Follow the path of Dao from infancy Chapter 1851 Chapter 491: Absorption and Challenge (Part 2)

Li Hao picked this treasure primarily not because of the Five Elements Dao Fruit, but due to the superior quality of its wood for carving purposes.

The next treasure he selected was the Chaos Dao Map, which takes the form of a painting.

By meditating in front of the Dao Map, a cultivator can grasp the essence of chaos, yielding results even more potent than those from a Chaotic Star. A Great Emperor labored intensely to create this artwork, encapsulating the full chaos prior to its fragmentation.

Li Hao's selection of this treasure stemmed not from a desire to grasp the Chaos Dao, but rather to delve into the advanced painting techniques embedded in it.

He perceived the profound level of artistry in this painting, which soared well above the Thirteenth Stage of the Artistic Path.

Should he manage to unravel its secrets, his own painting abilities might surge forward to the Fourteenth Stage!

Upon merging the Fourteenth Stage of the Artistic Path Heart Realm, Li Hao remained uncertain whether it would propel him to the Immortal Emperor Realm or merely the Quasi-Emperor Realm.

Even so, such an achievement would deliver a dramatic surge in his overall power.

Li Hao's final pick was the Heavenly Dao Blood. As Shi Miao explained, just one drop could propel someone to the Three Immortal End Realm. While it aids in fostering the Heavenly Dao Infant, its benefits stay modest unless ample amounts are used for a real boost.

Nevertheless, Heavenly Dao Blood ranks as a supreme resource across every clan. Even the Ten Thousand Clans struggle to provide as many as a hundred drops.

Should someone claim the entire stock of Heavenly Dao Blood and nourish the Heavenly Dao Infant with it, the results would prove utterly revolutionary and astounding.

In truth, not even the grandest clans would allocate hundreds of drops of Heavenly Dao Blood to just one individual.

And even if such an idea crossed their minds, they likely wouldn't have enough Heavenly Dao Blood on hand.

With Li Hao's choices complete, Shi Miao proceeded to select her own items, opting against Heavenly Dao Blood and instead grabbing ones that fit her needs perfectly.

Upon noticing Li Hao's picks of the Five Paths Divine Tree and Chaos Dao Map, Shi Miao showed a flicker of astonishment yet held her tongue. She simply pointed out to him that these treasures ranked as middling among the elite ones, falling short of the absolute best. When it came to cultivation progress, a serving of Time Tree Juice outshone them vastly, since ingesting it granted instant insight into the Time Dao Origin.

In contrast, the pair he chose only served to enrich understanding gradually, involving an intermediate effort and relying heavily on personal insight.

"Beyond the elite treasures, plenty of high-grade options remain available for selection."

Shi Miao promptly guided Li Hao to the Ten Thousand Clans' vault of upper-grade treasures.

Through a round of careful picks, they gathered a bounty of fine treasures, among them aids for boosting True God Blood—albeit limited to just ten drops.

Other selections included items to fortify the Immortal Body. Li Hao's Immortal Body had evolved from Heavenly Immortal to Celestial Immortal Body, and it strengthened further once he hit the Immortal King Realm. Still, in the Immortal King Realm, the Celestial Immortal Body didn't qualify as elite, leaving space for further upgrades.

In the midst of choosing middle-tier treasures, Li Hao also secured a Realm Domain Pill that speeds up progression by a full stage.

That said, he intended to save it for the Eighth Layer of the Immortal King Realm before using it. Typically, powerful clans deploy it at that point to squeeze out the utmost benefits.

Having claimed a wealth of treasures, Li Hao and Shi Miao left the Heaven Tower, observing crowds flowing in and out as trials raged on.

A good number had ventured into the Emperor Arena, set up by two Immortal Emperors.

This influx had thinned the crowd around the Heaven Tower a bit from earlier levels.

"Let's head out."

The pair didn't delay, making straight for the Emperor Arena.

They aimed to assimilate and refine the fresh haul of treasures right there.

As soon as they reached the Emperor Arena, Li Hao detected a dense aura of immortal power, vastly denser than outside, that wrapped around them completely.

The energy pulsed with abundance, eagerly seeping into their forms.

"Have you only recently stepped into the Immortal King Realm?"

After Li Hao and Shi Miao settled in a quiet corner to descend, three nearby figures turned their way, and a red-haired young man grinned at them:

"We're from the Western Regions Yan Fire Clan; and you?"

Li Hao paused in surprise, at a loss for words, since his origins lay in the Mortal World rather than the Ten Thousand Clans.

Shi Miao, meanwhile, showed zero interest in chatting. Having sprung from the Time Chaos Divine Tree, she stood apart from the Ten Thousand Clans as a singular being with no family ties.

Noting their reactions, the newcomers assumed hesitation to share, so they flashed an easygoing smile, staying unruffled, and added:

"Showing up here fresh from a breakthrough means you're elite talents in your clans. Crossing paths like this is destiny—let's push forward side by side from here on!"

Li Hao offered a faint smile and replied, "Good luck!"

"What floors did you hit last time? I made it to the 18th, while my brother got to the 25th!"

The girl sporting tiny red braids beside them eyed Li Hao and Shi Miao with curiosity, then asked, "Oh, and are you two a couple?"

Shi Miao blinked in shock, her face flushing pink, and she warmed to the Yan Fire Clan right away.

"I..."

Li Hao started to reply, but the young man lightly knocked his sister's forehead, scolding, "Don't lead with questions like that; it's rude."

He rubbed the back of his head awkwardly at Li Hao and Shi Miao, explaining, "My sister's always so direct—hope you don't take it personally. Even as an Immortal King, she's spent most of her time training in the clan, spoiled by our family, and hasn't met many hardships."

Li Hao gave a nod and stated, "We are a couple."

Shi Miao beamed and commented, "I find your sister quite adorable."

The girl with the small red braids shot her brother a look and declared, "See!"

The young man sighed in resignation and sent a mental message, "She's just being polite."

The girl with the small red braids huffed softly, clearly rejecting her brother's take.

"Time to start our cultivation as well."

A different youth from the Yan Fire Clan nearby spoke up, his expression serious, as if he preferred silence, and he already stood at the Third Level of the Immortal King Realm.

At that cue, the young man and his sister gave Li Hao and Shi Miao a nod before each forming their personal realms and settling into meditation.

Li Hao and Shi Miao followed suit, crafting their own realms and pulling out the assorted treasures inside them to begin absorbing and refining.

Li Hao began by swallowing the Time Tree Juice, quickly sensing an odd feeling surge through his whole body. The juice he took in acted like a stream of bizarre space, tearing his form into myriad fragments, each lingering in separate timelines.

In that moment, Li Hao gained a sharper grasp and insight into time, fully lost in the marvels unleashed by the Time Tree Juice.

…

Time flowed onward.

Before they knew it, a full half-month had slipped by.

All the treasures Li Hao had chosen, Heavenly Dao Blood included, got fully ingested and integrated.

As his realm dissolved, Li Hao softly opened his eyes. Over just half a month, his power had leaped ahead dramatically.

"At this level, I ought to hit about the 48th floor."

Li Hao pondered to himself.

This represented a solid jump of five levels in power, especially striking as it bridged the Fourth Level barrier.

Upgrades to the Immortal Body along with deeper Tao Realm understandings massively boosted his fighting prowess.

"Still, these gains play second fiddle; the real prize is the Emperor Dao!"

Li Hao's gaze sharpened with excitement. Refining the Emperor Dao prototype would change everything.

"Now that I've taken both Five Elements Dao Fruits, this tree… makes for matchless godly wood to carve with."

"If comprehending the Chaos Dao Map lifts my painting to the Fourteenth Stage, that'd be perfect…"

Li Hao eyed the treasures nearby, abruptly feeling the pressure of divided focus, yearning to clone himself for parallel study and practice.

Time pressed urgently, and though he lingered at the First Level of the Immortal King Realm, Li Hao set his sights on contending for the True King's deputy role, which would let him wield enough influence to keep Feng, Emperor Yu, and the rest nearby, safe under his watch.

Then, even if the Southern Domain Venerable learned of him, that foe wouldn't risk a move, since the True King emerged from the Ten Thousand Clans' choice, supported by countless Great Emperors as the vanguard leader. Striking at him would mean defying the True Realm's Ten Thousand Races—a step far too audacious for any Great Emperor!

"Time to try juggling three Realm Hearts at once!"

Li Hao's eyes flashed, as he withdrew his domain and spotted Shi Miao still shrouded in hers, hiding whatever went on within.

He wasted no time scanning the area, taking in the three Yan Fire Clan folks: two immersed in their domains, the other gone—probably tackling the Heaven Tower.

Li Hao didn't hang around, striding off toward the Heaven Tower.

He bypassed straight to the 44th floor, taking on the 47th.