Volume 2 - Chapter 31: One Sword to Open the Heavens - Part 1
As the wisp of celestial energy entered his body, Li Hao's entire being radiated boundless light from every pore, as if a blazing divine sun had been consumed within him.
The snow surrounding him began to rapidly evaporate and melt.
Li Hao’s flesh and blood writhed, undergoing transformation and refinement, washing away impurities from his body. Silver-white radiance seeped from his pores, enveloping him in a mist of divine light.
His physical body was evolving, and so was his true force, even extending to his divine soul avatar, which transcended its previous form. The golden, resplendent divine soul, once shaped like a youth, regressed to an infant, then grew back into a youthful form.
However, his previously unyielding and blazing soul now exuded an ethereal and transcendent aura.
The little white fox leapt from Li Hao's arms in fright, its eyes wide with terror at the overwhelming celestial presence. It hesitated, wanting to approach but not daring to.
Timidly, it raised a small paw and gently attempted to touch him.
Yet the surrounding celestial mist appeared incorporeal, untouched by the fox’s paw, as though it was an illusion beyond reach.
The transformation continued. The snow across the mountain peaks dissolved into crystal-clear spring water, cascading down the ridges and valleys. The entire mountain seemed to awaken and revive.
The once-biting cold wind softened into gentle rain. Within a few meters of Li Hao, the raindrops subtly altered their trajectory, falling elsewhere.
Around the youth, everything was clean and silent.
The rainwater, now imbued with a mystical quality, nourished the barren land, and green shoots sprouted from the mountain soil. Buds of life, absorbing some unseen energy, tenaciously emerged from the rocky terrain.
Bathed in rain, the sprouts grew with extraordinary speed.
Though it was the heart of winter, this mountain flowed with hot springs and stood in stark contrast to the snow-covered world beyond—a solitary wonder towering into the heavens.
The celestial mist and white light surrounding Li Hao gradually receded.
Returning to his body, the light withdrew into his pores. When the last shimmer vanished, Li Hao slowly opened his eyes.
In his gaze, faint silver-white brilliance flickered. His skin gleamed like polished jade, translucent and luminous, every pore brimming with vitality and immense power.
Li Hao understood: this was the peak of the Grandmaster Realm.
After dedicating more than half a year, he had finally reached this stage.
He looked down at the mountain where he sat. Clusters of verdant grass had sprung forth, and ancient, withered trees bore tender new buds.
This was the manifestation of his current strength. Previously, his qi force had been raw and unrefined, lacking any attributes. Only through long-term cultivation of techniques such as those of extreme cold or blazing flames could one imbue their qi force with special properties.
For instance, Song Qiumo’s attacks naturally carried frigid energy that could freeze her enemies, slowing their qi force circulation over prolonged combat.
Li Hao, having mastered various techniques, had similarly imbued his qi force with unique traits, but he seldom used them. His battles were usually swift and decisive, ending in mere moments.
Now, however, these characteristics had all merged into a single celestial energy.
Endless transformations, all guided by the heart!
His strength could encompass countless attributes, freely shifting among them.
A profound understanding surged within him:
“All that I lose was never truly mine. All that I seek will only bring me constraint.”
“All things exist for me to use, but I belong to none.”
“A gentleman commands objects; he is not commanded by them.”
“The Grand Dao is simplicity itself; desirelessness leads to unyielding strength.”
“To achieve nothingness is to achieve everything!”
At this moment, Li Hao’s Grandmaster mindset reached its pinnacle.
From perceiving the self to perceiving the heavens, and then perceiving all beings, he had grasped the ultimate truth: the Grand Dao is simplicity itself, and all things return to oneness.
His comprehension and application of power surpassed that of ordinary great grandmasters. Like the newly sprouted life on the mountain, his strength did not directly revitalize the plants; he merely melted the snow.
By shifting the mountain from deep winter to spring, the flowers and grass naturally began to grow.
Although the result was the same, the approach to power was fundamentally different.
This shift in philosophy was monumental. Most practitioners in the Heaven-and-Man Grandmaster Realm absorbed the power of the heavens and earth into themselves to wield it against enemies.
But how much could one body contain?
Li Hao had released all his qi force, leaving only this wisp of celestial energy within him.
Whenever he needed strength, he could draw upon the vast energies of the world. This was the philosophy of “all things exist for me to use, but I belong to none.”
He no longer absorbed the power of the world to store within himself. Instead, he left it to the heavens and earth, borrowing what he needed when required.
This was the essence of “a gentleman commands objects; he is not commanded by them.” To covet the world’s power and hoard it within oneself would mean being bound by its limitations. After all, the body is but a vessel and can only hold so much before overflowing.
Li Hao raised his hand, slowly assuming a stance, his fists and feet moving with profound intent.
What is heaven and earth?
In his fists and feet lay heaven and earth.
With one wisp of celestial energy, he could stand independent of heaven and earth.
Li Hao’s martial arts realm had transcended the Grandmaster level, surpassing even the Three Immortals Realm, though he had yet to reach the Four Immortals.
He picked up a dry branch to use as a sword. Between the sword’s edge and his chest lay heaven and earth.
Taking a single step forward, the space between his feet became heaven and earth.
Li Hao swung the branch casually, releasing a burst of sword energy.
In an instant, the falling snowflakes in the sky seemed to split apart. The sword energy, though imperceptible and light as a feather, pierced through dozens of miles, extending to a hundred miles, tearing through the clouds above.
It cleaved a path through the heavy snow-laden sky, revealing the radiant sunlight beyond. The snowfall ceased entirely.
Li Hao threw a casual punch, and the boundless fist wind swept across the snow-covered land outside the mountain. Where his gaze fell, the snow lifted and rolled, surging into a storm of avalanches, sweeping dozens of miles away.
The snow vanished, and within a radius of dozens of miles, the temperature seemed to rise.
Hints of spring began to appear on the earth.
A smile spread across Li Hao’s face. He felt as though he could devour heaven and earth with his newfound vigor.
“Lend me ten thousand measures of spring wind, and I will change the face of heaven and earth!”
He casually discarded the branch, bent down, and scooped up the stunned little white fox at his feet. Rubbing its ears, he chuckled, “Did you learn anything?”
The little white fox looked dazed, as though its mind had gone blank.
Li Hao laughed, holding it in his arms as he turned and departed. With every step he took, it seemed as though heaven and earth shifted beneath him. Each stride spanned ten miles, and his speed in the air was even faster.
Within a few strides, Li Hao had returned to Tianmen Pass, arriving at a small courtyard.
In the courtyard, Feng Boping lay leisurely on an old armchair, rocking gently. Hearing the sound of movement, he cracked one eye open to glance at Li Hao.
Then, his other eye opened fully as he sat upright, an expression of surprise crossing his face. “You’ve reached the Three Immortals Realm?”
“Not yet.” Li Hao set the little white fox down.
“The Grandmaster Realm?”
Feng Boping scrutinized Li Hao closely. His casual gestures carried a seamless and unbroken quality, exuding the natural presence of someone who could respond to any attack at a moment’s notice. This was a distinct trait of those in the Grandmaster Realm.
Li Hao gave a slight nod.
Feng Boping was momentarily speechless. This young man—before even stepping into the Grandmaster Realm—had already suppressed the grandmasters of the world.
But it made sense. After all, since the battle in Qingzhou, Li Hao had entered the Heaven-and-Man Realm. Now, barely half a year had passed, and…
Hiss! Feng Boping felt a pang of envy. Even though he had long grown used to Li Hao’s exceptional cultivation speed, going from the Heaven-and-Man Realm to the peak of Heaven-and-Man within a mere half-year was still astonishing.
That boy… Feng Boping inwardly grumbled. It wasn’t as though Li Hao spent every waking moment cultivating, and yet...
If Feng hadn’t watched Li Hao grow up, he might have harbored some jealousy.
At this rate, it wouldn’t be long before this little rascal could stand on equal footing with the elders.
The next decade in the Great Yu Divine Dynasty would undoubtedly belong to this young man.
Thinking this, a faint smile crossed Feng Boping’s lips. However, his thoughts soon turned to the looming threat of the Myriad Mountains Demon King, and his brows furrowed slightly.
“When the time comes, if the situation grows dire, we’ll leave immediately,” Feng Boping said solemnly to Li Hao.
Li Hao gave a small nod. Though he had reached the peak of the Grandmaster Realm and could now claim the title of Earth Immortal, he still had no confidence in confronting a Four Immortals Realm demon king.
Feng Boping had previously explained the vast disparities within the Four Immortals Realm.
The Four Immortals Realm, while considered one realm, was divided into four steps:
The first step was Dao Heart Realm, the second was Reverse Fate Realm, and the third was Absolute Technique Realm.
The final step, Supreme Dao Realm, involved opening the Dao Gate and wielding the power to challenge sainthood.