Chapter 869: All Arrive

At the summit of Jidao Mountain, within a magnificent and opulent villa.

“Only three years left…”

“The Infinite Heaven Domain is about to open; in these three hundred years, my Chaotic Laws have risen from three to eleven—still only on par with Brother Hao, who just entered the sect…”

Di Lingshu, clad in a noble dark-golden robe, frowned; she had not anticipated that in this journey to the Infinite Heaven Domain, she would truly have to rely on this junior disciple who joined so late.

“I’ve trained in the Primitive True Realm for over seven hundred years; now, my pace of refining Chaotic Laws averages one every forty years—the more I refine, the slower it becomes; after reaching twenty Chaotic Laws, progress may take over a century.”

Thinking of Brother Hao’s astonishing cultivation speed, she couldn’t help but feel deeply discouraged.

Once, within the sect, she was supremely confident; yet in these three hundred years, she suddenly realized she was not among the absolute top prodigies—above her stood not only her senior brother and the monstrous second senior brother, but also a monster like Brother Hao.

“In my prime, I comprehended sixty-nine Chaotic Stars in two hundred years, condensed them into twenty-three Chaotic Laws in just one hundred—totaling only three hundred years. Now…”

Di Lingshu sighed, shaking her head slightly.

“In these three hundred years, Brother Hao should have long since refined twenty-three Chaotic Laws; I’ve only just completed twenty-three after three centuries, while my junior brother has already finished them—and crossed a major realm.”

“I wonder what Brother Hao is preparing for right now?”

She lifted her gaze, gazing over the villa’s walls, wanting to see the scene within that humble fenced courtyard.

…

“Dong~”

A lingering lute melody drifted, mingling with the scent of roasted meat and bursts of laughter and joy within the courtyard.

“Your cooking has improved even more.”

Shi Miao sat beside Li Hao’s lute platform, holding a piece of ancient demon flesh, eating with a beaming smile, oil glistening on her lips.

Li Hao smiled faintly, his fingertips weaving a soft lute melody, as celestial energy coalesced into graceful, ethereal goddesses that danced before the strings.

“One note moves heaven and earth.”

Li Hao murmured softly.

After breaking through the Painting Realm to the thirteenth level, Li Hao began cultivating music.

The courtyard was too small for fishing; carving was too introspective—if he immersed himself, he’d neglect Shi Miao beside him; only the lute allowed him to perceive the surrounding cosmos while still in contemplation.

After a century of playing, his musical experience was fully accumulated; once, during a sudden enlightenment, he sank into the music and lost track of time—when he awoke, Shi Miao told him sixty years had passed, leaving Li Hao stunned.

He had heard that the higher one’s realm, the more time slips away in an instant—but he never imagined it to be this true.

Just one moment of distraction, and sixty years had vanished without notice.

That enlightenment did not grant him a breakthrough, but brought him extremely close to understanding the musical heart-mind.

As his fingers stilled, the ethereal goddesses bowed respectfully to Li Hao, then dissolved like flowing sand into mist, vanishing before the strings.

“The thirteenth-level heart-mind is truly difficult.”

Li Hao thought inwardly; after a century of contemplation, he had not broken through even a single level—yet in his earlier decades, he had already elevated all his other arts from level one to twelve, across multiple disciplines.

Between the twelfth and thirteenth levels lay a chasm; Li Hao felt the immense divide.

“Your lute melody already influences space and time.”

Shi Miao said to Li Hao.

Earlier, while playing, not only had celestial energy formed dancing maidens, but the courtyard’s very space-time rippled and trembled—sometimes calm, sometimes turbulent, sometimes like a sudden downpour, sometimes like a slow mountain stream—she had profound mastery over time, and thus felt Li Hao’s music with exceptional depth.

In battle, Li Hao’s lute melody could become a fearsome celestial art, capable of slaying enemies on the battlefield.

“The Painting Realm reverses time—what heart-mind would be the Dao of music?”

Li Hao’s eyes flickered; he had not yet found the heart of music.

Though only a step away, that step was crucial.

Time flew swiftly within the courtyard.

In the blink of an eye, three years slipped away.

For an Immortal Lord, three years were but a fleeting moment.

At the summit of Jidao Mountain, within the hall.

Li Hao and his senior sister Di Lingshu stood before their master; alongside them, Senior Brothers and Sisters Gu Mofan, Di Wushe, and others had also manifested their forms here.

“Junior brother, three hundred years have passed—surely you’ve already refined twenty-three Chaotic Laws?”

They appeared and immediately smiled at Li Hao.

Three hundred years ago, Li Hao had stunned the entire Primitive True Realm upon joining the sect; now, after three centuries, he must have reached the pinnacle of Immortal Lord.

“Hmm…”

Li Hao scratched his head; he had not yet added points to his Chaotic Dao sixth level, fearing detection by the Chaotic Immortal Emperor—or even the Primitive Immortal Emperor—so he held back, planning to enhance it within the Infinite Heaven Domain.

Thus, his Chaotic Laws remained at only twenty-one refined.

Seeing Li Hao’s vagueness, they all chuckled, taking it as modesty; after all, two hundred years ago, Li Hao had already refined twenty-one Chaotic Laws, and even if cultivation grew harder with each step, his talent should have granted him two more in two centuries.

Dao Yuan Immortal Emperor glanced at Li Hao—this single look made Li Hao feel utterly exposed, flushing with embarrassment; clearly, his master had seen through him and likely knew his true level of Chaotic Law refinement.

But Dao Yuan Immortal Emperor merely glanced, said nothing, and calmly spoke:

“The Infinite Heaven Domain is about to open. You two, along with the sect’s other outer disciples, will journey there—it is a place of opportunity, and also of death; no one can aid you there—not even I.”

Hearing this, Li Hao and Di Lingshu exchanged glances, both sensing the gravity in each other’s eyes.

Even an Immortal Emperor could not interfere—how terrifying must that place be?

“Succeed and become king; fail and perish—since ancient times, life and death hang by a single thought.”

Dao Yuan Immortal Emperor continued slowly: “The Infinite Heaven Domain was once the birthplace of the Dao of Heaven, and its dwelling place. Since the Ancient Era, when the Dao of Heaven vanished, the domain shattered into countless fragments, each imbued with Heavenly Dao energy; the more Heavenly Dao energy you gather, the greater your influence on the realm.”

“Moreover, within the Infinite Heaven Domain lies the Ascension Path!”

“It is said that ascending to its peak leads to the place where the Dao of Heaven sleeps, allowing one to glimpse its true form!”

“Now that the Dao of Heaven has returned, the Heavenly Heart may be re-proven; if you truly possess the ability to reach the summit, perhaps you may indeed see the Dao of Heaven!”

Light flashed in Li Hao and Di Lingshu’s eyes, along with intense curiosity.

The Dao of Heaven—the supreme being all cultivation reveres—what would it look like?

“But reaching the summit is merely legend; with your current realms, the Heavenly Dao energy you can accumulate makes it nearly impossible.”

Dao Yuan Immortal Emperor shifted tone: “Do not strive for it—treat it as a legend. If fortune truly favors you, ascend as high as you can on the Ascension Path, leave your name there; perhaps, when you one day prove the Heavenly Heart, the Dao of Heaven will favor you.”

“Leave one’s name on the Ascension Path?”

Li Hao and Di Lingshu exchanged glances; Di Lingshu’s eyes sparkled as she clenched her slender fingers.

The Ascension Path was said to be the route the Dao of Heaven once trod—if one could leave their name upon it, would not their name be seen by the Dao of Heaven?

What supreme honor! Merely imagining it sent shivers of excitement through her.

“Within the Infinite Heaven Domain, laws are chaotic, the environment shifts constantly; thus, I have no map to give you.”

Dao Yuan Immortal Emperor spoke slowly: “Moreover, domain artifacts and emperor artifacts will be repelled there—even if you seal them with special occult power, once unsealed within, they may only be used for ten breaths!”

“This special occult sealing technique can conceal at most three domain artifacts per person; exceed that, and all artifacts will be forcibly expelled.”

“Here are twenty domain artifacts sealed with occult power; each of you select three—offensive, defensive, and escape.”

He raised his hand, and twenty domain artifacts soared into the hall, each shimmering with realm-divine light, yet bound by chains of black mist that circled them endlessly.

Li Hao’s gaze sharpened—he immediately understood: choosing these artifacts was critical.

No matter how powerful an Immortal Lord, within the domain, artifacts would determine survival and victory—they were three trump cards.

But everyone had three; the difference lay in concealment.

⊙￠o

Suddenly, Li Hao’s heart stirred: his Dark Aspect avatar had concealed itself from the Chaotic Dao List—could it also conceal itself from the Infinite Heaven Domain?

Though uncertain, why not try?

Li Hao immediately raised his hand and summoned his Dark Aspect avatar. “Hm?”

Gu Mofan and the others turned to Li Hao’s Dark Aspect avatar, puzzled, unsure why he had called it forth.

“Master.”

Li Hao bowed: “This avatar was created through a unique method I cultivated—it evades the Chaotic Dao Arena’s rule backlash. I wonder if it can also evade the Infinite Heaven Domain’s scrutiny, and carry three additional domain artifacts for me.”

He explained his idea.

Gu Mofan and the others froze, then immediately began questioning Li Hao.

Li Hao detailed the Chaotic Dao Arena incident thoroughly.

Upon hearing him, all except Dao Yuan Immortal Emperor—whose expression remained calm—stared in shock.

“Junior brother, you mean the avatars you fought with in the Chaotic Dao Arena were all copies created by this avatar?!”

Zhan Qinghuang’s beautiful eyes widened in disbelief.

She had never heard of such a thing.

“Yes.”

Li Hao nodded; it wasn’t a secret worth hiding.

“This…”

They were stunned; earlier, during his time in the Chaotic Dao Arena, Li Hao had suffered consecutive defeats—they had feared for his core—but it turned out he had been using avatars of his avatars to fight.

“How much of your original power does this avatar inherit?”

Di Lingshu couldn’t help asking.

Li Hao estimated: “About one-third.”

“….”

Gu Mofan and the others fell silent.

They had never heard of such a bizarre phenomenon; this junior brother clearly held great secrets—even their master had never mentioned them.

“It can be tried.”

At this moment, the Immortal Emperor Dao Yuan spoke.

Hearing this, Li Hao could not help but rejoice—if he succeeded, he would have six Domain Artifacts as hidden cards.

“Say whatever Domain Artifacts you need; if this isn’t enough, your master can seal more for you anytime.”

Immortal Emperor Dao Yuan raised his hand, and dozens more Domain Artifacts floated into the void, none yet sealed with secret power; the Domain Divine Light radiated from them, filling the hall with dazzling, mesmerizing colors.

“These Domain Artifacts, though you can wield them, cannot be fully activated unless you’ve reached the Immortal King realm.”

Immortal Emperor Dao Yuan warned.

Li Hao and Di Lingshu both nodded.

Then, the two began selecting their Domain Artifacts.

Li Hao scanned them all, listening to his master and several senior brothers’ advice, and chose six explosive-type Domain Artifacts—each with a single function, none for escape or defense.

“Younger brother, though you’ve reached the peak of the Immortal Lord realm, you should still take a few for survival.”

Lei Jingfeng offered with concern.

Li Hao nodded and said, “Senior brother, my Domain Artifacts release power rapidly—using them to block the enemy’s Domain Artifacts is enough to ensure my survival.”

He thought simply: as long as his Domain Artifacts could withstand theirs, he had no fear of losing in direct combat.

Besides, he still had unspent points in the Chaos Dao, and now his Time Origin had reached the eighth layer—a level comparable to Shi Miao. He could hardly imagine encountering an Immortal Lord strong enough to defeat him.

On the contrary, he worried more that others might flee and form alliances—so if he provoked someone, it was best to kill them outright; explosive-type Domain Artifacts would leave no chance for escape.

Hearing this, the others said no more—after all, one knew best what hidden cards one held and what suited oneself.

When Li Hao and Di Lingshu finished selecting their Domain Artifacts, Immortal Emperor Dao Yuan led them to Jí Dao Mountain to assemble. On the mountaintop, two hundred disciples had gathered—all at the peak of the Immortal Lord realm, their qi thick and deeply contained.

“They will accompany you two, but in the Infinite Heavenly Domain, you may scatter—don’t worry about it.”

Immortal Emperor Dao Yuan said.

Then he raised his hand and sent over a thousand Domain Artifacts soaring above Jí Dao Mountain.

Each was wrapped in black light, sealed with secret power.

“Each of you may choose one.”

Immortal Emperor Dao Yuan said calmly.

Hearing this, the two hundred outer disciples erupted in excitement, overjoyed, and chorused their thanks to their master.

Soon, they each selected the Domain Artifacts they favored.

“Mo Fan, take them to Fanjie Mountain.”

Immortal Emperor Dao Yuan waved his hand.

Gu Mo Fan nodded and flew to Li Hao and Di Lingshu’s side. “Let’s go.”

Di Wushe, Zhan Qinghuang, and others stood high above the hall, calling out to them: “Younger brother, younger sister, take care on your journey!”

Li Hao and Di Lingshu waved farewell, then followed their senior brother, with the two hundred outer disciples marching behind in a vast, orderly procession.

Fanjie Mountain was also the assembly point.

Talents from the Three Primordial True Realm Immortal Emperors, several Chaos Immortal Cities, and numerous Chaos Ancient Clans soared from all directions, rushing toward this pivotal opportunity.

Talents competed to cross, like countless true dragons swimming against the great river of heaven and earth, converging upon this supreme destination.

“So lively.”

Outside Fanjie Mountain, among a group of figures stood Lin Zhe, clad in a green robe, beside him seven or eight others—including Su Muqing, Su Wanyi—and on his other side stood another graceful woman in green, silver hair fluttering, her face like peach blossoms yet cold and deadly.

“Younger brother, where is this Hao Tian you mentioned?”

The green-clad woman scanned the crowd and asked.

Lin Zhe looked around but saw no sign—then suddenly his gaze locked onto a distant shadow racing toward them.

He fixed his eyes on it, and a spark of light flashed in his gaze: “There—he’s coming!”

Hearing him, Su Muqing, Su Wanqing, and the other three sisters beside him turned to look.

On the other side, Di Lincen also turned, his calm eyes brightening with anticipation.

Since their parting in the Southern Region, he had not seen this friend he had drunk with—wondering whether, after centuries apart, the man still remembered him.

“He’s here.”

The Ghost Clan sisters’ eyes flickered—three hundred years had passed, and though they were slightly inferior in talent, they had yet to fully condense the twenty-three Chaos Laws, let alone fuse them.

Meanwhile, their peers Lin Zhe and Di Lincen had already entered the fusion stage.

Lin Zhe’s progress was astonishing—he was said to have condensed twenty-three Laws several years ago, and recently, he had fused one more Chaos Law, entering the fusion stage.

“It’s him…”

Su Muqing fixed her gaze, her eyes flickering with shifting light—the fleeting scenes of the Su family’s ten years, the daily image of her sitting alone outside the sealed hall, flashed before her, and her lips tightened slightly.