Follow the path of Dao from infancy Chapter 1855 - 493: Realm King Emperor Road (2)

Yet at this moment, Li Hao showed no desire to progress any deeper.

Deep down, Li Hao believed that Artistic Skill formed the very foundation of his existence, and he needed to swiftly grasp the remaining four up to the thirteenth level.

Still, matters like these couldn't be forced, no matter the eagerness.

Li Hao had to ease his mindset instead, though the chaotic events beyond made it tough to stay serene like a placid pond, were it not for his unyielding Dao heart.

"Cooking, Carving, Fishing, Poetry and Books... those four Artistic Skills, Cooking depends on destiny, while the Five Paths Divine Tree I traded for earlier works perfectly for Carving!"

Li Hao’s gaze brightened with excitement, eager to dive into Carving first.

He pulled the Five Paths Divine Tree from his inner space, channeling the All Heavens Star Vein to infuse boundless immortal energy into it, making its foliage shimmer with crystal clarity.

Grasping the Immortal Sword, Li Hao sliced off a portion of the Divine Wood and observed how a glossy crystal essence surged at the cut, laced with the vital forces of the Five Paths. The wound swiftly knit back like interwoven threads of a spider's silk, slowly blending and budding fresh shoots.

As he nourished the Divine Tree via the All Heavens Star Vein, Li Hao honed his Sword Dao into a precise blade, employing the chunk of Divine Wood he held to practice his carving skills.

Moments slipped by.

Inside the realm where Li Hao focused on carving and gaining insights, across the vast Great Emperor Dojo, some disciples trained and reflected deeply, while others shattered their limits and headed to assault the Heaven Tower.

The Abyss stayed mostly silent.

"With just a brief thousand years ahead, it's hard to predict how far these young talents will advance."

Upon the Heaven Tower's summit, the Immortal Immortal Emperor lingered beside the Star Empress, scarcely stirring since their initial arrival.

In their endless span of existence, a mere moment of contemplation might stretch across thousands of years; thus, remaining still here for a millennium felt no different from a common person halting for a short rest.

"The conflict raging in the Eastern Domain turns ever more dangerous. Fresh reports indicate that five Royal Families have united, so the Immortal Emperors from each of their clans will soon arrive. Whether the Eastern Domain can hold against them remains in doubt!"

"Ancient Demons from various other lineages are also eyeing this clash. Should the Eastern Domain crumble, the bulk of those Ancient Demons would probably band together for a renewed assault."

Both Immortal Emperors creased their foreheads faintly, a touch of pressing concern emerging. Even as exalted Immortal Emperors who could detach themselves, their elevated roles stirred deeper emotions; they refused to witness the True Realm’s myriad clans fade away.

Without that, they themselves, famed Immortal Emperors, would drift like lost spirits without roots, a truly sorrowful end.

"So far, we’ve identified five candidates worthy of the Quasi-True King honor."

The Star Empress glanced over areas like the Emperor Clan, Saint Clans, and Taichu Clan, where auras of Immortal King Realm Perfection blazed intensely, matching the combat strength of the feeblest Quasi-Emperor Realm experts!

Armed with mighty artifacts, they could stand firm even against a descending Quasi-Emperor Realm foe, hard to eliminate in one strike. In a total war, they’d boldly lead the front lines, facing only the Great Emperors among the Ancient Demon Race.

"With so little time, perhaps in three thousand years, these youths could truly make a difference."

The Immortal Immortal Emperor’s eyes drifted toward a handful of youthful silhouettes.

"Some among them are reborn Quasi-Emperors and Great Emperors alike, but it’s unclear if this reincarnated Great Emperor would step up as leader in the fight, considering their former self perished in the prior Ancient Demon disaster..."

The Star Empress’s sight roamed over numerous forms before settling on one clad in dark robes.

Hidden though he was in his personal realm, her vision cut through everything, capturing his every action clearly.

Sensing the observation, the black-robed youth inside that realm abruptly lifted his eyelids, staring toward the Heaven Tower and its peak, as if locking eyes with the Star Empress across the void and his barrier.

The Star Empress made no effort to hide her presence. Though startled that he noticed her watch, as a reincarnated Great Emperor who held fragments of his old identity—who could say how much?—it made sense.

The youth gave a slight nod, like a courteous acknowledgment, before shutting his eyes once more to continue his training.

Witnessing this, the Star Empress chose not to delve deeper. For a reincarnated Great Emperor, such intrusion would smack of rudeness.

"Hmm?"

As her attention moved, the Star Empress spotted an odd detail.

Within the domain of the boy who earned a prime cultivation slot, he clutched a fragment of Divine Wood, utterly absorbed in shaping it.

"Carving?"

A flash of surprise crossed the Star Empress’s eyes, but realization dawned swiftly. As an Immortal Emperor far beyond the average person, she instantly grasped that he used carving as a path to Tao enlightenment.

Yet this roundabout method of awakening struck her as strange and highly wasteful. It resembled a sword master honing blades rather than studying chess to unlock sword truths.

Just as no Chess Saint would swing a blade to master deadly chess tactics.

Seeking awakening through a foreign craft falls short of plunging straight into one’s personal Tao.

Despite her shock, the Star Empress held her tongue, withholding any guidance; with the Dao Origin Immortal Emperor’s disciple marked as a elite seed, they lacked the right to meddle, particularly when the Emperor himself stayed quiet.

"How intriguing. His early trial results were truly over-the-top, but it’s anyone’s guess how his path will unfold next. After picking his rewards before, he’s already conquered the 54th floor."

The Immortal Immortal Emperor caught sight of Li Hao’s doings and noted with a grin.

These elite seeds drew their constant scrutiny.

"He scaled the 54th floor after forging his third peak Realm Heart."

The Star Empress explained, "What’s more, balancing three peak Realm Hearts is almost inconceivable. His relentless drive must aim to conquer this entire Emperor Road!"

"A multi-Realm Heart Emperor Road?"

The Immortal Immortal Emperor grasped Li Hao’s bold vision right away. As battle-hardened experts, they quickly saw through such actions as signs of lofty goals; he sought not just Immortal King Perfection, but the pinnacle of supremacy.

"This Emperor Road has long been a concept in theory, but none ever managed to create it."

"Even with my Reincarnated Body, my tries all collapsed."

The Immortal Immortal Emperor shared.

Through ages of existence, he had emulated the Dao Origin Immortal Emperor by forging two distinct Emperor Roads.

Sadly, pushes to craft additional Emperor Roads via reborn soul forms always fell short.

Even as an Immortal Emperor brimming with wisdom and trials, when tackling Emperor Road revelations, everyone starts from scratch, and splitting devotion between his established path and a new one left efforts too scattered for triumph.

Besides, greater knowledge can sometimes chain one down, turning into burdens instead of boons.

"This path is the Realm King Emperor Road. It’s doubtful if this young one can pull it off. Efforts to stretch it to four or five shared Realm Hearts have all crashed before."

The Star Empress pointed out.

Her own reincarnated form had probed the Emperor Road too, uncovering old flops outside that single path, all without success.

Forging Emperor Roads proves brutally tough, even for them as former Great Emperors; true supremacy comes only on self-carved roads, while others feel like beginning over.

"My reborn self pushed to six shared Realm Hearts, just shy of the end, but that last hurdle was the hardest."

The Immortal Immortal Emperor added.

The Star Empress gave a small nod, her reincarnated form likewise stalling at that final barrier. Hitting six shared Realm Hearts came swiftly for her, nothing exceptional, yet surging to the seventh brought challenges multiplied a hundred or thousand times, a crushing void of hope.

Countless viable plans tried in vain, all crumbling.

"The other three are also building their unique Emperor Roads, each harboring vast ambitions."

The Immortal Immortal Emperor turned his view to the rest. This young man wasn’t the only one; several pursued like paths, with loftier realms already at Immortal King Realm Perfection, two of whom nearly locked in Quasi-True King status.