Chapter 455: Divine Blood Dao Body, the Sword God

Having spent much time chatting with Lin Lin Shanhai and other alchemists, Li Hao gained a deeper understanding of incense offerings and matters related to the Saints.

Incense offerings cannot be borne by ordinary people—they require a perfected Dao Body! Over these days, his Dao force has continuously transformed, filling every acupoint and major meridian until his Dao Body rivals the peak of the Dao Law Realm.

After reaching the peak of the Dao Law Realm, the next step is to accumulate incense offerings.

This incense power flows into Li Hao's body, unimpeded, slowly settling within and turning into dust-like particles, accumulating and gradually coalescing into a grain the size of a soybean.

This grain is the embryonic form of one incense stick.

To become a Saint, one must accumulate three incense sticks' worth within the body. Currently, the incense absorbed has only condensed into about one-tenth of a single incense stick.

This is only because he recently completed his Dao Body, allowing him to perceive and receive incense offerings—these offerings are the accumulated residue from the past.

The Hearing Hearing Yu Huang once promised him that after ten years, he would transfer the Great Yu incense offerings to him.

Li Hao fled through the void for ten years, but a hundred years had passed in the mortal realm.

As his Dao Body reached perfection, the incense offerings of these ninety-plus years converged upon him, finally coalescing into a grain the size of a soybean.

After the initial surge of accumulated incense faded, the subsequent offerings arrived steadily but no longer with the same intensity—yet they still trickled in daily.

Li Hao never expected that incense power could cross the Immortal Gate, flowing unimpeded from the mortal realm into the land of the Saints.

No wonder it is the power that grants sainthood!

At the current accumulation rate, if he did nothing for three hundred years, he could condense into a Saint.

Three hundred years here in the Land of the Saints equals three thousand years in the mortal realm.

One Saint born from three thousand years of incense offerings is still a relatively fast pace—this is mainly because the Great Yu Divine Dynasty has a vast population, ranking among the mid-sized divine dynasties across the entire Eastern Huang.

In the surrounding vassal states, it might take seven or eight thousand years—or even ten thousand—to cultivate a single Saint through faith.

This is why vassal states have never produced a Saint since ancient times.

After all, sustaining faith for one person over seven or eight thousand years is nearly impossible.

Power shifts, court struggles, natural disasters, and human calamities all cause breaks in faith.

As he absorbed the daily drifting incense, Li Hao couldn't help but miss the mortal realm.

Incense is extremely precious, yet the Hearing Hearing Yu Huang did not break his word.

Even for Saints, incense is a treasure that can never be too much, so Saints spread their teachings to gather belief.

The incense Li Hao now absorbs can be used—he merely needs to ignite it with his spiritual sense—but once burned, it vanishes. Below the level of a Saint, this is a desperate, life-or-death tactic.

Usually, forcing someone to burn incense in battle means an unyielding, mortal feud.

After becoming a Saint, the three incense sticks endure eternally; even when ignited, they are enveloped by Saintly Dao, endlessly cycling like steam trapped in a sealed boiler.

Only then can one freely wield incense power in battle—before that, one can only accumulate, never use.

Now that his Dao Body is perfected, Li Hao's physical body has hardened to an astonishing degree. He has awakened Dao through his body—his bones, blood, fists, and limbs are his Dao, capable of withstanding Dao techniques and divine arts directly.

But the path of bodily awakening has a flaw: Li Hao cannot command Dao with his words.

In simple terms, though he is at the peak of the Dao Law Realm, he is not truly so.

Indeed.

The bodily Dao path is a cultivation method that condenses Dao force and cosmic laws entirely within the body.

To command Dao with his words, Li Hao must elevate his Dao Control to the ninth tier, only then can he summon wind and rain with a thought, reverse rivers and streams.

When his Dao Body reached perfection, Li Hao discovered his physical strength had not increased further.

Without activating his divine power, his baseline physical strength remained at ten million jin, with only minor fluctuations—this seemed to be the absolute limit of his body.

Only now did Li Hao truly understand the meaning of "human strength has its limits."

This is no longer a problem solvable by cultivation—it is a limitation inherent to life itself.

Like a bottle full of water: add more, and it overflows.

The body is the same: no matter how much one cultivates or refines it, one merely alters its effects—but one's physical form has already reached its peak, having become "flesh incarnate as a god."

"The Final Realm... to cultivate to this point is to reach the end!"

With utmost effort, one can perfect a certain thing.

But this is the limit of effort, not the limit of the thing itself—most things in the world cannot be touched even by the greatest effort.

The Final Realm is the intrinsic limit of a thing: even walking the most perfect path, one reaches the end, because there is no path beyond.

Though his baseline strength of ten million jin is fixed, when combined with divine power, he can still briefly unleash tenfold force. Now that Dao force is fully integrated and his Dao Body perfected, the power he can unleash is even more terrifying—his fists and feet can effortlessly shatter mountains and tear apart the earth.

Most importantly, Dao force permeates his entire body, allowing Li Hao to ignore others' Dao techniques and break through all methods with raw force.

Yet Li Hao felt that his current perfected Dao Body was still not his ultimate limit.

Perhaps due to his Final Realm Divine Blood, after his Dao Body reached perfection, he could still absorb and transform Dao force, integrating it into his Divine Blood.

His Divine Blood, like a sponge, could absorb vast amounts of Dao force, allowing him to withstand far more transformation than any other being in the Awakening Dao Realm.

As time passed,

The Dao force transformed within Li Hao's Divine Blood grew ever greater, deep as an abyss, his body now containing the power of the Final Realm and bearing Dao force beyond imagination.

Li Hao realized that cultivating the bodily Dao might be one essential path to touching the limits of the Awakening Dao Realm—or even the Final Realm.

The limits of each martial realm and the Final Realm seem interconnected, mutually reinforcing and influencing each other. Li Hao could not imagine what kind of terrifying being he would become if he mastered them all—even a Saint would be far out of reach.

The quiet days passed unnoticed.

Li Hao had grown accustomed to life here, living a routine of three fixed points.

These three points were: occasionally purifying herbs for Lin Lin Shanhai, transforming his Divine Blood's Dao force in cultivation, and spending time alone in his courtyard, painting and carving, immersing himself in contemplation.

The one line was occasionally accepting invitations from other alchemists to assist them.

With his skill in culinary purification, Li Hao won the favor of all alchemists. Moreover, since he disliked alchemy, was harmless, and posed no competition, he became a central figure in the alchemist circle.

Those who hated each other wouldn't even meet, and when they did, they glared coldly—but all smiled warmly when facing Li Hao.

As a result, the reputation of Lin Qingfeng Alchemist grew louder and louder, even spreading among the disciples of the Sword Ancestor Sacred Ground.

Many disciples now knew of this peculiar figure among the alchemists: while there was debate over who had the highest alchemy skill, there was no dispute over who had the best interpersonal relationships.

This drew the interest of many inner sect prodigies, including some Saint Sons and Saint Daughters, who either visited him personally or sent emissaries to show goodwill.

After all, to have high-level alchemists brew precious medicines, one must supply one's own herbs, report to the Sacred Ground, and gain the alchemist's consent.

This often requires offering substantial bribes—if too little is given, one fears the alchemist won't give his all; if he ruins a batch, the precious herbs are wasted, and he bears no blame.

After all, alchemy has a high failure rate, especially for high-grade Divine Elixirs.

But if one could secure Li Hao's help, it guaranteed success.

Even if it failed, one could only blame one's own bad luck, never resent the alchemist.

Li Hao did not refuse these overtures; as long as they came with goodwill, he accepted their kindness.

After all, these prodigies all had their own factions behind them—not lone individuals. Prodigies without background or connections had long been eliminated in some dark alley.

The Land of the Saints had no shortage of prodigies, yet even prodigies had to bow, relying on the protection and resources of various factions.

These connections offered little direct help to Li Hao, but might prove useful someday—and they could also help him collect famous paintings, chess manuals, and other compendiums.

In the Alchemy Courtyard,

Li Hao brought the rare spirit fruits gifted by inner sect prodigies to Lin Lin Shanhai, sharing them with the old man.

These rare spirit fruits nourished the body, but for Li Hao, their effect was modest—he valued them mainly for their taste: crisp and crunchy, bursting with exotic fragrance, delicious beyond compare.

"Thanks to you, I can enjoy another feast."

Lin Lin Shanhai laughed, fetching his treasured tea leaves to brew for Li Hao. They munched on the spirit fruits while chatting.

Lately, the threshold of Li Hao's courtyard had been worn down by visitors—such a bustling scene reminded Lin Lin Shanhai of his own grand banquet when he first became a high-level alchemist.

"I'm just basking in your glory," Li Hao chuckled.

Lin Lin Shanhai smiled at Li Hao's words, feeling a pang of reflection.

It's hard to tell true from false when one sees smiles in someone's low point; only when one reaches the peak, in the height of success, can one truly see a person's nature.

With Li Hao's current connections, he could thrive even without Lin Lin Shanhai—if Li Hao wished, other alchemists would gladly deepen their ties with him.

Yet Li Hao still lived with him, calm and unhurried. Those who came to visit Li Hao, upon learning of their relationship, chose indirect paths, bringing Lin Lin Shanhai no small share of benefits.

And Li Hao still treated him with the same humility and courtesy as before; their bond had grown closer, occasionally exchanging playful curses: "you damn brat," "you old bastard."

"Your injuries are nearly healed—what are your plans?"

Lin Lin Shanhai asked Li Hao.

He had lived over a thousand years and seen countless people, but Li Hao was one he could not fathom—by "fathom," he meant he could not discern Li Hao's desires.

He felt Li Hao's name was apt: like a gentle breeze in the mortal realm, rising freely, falling freely. Aside from painting and carving as pastimes, nothing else seemed to matter to him.

Alchemy, martial cultivation, what mortals chased—Li Hao paid them no heed.

"If you don't mind, Master Lin, I plan to stay here a while longer, until I paint a masterpiece, then consider my next steps," Li Hao said.

Though the Land of the Saints was vast, he wished only to dwell here quietly, secluded in a corner, perfecting his arts—then, when the time came, he would seek revenge against the False Saint.

"..."

Lin Lin Shanhai fell silent, studying Li Hao's eyes intently, trying to discern his true intentions.

But he saw only clear, unshaken eyes—no flicker of deceit.

Lin Lin Shanhai couldn't help but smile bitterly and sigh: "This is the Sword Ancestor Sacred Ground—the place countless souls dream of entering! Here, with your status and connections, you can get almost anything you want!"

"If you wish to learn martial arts, just hint at it, and the Saint Sons and Saint Daughters—and others—will gladly open back doors for you, letting you enter the inner sect and become a disciple of a Semi-Saint!"

"Even if your martial talent is low, those Semi-Saints would still accept you as a disciple—your connections are your foundation and strength."

"If you wish to practice alchemy, just say the word—I'll give you two of my three high-level elixir formulas; others will gladly trade with you."

He looked at Li Hao helplessly: "Yet here, in this precious place, you only want to paint?"

Li Hao understood his thoughts and smiled: "No rule says one cannot paint in the Sacred Ground, or must drink in a tavern, or must study hard in a scholarly academy. Environment is merely environment—it's dull to be shaped by it. Life's journey is long, filled with countless scenes—but I remain myself."

"But the essence of environment is that a group of people do the same thing, thus forming it."

Lin Lin Shanhai said: "If you persist on your own path, you'll stand out as out of place."

Speaking of which, he thought of teaching Li Hao how to fit in, but quickly realized that Li Hao's network was already broader than his own—if anyone should be teaching, it was Li Hao teaching him.

He let out a bitter laugh; such an eccentric man, yet somehow never disliked—it was strange indeed.

Li Hao smiled and said no more, lifting his teacup: "Let's drink."

"Pfft!"

Lin Lin Shanhai grumbled, but his hand cooperated—he clinked cups with Li Hao, drained his drink, and both smacked their lips.

Their conversation reached Lin Lin Qingying's ears within the courtyard; she lifted her gaze slightly. Over these past days, she had listened to most of the old man and the young man's daily exchanges, deepening her understanding of Li Hao.

She did not fully endorse some of Li Hao's ideas, but neither did she resent them; instead, a faint trace of envy stirred in her heart.

Such a carefree life was not something everyone had the chance to enjoy.

Yet she had her own Dao. When she reached the pinnacle, became a Saint, and forged her ultimate Sword Dao, would she too feel as happy as he did?

Thinking of this, her eyes grew brighter, her sword momentum smoother and gentler.

…

Several more months passed.

Li Hao's divine blood finally filled completely with Dao force, thanks to the vast energy within the Sword Ancestor Sacred Ground. If the heavenly energy of the Sacred Lands was already denser than that of the mortal realm, the energy within the Sword Ancestor Sacred Ground was even denser and purer.

In the mortal realm, Li Hao might have needed seven or eight years to fully convert his divine blood into Dao force.

Here, he accomplished it in less than a year.

Li Hao now understood why some Wen Dao cultivators were often over a thousand years old.

Cultivation, beyond breakthroughs and insights, required years of relentless refinement.

A single meditation retreat often lasted over a decade, even sixty years.

Within the Sacred Lands, any Wen Dao cultivator under a hundred years old could be called a top prodigy; those under three hundred were still considered the younger generation; only those over a thousand were deemed elders.

Those who lived several thousand, even ten thousand years, were regarded as ancient monsters.

These individuals were either Wen Dao cultivators with mediocre talent who climbed through sheer time, or they had already become Saints.

The age limit for this Sword God Competition was also under three hundred years.

Beyond three hundred years, one's potential was largely spent, and the dust of time would settle upon the heart, clouding one's nature and slowing progress further.

Now that his divine blood had fully merged with his Dao force, Li Hao had forged a Divine Blood Dao Body, and he felt it was stronger than ordinary Dao Bodies.

Among Wen Dao prodigies, most possessed their own Dao Bodies—such as Sword Bone Dao Body, Dao Heart Dao Body, and so on.

Some were born with Sword Bones, which grew alongside their cultivation. By the time they reached Wen Dao, they could channel Dao force into their Sword Bones, effectively gaining an additional vessel for Dao force—naturally, the strength of their Dao force was self-evident.

Moreover, Dao force stored within Sword Bones formed a Sword Bone Dao Body, making their attacks far more terrifying.

With his Divine Blood Dao Body now perfected, Li Hao had expected to touch the limits of Wen Dao—but he had not. He had merely forged one Dao Body.

The ultimate limit of Wen Dao seemed to require another method; Li Hao suspected he might only reach it upon reaching the ninth level of Dao Mastery.

After all, a Wen Dao cultivator who could not command reality with his words could not be called a limit.

After completing his Divine Blood Dao Body, Li Hao turned his attention to the Art of Painting, devoting himself more earnestly to its practice and study.

Within the Sword Ancestor Sacred Ground, the Sword God Competition finally began.

As the Sword God Competition truly commenced, the entire Sacred Ground erupted in fervor.

For ordinary disciples, though they had little chance to compete or appear, witnessing the clashes between the normally unapproachable prodigies offered immense help to their cultivation—they could contemplate and learn.

"Child, are you ready?"

Inside the Alchemy Courtyard, Lin Lin Shanhai looked at Lin Lin Qingying in her green robe, a flicker of concern in his eyes.

Though he knew his granddaughter was outstanding, the other Sacred Sons and Daughters were no ordinary foes—they would surely ignite a bloody storm.

Lin Lin Qingying's expression remained calm, as ever, but her bright eyes held deep resolve; years of cultivation had all prepared her for this moment.

"Lin Qingfeng, come—let's accompany Lin Qingying to watch, and you can see how these top prodigies fight."

Lin Lin Shanhai called to Li Hao.

He hoped Li Hao would see the allure of top prodigies competing, and that Li Hao might take a greater interest in martial cultivation—no matter his talent, practicing martial arts was always right.

"Mm."

Li Hao nodded, not refusing.

After all, this battle would see various prodigies unleash their techniques—a perfect chance to collect top-tier martial arts.

After gathering a batch this time, if the opportunity arose, he might try to use connections to visit the Sacred Ground's Sword Tower and glimpse its inner arts.

After all, his Dao Domain still needed many more techniques to fill it and open more layers.

(End of Chapter)