339-340

Chapter 339: The Eternal Dao Domain, The Battle for Supremacy Begins! (Seeking Monthly Tickets)

Feeling the boundless power that flowed at his will, Li Hao was struck with awe. Was this the Eighth Pinnacle Realm?

The Dao Domain, with its 360 layers, had reached a certain level of perfection, mirroring the heavens and earth, forming a complete sphere!

Within the Dao Domain, laws intertwined, and wondrous phenomena manifested. Strangely, when Li Hao had reached the 359th layer, he needed to expend immense energy to fully utilize it. After all, deploying the Dao Domain was inherently energy-intensive, especially with 359 layers stacked upon each other. Even with Li Hao drawing upon the Heavenly Veins, he could only sustain it for a few minutes.

But now, with the completion of the 360th layer, the Dao Domain seemed to mimic the heavens and earth, operating autonomously. Li Hao only needed a small amount of energy to guide it, allowing it to persist for extended periods.

At this rate of consumption, even if Li Hao enveloped himself in the Dao Domain constantly, it could endure for a very long time.

Li Hao's eyes flickered. Besides the dramatic reduction in energy consumption, the Dao Domain's own transformation was the most terrifying aspect. If he were to unleash all his Pinnacle Realms now, he wondered if he could rival a Demi-Saint.

Li Hao named this Eighth Pinnacle Realm the Eternal Dao Domain!

Unbreakable, invincible, and immortal!

After achieving the Eighth Pinnacle Realm, Li Hao didn't stop. He retracted his Dao Domain and resumed cultivating the remaining techniques of the Tenth Divine Dynasty.

However, as he cultivated, when these techniques reached the Dao Domain stage, the resulting Dao Domains were suppressed and unable to integrate with the Eternal Dao Domain, nor could they be deployed.

The Eternal Dao Domain, like a primary wife, enveloped Li Hao, and any newly formed Dao Domain was immediately scattered by its imposing presence, unable to solidify.

Li Hao was stunned. Based on his previous experiences, he knew that Pinnacle Realms were not the endpoint.

The Eighth Pinnacle Realm should be no different. He was currently facing a bottleneck within the Eighth Pinnacle Realm.

How to break through this bottleneck and continue cultivating was the key to reaching the ultimate realm.

But achieving a Pinnacle Realm was difficult, and breaking through one was even harder!

Li Hao tried several times, all ending in failure, so he could only temporarily abandon the effort.

"The Eight Pinnacle Realms influence each other. Without Heavenly Veins, it's impossible to achieve the Eighth Pinnacle Realm. Just the process of stacking over three hundred Dao Domain layers would drain all one's strength. Therefore, cultivating Heavenly Veins is the foundation for other Pinnacle Realms!"

"Perhaps the Eighth Pinnacle Realm requires the prior completion of other ultimate realms before it becomes easier."

Li Hao's eyes flickered. He had already achieved the All-Might Ultimate Realm, and the second Pinnacle Realm was the Heavenly Veins.

If he could further enhance his Heavenly Veins, it might greatly aid his cultivation of subsequent ultimate realms.

But his Heavenly Veins had already reached their peak.

All 108 major veins in his body were opened, along with the Yin and Yang Veins, forming a unified whole and connecting with the Heavenly Veins. This was already the pinnacle of the Heavenly Cycle Realm!

To take another step, to break through this bottleneck, Li Hao had no clue.

After some thought, Li Hao decided to consult with Chandana. She was knowledgeable and might have some clues to offer.

Li Hao stood up, concealed his aura, and headed to Chandana's courtyard.

Now that he had Chandana's permission, he could freely enter and exit her courtyard without prior notice. Even Chandana's direct disciples were not granted this privilege.

In the courtyard, Chandana was painting. Li Hao saw her sketching a simple flower, and a faint smile touched his lips. Although the flower was ordinary, under her brush, it was extraordinary, possessing an unyielding resilience that defied the wind and rain. It was an extraordinary will that could break through the darkness of the soil.

Li Hao knew that her painting had advanced.

Sensing Li Hao's arrival, Chandana had just finished her painting and put down her brush. She turned to Li Hao, a radiant smile gracing her lips.

"What do you think of my painting?"

"It's excellent."

Li Hao offered sincere praise.

Chandana's smile widened, and the sunlight in the courtyard seemed to brighten. Suddenly, she fixed her gaze on Li Hao, her expression puzzled.

"Has your cultivation improved?"

Although she hadn't thoroughly probed Li Hao's aura, she sensed that he seemed more formidable than before. It was a subtle, intuitive feeling.

Li Hao was slightly surprised. He had the Myriad Transformations and other diagrams to conceal his aura, yet she could still perceive the change. She was incredibly perceptive.

"In a way, yes."

Li Hao told Chandana, "I wanted to ask, after reaching a Pinnacle Realm, do you know how to further enhance it?"

"Breaking through a Pinnacle Realm?"

Chandana was surprised but then understanding dawned on her. She chuckled. "It's natural for you to think this way. Exploring the power beyond Pinnacle Realms is something that Saints have striven for since ancient times. When we first achieved Pinnacle Realms, we also wondered if they could be broken, if we could progress further. But after various attempts, we discovered that Pinnacle Realms are almost impossible to break."

"However, Pinnacle Realms are not the endpoint. In ancient times, a Saint supposedly broke through a Pinnacle Realm, proving that cultivation could continue beyond them. But breaking through a Pinnacle Realm is as difficult as ascending to heaven, even for Saints."

Li Hao was slightly stunned and quickly asked, "Which Pinnacle Realm did that Saint break through?"

"It seems to have been the Fifteen-Mile Pinnacle Realm."

Chandana said, "That was a very long time ago. The Saint's whereabouts have long since vanished, leaving only a note for his disciple, saying that they should never cultivate the Fifteen-Mile Ultimate Realm, that it was forbidden!"

"Hmm?"

Li Hao was confused. The Saint broke through the Fifteen-Mile Pinnacle Realm?

Li Hao knew that the Divine Race was descended from cultivators of the All-Might Ultimate Realm.

The Fifteen-Mile Ultimate Realm, forbidden? What did that mean?

"These are just legends. Whether they are true or not is hard to say. It's been too long."

Chandana looked at Li Hao, a playful smile on her lips. "Your aspirations are very similar to ours back then. Yezu and Qingzu, during their time as young geniuses, also aimed to become the greatest in all eternity. But in the end, they were defeated by reality, realizing that the heavens and earth are vast, and there are countless prodigies, and they were just one among many."

As the Vice-President of the Flower Tour Association, her demeanor held a hint of wistfulness and pessimism. The arrogance of her youth had been tempered.

Li Hao nodded slightly. Legends were often exaggerated, but he never expected that even Chandana knew so little about ultimate realms.

Achieving the All-Might Ultimate Realm hadn't been too difficult for him, but the limit of the Heavenly Veins seemed to be something that couldn't be broken through simply by accumulating cultivation techniques. It required a certain opportunity, or like the Sixth Pinnacle Realm of Transcendence, a certain state of mind, a certain epiphany.

Li Hao was a bit troubled and asked Chandana, "The Saint you mentioned, did he only break through the Fifteen-Mile Pinnacle Realm? What about other Pinnacle Realms?"

Chandana shook her head. "Breaking through a Pinnacle Realm depends on chance. Some opportunities might help you break through a specific Pinnacle Realm, because each Pinnacle Realm faces a different bottleneck."

"Furthermore, just achieving a Pinnacle Realm is extremely difficult, let alone breaking through it. If you have this ambition, you can try to achieve other Pinnacle Realms first, instead of pondering these things and going down the wrong path."

She advised Li Hao based on her own experience. Pondering these things now was a waste of time.

Although this was a common experience for most prodigies, after achieving a Pinnacle Realm, some prodigies would inevitably become arrogant and want to break through it. But after hundreds of years, or even longer, they would realize that it was futile, that they couldn't comprehend or break through.

And that time would be wasted, leading to slow progress in cultivation.

Seeing her say this, Li Hao knew he couldn't get any more information. Ultimate Realms were indeed too secretive. Those who achieved the All-Might Ultimate Realm were considered Divine Race, so one could imagine how secretive and difficult other ultimate realms were to achieve!

However, he was now at the Eighth Pinnacle Realm. If he cultivated further, he would reach the Dao Comprehension Realm.

But this required an increase in Dao Mastery.

And with the Supreme Battle imminent, Li Hao needed to quickly enhance his power to rival a Saint Realm cultivator.

The gap between the Saint Realm and Demi-Saint was also terrifying. Comparing it to the Sword Master's 370,000 Calligraphy experience showed that the difference was not insignificant!

A difference of a few thousand experience points would lead to a clear suppression in battle, let alone a seven or eight-fold difference in experience.

"With my current state, although I'm at the Eighth Pinnacle Realm, if I face a Saint, I'm afraid I'll only be able to run for my life."

Li Hao's eyes flickered. Although the Eternal Dao Domain was powerful, he couldn't guarantee that those Saint prodigies hadn't also achieved this Pinnacle Realm.

After all, Saints were at least at the Fifth Pinnacle Realm.

In comparison, the difference in Pinnacle Realms between them wasn't that great, and the opponent was a Saint Realm cultivator, with profound cultivation and a solidified Saint Dao. Without shattering their Saint Dao, it would be impossible to kill them.

And he couldn't yet perform Saint Heart-Shattering Dao-Breaking on a Saint.

"Let's put the Dao Comprehension Realm aside for now, and become a Saint first!"

Li Hao quickly made a plan. Compared to the power increase brought by the Dao Comprehension Realm, becoming a Saint would undoubtedly be stronger.

The Saint Realm was vastly different from other realms, simply in terms of the realm itself.

And right now, the path of Incense-Offering to become a Saint was too slow. The most promising path was Sacrifice-Dao to become a Saint!

While Li Hao was pondering, Chandana glanced at him, unsure if her advice had taken effect. Sometimes, people don't listen to others until they've hit their heads. You can teach a person, but you can't teach them experience.

She didn't think too much about it. Some experiences were inevitable. While skipping them might ensure safety, it could also lead to a different kind of regret.

"You said you wanted to see the Sage Books of the Wenzu Holy Land. Do you want to go see them now?"

Chandana asked with a smile.

Li Hao snapped out of his thoughts and immediately nodded in agreement.

Chandana immediately put away the finished painting, then had Yueying put away the painting board, brushes, and other materials, waiting for her to return. Then, she took Li Hao and soared out of Tian Tan Peak.

"Look, Master is with Qingfeng again."

Seeing the two leave, several disciples on Tian Tan Peak had complex expressions.

Zhao Qingshu saw this and his face darkened.

Chandana was the most beautiful scenery on Tian Tan Peak. Although they, as disciples, didn't dare to harbor rebellious thoughts, seeing her peerless beauty every day inevitably stirred their hearts. They simply buried these feelings deep within, never daring to reveal them.

Now, seeing her with Li Hao almost every day, they felt extremely uncomfortable, and their hearts were in turmoil.

The Wenxin Pavilion was where the Wenzu Holy Land stored the Sage Books. The Wenzu Holy Land accepted disciples and taught the Wen Saint's cultivation system, extracting the power from the Sage Books. If one simply read the Sage Books without the corresponding cultivation system, it would be like dry reading.

Therefore, Chandana bringing Li Hao here wouldn't have much impact. Many of the Sage Books in the Wenxin Pavilion were collected from the various dynasty's Hanlin Academies. The Wenzu Holy Land held the highest position among the scholars of the Thirty-Three Realms, even surpassing the Supreme Saints. After all, the Wen Saint was the highest Saint in the hearts of scholars.

And the Wen Saint's incense-offering faith came from scholars and literati from all over the heavens.

The Wenxin Pavilion stood tall and majestic, emitting a scholarly aura of iridescent light. As soon as Li Hao approached, he felt a sense of tranquility, as if all distracting thoughts were wiped away, and his mind became calm.

Chandana arrived at the Wenxin Pavilion, greeted the guards, and then said to Li Hao, "I'll wait for you outside. Go in and have a look."

She spoke casually, but Li Hao was grateful and nodded, saying nothing more. He turned and entered the Wenxin Pavilion.

Inside the pavilion, bookshelves were stacked with ancient books.

Li Hao swept his divine sense and quickly realized that these were just ordinary books.

If combined with the Wenzu Holy Land's cultivation system, they could unleash formidable power.

In other words, the Wenzu Holy Land's true cultivation techniques were not here. This place was like an "Armory Pavilion."

Li Hao swept his divine sense and quickly recorded all the books, discovering three books that could be recorded.

Li Hao was tempted. After memorizing all the Sage Books in the Wenxin Pavilion into his primordial spirit, he took the three books and walked out.

Half a day had passed outside, and Chandana was still standing outside waiting, her position and posture unchanged from when Li Hao had entered.

When she saw Li Hao come out, Chandana's gaze fell on the three books in his hand, and she couldn't help but smile. "You have good taste."

"If I were to take these three masterpieces for my collection, what would I have to pay?"

Li Hao asked.

Once these three masterpieces were recorded in his panel, they would disappear. The Wenzu Holy Land might not agree, and if they didn't, Li Hao wouldn't force it.

"You're really going to delve into these? You don't have the Wen Saint's cultivation method, so they're useless to you. Are you just going to read them?" Chandana said.

"Yes, they say that there are golden houses in books, and I want to pan for gold."

Li Hao said.

Chandana laughed, "There's a second half to that sentence: there are beauties like jade in books."

"I've already seen the beauties like jade, but I haven't seen many golden houses." Li Hao said.

Chandana was slightly stunned. Seeing Li Hao's gaze on her, coupled with his words, her cheeks flushed slightly, but she quickly recovered.

"If you join the Wenzu Holy Land, these three masterpieces could be given to you directly."

Li Hao sighed, shook his head, and said, "I bear a grudge and cannot cause trouble for the Wenzu Holy Land."

Chandana was slightly stunned and asked, "You have enemies? Who are they?"

Li Hao didn't say anything. His feud with the Void Saint involved Saints, and he didn't want to involve others.

Chandana's eyes narrowed, and she instantly realized that Li Hao's enemies were extraordinary. Otherwise, with Li Hao's current realm, if it were just a Demi-Saint as his enemy, there would be no need to worry about implicating the Wenzu Holy Land.

After all, give Li Hao another sixty years, and he would probably be able to rival a Demi-Saint. How could he possibly implicate them?

If it wasn't a Demi-Saint, then it could only be...

Chandana looked at Li Hao deeply. She never expected that this person who seemed to be always relaxed and playful would have such enemies. If others had such enemies, they would likely be constantly anxious and unable to sleep at night. But before Li Hao spoke, she hadn't noticed any mental turmoil in him.

"If you need it, the Flower Tour Association can lend a hand." Chandana said.

Li Hao looked at her, understanding her intentions, and shook his head slightly. "I'll handle this myself."

Hearing this, Chandana understood that Li Hao didn't want to involve others in his troubles. This made her admire him even more.

After all, if Li Hao hadn't spoken, and she had invited him to join the Wenzu Holy Land, if something happened in the future, the Wen Saint would inevitably have to help.

But Li Hao didn't do that. He didn't take advantage of it.

This was either foolish or incredibly genuine.

There's a lot of fame and fortune in the world, but true feelings are rare. Chandana sighed inwardly. Since she was a child, she had left the royal family of the Upper Three Realms, escaping the whirlpool of power and incense-offering struggles. Since childhood, she had seen the harsh realities of the world, and her mother had died because of it. She had seen the coldness of human relationships, but here, she had encountered someone like Li Hao.

"In that case, if you can't join the Wenzu Holy Land, you can choose one of these three to take with you, and I'll handle the rest."

Chandana said to Li Hao.

Li Hao looked at her, knowing that this was another favor.

He thought for a moment and chose one of the three, selecting "The Renhuang Collection."

Then, he handed the remaining two to the guards to return.

Chandana glanced at them and nodded slightly, saying nothing.

Li Hao put the Renhuang Collection into his Heavenly Space and then asked, "Are there many copied Sage Books in the Wenxin Pavilion?"

Chandana was stunned and laughed, "You can actually tell the difference between originals and copies?"

Unless one had a deep understanding of certain Sage Books, it was difficult to tell.

Li Hao didn't see the difference, he inferred it. After all, the Wenxin Pavilion collected Sage Books from all over the heavens, yet only three books could be recorded. This wasn't logical.

Chandana said, "Some originals have been lost, and only copies remain. Some originals are in the Hanlin Halls of the dynasties, and they don't want to give them away. After all, some scholars have a deep attachment to them. Unless you use forceful means, even Saints wouldn't be able to shake their faith."

"And some originals are too precious, so they're kept by the Wen Saint to prevent disciples from borrowing and damaging them when they come here."

Li Hao understood. In other words, these three masterpieces were not highly regarded by the Wen Saint, so they were left here. The other masterpieces were kept by him.

Only originals could be recorded. Copies couldn't be recorded in the panel.

Li Hao and Chandana returned to Tian Tan Peak. A few days later, when Chandana informed him that the matter of the masterpiece was settled and gave it to him, Li Hao recorded it into his panel.

And the recording of the Renhuang Collection was converted into a diagram attribute:

Benevolent Invincibility: When in the Benevolent Invincibility state, all damage received is reflected back to the attacker.

Li Hao was stunned. Some diagram attributes were strong, while others were mediocre, but this Benevolent Invincibility attribute was undoubtedly extremely domineering.

It was essentially fighting the enemy with an exchange of injuries, a life-or-death fighting style.

If given to someone else, the effect would be mediocre. After all, martial artists try to avoid getting injured in battle. Like wild animals in the forest, if they get injured while killing, they themselves will also be harmed. If they leave behind hidden injuries, it will also hinder their martial path.

But Li Hao had Blood Rebirth, so he was least afraid of getting injured.

"However, I don't know how effective it will be against Saints."

Li Hao's eyes flickered. He didn't need to use this attribute against Dao Law Realm cultivators, but it was hard to say how effective it would be against Saints.

Regardless, it was a slight enhancement to his capabilities.

Li Hao's thoughts turned to the other Sage Books, and he began reciting them in the courtyard.

As these Sage Books flowed from his mouth, his Calligraphy experience increased rapidly.

Although each Sage Book didn't provide much experience, a few hundred to a few thousand, or even just a few dozen points.

But there were so many Sage Books in the Wenxin Pavilion. As Li Hao recited them one by one, his Calligraphy Dao quickly rose from the fourth stage to the fifth.

After another two days, it reached the sixth stage, and the experience bar was full.

Receiving two consecutive skill points put Li Hao in a good mood.

Outside the courtyard, Chandana, while taking a break from painting, heard the Sage Books being recited from the small courtyard. She knew that Li Hao had memorized all of them, and she couldn't help but be speechless. She never expected that Li Hao would genuinely love this path.

She couldn't help but shake her head with a wry smile. Compared to them, the Flower Tour Association members who found joy in their suffering, Li Hao seemed to be truly playing in the world.

Time flew by.

Li Hao stayed on Tian Tan Peak. After his Calligraphy experience accumulated to the sixth stage, he needed to comprehend the Spiritual Heart Realm to continue improving. But comprehension required effort, so Li Hao could only put Calligraphy aside for the time being and focus on Culinary Dao and Painting Dao as his primary goals.

Whether it was Culinary or Painting, as long as he reached the tenth stage, he could Sacrifice-Dao to become a Saint. Only then could he truly live with his head held high and reveal his true identity.

Three months passed in the blink of an eye.

Li Hao spent his days discussing Painting Dao with Chandana, painting together, and exchanging ideas. His own insights were accumulating. Although there was a gap in their Painting Dao realms, the collision of thoughts during their exchanges sparked new insights and a deeper understanding of Painting Dao in Li Hao.

Now, his Painting Dao experience had accumulated to 920,000. He needed another 4,080,000 to reach the ninth stage.

There was still a lot of experience to gain, and he could only accumulate it during the upcoming Prodigy Battle.

But compared to experience, breaking through Painting Dao and transcending into Sainthood was even more difficult.

During these three months, Li Qingyi also came to Tian Tan Peak to visit Zhao Qingshu. When she saw Li Hao there, she was stunned.

Li Qingyi had now shed the disguise she used during the Sacrifice-Dao Mountain battle, revealing her originally elegant and ethereal appearance. Her cheeks were fair, her eyes bright, and her expression still held a hint of naivety.

After inquiring, Li Qingyi learned that Li Hao was here to discuss paintings with the Demi-Saint Chandana.

This made Li Qingyi speechless.

In these three months, her Book Sea senior brother, the Saint Son who was also the first place in the Wenzu Holy Land's Prodigy Battle, had been in seclusion cultivating, while Li Hao was here chatting about paintings?

Li Hao didn't recognize Li Qingyi. When the three months were up, he bid farewell to Chandana. The next step was the battle for the quota in the Canglan Realm. This battle had been brewing for a long time, and through the Realm Stone projection, the entire Canglan Realm, tens of thousands of cities, would be able to watch.

As the battle drew near, prodigies emerged from seclusion, revealing their invincible and domineering auras.

"My sword is complete. This time, I will leave my name among the top ten!"

"Senior Brother Book Sea has emerged from seclusion!"

"Look, that's Haoyue Saint Son's Haoyue Divine Peak. There are actually two suns on it. Is that the Sun-Moon Sword Intent? It feels even more terrifying than before!"

Within the three great Holy Lands, the winds of change blew. The prodigies emerged from seclusion, their extraordinary phenomena on display.

"The sky has darkened. What is that? A Heavenly Demon?!"

"That's the Buddha Son subduing his inner demons. The Buddha Venerable said that the stronger the demons, the stronger the Buddha nature. The Buddha Son's Buddha nature far surpasses ours."

In the Buddhist Holy Land, the sky suddenly darkened, and dark clouds gathered, as if the sky was collapsing.

This phenomenon alarmed countless people, and the news spread.

Within the Sword Ancestor Holy Land, many Saint Sons emerged from seclusion. After finishing their cultivation, they quickly sent people to inquire about the others.

Haoyue Saint Son emerged from seclusion, his aura restrained. His silver hair was streaked with gold, and the golden and silver light in his eyes was even more dazzling.

He immediately summoned his men to inquire about Li Hao's whereabouts.

Soon, the news came back.

"What? You saw him go to the Wenzu Holy Land?"

"Yes, I heard that he's holding a painting exhibition and discussing paintings with a Demi-Saint elder of the Wenzu Holy Land."

Hearing this news, Haoyue Saint Son was stunned, almost spitting blood.

This guy was too arrogant. With the quota battle imminent, he still had the leisure to paint?

In a fiery domain, Chiguang emerged from seclusion, the surrounding scorching flames surging and converging, gathering into his body, leaving only scorched earth behind.

His eyes revealed bright red markings, like natural Dao patterns.

"Twin Buddha Son, let me see what you've got!"

Chiguang's eyes were filled with fighting spirit. He then changed into his robes and flew out. When he returned to his cave dwelling, he asked his master about the situation of the others.

When he heard that a Heavenly Demon's outward form had appeared in the Buddhist Holy Land, his eyes showed a hint of seriousness, but more so, a surging fighting spirit.

And when he heard that there were two suns shining in the sky in the Sword Ancestor Holy Land, he sneered.

Then, he thought of something and asked his master about Qingfeng, the one he had clashed with before.

When he learned that the other party was holding a painting exhibition, he was stunned, and he felt like laughing in anger.

It seems that his previous defeat had made the other party arrogant...

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 340: The Ephemeral Demon Realm, Twin Buddha Sons

Chi Guang hadn't expected that his attempt at a low-key entrance would be taken so literally by someone.

"Looks like I can't stay under the radar this time..."

A chilling glint flashed in Chi Guang's eyes. Thoughts of the Twin Buddha Sons' demonic statue, as mentioned by his master, ignited a fierce battle-fire within him.

Meanwhile, amidst the buzz of the Flower Tour Gathering, the battle for the coveted spots was imminent.

Ye Zu, Qing Zu, and the others sent a message to Li Hao, informing him of their impending arrival in the Canglan Realm. They were coming to witness and support Li Hao in the upcoming battle.

Upon hearing this, Qing Jiu feigned a pitiful demeanor. "Is no one coming to see me?"

"You have your master to rely on. Why would you need us? Qingfeng is a lone wolf," Ye Zu retorted, exasperated.

"Yeah, who needs to watch you show off?" Qing Zu added, even more bluntly.

Qing Jiu sighed, "You're being so unfair, it's making me sad."

"You still have the energy to complain? I think you're itching for a fight," Qing Zu remarked.

Qing Jiu: "..."

Li Hao, informed of Ye Zu's group's arrival, sent a message to Chandan, asking her to handle their reception.

Chandan assured him to focus on preparing for the battle and not worry about such matters.

After their previous discussions about the art of painting, she felt she had already delayed Li Hao enough. With the battle approaching, she had also received some news – several talented individuals, under pressure, had achieved breakthroughs, elevating their strength to new heights. These individuals posed a potential threat to Li Hao.

As the battle drew closer, the Canglan Emperor also approached Li Hao, Chi Guang, Su Yun, and others, inquiring if they required any assistance, be it weapons or divine elixirs.

Su Yun mentioned her need for Condensation Dao Pills, while Chi Guang and Li Hao both declined any assistance.

"Those who secure a spot to represent the Canglan Realm in the upcoming battle will receive the blessings of the Canglan Realm's incense offerings. The exact amount will depend on your performance in the battle," the Canglan Emperor explained.

He held high hopes for both Li Hao and Chi Guang. Initially, he had placed his bets heavily on Chi Guang, believing him to secure a top-ten position. However, Li Hao's recent performance had pleasantly surprised him. If both individuals could represent the Canglan Realm, the Canglan Divine Dynasty would receive two portions of Dragon Qi!

This was a heavenly gift from the Canglan Realm's Dao. These two portions of Dragon Qi would solidify the Canglan Divine Dynasty's reign, potentially allowing the royal lineage to produce a prodigy capable of achieving Sainthood. If absorbed by the Emperor himself, it could further his cultivation towards becoming a Royal Dao Saint.

Saints established their own unique systems, such as Sword Saints, Literary Saints, and Buddhist Saints. Divine Dynasty Emperors, seeking Sainthood, could cultivate the Royal Dao, which required accumulating Dragon Qi.

In the days leading up to the grand battle, the three Great Holy Lands and dozens of dynasties were abuzz with excitement. Even those who had failed to qualify for the main event eagerly awaited the pinnacle clash of Canglan Realm's most talented individuals.

Days flew by in a blink. The battle for the coveted spots was scheduled to take place within the Buddhist Holy Land.

Since the inception of the Supreme Prodigy Battle, the location for the Canglan Realm's qualifying battles had been rotated among the three Great Holy Lands.

This served as a way to showcase the Holy Land's splendor and attract talented individuals from various dynasties. This year, it was the Buddhist Holy Land's turn to host.

Li Hao, Chi Guang, and other top contenders from various dynasties accompanied their respective royal families to the Buddhist Holy Land.

Even from afar, outside the Buddhist Holy Land, one could witness a towering, heaven-piercing sacred peak, bathed in auspicious light and radiant Buddha's light. It was as if the sun had descended upon the peak's summit, transforming into a luminous pearl that shimmered with countless Buddha's lights.

Upon entering the Buddhist Holy Land's territory, one could faintly hear the devout chanting of Buddhist scriptures.

Compared to the participants like Li Hao, those who came to watch the battle had arrived a day earlier, leveraging connections to secure front-row seats.

At the foot of the Buddhist Holy Land's sacred peak, two colossal beasts resembling golden lions lay prostrate, exuding the aura of Half-Saints. Although they appeared as golden lions, discerning individuals could recognize them as ancient Demon Kings concealing their true forms.

Half-Saint Buddhist beasts guarded the foot of the mountain. Along the steps leading up, monks offered hospitality, radiating a profound aura of Buddhist light and treasures.

"Is this the Buddhist Holy Land?"

"It's so solemn and awe-inspiring, it makes me instinctively want to keep my voice down."

"So many Buddhist beasts! Look, someone's riding a Buddhist beast as a mount. Is that a Half-Saint-level Buddhist beast?"

The crowd buzzed with excited whispers.

The summit of the sacred peak was vast and expansive, a gathering place for various forces. Millions of individuals were present, including countless princes and princesses, as well as descendants of ancient martial arts families and their direct heirs. All of them possessed significant backgrounds, otherwise, they wouldn't have been able to witness the battle firsthand. Instead of being present, they would have had to watch through boundary stones from their homes.

Besides these individuals with influential backgrounds, numerous talented individuals had also gathered, creating a grand and imposing spectacle.

However, in front of the crowd, stood numerous Buddhist Half-Saints, their forms towering and imposing, stretching over a hundred zhang in height. Amidst the hundreds of thousands gathered at the peak, they were exceptionally eye-catching.

Their mounts were equally massive and imposing, also possessing the strength of Half-Saints.

Some were Azure Lions, others Golden-Maned Hounds, White Pigs, Peacock Kings, and so on, all radiating auspicious light. However, before being subjugated, these Buddhist beasts were undoubtedly terrifying demons that instilled fear in all who heard their names.

Above the Buddha's Treasure Palace, the Buddhist Holy Land's Saint, the Thousand-Life Buddha Venerable, sat majestically. His sacred image was as grand as a natural Dao manifestation, towering a thousand zhang high. Even those standing at the outer edges of the sacred peak could clearly see him. His body emanated a radiant golden light of Buddhist Dao, spreading auspiciousness far and wide.

The Thousand-Life Buddha Venerable was the master of the Buddhist Holy Land. He had already overcome the Three Calamities and was on the verge of stepping into the realm of Supreme Saint.

Legend had it that he had reincarnated a thousand times, deciphering the fundamental principles of the world. Birth, aging, sickness, death, fame, fortune, right and wrong, honor and shame – he had achieved a state of profound detachment.

Within the Canglan Realm, the Buddhist Holy Land held the highest status. The Thousand-Life Buddha Venerable was widely regarded as the strongest individual in the Canglan Realm.

Currently, all the various forces and countless talented individuals were witnessing this apex figure of the Canglan Realm, their eyes filled with reverence and respect.

As the various forces gathered, Li Hao and the others arrived. He and Chi Guang walked among the top ten of the Divine Dynasty, attracting considerable attention. They were both considered strong contenders for the coveted spots in the battle.

Shortly after their arrival, a commotion erupted within the crowd. The numerous Saint Sons and Saint Daughters of the Literary Ancestor Holy Land had arrived.

Li Hao and Chi Guang turned to see a group of elegantly refined figures approaching from the steps. Both men and women were present, all exuding a scholarly aura, like wandering literati and ink masters, casually engaging in a playful banter.

This "banter" referred to the "sorrow" of the Li Sao poem.

Li Hao spotted familiar faces among them – Chandan and Zhao Qing Shu.

However, Chandan was merely an escort, walking beside the group in a relatively inconspicuous position.

Leading the group were Zhao Qing Shu and nine other young men and women, all exuding the aura of the Dao Law Realm.

At the forefront was a young scholar, resembling a common scholar from the mortal realm. He was exceptionally handsome, his eyes revealing a world-weary indifference, as if he had already read countless books and was no longer surprised or intrigued by the changes of the world.

"Is that Lin Shuhai from the Literary Ancestor Holy Land? He seems rather unremarkable."

"That's called restraint. You don't understand. I heard from a friend in the Literary Ancestor Holy Land that he defeated a multitude of the Literary Ancestor's talented individuals with just three words. Can you imagine that?"

"That's outrageous!"

Many focused their attention on the young scholar, their expressions solemn.

Chi Guang narrowed his eyes. Aside from the Twin Buddha Sons, he also wanted to gauge the strength of this talented individual from the Literary Ancestor Holy Land.

As if sensing Chi Guang's challenging gaze, Lin Shuhai turned his head and met Chi Guang's eyes. However, his expression remained calm, a faint smile playing on his lips as he gently nodded.

Chi Guang grinned. These individuals from the Literary Ancestor Holy Land were indeed polite.

Chandan, who was behind Lin Shuhai, also noticed Li Hao. A gentle smile graced her usually serene and composed face.

This sight caused those around them to turn their heads, momentarily losing their composure. This Half-Saint possessed an ethereal beauty, an air of nobility that seemed untouchable. Yet, her gentle smile was like a spell that could captivate the hearts of countless mortals.

"Ye Zu and the others have arrived. Once you're done, I'll introduce you to them," Chandan transmitted to Li Hao.

Li Hao nodded.

Shortly after the arrival of the Literary Ancestor Holy Land's group, another commotion erupted near the steps outside the arena.

A group of imposing figures approached, each exuding a unique aura, yet all possessing a sharp and piercing quality. It was the group led by the Bright Moon Saint Son of the Sword Ancestor Holy Land.

"The Sword Ancestor Holy Land has arrived! Everyone's here!"

"What's the name of that Saintess? She looks so beautiful."

"Be careful what you say. That's Elder Yao Zu from the Sword Ancestor Holy Land. Although, she was indeed a Saintess hundreds of years ago."

Li Hao turned his head and saw Yao Zu and Lin Qingying, among others. Recognizing familiar faces, he couldn't help but smile.

Lin Qingying and Yao Zu noticed Li Hao's gaze and turned towards him. Yao Zu smiled warmly and gave Li Hao a gentle nod.

Li Hao had previously showcased his extraordinary swordsmanship, and his recent victory in the Divine Dynasty's Scattered Cultivator Battle had further solidified his reputation. She knew that this battle would be the moment when Li Hao truly rose to prominence.

Upon seeing Li Hao, Lin Qingying recalled her recent breakthroughs during her seclusion. A sense of tranquility washed over her.

Nearby, Bian Ruxue and the other Saint Sons and Saint Daughters also noticed Li Hao. After all, the seating area for Li Hao and the other Divine Dynasty's Scattered Cultivators was on par with the Holy Lands, located in the most prominent positions.

The Bright Moon Saint Son recalled the information he had gathered upon leaving seclusion. His expression turned cold. Li Hao had completely disregarded him, even ignoring the others, believing that defeating him would guarantee victory?

Although angered, his eyes shone with an even more intense light. He had gained significant benefits during his seclusion, and he would seize this opportunity to avenge his previous defeat!

Bian Ruxue and the other Saint Sons and Saint Daughters, upon seeing Li Hao, didn't react much. Li Hao's display of swordsmanship had occurred a long time ago. They were aware of his exceptional talent in swordsmanship, and if they encountered him in this battle, they would have to avoid his sharp edge.

With the arrival of the Sword Ancestor Holy Land's group, the atmosphere in the arena became even more heated.

"Look! There are the Buddhist Holy Land's Buddha Sons!"

"Is that the Twin Buddha Sons? I heard he has mastered the Six Extreme Realms. He's terrifying!"

"I heard that he had a heart demon since he was in his mother's womb. His entire cultivation journey has been about conquering this heart demon. Others fight against external enemies, but he fights against himself!"

From within the Buddha's Palace in front, ten figures emerged. Besides the Buddha Sons, there were also female Bodhisattvas, all with serene and peaceful expressions, seemingly unaffected by the chaos of the outside world.

Leading the group was a young boy-like Buddha Son, dressed in black and white kasaya. One of his eyes was white, giving him a rather eerie appearance.

With their appearance, the previously noisy summit of the sacred peak fell silent in an instant. Many individuals' expressions became exceptionally solemn. This was the Twin Buddha Sons of the Buddhist Holy Land, the most renowned among the three Great Holy Lands. Besides the Six Extreme Realms, he possessed numerous divine abilities and techniques. Legend had it that he was the reincarnation of a Buddhist Saint who sought to elevate himself to a higher level.

Upon seeing them, Chi Guang, standing beside Li Hao, became serious.

He could faintly perceive a demonic statue behind the Twin Buddha Sons, incredibly terrifying. Although it was extremely subtle, simply standing there gave him a feeling that his gaze couldn't lock onto it.

Besides him, Lin Shuhai from the Literary Ancestor Holy Land also glanced calmly at the Twin Buddha Sons, his eyes flickering slightly, but his expression remained unchanged.

"This is the Twin Buddha Sons. He's terrifying. I heard he devoured his twin in his mother's womb, resulting in a congenital Buddha-Demon dual body. He's incredibly dangerous," Li Qingyi said with apprehension. She stared at the Twin Buddha Sons for a moment, feeling a pang of fear when she realized that his white eyes were reflecting her image. She dared not look any longer.

"I heard from Master that some powerful individuals begin their schemes from the moment they are in the womb. They are not purely born, but rather the result of a Saint's methods," Zhao Qing Shu said solemnly.

"We are definitely no match for him. I wonder if Senior Brother Shuhai can defeat him," they said, looking towards Lin Shuhai. Despite his scholarly and indifferent demeanor, they knew how terrifying their senior brother could be in battle.

If they could secure first place in this battle, they would gain abundant incense offerings. After all, dozens of dynasties from the Canglan Realm would be watching this battle, attracting countless individuals to admire and offer their respect, thus providing a source of incense offerings.

"This feeling... it's somewhat familiar..."

Li Hao looked at the Twin Buddha Sons, his eyes flickering. He recalled the Buddha he had slain earlier, who had also cultivated through a Buddha-Demon dual cultivation method. For Buddhist cultivators, comprehending worldly karmic obstacles was difficult, but overcoming internal heart demons was even harder. It was a hurdle that all Buddhist cultivators had to face.

To be born as a human is to have a heart demon. Buddhist cultivators primarily focus on transcendence, and thus, they must conquer or suppress their heart demons.

Li Hao retracted his gaze and turned his attention to the Buddhist Half-Saints and the Thousand-Life Buddha Venerable.

He could faintly sense that the beings currently before him were not their true forms but rather projections.

However, even in this form, they were like a blazing sun, causing a sense of reverence and a desire to prostrate oneself.

This was the strength of a Three Calamity Saint, the strongest below the Supreme Saint?

Li Hao had learned about the three realms of Saints during this period. Each realm corresponded to a Calamity. With each Calamity overcome, one's strength would increase significantly. However, each Calamity was also a tribulation!

Throughout history, more Saints had perished in the Three Calamities than those who had survived.

Once one overcame the Three Calamities, they could leave their name in history. As long as they didn't seek their own demise, they could live until their natural lifespan ended, which was an incredibly long time.

Currently, with everyone assembled, two large, void-like openings suddenly appeared in the sky. Two figures emerged from within, their forms towering and majestic, like natural Dao manifestations. These were the Sword Saint and the Literary Saint.

Li Hao had seen the Sword Saint before and recognized that this was a projection, similar to the illusory Saint projection that had pursued him earlier.

This was his first time seeing the Literary Saint. He appeared as a grand scholar, but his body radiated auspicious light. The void around him displayed illusions of a vast ocean and bamboo forests, with a gentle breeze seemingly blowing through, creating a tranquil atmosphere.

The Sword Saint's surroundings were distorted by light, forming sword shadows and a sword domain phenomenon.

The three Great Saints gathered to witness this Canglan Realm Prodigy Battle. Such a spectacle ignited a fervent desire in the hearts of the talented individuals present.

Unfortunately, they no longer had the opportunity to take the stage. Otherwise, they could have showcased their abilities before the Saints. If they gained their favor, they could soar to unimaginable heights!

With the arrival of the three Great Saints' projections, the Thousand-Life Buddha Venerable, seated on a radiant golden lotus platform atop the Buddha's Palace, spoke with a gentle tone. He exchanged glances with the Literary Saint and the Sword Saint, who both nodded slightly in acknowledgment.

Without excessive pleasantries, as they were old acquaintances, the Thousand-Life Buddha Venerable slowly explained the rules of the battle.

Currently, there were a total of forty participants, including those from the three Great Holy Lands and the Divine Dynasty's Scattered Cultivators. The first round would not be a direct battle but rather a quest to obtain spirit pearls.

The Thousand-Life Buddha Venerable raised his hand and pointed. A strand of Buddhist light, like golden flames, floated down and ignited a void passage in the center of the plaza.

On the other side of the passage was a forbidden zone where demons and monsters resided.

"These are spirit pearls. They are scattered throughout the Ephemeral Demon Realm. Based on the speed at which you retrieve the spirit pearls, the top twenty will advance, while the rest will be eliminated," the Thousand-Life Buddha Venerable explained calmly.

Some forces had already investigated and discovered this information, which had already been passed on to Li Hao and the other contenders.

Li Hao had learned about it through a secret message from Chandan and was not surprised. The other Holy Land disciples also remained composed, already aware of the rules.

Only Su Yun and a few other Divine Dynasty's Scattered Cultivators were taken aback upon hearing this, highlighting the fact that their backing forces were not as strong and had not investigated the matter beforehand.

"To prevent anyone from collecting all the spirit pearls at once, only one will be released at a time. The Literary Saint and the Sword Saint will jointly witness this process and randomly entrust the spirit pearls to the demons and monsters within the Ephemeral Demon Realm."

"Whoever can defeat the demon or monster guarding the spirit pearl and retrieve it the fastest will advance," the Thousand-Life Buddha Venerable continued.

As he spoke, the silver-white spirit pearl in his hand transformed into a streak of light and flew into the void fissure in the arena.

Li Hao understood that this was essentially a demon-slaying competition.

After the spirit pearl was released, the first to enter the void fissure was a Buddhist disciple, specifically the Twin Buddha Sons.

This was a random selection based on a Dao Law. Seeing the highly anticipated Twin Buddha Sons take the first step, everyone was surprised and unexpected, but mostly excited to see how he would perform.

The Twin Buddha Sons' expression was calm and devoid of emotion. Under the watchful eyes of everyone present, he stepped directly into the void fissure.

The arena fell silent. No one could see what was happening inside the Ephemeral Demon Realm.

The boundary stones only reflected the later battles.

This was merely the initial selection and elimination phase.

After a single breath, the void fissure emitted a bright light, and the Twin Buddha Sons emerged, holding the silver-white spirit pearl in his hand.

Someone nearby was responsible for recording and checking the time. They immediately announced,

"Twin Buddha Sons, one minute and thirty-four seconds!"

Upon hearing this, everyone was surprised. They hadn't expected him to emerge so quickly.

However, they lacked a frame of reference for this achievement. They realized that he was incredibly fast. The demon or monster guarding the spirit pearl was at least at the Dao Law Realm. To locate and defeat it within such a short time and retrieve the spirit pearl was undoubtedly a fast time.

Shortly after, the second selected talented individual took action. It was Zhao Qing Shu, whom Li Hao had met before.

Zhao Qing Shu's expression was solemn. Following the Twin Buddha Sons, he would inevitably be compared, and he felt a bit unlucky.

However, as a talented individual, he wasn't overly intimidated. He quickly stepped forward.

After the spirit pearl was released, Zhao Qing Shu stepped into the Ephemeral Demon Realm.

Time passed. After a cup of tea, a quarter of an hour later, a figure stumbled out of the fissure. It was Zhao Qing Shu.

(End of Chapter)