Chapter 504: Origin Divine Tree
"What?"
"You have the Water Dao Origin?"
"Yes, I'm heading to the Five Dao Origin City."
"I'm going to the Form Dao Origin City."
In the mist, Li Hao's short clone was weaving through, searching for prodigies from the various Immortal Dynasties and offering them Nine Sequences' Origins.
Among them, Li Hao had already used his true form to find the royal families from various Immortal Dynasties and sold them the Time and Space Dao Origins.
Now, he only had two sets of Time and Space Dao Origins left. The rest were other Nine Sequences' Origins, which could only be exchanged at the Five Dao Origin City or the Form Dao Origin City.
Although not the Time and Space Origin City, for the prodigies from various dynasties who had been here for four or five months, this was already a sought-after treasure.
Even if they found these Dao Origins themselves, they would rush to use them as soon as possible.
Now, with Li Hao's clone offering them for exchange, it was a golden opportunity they couldn't refuse. All of them were willing to offer their celestial techniques and celestial stones in return.
"What's going on? It seems like the figures on the Heavenly Dao Bridge have suddenly decreased a lot."
"Yes, people have been leaving. I just used my Wind Eye to see that there are passageway lights leading to the Origin Cities deep in the Heavenly Dao Bridge."
"Why have so many people suddenly left? Could they not wait any longer and choose the Chaos Origin City instead?"
Among the four Origin Cities, the other Daos led to the Chaos Origin City, which had the most people. However, for those who could come to the Origin Secret Realm to cultivate, unless they had no other choice, they wouldn't retreat to the Chaos Origin City.
However, the Nine Sequences' Origins were precious. The moment they appeared, top prodigies would fight for them. Most people from the lower-tier Origins would choose the Chaos Origin City, as wasting time here would be futile.
If they could comprehend their Dao to a high level in just seven years, it wouldn't be a bad thing.
Even though the Chaos Origin City was less prestigious, it was still an Origin City where one could study sword Dao, spear Dao, escape Dao, and others.
As more figures left the Heavenly Dao Bridge, Li Hao also received many top-tier sword techniques, celestial stones, rare treasures, and precious celestial pills from his clone.
In the blink of an eye, several months of fishing had brought in a substantial amount of cultivation resources.
Unfortunately, Li Hao had already fished up all the Nine Sequences' Origins on the Heavenly Dao Bridge. His understanding of fishing had reached a bottleneck, and only a breakthrough would allow him to progress further.
If he continued honing his fishing skills here, it might take another four or five years to reach a higher level. But he planned to head to the Origin City first.
"I'll go to the Origin City too."
Li Hao took out a Fire Dao Origin, which was red as magma, struggling in his palm and emitting a powerful Dao aura.
Anyone below the Saint level who stayed near Li Hao for a moment could perceive the true essence of the Fire Dao from the Dao rhythm radiating from the Fire Dao Origin. They would elevate their fire techniques to a higher level.
If they were in the Comprehension Realm, they would grasp the Dao's true meaning and touch the threshold of the Dao instantly.
At this moment, as Li Hao activated the Fire Dao Origin, Dao power was drawn down from the sky, connecting with the Fire Dao Origin in his hand.
Soon, Li Hao felt the pull of that power.
Whoosh!
Li Hao didn't resist and allowed his body to be drawn up by the guiding force.
As the mist around him spun, it gradually cleared, and a majestic red city appeared before him.
This city stood in the starry sky, ancient and towering. From Li Hao's perspective, it seemed as though he was descending from the heavens in an arc, just close enough to see the entire city. As he got closer, the city expanded rapidly, revealing five beams of light soaring into the sky, leading into the unseen depths of the Origin World.
The five beams were golden, emerald green, water blue, crimson red, and dark brown.
As he drew nearer, Li Hao saw clearly that these beams were five dazzling, radiant trees.
Their leaves appeared intricately woven, exquisitely beautiful, emanating the aura of the Dao, and giving off a soothing fragrance.
When the power surrounding him dissipated, Li Hao stood in the city and immediately felt a peculiar sensation, almost like an epiphany.
The Dao aura inside the city was dense, representing the five core Daos of Gold, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth. But these five Daos could form the Three Thousand Daos, as Fire Dao also contained sub-Daos like Flame Dao and Lava Dao.
Li Hao had a strange feeling. Looking up, the closest to him was a deep blue light, which was the Water Dao Origin Divine Tree.
The leaves of this tree fluttered like butterfly wings, resonating with the unique fluctuations of the Water Dao. The tree's trunk seemed to carry the essence of the Water Dao's true meaning, quite different from the patterns on the Crimson Fire Dao Origin Divine Tree.
"To cultivate here, enlightenment might be as common as a daily occurrence."
Li Hao thought to himself.
Such a dense Dao aura meant that even those of average talent could likely reach a foundational level in their Dao comprehension.
Li Hao didn't start cultivating immediately but instead began observing the surroundings of the city.
This Origin City was vast and empty, with no buildings inside, just an endless plaza. Occasionally, there were towering structures resembling altars, but their purpose was unclear.
Here, Li Hao saw some figures whom he had previously sold the Nine Sequences' Origins to, sitting beneath the Origin Divine Trees, meditating.
Under the deep blue Water Dao Origin Divine Tree, Li Hao saw a familiar figure dressed in snow-white clothes, sitting on a raised tree root at the closest point to the tree. It was Bo Ya Xuejian, who had arrived earlier.
At this moment, Bo Ya Xuejian had her eyes closed, with streams of water flowing around her. The water occasionally turned into ice, sharp and cold, and at other times softened into flowing water, carrying sword intent.
Li Hao's eyes flickered. She seemed to be merging swordsmanship with the Water Dao.
Although he didn't fully focus on it, Li Hao had a sharp sense of the profoundness she was trying to achieve. She was attempting a very powerful cultivation method.
A true prodigy from the True Realm, a rising star in the Immortal Dynasties, not to be underestimated.
Li Hao's expression became more serious. He scanned the others and was surprised to find more than ten people here. Of these, only four or five were people he had previously sold Dao Origins to.
The rest were unfamiliar faces with incredibly terrifying auras. They were all in the Immortal Monarch realm, deep and concealed.
As Li Hao observed, one of them, seemingly with a shallower understanding, suddenly opened his eyes and looked toward Li Hao. His eyes emitted a cold light.
His gaze was like two ice arrows, shooting toward Li Hao, freezing time and space.
Li Hao met his gaze for a moment before turning his head. In his heart, he felt a strong sense of pressure. The person's cultivation was at least the fifth level of the Immortal Monarch realm, giving Li Hao a strong feeling of oppression.
"There are still people here, not the South Domain War prodigies. They are likely people who have made significant contributions in their Immortal Dynasties, or powerful cultivators fostered by their Immortal Dynasties..."
Li Hao thought to himself and glanced around before leaving the area.
The person, seeing Li Hao walk away, furrowed his brow. A True Immortal at the Ninth Level, how did he get in here?
However, thinking about the South Domain War, where many prodigies would be arriving, he soon deduced the reason for Li Hao's presence. He closed his eyes again and continued meditating.
Li Hao walked through the Origin City. The five Origin Divine Trees stood at the four corners of the city. The Gold Dao Origin Divine Tree stood in the center, but it was relatively small and less radiant compared to the other four.
When Li Hao reached the Fire Dao Origin Divine Tree, he saw Chi Yanzi sitting cross-legged on the tree root, cultivating.
"Everyone is so diligent."
After scanning the surroundings, Li Hao noticed that it was completely quiet. No one was speaking. Everyone was focusing on their cultivation.
Li Hao sighed and walked to the edge of the city, eager to see what was outside the city.
There were no guards in the city, and it felt empty.
Li Hao flew up and walked on the top of the city wall. Outside, he saw a lush forest stretching out.
But these trees were not ordinary; they seemed to have the dense aura of Dao materialized into reality, giving off an ethereal and surreal appearance.
Li Hao, as an observer, gazed around, marveling at the beauty of the world beyond the Origin City. In the void, crimson flames occasionally flew by like firebirds, and deep blue water Dao Origin energy coiled like a great whale swimming through the air. He could almost hear the sound of a whale's cry from the depths of the Nine Hells.
"This magnificent city, is this the handiwork of an Immortal Emperor?"
Li Hao murmured to himself as he stood on the wall.
At that moment, like sunlight reflecting off something, a flash of golden light momentarily blinded his eyes.
He turned to look, and the golden light was coming from the lush green forest outside the city, where a beam of golden light was occasionally shining.
Li Hao, somewhat surprised, flew towards the source of the golden light.
As he got closer, he saw that it was a golden tree, similar to the Gold Dao Origin Divine Tree in the city.
However, it was much smaller and didn't emit the Dao aura.
Li Hao looked around and saw a small cottage next to the golden tree, with a stream of water flowing nearby. A figure was sitting there, fishing.
"Youth, why are you here instead of meditating in the city?"
As Li Hao approached, the figure spoke in a calm, aged voice.
"Your fishing method is incorrect."
Li Hao glanced at the fishing rod the figure was holding and couldn't help but comment.
"Hmm?"
The figure seemed slightly surprised by the response, but he wasn't bothered. He calmly said, "It's just a pastime."
With that, he pulled up the rod and turned to look at Li Hao.
It was an old and peaceful face with golden eyebrows hanging down on both sides of his cheeks, giving him a benevolent and kind appearance.
Li Hao looked at the stream, silently thinking it was a pity. If the old man had persisted a little longer, the fish would have been hooked.
"You also know how to fish?" The old man looked at Li Hao with some interest. Those who came here would usually be focused on comprehending the Dao in the Origin City. They wouldn't waste their time wandering around. Even those who did would just take a quick glance before heading back to the city. But here was a youth, standing on the edge, lost in thought.
"Yes."
Li Hao nodded. Looking at the old man's fishing method, it was clearly awkward. He probably only had a level six or seven proficiency.
He secretly shook his head and didn't discuss fishing techniques with the old man. After all, the gap was too great. If they actually started talking about it, it would be more of a teaching moment, and that would be somewhat showing off.
Fishing itself was a joy; if you were serious about learning, you might lose that joy. Sometimes, even if you wanted to teach, it also depended on whether the other person was willing to learn.
"Senior, I see no one in the city. You must not be here to meditate, are you the city lord here?" Li Hao asked curiously, slightly bowing.
"City lord?"
The old man chuckled softly. "There is no city lord in the Origin City. This city was built by the Five Absolutes Immortal Emperor. He left his disciples here to guard it. However, during the Emperor's Fall War a hundred thousand years ago, all the manpower was called away, and from then on, the Origin City became an empty city."
Li Hao's eyes flickered as he sensed the impact of that battle from a hundred thousand years ago. Though a hundred thousand years seemed long, it didn't feel so distant. The scars and glory of the past could still be seen today.
"So, senior, who are you?"
"I'm just an idle person here," the old man said indifferently, seemingly not wanting to reveal too much about himself. He glanced at Li Hao. "Why aren't you meditating in the city? What brings you to this remote place?"
"Comprehending the Dao and cultivation isn't urgent. A moment here won't make a difference," Li Hao replied.
"You sure are a slow one," the old man raised his brow slightly, scanning Li Hao. "I noticed traces of Space Dao Origin in your movement techniques. Why aren't you going to the Time and Space Origin City, but instead coming here?"
Li Hao was somewhat surprised. Without realizing it, his movement techniques had unconsciously drawn upon the Space Dao Origin. He hadn't expected the old man to notice such subtle traces.
"Senior, don't you wish to meditate?" Li Hao asked.
"Me? Meditate?" The old man laughed when he heard Li Hao's question. "Like you, I'm not in a rush."
Li Hao was somewhat speechless, but his gaze shifted to the golden tree nearby. His eyes suddenly lit up.
"An excellent natural carving material!"
Li Hao's eyes shone brightly. The base of the golden tree had intricate Dao patterns. If he could carve it, he couldn't even imagine how exceptional the result would be.
Such carving material was as precious as the earthworm in a fisherman's eye or the white silk in a recluse's dream.
He walked over to the tree and touched a protruding root, feeling a sense of attachment.
"Hmm."
The old man's eyes narrowed slightly at Li Hao's action but didn't say anything.
"Senior, did you plant this tree?" Li Hao turned and asked.
The old man nodded, "What about it?"
"Well... may I take a portion of its root? I can nourish it with celestial energy and help it recover," Li Hao quickly added.
The old man's gaze flickered for a moment, but he quickly returned to his usual calm. "It's just a tree. What use do you have for its root?"
"I have some skill in carving and would like to use it for that," Li Hao replied.
The old man's expression changed slightly but quickly returned to normal. "It's a small matter. You may take a piece."
"Thank you, Senior!"
Li Hao's face lit up, and he quickly expressed his gratitude.
He then took out his Taowu and cut off a segment of the golden tree root.
"This smells like the Origin Divine Tree!"
The Taowu's soul exclaimed in Li Hao's mind.
Li Hao was shocked. "Did you see wrong? The Origin Divine Tree?"
"It... seems not, perhaps I made a mistake," the Taowu's soul hesitated. "If this were an Origin Divine Tree, it should emanate the Dao's origin, but this tree doesn't. Strange."
Li Hao, still holding the severed root, walked toward the small cottage nearby. He found a place to sit.
Then, with his fingers together, he gathered sword intent and examined the piece of root, feeling it was perfect.
The old man silently observed the young man's actions, his eyes revealing a glimmer of light, though he kept his thoughts to himself.
Just as Li Hao was about to make a move, suddenly, a powerful light shook the city. The five Origin Divine Trees' connecting beams of light began to glow brightly, releasing immense Dao power and spiritual energy.
Li Hao couldn't help but look, a sense of wonder rising within him.
"What's that?"
"The spiritual explosion of the Origin Divine Tree."
The old man glanced at the scene calmly. "It happens once every year. It's not unusual. During this spiritual explosion, if one's Dao comprehension is deep enough, they can gain the recognition of the Origin Divine Tree and cultivate on the tree."
"On the tree?" Li Hao was stunned, recalling how some had meditated at the roots of the Origin Divine Trees, while others meditated outside the trees.
The Dao aura of the Origin Divine Trees was so dense... Why hadn't anyone been cultivating on the trees? Li Hao suddenly realized.
"If you wish to, you can take this opportunity to display your Dao comprehension in front of the Origin Divine Tree. You might get its approval and be allowed to cultivate on the trunk."
The old man said indifferently.
"How many levels of Dao comprehension does one need to reach for this chance?" Li Hao asked curiously, remembering that Bo Ya Xuejian was only sitting at the root.
"Above the third level, but it also depends on the performance of others around you."
The old man replied.