Follow the path of Dao from infancy Chapter 1838 Chapter 486: Challenging the Limits
Previously on Follow the path of Dao from infancy...
With those words spoken, the pitch-black void in front of him abruptly started to lighten up, as beams of illumination slowly surfaced, unveiling a lush expanse of mountains laced with towering summits.
Those summits thrust upward like razor-sharp fangs, shrouded in swirling vapors and haze, while the earth's ridges snaked through the spaces between every rise.
Li Hao sensed the abundant vital force of the Five Paths immortal power lingering in the emptiness—metal, wood, water, fire, earth—empowering cultivators of various Immortal Techniques and Immortal Bodies to maximize their abilities in this space, striking a perfect balance.
"This setup in the First Layer is truly quite impartial."
Li Hao mused inwardly, figuring this design catered to folks at the Perfect Immortal Monarch Realm, since an overly harsh setting might prove too harsh for those at that stage.
While he examined his environment closely, a tear suddenly ripped open in the space before him, from which three silhouettes of Ancient Demons wrapped in shadowy energy burst forth, each taking distinct shapes: the Emperor Jiang Royal Family type Li Hao recognized, the Yama Clan he'd faced before, and a third Ancient Demon swathed in a foul, murky vapor that tainted the nearby heavenly laws and earthly principles.
"Three Ancient Demon King Clans..."
Li Hao narrowed his eyes a bit; ever since ascending to Immortal King, he'd cut down Ancient Demons amid battles, but always backed by army arrays. In truth, he'd never squared off solo against a rival at the Immortal King Realm.
As he sized them up, the gazes of the three Ancient Demon King Clans flashed with savage chill, and they lunged straight toward Li Hao.
Three waves of Realm Power unfurled, positioning themselves at three points to trap Li Hao in the middle.
"Formless."
At Li Hao's command, the Formless Realm instantly expanded.
In a flash, the space encircling him twisted briefly before snapping back to normal. This left Li Hao, positioned inside the realm, radiating an enigmatic aura that's tough to grasp.
Formless Realm, where the field lacks shape, and trails vanish entirely!
The encroaching Realms from the three Ancient Demon King Clans pressed into Li Hao's domain, sliding right up to his position.
The dark Yan Power morphed into a Blazing Edge slashing toward Li Hao. At the same time, the Emperor Jiang Royal Family swung a Punch Blade laced with subtle Emperor Power; feeble as it was, it could spark momentary confusion, freezing the thoughts.
And the leftover Poison Corrosion Clan Ancient Demon spewed a sinister toxic fog that warped the laws and immortal power nearby, crafting a Forbidden Immortal Zone. Even immortal power drawn from the All Heavens Star Vein would get muddled, nullifying Ultimate Realm Power!
This joint onslaught whipped up a perilous bind, where any same-level Immortal King would find resistance almost out of reach.
Li Hao couldn't help but sigh: it's no surprise the Heaven Tower trials demand top-tier geniuses to conquer, as regular ones might not even clear the layer matching their own cultivation.
Faced with the onslaught of three Realm Power surges, Li Hao didn't budge; the forces rushed by, slamming into his frame only to phase right through. Their energies clashed against each other, splitting the void apart. Amid the warped, fractured emptiness, Li Hao's figure stayed planted in place.
"Formless Paths, paths that don't align—no amount of push can bridge to the other side."
Li Hao murmured, feeling the amazing function of the Formless Realm, turning oneself shapeless, making the realm shapeless. Once the self turns shapeless, every strike misses the route to him.
So, he stays untouched without effort.
"Formless also means endless shapes!"
Li Hao lifted his arm, and the formless shifted. Right away, his realm swelled, brimming with versions of himself, materializing next to the three Ancient Demon King Clans. Before, it was three foes versus one; now, thirty 'Li Haos' hammered a single Ancient Demon!
Ten times the payback!
With a thunderous crash, the three Ancient Demons' bodies buckled under the strain, their realms crumbling in a heartbeat, forms exploding into bloody haze; then, under the flurry of sword strikes from the many 'Li Haos', even the bloody haze scattered—untouchable, without form.
Over.
The scene settled into calm; before Li Hao, a voice rang out:
"Congratulations, you've cleared the First Layer of the Heaven Tower. Do you want to tackle the Second Layer?"
"Yes."
Up in the sky, a fissure split open, pulling Li Hao in with mighty force. Li Hao offered no fight, letting the pull draw him inside.
In mere moments, the gloom inside the fissure lifted. What greeted him was a fresh realm, its floor awash in molten rock, and the air thick with potent Fire Dao immortal power.
Even though Li Hao commanded Nine Orders Power, the ambient influence still packed a punch, though it didn't matter much.
He waited steadily for his foes to show.
This round, Ancient Demons clambered up from the molten depths—six altogether—all at Immortal King Realm First Level and from the Ancient Demon King Clans!
Li Hao's brows arched faintly; for merely the Second Layer, the challenge ramped up fiercely, leading him to think most First Level Immortal Kings couldn't make it past the first five trials.
As the six Ancient Demons struck, Li Hao stuck to his strategy, holding onto the Formless Realm.
Formless morphed into countless forms, wiping out the six Ancient Demons in a snap, nailing the Second Layer.
Then came the Third Layer, Fourth Layer...
In the Third Layer, the Ancient Demons numbered twelve, doubling once more!
The Fourth Layer featured 24 Ancient Demons.
By the Fifth Layer, 48 Ancient Demons swarmed around Li Hao thickly.
The count kept doubling, but thanks to Li Hao's endless shifts, it flipped the script with hordes of humans overwhelming scant demons, handling them with ease.
Entering the Sixth Layer, the Ancient Demons stayed at 48, yet Li Hao clearly detected beefed-up presences from these foes. All still First Level Immortal King Realm, but their presences hit the peak of flawlessness.
Every Ancient Demon's strength had jumped by no less than a third.
This twist at last stirred a sense of building momentum in Li Hao...