The Name of Eternity.

Chapter 636 The Thirteenth Path of Painting, The Heart That Reverses Time
Wisps of smoke rose from the small courtyard.

In the courtyard, Li Hao cooked the flesh and blood of the ancient demon, and he and Shi Miao ate with great relish.

"It smells good."

Shi Miao wiped her mouth as she ate, having long abandoned any semblance of ladylike manners, and devoured her food with gusto, yet her movements remained elegant and beautiful. She smiled and said:

"Thanks to you, my reincarnated primordial spirit has also condensed a lot of true god blood. If I live peacefully until the end of that time and merge with my original true god, I wonder what level I will reach?"

Li Hao had long heard Shi Miao say that her true form was already at the final stage of the Primordial Spirit realm. She could reach the perfection of the final stage by condensing tens of thousands of drops of True God Blood. Her Primordial Spirit would then transform into a True God, detach from her physical body, and remain incorruptible despite the decay of the sun and moon and the withering of time.
"If you cultivate to the ultimate realm of the primordial spirit, and the two ultimate realms of the primordial spirit merge, you may achieve something even more extreme."

Li Hao guessed.

Shi Miao nodded, feeling a sense of anticipation. Although no one could break through the Final Realm, not even the Immortal Emperors, and all the former Immortal Emperors had tried countless methods without success, it was still unknown whether anyone had managed to merge with the True God.

Although Shi Miao had a vague feeling that this method had probably been tried by an Immortal Emperor, she was not entirely sure and couldn't help but feel a little hopeful.

The higher one's level of cultivation, the less enjoyment remains. With many paths blocked, the ability to open up a new path, even with only a sliver of possibility, is exhilarating.

"Unfortunately, the absorption efficiency is still not fast enough. Even if we eat and drink every day, it would take thousands of years to accumulate tens of thousands of drops!"

Li Hao said.

Previously, on the battlefield of the Yellow Springs and the Earth, he could only condense a dozen drops of true god blood each year using the blood essence of ancient demons.

In the Primordial True Realm, there is no ancient demon blood essence. Fortunately, the ancient demon corpses that my second senior brother, Di Wushe, sends each time are of extremely high quality. Many of them are at the peak of the Immortal Lord realm, and there are also many corpses at the Immortal King realm. Therefore, we can barely condense about ten drops of True God blood every year.

However, from the quality of these ancient demon corpses, Li Hao could sense that the border battlefield of the Imperial Clan was extremely dangerous. No wonder his second senior brother always had a murderous aura between his brows whenever he came, even in his avatar, as if he had just escaped from the battlefield.

"It's already very fast."

Shi Miao smiled.

She could condense ten drops of true divine blood every year, something she wouldn't have dared to imagine back then. Even condensing just one drop a year would have been top-notch speed.

"Unfortunately, I never grasped the essence of painting."

Li Hao said that the thirteenth stage of the Dao of Painting was far more difficult than he had imagined. After accumulating enough experience points, he devoted himself to studying and comprehending it for several years, but still had no clue.

"Don't be impatient. The Immortal King Realm is the final step to ascending to heaven, so it's normal that it's difficult."

Shi Miao comforted Li Hao.

Although Li Hao didn't explicitly say it, she could tell from his intelligence that his comprehension of painting and music was not for fun, but for cultivation. If he could comprehend painting, perhaps he could break through to the next level and become a king.

However, breaking through to the realm and becoming a king is no easy feat. Even with the painstaking cultivation of an immortal emperor, it still depends on a bit of luck.

Although the Primordial True Realm is rich in divine medicines and treasures, including the supreme medicinal lotus that can replace the Realm Heart and directly plant a lotus realm within the body, thereby becoming an Immortal King, such diluted Chaos Divine Medicines are extremely rare. True geniuses do not need them, and those who are not geniuses are not qualified to enjoy them.

"Ah."

Li Hao nodded, his heart calm and composed, only filled with emotion.

Sometimes, with Miao by his side, Li Hao would paint in the courtyard every day, and figures would appear in his paintings.

These were all Li Hao's old friends and people he missed: Emperor Yu, Elder Feng, Ren Qianqian, Lin Qingying, and Li Tianzong, who had long since perished in the River of Death...

Most of them are now in the Southern Region of the True Realm, and Li Hao dares not meet with them, lest he bring trouble upon them.

The painting enveloped the entire courtyard. Feng Lao, Yu Huang, Ren Qianqian, and the others seemed like phantoms in the painting, yet they were actually real, as if their souls had merged into their bodies. Their personalities, chatting and laughing, were exactly the same as before.

The courtyard thus became lively.

Emperor Yu played chess with Li Hao. He tapped the table with his fingers, and the chessboard materialized in the painting.

Feng Lao accompanied Li Hao fishing. In a sudden shift in the scene, a demon lake appeared suspended in the void.

Ren Qianqian practiced swordsmanship by her side, and Li Hao pointed out her skills, which improved her swordsmanship.

Li Hao had them stay by his side. Although they played chess, fished, and practiced swordsmanship, all of this took place within the painting realm. This improved Li Hao's control over the painting realm, but it did not allow him to accumulate experience in other artistic skills.

"Now that we're separated by distance, you must miss them very much."

Shi Miao said to Li Hao.

Li Hao nodded. How could they not remember each other, having met in the dust of the world?

"If you could use the enhancements you gained from the painting to help them in the future through soul transmission and inheritance, that would be even better."

Shi Miao said.

Upon hearing this, Li Hao's eyes lit up slightly; this was indeed a good idea.

If that's the case, by improving the cultivation of Emperor Yu and the others within the painting, and then directly passing it on to their original forms in the future, it would be of great help to them.

However, while the idea is good, it is somewhat unrealistic.

After all, Li Hao is the master in the painting realm, and it is easy for him to improve their cultivation. If he can pass on their cultivation to his true body, then helping people cultivate will be as simple as eating and drinking for Li Hao. This is something that even an Immortal Emperor would find difficult to do.

……

"Where is Junior Brother Han Ku?"

In the first level of the Extreme Dao Mountain, Li Hao arrived as usual to discuss realm cultivation with these Immortal King Realm disciples, but noticed that several figures seemed to be missing from the dojo.

Among them, Han Ku, who had cultivated an unbreakable domain, left a deep impression on Li Hao. More than ten years ago, when he first visited, Shi Miao pierced through Han Ku's unbreakable domain with a single finger. Only five years later, Han Ku's unbreakable domain had greatly improved, and his cultivation level had also increased by one level.

"Senior Brother Hanku, he..."

The disciples of the Immortal King Realm, including Ku Qiao, who stood in front of Li Hao, looked at each other, their expressions rather grim.

Li Hao's heart skipped a beat, and he asked, "What is it? Please speak freely."

"Senior Brother Haotian, Senior Brother Hanku went to the Primal Border Region three years ago and became a Demon Slayer, it's just a pity..."

Kuqiao's eyes were complicated. He clenched his fist and said, "It's a pity that the situation in the primitive border region is so bad. A year ago, news came back that Senior Brother Hanku had already died in battle."

"Battle-fallen?"

Li Hao was stunned.

That Immortal King junior brother, who was extremely confident and arrogant when they first met, actually perished in battle?

"He's a Celestial King... Where is that Primordial Frontier? Is it also invaded by ancient demons?"

Li Hao couldn't help but ask.

Kuqiao glanced at Li Hao and said bitterly, "Senior Brother Haotian, you may not know this, but ten thousand years ago, the ancient demons invaded the True Realm. Not only the outer True Realm was thrown into turmoil, but the Primordial True Realm was also thrown into chaos. That great war affected every corner of the world. If the ancient demons hadn't been so greedy and arrogant, choosing to wage war on multiple fronts, they wouldn't have been defeated..."

“That’s right. If the ancient demon race had chosen a more cautious approach, sweeping across the great domains of the True Realm one by one, the True Realm would probably already be entirely their territory.”

Another immortal king nodded.

"This Primal Frontier is where the ancient demons invaded back then. It was only through the joint efforts of the three great masters, including Master, and the ten chaotic races that peace was achieved in the Primal True Realm. However, the battles in the Primal Frontier have always been fierce."

"It's a bitter bridge," said Kuqiao.

Li Hao was stunned, not expecting that the Primordial True Realm had also been invaded by ancient demons.

"The Chaos Ancient Clan agreed to let us humans come to the Primordial True Realm not only because of my master and the Chaos Immortal Emperor, but also because they need our help to stop the Ancient Demons," said a woman at the Immortal King Realm beside her.

Li Hao asked, "If that's the case, then the Chaos Ancient Clan and we are still sworn enemies?"

"To the Chaos Ancient Clan, we are no different from the Ancient Demons. The only difference is that the Ancient Demons are a threat, while we are a hidden danger. If we can use the hidden danger to solve the threat, that would naturally be the best outcome for them," Kuqiao said. Li Hao was speechless. The prejudice based on racial differences was indeed difficult to reverse.

"Senior Brother Haotian is exceptionally talented, and he was probably personally brought into the sect by our master. We, on the other hand, are not so fortunate. Some of us can only get a small number of our clansmen through the connections of powerful families. The rest of us can only gain entry to the inner sect for cultivation and to enter the Chaos Star to comprehend the Dao by fighting in the Primordial Borderlands and establishing our immortal skills there. Only those with outstanding military achievements are allowed to enter the inner sect for cultivation and to comprehend the Dao in the Chaos Star!"

"Some powerful clans have their strong members fighting in the primitive borderlands to establish immortal techniques, but they transfer the quota to the younger generation of the clan and send the younger generation to the Immortal Emperor's Dao Mountain to become disciples. Even the outer disciples can get the opportunity to go to the Chaos Star to comprehend."

The group explained to Li Hao.

Li Hao was somewhat stunned. He hadn't expected that the Chaos Star, which he himself was too lazy to visit, would be so difficult for others to go to.

Even coming to cultivate in this Extreme Dao Mountain requires the efforts of several generations!

"Although Han Ku has entered the first Daoist school, he still has to serve. Every three hundred years, he must go to the Primordial Frontier and establish a hundred immortal merits before he can return," someone said.

"One hundred battle merits?"

"It is only possible to kill a hundred ancient demons of the same realm as oneself. Although we are cultivating under the Immortal Emperor and are not as good as Senior Brother Haotian, we are still quite talented and it is not difficult for us to easily defeat ancient demons of the same realm."

The ancient demons possess terrifying combat power, almost overwhelming all races in the True Realm within the same realm. Even the top ten strongest races can only achieve minor victories against the ancient demons. However, they are far inferior when encountering royal families among the ancient demons.

However, the geniuses who can come to the Primordial True Realm all have the ability to fight against ancient demons of the same realm, and can even defeat them easily.

“Slaying a hundred ancient demons is not difficult, but the battlefield is ever-changing. Ancient demons are treacherous and cunning, and accidents can happen at any time. Even the most outstanding geniuses can perish,” Kuqiao said.

Li Hao nodded, fully aware of the horrors of the battlefield.

"As a direct disciple, Senior Brother Haotian, Master wouldn't let you go to such a chaotic area before you've fully matured," someone said to Li Hao, their eyes filled with admiration and wonder.

The personal disciples received extraordinary treatment. Although they were envious, they were also convinced of their superior talent. Each personal disciple was someone who could command respect.

"Senior Brother Hanku met with an accident..."

A woman at the Immortal King realm said dejectedly.

Upon hearing this, the others also fell silent. After all, they had cultivated together here for thousands of years, exchanging ideas and discussing with each other, and could be considered fellow Daoists on this path to immortality.

"Didn't he leave behind any divine blood here?"

Li Hao couldn't help but ask.

If it's a risky endeavor, one should at least leave behind a portion of divine blood, so that one can be reborn using that divine blood.

“In the past, we sacrificed our divine blood to save our lives and repeatedly threw ourselves into the battlefield. That was also the period when we severely injured the ancient demon. But not long after, the ancient demon created a method that could sever the connection between divine blood and extinguish divinity. Even if divine blood was left behind thousands of miles away, once killed by this method, the remaining divine blood would quickly decay.”

Kuqiao said, "Moreover, since Senior Brother Hanku's primordial spirit has perished, he cannot exert his full power if he only uses his avatar to fight, since that ancient demon can also use avatars."

Li Hao remained silent, having cultivated diligently for many years, only to perish in a single battle.

"I am the Unbreakable Boundary..."

Those words still seem to echo in my ears, but the person is no longer here.

Li Hao didn't say much. He returned to the mountaintop and extended his painting. In the painting, another figure appeared, the one who had died in battle, Han Ku.

"Senior Brother Haotian, I am from the Unbreakable Realm, you may observe me as you please..."

The cold, withered creature materialized in the painting, smiling and bowing to Li Hao, as if the past had resurfaced.

Shi Miao glanced at Li Hao, said nothing, and simply stayed by his side.

time flies.

Every few years, Li Hao would descend the mountain to discuss realms with his fellow Immortal Kings.

However, every few years, Li Hao would find that among the Immortal King realm fellow disciples he had talked to before, there would be one or two fewer people, and at the same time, there would be one or two new faces.

Some of the new faces were sent in through special quotas from prominent clans, while others were elders who had fought in the primitive borderlands and transferred their quotas to them.

Upon hearing of Li Hao's deeds, they all stepped forward to exchange pleasantries, treating him with utmost courtesy.

"Where is Junior Sister Baihua?"

"She...died in battle."

"Where is Junior Brother Wuhen?"

"he……"

The chaotic rain fell one after another.

The flowers on the mountaintop bloom and wither, wither and bloom again, but the immortal plants remain evergreen for centuries, unchanged.

"This is Junior Brother Baichuan; his domain is also extremely powerful."

"What about the Bridge of Bitterness?"

“Bitter Bridge, he…”

Seeing the few familiar faces with their indescribable and complex expressions, Li Hao's heart skipped a beat, and he felt a chill run down his spine.

He didn't know when he returned to the mountaintop, but he saw that there was one more figure in his painting.

"I am from the Other Shore Realm, Senior Brother Haotian..."

The figure smiled and bowed slightly to the boy sitting quietly on the tea chair, giving a very respectful deep bow.

Time seemed to stand still, and the first encounter on the way down the mountain was relived in this moment.

Li Hao remained silent for a long time.

He slowly stood up, cupped his hands, and said:
"I have met Junior Brother Kuqiao."

As time changes and the sun and moon shift in the courtyard, in this picturesque little world, time seems to reverse. A large amount of rainwater rises from the ground of the courtyard, evaporates, and flies into the clouds in the sky.

One chaotic rainstorm after another reversed, and the years passed, but the number of figures gathering around him only increased, all of them familiar faces that Li Hao had seen in the past.

"Cold and withered, bitter bridge... a hundred flowers..."

"Greetings, Senior Brother Haotian!"

Time seemed to stand still, and everything remained exactly as it was at the beginning.

Li Hao suddenly smiled, but tears streamed down his face. They had unconditionally opened their most secret realms to him for a visit. Those realms had amazed Li Hao; they were all the best among people.

"Time is fleeting."

Li Hao suddenly spoke.

"I'm here," Shi Miao said softly.

She stood in this space-time where the sun and moon changed and time reversed, yet she seemed to be independent of space-time, unaffected by anything. She simply looked at the boy in front of her quietly, her eyes gentle yet filled with tears. Only she could understand the boy's state of mind at this moment, and the intense feeling in his heart.

“It’s been over a hundred years…” Li Hao said in a low voice.

"Ah."

Shi Miao nodded vigorously, "A hundred years."

(End of this chapter)