Chapter 823: Form Dao Sixth Tier, Realm and Domain!

Li Hao's intent shifted, infusing his Primordial Spirit's power into the fleshly laws surrounding him; in an instant, this force awoke like a slumbering dragon-serpent, radiating thick, terrifying might.

Li Hao felt that with a mere flick of the law's whip, he could shatter heaven and split earth—far surpassing the full-power sword technique he had wielded during the Nine-Flower Immortal Seal phase.

"If I had embedded the true meaning of painting Dao into sword Dao, and raised sword Dao to its twelfth tier, how powerful would my sword art have become?"

Li Hao thought to himself.

But since he began cultivating, he had always prioritized raising his realm first, as it ensured maximum combat effectiveness and offered the highest cost-to-benefit ratio.

For instance, that Sword Heart, though reaching the sixth tier of sword Dao's origin in the True Immortal Realm, would still be defeated and overwhelmed by prodigies in the Immortal Lord Realm.

Li Hao closed his eyes and released the countless insights that had flooded his mind during his previous realm breakthroughs, freeing them from their sealed state.

In an instant, a flood of insights into the Body Dao surged into his mind.

Li Hao felt his body disassemble, as if transforming into an immortal and merging with heaven and earth—but unlike true transformation, every drop of his blood, now scattered, brimmed with terrifying power, encircled by the aura of primordial Dao, like countless stars blazing with golden divine light.

His consciousness, meanwhile, hovered above this sea of stars, like a sovereign gazing down upon the cosmos!

This sensation intoxicated Li Hao, allowing him to deeply perceive the boundless potential of the flesh.

His flesh's primordial realm also surged upward rapidly, climbing from the previous fourth tier, breaking through its bottleneck to reach the fifth tier, then ascending to the pinnacle of fifth-tier primordial power.

Yet this ascent did not cease; as he absorbed more and more bodily insights, Li Hao shattered the pinnacle of fifth-tier flesh primordial power and stepped into sixth-tier flesh primordial power.

In the Nine Orders, this was Form Dao's primordial sixth tier.

Li Hao suddenly understood: the twelve tiers of Body Dao had allowed him to leap directly to Form Dao's primordial sixth tier—while at the eleventh tier, he had jumped straight to the pinnacle of third-tier primordial power.

"It seems my earlier guess was correct: each tier advanced on the panel's primordial Dao levels indeed boosts primordial Dao insight by three tiers!"

"That means, if I reach Body Dao's thirteenth tier, my Form Dao primordial insight will reach the ninth tier!"

"Which corresponds to the Immortal King Realm…"

Li Hao understood clearly, and a sense of urgency surged within him—if his painting Dao insight could rise again, break past the twelfth tier, he would soon become an Immortal King!

The Immortal King Realm was a rank capable of sealing kingship across the entire True Realm, dominating a single region.

Yet he had only just reached Painting Dao's twelfth tier and barely grasped its true meaning; merely accumulating the experience points of twelfth-tier Painting Dao would take considerable time, let alone immediately comprehending the thirteenth tier.

"The true meaning of Painting Dao has opened a crack for me—the bottleneck between eleventh and twelfth tiers isn't about external form or perfected technique, but about true meaning, the soul's origin!"

Li Hao's eyes darkened in thought, his mind drifting to the Southern Region, to the moment he had painted Xiang Xiao Xiao without emotion.

At that time, he had only wished to use his brush to eternally preserve her in this world.

Recalling her gentle, sorrowful gaze, Li Hao's heart sank once more; after a long while, he gradually calmed his thoughts—his breakthrough in painting realm had been her doing, guiding him to perceive the soul's essence through utter grief.

"Painting Dao is like this; carving Dao, fishing Dao—surely they are the same…"

Li Hao thought to himself.

Those disciples personally taken in by Immortal Emperors must have received such guidance from their masters even in the True Immortal Realm.

The advantage of a master is having someone ahead who illuminates a clear path—you need only follow it, feel your way toward it, and walk it.

Others must grope blindly, unsure where the path lies, what is clear, what is right or wrong—all must be judged by themselves, and the cost of trial and error is extremely high; this is why great clans have endured for eons, while cultivators without lineage perish generation after generation.

The strong remain strong; the weak perish.

"That Sword Heart reaching sixth-tier sword Dao origin in the True Immortal Realm is truly a rare sword prodigy."

Li Hao thought again of Sword Heart, whom he had defeated—reaching fourth-tier origin in the True Immortal Realm was already monstrous; fifth-tier origin was a once-in-tens-of-thousands-of-years rarity; Sword Heart was undoubtedly a once-in-a-hundred-thousand-years sword prodigy, a living myth, only defeated by the sheer might of my Emperor Sword.

Now, my Form Dao primordial sixth tier matches the origin level of sixth-tier sword Dao—but the same primordial Dao realm, wielded by an Immortal Lord, unleashes tenfold the power of a True Immortal's.

As the law's power flowed, Li Hao felt that though his body was only at Immortal Lord Realm first tier, it could withstand attacks from Immortal Lord Realm fourth or fifth tier!

Crossing realms in the Immortal Lord Realm is extremely difficult, yet Form Dao's primordial sixth tier eludes even many Immortal Lord Realm completers; only those of extraordinary talent can possibly comprehend it.

"The old man said fishing Dao has a fishing field; painting Dao has a painting realm… Master Da Meng's Langya Painting Realm is exactly like this."

Li Hao's eyes flickered—this differed from an Immortal King's domain, being a pseudo-domain, merely an "realm."

"Realm" and "domain" are two distinct levels: realm comes first, domain comes after.

At this moment, Li Hao recalled the cultivation method passed down by Tianyang Immortal Emperor, the Shuntian Ancestral Scripture taught by Wang Lao—the Immortal Lord Realm section, which Wang Lao had already imparted the first half of.

In the True Immortal Realm, he had forged the Ancestral Immortal Body from the Zhantian Yujing.

This was one of the Ten Great Immortal Bodies of the True Immortal Realm.

Similarly, the Immortal Lord section of the Shuntian Ancestral Scripture contained another Immortal Body, also among the pinnacle bodies of the Immortal Lord Realm: the Heavenly Immortal Body!

Forging an Immortal Body is an arduous process, demanding extraordinary comprehension—but it directly corresponds to Form Dao's primordial power.

As the method to forge the Heavenly Immortal Body surfaced, Li Hao's consciousness instinctively mobilized his body and all his immortal energy, transforming it; his Primordial Spirit seemed like a primordial Dao overseeing the heavens, sensing countless blazing, fiery flesh-masses gathering, assembling, coalescing into strands, which then wove into ancient, mysterious patterns.

These patterns were the most unbreakable in heaven and earth—perfect hexagons, lacking no edge, the very "perfection" revealed by Form Dao's primordial sixth tier.

As these patterns formed, torrents of immortal energy surged forth, acting as "adhesive" between the flesh, continuously building the Immortal Body.

Externally, Li Hao's body pulsed with swirling immortal energy, appearing and vanishing intermittently; a Dao domain automatically formed around him, sealing his aura—unless one forcibly breached the Dao domain to probe, no one could detect his subtle changes; all they sensed was the occasional tremor of immortal energy, mistaking it for normal cultivation.

Wu Ma, watching from afar, did not dare use her spiritual sense to intrude.

For these great clans, cultivation was commonplace; they often sat in meditation or entered seclusion.

After all, prodigies, beyond talent, also exerted effort beyond ordinary comprehension.

Li Hao opened his eyes, not lingering in cultivation—he had come here to accompany.

He subtly guided his immortal energy to coalesce into the Immortal Body while glancing at the sealed hall door, then raised his hand and played a move on the chessboard alone.

With no opponent, he played against heaven and earth.

Time flowed; the moon rose, the sun set; the daylight of Gusu Emperor Star was long, but as stars and moons alternated, a week passed.

The hall door remained shut, showing no sign of opening; Li Hao felt disappointed, yet kept his promise, staying outside.

During this time, Wu Ma brought him meals; though Immortal Lords could survive ten thousand years without food or drink, subsisting on immortal aura fruits.

Yet among great clans, eating habits were still preserved, albeit infrequently—once a week.

The food and drink were not mere delicacies, but spiritual tonics infused with heavenly treasures, beneficial to cultivation.

Li Hao did not refuse, accepting the tray of delicate dishes; but when he tasted them, he frowned—this flavor was indescribably awful: merely crushing high-grade spiritual herbs and wrapping them crudely in food, shaping them into meals.

It felt like biting into thick dough stuffed with a single sesame seed—unbearably hard to swallow.

Li Hao ate two bites, then stopped, pushed the tray beyond his Dao domain, and remembered the many ancient demon corpses stored in his heavenly space—collected during the first trial of the Southern Region campaign.

Among them were the corpses hunted by Emperor Lin Chen, all gathered by him—enough to sustain him for a long time.

Thinking of those ancient demon corpses, Li Hao's stomach growled; when Wu Ma and the maidservants were not nearby, he retrieved half a corpse from his heavenly space, swiftly slicing it open, then cooked it with Chaotic Divine Fire.

As the savory aroma drifted, Li Hao felt his mood lift for the first time in a long while—indeed, only fine food could truly soothe the heart.

He took out a small flask of wine, obtained from Old Li, sipping wine and eating meat, savoring a rare quiet ease.

After devouring half the ancient demon, he felt a fullness, stretched lazily, then resumed his solo chess game, contemplating the Way of Chess.

His chess experience was full, yet he still lacked the insight needed for a breakthrough.

But this breakthrough in Painting Dao's twelfth tier had revealed the path of twelfth tier: all arts under heaven converge, all Dao paths return to one—Dao is fundamentally the same.

But what was the true meaning of Chess Dao?

Placing the stone? Strategy? Prediction?

Li Hao pinched a stone between his fingers, furrowed his brow, and pondered as he played.

Time flew; three months passed.

As stars rose and fell, a figure floated gracefully into Zhexian Courtyard, descending gently.

Wu Ma, sensing the aura, instantly teleported before the newcomer, bowing with a smile:

"Your humble servant pays respects to Miss Wanqing."

"Wu Ma, you're too kind."

The newcomer was Su Wanqing; she treated Wu Ma with utmost courtesy, displaying the refined manners of a noble lady, then raised her eyes and saw the young boy seated in the courtyard—she froze.

"Why is he here?"

Su Wanqing murmured in surprise.

Three months had passed; the boy had changed—his frame stood taller, his features sharper, his eyes like inverted stars and moon, captivating.

Wu Ma, surprised to see Su Wanqing knew Li Hao, respectfully said: "Miss Yaoqin said Young Master Haotian holds equal status to Miss Muqing; he wished to stay here, and no one could stop him…"

Su Wanqing was not blaming her—she was simply astonished. Had her elder sister changed her view of him in three months?

She descended into the courtyard and saw the boy seated by the pond, dressed plainly, lounging in a rocking chair, playing moves against empty air.

She stared, bewildered—her father had said he had less than a hundred years of soul lifespan and was only Immortal Lord Realm first tier, surely a peerless prodigy who must have trained with extraordinary diligence—but now, he seemed so leisurely?

Could it be he truly believed the Su family was at his mercy?

Her eyes flickered; she turned to the main hall and said to Wu Ma beside her: "Is Muqing inside? I've come to see her."

Wu Ma nodded. "Since Miss returned three months ago, she hasn't left the main hall."

"Oh?"

Su Wanqing was startled—then understood. So it wasn't as she thought; her sister hadn't seen him once in three months? She truly hated him.

Seeing the boy's languid demeanor, she shook her head slightly—such talent, squandered. What a pity.

Wu Ma entered the main hall, then emerged alone shortly after, walking to Su Wanqing's side and whispering: "Miss Muqing asks you to enter and speak—she says she doesn't wish to see that man outside."

Su Wanqing fell silent, amused yet understanding her sister's feelings; she followed Wu Ma into the main hall.

Inside, Su Muqing sat cross-legged on a Chaotic Immortal Stone, clad in a moon-blue immortal robe; sensing Su Wanqing's arrival, she opened her eyes and asked: "Why are you here?"

"Sister Lanqin is hosting a painting exhibition and invited us—she's even secured the presence of Long Yun, the Painting Immortal. It's a rare opportunity."

Su Wanqing smiled faintly.

Su Muqing's eyes brightened slightly; she paused her cultivation and asked: "Is Long Yun coming too?"

"Yes—we'll have a chance to learn from him."

Su Wanqing smiled gently.

Among the Four Little Phoenixes, she was closest to Su Muqing—she was the fourth, Su Muqing the third; besides their similar ages, they shared common interests, such as painting.

But they weren't merely painting; occasionally, they gained insights into cultivation from their art, so it wasn't idle indulgence.

"When are we going?"

Su Muqing immediately asked, ready to set off.

Su Wanqing saw her eagerness and couldn't help smiling. "We'll go tomorrow. By the way, sister, have you even stepped outside in these three months? Just walked around the garden?"

Su Muqing's face darkened at this, her tone sharp. "You saw the man outside the gate when you arrived, didn't you?"

"Mm."

"Hmph. For three months, Wu Ma says he hasn't cultivated once. Father says he's a once-in-a-century genius with a hundred-year soul lifespan—yet he wastes such talent, sinking into decay. Does a man like this think he can change my mind?"

Su Muqing let out a cold laugh, her eyes filled with contempt.

In these three months, she'd secretly peeked outside three times after her cultivation—each time, she saw only that boy either playing chess or carving a piece of broken wood. He hadn't cultivated at all.

Su Wanqing recalled the scene she'd just witnessed, her brow slightly furrowed, a trace of regret in her eyes. "It's truly a pity."

"Enough about him—it's depressing. You're not going back today. We'll go together tomorrow." Su Muqing changed the subject. "I'll have Wu Ma prepare the side pavilion for you."

"Fine."

Su Wanqing had intended to refuse, but reconsidered and agreed.

After leaving the main hall, Su Wanqing looked at the boy still playing chess alone in the courtyard. A flicker of curiosity crossed her eyes, and she slowly walked over.

"Hmm?"

Sensing someone approaching, Li Hao looked up and recognized the girl from Su Muqing's side—her younger sister.

"You have no opponent. Playing against yourself—don't you find it dull and lonely?"

Su Wanqing glanced at the chessboard and asked curiously, "Why waste time like this? You could be cultivating. Doesn't it hurt to squander it?"

Li Hao felt no ill will toward the girl. He smiled slightly. "I have no opponent because few can match me. Playing myself, dividing my focus—it's endlessly enjoyable. How could I be bored?"

"As for wasting time—it's not wasted. If you're happy and gain something, that's enough. We cultivate for long lifespans, don't we? Isn't the point to enjoy every single day?"

Hearing Li Hao's two counterquestions, Su Wanqing froze, lips slightly parted, wanting to speak—but found his words strangely reasonable, leaving her speechless.

"But this is indulgence. In the end, it only wastes your cultivation and squanders your talent."

After a long pause, Su Wanqing spoke slowly.

Li Hao shook his head. "Whether mortal or immortal, all seek only one thing: joy. No one seeks suffering or sorrow. How can this be called indulgence? If not indulgence in joy, then indulgence in pain?"

Su Wanqing fell silent, unable to argue with Li Hao—yet her lifelong teachings made her unable to accept his words.

After a moment, she changed the subject. "Do you truly like my sister—or are you after her bloodline, hoping to produce a stronger descendant?"

This question stumped Li Hao. Truly like her?

Did he truly like her—or was it guilt, a desire to make amends?

The shattered body and eyes of the girl flashed before him again. A faint ache throbbed in his chest.

Like? Or guilt? He suddenly realized he couldn't tell.

Seeing Li Hao's silence, Su Wanqing felt her question had been too sharp, piercing his true nature. His reaction confirmed her suspicions.

She sighed softly. Impure motives—wasting such talent.

"If Father's words are true, you could become a peerless prodigy yourself. Why rely on others?"

Su Wanqing shook her head, spoke those words, and turned away.

Li Hao seemed not to have heard. His gaze was distant, his mind circling endlessly around that same question.

Finally, he shook his head. If he couldn't find the answer, he wouldn't force it. If the problem remained unsolved, let the answer find him.

The next day.

Su Muqing stepped out of the main hall and immediately saw the boy seated outside the front gate. Her eyes grew cold.

Li Hao, seeing her finally emerge, paused his move and gazed quietly at her.

Soon, Su Wanqing approached, bringing with her the fresh, sweet scent of a young girl, drifting through the courtyard. She said to Su Muqing, "Sister, let's go."

"Mm."

Su Muqing nodded.

Seeing them prepare to leave, Li Hao rose at once to follow.

"I'm going to admire paintings. Are you coming too?"

Su Muqing, seeing his move, felt her heart sink—and grew angry. "You?"

Li Hao nodded. "I said it before: where you are, I am."

"You—!"

Su Muqing was furious.

Su Wanqing said to Li Hao, "The places we're going are mostly for women. Are you certain you want to come?"

"Mm."

Li Hao nodded, without hesitation.

Su Wanqing fell silent, suddenly realizing that for most men, her words would've been an invitation. She inwardly rubbed her forehead.

"Hmph. Fine, come if you want. But Father only grants you rights within the Su mansion. Outside, you're nothing. If someone stops you, don't blame the Su family!"

Su Muqing suddenly remembered something and sneered.

Su Wanqing understood her sister's intent at once and nodded.

The two girls said nothing more and left together, moving swiftly—as if trying to shake Li Hao off with their body techniques.

Li Hao's figure flickered, qi flowing through him. His sixth-layer Form Dao origin granted his body extraordinary resilience; he pushed his body technique to its limit, barely keeping pace.

These two girls were both prodigies—Fifth and Sixth Realm Immortal Jun levels respectively—four or five realms higher than Li Hao. Their body technique was among the Su family's finest, passed down from an Immortal Emperor, capable of slaying enemies across multiple realms. To shake off someone of their own level was effortless.

Yet as they left the Su mansion, they realized they hadn't lost him. They were stunned.

"So fast. His foundation is incredibly solid!"

Su Wanqing's pupils contracted, her mind shaken. Her view of Li Hao shifted again.

Only swallowing pills to break through wouldn't grant such ability. This boy was far more complex than he seemed.

Su Muqing also realized this, her expression shifting—but upon hearing Su Wanqing's words, her surprise hardened into cold disdain.

"Hmph. Even if his foundation is solid, his Dao heart is base. He probably hasn't even reached Chaotic Dao Heart!"

Su Muqing sneered. Such talent—and yet he clings to her, trying to use her status. Only a base Dao heart would do such a thing. Her contempt deepened; she felt as if she'd encountered a refined degenerate.

As the two girls accelerated, Li Hao revealed more of his power. The Dao Source Immortal Seal flowed within him, its energy masked by the sixth-layer Form Dao origin acting upon his immortal body.

After leaving the Su mansion, the girls sped even faster, arriving at a lakeside pavilion in northern Gusu City.

The place was serene, the lakeside scenery beautiful. In the center stood a vast complex of pavilions rising from the water, like a living painting.

Outside the lake, a sealing array enveloped the area—crafted by an Immortal King, carving out a territory. No one could enter without permission.

Su Muqing and Su Wanqing arrived first. Seeing Li Hao still chasing behind, Su Muqing sneered and swiftly entered with her sister.

The guards at the gate recognized them—or rather, in all of Gusu Imperial Star, few didn't know the two girls, unless they were newcomers.

As soon as the two entered, Li Hao's figure pierced the sky like a blade, slicing through space and descending.

Though he suppressed his aura, some still leaked out from his pursuit.

The guards sensed it and greeted him warmly.

"Young Master, please show your Painting Dragon invitation."

"Invitation?"

Li Hao looked toward the lake—where the two girls had vanished, their presence blocked by the sealing array. His eyes flickered. "I don't have an invitation."

The guard's smile stiffened. He bowed. "I'm sorry, Young Master. No invitation, no entry."

Li Hao frowned. He suddenly remembered Su Muqing's words before they left: she was here to admire paintings.

His gaze swept the lake. Though he could only glimpse the pavilions, he saw countless scrolls floating in the air above them—each vivid, lifelike, as if the figures within were moving, unleashing their former ferocity in the void.

She likes painting? Li Hao grew momentarily lost in thought, recalling the girl's final request: that he paint for her.

Time and space shifted. The force of fate still bound them tightly.

"Young Master…"

At the guard's call, Li Hao snapped back. "I can paint. Better than any of those scrolls in the lake. May I enter?"

The guard blinked, his expression changing. Those scrolls, though not the main attraction, were no ordinary works—they were displayed here for a reason.

"I… I can't decide that. I only know: no invitation, no entry…"

The guard looked troubled.

Before Li Hao could speak, a cool, elegant voice came from behind:

"You say those lake paintings are ordinary?"

Li Hao turned. A woman stood there, her hair snow-white, dressed in a delicate silk robe. Her head was adorned with numerous immortal artifacts as hairpins, radiating Dao vibrations. Her robes were studded with glowing immortal crystals—exquisitely magnificent.

"Who are you?"

Li Hao asked, puzzled.

Two maids beside her glared at him with fury, barely restraining themselves.

The woman, however, remained calm. "You claim your painting surpasses theirs? Then prove it. Enter and display your skill."

A painting contest? Li Hao was surprised—but unafraid. "Do you have an extra invitation?"

The woman said nothing. She stepped past him, her sleeve brushing lightly as she showed the guard a golden plaque engraved with coiled dragon patterns.

The guard froze, nearly gasping, then hastily stepped aside.

The woman said to Li Hao, "Come."

Her two maids wrinkled their noses, shooting him fierce glares—but their beauty made their anger seem almost playful.

Li Hao exhaled softly and followed her inside.

"How may I address you, sir? Are you also a master of painting?"

The woman walked ahead, her tone indifferent.

Li Hao paid no mind to her tone and said, "I am Hao Tian. Thank you for your help."

"Ahead lies the painted pavilion on the lake. Master Hao Tian, please wait there for me. I shall come later to test your painting skills—what do you say?"

The woman halted her steps and pointed toward the most majestic pavilion in the center of the lake.

Li Hao followed her gaze; along the path stretched row upon row of painted scrolls, displayed like an exhibition leading to the pavilion. Su Muqing must be inside.

"Very well."

He agreed at once and asked, "May I ask your name, miss?"

The woman did not answer. Instead, her tone grew colder. "If the painting you display later falls short of the works you spoke of, you will learn my name—and then, do not blame me for denying you a chance."

Li Hao froze, sensing the chill in her words. His expression turned serious.

He said nothing more. The woman also said nothing, leading her two maids toward another pavilion.

Li Hao waited until they were gone, then immediately made for the main pavilion at the lake's center.

(End of Chapter)