Chapter 887: My Heart Is Heaven

Boom!

Accompanied by the sound of empty space splitting, time, space, and cause-and-effect were severed at this moment—only that pure and ultimate sword intent severed the black-robed youth’s body!

“Fate reversed.”

The black-robed youth’s split body suddenly unleashed terrifying power, attempting to transfer the damage via the Fate Principle—only to find all fate around him severed; this sword intent exceeded the capacity of an Immortal Lord realm, and even with his mastery of numerous Dao Origins, he could not resist or withstand it.

Among the powers he controlled, he could already surpass Domain Artifacts through his own strength—but this power could even shatter Domain Artifacts; if one had to describe it, his actual combat power equaled that of a First Heaven Immortal King, yet the boy before him equaled a Second Heaven Immortal King!

His body exploded, divine blood sprayed, transforming into a burning sea of divine soul.

His consciousness coalesced within the sea of divine soul, staring in shock at the boy before him.

He had already reached the peak of the Immortal Lord realm, possessing power rivaling an Immortal King—but the boy before him controlled Chaotic power with even greater terror.

“Did Dao Source Immortal Emperor pass his legacy to you?”

He could not help but ask.

If Dao Source Immortal Emperor had sacrificed everything to pass on his legacy, it meant he intended to destroy his opportunity in this life—but he had no connection whatsoever with Dao Source Immortal Emperor; this should not be.

Hearing his question, Li Hao shook his head, then slowly said: “You should also possess the power of the Three Imperishable Final Realm—even if you are slain here, you will not be truly destroyed.”

The black-robed youth immediately understood Li Hao’s meaning; he gazed at the boy whose entire body seemed immersed in chaos, sensing the youth had not yet used his full strength—and he himself still had other methods—but even if he unleashed his full power, he felt he could hardly reverse the outcome.

“I never imagined that after one hundred thousand years, I would meet a monster like you—could you be the concentrated fortune of the True Realm’s hundred thousand years? Perhaps you were personally chosen by Heaven’s Dao.”

He whispered, eyes filled with shock and bitterness; he had heard rumors about Li Hao, but like others, he had assumed it was merely accumulated foundation suddenly revealed—now, seeing Li Hao’s soul lifespan, he realized it was not so.

“Great trends cannot be defied. Very well—if I truly fail you, I may never obtain that Heart of Heaven. Go. Let me see whether, when you rise as Emperor, you can cleanse that Ancient Demon.”

He retracted all his divine blood, ceased his struggle with Li Hao, and stepped aside.

Li Hao did not know what he was thinking, but since the other refused to fight further, he was no one to pursue to the death—he immediately withdrew his power, nodded, and continued forward.

Watching Li Hao’s back vanish toward the peak of the Heavenly Path, the black-robed youth sighed deeply, knowing that in this life, he could only retrace his own path to Emperorhood.

“I never imagined meeting this kid would be my calamity.”

He murmured softly, letting out a bitter laugh.

Suddenly, a series of qi signatures rapidly approached from below; he looked down and saw Chi Yuan and others arriving.

When Chi Yuan and the others reached this place, they also noticed the black-robed youth, all stunned—unaware that above them, besides Li Hao, there was another person.

“It’s you, Hei Zun!”

Chi Yuan recognized him—a prodigy from the Azure Emperor’s Chaotic City, extremely mysterious; a thousand years ago, he had clashed with him once, and the battle ended in a stalemate, revealing that beyond the direct disciples of Chaotic and Dao Source Immortal Emperor, other top prodigies existed.

The black-robed youth glanced at him coldly, said nothing, and slowly reformed his physical body.

Only then did the others notice his state: battered, body shattered, leaving only his Primordial Spirit.

Yet his Primordial Spirit radiated thick, potent divine blood qi—stronger than anyone present.

“Did you just fight that Hao Tian?”

Another Chaotic Ancient Clan member asked, astonished.

Su Wanyi also fixed her gaze on him; she sensed this youth was far stronger than she was.

“Don’t waste your effort—he’s not someone you can handle.”

The black-robed youth spoke indifferently; his body had already solidified.

“Hmph, just because you can’t do it doesn’t mean we can’t.”

Another Chaotic Ancient Clan member sneered, then turned to continue chasing forward.

Hearing this, the black-robed youth’s eyes flashed with cold light; he suddenly raised his hand, palm erupting with terrifying Chaotic Ultimate Principle energy, forming a whip of Fate that lashed out.

Boom!

The whip struck the Chaotic Ancient Clan member instantly—he winced in pain, skin splitting open, and stared at him in shock and fury, pulling out a Domain Artifact: “Do you want to die?”

The black-robed youth glanced at the Domain Artifact in his hand, sneered, said nothing, and continued whipping.

The Chaotic Ancient Clan member flew into a rage, unsealing his Domain Artifact—immediately, terrifying Domain power surged forth, sweeping toward the black-robed youth.

Yet the black-robed youth stood unmoved, swinging the Fate Whip and piercing straight through the Domain—within the protection of the Domain power, he cracked open the man’s skull with a single lash.

“What?!”

Seeing this, everyone else’s pupils shrank in shock.

The black-robed youth hadn’t used a Domain Artifact—and yet he had injured a Chaotic Ancient Clan member protected by one?

“This… this is Chaotic Ultimate Principle!”

“No, not just that!”

All present were top prodigies; they quickly recognized the black-robed youth’s technique, unable to hide their awe.

He mastered multiple Final Realm powers, and his Dao Origins were understood at an extremely profound level—beyond the limits of the Immortal Lord realm, capable of influencing Domain power!

“Do you dare speak to me like that?”

The black-robed youth’s gaze was icy, looking down upon the Chaotic Ancient Clan member with condescension.

Under his Fate Whip, the man’s flesh and skin split open, his divine blood drained and shattered, continuously damaged.

“W-who are you?”

The Chaotic Ancient Clan member was utterly terrified; he recognized the Dao Origin realm the black-robed youth wielded—impossible for an Immortal Lord to possess. This must be a primordial monster reincarnated!

Luo Ningshuang and Su Wanyi stared blankly at the scene—then suddenly realized: such a terrifying being had just had his body shattered—who, then, had defeated him? How strong was Li Hao?

…

After passing the black-robed youth, Li Hao climbed straight toward the peak of the Heavenly Path.

The mysterious whisper grew clearer; the ground beneath him was no longer intricate Dao patterns, but a mist.

Within this mist, Dao tones rippled like waves, cleansing the soul while also causing spiritual confusion, trapping one in endless illusions.

Before Li Hao’s eyes appeared the gate of Daming Jiuyuan Sect, and ahead stood majestic palaces—the Imperial Palace of the Great Yu Divine Dynasty.

Suddenly, by the roadside ahead, a slender figure stood, back turned to him; even from the side, Li Hao recognized her instantly—it was Shi Miao.

But she could not possibly be here; Li Hao calmed his mind, letting the illusions appear, yet pressed forward steadily.

Even though he internally recognized them as illusions, the scenes did not vanish. “Don’t go any further.”

“Look back—this path is destined to be lonely.”

One familiar figure after another appeared along the Heavenly Path—Master Feng, Emperor Yu, even Ren Qianqian who had carried his sword for him—all stood silently beside the path, whispering gently to Li Hao, eyes filled with concern, just as he remembered.

Li Hao knew these were all false—but the illusions did not fade; they kept whispering, urging him.

“Don’t mock them!”

Anger flared in Li Hao’s eyes—he would not allow these illusions to fabricate them.

“Break!”

He surged forward at full speed, roaring to the heavens, his voice like thunder, shaking the entire Heavenly Path.

The illusions gradually faded, dissolving completely—Li Hao’s conviction grew purer; the mist before him slowly parted, revealing the majestic peak.

This… was the end of the Heavenly Path?

Li Hao leapt upward, landing atop the final step—instantly, the oppressive pressure vanished, leaving him with an indescribable sense of lightness.

As Li Hao looked around, his consciousness suddenly plummeted, dragged into a vast world.

This feeling—like becoming an Immortal to the extreme, merging one’s body with heaven and earth.

Countless principles appeared in Li Hao’s perception; beyond principles, there were many Dao rhythms—the Heavenly Path beneath his feet, and the countless figures climbing it—all clearly manifested in his awareness.

He felt as if fused with the surrounding heavens and earth.

“Hmm?”

Li Hao suddenly looked up, sensing above him, in the sky atop the Heavenly Path’s peak, a vast, majestic aura quietly hovering—like a god, overlooking all living beings.

That supreme, ethereal aura made Li Hao tremble; his entire body instinctively wanted to kneel.

“Heaven’s Dao?”

Li Hao felt something within his body stir, as if yearning to draw near that aura.

As Li Hao hesitated, a vast will descended upon him, enveloping him—he became motionless, like a carved statue.

That will was boundless, immense, majestic, devoid of any emotion—cold, clear, slowly touching Li Hao’s Primordial Spirit, like a chilly tendril brushing his forehead.

Instantly, countless thoughts exploded in Li Hao’s mind like chaos opening.

Before his eyes bloomed dazzling lights, rapidly weaving into a bizarre, ancient world.

Li Hao saw chaos divide, heaven and earth emerge; countless Chaotic Ancient Clans roamed freely in the ancient primal True Realm; he saw disasters—celestial fire, thunderstorms, floods, earthquakes; he saw Chaotic Ancient Clans slaughtering each other, their screams of agony overlapping with newborn cries.

From among the fallen, countless dark souls were drawn away by some force, reborn into the cycle of reincarnation.

Infinite, endless, recurring—birth and destruction…

Until one day, among the Chaotic Ancient Clans, bloodlines were born—but these bloodlines, upon emerging from their mothers, were mere hollow shells, devoid of any life aura.

On that day, no new life was born again.

Thus, the Chaotic Ancient Clans united, deliberated on this strange phenomenon, sought its cause, and ultimately dispatched their respective Emperors to a dark, unknown place…

Light and shadow shifted; unconsciously, another vast universe emerged beyond the primal True Realm, where countless lifeforms multiplied, settled, and thrived.

But as each clan multiplied, the new world soon plunged again into conflict, slaughter, and competition—rebirth and renewal, recurring endlessly, as if fate, or an inescapable curse.

Vast lands lay strewn with corpses and blood.

Seeing this, Li Hao felt infected, an unbidden sorrow rising in his heart—deep, profound, bordering on despair.

As this despair threatened to swallow him, Li Hao’s heart trembled—he broke free from the emotion; the vision vanished, revealing a silver-white light.

He gently touched it with his will, sensing from the light a pure, majestic intention—or rather, a will.

To liberate all sentient beings?

From this will, Li Hao sensed an undeniable conviction, bearing a heavy, great responsibility.

Simultaneously, he felt that if he merely accepted and inherited this will, he would gain immense power—power not drawn from the principles of heaven and earth, but directly from the supreme Heaven’s Dao.

Born of Heaven, may it endure forever and flourish!

Li Hao felt these eight characters rise in his heart.

Once he inherited this will, and the mission etched within it, he would become the Son of Heaven!

His power would rival that of the Great Emperors, endure as long as sun and moon, and last as long as heaven and earth!

Yet the mission burdened by this will was unimaginably arduous—to liberate all sentient beings, to become the sharpest blade in the world, wielded by the Dao of Heaven!

“Is this… the Heavenly Heart?”

Li Hao felt dazed. This Heavenly Heart was solemn and sacred, yet… for reasons he could not fathom, he suddenly did not wish to touch it.

“Heaven liberates all beings… it should be the beings who liberate Heaven.”

“It is not that beings need Heaven—it is Heaven that needs beings!”

Sensing Li Hao’s Dao-heart recoil, the void erupted with thunderous roars, surging like a vast sea of lightning sweeping toward him, as if to crush him—or as if the supreme being above had voiced its displeasure.

Li Hao’s hair whipped wildly, his robes snapping in the wind. All the strange phenomena before him vanished; only he stood atop the Heavenly Path, and before him, in the distant sky, lay that immense, invisible, intangible will.

“To prove the Heavenly Heart, I prove it with my own heart—my heart is the Heavenly Heart, not the other way around!”

“All beings in the world have their destined paths; even liberating all sentient beings need not be forced…”

Li Hao whispered. He was willing to fulfill this mission and burden, but he refused to impose it upon himself—it violated his Dao-heart.

How could one speak of eternity while bound in chains?

Ascend the Heavenly Path, prove the Heavenly Heart—my Dao is the Principle, is the Voice of Heaven!

Break all arts, defy cause and effect—today I know that I am I!

“If Heaven aligns with me, I prove the Heavenly Heart; if Heaven opposes me, I follow my own heart!”

Li Hao whispered.

The moment he spoke, a colossal thunderclap split heaven and earth, as if the sky itself had roared in fury.

Then, Li Hao felt a boundless will surge forth, bearing crushing pressure, descending from the heavens above and pinning him to the peak of the Heavenly Path, face-down, utterly motionless.

Li Hao felt his bones cracking, his True God blood suppressed so completely it could not seep out even a drop.