Follow the path of Dao from infancy Chapter 1737 Chapter 442

A century has slipped away like a galloping steed, gone in the blink of an eye.

Li Hao’s soul life has now reached the milestone of three hundred years.

In the world of mortals, even a single decade can remain etched vividly in the mind; how much more so this century filled with shared laughter and companionship?

“A hundred years...”

“How fleeting it truly is.”

Li Hao whispered to himself. A notification emerged before his vision, but he chose to ignore it entirely.

“Senior Brother Haotian, please do not grieve. Our lives were lost in the struggle against ancient demons; it was a righteous end, a sacrifice made for the sake of the Human Race.”

Bitter Bridge spoke softly, his gaze toward the young man filled with immense warmth.

He did not claim they died without any regrets, for they certainly had them. Their sorrow lay in their inability to progress further—to reach the ultimate peak at the conclusion of the immortal divine path.

In this world, which among the immortals and divines does not yearn for a single look at the supreme Emperor Realm?

Yet, dust eventually returns to the earth and bones are interred at the frontier, leaving them unable to carry on the fight.

Above, light snowflakes drifted down, covering the courtyard in a melancholic white blanket. The frost settled on the shoulders and heads of those present, intensifying the sense of desolation.

However, hearing the words of Bitter Bridge, Li Hao offered a smile. As he did, the snowflakes transformed into vibrant red flowers of the other shore, blooming beautifully upon the soil of the afterlife.

“Though I possess a heart of reverse time, I currently lack the necessary power. If there comes a day when I can trace the very origin of time, I will surely pull you all back from that battlefield!”

Li Hao spoke with a gentle determination.

Upon hearing his vow, Bitter Bridge and the others traded looks. The surrounding snow had been replaced by a sea of radiant flowers, their petals swirling in the air. The freezing courtyard wind had turned into a balmy spring breeze, carrying the scent of blossoms upward to chase the light of the sun and moon.

“If that is so, we shall offer our thanks to Senior Brother Haotian!”

Bitter Bridge and the rest of the group bowed deeply in unison.

Li Hao remained silent as the scenery of the painting realm began to shift. The figures of Bitter Bridge and his companions grew faint. As they approached the point of vanishing, each raised a hand to wave a final goodbye to Li Hao.

Their voices carried on the wind, reaching the young man’s ears.

“Senior Brother Haotian, until the day we meet again...”

“Senior Brother Haotian, at our first meeting, I am...”

“Senior Brother Haotian...”

As time shifted and flowed, the environment within the painting realm changed accordingly. Only Li Hao and Shi Miao, who remained quietly at his side, seemed like fixed points within this turbulent space-time.

“Your time origin... has finally caught up to this body of mine.”

Shi Miao said in a soft voice.

Li Hao turned to her, a sudden look of tenderness appearing in his eyes. He reached out to take her hand and said, “Witnessing those who have passed and cannot be brought back, you have been living in constant pain, haven't you?”

Shi Miao did not answer. Only she, born from the Time Divine Tree of Chaos, truly grasped what a terrifying curse time could be.

To witness the past and the future and yet remain powerless to alter them—that is the peak of hopelessness.

“But even amidst countless broken moments of despair, you have always been there.”

Shi Miao tightened her hold on Li Hao’s hand. She alone knew that he was her only salvation in that darkness.

Li Hao gave a slight nod. “I will always be here. Always!”

He squeezed her hand firmly, as if trying to leave a permanent mark upon her.

The two stared at one another, their souls drawing closer in that moment, leaving everything else unsaid.

A long silence followed.

Shi Miao eventually spoke, “With your current Time Origin Realm, I can be at peace as you journey to the Endless Heavenly Domain. No one within the Immortal Monarch Realm should be your equal or pose a threat to you.”

Li Hao recalled the earlier notification and the flood of insights in his mind; he now understood the situation.

Within his Sea of Consciousness, he opened the interface to review the previous prompt.

[You have comprehended the Artistic Path Heart Realm: Reverse Time Painting Realm]

[Artistic Path has advanced to the thirteenth stage]

In the State of Mind section, Li Hao saw that a thirteenth-stage Painting Realm Dao Heart had manifested.

By simply equipping it and spending a few Skill Points, he could break through to the Immortal King Realm!

However, with a hundred years remaining before the opening of the Endless Heavenly Domain, Li Hao saw no reason to advance immediately.

“If I shatter the seal of the King using a heart of reverse time, then my Realm shall be the Reverse Time Realm!”

Li Hao’s eyes were thoughtful. The Reverse Time Realm, as suggested by its name, allows for the reversal of time and space, though its range is restricted. Previously, within the painting realm with Bitter Bridge and Han Ku, he had reversed time to summon souls from the past, allowing for a moment of true interaction rather than mere manipulation.

However, using only a wisp of soul power, Li Hao could only look back a few decades. To truly invert the entirety of space-time—making the sun and moon reverse their course and rivers flow backward—he could only manage a few to ten years at most. This also came with a limited range and an exhausting cost of power.

“The power of the Reverse Time Realm is naturally superior compared to the realms of Bitter Bridge and the others. Using time as the foundation, even a realm as solid as the 'other shore' could be undone. By reversing to the point before the realm was formed, mountains and rivers would invert, and the Life Sea would recede—perhaps even causing the Life Sea to wither...”

“Yet, this does not seem to be the strongest possible realm.”

Li Hao considered his senior brothers and sisters. As direct disciples, their realms were bound to be extraordinary.

However, he could not simply visit their realms as he had with Bitter Bridge. As fellow direct disciples of equal status, their realms were their cores—the equivalent of exposing one's heart. Even family members rarely allowed such access.

“If I only seek to understand the general principles, it should be fine.”

Li Hao mused. Such things could be grasped through sparring and discussion.

With this thought, he sent out messages to Senior Brother Long Qingge and Senior Brother Lei Jingfeng.

Before long, having learned of Li Hao's request, the avatars of the two arrived outside his small courtyard.

“You wish to learn the secrets of our realms?”

Long Qingge’s eyes carried the inherent majesty of a dragon. Though he looked at Li Hao calmly, he naturally radiated a dominating presence that overlooked all things, yet his aura remained exceptionally kind toward Li Hao.