NO_NAME
patreon
Chapter 381: Ascending to Emperorhood, Invitation from the Divine King
🕑 Added 2024-11-14 14:06:21 +0000 UTCIn the depths of the temple, the dark brown crystal had long disappeared. On the dusty divine throne sat a figure clad in resplendent armor, as steady and eternal as an ancient stone. In his hand rested a colossal black sword, his head bowed as he gazed upon the steps before him.
When Ying Xiaoxiao arrived with her grandmother, they found several elders of the clan already present. These hidden elders, some of whom normally slumbered or concealed themselves in shadows, were all gathered here, kneeling before the divine throne with reverence and fervor, waiting for the ancestral spirit's command.
With just one word, they would set forth and wage war against the heavens. They had waited far too long for this day of vengeance.
As the Divine Maiden, Ying Xiaoxiao recognized these elders, and though they were all present, there were also familiar faces now missing. A hint of sorrow flickered in her eyes, but she quickly turned her gaze to the towering figure on the divine throne. His restrained yet overwhelming aura radiated like a dormant volcano, exuding a power that evoked awe. Even though she was now a sage, the bloodline within her trembled instinctively.
Her grandmother held her hand and led her down the central aisle, kneeling at the foot of the throne with respect. She bowed her head and said, "Your humble descendant pays respect to the ancestor."
The silence in the temple was profound. After a moment, the Divine King seemed to awaken from the memories of endless ages. He slowly raised his head, his gaze falling on the numerous figures kneeling within the temple, most of whom were semi-saints, his descendants by bloodline.
"Is everything prepared?"
He spoke slowly, his voice deep and authoritative.
Ying Qingshuang respectfully replied, "Everything is ready. All our kin have been summoned, awaiting the ancestor's command. Over the years, we have carefully infiltrated the major forces across seventeen small worlds, and now, eighty-three divine dynasties are under our control. With just one word, we can launch an uprising!"
"Good."
The Divine King nodded, a cold glint flashing in his candle-like eyes as he looked at the Divine Maiden kneeling in front of the crowd.
"The Haotian Sage you mentioned before—his performance at the Dao Assembly was unexpected. If he can be recruited and deliver a fatal blow to the Yuan Ancestor at the crucial moment, it would be a great achievement!"
Ying Xiaoxiao hesitated briefly, then lifted her head, catching her ancestor's stern gaze before quickly lowering her head again.
Though her ancestor agreed to her earlier suggestion, she felt neither joy nor relief. Instead, a sense of apprehension filled her.
After all, Li Hao had already killed Xu Zu, the Azure Lamp Buddha, and other saints involved in past conflicts. Li Hao was also their enemy. To invite him again would lack justification.
Moreover, attacking the Yuan Ancestor was perilous. The Yuan Ancestor was not only a supreme saint but also one of the oldest. Even her ancestor had once suffered greatly at his hands, sealed away for ages before finally breaking free.
A complicated look crossed her face. She recalled meeting that young man at the tea stall, their conversation still fresh in her mind. "I am Ying Xiaoxiao. Ying, as in born of destiny; Xiaoxiao, as in free-spirited. What is your name?"
"You may call me Haotian."
"And your surname?"
"I have none."
She had been curious. Who had no surname?
From birth, her grandmother had told her, "Remember, you are of the Ying family, a name born of destiny. It is the proudest legacy across the heavens." Later, she learned of his past struggles and understood the hidden scars behind his carefree smile. Now, after countless trials, he had finally become a sage, yet they wanted him to risk his life against the Yuan Ancestor. If he failed, he would face annihilation.
"Ancestor, the Yuan Ancestor is cunning and distrustful. In battle, he likely won't provide any openings. If we're to ally with someone, it would be better to have him handle the remaining Three Calamity Saints. Our manpower is limited, and these saints could inflict severe harm on our kin."
Ying Xiaoxiao lowered her head as she spoke.
She didn't want Li Hao to take such a dangerous risk, yet she hoped he might aid the Divine Clan and their ancestor.
She knew of the injustices suffered by the Divine Clan over the ages. Once noble, they were now forced to live like rats in the gutter.
"As Divine Maiden, don't you understand? The war's outcome hinges on the duel between me and the Yuan Ancestor. Once he falls, the rest of the Three Calamity Saints are inconsequential. Those who refuse to submit can be erased with a mere gesture."
The Divine King's gaze was cold. "Inflicting harm on the Yuan Ancestor is worth more than slaying a hundred of the Three Calamity Saints."
Ying Xiaoxiao understood his logic, but she still harbored two concerns: the danger of the assassination and the Three Calamity Saints' threat to her kin.
The Divine Clan had spent years in hiding, and apart from her and her grandmother, there were only five saints in the clan.
Compared to the vast heavens, it was far too few. If a great war broke out and the ancestor battled the Yuan Ancestor, the other Three Calamity Saints would have to be held off by them, resulting in significant casualties.
If Li Hao could aid her by holding back the other Three Calamity Saints, it would greatly reduce the loss of life among their kin.
Many elders had already perished in reviving the ancestor, and now, more would likely follow.
"He is already the strongest beneath the Supreme Saint level, so he will surely be sought after by the Yuan Ancestor. If we recruit him first, it is a rare opportunity. He can pretend to join the Yuan Ancestor's camp and strike when the time is right."
The Divine King's voice was cold. Learning of the Dao Assembly's events had given him this idea. If it failed, the loss was negligible.
Ying Xiaoxiao bit her lip, hesitating, "What if he refuses? Or if the Yuan Ancestor offers him greater benefits…"
The Divine King's eyes flickered thoughtfully. He glanced at her and said,
"You mentioned that he practices extreme Dao as well. Tell him, on your Dao Heart, that I will gift him all the extreme Dao power generated by this war. The more casualties, the greater his gains!"
"He may even ascend directly to the Extreme Dao Divine Realm, on par with me."
"Additionally…"
He looked at Ying Xiaoxiao, a hint of suggestion in his eyes. "It seems you have some affection for him. I could also grant you to him. Although you are both saints, uninterested in physical pleasure, even saints have companions. If he cares for you, he should agree."
"If successful, after our clan rules the heavens, he will be granted three small worlds to govern, all dedicated to him. With incense offerings under his control, he could cultivate to the Divine Realm through faith. Should his talent suffice, he may even aspire to the legendary unity of the Three Saint Realms."
His offer was extremely tempting, and Ying Xiaoxiao was taken aback by her ancestor's generosity.
For a cultivator, this was indeed a tremendous fortune.
Just attaining the Divine Realm through extreme Dao power was an enormous boon.
"Go and make the arrangements."
The Divine King's voice was cold as he saw Ying Xiaoxiao lower her head, giving her orders with detachment.
Ying Xiaoxiao bit her lip, hesitated for a moment, and finally agreed, rising to take her leave.
In the Thief Saint's Sect within the Minor Thousand Realm.
In the small courtyard, Li Hao took out various treasures of heaven and earth, feeding them to Gongming.
These treasures varied widely, from rare divine fruits to void condensations of Dao-rhyme essence crystals, as well as profound sacred water, all infused with Dao and tribulation power. They nourished the Dao-tribulation emperor weapon's power, bringing it closer to transformation.
Among them were two divine water Dao fish he had fished from the Heavenly River, rare treasures indeed.
As Gongming absorbed each treasure, the black sword began to emit a strong aura of Dao-rhyme.
Originally, it had been a fragment of the palace from the Dao Palace. Though it was now forged into a sword, traces of the palace's eaves remained on its blade.
After ten treasures were absorbed, a nascent spirit seemed to emerge within the sword, an awareness connecting with Li Hao's consciousness.
This spirit was lively and joyful, expressing an affectionate aura toward Li Hao.
After absorbing twenty treasures, this spirit grew stronger, exuding a formidable majesty.
Moreover, divine lightning tribulation sparks appeared along the blade, forming a Sword Domain around Li Hao.
This was the weapon's own Dao Domain!
It was exceptionally sharp and fearsome, comparable to an ordinary saint's Dao Domain and filled with ancient tribulation power.
Li Hao sensed that this broken weapon was gradually reviving and becoming whole once more.
He continued feeding it, and by the thirtieth treasure, the sword hovered before him, lightning sparking around it. Just the natural radiance it emitted tore faint cracks in the surrounding space.
Above the small courtyard, thunderclouds began to gather.
The previously clear sky darkened, with layers of thick clouds like billowing black smoke forming above the sacred land.
Lightning flashed within, a sense of oppressive and destructive power radiating out.
"What's going on?"
"Who is undergoing tribulation?"
"Is this… a saintly tribulation?!"
Many disciples of the Sacred Mountain were startled, some alarmed.
They had previously witnessed the Thief Saint's tribulation, where he had stolen a portion of it using his thieving skills, using the tribulation to break the tribulation. Now, this scene felt strangely familiar.
"Hmm?"
In his own cave, Feng Boping noticed the gathering clouds, startled, before realizing the source. He sent his spiritual sense out and immediately located the aura's origin, understanding what was happening.
This tribulation was not caused by Li Hao himself, as he hadn't yet overcome the Earth Tribulation, so it couldn't be a Heavenly Tribulation.
Through his battles with the Buddhist sect and the Void Sacred Ground, Li Hao had collected enough resources to restore this broken Dao-tribulation emperor weapon. Now, in the small courtyard, he sat quietly, observing the thunderclouds above him. He sensed that the spirit within Gongming was eagerly stirring.
Suddenly, with a sharp hiss, Gongming's spirit let out a resonant sword cry, soaring up from the courtyard, piercing the sky. Born of heaven and earth, its completion demanded a test from the heavens as well.
Underneath the dark clouds, the black sword burst into brilliant silver light, soaring rapidly before colliding with the clouds. Thunder boomed!
In the clouds, the sound of thunder grew fiercer, as if enraged.
Sword shadows thousands of meters long flashed intermittently within the clouds, illuminated by the lightning, revealing massive sword marks.
The sword shadow clashed with the lightning, with each strike creating intense shockwaves, echoing ominously.
Li Hao sat under the eaves, legs folded, gazing at the clouds. He sensed that Gongming's spirit was exhilarated, fearless, and radiating an unyielding aura.
With each thunderous strike, the clouds were eventually torn apart, and a radiant sword light split the heavens as if to cleave the entire Sacred Mountain in half. The clouds parted as a colossal sword descended, like an emperor surveying the world.
Though it was a sword, its descent exuded a presence that felt like the sole light in existence, commanding attention.
"Whose sword is that?"
"Could it be a divine weapon undergoing tribulation?"
"I've heard from friends in the Weapon Ancestor's Sacred Ground that refining a divine weapon can indeed attract tribulation. The intensity of the lightning and fire depends on the weapon's level. I wonder whose weapon this is..."
"Such a phenomenon—there have been more than nine thunderclaps already. This must be a Dao-tribulation emperor weapon!"
Many disciples of the Sacred Mountain looked up at the sword in awe, feeling a pressure as if an emperor was descending, gazing down upon the mortal world.
They felt an urge to bow down. Every living thing possesses a spirit, and this weapon's power was nearly on par with a saint's, making it comparable to a saint in its own right.
All across the Sacred Mountain, various swords trembled, and some with sword spirits even leaped from their owners' waists, embedding themselves into the ground as if in submission.
Although the Thief Saint's Sect was not primarily known for swordsmanship, the sect's teachings were diverse, and disciples used all kinds of weapons, including swords. After all, disguising oneself as a dignified swordsman often lowered others' guard, making it easier to pilfer valuables. If one looked disheveled, suspicions would arise whenever something went missing, regardless of actual guilt. Thus, many disciples in the sect presented themselves as upright gentlemen.
Just as the Fraud Saint's disciples maintained an image of polite and refined individuals, while their words often concealed lies.
As Gongming cleaved through the heavenly tribulation, a multitude of swords bowed in reverence across the Sacred Mountain, creating quite a commotion. Li Hao, not wanting to draw too much attention, called Gongming back.
With a faint flash, Gongming returned to the courtyard, its blade shrinking to the size of an ordinary longsword, still jet black but now gleaming with arcs of energy and fire tribulation. Merely by floating in the air, it carved faint cracks in the surrounding space.
It was like a leaf skimming the surface of water, sending ripples cascading outward. Li Hao marveled at the sword's newfound sharpness.
Grasping the hilt, he felt a wave of joy emanating from Gongming's spirit.
"It's often said that a good name is the most cherished thing for all beings. From birth, one is given a name—a surname as roots and a given name as destiny. Every life form seeks to leave a mark upon the world, and saints are no exception…" Li Hao murmured to himself, contemplating the universal desire for renown.
"Gongming... a name that cuts through all fame and fortune—it could truly become the sharpest edge in existence," Li Hao whispered.
Sensing his thoughts, the sword trembled in response, its spirit both joyous and resolute.
Li Hao smiled knowingly. As a swordsman, he held a deep affection for his weapon. He drew Gongming across the back of his hand but found that his skin was so resilient that he had to exert about eighty percent of his strength to make even a small cut.
His body had reached the level of a Dao-tribulation emperor weapon, meaning that Gongming could indeed harm other Dao-tribulation emperor weapons as well. "You're certainly sharp, but I sense you're not yet fully satisfied."
With a smile, Li Hao continued feeding Gongming the remaining treasures of heaven and earth.
As it absorbed ten more, the Dao-rhyme and glow around Gongming intensified, and its tribulation power grew even stronger. He fed it another ten, causing thunder to rumble once more across the sky.
The disciples who had previously speculated about the sword were astonished by the unexpected second round of thunder and lightning.
Li Hao felt the sword's eager tremble and immense fighting spirit, surprised that it had drawn yet another heavenly tribulation.
Letting go, he sensed that Gongming preferred to face its own trials independently. As soon as he released his grip, the sword shot up, a dark streak slicing into the clouds above.
Once again, thunder roared from within the clouds.
"You rascal," Feng Boping suddenly appeared in Li Hao's courtyard, gazing up at the sky before remarking, "Looks like you reaped quite the spoils from that raid on the Buddhist Sect and Void Sacred Ground, enough to elevate a Dao-tribulation emperor weapon to the level of a single tribulation."
Li Hao turned, curiosity in his eyes. "Could it reach even higher levels—two tribulations, three?"
"Absolutely." Feng Boping nodded. "A Dao-tribulation emperor weapon is potent enough to harm a saint, comparable in destructive power to a saint's. At two or three tribulations, it could easily slay a Three Calamities Saint. Even a common saint wielding such a weapon would force us to flee."
Li Hao was astonished by Feng Lao's description but trusted his accuracy.
The sharpness of Gongming, having endured the tribulation, already felt lethal enough to cut down a newly ascended saint. It was extraordinarily sharp, with tribulation energy capable of destroying even the saintly essence, forcing saints to avoid it.
"Do you know why the Yuan Ancestor inspires such fear? Besides being the oldest saint and his immense accumulation of incense power, he also wields a seven-tribulation Dao-tribulation emperor weapon!"
Feng Boping's gaze grew serious as he looked at Li Hao. Li Hao was stunned—seven tribulations?
"So, that means he must have fed at least 140 treasures to his weapon?"
Feng Boping chuckled, "Not even close. The feeding process doubles each time. Your first tribulation required around twenty treasures. The second will need forty, then eighty."
"In other words, to reach seven tribulations, you'd need to feed it over a thousand treasures."
Li Hao was shocked; such treasures were exceedingly rare. Even three to five would be a heavy cost for most sacred grounds. A thousand treasures could hardly be amassed by gathering all the resources from the heavens!
And yet, the Yuan Ancestor had crafted a seven-tribulation emperor weapon at such a price.
"Two or three tribulations would force the Three Calamity Saints to withdraw. Seven tribulations… wouldn't that make even Supreme Saints vulnerable?"
"Exactly," Feng Boping nodded. "That's why the Yuan Ancestor sits at the center of every assembly."
Li Hao was taken aback.
"The Yuan Ancestor may not be the most naturally gifted, but his foundation is unmatched, having lived the longest and accumulated the most resources, whether through incense power or tribulation weapons."
Feng Boping's words were meant as a reminder, warning Li Hao not to provoke the Yuan Ancestor.
Although Li Hao had grown formidable, the Yuan Ancestor's jealousy could spell disaster if it took hold.
Thankfully, the Yuan Ancestor's desire for the Immortal God Path meant that he wouldn't act hastily against Li Hao, as he needed him as the key to the ancient temple.
Once the Immortal God Path opened and the Yuan Ancestor attained divinity, the jealousy would be a non-issue. No matter how prodigious Li Hao became, the gap to a deity would be insurmountable.
Feng Boping's words left Li Hao contemplative. Despite his immense personal strength, he had witnessed firsthand the boost a divine weapon could provide. His early battles had been made easier with the Longxiao Sword, which had allowed him to cut down demons effortlessly. Without it, he would have faced significant challenges with just fists and feet.
"The emperor weapon completed its first tribulation, but if you have enough treasures, could you push it through a second? With two tribulations, Gongming alone could eliminate a Three Calamities Saint!"
Feng Boping looked at Li Hao inquisitively.
Li Hao's spoils amounted to fifty-four treasures, a seemingly abundant amount but now appeared insufficient. Fifty had already been absorbed, leaving him with only seven or eight.
"Did you take the Bodhi Tree from the Buddhist Sect? That counts as a treasure, sanctified by years of the Azure Lamp Buddha's cultivation. It could be worth ten."
Li Hao realized Feng Boping must have considered taking it himself but shook his head, explaining, "I did uproot the tree, but it serves another purpose now."
Feng Boping sighed in disappointment but didn't press further.
Then, Li Hao recalled the thunder-light emperor weapon of Xu Zu—a dagger containing lightning essence. "Could I dismantle that emperor weapon and use it for feeding?"
Feng Boping immediately understood, smiling as he remembered the famed "Destruction Tribulation Dagger" of Xu Zu. "I had nearly forgotten you have that. It's also a one-tribulation weapon. Same with the Azure Lamp Buddha's blue lantern, although if you dismantle an emperor weapon, its feeding effect is halved."
Though disappointed, Li Hao thought the weapon might benefit Feng Lao. "Feng Lao, would you like this dagger as a backup weapon?"
Feng Boping guessed his intention and shook his head, laughing, "I already have an emperor weapon. Though it's not as strong as the Destruction Tribulation Dagger, it suits me well."
As they conversed, thunder roared above, and Gongming clashed with the tribulation lightning, sword light flashing through the clouds, shaking the heavens.
Soon, Gongming finished enduring the tribulation and returned to the courtyard.
Li Hao sensed its power had become even denser. Grasping the hilt, he lightly cut his hand, the blade slicing through effortlessly. The Destruction Tribulation Dagger was also a one-tribulation weapon, yet it seemed to lack Gongming's sharpness.
"You could feed Gongming with the Destruction Tribulation Dagger. Along with the Azure Lamp, it would immediately endure a second tribulation, making it deadly enough to kill a Three Calamities Saint!"
"The Azure Lamp Buddha burned his lantern to ashes rather than let me have it."
"Ah, that bald-headed fool," Feng Boping muttered, visibly annoyed.
Emperor weapons were treasures nurtured by the heavens over countless ages, and once destroyed, they were irreplaceable. Even the greatest weapon smiths couldn't replicate a Dao-tribulation emperor weapon.
Other divine weapons couldn't absorb treasures of heaven and earth to evolve—they couldn't withstand such power. Li Hao took out the Destruction Tribulation Dagger, its lightning essence slicing faint tears in the void.
He hesitated briefly, feeling Gongming's eager spirit, and then decided to feed it the dagger. With a second tribulation, Gongming could pierce through other emperor weapons. If he encountered an ancient Three Calamities Saint with an emperor weapon like the Azure Lamp Buddha, he could easily vanquish them.
As he crushed the dagger, its lightning struggled fiercely, resisting until Gongming unleashed a formidable Sword Domain, enveloping the dagger. With each strike, Gongming's sword shadow shattered the dagger's tribulation power.
With both Li Hao and Gongming's spirits pressing down, the dagger's essence resisted bitterly but eventually faded, releasing its power, which Gongming absorbed.
The once formidable dagger shattered into fragments. Although the dagger's consciousness was gone, a trace of its core remained. Like a saint's essence, Dao-tribulation emperor weapons couldn't be fully destroyed. If reassembled with heaven's treasures, they could one day regain their original brilliance.
Li Hao wondered if Gongming had also once been shattered and served as another weapon's nourishment.
As Gongming absorbed the essence of the Destruction Tribulation Dagger, its aura grew even more potent. Li Hao fed it the last of the remaining treasures, and soon, the clear sky darkened again as clouds gathered above.
Li Hao estimated that Feng Lao's assessment had been accurate—the dagger's essence equaled more than thirty heaven treasures. The gathering clouds surprised the Thief Saint's disciples again.
"???"
Looking up, they were confused. Three tribulations in half a day?
As they watched the emperor sword ascend once more, realization dawned: a supreme killing weapon had been born.
The lightning was more ferocious this time, but Gongming's spirit grew bolder, gliding and slashing through the clouds. In no time, it had endured another tribulation.
As the tribulation energy left faint cracks in its blade, Dao power quickly healed it, making it sharper than ever. Additionally, Gongming now possessed a hint of the Destruction Tribulation Dagger's thunderous power, as if it could truly be called the Destruction Tribulation Sword.
Holding the sword, Li Hao sensed its imperial might and vibrant spirit. He carefully avoided its edge, instinctively aware of its lethal sharpness. Gongming could now easily cut through even his body.
"My body has reached a saintly level, but I've yet to develop my unique Saint Physique Technique. With the Earth Tribulation complete, my body matches the strength of an emperor weapon. But there's still room to grow," he mused, sensing untapped potential in his flesh.
Feng Boping observed him, pleased. "With this weapon, even ancient Three Calamities Saints would hesitate to face you directly."
Li Hao acknowledged the warning; ancient saints like the Azure Lamp Buddha and Xu Zu were far from the strongest among the Three Calamities Saints. Feng Lao was referring to beings just a step below the Supreme Saints.
Exploring Gongming's spirit, Li Hao discovered its unique trait: he could chant an enemy's name, and Gongming would trace their origin, locking onto their location across any distance.
If the Azure Lamp Buddha attempted to flee again, Gongming could track him down, covering Li Hao's weakness in pursuit. No matter how far his enemies ran, Gongming could follow.
"With more tribulations, it could slay enemies by name from thousands of miles away."
Li Hao's eyes sparkled. Currently, Gongming could target any Three Calamities Saint without an emperor weapon simply by reciting their name, envisioning their image, and letting Gongming hunt them down.
Such power was indeed terrifying.
As he grew stronger, Li Hao felt both joy and resolve, realizing he needed to advance even further.
The Yuan Ancestor possessed a seven-tribulation weapon, and Li Hao recalled Feng Lao mentioning that the mixed heaven sage wielded a six-tribulation weapon.
If Gongming, with just two tribulations, was this powerful, then a six-tribulation weapon's might was unimaginable, representing a chasm even extreme cultivators couldn't bridge. "When my two remaining saints undergo two tribulations each, my body should ascend even higher."
Lost in thought, he mused on his path. Others were content with three tribulations; he aimed for nine.
Tribulations could bring destruction, but they also forged strength.
Before that, Li Hao decided to refine his Stellar Meridian technique to its peak.
He had already cultivated over a thousand meridians, yet sensed no end. He believed this path was limitless, resonating with the boundless stars. Pursuing it alone could lead to unrivaled strength.
Li Hao was in no rush; the more meridians he could condense, the better. In some ways, he hoped this path truly had no end. After the thunder tribulation subsided, the topic gradually faded within the Sacred Mountain over the following half-month.
During this time, Li Hao continued refining his meridians in his secluded courtyard.
In just half a month, he had condensed 1,100 meridians.
The sheer power from his meridians alone was more than ten times the peak of the Heaven-Earth Meridian!
These meridians could contain vastly more power than mortal meridians. In reality, the force he could summon instantly was nearly a hundred times the limit of the Heaven-Earth Meridian! This was the terror of the final stage, and he had not yet reached its end, unlike his divine blood, which had already attained its ultimate level.
One day, as he continued cultivating in his courtyard, someone came to visit.
It was an inner disciple of the sect. Li Hao was surprised. No one dared disturb him casually, not even people like Lin Baichuan, who had been warned by Feng Lao not to bother him.
"What is it?"
Li Hao stopped cultivating and questioned the disciple.
The disciple, pale-faced and trembling from sensing Li Hao's Dao aura, knelt down, knocking his head against the ground. "Lord Saint, someone is here for you. She said her name is Xiaoxiao and is waiting for you outside the Sacred Ground, at Wu Ming Mountain."
Li Hao's eyes shifted. Ying Xiaoxiao?
His gaze sharpened. Could it be about the Divine Clan?
Understanding flashed through his mind, and he dismissed the inner disciple without punishment, knowing that Ying Xiaoxiao must have seized him to deliver the message. Her identity was sensitive, and she wouldn't want to enter the Thief Saint's Sect and alert Feng Lao, so she had to find someone to deliver her words.
After sending the disciple away, he sought out a space fracture to leave the Sacred Ground.
He had yet to bring Yu Huang and other old friends to this place, considering the potential impact of the upcoming war with the Divine Clan. He planned to wait until the Divine Clan conflict resolved.
He arrived at Wu Ming Mountain outside the Sacred Ground.
Looking around, he soon sensed a familiar aura as Ying Xiaoxiao approached him, graceful in her azure robes. She glanced at him, a slight smile playing on her lips.
"Aren't you worried someone might have used my name to lure you out and harm you?"
She had calculated the time it would take for the disciple she had captured to deliver her message and had just arrived, meaning Li Hao hadn't hesitated at all.
Her smile grew more radiant at the thought, her previous gloominess seemingly dispersed.
"How many people know your name?"
Li Hao replied, smiling.
Understanding his meaning, Ying Xiaoxiao huffed softly. "But what if I had ill intentions?"
Li Hao responded with a shrug, "Let's get to the point. You're here because your Divine Clan's ancestor has revived, correct? That was rather quick."
Ying Xiaoxiao's mood lifted even as he sidestepped her question, feeling a warmth that he trusted her. She had never intended to harm him, after all.
However, as she thought about her ancestor's earlier instructions, her smile faded, her brow creasing slightly.
"Yes, our ancestor has awakened and intends to go to war with the Yuan Ancestor. In the past, the Yuan Ancestor led a coalition of Supreme Saints to seal him. Now, he plans to settle the score, but these Supreme Saints are no small matter. When the war begins, they will quickly sense the threat and respond with a powerful, swift assault to gain the upper hand."
She lowered her voice, sharing the Divine Clan's plans. If Li Hao betrayed them, it would deal a significant blow to the Divine Clan. Yet she felt that withholding this information would only hinder her from conveying the rest of her message.
Li Hao was surprised by her disclosure, understanding that such intelligence could heavily influence the outcome of a war. Was he truly that trustworthy?
He remained silent, awaiting her next words.
Ying Xiaoxiao continued, "Our ancestor believes the Yuan Ancestor will likely try to recruit you, given your outstanding achievements. If you agree to aid us by launching a sneak attack on the Yuan Ancestor at the critical moment, all extreme Dao power resulting from this war's casualties will be yours. I swear on my Dao Heart that my words are true."
To reassure him, she quickly made an oath on her Dao Heart, her eyes earnest as they met his.
Li Hao was silent. He believed her words even without the oath. Yet her vow was only a personal assurance and didn't necessarily bind her ancestor.
After all, he had no relationship with the Divine Clan's ancestor.
"Is that the only condition for recruiting me? Is there anything else?" Li Hao asked.
The risk of assassinating the Yuan Ancestor was considerable, and Li Hao wasn't confident of success. Just the Yuan Ancestor's faith-based power alone was terrifyingly potent.
Furthermore, the information he currently possessed about the Yuan Ancestor, including the seven-tribulation weapon, was widely known. But did the Yuan Ancestor possess any other hidden powers?
Undoubtedly, he did—and they would be fearsome.
Ying Xiaoxiao's cheeks flushed slightly at his question, and she looked around briefly before saying, "You'll also receive the incense power from three small worlds, all under your governance."
"Anything else?" Li Hao asked.
A hint of frustration flickered in her eyes as she said, "Nothing else!"
Hearing this, Li Hao showed a hint of disappointment. These conditions weren't enough for him to risk his life. Whether it was incense power or extreme Dao energy, he could accumulate them slowly over time.
If he attained the Divine Realm, he'd likely gather enough incense power and extreme Dao energy naturally. At that point, he could acquire whatever he desired.
Thus, receiving these resources in advance held little appeal.
Li Hao had no real interest in participating in the Divine Clan's war against the Yuan Ancestor, but considering Ying Xiaoxiao, he asked, "Will you be involved in the battle when it begins?"
Ying Xiaoxiao noticed the disappointment and reluctance in his gaze, which left her feeling somewhat dejected. Yet a part of her was secretly pleased that he wouldn't be put in harm's way.
"Of course. As the Divine Maiden, I'll be on the front lines." Ying Xiaoxiao replied.
Li Hao was silent for a moment before saying, "I can't fulfill the request to assassinate the Yuan Ancestor, but if you're in danger, come find me. I will protect you, but only you."
Previous Chapter | | Next Chapter
