Chapter 167: One Sword Cleaves Heaven

When this immortal breath entered his body, Li Hao's every pore emitted billions of radiant beams, as if he had swallowed a brilliant divine sun within his flesh.

The snow surrounding his body rapidly evaporated and melted.

His flesh and blood writhed, transforming and refining, purifying his bones and marrow; silver-white auroras seeped from his pores, enveloping his entire body in a hazy glow of immortal mist.

His physical form transformed, his true power transformed, and even Li Hao's spiritual manifestation transcended due to this immortal breath—the golden spiritual core shrank, shifting from the shape of a boy into that of an infant.

Then it grew again, reverting to the form of a teenager.

Yet within his originally pure yang spirit, a touch of ethereal, otherworldly aura now lingered.

The white fox leapt startled from Li Hao's arms, sensing the vast immortal aura; its eyes filled with fear, wanting to draw near but daring not to.

It merely lifted its tiny paw, cautiously and gently touching.

But the immortal mist seemed like a phantom—unchanged beneath its paw, as if untouchable.

The transformation continued; the snow on the peaks steamed and melted into clear mountain springs, flowing down the ridges, as if the entire mountain had been reborn.

The biting cold wind that swept toward him turned into gentle rain; when it neared his body by several zhang, it quietly changed course and fell elsewhere.

Only where the boy sat remained clean and silent.

The rain fell like divine dew upon the mountain, now rid of snow and gleaming anew; slowly, emerald luster sprouted across the earth—tiny sprouts, drawing strength from some unseen force, stubbornly pushing through the solid rock.

Under the rain's nourishment, they grew at incredible speed.

In the depth of winter, this peak flowed with hot springs, utterly out of place against the surrounding white snow, like a straight, wondrous peak.

The white immortal mist swirling around Li Hao gradually receded.

It returned into his body, contracting through his pores; when all the white light vanished, Li Hao slowly opened his eyes.

Silver-white radiance flickered gently within his gaze; his skin glowed like polished jade, pale as aurora, shimmering with contained light—each pore seemed full, brimming with boundless power.

Li Hao understood: this was the limit of a Tianren Zongshi.

After more than half a year, he had finally taken this step.

He looked down at the mountain beneath him: clusters of green grass had sprouted, and new tender buds had emerged on the branches of ancient trees that had withered in autumn and winter.

This was the manifestation of his current power—his former strength had been mere force, devoid of any attribute; only through long cultivation of specific arts—such as yin-cold or crimson-flame techniques—could one imbue force with subtle special energies.

Like Song Song Qiumo, her attacks carried an innate, profound yin-cold force.

Prolonged combat could even freeze an opponent's body, slowing their energy flow.

Li Hao had once mastered various arts, and his force had carried these subtle energies—but mostly, he never used them; his battles ended swiftly, with swift swords cutting through chaos.

Now, all these traits had merged into this single immortal breath.

All transformations arose from the mind! His power could encompass any attribute, and shift freely between them.

A profound realization arose naturally.

"What I have lost was never mine. What I seek binds me."

"All things serve me, but none belong to me."

"A gentleman uses things, but is not used by them."

"The Dao is simplest; desirelessness brings strength."

"By doing nothing, nothing is left undone!"

At this moment, Li Hao's Tianren Zongshi state reached perfect fulfillment.

From seeing the self, to seeing heaven and earth, to seeing all beings—he comprehended that the Dao is simplest, and all things return to one.

His understanding and application of power surpassed ordinary Grand Masters; like the tender sprouts on this peak, it was not that his power revived plants—he had merely cleared the snow from the mountain.

He allowed the mountain to pass from deep winter into spring and autumn.

And so, the flowers and grass grew of their own accord.

Though the effect was the same, the use of power was different.

This shift in philosophy was crucial; ordinary Celestial Masters absorbed heaven and earth's power into themselves, then used it to kill.

But how limited is the self to contain such power? Li Hao had released all his force, leaving only this single immortal breath within his body.

When he needed power, he could draw it instantly from the boundless heavens and earth—this was the essence of "All things serve me, but none belong to me."

He no longer absorbed heaven and earth's power into his body; he returned it to heaven and earth, borrowing only what he needed.

This was "A gentleman uses things, but is not used by them"—he wielded the power, unbound by it.

If one treats power as one's own, greedily hoarding it from heaven and earth, one becomes bound by it—and by one's own body, for the body, as a vessel, has its limits.

Li Hao raised his hand, slowly assuming a stance, moving his fists and feet, his heart awakening to insight.

What is heaven and earth?

Between his fists and feet lay heaven and earth.

With one immortal breath enduring, one may stand as heaven and earth.

Li Hao's martial realm transcended the Grand Tianren Zongshi stage; though he had not reached the Three Imperishables, he had already surpassed them.

He reached out, summoning a withered branch as a sword; between the blade's edge and his heart lay heaven and earth.

He stepped forward; between his two feet lay heaven and earth.

Li Hao casually swung the withered branch, releasing a sword qi.

In an instant, the falling snow seemed to split apart—the sword qi, invisible and weightless, pierced straight through dozens of li, then extended further, reaching a hundred li in an instant, tearing through the cloud layer above, cleaving a radiant slash through the thick, snow-laden clouds.

One sword, cleaving the heavens!

The clouds split open, revealing brilliant sunlight like dawn; the heavy snowfall ceased.

Li Hao thrust out a fist; endless wind surged, sweeping away all snow across the mountain's base; where his gaze fell, snow flew and rolled, forming a snowstorm that surged dozens of li outward.

Without snow, the air within this dozens-of-li radius seemed warmer.

On the earth, a hint of spring slowly emerged.

A smile appeared on Li Hao's face—he felt as if he could swallow heaven and earth with a single breath.

"Lend me ten thousand winds of spring, and I shall make heaven and earth wear a new face!" He tossed aside the branch, bent down, picked up the stunned white fox at his feet, rubbed its ears, and smiled: "Learned?"

Learned nothing… the white fox's eyes were blank.

Li Hao chuckled, hugged it, and turned away; with each step, heaven and earth seemed within his feet—he stepped lightly, appearing ten li away, his aerial speed even faster.

In a few steps, Li Hao returned to the small courtyard at Tianmen Pass.

On the old armchair in the courtyard, Feng Feng Bo Ping lay reclining, gently swaying; hearing the noise, he opened one eye slightly, glancing at Li Hao.

Then he slowly opened the other, sat upright, and exclaimed in surprise: "You've reached the Three Imperishables?"

"Not yet," Li Hao said, setting the white fox down.

"Grand Tianren Zongshi realm?"

Feng Feng Bo Ping studied him again, sensing that Li Hao's casual movements carried an aura of perfect completeness—as if he could react instantly to any attack; this was the aura of a Grand Tianren Zongshi.

Li Hao nodded slightly.

Feng Feng Bo Ping fell silent. Damn kid—when he subdued all the Masters of the realm, he hadn't even reached Grand Tianren Zongshi yet.

But then again, from the battle in Qingzhou, Li Hao had only just entered the Celestial realm—now barely half a year had passed… damn, Feng Lao felt a pang of toothache again; though he'd long witnessed Li Hao's cultivation speed, half a year from Celestial to Celestial Perfection was still absurd.

The kid never even seemed to train… Feng Feng Bo Ping muttered inwardly; if he hadn't watched Li Hao grow up since childhood, he might even feel jealous.

But with Li Hao's current pace, he had a feeling that soon, this little rat would stand on equal footing with these old men.

The next decade of the Emperor Da Yu Divine Dynasty would belong to this kid.

Thinking of this, Feng Feng Bo Ping's lips curled slightly—but then he remembered the approaching Mountain Demon King, and his brow furrowed.

"If anything happens, we leave immediately."

Feng Feng Bo Ping said solemnly to Li Hao.

Li Hao nodded slightly; though he had now reached the limit of the Tianren Zongshi realm, calling himself the Land Immortal stage, he had no confidence facing a Four-Station Demon King.

He had heard Feng Lao describe the vast gaps of the Four-Station realm.

The Four-Station realm is called one realm, but it is truly four stages.

The first is the Dao-Heart stage, the second the Reverse-Fate stage, the third the Ultimate-Technique stage.

The final step is the Peaceful Dao stage—opening a Dao Gate, possessing the power to question the Saint. Each step's gap is immense; Feng Lao belonged to the second step, the Reverse-Fate stage, capable of once reversing fate—for another or for himself.

This reversal of fate isn't merely turning a mediocre body into a peerless prodigy.

It can also reverse a dire situation, granting a single thread of survival! In other words, reaching the Reverse-Fate stage grants one chance to survive an otherwise fatal end.

Most Reverse-Fate cultivators save this chance for themselves, but many elders of the Five Divine General Houses have offered theirs to their descendants, preserving their lineage.

Like Second Tianren Zongshi—he is of the Ultimate-Technique stage, a pillar like a divine anchor, capable of guarding the General's House.

The final step, the Peaceful Dao stage, is the pinnacle of the Emperor Da Yu Divine Dynasty—few exist; the most widely known is the Buddha Tianren Zongshi of Mount Wuliang Mountain, who is of this realm.

The rest either remain obscure or have long since perished.

The ancestors of the Five Divine General Houses were all Peaceful Dao stage beings, who opened eternal peace for the Emperor Da Yu Divine Dynasty!

The Demon King Feng Lao previously fought was only of the Dao-Heart stage, but excelled in evasion; fearing for Li Hao's safety, Feng Lao did not pursue further.

If the Mountain Demon King attacks now, Feng Lao suspects it is likely of the Reverse-Fate stage itself—adding the previous Dao-Heart Demon King, that makes two. If the Mountain Demon King holds off Feng Lao, and the other attacks Li Hao, Li Hao cannot resist.

A Dao-Heart cultivator's attacks carry the essence of Dao's laws—they will inevitably strike.

In other words, once the opponent strikes, Li Hao must endure the blow.

Li Hao is currently only Celestial realm—even the Unbreakable stage of the Three Imperishables would struggle to withstand a single blow, easily crippled.

The Unfading stage might barely endure one or two slaps, provided the opponent doesn't use full strength.

"I hope they come later."

Li Hao said.

If he could enter the Spirit-Enlightened state, he could directly level up into the Three Imperishables.

Feng Feng Bo Ping glanced at Li Hao, his heart stirred; if given time, Li Hao would surely reach the Three Imperishables.

Although the transition from Heaven-Man Realm to the Three Imperishables is an extremely difficult barrier—countless geniuses enter the Heaven-Man Realm in their youth but take over a century to reach the Three Imperishables, a common occurrence—he had absolute confidence in Li Hao.

Yet even if one enters the Three Imperishables, the gap to the Four Establishments remains far too vast.

Moreover, now that the Water Kirin has left, these Beast Kings may not endure much longer.

"Regardless, focus on your cultivation. Leave the rest to me," Feng Bo Ping said.

Li Hao nodded, then fetched ingredients and made a simple barbecue before pulling out his sketchboards and beginning to draw in the courtyard.

Now, both his Painting Dao and Fishing Dao were nearing one hundred thousand experience points.

Once experience is full, one must elevate their spiritual state to gain more—but he could begin exploring that spiritual state in advance.

"You must commit to one path. Don't simultaneously ponder Painting Dao and Fishing Dao; trying to balance both will scatter your focus and waste time."

Li Hao understood the importance of focus. He originally intended to enter the Spirit Realm through Fishing, but with all demons and beasts near the border cleared, there were no targets left, slowing his insight. In contrast, Painting Dao allowed him to sketch at will.

Heavy snow fell.

Li Hao sketched the snowy scene in the courtyard.

Feng Bo Ping had assumed Li Hao would go to cultivate, but seeing him still immersed in his usual pastimes, he was puzzled.

Yet he seemed to sense something—Li Hao's rapid cultivation progress might be linked to these daily pastimes.

But how exactly the transformation occurred, he could not fathom; after all, some geniuses behave in strange, incomprehensible ways.

He did not pressure Li Hao to cultivate—let him be spontaneous.

Time passed.

Another month passed beyond the border.

The endless snowstorm gradually slowed; another month would bring spring.

In the courtyard, Li Hao held a bowl, eating thin slices of meat boiled in the pot.

His Painting Dao experience was full—he gained one Art Skill Point—but his spiritual state had not yet entered the transcendent realm.

His painting skill had reached its peak, yet remained confined to the mundane: lifelike, but not transcendent.

"Hmm?"

Suddenly, Li Hao felt a faint disturbance along his invisible threads suspended in the air, a hundred li away—as if brushed by wind.

This was no natural breeze—it was something passing through.

His eyes narrowed slightly, and he instantly turned to Feng Bo Ping.

At the same moment, Feng Bo Ping looked toward Li Hao; without a word, both read the other's thoughts in an instant.

They've come!

"They appeared directly a hundred li away… and there are three of them!"

Feng Bo Ping's invisible threads were also spread around, but though he had fished for years, his skill might not match Li Hao's. Li Hao had the panel's experience boosts, the insights from Fishing Stage Six, mastered numerous fishing techniques, and gained the special properties of the "River Snow Painting."

Invisible threads were a form of object-control power, capable of vanishing and concealing themselves—an ability Feng Bo Ping lacked.

Thus, Feng Bo Ping's threads were triggered by only one, while Li Hao's were triggered by four or five.

Yet even one thread had sensed three distinct powers.

"That old bastard—he really brought reinforcements. Let's go!"

Feng Bo Ping immediately wrapped Li Hao and the little white fox in his sleeves and activated his body technique: The Art of Heaven and Earth's Disappearance.

If it had been only the two Beast Kings from Wanshan, Li Hao and Old Feng had planned to stay and resist, using the Holy Heart Talisman to scare them off.

After all, defending the border also involves strategy.

It's not merely brute force.

But three Beast Kings? No need to think—something would surely go wrong.

And now, as the three Beast Kings drew nearer, most of Li Hao's dense, web-like invisible threads within a hundred li were touched—and snapped by their bodies! 【Fishing Experience +546, +523, +632…】

Though the threads tore, he still gained experience; a long string of prompts appeared, which Li Hao silenced.

His experience surged rapidly; by the time the Beast Kings reached the camp's edge, his experience was nearly at the peak of Stage Six.

At that moment, a figure suddenly flew in from another direction.

Li Hao and Feng Bo Ping turned to see a woman in a deep blue long gown, her hair likewise water-blue, her figure graceful and breathtaking—it was Song Song Qiumo.

"What are you doing here!"

Li Hao's face darkened, unable to hold back his shout.

Song Song Qiumo smiled calmly. "Of course I came to see how these bastards plan to seek revenge on you."

"You never left?!" Li Hao was furious.

"Now isn't the time for that. Are we retreating or holding ground? I'll stay with you," Song Song Qiumo said with a gentle smile.

Seeing her like this, Li Hao couldn't help but be moved; his emotions were complex beyond words. What had he done to deserve such favor? He'd merely given her a few small cakes.

But it was too late for such thoughts. Li Hao clenched his teeth, took a deep breath, and through his invisible threads, sensed the three Beast Kings accelerating toward them. "If it's three against three, we can try. If we can't scare them off, we can still retreat."

With Song Song Qiumo and Old Feng protecting him, plus the Holy Heart Talisman, Li Hao felt he now had leverage to negotiate.

"I'm fine," Song Song Qiumo said with a smile.

Feng Bo Ping smiled faintly. "Then let's talk."

They had just flown out of the camp, but now rushed back.

Meanwhile, the three Beast Kings had already appeared inside the camp. Sensing Li Hao's departure, the towering old man with dark golden fur let out a furious roar.

His voice, like a lion-dragon, shook the entire Tianmen Pass.

Enraged, he slammed his palm downward—the small bamboo-fence courtyard, still steaming from the earlier meal, was instantly engulfed beneath a colossal divine palm, about to shatter.

Suddenly, a streak of water shot forth, striking the divine palm. A vast curtain of water swept across, forming a circular shield that protected the courtyard.

"If you're going to fight, fight—but don't destroy this place."

Song Song Qiumo stepped forward, a faint smile on her face. "I quite like this courtyard. Don't break it."

The towering old man with golden fur glared at her, his eyes glinting with cold light.

Beside him, another old man in a Daoist robe, with white beard and hair, stroked his chin and squinted. "You didn't leave? Perfect. The fight we left unfinished last time—we'll settle it now."

(End of Chapter)