her persistence both helpless and speechless, shaking his head and not bothering to respond.
After packing her things, Li Hongzhuang left. No one could withstand the Myriad Mountains Demon King's wrath. Staying here would only make her a burden, as Li Hao had said.
On the other side, Li He was in a panic, sending messages to Qingzhou one after another, but they were like stones cast into the sea, with no response.
He didn't know what the Duke Rank was thinking, but his order was to protect Li Hao. He couldn't leave easily like Li Hongzhuang.
At this moment, Li He was considering whether to knock Li Hao out and take him away by force.
But after the battle in Daiyue City, he knew he was no match for this young master. When the demons attacked, it was uncertain who would protect whom.
As he was contemplating whether to ambush Li Hao, suddenly, his vision went dark.
He then fell straight into the snow, face first.
Feng Boping's figure emerged from behind Li He, casually patting him and said to Li Hao, "This old stubborn man from the Li Family's secondary lineage is just like the rest of them. I had to send him away."
Li He, who had been thinking about how to knock Li Hao out and carry him away, was now the one who had been knocked out.
Li Hao smiled and handed Li He over to Ren Qianqian. "There are fast horses in this camp. Take him away from Liangzhou. You can go anywhere, but it's best to go to Qizhou and wait for me in Cangyu City."
Ren Qianqian's face was full of worry. She wanted to persuade him, but after seeing Song Qiumo and Li Hongzhuang's repeated attempts, she knew this young man's resolve wouldn't waver.
She could only agree, looking at Li Hao intently. "Young Master, I'll wait for you in Cangyu City. You must stay alive!"
Li Hao looked into the girl's clear, lake-like eyes, feeling the pure concern in them, and smiled. "Don't worry. You've been learning swordsmanship from me, and I haven't taught you the true Sword Art yet. I won't die so easily!"
Ren Qianqian bit her lip lightly and remained silent.
Even if you don't teach me the Sword Art, I don't want to see you die... She gazed deeply at Li Hao, but these words remained unspoken in her heart.
There were no more words of farewell. Li Hao patted the Crimson Blood Horse's rump, sending the young girl on her way.
Li He's body was also carried on the horse, leaving together along the Dragon Pass Road.
This Dragon Pass Road had been cleared by Li Hao. Although Demons occasionally passed through within the past half year, they were all killed, making it relatively safe.
"Little one, if something happens to me, find a cave in this wilderness and cultivate on your own."
Li Hao lowered his head and looked at the Little White Fox, who was hugging him tightly with her tiny paws.
The Little White Fox looked up, her eyes filled with a pitiful gaze, and let out a peculiar bleat.
Li Hao returned to the small walled courtyard. With the others' departure, the courtyard suddenly felt somewhat empty.
The snowy ground beside him no longer held the figure of the girl practicing her sword skills.
The side bedroom no longer held Song Qiumo's captivating figure.
The lone grave in the distance no longer held the red-clad figure quietly drinking wine.
"Old Feng, you've never fished for a Demon King, right?"
Li Hao glanced at the old man leaning on the Master's chair in the courtyard, smiling. Years of friendship had made them close, like old friends from different generations, and the debts between them were too deep to express in thanks.
"Sure, we can give it a try this time."
Feng Boping chuckled, holding a jug of wine and gently shaking it.
Li Hao sat beside him, took a couple of sips, and asked, "Old Feng, you've been here for so long, but you've never urged me to cultivate."
He knew that in the eyes of others, his daily behavior seemed frivolous. When he was in the mansion, he had some reservations, but here, he was completely relaxed.
He had let go of "cultivation."
"Cultivation is for happiness. If you're happy, why bother with cultivation?"
Feng Boping chuckled.
Li Hao had long known that Old Feng was a carefree and free-spirited person, not bound by trivial matters. Hearing these words, he turned to look at him, then smiled.
"If I could become a bit stronger, you wouldn't have to work so hard."
Feng Boping shook his head slightly, his expression calm. "Three years of trials are nothing to speak of."
Li Hao looked at him and said nothing.
The old man and the young man quietly drank their wine, gazing at the snowy landscape. Although there were fewer people in the courtyard, it felt more peaceful.
To prepare for the arrival of the Myriad Mountains Demon King, Li Hao and Old Feng had made some arrangements, secretly laying down many traps outside the Heavenly Gate Pass.
Both were skilled at fishing and were waiting for the Demon King's arrival.
Whether they could match him would depend on what they could catch and how big it was.
If the line snapped, they would have to let it go.
Another half month passed quickly.
Li Hao sat on the mountaintop, bathed in the cold wind.
Today's wind seemed particularly strong and cold.
Li Hao sat quietly, the Little White Fox curled up in his arms.
With Li Hao's physique, he naturally didn't mind the slight cold. He watched the snowflakes, carried by the cold wind, drift down from the sky, swirling and floating, landing on everything in sight.
Suddenly, a profound sense of enlightenment washed over him.
The accumulated thoughts and insights from the past days, and the repeated flashes of inspiration that had knocked on his heart's door, finally broke through the final barrier.
Li Hao had a sudden realization.
He suddenly understood what he had been tirelessly pursuing.
He also suddenly understood the common thread that connected all things in this vast world.
—It was a breath!
Mountains, rivers, birds, and beasts, all living things, moved because of this breath!
Martial Artists cultivated in the same way.
Ordinary people lived by this breath.
Martial Artists used Qi Power to travel through the major meridians, harnessing their strength.
Emotions and desires were all a matter of this breath.
All life and growth were a matter of this breath!
But this breath was not the ordinary breath understood by common people. It was a breath of the universe!
This breath could give rise to all things, nurture all things, and transform into mountains, rivers, birds, and beasts, and all life in the world!
Li Hao closed his eyes, and his entire body's energy rapidly contracted and transformed, merging with the universe.
This feeling was similar to cultivation, but not quite the same.
His internal Qi Power merged with the universe, dispersing and transforming under the universe's refinement, like a pure and radiant light.
This light was ethereal and illusory, as if it didn't exist in the real world.
Li Hao gifted all his Qi Power to the universe, then asked the universe for a breath, which he integrated into himself.
Li Hao called this breath Immortal Qi.
Grandmaster limit, Land Immortal Realm, achieved!
(End of Chapter)
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