https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-404-A-Decade-of-Defense-Returning-to-the-Holy-Land-Part-2-/13451570/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-405-All-Heavens-as-Enemies-Beyond-the-Thirty-Three-Heavens-Part-2-/13451572/
Chapter 405: All Heavens as Enemies, Beyond the Thirty-Three Heavens (Part 1)
Chapter 405: All Heavens as Enemies, Beyond the Thirty-Three Heavens (120,000 Words for Monthly Votes) (Part 1)
Upon hearing Li Hao's words, the Holy Capital was taken aback. A few of the Sages who had previously had their heavenly and earthly treasures plundered by Li Hao were not particularly fond of him. One of them frowned and said:
"Heavenly Venerated Hao, what do you mean by that? Don't exaggerate!"
The Primordial Ancestor and the God King both fixed their gazes on Li Hao, their eyes filled with surprise and doubt. However, they also felt that Li Hao was being a bit too overbearing, wanting to keep the Immortal Path to himself after reaping the benefits.
Li Hao's gaze swept over the crowd, noting the expressions of the Sages. Apart from Sword Master and a few others, most of the Sages' initial surprise had turned into skepticism, clearly doubting the truth of his words.
Li Hao knew they wouldn't believe him just because he said so, even if the Primordial Ancestor were to make the same claim, it would likely be met with doubt. He saw no need to hide the truth and spoke frankly:
"You are all too weak. The world beyond this door is not the idyllic paradise you imagine. The Mortal World and the Immortal God Realm have been invaded by ancient demons and are in a state of war. Beyond this door lies a battlefield!"
"The ancient demons there, even the weakest among them, possess the power of Supreme Sages. If you go in, you will merely be food for them."
The Sages were momentarily stunned upon hearing Li Hao's words. A battlefield beyond the door?
Ancient demons?
Seeing their uncertainty, Li Hao revealed everything he knew, including the pseudo-realms, the True World, and the invasion by ancient demons.
"You mean to say that the True World where the Immortal Deities reside has been invaded by ancient demons, and the Immortal Deities have all fallen?"
One of the Sages couldn't help but exclaim, his face pale, seemingly unable to accept such a scenario.
It was like the path they had longed for and pursued turned out to be nothing but ruins, shattering their lifelong dreams.
A brief silence fell over the starry sky as the Holy Capital digested the shocking news Li Hao had brought.
The Primordial Ancestor and the God King's faces were extremely grim, their expressions dark and silent.
After a while, one of the Sages spoke in a low, somber voice: "Heavenly Venerated Hao, is it amusing to fabricate such lies to stop us?"
"Hmm?"
Li Hao looked at the Sage who had spoken, immediately recognizing him. This person had previously collaborated with Xu Zu and others to confront him during the Dao Discussion Conference. Li Hao had demanded heavenly and earthly treasures as compensation to settle the grudge.
"War Sage is right, Heavenly Venerated Hao. We admire your remarkable talent, but why would you fear anything with such talent? Even if we all go to the Immortal God Realm, we wouldn't necessarily be able to seize your cultivation resources. The world is vast; there's no need for us to get in each other's way. Why do you insist on stopping us?"
Another female Sage, known as Rain Saint, also spoke softly, her expression displeased.
"Heavenly Venerated Hao, the holes in your story are too obvious. If these ancient demons were truly such a threat, how could the Immortal Deities not have noticed them earlier? Are the Immortal Deities so foolish?"
"Indeed, Heavenly Venerated Hao, why do you make things so difficult for us?"
The Sages spoke one after another, some with cold expressions, others trying to reason with Li Hao.
Li Hao hadn't expected them to be so stubborn, unsure if it was because of his shallow connections and lack of influence, or their deep obsession with the Immortal Path.
"You think I'm lying to you?"
Li Hao sneered, his eyes locking onto Rain Saint. "You just said that my talent is remarkable. If it were truly so wonderful there, why would I stop you? With your level of talent, how could you possibly pose a threat to me? You've spent countless years cultivating, and I've caught up to you. If we cultivate together from now on, outpacing you will be as easy as eating and drinking!"
His words were blunt and unyielding, causing the Sages to bristle with anger. However, remembering Li Hao's talent, their fury subsided somewhat.
Over the past dozen years, they had achieved the Sixth Extreme Realm through Incarnation Reincarnation Cultivation, and no one understood better than they did just how monstrous Li Hao's talent was.
Now that they were all Sages, if they were to cultivate together, Li Hao would undoubtedly far surpass them.
"Do I have any reason to fear you ascending the Immortal Path? What benefit would I gain from stopping you?"
Li Hao sternly questioned.
The sages exchanged glances. The Rain Saint was exquisitely beautiful, wearing a light blue headscarf. Under Li Hao's harsh interrogation, her expression turned grim. She said:
"Because of this, Venerated Hao, you have even less reason to stop us. You say it's dangerous, but if it's as perilous as you claim, even an Immortal Deity could fall. How did you manage to return?"
Hearing her words, the sages felt a sudden realization. The slight doubt Li Hao had instilled in them quickly dissipated.
They glared at Li Hao, and the Primordial Ancestor and the God King also fixed their gazes on him. In fact, from the moment Li Hao began his explanation, they had already considered this point. It was the biggest flaw in his story.
If the ancient demons were truly as powerful as Li Hao claimed, how could he have survived for over a decade in such a dangerous place?
"You say you were protected by a veteran from the ancient battlefield. If that veteran had the strength to protect you, why can't they let us in to see for ourselves?"
Another sage added, his tone laced with a cold sneer, clearly disbelieving Li Hao's story about the veteran.
Li Hao narrowed his eyes, glanced at the speaker, and then looked at the other sages. He saw that, apart from the Sword Master, Wen Sheng, the Medicine Sage, and a few others who remained silent and contemplative, the rest of the sages seemed to doubt his words.
"No wonder the Lying Heaven Sage said, 'Truth and falsehood are both true; no one believes the truth, but a convincing lie is believed. As long as it aligns with what you want to believe, it’s true. If it doesn’t, even if it’s real, it’s false.'"
Li Hao laughed, but it was a cold laugh, his brow furrowing with cold anger and wrath.
"You ask why I could return and why I could stay there for over a decade. The reason is simple: I am stronger than you!"
The Primordial Ancestor and the God King's eyes narrowed. They realized that Li Hao must have had a solid plan to return.
The other sages also understood this. The War Sage sneered, finding Li Hao's words too arrogant, almost provoking the collective wrath of the sages, disregarding their dignity entirely.
"Are you saying you're stronger than us? Stronger even than the Primordial Ancestor?"
The War Sage coldly laughed. "If you claim to be stronger than us, I can accept that. But if you prevent us from entering, surely the Primordial Ancestor and the God King have the right to go in and verify the truth!"
He deftly shifted the focus to the Primordial Ancestor and the God King, his intentions clear.
Li Hao saw through his thoughts and noticed that the Primordial Ancestor and the God King also harbored doubts. They let the other sages voice their concerns, but ultimately, the decision rested with them.
"Exactly, Venerated Hao. No matter how arrogant you are, we can accept it. But you can't claim to be stronger than the Primordial Ancestor and the other Supreme Sages, can you?"
"Venerated Hao, what are you afraid of? Instead of talking, why don't you let us see for ourselves?"
The other sages chimed in in agreement.
The Primordial Ancestor looked at Li Hao, his expression calm but his voice gentle. "Venerated Hao, what do you think?"
Li Hao couldn't help but laugh. "I just sealed the gap. If I let you through and the ancient demons are attracted, who will be responsible?"
"That's our problem, not yours."
Before the Primordial Ancestor could speak, another sage interjected.
The God King coldly said, "You've already accepted our apologies and received the gifts. Stop stalling. Do you really want to oppose all of the heavens?"
Li Hao glanced at him, then at the sage who had volunteered to take responsibility, and said:
"If the ancient demons are attracted and attack all of the heavens, can you take responsibility? What can you offer in return, your life?"
The sage, feeling Li Hao's piercing gaze, felt a chill. Li Hao's eyes held a terrifying power, and his face turned grim under the public questioning. He said:
"We, the sages of the Thirty-Three Heavens, are all here. Can't we take responsibility?"
"Are you overestimating yourself? Can the sages of the Thirty-Three Heavens decide the fate of all the commoners in the heavens?"
Li Hao angrily rebuked.
He then raised his hand, projecting the terrifying visage of the ancient demons.
As the ancient demons' figures emerged, the Sages were taken aback, a mixture of surprise and unease crossing their faces. However, they soon realized it was just a projection.
"So this is the ancient demons you mentioned?"
One Sage exclaimed in shock.
Soon, another Sage sneered, "It's just a phantom. What does it prove? I could conjure something similar. Whatever you want to see, I can make it appear."
Li Hao was starting to lose his temper. He had finished eating the ancient demon's corpse, and even if he hadn't, he suspected that showing the corpse would only elicit a dismissive laugh, with the Sages claiming it was just a saint-level demon and not significant.
He decided not to waste any more words, dispelling the projection of the ancient demons and pulling out his broken blade. He stood before the Mysterious Mother Gate and declared:
"You want to go in, right? Anyone who wants to pass, first has to get through me!"
Seeing Li Hao's stance, the Sages felt he was caught and could no longer hide his true intentions.
"Heavenly Venerated Hao, are you really going to oppose All Heavens?!"
The Sages roared in anger, surprised by Li Hao's resolve and his audacity. Even the god kings of old, at the peak of their power, would not have dared to act so boldly.
The Primordial Ancestor's expression turned cold. "Heavenly Venerated Hao, I once thought highly of you, considering you a clever and interesting young man. I never imagined you would be so selfish. This truly disappoints me!"
Seeing him drop his pretense, Li Hao didn't bother with more words. "I just met you, thinking you were a respected elder. Turns out, I'm the one who's disappointed!"
"Hao Tian, you dare to be disrespectful to my Master?!"
Xiao Tianyu, who had mixed feelings about Li Hao, couldn't help but shout angrily from the crowd. In his heart, the Primordial Ancestor was a sacred and inviolable figure. Even though he admired Li Hao, he couldn't allow Li Hao to insult his Master.
Li Hao glanced at him, noting the anger in his eyes, and his own gaze grew colder.
"Today, no one will pass. I said it!"
Li Hao didn't want to waste more words. His power surged, and if not for the commoners in All Heavens, he would have let these Supreme Sages charge into the fire. However, if they went through, they would surely alert the ancient demons. Their soul spirits weren't as strong as the ancient demons, and by the time they saw the ancient demons, the ancient demons would have already spotted them.
At that point, attracting the ancient demons would mean his efforts to seal the gap might not hold against so many ancient demons, leading to a catastrophic breach.
"Heavenly Venerated Hao, you're too arrogant!"
A Sage shouted in fury.
The god king narrowed his eyes, his mind unusually calm. He didn't know where Li Hao's confidence came from, but he decided to test it.
"Since that's the case, let me see what you've got!"
The god king's entire body burst into divine flames, the power of the Extreme Dao Divine Realm surging around him, radiating an overwhelming aura.
"Ancestor!"
At this moment, the Sages who had been resting in the Ancient Hall outside the star rift rushed over, alarmed by the situation.
Ying Xiaoxiao, dressed in a blue-green robe, burst in and saw Li Hao facing off against the god king. Her heart, filled with surprise at seeing Li Hao, turned to shock. She called out urgently.
The god king, however, paid no heed, suddenly drawing his sword and charging at Li Hao.
His figure blurred, and in the blink of an eye, he used a peculiar Body Movement Technique, darting to Li Hao's front like a bolt of lightning.
The sword light was infused with terrifying divine fire, and even before it reached him, it felt as though the world was about to be reduced to ashes.
Li Hao watched him coldly, his expression unchanged. In the past, he would have been unable to defend against such an attack, but now, under the influence of his soul spirit, it seemed to move in slow motion.
He raised his hand, and ten streams of Immortal Power erupted from his body, instantly transforming into a vast, overwhelming force of Heaven and Earth.
With a single palm strike, without any cultivation techniques, a powerful surge of energy erupted, pressing down like a million mountains.
The god king's pupils dilated, feeling as though the sky above him was collapsing.
The palm pressing down, though slender, seemed to reach beyond the Heavenly Curtain, bringing the heavens down with it.
The divine fire on the god king's sword contracted and extinguished, and the sword edge, aimed at Li Hao's chest, was forced to rise to counter the overwhelming pressure.
Accompanied by a terrifying crushing power, the God King’s Sword Edge could hardly bear it, and the bones in his arm cracked.
He was filled with shock. In the instant the palm struck his helmet, he hastily erupted, breaking free from the oppressive force and falling backward.
The overwhelming power in Li Hao’s palm dissipated the moment the God King broke free, leaving no impact on the ground. He controlled it with perfect ease.
At this scene, the entire area fell into a dead silence.
Like a place without a single sound, all the saints who had previously criticized Li Hao were now stunned.
Just one palm, and it actually forced the God King to retreat?
This was a person who could rival the Primordial Ancestor. His enraged attack was easily neutralized by Li Hao, which was truly terrifying.
Ying Xiaoxiao and the other saints who had rushed over were also shocked, their faces filled with disbelief.
After a mere twelve years, this Heavenly Venerated Hao seemed to have become terrifying beyond imagination.
Although they knew Li Hao’s growth rate was astonishing, reaching the Sage Realm, it should no longer be possible to maintain such rapid progress. Usually, making minor advancements over several decades and refining one’s understanding of the Saint Path was already considered very precious.
Among them, the one most shaken was the Primordial Ancestor.
He knew the God King’s strength better than anyone else. Just now, Li Hao hadn’t used any cultivation techniques; he had relied solely on pure power to suppress the God King.
The God King, who had cultivated to the Divine Realm of the Extreme Dao, was no ordinary Supreme Sage in terms of power, yet he was suppressed by Li Hao in terms of power, which was almost inconceivable.
Moreover, the power Li Hao released had a fleeting, ethereal quality that he had never felt before. In an instant, that aura merged with heaven and earth, transforming into an unimaginable surge of power.
This feeling could only mean one thing: Immortal Deity Power!
The Li Hao before him had already mastered Immortal Deity Power!
This realization made his heart tremble, not out of fear, but out of excitement.
This was the Immortal Deity Power he had longed for, and it was even more shocking and exhilarating than he had imagined.
At this moment, Li Hao retracted his palm and merely looked at the saints coldly.
The God King steadied his breath, looking at Li Hao with a mix of surprise and uncertainty. The overwhelming force had come and gone quickly, but the shattered bones in his arm told him just how powerful the attack had been.
“Is there anyone else who wants to challenge me?”
After a brief silence, Li Hao said coldly.
His gaze swept over the sages who had been active earlier.
War Sage and others couldn't hide their shock. This scene had overturned their understanding. They thought Li Hao might be strong enough to return and find a way to escape back to the Immortal God Realm, but they never expected his own strength to be the reason.
“Just twelve years, and he can already surpass the God King?”
“Doesn’t this mean he’s already stronger than the Primordial Ancestor?”
The saints, including Law Saint and Fame Saint, were also shocked. If Li Hao could suppress the Primordial Ancestor, it meant he had a chance to kill them and would have no trouble dealing with other sages.
However, after the shock wore off, they didn’t feel fear. Instead, they thought of many things and became even more excited.
No one responded to Li Hao’s question, but the saints’ eyes shifted from shock to a burning intensity, with a hint of madness.
Li Hao frowned, as if he had just thought of something, and his expression grew even colder.
“Heavenly Venerated Hao, are you really going to stand in our way alone?”
The Primordial Ancestor spoke up, gazing at Li Hao. “To cultivate to this level in just twelve years, you must have joined the Immortal Deity’s ranks and practiced the Immortal Dao. We won’t steal your glory. Why not give us a chance?”
“Right, Heavenly Venerated Hao, you’ve already cultivated the Immortal Deity Secret Art. Give us a chance too!”
“You’re being too selfish by monopolizing the Immortal God Path.”
The other saints, hearing this, also chimed in, but their tone was softer and more pleading, as if they were negotiating.
“You are truly stubborn and unyielding!”
Li Hao took a deep breath and said, “My strength was honed through countless battles. I’ve told you, there is no Immortal Deity or Immortal Sect as you imagine. Even if there were, you wouldn’t be able to reach them, and you would surely die if you tried.”
He added coldly, “I can’t stop you if you want to seek death, but your actions will attract those ancient demons, bringing disaster to the countless beings of All Heavens. If it were as wonderful as you imagine, why would I try to stop you?”
"Because you're selfish!"
A Sage gritted his teeth and whispered.
Li Hao glanced at the person who spoke, his anger rising. With a sudden movement, he darted in front of the man.
His Ninth Rank Body Movement Technique, combined with the Gui Xu Ultimate Realm, made him appear and disappear like a ghost, catching the other off guard.
Bang!
Li Hao swung a sword light, splitting the man's body in two.
The man's Soul Spirit appeared, staring at Li Hao in shock.
Li Hao used his Soul Spirit power to envelop the other's Soul Spirit. The man's Soul Spirit struggled, but Li Hao's Soul Spirit power was unbreakable, leaving no room for resistance.
Li Hao compressed the Soul Spirit, crushing and destroying it, then returned to the entrance of the Mysterious Mother Gate.
All of this happened in an instant. Seeing Li Hao kill a Sage with a single move, the other Sages were stunned, their faces pale with shock.
"Did you really think I was a pushover?"
Li Hao's eyes were cold, and he spoke each word with icy clarity. "I'll say it again: the Ancient Hall is now sealed. No one is allowed to enter. Anyone who wants to go to the Immortal God World, I'll send them through the Reincarnation Cycle!"
The crowd was both shocked and angry, not expecting Li Hao to be so domineering, actually threatening to oppose the Saints of the Thirty-Three Heavens.
The Primordial Ancestor's face darkened. Li Hao's arrogance was beyond what he had anticipated. He knew that if he didn't act, the situation would spiral out of control.
"Heavenly Venerated Hao!"
He took a step forward, staring at Li Hao. "I know you've received the Immortal Deity's teachings and your strength has grown, but don't forget, you're still a Sage. Do you really think you can stand against the combined might of the Saints of the Thirty-Three Heavens?"
Li Hao, seeing his mask of pretense fall away, replied, "If you're not convinced, then let's see!"
At this point, he knew that any attempt to persuade them would be futile. Once suspicion had taken root and desire clouded their minds, words were meaningless.
"Ladies and gentlemen, let's talk this out calmly. There's no need for this. Perhaps Heavenly Venerated Hao is telling the truth. Why would he go to such lengths to block us and make an enemy of the All Heavens? What benefit would that bring him?"
At this moment, the Medicine Sage spoke up.
Her eyes locked on Li Hao, and while she was still uncertain, his displayed strength and confidence made her lean slightly more in his favor.
"That's right. Have you considered that if what Hao Tian says is true, you would be bringing a great calamity upon the All Heavens?"
The Sword Master also chimed in, believing in Li Hao's character and knowing he wouldn't be so selfish.
Wen Sheng and a few other Sages also voiced their opinions.
However, the other Sages frowned, clearly not entirely skeptical of Li Hao's words. The allure of the Immortal Deity was too great, just a step away, and Li Hao's rapid growth in strength only reinforced their suspicions. How could he have reached such a realm in just twelve years without the Immortal Deity's guidance?
While Li Hao had previously proven capable of slaying a Three Calamities Sage, that didn't mean he could match a Supreme Sage, let alone the Primordial Ancestor!
"Don't make excuses for him. If it's true, let us see for ourselves."
"Exactly. If something goes wrong, we can deal with the ancient demons together."
"I think he's just trying to get the benefits from the Immortal Deity and now wants to absorb the Incense Power here. He wants it all."
The other Sages chimed in.
The God King stared at Li Hao and said, "These fellows sealed me away together. Even if you are stronger than me now, you can't stand against them working together. Back then, they were only a third of their strength, but now, the Saints of the Thirty-Three Heavens are all here. Even if a few of them don't act, you can't stop them. Step aside!"
Li Hao, however, smiled coldly. "Don't compare me to you. You are you, and I am me. Besides, even if I step aside, what can you do? Can you enter?"
The God King was momentarily speechless.
The furious Sages also fell silent, momentarily at a loss for words.
Indeed, even if Li Hao stepped aside, they still couldn't enter.
They would need Li Hao to lead them in, but given his current strength, he was clearly not going to be controlled by them. Moreover, if they pushed Li Hao too far, he could retreat to the Immortal God Realm and seal the Immortal Path, making the situation even worse.
For a moment, the eyes of the saints flickered, and they all calmed down.
Seeing their expressions, Li Hao guessed their thoughts and couldn't help but find it amusing, but he felt more ridiculous than anything.
"If it were truly as you think, that I am a disciple of the Immortal Deity, you provoking me now would mean I could go back and report to the Immortal Master at any time, and have this place sealed off completely!"
Li Hao sneered.
These words hit the saints where it hurt, and the tense atmosphere that had been building up suddenly softened.
The Primordial Ancestor's cold gaze also dissipated, his heart pounding with fear that Li Hao might actually do it.
"Heavenly Venerated Hao, what will it take for you to let us in?"
(End of Chapter)
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