Chapter 1604: Chapter 1356: Mr. Tao’s Little Token of Appreciation Chapter 1604: Chapter 1356: Mr. Tao’s Little Token of Appreciation Hundred Flowers Lake.

Gazebos stood tall amidst the flowers, surrounded by their fragrance.

Inside, two people were drinking tea and chatting.

Their voices broke the perennial stillness of this place.

It was unlike Baizhi’s restraint when she came.

“The Li Clan might be aware of the Supreme Immortal Court?” Jiang Hao was somewhat surprised.

The Li Clan had some understanding of the Ancient Lands, but he hadn’t expected them to trace back to Helpless Heaven.

It was indeed extremely ancient.

Even the Immortal Clan wasn’t as ancient as them.

“There is such a matter, but whether the Li Clan of that time could survive until now is another question. If they didn’t, then we can only hope there are records left behind that haven’t been lost,” responded the Heavenly Note Sect.

“That’s almost the same as nothing,” Jiang Hao said.

Many ancient beings didn’t know about the Supreme Immortal Court.

If one could enter that secret realm, perhaps one could try to inquire of Helpless Heaven.

Too bad that secret realm has disappeared.

But the East Heavenly Pole should know.

It’s just that the one by the River of Deathly Silence doesn’t know.

It’s been a while since I went to find him; I wonder when he will leave.

Not dwelling on these thoughts any further, Jiang Hao reminded, “The Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment is coming to the Heavenly Note Sect to ascend, and people from the Bright Moon Sect will come.

“And not just any ordinary powerhouses.”

“How extraordinary?” the Heavenly Note Sect inquired while sipping tea.

Jiang Hao pondered and answered, “They must be very strong. I, a junior, dare not collide with them straight on.”

“You, at the late-stage of Return to Void, consider yourself strong?” the Heavenly Note Sect retorted.

Jiang Hao fell silent.

Putting down the teacup, the Heavenly Note Sect said, “The Bright Moon Sect has no great ill will towards the Heavenly Note Sect. If they did, do you think you could hold them off?”

Jiang Hao immediately said, “It’s not about the Heavenly Note Sect, but the worry for the Giant Spirit Clan.”

The Heavenly Note Sect looked at Jiang Hao, signaling him to continue.

“Because of the Seven-Colored Stone, the Giant Spirit Clan has come to regard the Heavenly Note Sect as their own.

“So, if others target the Heavenly Note Sect, they will be blocked by the Giant Spirit Clan.

“And now that the Bright Moon Sect is coming, not even the Giant Spirit Clan would dare to act rashly, given a hundred guts.”

“So, in order not to scare them off, we need something that gives them enough hope.

“At the least, let them feel the benefits of the Heavenly Note Sect are inevitably theirs.”

“Preferably feedback from the Seven-Colored Stone,” Jiang Hao said earnestly.

The Heavenly Note Sect did not speak.

Jiang Hao continued:
“It would be a waste not to use the Giant Spirit Clan as a natural shield.

“That way we can develop in secret without being disturbed.”

“Is it mainly for you to develop in secret?” the Heavenly Note Sect inquired.

“It’s all for the sect,” Jiang Hao said.

With the sect’s stability, he would naturally be at ease.

The Heavenly Note Sect did not object but asked, “Is there anything else about the assembly?”

Jiang Hao then spoke of some other matters.

Whether it was the Ancient Lands, the inside-operation within the Supreme Immortal Court, or any other matters.

The Heavenly Note Sect was not too interested.

Even a chance with the Human Emperor merely elicited a nod from her.

Thus Jiang Hao didn’t know what else to say.

Ultimately, he brought up that there was no news of Shang An.

Only then did the Heavenly Note Sect speak up, asking if Shang An would act if he met with the Charm Goddess.

“No,” Jiang Hao shook his head. “Everything I’ve done is to prevent them from meeting prematurely, but I’ve only done so much.

“Whether they meet too early or too late makes no difference to me.

“Just waiting quietly for the outcome will suffice.”

The Heavenly Note Sect nodded and did not ask further.

At that point, Jiang Hao asked if he could leave.

Having comprehended formations for several months, it was time to return to gardening.

Otherwise, when would he reach the Middle Stage of Absolute Immortal?

After becoming a True Immortal, advancing became exceedingly difficult.

Once the Heavenly Note Sect nodded, Jiang Hao stood up to depart.

Looking at the person before him, Jiang Hao bowed in respect.

Gazing at the silent Heavenly Note Sect, Jiang Hao suddenly felt an excessive quietude in the air.

For a moment, he experienced a strange sensation.

He felt as though he stood upon a road, looking out in all directions.

All was silent and empty, devoid of people, devoid of creatures.

He was the sole presence on this path.

Looking back, he realized it wasn’t just a desolate road.

It was…

The Path of Longevity.

In a trance, Jiang Hao felt loneliness.

A kind of indescribable solitude.

This path allowed no return, and as he looked back, everything existed only in memory.

The next instant, Jiang Hao thought immortality might be an ultimate form of death.

The cosmos perishes, yet I live alone.

Seemingly alive, yet bearing the extinction of the cosmos.

At that moment, his heart trembled mightily.

He felt lost for a time.

He even doubted whether he might be wrong.

So he stood there.

Looking back on the road.

This path wasn’t bound by time nor was it the path of the Tao.

The paths he had taken, the time he had traversed, were all etched upon it.

These were beyond the erosion of time or any particular Dao intent.

They transcended time, disregarded cause and effect, and were both real and illusory.

With that glance, he saw days and nights alternate, seasons change, from non-existence to existence.

The lonely growth, until those concerned surrounded him only to leave one by one, each becoming independent.

At the end, atop the peak, there were only he and a red figure.

Years passed in his mind.

All was not as it seemed, within reach yet unattainable.

This wasn’t the Tao.

It was…

A change in the state of mind.

In an instant, Jiang Hao seemed to cross the endless roads of life, finally stepping out, returning to where he started.

The nothingness dissipated around him, revealing the gazebo’s appearance.

The morning breeze, blowing through the Hundred Flowers, tousled the hair of the person in front of him.

The two locked eyes.

Jiang Hao noticed the other’s clothes had been changed.

Looking at her, Jiang Hao realized, the sense of solitude had vanished.

He couldn’t tell if his own feelings disappeared or if it was the sensation in front of him that had gone.

But his heart changed, stable and flawless.

The aura of the Tao became more evident.