Chapter 888: The Heavenly Mandate

Li Hao felt as if he had become an ant, at the mercy of others’ manipulation.

It was as if a shadow of death loomed over him—the vast, overwhelming will crushed his spiritual soul, leaving him gasping for breath.

He had a sense that if he did not yield, he would be utterly annihilated, all his years of cultivation reduced to nothing.

But if he yielded, wasn’t that also throwing away all his years of hard work?

If I am no longer myself, bound by the chains of heavenly mandate, then who am I truly?

“I renounce this Heavenly Heart!”

Li Hao lifted his head, gazing up at the heavens, feeling the thunderous roar as if it were the wrath of the Dao itself, and cried out to the sky.

“The Heavenly Heart is my heart” and “My heart is the Heavenly Heart” are two different things—the order reversed changes the meaning entirely.

Sensing Li Hao’s fierce will, the surging thunder grew sharper, as if ready to surround and shatter him—but as the thunder continued to vibrate, it gradually faded, and the terrifying pressure around him slowly dissipated.

Li Hao gasped for air, feeling utterly drained, as if he had just walked through the gates of death.

He knew that had that power so much as brushed against him, he would have been reduced to ashes—this was the power of the Dao, supreme and majestic, beyond his ability to resist.

“To certify the Heavenly Heart… so this is how it works. The Heavenly Mandate grants the Emperor’s Path, transforming one into the Son of Heaven…”

At this moment, Li Hao understood why certifying the Heavenly Heart could make one an Emperor—even a Great Emperor was still a “Son of Heaven!”

As the Son of Heaven, one must receive mandate from Heaven.

If his Dao heart were merely at the level of Eternal Dao Heart, perhaps he would have truly yielded, accepted Heaven’s mandate, and gained eternal life—something the Eternal Dao Heart sought.

But his Dao heart had long surpassed the Eternal; he already possessed half an Emperor’s Heart—how could he endure being granted power by another?

In this certification of the Heavenly Heart, Li Hao knew he had failed. He had seen clearly now: this greatest opportunity was not what he wanted, nor what he sought—and if so, it was no true loss.

As he rose from the summit of the Heavenly Path to leave, he suddenly saw the clouds churn—and then a beam of light shot down from the heavens, piercing his forehead. A solemn will descended upon his body; the heavens and earth rang with the clanking of chains, countless Dao laws boiled and trembled, and all paths resonated together.

Simultaneously, within Li Hao’s mind sea, that power coalesced into a mysterious symbol, radiating an incomparably supreme aura.

As if fate had whispered to his soul, Li Hao instantly understood what this symbol was—it was the Authority of the Sovereign Path!

With this authority, he could command all Dao paths, perceive the origins of countless Dao principles, and achieve a leap in cultivation.

“This… is given to me?”

Li Hao looked up at the heavens and murmured.

The heavenly might slowly faded; the summit of the Heavenly Path returned to stillness—only the symbol-like authority within Li Hao’s body remained clearly visible.

As long as he touched it with his spirit, he could control this extraordinary power—a right granted by the Dao itself, to directly command all Dao paths.

Li Hao was bewildered—he had defied the Heavenly Heart, and merely surviving was already a miracle, yet now the Dao had granted him this power.

“Defying the Heavenly Heart… yet receiving the Dao’s will…”

Li Hao murmured to himself, unable to fathom the Dao’s intent. He stood silent for a moment, then, finding no answer, looked down at the Heavenly Path below and saw figures approaching—those black-robed youths he had passed earlier, followed by the massive forms of the Chaos Ancient Clans.

Others were also gradually climbing up.

Li Hao snapped back to himself, shook his head—he would no longer compete on this Heavenly Path.

He had already gained all he was meant to from this boundless Heavenly Realm. With time still left, he might as well go watch the Seven Elders play a game of Go—but to disturb them again so soon would be rude, and time was short; better to visit Gu Yan and Yue Xi, and his other friends.

Thinking this, Li Hao stepped forward and leapt from the summit of the Heavenly Path, racing down the mountain.

Meanwhile, the black-robed youths climbing the Heavenly Path suddenly heard a tearing sound above them. They looked up and saw Li Hao’s figure approaching swiftly.

“You—”

The black-robed youth froze, stunned that Li Hao had left the summit so quickly.

Before he could call out to Li Hao, the latter had already passed them, heading straight for the mountain’s base.

“Did he fail?”

“His expression seems too calm.”

“Didn’t you hear the voice he shouted earlier?”

Aside from the black-robed youth, Chi Yuan and the others exchanged glances, each seeing the joy in the others’ eyes.

They had all heard Li Hao’s cry from the summit—he declared he would not certify the Heavenly Heart. The tone made it clear: he had failed.

That was why they had rushed up so urgently—to see if they might seize the chance—but now they saw Li Hao had already left the summit.

The black-robed youth frowned. He had lost to Li Hao before, forced to surrender this opportunity to the boy, believing him chosen by Heaven itself. But now he had heard that voice—could Li Hao truly have failed to certify the Heavenly Heart?

He said nothing, suddenly accelerating, racing up the mountain with all speed.

The others reacted as well, all surging forward with renewed speed toward the summit.

Soon, the black-robed youth reached the summit first. He immediately unleashed a powerful aura, looking down upon the others with disdain, forbidding them to approach.

“If you take another step, don’t blame me for killing you on the spot!”

The black-robed youth said coldly.

Hearing his words, Chi Yuan and the others were both shocked and furious—including Luo Ningshuang and Su Wanyi—who frowned deeply, filled with strong resentment. The path to certifying the Heavenly Heart lay just ahead, yet he claimed it all for himself.

But the memory of him effortlessly slaying the Bone Demon who had unsealed a Domain Artifact was too shocking. Though their hearts burned with resentment, they held back.

Xue Fei stood to the side, her face dark. Though she held herself in high regard, she knew she was no match for this black-robed youth. She had already sensed he might be the reincarnation of a Great Emperor—the previous Divine Lord had been a Semi-Emperor reincarnation, yet he lacked such terrifying power.

If this Great Emperor had come to seize this opportunity, she could only endure it, seething with hatred and contempt.

Soon, heavenly pressure enveloped the black-robed youth; mist swirled around his body, concealing him.

The supreme heavenly aura spread from the summit, turning all faces pale.

“So the previous Hao Tian failed to certify the Heavenly Heart!”

“It seems he truly failed.”

Su Wanyi was stunned, her eyes filled with shock and complexity—she never imagined such a brilliant genius could fail to certify the Heavenly Heart.

“Certifying the Heavenly Heart depends not only on talent, but other factors too. From his earlier cry, it seems he endured immense suffering and chose to abandon it himself.”

Luo Ningshuang whispered, unconsciously lowering her estimation of the boy.

Before such an opportunity as certifying the Heavenly Heart, even the greatest suffering, she felt, could be endured—after all, this was becoming an Emperor!

The ultimate realm of cultivation, the true leap to heaven!

Faced with such a great opportunity, what could not be sacrificed? What pain could not be borne?

Su Wanyi knew this too, and couldn’t help but feel sorrow for Li Hao—such a prodigious genius, unable to cross this final threshold.

“If he failed too, we still have a chance.”

Luo Ningshuang said, her eyes gleaming as she considered how to sabotage the black-robed youth’s certification.

Others shared this thought. Meanwhile, Li Hao had already raced downward; the closer he came to the base, the more figures he saw struggling to climb upward.

Among them, he spotted the Su sisters he had met earlier.

“Hao Tian?”

Seeing Li Hao, the Su sisters and others were stunned, surprised.

“You want to go up?”

Li Hao’s gaze swept over them—he saw Di Linchen as well, and Shen Wuji of the Divine Clan, the Ghost Clan sisters, and many other prodigies from the Southern Region Tournament.

“Were you…?”

Su Muqing opened her mouth, eyes filled with urgency, but stopped mid-sentence, fearing she might wound Li Hao’s pride.

Su Wanqing pulled out two Domain Artifacts from her pouch. Her robes were torn, stained with divine blood, yet her expression was resolute: “These are my two Domain Artifacts. I used one in danger. Take them both—can you still make it?”

Li Hao fell silent. He saw Di Linchen also produce a Domain Artifact, and even the Ghost Clan sisters each pulled out one. He was moved, then smiled:

“I’ve already been up. I came down on my own. Come—I’ll take you up to see for yourselves.”

As he spoke, he raised his hand and unleashed Chaos Dao Law, enveloping them all.

“You’ve been up?”

Hearing Li Hao’s words, everyone froze, then stared at him in delight.

Shen Wuji couldn’t help asking: “Did you certify the Heavenly Heart? What’s it like up there?”

Li Hao avoided his first question, thought for a moment, and said: “The view from the top is just like this—wider, but less clear.”

The view from the summit is merely seeing all under heaven—but if you are already within heaven, why climb to the summit?

Hearing this, the others fell silent. Li Hao said no more; he formed a body double and continued plunging downward to guide Gu Yan and Yue Xi, while he himself led the others upward.

Though the climb held no meaning for him, others reaching higher positions could comprehend more Dao laws—it was also a test of their Dao hearts.

Though summiting was the greatest opportunity, the journey up and down was itself a rare cultivation.

Seeing the others carried up the Heavenly Path and vanish into the sky, those around them all looked on with envy, redoubling their efforts to climb.

Along the way, Li Hao passed many prodigies who had fused ten or twenty Chaos Dao Laws. As he neared the summit, thunder suddenly roared, the Heavenly Path trembled—and low growls rose from below. The seventy-two statue-like Semi-Emperor giants all let out deep roars.

A vast force erupted from the Heavenly Path, flinging everyone above it like ants, sending them tumbling down in a shower of dust.

“What’s happening?”

“Someone is certifying the Heavenly Heart!”

Countless voices cried out in shock and anguish.

Li Hao was also thrown clear. He used his power to shield the Su sisters and others, suspending them midair, and saw the majestic Heavenly Path now surrounded by an extraordinary domain force—impossible to approach. Then, clouds in the heavens churned, forming a massive vortex like a misty portal, swallowing the Heavenly Path whole.

The seventy-two Semi-Emperor giants on the ground lifted the path, soaring upward, carrying it into the misty vortex, where it slowly vanished before everyone’s eyes.

Seeing the Heavenly Path depart, many who had been desperately climbing cried out in grief—they had not even had time to fully comprehend it.

Li Hao scanned the area and saw figures flying down from above—Luo Ningshuang and the others he had met, along with several Chaos Ancient Clans.

“Hmm?”

Li Hao noticed the black-robed youth was absent. His heart stirred—he asked: “He certified the Heavenly Heart.”

Hearing Li Hao’s words, the others finally noticed him. Their faces, once filled with outrage, now held a complex mix of emotion—slightly eased, somewhat comforted.

“Yes. The Heavenly Path took him away.”

Su Wanyi answered Li Hao. Seeing him with the Su sisters beside him, her expression softened slightly.

Li Hao’s eyes flickered slightly; he hadn’t expected that someone reborn as a Great Emperor would willingly accept the Mandate of Tianxin.

“You were the first to climb up—and you failed? What a pity.”

When Chi Yuan’s anger turned toward Li Hao, it instantly became mocking, bringing him a twisted sense of satisfaction.

“Hm?”

Li Hao paused in surprise; he hadn’t thought the other would dare provoke him.

Boom!

He raised his hand, and a single beam of Chaotic Ultimate Sword Qi shot forth.

The sharp blade-light instantly tore through space. Chi Yuan froze, his face turning pale—he hadn’t expected that a mere taunt would trigger a lethal strike.

He cried in shock and rage: “Are you mad?!”

The Heavenly Path was gone; he had no reason to fight Li Hao unless he could defeat him.

That sword qi was terrifying—he felt icy dread, so he hastily unsealed a Domain Artifact. With a bang, domain power enveloped his body, shielding him—then the artifact shuddered violently, as if struck by a massive force, and flung him backward.

Moments later, the sword qi split apart, transforming into hundreds of overlapping sword shadows that pierced straight through the domain barrier.

Chi Yuan’s pupils contracted in utter horror; only now did he understand why the black-robed youth had been defeated—this boy possessed a method capable of suppressing domain power!

“Madman, stop!”

He screamed in panic, maneuvering his domain artifact to block the sword qi—but it was too late. The blade pierced his chest, shredding his massive body and damaging dozens of drops of True God blood, requiring long years to repair.

A single strike had pierced his domain artifact and grievously wounded him, his flesh shattered.

Seeing this, the others all paled—they hadn’t expected Li Hao to strike so brutally.

Chi Yuan didn’t hesitate; his body dissolved into a wisp of blood smoke. He activated his bloodline power and unsealed another domain artifact, fleeing far away, terrified Li Hao would pursue.

Su Wanqing, Di Linchen, Shen Wuji, and the others stared in shock. To them, Chi Yuan had been one of the top prodigies of this journey—yet before Li Hao, he was crushed in one blow and forced to flee.

“Let’s go. This journey is over. After returning, all of you will break through and be crowned kings.”

Seeing that the other had used two domain artifacts just to save himself, Li Hao grew indifferent and didn't bother to pursue. He spoke to those around him.