https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-404-A-Decade-of-Defense-Returning-to-the-Holy-Land-Part-1-/13451569/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-405-All-Heavens-as-Enemies-Beyond-the-Thirty-Three-Heavens-Part-1-/13451571/
Chapter 404: A Decade of Defense, Returning to the Holy Land (Part 2)
Chapter 404: A Decade of Defense, Returning to the Holy Land (Monthly Votes Request!) (Part 2)
Among the many wealthy young masters, he was something of an oddity. However, due to his illustrious family background, no one dared to criticize him.
Even without serious cultivation, he possessed the constitution bestowed by the saints and some rare treasures that were quietly added to his diet. As a result, the second Holy Infant, despite never seriously cultivating and even disliking it, managed to reach the Tianren Realm by the age of twenty.
This performance was considered top-notch, though it couldn't compare to the first Holy Infant's stunning achievements.
However, considering he had never taken cultivation seriously and still reached this level, it was indeed quite terrifying.
This was the result of the saints' control.
By this point, the saints were paying even closer attention to the Mortal World.
At the same time.
Two years had passed outside the Mysterious Mother Gate.
During these two years, Li Hao had successively slain several ancient demons, and the number of ancient demon fiefs he had occupied continued to grow.
With the increasing frequency of ancient demons wandering here and being eliminated, Li Hao felt that this place could be exposed at any moment.
The ancient demon corpses he had in his possession had long been cooked and consumed.
Now, he no longer needed to spend time cooking, leaving him free to focus on Sculpture enlightenment and studying the gaps in the Mysterious Mother Gate's patterns.
After much contemplation and exploration, Li Hao had a basic understanding of the patterns, though it was still very rudimentary. The power within these patterns was similar to the Chaos Divine Fire, originating from the roots of Heaven and Earth. Li Hao referred to it as Chaos Laws or Heavenly Dao Laws.
He couldn't repair the patterns according to their original design; the gap between his realm and the Immortal Emperor's was too vast. He could only use his own methods to patch it up, infusing it with his own power.
However, Li Hao was not proficient in arrays and was unfamiliar with restrictions, both of which were necessary to seal the gap.
But a living person can't be held back by a lack of knowledge. Though Li Hao didn't understand arrays, his understanding of his Physical Body to Sagehood was extraordinary.
He chose to use a part of his body to block the gap.
Like a finger.
There was a reason he chose his body; it contained Immortal Power.
If he used his body to block the gap, he would be the first to know if the Mysterious Mother Gate was under attack. Additionally, only a True Immortal would have the power to break through the gap and destroy his body.
He couldn't channel his Immortal Power outside his body, as it would transform into vast Heavenly and Earthly Power. However, he could use his body directly.
Excited by this brilliant idea, Li Hao felt a surge of enthusiasm. While this method could still be breached by an ancient demon leader, it was the best he could do at the moment.
Next, he needed to find a way to hide the Mysterious Mother Gate.
Li Hao gathered more rocks to cover the area, making the disguise as natural as possible.
Additionally, he left his Shadow Clone to guard the place.
With his current Soul Spirit strength, even though the Shadow Clone could only inherit one-third of his power, its Soul Spirit power was still formidable.
By having the Shadow Clone's Soul Spirit envelop the area, a second-stage ancient demon might not even sense it, unless it was a first-stage ancient demon leader.
However, the Mysterious Mother Gate's own power could withstand a first-stage ancient demon.
A True Immortal could not enter.
Therefore, in the worst-case scenario, even if the place was discovered and his defenses breached, only second-stage and third-stage ancient demons could enter the Land of Sages.
"Staying here any longer serves no purpose. If an Ancient Demon Commander really arrives, it's fate."
Li Hao gazed at the Mysterious Mother Gate, his eyes filled with longing.
It had been too long.
He calculated that he had spent twelve years here, fighting alongside Nangong Jian and then staying on his own.
After all, he had only been in his late twenties when he arrived.
"Twelve years, and those guys are probably still behind the door."
Li Hao's eyes flickered. The lifespan of a Sage was long, and the Holy Capitals had existed for thousands of years, some even longer, like the Primordial Ancestor, who might have lived for a hundred thousand years.
For them, twelve years were but a fleeting moment.
"However, these twelve years must have been quite difficult for them."
Li Hao couldn't help but smile as he thought about the anxiety and tension the saints must be feeling.
However, the Immortal God Path was completely different from what they had imagined.
Li Hao shook his head slightly, entrusting the task to his Shadow Clone. Then, he had his Physical Body transcend to immortality, merging with Heaven and Earth, and slipping through the gap in the crack.
But before he went through, he extracted a first-rank Physical Body cell. After he passed through, he would use that part to fill the gap, a task that only Immortal Power could accomplish.
...
As Li Hao traversed, in the starry sky of the Ancient Hall.
In front of the Mysterious Mother Gate, the saints sat in silent meditation, their minds focused on the second Holy Infant in the Mortal World.
One year here was equivalent to ten years in the Mortal World. If another year passed, they would be able to discern whether this Holy Infant could comprehend the peak of the Heavenly Human stage.
After all, the Holy Infant had already reached the Tianren Realm, and they had dispatched disciples to subtly influence and guide them.
Suddenly, the Primordial Ancestor and the God King, who were sitting cross-legged, opened their eyes sharply.
They sensed a powerful and profound aura, one that was not of a Sage but of a power that surpassed Holy Power.
"An Immortal Deity?!"
Both of them looked up abruptly, their gazes fixed on the ancient Immortal Gate.
They saw a power seeping through from outside the Immortal Gate. This power was terrifyingly vast and overwhelming, making their hearts race and their eyes widen in shock. Their breathing became rapid.
Was an Immortal Deity descending into this world from the other side of the gate?
Was it here to meet them?!
The Primordial Ancestor's eyes shifted from shock to excitement, and his entire body began to tremble.
At this moment, the other Sages, though slightly slower to react, also sensed the aura.
"An Immortal Deity?"
The Holy Capital was stunned. Was an Immortal Deity truly descending?
After waiting for twelve years, they hadn't seen the Holy Infant grow, but now an Immortal Deity was personally descending into this world?!
Everyone became incredibly excited, their eyes fixed on the gate, where the vast aura was emanating from.
Soon, the aura began to contract, gradually revealing a familiar presence.
The Primordial Ancestor, who had been excited, suddenly changed his expression, his face showing a mix of shock and disbelief as he slowly widened his eyes.
It's him?
In just twelve years... Could he have become an Immortal Deity?!
His heart felt as if it had been suddenly gripped, a feeling that was indescribable.
Soon, the aura condensed, transforming from the vast power of Heaven and Earth into a physical form. As the form took shape, Li Hao's aura became apparent.
The saints, who had been in shock, now stared in disbelief as Li Hao's form gradually materialized. The entire scene fell silent.
It's really Li Hao!
He's back!
In the crowd, the Sword Master was stunned, then a smile of relief spread across his face.
The Sword Saint, on the other hand, was utterly astonished. He had never expected that the overwhelming power he had just sensed was actually Li Hao.
As they finally saw Li Hao's clear form, the saints' expressions turned complex after their initial shock.
The Primordial Ancestor focused his gaze and quickly noticed that Li Hao's aura was still at the saint level. The grand and surging Immortal Power from before seemed to have vanished, almost as if it had been an illusion.
His eyes showed a thoughtful expression. If Li Hao were truly an Immortal Deity, there would be no need for him to hide it in front of them.
However, even standing there, Li Hao gave the impression of having undergone a significant change, a change that he could not discern. This filled him with a sense of envy. Was this the transformation brought about by the Immortal God World?
"Surprisingly, it's you."
The God King had already stood up, his gaze fixed on Li Hao with an extremely serious expression.
For Li Hao to dare return, he must have anticipated that they would be waiting here. Could it be that he was confident they couldn't pose a threat to him?
He could also sense a power within Li Hao that made him wary, which was quite remarkable.
"Indeed, you're still here, and it's quite lively."
Li Hao's gaze swept over the saints present, noting that their numbers were fewer than he had expected. However, his Soul Spirit was powerful, and through the crack behind him, he could sense that many Sage Incarnations were seated in the Ancient Hall, gathering the True Selves or Incarnations of most of the Land of Sages.
However, he didn't see Old Feng or the Lying Heaven Sage inside. Li Hao remembered they had said they didn't want to come, and it seemed they had indeed stayed away.
When Li Hao saw Sword Master, he realized that he was only an Incarnation here and couldn’t help but smile and nod at him.
"Hao Tian Zun, have you... obtained the Immortal Deity Secret Art already?"
At this moment, a Sage in the crowd couldn't help but ask.
The other Sages stared at Li Hao with complicated and fervent eyes.
Li Hao, noticing their gazes, frowned slightly. This made him somewhat uncomfortable, and he said calmly:
"Do the Sages still intend to make a move against me?"
"Hao Tian Zun, we have all been waiting for you. You can't monopolize the Immortal God Path. Cultivation is a matter of individual ability. Let us pass as well, won't you?"
A Sage quickly said.
The Primordial Ancestor and the God King remained silent, their eyes fixed on Li Hao, calculating.
Earlier, they had almost forced Li Hao into the gate. He likely harbored resentment, and they needed to find a way to make amends and clear the air.
Hearing the Sage's words, Li Hao couldn't help but find it amusing. If they knew the true nature of the Immortal God Path, they would probably flee in terror.
"What do you two think?"
Li Hao looked at the Primordial Ancestor and the God King calmly.
Seeing Li Hao's confident demeanor, the Primordial Ancestor knew that Li Hao must have some backing. He had many guesses—perhaps Li Hao had joined a Divine Sect, obtained a powerful Treasure, or mastered a terrifying Immortal Art. These possibilities made him somewhat wary. At this moment, he smiled warmly and said:
"Hao Tian Zun, it was all a misunderstanding. You know we were worried about your youth and inexperience. Now that things have come to this, speak your mind. What can we do to make you feel better? We will comply."
Li Hao laughed coldly and said, "Misunderstanding? The Primordial Ancestor sure knows how to talk, but if you want to make amends, there is a chance. Two hundred pieces of Heaven and Earth Treasures from each of you, and we'll consider this matter closed."
The Primordial Ancestor's face changed slightly, and the God King frowned.
"Hao Tian Zun, Heaven and Earth Treasures are extremely rare. Although I have accumulated some over the years, I have used most of them on my Imperial Weapon. I have a few left, but not two hundred."
The Primordial Ancestor said earnestly, trying to convince Li Hao.
The God King said in a low voice, "You know my situation. I have just returned and don't have that many Heaven and Earth Treasures. Don't be so greedy!"
Li Hao raised an eyebrow and said calmly, "If you don't have them, that's fine, but your tone is unpleasant."
"You..."
The God King clenched his fists in anger but, remembering that Li Hao controlled the Immortal Deity Gate and could enter and exit at will, while they were powerless to stop him, he held back.
"How about one hundred pieces each? That would be a great strain on us."
The Primordial Ancestor asked in a low voice, "If you are still unsatisfied, I can offer you something else. I can give you a century's worth of Incense from a Minor World. Although you are on the Path of Sacrificial Dao to Sagehood, Incense Power can still benefit you."
Li Hao's expression didn't change, but he knew that the Sages were telling the truth. Over a hundred pieces would indeed be a significant strain on them.
"What about you?"
Li Hao looked at the God King.
Seeing Li Hao tacitly accept the Primordial Ancestor's terms, the God King felt a slight relief. He thought, "I don't want to see his resources so depleted. I cultivate the Extreme Dao. If you need it, and they allow it, I can Massacre a world and give you Extremity Power. Additionally, you have a connection with my descendant. I can offer her to you in marriage."
Li Hao was taken aback, instantly realizing he was talking about Ying Xiaoxiao.
His face turned cold, and he said, "What do you see her as, a piece of property? You can just offer her in marriage like that?"
The God King was startled, finding Li Hao's anger inexplicable. He frowned and said, "I am her Ancestor. It is said that marriage is a matter of parental consent. As the Ancestor of the clan, my personal approval is a great honor for her."
"Are you saying that if I marry her, I have to call you Ancestor?"
Li Hao said with a cold laugh.
The God King also had a stern expression and said, "If you don't want to, there's no need to be so harsh."
Li Hao stared at him, saying nothing.
At this moment, the Sages looked at each other, all turning to the Primordial Ancestor. The Primordial Ancestor, however, remained silent, watching Li Hao.
He implicitly accepted the God King's proposal.
The Sages were not concerned about the God King's offer of marriage. To them, it was a minor matter, but the idea of Massacring a world to obtain Extremity Power for Li Hao was quite terrifying.
In the Thirty-Three Heavens, if the Massacre Path is included, it becomes the Thirty-Two Heavens.
Sword Master looked at Li Hao, his eyes hesitant and his mood complex.
He wanted to stop it. If it were anyone else, he would have raised objections.
But the beneficiary was Li Hao, and his feelings became conflicted. However, following his conscience, even if it was Li Hao, he didn't want the other party to use such means for cultivation.
After much contemplation and hesitation, he finally said, "Hao Tian... Primordial Ancestor..."
Sword Saint seemed to sense his senior brother's thoughts, his expression changed slightly, and he couldn't help but look at him.
Offending Li Hao at this moment would sever their Immortal Path.
But Sword Master didn't look at him. The Sword Dao in his heart refused to be tainted with regret.
The other Sages looked at Sword Master, their eyes filled with complexity.
Medicine Sage remained silent for a while, then raised his head to glance at Li Hao before turning to Primordial Ancestor and said,
"Primordial Ancestor, such actions are detrimental to the balance of heaven. Perhaps the god king should consider another method."
"That's right. A Minor World has countless inhabitants. When you executed the god king, wasn't it because his Extreme Dao cultivation was too inhumane? Are we now to follow the same path?"
At this moment, Wen Sheng also spoke in a low, solemn voice.
If he allowed such a thing, his Wenxin would shatter. The literary Dao he cultivated did not permit such a tragic event.
"Sacrificing the few to achieve the greater good, if necessary, is not entirely wrong. After all, they can still reincarnate."
A Sage beside him voiced opposition.
"Indeed, once we achieve immortality, we can open the path for this world. In the future, everyone can become an immortal. A temporary sacrifice of a Minor World is not too much to ask."
"Perhaps they will even thank us in the future."
Another Sage added.
Wen Sheng trembled with anger and retorted, "How can this be the same? Even if they can reincarnate, is the past life the same as the present? Think about it, you all have past lives, but do you consider yourselves the same as your past selves?"
Though the Sages present were not reincarnated sages, they were all reincarnated from mortals.
Hearing Wen Sheng's analogy, one Sage said, "For mortals who do not know good and evil, or the Heavenly Dao, life and death are merely disasters and suffering. For some, living is even more painful. As long as the process is swift enough to shorten their suffering, it is not considered a sin."
Wen Sheng was so angry that his liver quivered. He could argue both sides of the issue, but it was all for their own benefit, turning such a great evil into a seemingly virtuous act.
"Do you deserve the faith of your people?"
Wen Sheng couldn't help but ask.
Besides him, another Sage also stood up to agree.
Not all Sages present could condone such a heinous act.
However, Wen Sheng and Sword Master were in the minority.
Most of the Sages spoke up, and as the debate grew, more joined in, and their arguments became more exaggerated.
Li Hao listened to their words, finding them both laughable and tragic. In his eyes, the assembled Sages now resembled common folk, arguing over their own gains and losses.
Indeed, how many could truly let go of their desires, not compete, and be content with whatever they had?
If they could, they wouldn't have cultivated to the Sage realm.
To reach this level, one had to make great efforts and seize every Heavenly Opportunity.
Li Hao looked at Primordial Ancestor, who remained silent.
Law Saint, too, was silent, not uttering a word.
For them, achieving immortality seemed to outweigh the sacrifice of a Minor World.
Though the act was proposed by the god king, their silence was a form of consent.
Li Hao turned to Law Saint and asked, "What about you? What do you think? Does your path of law and order allow this?"
Law Saint didn't expect Li Hao to ask him. His expression darkened, and he replied, "The world is full of heavenly calamities and human disasters, which do not fall under the jurisdiction of law and order. The supreme Law Dao is the Heavenly Dao Law, which is based on the survival of the fittest. All things follow this principle: birds eat insects, and eagles eat birds."
Li Hao nodded. "This is your Law Dao, a self-serving Law Dao."
Law Saint's face turned red with anger, but he held back his wrath, wary of the consequences.
Li Hao felt disappointed, and even his excitement about returning began to fade. He said, "I do not need such extreme path power. There's no need for you all to argue over this."
Hearing Li Hao's words, the Holy Capital's Sages fell silent.
Wen Sheng and the few Sages who agreed with him showed signs of relief and respect in their eyes.
Previously, they didn't know Li Hao well, but his decision in this moment of great temptation revealed his true character.
Sword Master also sighed in relief. He had a hunch that Li Hao would refuse, but when Li Hao spoke, it confirmed his belief that he had not misjudged the man.
The other sages who had been arguing also grudgingly sighed in relief.
Although they had been in agreement, it was better if such a situation had never arisen. Human nature was indeed complex.
The God King said, "What compensation do you want?"
"Extremity Attack Secret Technique and Divine Race Bloodline Great Technique", Li Hao said calmly.
The first was a power the God King had developed himself, a technique of the extreme path. The second was the God King's ultimate trump card, capable of absorbing the power of his kin and converting it into his own, temporarily boosting his strength to unimaginable levels.
This was the true means by which the God King dared to challenge the Primordial Ancestor.
Li Hao had seen this in the Void Sky Abyss earlier. Mastering this technique would allow him to counter it. Apart from these, he had nothing else he needed.
The God King's face darkened when he heard Li Hao's words. Both techniques touched on the core of his power, especially the Bloodline Divine Technique, which was his strongest method.
"The Bloodline Divine Technique is out of the question, but I can give you the Extremity Attack Secret Technique. Additionally, I know of a Forbidden Area where there are top-tier immortal-grade divine medicines that can refine your Physical Body to higher levels on the Saint Path. How about we make this exchange?" the God King said.
Li Hao frowned slightly, looking at the God King's resolute expression. It seemed the Bloodline Divine Technique was a line he wouldn't cross.
He didn't press the issue. Although he couldn't master this technique, with his current strength, if he truly wanted to slay the God King, he wouldn't need such a method.
"Alright."
Li Hao nodded in agreement.
Seeing Li Hao agree, the God King and the Primordial Ancestor both breathed a sigh of relief. The other sages also showed expressions of relief and joy.
"Since that's settled, I'll have someone prepare the items now. Tianyu, bring me the incense treasure box."
The Primordial Ancestor said immediately.
Among the sages, Xiao Tianyu's face was complex. Once a rival to Li Hao, he now found himself in a position where the Thirty-Three Heavens' sages didn't dare offend Li Hao.
He nodded in response to the Primordial Ancestor's words and turned to leave.
The God King also immediately used divine sense telepathy to inform Li Hao about the various Extremity Attack Secret Techniques and the Forbidden Area.
Soon, Xiao Tianyu returned with a treasure box.
This was a Dao Tribulation Imperial Weapon, capable of withstanding one tribulation, with a special effect of storing incense power.
The Primordial Ancestor handed it to Li Hao and said, "This contains a century's worth of incense from a world. If you use it in an Incense Offering to Sagehood, it will be enough to help you resist the earth calamity and ascend to the Second Calamity Saint stage."
Li Hao didn't hesitate and put the treasure box away.
"What about the Heaven and Earth Treasures?"
The Primordial Ancestor and the God King exchanged a glance, communicating telepathically.
The God King said in a low voice, "I only have thirty. You'll have to cover the remaining twenty!"
The Primordial Ancestor's face darkened, but he eventually agreed, adding some other conditions. Soon, they gathered a hundred Heaven and Earth Treasures and handed them to Li Hao.
Li Hao accepted them naturally and put them away.
"Now, it's time to open the Immortal Path and let us in, right?"
The God King said, his voice heavy, as he saw Li Hao put the items away.
Li Hao raised an eyebrow and said, "When did I say I would let you in? These were gifts to atone for the previous incident, weren't they?"
Hearing this, the Primordial Ancestor and the God King's faces changed, and the other sages were stunned, their faces showing anger but not daring to speak out.
"Heavenly Venerable Hao, since the atonement has been made, the Immortal God Path belongs to everyone. You are one of us in this realm. If we go to the Immortal God Realm, we can support each other in the future, don't you think?"
The Primordial Ancestor said, his tone still gentle, with a hint of persuasion.
Li Hao nodded and said, "If it were the Immortal God World you imagine, I wouldn't obstruct you. However, the other side of that gate is far too dangerous. If you enter, you will surely die!"
(End of Chapter)
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