Follow the path of Dao from infancy Chapter 1861 Chapter 496: Boundless Fishing (Part 2)
Previously on Follow the path of Dao from infancy...
Li Hao gradually lifted his eyelids and gazed upon the Immortal Immortal Emperor standing before him. He gave a nod, realizing this approach was far more effective indeed.
The realm remains the heart of everything.
Additionally, he sensed his own insights starting to slow down. Delving into profound depths now demanded great effort, shrouded in a veil of challenge and vagueness.
"Thank you, senior."
Li Hao rose to his feet and offered a respectful bow.
The Immortal Immortal Emperor responded coolly, "Born merely a few thousand years behind; with your innate gifts, you could have rivaled Di Mingyuan of the Emperor Clan."
Li Hao hadn't anticipated such lofty commendation and hastily answered, "Senior flatters me too much."
"Concentrate on your cultivation and insights. If you prefer not to depart, remain here as you like. Should any questions arise, consult me freely. Beyond the Tao Treasury, I possess knowledge on various subjects."
The Immortal Immortal Emperor offered no further details, then rose and addressed him.
Upon concluding his words and noticing Li Hao lost in contemplation, he vanished into nothingness right away.
Over these two hundred years, Li Hao devoted himself fully to grasping the Tao. His cultivation passively drew in immortal power, reaching the impasse at the Third Level of the Immortal King Realm.
"It's time to boost my cultivation... but after that, closing the gap with powerhouses like Di Mingyuan, who achieved Immortal King Realm Perfection ages ago, will prove tough."
"Among the arts, cooking, poetry and books, and fishing are yet to be mastered. The Thirteenth Stage State of Mind awaits; I must first gather experiences in these three areas."
Li Hao pondered inwardly.
He chose not to venture out, instead retrieving the Ancient Demon Corpse from his personal space to prepare it right there.
Regarding the risk of his cooking secret being uncovered, he dismissed such worries, knowing that even beyond these confines, the gaze of the two Immortal Emperors would inevitably find him.
As he built up cooking proficiency, Li Hao pored over the Tao Treasury time and again; every session granted him substantial gains in Poetry and Book Experience.
Thus, in a secluded spot of the Eternal Realm, the youth dangled his fishing line into the emptiness, studied the Tao Treasury, fished with serene focus, and whipped up a dish whenever hunger struck.
Poetry and Book Experience surged ahead swiftly, alongside Cooking Experience, yet Fishing Experience lagged behind. Within this Eternal Realm, perils were absent, and even as Li Hao extended his line across time-space into bygone eras, no suitable catches appeared.
All of Li Hao's endeavors registered with the Immortal Immortal Emperor, who felt a twinge of astonishment. Why did this young one appear so relaxed amid such circumstances?
Yet shortly, he perceived that these casual pursuits hid a profound entanglement with the Tao Realm.
"Grasping the Tao through everyday epiphanies?"
The Immortal Immortal Emperor showed mild surprise, mulled it over, but refrained from intervening. After all, this was the pupil of the Dao Origin Immortal Emperor, and such training methods surely aligned with Dao Origin's wisdom; his silence implied deeper intent.
Nevertheless, Li Hao grew increasingly frustrated each day with his barren hauls.
For one, no fishable entities existed, not even when he shifted from the Pseudo Realm back to the Abyss in search.
He couldn't very well regard fellow Immortal Kings as prey.
The other issue was sheer irritation.
Endless fruitless attempts soured his spirits.
"Back then, time-space yielded nothing, the entire Fake Realm held none... If my line could cross time-space, pierce the Fake Realm, and arrive wherever the will directs, wouldn't endless fishing become possible?"
Li Hao reflected silently.
This idea hit him like a bolt, causing him to pause abruptly.
A spark ignited in his thoughts, and his gaze lit up with sudden clarity.
"Crossing time-space to any location..."
"Only upon Shi Miao's breakthrough to the Tenth Layer of Time Dao, transcending it, could he navigate every temporal juncture."
"Should it truly work, the All Heavens would lie open for angling!"
Excitement swelled within Li Hao, viewing this as the ultimate dream for any angler.
Reality, however, proved unforgiving; the immortal power-forged fishing line faced range constraints, unable even to breach the Fake Realm despite slicing through time-space.
"Shi Miao roams myriad time-spaces in person; for a mere fishing line like mine, the challenge ought to pale in comparison..."
"If only I could probe the outer realms..."
Li Hao shut his eyes, centered his mind, and tapped into the Eighth Layer Origin Realm of Space-time Dao, infusing it into the fishing line. It plunged into the void, pushing ever deeper, brushing against the intricate rules fabric of this domain.
After slicing through successive layers of rule-weavings, he encountered a realm barrier.
"Hmm?"
The Immortal Immortal Emperor's eyes lifted faintly—what was the youth up to? Brushing the boundary of his Fake Realm?
As the fishing line probed and tested repeatedly, the Immortal Immortal Emperor detected the youth hunting for a fragile point along the Fake Realm's edge, intent on... breaching it?
Should escape be his goal, a simple request would suffice; he'd permit it without hesitation... Perhaps this was part of his training?
A flicker crossed the Immortal Immortal Emperor's gaze, and a sly grin tugged at his lips.
"What is it?"
Nearby, the Star Empress inquired keenly.
The Immortal Immortal Emperor chuckled, "Nothing much, merely an amusing development."
With a subtle mental shift, he discreetly manipulated his Fake Realm, exposing a faint vulnerability.
He yearned to witness the uniqueness of this practice; success might bring intriguing shifts.
Meanwhile, inside the Fake Realm, Li Hao guided the fishing line in persistent exploration.
At last, he located a vulnerability.
A minuscule fissure emerged, perhaps the seam where laws converged.
Stunned at first, Li Hao then brimmed with joy, channeling every ounce of power into the line and thrusting forward with full might.
Yet even this flaw proved resilient beyond measure; this was an Immortal Emperor's Fake Realm, one no other Immortal Emperor could claim to shatter, much less someone at the Immortal King Realm.
Particularly since Li Hao lingered at the Third Stage of the Immortal King Realm.
Though the Immortal Immortal Emperor had crafted an opening for him, to Li Hao it loomed like an ant assaulting the heavens—immensely arduous.
"Time, space... gold, water..."
A cascade of Tao Laws coiled around the fishing line.
Li Hao's eyes flared with fierce Divine Flame; True God Blood roared through him, unleashing the Infinite Emperor Skill to amplify his base nine times over.
"Fishing beyond bounds..."
"Where the mind wanders, the line follows..."
"Realm without end!"
As intent linked up, the myriad laws fused upon the fishing line in a flash, blending into perfect harmony.
The keen edge born of that fusion wielded piercing might far exceeding expectations, slicing through the vulnerability in a heartbeat.
With unrelenting advance, the line at last burst free, emerging from the Eternal Realm.
"Hmm?"
The Star Empress abruptly sensed faint energies seeping nearby.
A knowing smile curved the Immortal Immortal Emperor's lips; he'd facilitated it, yet hadn't foreseen the youth's triumph.
Moreover, he detected that in that instant, the other had grasped a fearsome Tao Realm and forged a terrifying supreme Realm Heart!
"Ah, so this is his cultivation path..."
The Immortal Immortal Emperor comprehended at once.
At the same time, in the Eternal Pseudo Realm, Li Hao's fishing line thrust outward, instantly grazing the outer abyss.
Notifications flickered on the panel before his vision, but Li Hao paid them no heed, overwhelmed by a torrent of Dao Thoughts.
[You have attained Fishing State of Mind, Boundless!]
Bolstered by the influx of Dao Thoughts, Li Hao now commanded the fishing line with unmatched precision.
As it stretched from the Eternal Pseudo Realm into the abyss, it swiftly ventured into profound voids, plunging deeper until it brushed a concealed, robust realm barrier.
That barrier pulsed with Great Emperor aura.
Li Hao tried to force a breach, but a voice echoed in his consciousness:
"Cease this; that Emperor Array defies breaking, and success would invite grave peril, revealing this abyss's position."
Li Hao jolted awake, recognizing the Immortal Immortal Emperor's tone.
Understanding dawned, and he swiftly withdrew the fishing line into himself.
"Senior..."
Li Hao sprang up in haste, recalling his breach of the other's Fake Realm, and cold sweat beaded on his brow.
An act like that couldn't possibly evade the other's notice.
"The Tao Realm you've unlocked wields potent force, though not yet enough to rival Emperor Dao—yet among Immortal King Realm, it stands at the pinnacle."
The Immortal Immortal Emperor's form materialized before Li Hao, shifting from ethereal to solid, and he spoke with an amused smile.