Volume 2 - Chapter 31: One Sword to Open the Heavens - Part 2
Each step of advancement was monumental. Feng Lao belonged to the second step, the Reverse Fate Realm, which granted the ability to alter fate once—either for oneself or for others.
This reversal of fate wasn’t limited to transforming a mediocre constitution into that of an extraordinary genius.
It could also reverse dire circumstances in moments of hopelessness, creating a slim chance for survival!
In other words, achieving the Reverse Fate Realm provided a single opportunity to escape death in the most desperate of situations.
Most practitioners of the Reverse Fate Realm reserved this opportunity for themselves. However, many elders from the Five Divine General Mansions had selflessly dedicated this chance to their descendants, ensuring the continuation of their lineage.
Take the Second Lord, for example. He had reached the Absolute Technique Stage, akin to a stabilizing pillar for the Divine General Mansion.
The final step, the Supreme Dao Stage, was the pinnacle of the Great Yu Divine Dynasty’s hierarchy, with only a handful of individuals attaining it. The most renowned figure in this realm was none other than the Buddha Lord of Boundless Mountain.
As for the rest, they either remained obscure or had long since fallen.
The ancestors of the Five Divine General Mansions were all Supreme Dao Stage cultivators, ensuring eternal peace for the Great Yu Divine Dynasty!
The demon king Feng Lao faced earlier was merely in the Dao Heart Realm, though skilled in evasion. Concerned for Li Hao’s safety, Feng Lao refrained from pursuing further.
Now, with the Myriad Mountains Demon King’s attack, Feng Lao speculated that this demon king might be in the Reverse Fate Realm. Coupled with the Dao Heart Realm demon king from before, that made two adversaries. If the Myriad Mountains Demon King managed to hold off Feng Lao, and the previous demon king targeted Li Hao, Li Hao would struggle to defend himself.
The attacks of a Dao Heart Realm being were imbued with Dao Rhythms, ensuring they would land.
In other words, if the enemy struck, Li Hao would inevitably endure their assault.
Li Hao was currently only in the Heaven and Man Realm. Even those in the Undying Realm of the Three Immortals found it difficult to withstand such attacks—a casual strike could leave him gravely injured.
At best, someone in the Unbreakable Realm could endure a blow or two, provided the opponent didn’t exert their full strength.
“I hope they delay their arrival a bit longer,” Li Hao said.
If he could elevate his mental state to enlightenment, he could directly progress to the Three Immortals Realm.
Feng Boping glanced at Li Hao, a thought stirring in his mind. If given time, he believed Li Hao’s entry into the Three Immortals Realm was achievable.
Although the leap from the Heaven and Man Realm to the Three Immortals Realm was a daunting hurdle, and countless young talents had taken over a century to make this transition, Feng Boping had great confidence in Li Hao.
However, even reaching the Three Immortals Realm would leave a significant gap compared to the Fourth Pillar Realm.
Moreover, with the departure of the Water Qilin, these demon kings were unlikely to hold back for long.
“No matter what, focus on your cultivation. Leave everything else to me,” Feng Boping said.
Li Hao nodded, then gathered some ingredients to prepare a simple barbecue. Afterward, he retrieved his drawing board and began sketching in the courtyard.
Currently, both his Painting Dao and Fishing Dao were nearing ten thousand experience points.
Once the experience points maxed out, further gains would require an elevated mental state. Yet, he could begin exploring ways to advance his mental state in advance.
“I must confirm a single path. Contemplating both the Painting Dao and Fishing Dao simultaneously will divide my focus and waste time.”
Li Hao understood the importance of concentration. Initially, he planned to use fishing to achieve enlightenment, but with the nearby demons and monsters cleared out, there were no suitable targets for fishing. As a result, his progress slowed. Conversely, painting was something he could easily practice anytime.
Snow fell heavily.
Li Hao sketched the snowy scene in the courtyard.
Feng Boping had expected Li Hao to devote himself to cultivation, but seeing him so absorbed in his usual pastime left him puzzled.
Yet, he seemed to discern something—Li Hao’s rapid cultivation speed might have some connection to his leisurely pursuits.
However, how exactly this transformation occurred eluded Feng Boping. After all, some geniuses had peculiar habits that defied common understanding.
He didn’t press Li Hao to cultivate and let him act freely.
...
Time passed.
Another month went by beyond the pass.
The blizzard that had enveloped the region seemed to be gradually abating. In another month, spring would arrive.
In the courtyard, Li Hao held a bowl, enjoying thin slices of meat cooked in a hot pot.
His Painting Dao experience had maxed out, earning him an Artistic Skill Point. However, his mental state had yet to enter the transcendent realm of enlightenment.
Although his painting skills had reached their peak, they remained confined to the mundane world. His depictions were lifelike but failed to transcend.
“Huh?”
Suddenly, Li Hao sensed movement along the dark lines he had constructed a hundred miles away, as though something had brushed past them.
This wasn’t the work of natural wind but something passing through deliberately.
His eyes narrowed, and he immediately looked at Feng Boping.
At the same time, Feng Boping also turned to Li Hao. Without speaking, they read each other’s thoughts in an instant.
“They’re here!”
“There are three of them, about a hundred miles away!”
Feng Boping’s dark lines spread across the area, but although he had fished for many years, his skills weren’t necessarily better than Li Hao’s. Li Hao’s mastery came from systematic experience boosts and Fishing Dao techniques, along with the unique attributes of the Jiangxue Diagram.
Feng Boping’s dark line detected one presence, whereas Li Hao’s lines detected four or five.
Still, one was enough to sense three distinct forces.
“That old thing really called for reinforcements. Let’s go!”
Feng Boping immediately enveloped Li Hao and the little white fox in his sleeves, employing his Heaven and Earth Unbounded Technique.
If it were only the two demon kings from the Myriad Mountains, Li Hao and Feng Lao had planned to stay and resist, using the Sacred Heart Talisman to scare them off.
After all, defending the pass was a matter of strategy, not just brute force.
But with three demon kings advancing, there was no room for hesitation—disaster was inevitable.
As the three demon kings approached, they tore through Li Hao’s meticulously arranged web of dark lines within a hundred-mile radius. Each thread was severed as their massive forms passed through.
[Fishing Dao Experience +546, +523, +632…]
Although the dark lines were broken, they still granted experience points. A long string of notifications appeared, but Li Hao quickly dismissed them.
His experience points surged rapidly. By the time the demon kings arrived just outside the camp, Li Hao’s experience was nearing the sixth stage of perfection in the Fishing Dao.
At that moment, another figure suddenly sped toward the scene from a different direction.
Li Hao and Feng Boping both turned their gazes toward the newcomer. A woman in a flowing azure dress, her hair the same water-blue shade, moved with elegance and poise—Song Qiumo.
“What are you doing here?”
Li Hao’s expression darkened, and he couldn’t help but raise his voice.
Song Qiumo smiled faintly and replied, “Naturally, I’m here to see how these creatures plan to exact their revenge on you.”
“You never left?!” Li Hao was furious.
“Is now really the time to discuss this? Are you planning to retreat or stay and fight? Either way, I’ll stay with you,” Song Qiumo said with a light laugh.
Seeing her calm demeanor, Li Hao felt a mix of emotions. He was deeply moved—how could he deserve such loyalty? After all, all he had done was casually share a few pieces of crispy snacks with her. Yet she was willing to put herself in danger for his sake.
Still, he knew now wasn’t the time for such sentiments. Gritting his teeth, he took a deep breath and focused on the dark lines, sensing the three demon kings accelerating toward them. “If it’s three against three, we can try. If we fail to intimidate them, we’ll retreat.”
With both Song Qiumo and Feng Lao by his side, and the Sacred Heart Talisman in hand, Li Hao believed they had enough leverage to negotiate.
“I have no objections,” Song Qiumo said with a smile.
Feng Boping chuckled faintly. “Then let’s talk.”
The three immediately turned back toward the camp, moving swiftly to prepare for the confrontation.
By the time they returned, the three demon kings had already entered the camp. The leader was a burly figure covered in dark-gold fur, exuding a terrifying aura of power. He stood at the center of the camp, radiating anger.
The burly demon king roared furiously, his voice resonating like a mix of a lion’s roar and a dragon’s cry, shaking the entire Tianmen Pass.
In his fury, he raised his hand, releasing a massive palm strike toward the small courtyard that still emitted faint wisps of smoke. The enormous divine palm descended, seemingly about to crush the courtyard in an instant.
Suddenly, a streak of waterlight shot through the air, colliding with the massive palm. A great dome of shimmering water appeared, shielding the courtyard from harm.
“If you’re going to make a move, do it properly. Don’t destroy this place,” a voice rang out.
Song Qiumo stepped forward, her face adorned with a serene smile. “I rather like this little courtyard—don’t ruin it for me.”
The burly demon king, covered in golden fur, glared at her, his eyes glinting with a cold, murderous light.
Beside him, an elderly man in a Daoist robe, his hair and beard completely white, stroked his beard and squinted slightly. “You didn’t leave? Perfect. Last time, we didn’t finish. Let’s settle it this time.”