Chapter 325: Mastering Sword Intent, Duel with Bian Ruxue
Countless thoughts swirled in Li Hao's mind as the image of Lin Qingying practicing her swordplay over the past days replayed vividly.
Her graceful figure danced in his thoughts, her movements elegant and precise.
But Li Hao's heart was utterly calm, his gaze focused and serious.
The subtle flaws he had observed in her sword techniques now converged in his mind, flowing from his heart through his hand and into the brush.
He ground the ink, lifted the brush, and let the ink flow onto the paper. Soon, the image of a beautiful woman emerged, dancing gracefully on the blank canvas.
Her swordplay was divine, her eyes like a tranquil lake, her entire being enveloped in the essence of the Soft Sword Dao.
Under Li Hao's brush, her sword intent grew purer, more elegant—like a pool of clear water, or strands of drifting rain.
Her sword intent was soft as cotton, her blade fine as thread, and her movements like rippling waves, with attacks that shifted unpredictably, impossible to discern or counter! With the first painting complete, Li Hao used his energy to suspend it in the air. Then, he started on the second and third paintings.
Three paintings in total, all completed in three hours.
With the completion of these three pieces, Li Hao's painting experience increased by seventy thousand points, bringing him ever closer to the one million experience milestone.
Returning from his state of deep focus, Li Hao glanced at the woman still seated cross-legged in meditation, refining her swordsmanship. He floated the three paintings over to her and said: "These are for you. Take a look."
With that, he packed up his brushes and returned to his courtyard.
Lin Qingying opened her eyes and looked at the three floating paintings. Her gaze fell on the first one, and when she saw the woman dancing across the paper, her heart trembled.
As she stared at the painting, the figure seemed to come alive, gracefully wielding her sword, every movement flowing with a soft, serene beauty.
Suddenly, Lin Qingying recalled that she had once practiced this way—about half a month ago.
Yet, the stance she had used back then wasn't as flawless as the one in the painting.
She was stunned, her thoughts drawn in by the sword intent captured in the artwork, immersing her completely.
When the sword technique in the painting finished playing out, Lin Qingying was struck with a sudden insight. She realized the flaw in her swordsmanship.
A wave of astonishment washed over her. He had truly identified the weakness in her sword intent and had illustrated it so vividly!
And there were three paintings?
Suppressing her urge to immediately practice, Lin Qingying turned her attention to the second painting.
The sword stance in the second painting depicted her practice from just a week ago.
Lin Qingying studied it carefully, and after a long moment, she absorbed the essence of the artwork, her expression becoming complicated. This second painting also completed her sword intent.
Finally, her gaze fell upon the third painting, which featured not just herself, but also a blurred figure. Lin Qingying instantly recognized it as a depiction of her battle with the Dragon-Slaying Holy Son.
That battle seemed to unfold before her eyes once again.
But this time, the woman in the painting executed her strikes with decisive precision. When her opponent unleashed the Heaven and Earth Manifestation, she needed only a single silent strike to shatter it and defeat his true form!
Ultimate Softness!
What was ultimate softness? It was as gentle as water, as formless as air, soft enough to permeate all things!
The sword intent dispersed into everything, yet also condensed from everything! Lin Qingying's eyes widened in realization, and for a fleeting moment, her blood seemed to ignite with a fiery excitement that she could hardly contain.
This was the Ultimate Soft Sword Intent, the perfected sword intent! She quickly turned her head to look for Li Hao, only to find that the spot where he usually sat was now empty.
A complex emotion stirred within Lin Qingying's heart, a feeling akin to the passing of time, elusive and fleeting.
This sensation left her briefly lost, but she soon extended her spiritual sense and detected Li Hao sitting in his courtyard, carving something as usual.
The tight tension in Lin Qingying's heart quietly eased at that moment.
She took a long, contemplative look at him, realizing that this seemingly unremarkable man she had brought back was anything but simple.
Collecting her thoughts, Lin Qingying carefully put away the three paintings, handling them with special care as she stored them in her dimensional space.
Two of the paintings depicted her daily sword practice. Lin Qingying bit her lip slightly, her eyes shimmering, but soon she refocused her mind on her sword.
The image of the perfected sword intent floated in her mind, and she began to practice once again.
As a Holy Daughter level prodigy, her talent in swordsmanship was extraordinary, and with these revelations, she quickly grasped the concepts.
In fact, the painting's guidance made the process even smoother than her master's teachings, as if it were guiding her hand directly.
In the courtyard, her sword intent rose like the wind and fell like the breeze.
The weeds swayed, and the leaves twirled. Perhaps it wasn't just the sword that was rising with the wind...
...
The showdown between the Top Sixteen had begun.
The arena was packed, with outer disciples arriving early to secure their seats. Tens of thousands of inner disciples sat quietly below, having already completed their battles and earned their final rankings. Many had gained valuable insights from their participation.
Now, the battle among the top sixteen prodigies in the Sword Ancestor Sacred Land was sure to be an extravagant display of supreme swordsmanship.
At the Holy Son level, most contestants had reached the Fifth Extreme Realm, meaning that with their realms evenly matched, the competition would come down to Dao Domain and sword technique.
Li Hao arrived at the floating seats alongside Lin Shanhai and the other alchemists. Although the battle had not yet started, the atmosphere was already intense.
Li Hao's gaze fell on Lin Qingying, standing calmly on the holy platform. He could tell from her serene expression that she had absorbed the lessons from his paintings.
"Today will be a tough battle. I hope Qingying's luck isn't too poor and she doesn't face one of the really difficult opponents right away," Shi Huajin said, his expression filled with concern.
Due to Lin Shanhai's connection, their group was all rooting for Lin Qingying to win.
But with Hao Yue Holy Son dominating the competition, securing first place would mean overcoming this formidable mountain.
The other rankings were more achievable but would still be fiercely contested.
"As long as she makes it to the top ten, she'll receive incense offerings from a hundred cities. If she wins first place, she'll receive the incense offerings of an entire nation!" Lin Shanhai's eyes clouded with worry. Incense was the key to sainthood, and the competition would surely be brutal.
Moreover, the incense offerings weren't a one-time reward but would continue for an entire sixty-year cycle!
On the holy platform, the Holy Sons and Holy Daughters stood quietly, each radiating their own unique aura. Though they gathered together, each remained distinctly individual.
The Dragon-Slaying Holy Son glanced at Lin Qingying with a glint of battle spirit in his eyes. Having lost to her before, he hoped to face her again today for a proper rematch.
Soon, as the Sword Saint descended, the chaotic rules of the tournament swept through the air, drawing the contestants' tokens into random pairings.
Everyone's opponent was quickly assigned.
"Hmm?"
Qiu Wuhen glanced at his assigned opponent and saw that it was none other than Hao Yue Holy Son. His brow furrowed slightly, but he soon regained his composure.
Others also noticed that Qiu Wuhen had drawn an unfortunate lot, going up against Hao Yue Holy Son.
This revelation caused many to breathe a sigh of relief. Although none of them thought they would necessarily lose to him, it was better to face him in the finals than to be eliminated early.
At the same time, the Dragon-Slaying Holy Son looked at his opponent, who turned out to be the Purple Sun Holy Son, and sighed in disappointment.
Lin Qingying also looked up, spotting her opponent—none other than the Sword Saint's direct disciple.
Her eyes flickered slightly as she turned her head. Simultaneously, a white-robed woman looked back at her, and their gazes briefly locked before they each looked away.
"Disciple, the Sun and Moon Sword Technique of Hao Yue Holy Son has a restraining effect on your own. Be cautious and conserve your strength for future battles," Qiu Wuhen's master's voice echoed in his mind.
Qiu Wuhen remained silent. Retreat? No, he wanted to test himself.
Perhaps, in the extreme challenge, he could discover the weaknesses in his sword intent and achieve a faster breakthrough.
Soon, the first match began.
Unlike before, there was only one battlefield today, rather than three arenas fighting simultaneously. This focused the attention of the entire audience on a single match.
The first contestants were Hao Yue Holy Son and Qiu Wuhen.
Li Hao saw that his fishing companion had drawn Hao Yue Holy Son as his opponent and couldn't help but feel a bit sorry for him.
Yesterday, he had witnessed Hao Yue Holy Son's swordsmanship, which was indeed powerful. His skill seemed to surpass that of the other Holy Sons, standing clearly on a higher level. His sword intent had already reached mastery, and it was an exceptionally strong sword intent at that!
Of course, unless someone else was concealing their true abilities, it seemed that based on sword intent alone, Hao Yue Holy Son was number one.
On the battlefield, Hao Yue Holy Son and Qiu Wuhen both descended.
"The Thousand Threads Sword is nothing more than soft rain before the Sun and Moon. Your sword is restrained by mine, you can't win. Surrender," Hao Yue Holy Son said calmly, his voice devoid of arrogance, as though simply stating a fact.
Qiu Wuhen's expression remained unchanged as he replied:
"Raindrops can wear down stone, and soft rain can veil the heavens and the earth. How will I know who's stronger unless we try?"
"You wish to use my sword intent as a whetstone? I'm afraid you won't get the chance," Hao Yue Holy Son's eyes flashed coldly, easily discerning Qiu Wuhen's intentions. He wasn't about to let himself be used as a tool for someone else's growth.
As the formation locked into place, the battle officially began.
On the holy platform, Lin Qingying and the other Holy Sons and Daughters watched intently.
On the battlefield, Qiu Wuhen didn't rely solely on his sword intent this time. Instead, he immediately unleashed his full power.
Golden light radiated from him, a manifestation of his Extreme Realm Divine Power, enhancing his physical strength, resilience, and healing abilities.
His Heaven and Earth Meridian swirled like a vortex, gathering power from all directions, pushing his state to its peak.
His soul remained hidden within his body, fully synchronized with his physical form, allowing him to sense even the most subtle attacks.
This difficult-to-master extreme realm was something that, with endless resources and top-tier talent, every Holy Son had already achieved.
"He's finally forced to show his extreme realm."
In the crowd, Luo Cheng, who had been defeated by Qiu Wuhen the day before, smiled wryly but watched with a newfound seriousness, eager to see his true power.
Meanwhile, one of the six Half-Saints sighed inwardly, understanding that his disciple had taken this fight seriously.
The old man smiled ruefully, knowing his disciple's stubborn nature. Though calm on the surface, Qiu Wuhen was remarkably determined.
Hao Yue Holy Son felt the pressure of Qiu Wuhen's extreme realm but remained calm, merely allowing a faint golden light to envelop him. He, too, activated his Divine Power Extreme Realm.
Swish!
Qiu Wuhen was the first to make a move, his body vanishing in an instant—a perfect display of Void Shifting.
Previously, against Luo Cheng, he hadn't needed this technique, relying solely on his sword intent to defeat him. But now, he unleashed it to take the initiative.
Hao Yue Holy Son's eyes flickered with their strange gold-rimmed hue, and it seemed as though he could perceive something. He casually swung his sword, and the moment Qiu Wuhen reappeared, he found himself rushing straight into the sword's trajectory.
Qiu Wuhen swiftly retreated. This initial strike wasn't meant to attack but to test the waters.
"The Sun and Moon Divine Eyes can track Void Shifting!"
Qiu Wuhen's eyes narrowed in realization. His opponent's natural divine eyes could indeed perceive his movements within the Void! Legend had it that these were divine eyes condensed from the extreme principles of the Great Dao, containing the profound truth of the Sacred Path. With such divine eyes, it was understandable that his opponent could see through Void Shifting.
If Void Shifting was ineffective, Qiu Wuhen had no intention of relying on it further. He drew the rusted sword at his waist, and as the rust fell away, it revealed a brilliant, sword-like Qiu water.
"Sword Without a Trace!"
Qiu Wuhen suddenly struck, using one of his ultimate techniques! His sword seemed to turn into Qiu wind, and as it moved, its energy vanished, while the void itself was sliced apart.
"Everything the Sun and Moon illuminate leaves a trace. Your sword is but a minor path!"
Hao Yue Holy Son floated in mid-air, his expression cold as he gazed down at Qiu Wuhen. The moment Qiu Wuhen swung his sword, Hao Yue Holy Son's Dao Domain unfolded—forty-nine layers of Dao Domain, each intricately intertwined. Within the domain, yin and yang, the sun and the moon revolved, and the trace of Qiu Wuhen's sword qi appeared, completely exposed and frozen in place.
"Forty-nine layers of Dao Domain!!"
"My god, am I seeing things?"
The outer disciples below were utterly shocked and erupted in excitement.
On the holy platform, the expressions of the other Holy Sons also grew more serious.
Among the crowd, Jiang Yingyue, who had already been eliminated from the Top Sixteen, glanced toward a particular floating seat and saw the calm figure of a certain young man sitting there. Her eyes flickered with curiosity.
Not knowing his exact age made it difficult to compare his accomplishments.
In the Sacred Land, some Dao cultivators had lived for several thousand years, cultivating up to dozens or even nearly a hundred Dao Domains. Many of these individuals had once been Holy Sons but failed to achieve sainthood and instead delved deeply into mastering their Dao Domains.
These elder Holy Sons, with their millennia of cultivation, were extremely formidable.
Boom! With a single oppressive burst of Dao Domain, Qiu Wuhen's sword qi was not only revealed but shattered.
Hao Yue Holy Son remained expressionless as he calmly drew his sword and unleashed a single crescent-moon slash! The sword light was like a silver crescent moon, brilliant and radiant—the same technique he had used yesterday to defeat another Holy Son in a single strike.
Qiu Wuhen's face grew grim. He tried to dodge but found the sword light tracking him.
Void Shifting!
He swiftly blinked out of existence, yet the sword light followed him, undeterred by the Void.
Qiu Wuhen immediately realized that the sword light was connected to Hao Yue Holy Son's will, and his divine eyes could track his every move. As long as he couldn't escape the range of those divine eyes, there was no escaping the sword qi!
No wonder his opponent had been able to defeat another Holy Son with just one strike!
This was a sword strike destined to hit its mark! Since he couldn't evade it, he would break it! Qiu Wuhen's eyes flashed with resolve as he swung his sword. His sword intent was like countless threads, layer upon layer, forming a vast net meant to enclose the entire space.
Boom!
The crescent moon sword light sliced through effortlessly, seemingly unstoppable. His sword net was instantly torn apart.
Yet, layer by layer, the sword intent gradually slowed down the sword qi, only for it to suddenly disappear.
Qiu Wuhen's eyes widened in shock, his body shifting in desperation, but a rending force still appeared on his chest. With a loud impact, he was sent flying backward.
Blood sprayed from his chest as he felt his ribs shatter. He quickly activated his unyielding power, which rapidly healed the damage.
If not for his enhanced healing abilities, this strike might have cost him his life! His opponent had used Void Shifting to merge with the sword qi.
Qiu Wuhen glared coldly. He recognized this technique but knew that while he could vaguely sense movements within the Void, if his opponent was too fast, he would still be vulnerable.
Moreover, his sword intent had been severed, robbing him of the ability to trace his opponent's movements within the Void.
Outside the arena, the crowd had grown eerily silent.
Yesterday, Hao Yue Holy Son had defeated another Holy Son with a single strike. And today, it seemed he had once again gravely wounded Qiu Wuhen with a single blow.
Everyone could see that if Hao Yue Holy Son pressed his advantage now, Qiu Wuhen would be in serious danger.
"A minor path is still a minor path. How dare it compete with the sun and moon?"
Hao Yue Holy Son declared coldly, as though stating a fact. With each victory over a minor path, he grew closer to perfecting his invincible Dao heart, completing his ultimate path.
Qiu Wuhen used his sword to prop himself up, his eyes sharp, and the sword in his hand shone brilliantly.
"Sword Without a Shadow!"
In an instant, he attacked once more, but this time, the sword had already struck the moment he raised his hand.
Swish!
The sword light traveled through the void, suddenly appearing before Hao Yue Holy Son, bypassing his forty-nine layers of Dao Domain!
The crowd's eyes were still focused on Qiu Wuhen's sword, but his sword qi had already been unleashed.
Thump! Hao Yue Holy Son tilted his head slightly, a faint scratch appearing on his cheek. Before the blood could flow, the wound had already healed.
His eyes grew colder. This sword strike had actually wounded him.
"Full Moon."
He slowly raised his hand, and in his grip, his sword manifested a radiant full moon, as if he were holding the light of the moon itself.
Suddenly, countless beams of sword qi shot forth.
Each beam of sword qi carried an overwhelming power, no weaker than the previous crescent moon slash.
Boom, boom, boom!
In the void, the sound of sword light flickered as Qiu Wuhen's Thousand Threads Sword shattered into countless fragments, riddled with holes.
His Dao Domain expanded, revealing thirty-seven layers of Dao Domain, one after the other. The disciples below gasped in awe, for the sheer number of Dao Domains alone was enough to suppress over ninety percent of the inner disciples.
However, compared to Hao Yue Holy Son's forty-nine layers of Dao Domain, it still paled in comparison.
The sword light pierced through, intersecting in straight lines, tearing apart Qiu Wuhen's Dao Domain in an instant.
Several sword lights struck his body, sending him flying and severing one of his arms.
Suddenly, a powerful force enveloped Qiu Wuhen, shielding him from the remaining hundred sword lights.
Hao Yue Holy Son frowned slightly and looked up at one of the six elders, an old man, who stood among them.
"The battle is over. You've already won," the old man said calmly. With a wave of his hand, Qiu Wuhen's body disappeared from the battlefield, along with the sword gripped in his severed hand, reappearing in front of the elder.
The elder placed his hand over Qiu Wuhen, and the power of the laws enveloped him, swiftly healing his body and restoring his injuries.
Hao Yue Holy Son's expression remained indifferent as he withdrew his Dao Domain, the golden light around him dissipating.
If he had killed his opponent, it would have harmed his reputation, and it would have been a significant loss for the Sacred Land. He was not angered by the outcome.
Qiu Wuhen stood up, his face grim, knowing that he had been utterly defeated.
His sword, which pursued the formless and traceless, was fully exposed in the face of his opponent's Sun and Moon Divine Eyes. Even his Void Extreme Realm was rendered useless. The gap in their strength was undeniable.
"Thank you, Master," Qiu Wuhen said, bowing his head to the elder, before turning and walking away.
The elder sighed softly in his heart. Without attempting such a challenge, one would never understand the gap in strength. He hoped that this battle would serve as motivation for Qiu Wuhen rather than a setback.
As the first match ended, a wave of cheers erupted from the previously silent disciples in the audience. Cries of "Hao Yue Holy Son" filled the air.
In this place, strength commanded respect. Hao Yue Holy Son's power ignited fervor among countless outer disciples. He was simply too strong—among the Holy Sons, he was on a completely different level. With just one strike, he had severely injured another Holy Son, and another strike had nearly killed him. It was terrifying.
The faces of the other Holy Sons and Holy Daughters grew more solemn. Seeing Hao Yue Holy Son return, they felt as if a mountain was pressing down on them.
Lin Qingying's eyes flickered slightly as she felt a sense of pressure. Her Ultimate Soft Sword Intent had already reached perfection, but she wasn't sure if her current swordsmanship would be enough to face him.
On the other side, Bian Ruxue was also studying Hao Yue Holy Son. His sword intent was grand and powerful, reflecting the sun and moon, and with his innate divine eyes, he stood out as the most exceptional of their generation.
Just the day before, her master, the Sword Saint, had transmitted a message, warning her that Hao Yue Holy Son had been cultivating for longer than she had and that she wasn't yet strong enough to rival him. Her goal for this competition was to aim for the top five. After all, compared to the other Holy Sons and Holy Daughters, she was still young and lacked the same depth of experience.
"His swordsmanship is likely approaching the ultimate sword technique that Master Wu Dao spoke of, but it's not quite the true Ultimate Sword yet..."
Bian Ruxue glanced at Hao Yue Holy Son before averting her gaze. She had witnessed the true Ultimate Sword—a casual strike from her master, the Sword Saint, at the level of entering the Dao.
The grace of that single sword strike had left an indelible impression on her, solidifying her Dao heart and confirming that the path she had chosen was correct. If she could master that sword, everything would be worth it!
"If Brother Hao focused solely on swordsmanship, with his talent, he might reach that level in a hundred years..."
Bian Ruxue's mind wandered to the image of a certain figure from the mortal world. However, when she recalled his carefree smile as he leaned over a chessboard, she couldn't help but feel a sense of regret.
At that moment, the voice of an elder calling her name brought her back to reality.
It was time for her second match.
And her opponent was Lin Qingying.
The two women exchanged a brief glance without saying a word, both descending onto the battlefield.
As the two Holy Daughters prepared to duel, the excitement in the crowd surged again. Many of the male disciples' eyes lit up, focusing not just on the swordsmanship but also on the elegance of the two women.
However, the more skilled inner disciples were far more interested in the duel of sword techniques, unconcerned with outward appearances.
"It's Holy Daughter Xue'er! I heard she's the youngest of the Holy Daughters, only twenty-seven years old!"
"Wow, twenty-seven and already at the Dao Law Realm? That's incredible!"
"That's nothing. Her master is the Sword Saint. She has top-tier alchemists tending to her and direct guidance from the Sword Saint. Can you even fathom being taught by a saint?"
"This fight is going to be tough for Holy Daughter Qingying."
"Are you kidding? Holy Daughter Qingying has been cultivating for twice as long as her. There's no way she'll lose."
"Her master made a mistake and was imprisoned in the Sword Prison. She's been cultivating on her own. Sure, she's older, but that can't compare to having the Sword Saint as your personal tutor."
"Don't underestimate someone just because they're young. Holy Daughter Xue'er was born with a natural sword body and exceptional talent. She's on par with the best Holy Daughters."
The disciples in the audience engaged in heated discussions, all well aware of the youngest Holy Daughter's reputation.
On the battlefield, the protective formation slowly activated.
Lin Qingying's expression remained cold and calm. Her master's imprisonment in the Sword Prison was a deep scar on her heart, but in battle, she wouldn't let such thoughts affect her.
Bian Ruxue's expression also grew serious. This was her first time facing a Holy Daughter and her debut match in the competition.
She had watched Lin Qingying's previous battles. Her Ultimate Soft Sword Intent was similar to her own ice-based sword intent, but Bian Ruxue's sword was more aggressive.
The two were unfamiliar with each other, so they didn't exchange words.
As the battle commenced, neither showed any carelessness. Both unleashed their Extreme Realms, channeling their divine power and Heaven and Earth Meridians.
In moments, their bodies reached peak condition.
Lin Qingying's eyes were as calm as a still lake, while Bian Ruxue's gaze sharpened, a chill flickering like falling snow.
Swish!
Bian Ruxue struck first. In an instant, the battlefield seemed to freeze over, transforming the entire area into a realm of ice.
In terms of sword intent, her swordsmanship restrained Lin Qingying's. Lin Qingying's sword was as soft as water, but Bian Ruxue could freeze it!
Breaking through the ice would require a fiery, vigorous sword intent. Lin Qingying's Ultimate Soft Sword Intent, which shifted between gathering and dispersing, was especially vulnerable to this freezing influence.
This was a battle Bian Ruxue was confident she could win! As the ice spread, even those outside the formation could feel the chill, and the surrounding temperature dropped significantly.
Lin Qingying's expression grew serious. She understood how difficult this battle would be. If it were before, she wouldn't have had much confidence, but now, with her sword intent perfected, she had gained insight into the true essence of softness.
The frost that spread across the battlefield was also a trace of her own sword intent!
Shing! A green light of sword intent slashed through the ice, cutting open a path. The gentle power, now honed to perfection, sliced through the frost and surged straight toward Bian Ruxue.
Bian Ruxue was startled, her pupils contracting. She quickly swung her sword, expanding her Dao Domain. Everything around her instantly froze again.
The oncoming sword intent was blocked by her Dao Domain, which consisted of twenty-two layers!
Moreover, within her Dao Domain, sword qi filled the air, clearly condensed from various sword techniques! The overlapping sword domains stirred up a flurry of snowflakes, howling as they shattered the incoming sword intent, sending the shards flying back toward Lin Qingying.
However, in that moment, Lin Qingying used Void Shifting, appearing behind Bian Ruxue, her sword glowing with a green light as she slashed out. The misty breath that Bian Ruxue exhaled seemed to turn into threads, weaving into sword qi that enveloped Lin Qingying, attempting to shred her to pieces!