Chapter 871: Forging Ahead—Chaotic Dao, Stage Six!

On the towering gate of the realm, golden divine lightning surged; as people approached, the golden lightning striking from the clouds instantly transformed into dragon auras, rushing toward those passing through.

Each figure was wrapped in at least eight golden thunder dragons, as thick as a finger, circling and darting around them.

“One dragon equals one layer of Dao heart: the four realms of Heaven, Earth, Xuan, and Huang; three layers of Chaotic Dao heart; three layers of Eternal Dao heart—ten layers total!”

“Only those who reach the Eternal Dao heart level may pass through the gate; the minimum is eight dragons circling the body.”

Many figures rushed through the gate, surrounded by golden dragons; occasionally, a figure wrapped in nine golden dragons stood out sharply among the crowd.

“I’ll wait here for you.”

Shi Miao accompanied Li Hao here, but she could not follow him into the Infinite Heaven Realm; she gazed at him softly.

Li Hao nodded. “Wait for me—I’ll return safely!”

Hearing Li Hao’s promise, Shi Miao smiled. “I’ll wait.”

Li Hao nodded to her; their intimate demeanor caught the gaze of someone afar—Su Muqing’s eyes flickered with pain.

While countless eyes focused on the gate, preparing to charge, only hers remained fixed on the boy—yet she saw his face full of smiles, his eyes holding only that girl. Suddenly, her chest tore with pain. She recalled the boy sitting silently outside the hall, day after day… Was silent waiting truly this agonizing?

She bit her lip lightly.

Lin Zhe, beside her, was about to speak to his ninth senior sister when his peripheral vision caught Su Muqing’s face—he glanced in her direction and his expression changed instantly.

A flash of fierce anger crossed his eyes, but he suppressed it. He took a deep breath, stopped looking at Su Muqing, and spoke to the green-robed ninth senior sister beside him:

“Ninth senior sister, let’s go.”

“No rush.”

The green-robed woman remained calm. “The gate just opened; the Chaotic River behind hasn’t been unsealed yet. Going early is just waiting. This is the stage to test Dao heart.”

Though she spoke thus, seeing the Original Land and other Chaotic ancient clans rushing ahead, she no longer delayed. “Let’s go—we’ll cross slowly too.”

As she spoke, her movement enveloped Lin Zhe. She glanced at Di Linchen and the Su sisters. “We’re crossing first, Eighth Brother—we leave them to you.”

“Understood.”

A burly middle-aged man nodded.

As they moved, Li Hao and Di Lingshu also headed toward the gate, followed by over two hundred outer disciples from Jidao Mountain.

Their presence here proves these outer disciples have all condensed Chaotic laws and possess qualified Dao hearts; otherwise, their Master wouldn’t have sent them here—this would be pointless.

The figures passing through the gate all had at least eight dragons circling them; almost none were stopped—clearly, all who came here knew the rules.

“Hm?”

Lin Zhe noticed Li Hao approaching swiftly and his expression darkened.

Li Hao also saw Lin Zhe—he remembered him as a prodigy from the Northern Region—but paid no mind. He and Di Lingshu accelerated forward, quickly overtaking Lin Zhe.

Seeing Li Hao ignore him outright, Lin Zhe’s face grew darker. The green-robed woman, watching the famed youth pass her, suddenly grew interested and sped after him:

“You’re Hao Tian?”

Li Hao turned, seeing the green-robed woman beside Lin Zhe. “Who are you?”

“I am the ninth direct disciple of the Chaotic Immortal Emperor, Luo Ningshuang.”

The green-robed woman smiled. “I’ve heard you mastered sixty-nine stars in one day and condensed twenty-three Chaotic laws in another—truly profound cultivation!”

“Pleasure to meet you.”

Li Hao nodded and continued forward without further pleasantries.

Luo Ningshuang: “…”

She had spoken at length, and he replied with only “Pleasure to meet you”?

“This guy’s arrogance is unbelievable!”

Luo Ningshuang’s eyes grew cold as she stared at Li Hao’s back. Lin Zhe had told her of this boy; she’d never liked him. To her, such a prodigy who hoarded potential and exploded suddenly was merely showmanship.

“Hmph!”

She snorted and accelerated after him, eager to see his methods when they crossed the Chaotic River.

At this moment, they all arrived beneath the gate. Thunder roared all around as golden dragons soared down from the clouds.

Suddenly, a piercing dragon roar echoed!

Ten golden lights burst from the thunderclouds, merging midair into a colossal dragon body that dove downward, coiling around a Chaotic ancient clan member with crimson skin and black horns, amplifying his aura with overwhelming dominance.

“Ten dragons—Eternal peak Dao heart!”

“Who is he? He hasn’t even reached Immortal King realm, yet his Dao heart is already this advanced?”

Many were stunned by the sight; the Original Land’s Chaotic ancient clan disciples, however, recognized him instantly and exclaimed in awe.

Luo Ningshuang narrowed her eyes. She knew the identity of the Chaotic Crimson Demon Clan—he ranked 18th on the Chaotic Prodigy List!

“That man is dangerous.”

Di Lingshu also noticed the Chaotic Crimson Demon Clan. Her gaze grew grave. She’d trained in the Original True Realm for only seven hundred years—too short. If given another thousand years, she could rival these top prodigies. Her talent wasn’t inferior, only her cultivation time lagged.

“Mm.”

Li Hao glanced at the Chaotic Crimson Demon Clan, nodded slightly, but gave it little thought.

Soon, they reached the gate.

Li Hao felt himself enter a certain domain, as if a terrifying force scanned his entire body. A strange unease stirred within him—then, a deafening roar erupted above his head.

The roar sounded like Chaotic collapse—extremely loud. The entire Fanjie Mountain trembled.

The many figures rushing toward the gate all halted, faces pale with shock, staring in horror at the swirling golden mist of the mountain.

Di Lingshu also flinched—the sound was too sudden, too deafening. She looked up in disbelief.

Golden divine mist churned violently, then dozens—hundreds—of golden dragons burst forth, merging into nine colossal golden thunder dragons that dove toward Li Hao.

Meanwhile, the remaining thunder dragons formed a straight golden divine bridge extending downward, landing at Li Hao’s feet.

The nine dragons darted and coiled around the bridge and Li Hao, radiating terrifying power that kept others at bay.

“Dao heart bridge—Heart Emperor Dao?!”

Far away, Gu Mofan and other powerful figures from various factions froze, then stared in astonishment.

They’d escorted their sect’s and clan’s prodigies here—but never expected to witness this.

The Dao heart bridge was legend. It was said that only those whose Dao heart surpassed the Eternal could trigger such a phenomenon when crossing the gate.

“Who is this boy? His Dao heart exceeds the Eternal!”

“This… this is already approaching Half-Emperor Dao heart! How? He’s only an Immortal Lord!”

“Is he Hao Tian?”

All powerful figures fixed their gazes on him, eyes filled with shock. Though they’d heard of Hao Tian’s name, they’d ignored it—no matter how talented, he was still infinitely distant from them. They stood at the Precursor Emperor realm; one more step would make them Great Emperors—the pinnacle of cultivation.

At this level, nothing stirred their emotions.

Once one reached the pinnacle, even the most extraordinary prodigies seemed ordinary—after all, ultimate talent merely meant reaching Great Emperor status, only differing in timing.

“My little brother’s Dao heart…” Gu Mofan’s heart trembled. At Immortal Lord realm, surpassing Eternal Dao heart? That meant if his little brother cultivated properly, becoming a Precursor Emperor was guaranteed!

Becoming a Great Emperor? That depended on fortune—no one could say for sure.

But without doubt, his little brother had already secured half the ticket to the pinnacle!

“No wonder Master values him so highly…”

Gu Mofan thought silently.

Beside Li Hao, Di Lingshu stood frozen, hand over her mouth, utterly stunned. Her little brother’s performance exceeded all expectations—each time, he shattered her assumptions.

She was from the imperial clan, well-traveled and experienced—but repeatedly, Li Hao made her feel like an ordinary bystander.

“Hm?”

Just as he was about to cross the gate, the Chaotic Crimson Demon Clan suddenly halted, eyes blazing as he stared at the boy standing on the Dao heart bridge, surrounded by nine soaring dragons.

The scene was too grand—everyone could see the boy’s extraordinary bearing.

“Dao heart surpasses the Eternal…”

The Chaotic Crimson Demon Clan clenched his fists. His own aura, just gathered, was now completely overshadowed—no one noticed him anymore.

Compared to Li Hao’s nine colossal dragons and the Dao heart bridge, his single merged ten-dragon form looked pitifully inferior.

“Hmph!”

He snorted and turned away, leaving without further delay.

“That guy…”

Luo Ningshuang’s eyes widened slightly in disbelief.

But soon, her brows knitted as she stared at the boy’s back—she realized his foundation was far deeper and more terrifying than she’d imagined!

Compared to the Chaotic Crimson Demon Clan, this boy was an even more formidable rival!

“He…” Lin Zhe stood frozen, face pale. He hadn’t expected the gap in Dao heart to be this vast.

The boy had surpassed him completely.

A sense of bitter injustice and shameful humiliation overwhelmed him—his thoughts grew chaotic, blank.

“Is this his Dao heart?”

The Su sisters also noticed the scene, stunned. Su Muqing’s eyes widened. In the Northern Region, she’d always believed the boy had wasted his focus on her, on romantic attachments—proof of a low Dao heart. Yet now she saw his Dao heart surpassed the Eternal.

How was this possible?

He’d abandoned cultivation—how could he still possess such a Dao heart?

He didn’t even chase cultivation, willing to discard it for fleeting pleasure—yet he surpassed the Eternal?

Su Muqing couldn’t understand. Yet a deeper sorrow and pain filled her heart—she realized she’d never truly known him.

“He’s still like this…”

Among the crowd, Gu Yan and Yue Xi also saw Li Hao. They sighed bitterly. Since meeting him, he’d always become the center of attention wherever he went.

Yet they knew him well—he was extremely humble in private.

“His Dao heart...”

Jianxin and Mingyue exchanged glances; in this gathering of prodigies, even they were dimmed—but the young man not only failed to be overshadowed, he swallowed the radiance of all other top prodigies.

“Is this the reason he refused his Master?”

Jianxin and Mingyue looked at each other. In these three hundred years, they had witnessed Li Hao’s sudden rise, and now they saw his ultimate Dao heart. Suddenly, they harbored a flicker of self-doubt about his earlier refusal of their Master’s invitation—perhaps the boy truly had the right to refuse the Immortal Emperor.

“What is this?”

Li Hao, noticing the anomaly beside him, frowned in confusion.

Di Lingshu snapped back to herself, her gaze complex, and began to explain to Li Hao.

After listening, Li Hao understood somewhat, but paid it no mind; seeing the nine dragons circling her, he said, “Let’s go.”

“Mm.”

Di Lingshu now calmed her emotions, silently smiled bitterly in her heart, and followed Li Hao.

After passing through the boundary gate, they arrived at a vast platform. Before them lay a chaotic vortex—this was the Chaotic River leading to the Infinite Heaven Realm.

On the platform stood many figures who had crossed the boundary earlier, including the Chaotic Crimson Demon youth.

A barrier sealed the platform, preventing others from rushing into the Chaotic River; all could only wait here.

“This is the Chaotic River...”

Li Hao and Di Lingshu approached the platform’s edge, studying it closely, sensing the terrifying power within the chaotic vortex—if one lacked mastery over Chaotic energy, they would be swiftly swallowed and perish.

“Kid, I heard you’re deeply rooted. Three hundred years have passed—surely you’ve fused twenty-three Chaotic Laws by now. Why not show me your ranking?”

As Li Hao observed, a cold, haughty voice rang out.

Li Hao turned to see it was the same burly Chaotic Crimson Demon youth from before.

Di Lingshu’s expression changed; instinctively she stepped forward, placing herself half a body’s length ahead of Li Hao—then immediately realized that if protection were needed, it was Li Hao protecting her, not the other way around; she was no match for this Chaotic Crimson Demon.

“Is it any of your business?” Li Hao retorted.

The Chaotic Crimson Demon youth raised an eyebrow. His two-zhang-tall, muscular frame loomed like a giant, looking down on Li Hao with crimson eyes glinting with frost—ready to erupt at any moment.

Such pressure would have made others tense instantly, but Li Hao merely gazed calmly at him, his body still relaxed.

Seeing Li Hao unmoved, the Chaotic Crimson Demon youth’s killing intent slightly receded; he formed a judgment of this human boy—rumors were true. This was unquestionably a human prodigy.

If the chance arises... killing and devouring him would be ideal.

He sneered and turned away, choosing not to strike immediately.

After all, there were too many witnesses here, and he had no need to invite trouble—no direct conflict yet. But if they clashed over Heavenly Dao power within the Infinite Heaven Realm, he would act without hesitation.

After the Chaotic Crimson Demon left, Di Lingshu realized her back was drenched in cold sweat. Her face turned pale; she was an Imperial Clan prodigy, one of the Imperial Heirs, sent to the Original True Realm precisely for her status—yet she had been humiliated here!

Her expression darkened. She clenched her fists, her resolve hardening: she must seize the Infinite Heaven Realm’s opportunities, cultivate swiftly, and settle accounts later.

Li Hao watched the Chaotic Crimson Demon youth depart, then lowered his gaze, frowning slightly. The appearance of the Chaotic Crimson Demon had reminded him of something.

While waiting for others to arrive, he might as well advance his Chaotic Dao now—otherwise, once they entered the Chaotic River, conflict would likely erupt, and he might not have time.

He stepped aside, his spirit entering his mind sea, summoning his interface.

“Add points.”

Without hesitation, Li Hao spent three Skill Points on Chaotic Dao Level Six.

Instantly, a vast, surging sense of Dao insight flooded into Li Hao’s heart.

A torrent of Daoic thought converged; his spirit seemed to traverse countless eons, arriving at the primordial Chaotic world.