Cultivation Begins from Infancy - Chapter 414

Volume 3 - Chapter 114: The Return of the Immortal Sect and Extreme Realm Disciple Recruitment - Part 1

The Dao Fruit emanated an extraordinary fragrance, invigorating the senses and enhancing mental clarity. Upon consuming it, Li Hao's breathing became more fluid, his perception sharper, and he faintly sensed the presence of a towering Dao Gate within his consciousness. By focusing his thoughts, it seemed he could cross through it.

Without hesitation, Li Hao immersed himself in the contemplation of the Culinary Dao. As his thoughts coalesced, he drew closer to the gate until he finally crossed it. In an instant, he found himself in an expansive, chaotic realm.

His thoughts intensified, stretching deeper into this boundless space, giving rise to countless ideas that burst forth like a storm. Amidst the chaos before him, a figure began to take shape.

This figure raised a hand, and in that motion, heaven and earth transformed into a furnace, all existence into kindling, as it refined the energy of the void...

Li Hao stared in astonishment. A sudden realization hit him like a bolt of lightning.

Such grandeur, such power—this was merely cooking!

Soon, under the figure’s control, the energy within the void began to surge and boil like water. What had been invisible and unfathomable condensed into discernible streams and then into a resplendent pearl.

There were no ingredients—energy alone served as the material.

“Eating” was not merely the act of consuming an object. It was the consumption of all things!

Li Hao gained sudden insight, delving deeper into the methods of this Culinary Dao. His understanding of cooking evolved to a higher level.

What was cooking?

Ordinary cooking was about mastery of techniques like steaming, braising, or preparing raw delicacies, akin to the cuisine found in mortal taverns.

At the Inner Resonance Level, cooking reached an extraordinary standard, achieving a harmonious blend of effort and skill that brought a dish’s flavor to its peak.

At the Spiritual Level, each dish resonated with a unique charm, not only satisfying the palate but also providing a harmonious fusion of body and mind, a transcendent experience.

These three levels moved from basic sustenance to culinary enjoyment to spiritual and physical fulfillment.

Yet now, witnessing this figure refine the energy of the heavens and earth, Li Hao finally understood: the essence of cooking was not in preparing food or savoring its taste—it was in refinement!

Removing impurities, extracting the core essence, and transforming it into something sublime.

Like removing fish scales and guts before cooking, or discarding the bones for a braised pork dish—even though bones were edible, they were deemed “impurities” in the context of that dish.

The essence of food was not indulgence but nourishment.

And nourishment was about deriving energy from the material consumed.

Thus, the pinnacle of cooking lay in enabling the eater to fully absorb the essence of the food.

Not in elaborate presentations or overwhelming seasonings that catered to surface tastes or shallow sensory stimulation.

From complexity to simplicity, the ultimate truth emerged.

To enter the Dao was to return to the essence.

Li Hao gained a deeper understanding and felt a newfound connection to the adage, “Food is the heaven of the people.”

At that moment, the figure manifesting the grand truths of the Dao gradually faded, and Li Hao’s consciousness, extended like a vast web, retracted back into his mind.

Soon after, a powerful force pulled him back into his body.

Li Hao glanced at the notifications flashing across his interface.

Culinary Dao, Ninth Stage...

[You have entered the Dao of Cooking.]

Looking at the experience bar behind his level, Li Hao’s lips twitched slightly.

Advancing from the Eighth Stage to the Ninth Stage had required one million experience points. Now, to fully complete the Ninth Stage, he needed five million!

In the past six months, Li Hao had cleared out every Demon King beyond the pass. He made daily trips to the Great Wilderness Heaven, turning it into a hunting ground, striking fear into the hearts of its denizens.

Once a forbidden zone for Great Yu, the Great Wilderness Heaven had become a forbidden zone for demons because of him.

The presence of Demon Kings in the region near Liang Province’s Tianmen Pass had significantly diminished. Many had secretly relocated their lairs.

Who could blame them? For half a year, a monstrous youth had hunted them relentlessly, treating them as mere ingredients. It was a nightmare!

“At this rate, hunting Demon Kings will take another two and a half years to max out the level…”

Li Hao’s lips twitched again. If he could find Dao-Seeker Realm demons, it might save him a lot of time, but such demons were rare and not easy to locate, let alone hunt daily.

He shifted his gaze to the Heart State section of his interface.

Heart State: Dao-Seeking Heart (1 unit)

As expected, Li Hao thought. Without hesitation, he embedded the Dao-Seeking Heart into the Body Dao.

Moments later, with the consumption of the Dao-Seeking Heart, Li Hao upgraded his Body Dao.

Upgrade successful!

The Eighth Stage leaped straight to the Ninth.

Simultaneously, a torrent of boundless and profound insights surged into Li Hao’s consciousness.

The sensation was akin to consuming another Dao Fruit, leaving him momentarily dazed. Numerous concepts related to the Body Dao unraveled and presented themselves in his thoughts.

At the same time, thousands of Body Refining Techniques recorded on his interface were rapidly analyzed and evolved. The complex stream of information flowed into his consciousness. If not for his strong will and the condensation of his Primordial Spirit, this overwhelming influx of information and insight would have been enough to cause a mental breakdown—akin to suffering deviation during cultivation.

After what felt like an eternity, Li Hao gradually calmed down.

His cultivation level ascended from the Supreme Dao Realm to the Dao-Seeker Realm.

Although his Four Extremes Realm had not yet been pushed to its limit, Li Hao sensed that this would not hinder him. Much like cultivating the Primordial Spirit or reaching the Void Extreme Realm, he could continue improving with the acquisition of more techniques.

As his Body Dao reached the Dao-Seeker Realm, Li Hao felt the strength he absorbed within his body subtly transforming into Dao Force.

This Dao Force was then reabsorbed by his body, integrating seamlessly into his flesh.

His body underwent a metamorphosis, surpassing even the level of Sacred Heart Treasures, growing stronger with every moment.

It was well-known that Dao Force was indestructible—an immutable law.

If one could fuse Dao Force into their physical form, the body would become an impregnable fortress, akin to mixing cement into loose sand.

As the force continued to integrate, the Dao Force gradually transformed, enhancing his physique to unimaginable levels.

The Earth and Heaven Meridians drew in a massive amount of energy, converting it and infusing it into his body.

Li Hao’s body grew tougher and stronger, the portions imbued with Dao Force becoming as solid as cement reinforced with steel.

“If I were to face those six Dao-Law Realm cultivators again,” Li Hao thought, “even without entering the Transcendent State, my physical body alone could stand unshaken within their Dao Domains and resist the suppression of their laws!”

As he continued refining and converting his energy, Li Hao reviewed the techniques that had been analyzed and upgraded.

The first to catch his eye was the Stone Skin Hundred Refinements technique he had casually selected.

With his enhanced comprehension of the Body Dao, this technique had been elevated from a low-grade mortal-level art to a supreme body-refining masterpiece. Now, it had transformed into a Dao-Level Technique named Dao Body Forging.

The Dao Force absorbed into his body circulated according to the method outlined in this technique, making his physical form increasingly refined.

...

While Li Hao sat cross-legged at Tianmen Pass, immersed in cultivating the Dao-Seeker Realm, far away in the Imperial Palace above the capital, the tranquil flow of heavenly energy abruptly grew turbulent.

Noticing this strange disturbance, Emperor Yu, presiding over the morning court, subtly shifted his expression. Raising his gaze, his eyes seemed to pierce through the roof of the hall, focusing on the skies above the Imperial Palace.

In a swift movement, his expression changed, and he abruptly stood up.

The court ministers, who were debating strategies to counter Buddhist influences, froze in surprise at the emperor’s sudden reaction. They quickly bowed low, their foreheads nearly touching the floor.

The two officials who had been locked in heated argument moments ago turned pale, cold sweat trickling down their backs. Each feared they had said something that had offended the emperor, imagining their entire families facing execution.

Emperor Yu, however, paid no heed to them. In one stride, he exited the hall.

...

Meanwhile, at the Qiandao Palace, the structure had undergone significant changes. The old palace had vanished, replaced by a new one that closely resembled the original in form and function.

In the palace’s dimly lit chamber, a solitary oil lamp cast flickering shadows. An elderly man, seated on a meditation mat with eyes closed, suddenly opened them. A flicker of surprise crossed his gaze before his figure vanished into thin air, reappearing mid-air outside the palace.

Elsewhere, other cultivators at the Four Extremes Realm sensed the disturbance emanating from the Imperial Palace and stepped out in astonishment to observe.

They saw the energy above the Imperial Palace surge and grow denser, eventually coalescing into a single point. Suddenly, a golden thread of light emerged, unfurling rapidly until it formed what appeared to be a door in the void.

With a faint swoosh, a figure clad in luxurious robes stepped through the radiant portal, her every movement exuding elegance.

Following her, more figures emerged one after another.

Outside the main hall, Emperor Yu stood with his hands clasped behind his back, gazing upward. Chu Jiuyue arrived behind him, her face alight with surprise and joy as she exclaimed, “The Immortal Sect has opened!”

“They’ve returned!”

Her voice trembled with excitement.

A thousand years ago, the opening of the Immortal Sect had provided countless geniuses of the Great Yu Divine Dynasty an opportunity to enter and seek the path of sainthood.

Now, those who had once stepped into the Immortal Sect had finally returned!

The long years of cultivation were unimaginable. Their return heralded the arrival of unparalleled strength, potentially ushering in a new era of dominance for the Great Yu Divine Dynasty.

“Father Emperor!”

“Royal Brother!”

Some of the returning figures immediately recognized Emperor Yu standing outside the court. They descended swiftly, their auras exuding awe-inspiring power.

The first to land before Emperor Yu was a woman garbed in intricate robes of radiant splendor. Her demeanor was as ethereal as an immortal’s, her cold and brilliant gaze seeming to pierce through the mysteries of the world.

She moved with a grace that seemed untouched by mortal dust, her presence inspiring a sense of reverence. Even those around her felt a pressure that made them acutely aware of their insignificance in her presence.

Though her facial features had matured from the youthful contours of a sixteen or seventeen-year-old girl into the regal elegance of a woman of unparalleled beauty, Emperor Yu recognized her instantly.

It was none other than his most gifted daughter, Jiang Ziyan.

“It seems you’ve fared well there,” Emperor Yu remarked, sensing the waves of Dao Force emanating from her body. Though restrained, the sheer depth of her power was unmistakable—akin to a bottomless abyss. A slight outburst could likely cause unimaginable devastation.

She had reached the Dao-Law Realm... and possibly beyond.

A thousand years ago, she had only been at the Heaven and Man Realm. Now, she had ascended to the Dao-Law Realm.

Reaching the Saint Realm required the accumulation of incense offerings, an arduous process. Jiang Ziyan may have attained her current level long ago, but the lack of incense had barred her from advancing further.

Seeing the joy and pride in her father’s eyes, Jiang Ziyan’s cold demeanor softened into a gentle smile. She said softly, “Father Emperor, how has Great Yu fared all these years? Have you been well?”

“All is well, all is well…” Emperor Yu replied, his laughter brimming with joy.

Attaining the Dao-Law Realm was no small feat. Without exceptional talent, even two to three thousand years of cultivation would not suffice to reach this stage.

“Your humble subject, Xia Yucheng, greets Your Majesty,” a tall, imposing young man stepped forward and bowed slightly to Emperor Yu. His aura was concealed, yet the faint traces of Dao Force around him revealed his strength.

Despite his evident power, he conducted himself with utmost respect before Emperor Yu.

The emperor regarded him closely, recognizing him as one of the most outstanding prodigies of the Xia family from a thousand years ago. He was nearly comparable to Li Junye of the Li family, a hero of a later era who had perished prematurely.

Emperor Yu thought wistfully of the fallen Li Junye, sighing inwardly, and smiled warmly at Xia Yucheng. “It seems you’ve achieved much as well.”

Xia Yucheng smiled faintly, then turned to Jiang Ziyan, bowing his head slightly with an even greater air of reverence.

Noticing this, Emperor Yu’s eyes gleamed with a hint of surprise but quickly gave way to a deeper satisfaction.

“It seems my daughter has done quite well there…”

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