Chapter 110: The Boundless Sea
In the Qinglian Courtyard...
Everyone stood under the gaze of the Heavenly Avatar, as insignificant as specks of dust and ants.
Even Li Tiangang’s ten-zhang-tall Divine Soul, imposing as it was, seemed small in comparison, only reaching the knees of Li Hao’s Heavenly Avatar.
This terrifying sight left everyone utterly stunned.
Supported by his mother, Li Qianfeng’s eyes widened in shock, his gaze vacant as he struggled to believe what he was witnessing.
So this... this was Li Hao’s true strength?!
He recalled how the other party had defeated him with nothing more than a single chopstick. Even after he had unleashed the power bestowed by his master—a force said to make him invincible among those of his level—he was still no match for that one chopstick!
His heart quaked with disbelief, unable to accept the reality before him.
Unlike the stunned Li family members, even Li Tiangang’s face betrayed astonishment and incredulity.
This scene—was this Li Hao’s Soul Aspect?
After returning to the mansion, Li Tiangang had investigated Li Hao and learned that he hadn’t inherited the ancestral Soul Fusion but was said to have fused with the soul of a monster. This was one of the reasons behind his anger and dissatisfaction with Li Hao.
Yet the overwhelming majesty of this Soul Aspect was clearly not something that could come from fusing with a monster’s soul!
Even his own Soul Aspect felt like a lone boat adrift in a vast, stormy sea before it.
It was as if he were facing not Li Hao, but the entire heavens and earth!
This realization left Li Tiangang not only shaken but also angry.
As a father, feeling this kind of oppressive power from his son, even a flicker of reverence rising in his heart, was something he absolutely could not accept or tolerate!
“Humph, so you have some skill. No wonder you dare to defy me!”
Li Tiangang took a deep breath, his eyes radiating an intimidating aura. Despite being severely injured from breaking his Heart Oath, his cultivation having fallen from the peak of the Immortal Realm to its early stage, he was still an Immortal Realm cultivator!
Just as a cultivator at the Fifteen Li Realm could easily slaughter those at the peak of the Spiritual Wandering Realm, the gap in realms was nearly insurmountable!
He roared furiously, and his Divine Soul surged forth. Countless divine lights condensed in his palm, forming a fearsome Divine Power Blade!
“Today, no matter how strong your wings are, I’ll break them!”
“Come!”
Li Hao bellowed, and his Heavenly Avatar erupted with resplendent golden light. Within the avatar, countless golden veins coursed, mirroring the great meridians of his own body—a full 98 Major Meridians, shining brightly.
Simultaneously, his Yin-Yang Dual Meridians emerged, exponentially enhancing the power of his Heavenly Avatar.
The colossal avatar raised its palm, imbued with the majesty of heaven and earth, and struck down toward Li Tiangang on the ground.
But the Divine Power Blade in Li Tiangang’s Divine Soul’s hand flared with blazing flames and slashed upward. A mournful wail seemed to echo through the heavens, and the massive hand of Li Hao’s avatar was forcibly split apart!
The Heavenly Avatar recoiled in pain, retreating slightly.
Li Tiangang’s Divine Soul, wielding the Divine Power Blade, shot skyward, launching a fierce assault on Li Hao’s avatar.
Li Hao seethed with rage. His palm stung as though being torn apart—the Divine Power Blade was incredibly sharp, and despite his avatar’s immense strength, it couldn’t withstand it!
“This isn’t working. The avatar is too large, and its power is scattered!”
Li Hao quickly grasped the problem. This was his first time manifesting his Heavenly Avatar, and he was still exploring its potential and control.
In an instant, he focused all his power inward, causing the avatar to rapidly shrink. Its energy condensed, amplifying its aura to an even more terrifying level.
In moments, the avatar shrank to a size of about ten zhang, matching the size of Li Tiangang’s Divine Soul.
However, Li Hao lacked a Divine Power Blade and could not conjure such a weapon. Instead, he turned his attention to the black sword box in Ren Qianqian’s hands.
He was about to summon the legendary sword Eternal Night from within but paused upon seeing the grief-stricken expression on the elderly woman in the courtyard.
A pang of guilt struck Li Hao’s heart. He remembered the kind and expectant look she had given him when she gifted him this sword, and he couldn’t bear the thought of using his uncle’s treasured weapon against his father in battle.
Suppressing the urge, Li Hao roared and commanded his avatar to defend against Li Tiangang’s Divine Soul while summoning a sword from his own courtyard.
This was the sword he had chosen upon entering the Spiritual Wandering Realm, accompanied by his second uncle. Though it was not one of the world’s top ten legendary swords, it was still a top-tier divine weapon, capable of slaying great demons of the Immortal Realm!
It would suffice to face Li Tiangang.
From a distant chamber within the Shanhe Courtyard, a wooden sword box suddenly flipped open. With a sharp hum like the roar of a dragon, a golden divine sword pierced through the window, carrying an aura of unstoppable ferocity as it raced toward its master.
...
The sword light streaked through the air, tearing through layers of void before landing in the hand of Li Hao’s Heavenly Avatar.
The seemingly ordinary-sized divine sword absorbed the Heavenly Avatar’s power, instantly expanding into a colossal blade radiating dazzling golden light!
With the sword in hand, the entire world seemed to change.
The gleaming golden blade illuminated Li Tiangang’s advancing Divine Soul, and the Heavenly Avatar’s face twisted with ferocity as it swung the massive sword down.
The blade howled, and darkness enveloped the heavens.
A brilliant and enormous moon emerged from the sword, becoming the sole radiance in the world.
Blinding and magnificent!
The moonlight engulfed Li Tiangang’s Divine Soul entirely.
“Old Seventh!”
Li Xuanli’s expression shifted, and he instinctively called out in alarm.
At that moment, the majesty and sword momentum unleashed by Li Hao’s Heavenly Avatar made even him worry for Li Tiangang, one of the Three Immortals.
The younger generation, including Li Mingguang, Li Wushuang, and Li Yun, were all stunned, unable to comprehend how this power could belong to Li Hao.
That such strength could be wielded by someone at the Fifteen Li Realm was unimaginable!
Li Sibei swallowed nervously. She had a strong feeling that if she were to confront Li Hao with her Heaven and Man Realm cultivation, she might not gain the upper hand.
This younger cousin of hers was simply monstrous, far surpassing the person she had once admired most in her youth!
As everyone watched in shock, the dazzling moon was suddenly pierced by a blazing red light. The light erupted from the center of the moon, tearing it apart like a searing sun, obliterating it entirely!
Li Tiangang’s Divine Soul, wielding the Divine Power Blade, emerged unscathed. His eyes gleamed with a piercing sharpness, and his presence exuded an aura of overwhelming dominance.
“So, this is the extent of your power? It’s nothing special,” Li Tiangang said coldly.
He swung the Divine Power Blade once more, aiming straight for Li Hao’s Heavenly Avatar.
“Tiangang!”
Suddenly, Li Qingzheng’s figure appeared as if he had teleported, stepping between Li Hao’s Heavenly Avatar and Li Tiangang.
His eyes betrayed both shock and fury. The shock came from witnessing Li Hao’s Heavenly Avatar—a form he had only heard of in ancient myths. This type of Soul Aspect was said to have existed in the distant past, long before the era of Emperor Yu.
Legends spoke of ancient warriors who could fuse their souls not with a person or a creature, but with the heavens and earth themselves!
These warriors were pioneers of martial cultivation, later revered as Teachers of Heaven and Earth. Centuries later, they were venerated as Sages.
In other words, Li Hao possessed the potential of a Sage!
The Great Yu Dynasty had not seen the rise of a Sage in countless years.
Such a prodigy of the Li family—how could he face such dire circumstances?
“Fifth Uncle, step aside!”
Li Tiangang’s eyes were icy, but he still maintained the demeanor of a junior when addressing Li Qingzheng.
Li Qingzheng was furious. “Why can’t this be resolved peacefully? Hao’er has such extraordinary talent, and yet you’re willing to harm him!”
“What use is talent if it breeds arrogance? At just fourteen years old, he already dares to defy his elders and rebel against his father. The stronger he becomes, the more ungovernable he’ll be, and he’ll ultimately become a scourge!” Li Tiangang retorted angrily.
“You’re utterly foolish!”
Li Qingzheng couldn’t help but lash out. “All these years, Hao’er has behaved impeccably in the mansion, never provoking anyone. What need does he have for your so-called discipline?”
“It’s exactly because you’ve all been spoiling him that he’s developed this unruly disposition. If I had been present these past years, I would have set him straight long ago!” Li Tiangang growled through clenched teeth.
Li Qingzheng wanted to argue further, but Li Hao’s calm voice interrupted. “Fifth Uncle, how is Xiao Rou?”
Li Qingzheng was momentarily stunned, then quickly looked down at Li Hao and replied, “She’s fine. I’ve protected her lifeline with Immortal Power. She won’t die, though she’s recovering from injuries. If your father had used his full strength, however...”
“That’s all that matters,” Li Hao said with a faint smile, seemingly unbothered.
He continued, “Fifth Uncle, please step aside.”
“Hao’er!” Li Qingzheng called out, unable to suppress his worry.
“Let him show me how he intends to ‘discipline’ me,” Li Hao said with a smile. “Second Uncle isn’t here, and you, Fifth Uncle, still have to guard the ancestral hall. Don’t risk injury and break your Heart Oath over this matter.”
Li Qingzheng’s body trembled. He looked at Li Hao’s smiling face, but his own was filled with sorrow. “Hao’er, don’t worry. With me here, I won’t let him hurt you!”
“Fifth Uncle, the ancestral spirits in the family’s shrine must not be disturbed because of this.”
Li Hao’s smile faded slightly as he spoke earnestly.
Li Qingzheng’s expression shifted. He gave Li Hao a deep, searching look before turning to Li Tiangang and saying:
“Listen to him. Listen to what your son just said. And you?”
“Tiangang, if your son had been born into any other family, any father would be proud of him!
“But unfortunately, his father is you!”
Li Tiangang’s face darkened at his fifth uncle’s words, clearly uneasy. He admitted to himself that what Li Hao had just said had indeed made him view the boy differently.
Taking a deep breath, he said, “Fifth Uncle, he’s right. Please step aside. This is a family matter—no one else should interfere!”
Li Qingzheng roared in anger, “If your father were still alive, he’d thrash you today!”
These words caused Chen Hefang’s face to turn pale.
Li Tiangang’s eyes burned with fury, his voice rising. “Fifth Uncle! Move aside!!”
Li Qingzheng’s eyes reflected deep disappointment as he looked at him one last time. “You’ll regret this!”
With that, he took a single step and exited the battlefield.
As Li Hao had said, he could not risk injury and break his Heart Oath.
With Li Muxiu absent from the mansion, only he was left to guard it.
If he were injured now, and someone took advantage of the chaos to invade, the ancestral spirits in the family shrine would suffer devastating harm!
These spirits were mere remnants, far from their prime. Even someone at the Fourth Pillar Realm could wipe them out.
That was why he had spent years secluded in the ancestral shrine, never stepping foot outside.
Although the Divine General Mansion commanded respect and fear, those who dared to covet it were never ordinary individuals...
“You have some sense of responsibility for the bigger picture. Perhaps you’re not completely beyond saving.”
As Li Qingzheng left, Li Tiangang addressed Li Hao coldly.
Li Hao laughed but then narrowed his eyes, their gleam turning icy. “Enough talk. Come on!”
“You’re still so defiant!”
Li Tiangang’s Divine Soul charged forward, swinging the Divine Power Blade. Li Hao raised his sword, and this time it wasn’t the technique Rising Moon but The Boundless Sea!
This was the fourth form—and its ultimate strike!
The Boundless Sea, Heaven as its Companion!
With the power of the Heavenly Avatar, the sword’s energy surged like cascading tides from the nine heavens, flooding the battlefield with unparalleled force.
The surge of sword intent filled the courtyard, leaving everyone watching in stunned silence. This child had not only mastered the Fifteen Li Realm, but he had also cultivated his swordsmanship to an astonishingly terrifying level!