Although a verbal thank you meant little, that was all he could offer for now. Explore more at My Virtual Library Empire
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Yaochi Peak.
This place was originally named Yaochi Holy Maiden Peak, but since the Yao Ancestor became a Semi-Saint, the words “Holy Maiden” were omitted, leaving only Yaochi.
The mountains were picturesque and the energy rich; Jiang Yingyue flew with Li Hao on sword control, possessing an authority token, she directly passed through the array’s obstruction, landing on the mountain peak with Li Hao.
Few houses were here, somewhat deserted, yet still, several dozen disciples cultivated here.
According to Jiang Yingyue, all were Registered Disciples.
“Seventh Senior Sister!”
Upon seeing Jiang Yingyue, these Registered Disciples promptly greeted her, most of them were women, with only a few men.
The men raised their eyebrows upon seeing Li Hao, his gaze catching a hint of solemnity from them, as if it were the kind of seriousness reserved for intruders.
He found it amusing and followed Jiang Yingyue directly to the peak.
This area was for Direct Disciples to live, Jiang Yingyue brought Li Hao to the Saint Platform at the peak, where they saw Yao Ancestor sitting there, gazing at the starred sky.
Her breathtaking beauty, sitting alone on the Yaotai Platform, a gentle breeze blowing, was simply unbeatable.
Li Hao glanced at her, momentarily distracted, but quickly composed himself.
“Master, I have returned with Qingfeng Pill Master,” Jiang Yingyue stood outside the Saint Platform, bowing as she reported.
The Yao Ancestor turned, the thoughts between her brows vanishing quietly. She looked at Li Hao, smiling and said,
“Have you chosen a Cultivation Technique?”
“Mhm.”
Li Hao nodded and solemnly replied, “Thank you for your grace, Yao Ancestor.”
After speaking, he took out the Hand Token and returned it to her.
Yao Ancestor saw it but did not immediately reach out to take it, instead her attention was on the Sword Dao technique in Li Hao’s hand.
Her gaze remained undisturbed, it was natural for Li Hao to choose a Cultivation Technique from the Sword Tower’s Nine-layer, and selecting the Sword Dao technique was quite normal.
“This technique was created by a Sword Saint; it’s a bit difficult. Take it back and cultivate for ten days, then return here and show me.”
The Yao Ancestor spoke softly, “If you haven’t grasped the basics within ten days, then go to the Eighth Layer of the Sword Tower and choose a different Cultivation Technique.”
Li Hao, hearing this, knew she wanted to repay the favor of the gifted painting with instruction, but the sentiment behind the painting was nothing compared to what he had gained from this trip.
“Mhm.”
Li Hao nodded without saying much.
Although he had cultivated to Ultimate Perfection, revealing it would be astonishing and would require excessive justification.
Jiang Yingyue glanced at Li Hao, gave it some thought but did not reveal Li Hao’s Ninety-Seven Layers Dao Domain—after all, she had promised Li Hao earlier and exposing it now might inadvertently offend others.
The Hand Token wasn’t received by Yao Ancestor, so Li Hao put it away himself, bade them farewell, and then left Yaochi Peak to return to the Alchemist area.
Inside the Pill Refining Institute.
Li Hao saw Lin Qingyue sitting in the courtyard, cross-legged, with the bright moon high above; a sword was placed horizontally on her knees, as if she was meditating on something.
Moonlight shimmered on the sword’s edge, casting a snow-white gleam.
Seeing Li Hao return, Lin Shanhai smiled and immediately asked about his visit to the Sword Tower.
Li Hao briefly explained, and Lin Qingyue in the courtyard, hearing the youth’s voice, slowly opened her eyes, her gaze sweeping over to see the name of the technique in Li Hao’s hand.
“The Sword Dao technique is quite difficult,” Lin Qingyue stated succinctly.
Li Hao looked towards her, smiled, and nodded, “The Yao Ancestor also told me it’s difficult.”
“I’ve heard that Saint Xue’er mastered this sword technique in just three days. If you manage to grasp the basics in ten days, that would be considered extremely talented,” Lin Qingyue said to Li Hao.
Three days was on the level of a Saint Heir, and if one could grasp the basics in ten days, that would also be considered among the top of the Heavenly Pride in the Inner Sect.
If one took much longer, a month, or even several years, then their future achievements in Sword Dao would certainly not be very high.
Li Hao knew that the Xue’er saintess she spoke of was Bian Ruxue, who was a direct disciple of the Sword Saint, and among all the saints and Saint Heirs, she was one of those with the highest status and background.
“I’m just practicing for fun, so it’d be best if I could master it,” Li Hao said with a smile and did not elaborate further.
Hearing Li Hao talk this way, Lin Qingyue’s eyebrows furrowed slightly as she glanced at him.
She had thought that Li Hao was influenced by the Heavenly Pride battles and had taken an interest, but now it seemed more like a passing fancy.
A hint of disappointment and regret flashed in her eyes, but she didn’t say anything more and closed her eyes to concentrate and ponder.
From this battle observation, she realized that there were many strong cultivators among the Heavenly Pride of the Inner Sect, and she had to improve a lot.
Li Hao, however, was feeling a bit hungry. He got up and went to the kitchen to make something to eat. When he brought the food over, its aroma made even Lin Shanhai, who had already had dinner, feel his appetite stirring again.
Lin Qingyue glanced over but frowned slightly, feeling even more regretful in her heart.
With a top-notch Swordsmanship just obtained, a true enthusiast would have immersed themselves without thought for food or sleep, not bothered about taking the time to cook a meal.
It was a vain expectation on her part, now met with disappointment.
However, she remembered that Li Hao was primarily an Alchemist with little interest in the Sword Dao, which was understandable.
She calmed her feelings and stopped dwelling on it.
After Li Hao and Lin Shanhai finished eating and filled their stomachs, Li Hao picked up the Grand Dao Sword Technique, bid farewell to the grandfather and granddaughter, and returned to his own courtyard.
This Grand Dao Sword Technique was already within his grasp, so there was no need for him to practice it anymore. Now that he had eaten and was full, he could continue cultivating his Dao Domain.
He casually set up a Barrier, maxed out the hidden attributes of his manual, and began his cultivation practice in the yard.
The many Cultivation Techniques he had taken in before were gradually extrapolated upon and deepened, and before long, a new Dao Domain extended out.
Quickly, the Dao Domain went from ninety-seven to one hundred layers!
Within three feet of where Li Hao sat cross-legged, the one hundred layered Dao Domain overlapped, solidifying as if it were substantial. Li Hao felt that even the laws would have a hard time penetrating his Dao Domain.
Just the simultaneous oppression of the one hundred layered Dao Domain could even cause someone in the Enlightened Truth Realm to fall to the ground, unable to move, and could even tear them apart and quell them!
One should know that this was merely the power of the Dao Domain and did not include any other Extreme Realm.
However, what surprised Li Hao was that reaching one hundred layers of Dao Domain hadn’t brought him in contact with an Extreme Realm.
He did not feel the unique state and insights that came with the touch of an Extreme Realm.
Li Hao resumed his cultivation, and soon his Dao Domain reached 108 layers, but he still hadn’t touched on an Extreme Realm.
For other Realms’ Extreme Realms, it was usually about a hundred times the original, such as in the Power Passage Realm, the common cultivator would wield around ten thousand pounds of force, but the Extreme Realm required a hundred thousand pounds!
Now, the Dao Domain was the same, having reached a hundred times the strength of the regular Grand Tao of Peace Realm.
“Could it be that it requires 180 layers?”
A glint appeared in Li Hao’s eyes as he sensed that the higher the Realm, the harder it seemed to be to reach its Extreme.
However, the harder it was to reach an Extreme Realm, the stronger it indicated the Extreme Realm once achieved would be!
Li Hao didn’t feel any disappointment, but instead, became somewhat excited.
He threw himself into assimilating the many Cultivation Techniques within the Sword Tower.
His number of Dao Domains also kept increasing, climbing gradually to 167 layers.
With just the Dao Domains stacked together, Li Hao felt as if the very void might shatter under the pressure, as if it couldn’t bear the strain.
Although he hadn’t battled against anyone, Li Hao felt that the laws of the Dao Law Realm couldn’t penetrate his Dao Domain at all and would be instantly obliterated!
Even without touching the Extreme of the Dao Domain in this Eighth Extreme Realm, the power it gave him had already surpassed any Extreme Realm, except for the Ultimate Immortal Transformation.
It could even compare to the Ultimate Immortal Transformation.