Follow the path of Dao from infancy Chapter 1758 Chapter 450: Elder Chaos (Part 2)

Li Hao remained confident that as long as his target was locked, the Destined Sword Qi possessed the power to deliver a finishing blow.

Bang!

Suddenly, a massive force descended from the heavens, slamming into the Destined Sword Qi. The crimson energy shattered instantly, dissolving into nothingness like a popping bubble.

Li Hao stood frozen, his pupils shrinking as he scanned his surroundings in terror.

Even with his Divine Sense covering thousands of miles, he could not detect a single soul. Despite the empty landscape, a bone-chilling sensation crept up his spine, making his hair stand on end.

"Young friend, would you be willing to show mercy to this little dog of mine? We have been companions for many years, and I cannot bear to watch it perish here."

While Li Hao searched the area in disbelief, an ancient voice suddenly resonated directly in his ears. Stunned and shaken, Li Hao looked around. Sensing no immediate malice or killing intent in the voice, he relaxed slightly, though his tone remained guarded as he replied:

"May I ask the senior's name and location? If I have caused any offense, I hope for your forgiveness."

"It has been a lifetime since I last encountered a living soul. You may come forward."

The elderly voice spoke with calm authority. As the words faded, a spatial passage manifested at the feet of the giant wolf Dao Seed. It took the form of a winding trail leading toward a bamboo forest. Though the swaying bamboo trees on either side appeared to be illusory projections, the crisp, authentic scent of bamboo drifted through the air.

Li Hao watched in amazement as the terrifying giant wolf Dao Seed shrank down into a medium-sized dog. Without a single backward glance, it bolted down the phantom path into the depths of the forest.

"Is there truly a hidden expert residing here?"

Li Hao was profoundly shocked. It was hard to fathom, considering not even Immortal Emperors could set foot within the Endless Heavenly Domain!

Could there be a level of existence that transcended the Immortal Emperor realm?

Though bewildered, Li Hao stared at the peaceful bamboo grove, eventually gritting his teeth and charging inside. He reasoned that if the stranger intended to kill him, someone with such power could do so as easily as flipping a palm. Furthermore, if this person was restricted by the laws of the Endless Heavenly Domain and held below the Immortal King Realm, Li Hao felt he could still win. By advancing his Chaos Dao to the Seventh Stage, he was certain he would be peerless within the Immortal Monarch Realm!

He even suspected that a Seventh Stage Chaos Dao might allow him to suppress someone at the Immortal King Realm!

This was merely an intuition, yet he trusted his instincts and made a swift decision.

As soon as Li Hao stepped onto the forest trail, the mountain landscape behind him vanished. Within the grove, his Divine Sense was heavily suppressed, shrinking from thousands of miles to a mere few hundred meters!

Simultaneously, the atmosphere became incredibly dense. Teleportation became impossible, and even his Returning Ruins Extreme Realm was completely sealed!

Li Hao felt a jolt of alarm, realizing he had underestimated how dangerous these restrictive powers could be.

Continuing forward, he reached the end of the path where a simple grass cottage stood. In front of the hut, two figures sat facing each other over a chessboard. The creature that was once a giant wolf Dao Seed was already there, nuzzling its head against the leg of one of the men.

Li Hao was speechless. There were actually people living here!

In a forbidden zone where Immortal Emperors were barred entry, someone had actually settled down—and there were two of them!

He hesitated for a moment, standing still. Realizing there was no path for retreat, he steeled his resolve and walked over, though he remained ready to erupt with his full power at a moment's notice.

"Countless years have passed, yet a youngster has appeared who understands the power of Destiny. To do so in a place where the Heavenly Dao is absent is truly exceptional."

Before Li Hao could get close, the elder whose leg was being rubbed by the dog looked up. Facing Li Hao directly, he offered a kind, wide smile that revealed a row of white teeth.

The dog-like Dao Seed also looked up at Li Hao with a wary gaze, whining softly as it rubbed against the elder’s hand as if it were reporting a grievance.

The old man patted its head with a chuckle. "There, there. It is rare for anyone to have the guts to enter the Ninth-layer Heavenly Domain. Weren't you the one boasting about eating anyone who came near? You only have your own poor appetite to blame."

The dog looked even more offended after hearing this, casting a resentful glance at Li Hao.

It had intended to gatekeep the entrance to the Ninth-layer Heavenly Domain and devour any trespassers, but it had unexpectedly bitten off more than it could chew and nearly lost its life.

Full of suspicion, Li Hao approached. He couldn't detect any aura from the two men; they were surrounded by a faint wisp of Chaos Power that made their depth impossible to measure. They felt like a gentle breeze—present, yet impossible to grasp.

"How should this junior address you, senior?" Li Hao asked cautiously, cupping his hands in respect.

Noticing his guarded state, the elder laughed. "You can call me Elder Qi. That one over there is Elder Eight."

He pointed toward the other figure at the chessboard, whose back was turned to Li Hao. Li Hao noted that Elder Eight was hunched over the game like a tortoise, completely motionless and focused.

Seven and Eight? Li Hao mused over the names. They sounded more like casual nicknames or rankings than formal titles. Usually, the titles of Immortal Emperors were grand names that shook the foundations of eternity.

"Senior, I have been told that Immortal Emperors cannot enter this place. Does that mean you have both surpassed that realm...?"

Li Hao couldn't hold back the question burning in his heart. In the True Realm, Immortal Emperors were regarded as the absolute peak of Cultivation according to every ancient record and secret text. No being was supposed to exist beyond them, yet here in the depths of the Ninth-layer Heavenly Domain, he had found two such mysterious figures.