The Name of Eternals

Chapter 211: Clearing the River of Death

"Hao'er, what are you saying?"

Li Xiaoran was shocked by Li Hao's whisper. He watched as the surrounding power converged, madly pressing towards Li Hao's body.

That power formed a storm, isolating him. The sheer force of its concentration made him feel unable to approach.

At the center of this vortex of power, Li Hao's body emitted a golden glow. His previously restored black hair turned silver-white again, strand by strand.

From black to white, it seemed as if his vitality was fading away.

Li Xiaoran stood stunned, feeling his blood freeze. He guessed what Li Hao intended to do.

He opened his mouth slightly, wanting to shout to stop him, but the words stuck in his throat, unable to be spoken.

Was there any other hope? None.

He couldn't help but shed tears. He never expected that after all his years of effort, it would come down to a child risking everything!

He looked at Li Tianzong, who was striding forward like a demon god, and said sorrowfully, "Big brother, please wake up, your grandson has come to take you home!!"

Boom! In response, Li Tianzong abruptly raised his fist, a black meteor-like fist wreathed in smoke, smashing down towards them.

At the same time, the surrounding demons surged like a tide, clearly within the range of the fist's power, yet still crazily rushing towards them.

Li Xiaoran instantly understood that the current situation was influenced by the River of Death. They were no longer facing mere demons or Li Tianzong, but the River of Death itself!

The River of Death intended to use the hands of countless demons and Li Tianzong to keep them, the living, there to accompany the dead in eternal slumber! Under the howling fist's power, a dazzling azure sword light burst forth, forcibly halting the massive fist.

But it was only a brief pause before the fist descended again.

Li Hao's aura swirled around him, his golden body under divine power continuously cracking. Immortal Transformation had already surpassed eighty percent of its critical limit.

Yet his aura kept rising, rushing towards the abyss of death.

Li Hao's expression, however, grew calm at this moment. The Frost Sword in his hand let out a sharp cry, slashing at the fist again.

The sword soul within wailed, howling in pain, barely managing to deflect the hand.

Li Tianzong's body paused, his blood-red eyes glaring, roaring, "All soldiers, follow me! Kill! Break out!"

He seemed to mistake this place for the former battlefield of Dragon City, viewing Li Hao as a demon, intending to lead all soldiers through this deadly challenge.

Li Hao remained silent. The Frost Sword in the air, releasing a vast river of sword energy, enveloped Li Xiaoran, protecting him and slashing towards the demons and mutated soldiers.

Perhaps the real way to clear the River of Death was to assist Dragon City in battling the demons during the ten-day defense, ensuring the formation wasn't breached, and allowing the city's soldiers to be nearly exhausted. Only then, during the mutation phase, might there be hope to hold on and resolve everything themselves.

This was invaluable information, but whether it could be taken out remained unknown.

The river of sword energy cleared the demons around Li Xiaoran. Li Hao looked at Li Tianzong, who had already unleashed his domain.

"Fourth Uncle, take care of yourself and try to survive. I'll see if I can carve out a chance for you!"

Li Hao spoke softly.

This was to repay Li Xiaoran for his help outside the River of Death.

The opportunity he sought was to defeat Li Tianzong and kill all the demons. If the River of Death ended, Li Xiaoran could leave.

But to do so, Li Hao needed to reach the limit of Immortal Transformation, a slim hope.

Even Li Hao was uncertain.

With that, he soared into the sky, gathering the power of the four corners of the world, throwing a fierce punch towards Li Tianzong to halt his advance and contain the battlefield, preventing it from spreading to Li Xiaoran.

Boom!!

Li Tianzong also raised his fist, hurling it with a roar. The clash felt like heaven and earth colliding, the terrifying shockwaves knocking out and killing demons within a ten-mile radius.

Li Hao's body rapidly cracked and healed, bathed in blood, resembling a bloody figure.

Li Tianzong's domain expanded, encompassing four to five miles, engulfing Li Hao's body, leaving no room for escape. This was the true speed of a Grand Dao Realm's domain expansion.

Within the domain appeared multiple rules, not just one, incorporating those mastered by other Grand Dao Realm demon kings, all overlapping and fusing.

The pressure of several rules bore down, rapidly disintegrating Li Hao's body.

But fortunately, his body, at the strength of a nine-forged divine weapon, barely held on for a moment.

In that brief instant, Li Hao used his ultimate movement techniques to retreat from the domain's range.

As soon as he exited the domain, his body's disintegration slowed.

Li Tianzong, however, seemed fixated on Li Hao, striding after him.

While retreating, Li Hao soared into the sky, drawing more of the world's power.

His body tore and disintegrated again, nearing collapse.

When Immortal Transformation exceeded ninety percent, Li Hao's skin and flesh fell away, revealing blood and tissue, making him look like he had crawled out of a blood pool, a terrifying sight.

But Li Hao's absorption did not stop, continuing towards the limit.

The world's power pressed down more madly, beyond restraint, pushing towards the ultimate destruction.

Soon, Li Hao's Immortal Transformation reached ninety-nine percent.

His flesh fell away, his organs exposed, his body a barely holding shell.

Based on his experience in the Tianren Realm, upon fully achieving Immortal Transformation, his consciousness might only last a moment before extinguishing.

That would be the ultimate moment.

But now, his body was tens of times stronger than in the Tianren Realm. Even in this extreme state, he could barely maintain for a few breaths.

Boom! Li Hao's body completely fused with the world, reaching the limit of Immortal Transformation.

His flesh seemed to disappear, his consciousness detached, merging into the vast expanse of the world.

At that moment, Li Hao heard the world fall silent.

The countless roars and howls of demons in Dragon City vanished.

His hearing seemed broken, his body feeling like it had fallen into a vast lake, his consciousness connecting like a spider's web to the entire lake.

He was the world!

The three realms of the Grandmaster: seeing oneself, seeing the world, seeing all beings.

At this moment, Li Hao seemed to truly "see the world."

He suddenly understood where his path of seeking the Dao should lead.

But there was no time to consolidate his Dao heart.

There might never be another chance.

An unimaginable power connected to his consciousness. In that moment, Li Hao became the ruler of this world.

He felt the vast power coursing through him, clashing and destroying.

He was unprecedentedly strong, yet unprecedentedly fragile! His life was about to end.

All this happened in an instant, Li Hao's consciousness shifting from the world back to himself, seeing his disintegrating body. His calm eyes showed a flash of killing intent, suddenly activating the power of Undying!

Instantly, his disintegrating body began to slowly regenerate!

A powerful regenerative force, like the revival of all things, made new flesh grow, filling the previously empty shell, restoring blood and tissue.

His body, strong as a nine-forged divine weapon, in a state of divine power, greatly increased in regenerative power. Coupled with the Undying power, he could finally withstand the collapse and decay of complete Immortal Transformation.

While his body was regenerating and disintegrating, it still seemed to be regenerating.

The destruction of the body from extreme Immortal Transformation did not stop, only appeared to.

In dozens of instances of disintegration and regeneration within moments, his flesh was continuously tempered, reaching an even more extreme level.

But once the Undying power ended, Li Hao's life would conclude, completely achieving Immortal Transformation, disappearing into the world!

And the Undying power lasted only three minutes.

A mighty demonic aura swept forth, Li Tianzong's blood-red eyes roaring, "You can't stop me!!"

Li Hao looked up, seeing the blood-red violent eyes glaring at him, face contorted with deep hatred, far from the previous gentleness.

But Li Hao knew, the Li Tianzong before him was not the Li Tianzong he once knew.

He wasn't angry, his eyes calm, gripping his sword tightly, feeling his body continuously breaking and regenerating, and the piercing pain, he said softly: "I won't stop you, I'll just guide you."

The Frost Sword in his palm seemed to resonate with his will, bursting forth with brilliant azure frost, cutting through the demon-tainted sky, dividing it with a blue light.

The vast sword intent gathered in Li Hao's palm, the nine-forged divine sword showing cracks, signs of breaking.

The sword body couldn't bear the vast world's power Li Hao infused into it.

Li Hao didn't retreat, charging towards Li Tianzong.

As he entered the domain, it felt like stepping on lotus flowers, the domain's rules were automatically pushed away by his body, unable to touch him!

His blood-soaked figure moved like an ethereal immortal, crossing Li Tianzong's domain, the sword light falling gently.

But this seemingly gentle strike carried thunderous silver-white light, easily cutting through the domain, slashing at Li Tianzong.

Li Tianzong sensed the danger, suddenly looking up, his blood-red eyes glaring at the dazzling sword light. He roared, and several demon king heads, formed from demonic energy, emerged from his body, shouting:

"Block it!!"

Roar!!

Li Tianzong roared, summoning a long spear from the spatial void.

The spear's shaft, resembling dark iron, was entwined with spiral dragon patterns. As his hand grasped it, divine flames surged skyward, and he fiercely thrust the spear towards the sword light.

With a loud boom, the sword energy clashed, causing the heavens to tremble.

The force beyond the Dao Realm tore through, shaking the buildings and demons within a ten-mile radius to shreds.

Li Tianzong roared at the sky, but the spear was continuously pushed back. His aura grew violent, and the demon kings showed ferocious expressions, shouting angrily: "Useless, you can't escape!"

With another boom, the spear was knocked away, and the sword light shot straight to the ground.

The entire Dragon City quaked violently, as if struck by a ten-magnitude earthquake.

Li Tianzong's body was slashed by the sword light, blood splattering as it cut from his shoulder to his thigh.

The demon kings on him roared, quickly mobilizing demonic energy to heal the wounds.

Li Hao saw this, his eyes remaining calm. His strength now, only he could fully understand. He had mastered this world, becoming a true godlike being! He raised his hand, and immense power surged from all directions, condensing into countless sword energies, merging into three silver-white beams, instantly striking towards Li Tianzong.

In a blink, the power was summoned and concentrated, wielding unimaginable force.

As an immortal, he could call forth wind and rain, omnipotent.

At this moment, Li Hao wielded the power of the world, able to command such might.

No matter how strong the domain, it could not truly destroy the world or shatter the void, thus Li Hao could not be surrounded or destroyed by the domain!

Boom! Three consecutive sword beams shattered the domain, ignoring its rules, directly slashing Li Tianzong, severing his arm and cleaving his chest, releasing more demonic energy.

From a distance, Zhuhuo Shen and Lady Yin crept closer, planning to deliver a final blow to Li Hao. Seeing this horrifying scene, they were both stunned.

Li Tianzong, with multiple domains condensed, was being suppressed by the white-haired Li Hao! "What did he do, how is this possible?"

Lady Yin's eyes widened, filled with disbelief.

Zhuhuo Shen's pupils contracted, his heart racing. Ancient memories surfaced, causing his hair to stand on end.

"That seems like the power of a Saint..."

He murmured, feeling an indescribable shock.

Li Tianzong's massive body staggered back, severely injured by Li Hao's sword energy, blood spraying everywhere.

But his eyes shot out a more terrifying red light, roaring angrily. The demon king heads on him tried to roar at Li Hao but suddenly seemed to be pulled back by some force, changing color.

"Bastard..."

Before the demon king heads could shout, they were retracted into Li Tianzong's body, as if forcibly drawn in.

Then, Li Tianzong's demonic aura grew thicker, his wounds quickly healing, limbs regrowing.

"Those who block me will die!!"

He roared, his eyes bleeding, condensing the demon king's shadows behind him, enhancing his terrifying power. The domain contracted, gathering on the spear, piercing the void.

This thrust, like a thunderbolt, tore through the sky, threatening to rip apart Dragon City.

Li Hao raised his hand, performing his ultimate sword technique, Sword Extremes of Reincarnation! Spring and autumn, winter and summer, comprising dozens of sword arts and Dao, all merging into the four seasons.

Finally, the four seasons rotated, forming a pitch-black sword beam.

This beam, like night, could engulf everything, covering all.

It contained a terrifying essence of destruction, crashing against the spear.

A violent shockwave erupted, tearing Li Tianzong's flesh and breaking his demonic body, burning his entire meridians and soul, unleashing boundless power.

Li Hao's body also bled and crumbled. The earlier strongest strike drew more power, shortening the duration of the Undying power, reducing it from three minutes to half.

Li Hao knew his time was running out.

Seeing the frenzied Li Tianzong charging, he met the attack head-on.

They fought fiercely in midair, their punches and kicks causing terrifying shockwaves.

"Soldiers, kill with me!"

Li Tianzong roared again. The mutated soldiers of the city turned into black smoke, flying towards him, merging with his body.

Li Hao's face changed. If Li Tianzong succeeded in merging, even in his Immortal Transformation state, he might not be able to stop him.

Why so persistent?

Li Hao looked at the blood-red violent eyes, sighing softly.

He wanted to look at the world one more time, even if it was an illusion.

But he knew he had no time left.

"I'll take you home..."

Li Hao raised his hand. The Frost Sword shattered, but he used his power to hold the fragments together, forming a broken blade, unleashing the strongest sword intent again.

Three consecutive strikes, one slashing the city's demons and soldiers, the other two striking Li Tianzong.

His demonic aura was dispersed, his body exploded, and his chest split open.

But such a powerful attack accelerated Li Hao's disintegration, the consolidated Frost Sword turning to remnants. He had to fight with his fists.

Boom, boom, boom! Punch after punch landed on Li Tianzong's massive body, riddling it with holes, shaking out the demonic energy within.

Li Tianzong roared angrily but was completely suppressed by Li Hao.

He seemed to realize he had lost.

"I want to go home, I want to take you all home..."

He let out a wounded beast's sorrowful roar, tears of blood flowing from his eyes, as if returning to the despair when Dragon City fell.

Boom! Li Hao's final punch shattered the demonic aura on Li Tianzong, his hundred-zhang-tall demonic body disappearing, falling straight into the city.

At this moment, Li Hao's body was terrifying, his chest and abdomen's flesh falling away, leaving an empty shell.

The Undying power could no longer sustain, and it was nearly depleted.

Li Hao turned to the city, raised his hand, summoning all the world's power, slashing out.

A sword beam, like ripples, radiated from him, rapidly extending. Its destructive power, comparable to the domain's extension, erased demons and mutated soldiers without a scream.

This included some great demon kings of the Third Immortal Realm and even demon kings, all unable to resist.

Zhuhuo Shen tried to escape, but the force came too quickly. He used his domain to block, roaring, but his body was overwhelmed.

"Haor!"

Li Xiaoran rushed over, seeing Li Hao's body disintegrating like dust.

Li Tianzong climbed out of the pit, disheveled but free of demonic aura, the black energy in his eyes gone.

He looked around, seeing Li Hao fading in midair, his pupils contracting as he rushed over.

"Child!"

He flew like a rainbow, reaching Li Hao, his body trembling:

"How could you do such a foolish thing!"

Li Hao felt his consciousness being pulled by the world's power, close to vanishing. Seeing the seemingly awakened Li Tianzong, he smiled faintly: "Now you should be able to go back..."

Golden text appeared beside him, indicating the main quest completed.

Was this considered clearing the trial?

Li Hao tried to see clearly, but his vision blurred. Everything seemed to recede, pulling him into the vast world, fully merging.

"If I cleared it, I should be free..."

Li Hao murmured.

His body dissipated like dust before Li Tianzong and Li Xiaoran.

Li Xiaoran, covered in demon blood, watched Li Hao disappear like a breeze, stunned.

The boy's final faint words fell into his ears, making him cry uncontrollably.

Clearing the River of Death meant Big Brother Li Tianzong could be freed.

But Li Hao couldn't go back!