Chapter 324: A Proposal? Guidance for Lin Qingying
The Sword Saint's personal attendance at the Hundred Battles Tournament had already elevated the atmosphere to its peak.
A million outer disciples were filled with excitement. Given their status, it was extremely rare to witness the full power of the Sword Ancestor Holy Land's strongest figure, and opportunities to hear the teachings of the saints were few and far between.
Many inner disciples were also watching with serious expressions, eyes gleaming with excitement. If they could demonstrate their talent and catch the Sword Saint's eye, there was a chance they might receive his personal guidance.
However, the most striking figure at that moment was not the Sword Saint himself, but a Holy Daughter standing by his side.
Bian Ruxue.
As the youngest of the Holy Daughters, she had attracted much attention since she arrived at the Sword Ancestor Holy Land. Standing respectfully by the Sword Saint, her beautiful, serene face radiated a sense of grace and liveliness, filling many onlookers with envy.
To be directly accepted as the Sword Saint's disciple placed her at the very top of the ranks among the Holy Sons and Holy Daughters.
As the rules were announced and the selection of the top one hundred began, three sets of combatants were quickly chosen to take the stage.
Two groups involved inner disciples battling each other, while the third was a match between an inner disciple and a Holy Son.
That Holy Son was none other than Wu Hen, someone Li Hao had met while fishing by the Sword Cliff. Though they had exchanged only a few words, Li Hao knew that Wu Hen sought to comprehend sword intent through fishing and was exceptionally powerful.
As Wu Hen took the stage, most eyes in the audience were drawn toward him.
Though the battles had raged on for twenty days, this was the first time a Holy Son had entered the fray, making it a rare opportunity to witness their true strength.
Wu Hen's opponent was an inner disciple named Luo Cheng, who had previously won his matches and was highly respected among his peers.
As the protective array around the stage activated, the battle began in an instant.
While Wu Hen remained calm, Luo Cheng's eyes flashed with arrogance. Without hesitation, Luo Cheng tapped into the power of the world around him and unleashed an extreme power he had previously kept hidden.
"It's the Divine Strength Extreme! And that whirlpool... it's the Earth Vein!"
The million outer disciples watching were stunned, as the Extreme Realms were the aspiration of every disciple.
With the power of his body and the Earth Vein gathered, Luo Cheng disappeared from sight in a flash!
"Return to the Void Extreme!"
The six half-saints watching from the sidelines all narrowed their eyes at this sight.
Mastering the Return to the Void Extreme meant Luo Cheng was nearly untouchable. Short of a half-saint, few could detect the movements of someone using this technique.
Now, the battle would depend on their ability to predict and counter each other's moves.
In the blink of an eye, Luo Cheng reappeared beside Wu Hen, not behind him, and slashed his sword toward Wu Hen's shoulder. Though Wu Hen reacted swiftly, dodging at the last moment, his shoulder was still torn open.
The crowd gasped. A Holy Son had been wounded in the first exchange!
Luo Cheng didn't pause; he vanished again with the Return to the Void technique. When he reappeared in front of Wu Hen, his sword was aimed at Wu Hen's face. Wu Hen barely avoided the attack, and the blade only grazed his cheek.
With a cold expression, Luo Cheng disappeared for a third time, reappearing above Wu Hen and bringing his sword down with brutal force. However, Wu Hen sidestepped the blow with a subtle movement.
Luo Cheng's eyes widened in surprise.
He quickly retreated, creating distance between them.
From the sidelines, Li Hao, observing the intricate threads of sword intent in the arena, shook his head slightly. He knew Luo Cheng was about to lose unless he had some hidden trump card.
"Wu Hen's sword intent has reached perfection."
"Luo Cheng doesn't even realize that he's already entangled in Wu Hen's threads of sword intent."
"He used that sword intent to faintly trace the movements of the Return to the Void technique. Other Holy Sons should be cautious when facing him."
The half-saints, including Yaozu, watched the battle with grave expressions.
Using sword intent to track the Return to the Void Extreme was an impressive feat, and this showed just how dangerous Wu Hen truly was.
Meanwhile, the million outer disciples were chanting Luo Cheng's name, marveling at his ability to push a Holy Son to this extent.
Luo Cheng vanished for a fourth time, reappearing again to strike at Wu Hen. But this time, Wu Hen drew his sword—an old, rusted blade hanging at his waist. With a simple flick, the rust on the sword trembled, and with a dull thud, the sword pierced through Luo Cheng's body.
One strike sent him flying, his body impaled on the blade.
The crowd's cheers were cut short. Wide-eyed and stunned, they couldn't believe what they were seeing.
Luo Cheng, who had been on the offensive, had suddenly been skewered by Wu Hen's sword.
"You…"
Luo Cheng noticed faint lines crisscrossing his body, and realization dawned on him. He recognized Wu Hen's skill and his face darkened.
With a flick of his wrist, Wu Hen retracted his sword, his expression as calm and unbothered as it had been at the start of the match.
Luo Cheng knew Wu Hen had gone easy on him. If Wu Hen had followed up on that initial strike, he wouldn't have been able to defend himself.
"I concede," Luo Cheng said, lowering his head. His face was filled with frustration. Was this the power of a Holy Son?
What bothered him most was that Wu Hen hadn't even revealed his extreme realms, defeating him with sword intent alone!
As the winner was declared, the stunned outer disciples gradually returned to their senses.
Some began to realize that Wu Hen hadn't even used his full strength.
"This is the power of a Holy Son?"
"To defeat an extreme realm expert with only sword intent, that's terrifying."
"Wu Hen didn't even use the Return to the Void technique to dodge. It seems he didn't want to reveal all his skills."
"Why didn't he use Return to the Void earlier? It would have prevented him from getting injured."
"Injured? His wounds are already healing. And besides, what's the point of avoiding injury if it wastes unnecessary energy? Winning is what matters."
The discussions among the audience highlighted the stark differences between Holy Sons and ordinary disciples.
Wu Hen left the stage, and the other Holy Sons and Holy Daughters in attendance watched with solemn expressions.
Only a few among them remained indifferent.
Lin Qingying's eyes gleamed with thought. Wu Hen's sword intent was somewhat similar to her own Soft Sword Intent, but there were notable differences. She wasn't sure if she could defeat him if they faced each other.
Wu Hen's display of swordsmanship had undoubtedly raised the stakes for everyone.
As the stage was cleared, more matches followed. In one of the subsequent battles, another Holy Son faced off against an inner disciple who had mastered three extreme realms: Divine Strength, Earth Vein, and Soul. Yet the Holy Son, using only the Return to the Void technique, easily defeated him with a single strike.
This highlighted just how overwhelming the Return to the Void Extreme could be. Its ability to make the user untouchable rendered other extreme realms almost useless in comparison.
Li Hao recalled his fight in the Great Yu Empire Palace, where he had slain six Dao Law experts, one of whom had also mastered the Return to the Void Extreme. That person had likely been among the top inner disciples. At the time, Li Hao had been in the Taiping Dao Realm, and it had taken him great effort and the will of the Heavenly Venerate to win. But now, things would be different.
As the intense battles continued, one match after another, the Holy Sons and Holy Daughters all emerged victorious.
Some won with ease, while others struggled against inner disciples who had mastered the Return to the Void Extreme, but none were defeated.
Before long, Lin Qingying was called to battle. Unfortunately for her, her opponent was a Holy Son!
The match immediately caused a stir. For the first time, a Holy Son and Holy Daughter would face off, and the crowd was eager to see how far each would go.
Lin Qingying frowned slightly. She hadn't expected to reveal her true strength so soon. Exposing too much now would give her future opponents a chance to exploit her weaknesses, but there was no choice.
"Oh no, how did Qingying end up with such bad luck?"
"She has to win this one!"
Next to Li Hao, Lin Shanhai and the other alchemists were anxiously slapping their thighs. To be pitted against a Holy Son so early in the competition was incredibly unlucky.
Lin Qingying and her opponent, the Dragon-Slayer Holy Son, both descended onto the stage.
They exchanged a glance, acknowledging each other's abilities. The Dragon-Slayer Holy Son shook his head regretfully.
"I didn't expect to face you so soon. Well, it's just as well. I can warm up before my match with Haoyue," he said.
The crowd gasped at his words. To speak so arrogantly to a Holy Daughter—this Dragon-Slayer Holy Son was truly bold.
Lin Qingying's expression remained indifferent. She said nothing, only slowly drawing her sword.
As the array sealed the arena, the battle began.
The Dragon-Slayer Holy Son's eyes were cold as he drew his sword. He didn't charge forward but took slow, deliberate steps toward Lin Qingying.
This approach seemed more like that of a mortal preparing for a fight, but the disciples watching knew that even the slightest movement on the stage could unleash a thunderous clash at any moment.
Both Lin Qingying and the Dragon-Slayer Holy Son were building up their momentum. As the Holy Son stepped within ten zhang of her, Lin Qingying's eyes narrowed slightly.
At that very moment, the Dragon-Slayer Holy Son's body suddenly disappeared as he entered the Return to the Void Extreme Realm!
Boom!
Suddenly, a sound like a dragon's roar echoed across the battlefield. The golden-red divine sword in the Dragon-Slayer Holy Son's hand emitted a deafening howl, appearing above Lin Qingying's head as he slashed down with devastating force.
The moment the Dragon-Slayer Holy Son disappeared, Lin Qingying vanished as well. As he reappeared to strike, Lin Qingying had already relocated behind him. Her slender green sword swept out gracefully, like the soft flick of a cloud sleeve.
In an instant, the surrounding energy of heaven and earth coalesced into countless sword beams, piercing through the air.
The Dragon-Slayer Holy Son spun around, his sword slashing out to meet her attack, as if he had anticipated her move.
When the golden-red sword light collided with Lin Qingying's green sword light, the impact wasn't as explosive as one might expect. The golden-red sword light seemed to sink into a soft cushion, as if it were slashing into cotton. At that moment, golden divine power radiated from Lin Qingying, her arms flexing as she unleashed her strength.
However, the force she released was like a golden cloud—soft, dispersed, and transforming into countless firefly-like lights that encircled the Dragon-Slayer Holy Son.
His face changed, and he vanished once again, using Return to the Void to reappear behind Lin Qingying.
This time, Lin Qingying didn't counter with Return to the Void. Instead, she elegantly turned, narrowly avoiding the Dragon-Slayer Holy Son's thrust. His sword passed through the space between her arms and waist, while her own sword, glowing like golden fire, brushed against his face.
Splat!
Several sharp cuts appeared on the Dragon-Slayer Holy Son's face, as if they had been burned through by the sword light, leaving bloody holes.
"Damn it!"
The Dragon-Slayer Holy Son's anger flared, and his eyes gleamed with a fierce and domineering light. His sword aura exuded an imperial might, the accumulated sword energy from slaying dragons manifesting in a force that made him appear like a majestic emperor standing tall on the battlefield.
This pressure, despite the protective array, made the disciples in the audience feel a sense of awe, as if they were compelled to kneel and worship.
Lin Qingying's gaze wavered slightly, affected by this overwhelming aura. However, her Soft Sword Dao flowed seamlessly through her body, rendering the Dragon-Slayer Holy Son's imperial might ineffective against her, as if she couldn't be targeted.
Swish!
Her sword intent flowed like water, swift and graceful. Her seemingly soft blade pierced through the Dragon-Slayer Holy Son's powerful strike, leaving a deep wound on his waist.
"Soft Sword Dao, like water—truly troublesome."
On the holy platform, several Holy Sons and Holy Daughters watched the battle with grave expressions. They could see that Lin Qingying's sword intent had reached near-perfection.
On the other hand, despite the Dragon-Slayer Holy Son's impressive imperial aura, he was clearly being restrained by Lin Qingying's Soft Sword Dao.
Boom!
Suddenly, a towering Heavenly Image appeared on the battlefield, taking the form of the Dragon-Slayer Holy Son himself. He was clad in white and gold robes, wielding a massive sword like an emperor-god.
His awe-inspiring presence caused the clouds atop the mountain to ripple and part.
"It's the Heavenly Image Extreme Realm—the path to sainthood!"
The disciples gasped in astonishment. The Heavenly Image Extreme Realm was the third extreme realm and was also known as the "Saint Realm" because only those who achieved it could aspire to sainthood.
To condense a Heavenly Image demonstrated that the Dragon-Slayer Holy Son had been an extraordinary genius from the start, someone with the capacity to contain the heavens and dominate the universe.
As his Heavenly Image manifested, the Dragon-Slayer Holy Son's eyes filled with murderous intent. He had planned to save this technique for his fight against Haoyue, but now he had no choice but to reveal it early.
"Sword Emperor Infinity, Boundless Sky Sword!!"
The Dragon-Slayer Holy Son roared, merging with his Heavenly Image as he raised his divine sword. His Dao Domain expanded rapidly—an astonishing 21 layers!
With the power of the 21-layer Dao Domain, his sword energy filled the entire battlefield.
In an open field, Lin Qingying might have been able to use Return to the Void to escape. However, the enclosed nature of the arena made it impossible to remain hidden for long, and once she reappeared, she would be subjected to the Dragon-Slayer Holy Son's indiscriminate attacks.
The stage was designed with these extreme realms in mind, preventing combatants from simply vanishing and prolonging battles endlessly.
Surrounded by the endless sword energy, Lin Qingying transformed into a flash of green light. She didn't retreat. Instead, she charged directly at the Dragon-Slayer Holy Son.
As she raised her sword, the sound of crashing waves echoed across the battlefield.
In an instant, an overwhelming tide surged forward—both infinitely soft and incomparably strong!
Softness could penetrate any gap, and once it did, it became the sharpest of swords.
Splat! Splat! Splat! Splat!
Lin Qingying's sword energy exploded in all directions, enveloping the Dragon-Slayer Holy Son. The tide-like sword intent surged forward, penetrating through his Heavenly Image and Dao Domain, leaving his body riddled with bloody holes.
"You!"
The Dragon-Slayer Holy Son was stunned, his eyes blazing with rage. Even though his body was gravely wounded, he swung his sword once more in a desperate attack.
Lin Qingying's face paled, and she raised her sword to parry, but his strike felt as though it carried the weight of mountains and rivers. The force sent her flying.
She spat out a mouthful of blood, her face turning pale. Quickly, she used Return to the Void, transforming into a beam of pure green light that pierced through the Dragon-Slayer Holy Son's Heavenly Image.
The battlefield fell silent as the overwhelming sword energy dissipated, and the majestic Heavenly Image faded away. The Dragon-Slayer Holy Son, his face ashen, stared at the sword light in his chest, his expression filled with bitterness and regret—most of all, at himself.
Lin Qingying withdrew her sword, giving him a brief glance before turning and leaving the stage.
The battle was over, and the victor was clear.
The million outer disciples, as well as most of the inner disciples, were left in shock. Many hadn't even realized how Lin Qingying had shattered the Heavenly Image. They were all dumbfounded by how such an intense battle had ended so quickly.
However, the Holy Sons and Holy Daughters on the sacred platform wore serious expressions.
They had seen that Lin Qingying's final strike had been so soft it nearly blended into the very fabric of space—truly terrifying!
As Lin Qingying returned to the platform, many of the Holy Sons and Holy Daughters fixed her with heavy gazes, their thoughts unreadable.
Watching from his seat, Li Hao breathed a sigh of relief. Lin Qingying's sword intent still had some flaws, yet she had managed to win. It was fortunate that her opponent's sword intent had been brittle, filled with imperial arrogance but lacking true, undefeatable dominance.
The emperor-like aura gained from slaying dragons was impressive, but it ultimately fell short.
True imperial might should embody a sovereign supremacy over the heavens, before which even saints would bow.
Li Hao shook his head slightly. Lin Qingying's victory had been perilous, and when he had the chance, he would help her by drawing out the weaknesses in her sword intent.
As Li Hao reflected on these thoughts, Yaozu and the other six half-saints smiled faintly. The Sword Ancestor Holy Land's Holy Sons and Holy Daughters had proven their strength, and they felt reassured.
Despite unleashing five extreme realms, the Dragon-Slayer Holy Son had still been defeated due to the shortcomings in his swordsmanship. Meanwhile, Lin Qingying, though she hadn't revealed her Heavenly Image, had nearly perfected her sword intent, marking her as a once-in-a-millennium genius in the way of the sword.
The battles on the stage continued. As the competition progressed, Li Hao saw both Wu Hen and Lin Qingying return to the stage for their second-round matches against inner disciples, winning easily.
Other Holy Sons and Holy Daughters also faced off in spectacular clashes. In one particularly fierce match, two Holy Sons battled, both unleashing their Five Extreme Realms, with their Heavenly Images clashing furiously for over half an hour before one finally emerged victorious.
The intensity of the battle thrilled the watching disciples, leaving them in awe of the Holy Sons and Holy Daughters, who all seemed to have mastered the Five Extreme Realms.
It appeared that mastering the Five Extreme Realms was the standard for Holy Sons.
From there, the remaining combat techniques depended on the differences in their Dao Domain and Dao Body.
However, one Holy Son match concluded quite swiftly.
"Haoyue Holy Son defeated Ziyang Holy Son with just one 'Curved Moon' sword strike. That's unbelievably strong!"
"I've heard he practices the Sun and Moon Sword Technique, seeking the unity of heaven and earth, the eternal coexistence of the sun and moon."
"You guys don't know, but among the Holy Sons and Holy Daughters, Haoyue Holy Son is considered in a league of his own. Rumor has it that his Dao Domain reached 30 layers thirty years ago!"
"Thirty layers of Dao Domain? No way!"
"That's nothing! Haoyue Holy Son was born with the Sun and Moon Sword Body, and from birth, his body contained two innate sword energies—one of the sun and one of the moon. He's widely recognized as a reincarnation of a Saint, with a natural balance of Yin-Yang Dual Veins!"
"…Compared to Haoyue Holy Son, my so-called 'innate Yang vein' makes me feel like a mere stray dog."
Seeing Haoyue Holy Son's performance, the faces of the other Holy Sons and Holy Daughters turned solemn. Ziyang Holy Son's Heavenly Image and Return to the Void Extreme Realm had both been shattered by Haoyue Holy Son's single sword strike.
Even the Return to the Void was easily avoided by him. Such an unfathomable technique was truly terrifying!
"Haoyue Holy Son is too strong. I heard that thirty years ago, he was already the top Holy Son, and now, his swordsmanship is even more terrifying."
Beside Li Hao, Lin Shanhai and the other alchemists were discussing fervently.
Even though they primarily focused on alchemy, they were well-informed when it came to various bits of gossip.
"With one sword strike, he defeated a Holy Son. If Qingying faces him, maybe it's better for her to just surrender and conserve her strength. It's better to fight for second place."
Zhao Yingzhen, full of worry, suggested this to Lin Shanhai.
Lin Shanhai's face was filled with concern. He felt the same way, but he knew his granddaughter's temperament. To ask her to settle for second place? Though she appeared gentle and agreeable, deep down, she was incredibly proud. How could she ever back down!
While the battles on the platform continued, the tall and imposing figure of Yuwen Haoyue, his eyes shimmering with golden light, walked directly up to Lin Qingying.
"So, have you thought about my proposal from last time? Marry me."
Yuwen Haoyue stood in front of Lin Qingying, speaking words that stunned everyone.
The surrounding dozen or so Holy Sons and Holy Daughters were visibly taken aback. They quickly glanced at Yuwen Haoyue, then shifted their gaze to Lin Qingying.
Yuwen Haoyue was pursuing Lin Qingying?
This was shocking news that they were just now learning.
"You want to use me to cultivate your swordsmanship, to fall in and out of love in order to strengthen your Unity of Heaven and Earth sword intent? Please, find someone else. I'm not interested."
Lin Qingying frowned, her face cold as she responded.
Yuwen Haoyue's eyes gleamed with golden light as he stared at her. "Your Soft Sword Dao is but a minor path. If you follow me, once I become a Saint, I'll select a path to sainthood for you as your bridal gift. Consider it my dowry to you!"
The surrounding Holy Sons and Holy Daughters had their eyes glimmer with realization as they listened to the conversation. No wonder! At their level, aside from the sword, there was little room for other emotions, and personal gains were often weighed heavily. Sacrifices and choices were carefully made.
Yuwen Haoyue's pursuit of Lin Qingying now made sense. He was offering a Path to Sainthood as a wedding gift. Some of the other Holy Daughters couldn't help but let their eyes sparkle at the thought.
After all, for those on the path of cultivation, the ultimate goal was to become a Saint, to exist for thousands of years!
While they all possessed their own pride, it was clear that Yuwen Haoyue was far stronger than them.
"My sword path is not a minor path. Even if it is, I will forge it into a grand path!"
Lin Qingying's eyes grew even colder as she stared at him icily. "Don't push me to draw my sword now!"
Yuwen Haoyue frowned slightly, his gaze becoming colder. "We'll see then!"
With that, he turned and walked back to his position without another word.
Lin Qingying's face remained icy, and she turned away, no longer paying him any attention.
This conversation was shielded by a barrier on the sacred platform, unheard by the audience. Only the dozen or so Holy Sons and Holy Daughters were privy to it, while the rest of the disciples below remained focused on the ongoing intense battles.
Seated in the floating viewing seats, Li Hao, growing somewhat bored, happened to notice this exchange. Although the barrier prevented him from hearing what was said, he could see that Lin Qingying didn't seem particularly happy about it.
After two days of relentless battles testing the limits of stamina and combat strength, the Points Battle finally concluded.
Lin Qingying had fought five times and won each match, securing her spot in the top sixteen.
The other thirteen Holy Sons and Holy Daughters had also made it into the top sixteen, with none suffering elimination.
Besides the fourteen Holy Sons and Holy Daughters, two top-tier inner disciples also advanced to the top sixteen. These disciples had only narrowly lost to other Holy Sons and Holy Daughters earlier on.
The Top Sixteen Battle would take place the next day.
After watching for so long, many disciples were mentally exhausted, their minds overloaded with information that needed time to process.
Li Hao left the venue with Lin Shanhai and the other alchemists, deciding not to seek out the Sword Master for fishing that day.
Upon returning to the Alchemist Courtyard, Li Hao noticed that Lin Qingying had already returned ahead of them, sitting cross-legged in her usual spot, her sword resting on her lap.
After some thought, Li Hao approached her and said, "I watched your fight today. It was impressive, truly remarkable."
Lin Qingying kept her eyes closed, showing no reaction.
Li Hao continued, "But some of your movements weren't as graceful as they could be. I'd like to draw them out for you to see, what do you think?"
Only then did Lin Qingying open her eyes. The last time Li Hao had pointed out flaws in her sword intent, he had spoken of "gracefulness" in a similar manner. He was viewing things from an artist's perspective.
Could her sword intent still have flaws?
Lin Qingying glanced at Li Hao, staring at him for a moment before suddenly asking:
"And what about your own swordsmanship? Have you not been practicing? I heard you passed Yaozu's test. Within ten days, you'd already grasped the technique. Among the inner disciples, your sword talent is considered top-tier. Are you not planning to refine it further?"
"How did you know?"
Li Hao was surprised. He hadn't spoken about passing Yaozu's test, and no one else seemed aware of it.
Lin Qingying furrowed her brows slightly, withdrawing her gaze. "Go ahead and draw if you wish."
Understanding why Li Hao could point out the flaws in her swordsmanship, she figured it was because of his talent in both swordsmanship and painting.
Seeing that she agreed, Li Hao immediately fetched his drawing board. After a moment of contemplation, he recalled that the battles were growing more intense and that it was only a matter of time before they faced exceptionally powerful opponents. He decided to draw out all the potential flaws in Lin Qingying's swordsmanship in one go.