Chapter 323: The Fishing Holy Son, Battle of the Top Hundred
After Li Hao completed refining all the techniques recorded in the Sword Tower, his Dao Domain reached 172 layers! Among them, over a hundred were Sword Domains!
Once activated, the sword qi within these domains would intertwine, and now, with these different Sword Intents converging, there was a tendency for them to merge.
Li Hao wasn't sure what the power or effect would be if these domains fully integrated into a single, complete domain.
Unfortunately, Li Hao had already collected all the techniques available within Sword Ancestor Sacred Land. To further improve, he would have to visit other sects or regions, as he had reached a bottleneck with his Dao Domain.
After Li Hao finished his cultivation, the Second Round of Selection for the Top Hundred Battle began the next day.
Before the Top Hundred Battle, there were three rounds of selection to determine the final hundred who would compete against the Holy Sons and Holy Daughters.
Li Hao accompanied Lin Shanhai and the other alchemists but didn't stay to watch the battles. Since he had already recorded all the techniques from the Sword Tower, remaining here would only be useful for painting and gaining experience. However, Li Hao had other, more suitable plans, and now, he could also gather more fishing experience.
Li Hao noticed that, apart from Yaozu and the other two Half-Saints, several of the Holy Sons and Holy Daughters who had previously watched the battles were also absent.
Even Lin Qingying, who usually joined them, remained at the courtyard, meditating on her sword techniques, clearly preparing for the upcoming big fights.
Though the battles at the ten arenas were heating up, Li Hao felt a sense of calm before the storm.
Who would stir this storm and stand out among the rest? Li Hao hoped it would be Lin Qingying.
...
Arriving at the Sword Tower, the environment was eerily quiet. As Li Hao approached, a figure instantly appeared before him—it was the sword attendant from the previous day.
Seeing Li Hao return, the sword attendant was a bit surprised and asked, "Are you here to exchange techniques?"
The Great Dao Sword Technique was incredibly difficult, and if Li Hao wanted to switch it out, the sword attendant would understand. After all, unless someone had extraordinary sword talent, spending time on this would be a waste.
"No, I'm here to visit the Sword Master. Is the Sword Master fishing today?" Li Hao inquired respectfully.
The sword attendant understood and smiled. "Master is indeed fishing at the Sword Cliff today. Since you're interested, you should keep him company. He gets lonely."
As he spoke, a trace of regret appeared in his eyes.
Though the disciples wished to accompany the Sword Master, they were terrible at fishing. During the long, dull wait for a bite, their thoughts often wandered to sword cultivation, leading them to miss when the bait was taken. This frustrated the Sword Master so much that he no longer let them join him.
At Sword Cliff, Li Hao and the sword attendant arrived to find the Sword Master fishing by the cliff's edge, just as they had the previous day.
Sensing their presence, the Sword Master's voice came over. "You're here. Do you have your own fishing rod?"
"I don't use a rod. I fish by casting a line," Li Hao responded.
"Fishing with energy strings? The creatures in the Dragon Pool are sly. It won't be easy to hook one," the Sword Master remarked.
"We'll see," Li Hao smiled confidently, refusing to back down when it came to fishing.
"Then come and try."
The Sword Master gestured.
Li Hao walked over, chose a dark brown stone to sit on, and positioned himself near the cliff's edge.
From this vantage point, Li Hao naturally saw the depths of the cliff, which stretched thousands of feet below. At the bottom was a pool of water, churned by a cascading waterfall. In the deep waters, large shadowy figures could be seen swimming.
Li Hao's eyes lit up as he raised his hand, summoning an energy string. Using his concealed line technique, he silently cast the line into the water.
The Sword Master glanced at Li Hao's technique, raising an eyebrow before a faint smile curved his lips. It seemed yesterday's success wasn't just luck. This young man had some real skill. Such a subtle concealment technique could easily be honed into a profound stealth technique for personal use, yet he chose to apply it to fishing. There was no doubt—this was true passion.
"You forgot the bait," the Sword Master casually noted.
Li Hao chuckled, "No bait necessary. If they're willing, they'll bite."
"Oh?"
Hearing this, the Sword Master's eyes shifted, his attention briefly drawn from his own fishing line to Li Hao's barely perceptible line.
Li Hao focused, waiting.
Fishing may seem leisurely, but it was a battle of wits and patience. One had to remain still, read the fish's behavior, and strategically position the hook. It was all a mental game.
At this moment, Li Hao's line lay hidden at the edge of the Dragon Pool, in the most inconspicuous spot. The end of the line held a barely visible hook.
"Old Five, look, is that a hook?"
"It seems like it. A fishing hook!"
Within the pool, a few large dragon beasts swam around, noticing the faint hook. However, what puzzled them was the absence of any line attached to it—just a lone hook!
"Is it the Sword Master? Is he fishing again?"
"The Sword Master wouldn't be this foolish. Last time, he tricked me by turning the hook into a small fish."
"I agree. Maybe it fell from above. How did we not notice it?"
"Old Six, go pick it up and see."
The dragon beasts muttered amongst themselves. One of them, Old Six, approached, reaching out a claw to grab the hook. "It really is a hook—ah!"
Before he could finish his sentence, the hook suddenly yanked upwards, piercing his arm. The hook dug deeper, embedding itself in his flesh and pulling him out of the pool!
"Ow!"
Old Six let out a scream, helplessly dragged into the air.
Panicking, he dared not resist further. After being hoisted out of the pool, he looked up to see the Sword Master seated at the cliff's edge, along with an unfamiliar young man holding the fishing line.
In that instant, his pain was overshadowed by shock and anger.
Getting caught by the Sword Master was one thing, as he was a Saint. But this boy? How dare he!
Roaring, Old Six lunged at Li Hao.
"Still resisting?" Li Hao smirked. With a casual flick of the line, he effortlessly tossed the dragon beast aside and pulled it back toward him.
The dragon beast writhed in agony, feeling as if its body were being torn apart. When it was dragged back to the cliff's edge, fear overwhelmed it. With the Sword Master present, there was no way it could harm the boy. Besides, the boy's cultivation was clearly formidable, and it had no chance of winning.
"Spare me, Holy Son! Have mercy!" the dragon beast pleaded, mistaking Li Hao for one of the Holy Sons of the Sword Ancestor Sacred Land.
After all, who but a Holy Son would have the honor of fishing alongside the Sword Master?
Hearing its plea, Li Hao couldn't help but laugh. Seeing the experience points he had gained, he waved his hand, recalling the energy hook that had embedded itself in the beast. The hook, being formed of energy, dissipated at his will.
"Since you beg so sincerely, I'll let you go," Li Hao said with a smile. "Go on."
The dragon beast, filled with gratitude, quickly thanked him, "Thank you, Holy Son! Thank you!"
With that, it dove back into the Dragon Pool.
"Old Six…"
The other dragon beasts quickly gathered around, inspecting him. "Are you hurt? Did you say it was a Holy Son?"
"Yes, another new Holy Son. Damn it!"
"So cunning! He deliberately showed the hook to lure Old Six!"
"Good thing the Sword Master is merciful. Getting caught by him always leads to an enjoyable meal. I've even managed to develop some sword momentum from it."
The dragon beasts whispered amongst themselves. Although they were prisoners of the Sword Master, they had also grown accustomed to it. After all, being fed by a Saint was a blessing in disguise.
Though they were often outsmarted and caught by the Sword Master for his amusement, they had come to enjoy the pain and the gain.
"Be cautious. Don't pick up any more strange objects. We need to be more careful."
"The Sword Master is also fishing up there, but I can't see his bait. Who knows what it's disguised as this time. We'd better be careful."
The dragon beasts remained vigilant, always wary of the Sword Master's tricks.
At the cliff's edge, the Sword Master watched Li Hao catch a dragon beast so easily with such a simple trick, and he couldn't help but chuckle.
Li Hao didn't stop, quickly casting his line again.
This time, the line remained hidden, with the hook barely visible. Midway through, he split the line into two, extending the second line to another corner of the Dragon Pool, making it even more inconspicuous.
"Look, the hook is back again."
"Hmph, he must be running out of tricks. Does he think we'll fall for the same thing twice?"
"Look, there's a dumb fish sniffing around the hook."
Nearby, a small fish creature approached the hook. This fish had wandered into the Dragon Pool from a nearby river, seeking a challenge.
The little fish gently nudged the hook, but there was no response.
The dragon beasts were puzzled but quickly understood. The fish's nudge was too light, so the fisherman likely didn't notice, or perhaps it wasn't worth reeling in such a small catch.
"Go on, give it a hard pull!"
The freshly hooked Old Six growled at the small fish.
The fish was timid but refused to go near the hook again.
Frustrated, Old Six swallowed the fish in one gulp.
"Damn…"
Before Old Six could curse, the fish suddenly hardened, extending spikes into his mouth.
"A hook?!"
Old Six's eyes widened in shock.
A tremendous force yanked him up again, pulling him up the sheer cliff.
Once more, the line belonged to Li Hao.
"Holy Son, have mercy, please…" the dragon beast Aojie begged desperately.
Li Hao sighed, "Why is it you again? Can't you be more cautious?"
Aojie wanted to cry. It wasn't his fault! Who would have thought the hook would be disguised as a fish this time?
Li Hao pulled back the energy hook, letting it dissolve. "Don't get caught again."
I don't want to… Aojie was filled with frustration and helplessness. How had he ended up in this situation, where even the one fishing was annoyed at catching him?
Beside him, the Sword Master's hand trembled slightly as he held his fishing rod.
His usual calm demeanor shifted slightly, replaced with a rare moment of seriousness.
Earlier, Li Hao's success had seemed like a lucky fluke or a minor trick. But now, the second catch was more refined, with a layered approach. This time, Li Hao had fished not for curiosity but for anger, targeting the emotions and hearts of the beasts!
The Sword Master had to admit, Li Hao's fishing skills were indeed impressive.
Li Hao glanced at the Sword Master, then cast his line again.
The Sword Master felt an odd sensation as Li Hao looked at him. In swordsmanship, he had long reached the peak, standing alone like snow. Yet in fishing, he was still climbing, and now, he was beginning to feel a sense of competition—a feeling he hadn't experienced in ages.
The Sword Master remained silent but grew more serious in his fishing.
Not long after, Li Hao reeled in his third catch.
Once again, it was Aojie.
Li Hao was speechless. Was this dragon beast fated to bite every time?
Catching the same prey repeatedly would only reduce the experience points gained. Li Hao didn't want to keep reeling in Aojie.
Can't you let someone else have a turn?
Li Hao stared at Aojie, contemplating whether to release him back into the Dragon Pool.
Sensing Li Hao's gaze, Aojie trembled, quickly realizing what Li Hao was thinking. Desperately, he pleaded:
"Holy Son, please, I swear I won't move a muscle. I'll stay completely still in the pool, no matter what happens!"
Li Hao considered for a moment and decided to let him go once more.
Time passed, and before long, Li Hao and the Sword Master simultaneously pulled up their lines for the fourth catch.
Judging by the significant increase in his fishing experience, Li Hao was sure he hadn't caught Aojie this time.
However, when the two dragon beasts were hoisted up, Li Hao still heard Aojie's voice, though this time it was coming from the Sword Master's hook.
"Sword Master, have mercy…"
Aojie was utterly miserable. He had simply sneezed, but somehow managed to inhale the hook.
Li Hao glanced at Aojie, at a loss for words. How had this dragon beast survived for so long?
Without a word, the Sword Master removed Aojie from the hook and threw him back into the Dragon Pool before casting his line again.
Li Hao did the same, sparing the dragon beast.
Soon after, the Sword Master began catching fish in quick succession. At one point, he even caught two dragon beasts at once.
On the cliff, the dragon beasts' wails echoed from time to time, while at the ten arenas on Sacred Mountain, the second round of battles raged on.
As the sun began to set, the Sword Master put away his rod. In the end, he had out-fished Li Hao by one, catching seven fish to Li Hao's six.
"It's getting late. Come again tomorrow," the Sword Master said to Li Hao, his rare smile showing his contentment.
It had been a long time since anyone had made him feel this kind of pressure, and today, this young man had done just that.
"Alright," Li Hao nodded.
For the next few days, while the battles at the ten arenas continued, Li Hao returned daily to Sword Cliff to fish with the Sword Master.
The dragon beasts in the Dragon Pool had grown so familiar with Li Hao that they were practically old acquaintances.
One day, while Li Hao was fishing, another young man arrived.
The Sword Master saw him and smiled. "You've arrived. Have a seat."
The young man was tall and upright, though dressed plainly. At his waist hung a rusted, sheathless sword, and a faint sword mark glimmered on his forehead, its light hidden beneath the surface.
When he noticed Li Hao, a trace of surprise flickered in his otherwise calm eyes. He hadn't expected anyone else to be here.
Without a word, the young man walked to the cliff's edge, took out a fishing rod from his spatial storage, baited the hook, and began fishing.
"This is Wu Hen, the Immaculate Holy Son," the Sword Master introduced the two casually as he fished.
Li Hao and Wu Hen exchanged a glance. Wu Hen's eyes flickered briefly as he recalled the name Qingfeng, realizing who Li Hao was. He gave a slight nod in acknowledgment.
Li Hao returned the gesture, and the three of them quietly continued fishing.
No one spoke, each of them immersed in their own enjoyment.
As the fishing progressed, Li Hao noticed that the fish line cast by Wu Hen emitted traces of sword intent.
This sword intent was flexible and flowing, yet sharp and fierce.
However, Wu Hen's flexibility was different from Lin Qingying's Soft Sword Dao. The two used distinct sword techniques.
Li Hao recalled a sword technique from the ninth level of the Sword Tower, Thousand Silken Sword Rain, and realized that Wu Hen seemed to be cultivating this technique.
At its peak, the technique could condense countless strands of sword intent, weaving them like rain to sever space.
"Wu Hen contemplates sword intent while fishing. You could try the same one day," the Sword Master remarked to Li Hao. "All things in nature can be used to comprehend one's own martial path."
Knowing Li Hao's extraordinary perception and talent, the Sword Master was offering this advice as guidance.
"Understood," Li Hao nodded.
Hearing the conversation, Wu Hen's lowered gaze flickered with surprise. The Sword Master was giving such advice to a mere alchemist?
Could it be that, besides alchemy, Li Hao intended to pursue martial arts as well?
But trying to master both would likely result in failure. Even for the most talented individuals, focusing on a single martial path was difficult enough, let alone splitting attention between two disciplines.
Dismissing his thoughts, Wu Hen refocused on his own fishing line.
...
After the second round of battles ended, the third round began, scheduled to last for nearly half a month.
Since all participants had to compete directly, rather than defending positions, the matches proceeded slowly.
Li Hao continued his daily visits to Sword Cliff, fishing with the Sword Master. Sometimes, when the Sword Master wasn't present, it would just be Li Hao and Wu Hen at the cliff.
On the tenth day after receiving the Great Dao Sword Technique, Li Hao headed to Yaochi Peak.
Upon his arrival, Jiang Yingyue hurried over to greet him and led him to Yaozu.
"The ten days are up. Show me what you've learned of swordsmanship," Yaozu said softly from her seat on the Sacred Platform, her body emitting a faint, sacred glow.
Li Hao nodded and casually drew a sword from a nearby sword rack before beginning to perform the Great Dao Sword Technique.
However, he deliberately restrained his sword intent, sword force, and the rhythm of the sword, refraining from unleashing the true power of the technique. If he did, the resulting display would be far too shocking.
Even so, his swordsmanship flowed smoothly and with agility, already reaching a refined level of control.
A flash of surprise appeared in Yaozu's calm eyes. Such a difficult and obscure sword technique, yet in just ten days, Li Hao had reached this level. His talent in swordsmanship was remarkable!
Beside her, Jiang Yingyue was also astonished. Li Hao had already reached the refined stage of the Great Dao Sword Technique within just ten days. However, remembering that he had cultivated 97 layers of Dao Domain, she quickly came to terms with his exceptional talent.
It seemed Li Hao's gifts were greater than she had imagined. Not only was he an excellent cultivator, but his talent in swordsmanship was no less extraordinary.
After all, even she wasn't confident she could master the technique to this level in ten days without the guidance of a Half-Saint.
Yet, Li Hao had not sought guidance during this time.
"Did you comprehend this on your own, or did someone guide you?" Yaozu asked, gazing intently at Li Hao after he finished his performance.
Noticing the surprise in Jiang Yingyue's eyes, Li Hao wondered if he had shown too much skill. Maintaining an honest expression, he replied, "Qingying offered me a few pointers."
Yaozu understood and said, "Even with some guidance, the progress you've made is extremely rare. Your talent in swordsmanship is more than enough to enter the inner sect. Would you like to become my disciple?"
"This is a significant decision. I'd like to take more time to consider," Li Hao responded with the excuse he had prepared.
Yaozu's eyes flickered, hearing the polite refusal. It was rare for her to offer someone a place as her disciple. Moreover, many male disciples dreamed of joining Yaochi Peak.
However, Li Hao's rejection reminded her of the way he had looked at her when painting—his gaze had been pure, devoid of any lust.
A faint smile played on her lips, her appreciation for Li Hao growing. She said:
"No rush. Whenever you've made your decision, you can come to me. I'm willing to wait for your answer."
Her final words carried a weight that made it clear she was serious.
Li Hao felt a twinge of guilt. Initially, he had borrowed her command seal to access the Sword Tower's techniques, without any intention of becoming her disciple.
"Understood," Li Hao nodded. In the future, he would have to find a way to repay her favor.
Jiang Yingyue was startled by Li Hao's refusal, but after a moment, she considered the possibility that someone with such exceptional talent, as well as 97 layers of Dao Domain, might already have a master. Perhaps that explained his response.
She suddenly realized that there might be more to Li Hao's identity as a Qingfeng Alchemist than met the eye.
But if the Sword Master hadn't questioned him, it wasn't her place to interfere.
...
After leaving Yaochi Peak, Li Hao continued his daily fishing trips at Sword Cliff.
Half a month passed quickly. After twenty days of competition, the list of the Top Hundred was finally released, sending waves of excitement throughout the entire Sacred Land.
To make it into the Top Hundred among so many talents was already a remarkable achievement. In any first-rate sect outside the Sacred Land, those ranked in the Top Hundred would receive the treatment of personal disciples.
Every name on the list quickly became well-known, spreading far and wide.
With the emergence of the Top Hundred ranking, the battle platforms at the summit of Sacred Mountain were raised even higher.
In the upcoming battles, Holy Sons and Holy Daughters would also participate, with random pairings. It was possible that two exceptionally strong Holy Sons could face off right from the start!
The competition followed a point-based system, with losers having the opportunity to challenge again, and the top sixteen would eventually be decided.
As the Top Hundred Battle began, Lin Qingying, who had spent several days meditating on her sword techniques in the courtyard, finally stood up and headed toward Sacred Mountain.
This time, Li Hao accompanied Lin Shanhai and the other alchemists, once again seated in the floating seats.
Below, the viewing area was filled with a million outer disciples, along with many of the inner disciples who had been eliminated. This was a rare opportunity to witness the gap between them and the Holy Sons and Holy Daughters.
"Look, that's the Sword Saint! He's here in person!"
At the top of Sacred Mountain, three towering arenas stood surrounded by formations.
As everyone arrived, a figure in a white robe descended slowly above the battle platform.
His posture was imposing, and the space around him seemed to crack slightly, with countless faint sword shadows flickering.
Even the gentle swaying of his sleeves gave off an intense and cutting sensation, impossible to look at directly.
Li Hao's eyes narrowed. This was the most powerful figure in the Sword Ancestor Sacred Land, the Sword Saint!
There was no need for any elaborate titles, just the simple name of Sword Saint, yet it carried an unparalleled sense of supremacy!
In addition to the Sword Saint, three more Half-Saints joined Yaozu in the air, each radiating powerful auras that manifested in various phenomena.
Behind Shanzu, a towering mountain peak loomed like a shadow.
Behind Yaozu was a faint, ethereal vision of a sacred platform within Yaochi.
Other Half-Saints emitted flashes of lightning, while some gathered blazing red flames, illuminating the sky.
The overwhelming pressure from these powerful beings caused the Top Hundred contestants to hold their breath, even the Holy Sons and Holy Daughters, who now regarded the event with unprecedented seriousness.