Chapter 444: Journey to the True Realm
Seeing the radiant incense bridge above, Li Hao felt an indescribable surge of emotion.
When he first arrived in the heavens, everything was foreign to him. Having lived in the mortal world for over a decade, he had come to see it as his "home."
In the heavens, he had fought countless battles, defeating supreme prodigies and saints, subduing the world with his strength. Yet his heart had always remained in the mortal realm—in the remote borderlands of the Great Yu Divine Dynasty, in a small fortress city, in a humble yard surrounded by a bamboo fence.
There, the smoke of cooking fires rose lazily, accompanied by old friends, fishing in peace, painting in stillness. Life was simple and joyful.
Though he held no sense of belonging to the heavens, the crack torn open in the True Respect Tower, the five years of surging incense offerings, and now this radiant incense bridge made Li Hao truly feel that he was part of this world. The heavens had become his second "home."
The emotions within the incense were more profound than any words could express.
Taking a deep breath, Li Hao absorbed the power of the incense. Though the divine incense in his body had already reached the pinnacle of the divine realm, the endless stream of incense power continued to condense within him. It made him wonder—after reaching the divine realm, if he kept accumulating incense, what kind of transformation would occur? What new heights could it achieve?
Even the Source Ancestor, who had reached the Divine Incense Realm long ago, continued to gather incense for reasons far beyond merely obstructing other saints.
"Wait, that wasn't a forbidden zone but an opportunity?"
"No way!"
"Unbelievable. Why didn't I go there earlier?"
"Who could have known?"
Inside the towering halls of the sacred grounds, Feng Boping and the others were questioning Li Hao about his experiences. When they learned that he had fallen into the depths of the Double Rift Demon Valley, not only surviving but also gaining an opportunity to ascend to True Immortal, they were shocked and delighted.
Li Hao didn't go into detail about the Tianyang Emperor's Hall. It wasn't that he didn't trust Feng Boping and the others, but his unique identity as the sole disciple of that Emperor made knowing too much a liability rather than a benefit for them.
"It all makes sense now," Feng Boping and the others murmured as their gazes shifted to the elder beside Li Hao. Soon, they noticed the group of figures he had brought back, including Hua Sheng and You Sheng.
"Wait… isn't that Lin Sheng?"
Suddenly, Mi Tian Sheng Ren exclaimed, his expression filled with surprise.
Lin Sheng, who had already noticed Mi Tian Sheng Ren, smiled and said, "Long time no see."
"You've reached the Saint Realm? In less than ten thousand years?" Mi Tian Sheng Ren asked in disbelief.
Lin Sheng offered a faint, self-deprecating smile. "Let's not talk about age. Compared to the one beside you, I'm utterly outclassed."
Mi Tian Sheng Ren was momentarily stunned before laughing, shaking his head as he sighed. "He's a monster. But you… it seems you've had quite the opportunity yourself."
Lin Sheng's only response was a wry smile.
Hua Sheng, You Sheng, and the others were soon recognized, and they exchanged greetings with everyone. However, none of them mentioned anything about what had happened within the forbidden zone.
A Few Days Later
After the reunion, Feng Boping sought out Li Hao with a concerned expression.
"Li Hao, now that all the True Immortals from the heavens have been killed, won't the forces behind them come seeking revenge?"
Li Hao smiled and said, "Don't worry. Even if they come, not even an Immortal Sovereign will dare to act rashly."
In the past few days, Li Hao had discussed this with the elder, who promised to strengthen the entrances to the heavens with formations. A celestial array would be placed outside the current gateways. Any Sovereign attempting to enter recklessly would face deadly calamities unless they humbly sought permission.
The elder, after ten millennia in the forbidden zone, had perfected his knowledge to extraordinary levels.
Arrays were one of his specialties.
In his words: "Chess is like an array, and arrays are like chess."
Seeing Li Hao's confidence, Feng Boping finally relaxed. He knew Li Hao was never one to boast; he wouldn't act without absolute certainty.
"By the way, Feng Lao, do you know where the divine race is?" Li Hao asked.
The task given to him by the Emperor's Hall lingered in his mind. Of the three personal disciples, one had fallen completely, while the other two's soul cores remained intact. If he could confirm that Ying Xiaoxiao was indeed the reincarnation of Shi Miao, the Divine Maiden, Li Hao would fulfill his duty and send her back to the Emperor's Hall rather than consider harming her.
"The divine race…" Feng Boping frowned and shook his head.
"Since the calamity struck, only the Divine King has appeared. The whereabouts of the divine race remain known only to the Divine King. During these five years while waiting for you, we've considered seeking out the divine race, but there hasn't been a single trace of them."
"After the Divine King was sealed, the divine race went into hiding. It's nearly impossible to find them if they don't want to be found," he added.
Li Hao sighed in mild frustration. Indeed, the divine race was adept at staying hidden when necessary.
After bidding farewell to Feng Boping, Li Hao sought out the elder to discuss the matter.
"You think you've found Shi Miao's reincarnation?" The elder, typically calm and smiling, nearly jumped up in excitement when he heard Li Hao's words. He looked at Li Hao with anticipation and exclaimed, "Are you serious? Can you confirm it?"
"I need to find her first," Li Hao replied, his tone measured but resolute.
Li Hao couldn't help but laugh as he saw the elder's overly excited demeanor.
"Oh, oh…" The elder quickly regained his composure, realizing that his reaction might have been too unrestrained in front of Li Hao. But seeing Li Hao's amused smile, without a trace of anger, the elder felt reassured. Over the years, this young man had always exuded the same serene and unhurried aura.
"I'll search again," the elder said, closing his eyes.
Around him, Li Hao immediately sensed a powerful flow of law emanating outward. The energy enveloped the elder's body, creating a domain that seemed isolated from the rest of the world. The laws extended like veins, intertwining with the external forces of the heavens, forming a profound connection.
As waves of overwhelming pressure radiated outward, Li Hao stood quietly nearby, waiting.
Moments later, the elder opened his eyes, though the surrounding laws of the domain remained active. With a frown, he said, "The person you're referring to doesn't seem to be in this realm."
Li Hao froze for a moment, but before he could respond, the elder added, "Let me try again."
The elder closed his eyes once more, his body now radiating celestial laws infused with the brilliance of the sun, moon, and stars. It was as if he stood in an independent cosmos, with stars and moons orbiting in endless rotation. As the symbols of the laws spun around him, an incomprehensible vastness unfolded.
After another brief pause, the elder opened his eyes, his frown deepening.
"I still couldn't find her, but there are traces of temporal fluctuations. If what you said is true, then it's possible she has left this world and entered the True Realm."
"The True Realm?" Li Hao was taken aback. "But isn't the Xuanpin Gate constantly guarded?"
"There is more than one breach connecting the heavens to the True Realm. Near one such Xuanpin Gate, I detected residual temporal fluctuations. If she has indeed inherited part of Shi Miao's power, she may have used it to escape a crisis and traverse into the True Realm," the elder explained solemnly.
Li Hao's gaze flickered, recalling Ying Xiaoxiao's familiar smile and demeanor. He asked softly, "If she regains her identity as Shi Miao, will she still be my friend?"
"That's uncertain. However, memories from her current life should remain intact unless she undergoes reincarnation once more," the elder replied.
"But if she reincarnates, the memories of this life could vanish entirely."
Li Hao hesitated. "Reincarnation could wipe out all memories?"
The elder's expression shifted slightly, but he refrained from elaborating. Certain matters, involving terrifying secrets, were not suitable for Li Hao to know unless he fully ascended to his role as a direct disciple of the Immortal Emperor. Knowing too much prematurely would only bring harm.
"If she has gone to the True Realm, you'll need to act quickly to find her," the elder said gravely. "While traces of temporal fluctuations remain, I can still detect them. But the longer you wait, the harder it will become. Based on what you've said, if she's only at the Saint level, the True Realm is far too dangerous."
"Moreover, if she reincarnates again, even if she eventually regains her identity as Shi Miao, the memories of this life may never return. And there's no telling where she would end up in her next life."
Hearing the elder's urgency, Li Hao understood the gravity of the situation. He fell into a brief silence. Initially, he had thought he could find Ying Xiaoxiao within the heavens and escort her to the Emperor's Hall. Now, it seemed he would have to venture into the True Realm much sooner than planned.
He had just returned and had wanted to spend more time with Feng Boping and the others.
Sensing Li Hao's hesitation, the elder said, "If you want to stay with your friends, you can ask them their thoughts. If they're willing, you can take them with you to the True Realm. That way, you can look after them as well."
Li Hao's eyes lit up. "That's a good idea."
Without delay, he sought out Feng Boping, Lin Qingying, and the others, gathering them together to share his intentions.
"You plan to go to the True Realm?" Feng Boping asked, a bit surprised but not entirely shocked. Given Li Hao's immense talent, it was clear that the heavens were too small a stage for him. Now that he had ascended to the True Immortal Realm, it was only natural that he would seek the broader expanse of the True Realm.
"If you're going, then I'll go too," Feng Boping declared before Li Hao could even explain why he needed to leave so urgently.
The Swordmaster, ever calm and composed, smiled and said, "I had planned to stay here a few more years to guard your remains, but since you're alive and well, it's time for us to explore the True Realm ourselves. We've endured enough indignities here."
His words reminded everyone of the oppressive aura of the three True Immortals who had invaded their land. A cold glint flashed in their eyes. After surviving the calamity of the ancient demons, mourning Li Hao's supposed death, and enduring the humiliation of being subdued by outsiders, even those who once thought of giving up now found their fighting spirits reignited. They wanted to become stronger, to take control of their destinies.
"As for me, I'll stay here to guard the home front," Mi Tian Sheng Ren said with a chuckle, waving his hand. "When you're tired of the True Realm, come back, and I'll still be here to share a pot of tea."
Mi Tian Sheng Ren's ambitions had long since faded following past events.
"I'm going," Lin Qingying declared firmly, her gaze unwavering as she looked at Li Hao.
Li Hao could see the determination in Lin Qingying's eyes and spoke softly, "That place is far too dangerous."
"As long as I can be with you, no danger can scare me," Lin Qingying replied, lifting her gaze to meet his directly.
Li Hao's heart trembled. After a moment of silence, he said, "I'll come back once I find my friend in the True Realm."
Lin Qingying gently shook her head, her resolve unshaken. It was clear she had made her decision and wouldn't change it.
Others also voiced their desire to follow. Chiguang, Lin Shuhai, and the others—despite having only just reached the Half-Saint Realm—were eager to experience the True Realm, their expressions both reserved and hopeful as they looked at Li Hao.
Seeing their enthusiasm, Li Hao nodded and said, "Then we'll go together."
With Li Hao's decision, cheers erupted among the group.
The next day, Li Hao and the elder set out for the True Realm, accompanied by their group.
Aside from Feng Boping and the others, Mingsheng and Musheng decided not to travel to the True Realm immediately. After emerging from the forbidden zone, they quickly learned about the outside world's state and realized there would be ample opportunities for them to go to the True Realm later. They had also missed their chance to bond with Li Hao during their time underground and felt further travel together wouldn't change much. Moreover, having been away from home for so long, they wanted to stay in their homeland for a while.
On the other hand, Hua Sheng, You Sheng, and others, as Li Hao's immortal guards, were obliged to stay by his side unless ordered to remain behind for stationing duties.
As their journey began, countless Half-Saints and Dao-Seeking cultivators from various sacred lands came to bid farewell like a tidal wave.
With the departure of the Saints, the Half-Saints became the strongest guardians of the sacred lands, shouldering the responsibility of leadership.
At the ancient hall of the starry sky, Li Hao and the elder arrived together.
The place was guarded by eight Half-Saints responsible for receiving immortals and deities from the True Realm. Upon hearing of Li Hao's intent to travel to the True Realm, they had already prepared for his arrival.
"Saint Haotian!"
"Greetings to Saint Haotian!"
The eight Half-Saints stood up respectfully and bowed deeply. Some even performed grand rites befitting their station as Half-Saints.
Li Hao's heroic act during the calamity, where he turned the tide and saved the heavens, had become legendary over the past five years. His tragic yet magnificent final moments in the forbidden zone, where he perished alongside a True Immortal-level ancient demon, were witnessed by countless people through projections.
Statues of Li Hao had been erected in sacred lands across the heavens, with disciples paying homage to his sacrifice.
Li Hao bid farewell to the guards and, together with the elder, led Feng Boping, the Swordmaster, and the rest of the group toward the True Realm.
Upon their arrival, the desolation of the True Realm greeted them once again. But this time, the sight was different. In the distance, they saw True Immortals flying on swords, cutting through the void.
Previously, the elder had wiped out several True Immortals who caused chaos and destruction in the heavens. However, the True Realm remained vast, with numerous factions and scattered True Immortal wanderers. Many had heard about this pseudo-realm and the Heavenly Palace's involvement in opening it. They came to explore the ancient battlefield and investigate the immortal emperor's pseudo-realm.
"Let them wait a moment. I'll set up a formation here," the elder said to Li Hao.
Li Hao nodded and led Feng Boping, the Swordmaster, and the rest of the group aside to rest.
Meanwhile, the elder raised his hand, manifesting silver sigils of light in midair. These sigils merged into the void, laying the foundation of a grand celestial array.
"So, this is the True Realm?" Feng Boping and the others looked around curiously.
For most of them, this was their first time in the True Realm. The barren, dilapidated landscape surprised them.
Li Hao explained the True Realm's condition, and they soon learned that this place was an ancient battlefield.
In the distance, four True Immortals flew on their swords through a canyon in the ancient road, descending near the Xuanpin Gate.
"Hmm, a bunch of Saints?"
The four True Immortals landed, momentarily revealing their aura, which they had been suppressing earlier. Their gazes swept across Li Hao and his group, noticing that Li Hao had reached the True Immortal Realm—but only the first stage.
"A mere True Immortal at the first stage, here to escort others?" one of the young True Immortals muttered with a raised brow. His gaze then fell on Lin Qingying.
From her, he sensed a profound and extraordinary sword-intent Dao embryo. The embryo was mystical, elusive, and unlike anything he had encountered before, resembling a supreme Dao embryo he had once heard of.