Chapter 990: 206 Big Dream Nine Abyss (10,000 Updates 3 - Vote for Monthly Tickets)_2

Chapter 990: Chapter 206 Big Dream Nine Abyss (10,000 Updates 3 – Vote for Monthly Tickets)_2

Li Hao opened his eyes and smiled at the middle-aged warrior, saying, “Senior is too kind.”

The middle-aged warrior shook his head slightly. He could see Li Hao’s terrifying potential—his physical body could easily withstand Heavenly Tribulation, far surpassing others of the same realm. In the future, Li Hao would surely achieve greatness.

Unfortunately, this ancient road was blocked, and no matter how extraordinary his talent, Li Hao was fated to remain buried in this desolate, broken battlefield—or to return to the Fake Realm to live out his days in quiet obscurity.

Li Hao restrained his aura to avoid attracting more ancient demons.

“The scenery here does have a unique charm.”

Li Hao opened the Heaven and Earth Space, retrieved a brush, ink, and painting board, and set them up.

The middle-aged warrior before him might be able to provide substantial Artistic Path Experience.

Currently at the Tenth Stage of the Artistic Path, his experience value had reached ten million.

Painting a Three Calamities Saint would only yield thirty to forty thousand experience points.

“Hmm?”

The middle-aged warrior noticed Li Hao’s actions and was a bit surprised but said nothing.

Li Hao quietly began painting, condensing the desolate and solemn scene before him into brushstrokes and ink.

Having transcended to the realm of Entering Saint in the Artistic Path, Li Hao focused on his work, and waves of Daoist Charm emanated from his painting, as if the principles of the Dao were gathering here, pulling the heavens toward him.

The middle-aged warrior sensed the disturbance and couldn’t help but feel astonished—such a phenomenon was the hallmark of the Dao Entrance Level.

“Your painting… has entered the Dao?”

The middle-aged warrior couldn’t help but ask.

It was known that achieving Dao Entrance in art was akin to cultivating the Sacrificial Dao—a considerable test of skill and dedication.

“Yes.”

Li Hao nodded, his brushwork gradually sketching the figure of the middle-aged warrior.

Though the middle-aged warrior was sitting across from Li Hao, his Divine Sense allowed him to see the depiction emerging in the painting. He realized his own figure was included—and that it seemed ready to step out of the canvas. He froze for a moment, his gaze toward Li Hao now layered with complexity.

Li Hao’s displayed talent earlier had merely left him feeling regretful, but the brilliance now revealed by his artistic gift indicated Li Hao’s potential was even greater than he had imagined!

With a finite soul life, managing to divert attention to such depth in cultivation was remarkable. If Li Hao could be afforded more resources and care, he was certain to soar to unimaginable heights.

“I didn’t expect that before my end, I’d encounter someone like you after all.”

The middle-aged warrior’s eyes reflected his regret, but almost immediately, memories of the battlefield surfaced. Countless peerless geniuses—those who had dazzled the True Realm, unimaginable monsters, Immortal Lords, even the supreme Immortal Emperor—all had fallen here. His regret gradually faded, leaving only desolation.

No matter how exceptional Li Hao’s talent was, even if it bordered on monstrous, in the end, he was still like those awe-inspiring figures who had gone before him—destined to fall, to turn into nothing but dust.

He shook his head slightly, no longer lingering on these thoughts, letting his spirit settle into silence.

Li Hao felt the subtle shifts in the middle-aged warrior’s emotions as he painted but did not inquire. He simply continued to depict them faithfully in his art.

Soon, as the painting reached completion, an experience notification popped into view.

[Artistic Path Experience +3,482,993]

“…”

Li Hao was momentarily stunned and rubbed his eyes in disbelief. After rechecking carefully, he confirmed that the number was correct.

Nearly three and a half million experience!

Li Hao was taken aback. He knew that as the Artistic Path advanced, the expectations for his creations increased correspondingly.

Previously, painting a Semi-Saint had brought over thirty thousand experience points; now, painting such figures would yield no more than ten thousand—a significant decrease.

Yet, drawing the middle-aged warrior had somehow gifted him with such an astonishing amount of experience. It was truly terrifying.

If he continued painting the warrior a few more times, he might be able to fill his ten-stage limit of Artistic Path experience solely from this individual.

Moreover, beyond the middle-aged warrior—what if he depicted the First-Level ancient demon from earlier?

If that ancient demon could battle the middle-aged warrior, it likely offered two to three million experience as well.

“It seems the experience will be filled quickly. However, accumulating experience is not the hard part—it’s understanding the State of Mind. To surpass the bottleneck at the Artistic Path’s Tenth Stage and progress further… would require insight into a higher realm. Could it be the Immortal Realm?”

Li Hao’s eyes shimmered with thought.

Fortunately, even though understanding the State of Mind was difficult, the process itself was deeply captivating.

No matter what, first, he would fill his experience gauge.

Li Hao stored the completed painting away and quickly resumed his work, only to find the subsequent experience had dipped significantly—almost by half.

This barren land offered little amusement, but Li Hao, passionate about the Artistic Path, didn’t find the repetitive task tedious.

Even if he remained here for tens of thousands of years, he would still find joy in his craft.

The middle-aged warrior noted the faint smile that unintentionally graced Li Hao’s face. This youth seemed to be in high spirits despite the sorrowful, despairing surroundings. Was it because he hadn’t grasped the depth of this hopelessness—or because he truly had the ability to rise above it?

With every painting, Li Hao’s Artistic Path experience quietly accumulated, already approaching eight million.

Suddenly, the gaze of the middle-aged warrior shifted, directing attention toward a distant spot.

Li Hao sensed it too and immediately paused his brushwork, his expression turning grim.

Quickly, he stowed away his painting board, not bothering to finish the incomplete sketch.

“They’re here again. Smelled fresh prey, and they’re hungry.”

The middle-aged warrior muttered in a low voice, his flesh and blood manifesting, returning him to his physical form.

He gripped his sword, his aura flaring, and addressed Li Hao, “Hide in the war chariot and be careful.”

“Senior, you need not worry about me,”

Li Hao replied.

He unleashed his Primordial Spirit, his Divine Sense rapidly spreading, soon extending beyond a hundred miles to much farther out.

Within those hundred miles, malevolent intent saturated the air, expanding ominously. A fierce wind surged as colossal, grotesque figures charged forth—it was the ancient demons.

Fresh from their previous battle’s respite, they had returned, and Li Hao felt the crushing weight of surviving in such a place.

Whoosh!

The void suddenly tore—a massive ancient demon appeared before Li Hao as though materializing out of nowhere.