Follow the path of Dao from infancy Chapter 1787 Chapter 462: Heavenly Authority (Part 2)
Previously on Follow the path of Dao from infancy...
Yet, witnessing how effortlessly the opponent dispatched Gu Xie, who had activated his Domain Artifact, proved utterly astonishing; despite their frustration, they held back.
Xue Consort lingered nearby, her expression darkened as well. Even with her high self-regard, she knew she couldn't rival the youth in black robes. She sensed faintly that he might be the reincarnation of a Great Emperor; the prior Divine Venerable had been a rebirth at the Quasi-Emperor Realm, yet lacked such overwhelming might.
This Great Emperor aimed to vie with them for the same fortune, leaving her with nothing but disdain and bitterness, forcing her to swallow it down.
Suddenly, the pressure of the Heavenly Dao descended, as clouds and vapors swiftly gathered around the black-robed youth, encasing him completely.
The supreme might of the Heavens spread from the summit, making everyone's faces pale in alarm.
"Indeed, the earlier Haotian failed to prove the Heavenly Heart!"
"It seems he truly failed."
Su Wanyi stood frozen in shock, her gaze mixing astonishment and intricate emotions, never imagining that a prodigy of such brilliance would falter in proving the Heavenly Heart.
"Proving the Heavenly Heart relies not just on talent, but on various factors too. From his earlier cries, it looks like he suffered immense agony and decided to forgo proving the Heavenly Heart,"
Luo Ningshuang murmured softly, instinctively diminishing the youth's standing in her mind.
Before such a chance to prove the Heavenly Heart, even excruciating torment could be borne, since it led straight to Emperor status!
The pinnacle of cultivation, a true leap toward the divine!
Facing this monumental prospect, what wouldn't one give up, what torment couldn't one withstand?
Su Wanyi grasped this truth too, feeling deep sorrow for Li Hao. A talent so extraordinary had stumbled at the last barrier, drawing forth heavy sighs.
"If he also fails, we still have a chance."
Luo Ningshuang remarked, her eyes gleaming with intent, pondering if she should employ some tactic to interfere with the other's Heavenly Heart proof.
Besides her, many others nursed the same notions.
At that moment, Li Hao descended smoothly, and nearing the base, he spotted numerous silhouettes pushing upward with effort.
Among those, he recognized the Su Family sisters he had encountered previously.
"Haotian?"
Spotting Li Hao, the Su Family sisters and the rest froze in surprise, caught off guard.
"Are you trying to go up?"
Li Hao scanned them, observing that Di Lincen joined them, along with Shen Wuji from the Ancient God Clan, the Ghost Tribe sisters, and various Southern Domain prodigies from the prior clash.
"Were you forced by them...?"
Su Muqing blurted out instinctively, her eyes showing concern, though she cut herself short, fearing it might bruise Li Hao's pride.
Su Wanqing promptly drew forth two Domain Artifacts, her gown ripped and marked with traces of Divine Blood, yet her resolve unyielding: "These are my two Domain Artifacts. I faced some peril before and expended one; you can have both. Is there still time?"
Li Hao paused briefly, noting Di Lincen offering a Domain Artifact too, and the Ghost Tribe sisters each presenting one. Touched for a instant, he soon grinned and replied:
"I’ve already been up there; I came down on my own. Come, I’ll take you up to see."
As he spoke, he lifted his hand to unleash the Chaos Law, wrapping them all inside.
"You’ve already been up there?"
Upon Li Hao's statement, the group gaped, then regarded him with delight.
Shen Wuji couldn't resist querying: "Did you prove the Heavenly Heart? What is it like up there?"
Li Hao sidestepped the initial question, reflected momentarily, and answered: "The scenery up there is just that; it’s a broader view but not as clear."
The view from the mountaintop is nothing more than a panoramic view of the world, while being within the world, climbing to the top isn’t necessary.
At Li Hao's words, the others felt a bit at a loss for words, but he offered nothing further, shifting forms and pressing on to collect Gu Yan and Yue Xi. At the same time, he guided the rest higher.
Even if the ascent held no purpose for him, ascending further allowed others to grasp more laws, serving as a trial for their Heavenly Heart.
While summiting offered the supreme boon, the ascent and descent themselves provided invaluable cultivation experience.
Watching Li Hao lead the group along the heavenly path until they vanished, those nearby showed jealousy and redoubled their climbing efforts.
During the path, Li Hao overtook those who had refined over a dozen Chaos Laws repeatedly. As he neared the peak, thunder boomed abruptly, the heavenly path quaked, and then deep rumbles rose from beneath, as though the 72 statue-resembling Quasi-Emperor Realm titans murmured lowly.
A tremendous force echoed along the heavenly path, hurling everyone atop it downward like scattered insects, shaking uncontrollably.
"What’s happening?"
"Someone proved the Heavenly Heart!"
Myriad individuals recoiled in shock, gripped by confusion and despair.
Li Hao too was flung from the heavenly path. Drawing on his strength, he shielded the Su Family sisters and companions, holding them aloft, and beheld the lofty heavenly path wreathed in exceptional Realm Power, unapproachable. Next, clouds churned in the heavens, unveiling a gigantic whirlpool, resembling a misty cavern, devouring the heavenly path.
The 72 Quasi-Emperor Realm colossi rooted to the earth hoisted the heavenly path skyward, thrusting it into the misty cavern, fading gradually from sight amid the assembly.
With the heavenly path withdrawing, countless climbers who had strained upward voiced their sorrow at lacking time for deeper insight.
Li Hao surveyed the scene, spotting known faces like Luo Ningshuang and members of the Chaos Ancient Clan hurrying down from higher up.
"Huh?"
Li Hao observed the black-robed youth's absence and inquired, "Did he prove the Heavenly Heart?"
At Li Hao's question, the gathering turned toward him, their expressions blending fury with subtle nuance, seeming somewhat eased.
"Yes, he was taken by the heavenly path,"
Su Wanyi answered Li Hao, and noticing the Su Family sisters at his side eased her demeanor a touch.
Li Hao's gaze wavered, astonished that the foe, a Great Emperor's rebirth, had embraced the Heavenly Heart's call so readily.
"You climbed the first but failed; it’s truly a pity."
Chi Yuan’s eyes, brimming with rage, fixed on Li Hao, swiftly twisting into scorn, deriving a spark of satisfaction.
"Hmm?"
Li Hao blinked in mild surprise, hardly anticipating the other's boldness in provoking him.
Bang!
He lifted his hand, unleashing a beam of Chaos Infinite Sword Qi in a flash.
The keen sword edge ripped through space instantly; Chi Yuan paled in fright, his features twisting sharply, unprepared for such a lethal retort to mere banter.
He snarled in fury, "Are you crazy?!"
With the heavenly path departed, he saw no cause to clash with Li Hao unless victory was assured.
The sword Qi's dread chilled him to the core; he had no choice but to activate the Domain Artifact, a heavy clash echoed, and Realm Power cloaked him, safeguarding his form within. Moments later, the Domain Artifact shuddered violently as if hammered, bouncing aside.
Right after, the sword Qi fractured abruptly, morphing into countless layered sword phantoms, slicing right through the Realm Power.
Chi Yuan's eyes widened in terror, at last comprehending the black-robed youth's downfall; this lad too wielded power to override Realm Power!
"Madman, stop immediately!"
He yelled desperately; his Domain Artifact twisted to intercept the sword Qi, but it arrived too late. The sword Qi stabbed his torso, shredding his massive frame, spilling dozens of drops of True God Blood, demanding ages to mend.
A single blow breached the Domain Artifact, inflicting grave wounds, shattering the body.
Witnessing this, the onlookers' countenances shifted, stunned by Li Hao's merciless strike.
Chi Yuan wasted no time, his form dissolving into blood mist, invoking Bloodline Power, and unsealing yet another Domain Artifact, fleeing in dread of Li Hao's chase.
Su Wanqing, Di Lincen, Shen Wuji, and the others beheld the sight, dumbfounded that Chi Yuan, deemed among their elite geniuses, suffered a crushing blow from Li Hao and barely escaped.
"Let’s go; this journey’s end, we all can breakthrough and be kings upon return,"
Noting the foe expending multiple Domain Artifacts just to survive, Li Hao saw no point in pursuit, addressing his companions.