The Starry River Forms, Re-entering the Dao Integration Realm

With Hong Yitang joining in, the great river grew distinctly more stable. Hong Yitang’s cultivation might be ordinary, but his sword character was unique, and his insight was exceptionally sharp. His inclusion was undeniably a powerful boon to Li Hao. It seemed that had always been the case, even long ago. Back then, when his master had left on his own, Li Hao had been left alone with no one to rely on. In Battle Heaven City, he had crossed paths with this seemingly timid Earth-Overturning Sword... From that day forward, the man had given Li Hao endless support and guidance. Now, his master was gone once more. Just like before! And once more, Hong Yitang had stepped forward. Never to be seen when glory was claimed, yet never absent when adversity struck—perhaps no one fit that description better than Hong Yitang. Li Hao truly admired him, yet... whether that nature was good or bad, who could say? The great river gradually stabilized. Above it, stars were scattered like jewels across an expanse of boundless beauty. "Martial Uncle..." While stabilizing the river, Li Hao suddenly spoke. Hong Yitang turned his head, looking over with a trace of curiosity. "Do you think... among these stars, there are stars that belong to my master and the others?" *Master...* Hong Yitang looked at him. Li Hao's gaze was somewhat unfocused, as if searching for the star that belonged to his teacher. Hong Yitang sighed inward. *Yuan Shuo!* *Do you see this?* *After fighting that bitter battle against the Saint and dying in combat, your disciple isn't as tough as you imagined.* *He is fragile!* *All of you left. Not just you, but Hou Xiaochen, Jade Rakshasa, Liu Long...* *Every single one fell in battle. To Li Hao, it was an unbearable price. Perhaps he has lived in regret ever since, constantly searching for all of you. Among these billions of stars, are there stars that belong to you?* *I do not know!* Yet at that moment, Hong Yitang sounded utterly calm. "Of course there are. Look at how many stars remain unlit—countless! There is bound to be a star belonging to each of them, perhaps even more than one! In fact, reviving your master is quite simple..." "Simple?" Li Hao stared blankly. Hong Yitang nodded. "Naturally! Once you grow powerful enough and locate every single star, you won't need to do much of anything. As long as every cultivator in the Silver Moon world successfully opens their meridians and lights their own star, you can simply pick out the unlit ones. Those will inevitably belong to those who haven't truly, completely perished." *How simple!* Li Hao's jaw dropped. It took him a long while to manage, "Stop joking around... Every last person opening meridians, every person reaching Mountain-Sea, ten billion Mountain-Seas... Martial Uncle, let's talk about something realistic!" *That isn't realistic in the slightest.* *It would be easier for me to take full control of heaven and earth, to rule the Great Dao universe.* *Utterly absurd!* Still, when he thought about it... it did make sense. If the entire population opened their meridians, any unopened ones left behind could be matched to their origins. Wouldn't whatever remained belong to fallen martial masters? It was logical! Yet looking up at those endless dim stars, Li Hao clicked his tongue. When had Old Hong become so prone to talking nonsense? Having someone to talk to lightened Li Hao's mood. He said, "Martial Uncle, we've only condensed a third of the river. There's still a vast amount left. You probably won't be able to hold out as we go on, right?" "Certainly not." Hong Yitang spoke plainly this time, keeping his voice quiet. "We need to take another step forward! Right now, both my star and Lin Hongyu's are within the river. At the very least, both of us must step into the Dao Integration Realm! Black Panther also needs to reach Dao Integration... and even three Dao Integration powerhouses might not be enough." Even three might not be able to devour all the chaotic Dao power. He continued, "You channeled some Dao power into other stars earlier, didn't you?" "Yes." "Then keep doing it!" He added, "Furthermore, use this chance to export some of the Dao power. Haven't those people from Yuanping Martial Arts University remained unrevived all this time? And aren't Li Fuhai and the other Saints waiting to switch to the new path? Take this opportunity... let them revive, switch paths, and absorb this Dao power. It might cause some chaos, but it will settle everything in a single stroke! "They have over a hundred Peak Realm and Immortal Realm figures, as well as several Saints... They can endure immense amounts of Dao power. What's more, they are naturally capable of bearing it—it won't be a forced infusion, do you understand? Forcing it onto weak bodies easily causes things to spiral out of control, but they were already Peak, Immortal, and Saint experts. They won't lose control!" Li Hao felt a flicker of interest. "Right now?" "Right now!" Hong Yitang nodded. "I know you don't want anyone outside to realize what you're doing... That's fine. As long as someone out there is willing to guide them through the transition, you won't need to show yourself." Li Hao frowned. Who could guide them through switching paths? Guiding Saints to switch paths... that was extraordinarily difficult! When Zhang An was around, he could have managed it, but now... who had that capability? Switching Peak and Immortal experts was fine, but doing so for Saints was as difficult as ascending to the heavens! "If that's too difficult, start by reviving the students of Yuanping Martial Arts University. If that's still not enough... don't forget that many Battle Heaven Army soldiers have revived! You don't have to bear this entirely alone..." Li Hao murmured, "Doing that will cause far too much commotion!" "Do you think the commotion right now is small?" "Three days of prayers... Do you really take the world for fools?" Hong Yitang looked at him. "Don't bury your head in the sand. People already suspect you're up to something; it's enough that they don't know the exact details! Reviving a batch of people might even make Zheng Yu and his cohort lower their guard, thinking your whole goal was just to revive them onto the new path!" Li Hao's thoughts stirred, and he nodded. "That makes sense!" With that, he asked, "Martial Uncle, what do you think of Lin Hongyu?" "..." Hong Yitang gave him an amused glance. "She is your wife. Why are you asking me? If I knew her well, that would be a problem!" "..." How awkward! Li Hao said helplessly, "I only did that because circumstances forced my hand. I don't actually know her very well." Hong Yitang pondered for a moment before replying, "I won't comment on personal feelings, but from the perspective of the grand scheme, the current situation, individual strength, and support capability... there are no issues whatsoever! She is an excellent choice! Are you in love with anyone else right now?" "..." "If not... choosing her is a solid decision." "Is that so?" Li Hao murmured thoughtfully, then added, "What if there's no affection?" "What of it? For hundreds of years across the Heavenly Star Dynasty, marriages have been arranged. True romances have always been rare. Affection grows the longer you stay together." "..." *Right, so that's how you see it.* *I wasted my breath asking!* Li Hao said nothing more. He quickly tore open the void and sent a message to Lin Hongyu, telling her to make arrangements to switch the paths of the students from Yuanping Martial Arts University and revive them. *** Seeing that Li Hao was looking for people again and even had the leeway to help others switch paths and revive, Lin Hongyu let out a breath of relief. Her aura was quite turbulent at the moment. Yet, she was growing steadily stronger. She promptly sent out word. Before long, Jiang Yingli arrived leading a large group of puppet students. Lin Hongyu wasted no words and said swiftly, "The Marquis intends to help you switch paths and revive. Your puppet vessels are too strong, so you will need Saints to help reforge them into carrier armaments! "As for molding physical bodies... several Saints are free right now... You may each choose one to mold your flesh! All consumed Springs of Life, immortal energy, and energy stones will be provided by the Marquis! "Once your paths are switched, if you wish to remain, the Marquis has decreed that Jiang Yingli will serve as Commander of the Academy Army, and you may follow her..." Jiang Yingli was taken aback. "The Academy Army?" "Yes, for now. Everything will be integrated later! That includes the Battle Heaven Army, the Water Cloud Army, and the Great Desolate Army—all will be restructured and merged in time. Once you join, you will be people of the Bright Star!" *People of the Bright Star?* Jiang Yingli complained inwardly. *Why is he like the Human King, putting zero effort into naming things?* *Does he have to stick his own name on everything to feel unique?* *Wouldn't Cat Star People sound better?* *Never mind. Mentioning cats brings that world-conquering cat to mind; it had the exact same temperament.* *Like attracts like, indeed!* Still, being able to revive brought Jiang Yingli immense joy. She was already restored, so she was in no hurry, but her classmates were still trapped in puppet bodies. "Understood, I'll go gather the Saints right away..." As the descendant of a Sovereign, the Saints treated her with great courtesy. Moreover, this was Li Hao's command. The resources were entirely funded by the Heavenly Star Governor-General's Office, so there would be no issue. There were around a hundred students—a fair number—but with multiple Saints available, handling twenty or thirty each would be trivial. The puppets were beside themselves with excitement. One after another, they dashed out after Jiang Yingli. Seeing them leave, Lin Hongyu chuckled softly. A trace of blood seeped from the corner of her lips again, making her brow knit. She glanced up at the sky. Even with the Earth-Overturning Sword joining, the pressure remained immense. If so, wouldn't Li Hao's burden be even greater? *Serves you right!* She cursed him inwardly. *The man is utterly heartless... Well, heartless and cold-blooded toward anyone who isn't a friend.* *Toward Yuan Shuo and Hong Yitang, even if they decided to rebel... this guy would probably hand them the blade!* *He might even secretly send reinforcements.* She sighed inwardly again and murmured to herself, *Lin Hongyu, this is the path you chose. Even in tears, you must see it through... Since you couldn't reign over the realm yourself, then... marrying someone who does isn't a bad alternative.* *As for Li Hao... let him be!* At that moment, Lin Hongyu seemed to let it go. The very next second, she glanced at the sky and muttered inwardly once more, *Utterly heartless!* Curses aside, business still had to be done. She needed to keep broadcasting to the world to maintain the populace's resolve. With that in mind, Lin Hongyu commanded, "Men, order all demon plants beneath the Saint realm to station themselves across the regions and scatter the Spring of Life! Rain down more wherever the elderly, weak, women, and children gather!" A soldier nearby hesitated. "The Spring of Life is the very foundation of demon plants... Will... they agree?" "Just go!" Lin Hongyu could not be bothered to elaborate. Redwood would do everything possible to arrange and placate them. Once those troops departed, her gaze fell on Qian Wuliang not far away. "General Qian!" Qian Wuliang hurried over. He looked at Lin Hongyu with a beaming smile. Lin Hongyu returned a slight smile of her own. "Keeping General Qian here is a waste of your talents! I must trouble General Qian to make a trip to Hurricane City!" Qian Wuliang: "..." "Go find Zheng Yu and tell him we hope he can lend us some immortal energy, Springs of Life, and energy stones!" "..." Qian Wuliang stared at her, utterly speechless. *Are you... trying to get me killed?* "General Qian has a sharp eye for reading hearts. What Zheng Yu truly longs for right now is for the world to accommodate his emergence as soon as possible. Beyond that, he cares little!" Lin Hongyu smiled. "Tell him the resources are needed to help the students of Yuanping Martial Arts University switch paths, which will stabilize heaven, earth, and the Great Dao! If he is willing... we will permit the Immortals and Peak experts under his command to emerge and switch paths as well! If he dares... we will accept! Naturally, he must provide the resources." Qian Wuliang pondered this, nodded, and smiled. "The Governor-General truly understands best... I shall go at once!" Shortly after, Qian Wuliang departed. Lin Hongyu watched his retreating back and cursed inwardly again. *You don't understand?* *You understand better than anyone!* *You're just playing dead!* He would never take the initiative unless summoned, fearing he might stand out too much and draw everyone's wariness. *I used to be the same way.* *Unless Li Hao asked, I rarely took the initiative. But now... isn't it different?* *I am the Marquis's wife now!* Lin Hongyu let out a faint smile. *** Before long. Hurricane City. When Qian Wuliang arrived outside the walls and loudly announced his demands, the people within erupted in fury. Yet a few fell into thoughtful contemplation. *Switch paths!* *Switch to the new path!* If they truly switched... it carried considerable danger. It would make them far too easy for Li Hao to control. Zheng Yu had sunk into deep thought as well. Switching paths to stabilize heaven, earth, and the Great Dao... that was indeed true. He knew that well enough. Was Li Hao stirring up such a massive commotion solely for this? Probably not. Perhaps he genuinely intended to revive Yuan Shuo and the others. Of course, having a cohort of experts adopt the new path was also meant to strengthen Li Hao's control. With the new path universe in Li Hao's grasp, switching would give him direct mastery over them. Considering this, Zheng Yu felt no anger. He looked out at Qian Wuliang beyond the city walls, his voice composed. "There is no need for Li Hao to trouble himself over my subordinates! As for the cultivation resources you seek, after a hundred thousand years of consumption, do you truly believe we have any left?" Qian Wuliang maintained a bright smile. "My Lord's divine prowess is unmatched; a mere crumb spared would be more than enough for our path transition. Furthermore, those switching paths this time are descendants of Sovereigns... figures of no small significance! "Should they succeed, they might remember your grace in saving them. When they return to the Neo Martial world in the future... they might even put in a good word on your behalf! The Human King might disregard one or two pleas, but if all of them speak for you, that would be a host of Sovereigns pleading your case... Perhaps your life might be spared..." Zheng Yu chuckled. "You are bold!" *Spare my life?* Qian Wuliang beamed. "Naturally, that assumes we emerge victorious. If we lose... it will be of no use! Why not forge a thread of goodwill, My Lord, on the off chance—however slight—that we win? We people of Silver Moon lack prominent backing, but those Sovereign descendants carry illustrious origins." "We have none. Waste no more breath!" Zheng Yu could not be bothered to say more. Yet Qian Wuliang clung like a plaster, continuing to preach from outside the city. He knew full well he wouldn't get anything. If Zheng Yu actually gave him resources, the man would be an idiot. Last time, Li Hao had traded Dao power for them; this time was an attempt to take something for nothing from an enemy. Who would agree to that? He had come purely to pacify them and stall for time. *Keep them from causing trouble!* Qian Wuliang understood the mission clearly. Undeterred, he chattered until his throat went dry. The listeners inside grew immensely exasperated until they finally activated the city's sound-dampening barrier, refusing to hear another word. *Like a turtle droning scriptures!* Qian Wuliang knew what they had done, but he kept right on talking without missing a beat, fully prepared to blather for an entire day and night... That should be enough. *** Within the Great Dao universe. Li Hao soon received word that preparations were nearly complete. The students were ready to switch paths at any moment. Li Hao glanced at the still unstable river and said, "I will connect their Daos to this river and export some Dao power to help them forge their new paths! Martial Uncle, while the night keeps the Dao power somewhat less dense, you and Black Panther help me keep it steady!" "Rest assured!" Hong Yitang nodded. Seeing his affirmation, Li Hao felt relieved and withdrew directly. The instant he left—*boom!* Hong Yitang was thrown into utter disarray, and Black Panther began to howl in agony. Only now did the two realize that Li Hao had been suppressing the vast majority of the river earlier; they had merely stabilized a tiny portion. With Li Hao gone... misery struck. Wracked with agony, Hong Yitang clamped down hard on Black Panther’s canine skull, squeezing until the beast wailed continuously. Hong Yitang muttered through gritted teeth, "Stop howling! You're making me restless!" "*Awoooo!*" Black Panther roared in torment. *You think I can stop just because you say so?* *It hurts!* Not only was the excess Dao power threatening to rupture it from within, but Hong Yitang’s grip was excruciating. He was squeezing so hard because he was clearly in agonizing pain himself, refusing to scream out of pride. Yet the dog was paying the price! *** Li Hao was well aware of their plight, but chose to pretend otherwise. Old Hong had lectured him earlier, and Li Hao couldn't argue back. Now... let him suffer for a bit. As the saying went, *to discipline his sinews and starve his flesh*... Heaven put you through trials only to make you stronger. Besides, enduring the baptism of myriad Dao powers would ultimately be beneficial if he pulled through. Li Hao tore through the void and emerged. Before him stood Lin Hongyu. This was the first time they had met face to face since he made the announcement. Lin Hongyu froze for a second, looked at Li Hao, and quickly shifted her gaze downward. She seemed... shy? Li Hao didn't linger on it, maintaining an impassive expression like the Lord of the Great Dao. "You've worked hard!" "It was my duty!" "Well done." "The Marquis orchestrated everything flawlessly!" "..." Silence fell between them. After a brief pause, Li Hao spoke: "Have Battle Heaven City advance this way. Gather all the students inside the city. I will help them switch paths there!" "Very well!" Lin Hongyu relayed the orders. Then silence descended once more. Moments later, as Battle Heaven City drew near, Li Hao glanced toward it, then turned his gaze back to Lin Hongyu. His tone was level: "The Dao power in your body is too chaotic. I will help you realign it later! Hold out for a few days. Feeling uncomfortable or losing some control is entirely normal right now..." "Understood." Seeing her response, Li Hao turned to leave. Lin Hongyu breathed a quiet sigh of relief. He was finally going. Facing him had never felt this awkward before, but now it was nearly unbearable. Neither of them knew how to talk to each other. Just as the thought crossed her mind, Li Hao suddenly turned back. "Also... don't give reckless orders. If you must, simply claim it was my command. There is no need to shield me. I have never feared bearing infamy!" Lin Hongyu said nothing. Pausing for only an instant, Li Hao vanished, flying toward Battle Heaven City. Once he was gone, a subtle smile crept onto Lin Hongyu's face. *** Inside Battle Heaven City. Without a word, Li Hao pierced through to the Great Dao universe. Origin paths swiftly linked to the cosmos, and Li Hao vanished once more. Returning to the Great Dao universe, he pretended not to see Hong Yitang pummeling Black Panther. He immediately channeled the origin paths into the starry river, swiftly pouring out different Dao energies. As he channeled the power, he remarked, "This is actually a splendid method to elevate everyone. Once this river is forged, it will be a River of the Great Dao! It will contain boundless Dao power... In the future, when people cultivate, any dissipated Dao power will sink to the bottom of the river!" "If we link their paths here like this... wouldn't that elevate them directly?" It was like opening vents at the bottom of the river to gather the scattered Dao power and put it to use. It granted Li Hao immense insight. Hong Yitang suppressed the bursting agony within him, maintaining his refined demeanor as he said slowly, "It is feasible... but it borders on gaining without working. Cultivation is the cultivation of the mind. Without sufficient strength of heart, even immense power is meaningless! Neo Martial's tribulation of lightning for Sovereigns was a sound principle... If a cultivator neglects the heart, how can they ever become a supreme powerhouse?" "That matters to supreme powerhouses, but for ordinary people, it hardly makes a difference!" Li Hao countered, "Cultivating the mind? Zheng Yu might not have cultivated his mind, yet he still reached the Half-Emperor level! Besides, how many can ever reach that height? In the future, I believe paths should pierce upward from the bottom of the starry river. Only when one claims their own star can they truly be deemed a successful cultivator... If someone can master an entire domain, they will become a Dao Lord! By my reckoning, there can only be 360 Dao Lords... "Those who can truly master an entire domain... should easily rival Half-Emperors. If the starry river continues to grow and consumes the illusory universe, perhaps... each Dao Lord could match a Sovereign... Which is to say, this Great Dao universe might eventually support 360 Dao Lords!" Hong Yitang was stunned. *Your ambition is simply boundless.* *Three hundred and sixty Dao Lords, three hundred and sixty Sovereigns?* *Do you know how many Sovereigns Neo Martial possessed, as mighty as it was?* By rough count, there were probably fewer than fifty, accumulated over countless ages... Well, Neo Martial hadn't existed for that long, but its supreme power was beyond doubt. Now Li Hao had barely grasped the Great Dao, remaining a mere Saint himself, yet he dared declare he would produce 360 Sovereigns? *What grand arrogance!* Still, he refrained from dampening Li Hao's spirits. Having ambition was good. Besides... if someone could truly control an entire domain, given the countless stars within each sector, matching a Half-Emperor seemed entirely possible! If the illusory universe truly merged back into one... matching a Sovereign might not be out of reach. Amid their conversation, Li Hao began pouring the river's power outward. *** Inside Battle Heaven City. Over a hundred students suddenly wailed in agony, but their cries quickly turned ecstatic. "Heavens!" "Why is there so much Dao power?" "Didn't they say switching paths is exceedingly difficult? Jiang Yingli and the others only reached Mountain-Sea..." "Good grief, I've opened 180 acupoints!" "..." Jiang Yingli and her companions were dazed. *So fast!* Indeed, shockingly fast! In the blink of an eye, the students were opening acupoints in droves. Before long, someone broke through and formed a meridian, stepping straight into Mountain-Sea. *Was this... preferential treatment?* Back when they cultivated, the Dao power had abruptly halted the moment they hit Mountain-Sea! Yet this time... an endless torrent of Dao power poured ceaselessly into their bodies. Watching this, several veterans felt a twinge of jealousy and frustration! *This is outrageous!* Even Director Wang grumbled under his breath. *I was the first to swap bodies, and though I'm at the seventh tier of the Sun-Moon Realm now... look at how hard I had to fight along the way!* *These little brats have it far too easy.* *They haven't done a shred of work—just went out recently to slaughter a few weaklings from the Divine Kingdom, and now... they're switching paths!* *Not only switching paths, but stepping straight into Mountain-Sea in the blink of an eye!* *Where was the justice in that?* Envy and jealousy surged through the onlookers, but soon... someone began to wail, "Enough, enough! Let me digest it... It's too much..." *Stop!* *Stop pumping it in!* *Why isn't it ending?* After years without physical bodies, they had finally gained vessels and reached Mountain-Sea instantly. Now their meridians were continuing to blast open—was he trying to shove them straight into the Sun-Moon Realm? The Sun-Moon Realm could rival the Peak Realm. Even though they had once been Peak and Immortal powerhouses... they needed time to adjust! Their physical vessels had barely settled, and suddenly an overwhelming deluge of Dao power was forcing its way in. It was like being violated; they were on the verge of collapse! Now Jiang Yingli and the others noticed something amiss as well. The Dao power was gushing forth with terrifying intensity. What was more, hardly any of it leaked outward. It was being driven straight into them! Li Hao's voice echoed out once more: "Endure it! Only by bearing short-term pain can you catch up to the rest. Today, seventh-tier Sun-Moon experts are everywhere. You have missed far too many opportunities. I cannot bear to see you Sovereign descendants drag behind and bring shame upon your ancestors! Only by tasting the bitterest of hardships can one stand above all others. Keep going!" "*Ahhh!*" The students roared. *We cannot shame our ancestors!* *That's right!* *Seventh-tier Sun-Moon experts are everywhere now. If we stay at Mountain-Sea... it would be utterly humiliating.* *Keep going!* Though they felt Li Hao was being excessively brutal, they could only grit their teeth against the pain. Amid their wails, they forcefully opened their meridians. Flesh ruptured with dull pops, tearing open and knitting back together as they pushed through! This was an opportunity! The sight made onlookers shudder. *How ruthless!* Jiang Yingli clicked her tongue in relief. *Thank goodness I revived earlier. My progress might have been slower, but... it was comfortable.* *Cultivation is supposed to be pleasant.* *If it hurts this much, why even cultivate?* *Tragic!* Her envy vanished completely. *** Within the Great Dao universe, Li Hao exhaled and smiled. *Excellent!* With over a hundred powerhouses siphoning off Dao power, the great river began to stabilize, no longer thrashing violently. Now, all that remained was to wait—wait for the next wave of realm-wide cultivation. That night was excruciatingly agonizing for many. The students of Yuanping Martial Arts University were driven near madness. Hong Yitang and his companion were nearly driven mad as well. Inside Hurricane City, watching Qian Wuliang ramble incessantly through the entire night, Zheng Yu sorely wished he could send an avatar out... and butcher him! Yet Qian Wuliang was now at the seventh tier of the Sun-Moon Realm. In an era where Saints could not walk the realm, he might not necessarily fear Zheng Yu's avatar. Zheng Yu was also worried about stepping into a trap. After weighing his options, Hurricane City simply sank beneath the earth. Let him ramble all he wanted; what an infuriating nuisance! *** The next day. Dawn broke! Lin Hongyu's image materialized once more across the sky screen. Her face was slightly pale, but she wore a radiant smile. "Last night, numerous individuals who prayed with sincere hearts received boons from the heroic spirits! "According to our tallies, between yesterday morning and today, the Bright Star Continent has witnessed the birth of 142 new Sun-Moon powerhouses! One hundred and twenty-one Mountain-Sea experts, and thousands of Thousand-Battlers!" More Sun-Moon than Mountain-Sea. These figures were genuine. Of course, that assumed one did not exclude the nearly one hundred students from Yuanping Martial Arts University. Naturally, the tally had not excluded them. Lin Hongyu manipulated the sky screen, and an array of figures instantly appeared. All wore modern garments, looking remarkably young—a host of handsome men and beautiful women. Yet... every one of them appeared feeble and deathly pale. They were precisely those students. Her voice echoed between heaven and earth again: "These are some of the newly ascended Sun-Moon powerhouses! Today, these new experts will journey to various cities to deliver lectures and share their paths to success! If anyone harbors doubts, you may challenge them... You have likely never seen these individuals before; they are newcomers, quite young. Some are genius students from martial academies, while others hail from remote regions with little worldly experience. Forgive me for putting it so plainly, but appearing before you today makes them rather uncomfortable. We hope you will show them patience and grace as they arrive in your cities..." The students offered strained, miserable smiles toward the sky screen. They looked extraordinarily shy and ghostly pale! *Little worldly experience?* *If you were tormented for an entire night, you'd look just like us... We've screamed until our voices gave out! It hurt so much!* At that moment, the students leaped into the air, flying off in all directions. This was their new assignment! To pose as newcomers, instill confidence in the populace... and encourage everyone to persevere for two more days. It had to be said: though the populace had been ecstatic yesterday, impatience had begun creeping in today. Yet when these newly minted Sun-Moon experts arrived across the cities to preach... an unprecedented wave of excitement erupted instantly! These were completely unfamiliar faces. No one recognized them. Clearly, they were genuine newcomers, and the uncontrollable Dao power wafting from their bodies made it obvious they had yet to master their newfound strength! This was more convincing than any speech—the finest possible propaganda! Li Hao, who had worried that the second day's Dao power would fall short of the first, quickly discovered that he had vastly underestimated Lin Hongyu. The Dao power on the second day was even denser, brimming with even greater fervor and excitement! Vast streams of Dao power condensed and rained down continuously. Li Hao and his companions experienced a mix of agony and delight. The great river surged swiftly forward. Li Hao had estimated that it would only grow by another third today. To his surprise, countless people continued cultivating even after night fell. While it pushed Li Hao to his limits, the river completed three-quarters of its full cycle. Once this night passed, success would be at hand! *** Above the River of the Great Dao, Li Hao was invigorated, while Hong Yitang and Black Panther had long since collapsed into the void, huddling together for warmth. The auras of both man and beast were astonishingly fierce. At this moment, Hong Yitang's aura had barely touched the Dao Integration Realm. It brought him agonizing pain, yet immense joy. Still... for the remaining quarter of the river, he truly could not hold on any longer! Black Panther was in an even sorrier state. Hong Yitang had at least advanced from the seventh tier of the Sun-Moon Realm, while Black Panther had started from the fourth tier. Now, it was also nearing Dao Integration. Its body was half black and half gold, flickering continuously with chaotic hues. "A realm-wide cultivation like this can probably only happen once... Even if we hold another, people won't be nearly as sincere, even if they believe in it!" Li Hao sighed. This first time, the populace had truly poured their hearts and souls into it. Next time... that would be hard to say. Opportunities like this were exceedingly rare! Besides, if there ever was a next time, he might not even need it. Seeing that one quarter remained unfinished, Li Hao exhaled. His body abruptly expanded as he chuckled, "Then I shall do it myself!" In an instant, Dao meridians manifested within him. In the blink of an eye, thirty-six meridians appeared, completing a full cycle. The peak of the ninth tier of the Sun-Moon Realm! He was even pushing straight toward Dao Integration! Hong Yitang raised an eyebrow, looking at Li Hao's physical form with some confusion. The body... felt slightly off. The new meridians seemed as though they had just been opened on the spot. *What is going on?* Li Hao should have opened these meridians long ago, even if he hadn't opened them all. Yet these meridians looked freshly forged. Li Hao grinned and glanced toward him, suddenly sending a voice transmission: "Martial Uncle, how much do you think I resemble my past self?" "..." Hong Yitang was completely at a loss for words. *What is that supposed to mean?* The next instant, realization struck him, and his expression shifted drastically. "An avatar?" *Impossible!* Could the figure that had been interacting with him and everyone else these past two days be an avatar? *Li Hao is far too skilled at molding physical bodies!* Li Hao smiled without answering! Yes, an avatar. Or rather, not entirely an avatar. His consciousness, spirit, and divine characters were all contained within this fleshly vessel. However... his true physical body had been submerged at the bottom of the river! He was nurturing it with myriad Dao powers! That way, his physical body would grow even more formidable. Naturally, the vessel at the bottom of the river was merely an empty husk; everything else resided in his current form. Still, this vessel was indeed something he had forged on the spot. This was a true sleight of hand! Hong Yitang was profoundly shaken. If this was an avatar, where was Li Hao's true self? He glanced around... and soon his gaze fell upon the great river. *Could it be... No way?* *This... is incredible!* *This kid's audacity knows no bounds!* *Boom!* With a thunderous roar, Li Hao's aura surged, stepping into Dao Integration in an instant. This time, the Great Dao produced no disturbance, as Li Hao had already crossed that threshold before. Yet his current aura was far denser than before! "The remaining quarter should be enough for me to reach the second tier of Dao Integration! If there's another boost upon full completion, I might even touch the third tier!" The third tier of Dao Integration corresponded to the peak of the Saint realm! That was Li Hao's objective for this endeavor. To push his avatar into the third tier of Dao Integration. Completing thirty-six meridians in a cycle brought him to the first tier; seventy-two meridians reached the second tier; and one hundred and eight meridians marked the third tier. Of course, whether he could reach the peak of the third tier remained to be seen. Li Hao paid it no heed. He focused entirely on cultivating. Boundless Dao power converged toward his body, and the great river flowed rapidly, continuously knitting itself whole. *Having billions of people provide resources and power for my cultivation all at once... I suppose this makes me unmatched in history, past or future?* *Perhaps the Human King and the Supreme did something similar back in the day, but... what cultivation level was I at?* Li Hao felt deeply gratified! His investment in the populace was finally yielding returns today. Though he had never demanded anything in return, seeing the harvest was profoundly satisfying. *** The prayer ritual continued. Through that night, countless people continued to cultivate. News of breakthroughs arrived without pause, and the demon plants scattering Springs of Life everywhere stirred boundless enthusiasm. That night, the entire Bright Star Continent was bathed in the joy of cultivation. And during that same night... another contingent of the Battle Heaven Army set out on the path of revival. Li Hao's past promises—reviving the students of Yuanping Martial Arts University and reviving the Battle Heaven Army—were steadily being fulfilled. Within Heavenly Star City. Lin Hongyu was no longer directing matters, but sat cross-legged in cultivation. A massive influx of myriad Dao powers manifested around her. It brought immense pain, yet her eyes grew brighter by the moment! As Li Hao's representative, being weak was not an option! Currently, seventh-tier Sun-Moon powerhouses were not in short supply. There were even a fair number of Saints. She had originally been at the seventh tier of the Sun-Moon Realm, but now her aura was soaring, reaching the peak of the ninth tier. What was more... it continued to climb, looking as though it might break into Dao Integration! Naturally, she understood that if she reached Dao Integration... Saints might be able to emerge into the world. It was happening faster than anticipated! Zheng Yu might not have realized it yet; Qian Wuliang's presence temporarily blinded him to the outside world, but he would sense it sooner or later. Even so, Saints were unlikely to emerge immediately. Not many Saints remained within the ancient cities. Meanwhile, Li Hao had quite a few on his side. "In barely over twenty days, heaven and earth are recovering once more... This proves the Great Dao has grown stronger, and the world has grown stronger!" Li Hao was bound to be stronger as well! She felt both anticipation and excitement. She wondered if Li Hao could reach the second tier of Dao Integration this time, or even the third! *** Within the Great Dao universe. The sword-shaped river was on the verge of complete integration. Li Hao shouted, "Martial Uncle, Black Panther, step back! The connection is about to lock in!" Only a sliver remained; a drastic upheaval might occur at any moment! The next instant, the head and tail of the great river met. *Boom!* A colossal roar shook the cosmos. Suddenly, the sound of crashing waves drifted forth like a surging river. In the blink of an eye, the great river swept across the entire universe, the rush of water vibrating through the cosmic expanse, dotted with countless stars! Right then, the time star that had vanished earlier suddenly reemerged! Li Hao's expression changed drastically! He hurriedly manifested the "Dao" divine character. Far off, Hong Yitang and Black Panther fell instantly into stillness. The roaring river quieted down in a flash, as if time itself had frozen. The colossal star circled for a moment, appearing intrigued by this great river. Abruptly, it descended, plunging straight into the river! At that moment, the river seemed endowed with a peculiar power. The massive star swam within the currents, gliding about as though in high spirits... Soon, having finished its swim, it vanished with a whoosh! Li Hao's expression flickered erratically! *Terrifying!* The great river trembled once more, yet compared to its previous artificial rigidity, it felt distinct—infinitely more stable! "A good thing... but... how many days passed this time?" He felt somewhat helpless. Several days might have slipped by again! The stars were no longer flashing, meaning the realm-wide cultivation had ended. "Martial Uncle, Black Panther!" Li Hao called out. The man and dog shook themselves awake, seemingly oblivious. Black Panther vaguely sensed it had been frozen again, but Hong Yitang remained completely unaware. Only when Li Hao tore open the void and probed the outside world did he realize three days had passed. *Not too bad, not too bad!* He breathed a sigh of relief. Wasting no time, he swiftly absorbed the river's power. Boundless energy flooded in, the massive Dao power rapidly opening meridian after meridian. Seventy-two! Soon, seventy-two meridians—two complete cycles—were thoroughly perfected. With that, he had truly stepped into the second tier of Dao Integration. Yet Li Hao continued to drink from the river's power. He had already surpassed his past self. He had opened more than eighty meridians previously, but they had been far too chaotic. This time, every single one was an attribute-less Dao meridian! They were more cohesive and harmonious with his foundation! Meridian after meridian opened: eighty... eighty-five... Hong Yitang and Black Panther also began sorting their own Dao meridians. Swept along by the myriad Dao powers, the man and dog advanced rapidly. While cultivating, Li Hao also began slowly refining a star resting at the bottom of the river. He did not merely refine it, but purged vast quantities of impurities from within. Finally, after some thought, he allowed the star to drift within the current rather than hanging it back in the sky. This was Lin Hongyu's star! From now on, her path lay at the bottom of the river. Even if the starry river shattered, as long as no one discovered the great river itself, her Great Dao would remain intact! However, concealing the river remained an issue. Currently, it was far too conspicuous. Li Hao pondered this as he cultivated. Soon, the great river seemed to assume the shape of a person, sinking deeper and deeper, while billions of stars remained suspended in the void, illuminating the cosmos. The humanoid river continued to descend... Li Hao watched for a while, still feeling unsettled. Merely sinking was not the same as vanishing completely... Perhaps... he ought to take further measures—for instance, shifting several major cities like Battle Heaven City into the space between... Stars above, cities in the middle, and the starry river flowing beneath the cities! That wouldn't be difficult to arrange. A brilliant smile spread across Li Hao's face. The initial framework was finally complete. *After this... my confidence will be far greater!* Cultivation continued for some time. After an unknown duration, Li Hao opened his eyes. The Dao meridians within him hummed softly, and ninety-nine meridians materialized outside his body in an instant. Li Hao glanced at them with a hint of disappointment: "I didn't reach the third tier of Dao Integration—only ninety-nine meridians... The Dao power has begun to solidify!" Beside him, Hong Yitang and Black Panther had also awakened, looking at him with dropped jaws. *Ninety-nine meridians!* *And you're still dissatisfied?* Hong Yitang sighed, sounding somewhat dejected himself. "I only managed to open thirty-eight meridians. I'm still lacking..." Black Panther couldn't even be bothered to make a sound. *What are these two showing off for?* *I probably possess combat prowess approaching a Saint now. Did I brag?* *** Meanwhile. In Heavenly Star City, at the Governor-General's Office, Lin Hongyu emerged from seclusion after several days. She looked toward the sky outside and smiled. The Great Dao was no longer chaotic. Compared to its previous turbulence, it flowed far more smoothly now. It seemed slightly murky, but her strength had undeniably grown; she, too, had stepped into the Dao Integration Realm. "Did you succeed?" She murmured softly. He surely had. The realm-wide prayer ritual had ended three days ago. Now, heaven and earth had recovered to the point where they could accommodate Saints. Had he failed... things wouldn't be like this. Besides, even she had reached Dao Integration—he had to be stronger than before! At that moment, the firmament tore open, and two men and a dog drifted gracefully down. In that fleeting instant, Lin Hongyu felt a sudden surge of jealousy... *Hong Yitang, don't you think you've taken someone else's spot?*