Chapter 814: Hao Tian Zhen Jun

"But you're already…"

Li Hao's heart ached; his voice was hoarse, convinced the other was merely soothing him.

Ying Xiaoxiao sensed Li Hao's thoughts; her gaze grew even softer, the delicate skin beneath her eyelids slowly crumbling into powder, shimmering crystalline dust reversing upward and vanishing into the air.

"This reincarnated body of mine has walked with you from the mortal world to here—it is my favorite lifetime."

Ying Xiaoxiao whispered gently: "Do you remember what I said when we first met?"

In Li Hao's mind surfaced their first meeting—at a roadside tea stall, the girl stepping out from behind the counter like a cool summer breeze, gazing at him with calm grace:

"My name is Ying Xiaoxiao—the Ying of destiny fulfilled, the Xiao of unrestrained freedom."

Back then, he'd thought it merely a frivolous jest; now, it seemed to confirm fate itself.

To meet today's tribulation, I reincarnated across time and space.

"Then how can I see you again?"

Li Hao wanted to cradle her, yet dared not touch her, fearing it would hasten her dissolution.

"In the Northern Region, the Su family… that is my second life. But this body perished in calamity; that lifetime has yet to awaken…"

Ying Xiaoxiao's spiritual voice was soft, faint, her eyes filled entirely with tenderness and contentment.

Northern Region, Su family… Li Hao forcibly memorized those two names and asked urgently: "Will going to the Su family let me find you? What's her name?"

"When you go… you'll know."

Ying Xiaoxiao murmured softly, her gaze shifting as she said slowly: "…Could you paint me one last portrait?"

Li Hao's heart trembled; his eyes reddened. "I can."

"Now?"

"Now!"

He raised his hand; immortal energy coalesced at his fingertips, staring at the fading, crumbling ashes—her eyes already speckling into oblivion—and felt a piercing pain in his chest.

Yet he gritted his teeth and painted with all his strength.

He did not paint the broken form before him, but the radiant, vibrant image from before time reversed.

He painted her first step from the tea stall, the hem of her robe dancing in the summer wind.

He painted her descent, that peerless figure wreathed in cascading seven-colored light.

In the void, clouds churned, time spun, the blurred figure from memory solidified before his eyes, gradually leaping free from the flow of years to stand before him.

And in the girl's eyes, the last trace of her pupils dissolved and shattered—only her gentle spiritual voice remained:

"I knew… your paintings are the best…"

Her voice faded, her flowing hair and spiritual presence collapsing swiftly into nothingness.

Large fragments remained on her forehead, but as her eyes vanished, they disintegrated like ash.

"Promise me… live on…"

The spiritual whisper echoed in the wind, dissolving like flowing light.

Li Hao stood frozen in place, staring blankly; when the light and shadow before him vanished entirely, time itself seemed to fall silent.

The world sank into a vast void; all surrounding things lost their radiance, dimmed and perished.

Only he remained standing in the dark radiance of the Black Tower, like a wooden stake rooted there for a thousand years.

Long, long moments passed; the boy's fist slowly clenched, golden divine blood oozing from his palm and dripping down.

The painting drifting in the air—the blue-and-green-robed girl standing in the void, eyes lowered, gazing at him tenderly, as if watching from another time.

Waves of power surpassing True Immortal Realm emanated from his acupoints, rippling from every pore; behind him, the Celestial Star Meridians reappeared—this time extending farther, broader, spreading like a spiderweb, illuminating the starry sky.

His aura surged relentlessly; in an instant, he shattered the barrier—immortal lord energy erupted from his entire body, as if reborn.

【Painting Dao: Twelve Stages】

【Painting Heart: The True Meaning of Painting Dao】

Add point: Body Dao.

Body Twelve Stages: Awakened the True Meaning of Body Dao!

What is the True Meaning?

Illusion and reality, truth and falsehood—all things are extensions of the Dao. Earth Dao can condense mountains and rivers, a grain of sand, a stone, a mountain.

Water Dao is dewdrop, stream, abyss, ocean.

The True Meaning of Painting Dao is not pigments, not flashy technique—it is the presentation of that pure, sincere essence from within time.

It cannot be achieved by skill alone, nor by ornamentation—it reaches straight into the soul!

As the aura of the Immortal Lord spread, Li Hao's entire body transformed; the Dao Source Immortal Seal on his forehead emitted a terrifying sword-like resonance.

In the void, immortal laws coalesced like chains, nine grand paths becoming nine thick silver chains; the sword law chain took the shape of a sword scar, piercing through the void and coiling around Li Hao.

Seeing this, Old Han's eyes flickered, but there was no smile—only sighs and sorrow.

Outside, the Dream Clan erupted in joy—they never expected Li Hao to break through to Immortal Lord Realm at this critical moment!

In contrast, the Wind Spirit Clan and the Hidden Sea Clan were stunned, their faces darkening.

They hadn't anticipated this boy would draw such attention—the half-step Emperor's incomplete Emperor Artifact had shattered space-time to save him, and even the Dao Source Immortal Emperor of the Primordial True Realm had personally intervened.

This boy had not yet entered the Primordial True Realm, yet the Emperor there had already manifested in this realm to claim him—such honor had never been bestowed upon even the direct disciples of the Supreme One.

"He's become an Immortal Lord…"

"A hundred-year Immortal Lord? That must be the youngest ever recorded in history."

On the mountainside, as the Supreme One's imperial aura faded and the Dao Source Immortal Emperor's presence withdrew, many figures kneeling atop the peak could now raise their heads to witness the celestial spectacle.

They saw the boy beneath the Black Tower's glow undergo transformation—his realm ascending, astonishing all.

"Immortal Lord…"

Gui Lingyue's gaze was complex; she hadn't expected the Southern Region battle to be unfinished before this boy reached Immortal Lord Realm—if they fought again, she wouldn't be his match even with a single finger.

Nearby, Shen Wuji also witnessed this, but realm breakthrough meant little to him; had he not wished to solidify his foundation, he could have reached Immortal Lord Realm long ago.

"Good. Well done!"

Shen Wuji murmured, eyes gleaming; though he'd been utterly defeated by the boy before, now seeing his rise, he felt an inexplicable thrill—a fierce longing to face him again at their peaks, and a hope that the boy might escape this fate.

All who watched the ascending boy knew his talent—breaking the True Immortal barrier was no longer astonishing.

They turned their gaze to the other imperial aura figure above the clouds, wondering how today's conflict would end.

The Supreme One, observing Li Hao's aura stabilize, remained impassive.

True Immortal? Immortal Lord? To him, both were mere dust—not even ants. Only an Immortal King could barely be called an ant, worthy of being crushed beneath his foot!

As his aura stabilized, Li Hao's eyes fell upon the painting—no joy, no sorrow, only abyssal stillness, as if all happiness and grief had ceased to touch him.

He raised his hand, gently gathering the painting, as if taking the girl's slender hand.

The girl still gazed at him tenderly, a faint blush of shy delight in her eyes. After securing the painting, Li Hao looked beyond the Black Tower—he had already sensed the events outside since his breakthrough.

"Child, come with me to the Primordial True Realm. Become my disciple."

The Dao Source Immortal Emperor's voice echoed in his mind, calm yet tinged with compassion.

Li Hao's lips moved; after a long silence, he said: "Thank you, Great Emperor, for saving my life. But I wish to go somewhere first."

"Where?"

"The Northern Region."

The Dao Source Immortal Emperor fixed his gaze; countless Dao traces and fate threads surfaced in his eyes.

He nodded slightly. "Then I shall await you in the Primordial True Realm."

With that, a beam of light shot from his fingertip and sank into Li Hao's body.

"This is the domain seal of the Primordial True Realm. Activate it, and you may arrive at any time."

Li Hao felt a vortex-like force swirling within him—gentle, mysterious, impossible to examine closely.

"This is the Xuan Gui Source Shell. It masks your aura, severs your fate dust, and protects you. If the shell shatters, I will appear. Though the Heavenly Emperor promised me he would not hunt you, still, do not linger long in the Southern Region."

Hearing these earnest words, Li Hao stared at the silver-white object floating toward him, silent once more.

He took the artifact, raised his head, and gazed at the Dao Source Immortal Emperor.

He saw a face of peerless beauty, not blinding—eyes like deep, ancient seas, holding the weight of eons, yet radiating quiet kindness.

Li Hao clenched the artifact, then slowly knelt, bowing three heavy, resonant bows in midair.

"This debt I shall remember for all eternity!"

The Dao Source Immortal Emperor made no move to stop him; only when the three bows were complete did he nod, then waved his hand—the void split open, a straight path extending far into the distance.

"Go."

The Dao Source Immortal Emperor whispered.

Li Hao looked up at the path, then turned his gaze to the spot where the girl had shattered and vanished.

He stared deeply, then shifted his eyes to Old Han before him. "Master, come with me."

Old Han understood Li Hao's intent and shook his head. "No need. The Dao Source Immortal Emperor promised me he won't let the Heavenly Emperor harm me—or your sect companions. You needn't worry."

Li Hao's gaze turned to the Dream Clan, then to the ground where Dream Nine Abyss lay—the familiar faces there.

Yue Xi, Gu Yan… both looked at him, their eyes filled with worry.

Li Hao withdrew his gaze, fixing it on the blue-robed figure at the edge of Ten Thousand Swords Tower—their eyes met; pain flashed in Li Hao's, and he turned away.

He knew: now, he had no power to protect anyone.

"Hao Tian…"

Above, Wang Shanhe had broken free from the Immortal Guard Commander's domain; he stared at Li Hao, his aged face etched with anguish.

He knew: had the Dao Source Immortal Emperor not intervened, Li Hao would have perished.

The only disciple of the Heavenly Calamity Immortal Emperor in this age—peerless talent—and yet he could not protect him.

That great battle long ago was too brutal, too costly; had those two Imperial Artifacts been present, Li Hao would not have suffered this humiliation today.

Li Hao looked at Old Wang, then turned his gaze to the Dao Source Immortal Emperor beside him, and bowed deeply.

"Elder, can you protect the lives of my friends?"

The Dao Source Immortal Emperor's expression was calm. "You need not worry. As long as I am here, even the Supreme Beings will not trouble them."

Hearing this, Li Hao relaxed, and bowed again deeply.

His gaze swept over the other competitors, over the Southern Region, over the mountaintop, then withdrew entirely, and he walked slowly along the passage the Dao Source Immortal Emperor had opened for him.

In the Southern Region, Old Feng and others remained here, but Li Hao knew that staying with them now would only drag them down.

At this moment, he stood alone, empty and hollow, leaving the Southern Region as if stepping out from that former Divine General's mansion.

But back then, Old Feng had been by his side.

Now, only that gentle gaze in his heart accompanied him—that was the reason for his journey.

Countless eyes—from the various courts of the Southern Region, the heavenly sects, the great clans—all fixed on the young boy.

He had turned the entire Southern Region's grand contest upside down, drawn forth the intervention of two Immortal Emperors, forced a half-step Supreme Sovereign to appear, and ascended to Immortal Lord in utter despair. Today, he did not perish. All knew they would hear his name again.

To be so monstrous at the True Immortal realm—what would he become when he reached Immortal Lord?

"Master, it seems you did not get your wish this time…"

On the solitary peak, the old man holding the rod watched the conclusion, a faint smile appearing in his eyes.

At the edge of the clouds, Jian Xin and Ming Yue watched the young boy walk quietly past them. They had never expected the Dao Source Immortal Emperor of the Original True Realm to intervene for Li Hao, to pay attention here.

They had entered the Original True Realm to study under the three Immortal Emperors—yet now, this boy had seized the opportunity first.

"The hundred-year pact…"

Ming Yue bit her lip slightly. At this moment, a strong sense of urgency filled her heart—if he entered the Original True Realm too, she had no confidence in winning their hundred-year duel.

But to surrender now? Impossible.

As a direct disciple of the Supreme Being, she was at least on equal footing. She had centuries more soul longevity than him—how could she yield?

On the ground, Chu Tianhuang and others watched the boy's back with complex expressions, unsure where he was headed.

But with the Dao Source Immortal Emperor intervening, there was no doubt he would gain entry into the Original True Realm.

Perhaps they would meet again there.

"He survived—he actually survived…"

Chu Yue Li stared at that back, dazed, then her face lit up with joy.

If he lived and their marriage pact came to pass, with his status, she would achieve great heights within the imperial clan.

But where was he going now?

A look of confusion appeared in her eyes—apparently, he had not chosen to leave with the Dao Source Immortal Emperor.

Following the passage leading into the deep starry void, Li Hao walked on—then suddenly paused, his gaze sweeping toward a figure beside the path.

That figure radiated a unique aura of nobility; above his head, a Star of Emperors shone in the distant heavens, its radiance descending, magnificent and unapproachable.

Imperial Clan, Di Jiming.

When Li Hao's gaze fell upon him, Di Jiming's face turned icy, his fists clenched.

He had failed to kill Li Hao today, filling him with rage—especially that woman who had defeated him in the same realm. He could not accept it.

(End of Chapter)