Follow the path of Dao from infancy Chapter 1759 Chapter 450: Elder of Chaos (Part 3)

Previously on Follow the path of Dao from infancy...

As Li Hao prepares to strike down the giant wolf Dao Seed with his Destiny Sword Qi, an enigmatic force intervenes, effortlessly dissolving his attack. An elderly voice calls out from the void, claiming the beast as a pet and inviting Li Hao into a hidden realm. Despite his apprehension, Li Hao follows a mysterious path into a bamboo forest where his divine senses and teleportation abilities are severely suppressed. Deep within this restricted domain, he discovers a humble grass cottage where two figures, Elder Qi and Elder Eight, sit calmly playing chess. Shocked to find living beings in a territory supposedly inaccessible even to Immortal Emperors, Li Hao is forced to confront the possibility of powers that transcend the known limits of the True Realm. While the elders appear peaceful, the sheer weight of their presence leaves Li Hao questioning everything he knows about the peak of cultivation.

This was a place where even an Immortal Emperor dared not set foot, yet these two remained perfectly unharmed.

If an Immortal Emperor possessed such a capability, wouldn't raising a personal disciple become an effortless task?

Furthermore, wouldn't all the supreme treasures and opportunities within the Endless Heavenly Domain be under the sole control and distribution of the Immortal Emperor?!

"Surpassing the Immortal Emperor?"

Upon hearing Li Hao's query, Elder Qi couldn't suppress a light chuckle. Shaking his head, he remarked, "The Immortal Emperor represents the invincible Final Realm; how could anyone possibly go beyond that? In truth, we are actually inferior to the Immortal Emperor."

"Not as strong as an Immortal Emperor?"

Li Hao was stunned by this admission. He found it hard to believe that the mysterious elder standing before him was not even the equal of an Immortal Emperor.

Witnessing Li Hao's confusion, Elder Qi laughed and explained, "Indeed. If we were to battle in the outside world, those younger ones would certainly defeat us. They have forged a magnificent Dao, integrated the Ten Thousand Dao Laws into their very beings, and carved out an Emperor Road through the Heavenly Dao itself. We simply cannot be compared to them."

Hearing this, a shocked Li Hao felt even more perplexed. He asked, "But the Immortal Emperor is unable to enter this place; no one above the Immortal King Realm can step inside. You two seniors..."

He hesitated, wanting to ask if they were merely at the Immortal Monarch Realm.

Elder Qi gave a faint smile and replied, "We are nothing more than lingering remnants, forgotten and cast aside by the passage of time. Our path of Cultivation differs from yours, which is why this Heavenly Domain does not restrict us. After all, this place is our home."

"Home?"

Li Hao was completely bewildered.

He thought back to his master's teachings, which claimed the Endless Heavenly Domain was the birthplace of the Heavenly Dao.

Was it possible that these two elders were actually the Heavenly Dao itself?

However, one method of ascending to the rank of Immortal Emperor involved proving the Heavenly Heart, which required the endorsement of the Heavenly Dao.

This implied that the Heavenly Dao was the ultimate authority, standing above any Immortal Emperor. Yet, the elder claimed to be inferior to an Immortal Emperor, meaning he couldn't be the Heavenly Dao—unless he was being dishonest.

But looking at the elder, Li Hao felt there was no reason for such deception; the man could have easily remained silent instead.

"During the Ancient Era, before the Ten Thousand Dao Laws were split and while Chaos was still a single entity, how do you think the creatures of heaven and earth practiced Cultivation?"

Noticing the youth's inner turmoil, Elder Qi posed a gentle question.

This inquiry hit Li Hao like a bolt of lightning, shattering his misconceptions. His eyes widened as he stared at the old man.

"You... are you saying you were born within the Chaos, as primordial lifeforms?"

Elder Qi merely smiled and said nothing, his silence serving as a confirmation of Li Hao's realization.

Li Hao’s heart raced as a flood of thoughts rushed through his mind. In the current era, people refined Chaos Laws and unified the Dao. All Cultivation realms had been established over eons by various Immortal Emperors and Great Emperors. Even his own master had pioneered the Dao Origin Ultimate Realm. The paths they currently traveled were essentially roads already paved by these legendary figures.

But what existed before those Great Emperors?

Suddenly, Li Hao understood. The elder before him was a being born before any formal Cultivation system had ever been conceived.

In that era, there were no Great Emperors!

No one held the title of King!

That period was undoubtedly ancient beyond imagination, existing at the very dawn of Chaos.

This elder might have existed through an uncountable number of ages.

"Brother Qi, it is your move."

A voice suddenly broke the conversation between Li Hao and Elder Qi.

The other elder looked toward Elder Qi, his voice sounding equally ancient but filled with a hint of impatient urging.

Elder Qi glanced down at the board, his eyes flashing with surprise. He nodded and smiled, "You have certainly presented me with a difficult problem."

Intrigued, Li Hao also looked toward the chessboard. But with just one look, his vision blurred and the world began to spin. It felt as though he was plummeting into a limitless starry sky, arriving in the center of a vast, eternal cosmos.

This celestial expanse was marked by massive grid lines, where countless stars ascended and descended, drifting along mysterious paths.

Li Hao’s pupils shrank. Although his Chess Dao had reached the 12th segment pinnacle and his experience was entirely maxed out, looking at this board gave him the overwhelming sensation of staring into a profound and endless river of stars.