Chapter Ninety: The World Beyond the Stone Gate

Chapter 90: The Shocking Opening of the Stone Gate

Success seemed within reach, yet the sudden closing of the stone gate caught everyone off guard, leaving them bewildered and unsure of what had happened. The abrupt change left the previously excited crowd speechless in an instant.

They could only watch as the stone gate shut before their eyes. The seven of them glanced at one another, all equally baffled and incredulous.

Lu Yao, unwilling to accept defeat, asked, “How could this happen?”

It wasn’t just Lu Yao who was unwilling to give up; in truth, everyone, including Li Hao, felt the same way.

Li Hao comforted Lu Yao, saying, “It’s alright, Yao’er. Since we’ve already discovered how to open the stone gate, the rest shouldn’t be an issue.”

Lin Xueyou chimed in, “That’s right, Li Hao is correct. Now that we know the method, we just need to keep trying. Sooner or later, we’ll succeed.”

Li Hao thought for a moment, then turned to Lin Xueyou by his side. “Sister Xueyou, maybe it’s because my cultivation isn’t high enough. Why don’t you give it a try?”

Lin Xueyou nodded. “Very well, let me try.”

She felt Li Hao’s reasoning made sense and didn’t hesitate to act. Lin Xueyou was a full major realm and five minor realms above Li Hao. The speed at which she could manipulate the laws of heaven and earth was more than ten times faster than Li Hao in his normal state, and the manifested fist of her avatar was seven or eight times larger than Li Hao’s.

One shouldn’t underestimate Lin Xueyou’s avatar fist for being merely seven or eight times the size of Li Hao’s. Within the same realm, Li Hao’s avatar fist was already more than five times larger than those of Kui Hu, Li Zhan, Qin Zhen, or Zhen Ba. And that was after their laws and cultivation had been refined by Li Hao’s Yin-Yang Transformation Array. Previously, Li Hao’s avatar would have been over ten times larger and sturdier than theirs.

Lin Xueyou’s avatar fist struck the stone gate, and a deep rumble echoed once again. The peculiar stone gate responded, slowly opening. As the gap widened, everyone grew more tense and excited.

This time, the gate opened much faster than when Li Hao tried. As time passed, the opening soon reached two-thirds of its full width. Apart from Li Hao, who was intently observing the speed and width of the opening with a sigh of regret—knowing it still wouldn’t succeed—the other six couldn’t contain their excitement, shouting, “Keep going! Don’t stop! Don’t stop now!”

After seven or eight breaths, the gate, having opened two-thirds, halted. After a brief pause, it began to close again. Disappointment swept over the group.

Even Lin Xueyou, the highest among them in cultivation, had failed. The group sat by the cave entrance, dejected and silent for a long while. Each heart was heavy with unwillingness, wondering if they were truly fated never to see the treasures within.

Zhen Ba lamented, “If something’s meant to be, it will be. If it’s not, forcing it is useless. It seems we are destined never to witness the treasures inside.”

Kui Hu sighed, “The treasure is right before our eyes, and yet we can’t even lay eyes on it. It’s truly hard to accept.”

Li Zhan and Qin Zhen echoed, “Who wouldn’t feel the same?”

Lin Xueyou and Lu Yao, coming from noble backgrounds, didn’t care much for treasures. After all, what precious things in the world could they not obtain if they wished?

Li Hao stood to one side, pondering the reason behind the gate’s resistance. After much thought, he still felt their cultivation was insufficient. Suddenly, he remembered that his own physique was immune to all attributes of the laws of heaven and earth. At this realization, inspiration struck.

He turned to the others and said, “Don’t lose heart just yet. I might have a way to open this gate.”

At these words, the group’s dejection vanished instantly. Their eyes shone with anticipation as they asked, “Young Master, what is your plan?”

Li Hao replied, “My constitution is unique—I’m immune to all attributes of the laws of heaven and earth. Try channeling your power into me, and I’ll see if I can gather all our strength to manifest an avatar and break open the gates.”

Lin Xueyou was thrilled. “That’s a brilliant idea, Li Hao!”

Most of Lin Xueyou and Lu Yao’s excitement came from curiosity about what lay inside, not a desire to possess it.

Then Lin Xueyou, suddenly concerned, asked, “But Li Hao, can you handle the combined strength of all of us?”

Zhen Ba, Lu Yao, and the others agreed with her concern. “She’s right, Young Master. That much power might be too much for you to bear.”

Lu Yao added, “Exactly, Li Hao. What if you get hurt by trying to take it all at once?”

Li Hao acknowledged the risk. “I’m not asking you to send me all your strength at once. When I’ve formed my avatar, transfer your power into me. I’ll focus it all into the avatar as fast as possible, so it won’t hurt my physical body.”

After considering his plan, everyone agreed it was feasible. Once decided, Li Hao stood before the stone gate, while the others formed a semicircle around him.

Li Hao quickly gathered the laws of heaven and earth, forming his avatar—an enormous version of himself into which his real body merged. When his avatar had reached three times its usual size, the other six rapidly transmitted their power into his avatar, causing it to swell to five times its original size.

With a thought, Li Hao concentrated the laws of heaven and earth into his left fist, and his avatar mirrored this, focusing all power into its left hand. With a mighty punch, he struck the center of the stone gate. A deep boom resounded as fist met stone.

The gate before them began to vibrate, opening at twice the speed it had when Lin Xueyou tried. This was their final effort; if they failed now, nothing more could be done except to seek Lin Huashu, Lu Zhengtian, or Lu Xuemei for help. All watched nervously as the gate slowly parted.

Those brief moments felt as agonizing as months. Time seemed to stretch endlessly as they waited. At last, fortune favored the determined—the gate opened fully.

A cheer erupted from the group.

“Young Master, you’re incredible!”

“You’re truly a genius!”

“Li Hao, you’re amazing!”

“Li Hao, well done!”

Zhen Ba, Kui Hu, Li Zhan, Qin Zhen, Lin Xueyou, and Lu Yao all admired Li Hao’s wisdom, showering him with praise until he was at a loss for how to respond.

Li Hao said, “Alright, enough. Let’s go inside. Be careful, everyone.”

Qin Zhen, unable to contain his excitement, said, “I can hardly wait!”

Li Hao then arranged, “For our safety, I’ll go first, Zhen Ba will bring up the rear.”

Zhen Ba objected immediately. “Young Master, the way ahead is unknown. Let me lead, you take the rear.”

Li Hao insisted, “Brother Zhen Ba, I have confidence that my abilities are on par with yours. It doesn’t matter which of us leads.”

Zhen Ba replied, “I know you’re strong, Young Master, but I would prefer if you took the rear.”

Li Hao interrupted, “No need to worry, Brother Zhen Ba. Sister Xueyou will be right behind me. If I run into danger, I doubt she would stand idly by, right, Sister Xueyou?”

He turned to Lin Xueyou, whose response left him both amused and exasperated, while causing everyone else to break into laughter.

Lin Xueyou nodded, “Of course I wouldn’t stand by.”

Li Hao felt warmth in his heart—until Lin Xueyou added, “But I might give you a kick from behind, so you can experience what it’s really like to add insult to injury.”

Her joke had everyone in stitches, while Li Hao could only muster a smile more miserable than a cry.

Their mutual insistence over who should lead was resolved by Lin Xueyou’s jest, and at last Li Hao led the way, with Zhen Ba in the rear.

Everyone knew how much Lin Xueyou cared about Li Hao. Hearing her say that, they could only retort silently in their hearts: “You say you’d add insult to injury, but if anything happened to Li Hao, you’d be the first to risk your life for him.”

Such thoughts remained unspoken.

Li Hao walked at the front, Lin Xueyou close behind, followed by Lu Yao, Kui Hu, Li Zhan, Qin Zhen, and finally Zhen Ba. As the seven entered the gate, they were left utterly stunned by what they saw.

Inside, it was not a cavern, but a spacious, palace-like hall.

After a moment of shock, Lin Xueyou sighed, “Who would have thought there was another world inside this cave?”

Qin Zhen, overwhelmed with excitement, followed up, “This is incredible! It’s several times larger than the Weapon Vault at my own house!”

No one laughed at Qin Zhen’s naïveté—this structure was indeed astonishing.

Suddenly, Lu Yao seemed to spot something amazing. She raised her delicate hand and pointed ahead. “Look! What is that?”

Her words snapped everyone from their reverie, and they all looked where she pointed. There, glowing red, was what appeared to be a giant sword, five or six people tall.

Qin Zhen asked dubiously, “Is that a sword?”

Lin Xueyou replied, “Yes, it’s a sword—just a very large one.”