Follow the path of Dao from infancy Chapter 1763 Chapter 452: Tai Cang Ancestor Skill, Emerging from Seclusion to Reap

Li Hao was momentarily stunned as he met the smiling eyes of Elder Qi. His chaotic thoughts gradually settled into a profound stillness, leaving his heart remarkably peaceful. He offered a faint smile and replied:

"My thanks to you, senior."

While the elder hadn't provided a formal lecture, it was clear that he had offered deliberate guidance. Since Li Hao had reaped the rewards of this enlightenment, he had to acknowledge the source of the cause.

"It is truly a rarity to see someone so young immerse themselves so deeply in such an obscure path," Elder Qi remarked with a soft chuckle.

In this world of Cultivation, although the Dao of Chess can lead one to become a Saint and grasp the Great Dao, it lacks the fervent following enjoyed by martial arts and weapon mastery.

Li Hao turned his attention back to the board. Interestingly, the game that had once seemed mysterious did not become simple or clear after his breakthrough. Instead, it appeared even more complex. Beyond the shifts in time and space, he now perceived the intricate weaving of cause and effect, noticing many subtle traces that had previously eluded him.

Before entering the Dao, one is like a person looking at a vast ocean; after entering the Dao, it is like gazing upon the entire galaxy and the infinite universe.

"The Chess Dao of you two seniors is truly incomprehensible," Li Hao said, his eyes filled with genuine respect. He realized their mastery was far beyond his own reach, exceeding even the thirteenth dan by an immeasurable margin.

"We have simply lived for a very long time and found ourselves with nothing else to occupy our days," Elder Qi replied. His words were the honest truth. Had they not possessed such longevity and a lack of duties, they wouldn't have sought out the Chess Dao as a form of leisure.

Throughout the passage of hundreds of thousands of years, they could reach profound levels of understanding even without dedicating their full focus to it.

However, the Chess Dao they mastered only added a layer of refinement to their existing combat strength; it was not enough to shatter the limitations of their Final Realm.

"Senior is being far too humble," Li Hao said, shaking his head. He then asked with curiosity, "Senior, you mentioned being born from chaos and being among the oldest beings in existence. Why then do you claim to be inferior to the Immortal Emperor?"

Given such a vast amount of time, one should surely be able to discover the Emperor Road. Even if one lacked innate talent, wouldn't an immortal with endless time eventually be able to comprehend any path to the Emperor Road?

"Your move," Elder Eight interrupted, his voice tinged with impatience.

With a small smile, Elder Qi looked at the board, reflected for a moment, and then placed a piece. As the stone landed, Li Hao’s attention was pulled toward it as if he were witnessing the very pillars of heaven and earth. The white pieces surged with aggression, effectively cornering the black ones.

Elder Eight fell into a silent, contemplative state once more.

Elder Qi focused on the game briefly before looking up at Li Hao with a smile. "Everything originates from a source. We were born of chaos, belonging to the original Tai Cang Cultivation system. Back then, the Ten Thousand Dao Laws did not exist, nor did the many realms created by later generations. Thus, we have all reached the Final Realm of that era."

"The Tai Cang System? The Final Realm?" Li Hao asked, surprised. "Does the Final Realm mean a level equivalent to an Immortal Emperor?"

"Indeed," Elder Qi nodded. "Since ancient times, many races and Cultivation systems have risen, but all rivers eventually flow to the same sea. They ultimately transformed into the Cultivation of the Ten Thousand Dao Laws and the condensing of realms, which is the current Emperor Dao System!"

"The Final Realm of this Emperor Dao System is the Immortal Emperor, a being capable of wielding the power of the Heavenly Dao. At its peak, an Immortal Emperor can stand as an equal to the Heavenly Dao itself!"

"However, the highest level of the Tai Cang System only equals the Quasi-Emperor Realm in terms of raw power. That is the absolute limit of the Tai Cang Final Realm."

Li Hao was speechless. The limitation of the system itself? It appeared the two elders were not restricted by their own potential, but by the very foundation of their Cultivation.

"Is it impossible to break through, or perhaps switch to a different system?" Li Hao inquired.

If the peak of their path only reached the Quasi-Emperor level, why wouldn't they transition to the modern Emperor Dao System?

"Born of chaos and having reached the pinnacle of our path, we cannot change, nor do we desire to," Elder Qi explained. He shook his head and gestured toward the surrounding bamboo grove. "Look at this simple scenery. It lacks the grandeur of famous mountains or the Emperor’s Hall, yet this is our home, and we cherish it. To me, the dragon throne in the Emperor’s Hall is no better than this worn wooden chair I sit upon. The world has both a sun and a moon—one bright, one dark—but neither is superior. Whatever you love is the finest thing in existence."

Li Hao felt a bit dazed, yet he found himself instantly relating to the old man's perspective.

Hadn't he always felt the same way? The passion in one's heart outweighs everything else in the world.

While many chase the ultimate peak, he preferred the simple life of the mortal world. To him, legendary sword manuals and rare treasures were worth less than a delicious meal or a book on chess.

Even if his power was derived from music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, wasn't his love for them genuine?

If swords and spears didn't grant power or status, would they really be more beautiful than poetry or music in his eyes?

Noticing Li Hao's distraction, Elder Qi smiled and added in a mysterious tone:

"Furthermore, while we may not match the Immortal Emperor, it depends on the location. Within this Chaos World, not even an Immortal Emperor can harm us! The Tai Cang System is about cultivating the self, while the Emperor Dao System focuses on controlling the Ten Thousand Dao, mastering the Heavenly Dao, and forming an Emperor’s Heart. One is the pinnacle of simplicity; the other is the pinnacle of complexity. Perhaps in the far future, a new era will bring a system that surpasses the Emperor Dao... but there are always more peaks to climb. We no longer have the heart for such pursuits. We prefer to stay in this mountain courtyard, warming wine, playing chess, and listening to the wind in the bamboo."

"I see. That is indeed a very good life."

As he listened to the elder’s gentle narration, Li Hao felt a strange sense of kinship, as if his own beliefs had finally found a matching soul.

He shared that exact sentiment. The pursuit of worldly glory is a never-ending cycle; mortals dream of reaching heaven, and once they become emperors, they crave immortality. There is no end to it.