Follow the path of Dao from infancy Chapter 1673 Chapter 423: Familiar Faces in the Southern Domain, Opening the Path of Chaos! (Three-in-One)

After she finished speaking, she suddenly realized that her master was also capable of granting this item to Li Hao. Thus, she quickly clarified, "You are permitted to teach it to others."

Its value would be rather limited if it were restricted solely to Li Hao’s own use. However, if the technique could be transmitted to disciples, it transformed into a foundational treasure worthy of establishing an entire Sect.

Li Hao offered his gratitude and accepted the gift.

In a mere moment, he had come into possession of six extraordinary treasures. Among these, the most practical for his current needs was the Life-breaking Realm Core bestowed by his eldest senior brother; it was essentially a second life for one at the Immortal Monarch Realm.

"Lingshu, how does your enlightenment regarding the Chaos Dao proceed? Have you made any breakthroughs?"

The Dao Origin Immortal Emperor inquired.

Di Lingshu turned her gaze toward her master. Immediately, the once dignified and majestic woman adopted a more spirited and dutiful demeanor, replying, "Master, I am in the process of refining my third Chaos Dao!"

"Little junior sister... wait, I mean sixth junior sister, your progress is that rapid?"

Standing nearby, Lei Jingfeng let out an exclamation of shock.

Long Qingge lowered his head quickly, counting on his fingers as he muttered, "Sixth junior sister, you have only resided in the Primordial True Realm for three hundred years, correct? That is a full century faster than my own pace back then!"

"It is also a hundred years faster than me," Lei Jingfeng added with a self-deprecating smile.

"Not bad, though you are still a hundred years slower than I was."

The second senior brother, Di Wushe, spoke with a composed voice, yet a hint of pride flickered in his expression.

This was, after all, a conversation held in the presence of their master.

By this metric, the distance between himself and the fourth and fifth senior brothers spanned two centuries.

"You are sixty years behind my pace, but it is a commendable effort nonetheless," Gu Mofan said with a consoling smile.

"Your speed is roughly the same as mine."

Zhan Qinghuang clicked her tongue, observing this sixth junior sister from the Emperor Clan. It was clear that the disciples chosen by their master were all exceptional; with the exception of Di Wushe, the disparity between them was minimal.

Upon hearing Di Wushe’s remark, the flicker of pride in Di Lingshu’s eyes vanished, replaced by confusion. After the eldest senior brother and third senior sister finished their assessments, the budding self-esteem in her heart crumbled entirely, leaving her feeling frustrated.

"Eldest senior brother, were you truly faster than me as well?"

Gu Mofan was somewhat at a loss for words upon hearing this, asking, "Do you truly believe your eldest senior brother is a man of low talent?"

Beside them, Lei Jingfeng and Long Qingge remained silent: "..."

Does this imply that they are the ones occupying the very bottom?

They traded looks, suddenly feeling a shared sense of misery.

"Giggle..."

Zhan Qinghuang immediately masked her laughter with her hand, teasing, "Eldest senior brother, our sixth junior sister likely thinks that since you joined the Sect sixty thousand years ago and still haven't forged your own Emperor Road, perhaps the master’s judgment was flawed when picking her first disciple!"

She had voiced Di Lingshu’s unspoken thoughts, causing the younger girl’s face to flush deep red with shame. "Third senior sister, I didn't... eldest senior brother, I never meant..."

"It is indeed my own failing for not opening the Emperor Road sooner. I am truly a disappointment; otherwise, I could have properly assisted Master in carrying her burdens."

Gu Mofan harbored no resentment toward her, offering only a weary, bitter smile.

Sharing her burdens? Li Hao’s heart skipped a beat as he looked toward his master.

She remained seated peacefully before the chessboard, appearing as though nothing in existence could disturb her.

However, during the conflicts with the Ancient Demons, even Immortal Emperors were known to perish. To his eyes, Immortal Emperors were peerless beings, the strongest under heaven.

Yet, within their own realm, they surely faced their own set of pressures and trials.

He tightened his lips slightly, suddenly feeling a surge of motivation to Cultivate faster so he could eventually share the weight of responsibility like his eldest senior brother.

"Eldest senior brother, you are being too hard on yourself. If you are a failure, then what does that make the rest of us?"

Di Wushe shook his head softly. As the second direct disciple, he alone truly understood the depth of Gu Mofan’s talent and power.

He spoke to Di Lingshu in a level tone, "The Emperor Road is not easily traversed. I entered the Sect thirty millennia ago. Within six thousand years, I climbed from the first level of the Immortal Monarch Realm to the pinnacle of the Immortal King Realm. I then spent another four thousand years reaching the Quasi-Emperor Realm, gaining the ability to perceive the Emperor’s Will and begin my own Emperor Road... but in the twenty thousand years since then..."

He continued grimly, "I have made no progress at all. There is no path forward!"

"That Daoist gate feels completely obstructed. Countless luminaries of the world have faltered before that ultimate threshold; it is far more complex than you believe."

"That is the truth."

Zhan Qinghuang, who also stood at the Quasi-Emperor Realm, sighed as she reflected on the struggle of opening the Emperor Road. She remarked:

"True geniuses are rare, appearing perhaps once every ten thousand years. Even such freaks only earn the right to glimpse the doorway. Whether they can step through depends on fate and opportunity. Everything below the Emperor Realm is nothing more than ants!"

Di Lingshu was stunned. She held Di Wushe, a fellow member of her Emperor Clan, in high regard and knew of his legendary feats within their family. She had assumed he was on the verge of the Emperor Realm after thirty thousand years, but it turned out he was utterly stuck.

The mood within the hall grew heavy and stifling following this revelation.

Long Qingge suddenly shifted his attention to Li Hao, saying, "Little junior brother, whether we remain at the bottom of the rankings depends entirely on you."

"Eh?"

Li Hao was startled. Thinking back on the Cultivation timelines the others had mentioned, he rubbed the back of his head and said, "I will give it my best effort."

"Little junior brother has only a hundred years of soul life yet is already in the Immortal Monarch Realm. His talent for comprehension must be god-like. You two being the slowest is a foregone conclusion."

Zhan Qinghuang laughed behind her hand.

Hearing this, Di Lingshu and the others stared at Li Hao in shock. They were not yet Quasi-Emperors and could not see Li Hao’s soul life at a glance without employing intrusive techniques.

"Only a hundred years of soul life?"

Lei Jingfeng and Long Qingge looked at one another, their eyes wide with disbelief. Did this mean their status as the 'slowest' was truly set in stone?

Di Lingshu was equally floored. A hundred years of soul life, and already at the third level of the Immortal Monarch Realm?

Such a terrifying Cultivation speed was unheard of; even the most gifted prodigies of the Emperor Clan could scarcely dream of reaching such heights so quickly.

It was precisely because such talents were so monstrous that they often became targets for the Ancient Demon Emperor, usually meeting their end before they could truly flourish.