Kalau Pil Dao Kondensasi ini dibawa ke Dayu, pasti akan membuat semua orang di Alam Empat Tingkat menjadi gila, dan reputasi Shi Huajin yang mampu meramu obat semacam itu akan menjadi jelas dengan sendirinya.”Jika kau mau belajar, aku bisa mengajarimu,” kata Shi Huajin sambil tersenyum, tapi sebenarnya bukan senyum.Li Hao menggelengkan kepalanya.Dia bisa belajar dan bahkan membuatnya untuk orang lain, tetapi dia sudah hafal bahan-bahan herbal untuk pil ini. Dengan teknik memasak, dia bisa membuatnya sendiri, hanya saja masakannya akan sedikit kurang efektif. Keuntungannya adalah masakannya tidak mengandung racun pil dan bisa dikonsumsi setiap hari!Akan tetapi, bahan-bahan untuk pil ini sangat langka sehingga bahkan Shi Huajin akan merasakan akibatnya jika gagal. Itulah sebabnya dia memanggilnya untuk membantu memurnikan bahan-bahan tersebut guna meningkatkan tingkat keberhasilan.Bahan-bahan seperti itu akan sulit dikumpulkan di Dunia Fana, tebaknya. Sekalipun seseorang mempelajari metodenya, rasanya seperti mencoba memasak makanan tanpa nasi setelah kembali ke Dunia Fana.”Kau khawatir aku sedang mengujimu? Aku serius,” kata Shi Huajin sambil menyeringai, “pelajari saja dan setuju untuk menjadi muridku.””Saudari Shi, berhentilah menggodaku. Aku benar-benar tidak tertarik pada alkimia,” kata Li Hao dengan pasrah.Shi Huajin menatapnya dengan ekspresi tidak senang. Orang lain pasti gemetar karena gembira mendengar kata-kata ini.”Apa kau benar-benar berharap aku memohonmu untuk menerimaku sebagai gurumu?” Ia merasa bahkan lebih tak berdaya daripada Li Hao. Formula Pil yang mereka, sebagai alkemis, hargai adalah sesuatu yang hanya bisa diimpikan orang lain. Dan di sinilah mereka, memohon Li Hao untuk mempelajarinya, berharap ia akan mewarisi kemampuan mereka dan dengan demikian menyerbu puncak-puncak Dao Alkimia. Namun, Li Hao sama sekali tidak mau repot-repot mempelajarinya, yang sungguh tidak masuk akal.”Lupakan saja, aku agak lelah karena alkimia hari ini. Ini pil yang kubuat untuk Saintess Xue’er. Bawalah padanya bersama Little Hui,” kata Shi Huajin, matanya menunjukkan sedikit kelelahan. Alkimia sangat menguras tenaga, dan jika bukan karena kegembiraan karena berhasil mengolah pil, dia pasti sudah ingin tidur dan beristirahat sekarang.”Baiklah,” Li Hao setuju, melihat keadaannya.Jiang Xiao Hui, berdiri di luar pintu dan mendengar percakapan yang meledak-ledak itu, sudut mulutnya berkedut tanpa sadar. Ia ingin sekali menutup mulut Alkemis Qingfeng ini dan berteriak, “Aku ingin belajar, aku benar-benar ingin belajar!”Shi Huajin memasukkan Pil Dao Kondensasi ke dalam labu berharga dan menyerahkannya kepada Li Hao, lalu melambaikan tangannya dengan lesu.
Li Hao mengambil labu tersebut dan tidak banyak bicara, memberi isyarat kepada Jiang Xiao Hui di pintu untuk memimpin jalan.
Jiang Xiao Hui knew that her master did not trust her to deliver such a precious medicine, and she smiled wryly. Compared to her, a direct disciple who had been by her side for many years, the master seemed to trust this Qingfeng Pill Master even more.
“Qingfeng Pill Master, please,” Jiang Xiao Hui set aside her thoughts without showing the slightest sign, and spoke submissively to Li Hao.
Then, the two flew out from Medicine Mountain, heading toward the disciple area of Sword Ancestor Holy Land.
This was also Li Hao’s first time leaving the alchemist’s living area to visit the places where disciples practiced cultivation.
Sword Ancestor Holy Land was vast, with the disciple’s cultivating area occupying the larger part.
After flying thousands of miles and entering a mountain range with undulating peaks, where each peak was adorned with arrays and bathed in treasure light, the silhouettes of numerous disciples were visible moving about.
It took flying over tens of thousands of miles to reach a towering mountain peak.
The mountain was so high it seemed to pierce the sky, dwarfing all surrounding peaks.
Around the mountain, rivers flowed, and there were several smaller peaks in a pentagon arrangement, seemingly a sort of formation that condensed the energy of heaven and earth, channeling it onto the towering peak. This was clearly not a natural occurrence but a manipulation of the geo-pulse into an array by human efforts.
The extent of the efforts and the grandeur of the work suggested a person of no ordinary standing on the mountain.
Jiang Xiao Hui, leading Li Hao, flew up and landed before the pavilion at the peak’s staircase, where attendants stood guard.
“Following the master’s orders, we’re here to deliver medicine to the Saintess,” Jiang Xiao Hui said, producing Shi Huajin’s token.
Upon seeing it, the attendant’s originally stern face softened, and he smiled warmly, quickly saying, “Oh, it’s the esteemed disciple of Master Shi, you’ve worked hard.”
Jiang Xiao Hui nodded slightly without pleasantries, asking to be led inside.
Crossing the plaza, they soon arrived at a grand and radiant building complex at the mountain’s summit.
Li Hao was slightly startled by the central building; its structure looked similar to the gates of the Divine General Mansion.
“The Saintess is waiting inside, please,” said the attendant at the entrance, respectfully.
Entering through the gate, Li Hao scanned the long hallway and the layout, which seemed familiar.
Led by a maid to a courtyard, as soon as Li Hao stepped in, he saw that it was modeled after Mountain and River Courtyard.
The lotus pond, the poplar trees, the main hall, the side chambers, the firewood shed… The layout was exactly the same, even the size had hardly changed.
The pavilion in the courtyard also sat in the same spot, as did the stone pathway.Li Hao mengalihkan pandangannya dan melihat ke sekeliling halaman, melihat sosok yang dikenalnya berpakaian putih tengah berlatih pedang dengan santai di suatu area.Gerakannya mirip dengan Lin Qingyue, seolah-olah sedang menari.Namun, Li Hao tahu bahwa dia tengah mengolah Niat Pedang.Mencuri pandang ke arah profilnya saat dia sesekali berbalik, mata Li Hao bergetar sedikit, dan dia langsung mengerti alasannya.Dia tidak menyangka akan bertemu seorang kenalan di sini.Sebelum dia bergegas ke Istana Kekaisaran di Kota Kekaisaran, dia bertemu dengan Pedang Suci Jian Wudao, yang menyebutkan bahwa dia dipilih oleh seorang Suci dan dibawa ke dunia di dalam Gerbang Abadi… Petualanganmu berlanjut di Perpustakaan Virtualku EmpireJadi itu ada di sini.Li Hao merasakan kesadaran tiba-tiba, keterkejutan, dan ketidakpercayaan, namun semuanya juga tampak sesuai dugaan.Orang Suci dari Tanah Suci Leluhur Pedang dikenal sebagai Orang Suci Pedang.Inilah Santo Pedang sejati, dan hanya dia yang akan menunjukkan minat pada Bian Ruxue, yang menghunus pedang.
Jian Wudao said her Sword Bone was covered in dust and spotted by a Saint…
“Saintess, the Pill Master has come to deliver your medicine.”
The leading maidservant approached the lady, bowed her head, and spoke softly.
That snow-white figure also ceased the sword in her hand and slightly lifted her head to glance in the direction of Li Hao and Jiang Xiao Hui.
Time had sculpted her features, but the familiar contours of the past remained.
Li Hao was not mistaken; it indeed was Bian Ruxue.
Only now, she was no longer the girl inseparable from her sword but a stunningly beautiful woman with a calm demeanor that seemed above the mundane world, possessing the grace of an immortal.
Her eyes, serene and deep like lakes on snowy mountains, radiated utmost composure.
And such tranquility often stemmed from profound inner confidence.
“Greeting the Saintess, Xue’er.”
Jiang Xiao Hui stepped forward, bowing deeply.
Although she was a Direct Disciple of Shi Huajin, she was but one of many, and before her stood the Saintess, whose status was even slightly higher than her master’s. More importantly, the one the Saintess aspired to equal in the future was the Saint.
Whether she would succeed in becoming a Saint was uncertain, but at least she possessed such a possibility.
While countless other Martial Artists in the world lacked even a sliver of such a chance.
“Hmm? Who’s he?” Your next read is at My Virtual Library Empire
Bian Ruxue’s gaze swept past the young woman before her, catching scent of the faint medicinal odor on her, which made her feel uncomfortable. Nevertheless, Bian Ruxue did not show it, and instead, her focus landed on the male figure in his twenties behind the woman.
She had noticed his gaze long before, which puzzled her.
His look was different from the covetousness and admiration others concealed when they saw her. It was an indescribable feeling.
Moreover, that feeling, astonishingly, seemed familiar to her.
“He is the Qingfeng Pill Master, who has come with me to deliver the medicine to the Saintess,” Jiang Xiao Hui hurriedly explained.
“Is he a high-ranking Pill Master? Why does he not bow before the Saintess and dares to look directly at her? Does he wish to have his eyeballs gouged out?”
The previously smiling maidservant who guided them suddenly changed her demeanor, berating Li Hao.
“Qingfeng Pill Master is new here and unaware of the etiquettes; I hope the Saintess will forgive him,” Jiang Xiao Hui hastened to say, tugging at Li Hao’s sleeve to urge him to quickly bow and apologize to the Saintess.
Li Hao, too, averted his gaze, feeling a tinge of amusement at the maidservant’s outburst. Though human, she acted like a dog, showing her fangs and hubris only in the presence of her master. The speed of her face-changing was truly astonishing.
“Qingfeng has seen the Saintess.”
Li Hao gave a slight salute, a token of respect.
At that moment, he had no intention of revealing his identity, to avoid complications.
Moreover, the girl he once knew no longer had the same tails he was familiar with.
Once parting ways at the Sword Cottage seven years ago, everything had changed. Now, after more than ten years without seeing each other, whether she remained the person he knew was uncertain.
“What kind of attitude is this…”
The maidservant beside him, seeing Li Hao’s simple gesture of respect, was about to scold him when Bian Ruxue signaled her to let it be, then turned to Li Hao to ask:
“Have we met before?”
Li Hao’s eyes flickered as he said, “Why does the Saintess say this?”
“You resemble someone I know.”
Bian Ruxue spoke softly, unsure why she felt such an association. Clearly, the man before her looked quite different from the one in her memory, and his aura had completely changed, yet she could not help but be reminded of him.
“There are many people in the world, and it’s not uncommon to find similar faces. The Saintess must have mistaken me for someone else.”
Li Hao replied.
Bian Ruxue stared at him for a moment, then fell silent.
Indeed, he remained in the Mortal World, while her master had brought her to the All Saints World, a divide between the holy and the mundane.
Remembering their last farewell, the conversation before the campfire, she pursed her lips slightly. Now, she finally had the chance to ascend to the pinnacle of the Sword Dao and see the summit for herself.
If she could master the Ultimate Sword, she wished to show it to him, just like their promise.
But would he truly be dazzled by that sword?
At the thought, a silent sigh escaped Bian Ruxue’s heart. The Sword Dao pinnacle was a fatal attraction only for Swordsmen. Like her brother, he was always unlike the others, fond of useless diversions, squandering his talent.
Even if she displayed it, he might not understand or appreciate the sword’s intricacies and how precious it was to master it.
Such sharing was doomed to be unrelatable.
Just as they were to each other, she could not see what he yearned for, nor did he understand her passion for the Sword Dao.
Nonetheless, she promised him she’d climb the summit to see what lay beyond and tell him what she saw.
“Are you an Alchemist?”
Bian Ruxue asked gently.
“…Suppose I am.”
Bian Ruxue withdrew her gaze, knowing the person before her could not be Li Hao. When her master had brought her to this Land of All Saints, he was still at Heavenly Gate Pass.
Now, decades had passed in the Mortal World.
With that thought, she sighed softly, saying, “Leave the pills behind, thank you both, Pill Masters.”
She turned, took up her sword, and began to move it once again.
Li Hao noticed that her Sword Intent was that of ice and snow.
Her first superior swordsmanship was the Falling Snow Sword Skill.
Had she continually refined it?
Li Hao wondered if she and Lin Qingyue would confront each other in the upcoming Sword Saint battle?
One embodied the utmost softness in their Sword Intent, the other ice and snow. While similar in nature—one gentle, the other harsh—it was unclear who would prevail.
Li Hao withdrew his gaze, resisting the urge to correct her.
The young girl was no longer the tail he once knew; she had her own master, her own path. He had no right to offer guidance anymore.
Taking out his gourd, Li Hao handed it to the leading maidservant and departed without lingering.
In the courtyard, the silhouettes of this man and woman from the Mortal World once again slowly receded into the distance, neither glancing back.
After returning from Holy Maiden Peak, Li Hao began his own cultivation.
As True Force gathered within him day by day, one day Li Hao suddenly felt strands of energy drift through the void, flowing into his body.
This energy differed from Heaven and Earth Energy; it was an inscrutable force.
After considering it, Li Hao realized that it seemed to be Incense Fire.
During these days, through idle chats with alchemists like Lin Shanhai, Li Hao gained a deeper understanding of Incense Fire and many matters related to Saints.
It is not something ordinary people can bear, as it requires a Taoist Body Great Accomplishment!
In this period, his Dao Power constantly transformed, filling all his acupuncture points and main channels, so that his Taoist Body now rivaled that of the Dao Law Realm at Perfection.
And after attaining perfection in the Dao Law Realm, the next step was to begin accumulating Incense Fire.
This power of Incense Fire gathered in Li Hao’s body without any barriers, slowly settling and transforming into dust-like particles of incense, accumulating within his body and slowly condensing into a soybean-sized granule.
This granule was the initial form of a stick of incense.
To become a Saint, one must aggregate the power of three sticks of Incense Fire within the body!
At present, the absorbed Incense Fire has only condensed into about one-tenth of a stick of incense in his body.
This was because he had only recently achieved Taoist Body Perfection, and began to perceive and receive Incense Fire, which was the precipitation and accumulation from before.
Emperor Yu had once promised him that he would transfer the Great Yu Incense Fire to him after ten years.
Li Hao had been fleeing in the void for ten years, which corresponded to a hundred years in the Mortal World.
With the Taoist Body reaching perfection, these ninety-plus years of accumulated Incense Fire had all gathered and only then condensed into a granule the size of a soybean.
After the previously accumulated Incense Fire rushed over all at once, the subsequent Incense Fires that continued to come, did not have the previous torrential momentum, but they still arrived like threads and wisps, every single day.
Li Hao had not expected that the power of Incense Fire could actually pass through the Immortal Gate and come from the Mortal World to the Land of All Saints without obstruction.
This power truly was capable of turning one into a Saint!
At the current rate of accumulation, he could lie flat for three hundred years and then condense into a Saint.
These three hundred years in the Land of All Saints would equate to three thousand years in the Mortal World.
Three thousand years of Incense Fire cultivation producing a Saint was a relatively fast pace, mainly because the population of the Dayu Divine Dynasty was large, ranking as a middle-rank Divine Dynasty among the entire Donghuang.
If it were the smaller nations surrounding Dayu, it might take seven or eight thousand years, or even upwards of ten thousand years, for their people’s belief and faith to cultivate a Saint.
This was also why those smaller nations had no Saints since ancient times.
After all, cultivating just one person over seven or eight thousand years was nearly impossible.
The turnover of power, court struggles, Heavenly Disasters, and other calamities would cause gaps in belief.
Absorbing the drifts of daily Incense Fire, Li Hao couldn’t help but miss the Mortal World.
The Incense Fire was extremely precious, yet Emperor Yu did not break his promise.
Even for Saints, Incense Fire was a beneficial boon, so Saints would teach their ways and gather beliefs.
Now, Li Hao could also utilize the Incense Fire he absorbed. He only needed to ignite it with Divine Thought, but once ignited and consumed, it would vanish. Below the level of a Saint, it was a desperate measure reserved for life-or-death struggles.
Usually, being forced to burn Incense Fire in battle meant a death feud that could not end until one side was extinct.
After becoming a Saint, three sticks of Incense Fire could endure indefinitely. Even if ignited, they would be enveloped by the Saint Path, unceasing and everlasting, like steam inside a sealed boiler, cycling endlessly.
Only then could one truly mobilize the power of Incense Fire for battle at will. Before that point, one could only accumulate, not use.
Now, with the Great Accomplishment of his Taoist Body, Li Hao’s physical body had condensed to an extremely horrifying extent. He practiced the Physical Body Dao, and his bones, blood, and physical body were his Dao, capable of withstanding Divine Skills simply with his physical form.
However, the Physical Body Dao had its flaws; it meant that Li Hao could not achieve instant manifestation of laws with spoken words.
Put simply, although he had reached Perfection in the Dao Law Realm, in some ways, he had not.
Indeed.
The Physical Body Dao is the path of Body Refinement, essentially condensing the Dao Power and laws inside one’s body.
To manifest laws with a word, Li Hao still needed to raise his Control Dao to the Ninth Stage, allowing him to call the winds and summon the rain, and to reverse the flow of rivers with a thought.
When he achieved Great Accomplishment and Perfection of the Taoist Body, Li Hao discovered that his Physical Body Strength had not increased further.
Without entering the Divine Power State, his normal physical strength remained at tens of millions of pounds, only fluctuating slightly, which appears to be the limit of the physical body.
Continue your adventure at My Virtual Library Empire
At this moment, Li Hao also realized for the first time what “There is a limit to human effort” meant.
This was no longer a problem that cultivation could resolve but a limitation of life itself.
Like a bottle filled with water, adding any more would cause it to overflow.
And so it was with the physical body; no matter how much more one cultivated or practiced Body Refinement, it would only impart varying effects of Body Refinement. However, his own physical body had already reached its peak, amounting to “becoming a God with the physical body.”
“The Final Realm… To cultivate to this point, is to reach the end!”
Maximal effort could take something to the utmost.
But this is the limit of effort and not the limit of the thing itself because, in this world, the vast majority of things are unreachable despite effort.
The Final Realm represents the ultimate boundary of a thing itself. Even if one followed the most perfect path, there would be no more paths to take, because there would be no paths left.
However, although the constant strength of ten million pounds had become fixed, with the Divine Power State, he could still temporarily unleash ten times that strength. Now, with Dao Power integrated, the Taoist Body at Perfection, if combined with Dao Power, the force he could unleash became even more terrifying, capable of easily shattering mountains and ripping through the earth with his fists and kicks.
Most importantly, with Dao Power spread throughout his body, it enabled Li Hao to disregard others’ methods, overpowering all laws with sheer strength.
However, Li Hao felt that the current Perfection of his Taoist Body was not yet the limit for himself.
Perhaps it was because of the Divine Blood within him that post-Taoist Body Perfection, he could continue to absorb and transform Dao Power, infusing this power into his Divine Blood.
The Divine Blood acted like a sponge, absorbing a vast amount of Dao Power, allowing him to withstand transformations of Dao Power far surpassing other beings in the Tao Comprehension Realm.
As time passed,
Li Hao’s Divine Blood increasingly transformed Dao Power like an unfathomable abyss. His physical body harbored the power of the Final Realm and carried unimaginable Dao Power.
Li Hao realized that cultivating the Physical Body Dao could be one of the essential paths to touching the limits of the Tao Comprehension Realm, even reaching the Final Realm.
The limits and the Final Realm of each stage of Martial Arts seemed interconnected, aiding and influencing one another. Li Hao couldn’t imagine what it would be like if one could cultivate them all, even Saints would probably be unable to compare.
Days passed unnoticed in their simplicity. Experience new stories on My Virtual Library Empire
Li Hao had grown accustomed to life here, following a routine everyday.
These activities were, occasionally purifying herbs for Lin Shanhai, training by converting the Dao Power of his Divine Blood, and spending time alone in the courtyard, painting and carving, immersed in his own enlightenment.
And the ‘line’ was occasionally helping out at the invitations of various Alchemists.
With his extraordinary skill in purification through cooking techniques, Li Hao was favored by all kinds of Alchemists. Not interested in Alchemy himself and harmless without competitive intentions, he paradoxically became a central figure in the circle of Alchemists.
Where individuals had conflicts, they wouldn’t face each other, or they would only exchange cold looks. But facing Li Hao, they all greeted him with smiles.
This resulted in the Qingfeng Pill Master becoming increasingly renowned, even spreading among the disciples within the Sword Ancestor Holy Land.
Many disciples were aware that there was such an exceptional person among Alchemists. While who was the best in Alchemy might be debatable, there was no doubt about who had the best relationships.
This led many of the highly regarded disciples, including some Saint Heirs and saintesses, to consider befriending Li Hao; some came in person while others sent representatives to show their goodwill.
After all, procuring the services of a high-level Alchemist to refine precious medicinal substances required one’s own materials and a report to the Holy Land for the Alchemist’s consent.
And this often necessitated substantial incentives. If offered too little, one might worry about the Alchemist’s lack of dedication—if they were to ruin a batch of Dan, the precious materials would be wasted without the Alchemist facing any consequences.
After all, Alchemy inherently had a high failure rate, especially with advanced Divine Pills.
But if Li Hao could help, that would guarantee success in Alchemy.
Even if it failed, one could only blame their own bad luck and wouldn’t resent the Alchemist.
Against these various signs of goodwill, Li Hao didn’t refuse as long as they were cordial, accepting their kindness.
After all, these prodigies came with their own powerful backgrounds, not lone fighters without connection. A prodigy without backing and connections would have been dead in an unknown gutter long ago.
The Land of All Saints never lacked prodigies, but even prodigies had to bow down and rely on the protection and resources of various forces.
These connections didn’t greatly help Li Hao personally, but there might be uses for them in the future, and they could also help him collect famous paintings, chess manuals, and other diagrams.
In the Pill Refining Institute,
Li Hao, carrying the unique and rare fruits given by Inner Sect Heavenly Pride Disciples, found Lin Shanhai to share them with the elder.
This rare Spirit Fruit could nourish the body. For Li Hao, the effect was average; he mainly enjoyed the taste—it was crisp and filled with a unique fragrance, utterly delicious.
“Thanks to you, I can enjoy great delicacies again,”
Lin Shanhai said with a smile.
He fetched his cherished tea leaves to brew tea for Li Hao. The two chatted while munching on the Spirit Fruit.
The threshold of Li Hao’s courtyard had been worn out recently, with endless visits from various people, creating a bustling scene reminiscent of the grand feast Lin Shanhai hosted when he first became a high-level Alchemist.
“I’m also basking in your glow,” Li Hao said with a smile.
Hearing this, Lin Shanhai smiled and felt somewhat sentimental.
Seeing someone clowns around in their low moments, it’s hard to tell the genuine from the fake, but when someone reaches the peak of life, their true character shows.
Given Li Hao’s contacts now, even without him, he would navigate well. All Alchemists would be willing to establish deep connections with Li Hao.
Yet, Li Hao still stayed here, unhurried and calm. Those who visited Li Hao and learned of his relationship with Lin Shanhai sometimes chose indirect methods, reaping many benefits for him as well.
Li Hao treated him with the same humility and politeness as before, but their relationship had grown closer—they would occasionally jest, calling each other “you little scamp” and “you old coot”.
“Now that your injuries are nearly healed, what are your plans?” asked Lin Shanhai.
He had lived for over a thousand years and seen many people, but Li Hao was someone he couldn’t read completely—his unreadability pertained to Li Hao’s desires.
It felt as though Li Hao’s name, like a breeze in the Mortal World, arose spontaneously and settled just as freely. Apart from painting and carving, which he enjoyed in his leisure time, he seemed to care little for other matters people pursued, like Alchemy and Martial Arts.
“If Mr. Lin doesn’t mind, I plan to stay here a bit longer. Once I create a top-tier painting, I will consider my further plans,” Li Hao stated.
Although the Land of All Saints was vast, he only wanted to stay secluded here for now, to continue refining his artistic skills. When the time came, it would be his moment to seek revenge against the Void Saint.
“…”
Lin Shanhai was momentarily speechless, staring deeply into Li Hao’s eyes as if to discern his true intentions.
However, all he saw was a pair of clear and calm eyes, without a flicker of deceit.
Lin Shanhai couldn’t help but smile bitterly, sighing, “This is the Sword Ancestor Holy Land, a place countless people dream of entering. Staying here, with your current identity and connections, you can basically get whatever you want if you desire it!”
“If you’re interested in learning Martial Arts, just show a slight interest and the Saint Heirs and saintesses, including others, would happily open their doors for you to enter the Inner Sect and become a disciple of a Semi-Saint!”
“Even if your Martial Arts aptitude is low, those Semi-Saints would probably be willing to take you as a disciple, since your current connections are your confidence and foundation.”
“If you want to practice Alchemy, just a word is enough, and I can give you two out of the three high-level Pill Formulas I have, and others would probably be willing to trade with you as well.”
He looked at Li Hao helplessly, “But you’re staying in this treasure trove of a place, and you only want to paint?”
Li Hao could understand his point of view and chuckled, “There’s no rule saying you can’t paint in a Holy Land, must drink in a tavern, or must study intensively in an academy. An environment is just an environment, being influenced by it is the most uninteresting thing. Life’s journey is long, I will encounter many sceneries, but I remain myself.”
“The essence of an environment is that it is formed when a group of people do the same thing.”
Lin Shanhai said, “If you remain true to yourself as you pass through, you will seem out of place.”
Speaking of this, he wanted to teach Li Hao how to fit in, but quickly realized that Li Hao’s connections were even wider than his. If anything, it was likely Li Hao who should be teaching him.
He smiled wryly, realizing despite being unorthodox, Li Hao was strangely well-liked.
Li Hao smiled, not saying much more, and lifted his teacup, “Let’s drink.”
“Cheers!”
Lin Shanhai responded grudgingly, but cooperated by clinking cups with Li Hao, both finished their drink with a smack of the lips.
Their conversation was also heard by Lin Qingyue inside the courtyard. Her eyes narrowed slightly. She had been listening to most of the daily interactions between the elder and the younger these days and had come to understand Li Hao deeper.
She didn’t necessarily agree with some of Li Hao’s ideas, but nor did she dislike them; instead, there was a hint of envy at the bottom of her heart.
Such a carefree life was not something everyone could enjoy.
But, she had her own path. When she reached the pinnacle and became a Saint, completing her ultimate Sword Dao, perhaps she too would be as happy as him?
Thinking this, her eyes brightened, and her Sword Momentum became more rounded and gentle.
…
Several months passed.
Li Hao’s Divine Blood finally filled up with Dao Power, thanks to the vast energy within the Sword Ancestor Holy Land. If the Heaven and Earth Energy of the Land of All Saints was denser than in the Mortal World, then the energy inside the Sword Ancestor Holy Land was even denser and purer.
If it were in the Mortal World, it might have taken Li Hao seven to eight years to fully convert his Divine Blood into Dao Power.
But here, it was done in just over half a year.
Li Hao could also understand why some people in the Tao Comprehension Realm were often thousands of years old. Read exclusive adventures at My Virtual Library Empire
Cultivation, apart from Breakthroughs in understanding, also required time due to cumulative refinement.
Usually, one session of seclusion meant decades, even Sixty Years.
In the Land of All Saints, those under a hundred years old in the Tao Comprehension Realm were considered top prodigies, and those within three hundred years were still seen as the younger generation. Those beyond a thousand years old were considered old.
As for those several thousand or even ten thousand years old, they were the venerable old monsters.
These people were either Tao Comprehension Realm individuals with mediocre talent, pushed up by the years, or they had already become Saints.
The age limit for this Sword God War was within three hundred years.
Beyond three hundred years, most potential would be almost used up, instead attracting the dust of years, clouding their nature and slowing their progress even more.
Now, as the Divine Blood fully merged into his Dao Power, Li Hao also refined his Divine Blood Body, feeling it should be stronger than a regular Taoist Body.
Most prodigies in Tao Comprehension Realm had their unique Taoist Bodies, such as the Sword Bone Body, and Dao Heart Body among others.
Some people were born with a Sword Bone, which grew throughout their Cultivation journey. Once reaching Tao Comprehension Realm, they could transfer Dao Power into the Sword Bone, creating an additional receptacle for their Dao Power, which made its potency self-evident.
Moreover, housing Dao Power in the Sword Bone, forming a Sword Bone Body, made their attacks utterly fearsome.
With the Great Accomplishment of the Divine Blood Body, Li Hao had thought he might have reached the limits of Tao Comprehension Realm, but it turned out he had not. It was merely akin to him refining a Taoist Body.
To reach the Wen Dao Extreme Realm, it seemed he might need a different approach, possibly reaching the Ninth Stage of Controlling Dao before he could stand a chance.
After all, a Tao Comprehension Realm that couldn’t enact laws with mere words could hardly be considered the limit.
After completing the Divine Blood Body, Li Hao’s focus shifted more towards the Artistic Path, dedicating himself even deeper to painting and exploration.
And inside the Sword Ancestor Holy Land, the Sword God War finally commenced.
As the Sword God War truly began, the entire Sword Ancestor Holy Land boiled with excitement.
For those ordinary disciples, while they had little chance to participate or show themselves, observing the high-and-mighty prodigies battling fiercely was greatly beneficial for their own cultivation, offering insights.
“Child, are you ready?”
Inside the Pill Refining Institute, Lin Shanhai looked at Qingfeng, who was clad in green robes, a trace of concern flickering in his eyes.
Although he knew his granddaughter was outstanding, the other Saint Heirs and saintesses were not simple characters either; they were bound to stir up a bloody storm.
Lin Qingyue’s expression remained calm as usual, her eyes bright and deep. Years of cultivation had all been in preparation for this moment.
“Qingfeng, let’s go too and watch Qingyue, and let you see how these top prodigies fight.”
Lin Shanhai called out to Li Hao.
Hoping to show Li Hao the charm of top prodigies competing, encouraging him to take an interest in Martial Arts. Regardless of his aptitude, practicing Martial Arts was fundamentally right.
“Mm.”
Li Hao nodded, not refusing.
After all, during this battle, all factions’ prodigies would employ various Cultivation Techniques, and it was also a good opportunity to record top-tier techniques.
After recording this wave, if there was a chance, he thought about leveraging his relationships to visit the Sword Tower in the Holy Land and get a glimpse of the Holy Land’s Cultivation Techniques.
His Dao Domain still needed filling with many techniques to expand to more levels.
Lin Qingyue didn’t wait for Li Hao and Lin Shanhai, and went ahead to the Holy Land.
She went there as a disciple to assemble and participate in the competition.
Meanwhile, Li Hao and Lin Shanhai, after getting ready, headed there leisurely.
Midway through their journey, they encountered Zhao Yingzhen and Shi Huajin, dressed opulently, who were also going to watch the competition. Although they were Alchemists, such a grand event, occurring only once a century, was too lively to miss.
“Old Lin, this Sword God War is fiercely competitive, does Qing Ying have a chance to make it into the top five?”
Upon meeting, Zhao Yingzhen asked with a smile.
Lin Shanhai shook his head, “Who can be sure? The other Saint Heirs and saintesses are no easy opponents, and with over ten of them, it’s brutal just to make it into the top ten!”
The Sword Ancestor Holy Land had a multitude of disciples. There were a million Outer Sect Disciples alone and tens of thousands of Inner Sect Disciples, all meticulously selected prodigies.
The Canglan Realm was vast and boundless, housing countless dynasties with billions of people. Apart from the Three Great Sacred Lands, there were many other top forces as well.
Even the Outer Sect Disciples who managed to become disciples in the Holy Lands had the potential to join the Inner Sect in those top forces. As for the Inner Sect Disciples, they were prodigies of their realm, all starting with a ninth-grade War Body.
Among these leaders, some had astonishing perception, others had even more exceptional talents, and a few even possessed special physiques.
Back in their homelands in the Dynasty, they were celebrated top talents, but in the Holy Lands, they were just ordinary members among the hundreds of thousands of Outer Sect Disciples.
It was like a story where a Mortal Realm’s powerhouse worked hard to ascend, only to end up as a mere soldier among a hundred thousand Heavenly Soldiers.
“Indeed, don’t put too much pressure on Qing Ying, getting into the top ten would be great already, given there are so many prodigies. Nowadays, Saints like to reincarnate and cultivate anew, making the competition for these youngsters even more intense.”
Shi Huajin told Lin Shanhai.
“Of course, I never interfere in her cultivation. No matter her rank, she’s always the first in my heart; even if she quit cultivation and became a commoner, I, Old Lin, could still support a granddaughter,” Lin Shanhai said.
“You really think outside the box. However, that girl Qing Ying doesn’t need you to push her; she works harder than anyone. I heard she accomplished the genuinely soft Taoist Body. Could it be possible she is the reincarnation of that Yin Yang Saint?”
Zhao Yingzhen curiously asked.
Lin Shanhai’s expression darkened. “She is not anyone’s reincarnation; she is herself!”
Zhao Yingzhen was startled, then chuckled awkwardly.
Shi Huajin gave him a look. Everyone knew Old Lin was extremely fond of his granddaughter and they depended on each other; mentioning such a thing was completely out of line.
The group, now joined together, exited the Alchemists’ residential area and headed towards the Holy Mountain of the Sword Ancestor’s Holy Land.
In the distribution of the Sword Ancestor’s Holy Land, Outer Sect Disciples could only live in the cluster of peaks around Holy Mountain while Inner Sect Disciples could cultivate on Holy Mountain, having the chance to hear the Saints impart their teachings. Meanwhile, the saintesses and Saint Heirs had their own dedicated cultivation Holy Peaks, accumulating Heaven and Earth Energy, making a day’s cultivation like a thousand miles.
Leisurely flying for thousands of miles, it took them half an hour before they finally arrived in front of Holy Mountain.
Holy Mountain stood vast and lofty; from hundreds of miles away, its imposing structure was faintly visible with clouds swirling beneath its waist, concealing the true face of the peak.
As they approached Holy Mountain, thousands of streaks of light could be seen speeding from all directions, all Outer Sect Disciples arriving to watch the battle.
This Sword God competition was reserved for Inner Sect Disciples to participate, ultimately contending and eliminating along with the saintesses and Saint Heirs, the strongest prodigies within the Holy Lands.
The initial battle selection took place on platforms located on the mountainside, the area vast enough to hold ten platforms competing simultaneously.
When the top hundred were selected, they would gather at the mountaintop, chasing the final ten under the Saints’ scrutiny.
Discover more stories at My Virtual Library Empire
At the moment, surrounding mist enveloped the area at the waist of the mountain, in an extraordinarily vast space, there stood ten huge platforms, each enveloped by a Law Barrier.
Outside the platforms lay the spectator seats for the Outer Sect Disciples. Watching such competitions among these prodigies offered them a rare learning opportunity.
Once the Sword God War concluded, a new round of Inner Sect Disciple seat challenges would commence, seeing many rise to distinction.
Currently, the spectator seats outside the venue were divided into various large zones, each covered by noise reduction laws. As a result, though some voices carried, it wasn’t overly noisy.
Otherwise, with a million people gathered, even if everyone spoke in whispers, the collective noise would be overwhelming and chaotic.
Apart from these Outer Sect Disciple seats, there were also floating seats in midair, offering a better view, able to oversee the situation on all ten platforms simultaneously.
These seats were reserved for Lin Shanhai and other Alchemists, as well as the Holy Lands’ Artifact Refiners, other management officials, Dynasty enforcers, and other influential figures in the Holy Lands.
Currently, the Outer Sect Disciple spectator seats below were bustling, almost fully occupied.
And among the thousands of seats floating in the air, only about half were filled.
Lin Shanhai led Li Hao, Zhao Yingzhen, and others to the seating area designated for Alchemists.
Their arrival naturally drew the attention of some disciples; many Outer Sect Disciples coveted connections with these Alchemy Masters, lacking access on their own, and now seized the chance to catch a glimpse of their true appearance.
“Look, it’s a senior Alchemist!”
“I’ve seen that one; it’s Alchemist Lin, who previously helped me accumulate resources with his Body Forging Pills to advance to the Unwithering Realm.”
“There’s a junior Alchemist in my family who is already venerated much like a deity in our house; even my father must act cautiously around him. A senior Alchemist, if willing to help, could easily nurture a powerhouse in the Tao Comprehension Realm!”
