Three Years

Old Wang was amused by Li Hao's words and said, "You are quite interesting. Then so be it. It is rare to be able to maintain such a peaceful mindset in the face of the Immortal Emperor Dao Heritage, without being hasty or impatient. No wonder you have Eternal Dao Heart."

The previous Heaven and Earth Nine Resonances and the Eternal Dao Heart made him extremely appreciative of Li Hao.

After all, to have such a mindset at the Saint-Level, even during his peak period before the Emperor Fall Battle, was a rare Heavenly Prodigy.

"So, does that mean you agree, senior?"

Li Hao's eyes lit up slightly.

"If you really want to learn, I can teach you. What I grow here isn't rice or wheat, but Immortal Medicine Divine Herbs."

Old Wang laughed and said, "If you can really learn it, it will be a skill. True Realm still has the glory of the past, it will be enough to make you a distinguished guest in many Immortal Sect, and you will even reach the position of Immortal Lord."

Li Hao was surprised. He hadn't expected the other party's cultivation technique for Immortal Herb to be so strong. Just by relying on this cultivation skill, he could be comparable to the status of Immortal Lord. How amazing must that be?

"Then thank you very much for your instruction, senior."

Li Hao cupped his hands in a gesture of respect, intending to perform a grand ceremony.

Old Wang waved his hand and said, "If you can pass the three tests, you will be the Immortal Emperor's Registered Disciple, and you don't need to perform this grand ceremony with me. If you fail, then I will accept this ceremony from you."

Upon hearing this, Li Hao stopped being so formal and felt a surge of respect for the senior.

"Then I'll teach you how to identify Immortal Herb first."

Old Wang chuckled lightly, explaining that cultivating Immortal Herb was his pleasure, and his smile deepened as he talked about it.

Li Hao was led to the fields, acres of Farmland, where Immortal Medicine Divine Herbs emitted a hazy, otherworldly aura. Li Hao saw the Great Dao in the Void drifting like catkins around the Immortal Herb, like gentle, delicate hands, softly protecting and cradling these Immortal Medicine Divine Herbs in the fields.

"This is the Eternal Life Immortal Grass, capable of absorbing the Heaven and Earth Energy. It grows well without watering or cultivation, but if cultivated and nourished with the Golden Dao Source, it will transform into the Eternal Immortal Leaf of Eternity, a core ingredient for refining the Eternal Undecaying Pill."

Old Wang led Li Hao to the edge of the field, casually pointed to a medicinal herb, and introduced it to Li Hao.

Li Hao saw that he looked at the Immortal Medicine Divine Herbs in the field with a kind expression, as if they were his own children.

He found it quite interesting, realizing that cultivating this Immortal Herb was also a fascinating endeavor.

However, it seems that his skills cannot be recorded in his Panel and do not belong to the Art Skill.

But Li Hao didn't pay attention to that. He sat with Old Wang on the edge of the field and listened to him talk about the cultivation process of these Immortal Medicine Divine Herbs and the interesting things that happened when they were cultivated in the past.

As the sun rises and sets, the Sun, Moon, and Stars alternate in this place. Li Hao asked curiously, Old Wang said that the Heavenly Circulation Stars evolved spontaneously by the Hall Spirit of the Heavenly Calamity Hall.

Those constellations were not merely for decoration, nor were they meant to bring about the alternation of the sun and moon or the illumination of Starlight. Rather, they were a Stars Grand Formation that ensured the enduring power of the Heavenly Calamity Hall.

Time flies.

Li Hao no longer sat on the Meditation Cushion to meditate, but instead sat on the edge of the field chatting and laughing, learning about various Immortal Herb from Old Wang.

The two men looked like two farmers, with no regard for their appearance. Li Hao rolled up his sleeves, tied his trousers to his thighs, and swung in the field with his feet covered in mud. Every now and then, small black insects, like ants, would crawl up his legs along the mud. These were not ordinary insects, but special spiritual insects carefully cultivated by Old Wang.

This insect can stimulate the growth of Immortal Herb and also gnaw away at the Great Dao and obscured parts of the immortal Immortal Herb, thus improving Immortal Herb quality.

In his spare time while learning farming, Li Hao casually asked Old Wang if he knew how to Chess. Old Wang smiled and asked in return, "Could it be that you do?"

Upon hearing this, Li Hao took out Go Board from his Heaven and Earth Space, intending to Sparring with Old Wang.

Old Wang saw that Li Hao really carried Go Board with him, he was surprised. Then he laughed, rolled up his sleeves, and sat down with Li Hao in front of the Dwelling. They placed the Go Board on a Wooden Stake that they usually used for chopping firewood, and the old man and the young man began to play chess.

Li Hao was full of confidence, wanting to give this highly skilled senior a little shock in the Chess Dao. However, when he made a brilliant move, he was completely defeated, as if he had deliberately handed the Chess Piece to his opponent. What was originally a favorable situation was reversed in an instant with the opponent's move.

As the game progressed, Li Hao began to doubt his own abilities, unable to discern the strengths and weaknesses of the Go Board, and hesitant to make his moves.

After losing three games in a row, Li Hao was somewhat stunned. This was the first time he had ever suffered such a crushing defeat in the Chess Dao.

Old Wang smiled and gathered his pieces, saying, "Your chess skills are already extremely rare, but if you want to beat me, you'd better live another 100,000 years."

He said this, then burst into laughter, his expression full of smugness.

Li Hao, however, had a dark expression. He could lose a martial arts contest, but he absolutely could not lose Chess.

He stroked his chin, rested his cheek on his hand, and reviewed the chess game he had just played in his mind.

If his Chess Dao lies in exquisite layout, then his opponent's Chess Dao is like a gazelle hanging its horns—unpredictable and elusive.

After a night's rest, Li Hao continued his contest with Old Wang the next day.

After losing four or five games in a row, Li Hao finally glimpsed a bit of Old Wang's strategy. With a blockade, he placed a piece in an inconspicuous spot. Old Wang saw this and let out a soft sigh. He looked at it carefully for a couple of seconds, then looked at Li Hao again, and couldn't help but exclaim in admiration, "This kid's comprehension is really high!"

But when it Chess Dao, he doesn't hold back.

With several pieces falling in succession, the game was quickly won.

Li Hao felt as if he had been punched twice, and he almost vomited blood from anger.

Seeing Li Hao's frustrated expression, Old Wang laughed even harder and said, "Want to try again?"

"Come!"

Li Hao became more serious and considered his options more carefully.

Then, they lost even more miserably.

An old man and a young man were engaged in a fierce game of chess in front of the Dwelling. Suddenly, a figure on Meditation Cushion opened his eyes, a slight wisp of his restrained Aura escaping his lips.

Dao Light flashed in his eyes as he looked up at the Black Tower ahead.

Then, as if remembering something, he turned his head to look, but couldn't find the figure on the Meditation Cushion. His gaze immediately shifted to the front of the Dwelling.

On the Wooden Stake in front of the Dwelling, an old man and a young boy sat with their backs bent, completely oblivious to their surroundings, staring intently at the Go Board.

The older man was composed and smiling, while the younger one scratched his head and looked extremely serious, seemingly preoccupied and completely absorbed in his work.

Seeing this, Bright Saint raised his eyebrows slightly. During his previous meditation, he thought of the young man. He had seen him several times, and each time he saw him, the young man was either sitting on the edge of the field chatting and laughing with Old Wang, or playing Chess with him in front of the Dwelling. He had never seen the young man sitting on the Meditation Cushion.

Not practicing?

Or is he trying to curry Old Wang, hoping to get special treatment and receive his advice?

Bright Saint's lips curled into a cold smile. When he first arrived, he had also been busy serving Old Wang, bringing him tea and water, massaging his legs and shoulders, and doing everything he could to please him. Although Old Wang enjoyed the service and was very friendly to him, he made it clear that he would not teach him any tips related to the test.

This is the Great Dao constraint left by the Immortal Emperor for the other party. At the same time, even without this Great Dao constraint, Old Wang does not intend to reveal it. His deepest reverence for that Immortal Emperor surpasses all things and objects, and he would never desecrate it.

After Bright Saint, he saw other Sage follow in his footsteps, but they all met the same fate.

Now, this newcomer Prodigy, also wants to take this shortcut, but he has clearly miscalculated.

With their Heavenly Talent, if they had cultivated honestly, they might have had a chance to catch up with them. But now they want to take crooked paths and waste their time. Well, I can only say sorry.

Bright Saint stood up and headed towards the Black Tower.

A Sage sensed his departing Aura, opened his eyes, Time Dao, "The Bright Saint is about to challenge the 'True Venerable Tower'!"

Upon hearing his words, the other Sage had not yet gained a deep understanding also calmed their minds, opened their eyes, and looked on with solemn expressions.

If the other party passes, then we move on to the Third Step, where the gap will become significant.

Among them, Herding Saint, who sat in front with snow-white hair, also slightly opened his eyes and coldly looked at the back of that figure.

Among the many Sages, only he and Bright Saint regarded each other as formidable rivals in the second step of the test. After all, there is only one Immortal Emperor Dao Heritage, and once obtained, one will rise to great heights and have a foundation to stand above all living beings in the True Realm.

However, if one fails, one will only become one of the many True Immortal, and even pursuing the Immortal Lord will become distant and difficult—the gap is too great.

"Hmm? Why is that person still playing chess with Old Wang Chess?"

At this moment, someone noticed Li Hao, only to find that he was not on the Meditation Cushion, but still hanging out with Old Wang.

Although Old Wang was extremely powerful, an existence they could not even dream of reaching, Old Wang wouldn't help them with the trials, offering no guidance or hints. Therefore, they had no time to chat with this powerful figure.

"He probably wanted some guidance from Old Wang, but it was no use."

Someone shook their head, a hint of mockery in their eyes.

Saint Luo, Winter Blade, Chen Baoyu, and several other Sage who had previously spoken with Li Hao couldn't help but sigh inwardly, but they didn't say anything. Although they had a good impression of Li Hao was also a competitor to them. To give him a hint now would be tantamount to helping their most promising competitor get back on track.

Flower Saint and Wandering Saint exchanged a glance. Suddenly, Wandering Saint transmitted his voice to Li Hao and said:

"Bright Saint is going to challenge the True Venerable Tower. If he passes, he might be the first to undergo the third trial. At that time Old Wang will impart the path to immortality to him!"

Li Hao, engrossed in Chess and deep in thought, was oblivious to his surroundings. His mind seemed to be completely absorbed in the Go Board before him, in an absolute mental space where only the Go Board stretched across the Starry Sky, and a giant of Chess Dao sat before him, looking down at him.

This overwhelming strength forced Li Hao to focus entirely on the game, so that he wouldn't lose so quickly.

"Bright Saint is going to challenge the True Venerable Tower, aren't you worried?"

At this moment, Old Wang also noticed the commotion on the Meditation Cushion, looked up, and smiled leisurely at Li Hao.

Li Hao felt a giant booming sound above his head. He was slightly startled and immediately snapped out of his thoughts.

Seeing the Old Wang's expression, and following his gesture, he turned to look at the distant Black Tower, just in time to see a Sage enter the tower.

"Oh."

Li Hao glanced at it, then turned his gaze back to the Go Board.

At this moment, all he wanted was to break the deadlock in this game of chess.

"Haotian, did you hear me? Although Old Wang is a good person, he won't help you with cultivation."

At this moment, Wandering Saint's voice transmission sounded again.

Hearing this, Li Hao turned around and saw that both Wandering Saint and Hua Sacred Capital were looking at him with worried expressions. He paused for a moment, then understood their feelings and immediately smiled:

"No rush. I'll come back to cultivate when I'm old enough to defeat Old Wang."

If he could defeat Old Wang, he felt that his Chess Dao might break through to the Eleventh Dan level.

"This---"

Wandering Saint was slightly taken aback, somewhat speechless. Was Chess really that captivating, enough to overshadow even the Immortal Emperor Dao Heritage?

Li Hao withdrew his gaze, staring intently at the Go Board, his mind once again immersed in it, completely unaware of his surroundings.

He pondered deeply, while Old Wang awaited Li Hao's move. He watched the young man before him with interest; the other was not feigning it, but genuinely showed no urgency. Old Wang smiled slightly. Although having Li Hao accompany him had caused some delay, he had also discerned the aptitude of those Sages, whose progress would be difficult in the short term. Once Li Hao's interest waned, he would choose a suitable time for Li Hao to diligently cultivate.

Among all the test-takers, the one he valued most was the young man before him. Although he couldn't give him hints or special instruction, he would at least urge him to cultivate.

On the Meditation Cushion, many people were silently calculating Bright Saint's challenge time.

Not long after, Bright Saint emerged from the True Venerable Tower.

"It's been longer than last time. It seems Bright Saint wasn't affected much and has even made a breakthrough."

"Indeed, that person took the wrong path, trying to curry Old Wang and wasting their own time. My State of Mind has also recovered."

"I heard from Old Wang that if one can pass this test, one's combat intuition will reach an extremely high level. This is not a combat skill; skill is the accumulation of experience. But intuition is an extraordinary combat ability that changes in an instant and requires special methods to cultivate."

"We also need to work harder. We can't wait until Bright Saint truly steps into the Third Step and cultivates to immortality while we're still pondering the methods of Immortal Dao."

Many Sage looked solemn as they withdrew their gazes from the returning Bright Saint, and then they all closed their eyes and began to cultivate. Some of them smiled and Sacred Dao.

Bright Saint's expression was devoid of joy or anger, appearing rather cold. Although he had held out longer this time, he felt he was still far from being defeated. He had managed to escape danger several times with quick thinking, but it was still not enough.

He turned his head and glanced at the figure in front of the Dwelling. Seeing that the other person was staring intently at the Go Board, with no other thoughts in his eyes, he couldn't help but frown slightly and a cold smile appeared on his lips, but he quickly put it away, turned around and returned to his Meditation Cushion to continue meditating and comprehending.

Time slowly passed.

It was very quiet here, except for the occasional, somewhat loud, laugh of an old man and a young man.

However, since everyone's cultivation is enveloped by Dao Domain, unless there are changes in certain Aura, sound alone will not interfere with or affect them.

In the past, when everyone was cultivating, the only sounds were occasionally the sound of Old Wang digging the ground with a hoe and the flowing water from the Stream outside the fields. But now,

This place, which resembles a paradise, has a touch of human presence.

A year Past in the blink of an eye.

Li Hao's Chess Dao reached the Ninth Dan Perfection, but he still Old Wang and never won a single game.

Li Hao had never lost so miserably. In his spare time, he pondered the Painting Dao, but his mind was completely occupied by the game he had lost, and he could not concentrate.

Forcing oneself to comprehend the Painting Dao yields very little result.

The more he lost, the more he wanted to fight again, like an addiction. On the contrary, Old Wang. He won too much. When he Chess with Li Hao, he would have time to water the fields and gather the Great Dao to nourish the Immortal Herb. When he came back after finishing his work, he would see that Li Hao had not yet made a move. He would make tea for himself and rub the dirt between his toes.

After Li Hao spent a long time placing a piece, he quickly followed with another piece, causing the boy's smile to freeze instantly, and he fell into deep thought again.

Seeing the change in the other person's expression, Old Wang found it somewhat amusing. He had never seen a fellow so concerned with the Chess Dao. If it were someone else...

He had long since lost interest in winning, but the boy in front of him had an indomitable spirit that kept him wanting to keep beating him.

Well, although it's cruel, he doesn't like the feeling of losing either.

Two more years passed.

In front of the Dwelling, beside the chessboard, a young boy was intently making his move.

Suddenly, from the Meditation Cushion in the distance, a powerful Spear Intent condensed and erupted abruptly, as if it were about to pierce the sky.

The powerful Spear Intent affected the young man who was lost in thought before the Go Board, causing him to turn his head and glance at it.

"Finally, a third person has mastered the Ten Thousand Battles Immortal Art to Perfection." Old Wang glanced at him, a smile appearing on his lips.