Follow the path of Dao from infancy

Chapter 729: Chapter 141: Hanhai Tower, Surge in Dao Domain

This kind of experience compression, Li Hao had already experienced on the Chess Tao, with his current level, if he competed against someone at the second or third stage, he could only gain a small amount of occasional experience.

The larger the disparity in stages, the more the experience dwindles, after all, there’s hardly anything to be gained.

Sometimes, one might only get a symbolic “1” point of experience.

Fortunately, although the experience varies, the Land of All Saints is not lacking in powerhouses, and the accumulation of Artistic Path Experience is still rapid. To rise from Ninth Stage to Tenth Stage with five million experiences, a single Saint could contribute three to four hundred thousand; ten Saints would suffice for perfection.

For a Semi-Saint, they could provide forty to fifty thousand experience.

At this moment, painting Emperor Canghai netted Li Hao over forty thousand experience.

Originally, when Li Hao painted the Yao Ancestor, he first received fifty thousand experience; it was uncertain whether Emperor Canghai was inferior to the Yao Ancestor, or if there was a slight compression in experience gain upon advancing to the Ninth Stage compared to the previous Artistic Path Experience at the Eighth Stage.

Regardless, if the other party was correct that the Yu Divine Dynasty had ten Semi-Saints serving, then painting them in sequence could also accumulate four to five hundred thousand experience.

If he painted multiple times, shearing the wool clean, he could accumulate over a million.

As he painted, Li Hao could discern the strength disparity among these individuals; however, he was unsure how much Artistic Path Experience he would gain if he painted himself.

Li Hao had tried self-portraiture in the alchemy courtyard but had not received any experience prompts.

It seemed akin to his own matches on the chessboard, where no experience was gained and exploiting the system’s loophole wasn’t an option.

Otherwise, every time his strength improved, he could paint a few self-portraits, thus achieving a form of self-sufficiency.

The difference in Artistic Path Experience between Chi Guang and a Semi-Saint was less than fifteen thousand, comparable to the gap between Chi Guang and the Cloud-robed Lady, which took Li Hao by surprise; the Fire Element Divine Ability previously displayed seemed to not be his true capability.

The other party had concealed their abilities well, evidently not revealing their talents prematurely, for the sake of petty incense fire.

After all, the impending Supreme Genius Battle was the main event. Revealing too much too soon could lead to the leakage of information and unfortunately, cause more harm than good.

“Qingfeng Tributor understands the Artistic Path too?”

Emperor Canghai, upon seeing Li Hao’s painting, was somewhat surprised. With his extensive experience, he recognized at a glance that Li Hao’s work qualified as a masterpiece, fit to become a classic passed down through generations—an achievement not attainable by a martial artist simulating without context, regardless of their strong physique. It mainly resided in the painting’s intrinsic Daoist Charm.

Without diligent study and immersion, it would be challenging to achieve, unless Li Hao was a natural-born Artistic Path prodigy.

Chi Guang and the Cloud-robed Lady also looked towards Li Hao’s painting. Initially thinking Li Hao’s intention to paint was a frivolous display, they were taken aback to actually see several masterpieces.

“This painting embodies Daoist Charm!”

The Cloud-robed Lady’s eyes became focused, realizing that this artwork was not simple.

Chi Guang glanced over and slightly raised an eyebrow, a trace of scorn flashing across his eyes.

The painting was indeed commendable, but this made it seem even more ridiculous—having talent but not endeavoring in cultivation, instead wasting time on such trivial skills, essentially destroying their future prospects.

The Dynasty’s chief imperial painter, witnessing Li Hao’s work, was jolted in awe.

Immersed in the Artistic Path more than the others, he understood the depth of expertise in Li Hao’s painting that mere mortals could hardly achieve in their lifetime, and even he had not touched upon it—but this martial artist youth had entered that realm.

The conception of painting as Entering Dao was his highest regarded state.

He looked at Li Hao, and his gaze suddenly brimmed with genuine respect.

Li Hao painted casually, not channeling his full strength into his work. After advancing to the Ninth Stage in the Artistic Path, his paintings had acquired formidable destructive power, far beyond mere decorative art.

After the artisan master had taken their measurements, Li Hao brought up his previous request for a Cultivation Technique.@@novelbin@@

Seeing Li Hao’s urgency, Emperor Canghai smiled and called over the Crown Prince, “My son, take Qingfeng Tributor to have a look in Hanhai Tower.”

The Crown Prince, noble and majestic, now showed a warm and welcoming smile, like a spring breeze, and said to Li Hao, “Qingfeng Tributor, please follow me.”

It was only then that Chi Guang and the others realized that aside from ten city domains, Li Hao had other demands.

Chi Guang slightly raised an eyebrow, surprised that the other party also had requests, and to the Imperial Family, the importance of a supreme Cultivation Technique was even greater than a princess.

He smirked inwardly, chiding the short-sightedness of the Canghai Divine Dynasty!

He had not yet exerted his full power, his Fire Element Divine Ability was merely a facet of his capabilities; his real talents were not intended to be disclosed here. Indeed, even before the Canghai Realm battle, he did not plan to reveal himself—how else could he compete against All Heavens later?

For him, using his true skills before leaving the Canglan Realm would be a failure.

His aim was never the Canglan Realm’s entry spot, but being first among All Heavens in the Thirty-Three Realms!

By then, being revered as a guest of honor by the Canghai Divine Dynasty in the presence of his own followers would be insignificant… Chi Guang chuckled internally, though he did not disdain further incense fire, as for Saints, the more, the better. Conflicts among Saints often arose from disputes over incense fire.

Humans fight for a breath of dignity; Buddhas, for a stick of incense.

Some Saints, though not Supreme, have vast and sustained incense fire, and thus hold high status.

Once affairs at the Emperor Hall were concluded, Li Hao followed the Crown Prince to the Canghai Divine Dynasty’s treasure trove of Cultivation Techniques in Hanhai Tower.

The towering Hanhai Tower, guarded by two Dao Law Realm Dragon Demons, made Li Hao think of the Mortal World’s Song Qiumo. He wondered how she was doing now as the Dayu Divine Dynasty’s nation-protecting Divine Beast.

“Tributor may enter to choose; I will wait outside.”