Chapter 994: 206 Big Dream Nine Abyss (10,000 Updates 3 - Vote for Monthly Tickets)_6

Chapter 994: Chapter 206 Big Dream Nine Abyss (10,000 Updates 3 – Vote for Monthly Tickets)_6

“I didn’t expect that just a damaged top-tier Daoist weapon could help you instantly kill a Third Rank Ancient Demon. Truly, impressive!”

Li Hao’s display of combat prowess left the middle-aged warrior in awe. With such strength, had Li Hao joined the Emperor’s Army under the Heavenly Calamity Immortal Emperor in the past, he would have been more than qualified.

Li Hao chuckled. He had originally worried about the other man being surrounded and injured, but now it seemed he had been overly concerned.

To be able to defend this place for countless ages and still survive—how extraordinary.

“You said you wanted to keep the body; I’ve kept it for you.”

The middle-aged warrior spoke to Li Hao.

Li Hao surveyed the scattered fragments, each as large as a boulder. Though not finely broken, it wouldn’t affect the cooking process.

“Alright, we’re in for a hearty feast. I wonder what Ancient Demon meat tastes like,”

Li Hao remarked.

The middle-aged warrior laughed upon hearing this and replied, “This thing’s meat carries little nutrition—we’ve captured it for army provisions in the past, but found it quite difficult to digest.”

“Let me process it and see.”

Li Hao said.

He gestured, gathering the scattered chunks and simultaneously retrieving the corpses of other Third Rank Ancient Demons he had slain.

Soon after, he and the middle-aged warrior returned to the bronze chariot.

Li Hao raised his hand, and within moments, the Chaos Divine Fire materialized in his palm.

Seeing the Chaos Divine Fire in Li Hao’s hand, the middle-aged warrior’s eyes revealed a trace of astonishment. “Chaos Divine Fire? This is a secret technique from the Artifact Refining Immortal Sect.”

“Hmm?”

Li Hao was slightly surprised, but when he thought about the countless experts among the Immortal Divine, it wasn’t surprising that someone had detected the Chaos Divine Fire.

“For cooking, it’s an excellent divine fire.”

Li Hao smiled faintly.

He then began controlling the fragments, processing the Ancient Demon’s body and roasting it mid-air using the Chaos Divine Fire.

The heavens and earth became his stove as the Chaos Divine Fire seared the Ancient Demon’s flesh. Under Li Hao’s precise control, even the thickest, most robust pieces were roasted to a crispy exterior with a tender interior.

Next, he retrieved numerous jars and bottles from the Heaven and Earth Space, containing seasonings—some of which he had refined himself.

The middle-aged warrior watched Li Hao’s actions with astonishment. “You’re really a cook?”

Li Hao chuckled and replied, “It’s just a hobby.”

“You seem to have quite a number of hobbies.”

Recalling Li Hao’s earlier painting, which had reached the Dao Entrance Level, the middle-aged warrior found it hard to imagine such a soul, less than sixty years old, diving into the Artistic Path with such dedication and passion.

As the roasting continued, Li Hao sprinkled seasonings, and the aroma gradually began to waft through the air.

When the middle-aged warrior smelled the enticing aroma, a long-lost sense of appetite quietly emerged within him.

He looked at Li Hao and asked, “Earlier, you used your Primordial Spirit to execute a swordsmanship technique. If I’m not mistaken, it seemed like the Immortal Guide technique from the Dream Nine Abyss Sect?”

Li Hao thought of the name recorded on his panel—the prefix of Immortal Guide indeed belonged to Dream Nine Abyss. So, it turned out there was such a sect.

“Yes.”

Upon hearing Li Hao’s affirmation, the middle-aged warrior sighed emotionally, “No wonder. Dream Nine Abyss was founded by the second disciple of the Heavenly Calamity Immortal Emperor. That Immortal King was a peerless talent in Sword Dao. His Nine Abyss Swordsmanship consisted of only nine moves, yet it’s said that apart from the Immortal Emperor, no one could withstand the full nine strokes.”

With a look of reminiscence in his eyes, he continued, “You came from the Fake Realm, so I reckon you’re a descendant of that master. Traces of his legacy must have been left in the Fake Realm. Unfortunately, during that battle ages ago, the Dream Nine Abyss Sect also participated and suffered devastating losses. I don’t know if their Dao Tong is still intact. As for the True Realm beyond this Ancient Road—what kind of state it’s in now—I’m unsure. Sometimes, I even wonder if I’m the only one left in the entire True Realm…”

His expression carried a hint of sorrow.

Li Hao’s assistance triggered many memories from his past.

“If the Dream Nine Abyss Sect has indeed perished, then you might barely count as its one and only half-heir.”

The middle-aged warrior murmured.

Seeing such pessimism in him, Li Hao felt a faint heaviness in his heart. A disaster of this magnitude unfolding across the True Realm—what could the state of the outside world be like?

“Senior, how have you managed to survive this long?”

Li Hao asked, his curiosity piqued.

The question was a bit forward, but the middle-aged warrior merely cast a glance at Li Hao without taking offence. Pain flickered across his face as he answered:

“You might think I’m a deserter—and yes, I am a deserter…”

“…”

Li Hao shook his head and said, “Senior, don’t misunderstand. I don’t think that at all. Guarding this gate for so long under the Immortal Emperor’s orders—you could never be a deserter.”

The middle-aged warrior responded bitterly, “During that massive battle, they all died. By the time our reinforcement unit arrived, the battlefield was nearly overrun. My comrades had all fallen. Only I survived. As I was about to perish, one of the Immortal Kings saved me. Using that Immortal King’s chariot and treasures, I narrowly escaped death.”

“When I awoke again, countless ages had passed. The battle was long over, but remnants of the Ancient Demons still lingered here, wandering this place…”

Li Hao fell silent, realizing that the man’s self-proclaimed desertion likely referred to his inability to die alongside his comrades.

Having grown up in the Divine General Mansion, deeply influenced by the tales of battlefield warriors, Li Hao could empathize with their anguish.

The middle-aged warrior gazed at the distant stars and spoke softly, “My only wish is to see what the True Realm has become before I die. Has it been entirely overrun by Ancient Demons, or did we win that war? Could this battlefield have merely been buried, leaving no one to come here?”

Li Hao remained silent, equally curious.

If the True Realm had been overtaken entirely, then there would truly be no immortals left.

The ultimate pursuit of cultivation would lead only to despair and dead ends.

At that moment, the aroma of the roasted meat pulled Li Hao’s wandering thoughts back. He said lightly:

“No matter what, let’s eat first.”

The middle-aged warrior glanced at him and noted the unwavering optimism that seemed to emanate from this young man.

An unyielding kind of freedom.

“With your current strength, you should be able to return to the Fake Realm by now. Staying here with me serves no purpose.”

The middle-aged warrior said.

Li Hao’s eyes flickered slightly upon hearing these words.

Having reached the Ten Stage of Controlling Dao, his myriad techniques had advanced significantly. If faced with a Source Ancestor or Divine King, he was confident he could hold his own—even retreat if necessary.

“Let’s try my cooking first.”

Li Hao spoke.

The middle-aged warrior set his gaze on the roasted Ancient Demon meat, his eyes betraying a hint of anticipation. Though he hadn’t tasted it yet, he could sense that Li Hao’s culinary skill was undeniably remarkable.

Li Hao skillfully cut a slice using the Remnant Blade, offering it to the warrior before beginning to eat his own portion.