Chapter 306: Return of the Immortal Gate, The Extreme Realm Accepts Disciples
The taste of the Dao Comprehension Fruit was strangely fragrant, invigorating the mind and body, making Li Hao feel his consciousness become more active. After consuming it, his breathing became smoother, and his senses heightened. He vaguely sensed the presence of a "Dao Gate" within his consciousness—just a slight focus of thought would allow him to cross into it.
Immediately, he immersed himself in thoughts of culinary Dao. As his thoughts deepened, he approached the gate until he crossed through it. In an instant, it was as if he had entered a vast and chaotic world.
Thoughts seemed to intensify, and countless ideas surged forth.
At the same time, in the chaos before Li Hao, a figure gradually took shape.
The figure raised its hand, and the world turned into a furnace, with all things becoming fuel, cooking the energy within the void...
Li Hao was stunned by this scene, suddenly feeling as if he had been enlightened.
Such grandeur, such power, and it was all just for cooking!
Soon, under the figure's control, the energy in the void boiled like water, condensing from vast, hidden forces into visible streams, eventually forming a brilliant pearl.
There were no ingredients—energy itself could be used as the ingredient.
"Cooking" was not just about preparing food; it was about refining all things!
Li Hao came to a realization and immersed himself in the cooking techniques, deepening his understanding of culinary Dao.
What is cooking?
Ordinary cooking involves preparing dishes through various methods like steaming, braising, or making sashimi in a mundane restaurant.
At the "Heart Level" of cooking, dishes are made with extreme care and precision, bringing taste to its peak.
At the "Spirit Level," the dish is infused with spiritual essence, giving each dish a unique flavor that not only pleases the palate but also brings a harmonious experience to the mind and body.
These three stages represent a progression from merely satisfying hunger to enjoying the taste and finally to achieving physical and spiritual fulfillment.
But now, seeing the figure cooking the energy of the universe, Li Hao realized that the essence of cooking was not simply making food or savoring it—it was about extraction!
Removing impurities from the dish and refining its core essence into a meal.
Like removing scales and guts from a fish.
Cooking braised pork requires removing the bones, which, though edible, are considered "impurities" in the context of the dish.
The essence of food is not in the enjoyment, but in nourishing the body.
And the essence of nourishment is extracting energy from food.
Thus, the highest form of cooking is ensuring that the diner absorbs the essence of the food completely.
It's not about superficial tastes or sensory stimulation.
Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. The path to Dao... is a return to essence.
Li Hao's understanding deepened, and he suddenly felt a profound connection to the saying, "People regard food as heaven."
At this moment, the figure embodying the Dao began to dissipate, and Li Hao's consciousness retracted, as if a web was being pulled back into his mind.
Then, a powerful force pulled him back into his body.
Li Hao saw a notification on his system panel.
Culinary Dao: 9th Stage...
[You have comprehended Culinary Dao.]
Li Hao glanced at the experience bar and noticed it would take a staggering 5 million experience points to reach the next level from 9th stage, up from the 1 million needed to go from the 8th to 9th stage!
Over the past six months, Li Hao had scoured the wilderness beyond the pass, hunting down demon kings daily. The Great Wilderness had become a place of terror for the demon lords.
To them, Dayu had become a forbidden zone.
Joking aside, after six months of being hunted as ingredients by a monstrous young man, they had secretly relocated their lairs.
"If I continue hunting demon kings, it'll take another two and a half years to max out..." Li Hao's mouth twitched slightly. Hunting Dao Comprehension-level demon kings would save time, but they were hard to find and not easily tracked down.
He looked at the system panel's "Heart Realm" section.
Heart Realm: Dao Heart (1).
Li Hao muttered to himself, then embedded this Dao Heart into his Physical Dao.
Quickly, the Dao Heart was consumed, and Li Hao upgraded his Physical Dao.
Upgrade successful!
His Physical Dao leaped from the 8th to the 9th stage.
Simultaneously, a surge of profound enlightenment flooded Li Hao's mind.
It felt as though he had consumed another Dao Comprehension Fruit, with countless insights into Physical Dao unraveling before his consciousness...
Meanwhile, the thousands of body cultivation techniques in his system panel rapidly evolved. The overwhelming influx of information was so intense that, had Li Hao's consciousness not been strong enough to condense a primal spirit, it could have driven someone to madness, like going into qi deviation.
After a long time, Li Hao finally stabilized.
His cultivation had also ascended from the Tai Ping Realm to the Dao Comprehension Realm.
Even though he hadn't pushed his Four Principles to their limits, Li Hao felt this didn't matter—just like when cultivating primal spirit and the Void, he could continue refining if he acquired more techniques.
As his body reached the Dao Comprehension stage, Li Hao sensed that the energy within him was transforming into Dao power.
This Dao power was absorbed by his body, merging with it.
His body was undergoing a transformation, becoming stronger than even the highest-grade divine treasures.
Dao power is indestructible—this is a universal law!
By integrating Dao power into his body, it would become as solid as steel-reinforced concrete!
As the energy continued to permeate, transforming into Dao power, time flowed unnoticed.
His Heaven and Earth Meridians gathered a large amount of energy, continually converting it into Dao power, which was absorbed into his body.
His physique continued to be tempered and strengthened. Compared to before, the part of his body infused with Dao power felt as solid as stone hardened with cement.
If he were to face the six Dao Comprehension-level cultivators from before, Li Hao believed that, even without entering his Extreme Transformation State, his body alone could stand within their Dao domains, impervious to their laws!
As Li Hao cultivated and reviewed the evolved techniques, the first one he noticed was the "Stone Skin Hundred Refinements" technique he had randomly selected earlier.
With his enhanced comprehension of Physical Dao, this technique had evolved from a low-grade mortal technique to a top-tier body refining art, and now, it had become an extraordinary Dao-level technique!
Its name had changed to "Dao Body Refinement."
The Dao power absorbed into his body followed the method of this technique, making his physical body even more refined...
...
While Li Hao was meditating at the Heavenly Gate Pass, far away in the imperial palace of the capital, the still energy in the air suddenly became turbulent.
Sensing this strange fluctuation, Emperor Yu, who was in the middle of a court session, looked up, his gaze piercing through the palace ceiling to see the sky above.
His expression shifted slightly, and he abruptly stood up.
The ministers who were discussing the anti-Buddhism campaign were stunned by the emperor's sudden action. They quickly bowed, terrified, thinking they had said something to anger him. They feared their entire clan might be executed.
But Emperor Yu paid them no mind, stepping outside the hall.
At the same time, over at the Dao Palace...
The palace had been reconstructed, resembling its former self.
In a dimly lit room, an old man sitting in meditation suddenly opened his eyes, showing a hint of surprise before his figure blurred and disappeared, reappearing in the sky outside the Dao Palace.
Other Four Principles cultivators, sensing the distant fluctuations over the imperial palace, also emerged, looking on in astonishment.
In the sky above the imperial palace, energy swirled more and more intensely, and then, suddenly, a thread of golden light appeared, like a golden thread!
This golden thread rapidly expanded, tearing open a doorway in the void. With a whoosh, a figure dressed in luxurious robes flew out.
Following that, more figures emerged one after another.
Outside the palace hall, Emperor Yu stood with his hands behind his back, gazing upward. Chu Jiuyue, who had hurried after him, saw the golden crack in the sky and the figures emerging from it. His face was full of shock and excitement.
"The Immortal Gate has opened!"
"They've returned!"
His voice trembled with excitement.
A thousand years ago, the opening of the Immortal Gate had given many prodigies of the Dayu Dynasty the opportunity to enter, to seek the Dao and study under saints.
Now, those who had once entered the Immortal Gate had finally returned!
What incredible power would they possess after centuries of cultivation? The Dayu Dynasty was on the brink of a new golden age!
"Father!"
"Imperial Brother!"
The figures emerging from the Immortal Gate quickly spotted Emperor Yu outside the hall and flew toward him.
The first to reach him was a woman in a luxurious robe, as elegant as a celestial being. Her eyes were cold and bright, seemingly capable of seeing through all the secrets of the world.
She descended lightly, without a trace of dust, and her presence alone exerted a sense of solemn pressure on everyone around her, making them feel small and powerless.
Though her facial features had matured from the sixteen or seventeen-year-old girl she once was to the noble and beautiful woman she had become, Emperor Yu recognized her immediately as the most talented of his many daughters.
"It seems you've done well there."
Emperor Yu sensed the Dao power radiating from her, though restrained, it felt like a vast, deep ocean capable of stirring up immense waves.
She had reached the Dao Comprehension Realm... perhaps even the Dao Law Realm.
He recalled how she had once been a Heavenly Human Realm cultivator, and now, a millennium later, she had become a Dao Law Realm powerhouse.
Reaching the Dao Law Realm requires the accumulation of incense offerings over time—she must have reached this level long ago but was held back by this requirement.
Seeing the joy in her father's eyes, Jiang Ziyan's cold expression softened into a smile, and she spoke gently, "Father, how has Dayu fared all these years? Have you been well?"
"Everything has been well... Everything has been well."
Emperor Yu's smile was one of uncontainable joy. The Dao Law Realm wasn't something one could achieve without talent—it required at least two to three thousand years of cultivation.
"Your servant, Xia Yucheng, greets Your Majesty."
A tall young man stepped forward and bowed slightly to Emperor Yu, his aura restrained, but his Dao power still evident.
Yet, in front of Emperor Yu, he remained respectful.
Emperor Yu looked at him and recognized him as the most outstanding prodigy of the Xia family a thousand years ago, comparable to Li Junye of the Li family.
If Li Junye had been born a thousand years earlier, he too would have entered the Immortal Gate... Emperor Yu thought of the fallen talent and sighed inwardly, smiling at Xia Yucheng:
"It seems you've also reaped great rewards."
Xia Yucheng smiled slightly, glancing at Jiang Ziyan and bowing his head to her as well, showing even more respect than he had for the emperor.
Emperor Yu noticed this and was a bit surprised but quickly smiled even more broadly.
It seemed his daughter had done quite well there...
As more and more people arrived, Jiang Ziyan looked up at the Immortal Gate and flew into the sky, whispering:
"Thank you, Master, for seeing us off."
"A small matter. The other two holy lands will arrive in a few days to select disciples. Be prepared."
"Understood."
Jiang Ziyan nodded, watching as the golden crack slowly closed and the holy presence within faded away.
Surrounded by the returning prodigies, Emperor Yu noticed his daughter's conversation. Hearing her address, he was momentarily stunned, a flicker of joy and excitement appearing in his eyes.
"Child, have you apprenticed under a saint?"
Jiang Ziyan turned to her father and nodded slightly, sending a telepathic message: "Yes, but it's complicated. I'll explain later."
Emperor Yu paused, the joy in his eyes giving way to a more serious expression. He nodded, his gaze sweeping over the others.
Besides the royal bloodline, there were also two of Daoist Master Qin's disciples, who had also returned. Though they had Dao power, Emperor Yu could see that they were only at the True Human Realm.
But for the Dayu Dynasty, even True Human Realm cultivators were valuable for maintaining stability.
In total, eighteen people had returned, five of whom were at the Four Principles level, while the rest were at the True Human and Dao Law levels.
This group's power was terrifying, enough to place the Dayu Dynasty on par with the strongest nations of the Eastern Wasteland.
This was the return on an investment made a thousand years ago—an investment that had initially plunged the dynasty into decline but now promised to elevate it beyond its former glory.
However, Emperor Yu noticed that many familiar faces were missing, and the numbers were far fewer than those who had entered the Immortal Gate a thousand years ago. His expression darkened slightly.
The Immortal Gate offered not only opportunities for cultivation but also constant danger.
"Where are the others?"
Emperor Yu asked immediately.
Xia Yucheng glanced around, and since no one else answered, he reluctantly explained the situation.
After entering the Immortal Gate, they had been divided among various factions based on their talents, scattering them across the Immortal Realm.
When they finally reunited, they found themselves in a completely different situation.
"The Helian family's members went to challenge the Nether River and perished there."
"The three from the Li family were supposed to return with us, but their sect ran into trouble, and they're currently entangled in it."
"The Wang family was ambushed by agents from the Great Celebration Nation and..."
Xia Yucheng recounted what he knew.
Emperor Yu's face changed slightly. Though he had expected the competition in the Immortal Gate to be fierce, he hadn't anticipated that so many of the prodigies they had sent would meet such grim fates.
"Your Majesty, how is my Chen family now?"
"Your Majesty, is my sect still intact?"
"Your Majesty..."
Others also began to question Emperor Yu, anxious to know about the state of their families and sects. Apart from the royal family and the five great Divine General Mansions, some of the prodigies had come from once-prominent sects, now in decline.
If not for Emperor Yu remembering that they had entered the Immortal Gate, their sects might have been destroyed by now.
"Silence."
Jiang Ziyan's voice was soft but carried a cold and commanding presence that silenced the crowd. Her royal aura and prestige left no room for resistance.
The group fell silent, their faces slightly changing. They looked at her but dared not speak further.
Even though some of them were now at the Dao Law level, they knew from their time in the Immortal Realm that Jiang Ziyan's achievements were unparalleled, and her sect was formidable.
"You have five days in the mortal realm to handle your affairs. Find out what you need to know on your own, but do not trouble my father."
Jiang Ziyan's tone was calm but firm. "And do not think that your newfound power and status allow you to disregard the laws of the Dayu Dynasty. Our laws still apply to you."
Though her words were light and unhurried, everyone present felt a chill run down their spines. They knew they could not afford to defy her while in Dayu.
"Yes, Your Highness."
"Your Majesty, we shall take our leave."
One by one, the prodigies bade Emperor Yu farewell and disappeared into the sky.
Xia Yucheng also bowed and left, intending to visit the Xia family.
Soon, only five members of the royal family remained with Emperor Yu, including Jiang Ziyan.
"Imperial Brother, you sent us such an urgent message—what happened?"
One of the young men asked eagerly.
Seeing him, Emperor Yu's eyes filled with nostalgia. He sensed the Dao Law aura surrounding him and smiled:
"There was indeed an issue, but it has been resolved. You've arrived a bit late."
"When we received your message, I immediately sought out Ziyan to ask her master for help. Though it took half a month, this was the fastest we could manage." The young man smiled wryly.
In the Immortal Realm, half a month equaled nearly half a year in the mortal world.
Jiang Ziyan frowned and asked, "Father, what happened that made you use something so urgent after a century? What was the crisis?"
She extended her divine sense to scan the imperial capital but found no signs of disaster.
"It's all over now."
Emperor Yu sighed. "Someone from the Immortal Gate discovered our incense offerings and coveted them. They used demons to try and seize them without revealing their identity. But for some reason, they eventually exposed themselves, inviting six Dao Law cultivators to invade and attempt to destroy our family."
Hearing this, the five members of the royal family were stunned. Six Dao Law cultivators had come here?
They glanced at Emperor Yu, noting that he was only at the Dao Comprehension Realm. While Daoist Qin in the Dao Palace was at the Dao Law level, he alone couldn't have held off six Dao Law cultivators from the Immortal Gate.
Let alone six Dao Law cultivators from the Immortal Gate.
"What happened then?"
Jiang Ziyan's cold demeanor vanished, replaced by a serious expression tinged with killing intent.
Seeing their concerned faces, Emperor Yu chuckled:
"Don't worry, it's all over now. Our Dayu Dynasty produced an unparalleled prodigy who single-handedly slew all six Dao Law cultivators and forced their leader to reveal himself. Even when a saint's power intervened to help him escape, our prodigy stood strong. My only worry now is that this force might send a saint next, though the likelihood is low."
As he spoke, the smile faded from his face, replaced by a furrowed brow.
Jiang Ziyan and the others were left speechless, exchanging bewildered glances.
In the thousand years they spent in the Immortal Realm, barely a hundred years passed in the mortal world.
In this energy-starved place, a prodigy had risen to the Dao Law level, capable of slaying Immortal Gate Dao Law cultivators?
Jiang Ziyan knew her father wouldn't exaggerate, but she was still astonished. "This person did it all alone? What about Grandfather Qin?"
"He..."
Emperor Yu cleared his throat. "Neither I nor your grandfather could stand against them. The prodigy had mastered divine abilities—your grandfather learned some of our family's divine abilities, but they pale in comparison."
Jiang Ziyan gave him a skeptical look but didn't probe further. After a moment of thought, she said:
"If that's the case, then this prodigy must be a saint reincarnated. Otherwise, even with a millennium, no one could reach the Dao Law level and defeat Immortal Gate cultivators. And with six of them coming, their backing must be powerful—a holy land, no doubt."
Emperor Yu chuckled bitterly, thinking that this child hadn't even cultivated for twenty years yet.
Moreover, Li Hao had slain them while still in the Tai Ping Realm, crossing vast levels. His talent was beyond imagination, indescribable.
Whether he was a saint reincarnated, Emperor Yu couldn't say.
"You must have apprenticed under a holy land, too, right?" Emperor Yu asked his eldest daughter.
Jiang Ziyan nodded slightly. "My master is a semi-saint from a holy land."
"No wonder they show you such respect." Emperor Yu laughed.
Jiang Ziyan nodded slightly, but there was little joy in her expression. Instead, she sighed softly and said:
"Father, let's talk in the rear hall."
Emperor Yu nodded and turned to Chu Jiuyue, saying, "Court is dismissed today."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Chu Jiuyue bowed low, then smiled at the returning royals, including Jiang Ziyan, before turning to relay the message.
Emperor Yu and his returned children headed to the rear hall of the imperial palace.
"You must have had a hard time in the Immortal Gate."
In the rear hall, Emperor Yu looked at them with a hint of sorrow in his eyes.
Jiang Ziyan shook her head slightly, then said, "Father, we won't be staying long. We must return to the Immortal Gate."
"Hmm?" Emperor Yu blinked in surprise.
Jiang Ziyan seemed to anticipate his reaction, her expression turning serious. "The situation within the Immortal Gate is complex. We're isolated and have little support. If we all return to the mortal world, we'll lose the connections we've built and give our enemies opportunities to exploit."
"Indeed, Ziyan saved us."
The young man beside her, Jiang Baishan, nodded. "When we first entered the Immortal Gate, we were divided by our talents, each taken by different factions. Fortunately, Ziyan's master took a liking to her, and she apprenticed under a semi-saint. Otherwise, we wouldn't have made it back so quickly."
"The factions within the Immortal Gate are intricate, and we need to establish ourselves there. A small shift up there can cause earthquakes in the mortal world."
Another royal youth added.
Emperor Yu was surprised, realizing that despite their talent and cultivation, they had struggled in the Immortal Gate. He asked:
"With your talents and current cultivation, aren't you now pillars of your factions?"
Jiang Baishan smiled bitterly. "It's not that simple, Imperial Brother. The Immortal Gate is overflowing with talent. Here, we're unrivaled, but there, we're merely average. While there are many commoners and mediocre people, the number of prodigies far surpasses that of the mortal world."
"Exactly. A thousand years ago, the saints began searching for something, reincarnating in various forms. Some even reincarnated as themselves to explore the limits of each martial realm. There are countless national prodigies, and the saints themselves oversee the trials. There's also the Nether River and the merit treasury, which offers incredible rewards."
"So, talent is the most valued there. Even if someone is only at the Four Principles level, if they have high potential and saintly backing, even Dao Law cultivators must defer to them."
Emperor Yu was stunned to hear that there was also a merit treasury in the Immortal Gate.
But considering it was the domain of saints, it wasn't surprising.
"The merit treasury you mentioned—Dayu has one now as well. If we have another thousand years, we could produce many outstanding prodigies."
As he said this, Emperor Yu couldn't help but think of Li Hao, a slight smile tugging at his lips. But then he looked at his children and said:
"You might have come for nothing this time. The crisis has passed, and in about ten years, our ancestor will be resurrected. If you can hold on for another year, our ancestor will protect you."
The siblings exchanged glances, stunned.
"Dayu has a merit treasury?"
"You said Dayu also has a merit treasury?" Jiang Baishan asked in disbelief.
Emperor Yu smiled and nodded. "It's a long story..."
He briefly explained the situation, leaving them all dumbfounded. They had known of the merit treasury within the Nether River but had no idea how it had been opened. Now they understood that it required the presence of someone with ten thousand merits.
"So, that prodigy is likely a saint reincarnated. Could it be an old friend of our ancestor, reborn to help our Jiang family?"
Jiang Ziyan pondered aloud. It wasn't impossible.
Emperor Yu chuckled. "We'll know in time. Speculation won't help us now."
Jiang Ziyan nodded slightly. A saint reincarnated would retain only fragments of past memories, making them essentially a new person. Reincarnation was about abandoning the old path and forging a new one, striving for a higher realm.
Occasionally, past memories might resurface, but they would offer only limited assistance.
"This trip wasn't entirely in vain. My master opened the Immortal Gate under the guise of recruiting disciples, not for us to interfere with the mortal world. Otherwise, we would have been blocked by others."
Jiang Ziyan continued, "In the realm where we reside, known as the Cloud and Mist Realm, two other holy lands will soon arrive to recruit disciples. If there are any prodigies in Dayu, they may follow in our footsteps and ascend the Immortal Ladder to the Immortal Gate."
"However, this time, the selection criteria will be stricter, favoring those who have mastered the Extreme Realm."
Emperor Yu was intrigued. "What is the Cloud and Mist Realm?"
"The Immortal Gate encompasses a vast domain with thirty-three small worlds, separated by voids that only Tai Ping Realm cultivators can traverse. Each small world is hundreds of times larger than our Dayu Dynasty, filled with countless powerful beings."
Jiang Baishan explained, "The world we reside in is called the Cloud and Mist Realm."
Emperor Yu nodded in understanding.