Follow the path of Dao from infancy Chapter 1737 Chapter 442

A century has slipped away like a galloping steed, gone in the blink of an eye.

Li Hao’s soul life has now reached the milestone of three hundred years.

In the world of mortals, even a single decade can leave a vivid mark on the mind; how much more significant was this century filled with joy and companionship?

“A hundred years...”

“It passes so quickly.”

Li Hao spoke in a low murmur. A system notification flashed before his vision, but he chose to overlook it entirely.

“Senior Brother Haotian, please do not grieve. We fell in battle against ancient demons, dying for a righteous cause and serving the Human Race.”

Bitter Bridge spoke softly, his gaze toward the young man filled with immense warmth.

He refrained from saying they died without any regrets, for they did harbor them—specifically, their failure to progress further and reach the pinnacle of the immortal divine path.

Within this world, what immortal or divine being does not yearn to glimpse the supreme Emperor Realm?

Yet, in the end, dust returns to dust and earth to earth. With bones resting at the frontier, they were simply unable to press on with the struggle.

Above them, snowflakes drifted lazily, coating the courtyard in a layer of white and filling the air with a melancholic desolation that settled upon their heads and shoulders.

However, Li Hao smiled upon hearing Bitter Bridge’s consolation. As he did, the falling flakes transformed into the crimson flowers of the other shore, blossoming beautifully upon the soil of the afterlife.

“Though I possess a heart of reverse time, I currently lack the necessary strength. If I can one day trace the very source of time, I will certainly pull you all back from that battlefield!”

Li Hao declared in a quiet voice.

Bitter Bridge and the others traded looks as they heard his words. The white snow surrounding them had already turned into a vibrant sea of flowers, their petals fluttering in the wind. The biting chill of the courtyard had softened into a floral-scented spring breeze, lifting the petals toward the light of the sun and moon.

“If that day comes, we shall offer our thanks to Senior Brother Haotian!”

Bitter Bridge and the rest of the group bowed deeply in unison.

Li Hao said nothing more. The surrounding painting realm began to shift, and the figures of Bitter Bridge and the others started to fade. As they neared total disappearance, each raised a hand to wave a final goodbye to Li Hao.

Their voices carried to the young man’s ears on the passing wind.

“Senior Brother Haotian, until we meet again...”

“Senior Brother Haotian, for our first meeting, I am...”

“Senior Brother Haotian...”

As the flow of time shifted, the scenery within the painting realm transformed accordingly. Only Li Hao and Shi Miao, who stood silently at his side, appeared to be fixed points within this chaotic temporal space.

“Your time origin... has finally caught up to this body of mine,” Shi Miao remarked softly.

Li Hao turned to her, a sudden wave of tenderness appearing in his eyes. He reached out to grasp her hand and said, “Watching those who have passed and cannot be brought back, you have been living in constant sorrow, haven't you?”

Shi Miao remained silent. As a being born from the Time Divine Tree of Chaos, she alone truly grasped how terrifying the curse of time could be.

To witness the past and the future and yet be powerless to change anything is the ultimate form of despair.

“But even within those countless moments of shattered hope, you have always remained.”

Shi Miao tightened her hold on Li Hao’s hand. She knew that he was her only salvation from that hopelessness.

Li Hao gave a small nod. “I will always be here. Always!”

He squeezed her hand firmly, as if trying to leave an indelible mark.

They looked at one another, their souls drawing closer in that moment, leaving everything else unsaid.

After a long silence.

Shi Miao spoke softly, “With your current Time Origin Realm, I can be at peace while you journey to the Endless Heavenly Domain. No one within the Immortal Monarch Realm should be your equal or pose a threat to you.”

Li Hao recalled the earlier notification and the flood of insights in his mind, realizing what had transpired.

He accessed his interface within his Sea of Consciousness to review the previous prompt.

[You have comprehended the Artistic Path Heart Realm: Reverse Time Painting Realm]

[Artistic Path has advanced to the thirteenth stage]

Li Hao noted that within the State of Mind section, a thirteenth-stage Painting Realm Dao Heart had manifested.

By simply equipping it and spending a few Skill Points, he could break through to the Immortal King Realm!

However, since there was still a century before the Endless Heavenly Domain would open, Li Hao had no intention of advancing just yet.

“If I shatter the seal of the King using a heart of reverse time, then my Realm shall be the Reverse Time Realm!”

Li Hao’s eyes were filled with deep thought. The Reverse Time Realm, as its name suggested, allowed for the reversal of time and space, though its range was restricted. Previously, with Bitter Bridge and Han Ku in the painting realm, he had reversed time just enough to summon souls from the past for a moment of true interaction, rather than simply manipulating them through the painting realm.

Currently, with only a shred of soul power, Li Hao could only go back a few decades. To truly reverse the entirety of time and space—making the sun and moon move backward and rivers flow toward their source—he could manage ten years at most. This also came with a limited range and an immense cost of Qi.

“The power of the Reverse Time Realm is naturally superior to that of Bitter Bridge and the others. Using time as its foundation, even the unbreakable other shore could be affected. If I reverse time to the point before a realm is even formed, causing its landscapes to invert and its Life Sea to recede, perhaps the Life Sea would even wither away...”

“Yet, this does not seem to be the absolute strongest realm possible.”

Li Hao thought of his senior brothers and sisters. As direct disciples, their realms were bound to be extraordinary.

However, it was unlikely he could visit their realms as he had with Bitter Bridge. As fellow direct disciples of equal status, the realm was their core—exposing it was like exposing one's heart. Even family members rarely shared such things.

“If I only seek to understand their general techniques, it should be fine,” Li Hao mused.

After all, such things could be gauged through sparring and discussion.

With that thought, he sent messages to Senior Brother Long Qingge and Senior Brother Lei Jingfeng.

Before long, having learned of Li Hao’s request, the avatars of the two arrived outside his small courtyard.

“You wish to learn the secrets of our realms?”

Long Qingge’s eyes carried the regal majesty of a dragon. Though he looked at Li Hao calmly, he naturally radiated a dominating aura of one who overlooks the world, yet his presence toward Li Hao remained incredibly kind.