Follow the path of Dao from infancy Chapter 1867 Chapter 499: The Eastern Domain Falls, Breaking Through the Barrier!
Previously on Follow the path of Dao from infancy...
"Xiao Haotian has gone into seclusion once more."
"It's been ages since I caught a whiff of that Ancient Demon Flesh's scent."
"True enough, what an incredible fragrance. Who would have thought Ancient Demons could serve as such tasty ingredients? If every cook possessed Xiao Haotian's talent, folks might start hunting them on a whim and devouring them entirely!"
Within the Ten Thousand Books Pavilion, various birds, heavenly cranes, and spirit deer murmured among themselves.
At the pavilion's heart, a young lad was seated, encircled by hazy, gray chains of law.
Those chains of law didn't represent just one law; instead, they merged numerous ones—time, space, the Five Paths—all woven together, amassing divine radiance that formed a foggy gray hue, while hiding a brilliant essence.
"Pavilion Master, what's your view on this?"
High above in the pavilion's starry river, four luminous figures watched the boy in seclusion beneath them and inquired gently.
"Within under two centuries, he's grasped every secret tome in the Ten Thousand Books Pavilion, even yours, without attaining the supreme level—yet that's due to cultivation constraints, not his own shortcoming."
The pavilion's solemn voice echoed gently, delivering the words with poise.
Those four figures embodied the four secret tomes housed in the Ten Thousand Books Pavilion, each a Quasi-Emperor Level Immortal Law—something extraordinarily rare to even comprehend at the Immortal King Realm, much less master fully.
"Yes, what a freakish talent; I can't help but wonder where the master discovered him—he appears even more exceptional than his own personal pupils."
One figure, a deer radiating seven colors, remarked with contemplation.
"Word is, disturbances are stirring in the outer world, with a catastrophe drawing near. During such upheavals, destined heroes frequently arise; maybe this lad counts as one of them."
"The disaster from ten thousand years back—the master skipped it and always regretted that choice. Now that he's stepping in this time, let's hope all turns out well."
"Why fret? Out of every Immortal Emperor, our master endures the longest. Only if the entire True Realm crumbles would he face any peril."
Recalling the moniker Immortal Immortal Emperor, a touch of comfort washed over them.
Right then, an odd ripple abruptly surfaced from below.
"Hmm?"
The various figures, plus the projections of numerous secret tomes floating in the emptiness, all turned their attention to the boy.
There, the gray divine chains around the boy abruptly dissolved into vapor, slowly gathering into a ball of fire amid the haze.
That fire warped the gray vapor, apparently intensely hot, drawing in various laws and fusing them away.
In a flash, the heat throughout the whole Ten Thousand Books Pavilion spiked dramatically.
"What's going on?"
"This is bad—such intense blaze!"
"It's not Fire Dao or Flame Dao!"
The secret tomes hovering in the void froze in shock, fleeing in panic, terrified of incineration, like a void pulling them toward breakdown and purification!
"Hmm?"
Even the Ten Thousand Books Pavilion detected the odd nature of that dark flame, sensing danger despite its status as a Quasi-Emperor Artifact— it could endure, but the secret tomes might not, since they were just Immortal Law manuals bearing immortal traits, far from matching True Immortals in cultivation or battle strength.
"Stay calm!"
Quickly, the Ten Thousand Books Pavilion released a hint of Emperor's Might, wrapping Li Hao in a barrier spanning a hundred meters to separate him.
It chose not to halt Li Hao outright, realizing the boy was likely at a pivotal breakthrough juncture, hence struggling to manage his strength precisely.
"This scorching force breaks down and dissolves every one of the Ten Thousand Dao Laws, dissolving them, yet it resembles more... reverting to the source!"
"Looks like... the Taichu Divine Flame!"
"Yes, I witnessed it once in the Taichu Clan's Divine Palace, a remnant from one of their forebears—exactly matching this!"
A white phoenix cried out.
This tome had begun as a possession of the Taichu Clan, acquired by the Immortal Immortal Emperor through a wager against a Taichu Clan Great Emperor, serving as a Quasi-Emperor Level Cultivation Technique.
"Taichu Divine Flame? The fabled blaze that incinerates everything under heaven, save for Emperors."
The remaining secret tomes reeled in astonishment; this stood as the Taichu Clan's most hidden treasure, unknown to even numerous clan geniuses—how did the boy wield it?
Perhaps he carried Taichu Clan lineage?
Yet these tomes, who often huddled to share rumors, had already figured out that Li Hao lacked any major clan heritage.
"Maybe he forged it on his own? Or perhaps, following the master's example, he covertly snatched the Taichu Clan's supreme mystery?"
One inquisitive secret tome, shaped like a golden hedgehog with shining eyes, yet carrying a sly vibe.
"The master claimed it fairly in a bet—calling it stealing is wrong; watch your tongue."
The Ten Thousand Books Pavilion rebuked mildly, causing the golden hedgehog to shrink back bashfully, while keeping a wide distance from the boy underneath.
Now, the dark Taichu Divine Flame encircling Li Hao drew in and purified all nearby Ten Thousand Dao Laws, with a lotus vaguely taking shape inside the purifying blaze.
This lotus featured nine petals, every one etched with innumerable intricate, vein-resembling markings—obviously Dao patterns!
"What's that object?"
"Has he formed it?"
"It's less like forming and more like drawing in and smelting the Ten Thousand Dao to create it?"
"Ten Thousand Dao Lotus!"
The secret tomes lurked in the hall's edges, buzzing with talk.
Just then, Li Hao gradually lifted his eyelids, a dark lotus mark flickering in his eyes. As he regarded the lotus amid the fire, its unique aroma reached him, filling his entire form with ease and clarity.
"Cooking Dao, advancing to the thirteenth stage..."