Follow the path of Dao from infancy

Li Hao nodded, then grabbed some ingredients to simply make some barbecue before taking out his painting boards to start sketching in the courtyard.

Now, his Art of Painting and Fishing Tao were both nearing a hundred thousand experience points.

Once the experience points were full, he would need an uplift in his state of mind to continue gaining experience points, but he could start exploring the state of mind beforehand.

"I must settle on one path, I can't ponder both Art of Painting and Fishing at the same time, otherwise dividing attention between both won't allow for focus and will just be a waste of time."

Understanding the importance of focus, Li Hao had originally planned to attain spiritual awakening through Fishing, but now that the demons near the outskirts had been cleared and there were no targets for fishing, he found it slower to comprehend. On the contrary, his skills in Art of Painting allowed him to sketch effortlessly.

Heavy snow flew in all directions.

Li Hao stood in the courtyard, capturing the snow scene.

Feng Boping had thought Li Hao would go to cultivate, but seeing him still immersed in past amusements, he couldn't help but be surprised.

Yet, he seemed to discern something; Li Hao's swift progress in cultivation appeared to be related to these daily leisure activities.

But the specifics of how it translated, he couldn't figure out, after all, some genius behaviors are eccentric, beyond the understanding of ordinary people.

He didn't demand Li Hao to cultivate, letting him be as he wished.

Time passed by.

Another month went by outside the pass.

The pervasive snow seemed to be letting up gradually, and in another month, spring would arrive.

In the courtyard, Li Hao held a bowl, eating slices of meat from the pot.

His Painting Experience was full, earning a Skill Point, but his state of mind had yet to reach that transcendent spirit realm.

His artistic skill had reached its peak, but it remained within the worldly realm, capturing the essence of subjects but not transcendent.

"Hmm?"

Suddenly, Li Hao felt that a hidden thread he had set up miles away in the air had been brushed by the wind.

This was no natural breeze but as if something had passed by.

His eyes narrowed for a moment as he immediately looked to Feng Boping.

At the same time, Feng Boping also looked towards Li Hao. Without words, both read the other's thoughts in an instant.

They're coming!

"To actually appear a hundred miles away, it seems... there are three!"

Feng had hidden threads spread around as well, but although he had been Fishing for many years, his technique might not be as good as Li Hao's, who benefited from the experience enhancements from the board, insights from Sixth Stage Fishing, mastery over numerous Fishing techniques, and the special attributes from the "River Snow Painting."

The hidden threads belonged to an object-controlling force that could vanish unseen, something Feng Boping couldn't do.

Therefore, Feng's threads were only touched once, while Li Hao had four or five triggered.

But even though only one was touched, it had already felt the force of three beings.

"This old guy, he really did call for reinforcements, let's go!"

Feng Boping immediately wrapped up Li Hao and the little white fox in his robes and used his movement technique, Heaven and Earth Traceless Skill.

If it were only the two Demon Kings from Wanshan District, Li Hao had discussed with Feng and had planned to hold the ground and scare them away with the protective charm.

After all, guarding the frontier pass was also a strategy.

Not purely relying on brute force.

But against three Demon Kings, there was no need to think about it; trouble was bound to happen.

And now, as those three Demon Kings drew nearer, most of the densely woven hidden threads Li Hao had set within miles began to be touched and torn apart by the bodies of these Demon Kings!

[Fishing Experience +546,+523,+632...]

Despite the tearing of the threads, he still gained experience; a series of prompts appeared, which Li Hao chose to ignore.

His experience points soared, and by the time the Demon Kings reached the outskirts of the camp, his experience points were almost at Sixth Stage Perfection.

Just then, a figure darted from another direction.

Li Hao and Feng Boping immediately looked over, only to see a person in a deep blue dress with watery-blue hair, a figure charming and stunning; it was Song Qiumo.

"What are you doing here!"

Li Hao's face changed abruptly, he couldn't help but exclaim loudly.

Song Qiumo smiled faintly, "Of course, I came to see how these fellows plan to take revenge on you."

"You never left?!" Li Hao was furious.

"Now is not the time to talk about that, right? Whether we choose to retreat or stand our ground, I'm with you," Song Qiumo said with a charming light laugh.

Li Hao, seeing her like this, couldn't say he wasn't moved, his feelings incredibly mixed. What virtue or ability did he possess? It was merely the gift of some small fragrant pastries that earned him such favor.

But with things as they were, Li Hao knew that now wasn't the time to discuss it. Clenching his teeth and taking a deep breath, he felt the rapidly approaching three Demon Kings through the hidden threads and said, "Three against three, we can try it. If we can't scare them off, it's not too late to retreat."

With Song Qiumo and Feng protecting him, plus the protective charm, Li Hao felt they had the means to parley.

"I'm okay with that," Song Qiumo said with a smile.

Feng Boping smiled indifferently, "Then let's have a talk."

No sooner had they flown out of the camp than they rapidly returned to it.

At the same time, the three Demon Kings had appeared within the camp, sensing that Li Hao had already left. The burly elder with dark golden fur at the center, letting out an angry roar.

His voice was like that of lions and dragons, shaking the entire Heavenly Gate Pass.

With an angry swipe of his palm, the small courtyard still emitting wisps of smoke was instantly covered by his enormous divine palm, about to be shattered.

Out of nowhere, a streak of water light sped forth, crashing against the divine palm. A vast curtain of water passed over, forming a dome that protected the small yard below.

"If we're fighting, let's not ruin this place."

Song Qiumo emerged, her face wearing a soft smile: "I quite like this small courtyard, so let's not break it, shall we?"

The burly golden-furred elder saw her and his eyes emitted an icy light.

Another old man beside him in a Taoist robe, with white hair and beard, gently stroked his beard, his eyes squinting: "You didn't leave? Good, we can finally settle our previous unfinished business."