Eternal Name

Chapter 241: How Did You Cultivate Him?

"My son... he's a prodigy of the nobility?"

Hearing Ji Yunyu's words, Li Tiangang was momentarily stunned, unable to immediately grasp their meaning.

His child had become a prodigy of the Ji Clan?

"That's right. Your son escorted back the War God's Heroic Spirit of our Ji Clan. And to see his mother, he challenged all the prodigies of our Ji Clan, defeating them all. His talent is truly unparalleled throughout history!"

Ji Yunyu said, his eyes gleaming when he mentioned Li Hao.

The earth-shattering battle on the Heavenly Dao Mountain a few days ago was still vivid in his mind.

The other Ji Clan members nearby, upon hearing Ji Yunyu speak of the young man, also displayed expressions of reverence.

"Defeated all prodigies." Four simple words, yet the difficulty was akin to reaching the heavens. And this young man had accomplished it, forging an invincible legend with his Three Immortals Realm!

"Challenged all the Ji Clan prodigies?"

Li Tiangang's heart trembled.

He had long heard from his wife about how exceptional the Ji Clan's prodigies were, each a dragon among men, far surpassing the prodigies of the Great Yu Divine Dynasty. Any one of them could be as outstanding as his ninth brother, or even far exceed him.

"Then, then he didn't offend any of you, did he?"

Li Tiangang asked cautiously.

Having defeated all the clan's prodigies was undoubtedly a great disgrace. If not for the smile on the other party's face when mentioning it, he would have thought that Li Hao had been killed in a fit of rage by the Ji Clan.

"Haha, you're overthinking it. Your son is gentle and polite, never arrogant or impetuous. How could he offend us?"

Ji Yunyu chuckled, "Besides, it's normal for young people to have a bit of spirit and temperament. Which prodigy isn't full of youthful vigor? Without a unique personality and charm, how can they be called a true prodigy? They're just lucky inheritors of their parents' talent."

Li Tiangang secretly breathed a sigh of relief and echoed, "Senior is correct."

"Is this your only son?" Ji Yunyu asked with a smile.

Li Tiangang quickly nodded, "Yes, my only son."

"Well-cultivated," Ji Yunyu praised with a smile.

Li Tiangang was slightly taken aback, his cheeks flushing slightly. He didn't dare to meet the other party's gaze.

Cultivated?

When the child left home, his second uncle and eldest sister-in-law had told him about Li Hao's situation in the Li Family over the years.

Apart from food and drink, the child had barely used any of the Li Family's cultivation resources. He and his wife hadn't accompanied the child either. How could they claim to have cultivated him?

"We've arrived. This is the Ji Clan,"

Ji Yunyu said.

Li Tiangang looked up and saw the majestic mountain gate and the long, winding steps.

The mountain gate seemed to be forged from the bodies of countless dragons, exuding an imposing aura.

Li Tiangang's eyes narrowed, and he instantly sensed the terrifying heritage of this Ancient Clan, far more magnificent and powerful than their Divine General Manor.

News of Li Leping's father's arrival had already reached the Ji Clan. As Li Tiangang ascended the mountain with Ji Yunyu, many people rushed to witness the father of the Dao Seed from afar.

Since Li Hao's astounding feats a few days ago – defeating all prodigies, vying for the Dao Seed, receiving the Sage's Mark, and so on – almost everyone in the Ji Clan had been discussing this strongest prodigy.

And when discussing Li Hao, they inevitably touched upon his mixed-blood heritage.

Everyone was speculating, extremely curious about Li Hao's paternal family.

Many even guessed that Li Hao's mother might have secretly married into a hidden ancient clan outside the Vast Wilderness Heavens. The combination of two powerful bloodlines could have produced such a prodigy.

"Is that Li Leping's father?"

"At the Four Pillars Realm, with the aura of a Fate-Defying Realm. His cultivation is decent, but not as powerful as we imagined."

"I heard he's from outside the Vast Wilderness Heavens, from that Jiang Family's dynasty. That place is energy-deficient. To cultivate to this level, perhaps he's already considered exceptionally talented."

On the mountain path, numerous Ji Clan members were watching from afar, whispering among themselves.

These conversations inevitably reached Li Tiangang's ears, and he felt like he was under scrutiny. The Ji Clan members seemed to be observing him because of Li Hao.

Thinking about Ji Yunyu's words – that Li Hao had defeated all the Ji Clan prodigies – Li Tiangang couldn't help but feel a little nervous.

He had never doubted Li Hao's talent, but he hadn't expected that upon arriving at this Ancient Clan, Li Hao would still be able to lead the way, defeating his peers.

Upon reaching the mountain's belly, Ji Yunyu dismissed the others who had accompanied him on his trip to intimidate the Qin Family. He only took a few people with him, including Li Tiangang, and continued towards the top of the sacred mountain.

"Senior, are my son and Qingqing up ahead?"

As they climbed higher, Li Tiangang's heart grew increasingly anxious.

Ji Yunyu said, "Qingqing is on Prison Heaven Island. She was imprisoned for committing a transgression. But your son has already redeemed her. Becoming a Dao Seed grants him the power to pardon his mother. You'll be able to see them soon."

Li Tiangang was stunned. His child had already atoned for his mother's sins?

Suddenly, a scene from that day at the Divine General Manor flashed through his mind – him angrily slapping the child.

His heart clenched.

Could he still make amends?

He gritted his teeth slightly, remaining silent. He secretly made a decision. Regardless of how his son blamed or questioned him when they met, he would accept it. As long as his son could calm down and forgive him.

Upon reaching the top of the sacred mountain, numerous high-ranking Ji Clan members and elders were already waiting.

Hearing that Li Leping's father had arrived, they rushed to greet him with a grand reception.

If it had been before, any man who had married Qingqing outside the clan would have been executed on the spot. But now, the son's achievements elevated the father. Having cultivated a prodigy like Li Leping, the Ji Clan had to treat him with courtesy.

"These are the elders of our Ji Clan,"

Ji Yunyu saw these elders coming to greet them. Some were elders he wasn't originally familiar with from the Yun generation, but at this moment, he didn't give them a cold shoulder. Instead, he introduced them with a smile, treating everyone equally.

After all, family scandals shouldn't be aired in public. In front of Ji Qingqing's husband, during their first encounter, they needed to present a harmonious image of the Ji Clan.

Li Tiangang saw these elders and his expression changed slightly. Although most of them had restrained their auras, he still sensed that many were at the same level as his second uncle. Several were even more imposing, likely at the Taiping Dao Realm!

In the Great Yu Divine Dynasty, these were figures comparable to Buddhas. Yet, several of them were present here.

"Greetings to all seniors,"

Li Tiangang bowed respectfully.

The numerous elders didn't put on airs and quickly returned the courtesy with polite greetings and pleasantries.

Li Tiangang was a little surprised. Faced with the elders' welcoming smiles and polite greetings, he felt a sense of being overwhelmed by kindness.

His wife had previously told him how strict the Ji Clan's rules were. He had expected to be met with thunderous attacks and fury upon his arrival. But the reality was so different that it felt surreal.

What he had heard along the way and the elders' casual mentions of Li Leping made Li Tiangang understand that it was all because of his son.

His son's arrival had resolved everything, solved all the problems.

Even he, who wouldn't dare to easily step foot in the Ji Clan, had come. And he had redeemed Qingqing's sins, leading to his own acceptance by the Ji Clan!

Amidst these polite exchanges, Li Tiangang's emotions grew increasingly complex and indescribable.

His father, Li Tianzong's words, echoed in his ears once again.

That child is exceptionally talented.

If we don't bring him back, we will die with regret!

Now, these powerful Ji Clan members were also being polite, praising his son in their words.

Li Tiangang's heart was filled with guilt and remorse, but also a sense of bewilderment.

Had he truly made a terrible mistake?

"You are Li Leping's father?"

A voice came from the crowd, youthful and energetic.

Li Tiangang looked up and saw a group of young figures standing in another area. One stood out, a tall and handsome young man, seemingly transcendent, with an aloof aura.

What shocked Li Tiangang was that the young man looked only twenty-six or seven years old, but the restrained aura emanating from him was no less powerful than Ji Yunyu, who had brought him up the mountain.

Was this... the Taiping Dao Realm?

"Who are you?"

Li Tiangang asked cautiously.

"He's our Ji Clan's former strongest prodigy, Ji Xuanshen!"

An elder beside him introduced Ji Xuanshen and the other prodigies with a smile, "He's twenty-six years old this year and already at the Taiping Dao Realm. He has the potential to become a War God of our Ji Clan in the future. The ones behind him are also prodigies of our Ji Clan."

Then, he turned to Li Tiangang and said with a smile,

"But they were all defeated by your son."

When Li Tiangang heard the young man's age and cultivation level, he was already deeply shocked. When he heard the elder's last sentence, his pupils constricted, and he couldn't help but look at the elder in astonishment.

These were all Ji Clan prodigies?

Li Hao had defeated them all?!

He had thought that although Li Hao was strong, the Ji Clan prodigies he had defeated might only be at the Fate-Defying Realm, at most the Profound Skill Realm. But the young man in front of him was at the Taiping Dao Realm!

Such a prodigy had been defeated by his son?

"Perhaps your son's cultivation has recently broken through. It seems you don't know much about your son's strength,"

Seeing Li Tiangang's shocked expression, an elder couldn't help but tease him with a smile.

The words were casual, but they struck Li Tiangang's heart like a heavy hammer, making his ears ring.

Doesn't know much...

It seemed true. If not for his son's own display of abilities in Qingzhou and Liangzhou, he truly didn't know how far his cultivation had progressed.

Li Tiangang's eyes were complex. He didn't speak, only feeling his blood rushing, his emotions complex and uncomfortable. He longed to see Li Hao immediately.

Ji Xuanshen sized up the middle-aged man, his eyes calm, and said,

"I'm here to find out how you cultivated him. What resources and techniques did you give him?"

Li Tiangang's expression changed slightly upon hearing the young man's question. If not for the young man's calm demeanor, devoid of any emotion, he would have suspected that he was being mocked.

He was speechless.

Seeing that the other party didn't answer, Ji Xuanshen frowned slightly and said, "It's understandable if you don't want to say it. Then I'd like to ask, were your ancestors Sages? Or did you have other bloodlines? Otherwise, how could he defeat me with the Three Immortals Realm?"

"Three Immortals Realm..."

Li Tiangang doubted his ears again. He thought that his son had cultivated his Dao Heart and broken through to the Four Pillars Realm during his time in the Vast Wilderness Heavens. But he had defeated this Taiping Dao Realm Ji Clan prodigy with the Three Immortals Realm?!

"Hmm?"

Ji Xuanshen stared at him, a hint of doubt in his eyes. This man seemed shocked by everything he said, as if they were talking about a different person, someone he was unfamiliar with.

But Elder Yunyu said that he was the young man's father?

He was puzzled. As a Ji Clan prodigy, he wasn't accustomed to being restricted. He directly asked, "Are you really his father?"

Li Tiangang snapped out of his daze. Hearing this and seeing the doubt in the other party's eyes, he felt a burning sensation on his face, feeling extremely embarrassed. He lowered his head and said,

"The child's growth has been too rapid. I don't know much about some things, but I am indeed his father."

Ji Xuanshen looked at him for a moment, thinking that reaching the Four Pillars Realm wasn't easy, and it was unlikely that someone would come to the Ji Clan to pretend to be someone else and die for no reason. He nodded, didn't say anything more, but a hint of regret flashed in his eyes.

It seemed that the young man's cultivation was unknown even to his father. Could it be that it was truly just exceptional talent?

He didn't want to admit it, as it would be a huge blow to them, the prodigies.

Just relying on talent to surpass those who had been cultivated with the Ji Clan's resources meant that in terms of talent, he was completely superior?

"Elders, I wonder where my son is now?"

Seeing the young man retreat and stop questioning him, Li Tiangang felt a sense of relief, as if a heavy stone had been lifted from his chest.

Then, he quickly asked the surrounding elders, feeling an overwhelming urge to see Li Hao immediately.

"Leping said he wanted to personally pick up his mother. He's already gone to Prison Heaven Island,"

From the crowd, Ji Yunqing came over and said gently to Li Tiangang.

Li Tiangang's expression changed. He thought of Li Hao and Qingqing, who hadn't seen each other for over a decade. Li Hao would rather change his surname to follow his mother than keep the Li surname. He had at least returned to the Li Family and spent some time with him.

However, thinking back to that time and the angry slap, his expression turned grim. He quickly said,

"I'll go too. Senior, can you tell me where Prison Heaven Island is?"

"It's dangerous there. You should wait here," Ji Yunqing smiled reassuringly.

Li Tiangang shook his head. Suddenly, he bowed deeply, his gaze earnest and pleading, "Please, senior, allow me to go see them, mother and son. I'm ashamed of them. I should have come to the Ji Clan to atone for my sins, not a child. Please let me do something for them!"

Everyone was stunned, looking at each other in surprise.

Seeing that he had gone this far, Ji Yunqing considered for a moment and said, "Alright. The Wild Sea is now calm. When you reunite as a family, come back together. It will be a joyful occasion."

Hearing Ji Yunqing say "joyful occasion," Li Tiangang couldn't help but imagine a warm and harmonious scene – the three of them laughing together as a family.

He felt an indescribable surge of excitement, longing to see Li Hao and beg for his forgiveness.

For over a decade, he had been fighting in the Northern Frontier. Wasn't that scene what he had always hoped for?

Now that he had returned from the battlefield, the war and the clamor of the frontier had faded away. He longed for that scene – his wife leisurely seated in the courtyard, his son dutifully by his side.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 242: Ji Qingqing

In the extreme north of the Sacred Land's Secret Realm, on Imprisoning Heaven Island.

Deep within the vast expanse of the desolate sea, above a bottomless abyss, three colossal Abyssal Heaven Chains, each stretching for thousands of miles, bound and imprisoned Imprisoning Heaven Island.

Ji Qingqing sat in front of a thatched hut, a stone in her hand, lightly carving disordered patterns into the ground.

Her brow was slightly furrowed. For some time now, she had felt a sense of unease.

The family had judged her and imprisoned her on this Imprisoning Heaven Island. She wasn't worried about herself, as her uncles and aunts were looking after her. Aside from being unable to cultivate and facing endless boredom, she didn't experience much discomfort.

Life here was quite harsh, but she had endured many hardships during her time with Li Tiangang, marching and fighting in the military. She had long since adapted.

"I told him that if he didn't break through to the Four Pillars Realm, he couldn't come. He should have listened…"

"After all, he has always prioritized the family…"

"I wonder how Hao'er is doing. Fifteen years have passed. He must have grown tall and strong. I wonder if he looks like me or his father. They say sons usually resemble their mothers…"

Ji Qingqing's thoughts drifted to her husband and child, the two people she cherished most in her heart.

Thinking of her son, whom she hadn't seen in fifteen years, her heart warmed, but at the same time, a sharp pang of guilt and longing pierced through her.

Her memories drifted back to the hundred-day celebration fifteen years ago, the chubby infant swaddled in blankets, and the urgent imperial decree that arrived.

If not for the invasion of demonic beasts from Northern Yan, she would be happily spending time with her husband and child.

"The descendants of military families all suffer hardships. It's my fault that you've suffered this. You shouldn't have been born into my womb…"

Ji Qingqing murmured softly.

Unless something unexpected happened, she would remain here for a thousand years before seeing her husband and child again.

She knew how difficult it was to break through to the Four Pillars Realm. Even her husband, a prodigy with extraordinary talent, still relied on fate and opportunity.

And given the average lifespan of the Divine General Manor, by the time she left Imprisoning Heaven Island, they might already be gone, having perished on the battlefield.

"Hao'er started martial arts too late, and it's unlikely he'll achieve much. With the wealth and status of the Divine General Manor, perhaps it can protect him and allow him to live a peaceful hundred years…"

Thinking about this, Ji Qingqing suddenly felt a little better. Although a hundred years was short, it wasn't necessarily devoid of peaceful happiness.

As she was lost in her thoughts, she suddenly heard a woman's voice calling from the Abyssal Heaven Stele outside the island.

"Miss?"

Ji Qingqing just regained her composure when she saw a soul hovering above the island. As soon as she noticed the soul, it also saw her and quickly descended and disappeared.

Not long after, a figure flew up the mountain.

Seeing the old woman who had come, her childhood nursemaid, Ji Qingqing was startled and exclaimed:

"Ning Ma, why are you here? Did you also…"

"Miss…"

The old woman was a servant of Ji Qingqing's mother and also Ji Qingqing's nursemaid. She had taken care of the young lady since childhood, and their relationship was deep.

Seeing Ji Qingqing's dirty hair and grimy appearance, Ning Ma's eyes were filled with shock and sorrow. "This place is too harsh, Miss."

Ji Qingqing, however, was anxious, "Ning Ma, how did you get here?"

"The head of the family gave me permission to visit you, and I also have good news to share."

Ning Ma, remembering the main purpose of her visit, quickly suppressed her sadness and took Ji Qingqing's hand. "Miss, you'll be leaving soon. Your son has come to pick you up!"

"Ah?"

Ji Qingqing, relieved that Ning Ma hadn't been sent here for committing a crime, was momentarily stunned by her words. "Ning Ma, what did you say?"

"I said, your son has come to pick you up!"

Seeing her shocked expression, Ning Ma smiled. Nowadays, who in the Ji family wouldn't praise the young man? And he was her own young lady's child.

"My, my son?"

Ji Qingqing suspected that she had misheard, or perhaps it was an illusion, that Ning Ma herself was a figment of her imagination.

She retracted her hand and pinched herself, feeling a sharp pain.

"Ning Ma, you, you're not joking, are you?" Ji Qingqing couldn't help but ask.

"Would I travel across tens of thousands of miles to joke with you, Miss? It's true."

Ning Ma laughed, "Your son, Ji Leping, a few days ago escorted Elder Yun Ge's heroic spirit back to the family and then consecutively challenged many prodigies, defeating this year's strongest young generation prodigy, Ji Xuanshen, and becoming a Dao Seed. He has used his Dao Seed status to pardon you!"

"Soon, you and your son will be reunited!"

Hearing her joyful voice, Ji Qingqing was stunned, especially when she heard the name "Leping." Her doubtful eyes seemed to tremble slightly.

Her son was born noble, given a name by the Yu Emperor, named Li Hao!

Leping, however, was simply a name given by her mother, a manifestation of a young woman's heart, a mother's gentle affection.

"Ning Ma, you said my son, he's called Ji Leping?"

Ji Qingqing's voice trembled.

Only she and her husband knew this name.

She suddenly thought of a possibility. After she left Northern Yan, her husband, in memory of her, had changed their son's surname to hers, even abandoning the Emperor's given name.

Although this possibility was extremely low, the man who had always been law-abiding, who regarded the law as an unbreakable rule, had broken the rules for her, confronting the entire Li family to marry her. He had defied his parents, confronted his uncles and cousins, and even threatened to abandon his identity as a member of the Li family.

Now, it wasn't impossible.

"Isn't he your son? Didn't you choose that name?"

Ning Ma, seeing her shocked expression, was a little puzzled.

Ji Qingqing's body trembled, her eyes reddened, and tears streamed down her face.

She didn't speak, her mind racing, her fingers digging into her palm.

But soon, she thought of something and couldn't help but ask, "Wait, you said my son became a Dao Seed?"

"That's right. Your son came to the Ji family alone. At such a young age, he truly shocked everyone. He defeated prodigy after prodigy, even Ji Xuanshen, who was born with a Saint Bone, was defeated by him. I heard he defeated him while still at the Three Immortality Realm. It's a miracle, unprecedented, and probably never to be repeated."

Ning Ma's face lit up with a smile when she mentioned Li Hao.

Ji Qingqing was completely shocked, unable to believe it, "My son, he's that powerful?"

She couldn't imagine that the infant she had held in her arms fifteen years ago could now defeat Ji family prodigies?

It was something she wouldn't have dared to dream of.

Moreover, during the Northern Yan war, she heard that the child couldn't practice martial arts, and only later opened his meridians. But he had missed the opportunity to practice martial arts, losing out on Foundation Establishment and Blood Melting, and was already behind other children. It was good enough that he could catch up with the geniuses from the various states of the Great Yu Dynasty, let alone rival Ji family prodigies.

"By the way, Ning Ma, you said he came alone?"

Ji Qingqing couldn't help but feel nervous.

Ning Ma nodded, "That's right."

Ji Qingqing's face changed slightly. Her husband didn't come? Did something happen to him? Or was there another reason?

Her heart pounded with anxiety.

Seeing her anxious and nervous expression, Ning Ma smiled, "Miss, your son is about to come and pick you up. Why don't you freshen up first? If he sees his mother looking so disheveled, he might be a little sad."

Ji Qingqing came to her senses and looked down at her hands, which were covered in dirt. Previously, she had been reluctant to consume her energy, but now that she was about to leave the island and regain her freedom, she no longer needed to conserve it.

Her energy surged, and all the dirt and dust around her were shaken off.

Her snow-white skin was revealed, and her hair became clean, flowing like black silk.

"That child had a hard time getting here…"

Thinking of Ning Ma's words, defeating Ji family prodigies, competing for the Dao Seed, it seemed like simple words, but she knew how difficult it was.

Her heart ached, and she bit her lip slightly, turning and entering the hut. Soon, she emerged in a flowing, light-green cloud-patterned dress, like a fairy from a painting.

Seeing the completely transformed Ji Qingqing, Ning Ma smiled, "Miss, you're as beautiful as ever. You even bear a resemblance to Young Master Leping."

"He looks like me?"

Ji Qingqing murmured, anticipation in her eyes, her heart tightening slightly. Images flashed through her mind, of her pregnant belly, of her holding the swaddled child.

Fifteen years.

She thought she would never see her son again, but now, she could.

Besides excitement and anticipation, she felt a strange nervousness and anxiety.

As a mother, she had been so negligent. Would her child still recognize her?

…

…

The extreme north of the Secret Realm.

Tens of thousands of miles away from the Sacred Mountain, beyond Li Hao's imagination.

The entire Ji family Sacred Land was as vast as seven or eight states of the Great Yu Dynasty.

Li Hao and Ji Yunyue flew through the air, and as they got further from the Sacred Mountain, the land became increasingly desolate. Deserts and lush forests alternated, with various natural landscapes, but no human settlements.

With Ji Yunyue's speed, this journey would take half a day.

But Li Hao had taken fifteen years to get here.

"This Secret Realm was left behind by our Ji family's Founding Ancestor. Outside the Secret Realm, our Ji family has set up a confusing array. When you get close to our Ji family's territory, without guidance, even a Demon King would get lost and unable to forcefully attack."

Ji Yunyue chatted with Li Hao on the way, letting him know that the biggest difference between the Ancient Sacred Clans and other tribes was this Secret Realm.

Other tribes lived in the Vast Wilderness Heaven and could only rely on protective arrays. But once their habitat was discovered by demonic beasts, no matter how strong the array, it would eventually be broken.

The Secret Realm was different. It had all sorts of mysteries. To break through the Secret Realm, you would need to expend a great deal of effort, but it could easily withstand millions of demonic beasts.

Even a Dao Comprehension Realm cultivator would need to expend a lot of effort to tear apart the Secret Realm.

Only a Saint Realm cultivator could easily break through, like the Saint who had bestowed the mark on Li Hao.

Finally, after traversing tens of thousands of miles, they arrived at the desolate sea.

The boundless desolate sea stretched as far as the eye could see.

At a specific location, a towering solitary peak stood out against the desolate sea.

There were elders stationed there. Ji Yunyue explained her purpose, presented the head of the family's token, and borrowed a divine artifact small boat called the Nine Desolation Boat.

They boarded the Nine Desolation Boat and crossed the desolate sea to another solitary cliff on the other side.

There were Twin Blossom Flowers that could cure poison.

"Won't there be any monsters in this desolate sea?"

Li Hao stood at the stern of the boat, looking at the desolate sea, where gentle waves occasionally rose. It was bottomless, not pitch black, but faintly reddish.

Ji Yunyue smiled gently, "Of course not. Even divine weapons would corrode in it. Legend has it that this desolate sea was formed from the blood of a Demon Saint that our Ji family's Founding Ancestor killed. It flooded the land like this."

"A Demon Saint's blood?"

Li Hao was slightly stunned, looking at the vast expanse of the desolate sea. If it was a Demon Saint's blood, how large was the Demon Saint?

"Is that really true?"

"Perhaps the legend has been exaggerated. After all, the desolate sea is tens of thousands of miles wide. Even a Demon King, with a body a hundred zhang long, would be considered majestic."

Ji Yunyue said.

The Twin Blossom Flowers were on a solitary cliff on the other side of the western part of the desolate sea, guarded by a Demon King that the Ji family had subdued. Once the Twin Blossom Flowers were picked, they would quickly wither and lose their efficacy within half a day if not consumed.

When Ji Yunyue presented the head of the family's token, the Demon King recognized it and readily picked a bright red Twin Blossom Flower, handing it to them.

With the Twin Blossom Flower in hand, they didn't linger, immediately turning the Nine Desolation Boat and hurrying towards Imprisoning Heaven Island in the center of the desolate sea.

…

Meanwhile, while Li Hao and Ji Yunyue were searching for the Twin Blossom Flowers, Ji Yunqing accompanied Li Tiangang as they sped towards the island.

Ji Yunqing explained his purpose to the elders on the solitary peak and borrowed another nine-forged divine artifact boat. They crossed the desolate sea and headed towards Imprisoning Heaven Island.

After crossing tens of thousands of miles of desolate sea, the towering Imprisoning Heaven Island appeared before them.

Three chains extended from three points of the abyss, stretching towards the sky, binding and imprisoning the island.

"Without these three Abyssal Heaven Chains, the Sacred Ancestor's laws on Imprisoning Heaven Island would cause the island to rise continuously until it reached the sky of the Secret Realm, where it would be scorched by the sun's sacred fire. The people on it would be burned alive!"

Ji Yunqing said.

Li Tiangang's eyes narrowed slightly. This Ji family's place of imprisonment had a sense of ingenious beauty. Was this the power of a Saint?

The other ends of the Abyssal Heaven Chains extended into the desolate sea, with three nail-like peaks piercing the circular abyss.

The thick chains were taut and stretched downwards, intertwined with the peaks, covered in moss, bearing the marks of time.

"They should have found the Twin Blossom Flowers and are on their way."

Ji Yunqing said, "Let's go up directly."

He jumped onto a peak. After Li Tiangang also jumped up, he turned around, put away the Sky Reaching Boat, and then took the lead, stepping onto the iron bridge-like chain, heading towards Imprisoning Heaven Island.

The chain was several thousand miles long, spanning the sky, majestic and imposing.

Li Tiangang, hearing Ji Yunqing's words, looked up at the huge island above, his eyes filled with excitement.

Would he soon see them, mother and son?

His heart pounded, and he quickly followed, and as they boarded the Abyssal Heaven Chain, on the other side of the sea, Li Hao and Ji Yunyue, having picked the Twin Blossom Flowers, also hurried over.

"Wait for me here. I'll bring Qingqing down."

Ji Yunyue said to Li Hao, unwilling for him to risk entering this dangerous forbidden area.

Li Hao shook his head, "Since we're here, let's go together."

Seeing Li Hao's determination, Ji Yunyue was a little helpless. She raised her hand and summoned a whip-like chain, wrapping it around herself and Li Hao.

"Let's go then. Be careful of the desolate abyss below. There are special laws here, and even Dao Comprehension Realm cultivators can't fly. If you fall, you'll be dead."

She warned.

Li Hao nodded, and they stepped onto the iron chain, one in front of the other, climbing quickly.

With their agility, the steep iron chain was like a slanted ladder to heaven. They leaped and jumped, moving at incredible speed.

When they had climbed tens of miles and reached the chain above the desolate abyss, Li Hao felt a special force envelop his body, suppressing his aura, preventing him from using it. Even his Heavenly Veins disappeared, cut off.

No wonder they said it was impossible to cross the abyss.

The law suppression here was stronger than the desolate sea.

He looked down, his expression slightly solemn, recalling the second trial of the Sandalwood Palace Academy, crossing a ten-thousand-zhang iron chain to test his courage.

His and Ji Yunyue's courage was clearly not comparable to a Harmony Power Realm cultivator. Although their expressions were solemn, they were merely more cautious and careful, not afraid.

The chain swayed slightly, and strong winds howled through the air, but Li Hao and Ji Yunyue climbed steadily, unaffected.

On Imprisoning Heaven Island above, Ji Qingqing and Ning Ma came out of the mountain and stood before the Abyssal Heaven Stele, waiting.

They occasionally sent out their souls to look around. After a while, Ning Ma suddenly exclaimed in surprise:

"I see people!"

On the thick chain, several thousand miles away, two tiny dots could be seen jumping and climbing.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 243: The Demon Saint's Burial Ground

The distance was too great for the two to discern their features clearly.

But at this moment, the only one who could be ascending the Abyssal Heaven Lock was undoubtedly the young man.

"Hao'er…"

姬 Qingqing's eyes welled up with tears. She wanted to descend the Abyssal Heaven Lock to greet him, but the家主's pardon hadn't arrived yet, and descending the island without permission would be considered escaping prison.

She had waited for over a decade, and she didn't want to cause any further complications.

The two leaned on each other, their gazes fixed on the two figures ascending.

Meanwhile, on the Abyssal Heaven Lock.

Li Hao held the Heaven-Viewing Mirror, and saw two figures standing before the Abyssal Heaven Stele that was used to bind the Abyssal Heaven Lock on the island. One of them was his mother,Ji Qingqing.

She was intently staring at the chain, the excitement and tears in her eyes urging him to quicken his pace.

Sensing Li Hao's acceleration,姬 Yun Yue chuckled wryly. On the Abyssal Heaven Lock, where strength was suppressed and they could only rely on their physical bodies to climb, Li Hao's body techniques were even faster than hers.

Just as the two were accelerating towards their destination, Li Hao suddenly felt a strange sensation in his heart.

As if guided by an intuition, he looked down.

The abyss beneath his feet was pitch black, devoid of light. But as he gazed into it, a crimson light seemed to emerge from the depths.

Li Hao was slightly stunned, blinking his eyes, suspecting that he was mistaken.

Before he could focus again, a terrifying tremor suddenly emanated from the abyss.

With a loud boom!

The entire abyss shook, the cliffs near the Wild Sea trembled, and the three Abyssal Heaven Locks violently swayed.

At the same time, the nearby Wild Sea seemed to be shaken, and the previously calm surface suddenly churned into a series of raging waves.

"What?"

姬 Yun Yue stopped her ascent, gripping the chain, looking in astonishment.

Crimson light emerged from the abyss, growing stronger and stronger, and then, suddenly, a massive tentacle shot out, wrapping around the Abyssal Heaven Lock they were on.

The tentacle seemed to be thousands of feet long, and when it coiled around the Abyssal Heaven Lock, the immense weight caused the entire Sky-Imprisoning Island to nearly topple over.

This sudden and violent tremor startled everyone on Sky-Imprisoning Island.

Whether they were asleep, near death, or deeply immersed in deducing techniques, they were all awakened by the violent shaking.

Sky-Imprisoning Island, like a small boat, swayed violently.

"What's happening?!"

"Is Sky-Imprisoning Island going to collapse?"

"Look, the island is falling!"

On Sky-Imprisoning Island, the dozen or so criminals were shocked. Their originally dull and drooping eyes, as if they were on the verge of death, widened, and they rushed out of their respective caves to the edge of Sky-Imprisoning Island.

Upon seeing the crimson tentacle wrapped around and dragging one of the Abyssal Heaven Locks, the criminals were all terrified.

"What is that?"

"A demon? How is that possible!"

"Its size, its aura, my heavens, is there such a demon guarding this abyss?!"

"Did someone escape and anger the guarding demon?"

These criminals had arrived at different times and had varying levels of knowledge about Sky-Imprisoning Island. At this moment, they were all horrified, as this was something they had never heard of before.

The abyss, they heard, was a pit dug by the Ancestor with a single punch, bottomless.

But now, a demon had crawled out of it?

A ragged, emaciated old man, looking like a beggar, lay on the edge of Sky-Imprisoning Island, watching the crimson tentacle. His eyes widened in shock, and then he burst into laughter:

"Haha, is the Ji family now imprisoning all the geniuses with Saint Bones here?"

"They deserve to be destroyed, the Ji family deserves to be destroyed…"

He laughed loudly, but tears streamed down his aged face.

Many criminals recognized this old man, calling him the Old Madman. He was a criminal who had been imprisoned here for a very long time, rambling incoherently and speaking nonsense that no one understood, and no one bothered to pay him any attention.

In front of the Abyssal Heaven Stele,姬 Qingqing and Ning Ma were nearly thrown off Sky-Imprisoning Island by the sudden tremor and violent swaying.

The two quickly grabbed the Abyssal Heaven Stele to stabilize themselves, but saw Sky-Imprisoning Island rapidly descending and swaying continuously. The island's own buoyancy was pushing it upwards, while the tentacle was pulling the Abyssal Heaven Lock downwards, causing the entire island to tilt.

"What is that thing?"

姬 Qingqing also saw the crimson tentacle on the chain. It was too large, visible from several thousand miles away.

Her face was filled with shock. This abyss, since ancient times, had never been known to have such a terrifying demon dwelling within it.

Ning Ma was equally horrified, her face pale, unaware of the cause.

At this moment, on another Abyssal Heaven Lock, Li Tian Gang and姬 Yun Qing were also startled by the sudden tremor, nearly losing their grip on the chain and falling.

Upon seeing the tentacle wrapped around another Abyssal Heaven Lock in the distance,姬 Yun Qing's pupils constricted, and he exclaimed in horror, "What is that thing?"

He had never heard of it either, finding it utterly unbelievable.

"Is it the monster guarding this place?" Li Tian Gang's expression also changed, and he hurriedly asked.

姬 Yun Qing didn't answer, his eyes filled with fear. He sensed the power of the Dao contained within the tentacle, and the Ji family couldn't possibly have tamed a demon of this level.

"Run!"

On the Abyssal Heaven Lock, Li Hao saw the tentacle's actions, his heart filled with terror, and he immediately unleashed his full power, pulling姬 Yun Yue forward.

姬 Yun Yue also reacted, her face pale. The tentacle had coiled around the end of the chain, leaving no way to retreat, they could only escape to Sky-Imprisoning Island.

She immediately unleashed her full speed, using the Ji family's body techniques to keep up with Li Hao.

As the two ran at full speed, several more tentacles shot out from the abyss, grabbing all three chains.

The three chains pulled downwards simultaneously, causing the bowl-shaped, tilted Sky-Imprisoning Island to regain its balance, but it was rapidly descending.

And from the abyss, a crimson giant figure, like a blood lotus, gradually emerged.

Those thousand-foot tentacles extended from behind the blood lotus. In the middle of the blood lotus, there was a huge human face, a flawlessly beautiful woman's face with closed eyes and skin as white as snow.

The woman's red lips were closed, her eyes serenely shut, as if she were in a peaceful sleep.

But this exquisitely beautiful face was thousands of feet in diameter. As the blood lotus rose, it pushed forward, and despite its beauty, it gave people a chilling feeling.

More and more tentacles shot out from behind the blood lotus, wrapping around the chains, pulling the Sky-Imprisoning Island straight down from the sky.

"That is, the Demon Saint, Wen Ren Ji, recorded in the Ancestor's notes!"

On Sky-Imprisoning Island, some of the older criminals, upon seeing the giant blood lotus face, were stunned and lost in a daze.

"Blood lotus, demon face, purple soul-seizing eyes, one eye can steal a person's soul, two eyes can steal their Dao heart, three eyes can cause those who seek the Dao to perish!"

"This, this is the Demon Saint!!"

Several older criminals felt like they were going mad, almost suffocating.

On the two Abyssal Heaven Locks,姬 Yun Qing and姬 Yun Yue simultaneously recognized Wen Ren Ji, their faces contorted in horror, feeling as if their souls were about to be scared out of their bodies.

This was a Demon Saint!

An existence comparable to the Ancestor!

"Legend has it that the Ancestor suppressed several Demon Saints, and this Wen Ren Ji, wasn't she killed by the Ancestor? How could she be here?"

"Quick, run!"

姬 Yun Yue and姬 Yun Qing were both terrified, their hearts pounding. They were both in the Great Peace Dao Realm, but in front of this Demon Saint, they were no different from children. A single breath from her could probably kill them.

"This is a Demon Saint, run!"

姬 Yun Yue hurriedly shouted to Li Hao.

Li Hao's heart throbbed, a Demon Saint, no wonder he felt such a terrifying sensation, it was almost making his entire body numb and immobile.

The two ran for their lives forward.

The Abyssal Heaven Lock swayed violently, making a metallic clanging sound, but the chain was extremely tough and didn't break.

And the exquisitely beautiful woman on the blood lotus slightly opened her mouth at this moment. Her perfect, scarlet lips split open, revealing a mouth filled with countless sharp thorns, leading to a dark abyss.

A powerful suction force poured into her mouth, and Li Hao and姬 Yun Yue felt as if countless threads were wrapped around their bodies, making their ascent extremely difficult.

On Sky-Imprisoning Island, the numerous criminals, upon seeing this scene, were terrified out of their wits.

"It, it's going to eat the whole island!"

"Quick, quickly push down the Abyssal Heaven Stele, I'd rather ascend to heaven than die in its mouth. I heard that if you're killed by a Demon Saint, you don't even have a chance to be reborn."

Many criminals were panicked and rushed towards the various Abyssal Heaven Steles.

The old man known as the Old Madman lay on the ground, laughing loudly:

"It's useless, it's useless, this Wen Ren Ji was once the Ancestor's pet demon, but she betrayed him when the Ancestor attained Sainthood and was suppressed by him."

"Someone must have Saint Bones on them, and the Saintly aura on them stimulated her, causing her to awaken from the abyss."

"Haha, I never imagined that the Ancestor would bury such a Demon Saint here. This entire Wild Sea is her burial ground…"

In the midst of the chaos, no one paid attention to his words. A dozen or so people scattered and rushed towards the three Abyssal Heaven Steles.

姬 Qingqing heard what these people said, her face changed, and she angrily shouted: "Stop, who dares!"

She summoned her soul, standing in mid-air, emitting a powerful divine light, blocking the criminals who were trying to overturn the Abyssal Heaven Stele.

The Abyssal Heaven Lock could not be severed, but the Abyssal Heaven Stele was buried on Sky-Imprisoning Island and could be moved. If they lost the pull of the Abyssal Heaven Lock, even if Sky-Imprisoning Island ascended and was scorched by the Fiery Sun Saint Fire, there would still be a slight chance of rebirth.

"Get out of the way, don't stop us!"

Someone roared, trying to charge towards姬 Qingqing.

But姬 Qingqing's entire body was enveloped in divine light from her treasure robe, and a frost-like long sword fell into her hand, slashing out.

With a loud boom, the sword energy was like a rainbow, striking the man, tearing open a large gash of blood and forcing him back.

In her youth, she was a genius of the Ji family, though not the top tier. But now that she was older, after years of cultivation, she had already reached the Absolute Skill Realm before being imprisoned.

Moreover, she had only been on Sky-Imprisoning Island for less than two years, and her internal energy was almost completely intact. At this moment, with her anger fueling her attack, she unleashed a powerful might.

The other criminals, seeing姬 Qingqing's display of power, were all shocked and angrily said:

"Do you want us all to die?!"

"Exactly, if you want to die, don't drag us down with you, we still want to be reborn as humans!"

The criminals angrily said.

But姬 Qingqing ignored them, her soul soaring into the sky above the island. Seeing the criminals scattered and charging towards the other two Abyssal Heaven Steles, her eyes narrowed in killing intent, and she manipulated her divine sword to slash out, forcing those people back.

"As long as I'm here, no one will touch them!"

姬 Qingqing leaned against the Abyssal Heaven Stele, her divine flames like clothing, like a descending goddess, angrily declared.

"You, you're utterly unreasonable!"

The numerous criminals were both shocked and enraged by her intimidation and obstruction.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 244: Funeral (Two-in-One)

"If this continues, we'll all die!"

Someone stepped forward, filled with anger. Faced with death, they wanted to fight Ji Qingqing.

Ji Qingqing's face was icy, but she knew that stopping them wouldn't solve anything. She said,

"If you want to live, help me bring them up."

"Bring them up? That's suicide! They're definitely doomed, too far away!" someone shouted angrily.

"If they die, we all die!"

Ji Qingqing didn't back down, forcing them to act.

If she were alone, she would have rushed down to help without hesitation. But if she left this spot, Ning Ma, with her Dao Heart Realm strength, wouldn't be able to deter these people.

If the Abyss Heaven Stele were to be overturned, everyone would die.

"Don't you want to live?!"

Someone roared, unable to contain their anger. "At least we can live. Why sacrifice everyone else?"

"Either bring them up, or we all die!"

Ji Qingqing's eyes were cold, and she didn't argue. Any argument at this moment was a waste of time. She simply presented the choice.

Everyone was furious, but no one moved. The chains were swaying so violently that they were afraid to step onto them.

In the midst of their brief exchange, a violent tremor suddenly shook the ground below.

Imprisoning Heaven Island was pulled askew again. The abyss's tentacles reached for the chain connected to Li Hao. One tentacle grabbed the chain, while two others slammed towards Li Hao and the others.

Li Hao's face changed drastically. With a low roar, he activated his Divine Power state and climbed at full speed.

But the suction from the Demonic Saint's mouth was like a black hole, capable of easily uprooting and swallowing mountains. If Li Hao hadn't been strong enough, he would have been sucked in long ago.

"Go!"

Li Hao roared, pulling Ji Yunyue and sprinting forward at full speed.

However, Imprisoning Heaven Island was still over a thousand miles away. Under normal circumstances, they could easily reach it in a few minutes, but now it felt impossibly distant, like reaching for the heavens.

"Child, don't worry about me, go."

Ji Yunyue suddenly released Li Hao's hand, her hands tightly gripping a link of the Abyss Heaven Lock, and shouted to Li Hao,

"Don't look back, keep going. As long as you persevere, the Third Ancestor will surely sense the commotion here and come to help!"

Li Hao felt his hand go loose and was momentarily stunned. He turned to look at the old woman who had always been kind, her face filled with determination and encouragement. He felt as if his heart had been struck.

A surge of emotions welled up, but he suppressed them. He knew that if he looked back, he would be betraying her trust.

Li Hao gritted his teeth and climbed forward at full speed, his speed doubling.

Whoosh!

Suddenly, a violent chain rattling sound echoed.

The Blood Lotus, which was about to burst from the abyss, seemed to pause for a moment, being pulled downwards. Behind it, numerous chains, as thick as the Abyss Heaven Lock, appeared.

These chains bound it, preventing it from escaping the abyss.

The Blood Lotus seemed enraged, whipping out more thousand-foot tentacles, pulling on the chains and attacking Li Hao.

The tentacles whipped against the chains, sweeping across, and Li Hao hurriedly climbed to the other side of the chain, hiding in the gap between the links. He activated the Supreme Art, enhancing his agility.

He didn't know if it would work, but he had no other choice at the moment.

The foul-smelling tentacles roared past, brushing against Li Hao without causing any harm. He breathed a sigh of relief and continued climbing along the chain.

On Imprisoning Heaven Island, the others watched as the island was pulled lower and lower, finally unable to bear it any longer. Someone roared,

"Let's go together. Even if we die, it's better than dying at the hands of the Demonic Saint."

"Go, overturn the Abyss Heaven Stele!"

Over a dozen people simultaneously unleashed their remaining energy, attacking Ji Qingqing.

Ji Qingqing's face changed. She hadn't figured out a solution yet, and these people had lost patience. The urgency of the situation didn't give her much time to think of a countermeasure.

"Unless I die, no one will overturn this stele!"

Ji Qingqing roared angrily.

Her divine soul erupted, and she attacked with her sword.

On the swaying island, a battle erupted. Ji Qingqing fought against them, unleashing her Absolute Art without sparing her energy. She attacked repeatedly, cutting down two and sending seven others flying.

Her divine flames enveloped her cloud-like robes, making her appear like a valiant female general. She stubbornly defended the Abyss Heaven Stele.

Below the island, the Demonic Saint was closing in. On the chain, people were desperately climbing to escape. And on the island, over a dozen people were engaged in a fierce battle.

"No one gets close!"

Ji Qingqing's energy was waning, but she still had untapped strength. She retreated to the Abyss Heaven Stele, her eyes like cold stars as she watched the others.

"A bunch of foolish children."

At that moment, the old madman, lying in the distance, burst into laughter. "You could all have lived, but you had to seek death. Don't you realize the Demonic Saint's abnormality? The Third Ancestor has already erased its consciousness. What's trapped here is just its husk."

"Otherwise, if it truly attacked, none of you would be here fighting. You would all be dead."

As everyone gasped for breath, they heard his laughter, finding it jarring. But his words made them realize something.

Indeed, although the Demonic Saint was pulling on the chains, it was a Demonic Saint. If it truly attacked, they would all be killed in an instant.

"It's dead?"

Someone trembled, asking a question that even they found absurd.

But the existence of a Saint Realm being was beyond their comprehension.

Many people looked at the old madman. They knew that he had lived for a long time, dating back to the Third Ancestor's era.

Seeing everyone looking at him, the old madman laughed again, saying nothing more. He simply looked on with a teasing, amused expression, as if completely unconcerned about the swaying Imprisoning Heaven Island, which could be swallowed by the Demonic Saint at any moment.

Everyone felt angry at his expression, but his words had given them a wake-up call. Someone noticed the chains binding the Demonic Saint, preventing it from escaping the abyss.

"I have a way!"

Suddenly, someone excitedly shouted.

Those who became criminals were inherently intelligent, just misguided.

"We don't need to overturn all three Abyss Heaven Steles. We only need to overturn two. Then, relying on Imprisoning Heaven Island's own buoyancy laws, it will pull the Abyss Heaven Lock into a straight line. The Demonic Saint's body isn't long enough. At most, one or two tentacles can reach out, and it may not be able to pull it down!"

The person excitedly explained.

Everyone ran to the edge of the island and looked at the terrifyingly beautiful face and the flamboyant Blood Lotus.

Indeed, the Demonic Saint had stopped rising, held back by the chains, struggling constantly. But the chains that bound its physical body seemed to have fixed it in the center of the abyss, causing its body to stretch out in all directions to touch the abyss's edge.

If only one Abyss Heaven Lock were pulling Imprisoning Heaven Island, it would be in a straight line, and the island would deviate from the center of the abyss, appearing outside the abyss, perpendicular to the Abyss Heaven Peak at the other end of the chain, like a wooden stake!

At that time, the Demonic Saint's body would have even fewer parts that could touch the chain, and it might not be able to pull Imprisoning Heaven Island down.

In that case, they would have a chance to live!

The others understood the person's reasoning and their eyes lit up. It was indeed a good idea.

If this method didn't work, they would have to abandon the last Abyss Heaven Lock and let Imprisoning Heaven Island ascend, enduring the scorching heat of the Sun Saint Fire.

Ji Qingqing was startled, and a sense of relief washed over her. If they overturned the other two Abyss Heaven Steles, it was indeed a viable solution.

"Now you have no reason to stop us."

Someone looked at Ji Qingqing, worried that she would go mad again and try to die with them.

"Go ahead."

Ji Qingqing said.

Seeing her relent, the others breathed a sigh of relief and quickly dispersed, rushing towards the other two Abyss Heaven Steles in the middle of the island.

Ning Ma, standing beside her, turned to look and suddenly noticed two figures rapidly climbing up another chain.

"What's that?"

Ning Ma's divine soul manifested, enhancing her vision, and she immediately saw clearly that there were indeed people on that Abyss Heaven Lock.

Ji Qingqing heard her words and also focused her divine soul, her pupils contracting in shock as she stared.

On that chain, about three hundred miles from the island, two figures were struggling to climb upwards.

They were very close to the island. They had already climbed most of the thousands of miles of Abyss Heaven Lock, with only the last tenth of the journey remaining.

The suction seemed less intense. Although they were climbing slowly, they would be able to reach Imprisoning Heaven Island in another four or five minutes.

However, Ji Qingqing recognized both of the figures.

Upon seeing them, she felt a thunderclap in her head, as if something had exploded, leaving a brief blankness in her mind.

Li Tiangang!

Her husband!

Ji Yunqing, his uncle!

Ji Qingqing was struck like lightning, feeling dazed.

But after only a second, she suddenly reacted, her divine soul soaring into the air and rushing towards the Abyss Heaven Stele on the chain.

"Stop!!"

Sword light roared, slashing in front of the four who were about to touch the Abyss Heaven Stele.

The four were furious to see Ji Qingqing going back on her word. "Are you crazy?!"

"Wait for them to come up."

Ji Qingqing's divine soul trembled as she spoke.

Her divine soul descended rapidly, guarding the Abyss Heaven Stele, blocking with her back as a shield.

Several people were furious. "If we keep two Abyss Heaven Locks, it's useless. The Demonic Saint will still drag us down!"

"Give them some time."

Ji Qingqing gritted her teeth.

Her physical body looked at the two figures desperately struggling to climb the chain, tears welling up in her eyes.

She never expected Li Tiangang to be here.

Earlier, Ning Ma had said that Li Hao had come alone, and she had found it strange. Knowing Li Tiangang, he was extremely responsible. How could he let his son come alone?

She thought there was a hidden reason, but now she knew that he had also come, and Ning Ma's information was outdated.

"You, why are you all so foolish..."

Ji Qingqing's tears flowed freely. She had clearly warned him not to enter the Ji Family without breaking through to the Four-Establishment Realm, but now, she could see at a glance that Li Tiangang was only at the Reverse Fate Realm.

Undoubtedly, he had come to the Ji Family with the determination to die.

Just like when he had shielded her from the crowd in the past.

A disciplined general had broken his own rules for her for the first time, and that was why she had decided to marry him and stay by his side for life.

Boom!!

Suddenly, Imprisoning Heaven Island shook violently.

An Abyss Heaven Stele was pulled out and overturned, thrown from Imprisoning Heaven Island.

The indestructible Abyss Heaven Lock fell along with it, pulled down by two tentacles and crashing onto the Blood Lotus of the Demonic Saint.

Losing the pull of one Abyss Heaven Lock, the island tilted. The Blood Lotus, seemingly enraged, unleashed its tentacles, pulling on the thousands of miles of Abyss Heaven Lock, causing the entire island to plummet downwards.

"No good!"

Everyone on the island felt a sense of weightlessness as if their feet were leaving the ground. Except for the old madman, everyone was terrified.

On the chain, Li Tiangang and Ji Yunqing, who were desperately climbing, felt the chain rapidly descending and were terrified. They unleashed all their strength, frantically climbing upwards.

Their eyes were fixed on the island tens of thousands of meters away and the large stele wrapped in chains.

Although the distance was far, their eyesight was extraordinary, and they could already see the situation in front of the stele.

"That's, Qingqing?"

Suddenly, Li Tiangang saw the divine soul in front of the stele and was momentarily stunned, then bewildered.

Although it was just a back view, he couldn't possibly be mistaken. It was his wife, whom he longed for and missed day and night.

At this moment, his wife seemed to be confronting someone, guarding the stele wrapped in chains.

He immediately understood that she was protecting his lifeline!

"Qingqing!!"

Li Tiangang roared and desperately climbed upwards.

On the other end, Li Hao was radiating golden light. Even though the Demonic King's suction was astonishing, his movements were incredibly fast. The thousand-mile journey was quickly reduced to only two or three hundred miles.

He was almost there.

Li Hao's eyes were golden. The Abyss Heaven Lock was affected by the abyss's laws, and his energy couldn't be released, so he couldn't use his divine soul. But with his Divine Power-enhanced eyesight, he could still see the situation hundreds of miles away.

At the end of the chain, a woman's back was guarding the stele, her body enveloped in divine flames, her posture valiant.

Li Hao recognized her at a glance. It was his mother.

His heart jolted, and the words he had heard as a baby echoed in his mind:

"No matter what happens in the future, Mother will always stand in front of you, and no one will ever hurt you..."

She seemed to have kept her promise from fifteen years ago.

She was guarding the end of the chain with her frail body!

Li Hao's eyes turned slightly red, and he roared, unleashing all his strength, accelerating once more, rushing towards the end of the chain.

But at that moment, the chain behind him shook violently and was pulled down.

The Demonic Saint seemed to have gone mad, unleashing incredibly terrifying power, and the speed at which the chain was pulled down increased dramatically.

Li Hao felt like he was about to fall into the abyss, but in that brief moment of distraction, he roared and charged forward again. Using the Heaven and Earth Without Trace Art and the attribute enhancements from various illustrated scrolls, he rushed towards the end of the chain at full speed.

The Demonic Saint's tentacles swirled behind him in pursuit, and Li Hao was racing against death.

On Imprisoning Heaven Island, everyone saw the rapid descent and were filled with panic and despair.

"Hurry, if we don't overturn the Abyss Heaven Stele, it'll be too late!"

"We're running out of time!!"

Everyone else ignored everything else and rushed towards Ji Qingqing in anger.

"Wait, give them a little more time!"

Ji Qingqing hurriedly said, but seeing that everyone was ignoring her and rushing towards her, she had no choice but to unleash her divine soul and fight with all her might.

"Don't force me to burn my divine soul and unleash my Dao Domain!"

One of the elders roared angrily.

He exuded an extraordinary aura, a Taiping Dao Realm expert. He ignited a portion of his divine soul, releasing a powerful aura.

He had been imprisoned here for too long, and his strength had long been depleted, so he had kept a low profile.

Moreover, his original crime was colluding with demons to assassinate family members and steal treasures, a serious offense. He had only been spared thanks to his ancestors' glory, and his descendants were forbidden from visiting him. As a result, his strength had been almost completely depleted over the years, leaving only his physical strength.

Ji Qingqing saw the elder's furious expression and her face changed drastically. If he truly burned his divine soul, even if he could only unleash the power of the Dao Realm for a brief moment, she wouldn't be a match for him.

"Wait, give them a little more time!"

Ji Qingqing hurriedly said, "One of them is a Ji Family Dao Seed. He's the hope of our Ji Family!"

"I don't care about any Dao Seed. Whoever doesn't let me live has to die!"

"That's right. We're all locked up here. What does the Ji Family's honor and disgrace have to do with us? It must be the Dao Seed who provoked the Demonic Saint!"

Everyone shouted angrily.

Ji Qingqing's face turned pale. Seeing the elder's increasingly powerful Dao Realm aura, she could only bow her head and plead,

"Please, elders, give them a little more time. I'll kowtow to you!"

She said, kneeling down and banging her head on the ground.

"You know we're your elders, and you still want to drag us to our deaths?"

"What's the use of kowtowing? I don't want to die. Get out of the way!!"

Everyone was furious, refusing to accept Ji Qingqing's pleas. They just wanted to live, at least to have a chance at reincarnation.

"Get out of the way, or we'll all be buried with you. You can't save anyone!"

The elder's face was grim. His divine soul was burning, and if he truly unleashed the Dao Realm, his life would be lost here. He took a step forward,

"If you can't bear to part with this one, then we'll overturn that one. Choose one, now!"

With his angry roar, the chains shook, and Imprisoning Heaven Island swayed violently, descending even faster.

Ji Qingqing looked at the elder's angry face, and her heart felt like it was being torn apart.

She knew that if they delayed any longer, everyone could die.

But how to choose?

Her husband on one side, her son on the other.

"Fine, I choose."

She stood up, her movements slow, trying to buy them a little more time.

The elder seemed to see her intention and roared, "Choose quickly!"

"Hurry, it's too late!"

The others were also agitated and pressed closer.

Ji Qingqing's face was devoid of color. She felt as if heavy hammers were pounding on her chest, and her blood seemed to have solidified.

She turned to look and saw a golden figure rapidly rushing towards them on the Abyss Heaven Lock.

He was only a hundred miles away.

She could see the youth's face with her own eyes.

Mother and son, who hadn't seen each other for fifteen years, met each other's gazes at this moment, recognizing each other.

Ji Qingqing looked at the handsome youth. Was this the son she had given birth to?

She felt a little dazed. After fifteen years, the baby in her arms had grown so much?

Divine Power state, no wonder he became a Ji Family prodigy...

Large tears welled up in her eyes. She covered her mouth, her heart aching like a knife twisting.

"It's too late, hurry up and push it down!"

Seeing Imprisoning Heaven Island tilting and falling, the others shouted in anger and fear.

They rushed forward, pushing towards the Abyss Heaven Stele.

But this time, Ji Qingqing simply covered her mouth and didn't move.

Li Hao, who was desperately climbing upwards, saw this and was momentarily stunned.

Why... wasn't she stopping them?

His thoughts seemed to pause for a moment, but the next instant, he suddenly came to his senses. In his panic, he quickly called upon the Merit Treasure Vault.

Golden light quickly emerged from the golden paper in his palm. Li Hao quickly chose to redeem a Reverse Fate opportunity.

Soon, his Merit decreased by ten thousand points.

He felt a strange energy flowing into his body. He tried to release it, and the energy flowed out of his body.

It was a very unique sensation, neither like Qi nor like Immortal Energy, but something indescribable.

As the Reverse Fate energy dissipated, Li Hao hurriedly looked at the Abyss Heaven Stele being pushed.

He saw that the people were still pushing, and the Abyss Heaven Stele was pulled out without any unexpected events.

The woman was still kneeling, not moving.

He suddenly thought of a problem, and it was like a bucket of cold water being poured over his head, chilling him to the bone.

Ji Yunguo had said that those at the Smell Dao Realm could conceal Heavenly Secrets, preventing those at the Reverse Fate Realm from using Reverse Fate opportunities. And the unique laws of the abyss prevented the use of Dao Domains. The Reverse Fate energy... might also be blocked.

In other words, Reverse Fate was ineffective.

Boom!

The Abyss Heaven Stele was finally pulled out and thrown down.

The chain under Li Hao's feet, which had been taut and straight, suddenly became loose.

He reached out desperately, but the entire chain lost its support and fell along with the Abyss Heaven Stele.

He raised his hand, and the blood-red Twin Blossom in his hand, vibrant and dewy, had no chance to reach the island.

Li Hao stared blankly at the falling Abyss Heaven Stele, seeing the woman suddenly stand up and rush towards another location. He followed the direction she ran in and saw two figures climbing upwards on the other side of Imprisoning Heaven Island, about ten miles from the island.

He recognized one of them.

He recognized the other one too.

Was it him?

Li Hao was stunned.

Suddenly, he seemed to understand everything.

Just like fifteen years ago, when the imperial decree arrived at the Divine General Manor, the woman had released the hundred-day-old infant in her arms, turned around, donned her armor, and followed her husband to the battlefield, traveling tens of thousands of miles.

Now, fifteen years later.

She was making the same choice...

The enormous Abyss Heaven Stele fell from above, crashing heavily onto Li Hao's face, nose, and body, spraying blood everywhere...

His entire body was smashed down, and the small red Twin Blossom in his hand loosened, its petals fluttering like broken butterfly wings, slowly drifting in the air.

With the fall of the Abyss Heaven Stele, Li Hao seemed to lose all his strength, and his body was pulled downwards towards the Demonic Saint's mouth.

He had managed to avoid the Demonic Saint's tentacles, but he couldn't avoid the stele that fell from above.

The tentacles that had been pulling on the chain now all swung towards him.

And with the loss of the Abyss Heaven Lock, Imprisoning Heaven Island, like a bird spreading its wings, immediately soared upwards. Its own buoyancy laws caused it to pull the remaining Abyss Heaven Lock, rapidly changing from a steep 70-degree angle to a vertical 90-degree angle.

Boom!

The thick chain and the Abyss Heaven Stele, carrying Li Hao's body, plunged into the abyss.

(End of Chapter)