The Name of Eternals

Chapter 236: The Saint's Mark

"Child, now that you've become the Dao Seed, the Ji family will spare no resources in cultivating you, offering treasures you've never seen before," Ji Daoxin said softly and warmly as he floated beside Li Hao. "There are also the sacred teachings left by our ancestors to help you refine your Dao heart, allowing you to smoothly and easily step into the Fourfold Realm."

"Our family's many absolute techniques and martial arts are available for your study, helping you to gather the essence of martial arts and develop your unique skills."

"And the Great Peace Dao Realm will also be of great assistance to you..."

The ancient holy clan's foundation is extremely strong, providing auxiliary effects for all realms of the Fourfold Realm.

Other clans can at best rely on countless divine medicines and demon blood to elevate their juniors to the Fifteen Li Realm, which is their limit.

The Heaven and Man Realm must be broken through by oneself, the Three Immortal Realms require personal enlightenment, and the Fourfold Realm even more so, with the Dao heart being a difficult threshold to cross.

Hearing Ji Daoxin's words, everyone looked at Li Hao, their eyes glowing with excitement.

Indeed, with these precious top-tier resources from the Ji family, any prodigy would be envious.

As long as one's comprehension is sufficient and talent is not lacking, with the Ji family's full support, most could step into the Great Peace Dao Realm!

And stepping into the Dao Realm means becoming a top-tier expert in the vast wilderness. Unless the war gods of various holy clans emerge, one would have no match and would be hard to kill!

With stable progress and opportunities, becoming a war god is also highly possible.

After all, the goal of cultivating a Dao Seed is to foster a new war god!

As for striving for the Saint Realm, that purely depends on one's luck.

"Thank you, senior," Li Hao said, slightly bowing his head to the head of the Ji family, then added, "I only want to help my mother atone for her sins. These resources should be left for other prodigies."

Ji Daoxin was stunned, and the onlookers were also bewildered, looking at the boy with disbelief.

The head of the family had made things so clear, yet this boy still wanted to refuse? This is an opportunity many dream of, one that even the Ji family's prodigies fight for.

Now that the opportunity is in the boy's grasp, he chooses to let go?

Ji Xuanshen, sitting at the edge of the arena, stared blankly at the boy. The boy had fought to the brink of death, all just to help his mother atone?

He disregarded the Dao Seed, the Ji family's countless precious cultivation resources?

Other prodigies were also dumbfounded, not expecting the boy to be so determined.

Especially those who had previously ridiculed the boy for shamelessly trying to join the Ji family, they were now speechless.

He was willing to give up the highest position of the Dao Seed that he had already secured, let alone joining the Ji family.

"Is it because of their previous words? You're still young; don't act impulsively," Ji Yunqing said quickly, hoping to keep Li Hao.

Many who heard this felt a jolt in their hearts, worried about being held accountable by the family.

But Li Hao shook his head and said, "I'm not being impulsive. Elder Yun Ge told me that if I could become the strongest prodigy in the Ji family, I could atone for my mother's sins. That is my purpose for coming here."

Hearing the boy's calm words, everyone understood. From the beginning, this boy had no intention of staying in the Ji family.

It was solely to atone for his mother that he fought to the brink of death, defeating all the prodigies.

Ji Xuanshen's eyes were complex, his heart bitter, but soon he felt a difficult-to-describe emotion. His eyes glowed as he gazed deeply at the boy.

He seemed to understand what true pride was.

This boy didn't care about resources, just as he said, he would refine his own sacred bone if he didn't have one!

Compared to him, the Ji family prodigies were just proud geniuses.

Ji Daoxin also realized that he might not be able to keep this boy. The boy had the spirit of the few top prodigies the Ji family had produced over the millennia.

Truly fearless, with an unyielding spirit and pride that wouldn't bend!

If only someone like him had been born into the Ji family...

Ji Daoxin sighed inwardly, glanced at Ji Tianchao and the others, and gave them a look, transmitting a message: "It seems we can only wait for Qingqing to return and persuade him. You must prepare Qingqing well, and make sure she keeps her son."

"Her son risked his life to come here, so he must have deep feelings for her. He should listen to her."

Hearing Ji Daoxin's plan to use Qingqing to persuade Li Hao, Ji Yunyu and the others understood. They also thought the same.

If they couldn't persuade him, Qingqing should.

They didn't want such a good grandson to leave.

"Additionally, I will immediately send someone to the outside wilderness, to the Dayu Divine Dynasty, to investigate his situation, and clear his mother's other crimes considering his current status."

Ji Daoxin transmitted.

He believed that the family elders, especially the older generation, would agree with his decision.

Despite internal conflicts between legitimate and illegitimate branches, and various factions, the Ji family at least united against external threats and treated prodigies equally! Compared to some thoroughly corrupt clans, the Ji family's laws and rules were relatively intact.

Ji Yunyu and the others nodded slightly. Thinking of Li Hao's change of surname, they were curious. The boy had come to the vast wilderness alone, where was his father? What about his father's family? Could it be that Qingqing married a useless man who couldn't enter the vast wilderness? As they finished transmitting, Ji Tianchao looked at Li Hao and suddenly asked, "How many extreme realms have you opened?"

Everyone was stunned, looking at Ji Tianchao in confusion, but then they realized and turned to the boy.

If not for Ji Xuanshen using the sacred bone, they might not have seen the boy's Heavenly Law Aspect. The boy was hiding his strength until the last moment. They suspected he might have more cards up his sleeve.

Though this seemed unlikely, it was a bit exaggerated...

Li Hao looked at the elder who had stood up for him earlier, a bit surprised by the question. It was a personal and private matter.

But seeing the hopeful look in the elder's eyes, not just curiosity, he thought for a moment and transmitted, "Four."

Despite expecting it, Ji Tianchao's heart still shook, knowing Li Hao didn't lie.

He had suspected it before, seeing the boy possibly having more than the three shown, including the Land Celestial Realm!

Seeing no response from Li Hao but Ji Tianchao's sudden excitement, everyone realized they were transmitting.

Ji Tianchao took a deep breath, smiled at Li Hao, and said, "Don't worry, no one in the Ji family can harm you unless they step over my dead body!"

His words were firm.

Based on Li Hao bringing back the Third Brother alone, he would protect this grandson, not to mention the boy's extraordinary talent.

The others quickly transmitted questions to Ji Tianchao, but he didn't respond, only saying to Li Hao, "Our family has the Ultimate Dao Monument. You should try it. I've heard that if you ignite four Ultimate Dao Monuments, you'll receive a Saint's inheritance!"

Ji Yunyu and the others were shocked, understanding the implication.

Ji Qingyuan outside the arena also changed his expression, staring at the boy.

"A Saint's inheritance?"

Li Hao asked, puzzled.

Ji Tianchao nodded slightly, his voice tinged with excitement, "Yes, child, you must try it. It's a great benefit!"

Seeing his earnestness, Li Hao thought for a moment and asked, "Will it affect my leaving the Ji family?"

"..."

Ji Tianchao hesitated. Did this child really want to leave the Ji family so much? He remembered the Third Brother's words, who could pass the Dead River because he was free and unbound.

He sighed inwardly. Fortunately, the Dead River was created by the Third Brother's obsession, and there shouldn't be another one. Leaving a connection wouldn't hurt.

Moreover, when Qingqing returned, the child might change his mind.

Ji Tianchao said, "It won't affect much."

"Yes, you should try it," Ji Daoxin quickly added.

Seeing their agreement, Li Hao nodded.

Their conversation spread, and everyone heard that the boy was going to test the Ultimate Dao Monument, surprising them.

Ji Daoxin didn't waste time, leading Li Hao away. The Ultimate Dao Monument was not far from Tiandao Mountain, on a steep slope like a half-bridge, with eight ancient black stone monuments standing.

"This is the Ultimate Dao Monument. You need to demonstrate your extreme states for each realm and attack the monument. The Dao Rhyme on it will detect and measure."

Ji Daoxin explained gently.

Li Hao nodded after looking.

"From low to high, they represent the eight realms, from Tongli to the Fourfold Realm!"

Ji Daoxin added.

Li Hao's heart stirred. The Fourfold Realm also had an extreme state? He wondered what it would be like, but he hadn't yet reached the Fourfold Realm.

Although the Merit Treasury had Dao hearts for exchange, Li Hao found them extremely expensive and only had two grades: Yellow and Black.

Yellow Dao hearts cost 20,000 merits, and Black ones 50,000.

Yes, from the Dao heart descriptions, Li Hao learned that Dao hearts also had grades. In the Day

u Divine Dynasty, becoming Fourfold Realm was rare, so they didn't compare grades, only strength.

Dao hearts, like soul aspects, mostly fell into the Yellow grade, with a few being Black, like pursuing immortality or eternal fame, extremely lofty Dao hearts, which made one powerful in the Dao heart realm.

More common Dao hearts included family legacy, righteousness, etc.

Li Hao found no suitable Dao heart and chose not to exchange.

After all, exchanging might change his state of mind. Li Hao wasn't sure if he would remain himself after being altered by external forces.

So, he decided to rely on himself to refine his Dao heart.

The Merit Treasury offered many items, but Li Hao found that truly top-tier items were scarce.

For example, extreme realm cultivation: Divine Power could be exchanged, Heavenly Meridian too, but at a higher cost.

Land Celestial Realm couldn't be exchanged.

Nor could the Three Immortal Extreme Realms.

Therefore, relying on the Merit Treasury could elevate one to a prodigy but rarely to a top-tier prodigy. Self-comprehension seemed to be the key.

In other words, the Merit Treasury was a concentrated resource pool.

Li Hao refocused and approached the Ultimate Dao Monument.

Those gathered outside Tiandao Mountain heard about the test and rushed over, including Ji Xuanshen and many prodigies.

Having seen Li Hao's mastery of three extreme realms, they were here to verify through the monument.

Li Hao didn't delay, quickly shifting to his extreme states for the test.

Divine Power, Heavenly Meridian, Heavenly Law Aspect!

Three extreme realms quickly manifested, and Li Hao attacked three monuments in succession, igniting black flames on them.

Seeing the burning monuments, although aware of Li Hao's three extreme realms, the onlookers' faces still changed slightly.

Skipping the fourth and fifth monuments, Li Hao's Yu Dao stayed at six segments without new arts or techniques, preventing a rise to seven segments. Yu Dao significantly impacted the Divine Travel and Fifteen Li Realms, so he hadn't yet touched their extremes.

Even if he reached seven segments, he needed top-tier refining and control arts for the peak.

Li Hao stood before the sixth monument.

"He has a fourth?"

Ji Xuanshen's pupils contracted.

Skipping the fourth and fifth monuments showed he knew his extreme realms well.

Other prodigies noticed too, their faces changing.

Li Hao didn't hesitate, exhaling immortal breath and punching the monument.

Soon, the monument's Dao Rhyme detected the immortal breath, igniting black flames!

Seeing Li Hao ignite the fourth monument, Ji Tianchao's eyes gleamed, his fists clenched in excitement.

Those who rushed over were stunned, watching the scene with shock.

As Ji family members, they knew the Ultimate Dao Monument well. Igniting one monument marked a prodigy, two was rare, only achieved by Ji Xuanshen.

Now, this boy had ignited four!

The black flames seemed to dance in their eyes, reflecting incredulous faces.

Then, the flames on the four monuments surged, intertwining and rising. The black monuments vibrated slightly, each showing a silver ancient character.

The characters, Dao Rhyme manifest, rotated and expanded, then shot skyward, forming four silver pillars.

The pillars pierced the clouds, connecting and sketching an ancient symbol before flashing and vanishing into the void.

Ji Daoxin, Ji Tianchao, and a few elders widened their eyes, watching the void with anticipation and excitement.

The distant crowd was confused and stunned.

Soon, a silver holy light shot from the void like a beam from thousands of miles away, enveloping Li Hao.

The ancient saintly aura spread, akin to the ethereal yet vast aura when Ji Xuanshen activated the sacred bone.

A single strand seemed capable of breaking mountains and rivers!

"That's... a saint's aura!"

"A saint is descending?"

Ji family members widened their eyes, incredulous.

Ji Xuanshen was stunned too, never having seen this before.

Enveloped in holy light, Li Hao felt like he was soaking in a hot spring, extremely comfortable. Then, he heard a faint voice:

"I await your arrival."

The voice turned into thoughts he could understand, settling in his mind.

When Li Hao looked again, the light faded, and the world returned to normal.

But a silver mark appeared on his forehead, quietly sinking in.

As the mark settled, Li Hao's mind filled with scenes of a towering figure, seemingly seated in a divine world, surrounded by glowing mist and light.

The figure exuded boundless Dao power, embraced by the Dao of heaven and earth.

A mere glance compelled reverence.

That was... a saint!

In the Dayu Divine Dynasty, saints were the ultimate goal pursued by countless martial artists!

Saints had long become legends in the dynasty, only the real person at Qiandao Palace remained, guarding the realm.

Now, Li Hao saw a living saint who granted him a disciple's mark.

The mark also contained a path to the saint.

Activating the mark would lead him to the saint, to become his disciple and hear his teachings!

Additionally, the mark held a trace of the saint's power, likely indestructible even by a Dao-Seeking realm, a life-saving gift.

Li Hao's eyes flickered, feeling the mark settle in his mind. Activating it would let him see the saint, a great temptation.

But Li Hao had no intention of activating it now; he had too many unfinished tasks.

The saint seemed aware of his entanglements, hence saying, "I await your arrival."