Characters of Divine Power

The power of flame blazed across the heavens and earth. Black Panther continually devoured it, bursting with fire as well. At this moment, Li Hao was also bathed entirely in flames. A fierce tiger roared through heaven and earth, its call resounding across mountain and forest. The tiger seemed ready to burst forth from its cage. Yet if it truly broke free, it would become rootless duckweed, destined sooner or later to dissipate between heaven and earth. The bridge of his five viscera severed. The energies of wind and thunder, as well as the power of fire, were all eroding his five viscera. Li Hao felt as though he were about to be incinerated! Right then, a breach split open in his heart lock. A massive surge of fire energy gushed out. His physical body seemed slightly inadequate to support three disciplines of divine power. It wasn't that Li Hao refused to snap more supernatural locks—he simply couldn't endure the strain. His heart was burning! This was precisely the danger of stepping into the Divine Power Realm through supernatural viscera: the conflicting elemental energies could easily destroy the five internal organs. Li Hao coughed up mouthful after mouthful of blood. A look of agony flickered in his eyes, yet his expression remained incomparably calm. Blood coalesced in midair as the Five Animals Breathing Technique circulated. Letting things take their natural course, Li Hao channeled the fire energy into the blood, outlining a character... His special fondness for characters stemmed partly from imitating the supreme arts of Star Town City, and partly from his lament over the present world. Education was lacking, culture was fractured, and from top to bottom, everyone disregarded the inheritance of civilization. People cared only for the martial path and supernatural power. To cultivate martial arts was to cultivate the mind. To read ten thousand scrolls, walk ten thousand li, and temper an immense heart—yet today, whether martial masters or supernaturals, those who cultivated the mind were exceedingly rare. In the end, it came down to reading too little. Perhaps when all martial techniques took the form of characters, and all supernatural secret arts took the form of characters... only then would everyone understand that without reading, whether in the supernatural or the martial path, one could never reach the pinnacle. Divine intent, vital blood, and fire energy continually poured into that character. Nearby, Black Panther turned golden—a sign that its bloodline had been triggered. It ravenously devoured the surging energy from all around, preventing Li Hao's power from leaking out and stopping outside energy from intruding to disturb Li Hao's cultivation. With Black Panther present, Li Hao was spared an immense amount of trouble. A written character gradually began to take shape. Li Hao watched in silence. It did not seem to be the character for "tiger." At this moment, it was turning into the character "Fire." Gradually, the character "Fire" emerged. The power of flame! Yet it remained dim, like a lifeless object. Right at that moment, the fierce tiger roared, bathed in fire, and stepped out from Li Hao's heart stride by stride. "Roar!" The tiger's roar could no longer be contained! At this instant, the fierce tiger roared with absolute resolve. The moment it stepped out of the heart, there would be no turning back. Either it would merge into the character to become its soul, or... it would dissipate into smoke, never to regain the form of tiger momentum. This was also Li Hao's intent. Success was best, but if it failed, his visceral force and tiger momentum would be wiped out entirely. Li Hao closed his eyes. In this instant, he wavered, hesitated, and felt anxious... It was only human nature. The next moment, he opened his eyes, a glint of determination in his gaze. Having already come this far, why mourn? A tiger lived within my heart, yet now it is confined within a cage. A caged tiger's momentum is not what I pursue. If my heart does not align with it, what good is keeping the tiger? "Go!" Li Hao spoke, unsure whether he was addressing the tiger or himself. Go! Even if an abyss of ten thousand fathoms lies ahead, now that we have reached this step, we walk it together. Without looking back, the fierce tiger took a stride toward the large character floating in midair. The character shuddered, as if on the verge of shattering. Without a word, Li Hao let the nearly broken heart lock instantly extend out from his heart, linking directly with the character. A massive surge of flame energy began pouring into the written character. Replacing the supernatural lock with a character. Fusing it with force! This move seemed to merely transform the supernatural lock into a character without much practical use. In truth, it infused vital blood, spirit, and even life itself, fully assimilating the supernatural power within the supernatural lock into a part of his physical body. Moreover, once successful, it could be wielded at will from then on. The two could not be spoken of in the same breath. Since ancient humans possessed no supernatural locks, only the Gates of the Triple Burner, Li Hao felt that modern people did not necessarily require supernatural locks either. They merely needed a vessel to hold this overflowing energy. Whether a character or a supernatural lock, so long as it served that purpose, it was enough. ... Heavenly Star City. Countless people heard the tiger's roar, and everyone turned their gaze toward the north. One powerhouse after another furrowed their brows. What kind of trouble was Li Hao stirring up now? "Is he breaking into a third discipline?" Someone muttered and snorted coldly. It was very likely. Previously, Li Hao had broken only the locks of wind and thunder; his visceral locks remained intact. Today, he was probably breaking into a third discipline. The tiger momentum seemed to be withering away—did Li Hao want to step into three disciplines of divine power to suppress the contemporary era? In an instant, figure after figure materialized above the Nine Departments. Within the blink of an eye, they tore through the air, heading north. Above the Night Patrol, a figure appeared, spear in hand, his aura towering. Hou Xiaochen remained expressionless and thoroughly composed. "May I ask the directors to return to their Nine Departments!" Someone sneered, "Hou Xiaochen, do you think Li Hao can suppress the world just by breaking into three disciplines?" Hou Xiaochen was calm as still water. "I think no such thing. What of three disciplines of divine power? In today's world, there are countless extraordinary talents. Let alone three disciplines, even with four or five disciplines, who dares claim they can suppress the world? But... since that is so, why must you all head north?" "Li Hao has only just entered the Divine Power Realm. Rashly stepping into three disciplines will shatter his physical body and incinerate his five viscera completely. It is a path to death. We are merely going to offer a word of counsel!" "No need to trouble yourselves!" At this moment, Yao Si tore through the air from within the Night Patrol, the slight old man's expression grim. "You want another fight? Taking pride in obstructing another's breakthrough—now that is the true shame of the supernatural domain. If you are unconvinced, you may break into three disciplines of divine power yourselves!" Within the Night Patrol, Dao Sword leisurely rose into the sky. He said nothing, merely smiling and nodding in greeting to the gathered powerhouses. Not far away, the Inspector General of the Inspectorate broke through the air, brow slightly furrowed, and said mildly, "Be it three disciplines or two, it changes nothing. The Divine Power Realm has a broad span; two disciplines is divine power, and five disciplines is still divine power. It is merely taking one step within the Divine Power Realm, not crossing into another level. Everyone, please calm yourselves." The gap between Transformation and Divine Power was immense. Yet the gap between two disciplines of divine power and three was not nearly as vast. This was merely advancing a step within the Divine Power level, not leaping across to a different plane. Floating in the air, the powerhouses fell into silence. A moment later, from the direction of the imperial palace, a young man clad in yellow robes broke through the air with a smile. "Senior directors, what brings you all up here to enjoy the scenery today?" "First Prince!" Several people nodded slightly in greeting. The newcomer was not the Ninth Prince, but the First Prince. Though nearly fifty years old, he appeared exceedingly youthful, his smile brilliant. Compared to the Ninth Prince, he carried far more maturity and poise. Smiling, he looked around at everyone and then toward the north, where the tiger's roar shook heaven and earth, sounding as if it were driven to the brink of death. A glint of gold surfaced in his eyes, quickly subsiding into calm, and he smiled once more. "The Marquis of Heavenly Star appears to be cultivating. When cultivating, disturbance is what one fears most. Why don't you all head over to Nine Dragons Pavilion for some tea and conversation? My treat today—please do me the honor, seniors!" Was Li Hao about to step into three disciplines of divine power? That was certainly fast! Surprising though it might be, it was not entirely unexpected. After all, he had already reached divine power and stabilized his realm; his ability to kill Hu Xiao proved that his flesh, bones, and viscera were exceptionally sturdy. That being the case, breaking into three disciplines seemed only natural. Furthermore, his visceral force had not been broken. Seeing that no one moved, he added with deep meaning, "The Marquis of Heavenly Star has broken a visceral lock... completely severing all hope of returning to being a martial master. For everyone to disturb him at this moment would be exceedingly unwise!" As soon as these words fell, several hearts stirred. Previously, when Li Hao sealed away his visceral force, there was still hope of returning to the path of a martial master. Yet now, Li Hao had chosen to break a visceral lock. This meant that madman Li Hao had utterly abandoned any hope of remaining a martial master. To gain greater power and suppress the four quarters, he had severed his martial path. Was this a gain or a loss? For a moment, several powerhouses found it hard to judge, but they knew one thing: if they did not stop him now... there would likely never be a Demon Sword Li Hao again! Their thoughts shifting, someone smiled and said, "Then let us follow the First Prince's wishes. Gentlemen, let us sit down at Nine Dragons Pavilion!" A battle that had seemed imminent was dispelled by a few words from the First Prince. Fine! Let Li Hao advance. With this breakthrough, Li Hao would have no hope left of being a martial master. Supernatural power was good, but it had its limits after all. Li Hao had broken his most essential force, extinguishing it, which meant his early advantage would quickly dissolve into nothing. The group instantly began chatting and laughing. Although they still kept an eye on the commotion in the north, they gradually calmed down. It was only three disciplines of divine power! Besides, success was not even guaranteed. And even if he truly succeeded, so what? Gradually, the crowd quieted down and flew toward Nine Dragons Pavilion. Hou Xiaochen was exceptionally calm. He merely stood tall in the sky, gazing north. At this moment, the despair and dejection of that past day were gone, replaced only by a hint of regret. In the end... there was no going back! Li Hao, have you chosen your path forward? Supernatural power is strong at this stage... but what about later? After breaking the visceral locks, and after breaking the head lock, where else can you break? You abandoned your most essential force and chose raw power... Hou Xiaochen closed his eyes. In this moment, he could not tell whether he felt joy or sorrow. Martial masters had reached nearly the limit at his level. Li Hao had no other choice. If he wanted to be strong and deter all quarters, at this moment... this seemed the only way. In the end, wasn't it because we were too weak? We failed to shatter the limits of martial masters. If we too could easily slay top-tier divine powers, why would things come to this? Beside him, Yao Si's expression shifted complexly. He glanced north, then looked at Hou Xiaochen, pondered for a moment, and said slowly, "Supernatural power isn't bad either." "Dao Sword is also supernatural..." Hou Xiaochen opened his eyes and looked at him, completely calm. "There is no mistaken power, only a mistaken heart! I am not dejected by his choice; I merely feel it isn't worth it!" "Not worth it?" Hou Xiaochen said calmly, "Is it worth it? What is he after? What does suppressing the Nine Departments matter? What does suppressing the imperial family matter? He was free to begin with, aiming only for revenge, seeking out Ying Hongyue for vengeance. Why must he offend so many powerhouses, forcing himself to step into divine power and diverge further and further from the martial path?" "Is this his responsibility?" At this moment, Hou Xiaochen said coldly, "I regret it!" He regretted pulling Li Hao into the Night Patrol, regretted wanting him to shoulder such a burden. Something the older generation failed to achieve—why should the younger generation be forced to bear it? Was the Silver Moon martial arts world devoid of people? In this day and age, is there only one person capable of breaking supernatural locks? Far from it! Why was it... that only Li Hao, only Hong Yitang and a few others, chose to break them? He looked toward those Nine Departments powerhouses in the distance and suddenly sneered, "If they dare bare their fangs and claws again, watch me slay a few of them today so they learn what pain is!" His voice was not quiet, carrying straight forward. Someone turned back, and Hou Xiaochen glared icily. "Take another look and see what happens!" At these words, several people were shaken. Hou Xiaochen... what did he mean? Hou Xiaochen right now was like a powder keg on the verge of exploding. Fire energy faintly surfaced across his body. In this moment, an irrepressible urge surged within him to break his supernatural locks and slay a top-tier divine power! The faces of several directors changed slightly. Hou Xiaochen... showed signs of breaking his locks! Were these Silver Moon martial masters all insane? Hou Xiaochen closed his eyes, gripping his spear without moving, standing tall in the void. In this instant, he thought of many, many things! Decades of rising and falling, decades of endurance. In the end, it had not earned respect or peace. The Silver Moon people had remained silent for too long. Now, the younger generation's Li Hao had advanced into supernatural power, while he himself remained hesitant and timid... Too many thoughts assaulted Hou Xiaochen. The bureaucracy, the balance of power, politics... Lying low time and time again would probably only yield an outcome like the Plain King's—slain on the spot without even a chance to unseal himself. Such was the end of top martial masters. Beside him, Yao Si's expression shifted. In the distance, the Nine Departments powerhouses were also slightly shaken. At this moment, their earlier arrogance vanished completely. ... On the Inspector General's side, the voice of the former inspector reached his ear: "Stay far back. Back then, Hou Xiaochen held the title of Bedridden Ghost. 'Bedridden' was not the key; the key was that he was as ruthless and sinister as a ghost. Today, Li Hao is breaking into three disciplines of divine power, and Hou Xiaochen probably finds it unbearable... Be careful not to get caught in his rampage!" The Inspector General swiftly descended to the ground. He could tell that Hou Xiaochen showed signs of going mad. Once this man broke his supernatural locks, he would instantly become an exceedingly formidable top-tier divine power—at the very least a top-tier two-discipline, or even three-discipline. If he truly went wild, four disciplines were possible. As for whether his physical body could withstand it, the Bedridden Ghost had been sick for years without dying. Who could guarantee he wouldn't hold up? In the distance, the Nine Departments powerhouses were also visibly shaken. Their chatting and laughing vanished, and all went quiet. Did they really want to force this man to turn supernatural? Inside the city, there was still Li Hao, the Earth-Overturning Sword, and Yao Si... If things truly reached that point, it would be another bloody battle. All sides fell completely silent, the laughter gone. Hou Xiaochen watched them without speaking. Right now, he did not know what he truly thought. He only knew... he had the urge to kill, yet he still harbored reservations. He knew this did not align with a martial master's true heart, that it shouldn't be like this. Yet... there were still responsibilities he could not cast aside. Hou Xiaochen suppressed the fury in his heart, regained his calm, and said no more. Beside him, Yao Si and Dao Sword both glanced at him several times. Hou Xiaochen right now was a powder keg not to be provoked. Saying nothing, they landed one after another. Since the Nine Departments did not wish to trigger a bloodbath today, they most likely would take no further action. ... In the northern city, within the back courtyard. Surging waves of towering fire momentum merged into the character, and Li Hao seemed nearly unable to bear the searing heat. With his sturdy five viscera, only now did he realize how strong a physical body was needed to break a seventh supernatural lock. He could barely sustain it, and was fortunate not to have recklessly broken the light and dark supernatural locks. Otherwise, breaking eight supernatural locks would likely have collapsed his physical frame. Of course, with enough Spring of Life, he might have been fine, but the expenditure would have been astronomical. The character "Fire" before him was rapidly taking shape. The fierce tiger merged into it step by step, mingled with a touch of anticipation, not merely despair as others imagined. Awaiting rebirth! Awaiting rebirth through fire! Boom! At this moment, the character trembled violently, as if unable to sustain itself. Li Hao's expression shifted slightly. Could it not be stabilized? What was missing? What was lacking?! Could even force fail to control the character? Right now, the supernatural lock was only half-merged, yet it was already struggling to stabilize. If it fully merged, wouldn't it shatter completely? Extinguishing all hope for the tiger momentum? Li Hao sank into contemplation. After a moment, he exhaled. Perhaps... he still wasn't ruthless enough, had not merged enough of himself. "Ha!" With a low shout, copious blood gushed forth. Li Hao visibly thinned by a substantial degree as his vital blood poured in entirely, his divine intent merging within as well. Sure enough, the character stabilized once more. Because he had not sacrificed enough before! Drops of the Spring of Life shattered one after another, repairing his five viscera, while sword energy swiftly merged into his body, replenishing vital blood and spirit. The Five Animals Breathing Technique circulated continuously, enveloping the character, seeking to fuse everything together. Inside his body, the attributes of wind and thunder exploded, hammering Li Hao. At this moment, Li Hao felt as though targeted by everyone, rejected by heaven and earth. The power of flame could no longer be concealed. Wind and thunder burst open! Black Panther could no longer absorb it all, panting heavily, its eyes full of dejection. It was simply too much! Right then, boundless energy poured in from all directions, as if an immense tide of energy wanted to bore into Li Hao's character. Thunder boomed in the clear sky! Rumble! Gales roared! The character "Fire" before Li Hao seemed eager to battle all quarters and incinerate heaven and earth. Trembling slightly, a fierce tiger emerged above it, baring its fangs and brandishing its claws, looking up at the sky as if vying for dominance against the heavens themselves. "Still unstable..." Li Hao's brow furrowed. Why? He had even poured in a massive amount of vitality, yet why was it still not stable? Looking at the flames, thunder, and storms gathering in the sky... Rebirth through fire? Or was it like the legends—born through undergoing a tribulation? A tribulation? Li Hao frowned. Was that necessary? He looked at the character "Fire" before him and suddenly said, "Born through a hundred battles, do you wish to go up and shatter the energy blocking you?" Flames surged upward! A tiger's roar seemed to echo out. The next instant, Li Hao smiled. The character now seemed imbued with a touch of spirituality. "Good lad!" "Then... kill!" With a low shout, the character tore through the air, vanishing from the spot. Boom! A thunderous crash resonated through heaven and earth. A mass of flame enveloped everything as a fierce tiger emerged, roaring with mouth agape, swallowing the energy surging from all directions in a single gulp. Flames were devoured by it, thunder was shattered, and the fierce tiger trampled the gale! At this moment, thunder and storms blotted out the sky across all of Heavenly Star City. Outside the courtyard. Hong Yitang looked up at the sky and murmured, "What did you do?" What was that? Tiger momentum? It didn't quite look like it, yet it certainly seemed like tiger momentum. In this moment, he was baffled. Had Li Hao turned supernatural, or transformed back into a martial master? What on earth was that tiger in the sky? ... At the same time. Beneath the imperial palace of Heavenly Star City, underground. A swaying small tree suddenly stretched upward, a faint psychic ripple spreading out: "Heavenly Star King, has an incident occurred outside?" "An incident?" Inside the hall, a crowned middle-aged man looked north and nodded slightly. "To the north, the Marquis of Heavenly Star, Li Hao, is breaking into his third divine power. Right now, flames incinerate the sky and wind and thunder converge. It should be that too much energy has leaked out, and his physical body cannot endure it..." "Is that so?" The faint psychic ripple seemed to want to extend outward, yet it instantly felt the void split open, swallowing everything. The faint psychic force from before was wiped out entirely. The next moment, another faint psychic ripple spread out: "It feels somewhat different... Alas, I cannot investigate..." There was no way. Strictly speaking, it was simply too powerful. Once its psychic force spread out, it would cause the void to shatter and devour everything it had. This was a dilemma many ancient powerhouses faced. Otherwise, at such a close distance, it could have investigated easily. Now, it could only silently sense the faint differences, unable to witness the transformation firsthand. Why... did it look so much like a lightning tribulation? In the Neo-Martial era, there were no lightning tribulations. Late in the Neo-Martial era, the Human King unified the world. Believing that martial artists devouring heaven and earth by absorbing energy without restraint would sooner or later destroy the world, he specially commanded the Cast-God Sovereign to establish lightning tribulations to test all living beings. Yet that was a treatment reserved only for top powerhouses... far beyond what present-day humans could trigger. The Neo-Martial era placed no restrictions on the weak, but added tests for the strong to prevent future powerhouses from devouring too much worldly power without reverence, which would shatter heaven and earth. Yet that was a treatment not even peak experts had enjoyed! The faint psychic force fluctuated continuously. Perhaps... it was merely a misjudgment. Besides, if it truly were a lightning tribulation aimed at a powerhouse, the entirety of Heavenly Star City would have turned to ash in an instant. How could it merely fluctuate in a single spot? It was overthinking. "Provide me with a dossier on this person!" "Very well!" The Heavenly Star King agreed readily. It was a minor matter, yet he hadn't expected Li Hao's breakthrough into three disciplines of divine power to draw the attention of an ancient powerhouse. ... At the same time. Battle Heaven City. The Old Turtle was breathing the worldly energy when the Turtle Pagoda suddenly fluctuated. The Old Turtle raised its head, seemingly seeing through the boundary wall to the outside world, catching a faint glimpse of something. "Guardian?" "It is fine. It is only that... some peculiar change seems to have arisen in the outside world... For some reason, I faintly sense it relates to Battle Heaven City..." The Old Turtle did not know what had occurred, only sensing that a touch of spirituality seemed to have been born between heaven and earth. Of course, perhaps the second supernatural resurgence was about to begin; it could not say for sure. In the distance, the colossal General Huai shifted slightly. Still silent, it too seemed to sense something, appearing to struggle. Director Wang was somewhat puzzled; he had sensed nothing at all. Had the Guardian sensed incorrectly? He didn't quite understand! Battle Heaven City was cut off from the world, and his reach had not yet penetrated its depths. ... At this moment, several top entities within the ruins broke into motion or seemed to sense something. Unfortunately, some were too far away, and those nearby could not investigate, able only to quietly make their own judgments. ... Meanwhile, Li Hao paid no heed to any of that. The fierce tiger formed from the character "Fire" roared across the four quarters, battling wind and thunder, devouring the power of flame. It grew increasingly formidable, its killing intent sharp and cold. Once out of the cage, it roamed unchecked, traversing heaven and earth! Yet the energy gathering from the outside world grew increasingly potent as well. In the end, it even condensed into three-element lightning of wind, thunder, and fire, bombarding the fierce tiger. Heaven and earth were overturned! Hong Yitang's voice called out, "Do you need help?" "No!" Li Hao's face was pale, yet he merely watched the sky. There was no need. The fierce tiger possessed intent, and the character possessed heart. This single character gathered the power of an entire supernatural lock, mingled with the tiger momentum, representing an immense amount. If it were shattered, Li Hao would surely suffer severe injuries. Yet if it stabilized, it would be an ultimate weapon. Rumble! In the sky, the battle between the fierce tiger and the three-element lightning raged on. The character grew increasingly brilliant! Sword momentum condensed. The fierce tiger swung its claws like sharp swords, piercing the firmament! The five forces were originally all sword forces! Now, the sword of the fire tiger rippled through the void. Outside the courtyard, powerhouses swiftly gathered. Deputy Director Zhou frowned, looking at the sky, yet he couldn't see clearly. Li Hao had actually used mirror fragments to seal off the surroundings. Through the hazy silhouettes, only a fierce tiger looking disdainfully upon heaven and earth could be seen. "Has he reverted to a martial master?" Deputy Director Zhou was bewildered as well, looking at Hong Yitang. That was force! Hong Yitang was speechless. He stared at him for a good while before saying, "You're asking me?" How could I possibly know! With both energy and force in play, he was thoroughly confused as well. Who knew what the situation really was? Who knew what kind of trick Li Hao was pulling? All he knew was that the disturbance was immense, and only now did he realize that energy born of heaven and earth could actually possess offensive power—and not just ordinary power, but overwhelmingly potent strength. It seemed to be trying to destroy that fierce tiger! Even as they spoke, a towering flame abruptly scorched heaven and earth, burning straight through the barrier created by the mirror fragments. A wave of flame swept out, and Black Panther instantly turned golden, devouring a large portion of the fire. Hong Yitang's expression changed slightly as well. With a wave of his hand, a streak of lightning exploded, consuming the flame. Yet a mere wisp of flame still crept forward. In an instant, it flared onto his hand. With a flick of his wrist, the flame was extinguished. Yet a burn mark remained on Hong Yitang's arm. He frowned slightly, finding it rather bizarre. That strong? It was not caused solely by mysterious energy; it was mingled with many things, giving the impression of a hodgepodge. He couldn't make heads or tails of it! Deputy Director Zhou stepped back a few paces as well. The flames before him died down, yet seemed to come alive again, instantly leaping forward to pounce at him! "Bizarre!" Deputy Director Zhou raised a hand. A surge of force seemed to suppress heaven and earth, pinning down all the flames. Harboring some doubt, he was just about to examine the fire when it suddenly coalesced into a fierce tiger and exploded with a boom, leaving no trace behind. "Hmm?" Deputy Director Zhou frowned. Hong Yitang's brow furrowed as well. "What kind of power is that?" "Unclear... Could he have merged mysterious energy into his body?" ... The two were outside discussing the matter. Meanwhile, as Li Hao continually channeled his vital blood, his tiger momentum grew steadily stronger! Boom! A claw struck out like a thrusting sword, tearing the lightning apart. The fierce tiger swallowed the lightning in one gulp, battling across all quarters. Li Hao's face grew paler, yet his eyes shone brighter and brighter. The character had stabilized! An entire supernatural lock had been devoured by this single character. Devoured alongside it were his vitality, vital blood, and spirit... It was as if his entire being had been merged into this character. The next instant, Li Hao closed his eyes. In a flash, he felt as though his consciousness possessed the fierce tiger. At this moment, he seemed to be the fierce tiger itself. This character was originally born of his heart's blood, the embodiment of his Dao. This was him! Li Hao sensed his surroundings, and sword intent abruptly erupted—the Lifeless Sword! The fierce tiger swung its claw, just as Li Hao swung his sword. A single sword swept out! Boom! The lightning in the sky shattered, everything reducing to nothingness. In this instant, Li Hao seemed to have become a martial master once more, though he still felt something was slightly lacking. Naturally, he had no leisure to mind that now. The fierce tiger opened its jaws, and countless streams of fire energy surged into its body! The fire energy gathering from outside was instantly devoured by the fierce tiger, and in turn by Li Hao. Within the blink of an eye, the surrounding energy dissipated completely. Only a single character remained, instantly condensing into form. In a flash, a fierce tiger appeared atop the character, turning into an imprint that sank into it. With a thought from Li Hao, the character returned, settling into his heart. At this moment, his heart became tranquil. There was no supernatural lock, no force, nothing at all—only a single character floating quietly within his heart. Li Hao was stunned. Did this... count as success? He didn't know. Yet the character right now was exceedingly quiet, without the slightest disturbance. Did this count as opening a third divine power, or not? Within his heart, faint wisps of blood qi were born, gradually blending with the character. Li Hao had expended too much just now; his face remained pale, and a look of confusion lingered in his eyes. He didn't understand whether he currently counted as a wielder of three disciplines of divine power. "Come out!" Boom! Flames filled the sky, scorching heaven and earth! A character moved with his mind, suppressing the void. With a thunderous boom, a yelp rang out as Black Panther instantly caught fire. Li Hao started, hurriedly retracting the character. The character vanished! Yet Black Panther had been scorched pitch-black, whimpering incessantly until Li Hao channeled a large amount of sword energy into it. Only then did Black Panther look at Li Hao with deep resentment. Li Hao said awkwardly, "I was just testing if it could be used... Apologies, my bad!" The next instant, however, he was ecstatic! It worked! And extraordinarily smoothly at that. The moment the character "Fire" emerged, the divine power manifested naturally, without placing any strain on his five viscera. What... was going on? He had merely attempted an experiment based on his own ideas and the supreme arts of Star Town City, yet the result was astonishingly good! "This... If that's the case, once I transform the divine powers of the other four viscera, incorporate wind and thunder, and comprehend the forces of light and darkness... wouldn't I... roam unchecked under heaven?" Yet a moment later, dejection hit him. I have only comprehended the force of the five elements; I don't know the forces of wind and thunder, nor those of light and darkness! If that's so... it will be very difficult for me to condense characters for those various divine powers. "But the five viscera... are possible..." Li Hao's eyes shone brightly! At this moment, he felt a surge of excitement. This character's power did not feel foreign; it belonged entirely to himself, controllable at will, much like inner force—in fact, even more in tune with him than inner force. Did this mean he had successfully converted mysterious energy for his own use? "Fire!" Flames surfaced in his palm. Striking out casually with a palm, a deafening boom erupted, and the surroundings turned into a sea of fire. This was far stronger than his unstable divine powers of wind and thunder. Unfortunately... Li Hao took stock and felt a twinge of heartache. Setting aside the hefty expenditure of sword energy, at least twenty drops of the Spring of Life had been consumed in an instant. What a waste. Of course, compared to stabilizing the character "Fire," it was nothing. The character "Fire" withdrew inward. The next moment, Li Hao examined himself, his heart stirring. Right now, he seemed just as before, possessing only the divine powers of wind and thunder, while the fire divine power had completely vanished. Breath containment? Had it been thoroughly concealed? This... was incredible! Li Hao broke into a smile at once. He seemed to know how to proceed from here. Even though he didn't know whether he counted as a martial master right now, he could use sword intent once again. Then could I continue along my previous path, continuing to comprehend force, merging it into divine power, and then transforming it into characters...? One character, one divine power? One character, one force? In the end, could all these characters merge into a single whole? Thoughts surfaced one after another, and Li Hao suddenly felt jubilant. In this moment, everything seemed to open up before him! My Dao... seems to lie right ahead!