Chapter 423: The Dissipation of the Soul Beneath the Forbidden Grounds
Before leaving, the red-tasseled spearwoman selected a few reliable subordinates to remain and guard the area. She erased traces of the battle and set up a celestial array, concealing the Xuanpin Gate from detection. Only an ancient demon of Celestial Monarch-level strength would have the power to uncover its location.
However, such beings rarely ventured to remote battlefields like this one.
With the departure of the saints, the myriad worlds of the heavens returned to tranquility.
In countless cities, people celebrated their survival and built temples, erecting golden statues in reverence to the one who sacrificed everything for their salvation: Hao Tian Zun.
Powerful factions began to realign themselves, signaling significant changes to the heavenly realms in the near future.
Meanwhile, Jian Zhu (Sword Master) and others arrived at the ancient hall. With Li Hao gone, they resolved to fight for the countless lives within the heavens, to shoulder their share of the burden.
But upon their arrival, they found that the saints had already departed. Before leaving, the saints left a message within the ancient hall: they had followed the celestial beings to the True Realm.
Reading this message and gazing at the now-empty ancient hall, Jian Zhu and the others felt a profound sense of disorientation.
The reinforcements Li Hao spoke of had indeed arrived, but far too late. The saints of the myriad worlds had quietly abandoned everything, leaving their roots behind to pursue their long-cherished dream of following the celestial beings.
Jian Zhu and the others could understand their longing and urgency. Having lived countless years and experienced everything, the only thing left to entice a saint was the legendary realm of celestial immortality—a prospect that had driven many saints to persist in their cultivation.
"We came too late," Hu Zhu (Fox Master) said softly, her gaze lingering on the gaping opening of the celestial gate. Her expression carried a tinge of sorrow.
Jian Zhu, knowing her connection with Li Hao ran deep, gave her a faint smile and asked, "Do you regret it? If we had come earlier, perhaps you could've gone with them."
Hu Zhu fell silent, then shook her head slightly. "Going there or not makes no difference. There will always be another opportunity. Besides, we haven't even reached the Supreme Saint realm. The True Realm is riddled with ancient demons—danger lurks everywhere. Perhaps it's better to remain here, free of such concerns."
"That's an attitude he might've shared," Jian Zhu remarked lightly.
Hu Zhu was momentarily stunned. Her expression darkened as she lowered her voice, "The world truly is unfair. Those who caused so much harm are now closer to becoming celestial beings, while he, who never sought anything for himself, paid the ultimate price and perished. What kind of existence stands on the path to becoming celestial?"
"Everyone seeks fame," Jian Zhu said quietly. "Whether it's preserving a family name, raising children, or building legacies, it's all about ensuring one's memory endures after death."
"Establishing dynasties, achieving grand ambitions—those are for fame too, spreading one's name across the land for reverence."
"Even saints who transcend mortality pursue fame, hoping their name will last a thousand generations, cultivating incense offerings and spreading their teachings."
"Yet saints or celestials alike, I believe that in this realm and this place, ten thousand generations will pass, and no one will forget him. Though he never sought fame, his name will echo eternally across the myriad worlds."
Hu Zhu was silent. The island masters of the celestial islands exchanged glances, reflecting on their own journeys. Even as saints, they couldn't escape the lure of fame.
"But what does it matter… to him?" Hu Zhu murmured, a trace of sorrow flashing in her eyes. Memories of being a small white fox, curled up in the boy's arms, surfaced in her mind. Together, they had watched an entire winter snowstorm.
Meanwhile, others their age had been diligently cultivating, striving to establish themselves and achieve greatness.
Jian Zhu's expression dimmed. What use is posthumous fame? He couldn't find an answer. Deep down, perhaps he already knew, but he understood that the boy had likely seen it the same way—though he had still held onto some small hope.
"Now that the celestial beings have arrived, and no new ancient demons have invaded, it seems the demons outside the gate have been dealt with. At least we can breathe a little easier," Hu Zhu said softly, a faint smile gracing her lips.
Jian Zhu nodded. Finding beauty amidst despair was a rare comfort.
"I'm going to see Li Hao's body," Jian Zhu announced, casting another glance at the celestial gate. "If more ancient demons breach it, we won't be able to stop them. I suggest relocating the celestial relics from Shen Yang (Divine Sun) nearby. It could serve as a refuge in case of disaster."
Hu Zhu nodded slightly. "I'll come too. I'll leave behind a wisp of my tail's aura here. If any demons arrive, I'll sense it immediately."
"Unfortunately, only saints can cross into this space. I'll send Half-Saints from Jian Zu Holy Land to guard the ancient hall."
With these arrangements finalized, they departed together for Tianyuan Minor World.
Here, the True Immortal-grade ancient demon's body and Li Hao's body had been preserved, watched over by several dozen Half-Saints from the former alliance.
Feng Boping had long since arrived. Standing before Li Hao's body, he observed the serene and majestic figure radiating immense pressure. Without the control of his soul, the body's divine aura remained unchecked, resembling a slumbering god. His form, perfectly proportioned, seemed sculpted by the heavens' finest artisan.
Around Li Hao's body, the Half-Saints maintained their vigilant watch, their gazes filled with reverence.
Feng Boping looked at the awe-inspiring figure before him, but the sorrow in his heart only deepened. Quietly, he cursed the heavens for their cruelty. So they really do envy genius to this extent? To take someone like him… how could they bear it?
Waving the Half-Saints away, Feng Boping chose to remain alone with Li Hao. He brought out a jar of wine from his personal dimension, pouring a cup for himself and one for Li Hao. The fragrant aroma of the wine filled the air as he spoke, as though to an old friend.
"This is your favorite wine. You rascal, you started drinking at thirteen or fourteen, even in that rigid, disciplined general's household. You never failed to surprise."
"Do you remember that black dragon with the frayed scales? Last time I asked, you said you didn't, but I saw your eyelid twitch. You remember it clearly, don't you? I bet you even counted every scale on that dragon…"
He paused, glancing at the still and silent Li Hao, who remained motionless, eyes closed. Feng Boping smiled, though tears glistened in his eyes.
"I'll go back to the human world someday and find that dragon for you…"
"And maybe, just maybe, we'll have your roasted fish again…"
...
One after another, people began to gather. Li Yuanzhao, Li Wushuang, Li Ping'an, Lin Qingying, Ji Xuanshen, and others arrived, including individuals who had previously crossed paths with Li Hao—such as the Holy Son of Haoyue and Chiguang. Each stared at the statuesque figure before them, their gazes complex.
Li Hao's body, now massive, had returned to its Fah-Tian-Xiang-Di (Heavenly Form) state. Without the constraint or inward suppression of his soul, his body reflected the full power of his cultivation. Divine energy radiated from him, sending terrifying waves of godly force into the surroundings.
"Brother Hao…"
Li Yuanzhao's eyes blurred with tears. Beside him, his wife, Xia Shi, stood quietly.
Since arriving in the myriad worlds, Xia Shi had noticed a drastic change in her husband. His once deflated spirit seemed revived, though now accompanied by constant worry. Despite his concerns, there was something profoundly different about him, as though he had rediscovered his purpose.
Li Yuanzhao's despair had originated years ago, following Li Hao's departure. On a fateful day, he learned a painful truth: his parents' deaths had not been as he believed. His father had perished on the battlefield, a fact he had known since childhood. But his mother, who he believed had died in childbirth, had actually succumbed to grief upon learning of her husband's death. Someone had deliberately leaked the tragic news to her in her final moments.
That person had been Liu Yuerong, already imprisoned by Li Hao in a dungeon. Upon discovering the truth, Li Yuanzhao had personally drowned her within that same dungeon. For this act, he bore the weight of guilt, though he refused to use the resources of the General's Manor to absolve himself. Quietly, he shouldered the responsibility, and his once vibrant spirit crumbled. He drowned himself in wine and neglected all other matters.
Now, however, Li Yuanzhao stood quietly before his brother's remains, humbled.
Elsewhere on the plaza, Li Wushuang stood silently with her younger siblings, Li Yun and Li Zhining. Both had grown into capable generals of the General's Manor, achieving the San Bu Xiu realm and nearing the Si Li stage. These siblings, who had once been Li Hao's childhood playmates, now had families and careers of their own. Yet the most dazzling among them, Li Hao, remained alone—and now, separated from them by life and death.
Perhaps this was heaven's punishment for a prodigy: the brighter the light, the shorter the flame.
"In Tan Palace, at the manor, in Dayu… everywhere he went, he left legends. Even here in the heavens, it's the same. He truly is… the first person I've ever truly admired," Li Yun murmured.
As a child, Li Yun had viewed Li Hao as a rival—until one day, Li Hao caught him and gave him a spanking he never forgot. From that moment, he abandoned the idea of competing with Li Hao. Now, those childhood days felt so far away. Even the memory of that sting seemed warm and nostalgic, yet irretrievable.
Several Half-Saints had volunteered to stand watch here. Streams of people arrived to pay their respects, many traveling great distances. Even royalty from various divine empires came in their dragon-carriages, unable to traverse the void with their cultivation levels but determined to bow in reverence personally.
What was once a terrifying forbidden zone now resembled a site of pilgrimage, bustling with activity. Yet no one dared venture into the depths of the forbidden grounds.
Within the rift itself, the Double Rift Valley remained ominously silent, as though untouched by time. The abyssal darkness seemed bottomless, swallowing all light and even the natural laws of the heavens.
Returning to the Moment of the Fall
When Li Hao and the True Immortal Realm ancient demon plunged into the Double Rift Valley, Li Hao felt his body sinking endlessly. A chilling force enveloped his soul, freezing it layer by layer. He felt an unfamiliar coldness creeping into his very being, as though his soul were turning to ice.
So, this was the first forbidden zone of the heavens?
In this place, no energy flowed, and no laws of the heavens operated. It was a land of utter silence. Li Hao's soul, bound by the rules of this place, could only sink helplessly.
Ahead of him, the True Immortal Realm ancient demon was in a similar plight. Its eyes burned with both fury and terror as it glared at Li Hao. How could it, a being of the True Immortal Realm, have been forced to such a state by a mere Saint-level cultivator?
Yet, no matter its anger, the suppressive celestial laws of this place left it powerless to act. That was what terrified it the most: the uncertainty of what lay below and the relentless force that seemed to consume its soul.
As Li Hao and the ancient demon exchanged bitter, helpless stares, Li Hao suddenly felt as though he had passed through a thin membrane. Instantly, the abyssal darkness gave way to dazzling light.
The cold, oppressive energy surrounding him retreated like a receding tide. It took a moment for Li Hao's soul to adapt. When he finally opened his eyes fully, what lay before him made him freeze in awe.
The endless blackness had been replaced by a colossal palace. Towering so high that its top seemed to pierce the heavens, the palace radiated brilliance, enveloped in endless celestial light.
Before the palace, a staircase stretched upward—seemingly endless, with millions of steps, impossible to count.
Li Hao was stunned. What was this place?
The True Immortal Realm ancient demon, too, was momentarily at a loss. Its soul trembled as it took in the scene. The overwhelming presence of celestial energy filled the air, dense beyond comprehension. The very laws of the heavens, usually imperceptible, hung in the atmosphere like tangible threads. This was power only a Celestial Monarch could wield!
Suddenly, a thought struck the ancient demon, and its shock turned to unbridled joy. The purpose of its journey to this realm had been to seek the Celestial Emperor's treasure. Now, standing before this awe-inspiring palace, it felt certain: this was the Celestial Emperor's palace!
The treasure it had sought truly existed, and it was right here.
Overcome with excitement, the ancient demon nearly forgot its hatred for Li Hao. It even felt a bizarre impulse to thank him. But as its gaze returned to Li Hao, clarity snapped back into place.
No, this human—this ant—was still a threat.
The demon turned, its eyes cold and calculating. Just as it prepared to strike, an overwhelming force surged from below.
The ground seemed to come alive, as though a titanic hand had reached up to clasp the void. In the face of this monstrous power, the ancient demon, a being of the True Immortal Realm, was nothing more than an insect caught in flight.
With a sickening crack, the ancient demon's soul was crushed. It vanished entirely—without a scream, without a trace. It was as though it had never existed.
Li Hao froze in place, his entire being trembling with an icy fear. He turned his gaze toward the source of the power, which had shifted his focus from the towering palace to the surrounding area.
It was a quiet, grassy field. Amid the greenery stood a humble thatched hut, surrounded by a modest farm with seven or eight acres of fertile land.
Before the hut, an old man stood beside a rocking chair. He had just risen, his expression calm but his eyes piercing as they fixed on Li Hao.
Nearby, a cluster of simple meditation cushions lay scattered. Sitting on several of these cushions were figures exuding the distinct auras of Saints.
Li Hao was stunned. How could such a place exist within the Double Rift Valley? And how could there be so many Saints here?
As he stared in confusion, the old man's cold gaze softened. A faint smile appeared on his face as he lifted a hand and motioned for Li Hao to approach.