In a turbulent world, one seeks survival, and in a prosperous age, one seeks fame. The Great Yu Dynasty, weathered and aged, still flourishes. A young man from the northwest walks nine thousand miles and single-handedly slays a mighty demon to claim his fame. At Dragon Lake, a non-hereditary grandmaster rushes to the mortal realm, founding a sect that will leave a legacy for hundreds of generations. In the imperial city, a sage spreads their teachings far and wide, and their disciples can be found in every state, leaving a fragrant legacy for eternity. Yet, in a military mansion within Qingzhou City, there lives a child who is carefree and unconventional, only interested in playing chess, painting, fishing, and playing the zither. Years later— A sword rises, and dragon smoke covers three thousand miles, and with one sword, the cities of the Nine Continents are cut down! Of all the myriad methods in the world, only I, have entered the Dao!
The brief clash ended swiftly, but the commotion it stirred left everyone present shaken.
When they saw the young man in white being sent flying out of the dojo, many widened their eyes in disbelief. He was, after all, the renowned pride of the Ji family, who had earned the title of genius a decade ago, much like Ji Yufen today, receiving the family's focused cultivation!
Yet now, he had been defeated by this youth with a single punch?!
The worried faces of Ji Yunyue and the others instantly turned to shock.
Looking at the youth with his clothes fluttering in the ring, it seemed he hadn't even used his full strength.
Their hearts trembled as they finally believed the third brother's words—this youth truly had the ability to confront those in the Ultimate Realm!
"What a formidable physique!"
"Such savage might!"
Ji Tianchao's eyes, however, gleamed with intense light as he witnessed the scene firsthand. He could now see that the youth's body contained an extremely vast power.
This power was so profound that he couldn't fully comprehend it, as if something was obscuring it, or perhaps the youth was holding back!
Aside from Ji Tianchao and the others, the elders and leaders of the various branches were also startled, their expressions turning solemn.
Previously, they had looked down on this youth because he was a half-blood, which instinctively displeased them. But the power he had just displayed far exceeded their past understanding of half-bloods.
Even the direct descendants, the proud geniuses, were inferior to this youth. After all, before joining the Ji family, he had been wandering outside and couldn't have had access to such abundant cultivation resources as the family provided!
How could the cultivation techniques and secret medicines he obtained while wandering compare to those of an ancient sacred clan?
Unless Li Hao had been adopted by another ancient sacred clan and cultivated as a direct descendant, but that was almost impossible!
The defeat of the young man in white left those who had previously scorned the youth on the stage speechless and stunned.
This turn of events was completely unexpected and left them bewildered.
However, Li Hao on the stage showed no signs of stopping. His gaze swept over the other geniuses, and seeing their astonished faces, he said coldly:
"Who's next? Step forward if you dare!"
The youth's words were cold, but the disdain within them caused many geniuses to change their expressions slightly.
As a half-blood, standing in this battlefield of Ji family geniuses, he still possessed such a domineering aura, looking down on everyone.
They felt truly disdained!
However, among these geniuses, many had reached the Dao Heart Realm, and the young man in white whom Li Hao had just defeated was in the Reverse Life Realm. Even if Ji Mingshou were to step up, it would be futile, so they could only clench their fists in anger, unable to vent their frustration.
"Ji Rufeng, it's your turn. Don't let this half-blood look down on our Ji family!"
"Yes, show him the true power of our Ji family's geniuses!"
The geniuses in the Dao Heart Realm felt suffocated, and someone shouted to another genius.
In the high places of the field, there stood graceful figures with exquisite features and immortal-like bones and skin. At this moment, most of them were indifferent or watching the youth in the field with great interest.
"He does have some skills, but he's too arrogant!"
The young man who had forced his opponent to retreat with his Reverse Life Realm earlier stepped forward at the calls of the others.
He looked coldly at Li Hao, "If you had a few more years, you might have had the qualifications to challenge the Dao Seed Realm, but you're still too immature right now!"
"Stop blabbering!"
Li Hao looked up and said directly, "Below the Dao Realm, it doesn't matter if you all come at once. I'll fight you all without rest, and I'll show you the power of my Undefeated State!"
Hearing Li Hao's words, the geniuses changed their expressions again, all of them furious. They had always held themselves in high regard, thinking themselves proud and arrogant, but this youth was even more outrageous.
"I'll shatter your bones!"
Ji Rufeng's eyes shone with a cold light as he stepped into the field.
Seeing Ji Rufeng take action, the crowd's eyes lit up. He was one of the top ten geniuses of the Ji family, an unparalleled existence among his peers!
"Do you want to rest, or shall we continue today?"
Ji Rufeng asked coldly.
"Come," Li Hao said.
"Good!"
Ji Rufeng's whole body trembled with energy, and he immediately revealed the aura of the Ultimate Realm. At a young age, he had entered the Ultimate Realm, an unparalleled genius rarely seen in the world!
In this unpredictable and dangerous Great Desolation Heaven, he was a dazzling existence, admired by countless tribes.
As his aura emerged, it seemed to stir up endless killing intent, and the air condensed into a wall, enveloping the entire dojo, making it hard to breathe.
Ji Rufeng took slow steps, walking towards Li Hao bit by bit.
But with each step, his momentum increased. After taking a dozen steps, his momentum was like a majestic giant, looking down at Li Hao.
"So strong. Is this the power of the top ten geniuses?"
"The genius of my clan cannot be insulted. He will pay the price!"
"If this half-blood weren't so arrogant, he would indeed be a genius, but he's too conceited!"
"This is the Ji family, not the doghouse he used to live in!"
Everyone was exhilarated by Ji Rufeng's momentum. The gap between the Ultimate Realm and the Reverse Life Realm was huge, much greater than the gap between the Reverse Life Realm and the Dao Heart Realm. By comprehending the ultimate martial arts, one's strength increased tenfold or more!
"You like using your fists, don't you? I also happen to use my fists, so let's see whose fist is harder!"
Ji Rufeng's pitch-black eyes, like a deep abyss, stared at Li Hao as he spoke.
Li Hao remained calm, and his eyes also showed a hint of battle intent as he said, "Oh? Then let's give it a try!"
Dong, dong, dong!
Ji Rufeng stepped towards Li Hao, his pace gradually quickening. The formidable might that had been gathering within him suddenly burst forth, and when he rushed in front of Li Hao, he saw that Li Hao had chosen not to dodge but to take the brunt of his attack, which had gathered the might of the four directions.
"You can't dodge anymore!"
Anger flashed in Ji Rufeng's eyes as the might of his whole body suddenly condensed into one fist.
Between his fist and chest was his martial arts.
At this moment, the colors of the world seemed to fade, and only that fist remained dazzling. This was Ji Rufeng's ultimate technique, the Selfless God Punch!
When this punch was thrown, all his power was condensed into it, with no concept of "self".
Therefore, with this punch, he only attacked and had no need to defend.
Because he had no concept of "self", when he threw this punch, his enemies would not be able to attack him!
This was the true power of the ultimate martial arts!
Li Hao did not dodge but stepped forward half a step!
His meridians surged like raging rivers, and his yin and yang meridians suddenly opened, gathering the might of the world. At the same time, he burst into a divine power state, his whole body turning crimson, like a young god.
His hair flew wildly, and his eyes shone with divine light as he threw a punch!
This punch did not aim to attack his opponent's body but the fist that was rushing towards him!
A clash of fists!
The Undefeated Half-Step Punch was not Li Hao's creation, so he could not enter the brief undefeated state. However, his physical body was comparable to a nine-forged divine weapon, already close to invincible. At this moment, his fist burst forth, and the two fists collided like red-gold and grayish-brown meteorites!
A loud bell-like sound rang out, shaking the dojo.
A hint of surprise flashed in his eyes as he fixed his gaze on the young man within.
The ferocious energy raged on, and before the crowd could get a clear view, they heard a series of violent vibrations emanating from the heart of that explosive power.
It sounded like a series of punches colliding and fiercely clashing!
Then, with a loud bang, a figure was suddenly sent flying out, spewing blood. The figure was entirely red and gold, and he slammed violently into the dojo's barrier.
The onlookers focused their eyes and saw that the fallen figure was none other than Ji Rufeng!
He, too, had achieved the Divine Power State, and although it was currently activated, he was now badly injured. Terrifying cracks covered his body, blood flowed profusely, and his precious clothes were shattered, revealing his well-built chest.
The center of the dojo had turned into ruins, and as the smoke and dust cleared, Li Hao's figure emerged.
Aside from his tattered clothes, his body was miraculously unscathed. His entire body shone with a red and golden hue, resembling a young battle god, his eyes flashing with an electric gleam as he looked down upon everyone.
At that moment, the entire arena fell into a deafening silence, as if the previous uproar had been abruptly severed.
That was the Ultimate Realm!
The half-blood youth had actually cultivated to the limit of martial arts!
At this moment, everyone present was stunned, unable to express the shock they felt in their hearts.
The Ultimate Realm required great willpower and cultivation resources to achieve, and it also demanded exceptionally high insight!
Usually, only the heaven-defying geniuses of ancient sacred clans possessed such capabilities.
Because they had the inherited ultimate techniques and the most exceptional methods and divine medicines and treasures as resources, they could cultivate each realm of martial arts to an extremely high level, surpassing the limits of what ordinary people could imagine!
"He actually has the Divine Power State!"
"Am I seeing things? He's not only in the Ultimate Realm, but he also... defeated Ji Rufeng?!"
"My god, Ji Rufeng has the Undefeated State, and he also cultivated the Divine Power State. How could he lose?!"
All the members of the Ji family present felt like they were going crazy!
They were shocked beyond measure and couldn't imagine or believe what they were witnessing!
Ji Tianchao, Ji Yunyue, and the others had bright gleams in their eyes, and their necks were flushed with excitement. The third brother was right; this youth truly had the power to confront those in the Ultimate Realm!
Moreover, it wasn't some obscure art from the outside world; he had achieved their Ji family's heaven-defying genius realm!
It was too unbelievable. That youth was only at the Third Immortal Realm, yet he had leaped across two realms to defeat Ji Rufeng!
"Since you have no self, you only have your fist. Break your fist, and you break yourself!"
Li Hao didn't pursue his victory, merely staring coldly at his opponent and speaking.
Ji Rufeng was covered in blood, but his wounds were quickly healing. He felt shocked and angry. Earlier, when he had fought Li Hao, Li Hao hadn't shown any intention to defend himself. Ji Rufeng had initially attacked with his fist, but he found that their strengths were evenly matched, and Li Hao was even slightly weaker.
However, when he shifted his attacks to target Li Hao's body, he discovered that Li Hao's body was as hard as divine iron, and he couldn't inflict any damage!
Li Hao had withstood his divine punch without even breaking a bone!
"You... Are you really only at the Third Immortal Realm?!" Ji Rufeng felt like his Dao Heart was about to collapse. How could he, the heaven-defying genius of the Ji family, the direct descendant with the highest inheritance, be suppressed and defeated by a half-blood at the Third Immortal Realm?!
He couldn't accept that he, who had cultivated for several decades, had lost to a half-blood youth!
"You've already lost, and although you haven't used your Undefeated State yet, there's no need to drag this out," Li Hao said coldly, not wanting to waste any more time. He looked up at the figures standing in the sky and said, "Come at me together. I said that those below the Dao Realm could challenge me, and I'll take on all of you in my Undefeated State without resting!"
The youth's words echoed throughout the peak.
Everyone present snapped back to their senses, astonished as they looked at the red and golden youth. Earlier, they had felt that the youth was being arrogant and outrageous, but at this moment, they were truly shaken.
This wasn't arrogance; it was the fearless spirit of a heaven-defying genius!
At this moment, the image of the youth in their eyes had completely reversed. With the Ultimate Realm and his body filled with divine power, if he wasn't a heaven-defying genius, who else could be?
Outside the arena, Ji Yufen stood among the crowd, his eyes filled with shock, and he had gone stiff.
He, too, was at the Third Immortal Realm, but at this moment, the youth in the arena shone brightly, while he stood in the shadows, unnoticed.
Why was the gap so huge?
Divine Power... How could he, a half-blood, cultivate divine power?! Ji Yufen's heart raged with countless roars of disbelief. He felt a sense of despair as he compared himself to the youth. Was he really a heaven-defying genius?
He recalled the words of the battle god, Ji Tianchao, who had said that a heaven-defying genius wouldn't lose. And now, the youth stood in the arena like an undefeated myth.
The few heaven-defying geniuses hovering in the air sensed the terrifying momentum that the youth had accumulated through his consecutive victories over his opponents. To break his momentum and defeat him, they would have to strike with lightning speed!
Ji Rufeng's defeat and the youth's red and golden divine power aura made them realize that they couldn't afford to underestimate him any longer.
"Since you're the one who suggested it, don't blame us for being impolite!"
A young man who had been fanning himself with a folding fan closed it and glanced at the people beside him. They descended into the dojo.
"Head, since he's the one who suggested it, you can't blame us for breaking the rules," the young man said with a bow to Ji Daoxin.
Ji Daoxin looked at Li Hao. He could sense that although the youth's gaze was contemptuous, it was also calm, not truly arrogant.
Was it because he wanted to free his mother and couldn't wait even a day?
Did he want to end it quickly and decisively, taking them all on at once?
Ji Daoxin's eyes flickered, and thoughts flashed through his mind. He nodded and said, "Since he's willing, then it's fine."
"Good!"
Upon seeing Ji Daoxin's permission, the folding fan youth produced a spear, his eyes turning cold as he glared at Li Hao. "Although it's shameful to gang up on you, it's your own doing!"
"Blame your arrogance for not knowing your place!" said another youth.
"Come!" Li Hao's eyes turned cold. Below the Dao Realm, he would actually conserve energy by fighting them all at once.
Since it was a group attack, if they got entangled in close combat, even if they won, they would be ridiculed. Hence, they could only go all out with a thunderous assault!
"Die!"
In an instant, the four of them unleashed their ultimate techniques, and a vast power akin to an overwhelming tsunami erupted. The entire dojo's ground shattered, and their bodies burst forth with crimson-golden divine light, indicating that they had all mastered the divine power state.
They resembled four golden divine beings, surrounding and attacking the youth in the arena.
Bang!
A terrifying shockwave reverberated, and many people gathered their spiritual souls at the top of their heads, straining their eyes to see what was happening in the arena.
They witnessed a dazzling burst of divine light, and Li Hao's body surged forward from the onslaught, his fist smashing into the shoulder of the youth holding the spear, shattering it to pieces!
Then, grabbing the spear with one hand, he spun and kicked out with his leg, his divine foot resembling an elephant's hoof trampling through hell, creating an ear-piercing sonic boom as he kicked the young man flying. The divine spear also fell from his hand.
At the same time, two sword lights slashed towards Li Hao. He swept the spear with his backhand, deflecting one of the sword lights, and then thrust the spear forward, piercing through the heart and lungs of another youth, sending his body flying and nailing it to the distant dojo, creating a deep pit!
However, the other sword light directly slashed towards Li Hao's head.
"Le Ping!"
Ji Tianchao, Ji Yunyue, and the others were all shocked and horrified.
Although one could still survive even if their head was shattered at the Three Immortal Realm, their physical body's cultivation would be extremely difficult to recover. If the head was severed, the physical body would die, and they wouldn't be able to rely on the physical body's self-healing to mend it.
The others were also startled. Was the young man about to meet his end?
After cultivating so hard to achieve the divine power state, would his body be ruined now?
All these thoughts flashed through their minds in an instant, but before they could finish their thoughts, they heard a crisp, sharp ringing sound, like the friction of divine fire.
When everyone saw clearly, their eyes almost popped out, and their jaws dropped in disbelief.
The divine sword, imbued with destructive ultimate techniques, slashed at Li Hao's head, yet it only produced a crisp, metallic clang!
His head seemed to be made of divine iron, and aside from a few strands of hair being cut, there wasn't even a drop of blood on his scalp!
Not only the spectators but also the youth holding the sword was equally shocked. He stood there, dumbfounded for a moment, feeling dazed. Despite his rich combat experience, he had never imagined such a situation, and for a brief moment, he lost his composure.
And in that fleeting moment, he exposed his weakness.
Bang! Li Hao countered with a fierce punch, smashing it into the youth's chest and shattering his ribs, causing blood to ooze out.
Then, Li Hao lifted the youth's body and viciously threw him to the ground, stepping on his abdomen with his foot. The youth's internal organs burst out from his mouth, and crimson-golden divine blood splattered everywhere.
"Too weak!"
Li Hao stood on the youth, his gaze filled with contempt as he looked at the remaining youth who was about to charge forward.
Seeing Li Hao's formidable might, the youth's face was filled with shock, and he stopped in his tracks.
He wasn't foolish; he immediately realized that this young man was a monster!
How could a divine sword slash to the head not cause any harm?
Unless he was a pure body refiner who had tempered his physical body to an unimaginable level!
At the corner of the dojo's barrier, Ji Rufeng, who had been defeated earlier, didn't leave the arena but sat there to recover from his injuries.
When he witnessed the divine sword slashing at Li Hao's head without causing any damage, he was stunned. Then, his mouth twitched slightly as he finally understood why he had been so thoroughly defeated by Li Hao earlier.
Although his fist was powerful, it was far inferior to divine weapons. And this young man was like a human-shaped divine artifact; their ultimate techniques couldn't even damage his body, let alone defeat him!
"Who else?"
Li Hao glanced at the youth in front of him, who had lost his will to fight, and then turned his gaze towards the remaining few in the air.
Hearing the young man's arrogant words, the remaining few had solemn expressions, and their eyes were exceptionally grave.
With half of the top ten geniuses defeated by Li Hao, and the fact that the previous four-person group attack hadn't caused any harm to Li Hao, his terrifying physical defense was now exposed!
"His physical body is comparable to a divine weapon!"
"Too terrifying! He's a half-blood, so how did he cultivate to this level?"
"Without the resources and cultivation of our Ji family, he has still managed to cultivate to such an extent. If he were to receive our family's support, then... wouldn't he soar to the heavens in a single leap?!''
"Too strong! He's a monster!"
"Our Ji family's geniuses aren't this outrageous! He's only in his teens, and if he continues to cultivate for another decade, there will be no match for him in the entire Great Desolation Heaven, and even the geniuses of other ancient sacred clans won't be able to rival him!"
Outside the arena, everyone was stunned and whispered among themselves.
The young man had completely overturned their understanding of half-bloods and foreign races.
At this moment, a thought emerged in everyone's minds: If this young man were to receive the cultivation resources and support of their family's geniuses, what heights could he reach?!
"This child... I thought he was reckless, but I never expected him to have such a trump card. His physical prowess is even more terrifying than ours..."
Ji Yunqing and the others were shocked, delighted, and relieved at the same time.
Li Hao's performance far exceeded their expectations. Earlier, when the four of them ganged up on Li Hao, they were worried that he might not be able to handle it.
But in the blink of an eye, the battle was over!
"Third Brother's words were conservative. This child isn't just capable of fighting those in the Ultimate Realm; he's invincible below the Dao Realm!"
The third brother exclaimed excitedly.
Ji Tianchao's eyes shone with a brilliant light, and he clenched his fists tightly. Ji Tianchao, the battle god of the Ji family, was also extremely excited at this moment.
He finally understood why the third brother dared to say that in ten years, this young man would be able to fight alongside him!
This young man was only fifteen years old, yet he had already cultivated to such a level. In ten years... he might truly attain the Dao!
Next to him, Ji Qingfeng and the others were also shocked and dazed by Li Hao's formidable display. The young man's strength far exceeded their expectations.
Earlier, they had rejected him because he was a half-blood, but now, the young man's astonishing prowess completely surpassed their imagination.
With such talent, aside from the fact that he was a half-blood, if he hadn't come to the Ji family and instead joined any other ancient sacred clan, as long as he was willing to sign a soul contract and not betray them, he would have received the treatment and cultivation resources of a genius!
In the dojo, the few who were hovering in the air and looking down at the young man in the arena had solemn expressions on their faces.
"I'll go!"
A young woman stepped forward, retrieving her sword from the space of heaven and earth and choosing to enter the arena.
Seeing this woman, Ji Qingyuan, who was standing outside the arena, frowned slightly. The woman was none other than his daughter, Ji Qingshuang.
Among the top ten geniuses, Ji Qingshuang ranked third and was extremely powerful. Her sword techniques were exquisite and unparalleled, giving her an aura of invincibility among her peers in the Ultimate Realm.
"Then I'll give it a try," Li Hao replied.
"You're still young, and if you had five more years, you might have comprehended the Dao Realm and even inherited my position. But the pride of a heaven-defying genius must be kept in check, or it will be your downfall," said Ji Daoxin, also known as Ji Xuan Shen.
"No need for five years, I'm ready now!" Li Hao declared.
Ji Xuan Shen narrowed his eyes slightly, seemingly disappointed. "I seem to have overestimated you."
"Let's begin, then!" Li Hao said, his eyes unwavering.
Ji Xuan Shen's eyes turned icy as he inhaled deeply, his body radiating with energy. He had only reached the Half-step Dao Realm, so he needed to set up the Dao Realm beforehand. While he might have felt restricted in an open pursuit outside, the dojo's confines allowed his Dao Realm to envelop the entire area, making his combat prowess almost on par with a true Dao Realm cultivator.
"This boy!" Ji Yunqing and the others exclaimed, their faces filled with worry.