Follow the path of Dao from infancy Chapter 1855 Chapter 493: Realm King Emperor Road (2)

Yet at this moment, Li Hao showed no desire to push onward any longer.

Deep down, he believed that Artistic Skill formed the very core of his existence, compelling him to swiftly grasp the remaining four up to the thirteenth level.

Still, matters like these refuse to be hurried, no matter the eagerness.

Thus, Li Hao sought to ease his mind, though the dire circumstances beyond weighed heavily, hindering true serenity like undisturbed waters—saved only by his unyielding Tao heart.

"Cooking, Carving, Fishing, Poetry and Books... these four Artistic Skills remain, with Cooking surrendered to destiny, while the Five Paths Divine Tree I obtained earlier suits Carving perfectly!"

Excitement gleamed in Li Hao's eyes as he prepared to dive into Carving.

From his realm, he fetched the Five Paths Divine Tree, activating the All Heavens Star Vein to channel boundless immortal power into it, rendering its leaves crystal-clear and luminous.

With the Immortal Sword in hand, Li Hao severed a portion of the Divine Wood, observing how a radiant crystal glow surged at the cut, infused with the vital essence of the Five Paths. The wound swiftly knit back, resembling threads of a spider's web, slowly fusing and budding fresh shoots.

As the All Heavens Star Vein sustained the Divine Tree, Li Hao honed his Sword Dao to a keen blade, employing the chunk of Divine Wood he grasped for his carving work.

Time flowed onward.

In the realm where Li Hao immersed himself in carving and insight, across the entire Great Emperor Dojo, cultivators pondered and trained, some shattering barriers to ascend and then assaulting the Heaven Tower.

The Abyss lingered in eerie stillness.

"Just a mere thousand years in a blink—who can predict the heights these fledglings will scale?"

Upon the Heaven Tower's summit, the Immortal Immortal Emperor lingered beside the Star Empress, scarcely stirring since their initial arrival.

Within the vast expanse of ages, a mere moment of contemplation might span thousands of years for beings like them; thus, remaining statue-still for a millennium equated to a mortal's fleeting halt in place.

"The conflict in the Eastern Domain intensifies by the day. Fresh reports reveal five Royal Families uniting, summoning their Five Clans' Immortal Emperors to descend. Whether the Eastern Domain endures remains in doubt!"

"Ancient Demons of rival tribes watch this clash closely too. Should the Eastern Domain crumble, the bulk of those other Ancient Demons will probably band together for a fierce return."

A faint crease formed on the brows of the pair of Immortal Emperors, a trace of pressing concern emerging. As exalted Immortal Emperors, detachment was possible, yet their lofty roles stirred deeper emotions; they recoiled at the thought of the True Realm's Ten Thousand Clans facing extinction.

Failing that, even they, illustrious Immortal Emperors, would drift as rootless specters, a woefully tragic end.

"We've now settled on five candidates for the Quasi-True King honor."

The Star Empress's vision roamed over areas like the Emperor Clan, Saint Clans, and Taichu Clan, where auras of Immortal King Realm Perfection blazed intensely, matching the might of the feeblest Quasi-Emperor Realm foes!

Armed with mighty artifacts, should a Quasi-Emperor Realm foe arrive, instant annihilation would prove no simple task. In all-out war, they could boldly command the field, facing solely the Great Emperors from the Ancient Demon Race.

"In so brief a span, grant them three thousand years, and those youths might just hold their ground."

The Immortal Immortal Emperor's eyes glided across a handful of youthful silhouettes.

"Reborn Quasi-Emperors and Great Emperors lurk among them, though it's unclear if this reborn Great Emperor would step up as leader in the fray, considering their former self perished in the prior Ancient Demon disaster..."

The Star Empress's sight drifted past numerous forms before settling on one clad in dark robes.

Enveloped in his personal realm, her vision cut through all veils, capturing every action of the figure.

Sensing the scrutiny, the black-robed youth inside abruptly lifted his gaze, staring toward the Heaven Tower and its crest, as if locking eyes with the Star Empress across the distance, beyond his realm's bounds.

The Star Empress made no effort to hide. Startled though she was that he sensed her watch, as a reborn Great Emperor holding fragments of his prior essence—known fully only to him—it came as no shock.

A slight nod came from the youth, like a courteous acknowledgment, before he shut his eyes once more to continue his cultivation.

Witnessing this, the Star Empress held back from deeper intrusion. For a reborn Great Emperor, such prying would smack of rudeness.

"Hmm?"

Something odd caught the Star Empress's attention as her focus wandered.

Within the domain of the lad who claimed a prime nurturing slot, he clutched a sliver of Divine Wood, lost entirely in sculpting it.

"Carving?"

A flash lit the Star Empress's eyes; surprise yielded swiftly to comprehension. As an Immortal Emperor, far beyond common eyes, she instantly grasped his use of carving to fathom the Tao.

Yet this roundabout path to awakening struck her as odd and woefully wasteful. It mirrored a Swordsman honing blade work rather than chess to unlock revelations.

One would hardly witness a Chess Saint swinging a sword to master lethal chess maneuvers.

Seeking awakening via a foreign craft falls short of plunging straight into one's personal Tao.

Amazed as she was, the Star Empress kept quiet, withholding counsel; with the Dao Origin Immortal Emperor's disciple as a premier nurturing pick, they lacked the right to meddle, particularly when the Emperor himself stayed mute.

"Most intriguing. His debut trial feats were truly overblown, yet his future path in cultivation lies veiled. Post-resource choice, he's already breached the 54th floor."

Spotting Li Hao's endeavors, the Immortal Immortal Emperor observed with a grin.

These elite seeds drew their vigilant watch.

"He surmounted the 54th floor via forging his third pinnacle Realm Heart."

"Plus, balancing three pinnacle Realm Hearts defies belief. His relentless drive surely targets conquering this Emperor Road!" added the Star Empress.

"A multi-Realm Heart Emperor Road?"

Li Hao's bold vision dawned on the Immortal Immortal Emperor. As battle-hardened experts, they swiftly discerned this as the mark of vast aspiration; he sought beyond mere Immortal King Perfection, hungering for Supreme heights.

"This Emperor Road was mere hypothesis before, with none ever forging it true."

"My own Reincarnated Body trials all crumbled to defeat."

The Immortal Immortal Emperor declared.

Through endless eras and existences, he had emulated the Dao Origin Immortal Emperor to blaze two Emperor Roads.

Alas, quests for alternate Emperor Roads via reborn soul forms met only defeat.

Even as a sage Immortal Emperor brimming with wisdom and trials, when facing Emperor Road truths, everyone levels out—pouring all into one's founded path left scant vigor for another, dooming such ventures.

Besides, deeper knowledge can bind like chains, turning wisdom into hindrance over boon.

"This marks the Realm King Emperor Road. Success for this youth hangs in balance. Pushes to stretch it toward four or five shared Realm Hearts all faltered."

Declared the Star Empress.

Her reborn form had probed the Emperor Road too, uncovering only barren failures outside that core path.

Forging Emperor Roads demands immense toil, even for Great Emperors like them; supremacy blooms solely on self-carved roads, while others feel like fresh beginnings.

"My reborn self pushed to six shared Realm Hearts, short just the ultimate stride, yet that stride loomed as the grandest trial."

Noted the Immortal Immortal Emperor.

The Star Empress gave a faint nod; her reborn form had stalled likewise at the brink. Claiming six shared Realm Hearts sped by for her, but surging to the seventh unleashed difficulties multiplied a hundred or thousand times, a crushing void of hope.

Despite myriad viable trials, victory eluded her.

"Those three more strive to erect their own Emperor Roads, each laden with mighty dreams."

The Immortal Immortal Emperor turned his sight elsewhere. This youth stood not solitary; kindred souls pursued alike, at loftier realms—all Immortal King Realm Perfection, with two nigh-certain for Quasi-True King crowns.