https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-425-Immortal-Emperor-s-Legacy-Part-2-/13451680/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-427-Reaching-the-Peak-Freedom-in-the-Heavens/13451682/
Chapter 426: Eternal Dao Heart, Heaven and Earth Bell
Chapter 426: Eternal Dao Heart, Heaven and Earth Bell
With the resounding chimes, many people suddenly opened their eyes and looked at the young man in front of the Heaven and Earth Bell.
The young man used his own Dao Heart to strike the Heaven and Earth Bell, and it rang four times. Could it be a Heaven-grade Dao Heart?!
The expressions on many faces were no longer calm, their eyes slightly narrowing.
"Heaven-grade Dao Heart, it seems his ambitions are grand indeed!"
"Aiming to found a divine dynasty and protect the people is just a Mystic Rank Dao Heart, and spreading a religion for millennia is just an Earth Rank Dao Heart. We, who stand shoulder to shoulder with Heaven and Earth, aspire to pursue the eternal Immortal Dao, and only the eternal is the ultimate."
Those who had previously conversed with Li Hao, such as Sage Luo, Dong Dao, and Chen Baoyu, all had serious expressions. They hadn't expected that this newcomer would have a Heaven-grade Dao Heart, which was a level higher than any of them. This meant that while they were still striving to spread their teachings for millennia and enlighten the people, he had already set his sights on pursuing the eternal Immortal Dao, the unbreakable and eternal!
They all vaguely sensed that this newcomer would be a formidable future competitor.
Indeed, having come here with the Immortal Emperor's Legacy within reach, they were outwardly friendly but secretly competing. After all, only one person could inherit the Immortal Emperor's Legacy!
The rest were all competitors, and with such a temptation before them, there had been early attempts to sabotage other outstanding Sages, but after being reprimanded by Elder Wang, no one dared to do so again. They could only focus on improving themselves.
Just as many were memorizing Li Hao's appearance, the Heaven and Earth Bell suddenly trembled again, and the fifth chime rang out!
Clang—!!
This chime, like the evening drum and morning bell, shook deep into everyone's hearts.
The onlookers' eyes widened, their faces showing a hint of shock. What was happening?
The fifth chime?
Heaven and Earth, Mystic and Yellow, four chimes are the ultimate. How could there be a fifth?!
Amidst the shock and confusion, Elder Wang, standing not far away on the grassy slope, was also slightly taken aback. Then his eyes suddenly lit up, and a look of pleasant surprise appeared on his face.
The fifth chime? He knew that Heaven and Earth, Mystic and Yellow corresponded to the four ranks of Dao Heart, but a Heaven-grade Dao Heart was not the pinnacle.
The Immortal Dao legacy had been gathered and sealed here in All Heavens, and no one knew that after Heaven and Earth, Mystic and Yellow, there were also Chaos-grade Dao Heart, Eternal Dao Heart, and the supreme Heavenly Emperor Dao Heart, which only the Immortal Emperor possessed!
If a Heaven-grade Dao Heart signifies a Dao Heart that can stand tall with Heaven and Earth, then a Chaos-grade Dao Heart aims to transcend the river of time, to refine Heaven and Earth, Mystic and Yellow, with the belief to create a world.
And an Eternal Dao Heart is not about pursuing eternal indestructibility, for such pursuit is the domain of the weak. An Eternal Dao Heart has no such goal. It condenses millennia into a single moment, making itself eternal, finding fulfillment within, mastering all, and seeing through everything, becoming the Supreme Sage who dominates Heaven and Earth!
As for the Heavenly Emperor Dao Heart, which only the Immortal Emperor possessed, Elder Wang had no idea. It was a mindset beyond his comprehension.
As the crowd's surprise grew, the Heaven and Earth Bell continued to vibrate, and the sixth chime rang out.
Elder Wang stroked his beard with a smile, nodding repeatedly. The four chimes of the Heaven and Earth Bell correspond to Heaven and Earth, Mystic and Yellow.
And a Chaos-grade Dao Heart would produce seven rings after the initial four, making it a total of seven rings!
An Eternal Dao Heart, on the other hand, would produce ten rings!
As for a Heavenly Emperor Dao Heart, it was beyond what the Heaven and Earth Bell could measure—nothing in the world could verify it.
Soon, the Heaven and Earth Bell rang seven times, leaving everyone somewhat numb. They turned to look at Elder Wang in shock. At this moment, they even suspected that there was something wrong with the instrument. It was already inconceivable to surpass a Heaven-grade Dao Heart, but to produce three additional rings, jumping three levels? Was that even possible? They couldn't fathom it.
"No need to be surprised. This is a Chaos-grade Dao Heart, capable of making the Heaven and Earth Bell ring seven times."
Elder Wang, sensing the incredulous gazes of the crowd, smiled and reassured them.
Upon hearing Elder Wang's words, the crowd was left in a state of shock and confusion. They had never heard of such a thing, but clearly, it surpassed a Heaven-grade Dao Heart, a concept beyond their understanding.
As the echoes of the seventh ring faded, Li Hao was also somewhat surprised. But just then, the eighth ring sounded.
This time, the smile on Elder Wang's face vanished, and his eyes narrowed as he stared at the young man's back.
Clang!!
Soon, the ninth ring sounded, deafening and echoing throughout the Heavenly Calamity Hall.
Everyone looked at Elder Wang in confusion.
He had just said a Chaos-grade Dao Heart would ring seven times. What about now?
Elder Wang gazed at Li Hao's back, remaining silent. As the echoes of the ninth ring gradually faded, the Heaven and Earth Bell seemed to calm down, no longer trembling. The vibrations that had been emanating from it slowly dissipated.
The Heaven and Earth Bell had ceased its intense vibrations.
It returned to its original state, suspended in the air.
Behind Li Hao, an eerie silence fell.
The nine rings of a great bell, in the Mortal World, represented the ultimate number, which was why emperors were known as the "Ninth Rank of Five."
Li Hao had achieved the ultimate, something that was already beyond their comprehension.
"Did I hear that wrong?"
"Is this a dream? Nine rings? Elder Wang said a Chaos-grade Dao Heart would ring seven times, so what does this mean…?"
"How high is his Dao Heart?"
Everyone's eyes were filled with shock. This newcomer had given them a tremendous surprise, something they had never experienced before.
Elder Wang, too, came back to his senses. He gazed deeply at Li Hao, a hint of excitement in his eyes. He felt a faint sense of anticipation, sensing that the person he had been waiting for countless ages might finally have appeared.
Nine rings meant that Li Hao's Dao Heart was an Eternal Dao Heart. Although it had not yet reached perfection, such a Dao Heart was possessed by only a few Immortal Kings.
Elder Wang had once served the Immortal Emperor and knew a secret: while a Dao Heart might not directly influence one's actual combat power or realm, it played a significant role in breaking through cultivation bottlenecks. The higher the Dao Heart, the faster the breakthrough, an intangible but powerful influence!
Moreover, to reach the supreme imperial position, one must surpass an Eternal Dao Heart—this was the first threshold of the First Dao Sect!
"Senior."
Li Hao had returned to Elder Wang's side. As he passed by, he noticed the shocked expressions of Sage Luo, Chen Baoyu, and the others on the zabuton. Combined with their earlier words, he realized that he might have caused quite a stir, drawing significant attention.
He chuckled bitterly to himself. This was not what he had intended. Having just arrived, he didn't want to draw too much attention too soon.
"What does this situation mean?"
Li Hao asked Elder Wang, puzzled.
The Heaven and Earth Bell should have stopped after four rings, but it had continued to ring nine times, surpassing a Heaven-grade Dao Heart by five levels. This was a bit too exaggerated and unbelievable.
Elder Wang's thoughts returned, and he looked at Li Hao's confused expression with a warm and joyful smile. "There's no need to be too surprised, child. A Heaven-grade Dao Heart is just the starting point for becoming an immortal. Above that are the Chaos-grade Dao Heart and the Eternal Dao Heart. You currently possess an Eternal Dao Heart."
As he spoke, he explained the relationship between the Dao Heart and the number of rings produced by the Heaven and Earth Bell.
Everyone on the zabuton perked up their ears to listen. When they heard Elder Wang’s words, they all had an epiphany. It seemed that surpassing the Heaven-grade Dao Heart by just two levels was not as daunting as they had initially thought.
However, this was only in comparison to their previous wild speculations. Upon closer reflection, it was still a terrifying feat.
“Chaos-grade Dao Heart, Eternal Dao Heart!”
“I’ve never heard of these before. Elder Wang has never mentioned them to us.”
“I guess he thought we would never reach such heights. After all, only a few of us arrived here with a Heaven-grade Dao Heart. What kind of mindset must one have to achieve a Chaos-grade Dao Heart? Isn’t it enough to be on par with Heaven and Earth?”
“Eternal Dao Heart—does it mean pursuing eternity? If so, it doesn’t seem much different from the Heaven-grade Dao Heart.”
The crowd buzzed with discussion, their eyes fixed on the young man, temporarily setting aside their cultivation thoughts.
Elder Wang heard their murmurs and saw their complex expressions, realizing how impactful this information was. If he didn’t explain it clearly to these young ones, their doubts and distracting thoughts would affect their future cultivation.
Feeling quite pleased, he smiled and said, “The Eternal Dao Heart isn’t about pursuing eternity; it’s about the heart already being eternal! You’ll need to ponder the difference yourselves, but for you, the most important thing right now is to focus on passing the trials. The Dao Heart is just a threshold, and it’s far too distant for you to worry about.”
His words were meant to comfort and guide them, but they left a bitter taste in the mouths of his listeners. Clearly, Elder Wang believed they would never reach such heights, making it pointless to even consider it, a waste of time.
“Eternal heart...”
Pastoral Sage’s eyes flickered as he muttered to himself, wondering what it truly meant to be eternal.
The other Sages also fell into deep thought. Elder Wang didn’t bother with them further and turned to Li Hao, saying, “Come over here. I’ll impart the Immortal Art to you. Given your condition, Immortal Techniques are out of the question. The nine-tier mixed-origin divine blood is fixed and cannot be enhanced. Even if you cultivate through the Immortal Art, it won’t work. However, you will need your Physical Body for the second trial.”
When they returned to the front of the thatched cottage, he didn’t have the leisure to sit on the Master Chair and sway. Instead, he told Li Hao:
“With your soul spirit strength, you should be able to master the Yama Immortal Technique quickly.”
Li Hao nodded and said, “I want to try both the Yama and Myriad Dao techniques.”
Without his Physical Body, cultivating Immortal Techniques was impossible. However, once he thoroughly understood the Yama and Myriad Dao techniques, he could have them recorded in his panel. When he had the opportunity to leave this place, his Physical Body could then utilize them.
“Oh.”
Elder Wang didn’t scold Li Hao for being overly ambitious but instead showed interest. “It seems you have great confidence in your techniques. Which Dao are you cultivating?”
“Sword Dao.”
Li Hao replied.
“Do you have a Sacrificial Dao?”
Elder Wang asked.
“Yes.”
Li Hao nodded.
Elder Wang chuckled. Being able to have a Sacrificial Dao explained his confidence. However, even with a Sacrificial Dao, it was still a bit of a stretch compared to Li Hao’s soul spirit. Still, he didn’t discourage Li Hao. Being able to have a Sacrificial Dao was a clear sign of Li Hao’s exceptional talent in Sword Dao, and choosing the Myriad Dao Immortal Technique wasn’t a bad decision.
“You decide. If you cultivate both, I don’t doubt your ability to master them, but your progress will be slower. You arrived later than them, but there’s no distinction of early or late here. It’s not based on cultivation time. Whoever passes the three trials first will be able to go to the Heavenly Calamity Hall and undergo the Immortal Emperor’s disciple reception trial.”
Elder Wang continued, “The one who’s progressed the fastest is already on the second step and is about to complete it. You need to hurry.”
Li Hao nodded slightly, understanding the gravity of the situation.
In the distance, Pastoral Sage, Bright Sage, and the others also heard Elder Wang’s words. Their expressions were complex, but they reined in their thoughts, realizing that this newcomer was far from ordinary. They felt a strong sense of urgency from Li Hao.
If they don't speed up, they might be overtaken by this newcomer.
This is the Legacy of the Immortal Emperor. Even if they only obtain the status of a registered disciple for now, after leaving this place and heading to the True World, they can become extremely prominent figures.
Soon, they all closed their eyes, forcing themselves to calm down, discarding stray thoughts, and immersing their minds back into their previous comprehension.
Sage Luo, Dong Dao, and the others also felt the urgency. They glanced at Li Hao and then immersed themselves in Cultivation.
Although they were still in the first step, no one was willing to give up until the very last moment.
In front of the thatched cottage, Elder Wang raised his hand and tapped Li Hao’s forehead, saying, "I will first transmit to you the Yama Immortal Technique. This is a specialized Immortal Art for refining the Soul Spirit, which also includes three Soul Spirit combat techniques for slaying evil spirits and ancient demons!"
Li Hao immediately felt a vast amount of information flood his memory, as if he had already mastered it, but had just suddenly remembered it.
The Yanluo Combat Techniques have three levels, but Elder Wang only imparted the first level.
Mastering the first level to Perfection will count as passing.
This first level includes three Soul Spirit combat techniques: Yanluo Outer Image, Yanluo Blade, and Diluo Shield Technique!
The first two are offensive combat techniques, while the third is defensive, capable of withstanding the opponent’s attacks in Soul Spirit clashes.
Li Hao absorbed the information quickly. His Tenth Tier Dao Mastery insights and various understandings were all on the same level, so anything below that level was easily absorbed and understood.
The cultivation methods for the three combat techniques were swiftly absorbed by him.
"This is the Myriad Dao Immortal Technique. You can choose Sword Dao. Achieving Perfection in Sword Dao to break through all paths will count as passing."
As Elder Wang spoke, he transmitted another Immortal Art through his fingertip.
Li Hao gradually accepted it. The Myriad Dao Immortal Technique included various weapons like swords, knives, axes, and spears, and he only needed to choose one and cultivate it to Perfection.
Li Hao chose the Sword Dao Immortal Art. His Tenth Tier Sword Dao insights allowed him to quickly absorb and understand it.
He didn't rush to check the Panel, just nodded, and said to Elder Wang:
"Should I cultivate on the Zabuton over there?"
"Yes, that Zabuton is made from the bark of the Enlightenment Tree, which can increase your chances of Sudden Enlightenment."
Elder Wang warned Li Hao, "Remember not to be greedy."
But after saying that, he chuckled and shook his head. With a Nine-Ringing Eternal Dao Heart, it was clear that Li Hao was not the type to be tempted by such things.
Li Hao nodded and pretended to sit on the Zabuton.
As Li Hao arrived, many of the Sages, who had calmed their minds, heard his footsteps and sensed his presence, opening their eyes to look at him.
But they quickly frowned, scolding themselves, and closed their eyes again, continuing to meditate and clearing their minds of stray thoughts.
Li Hao found a Zabuton and sat down. He then looked around, seeing the Sages around him all closed their eyes and focused on their cultivation. He smiled slightly and brought up the Panel to check.
He quickly found the two Immortal Arts that had just been added to the Panel:
Immortal Art: Yama · Kujitsu (True Intent Perfection)
Immortal Combat Techniques: Yanluo Outer Image (True Intent Perfection), Yanluo Blade (True Intent Perfection), Diluo Shield Technique (True Intent Perfection)
Seeing the display, Li Hao smiled. Combining the three combat techniques he had mastered in his mind, it felt as if he had practiced them for hundreds of years, already extremely familiar, and only needed to demonstrate them personally.
The Yama Immortal Technique has three levels: the first is Desolation, and reaching the Tenth Tier Dao Mastery can directly perfect its true essence. If one breaks through to perfection, it becomes the 'Origin' level.
True essence, origin, ultimate.
These are the three levels of the Immortal Dao, each with its own entry and perfection stages.
Previously, Li Hao had reached the Tenth Tier in the Sword Dao, mastering the most basic Nine Abyss Dream Sword technique to the origin level. Its power increased several times, making it extremely formidable.
"If it were just the Sacrificial Dao, it might not even reach perfection. The key is the Tenth Rank panel, which not only encompasses the Sacrificial Dao but also all the insights of the Tenth Rank. If one cultivates on their own, it would take countless years."
Li Hao's eyes flickered. With his Tenth Rank Yu Dao insights, he could only master the first level of the Yama Immortal Technique, 'Desolation,' to the true essence perfection level, not the origin level. This was just the first level of this Immortal Art, indicating how high its complete grade must be. If it were in the True World, it would likely be a very famous Immortal Art.
Next, Li Hao looked at the Myriad Dao Immortal Technique.
Myriad Dao Immortal Technique · Sword Dao (True Essence Perfection)
As he expected, it had also reached the true essence perfection level.
If he showed Elder Wang now, he would likely be able to proceed to the second trial directly.
However, Li Hao was not in a hurry. The second trial was bound to be more difficult than the first, and he needed to gather more information first.
His Tenth Tier Dao Mastery and Tenth Level Sword Dao were the results of past cultivation. If the second and third trials were harder, his Tenth Level Sword Dao and Tenth Tier Dao Mastery might not be enough. He would need to focus on cultivation and find ways to break the Tenth Rank bottleneck in the Art Dao, Cooking Dao, and Sculpture Dao.
He wondered if reaching the First Rank would directly make him a True Immortal.
After some thought, Li Hao left the zabuton and went to the front of the thatched cottage.
"Feeling it's difficult?"
Elder Wang was sitting in a rocking chair, swaying. Seeing Li Hao come over so quickly, he couldn't help but chuckle and said:
"This is an Immortal Art, different from what you've cultivated before. It's normal to find it difficult. Although I have high hopes for you, I can't break the rules. I can only teach you the Immortal Art; the rest is up to your own enlightenment. I cannot control or influence these things."
His words were clear. If he showed favoritism and gave special treatment to those who understood, the registered disciples would be chosen by him, and the trials left by the Immortal Emperor would lose their meaning.
Seeing that Elder Wang misunderstood, Li Hao didn't bother to explain. Instead, he asked curiously:
"Senior, I just wanted to ask, what does the second trial test?"
Elder Wang raised an eyebrow. If it were anyone else, he would think they were being overly ambitious, having just comprehended the first trial and already thinking about the second.
However, given Li Hao's Dao Heart, he didn't think so. He believed Li Hao had other thoughts and said:
"The first trial tests your insight and talent. The second trial does the same. To become a registered disciple of Immortal Emperor, one must have extraordinary insight. Otherwise, the imperial-level Immortal Arts that shake the True World would be incomprehensible, like reading a book in a foreign language."
"The second trial will test your combat skills. I will create a copy of you, inheriting all the techniques you have mastered, and it will be one level stronger!"
He smiled and said, "In other words, you must defeat a version of yourself that is one level stronger than you!"
Li Hao was taken aback, somewhat surprised, and couldn't help but ask, "In every aspect? And one level stronger?"
"That's right. In a situation where you are absolutely weaker in every aspect, we will see how you can break through the crisis and show your quick wit in dire straits", Elder Wang said.
Li Hao was speechless; this trial was truly insane.
"You’re only taking the registered disciple trial, which isn’t that difficult. Back in the day, when Immortal Emperor’s true disciple was being tested, the power disparity was threefold. That was true despair—basically, they were killed in the first exchange!" Elder Wang said with a smile.
Li Hao was at a loss for words. Defeating a version of himself with three times the power? That was simply impossible.
"What about the third trial?" Li Hao couldn’t help but ask, curiosity piqued.
Elder Wang smiled gently and said, "The third trial is still about Insight!"
"You need to advance to the True Immortal realm, refine your immortal seal, and achieve your Immortal Dao by proving it to Heaven and Earth. Moreover, you must reach the Three-Seal Immortal Dao. This is the minimum requirement. Compared to the registered disciple trial of the past, the conditions have been relaxed now, with no time limit. In the past, you had to achieve it within three thousand years—that was the real challenge."
Although Li Hao had been mentally prepared, he was still shaken.
The third trial required him to become a True Immortal!
"What is the Three-Seal Immortal Dao?" Li Hao asked.
Elder Wang smiled and said, "I’ll explain in detail once you pass the second trial."
Li Hao didn’t press further, only sighing inwardly. He hadn’t expected the three trials to be so difficult. From what the other party implied, it wasn’t just about becoming a True Immortal; one had to be among the best.
This meant that even if he passed the first trial now, it would be meaningless. He had no experience with the second trial and no confidence. As for the third trial, he would need to delve into the Art Dao and other techniques.
Li Hao didn’t waste any more time. The gap outside could bring in more True Immortal Realm ancient demons at any moment, and Old Feng and the others, upon learning of his supposed death, would undoubtedly be in deep sorrow. He needed to return as soon as possible.
He returned to the zabuton, opened the Heavenly Earth Space, and retrieved the Painting Board. He had to choose one of the three Tenth Rank skills he currently mastered, rather than trying to cover all of them.
While searching for the Painting Board and other materials, Li Hao noticed the Flower Touring Token in the Heavenly Earth Space. A sudden idea struck him, and he tried to immerse his consciousness into the token.
However, a barrier quickly blocked his consciousness.
"Flower Touring Token?"
At that moment, a surprised voice came from beside him.
Li Hao turned to see a young man with flowing long hair, wearing a loose robe and adorned with a butterfly flower, looking at the Flower Touring Token in his hand with astonishment.
"How did you come to have the Flower Touring Token?"
Beside him, a female saint asked.
She had a face like a peach blossom, elegant and graceful, dressed in a robe with golden thread embroidery, exuding a sense of luxury.
"Do you recognize it?"
Li Hao’s heart stirred as he recalled what Zhantan had said.
"These were created by us. Are you a member of the Flower Touring Society?"
The young man with the butterfly flower decoration asked in a gentle voice.
"So, the two of you are the Flower Sage and the Wander Sage", Li Hao realized. Zhantan had mentioned that the two sages who founded the Flower Touring Society had long since vanished, and despite the recent events, they hadn’t shown themselves. Li Hao hadn’t expected to find them here.
"The Flower Touring Society still exists."
The female saint looked surprised, then smiled and said, "I am Wander Sage. What is your name?"
When Li Hao had arrived, the two of them had been in a state of Comprehension. It was only when Li Hao made the Heavenly Earth Bell ring nine times that they noticed him. However, they hadn’t intended to interact until Li Hao produced the Flower Touring Token, and the familiar aura made them feel an immediate sense of kinship.
Li Hao was momentarily taken aback. He had assumed the young man was the Wander Sage, but it turned out he was the Flower Sage?
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
