Chapter 519: Heading to the Heavenly Palace
Chapter 519: Heading to the Heavenly Palace
Hearing the Great Dream Master's words, Li Hao finally remembered the flying immortal pill he had been rewarded earlier. Each True Immortal Realm cultivator could consume one, directly boosting their cultivation by one level. Only great sects with deep reserves would be willing to reward such a pill to their prodigies.
"I haven't used it yet."
Li Hao had originally planned to leave the flying immortal pill for Old Feng or Lin Qingying, but with the urgent cultivation time, he needed to push to the tenth realm, which would take at least two months.
"Then it's perfect to take it now. Once your cultivation reaches the tenth realm, whether you can break through the bottleneck and ascend to the Immortal Lord Realm will depend on your opportunity."
The Great Dream Master sighed with relief and immediately smiled.
Li Hao nodded, but a shadow of childhood trauma clouded his mind.
He would be filtered when taking elixirs, losing their effects, but fortunately, he could still enjoy food. He needed to process the flying immortal pill through cooking, transforming it from an elixir into a delicacy. This would also help remove the elixir poison, making it easier to absorb.
"You still have ten days, so cultivate well."
The Great Dream Master's figure rose like a mist and she left Li Hao, saying, "Once you achieve a good ranking in the Southern Domain Battle, I will give you another gift, one you will definitely like."
Li Hao curiously asked, "What kind of gift?"
"That's a secret."
The Great Dream Master smiled mysteriously, her eyes softening.
Li Hao didn't press further and simply nodded, saying, "The things you've given me are already very good."
The Great Dream Master shook her head slightly, smiling but saying nothing. Over the past two months, she had come to understand this young man's character—his Dao heart was extraordinary, his temperament calm and composed, and his detachment from material things made her like him even more.
"I'll go check on the others' cultivation. You can cultivate here on your own. If you need anything, just call out to the air, and I'll appear."
The Great Dream Master said, then dispersed like mist and left.
Seeing this, Li Hao didn't delay. After the Great Dream Master left, he raised his hand and drew a boiler in the air. He then retrieved the flying immortal pill from the Heavenly Earth Space and tossed it into the boiler.
Raising his hand again, a chaos divine fire condensed in his palm, hotter and purer than before. With his current fourth-level Fire Dao, his fire control was far superior to what it had been.
As the chaos divine fire refined the pill, Immortal Power soon began to rise within the boiler, and the elixir's scent began to diffuse.
However, this scent was mixed with elixir poison, making it strange and pungent. Li Hao retrieved some seasonings from the Heavenly Earth Space and added them, quickly dispelling the pungent smell. The flying immortal pill, now a blend of various herbs and essence blood, combined with the seasonings, emitted a rich and savory aroma.
Li Hao felt his appetite surge. He slowly controlled the fire to reduce the sauce, then opened the boiler, releasing a cloud of steam.
He inhaled lightly and, with a wave of his hand, extracted a perfect, meatball-like flying immortal pill from the boiler.
Unlike the original silvery-white elixir, this flying immortal pill now had a sauce clinging to it, resembling a braised meatball.
Li Hao didn't hesitate, swallowing it in one bite.
If he met Old Feng and the others later and they were still at the True Immortal Realm, Li Hao could find more flying immortal pills for them. Although these pills were precious, with the immortal stones he had accumulated, he could afford a few.
As he swallowed the cooked flying immortal pill, Li Hao felt a surge of powerful Immortal Power erupt within him. This power was not gentle but exploded, flooding his entire body.
In an instant, the Immortal Power within him was shaken, causing a tumultuous wave that made his body tremble uncontrollably.
With each tremor, the Immortal Power grew increasingly robust, resonating with the external Immortal Power and drawing it into his body.
Li Hao felt this wondrous transformation and did not interfere, allowing the Immortal Power within him to undergo a dramatic change. Soon, he sensed the Immortal Power in his body reaching saturation, then suddenly surging into a new realm of Heaven and Earth.
Li Hao knew his realm had advanced, reaching the Tenth Tier True Immortal.
The Immortal Power surged within him, expanding his Sea of Consciousness and enlarging his Immortal Vein, which could now hold more than twice the amount of Immortal Power it could before!
Bolstered by this momentum, Li Hao rapidly absorbed the external Immortal Power, filling his Immortal Vein. As the sensation of swelling and pain gradually subsided, he realized he had reached the peak of the tenth tier.
"Years of hard cultivation can't match a single elixir; this is the power of a sect's foundation."
Li Hao sighed inwardly, reflecting that talent alone couldn't determine everything. Without cultivation resources, even the strongest prodigies would be lost in obscurity.
After all, prodigies were not rare, but cultivation resources were limited.
Thus, no matter how brilliant and unparalleled a prodigy might be, they could not escape the tide of competition.
As his realm ascended, Li Hao sat cross-legged in the main hall, carefully sensing the changes. Once his cultivation stabilized, he opened his eyes and retrieved the boiler in front of him.
This boiler was merely a painting, but it now possessed some of the genuine effects of a real boiler, and its quality was not low.
"Once I reach the twelfth stage, I should be able to draw a true treasure-level war soldier, and it might even function for a short time."
Li Hao thought to himself, feeling a sense of anticipation. The Dao of Art required meticulous materials. Without them, relying solely on his own painting skills and Immortal Power, he could only draw True Treasures to their limit.
If it were sculpture, Li Hao believed that with superior immortal materials and his twelfth-stage sculpture skills, he could even create an Immortal Weapon!
This would be true handcrafted Immortal Weapons, far simpler than the complex process of refining them.
Thinking of this, Li Hao grew even more eager. If he truly reached that level, with the endurance of his Heavenly Stars Vein, he could continuously paint war soldiers, potentially forming an army on his own!
Li Hao reined in his thoughts and used the remaining time to focus on drawing the Time Origin Divine Tree.
Ten days passed in a flash.
In another courtyard of the Langya Painting Realm.
"Master, this time in the Southern Domain Battle, Little Junior Sister and I will definitely secure a good ranking. Rest assured!"
In the courtyard stood a young man and woman, a perfect match like golden children and jade maidens. The young man's eyes were filled with fighting spirit as he spoke confidently to the Great Dream Master.
The Great Dream Master smiled and said, "Although you two have reached the Immortal Lord Realm, you are only at the first tier. There is still a significant gap between you and the others. Don't underestimate them. If you proceed steadily, you have a good chance of ranking in the top hundred!"
"The total number of Immortal Lord Realm disciples from all the Heavenly Sects is at most a hundred. So, wouldn't we be at the bottom? Master, don't underestimate us."
The young woman, with her rosy lips and white teeth, appeared lively and intelligent. Her eyes were sharp and spirited as she playfully said to the Great Dream Master.
The Great Dream Master chuckled and replied, "Don't overestimate yourselves. The bigger picture is more important. As long as you can rank in the top hundred, combined with the immortal merit our sect's elders and other disciples have earned on the border, our Ascension Tianyi Sect will be almost certain to succeed. Besides, we have others who can also achieve good rankings."
"Master, are you talking about that guy Hao Tian?"
The young woman immediately asked, her eyes wide with curiosity. "I heard he secured the tenth place in the Ancient Immortal Realm during the Yan Chu Immortal Dynasty and gained a seven-year cultivation opportunity in the Origin Secret Realm. Has he now broken through to the Immortal Lord Realm?"
"How could it be that fast? He was only at the ninth level of the True Immortal Realm. The Origin Secret Realm emphasizes Enlightenment rather than cultivation. However, as long as his Dao Realm is profound, once he breaks through to the Immortal Lord Realm, he will be a formidable presence among the Immortal Lords."
Great Dream Master chuckled lightly. She knew that Li Hao’s soul age was merely a century, and to cultivate to the True Immortal Realm at such a young age was already extremely rare. Now that he had reached the tenth level of the True Immortal Realm, she suspected that he would shock many when his soul age was verified during the Southern Domain Battle.
"Ah? He hasn’t reached the Immortal Lord Realm yet? Then won’t it be difficult for him to secure a top hundred ranking in the Ascension? Is he deliberately suppressing his cultivation to perform well in the True Immortal Realm group?"
The young woman couldn’t help but ask, surprised.
The young man beside her revealed a glint in his eyes and said, "Master has been spending a lot of time lately guiding that junior brother in cultivation, teaching him the way."
Great Dream Master noticed the hint of jealousy in his words and chuckled, "I did have such intentions, but that child is exceptionally wise. He didn’t follow my guidance and instead discussed other matters."
"What?"
The young man’s expression changed, and he couldn’t help but ask.
Great Dream Master glanced at him, her smile fading slightly as she said, "This is not something you should be concerned about. The battle is about to begin, and you must focus. When the time comes, other Tianyi Sect disciples will not sit idly by and watch your performance. After all, for our sect to ascend to the Tianyi Sect, it means another Tianyi Sect will fall. Over the past hundred thousand years, the Yan Chu Immortal Dynasty has maintained only five Tianyi Sects to ensure that the best resources are reserved for the most elite sects. It’s not just about meeting a certain standard; this is a fight for survival!"
Hearing their master’s words, the two exchanged glances and bowed their heads in unison, "Disciple understands."
"This time, with the two of you leading, along with Hao Tian, you are the strongest among our sect’s disciples. If you encounter challenges from other sects’ disciples, you must take the lead and protect our disciples from the other depths. Do you understand?"
Great Dream Master said with a slightly stern look in her eyes.
"Include him?"
Both were taken aback. They had heard about the young man defeating an Immortal Lord from an imperial clan in the Ancient Immortal Realm, but they believed it was due to Master secretly providing an Immortal Weapon, not the young man’s own strength. After all, the gap between the True Immortal Realm and the Immortal Lord Realm was too vast, and they had felt this gap even more acutely after ascending to the Immortal Lord Realm.
With their current strength, they could suppress a True Immortal with a wave of their hand. All of the True Immortal’s techniques and Immortal Techniques would be rendered ineffective under their Immortal Dao Laws.
Great Dream Master nodded slightly, without further explanation, and immediately dismissed them from the secret realm to join the other disciples.
Then, she left the hall and returned to the main hall where Li Hao was.
Upon entering, she saw that Li Hao’s cultivation had reached the tenth tier of the True Immortal Realm, and his aura was even more restrained than before. A satisfied smile appeared on her lips.
If she hadn’t known that Li Hao was destined for a great legacy, she would have taken him as her personal disciple long ago. She had no complaints about his temperament, character, or talent.
"It’s time to go."
Her voice was gentle and soothing.
Li Hao slowly opened his eyes and saw Great Dream Master’s misty, gentle gaze, which filled his heart with warmth. He stood up and said, "Thank you for your care during this time, Senior. I will strive to secure a good ranking for the Nine Depths of the Great Dream!"
Great Dream Master saw the determination and conviction in the young man's eyes, and her heart suddenly stirred. She shook her head and said, "You don't need to take it too seriously. With your strength, securing a top-five position in the True Immortal Realm group should be no problem. If the Personal Disciple of the Supreme Sage from the Heavenly Palace doesn't participate, you might even have a chance at the top three, or even first place!"
"Even if you just secure a top-five position in the True Immortal Realm, it will be enough to elevate the Nine Depths of the Great Dream to the Tianyi Sect!"
Li Hao nodded but didn't say much. Since he was participating, he naturally wouldn't hold back and would give it his all; otherwise, what kind of help would that be?
"Go on, don't put too much pressure on yourself."
Great Dream Master said softly.
Li Hao smiled. If it were another disciple, she might have given them a good pep talk, but with him, she was more concerned about him feeling pressured.
This gentleness, like water, was the sharpest blade, capable of piercing the heart.
He simply nodded, didn't say more, and followed Great Dream Master out of the main hall, gathering up his paintings from his time there.
Meanwhile, the other disciples in the Langya Painting Realm had already heard Great Dream Master Incarnation's telepathic message and had awakened from their cultivation, gathering in the courtyard of the painting realm.
On the training ground outside the Langya Painting Realm, an elder from each abyss was lined up to accompany them.
From the Sword Abyss, it was Old Li.
Great Dream Master's figure appeared, her robes fluttering like a Dharma image, enveloping the courtyard. This time, she revealed her true form.
She raised her hand, and a lavish spacecraft flew out from her sleeve, adorned with numerous treasures. It looked extremely dignified and magnificent, growing larger in the air until its shadow covered the entire courtyard.
"Each abyss's accompanying elder, board the ship, and let's depart."
Except for Li Tiemu, the other elders from each abyss boarded the realm artifact.
Great Dream Master waved her hand, and the disciples in the secret realm flickered, instantly transferring to the spacecraft.
Great Dream Master's figure shrank, transforming into a stunning, slender figure, standing at the bow of the ship, her sleeves fluttering like clouds in the wind.
"Patriarch, you are going personally?"
Mu Yun, the accompanying elder from the Spear Abyss, couldn't help but exclaim in surprise at Great Dream Master's actions.
"This is my Incarnation."
Great Dream Master said softly.
Li Hao, standing in the crowd, felt a slight stir in his heart. Great Dream Master had said she would personally accompany them, but he wasn't sure if the one before him was truly her Incarnation or if she was keeping it a secret from the others.
Mu Yun, hearing this, let out a sigh of relief and retreated to his position.
"Inside the ship, there are various guest rooms. You can choose your own. The journey is long, even with a realm artifact, it will take three days. Rest well, relax, and don't be nervous."
Great Dream Master said calmly.
The elders and disciples of each abyss hurriedly responded and returned to the ship's cabin. It was extremely large, containing a secret realm with hundreds or even thousands of guest rooms.
Li Hao was about to go and pick a room when he heard Great Dream Master's voice in his mind:
"Go to Room A1, and stay with me."
Li Hao was taken aback and glanced at Great Dream Master.
"Yes."
He responded in his mind and then entered the cabin, quickly finding the largest guest room.
It was more like a palace than a room, exquisitely decorated.
There was a barrier outside, but as Li Hao approached, it vanished quietly.
Li Hao knew it was under Great Dream Master's control, after all, this realm artifact was hers, and nothing inside escaped her notice.
"Heavenly Palace..."
Thinking of the Southern Domain's central area they would reach in three days, Li Hao couldn't help but recall various figures: the Primordial Ancestor and the god king who had left the True World early, and the Lying Heaven Sage who was later taken to the Heavenly Palace.
(End of Chapter)
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