The Name of Eternals

Chapter 148: A Sword that Opens the Heavens

As the celestial qi entered his body, every pore of Li Hao's body emitted countless rays of light, as if a blazing sun was swallowed within him.

The snow around him evaporated rapidly.

His flesh and blood squirmed, transforming and refining. His body was enveloped in a silver-white glow, shrouded in ethereal mist.

As his body transformed, so did his true energy, including his divine soul, which ascended beyond, condensing into a golden infant form before maturing back into a youth.

The small white fox, startled, jumped from Li Hao's arms, feeling the immense celestial power. Its eyes filled with fear as it cautiously reached out a paw, only for the mist to remain untouched.

The transformation continued. Snow on the mountain peaks melted into clear springs, flowing down the ravines, reviving the entire mountain. The harsh cold wind turned into gentle rain, altering its course near Li Hao's body, falling elsewhere, leaving his surroundings clean and quiet.

The rain nurtured the earth, causing green sprouts to emerge and grow rapidly even in the midst of winter, a testament to the power now within Li Hao.

As the celestial mist and light receded into his body, Li Hao opened his eyes. His gaze glimmered with a silver light, and his skin, radiant like jade, contained an internal glow, every pore brimming with immense power.

Li Hao understood that this was the pinnacle of the Grandmaster realm. After half a year, he had finally taken this step.

He looked at the mountain beneath him, now dotted with clusters of green grass and budding trees.

His power had fundamentally changed; previously, his energy was raw and unrefined, requiring specific techniques to imbue it with attributes like heat or cold. Now, this power was unified as celestial qi, capable of infinite transformation at will.

A realization dawned upon him.

"Whatever I lose was never mine. Whatever I seek entraps me. Everything exists for my use, not for my ownership. The noble person commands objects, not the other way around. The Dao is simple, and without desire, one is strong. Doing nothing, there is nothing left undone."

In this moment, Li Hao's heart, mind, and spirit reached perfection. From self-awareness to understanding heaven and earth and all beings, he comprehended the simplicity of the Dao and the unity of all things.

His understanding and application of power had transcended ordinary grandmasters. The rejuvenated mountain peak was not due to his power directly reviving the flora but by simply removing the snow, allowing nature to take its course.

He raised his hand, drawing a dead branch as a makeshift sword. Between the sword and his heart lay the entire world.

He took a step, and within that step lay the world.

With a casual slash of the dead branch, the snow in the air seemed to split, the invisible sword energy extending for miles, piercing the clouds and revealing a ray of sunlight, halting the snowfall.

A sword that opens the heavens!

Li Hao threw a punch, the wind from his fist clearing the snow from the ground for miles, creating a spring-like warmth, the land showing signs of new life.

Li Hao smiled, feeling a surge of boundless energy.

"With the spring wind on my side, I dare to change the world!"

He tossed the dead branch, bent down to pick up the stunned little white fox, and rubbed its ears. "Did you learn that?"

The little fox looked bewildered.

Li Hao chuckled, holding it as he walked back, each step covering ten miles, faster than ever before.

In a few steps, Li Hao returned to Tianmen Pass, to the small courtyard.

Feng Boping, lying on an old chair, leisurely opened one eye upon hearing movement. He slowly opened the other, sitting up in surprise. "Have you reached the Three Immortal Realm?"

"Not yet," Li Hao replied, setting down the fox.

"Grandmaster Realm?"

Feng Boping looked at Li Hao again, feeling his seamless, perfect aura. This was the aura of a grandmaster.

Li Hao nodded.

Feng Boping was momentarily speechless. The boy had suppressed all the grandmasters earlier without even reaching this level. It was astounding. Half a year from the Human Realm to the Grandmaster's peak? Astonishing indeed.

Li Hao's rapid progress made Feng Boping feel that soon, the boy would stand shoulder to shoulder with them.

This era of the Dayu Dynasty would belong to him.

Feng Boping smiled, but his brow furrowed at the thought of the imminent attack from the Ten Thousand Mountains Demon King.

"If anything happens, we'll leave immediately."

Li Hao nodded. Despite reaching the pinnacle of the Grandmaster Realm, he wasn't confident about facing the Four Immortal Realm demon kings.

Feng Boping had explained the immense gaps within the Four Immortal Realm.

It was divided into four steps: Dao Heart, Fate Reversal, Supreme Skill, and the Peaceful Dao. Each step was significantly different.

Feng Boping, at the second step, could reverse fate once, for himself or others.

The Five Great Gods' Houses had many who dedicated this chance to their descendants, preserving the lineage.

The Supreme Skill step was like a stabilizing force, capable of holding the fort.

The Peaceful Dao step, the most elite, included the renowned Buddha Lord of Wuliang Mountain.

The demon king Feng Boping fought before was at the Dao Heart step, adept at escaping, which was why he hadn't pursued further.

If the Ten Thousand Mountains Demon King attacked, likely at the Fate Reversal step, with the previous Dao Heart demon king, it would be two against Feng Boping. If the latter was occupied, the former would target Li Hao, posing a significant threat.

The Dao Heart step's attacks were unavoidable, meaning Li Hao would be forced to endure them.

Even at the Not Decaying step of the Three Immortal Realm, it would be challenging. The Unfailing step could barely withstand a few strikes if the opponent didn't use full strength.

"Hopefully, they come later."

Li Hao hoped to reach the Three Immortal Realm in the meantime.

Feng Boping sensed this, knowing that given time, Li Hao could indeed reach the Three Immortal Realm. However, the gap between this and the Four Immortal Realm remained vast.

Moreover, the demon kings might not wait long, with the Water Qilin gone.

"Focus on your practice. I'll handle the rest," Feng Boping assured.

Li Hao nodded, then prepared food and resumed sketching.

His drawing and fishing skills were nearing ten thousand experience points each.

Though he needed a breakthrough in mindset for further progress, he could still prepare.

"Must focus on one path, not both drawing and fishing. Splitting focus wastes time."

Li Hao understood the importance of concentration. Initially, he planned to attain enlightenment through fishing, but with fewer demons around, progress was slow. Drawing, however, was readily available.

As snow fell, Li Hao sketched the scene.

Feng Boping, expecting him to practice, was surprised but intrigued, noticing a correlation between Li Hao's play and his rapid progress.

He let Li Hao be, knowing that some geniuses had their own peculiar ways.

Time passed.

Another month in the pass.

The snowfall seemed to slow, with spring approaching.

In the courtyard, Li Hao ate hot pot while considering his next step.

His drawing skill was maxed out, earning him a technique point, yet his mindset hadn't reached enlightenment.

His drawing skill had peaked, but remained grounded in the mundane, failing to transcend.

"Hmm?"

Suddenly, Li Hao sensed something disturbing the lines he had set up a hundred miles away.

Not natural wind, but something passing through.

His eyes narrowed, looking at Feng Boping.

Simultaneously, Feng Boping looked back, both understanding immediately.

They were here!

"Already a hundred miles away, and... three of them!"

Feng Boping, with fewer but more accurate lines, sensed three forces.

"Damn, they brought reinforcements. Let's go!"

Feng Boping enveloped Li Hao and the fox in his sleeve, executing his movement technique, the Invisible Path.

Had it been just the two demon kings, they had planned to hold their ground, relying on the Saint Heart Talisman to deter them.

But with three, it was too risky.

As the three demon kings approached, Li Hao's web of lines alerted him, his experience points soaring towards mastery.

Meanwhile, a familiar figure approached, dressed in blue, with blue hair, her form graceful—Song Qiumo.

"What are you doing here!"

Li Hao was shocked.

Song Qiumo smiled, "I came to see how they plan to avenge themselves."

"You never left?!" Li Hao was furious.

"Now's not the time. Are we staying or going? I'll stay with you." Song Qiumo's smile was enchanting.

Li Hao was moved, deeply conflicted. He hadn't expected such loyalty for a few small gestures.

Seeing no point in arguing, he sensed the three demon kings approaching. "Three against three, we might try. If we can't deter them, we'll retreat."

With both Song Qiumo and Feng Boping, plus the Saint Heart Talisman, they had a chance.

"No problem," Song Qiumo agreed.

Feng Boping smiled, "Let's talk."

They quickly returned to the camp.

As the three demon kings arrived, sensing Li Hao had left, a massive, golden-furred elder roared in anger.

He unleashed a giant palm towards the smoking courtyard, only for a water barrier to intercept, protecting the yard.

"Let's fight without wrecking this place."

Song Qiumo stepped forward, smiling. "I like this yard."

The golden-furred elder's eyes flashed with cold light.

Beside him, a white-haired elder in Daoist robes stroked his beard. "You didn't leave? Good, we can finish what we started."