Chapter 369: Hao Tian Ascends to Sainthood
As the Dao bones shattered, the previously condensed power of countless laws burst forth, radiating with an intensity that shocked everyone.
Intertwining with the laws within the Eternal Dao Domain, these strands of laws suddenly twisted together like a tightly bound rope, enough to shake the foundations of the Saint Dao! With a single sword strike, transcending all peaks, this strike pierced through heaven and earth, erupting in an incomparable brilliance, pushing back and even overshadowing the vast Buddha light that filled the sky!
"That sword…"
In the crowd, Bian Ruxue, whose figure was as beautiful as ever, appeared incredibly insignificant at that moment as she gazed up at the radiant sword strike.
That sword seemed eternal, reflected in her bright eyes.
She glimpsed the peak of swordsmanship, the ultimate and final sword strike! It transcended the Saint Dao, surpassed all techniques, as if it were a divine stroke, a celestial sword from beyond the heavens, beyond description or comprehension!
It was as if an immortal descended to the mortal world!!
The sword's momentum enveloped the entire Sacred Mountain, forcefully slicing through the descending Buddha palm!
Earlier, when Li Hao and Wind Ripple Saint tested this sword technique, it was only performed with his true body, and not at full strength. But now, with the added power of the Star Meridian of the Heavens, the extreme realm of Transcendent Immortal, and the support of the Heaven and Earth Dharma Aspect, its power had multiplied by hundreds of times!
With a deafening explosion, the Buddha light extinguished, and the golden flames that filled the sky were swept away by that one sword.
The Saint Dao power within the Buddha palm was rebounded and unable to land.
At that moment, the entire Tianyuan Realm fell into a deep silence.
Countless pairs of eyes stared at the young man standing tall within the Heaven and Earth Dharma Aspect, which was both collapsing and reforming.
The youth, drenched in blood, stood firm between heaven and earth, defiant and unyielding, like an undefeated sword god!
In the waiting area, Xiao Tianyu, Qiu Tianlü, and others, including the Twin Buddha Child, all had their pupils contract, their faces showing expressions of shock.
This power exceeded their understanding!
Previously, they thought that combining the Heaven and Earth Dharma Aspect, swordsmanship, and the extreme realm, along with the sixth extreme realm Li Hao had displayed, represented his full strength.
But unexpectedly, he had still been holding back! They could faintly sense that the stars of the heavens seemed to shine brighter than usual at that moment.
Under the pressure of the Saints, only the stars stood by him, gleaming for his sake.
The Buddha Sovereign's eyes showed a look of shock, and the Void Saint beside him had a sudden change in expression, a hint of fear flashing in his eyes. Compared to ten years ago when he pursued him with his avatar, this youth had grown into such a terrifying force?
This had already surpassed the level below a Saint. If this had been a One-Disaster Saint, that single sword might have severed his Saint Dao!
After all, a One-Disaster Saint had only overcome the human tribulation, and their Saint Dao had not yet been tempered by the trials of heaven and earth.
"How dare you resist! The Three Thousand Buddha Daos—suppress!"
The shock in the Buddha Sovereign's eyes swiftly turned into solemnity and majesty. He knew he could no longer allow Li Hao to perform at his best, lest one of the Supreme Saints take a liking to him and intervene on his behalf, ruining everything! With a sudden raise of his hand, his entire body emitted Buddha light that illuminated the heavens. The wheel of merit behind his head radiated with dazzling golden flames, and he pressed down on Li Hao once again.
This time, he unleashed his Buddha Domain! This was a method he would typically use only when engaging an opponent of equal strength.
As thunderous sounds echoed, it was as if a grinding stone was crushing the void of heaven and earth, and even the Great Dao seemed to show signs of decay.
Faced with the Buddha Sovereign's fury, Li Hao stood in the void, meeting the attack with cold defiance. Though the stars of the heavens continued to pour power into his body, the previous sword strike had drained not only his own strength but had nearly emptied the Heaven and Earth Dharma Aspect as well!
At this moment, even with the convergence of the Heaven Meridian and the Star Meridian of the Heavens, the power felt like a drop in the ocean.
But no matter what, he had achieved his goal.
As he said, even if he was an ant, if they wanted to crush him, they would still have to bleed a little!
As the giant Buddha palm descended, Li Hao felt as if time had suddenly slowed down, becoming sluggish.
It was as if he could feel a gentle breeze brushing past.
The light of the stars shining down on him continued to pour their power into him.
Even after fighting this hard, was he still doomed to die?
Was the heavenly path unjust?
Li Hao did not sigh nor grieve. Instead, he felt as if his heart had shed a layer of its burden.
The previous semblance of the Saint Dao's embryonic form, the Dao of All Beings, seemed to slowly peel away, revealing its core essence.
Li Hao suddenly gained enlightenment.
The indifferent gazes of the Saints, who had remained bystanders, their expressions varying from pity to surprise, sympathy to regret, and coldness—each Saint's thoughts were different, but they all chose to stand by and do nothing.
His reverence for them shattered, and with it, the shackles in his heart also broke.
He glimpsed the truest form of the highest existence in the heavens and earth, as if he had seen the true face of the world itself.
Behind the Dao of All Beings lay its hidden truth… that the world was inherently flawed! Back in the Buddha Sect's Holy Land, when he debated with the Buddha Sovereign, the Buddha had said that all beings were equal, but Li Hao had thought otherwise. Mountains, rivers, and streams—how could they all be treated as equals?
And behind the inequality of all beings lay their own strengths and weaknesses.
This was the realization of the core origin of his embryonic Saint Dao—Heaven and Earth Are Flawed! If even the heavens and earth were not perfect, why should one demand perfection from others?
Why expect perfection from Saints?!
At that moment, Li Hao suddenly had an epiphany. Besides the revelation of the core of his embryonic Saint Dao, the bottleneck in his Painting Dao, which had long eluded him, also seemed to unravel.
He had already accumulated enough experience for his Ninth Stage Painting Dao in front of the Heavenly Monument, but his mental state had been stuck, unable to break through, even when he used the Dao Resonance Bell to comprehend it.
The more he loved painting, the more he sought perfection in his art.
But where in the world was there true perfection? Everything had flaws—heaven and earth had flaws, and so did all beings. With that in mind, the obsession with "perfection" itself was a wrong path!
In that moment, Li Hao became enlightened.
He understood!
[You have comprehended the realm of the Painting Dao: Transcendent to Saint]
A notification from the interface floated before his eyes.
The slowed flow of time around him seemed to abruptly return to normal.
Everything had happened in an instant, a collision of countless thoughts in a flash.
As the palm imbued with the Buddha Domain descended upon him, Li Hao didn't even hesitate and chose to merge this new understanding into his Body Dao! Compared to his Sword Dao, his Body Dao could unleash even greater power at that moment. After all, even if his Sword Dao advanced, it might not grant him enough strength to deliver a second sword strike in time!
Boom! [Body Dao has advanced to the Tenth Stage!]
In that instant, Li Hao felt a humming sensation in his mind, as countless insights and understandings poured in. At the same time, his body began to tremble, as if it was being affirmed by the very heavens, with his divine blood and bones undergoing transformation!
A vast and boundless Dao's aura spread out, even eclipsing the power of the Buddha Domain!
The Buddha light of the Saint Domain became pale in comparison. Opposite the Buddha Sovereign's Saint Dao aura, an even more immense, more supreme Dao presence emerged. Li Hao recognized it—it was the trace of Heaven's Sovereign Qi that he had glimpsed at the extreme limit of the Transcendent Immortal state!
In the void, the Source Ancestor, Law Saint, and other Supreme Saints all had changes in their expressions, shock flashing in their eyes.
To make Supreme Saints reveal such emotions was a rare phenomenon that hadn't been seen in centuries.
But at that moment, the Supreme Saints were all visibly stunned.
He had ascended to Sainthood! Under the pressure of the Buddha Domain, this young man had become a Saint!
And not through the incense of worship, but by offering up his Dao to achieve Sainthood!!
The Buddha Domain seemed to be wiped away by a greater force and disappeared in an instant. The Buddha Sovereign even let out a muffled groan, his face changing drastically.
At the same time, a dominant, all-encompassing aura of the Heavenly Dao manifested, enveloping the radiant youth standing within the heavens.
The youth's body, like a divine being, exuded perfection. His entire body was like red-gold crystal, and under the influence of the Heavenly Dao's power, he transformed at an incredible speed.
The power of the Heavenly Dao manifested, merging into his body—this was the reward from the Heavenly Dao for offering his Dao! Soon, a series of supreme Saintly auras radiated from Li Hao's body.
At that moment, countless people were left in shock, their eyes wide with disbelief.
Hao Tian had ascended to Sainthood!
Without relying on the incense of worship from the Supreme Heaven's prodigy battle, he had become a Saint through his own power, ahead of time!
In the waiting area, Qiu Tianlü, Xiao Tianyu, and the others looked dazed. They could never have imagined that before the Supreme Heaven's prodigy battle had even ended, the other party would have already become a Saint—and by walking the most difficult path, the path of Dao Sacrifice!
What should have been a disaster that ended this youth's life, wiping him from their world, had instead allowed him to shine even more brightly. Like a blazing sun high in the sky, his light illuminated their eyes.
The Twin Buddha Child stood in shock, but soon his eyes turned completely black in madness, as if he had completely fallen into demonic obsession, filled with rage and unwillingness.
Ji Xuan Shen, Lin Qingying, and others were similarly stunned, but soon their faces were full of excitement and joy, as they stood up in celebration.
A grand and overwhelming aura radiated from every part of Li Hao's body as he slowly opened his eyes.
His eyes, having just merged with the Heavenly Dao, now reflected a supreme indifference and a detachment that saw through all things in the world.
Life and death, right and wrong, honor and disgrace—all had been transcended.
But soon, those indifferent eyes regained warmth. When his gaze shifted to the Buddha Sovereign and Void Saint, they became sharp and filled with murderous intent.
His Body Had Become Holy!
Li Hao could feel the immense power surging through his body at that moment, surpassing the combined strength of all his previous techniques. With just a raise of his hand, it felt as though he could grasp all of heaven and earth, and even the smallest amount of effort surpassed the full might of his Transcendent Immortal state!
This was the power of a Saint!
Having transcended through his physical body to become a Saint, Li Hao could sense that the world around him was different from before. He could even see the streams of fragrant incense wafting off the bodies of many Saints, something he hadn't been able to perceive earlier.
His eyes now had the ability to glimpse the incense power inside these Saints, unless they deliberately concealed it.
As Li Hao swept his gaze around, he could see the vast clouds of incense rising from the Supreme Saints of the upper three realms, especially the Source Ancestor's avatar. His incense power was significantly denser than that of the other Supreme Saints, almost half as much!
Even among Saints, there were clear differences.
In contrast, the incense power of the other Saints was much weaker than that of the Supreme Saints, only about one-tenth as strong.
Some Saints had even fainter incense power, though it was unclear whether they were deliberately hiding it or just had less.
As Li Hao surveyed the scene, many Saints' expressions subtly changed. His gaze at this moment possessed a terrifying penetrative force, and being stared at by him gave many Saints the feeling that they were being seen through. Some even felt that their incense power was swaying under his scrutiny.
How could someone who had just become a Saint have such a fearsome gaze?
"Haoyer…"
Wind Ripple Saint was also stunned by this shocking turn of events. Under the pressure of the Buddha Sovereign, during such an extreme moment, Li Hao had actually attained Sainthood through enlightenment?! He immediately understood that Li Hao must have already been on the verge of breaking through, which is why he had taken this leap.
Dao Sacrifice… he actually walked the most difficult path.
Wind Ripple Saint felt his eyes moistening but soon burst into hearty laughter.
His laughter echoed through heaven and earth, snapping countless people out of their daze. In an instant, the entire Tianyuan Realm, including every divine dynasty and major city, erupted into chaos.
Countless people had just witnessed an event unseen for millennia. In the face of suppression by a Three-Disaster Saint, someone had ascended to Sainthood through Dao Sacrifice—this had never happened in history!
"That Hao Tian… is too monstrous!"
"He's a Saint now. My god, this is insane! He's only 28 years old!"
"Becoming a Saint before turning thirty… they say life starts at thirty, but I haven't even started my life, and he's already a Saint!"
"This has to be the youngest Saint in history!"
Countless people were stunned, overwhelmed by a feverish excitement.
The truth behind the death of that Saint Child no longer mattered—what they had just witnessed was the birth of a Saint who had shattered the very fabric of history!
As the entire Tianyuan Realm roared with excitement, Li Hao's eyes lowered, and he returned to himself. He did not immediately strike out at the Buddha Sovereign but instead focused on absorbing and familiarizing himself with his current body.
His entire body had been reconstituted and transformed, and as a result, many things from his previous life had resurfaced.
Even many of his once-blurry memories from his past life had become clearer, like flipping through a picture book.
Everything he had seen and heard in this life could now be instantly recalled, his memory now photographic—an insignificant manifestation of his newly enhanced physical body.
Additionally, he could sense the faint Dao Rhyme in the world, like scattered clouds drifting everywhere.
He could hear the sound of the Great Dao in the wind.
What kind of sound was it? It was like a gentle hum, a melodious bell chime that brought comfort and peace.
With his body now ascended to Sainthood, Li Hao felt an unprecedented closeness to the heavens and earth. It was as if he was constantly in a state of extreme Transcendent Immortal awareness, and it felt like he was just one step away from breaking through some invisible barrier to truly touch the highest, most essential source of the heavens—the Heavenly Dao!
As he immersed himself in his newfound power, the aura his body exuded caused the Buddha Sovereign to narrow his eyes.
Although he had been repelled by the Heavenly Dao when Li Hao ascended through Dao Sacrifice, the Buddha Sovereign knew it had only been temporary protection from the Heavenly Dao.
Now that the Dao Sacrifice had ended, the Heavenly Dao had receded.
Even though Li Hao had just become a Saint, and even though he had walked the most difficult path of Dao Sacrifice, he had only just ascended, which meant he was at his weakest.
At this moment, Li Hao was not even considered a One-Disaster Saint!
"Eternal Buddha Kingdom, suppress!"
The Buddha Sovereign raised his hand, this time unleashing ninety percent of his strength. Even though Li Hao had been astounding while still in the Dao Law Realm, now that he had ascended to Sainthood, the Buddha Sovereign had to take him seriously.
Sensing the change in the wind and the gathering Dao Rhyme, Li Hao looked up and saw the solemn and dignified expression on the Buddha Sovereign's face. A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth—this man, with murderous intent hidden behind his sanctimonious exterior, would preach to the world about compassion.
"So these three shackles are the three disasters of the Saints?"
Li Hao could feel the presence of three terrifying forces bound to his newly formed Saint Dao.
He had heard Wind Ripple Saint talk about the trials of a Saint—how every Saint had to overcome three disasters to attain stability.
Most Saints would fall during one of these disasters.
These three disasters were the Human Disaster, which triggered the tribulation of man; the Earth Disaster, which triggered the tribulation of heaven and earth; and the Heavenly Disaster, which summoned the terrifying heavenly tribulation of thunder!
Even if one did not actively seek to trigger them, these shackles would gradually loosen over time, with the first to be broken being the shackle of the Human Tribulation!
Many Saints would practice secret techniques to delay the loosening of these shackles so they could accumulate more power to face the disasters.
"The Human Tribulation…"
Li Hao's eyes flashed with killing intent. The so-called Human Tribulation referred to the deadly misfortunes caused by others!
It would attract various seemingly coincidental but predetermined acts of aggression and murder!
Since that was the case, Li Hao decided to take advantage of this opportunity and face the tribulation head-on! Right now, he was being attacked by a Human Tribulation. This was a disaster that could end his life, but by unlocking the shackle now, he would only be making the Buddha Sovereign and others' killing intent more intense, using their hands to help him overcome the tribulation!
"Unlock!"
Li Hao roused his Saint Dao, and one of the three shackles suddenly shattered. Immediately, a rumbling sound echoed through the heavens, as if some terrifying force was about to descend.
This shockwave was felt by all the Saints, many of whom turned pale.
They couldn't believe the youth was this reckless. He had just ascended to Sainthood, and now he wanted to face the tribulation!
Most Saints would seek out their friends and allies, setting up large formations to ensure their safety during the tribulation.
But Li Hao, here in the midst of a battle with the Buddha Sect and with the Void Saint glaring at him with murderous intent, had chosen this moment to face the tribulation.
"You cannot be allowed to live!"
Seeing Li Hao's audacious move, the Void Saint felt an even deeper sense of threat. This youth had become too monstrous, too terrifying. If given even a few more years, the Void Saint feared he would storm the Void Sacred Ground and seek vengeance.
Today, this youth must die! He quietly gathered his strength, ready to strike at any moment.
But Wind Ripple Saint, sensing his intent, shot him a cold glare, locking him in place and preparing to counter.
At the same time, as Li Hao broke free from the first shackle and saw the Buddha Sovereign's attack descending upon him, he did not retreat. Instead, he took a sudden step forward, his heightened connection to the heavens and earth making him feel exhilarated rather than threatened by the Saint Domain's power.
That attack couldn't harm him!
Boom! Li Hao shot into the sky, his sword Gongming appearing in his hand, and with a fierce slash, he cleaved toward the heavens.
The Buddha Sovereign's Saint Domain, filled with countless blooming lotus flowers and blessed pools, was violently torn apart by Li Hao's sword, rippling with wave after wave of disruption!
"What?!"
The Buddha Sovereign's face paled with shock. His Buddha Domain had been split apart by Li Hao's sword!
Li Hao laughed heartily, exhilarated by the sheer force coursing through his body. The power surging through him was so immense that it was overwhelming. Without even summoning his Dao Domain or the power of the Transcendent Immortal, just the strength of his Saintly body alone seemed enough to pierce through the heavens.
Beyond the embryonic form of his Heaven and Earth Are Flawed Saint Dao, his Body Dao had now fully formed, giving rise to his second Saint Dao! When it came to the physical body, there was no one in the world who could rival him as the Supreme!
From this moment on, he no longer needed to practice other body cultivation techniques. Instead, he could create his own body cultivation techniques, teaching the world how to temper their bodies! No existing body cultivation technique in the world could surpass him, except perhaps the legendary techniques like Immortal Points the Way, those that transcended the mortal realm and touched the divine.
"Is this your Saint Domain? Too weak!"
Li Hao laughed boldly, sword in hand, as he charged at the Buddha Sovereign: "You claim that Buddha is compassionate, but I have yet to see a tear of compassion in your so-called wise eyes. You preach that the world is a sea of suffering, but you remain safely on the shore, urging others not to stay in the water. Have you ever jumped in to save anyone?!"
As Li Hao shouted, his sword flashed as he struck at the Buddha Sovereign.
The Buddha Sovereign's face darkened, though his expression remained stoic. With a solemn gesture, he pressed his hands together in a Buddhist salute, once again activating his Buddha Domain to suppress Li Hao.
But Li Hao did not evade. He took a single step forward.
Immediately, waves of Saint Dao power, like thousands of sharp needles, pierced his body.
But Li Hao felt only a soft touch, like feathers brushing against his skin, with a slight itching sensation.
So this is the power of a Saint's Domain? Li Hao smiled. His body at this moment was likely as hard as an Imperial Dao Weapon, unbreakable even by a Saint Domain.
Break! Li Hao strode forward boldly, walking through the Buddha Sovereign's domain as if he were walking through the heavens, encountering no resistance.
The other Saints present were all visibly shocked. They couldn't believe what they were witnessing. This was a Three-Disaster Saint, a Saint who had passed the Heavenly Tribulation and been acknowledged by the heavens, yet he couldn't harm Li Hao!
Seeing Li Hao approaching with his sword, the Buddha Sovereign's expression finally changed. Earlier, his domain had been cleaved apart, but now Li Hao was standing within his domain, and he couldn't affect him at all. What kind of Dao had this youth cultivated?! "Three Lives Buddha Body, Sea of Suffering!"
The Buddha Sovereign's expression turned solemn as he raised his hands. Suddenly, Buddha light emanated from his body, projecting two figures to his left and right.
They appeared to be avatars, but they seemed as real as the original.
"That's the Buddha Sovereign's ultimate technique, the Three Lives Buddha Body!"
"Each Buddha body is real, effectively tripling his strength. It's equivalent to facing three Three-Disaster Saints!"
Many Saints stared, astonished that the Buddha Sovereign had been pushed to the point of using such a powerful technique against someone who had just become a Saint, and who hadn't even faced his first tribulation.
With the appearance of the Three Lives Buddha Body, the Saint Domain reappeared, this time layered in three domains that represented the Past, Present, and Future, each infused with the terrifying power of fate.
Simultaneously, the three Buddha figures raised their hands, and a vast sea of suffering manifested within the heavens.
In this sea of suffering, countless corpses floated, the remains of those who had drowned, consumed by their own desires and delusions.
As this sea of suffering spread, it quickly enveloped Li Hao.
But standing within the sea of suffering, Li Hao's body radiated with golden light. The corrosive power of the sea could not touch his flesh.
Having attained a Saintly body, his body was now incorruptible and unbreakable. The surging sea of suffering could not breach the three-foot barrier of his body's natural energy field.
A Saintly body was beyond defilement!
But in the sea of suffering, the floating corpses began to stir, as if coming to life. They all swarmed toward Li Hao.
It was as if they saw him as a raft drifting in the sea, or perhaps the distant shore they longed to reach.
However, Li Hao's expression remained indifferent. With just his body's natural energy, he repelled the corpses. He raised his sword and whispered: "If the world truly is a sea of suffering, then I'll sever it with one stroke."
With a single hand, he raised his sword and swung it forward.
This seemingly casual sword strike contained enough power to cleave the heavens and the earth, radiating an unimaginable brilliance.
This strike, too, was reflected in Bian Ruxue's eyes, every bit as awe-inspiring as the ultimate sword strike she had witnessed earlier. Yet now, it was wielded effortlessly by Li Hao.
Boom! The sea of suffering was split apart, the heavens seemingly divided. Li Hao, sword in hand, pressed forward.
The three Buddha figures wore identical expressions of deep concentration, their movements synchronized as they once again channeled their Buddhist powers. The wheels of merit behind their heads merged, forming a massive black hole-like vortex.
This black hole exuded a gravitational pull as it rushed from the depths of the sea of suffering, attempting to suppress Li Hao.
"Samsara!"
The Buddha Sovereign whispered.
Within the swirling vortex, there was a destructive force, the ultimate power of life and death.
Between life and death lay Samsara, the endless cycle of reincarnation, where everything was born and died endlessly.
"You dare speak of Samsara?"
Li Hao glanced at the vortex. It contained destructive power but only a faint trace of life force. Clearly, this Buddhist technique had not yet been fully comprehended by the Buddha Sovereign.
It was merely an incomplete concept.
He didn't waste any more words. Instead of continuing with his sword, he accelerated, his body charging directly toward the swirling black hole.
Many onlookers gasped in shock.
But in the next moment, Li Hao's body collided with the Samsara vortex, tearing it apart!
His entire body crackled with black flame-like residual energy as he looked up, his gaze locking onto the Buddha Sovereign seated on the far shore of the sea of suffering.
The look of concentration on the Buddha Sovereign's face gave way to a moment of disbelief. Although the technique had not been fully perfected, it was still a powerful Buddhist method. If fully formed, even a Supreme Saint would have to tread carefully around it!
But Li Hao had torn through Samsara with his bare body, completely defying his expectations.
"You've been sitting up there too long. Why don't you come down and take a walk?"
Li Hao stood on the sea of suffering, his sword raised high, slashing down with force.
This sword was infused with the intent of Sword Dao, embodying the will of Immortal Points the Way. Yet, he didn't aim at the Buddha Sovereign but at the lotus platform beneath him.
With a thunderous crash, the lotus platform exploded. It was not an Imperial Dao Weapon but a treasure of the highest grade, a Sacred Heart Relic.
An Imperial Dao Weapon was exceedingly rare, even for Saints. It was a weapon tempered by the Dao fire and the trials of the Heavenly Tribulation.
As the lotus platform shattered, the Three Lives Buddha Bodies, once seated in meditation, were flung backward, forced to stand in the void.
After destroying the lotus platform, Li Hao activated his Void Step and instantly appeared beside the Buddha Sovereign.
At this moment, his newly-ascended Saint body allowed him to traverse even greater distances through the Void Step. In a flash, he closed in on the Buddha Sovereign and slashed his sword.
He didn't care which of the three Buddha bodies he targeted, as he assumed they were all real.
Boom! The Buddha Sovereign raised his hand, but before the Buddhist light in his palm could gather, it was cleaved apart by Li Hao's sword. Golden blood spurted from the severed arm, splattering the
worn monk's robe with droplets of golden blood.
Using Buddha's blood to cross the sea of suffering!
"Your so-called Buddha's Dao is just a way to make the world fear and revere you, not to save them!"
"Buddha's Dao is not the true Dao! A Dao that can be spoken of is not the eternal Dao!"
As Li Hao swung his sword, he roared up to the heavens.
Accompanied by these six words, the entire world seemed to tremble and hum. That was the true sound of the Dao, and it triggered a celestial phenomenon across the heavens!
The Buddha Sovereign, who was just about to counterattack, was struck by that booming sound. His eyes briefly flashed with confusion and bewilderment, a sign that his Saint Dao was beginning to crack.
At the same moment, his physical form was shredded by Li Hao's sword, spilling golden blood across the sea of suffering.
Li Hao's strikes were like a whirlwind cutting down leaves, swift and decisive, as he sliced through the Buddha Sovereign's three Buddha bodies, cleaving each one apart!
In the blink of an eye, the once-mighty Buddha Sovereign fell, his body broken, blood pouring into the sea of suffering.
The sea of suffering's illusions slowly began to dissipate.
At that moment, the entire battlefield was silent.
A formidable Three-Disaster Saint had been overwhelmed and suppressed by the newly ascended Li Hao!
In the waiting area, the pupils of the Twin Buddha Child shrank. The blackness in his eyes seemed to fade slightly, and he stared in disbelief at the sight of the defeated Buddha Sovereign high above. He was in a daze.
On the other hand, Wind Ripple Saint, after witnessing such a shocking scene, felt more elation than astonishment.
Just then, the Void Saint suddenly vanished, teleporting directly behind Li Hao through the void.
By the time Wind Ripple Saint realized what was happening, it was already too late. He shouted, "Watch out!"
At the same time, he swiftly activated his Saint Dao, stealing part of the energy from the Void Saint's attack.
Yet despite his efforts, the deadly strike had already descended upon Li Hao.
But Li Hao, under the intense spatial force slashing at him from behind, remained calm. He slowly turned his head to look back.
Boom!!
A thunderous explosion erupted above Li Hao's head, the spatial forces rippling and tearing at his body. However, when the power dissipated, Li Hao was still standing there, his eyes cold and undisturbed, continuing his motion of glancing back—unharmed!
The Void Saint froze in shock, his eyes wide with disbelief. "How is this possible?"
His mastery of spatial techniques was among the best of the Three-Disaster Saints, and yet, his strike had failed to injure Li Hao.
The truth was, the Void Saint had inflicted a wound. However, Li Hao's body had already transcended mortality, with the terrifying self-healing power of Blood Rebirth and the incredible resilience of his perfected Saint body.
Now, as a Saint, these abilities had been vastly enhanced, especially his regeneration.
The wound inflicted by the Void Saint had torn Li Hao's flesh, leaving a thin scar. But that scratch healed in mere moments.
"You seem to be in a hurry. But you will die!" Li Hao murmured.
Hearing Li Hao's soft whisper, the Void Saint suddenly felt a chill run down his spine. What kind of Dao had this man cultivated? He was too fearsome.
Without hesitation, Li Hao charged forward, launching himself toward the Void Saint.
However, the Void Saint reacted quickly, disappearing into the void.
Boom!
Li Hao swung his sword, his hair flashing a brilliant silver as he entered the Transcendent Immortal state.
That sword slash reached its pinnacle, slicing through the fabric of space as if cutting through layers of reality!
The Void Saint was forcibly dragged out of the void by Li Hao's sword, unable to stay hidden. Seeing the terrifying sword light approaching, he frantically gathered his spatial power to counter it.
Layer upon layer of spatial force swirled toward the sword to block it, yet the dazzling sword light remained unyielding, slashing through the defenses and striking the Void Saint's chest.
Blood sprayed out as the Void Saint's body was flung backward, gravely wounded.
Li Hao raised his hand. His newfound mastery of the Painting Dao had filled him with profound insights.
As he surveyed the heavens, a sense of understanding washed over him. He raised his hand and drew upon the power of the heavens, condensing a brush within his grasp.
With a single stroke, he used the clouds in the sky as his canvas and his own Saintly blood as ink, painting a vivid scene of the fallen Buddha Sovereign and Void Saint. He even included a depiction of Yang Saint, not forgetting him.
As the painting floated above in the sky, Li Hao's brush dispersed.
"What are you doing?" the Void Saint asked, his face twisting in shock and fury.
He sensed something was wrong. His Saint Dao seemed to be subtly linked to this painting, as if no matter how much he tried to hide within the void, the painting would continue to draw him in. It was an unavoidable pull.
"What do you think mortals do before they die? They hang a portrait in their memorial hall. This one's for you," Li Hao said coldly.
His voice echoed throughout the heavens, and the entire Tianyuan Realm heard him. Countless people gasped in astonishment. This was far too audacious—he had just become a Saint, and now he wanted to slay three Saints?
"You... you are completely lawless!" the Void Saint shouted in rage.
He was trying to drag Law Saint into the matter.
His eyes were filled with deep fury. If he had known things would come to this, he would have killed this boy ten years ago, even if it meant using his true body. Back then, Li Hao was nothing more than an ant, and sending an avatar was already overkill.
Hearing the Void Saint's accusations, Li Hao sneered, "Lawless? You sent your own disciple to die. If anyone deserves death, it's you!"
As he spoke, Li Hao raised his hand. Using the power of his Saint Dao, he replayed the Void Saint's disciple's words from when they had spoken on the stage: "What a pity that your empire produced a monster like you. Otherwise, I would have already trampled it beneath my feet. You ruined my plans. You deserve to die!"
Using his newly attained Saintly power, Li Hao amplified the sound, allowing the Void Saint disciple's voice to echo throughout the world.
Previously, Li Hao had been unable to accomplish such feats. But now, with his Saintly body, he could even sense the traces of Dao in the wind. The disciple's voice had left an imprint in the air, which Li Hao had re-extracted and replayed!
Clearly, the disciple had never expected Li Hao to ascend to Sainthood so suddenly.
After this, Li Hao also replayed the disciple's final words before death: "I'm taking you down with me!!"
The voice was filled with madness and viciousness, and anyone could hear the malice within it.
At that moment, many people were finally beginning to understand. They remembered Li Hao's earlier claim that the disciple had killed himself.
Combined with the disciple's behavior on the stage—where he hadn't surrendered and instead chosen to fight—it was now clear that something else was at play. If the disciple had been concerned about being seriously injured in the fight, he could have simply surrendered early on. There was clearly another motive behind his actions.
Seeing this, many people's perceptions of the Void Saint began to shift.
The disciples of the Void Sacred Ground could also recognize that this was indeed the voice of their Void Saint disciple. They stood frozen in confusion.
Some among them, however, were filled with anger, accusing Li Hao of slander, claiming it was all fabricated.
But Li Hao had no intention of arguing with them. He only wanted to present the truth to those who were willing to listen.
As for those whose hearts were already biased, he saw no point in debating with them. After all, he had become a Saint. A mountain does not brush aside dust; its stature remains unyielding, no matter how much dust falls upon it.
Beyond the Void Sacred Ground's disciples, the majority of the onlookers were now considering the need for further investigation into the situation.
Law Saint's brow furrowed slightly. As a Supreme Saint, he could tell that Li Hao's method was not a fabrication. If this was the case, then there were indeed questions that needed answering.
Even though he disapproved of Li Hao's disregard for law and order, fairness was fairness, and law was law.
If the law was not impartial, then it was not law—it was power. He followed the law, not power. To continue targeting Li Hao based on this matter would taint his own Saintly Dao.
"Turns out this was all part of your plan. I bet you never expected Hao Tian to become a Saint. Didn't you capture a wisp of your disciple's soul? Bring it out for questioning!" Wind Ripple Saint shouted, his eyes gleaming with excitement.
He knew the reason the other Saints hadn't spoken earlier was due to the Buddha Sovereign swearing by his Buddha heart. That vow had carried too much weight to be easily dismissed. But now, there was no such obstacle.
Still, he couldn't understand why the Buddha Sovereign's vow hadn't affected him.
The Void Saint's face darkened. He hadn't anticipated that fool of a disciple spewing such damning words in his final moments. Why couldn't he just die quietly?
The Void Saint was furious. But now that the situation had reached this point, he knew that convincing the Saints to stand by was no longer an option.
Furthermore, even if the Saints did nothing, he and the Buddha Sovereign couldn't suppress Li Hao in front of everyone.
The plan had failed—again and again, it had failed. Ever since the assassination attempt, they had failed at every step.
"My disciple is but a wisp of a soul, its consciousness muddled. How could it possibly verify anything?!" the Void Saint roared in anger.
Wind Ripple Saint sneered, "Then let's tear it apart and examine it closely. We'll see what truth lies hidden!"
"You!"
The Void Saint nearly choked on his own blood. If that wisp of a soul was torn apart, it would be completely annihilated, its very essence erased. That would mean total destruction—no chance of reincarnation, no place even in the River of Death!
"This concerns the reputation of a Saint! Your disciple's intentions were evil. If you cover this up, it would mean the two of you conspired!" Wind Ripple Saint sneered coldly, sensing the shift in the situation.
Li Hao's eyes were cold, and hidden within them was a deep, simmering killing intent. He wasn't in a rush to make a move. If things were clarified, it would make it all the easier to kill without the interference of other Saints.
"Thieving Saint speaks correctly. In that case, bring forth your disciple's soul fragment and let everyone see clearly. That way, there will be no more misunderstandings," the Source Ancestor said, his voice calm.
He smiled mildly at the Void Saint as he spoke.
The Void Saint's heart sank. Now that the Source Ancestor had spoken, the outcome was clear.
After all, many of the Saints would support the Source Ancestor. His influence and connections among them ran deep.
The Void Saint's expression shifted rapidly. He knew that if he complied, the situation would spiral further out of control.
If it were just his disciple's life, he wouldn't care. But he had promised that disciple he would protect his soul for reincarnation. If he now handed over the soul fragment, it would break that promise, tarnishing his Saintly Dao.
"My disciple has worked hard in his cultivation. Now that he is reduced to a wisp of soul, I will not allow him to be completely destroyed. I hope the Saints can understand my decision," the Void Saint gritted his teeth, speaking with force. As he did so, he shot a fierce glance at Li Hao, then suddenly flew into the distance, vanishing into the void.
"Hold on, where are you rushing off to?"
Suddenly, a force from the void blocked his path, forcing the Void Saint back into view.
The voice came from Yin-Yang Supreme Saint, who chuckled with a playful expression. "Leaving now would only make things worse for you. Better to let us investigate the matter thoroughly."
"That's right, Void Saint, don't act rashly."
Law Saint added, his tone cold, his face stern with judgment.
The Void Saint's expression grew uglier by the second. Before, their wrath had been focused on Li Hao. Now, it had all turned on him.
All because they hadn't killed Li Hao in time, before his ascension to Sainthood!
Now, the plan had failed, and he felt nothing but seething hatred.