Follow the path of Dao from infancy Chapter 1724 - 436: A Century at the Immortal Lord Peak (2)

With a furrowed brow, Li Hao whispered quietly to himself.

...

Upon the heights of Extreme Dao Mountain.

Inside a small, fenced courtyard, a melody of cheerful and serene piano music drifted through the air, drawing in the surrounding immortal power.

This was the Tenth Stage of Musical Rhythm Dao. Having already transcended the mundane to enter the Saint rank, one could utilize the very clouds and thunder as instruments, crafting Tao’s thunderous music to cleanse all animosity. To listen for a long duration could significantly bolster one's Tao Heart.

"Infinite is indeed quite challenging, yet the threshold for this First Level does not seem particularly high to me..."

Having returned from receiving the true teachings of his master, Li Hao began to realize the First Level of Infinite within the quiet of the courtyard.

Reaching the First Level of Infinite allows one to triple their foundation!

The Second Level increases it sixfold!

However, the requirements for the Second Level are staggering, necessitating the fusion of 20 Chaos Laws before one is even qualified to attempt comprehension. With his current attainment in the Chaos Dao, trying to read it was like deciphering heavenly books—completely beyond his grasp.

Li Hao felt no urgency and decided to focus on elevating his artistic skill first.

Once sufficient artistic skill has been accumulated, achieving a breakthrough becomes as natural as eating or drinking, as simple as drawing breath.

As time slipped away, the courtyard was occasionally filled with the scent of roasted meat, the echoes of music, and the sound of someone reciting verse.

Every five years, a downpour of Chaos Rain would descend upon Extreme Dao Mountain, assisting Li Hao in raising his cultivation realm.

Over the span of twenty years and four cycles of Chaos Rain, Li Hao climbed from the Third Level of the Immortal Monarch Realm to the Sixth Level, crossing three entire minor realms.

Now, another thirty years have passed.

Following six more bouts of Chaos Rain, Li Hao’s cultivation advanced by another three levels, reaching the Ninth Level of the Immortal Monarch Realm!

The higher the level, the harder the progress, yet Li Hao’s capacity to absorb the Chaos Rain was extraordinary. His foundation was supported by the True God Blood within his Immortal Body, which processed the Chaos Rain so efficiently that the effects were far more potent than what others experienced.

Li Hao estimated that after three more sessions, he would likely attain the Perfect Immortal Monarch Realm.

At the Ninth Level of the Immortal Monarch Realm, his disadvantage in cultivation compared to other geniuses in the Primordial True Realm had become negligible. This resulted in a massive surge in combat power, even though his understanding of the Chaos Dao had not yet progressed.

During these thirty years, what pleased Li Hao most was that both Musical Rhythm and Poetry and Books had reached the eleventh stage, granting him two additional points of artistic skill.

As for the Chaos Dao Field, following that initial failed challenge, his dark incarnation’s subsequent battles were a mix of victories and defeats. He no longer held his previous aura of invincibility. Many spectators, even those who saw Li Hao’s growth, felt a sense of disappointment and stopped paying him much mind.

Li Hao ignored the loss of attention, continuing to send his dark incarnation to collect data from failures to better analyze his combat habits and flaws.

Such weaknesses could not be fixed by Chaos Laws suppression alone; when facing an opponent of equal talent, these flaws would become a fatal liability.

Fortunately, through constant combat, Li Hao rapidly bridged the gap in his experience and became increasingly formidable. Even when matched against equally powerful foes, he could now triumph through superior battle experience.

Thirty years had passed, and Li Hao’s presence had grown more settled. He chose to stay within the confines of Extreme Dao Mountain rather than traveling to the Chaos Star.

Time continued its steady flow.

"Establishing heart for heaven and earth, setting destiny for living beings, inheriting the ultimate skill from the past sages, opening peace for all generations!"

Li Hao softly recited these words within the courtyard.

As he spoke the verse again, his thoughts drifted to the Four Stands Realm that follows the Three Immortal Realms: specifically the Tao Heart Realm, Defying Fate Realm, Ultimate Study Realm, and Tai Ping Realm!

Each of these stages was vastly different. The so-called Tao Heart was indeed established during the Tao Heart Realm of the Tai Ping Realm, marking the initial formation of one's Tao Heart!

Reflecting on it now, Li Hao realized that these four cultivation realms corresponded perfectly to those four famous phrases.

Establishing Heart, Setting Destiny, Ultimate Skill, and Peace!

"The being who devised the Tai Ping Realm must surely have been a Great Emperor with immense compassion for all of humanity!"

Li Hao looked inward, reflecting on his path.

He gained fresh perspectives on these realms and an unprecedented grasp of the poetic verses.

In the Tao Comprehension Realm, one's words are accompanied by the law; in the Saint Realm, it manifests as Tao’s thunderous music!

By the time one reaches the True Immortal Realm, it evolves into the Immortal Law Truth!

"Poetry... it is not just a collection of beautiful words; it should hold the sharpness required to perceive the fundamental truths of the world!"

With a wave of his hand, Li Hao summoned the Time Painting Realm. Immortal power gathered in the air like splashing ink, painting a vivid world before his eyes.

Within this painted domain, the ocean at sunset merged with the horizon, while a distant flock of birds flew by in a hurry.

"Setting sun and lone goose fly together, autumn water and long sky are of one color!"

As the birds faded into the distance, mountain peaks rose from the sea, shifting the landscape into rivers and mountains where a small boat drifted against the light.

"Quiet shadows float on ink mountain, golden scales lead the light boat!"

The mountains and rivers twisted again, becoming a roaring yellow torrent that surged downward with immense power.

"Have you not seen, waters of Yellow River ascend from heaven!"

The violent waves carried an incredible force as they flowed into the distance.

The seasons shifted until snowflakes began to fall upon the world. On a bamboo raft in the middle of a river, white snow gathered on the shoulders of an old fisherman.

"Old man with bamboo hat, fishing alone in snowy river!"

The snow began to dance wildly, and within the painting realm, the flakes transformed into countless tiny figures scattered across the vast earth.

"Heaven and earth are unkind, treating all things as vanishing as straw dogs!"

As Li Hao whispered these words, the painting realm vibrated in resonance with the verse, causing both the heavens and the Heavenly Dao to tremble!

Inside the painting, the countless figures seemed to raise their heads to look at the sky. They looked beyond the realm toward Li Hao—their creator—before turning into immortal power and spiritual light. They surged out of the painting and poured into Li Hao’s body.

Poetic illusions, resembling sacred Buddhist scriptures, began to swirl and fly around him.

"Poetry turns immortal!"

At that exact moment, Li Hao’s poetic state ascended from the tenth stage to the eleventh.

He had grasped the true soul of poetry and realized the true essence of Tao.

As his state of mind advanced, a massive wave of poetic insight flooded his heart. Countless masterpieces appeared in his mind, and it felt as though he were traveling through the very landscapes described in every poem.

A long time passed.

When Li Hao finally returned to reality from that sea of masterpieces, a whirlwind of thoughts led him to wonder about the future: could he create a realm similar to the Tai Ping Realm?

The Eight Realms of Martial Arts: Universal Force, Circulation, Soul Continuation, Divine Traveling, Fifteen Miles, Heavenly Human Realm, Three Immortal Realms, and the Four Stands Realm!

To go beyond these eight and forge a new realm comparable to the Four Stands Realm.

Li Hao felt that if he could accomplish such a feat, he would be carving his own path to becoming an emperor!

However, despite the sudden spark of inspiration, as Li Hao thought deeply about it, he quickly recognized the insurmountable difficulties and dangers involved.

Trying to invent a new realm beyond the existing eight was a task of overwhelming difficulty; even his own master had only managed to expand the existing realms into a Final Realm.

"The figures who established these realms must have been truly peerless individuals..."

Li Hao pondered with deep respect and admiration.

Following his breakthrough in poetry, aside from the phenomena within his courtyard, the world outside remained as it was.

In the Primordial True Realm, countless geniuses continued their cultivation upon the various Chaos Stars.

Without anyone noticing, Li Hao had already spent a century within the Primordial True Realm.

"A hundred years have passed..."

Standing in the courtyard, Li Hao looked up at the Chaos Rain falling from above. He now held an umbrella, shielding himself from the downpour.

Years ago, his cultivation had already reached the Peak of the Immortal Monarch Realm, with no further room to climb.