Chapter 450: Sword Dao Eleven, Drawing the Sword to the Heavens
In the vast sky, Yue Xi stood tall, dressed in a resplendent golden robe that shimmered like liquid gold. Her towering figure, surpassing that of ordinary people, made her appear like an exiled immortal descending from mythology.
Her expression was calm, her gaze serene. Since arriving at Sword Abyss, she had dedicated herself to rigorous cultivation, never allowing herself a moment's rest. In just a year, her strength had grown tremendously.
At her side was Wei Hongye.
After learning that this junior sister had emerged from seclusion and was heading to the Imperial Sword Cliff for another challenge, Wei Hongye had come along to accompany her.
Yue Xi swept her gaze across the opposite side of the Imperial Sword Cliff, where countless figures from Sword Abyss had gathered. Although Sword Abyss did not have as many disciples as Spear Abyss, it still boasted tens of thousands.
However, as she scanned the crowd, she failed to see the figure she was searching for.
Her brows furrowed slightly, but she quickly regained her composure. If that person had such a weak mindset, then no matter how strong his Dao Heart was, even if it resounded with nine chimes, she would surpass him sooner or later. Perhaps she already had.
Suppressing her stray thoughts, she stepped forward to the Imperial Sword Cliff.
On the other side, many disciples of the Heavenly Academy were observing, discussing this new disciple that Li Tiemu had taken under his wing.
"I heard Elder Li brought back two disciples a year ago. I looked into it—they were both taken in from Wenxin Futuo City. One has an eight-chime Dao Heart, the other nine chimes. Both possess Eternal Dao Hearts. Yue Xi is the eight-chime one. As for the nine-chime one, he barely appears in public. Seems like no one has seen much of him."
"Dao Heart with nine chimes? Is that guy already an Immortal Lord?"
"Are you stupid? If he were an Immortal Lord, he wouldn't be a disciple. He'd be a deacon or even a candidate for elder."
"A True Immortal with a nine-chime Dao Heart? What kind of mindset does that require? Does he even know what it means to lose control to inner demons?"
Many of the Heavenly Academy disciples whispered among themselves, but their expressions grew more serious.
By this time, Yue Xi had arrived before the Imperial Sword Cliff. She heard Wei Hongye's voice transmission, offering encouragement. Taking a deep breath, she raised her hand and drew her sword.
With a sharp ringing sound, the longsword trembled and slid into her grip.
She fixed her gaze on the towering, sheer rock face of the Imperial Sword Cliff, where countless names were carved—each one belonging to a Sword Abyss genius.
Her name was currently at the very bottom.
A silver brilliance suddenly erupted in her eyes. At the same time, her golden robe radiated a dazzling light, and a sharp, boundless sword intent burst forth from her body.
From a distance, she appeared enveloped in an illusory shadow of sword intent, standing straight and tall like an unshakable pillar of the heavens.
As a descendant of the Disaster Clan, Yue Xi possessed an innate sword talent, her body carrying a natural Sword Embryo.
"True Immortal Third Realm!"
"What terrifying sword intent! Even my sword is trembling!"
"So this is a disciple of the Heavenly Academy? A True Immortal Third Realm with such overwhelming power—I feel like I wouldn't stand a chance against her, even at the True Immortal Fifth Realm."
"You're thinking too highly of yourself. Even if you were at the True Immortal Sixth Realm, you might not be able to defeat her."
In the distance, many disciples from the Earth Academy and Mystic Academy murmured in awe.
Even the disciples of the Heavenly Academy had serious expressions, feeling the immense pressure emanating from Yue Xi.
At that moment, Yue Xi gripped her longsword and charged toward the Imperial Sword Cliff.
The moment she neared the cliff's base, she felt an overwhelming, majestic force descend upon her, akin to an emperor surveying his realm from his throne—an inescapable, all-encompassing might.
She was like an ant beneath the gaze of a supreme being. Her sword intent and understanding of the sword felt insignificant, as though reflected in a mirror, revealing just how minuscule they truly were.
She clenched her teeth slightly, a look of stubborn defiance flashing in her eyes. With an unwavering will, she unleashed her full power, surging toward the spot above her previous inscription.
Behind her, a hazy Heaven and Earth Dharma Image materialized, shimmering like silver threads. It resembled a celestial maiden from beyond the heavens, soaring forward alongside Yue Xi's sword-wielding figure.
The Imperial Sword Cliff exuded an indescribable, boundless power. To Yue Xi's eyes, it was no longer just a mountain—it was a sword. A sword standing between heaven and earth, rendering all else dim and insignificant.
She had never seen such a sword before, nor had she ever felt such terrifying sword energy. But this close proximity to it reshaped her understanding of the sword entirely. It was an enlightenment so profound that it was almost despair-inducing.
Could she ever hope to reach such an extreme level of swordsmanship?
For the first time, doubt crept into her heart.
This wavering affected her Sword Heart. Her movements slowed slightly, and by the time she realized it, she was already before the Imperial Sword Cliff.
Swoosh!
A brilliant streak of sword light carved her name onto the cliff face.
This time, her name was placed three feet higher than before.
A mere three feet.
Yet in that short span, she had leaped past hundreds of names, surpassing many geniuses.
The moment her name was engraved, it felt as though all her strength had been drained. She could no longer withstand the immense pressure of the cliff's presence. Her body was sent flying backward, her face pale as she retreated beyond the cliff's boundary.
Her chest rose and fell rapidly, her breath heavy. Even her sword hand trembled slightly. But behind her, countless stunned gazes were fixed upon her.
In just one year, she had left her name on the Imperial Sword Cliff again, and this time, she had advanced three feet. It was nothing short of astonishing.
"True Immortal Third Realm… If her cultivation were higher, she might have climbed even further."
"This level of sword intent is enough to compensate for a tenfold difference in immortal power. She could challenge a True Immortal Sixth Realm opponent even at the Third Realm."
In the distance, the spectators snapped out of their daze and began whispering among themselves.
The True Immortal Realm had ten stages, with each breakthrough doubling one's immortal power.
At the Second Realm, the power was twice that of the First Realm. At the Third Realm, it quadrupled. The Fourth Realm had eight times the power. By the time one reached the Tenth Realm's peak, their immortal power was 512 times that of a First Realm True Immortal.
Against such an overwhelming difference in immortal power, most supreme abilities couldn't bridge the gap. For example, those in the Divine Power Realm could enhance their physical strength tenfold, but against an opponent with five hundred times their power, it was negligible.
Even Heaven and Earth Dharma Images followed this principle. While they could vastly enhance combat ability, most True Immortals who reached the Tenth Realm also possessed Dharma Images, and the stronger one's cultivation, the greater the amplification they provided.
These ten stages were like ten heavenly layers—nearly impossible to cross easily. Anyone who could defy realms in battle was a top-tier genius, just like Yue Xi.
"Not bad, you've improved a lot."
Wei Hongye's figure gracefully flew to Yue Xi's side and praised her in a gentle voice.
Dressed in a simple white robe, she radiated an aura of elegance and tranquility, resembling an immortal untouched by worldly concerns. Compared to Yue Xi's regal attire, she seemed even more ethereal and otherworldly.
Hearing the compliment, Yue Xi looked up at the towering Imperial Sword Cliff. Her eyes traced upward from her own name, scanning a long distance before finally landing on three words—Wei Hongye.
She pressed her lips together slightly, steadied her trembling hand, and said to Wei Hongye, "Thank you for accompanying me, Senior Sister."
"You have great talent. Keep working hard when you return."
Wei Hongye smiled.
Yue Xi nodded, glancing once more at the crowd on the other side of the Imperial Sword Cliff. Still, she saw no sign of the figure she was looking for. A flicker of disappointment flashed in her eyes, but she didn't dwell on it. She turned and left with Wei Hongye.
Upon returning to her courtyard, Yue Xi summoned her steward and instructed him to send a message to that particular courtyard.
It wasn't long before her steward returned, his expression somewhat strange as he respectfully reported,
"Miss Yue, the steward of Idle Courtyard said that Young Master Hao left the mountain a few days ago."
"He left the mountain?"
Yue Xi, who had been seated in a lakeside pavilion, gently running her fingers along her sword's edge, narrowed her eyes slightly. "Where did he go?"
"That, he didn't say. After all, Young Master Hao is a disciple of the Heavenly Academy, so his whereabouts aren't something easily disclosed."
A gleam flashed through Yue Xi's eyes, but she remained silent, simply closing them.
Seeing her reaction, the steward knew it was time to leave. Without another word, he quietly stepped away.
In Wenxin Futuo City.
The vast plaza appeared much emptier than it had a year ago.
This ancient city had long been in decline. There were few travelers passing through, nothing like the bustling scene when numerous sects had gathered here for disciple recruitment.
Now, the towering Wenxin Pagoda still stood in the center of the square, and every so often, figures would enter to test their Dao Hearts.
At the far edge of the square, there was a small hill.
Atop the hill, two figures sat with their backs against a tree. Before them was a sheer cliff, an abyss shrouded in clouds and mist. Wisps of smoke curled up from below, mingling into the drifting fog.
The scent of roasting meat lingered in the air.
Li Hao was grilling.
Beside him, an old man with a crippled leg was smoking a pipe.
Both of them appeared relaxed, yet faint lines of energy extended from them into the misty abyss below.
Before long, the rich aroma of cooked meat spread through the air. Li Hao handed a piece of roasted dragon liver to the old man. "Old Han, still no movement?"
For the past six months, whenever Li Hao had free time, he would come here to fish with this old man.
It was rare to find a fishing companion who was better than himself. And considering the Dragon Sparrow the old man had mentioned, Li Hao still hadn't caught one yet. He couldn't just leave empty-handed and never return—that thought alone kept him awake at night.
After spending half a year together, the old man, despite his gruff personality and few words, had started opening up slightly under Li Hao's casual cooking and conversation. Li Hao at least learned that his surname was Han, though his full name remained unknown.
"Hmph, as if you have any luck either."
The old man snorted but accepted the dragon liver without hesitation and took a hearty bite.
Popping open his wine gourd, he paired the roasted meat with his homemade liquor, eating with visible enjoyment.
"Now this is living."
Half a portion of dragon liver later, along with several gulps of his aged wine, the old man's eyes squinted slightly, a rare look of satisfaction appearing on his face.
Li Hao, sitting beside him, took a bite as well. The True Immortal Realm dragon beast had been hunted in the wastelands outside Futuo City, and the flavor was quite decent.
"Pass me the wine."
Li Hao said casually.
The old man, long accustomed to this routine, handed the wine gourd over without a second thought.
He ate Li Hao's roasted meat, and Li Hao drank his wine—it was a fair exchange.
Li Hao wiped the spout clean before tilting his head back to take a sip, letting the fragrant taste spread through his mouth.
The old man shot him a sidelong glance, then snorted and took the gourd back, drinking straight from it.
"Your fishing technique is still too crude. You're stuck at the entry-level stage and haven't grasped the true essence of fishing."
The old man said flatly.
"Oh?"
Li Hao raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Then tell me, what is the true essence of fishing?"
"Everything can be fished—immortals, gods, demons, spirits… even time and years themselves."
The old man squinted as he spoke.
Li Hao had asked the question out of curiosity, but hearing this response, his mind suddenly trembled as if a great bell had rung within his consciousness. His entire being felt as though it had been doused in enlightenment.
Even time and years?
The words echoed in his mind.
How could time be fished?
What could possibly hook time itself?
Countless thoughts surged through his mind, but then, suddenly, a realization seemed to dawn on him—perhaps, the only thing that could hook time…
Was his own fishing line.
This "time" encompassed both the time of the heavens and earth and the time of all living beings.
All things were like fish, swimming within the rivers of their own timelines. When caught on a hook, they would be pulled from their stream of time into another trajectory—or meet their end.
The taste of dragon meat in Li Hao's mouth seemed to vanish as his mind completely sank into the countless thoughts colliding within him. His eyes slowly closed without him even realizing it.
His consciousness drifted, expanding with these thoughts as they echoed through his mind.
Before him, the Chaotic Divine Fire burning in the bonfire wavered and dimmed, leaving only the lingering aroma of roasted meat in the air.
The hidden lines of energy Li Hao had cast into the mist had also completely disappeared—vanished without a trace.
The mist swirled quietly, carried by a soft breeze that brushed through the strands of his hair beneath the tree's shadow.
Beside him, the old man Han, who had been leisurely drinking, suddenly shifted his gaze toward Li Hao. His hand holding the wine gourd paused midair.
Slowly, he set the gourd down, and for the first time, a faint gleam flickered in his usually calm and indifferent eyes.
The mist continued to spread and shift, the cloud sea undisturbed.
Li Hao's presence became even more tranquil, as though he had merged completely with the world around him.
But this was not the ultimate state of oneness with the Dao—it was something else entirely.
All things could be fished.
All things could also become the fishing line…
Suddenly, the mist surged violently.
Something enormous was moving within, trembling, rolling!
In an instant, the fog was forcibly torn apart, and something massive leaped forth from within.
It was not the Dragon Sparrow.
It was not some demon or monster.
It was a tower.
A towering, majestic pagoda emerged from the mist as if being reeled in by an unseen force.
If an outsider had been present to witness this, they would have been shocked beyond belief—because this tower was identical to the Wenxin Pagoda standing in the plaza below.
Only, this one was complete.
Its peak was sharp, like the blade of a divine sword piercing the heavens.
Then—
The tower shuddered violently, as if something was destroying it.
Brilliant divine radiance shattered apart like molten iron and scattered in all directions, splattering across the mist-filled landscape.
The imperial presence that once radiated from the tower dimmed, flickering uncertainly.
The old man Han, pipe in hand, froze.
His gaze locked onto the resplendent tower reflected in his eyes. Within that reflection, countless shimmering lights flowed like a river—fragments of time, long past.
He had not expected that the moment of history Li Hao had fished out… would be this one.
At that moment, Li Hao opened his eyes as well.
He watched as the tower, once so real, began to fade—its form becoming blurred, growing distant and illusory, until it finally dissipated like smoke in the wind.
His thoughts wavered.
This tower had never been real.
It was a projection of time itself, something he had fished from the currents of history.
But he recognized it instantly.
It was Wenxin Pagoda.
What he had just fished up was the moment in history when Wenxin Pagoda was destroyed.
And then—
A prompt appeared within his mind.
[You have comprehended the Essence of Fishing]
[Fishing has advanced to the Eleventh Level]
[You have gained 38,282 Fishing Experience…]
A series of notifications flashed through his consciousness. But Li Hao remained silent, still immersed in the aftershock of his realization.
Time… and years… He had actually touched them.
Among the Nine Paths, the Dao of Time was said to be the most elusive and impossible to grasp.
Even Wang Lao, when searching for Ying Xiaoxiao, had speculated that she was the reincarnation of Tianmiao Celestial Maiden, someone born with an innate affinity for the Dao of Time.
And now—
He had touched it himself.
"Fishing… actually allowed me to perceive the Great Dao of Time…?"
Li Hao's mind trembled.
The more he reflected, the more he felt that every skill and art he had practiced was tied to something far deeper than mere technique.
An overwhelming flood of insight and knowledge surged into his consciousness—
Everything related to fishing, everything related to the essence of time, all of it was seeping into his soul, rearranging his understanding of reality.
The old man Han, still sitting beside him, could clearly sense the subtle transformation in Li Hao's presence.
He remained silent, taking slow puffs from his pipe. The thick smoke curled around his face, concealing his expression in an enigmatic haze.
Time passed.
Minute after minute.
Only when Li Hao had fully absorbed the influx of new knowledge did he finally open his eyes.
For the first time in a long while, he felt exhaustion.
Slowly turning his head, he looked at the old man Han, who seemed lost in thought.
Li Hao rose to his feet, bowed deeply, and respectfully saluted.
"Thank you, senior, for your guidance!"
Though he was still piecing it together, he knew that his realization was not merely the result of his own talent.
It was this old man's words that had opened the door for him.
And it was no accident.
The old man Han snapped out of his thoughts and glanced at Li Hao.
For the first time, there was a flicker of genuine warmth in his usually indifferent gaze.
The only other time Li Hao had seen that look… was when he had offered him roasted meat.
"You're quite sharp," the old man said at last. "I only gave you a small hint, and you managed to grasp something extraordinary. That's rare."
For once, the old man actually praised someone.
Hearing this, Li Hao felt even more certain. He had not bowed to the wrong person.
He sat back down, his expression serious.
"Old Han, you must be some hidden expert, right?"
The old man Han gave a neutral grunt. "Hidden expert? Hardly. If I were that powerful, I wouldn't be stuck here, too afraid to even seek revenge."
As he spoke, his lips curled into a bitter, self-mocking smile.
Li Hao did not believe a single word of that.
Even if it were true, this old man's aura and presence were no weaker than Wang Lao's.
"You have enemies," Li Hao said flatly.
"Who doesn't?"
The old man Han exhaled a long breath of smoke. For a moment, there was a rare lightness in his expression.
Then, gazing at the vast cloud sea before them, he asked:
"You saw what you just fished up. Tell me—how does it make you feel?"
"You mean Wenxin Pagoda?"
Li Hao thought about the time fragment he had just fished out, then recalled the giant palm that had descended from the heavens when he first entered Wenxin Pagoda. With a sigh, he said, "The one who destroyed Wenxin Pagoda must have been at the Immortal Emperor level, right?"
The old man Han did not deny it. He slowly said, "Futuo City has stood watch over Abyssal Sea for many years. A long, long time ago, Wenxin Pagoda had already become an Imperial Artifact. But in the catastrophe of a hundred thousand years ago, it stood at the very front, bore the full brunt of suppression, and its imperial radiance dimmed—just like its Imperial Soul…"
He let out a soft chuckle, as if speaking to himself. "Wenxin, Wenxin… It has questioned the true hearts of all things in this world, yet it lost its own Imperial Heart, leaving behind only half…"
Li Hao remembered something that Wang Lao had once mentioned—Imperial Artifacts possessed Imperial Souls, and Imperial Souls had Imperial Hearts. If an Imperial Heart was destroyed or incomplete, its power would likewise be severely diminished.
"If half remains, then there's still hope for the future."
Li Hao said.
The old man Han glanced at him. "Hope?"
"Even if the Imperial Heart is completely shattered, it can be reforged. Who knows? It might even surpass what it once was. Destruction isn't always a bad thing. Eternal existence doesn't necessarily mean a good thing either. To persist unchanged is also to stagnate…"
Li Hao smiled as he spoke.
The old man's eyes narrowed slightly, as if he were digesting those words. He murmured, "Reforging… surpassing the past…"
After a long pause, he suddenly let out a low chuckle, which quickly turned into booming laughter.
"Marvelous! Truly marvelous! Eternity is not necessarily a blessing… To be able to comprehend this perspective—no wonder your Dao Heart has already reached the peak of eternity."
The old man looked at Li Hao, and only he knew the truth.
This boy was not a Dao Heart of Nine Chimes—he was at Ten Chimes!
A True Immortal with a Ten-Chime Eternal Dao Heart… The level of attention and danger he would attract…
Because this already meant that Li Hao had the qualifications to step into the Quasi-Emperor Realm.
One step further, and it would be the Dao of the Heavenly Emperor's Heart!
"This barbecue today… I've enjoyed it thoroughly!"
The old man laughed, then reached into his Heaven and Earth Space and pulled out another wine gourd. He tossed it to Li Hao. "Not enough to drink, is it? I'm giving this one to you."
Li Hao caught it, then raised an eyebrow. "Didn't you say this wine is incredibly difficult to brew? That you only had one bottle?"
"It is hard to brew. Takes an eternity…" The old man chuckled softly, a hint of nostalgia in his voice. But there was no longer regret in his tone. "But the one thing I'm not lacking… is time."
He had already waited for a hundred thousand years. What did a little more time matter?
He laughed freely, his gaze at Li Hao much softer than before.
At first, he had thought this boy was just a lucky brat who stumbled upon good fortune.
But now—
He had clearly underestimated him.
"You sly old fox."
Li Hao clicked his tongue, shaking his head. He had been feeding this guy roasted meat all this time, and he had this much wine in storage? How stingy!
After finishing the last of the barbecue, Li Hao patted the dried grass off his robes and stood up. "Time's about up. I should head back to the sect."
"Go on, go on. Oh, wait, take this with you."
The old man Han waved his hand but then seemed to recall something. He flipped his palm and pulled out a small black tower before tossing it over.
Calling it a tower was a stretch—it was barely the size of a thumb, its surface rough and crude, looking more like a lump of black clay randomly shaped into a tower.
Li Hao caught it and casually spun it around on his thumb like a cap, raising a brow. "What is this? An Immortal Weapon?"
"Immortal Weapon?"
The old man Han let out an amused snort. "Sure, you can think of it that way. Just keep it safe—might just save your life when you need it most."
So, it's a life-saving artifact…
Li Hao didn't stand on ceremony. He nodded and said, "Then I'll hold onto it. When my cultivation is high enough, I'll return it to you."
"Let's hope I live to see that day."
The old man Han chuckled.
Li Hao waved farewell to him, agreeing to meet again for another fishing contest.
Then, he turned and left, heading toward the teleportation array near the gates of Futuo City—his route back to Nine Abyss Dream.
On his way back, Li Hao pulled up his status panel and examined the newly acquired Fishing Essence Dao State.
Now, both his Body Dao and Path Dao had reached the Eleventh Stage.
It was finally time to improve his Sword Dao.
Without hesitation, he allocated his accumulated points.
Sword Dao was the foundation of his combat power, especially when it came to offensive strength.
As soon as the points were used, an overwhelming surge of knowledge and insights flooded into his mind.
[Sword Dao has advanced to the Eleventh Stage.]
Countless realizations about swordsmanship filled his consciousness.
At the same time, the various sword techniques he had already comprehended underwent a complete transformation.
Immortal's Guidance—he had finally touched upon its true essence.
Immortal Draw—which had previously only been at the entry level, had now reached the absolute peak!
This alone proved that Immortal Draw was still within True Immortal Realm swordsmanship, albeit one of the most powerful techniques at that level.
Meanwhile, the Azure Sky Sword Art, one of the Top Ten Supreme Immortal Arts he had inherited from the Heavenly Catastrophe Imperial Hall, had also been at the entry level. But now, it had reached Perfection!
To advance it further, he would need Three Layers of Sword Dao Essence.
Currently, with Sword Dao at the Eleventh Stage, his Sword Dao Essence had already reached the Third Layer.
With these two sword techniques improving dramatically, even Li Hao's presence had subtly changed—becoming more ethereal yet razor-sharp.
However, as he digested and absorbed all these insights, his aura gradually retracted, concealing itself once again.
Now, even without using Taotie Immortal Weapon, Li Hao could tell—
His lethality had reached an unimaginable level.
Just these two techniques—Immortal Draw and Azure Sky Sword Art—if used in combination, their destructive power would be…
Indescribable.
By the time he returned to Sword Abyss, Li Hao had already fully absorbed everything.
Flying toward the mountain peak, he passed the towering Imperial Sword Cliff—
His gaze sweeping over it in an instant.