Follow the path of Dao from infancy Chapter 1821 Chapter 477: The Great Battle Erupts (Part 2)
Previously on Follow the path of Dao from infancy...
Li Hao's thoughts turned, and he transmitted a message to Shi Miao.
Earlier, Shi Miao had stayed by Li Hao's side on his level, yet after certain incidents, she had slipped away without a word. When Li Hao's message reached her, she hurried back without delay.
"What good news?"
Shi Miao soared toward the mountain spring, spotting Li Hao's grin, which melted away her concerns, and she inquired with a beaming smile.
"I've just grasped the third Realm Heart!"
Li Hao chuckled, "And, through sheer fortune, I've also unlocked the Heavenly Venerate Ultimate Realm!"
Li Hao held nothing back from Shi Miao, considering how she had boldly defended him even against a Supreme.
A person ready to stake her life for him deserved Li Hao's complete trust without any hidden matters.
"The third Realm Heart?"
Shi Miao froze for a moment, then burst into astonishment, "You mean, you've unlocked the Heavenly Venerate Ultimate Realm?!"
In her previous existence as a Quasi-Emperor Realm expert, she had stood just a single step from unveiling the Emperor Road, wandering the endless flow of time, and she fully understood the might of the Heavenly Venerate Ultimate Realm.
Across the ages, only a handful of individuals ever managed to access the Heavenly Venerate Ultimate Realm; countless Quasi-Emperor Realm cultivators failed to attain it!
Activating this realm allows one to shrug off assaults rooted in Tao Realm and laws, with only unique powers capable of inflicting damage.
Furthermore, command over the Heavenly Venerate Ultimate Realm dramatically boosts the pace of grasping Tao Realm, propelling cultivation forward at an incredible rate!
Even in her former life, she had barely comprehended the Heavenly Venerate Ultimate Realm after immense struggle, which finally allowed her to bow in reverence before a Celestial Venerable.
Compared to Li Hao's grasp of the third Realm Heart, his achievement in the Heavenly Venerate Ultimate Realm filled her with greater shock and joy; the challenge was enormous, rivaling even the comprehension of the King's Domain!
Upon receiving Li Hao's affirming nod, Shi Miao brimmed with elation, certain that he spoke the truth, so now at the frontier, Li Hao could battle without restraint; with the latest reports stirring her deep unease, she had pondered whisking him away from this place to skip the impending clash.
Though such an act might bring shame, she had never shied from combat in her past life, nor would she in this one, yet the thought of Li Hao facing peril tore at her.
"Your cultivation advances so swiftly; it seems you won't take long to surpass me."
Shi Miao remarked with delight.
Li Hao smiled and retrieved Ancient Demon Flesh from the Heaven and Earth Space, preparing a barbecue grill nearby.
This Ancient Demon Meat offered potent boosts to Divine Soul Power, but Li Hao intended to share it solely with his closest allies, steering clear of revealing it to others to prevent drawing inevitable calamities.
After all, the Ten Thousand Clans of All Heavens in these times formed no unified front.
"With the third Realm Heart refined, have you discovered a method for the three Realm Hearts to exist together now?"
Shi Miao settled down close by, her actions graceful and refined, chatting with evident happiness.
Li Hao shook his head, "Not yet; I must experiment first. At present, that Realm Heart… appears to be in a sealed condition, I think."
"Sealed?"
Shi Miao showed surprise; could Realm Hearts truly be sealed? But observing Li Hao's look, she realized she had brushed against his private matters, so she refrained from digging deeper, merely adding, "You ought to explore it further; this Emperor Road proves far too arduous!"
Li Hao nodded.
As the savory scent of the Ancient Demon Meat filled the air, the pair conversed over their meal, and Shi Miao inevitably mentioned the recent happenings in the city.
"Let me share some unfortunate news."
"What?"
Li Hao paused in surprise, then a weight settled in his chest; for Shi Miao to call it "bad" amid the border warzone surely signaled grave tidings.
"Dragon Pass has fallen."
Shi Miao stated gravely.
Li Hao's chewing halted abruptly, the Ancient Demon Meat turning flavorless in that instant.
His eyes narrowed slightly, his thoughts thundering: Dragon Pass has fallen?
It was defended by his Fifth Brother Long Qingge—how could it possibly fall?!
That stood as the primary bulwark of the Eastern Domain, enduring for eons, so how had it crumbled so suddenly?!
While Li Hao remained in a stupor, Shi Miao pressed on without pause, "But your Fifth Brother is safe; he and the surviving forces have pulled back to the second defensive line at Ancestral Dragon City. Just recently, they messaged us to evacuate the Eastern Domain; since you were in seclusion, I sensed you were on the verge of a breakthrough insight, so I held off on interrupting."
"What occurred?"
Li Hao swiftly composed himself, his stare steady and composed.
"According to your Fifth Brother, it appears the Ancient Demon Clan in the Eastern Domain has formed an alliance."
Shi Miao's features clouded with concern, "After surviving the ancient war and enduring ten thousand years of strife among the Ancient Demons, they are now ruled by ten royal families, claiming territories across the True Realm."
"For years, the True Realm has sustained steady growth largely due to the divisions within the Ancient Demons. In that ancient war, Master and various Immortal Emperors united to shatter the Reincarnation Gate of the Ancient Demon Clan!"
"That gate serves as the heart of the Ancient Demon Clan; control of the Reincarnation Gate crowns one as their supreme leader."
"The gate's destruction splintered the Ancient Demon Clan, but it looks like they're reuniting now. Though I foresaw this day approaching, I never imagined it hitting so early. If we could have delayed a few more millennia, until your Emperor Road opens and you reach the pinnacle, we might confront them side by side..."
Shi Miao murmured gently.
Ten thousand years prior, she and her master had clashed directly with the Ancient Demons.
Across the vast epochs since, she had always known the Ancient Demon Clan would eventually coalesce; the ancient war was destined to flare anew.
Indeed, despite their inner turmoil, the Ancient Demon Clan would never tolerate the unchecked rise of the True Realm's Ten Thousand Races.
She had hoped to bide her time until Li Hao gained more power, allowing her to reclaim her former peak from her past life, so they could duel the Ancient Demons once more and resolve the grudge from ten thousand years back.
Yet this strife had erupted ahead of schedule, leaving her and Li Hao still at the Immortal King Realm, nowhere near completion.
The Immortal King Realm could dominate a domain, but in the ancient war, multitudes perished, and survival hung by a thread.
"The Ancient Demons have allied?"
Li Hao reeled in shock; the slumbering Ancient Demons uniting—this felt far too sudden.
Still, he grasped it; likely, the Ancient Demons had displayed unification omens long ago, but his brief cultivation journey had kept him isolated from such knowledge.
"So, that ancient war is about to erupt again?"
A oppressive burden weighed on Li Hao's mind; it was a conflict engulfing the True Realm's Ten Thousand Races, staining every corner in rivers of blood, sparing no ground.
"At this point, they probably haven't fully merged; if they had, Dragon Pass wouldn't be the only breach."
Shi Miao shook her head, "However, the Eastern Domain will almost certainly ignite as the opening front of this renewed ancient war; your senior brother urges us to depart the Eastern Domain, as it's grown unfit for training here; better to seek another spot, hone our abilities, and then challenge them."
"Can we afford to wait?"
Li Hao lifted his gaze, questioning.
Shi Miao faltered, her response halting.
In those days, the ancient demon war had struck without warning, engulfing domains throughout the True Realm and blindsiding the Ten Thousand Races.
Though the Great Emperors intervened, channeling troops via the Emperor Road to the fronts and mounting swift defenses, the overwhelming force of the Ancient Demon Clan overwhelmed numerous lines rapidly.
Myriad lives vanished in that disaster, and even as the Ten Thousand Clans awoke to the extinction threat, rallying for a desperate stand, they barely held the line.
Only through the sacrifice of several Immortal Emperors did they manage to stall the Ancient Demons, forging a deadlock that persisted for ten thousand years.
"Does Master know of this development?"
Li Hao inquired abruptly.
Shi Miao nodded, "Master must be informed; whatever plans unfold remain unclear."
Li Hao gave a quiet nod, falling silent, the thrill from his recent cultivation success now utterly faded.
Shi Miao watched Li Hao sit in quiet reflection, understanding he required space to absorb it all.
To remain and battle, or prioritize the broader strategy and retreat, swallowing pride amid the turmoil.
These were dire straits for the Eastern Domain, with Long Qingge holding the vanguard, and for Li Hao to forsake it now, fleeing to safety elsewhere...
With a heavy sigh deep within, she held her tongue and offered no sway; once the Ancient Demon Meat was consumed, she departed soundlessly.
Li Hao remained alone atop the summit, lost in prolonged silence.