Follow the path of Dao from infancy Chapter 1913 Chapter 513: Slaughter Finger of All Living Beings (Part 2)

"I am, the Realm Domain of All Living Beings!"

Venerate Cang lifted his hand, immediately stirring the fog throughout his domain into motion, channeling the complete strength of the realm to rapidly shrink and funnel into his arms.

"Your realm stretches endlessly and without limits, but its life force remains sparse. To surround territory like a bastion, to embrace a domain lacking a core, what purpose does it serve?"

As he spoke those lines, the realm's energy at its boundaries, which had been steadily fading away, drew back completely like a massive whale drawing in water, piling up within his grasp.

Next, this energy moved from his hands into his right arm, shaping into a dark gray bolt of lightning enveloped by swirling vapors.

"With All Living Beings as the finger, even Heaven and Earth become mere straw dogs!!"

Venerate Cang bellowed abruptly, and right then, his arm swung upward. The realm's might, together with his whole form, the Dharma Aspect manifesting behind him, and the True God Power, all fused into his palm, focusing intensely on that single finger.

That finger felt as if it were aimed by multitudes upon multitudes of individuals all at once.

"Slaughter Finger of All Living Beings!"

The finger thrust out, unleashing a deafening roar across the platform, as though the Heavenly Dao itself recoiled from its edge, unwilling to confront this strike.

Li Hao's eyes narrowed a bit, fixed on this finger, while Venerate Cang's earlier statements lingered in his thoughts:

"... To surround territory like a bastion, to embrace a domain lacking a core, what purpose does it serve?"

Core…

The finger tore across time and space, with endless bolts exploding and twisting nearby, and in that instant, the very cosmos buckled inward, punctured by this finger, spreading through the void.

This finger's force pressed on without mercy, endlessly drilling forward, bearing down on Li Hao's countenance.

"Where I stand, is the center of Heaven and Earth!"

Such phrases drifted unbidden through Li Hao's consciousness.

His presence surged to a fearsome peak, surging wildly, as Cosmic Power crumbled apart in a flash and solidified in his palm.

He lifted his hand, softly pushing outward, summoning a colossal Dharma Aspect that towered over the Star Sea, extending its own hand in unison.

Boom!

The clash of palm against finger represented a showdown between two worlds, where myriad laws broke apart and myriad laws tangled like frenzied swords hacking away at one another.

All of it compressed into a fleeting instant, then exploded in swift destruction.

The finger that had breached the cosmos vanished, but the overwhelming palm's momentum, infused with Cosmic Power, kept advancing toward Venerate Cang.

Venerate Cang's locks whipped about as he threw up his hand to defend, only to be driven to the platform's brink by the Cosmic Power, his frame showing fissures, while the flawed True God hovering overhead appeared to emit a sorrowful cry at that juncture.

Li Hao pulled back his hand.

The Immortal Immortal Emperor advanced and declared the outcome, proclaiming Li Hao the victor of this confrontation.

Seeing Venerate Cang fall, members of the Taichu Clan stood frozen in shock, feeling equally bewildered and uneasy, though it was almost as if they had foreseen it, merely watching the last spark of hope in their hearts fade away.

"What a fearsome Finger Technique!"

"The strength in that finger appears something only a Quasi-Emperor could survive—no Immortal King could bear it!"

"Yet that youth's domain endured it anyway; this is the might of the Emperor Dao embryo, merely a single step from evolving into genuine Emperor Dao, fit to claim the title of Emperor!"

"At the Seventh Level of Immortal King, building such a solid base—utterly daunting."

Shock rippled through the crowd, with conversations buzzing everywhere; the echoes of that clash left them struggling for breath.

"So formidable—if a powerhouse like this guides us, unless a Quasi-Emperor emerges, who could stand against him?"

"Exactly, no matter an Ancient Demon's might, it would fall at first glance; this embodies the ultimate fighting prowess of the Human Race!"

Many lesser clans erupted in cheers and fervor; within the same level, Ancient Demons typically outmatch the Ten Thousand Clans, with only the top hundred able to compete on even terms, but against displays like Li Hao's and the others', those Ancient Demons seemed insignificant.

"Looks like holding back our aces earlier was wise."

Wan Jijun and the Saint Master observed the clash between Li Hao and Venerate Cang, pondering inwardly.

That finger from Venerate Cang nearly possessed the force to fell a standard Quasi-Emperor, yet it failed to overcome Li Hao.

Heirs from other major clans also fixed their eyes on Li Hao, now aware that by conserving their full power and avoiding a rash challenge to this Seventh Level Immortal King youth, they understood he hadn't reached this point by luck—his battle prowess far exceeded the Immortal King Realm.

Upon the stage, Venerate Cang rose gradually, eyeing Li Hao's composed features, a hint of wry smile flickering at his lips before it swiftly faded.

"This battle, I've gained significantly, thank you."

Li Hao snapped out of his reverie, responding with a cupped-fist salute: "I have too."

Those prior words kept ringing in his head, leading him in that moment to perceive himself as the universe's core, subtly elevating his domain another notch.

However… Li Hao sensed a tiny barrier kept him from the ultimate barrier.

And that barrier lay right in view; he almost perceived it, but not quite, yearning to seize it yet unable to clasp it.

"Do you wish to continue challenging?"

Just then, the Star Empress's figure materialized over the stage, her stare locked on Li Hao, brimming with appreciation.

Who would have thought the boy from ages past could achieve so much in just centuries, truly worthy of Dao Origin's selection.

"Continue…"

Li Hao's eyes shifted, landing on that youth in black robes.

At the same time, the black-robed youth turned his gaze toward Li Hao, their looks colliding.

"You are strong, but I advise you to stop."

Abruptly, a voice echoed inside Li Hao's mind.

Li Hao paused briefly, glancing at the black-robed youth's face, immediately realizing it came from his mental message.

"My limit is momentary return, entering an instant of Emperor state."

The black-robed youth's voice persisted in transmission, explaining deliberately: "Although your embryo of Emperor Dao holds great power, as a supreme talent forged in disaster, this isn't the moment to expose your edge."

Li Hao felt a jolt of surprise; a brief plunge into the Emperor state?

If accurate, then victory would be impossible against him.

Even drawing on his deep reserves, Li Hao couldn't surpass him, with odds hovering at perhaps ten percent at best.

Still, a ten percent shot meant gambling wasn't out of reach.

"Do not make the wrong choice for fame, do you know why I return from reincarnation to compete for this First True King?"

The black-robed youth seemed to read Li Hao's mind, pressing on with his words.

Li Hao regarded him silently, offering no reply.

The black-robed youth went on: "The Ancient Demon catastrophe has dragged on too long; this is my setup alongside a few at Emperor level, designed to seize this opportunity and eradicate the Ancient Demons entirely!"

He looked at Li Hao, chuckling bitterly inside; though unafraid of Li Hao's bid, it would unavoidably expose certain aspects he preferred to hide, forcing him to share these Emperor-only secrets with Li Hao.

"Now, with the Ten Thousand Clans watching closely, schemers within the Ten Thousand Clans masquerade as reincarnated Ancient Demons, and turncoats selling out the Human Race lurk among us too!"

"Once the True King is chosen, Quasi-Emperors and Emperors from the True Realm will head to the Emperor Domain for combat, under the allied Emperors' grand formation!"

"To evade entering the Emperor Domain, the sole method is to avoid deploying Emperor level power and aura—using it will pull one in, marking us as Sovereigns in the True Realm's eyes at that point!"

"While various Emperors hold back the Ancient Demon Emperor, I will command the Chaos Ancient Clan of the Primordial True Realm to strike directly at the Ancient Demons' stronghold, wiping them out one by one; though the Ancient Demon Clan may ready defenses, I'm aware of a Secret Technique that lets them, even at Immortal King Realm, unleash strength rivaling the Quasi-Emperor peak!"

"Such strength is beyond what you can handle—only I can manage it; this First True King carries not just prestige, but a duty, the burden of safeguarding the whole True Realm!"

The black-robed youth regarded Li Hao and stated: "I hope you choose wisely; though mighty as you are now, you still have potential to grow, and I'll carve out those opportunities for you to rise even higher."

His tone carried deep gravity, and Li Hao pondered quietly for a beat.

The foe's demeanor boiled down to dissuasion, yet rang with genuine intent.

"If you truly are prepared to shoulder the entire True Realm's responsibility, challenge me, I can also acknowledge."

The black-robed youth added, then fell quiet, placing the decision in Li Hao's hands.

First True King... the entire True Realm.

Li Hao sank into thought, where triumph or loss in challenge was secondary, and honors or shames no longer swayed his mindset, but the heavy duty…

His goal in striving was to shield Feng, safeguard dear companions, and defend the vulnerable masses.

Yet the whole True Realm… The First True King surely shouldered the heaviest load.

Was he really ready for that mental weight?

"Well, will you continue challenging?"

Right then, the Star Empress's voice resounded once more.