Chapter 597: Three Saints Unleashed, Chaotic Divine Flame

Zwoosh! The Chaotic Saint, seething with rage, shot forward at full speed—wasting time here with Li Hao was pointless; if Seeing Yuanzu and the others arrived, they would ruin his plans, and they would surely guess that his motive for devouring Li Hao was to break through to the Divine Body Realm, and Seeing Yuanzu would never tolerate a second Divine King's birth.

He sprinted at full speed and in an instant left Li Hao far behind.

In terms of movement, he was nearing the Sacrificial Dao path—something Li Hao could never match.

Li Hao watched the Chaotic Saint grow ever more distant, his expression shifting slightly—he hadn't expected the other to hold back so long; if the Chaotic Saint reunited with Long Sheng, it would be Li Hao who would have to keep fleeing.

"Wait—I still have the Human Tribulation!"

Li Hao suddenly remembered the Three Saints' Lesser Realm—he had already crossed the Sacrificial Dao Human Tribulation, but still hadn't crossed the Incense Human Tribulation or the Ultimate Dao Human Tribulation.

Boom! He swiftly shattered the chains of the Incense Human Tribulation, and some force seemed to be released.

Li Hao felt a surge of exhilaration, yet also a bad premonition—as if calamity was descending.

This was the breaking of the chains; the Heavenly Dao would summon tribulation.

And the tribulation of Human Tribulations often came as unexpected lethal traps.

The Chaotic Saint, fleeing ahead at top speed, suddenly had a thought flash through his mind: "He has humiliated me so deeply—if I don't kill him, I am unworthy of being a Supreme Saint!"

The moment this thought arose, he longed to stop instantly, turn around, and fight Li Hao three hundred rounds.

But then he sensed something amiss—his emotions felt unnaturally agitated.

Though he was in a state of extreme fury, that faint agitation still reached his awareness, and his expression changed slightly—what was going on?

Only the Heavenly Dao could interfere with a Supreme Saint's thoughts—was the Heavenly Dao's power influencing him? This feeling… it was like someone nearby was crossing a Human Tribulation!

He immediately thought of Li Hao behind him, but quickly dismissed it—Li Hao had already crossed his Human Tribulation before, and back then there had been similar Heavenly Dao influence, and Li Hao had publicly completed his tribulation; he couldn't cross it again.

Maybe I'm overthinking… The Chaotic Saint's eyes flickered, and he stopped pondering, suppressing his anger as he surged forward—once he found Long Sheng, given their bond, the other would likely lend him aid; if not, he had other ways to persuade him.

"Hm?"

Li Hao noticed the Chaotic Saint slowing slightly, and immediately surged forward again—his expression changed.

The influence of the Human Tribulation hadn't stirred murderous intent in him? "I've heard other Supreme Saints cross Human Tribulations in remote, uninhabited places, yet even then, under Heavenly Dao's influence, others are somehow drawn from afar during the tribulation, leading to encounters that trigger calamity. Another way to avoid it is to find a desolate place and have other Saints guard the perimeter, blocking anyone who approaches and taking the tribulation in their stead."

Li Hao's eyes flickered.

This was why Saints established Sacred Grounds—or joined existing ones.

When crossing a Human Tribulation, the Sacred Ground's formation would activate, greatly increasing the success rate.

But now, his situation was different—he hoped the Human Tribulation's power would influence the Chaotic Saint.

Using the Human Tribulation as bait, yet this fat fish stubbornly refused to bite.

Bait… Li Hao's eyes flickered—of course! Why hadn't he thought of it? The Chaotic Saint before him… could also be fished for.

What did it matter if he was a Supreme Saint? Before the fishing rod, all heavens are prey.

In an instant, Li Hao's Fishing Mindset shattered its eighth-stage bottleneck and surged to the ninth stage, faintly tinged with the sensation of entering the Dao.

"Aren't you curious how I teleported here just now?"

Li Hao suddenly called out to the Chaotic Saint.

The Chaotic Saint's eyes flickered—he had indeed been startled when Li Hao suddenly appeared out of nowhere, with no warning; but during the prolonged chase, he'd suppressed the thought. The constant battles had nearly made him forget—now that Li Hao mentioned it, his gaze darkened.

"I was directly teleported here by the ancient statue—the statue's master sent me here, perhaps as some kind of guidance. Three forked paths—we avoided the two that carried Seeing Yuanzu and the Divine King's aura, and reluctantly chose this middle path. Could it be that we stumbled upon the only route to the Immortal-Deity Path? Tell me—if you find Long Sheng, and I reveal the secrets of the Immortal-Deity Path to him in exchange, will he still cooperate with you?"

Li Hao saw through his intent to team up with Long Sheng to kill him, and laid it bare.

The Chaotic Saint's expression changed—he quickly weighed Li Hao's words… their credibility was extremely high.

Otherwise, how could such a teleportation occur without his awareness? Even Gu Xu teleportation couldn't achieve this.

Only the terrifying Immortal-Deity power within this ancient hall could accomplish it!

The three forked paths—they had avoided the two carrying Seeing Yuanzu and the Divine King's aura, and reluctantly chose this middle path. Could it be they'd accidentally picked the right one? Immortal-Deity Path… The Chaotic Saint's figure slowed to a stop, turning to glare coldly at Li Hao.

"You tell me this… you want to cooperate with me? To beg for your life? Fine—I could spare you."

Li Hao sneered inwardly—the other had finally stopped. He'd briefly considered feigning weakness, showing signs of decay, or turning to flee—but swiftly dismissed them; such tricks were easily exposed before a Supreme Saint.

During fishing, the Liar Saint had told him: the highest level of deception is to tell the truth.

And truth does not mean the whole truth.

"Spare my life? You're mistaken. I'm merely telling you—if you seek Long Sheng, your outcome won't be what you desire. I simply don't want things to get complicated."

Li Hao spoke again.

If he pretended to agree and proposed cooperation, discussing only interests and ignoring past grievances—even after exhausting all his words, the other would never believe him. It would be meaningless.

"Hm?"

The Chaotic Saint's expression turned icy: "You say this only to stop me from finding Long Sheng? You want me to give up? Do you think you can stand alone against me?!"

"What else?"

Li Hao displayed an air of utter confidence: "You're a Supreme Saint, but you seem no better than that. If you could kill me, why bother groveling to Long Sheng? Before fighting you, I never thought I'd be this strong."

The Chaotic Saint's breathing grew heavier, his claws clenching with a crunching sound—Li Hao's words were infuriating.

"I was holding back to deal with Seeing Yuanzu and the Divine King—you actually think I can't kill you? You're a fool!"

The Chaotic Saint's eyes blazed with murderous coldness: "You shouldn't have angered me. Do you know what power emerges after the Sacrificial Dao reaches the Three Calamities? Why is becoming a Saint through Sacrificial Dao the hardest? Because it is the strongest!"

As he spoke, crimson-gold divine flames erupted from his entire body; his armor burned with the heat of divine blood, within which flowed dark, iridescent auras, his aura surging higher than before, still climbing.

Li Hao froze, his expression shifting.

He sensed the Chaotic Saint was doing something insane.

"What is Sacrificial Dao? When the Dao is cultivated to its peak, it is sacrificed to the Heavenly Dao, returning to the cosmos—and in return, the Heavenly Dao grants the Heavenly Dao's power!"

"That is true Heavenly Dao power—not a mere reflection borrowed!"

The Chaotic Saint spoke coldly, his body cracking and swelling—he was a Saint forged through the body, sacrificing his bodily Dao. Now, he offered his bodily Dao power to the Heavenly Dao, and from within him surged a vast, supreme Heavenly Dao force!

This force froze time around him, silenced the wind—as if all creation bowed to his command, surging with his rage, solidifying with his coldness.

"After devouring you, I can recover—but then devouring you would be meaningless, like eating for nothing. But you've angered me!"

The battle knife in the Chaotic Saint's hand suddenly surged in power; tribulation energy exploded like blade-light, crushing the air into shrieks of lightning and thunder.

Li Hao's face darkened—the other was using self-destruction to kill his enemy. This was his true trump card.

"Die!" The Chaotic Saint wasted no more words—he slashed violently. The furious blade-light pierced heaven and earth, slashing straight toward Li Hao, its power tenfold greater than before. Even before, it had been terrifying; now, with this explosive power, it could destroy Li Hao's Eternal Dao, shred his flesh, and dismantle his Dao body in half a breath.

The power was too immense—cold sweat poured down Li Hao's body, yet he did not retreat, nor did he regret. He knew this was a fight to the death—either the Chaotic Saint died, or he did. "Heavenly Dao? Then let's see whose Heavenly Dao is stronger!"

Li Hao's eyes snapped open, shooting out chilling light. The Incense and Ultimate Dao, two hidden Saintly Dao forces, erupted simultaneously within him.

This power merged into his body, blending with the Sacrificial Dao force. The Heavenly Dao force gestating within him surged rapidly from his dantian into every part of his body, as if taking possession, merging completely with his form.

"Manifest Heaven, Mirror Earth!"

At this moment, Li Hao no longer held back—he revealed all Three Saints' powers; no other techniques needed concealment.

As Manifest Heaven, Mirror Earth erupted, his body was fully unleashed—his stature swelled violently, towering like a mountain, his feet large enough to crush hills.

In the instant Manifest Heaven, Mirror Earth activated, a celestial manifestation appeared behind Li Hao—before it could fully form, it rapidly fused with his body. A boundless, overwhelming aura surged forth, as if overturning all things; the ancient mountains around them trembled. "Hm?!"

The Chaotic Saint's blood-red, murderous eyes suddenly contracted, even flickering with a hint of clarity.

This brat… still had hidden power?!

That Saintly Dao… three Saintly Daos?!

Shock, disbelief, and astonishment surfaced in the Chaotic Saint's eyes.

In all the eons of the myriad heavens, countless Saints had explored and perished—none had ever fused three Saintly Daos.

Even Seeing Yuanzu had failed.

Yet now, this miracle unfolded before him—in this monstrous boy.

He suddenly recalled that fleeting sensation of agitation—he felt thunderclaps echoing in his mind, and understood at once.

That was the second Saintly Dao's Human Tribulation, luring him to turn back!

In all his countless years, he had never seen anyone use a Human Tribulation as bait.

Other Saints fled and guarded against it—Li Hao turned it into a weapon!

"What kind of monster are you… an Immortal-Deity reincarnated?"

The Chaotic Saint swung his ultimate Sacrificial Dao slash—countless tribulation energies rained down like thunderstorms, engulfing Li Hao.

But Li Hao, in the same instant, unleashed the ancient Immortal's Finger Point.

This sword art had three realms: Intention, Source, and Ultimate.

Li Hao had previously remained at the Intention level—now, he revealed a glimmer of the "Source" realm; the sword intent reached the very source, as if a true Immortal-Deity had descended.

It was propelled entirely by boundless power—under the fused Heavenly Dao force of the Three Saints, his transformation into an Immortal advanced further. The faintly sensed Heavenly Sovereign will now felt impossibly close—he could feel the Heavenly Dao, command the Heavenly Dao force within him, and his will silently merged with the Heavenly Sovereign's will.

Heavenly Sovereign—the one revered by the Heavenly Dao.

One who commands heaven and earth, masters all things.

Such a realm and technique were unimaginable.

Boom! The sky's tribulation energy shattered.

If the Chaotic Saint had borrowed true Heavenly Dao power, Li Hao now controlled the nascent form of his own Heavenly Dao.

Though the Chaotic Saint borrowed Heavenly Dao power that had existed for countless eons in the Saints' lands, it was still only a fraction—far less than Li Hao's own controlled Heavenly Dao force.

The blade-light sliced through, shattered the Six-Tribulation Emperor Weapon, and cleaved the Chaotic Saint's body cleanly in two.

Now, under Manifest Heaven, Mirror Earth, Li Hao's stature matched the Chaotic Saint's—like an ancient god battling an ancient demon.

As the blade-light split the Chaotic Saint's body, Li Hao saw the wound rapidly healing.

He now had the power to defeat him—but regrettably, he still lacked the means to kill him.

Supreme Saints' lifespans were too resilient—even if defeated, they could not be killed.

Only by forging a Seven-Tribulation Emperor Weapon, like Seeing Yuanzu, could one truly threaten other Supreme Saints.

The Divine King had been surrounded by countless Supreme Saints and still hadn't perished—only sealed. Though he had reached the Divine Realm, this alone proved the terrifying vitality of Supreme Saints.

"You monster—you've found the path to fuse Three Saints! And you've reached the Second Ultimate Realm… you're dead. If I reveal this, you will die for sure!"

Hun Tian Huntian Shengren's body was healing, his face twisting into a monstrous snarl.

In direct confrontation, he had already lost to Li Hao; though he could not die, this humiliation drove him mad.

"You won't get the chance."

Li Hao said coldly.

He put away his fame, raised his hand, and the fragments glowed, shooting out abruptly.

A single arc of light flashed past, and in an instant, Hun Tian Huntian Shengren's body stiffened, as if his tendons and bones had been ripped away.

What Li Hao regretted was that his previous attacks using the fragments had seemingly failed to trigger that lethal property—whether it was because the trigger was useless or because the opponent had resisted it, he could not tell.

Yet he had never heavily relied on that lethal property; his current move came from countless prior cuts, during which he had located a singular point within the opponent's body. With what appeared to be a single slash, he severed the flesh from the Primordial Spirit, shattered all bone connections, and turned the body into a corpse!

Li Hao gave him no chance to heal; raising his hand, deep and blazing light emerged in his eyes.

"Heaven and earth as the pot, all things as fuel; the Dao is born of heaven and earth, and heaven and earth originate from chaos… Chaos Divine Fire!"

A muffled roar seemed to echo through the void.

Immediately, waves of flame ignited.

Li Hao's experience in the Cooking Dao had long reached the ninth-stage bottleneck, his experience fully accumulated.

Now, his heart had shattered its limits, stepping across that threshold—Cooking Dao, Tenth Stage! Countless cooking insights flooded his mind, but Li Hao was immersed in this moment's cooking state of mind, using heaven and earth as his pot, determined to stew this delicious ingredient to death!

Divine fire exists within heaven and earth, though mortals cannot see it; heaven and earth began in chaos, and chaos exploded to give birth to all things.

The heat and force generated by that explosion were the Chaos Divine Fire.

Li Hao, through his Cooking Dao heart, glimpsed the origin of heaven and earth, glimpsed this Chaos Divine Fire, and now controlled it.

As the divine fire burned, it instantly enveloped Hun Tian Huntian Shengren's body; the flames could incinerate all things—even a Tribulation Emperor Weapon twisted and deformed rapidly under the Chaos Divine Fire, its tribulation energy dissolving!

Li Hao manipulated the Chaos Divine Fire to avoid the battle knife; destroying it would be a waste.

Yet a thought stirred in his mind: this battle knife… might not be unsuitable as an ingredient.

Can't be eaten? Too tough? That's not a problem with the food—it's a problem with the eater's digestive system!

(End of Chapter)