Chapter 443: Betrayal, the Ultimate Realm of Unity (Combined)

That sacred will conveyed a detached, supreme indifference, as if gazing down upon mortal realms from the clouds.

Yet that sliver of the Heavenly Sovereign's will stood above the clouds, with even colder, more merciless majesty, overlooking all living beings! "Hmm?"

A faint note of surprise seemed to echo within the sacred will.

Instantly, the Heavenly Sovereign's will crushed down, severing that sacred will across countless miles! The sacred will vanished, leaving only a surging, overwhelming force in the space.

Li Hao's newly condensed body was shredded once more by chaotic forces, breaking into countless fragments.

But soon, he rebirthed from a single drop of blood—so long as one drop remained unextinguished, he could not die; this was the power of the Three Imperishable Ultimate Realm.

Seizing this momentary respite from the severed sacred will, Li Hao rapidly gathered himself, once more achieving Ultimate Immortal Transformation, then shot toward the distance at full speed.

Yet all around was a chaotic void, with no distinction of east, west, south, or north; even with Ultimate Immortal Transformation granting him exquisitely refined perception of heaven and earth, Li Hao felt as if adrift in a river—with no shore to be found, as if the surrounding space shifted constantly.

The Immortal Gate, which had been plainly before him, now seemed severed by layer upon layer of space, unreachable.

Li Hao's heart surged with shock and fury as he rapidly activated numerous body-refining techniques.

Earlier, when summoned by Chu Chu Jiuyue, he had entered the Realm of Hearing the Dao, but had not yet fully completed his cultivation—the Dao force had not fully transformed, and he had not yet fully cultivated or refined his body with these techniques.

Now, riding the surging power of heaven and earth, Li Hao suddenly activated the Primordial Dao Body.

Torrential power surged into his flesh; this once-incomplete scripture had now been refined by Li Hao to the Dao level, capable of manifesting the Supreme Dao Body—briefly becoming the Dao itself, unfathomable, undetectable, and immune to harm or erasure! As the scripture activated, Li Hao's own flesh and blood also condensed and improved, his physical strength slowly increasing.

He concealed his aura with the Supreme Dao Body while groping for an exit within the chaotic void.

But soon, a will swept over him once more—it was the same sacred will that had just been severed.

Yet now, beyond its cold indifference, unmistakable anger radiated from it.

For his own saintly will to be severed—this was unimaginable! Moreover, the Daoic thought that severed it was vast and overwhelming, not the will of an individual, but the entire heavens pressing down.

This was a power even he could not comprehend.

As the sacred will descended, through his understanding of Void Dao, he swiftly located Li Hao's trace.

Though exquisitely concealed, having become the Dao itself, he still sensed him.

Had it been another saint, he might not have detected him at all.

To have become the Dao itself—his Dao cultivation had reached such a level… he truly deserved to die!

Boom! A vast force surged toward Li Hao, once more crushing him down.

Li Hao, realizing he had been detected, was filled with shock and fury—he hadn't expected this saint to persist.

He roared, once more condensing the Heavenly Sovereign's will to slash forward.

"Whose will is this?!"

The sacred will was instantly severed, clearly enraged now. Without the sacred will to guide it, its power locked onto its original anchor point and swiftly struck Li Hao.

Li Hao immediately activated the Supreme Dao Body, becoming the Dao, like a howling wind—yet even as he embodied Daoic force, his body was still sliced apart.

The Dao cannot be erased, but it can be severed—just as Li Hao had previously cut down six Dao-Method cultivators: with sufficient overwhelming force, even the Dao can be split like flowing water. This is not erasure—even if shattered into billions of fragments, disconnected from one another, it does not vanish.

Li Hao urgently activated his body's healing, entering Ultimate Immortal Transformation, using his perception of heaven and earth to search desperately for an exit within the chaotic void.

If he remained here, he would inevitably be found again.

Yet before Li Hao could catch his breath, the severed sacred will reformed once more.

And this time, not only the sacred will—but a faint, blurred silhouette appeared in the void: the saint's true body's avatar in the void.

"Hmph!"

A cold snort rang out; the blurred avatar raised its hand. This time, the killing intent was fiercer—the surrounding void seemed to contract abruptly, and countless knife-like void blades, like a hurricane, swept toward Li Hao.

Li Hao's eyes blazed with fury as he swung the Sword of Fame and Dao, slashing violently.

Sword qi crisscrossed, rippling like a great river through the chaotic void—but was drowned by the chaotic, rebellious force, crushing forward with unstoppable momentum.

Li Hao urgently condensed another sliver of the Heavenly Sovereign's will and slashed at the avatar.

But this time, the blurred avatar was prepared—it raised its hand, surrounding itself with layered space that extended the Heavenly Sovereign's will's suppression.

Yet the Heavenly Sovereign's will seemed capable of transcending space and time—despite all its maneuvers, it still struck with pinpoint accuracy.

The blurred avatar trembled faintly, about to vanish; the sacred will was suppressed, yet did not immediately dissipate—supported by the void avatar, it held on.

But even so, Li Hao's action had enraged him utterly.

Countless violent whirlpools surged through the void, swallowing toward Li Hao.

Li Hao felt as if trapped in an ocean, while his opponent was its master, able to summon storms and control all.

"Break it!!"

Li Hao's eyes blazed like a madman as he roared.

He had endured countless trials—he would not die here.

Before the Divine Blade, he had not wept; before countless demons beyond the border, he had not bled. Now, he unleashed a will that pierced the heavens—his entire Dao force surged wildly, his physical strength and the heavenly power he commanded reaching absolute peak.

Boom! He harnessed a portion of void power and slashed fiercely at the surrounding whirlpools.

The whirlpools tore—but instantly, more void storms surged forth, endless and boundless.

Even a mere avatar controlled by a sliver of sacred will wielded power dozens of times greater than a Dao-Method cultivator! Puff! Li Hao's body was torn apart, his flesh and blood sliced by void forces, unstoppable—his body shattered.

Even as he became the Dao, merging with heaven and earth, this void force could sever heaven and earth themselves—this was a saint's attack!

Li Hao desperately activated countless Dao-level body-refining scriptures, trying to resist the invasion—but his body still tore and shattered.

His blood and bones scattered everywhere; agonizing pain flooded his consciousness—but in his mind, that sliver of Heavenly Sovereign's will dominated absolutely, suppressing everything, including his own pain.

He strained to gather his shattered remains, preparing for blood rebirth.

But at that moment, the blurred avatar sensed Li Hao's intent—having witnessed his two previous escapes, he now understood Li Hao's survival technique. He instantly raised a finger—the void boiled violently, and countless knife-like tearing forces slashed toward Li Hao's scattered remains.

The scattered blood was shredded and utterly annihilated.

Li Hao's consciousness trembled, filled with shock and terror—his opponent intended to erase every drop of his flesh and blood, completely annihilating him! Though he could rebirth from a single drop, if not even one drop remained, he would surely die. Since emerging from the Abyss, this was Li Hao's first true dead end—and it came from merely a saint's avatar.

He had thought the Realm of Hearing the Dao and the Saint Realm were separated by only one level—but now, he felt the difference was as vast as heaven and earth. Before the Saint Realm, all were ants; the Realm of Hearing the Dao was merely a slightly larger ant—with not the slightest ability to resist.

From his damaged body, a Dao domain suddenly erupted—forty-nine layers of Dao domains instantly unfolded, forming an absolute domain.

Yet the next instant, this domain was invaded by the unstoppable void force, gradually torn apart—the supreme laws within the void, like blades refined to perfection, sliced through the domain. Though it seemed slow, like cutting through a thick book, it was still tearing it open!

"Hmm?"

A flicker of surprise surfaced within the blurred avatar's sacred will—he had not anticipated Li Hao possessed so many tricks. Forty-nine layers of Dao domains? Excessive.

Had he devoted such energy to refining his cultivation realm, he might even have walked the Path of Sacrificing the Dao.

Boom!

More void power surged to crush him.

Li Hao helplessly watched his Dao domain being invaded and torn apart—he had no way to stop it. Now, he had only one final trump card.

His consciousness surged into his mind sea and activated the saint's seal! A hum echoed as the silver-gray seal unfurled within his mind sea.

Then, a vast, boundless aura spread from Li Hao's mind sea.

Li Hao still remembered vividly the saint who had granted him the seal—seated in the realm of immortals and gods, surrounded by divine auroras, Dao circling, untouched by dust.

Now, he could only beg for aid.

He had delayed activating this seal because he wished to rely on himself, unwilling to bear further debts or be bound by obligations—but now, he had no choice.

"Hmm?"

As the saint's aura spread from Li Hao's body, the blurred avatar frowned and struck with even greater ferocity, determined to erase Li Hao instantly.

But once activated, the hazy aura emitted by the seal enveloped Li Hao's body, blocking part of the attack.

Simultaneously, a blurred figure appeared before Li Hao's eyes—the very saint who had granted him the seal.

"Save me."

Li Hao cried urgently.

The figure saw Li Hao and was surprised: "You're still alive?"

"What?"

Li Hao froze, as if struck by a thunderclap, staring at him in disbelief.

The figure seemed separated by infinite void, its form blurred, its face indistinct—but its voice came through with perfect clarity.

"You…"

Li Hao's mind grew chaotic—what did that mean? But the figure paid him no further attention, instead noticing the nearby Void Saint avatar, frowning slightly, then quickly comprehending the situation. He said: "Being hunted? Then good. I originally planned to take you as my disciple and slowly corrupt you—but now, it saves me trouble."

"Yin Yin Yang Sheng?"

At that moment, the Void Saint avatar also recognized the saint Li Hao had summoned.

Saints lived long lives—they clearly knew each other.

"Void Saint, this mere youth—why would you harbor such murderous intent? You have no grievance with the Ji family, do you?"

The avatar known as Yin Yin Yang Sheng asked, tone tinged with curiosity—testing his motives. Hearing this, Li Hao felt as if icy water had poured over him—from head to toe, he suddenly woke up.

But what followed was a surge of shock, fury, and rage.

This was too sudden—he had sensed not the slightest trace, believing he held a secret trump card.

Yet the "taking him as a disciple" had been a lie?

And from these words, this saint seemed to have a feud with the Ji family?

Had the seal been given to eliminate him?!

"So this child is Ji family bloodline… no wonder," the Void Saint avatar understood, his hostility instantly diminishing.

He knew this Yin Yin Yang Sheng had a deep feud with the Ji family's progenitor. Later, the Yin Yin Yang Sheng perished, scattered and reincarnated. His reincarnated self had severed karmic ties with his past life—even saints could not calculate it, unless the reincarnated self awakened his memories and reclaimed the Saint Realm again.

"If so, I'll eliminate this child. You won't interfere, will you?"

The Void Saint avatar said calmly.

"Of course not. It saves me trouble. Even if you didn't act, I would have acted myself. This is no longer Ji family territory, nor the mortal realm—killing him won't alarm the Ji family."

The Yin Yin Yang Sheng avatar said with interest: "I'm merely curious—how did he provoke you?"

"Harming my Holy Son, you deserve to die."

The response from the Holy Sage's avatar was extremely brief.

He did not reveal that this mortal's disciple trial had revealed the boy as a Seventh-Level Realm cultivator; if this news spread, the entire Land of the Holy Sages would tremble. Though he knew the information had been witnessed by the Primordial Holy Sect and the Heavenly Phoenix Holy Sect, making it impossible to conceal, killing Li Hao before the news could spread would render it all meaningless.

A prodigy who appears only for a fleeting moment would be spoken of with fascination for a while, then vanish like mist, buried in the dust of time.

If he revealed this news now, it might invite unforeseen complications and stir other intentions in the other.

"So that's how it is."

Upon hearing this, the Yang Sage gave no further thought; aside from this, he could not imagine how Li Hao had provoked a Holy Sage.

"Then I leave it to you."

The Yang Sage spoke, turned, and glanced at Li Hao, as if smiling faintly: "You came to me for help? Didn't you ever wonder why I appeared first after the Ji family's Ultimate Path Stele test? Do you think the man who often lingers outside your door is your neighbor—or your enemy?"

"Hah... the Ji family—I will make them never rise again!"

He gave a faint, cold smile, and his figure gradually dissolved before Li Hao's eyes, showing not the slightest concern that Li Hao might survive.

After all, a Holy Sage's avatar had personally struck—no prodigy could survive.

Seeing the opponent vanish without attacking him, Li Hao, stunned and furious, let out a quiet sigh of relief.

He had thought he summoned a powerful ally—only to nearly walk into his own doom!

Holy Sage... Holy Sage... Li Hao clenched his fists, overwhelmed by an indescribable rage.

While the two had been speaking, he had quietly healed his body and understood the malice behind this mark.

The opponent was the enemy of the Ji family's founding ancestor, who constantly watched the Ji family. The Ultimate Path Stele test was the most effective way to reveal a prodigy's potential; if the Ji family truly produced a Fourth-Level Realm prodigy, he would detect it—and then, under the guise of taking a disciple, lure the prodigy into a trap. It was all a conspiracy, a Holy Sage's calculation. He had not destroyed the Ji family outright, but had effectively erased them—leaving them with no hope of advancement, unless this Holy Sage perished!

Before a Holy Sage, one becomes mere fodder, believing oneself to have a future, yet living with absolutely no hope.

Li Hao now felt a flicker of relief—he was glad he had too many goals to pursue, and had not rushed to act. Had he rashly activated this mark and become the opponent's disciple...

Given his situation in the mortal realm, the opponent would have first taken him in, then—as the opponent had said—either corrupted him, led him astray, and made him forever unable to become a Holy Sage, or simply killed him outright.

There is nothing more comfortable or secure than keeping an enemy's descendant under one's eye, raising him to serve as a slave.

Deceitful, cruel! Li Hao now realized: Holy Sages were not without desire—they desired things too vast to imagine!

But thinking about this now was useless. His gaze fixed on the Holy Sage's avatar, his anger turning heavy, almost monstrous.

"That was your last card, wasn't it? Now you die."

The Holy Sage's avatar spoke coldly, as if pronouncing Li Hao's death sentence.

Without hesitation, as soon as the words left his lips, the surrounding void energy surged like boiling water, transforming into countless razor-sharp blades that crushed toward Li Hao—unstoppable.

Li Hao's eyes blazed with fury and killing intent. Now, he had no choice but to expend everything he had to carve out a single chance.

But was there truly such a chance?

Li Hao did not know—but he knew he could not die so easily.

"Holy Sage... Holy Sage... if I do not die, I will shatter your Holy Sects and tear off your heads!!"

Li Hao's eyes turned bloodshot as he roared, his body cultivation techniques flaring instantly. His bones cracked loudly, his flesh and blood consolidating and strengthening.

His physical strength gradually neared ten million jin. Though insignificant compared to the celestial forces he could now command, pure physical power enhanced every aspect of his body—his ability to channel and withstand celestial forces, immensely.

BOOM!!

Roaring, Li Hao swung his sword. His arms glowed crimson as he drew in the power of a vast region of heaven and earth, slashing down with all his might.

The sword qi blazed like a rainbow, instantly shattering two vortexes, then tearing straight forward.

But at the same time, more void vortices surged from all sides, carving deep gashes into his body.

Behind Li Hao, shadowy forms emerged—manifestations of his body cultivation techniques. His bones leapt and transformed violently; his flesh and blood strengthened, his self-healing power rising—but these void blades were too sharp, too unstoppable. Even with forty-nine layers of Dao domains stacked, they only slowed the assault.

"Void Annihilation Hand!"

Seeing Li Hao still holding on, the Holy Sage's avatar's eyes grew cold. He suddenly raised his hand. Void energy converged, forming a palm shaped like a collapsing black hole, crushing down upon Li Hao.

The Dao domains touched by this void hand shattered instantly, ground to dust.

Li Hao slashed furiously with his sword—but the vast celestial forces he summoned vanished upon contact with the void palm, as if swallowed whole, unable to even delay its advance.

Li Hao's eyes bulged with rage. His major meridians snapped violently, then his celestial meridians ruptured. He roared, pushing every ounce of his strength to its limit! BOOM!!

He swung his sword with all his might, gathering boundless momentum. His flesh and blood contracted and tightened. His body cultivation techniques, pushed to their extreme, triggered rapid transformation.

A brilliant sword light slashed forth, colliding with the void palm.

The void trembled. The laws of nature grew chaotic. Countless blades struck and cut into Li Hao's body.

More colossal blades from the surrounding void surged forward, undeterred and unblocked by that single strike.

His entire body was torn apart, wounds appearing endlessly.

Li Hao's flesh writhed and trembled, contracting relentlessly. His physical strength climbed steadily—until it reached the ten-million-jin threshold.

At one moment, Li Hao felt his entire body shudder. Every fiber of flesh, every drop of blood, every cell trembled.

He felt as if his body had been peeled open like a peanut, and from the trembling flesh, a thread of something more extreme, more extraordinary, surged forth.

At this moment, his flesh touched the boundary of life—unbreakable. The deepest secrets of his flesh seemed activated.

A volcanic heat surged from every part of his body—from every bone, every drop of blood.

Brilliant golden light burst from his wounds. The blood that had flowed earlier now turned brilliant crimson-gold, radiating infinite golden radiance—as if the blood of a deity! His mind, his thoughts, were crushed under the pressure of transformation. Vast streams of knowledge flooded his mind.

The profound insights of the Nine Stages of Body Dao allowed him to instantly comprehend the transformation occurring within him.

He had reached the Final Stage of Body Power! The Ultimate Stage was Divine Power—this Final Stage... was Divine Blood!

If Divine Power was merely a temporary state where strength surged tenfold and the body glowed golden like a god, then now—he had undergone a complete transformation. His flesh and blood had changed at their very source!

Divine Blood!

This was true Divine Blood!

Powerful Immortal Beings of the Three Imperishable Realms could pass down a portion of their bloodline power to their descendants, and mortals called this "Divine Blood."

But in truth, it was like calling a mortal sword sage or knife sage "saints"—mere praise borrowed from great names, not true merit.

But now, Li Hao had touched the boundary of life, transformed his flesh, and his blood had undergone a true metamorphosis—becoming Divine Blood!

What he had once yearned for as a child, he now cultivated himself!

And it was true Divine Blood!

This meant—at this moment—he was no longer mortal flesh. He had transformed into a god.

The golden blood seemed to contain boundless vitality. Each drop of Divine Blood carried power capable of unleashing an unyielding force! Li Hao felt this Divine Blood was like the Dao itself—indestructible. "Hm?"

The Holy Sage's avatar sensed Li Hao's sudden shift in aura. He paused, his expression changing instantly.

The brilliant golden light and familiar energy stirred a name in his mind: the Demon Clan!

No—more accurately, the Divine Clan.

But that was an ancient race long sealed away by the Holy Sages—the original race of this Land of the Holy Sages.

"Transformation? So this is the secret of the Divine Clan? They were once human, cultivated into this form? What realm is this?"

The Holy Sage's avatar, seeing this earth-shattering secret in Li Hao, his eyes darkened with gravity.

So the Divine Clan were not an alien race—they had once been human.

Was it because the Divine Clan's founding ancestor had cultivated this way, then passed down the bloodline, that the Divine Clan came to be?

He thought of many things in an instant—but quickly set them aside. Seeing Li Hao's flesh heal rapidly, radiating a terrifying, vibrant aura, his killing intent grew colder.

"Then you deserve to die even more!"

(End of Chapter)