Upon hearing the Great Dream Master's words, Li Hao remembered the previous reward, the Flying Immortal Pill. Every True Immortal realm cultivator could take one pill to directly increase their cultivation by one level. Only major sects with deep foundations would reward their top talents with such a pill.
"I haven't used it yet."
Li Hao had planned to save the Flying Immortal Pill for Elder Feng and the others, or for Lin Qingying. But the cultivation time was pressing, and it would take at least two months for him to reach the tenth stage.
"Then it's best to take it now. Whether you can break through the bottleneck and advance to the Immortal Lord realm after reaching the tenth stage depends on your fortune."
The Great Dream Master breathed a sigh of relief and immediately said with a smile.
Li Hao nodded, but some childhood shadows surfaced in his mind.
He knew that when he took pills, they would be filtered and lose their effect. However, he was fortunate that when he enjoyed food, it wouldn't happen. He still needed to process and cook the Flying Immortal Pill, transforming it from a pill into delicious food. This way, he could also remove the toxins from the immortal pill, making it easier to absorb.
"There are still ten days. Cultivate well."
The Great Dream Master's figure floated up like clouds and mist, leaving Li Hao. She said, "Wait until you achieve a good ranking in the Southern Region Conference, and I'll give you another gift that you'll absolutely love."
Li Hao asked curiously, "What gift?"
"It's a secret."
The Great Dream Master smiled mysteriously, her eyes soft.
Li Hao didn't press further, only nodding and saying, "What Senior has given me is already very good."
The Great Dream Master shook her head slightly, smiling without speaking. During these two months of interaction, she had seen the character of this young man. His Dao heart was extraordinary, his temperament was neither arrogant nor impatient, and he was detached from external things, which made her very fond of him.
"I'll go check on the cultivation of others. You can cultivate here on your own. If you need anything, just shout into the air, and I will appear."
The Great Dream Master said, then drifted away like clouds and mist.
Seeing this, Li Hao didn't delay further. After the Great Dream Master left, he raised his hand and drew a cauldron in the void. Then he took out the Flying Immortal Pill from his spatial ring and threw it into the cauldron.
He raised his hand, and the Chaotic Divine Fire condensed in his palm. Its temperature was higher and purer than before. With his current fourth level of the Fire Dao, his fire control ability was far superior to what it was before.
As the Chaotic Divine Fire refined the pill, immortal power quickly steamed out of the cauldron, and the medicinal scent of the Flying Immortal Pill also diffused.
However, this scent was mixed with toxins, making it somewhat strange and pungent. Li Hao took out some seasonings from his spatial ring and added them. Soon, the pungent smell dissipated, and the mixed scent of various medicinal herbs and essence blood in the Flying Immortal Pill, combined with the seasonings, emitted a spicy and mellow aroma.
Li Hao felt a great appetite, slowly controlled the fire to reduce the soup, then opened the cauldron, and a burst of hot steam wafted out.
Li Hao took a deep breath, and with a wave of his hand, he took out a round, meatball-like Flying Immortal Pill from the cauldron.
However, unlike the previous silver-white pill, this Flying Immortal Pill now had sauce clinging to it, like a braised meatball.
Li Hao didn't hesitate and swallowed it in one gulp.
When he encountered Elder Feng and the others again in the future, if their cultivation was still in the True Immortal realm, Li Hao could find Flying Immortal Pills for them again.
Although this pill was valuable, with the immortal stones he had accumulated, he could afford one or two.
As he swallowed the cooked Flying Immortal Pill, Li Hao suddenly felt a surge of immortal power explode within him. This power was not gentle but erupted violently, surging into all parts of his body.
In an instant, the immortal power within him was impacted, stirring up turbulent waves, and it vibrated and fluctuated uncontrollably.
With continuous vibration, the immortal power became increasingly dense, and the external immortal power also resonated at this moment, being drawn into his body.
Li Hao felt this miraculous change and did not stop it, letting the immortal power within his body undergo earth-shattering changes. Not long after, he felt the saturated immortal power within him suddenly ascend to another new realm.
Li Hao knew that his realm had been elevated, reaching the tenth level of the True Immortal realm.
Immortal power surged into his body, his sea of consciousness expanded, and his immortal meridians also became larger, capable of holding more than twice the amount of immortal power as before!
Taking advantage of this momentum, Li Hao rapidly absorbed the external immortal power, continuously filling his immortal meridians. As a swollen and tingling sensation gradually appeared, Li Hao understood that he had reached the peak of the tenth level.
"Years of arduous cultivation are not as effective as one pill. This is the foundation of a sect."
Li Hao sighed in his heart. Who said that talent can determine everything? If one only has talent but no cultivation resources, even the strongest talents will be submerged.
After all, there is no shortage of talents in the world, but cultivation resources are limited.
Therefore, no matter how brilliant or unparalleled the talent, they cannot escape the torrent of competition.
As his realm ascended, Li Hao sat cross-legged in the main hall, carefully feeling the changes. After his cultivation gradually stabilized, he opened his eyes and raised his hand to put away the cauldron in front of him.
This cauldron was just his drawing, but it now possessed a certain degree of real cauldron effect, and its quality was not low.
"When I reach the twelfth stage, I should be able to draw true treasure-level war weapons, and even exert their real effects in a short time."
Li Hao thought to himself, feeling a sense of anticipation. Painting also depends on materials. Without materials, if one relies solely on their painting skills and immortal power as ink to draw, reaching the true treasure level is the limit.
If it were sculpting, if he reached the twelfth stage in sculpting, Li Hao felt that if he was given excellent immortal materials, he could even sculpt immortal weapons!
This would be truly hand-made immortal weapons, not as complex as refining artifacts.
Thinking of this, Li Hao's anticipation grew. If he really reached that point, with the sustainability of his All-Heaven Star Meridian, he could continuously draw war weapons, and even become an army of one!
Li Hao put away his thoughts and used the remaining time to once again concentrate on drawing the Divine Tree of Time Origin.
In a blink of an eye, ten days passed.
In another hall and courtyard within the Langya Painting Realm.
"Master, this time at the Southern Region Conference, I and Junior Sister will definitely achieve good rankings, please rest assured!"
In the courtyard, a young man and a young woman stood together, perfectly matched like a pair of golden boy and jade girl. The young man's eyes were full of fighting spirit, and he said forcefully to the Great Dream Master in front of him.
The Great Dream Master smiled and said, "Although you two have also reached the Immortal Lord realm, you have just entered the first level, and there is still a considerable gap compared to others. Don't underestimate them. If you proceed steadily, you have a chance to enter the top hundred this time!"
"The total number of Immortal Lord realm disciples from each celestial sect is at most a hundred, so wouldn't that be at the bottom? Master, please don't underestimate us."
The young woman with red lips and white teeth next to him, who seemed lively and intelligent with dark and bright eyes, said playfully to the Great Dream Master.
The Great Dream Master smiled, saying, "Don't be boastful. The big picture is important. As long as we can enter the top hundred, coupled with the immortal achievements made by our sect's elders and other disciples at the border, our promotion to a Tier-1 Sect is already a certainty. Moreover, it's not just you two in our sect, others can also achieve good rankings."
"Master, are you talking about that guy named Haotian?"
The young woman immediately asked, her eyes filled with great curiosity. "I heard that he achieved a good result of tenth place in the Ancient Immortal Realm of the Yan Chu Immortal Dynasty this time and also got the opportunity to cultivate in the Seven-Year Origin Secret Realm. Has he broken through to the Immortal Lord realm now?"
"How could it be so fast? He was only at the ninth level of the True Immortal realm before. The Origin Secret Realm focuses on comprehending the Dao, not realm cultivation. But as long as his Dao realm is profound, when he breaks through to the Immortal Lord one day, he will be a powerhouse in the Immortal Lord realm."
The Great Dream Master chuckled softly. She knew that Li Hao's soul longevity was only a mere hundred years. Being able to cultivate to the True Immortal realm with such little soul longevity was already extremely monstrous, not to mention that he was now at the tenth level of the True Immortal realm. When his soul longevity was verified at the Southern Region Conference, she estimated that it would shock many people.
"Ah? He hasn't reached the Immortal Lord realm yet? Then won't it be difficult for him to enter the top hundred in the overall ranking this time? Is he deliberately suppressing his cultivation to get a good ranking in the True Immortal realm group?"
The young woman couldn't help but ask in surprise.
A hint of light flashed in the young man's eyes next to her, and he said, "Master seems to have been cultivating with that Junior Brother recently, imparting the Dao to him."
The Great Dream Master noticed a hint of jealousy in his words and couldn't help but laugh. She said, "Initially, I had such a plan, but that child is too intelligent. He didn't discuss the Dao with me but explored other things."
"What?"
The young man's face changed slightly, and he couldn't help but ask.
The Great Dream Master glanced at him, the smile on her face slightly receding, and said:
"This is not something you should be thinking about. The conference is about to start. You need to focus. At that time, the disciples of other Tier-1 Sects will definitely not just watch your performance. After all, if our sect is to be promoted to a Tier-1 Sect, other Tier-1 Sects will fall. For the past 100,000 years, the Yan Chu Immortal Dynasty has always maintained only five great Tier-1 Sects to keep the top resources for the top sects, not to say that reaching the so-called passing line can directly become a Tier-1 Sect. This is a life-and-death struggle!"
Hearing their Master's words, the two exchanged glances and both bowed their heads, saying, "Disciples understand."
"This time, with you two at the forefront, plus Haotian, you are the strongest disciples in our sect in terms of combat power. If you encounter challenges from disciples of other sects, you must take the lead and shield the disciples from each abyss from the wind and rain. Do you understand?"
The Great Dream Master said with a hint of sternness in her eyes.
"Plus him?"
Both were surprised. They had heard about the young man defeating an Immortal Lord realm royal family member in the Ancient Immortal Realm, but they only thought it was due to the immortal weapon secretly given by their Master, not the young man's own combat power. After all, the gap between the True Immortal realm and the Immortal Lord realm was too great. They felt this gap even more strongly after being promoted to the Immortal Lord realm.
With their current strength, they could suppress a True Immortal realm cultivator with a wave of their hand. All of the opponent's methods and immortal techniques would be ineffective under their Immortal Dao laws.
The Great Dream Master nodded slightly and didn't say anything more to the two of them. She immediately let them leave the secret realm and gather with the disciples from each abyss.
Then, her figure left this hall and returned to the main hall where Li Hao was.
As soon as she arrived at the hall, she saw that Li Hao's cultivation was already at the tenth level of the True Immortal realm, but his aura was even more restrained than before. A satisfied smile appeared on her lips.
If she hadn't known that Li Hao must have a great inheritance behind him, she would have already taken him as her personal disciple. She had no complaints about Li Hao's temperament, character, and talent.
"It's time to leave."
She said softly and gently.
Li Hao slowly opened his eyes and saw the Great Dream Master's gentle and misty eyes like smoke, feeling a warmth in his heart. He stood up and said, "Thank you for your care during this time, Senior. This junior will definitely fight for a good ranking for the Great Dream Nine Abysses!"
The Great Dream Master saw the determination and belief in the young man's eyes, and her heart suddenly fluttered slightly. She shook her head and said, "You don't have to be too serious. With your strength, getting into the top five in the True Immortal realm group should not be a problem. If the direct disciple of that supreme being in the Celestial Palace doesn't participate, you even have a chance to get into the top three, or even first place!"
"Even if you take a step back and get into the top five in the True Immortal realm, it is enough for our Great Dream Nine Abysses to be promoted to a Tier-1 Sect!"
Li Hao nodded but didn't say much. Since he was participating in the battle, he would naturally not hide anything and would do his best. Otherwise, how could it be considered helping.
"Go, don't have too much pressure."
The Great Dream Master said softly.
Li Hao smiled. If it were other disciples, she would probably encourage them greatly. But for him, she was instead worried that he would be under pressure.
This gentleness, like water, was the sharpest, a knife that pierced the heart.
He just nodded and didn't say anything more. He followed the Great Dream Master out of the main hall and put away all the paintings he had done there during these days.
At the same time, the other disciples in the Langya Painting Realm had already heard the sound transmission from the Great Dream Master's avatar and woke up from their cultivation, gathering in the courtyard of the painting realm.
On the training ground outside the Langya Painting Realm, each abyss had arranged for an elder to accompany them.
For the Sword Abyss, it was Old Man Li.
The figure of the Great Dream Master appeared, her robes fluttering, covering the courtyard like a Dharma form, but this time she revealed her true body.
She raised her hand, and from her sleeve flew out a magnificent flying ship adorned with treasures, looking extremely solemn and imposing. Its volume in the sky continued to increase until the shadow of the flying ship covered the entire courtyard.
"Accompanying elders from each abyss, board the ship and depart."
Except for Li Tiemu, the elders from the other abyses boarded this domain weapon one after another.
The Great Dream Master waved her hand, and the figures of the disciples in the secret realm flickered, instantly transferring onto the flying ship.
The Great Dream Master's figure also shrank, turning into a stunningly beautiful and slender figure, with extraordinary grace. She stood at the bow of the flying ship, facing the wind, her sleeves fluttering like clouds.
"Sect Master, are you going personally?"
The accompanying elder from the Spear Abyss was Mu Yun. Seeing the Great Dream Master's action, he couldn't help but be surprised.
"This is my avatar."
The Great Dream Master said softly.
However, Li Hao among the crowd's heart stirred slightly. The Great Dream Master had said before that she would personally go to escort them. He wondered if the person in front of him was truly an avatar or if she had concealed it from others.
Upon hearing this, Mu Yun breathed a sigh of relief and returned to his position.
"There are guest rooms everywhere on the ship. You can choose them yourselves. The journey is long, even with a domain weapon, it will take three days. Rest well, relax, and don't be nervous."
The Great Dream Master said calmly.
The elders and disciples from each abyss quickly agreed and returned to the cabin. It was extremely large, with a secret realm inside, containing hundreds or even thousands of guest rooms.
Li Hao was planning to choose one as well, but he heard the Great Dream Master's voice in his mind:
"Go to room number one in the Heaven category, stay with me."
Li Hao was startled and couldn't help but glance at the Great Dream Master.
"Yes."
He replied in his mind and then entered the cabin, quickly finding the largest guest room.
It was called a guest room, but it was as luxurious as a palace.
There was a barrier outside, and as Li Hao approached, the barrier quietly disappeared.
Li Hao knew that the Great Dream Master controlled it. After all, this flying ship domain weapon belonged to her, and nothing inside could escape her eyes.
"Celestial Palace..."
Thinking that he would arrive at the central area of the Southern Region in three days, Li Hao couldn't help but think of figures like Yuan Zu and the Divine King who had left early in the true world, and also the Holy Lies who was later taken to the Celestial Palace.
(End of this chapter)