Follow the path of Dao from infancy

Chapter 1134: Chapter 235 Three Years_3

Li Hao retracted his gaze, concentrating on the chessboard, his mind once again immersed, oblivious to external perceptions.

He pondered deeply, while Elder Wang waited for Li Hao to make a move. He watched the young man before him with interest, noticing that he wasn’t feigning calmness, but genuinely unhurried. Elder Wang smiled faintly; though engaging with Li Hao had caused some delay, he realized that the other Saints’ aptitude would not yield significant progress in a short time. When Li Hao’s enthusiasm waned, he would pick an appropriate time to have Li Hao practice earnestly.

Among all the contenders, the boy before him was the one he prized most. Though he couldn’t provide him with hints or special treatment, he would at least urge him to cultivate.

By the meditation mats, many were silently calculating the time of Ming Saint’s challenge.

Soon, Ming Saint emerged from the True Venerate Tower.

“It took longer than last time. It seems Ming Saint wasn’t affected and even made a breakthrough!”

“Indeed, someone took the wrong path trying to curry favor with Elder Wang, wasting their time. My own state of mind has also recovered.”

“Elder Wang said that if you can pass, your battle instincts will reach an exceptionally exaggerated level. This isn’t about battle skills, which are accumulations of experience, but rather an extraordinary battle ability that changes in an instant, requiring special methods to cultivate.”

“We must work hard too; don’t let Ming Saint truly step into the third stage, cultivating the Immortal Tao, while we’re still pondering the Immortal Law.”

Many Saints’ gazes turned solemn, retracting their eyes from the returning Ming Saint, after which they closed their eyes to focus on cultivation, though some smiled and congratulated Ming Saint.

Ming Saint’s expression showed no joy or anger, appearing rather indifferent. Although he lasted longer this time, he felt there was still a significant gap to victory. He had quickly devised several ways to turn crisis into safety, but it was not enough.

He turned his head, glancing briefly at the figure before the cottage, seeing the person entirely focused on the chessboard, eyes devoid of any distractions. He couldn’t help but frown slightly, and a faint cold smile appeared at the corner of his mouth but soon faded, as he turned back to his own meditation mat, continuing to sit in contemplation.

Time slowly drifted by.

It was very quiet here, occasionally interrupted by the slightly loud laughter of an old man and a young man.

Yet everyone was enveloped by a Dao Domain while cultivating, so unless there were changes in certain auras, mere sounds wouldn’t interrupt or distract them.

On ordinary days, the only sounds during cultivation were that of Elder Wang digging with a hoe, and the babbling of a stream outside the fields, but now, this idyllic place had gained a slightly livelier feel.

A year passed in the blink of an eye.

Li Hao’s Chess Tao advanced to Ninth Rank Perfection, yet he continued to suffer repeated defeats at Elder Wang’s hands, never winning once.

Li Hao had never lost so badly before. In his spare time, he would contemplate the Artistic Path, but his mind was wholly occupied by the chess games he lost, leaving him unsettled and making little progress in forcibly understanding the Artistic Path.

The more he lost, the more he wanted to keep battling, almost addicted, whereas Elder Wang, having won so often, often took the opportunity to water the fields, gather Tao’s moisture for the Immortal Elixir while playing with Li Hao. When he returned after taking care of things and saw Li Hao hadn’t made a move, he would make himself some tea and clean the dirt between his toes.

When Li Hao finally took his time to place a piece, Elder Wang would quickly play his own, freezing the young man’s just-bloomed smile, sending him back into deep thought.

Seeing the other’s quick change in expression, Elder Wang found it amusing. Never had he met someone who cared so much about the Chess Tao. Had it been anyone else, they would have long tired of winning, finding it dull, but the boy before him, with his stubborn and tenacious spirit, only made Elder Wang more eager to continue winning.

Yes, it was harsh, but he also disliked the feeling of losing.

Another two years passed.

In front of the cottage, next to the chess game, the boy focused intently as he placed his piece.

Suddenly, from the distant meditation mats, a powerful spear intent condensed and erupted, as if piercing through the heavens.

This formidable spear intent even affected the boy deep in thought by the chessboard, who turned to look.

“Finally, a third person has cultivated the Ten Thousand Battles Immortal Law to perfection.” Elder Wang glanced over, a smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.