https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-382-Ascension-to-Emperor-the-God-King-s-Invitation-Part-2-/13450705/
Chapter 383: The Final Pulse, Lord of the Stars
Chapter 383: The Final Pulse, Lord of the Stars
Li Hao's words were a clear refusal.
But Ying Xiaoxiao didn't get angry. Li Hao's ability to resist temptation brought a sense of relief to her. In her eyes, this young man had always been different from others, even in the Mortal World. Fame and wealth seemed to hold no sway over him, and he remained the same now as he always had.
However, losing Li Hao's assistance would be a significant loss for the Divine Race in this campaign.
She fell silent for a moment, then fixed her gaze on Li Hao. "If it weren't the Assassination Primordial Ancestor, but rather helping our Divine Race to fend off a few Three Calamities Sages, would you be willing to help?"
"If that's the case, just bring the Three Calamities Sages you need to deal with here. If they still cause trouble, I'll help you take care of them."
Li Hao said.
Hearing this, Ying Xiaoxiao understood Li Hao's thoughts. He didn't want to get involved in the conflict between the Primordial Ancestor and the Divine Race. This decision was likely out of consideration for her feelings. Thinking of this, she felt both warmth and a sense of guilt, and said:
"This time, the Primordial Ancestor will likely invite you to join the Catastrophe. Would you agree to his request?"
Li Hao shook his head slightly. "This is your business. I plan to enter seclusion soon and don't want to get involved in these matters."
Ying Xiaoxiao breathed a silent sigh of relief. She hoped Li Hao would stay out of it, as too many of their people had already been sacrificed when the Ancestor was reborn.
"I understand. Farewell, take care of yourself."
Ying Xiaoxiao said, giving Li Hao a deep look. She knew this might be their final farewell. The next time they met, who knew what the situation would be, or if they would meet again at all.
After all, in this Catastrophe, as the Divine Maiden, she could not abandon the battle. If the Ancestor were to lose again, she would also perish. But their race had been hiding in the shadows for too long, preferring a glorious demise to a life of perpetual fear and humiliation.
Ying Xiaoxiao left, and Li Hao watched her depart. He could still smell the faint floral scent lingering in the air, a fragrance that came from her clothes.
He fell silent for a moment, knowing the weight of the mission this woman carried. Yet, despite her purpose, she hadn't put him in any difficult position.
"Sages are not immune to the mundane—fame, wealth, grudges, and achievements. Can you truly sever all these ties...?"
Li Hao murmured to himself.
The imperial sword appeared from the void, seeming to sense Li Hao's mood, and responded with a soft hum.
Li Hao retracted his gaze, turned, and returned to the small courtyard to continue his cultivation.
Meanwhile, Ying Xiaoxiao returned to the Divine Race's secret Divine Temple.
"Where is the Ancestor?"
Ying Xiaoxiao saw many Elders and her Grandmother inside the Divine Temple, but the Ancestor was nowhere to be found. She couldn't help but ask.
"The Ancestor has gone to meet its mount, the Fiery Dragon Beast", Ying Xiaoxiao's grandmother, Ying Blue Frost, replied gently. She then noticed a slight change in Ying Xiaoxiao's expression and asked, "What's wrong? Did Hao Tian refuse? Was he dissatisfied with the terms? Did you tell him about the Divine Realm? Although his talent is extremely high, to truly reach the level of a Primordial Ancestor or match the power of other Supreme Sages, talent alone is far from enough. He needs a solid foundation!"
"This is a rare opportunity for him. If the Ancestor is willing to grant him that Extreme Dao Power, it will be enough to help him step into the Divine Realm!"
Reaching the Divine Realm would be a leap to the heavens, making him a significant figure among the Supreme Sages.
Such an offer was highly tempting.
Ying Xiaoxiao naturally understood this, but hearing her grandmother's words, she didn't rush to explain. Instead, a hint of bitterness appeared in her eyes, and she said softly:
"Grandmother, if he agrees, will the Ancestor really give him that Extreme Dao Power?"
Hearing this, Ying Blue Frost was taken aback.
Before the Ancestor was reborn, she had been in charge of the Divine Race. Her thoughts were far from simple. Her expression changed, and she said, "Xiaoxiao, what are you saying? Whatever the Ancestor decides, there is a reason. You shouldn't question or overthink it!"
Her tone grew stern as she spoke.
Ying Xiaoxiao felt a pang of discomfort seeing her usually gentle and indulgent grandmother's stern side. She hadn't tried hard to invite Li Hao not just because she didn't want him to get involved in such dangerous matters, but because she had a hunch that if he truly agreed, he might end up as a mere pawn.
When Ancestor made her swear by the Dao Heart, she had a vague sense that something was amiss. She wasn't foolish; in fact, she was extremely perceptive and sensitive to certain things. This perception led her to believe she could understand the young man's heart.
It was as if she could vaguely see through Ancestor's heart, realizing it wasn't as kind and gentle as she had imagined in her childhood.
Perhaps, years of pent-up hatred had twisted and clouded his original character.
However, as a descendant, the teachings from her youth and the beliefs ingrained in her made her reluctant to speculate further.
Ying Xiaoxiao lowered her head, seemingly accepting Grandmother's reprimand. After a while, she said, "I told him about the Divine Realm and the difficulty of achieving it. This is a great opportunity, but he seems to have little interest and doesn't want to get involved in this matter."
Ying Bluefrost frowned and gazed at her, saying, "Xiaoxiao, this is a matter of our race. I hope you won't let personal feelings interfere. Remember, you are our Divine Maiden, bearing the mission of our clan. Ancestor's invitation is sincere. If he agrees, it will only benefit him. While there is risk, even if the assassination fails and he loses this path, Ancestor will immediately confront the Primordial Ancestor. At that time, the Primordial Ancestor will be too preoccupied to target him, so he won't be in danger."
Ying Xiaoxiao's eyes grew even more bitter.
She took a deep breath and shook her head. "Grandmother, he truly has no interest."
"Did you tell him that if he agrees, you would be betrothed to him, uniting our Divine Race with his? This way, he would become our race's son-in-law, and if the Divine Race rules All Heavens, he would certainly benefit", Ying Bluefrost said, looking earnestly into her eyes.
Ying Xiaoxiao's eyes flickered, and she turned away. "I didn't mention it."
"Why not?" Ying Bluefrost's expression changed, a trace of anger in her voice.
"I've only met him a few times. Such a proposal wouldn't matter to him."
Ying Xiaoxiao replied.
"But you bear the burden of the Divine Race. This is a strategic alliance, and you know that."
Ying Bluefrost said, her anger evident.
Ying Xiaoxiao bit her lip lightly. It was precisely because it was a strategic alliance that she was unwilling. She didn't want to be used as a bargaining chip, nor did she want to be rejected. She knew the young man's heart; even the Extreme Dao Divine Realm couldn't sway him. Adding another condition wouldn't necessarily tip the balance. Instead, it would make her seem cheap, something she was unwilling to do.
"You are being foolish..."
Ying Bluefrost, seeing her stubborn expression, was both angry and helpless. She sighed, "I blame myself for being too lenient with you in the past and not disciplining you properly. This is a significant matter that our clan has been planning for countless years. How can you act based on personal preferences? How can you make the deceased Elders and Uncle Mo rest in peace?"
Ying Xiaoxiao's heart ached when she mentioned Uncle Mo. She lowered her head and remained silent.
At that moment, a series of ripples appeared in the void above the Divine Temple.
Suddenly, a towering figure stepped out, his body seemingly ablaze with flames, radiating an aura of authority.
Simultaneously, a strange, destructive aura emerged, accompanied by a hoarse dragon's roar. Apart from the god king, a massive Dragon Race creature stood beside him, exuding an ancient and wild aura. Its eyes, like the core of a divine yang, burned with fierce flames, distorting the air and containing intense Laws. Its scales were dark crimson, like blood so deep it had reached its ultimate form, exuding a bloody and murderous aura.
Ying Xiaoxiao and Ying Bluefrost were familiar with this dragon beast from the murals. It was Ancestor's companion from his battles, known to their descendants as the Torch Dragon Deity.
According to legend, the Torch Dragon Deity and the Dragon Saint of Dragon Ancestor Holy Land were twin brothers. One retreated into the rivers and seas, achieving the rank of Dragon Saint, while the other pursued the sun and moon, becoming a Dragon Deity!
The Dragon Saint established the Holy Land, protecting all the scaled creatures, carving out a place in the Upper Three Realms.
The Dragon Deity followed the god king, fighting in the All Heavens war. After the god king's fall, the Dragon Deity was sealed away and disappeared.
"Ancestor!"
Ying Bluefrost and Ying Xiaoxiao, upon seeing Ancestor and the Torch Dragon Deity, hurriedly knelt and paid their respects.
Many Elders in the hall also looked over and quickly bowed with reverence, their expressions agitated.
Not only had Ancestor returned, but the long-lost Torch Dragon Deity had been brought back as well. It seemed the Divine Race was returning to its most prosperous era, the mythic age recorded in their clan's history!
The god king's gaze fell on Ying Xiaoxiao. "How did the task I entrusted to you go? Was the other party satisfied with the conditions?"
Ying Xiaoxiao's face paled slightly, and she lowered her head even more. "He didn't agree, saying he doesn't want to get involved in these matters."
"Hmm?"
The God King's expression turned cold and stern. "Did you tell him about the Divine Realm? Does he understand what a rare opportunity this is, equivalent to tens of thousands of years of his own arduous cultivation? This is something that talent alone cannot make up for; it requires the passage of time!"
Ying Xiaoxiao lowered her head. "I did, but he has no interest in joining the war and is unwilling to take the risk."
"Hmph!"
The God King's eyes flashed with a cold light. "I heard he ascended to cultivation before the age of thirty, relying on his extraordinary talent. Indeed, he has the arrogance to match, but I didn't expect him to be a coward. It's laughable that he wouldn't even try to seize such an opportunity!"
With that, he said coldly, "Since he refuses to help and has also declined our offer of marriage, once we subdue the Primordial Ancestor, I will personally pay this talent a visit!"
His eyes were filled with anger and a killing intent. If not for the ongoing war, he would have eliminated such a person preemptively.
Ying Xiaoxiao, sensing the murderous intent in the Ancestor's words, turned even paler. She bit her lip and said, "Ancestor, it's my fault. I didn't mention the marriage proposal. He has no ill will toward our clan; he just doesn't want to get involved in the conflict. Please don't blame him."
"Hmm?"
The God King's eyes grew even colder. "Are you defying my orders?"
A terrifying Extreme Dao Power emanated from him, dark waves rippling out, and a chilling intimidation enveloped the Divine Temple. Many Elders trembled in fear, yet their eyes gleamed with excitement.
The stronger the Ancestor, the more excited they became.
Under this overwhelming intimidation, Ying Xiaoxiao felt her Extreme Dao Power sealed, her entire body trembling. Her face turned pale as she said, "Ancestor, I didn't mean to defy you. I just thought it would be useless to propose it. I am willing to accept any punishment..."
"Are you thinking that, with the war imminent, I won't dare to punish you severely?"
The God King's eyes were like sharp swords, piercing through her, filled with authority and coldness.
Ying Xiaoxiao bit her lip and remained silent. The Blue Frost, who was kneeling in front of her, quickly intervened, "Ancestor, Xiaoxiao was momentarily confused. Please spare her. She didn't mean to defy you. Over the years, Xiaoxiao has worked tirelessly for the Divine Race, rescuing many Elders and making significant contributions..."
Ying Xiaoxiao, seeing her grandmother, who had just been sternly scolding her, now pleading on her behalf with a look of worry, bit her lip even harder, feeling a pang of pain.
"Hmph!"
The God King coldly interrupted Blue Frost but his eyes softened slightly when he looked at Ying Xiaoxiao. He said indifferently, "Since this person knows about the Divine Race, he is already involved in this conflict. Do you realize that his refusal to join us might mean the Primordial Ancestor has already approached him? Even if not, if the Primordial Ancestor invites him to assist during the war, what then?"
Ying Xiaoxiao quickly replied, "He said he doesn't want to get involved. Even if the Primordial Ancestor invites him, he will refuse."
"Did he say that himself?"
"Yes."
"Ridiculous!"
The God King's eyes turned stern. "Would he refuse without the Primordial Ancestor offering any conditions? If the Primordial Ancestor promises him more favorable terms, countless incense offerings, would he still refuse?"
Ying Xiaoxiao was taken aback but quickly shook her head. "He will refuse."
The God King, seeing her determined expression, almost laughed in frustration. "How can you be so sure? You're not him. Perhaps it's not that our offer wasn't tempting enough, but that he believes the Divine Race is weak. After all, with the Primordial Ancestor leading the All Heavens Sages, their alliance is powerful. His refusal to help us doesn't mean he won't help the Primordial Ancestor!"
Ying Xiaoxiao fell silent. The young man's face, their conversations, and their encounters in the Mortal World, including the laughter by the wattle yard's bonfire, flashed through her mind. Her eyes became resolute. "He won't."
"Who would have thought that my bloodline would produce a madwoman?"
The God King's eyes were filled with mockery. Clearly, he found Ying Xiaoxiao's certainty laughable. How could human hearts be constant?
Back in the day, he and the Primordial Ancestor had once shared a table, calling each other brothers. Later, they broke ties and became mortal enemies. The sincerity they once shared over drinks turned into the sharp sword that pierced his heart.
The human heart... he had long seen through it, and long stopped believing in it!
Instead of trusting those so-called emotions, he placed his faith in the tangible Power he held in his hands.
Only through intimidation, only through Power, could one more easily gain submission.
How many people would come to his aid, no matter how much he poured his heart and soul into kindness and benevolence?
That battle was earth-shattering, not only shattering his divine body but also his divine heart.
Those many Sages who once called him brother watched him fall with indifference. In their eyes, he saw fear and coldness, but not a trace of the former camaraderie.
Sages... their hypocritical faces, he would tear apart!
This was the reason he had returned at any cost, to seek revenge!
"If you trust him more than me, then I will wait. I will wait to see if he stands by the Primordial Ancestor, and if he will draw his sword against you!"
The God King sneered, a hint of mockery in his eyes as he looked at the kneeling woman. In her eyes, he saw a reflection of his own former self, once so naive and foolish.
Is this my bloodline? It seems to be, but I am no longer the same person I once was!
Seeing that the Ancestor did not punish him, Ying Xiaoxiao visibly relaxed, though a sigh escaped her heart.
"Old Ying, I'm hungry. Trapped there for so long, my Divine Blood has run dry, and I need to replenish it..."
At that moment, the nearby Li Huozhu Long spoke, his voice hoarse and tinged with hunger. His eyes fell on Ying Xiaoxiao and the others below, a glint of light in them.
The God King immediately understood his meaning and knew that his old companion had indeed suffered.
He paused for a moment and then said to Ying Xiaoxiao, "Prepare a live sacrifice. Select a group of Semi-Saints to help Li Huozhu Long recover his strength."
Hearing his words, Ying Xiaoxiao froze, her face turning pale as she looked up at the Dragon God.
The mighty dragon god she had heard about as a child, the one who protected their clan and fought against the Sages, now stared at her with a piercing gaze.
In the flickering flames of his eyes, she saw greed and hunger.
Ying Xiaoxiao hesitated for a moment before nodding in agreement.
She knew that their Divine Race contained Divine Blood and Divine Power. The Ancestor and the Dragon God were both at the Ultimate Limit of Force Mastery, and they needed this same-source Power to recover.
If they could contribute to this great battle, many of their clan members would likely be willing.
...
In the Little Thousand World, within the Heaven Stealing Holy Land.
After Ying Xiaoxiao left, Li Hao returned to the small courtyard and continued his daily cultivation.
Apart from refining Qi Veins, he occasionally played chess with Hongyue, cooked some delicious meals, and delved deeper into the Dao of Cooking.
His experience in the Dao of Cooking was already full. If he could comprehend the Cooking Saint Path, his Sword Dao could also break through to the Tenth Rank. At that point, his Sword Art would advance further, and he could cultivate the Guiding Sword Technique to the second level, the Ultimate Realm.
Among the three levels of the immortal-grade Sword Art, reaching the Ultimate Realm was a rarity, a true monster among billions. It meant that the Sword Art had truly reached the legendary levels of Ultimate Sword Techniques!
Now, he had only touched upon the essence, the shadow of the Ultimate Sword Technique.
Even so, to Sword Saints like Bian Ruxue, who had never seen a true Ultimate Sword Technique, his Divine Guidance was already the pinnacle of Sword Art.
Now, Li Hao was also interested in seeing a true Ultimate Sword Technique.
As for the third level, the Origin, it was even more terrifying.
As time passed, the number of Qi Veins Li Hao condensed grew, and the power within him accumulated, becoming more formidable. Every movement he made subtly influenced the Power of the All Heavens' Stars.
Even without activating the Heavenly Stars Vein, Li Hao could condense a vast amount of power within his body at any time, enough to suppress the Three Calamities Sage with a single strike.
In the blink of an eye, half a year had passed.
The number of Qi Veins in Li Hao's body had reached 1,464.
As the Qi Veins condensed, he vaguely sensed that these numerous Qi Veins seemed to form a pattern, aligning with the various positions of the All Heavens, creating some kind of array!
“It seems… I’m approaching the Limit.”
The more Qi Veins condensed, the clearer Li Hao’s feeling became. Now, he sensed that he was just one step away.
This filled him with regret. He had thought he could align with the countless stars of the All Heavens, but it seemed there was still a Limit.
Li Hao decided to push through and achieve this final Limit.
He wanted to see what the true Ultimate Limit would bring.
Previously, he had touched the Heavenly Stars Vein, but it was only during the cultivation of the Ultimate Limit, and he had not yet reached it. Now, he was just one step away.
Soon, with his Soul Spirit’s comprehension, a Qi Vein slowly condensed.
As this Qi Vein formed, it seemed to activate all the All Heavens Stars Qi Veins. Like invisible spider webs surrounding him from all directions, countless threads aligned with various positions, completely enveloping his body.
The newly condensed Qi Vein acted as an array’s focal point, activating the entire Stars array.
The 1,465 Qi Veins underwent transformation and change, and the All Heavens Stars seemed to connect with Li Hao’s body at that moment.
Li Hao clearly felt the power of the stars flowing through him, with waves of their primal force surging into his body.
Among these, some Qi Veins underwent changes.
Seven Qi Veins transformed into what seemed like Dragon Bones, extending into his body and supporting it!
With these seven “Dragon Bone Qi Veins” supporting him, he felt as though he were seated between Heaven and Earth, his body bearing the weight of the All Heavens Stars, and those seven Dragon Bone Qi Veins were his core spine!
Besides these seven Dragon Bone Qi Veins, other Qi Veins also changed, becoming thick veins and flesh, continuously conveying the primal power of the stars, which contained formidable might and a trace of the Will of the Stars!
This Will was akin to a tiny fragment of Heavenly Dao Power.
Li Hao was moved. According to his understanding from his past life, the world he lived in should also be a massive star.
But here, this star possessed the Will of the Heavenly Dao, while the countless other stars were lifeless. Now, even those lifeless stars were transmitting a faint Will.
This Will entrusted the primal power of the stars to Li Hao’s body, passing it on to him.
At this moment, Li Hao felt like the Incarnation of the Lord of the Stars.
The Qi Veins that conveyed the primal power of the stars transformed into star pulses, totaling 28!
Li Hao thought of the star constellation theory from the Celestial Observatory of the Divine Dynasty: the Three Enclosures, Four Symbols, and Twenty-Eight Mansions.
Now, it seemed to perfectly correspond to the number of Qi Veins within his body.
“These 28 star pulses correspond to the power of the 28 star constellations. This power is enough to rival that of a Supreme Sage!”
“And those seven Dragon Bone Qi Veins can resonate with the countless stars at any time…”
Li Hao felt that if he were to fully activate this second Ultimate Limit, the resulting special state would be extremely formidable.
At that time, he could Incarnate as the Star Lord, commanding the power of the countless stars. If a Supreme Sage did not rely on a Dao Tribulation Imperial Weapon, Li Hao felt he could challenge them, perhaps even becoming Invincible!
Though he was just a newly ascended Holy Saint who had recently passed the Human Tribulation, he already had the capital to face a Supreme Sage.
However, a Supreme Sage possessed not only cultivation but also formidable reserves, and the might of a Six Tribulation Imperial Weapon was something Li Hao had never experienced, leaving him with little confidence.
He still needed to become stronger to truly make up for the vast reserves accumulated over the long years.
Li Hao carefully sensed the power within his body and the vast might of the stars. This power was something the Holy Capitals had never touched, and the changes brought by the second Ultimate Limit included not only boundless power but also a significant boost in strength.
But this also meant that Li Hao’s Zhou Tian Realm had reached its ultimate point.
If he were to cultivate only the Zhou Tian Realm, it would be hard to imagine how he could reach this Ultimate Limit. He would need to cultivate other realms and then return to refine this one.
(End of Chapter)
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