The Name of Eternals

Chapter 355: The Supreme Name, Accumulation of the Art of Painting

Beside Li Hao, the barrier shimmered as the sound of the Dao echoed in his Sea of Consciousness. The Dao's aura, like a cloud of mist, surrounded him. His figure became even more ethereal amidst the hazy atmosphere, making it hard for others to look away.

While Li Hao meditated in comprehension, the discussions outside were growing louder. Many people gazed in shock at the blood-red name atop the Heavenly Monument, then back at the young man below.

What had once been rumored had now manifested in reality. The legendary seventh color had appeared on the Heavenly Monument.

"I heard that in the ancient era, there was also such a blood-red glow, but names on the Heavenly Monument only last a thousand years. That name had long disappeared."

"My master once spoke of such legends from the ancient past."

"After so many years, it has actually reappeared. Isn't this too shocking?"

"The number one in the All-Heavens? Could he actually take the top spot in this Supreme Genius Battle?!"

The prodigies from various realms were murmuring in awe, their faces a mixture of shock and solemnity.

"No wonder our master places such importance on him…"

Lin Baichuan and Chu Hanwei finally grasped the extent of Li Hao's capabilities. The Heavenly Monument exposed all secrets, even hidden techniques, and for Li Hao to have triggered the blood glow, something that shook even the ancient past, meant that his mastery of the Dao Law Realm had likely reached the pinnacle.

Soon, the news of this shocking event quietly spread through secret communications, eventually reaching outside the All-Heavens battlefield.

In the various sacred lands, many received this astonishing news, and upon learning of it, there was widespread unrest.

"A supreme name? The legendary blood glow—and it was triggered by someone named Haotian? Who is this? I've never heard of him."

"Haotian? Could it be that Haotian from Canglan Realm?"

"According to the intelligence from Yujue Tower, this person has mastered eight Extreme Realms. From Tongli Realm to Four Pillars Realm, every stage has reached full perfection. In the battle in Canglan Realm, he displayed an Eternal Dao Domain, with 360 layers!"

"Such a monstrous talent! No wonder he topped the Heavenly Monument. To think he could even trigger the blood glow—this hasn't happened in ten thousand years."

Through investigations, many sacred lands learned of Li Hao's exploits.

Ten years ago, he came from the human realm, surviving an assassination attempt by the Void Saint, then disappearing from sight. He reemerged in Canglan Realm, defeating the Buddha Child, suppressing other prodigies, and drawing attention. Everyone now realized that, unknowingly, a bright new star had risen among the sacred lands!

Ascending the Heavenly Monument, achieving supreme recognition—this news caused Li Hao's name to instantly spread across various sacred lands and become a focus of the saints' attention.

Upper Three Realms, Tianyuan Realm.

In the Fajia Sacred Land, the news caused a stir.

"A blood-red name on the Heavenly Monument? He even surpassed Senior Brother Wutian!"

"Senior Brother Wutian achieved two flashes of gold light, and he was the top contender for the number one spot in the Supreme Battle, yet this man triggered the blood glow?"

Within the sacred land, whispers spread like wildfire.

On one of the towering peaks, standing beside the Fatian Sacred Peak, one of the seven peaks where only saints reside, stood several sculptures depicting a handsome, young man.

The young man portrayed in the statues was currently seated cross-legged on a stone platform in the open air, meditating.

Around him were many prayer mats, marking this as a sacred place where saints impart their teachings.

To sit on the main seat of a saint's platform, this young man's status was extraordinary—far beyond even a direct disciple of a saint. He was the reincarnation of the original master of this sacred peak.

A bird flew swiftly to the outskirts of the platform, transforming into a woman in a feathered robe, who knelt down and whispered something.

The young man opened his eyes, revealing flashes of silver light, as if countless scriptures were spinning in his gaze.

"Blood glow…"

Wutian's eyes flickered as he raised his head toward the sky, where the name of a prodigy was now shaking the All-Heavens battlefield.

He contemplated quietly for a moment before smiling faintly, "The Heavenly Monument can reveal one's foundation, but it only measures the physical body and Dao resonance. It cannot fully gauge one's techniques or realm. This one has mastered eight Extreme Realms—no wonder…"

The physical body and Dao resonance are indeed cultivation realms, and for someone to have reached the Eight Extreme Realms within a mere thousand years, capable of triggering the blood glow, was not so surprising.

"But if he has glimpsed the Sixth Extreme Realm, then perhaps within a thousand years, the secrets of the Ancient Temple will be unveiled. The hidden truths of the sacred lands will also be revealed…"

Wutian's eyes flickered with ancient memories from his previous life, but they soon faded. After a moment of contemplation, he stood up, deciding to see this prodigy for himself.

Although much of his past life's memories had returned, his current consciousness was still led by his reincarnation rather than his saintly self. As such, he could not fully escape mortal desires, making him eager to join the commotion.

In another sacred land, Yuanzu Sacred Land.

Within a cave, two figures sat cross-legged before a stone wall. One was an elderly man with white hair and beard, exuding an immortal-like aura. His eyes were closed, seemingly asleep.

The other was a young man in his early twenties, full of energy but with an expression of maturity beyond his years. He sat at the foot of the steps, gazing intently at the wall in contemplation, deep in cultivation.

Suddenly, the white-haired elder opened his eyes, and a flash of stars and moonlight passed through his gaze, deep and tranquil.

"Another blood glow... Which old brother's reincarnation is it, joining this excitement now?"

The white-haired elder muttered to himself.

His eyes flickered as an ancient memory surfaced—a memory of a peerless figure, surrounded by thunder, whose very presence made all other prodigies feel insignificant.

But that figure had vanished for many years. Could it be his reincarnation?

His eyes glimmered briefly as he glanced at the young man meditating before him, a smile playing on his lips. He said nothing more.

The young man seemed to sense something and turned to his master, asking softly, "Master, I sensed a fluctuation in your aura. Did something significant happen?"

If his master's aura fluctuated, it must be a major event.

The white-haired elder smiled gently. His earlier reaction was not due to this newly famous prodigy but rather the memory of an event from ten thousand years ago.

"It's nothing. You may not have left your name on the Heavenly Monument, but you have the potential for three flashes of gold light. Continue to comprehend the Immortal Wall. You may find a worthy opponent in the Supreme Genius Battle."

The elder smiled.

The young man was momentarily stunned, his eyes lighting up slightly. He understood that his master had learned of some monstrous talent.

However, he did not ask further, knowing that he would meet this talent soon enough.

He did not cultivate to be spurred on by others but had a goal far beyond his peers. His aspiration was to become a saint, a Supreme Saint, and eventually stand toe-to-toe with the other saints in debates of the Dao.

At the same time, many figures were emerging from their seclusion across various sacred lands.

Some prodigies had chosen not to enter the All-Heavens battlefield, disinterested in leaving their names on the Heavenly Monument or revealing themselves too early. Some preferred to remain low-key, while others, more arrogant, disdained following the crowd. Yet upon hearing that the Heavenly Monument had been shaken and a rare blood glow had appeared, many were stirred and felt the urge to see this for themselves.

As figures flooded the All-Heavens battlefield, the once-quiet land now became lively.

Sword Ancestor Sacred Land.

The Sword Saint, upon hearing the news, glanced at a young woman sitting in the courtyard.

Her face was indifferent, devoid of emotion, as she meditated. Around her, flowers bloomed and withered, hinting at the power of time.

The subtle manifestation of this power even made the Sword Saint's gaze grow slightly more serious, his satisfaction with his disciple growing deeper. She had reached the peak in this life, and once she reincarnated, completing the Extreme Boundary of Heaven and Earth, she would undoubtedly ascend and become the third saint of the Sword Ancestor Sacred Land.

However, as he thought of the news he had just received, he couldn't help but sigh inwardly. Then, remembering that his disciple, even if she walked a different path from that youth, was not destined to lag behind, his mood improved. He smiled faintly, closing his eyes once more without disturbing her.

In the Buddhist Sacred Land.

Within a dim Buddha hall, the Twin-Born Buddha Child was in seclusion, meditating. Around him, two different forces alternated.

Initially, he sought to walk the path of perfect fusion, to step directly into the Supreme Saint Realm. However, with the birth of his inner demons, he had to abandon his foundation and forgo perfection.

Ironically, this decision had not diminished his power. Instead, it had allowed him to regain his former life's path, with his saintly form taking shape once again. He was on the verge of entering the Half-Saint Realm, and once he absorbed the incense fire energy he had accumulated, he could step into sainthood at any moment!

However, if he became a saint before the Supreme Genius Battle, he would lose his qualification to participate.

Thus, he did not intend to ascend until after the battle, waiting to cultivate his strength to the pinnacle below sainthood. After he killed that monstrous prodigy, he would reincarnate and cultivate anew!

Although his previous life was ruined, if he could slay his enemy and eliminate his inner demons, his next reincarnation would be even smoother, perhaps even without the need for a mortal tribulation.

Outside the Buddha hall, the Buddha Sovereign sensed the Twin-Born Buddha Child's cultivation and sighed inwardly. He had to wait another lifetime, and who knew what further changes would occur?

As he thought of the news he had just received, a cold glint flickered in his compassionate eyes before quickly fading. In his past, he had once fed his own body to an eagle, all for the sake of attaining enlightenment and shedding his earthly body. Now that he had become a Buddha Sovereign, with his body adorned in the Buddha's robe, he was unwilling to lose himself again.

The Buddhist Path has three thousand volumes, and each one is a path of self-cultivation.

As such, if his own existence were at risk, he would naturally suppress any threat with the Buddha's power and eliminate it.

His thoughts turned quickly, and he quietly disappeared from the Buddha hall. A projection of his form flew across the skies, heading toward Yunxia Realm.

Within the All-Heavens battlefield, as time passed, more and more figures gathered outside the Heavenly Monument.

Many had rushed over upon hearing the news, eager to see if it was true. When they saw the two bright blood-red characters on the monument, they were stunned.

Seeing it with their own eyes, the impact was far more real than any rumor.

The two characters, Haotian, dominated the monument, overshadowing every other name. Within the Thirty-Three Realms, under the crimson light of this name, all other geniuses paled in comparison.

"Haotian? For those who don't know better, they might think the monument was originally named the Haotian Monument!"

"This name will stand out for the next thousand years. Soon, no one will be unaware of it!"

"Who is this person? Where did he come from? I've never heard of him, and he wasn't famous before."

Many were asking around, trying to learn more about him.

Although Li Hao had gained some fame after the battle in Canglan Realm, most people still knew little about him. But now, his name had soared to the top of the Heavenly Monument, achieving the highest position. In an instant, his reputation exploded, and people began to inquire everywhere, feeling as though a bolt of lightning had suddenly struck across the sky, drawing all eyes toward him.

Amid the countless discussions, Li Hao continued to sit cross-legged outside the Heavenly Monument, quietly meditating.

The countless curious and probing gazes were blocked by his barrier.

Inside, Li Hao was using the Dao Bell's reverberations to comprehend the Art of Cooking and the Art of Painting.

Both had reached the ninth rank, but their experience was not yet full. However, if he could grasp the mental state first, he could achieve perfection as soon as his experience caught up.

However, painting was proving more difficult than expected. Despite the surge of inspiration and insights, he only gained minor progress.

His mind shifted, and before the inspiration faded, he turned his focus to the Art of Chess.

After playing countless games with Hongyue, his chess experience had reached its peak at seventh rank, and under the current enlightenment, his insights burst forth. In an instant, the bottleneck was shattered, and his chess rank advanced to eighth rank.

As his chess proficiency increased, his mental state improved, and he gained another Artistic Skill Point.

Li Hao was pleased. Using his newfound insight from the Art of Chess, he could now raise his Art of Control to eighth rank.

Now, his Cooking and Painting skills had both reached the ninth rank, corresponding to his Sword Dao and Body Dao, which were also at ninth rank.

His other skills were still stuck below the sixth rank, but now that his Chess Dao had reached eighth rank, Li Hao planned to channel this mental state into his Art of Control.

Once he perfected his Control to the ninth rank, combining it with his ninth-rank body, he might be able to explore the peak of the Dao Law Realm!

The Eternal Dao Domain was already so terrifying. Li Hao couldn't help but anticipate the power of the extreme peak of the Dao Law Realm.

"This small bell seems to have another function…"

Li Hao examined the crimson bell in his mind, his eyes sparkling. He had come here casually, merely to leave his name, but he had gained such an unexpected reward.

Such a fortunate event likely went unnoticed by the others.

With his Control Dao now at the eighth rank, an influx of knowledge flooded into Li Hao's mind. He continued to absorb and digest it all.

A long time passed before Li Hao had fully absorbed everything. His Control Dao had now reached a new level. Opening his eyes, he was surprised to see a much larger crowd around him. There were now four or five times more people than before, filling the area like a bustling marketplace.

Beyond the saints of the various sacred lands, there were many other prodigies present as well.

Li Hao quickly scanned the crowd. There were thousands of people here, far more than the sacred lands could have produced on their own.

Seeing so many eyes upon him, Li Hao quickly understood the situation.

Looking up, he noticed that many of the gathered geniuses were testing themselves on the monument, one after another.

Each time a blue or green glow appeared on the monument, some snickers would ripple through the crowd.

The green glow, while marking strong contenders in the Dao Law Realm, fell far short of the saints and prodigies here, making it a little embarrassing for those who achieved it.

Li Hao smiled slightly at the sight. Instead of being annoyed by the crowd, his eyes gleamed with excitement.

Dispersing his barrier, Li Hao saw Hongyue standing nervously nearby. Lin Qingying was standing beside her, shielding her from many of the prying eyes.

This was the dangerous All-Heavens battlefield, and Hongyue, with her cultivation still below the Heaven-Man Realm, was like a lamb among wolves, unable to stray too far from Li Hao's protection.

While Li Hao was meditating, the passing glances from the powerful prodigies had unnerved Hongyue. Though none of them had shown any particular interest in her, just the casual scrutiny of these top-tier talents had felt overwhelming, making her heart race with anxiety.

"There are so many people."

Xiyan, with her usual wide-eyed curiosity, also marveled at the large crowd, as if she had never seen such a gathering before.

Li Hao chuckled, retrieving his brushes, ink, and scrolls from his spatial space. He turned to Hongyue and said:

"Sorry to have troubled you. Would you help me grind the ink?"

Seeing Li Hao's meditation come to an end, Hongyue breathed a deep sigh of relief, as if a heavy burden had finally been lifted. The oppressive feeling from the eyes of the crowd had vanished, and standing beside Li Hao, she felt an unprecedented sense of security. Smiling, she nodded and stepped forward to grind the ink.

"I'll help you spread the scroll."

Xiyan eagerly volunteered, transforming from Li Hao's wrist and assisting with the setup.

Seeing the blank scroll before them, Hongyue's curiosity was piqued. "Does the young master also know how to paint?"

"I know a little."

Once the ink was ready, Li Hao began painting.

With so many prodigies gathered here, it was the perfect opportunity to gain some painting experience.

Lin Qingying had seen Li Hao's paintings before, so she quietly approached to watch more closely.

As the strokes of the brush outlined a towering monument, Lin Qingying quickly realized that Li Hao was painting the Heavenly Monument.

As the ink flowed, the image of the monument slowly emerged on the scroll. When the monument was completed, a notification of experience points flashed before Li Hao's eyes.

He counted the total—210,000 points!

Equivalent to half the experience points of a Three Calamities Saint!

Li Hao was amazed. How could the Heavenly Monument grant such abundant experience points?

He had painted mountains and rivers before, but even the most extraordinary landscapes only granted minimal experience points—barely comparable to that of a Three Immortal Realm practitioner.

It seemed the Heavenly Monument was truly no ordinary object. Li Hao glanced at the Dao Bell in his mind, his eyes flickering before he refocused on his task and began painting the scene outside the monument.

Lightning flashed and rumbled, Dao resonance filled the air, and the gathered prodigies formed a circle.

As each of their figures came to life on the scroll, more experience point notifications appeared before Li Hao's eyes.

Some prodigies granted as little as 7,000 or 8,000 points, while others contributed up to 20,000 or 30,000.

Li Hao painted with intense concentration, and as the ink flowed, the scroll stretched longer and longer, resembling a grand landscape painting. Each figure depicted had distinct postures, expressions, and auras, perfectly capturing the grand occasion.

Hongyue, standing beside him, gradually widened her eyes, her face reflecting an expression of astonishment.

She had thought that when Li Hao said he "knew a little" about painting, he meant it was a mere hobby. However, as she watched him work, she realized that his painting skills were even more extraordinary than his prowess in chess.

Though her expertise lay in chess, Hongyue was also well-versed in painting, and now, she recognized that Li Hao's skill in this art was on par with that of the greatest masters. Every stroke he made could easily become a timeless masterpiece.

"This painting… is beyond compare!"

Hongyue whispered in awe.

The Heavenly Monument Prodigy Scene painting not only captured the grandeur of the monument and its Dao resonance but also vividly portrayed the myriad geniuses gathered around it. Their expressions and auras were so lifelike that the viewer could feel the brilliance of the moment.

"What is that guy doing?"

"It looks like he's painting, and his maid is grinding ink for him. Does he think this is some sort of leisurely retreat?"

"Painting? You must be kidding."

The crowd looked on in surprise, some sneering at what they perceived as showmanship.

Hongyue overheard the murmurs and felt a twinge of frustration. These prodigies, focused solely on cultivation, looked down on arts like chess, calligraphy, and painting. Yet their strength was still not on par with Li Hao's. The differences between people truly were vast.

Li Hao, fully immersed in his task, viewed this as an incredible opportunity. To paint so many gathered prodigies at once was a significant test of his skills.

Each figure in the painting had to blend into the whole scene. Even the prodigies who only contributed a mere 7,000 or 8,000 experience points were painted with care, ensuring that they harmonized with the overall composition.

As the painting neared completion, Li Hao felt his muscles ache from the effort. However, after a brief stretch, he felt refreshed once more.

Glancing at his accumulated experience, he was pleasantly surprised to see that this one painting had earned him 1.5 million experience points!

Of that, 210,000 points came from the Heavenly Monument, while the rest was provided by the gathered prodigies.

Prodigies like Chiguang and Lin Shuhai, who contributed over 30,000 points each, were part of a group of fourteen individuals.

Even Qingjiu had given Li Hao over 40,000 points.

Besides Qingjiu, two other individuals contributed nearly 50,000 points!

Such a wealth of experience rivaled that of a Half-Saint, and in some cases, exceeded it!

While Li Hao marveled at the abundance of talent, he refrained from lingering on these individuals. He knew that in the upcoming Supreme Genius Battle, both the Buddha Sovereign and the Void Saint would target him, unwilling to let him become a saint. Though he could count on Feng Lao's help, he also needed to accumulate as much strength as possible on his own.

After all, Feng Lao was now a known factor, and his enemies were likely preparing countermeasures.

"To match the power of a saint, I must either comprehend the Supreme Realm or reach the extreme peak of the Dao Law Realm…"

Li Hao's eyes gleamed with determination. With only five months remaining, time was running short.

He stretched his limbs briefly before picking up his brush once more, ready to start another painting.

Although the experience points from painting the same scene a second time would diminish, it was still a valuable opportunity.

Li Hao planned to make the most of the gathered prodigies and continue accumulating painting experience until he reached the maximum!

Previously, with Feng Lao's assistance, Li Hao had already gained substantial experience in painting. Now, he was getting closer and closer to reaching perfection in the ninth rank.

Handing the completed scroll to Xiyan, Li Hao prepared to start on his second painting.

As Li Hao resumed his work, more and more people gathered around, their discussions growing louder.

Lin Qingying, watching Li Hao's focused expression, was reminded of the time he had painted in her courtyard. She couldn't help but smile.

He was still the same as before—completely absorbed in his task, oblivious to the world around him.

"This guy hasn't changed a bit…"

Chiguang observed Li Hao's actions from a distance. He had initially intended to greet Li Hao, though he still felt a sense of frustration over his previous defeat. However, seeing how engrossed Li Hao was in his painting, Chiguang decided to leave him be. Instead, he remembered how nonchalant Li Hao had been during the previous battle for a place in the rankings.

"He's now at the top of the Heavenly Monument. I thought he'd rank among the top three of the All-Heavens, but it seems we've all underestimated him."

"Still, a few prodigies have yet to leave their mark on the monument. Perhaps they consider it beneath them, so the final outcome is far from decided."

"Those people are all reincarnations of saints. They see no value in competing for such titles. They already hold a name."

"The Twin-Born Buddha Child didn't come, either. It's just us still fighting for recognition, while those people are the recognition itself."

Lin Shuhai and the other Canglan Realm prodigies whispered among themselves.

Hao Yue Saint Son remained silent. He had once believed that his Sun and Moon Dao could bridge the heavens, with the potential to place him at the top of the All-Heavens. But now, with the continuous setbacks he had faced, he found himself doubting.

He couldn't comprehend Li Hao's Sword Dao, but he could sense that it was far superior to his own Sun and Moon Dao.

What kind of Sword Dao could that be? He had been pondering this question for days.

Before long, Li Hao completed his second painting, earning nearly another million experience points.

Seeing that his painting experience was almost full, Li Hao smiled. He then began his third painting.

Just as he started, a commotion erupted outside the crowd.

"It's King Green Deer!"

"He's here too?"

"Someone's boldness must have drawn his attention."

The crowd turned to look, their faces full of alarm as a magnificent emerald-green dragon chariot slowly descended from the sky.

Seven or eight attendants, all with graceful figures and stunning beauty, surrounded the chariot. Their demeanor was second only to the sacred land's saintesses, yet they outshone the princesses of most royal courts in elegance and grace.

They held fans and served wine to a young man dressed in a luxurious green robe.

His robe was adorned with antlers, adding to his air of nobility.

At the sight of him, the crowd quickly made way.

Compared to Li Hao, King Green Deer was already famous across the All-Heavens.

More than ten years ago, he had suppressed a Half-Saint, beating the man so severely that he coughed up blood and ultimately chose to reincarnate. This feat had made King Green Deer's name widely known.

"Didn't King Green Deer already leave his name on the monument? I heard he achieved two flashes of gold light, and he's not even a reincarnated saint!"

"That's right, he's a prodigy of the Huntian Sacred Land, and he's said to be one of the top contenders for the number one spot in the Supreme Genius Battle!"

The crowd buzzed with excitement, their eyes gleaming as they anticipated a confrontation.

King Green Deer stepped down from the dragon chariot, his gaze sweeping across the crowd. He immediately recognized several familiar faces, including Wutian of the Fajia Sacred Land.

He smiled faintly but soon focused on one particular spot—where a young man was quietly painting, a maid at his side grinding ink.

Their eyes met, and King Green Deer instantly knew that this was the figure who had shaken the All-Heavens with his name.

Both of them smiled.

Li Hao's grin was bright, like someone who had spotted a plump lamb ready for the taking.

Another one had come to offer painting experience. Two flashes of gold light? Surely, that would bring a generous amount of experience!